I have had the opportunity to meet several young, ex-military men who fought in the Iraq war over the last couple of months. I spent the day with one of them today and we had ample opportunity to talk about just stuff in general. I've noticed something disturbing about these amazing men. They've all been very bright, uneducated, hard-working and CARING people. Fighting in this war has really affected them and completely changed their lives.

One of these gentlemen is passionate about guns--always has been. He came back from the war and refused to go get counseling because of the labels the counselors might put on him. Apparently, if you are labeled as having post traumatic stress disorder, your permit to carry guns can be revoked. He sought "counseling" in alcohol. He's done irreparable damage to his body, but his guns weren't taken way from him. Luckily, he seems to have worked through a lot of the emotional problems that happen post-war, but what a friggin' way to have to live your life! He doesn't do much drinking, anymore, though. He also told me that he couldn't even look at meat for several months after he got home because "it all looks the same." He is 32.

Another one of my friends joined just before the war started and had fully intended to put his minimum years in then go directly to college to become an advertising executive. Again, a very bright man. He had to go off to war. He was able to get some college in before he was deployed, but has had a very difficult time getting his life pulled back together. The only job he was able to find that would allow him to support his family requires him to be on-call 24 hours a day, 6 days a week, so he was never able to get back to college. He has to work a second job in the evening just to get health insurance. He is 27.

Both of these men had a difficult time finding jobs to support their families once they got out and both of them are currently facing the very real possibility of losing their jobs at the moment. They are both the primary bread winners in their homes and both have children. It is such an eye-opener to see how the war REALLY affects our society. Yeah, I read about this stuff sometime on the internet. But, it just doesn't seem "real" until you have personal experience with it. I was raised a military brat, so it's been a part of my life, but I never knew how damaging war is to so many people. And these are the ones that actually made it back alive.

I have a whole new appreciation for the sacrifices these men and women make. They are life-long.