Her body came home but her mind didn't

I got an e-mail recently from a young female soldier who served in Iraq from 2005-06. She writes that since returning from Iraq she has had a major breakdown which has cost her her career in the service. She takes at least six pills a day to control her anxiety and mood shifts and the pain in her leg and back. She takes pills to sleep through the nightmares. Her son was five months old when she deployed. He was a year and a half old when she returned. She still can’t relate to him, her husband, and her extended family after being back for two years. Mentally, she says she’s a mess from the war. She feels alone and doesn’t know who to turn to. She says a lot happened over there in Iraq while she was patrolling and transporting military supplies up and down the roads in Iraq. Sometimes being the only female on missions was a challenge in itself. She goes on to list other challenges ... rape, assaults, suicide, and the death of her battle buddy. Her body came home but her mind didn’t.

“I go to the VA for help but they just give me medications and really don't talk to me or listen to how I am feeling. I wish I could just be normal again or have that part of me whole and complete again.”

“Everyday is a struggle for me. I have to put on a fake smile and act like everything is okay when really it's not. I'm fighting a daily war within myself.”

Anyone listening????????????????????
Please post your suggestions.

Onslow County Public Library

Thank you to the Onslow County Public Library (Karen Moore) for hosting a Band of Sisters reception in June and to Camp Johnson (LtCol Mike Cordero) for their support of women Marines.

kah

San Diego--MCRD, the USS Midway, and more

Hi everyone,

Just back from a wonderful visit to southern California. As usual, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego put on a fantastic reception for me and Band of Sisters. Sorry I don't have any photos from that event. I was too busy talking to take photos.

I spent July 4 on the USS Midway. July 4 was also the one-year anniversary of Band of Sisters, so I had a couple of things to celebrate that day.

One of the main reasons for my visit to San Diego was to interview women for my next book. That went very well. I interviewed two female Marines (Sgt. Shannon Evans from Miramar) and SgtMajor Irene O'Neal from Camp Pendleton) and two Sailors (Commander Lenora Langlais and Corpsman Elaine Snavely) who will be featured in When The Girls Come Marching Home.

Our female servicemembers continue to inspire me on a daily basis.

Talk soon!
best,
kirsten