Feeling somewhat Melancholy. - YouLookFab Forum

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Feeling somewhat Melancholy.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I woke up to the news that there would be a troop draw down by the end of 2016 more than 100,000 troops would be coming home. These Two wars are what ended my career. War is a terrible thing and the after effects are even worse. PTSD, adjusting to families who you have been away from for 6 months or longer. The price is very high for people who are so young. My heart celebrates and rejoices in the fact that Our President has chosen to end the longest running war in our nations history.

These pictures were taken in Baghdad and Egypt. I was part of a rapid deployment signal command. I was feeling kind of sentimental about my old army days and losing some good friends in this stupid war on Memorial Day. So I thought I would post a couple if Pictures. I was a Staff Sergeant when I decided to leave the war took such a toll. I served for 10 years and I was a careerist. Thanks in advance for reading my rant or vent or whatever.

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32 replies

Latest reply was from Ledonna N.

Mochi

Veteran

Thank you for your service, ladywone. I can't even imagine how impactful it must have been, and even now. Hugs.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Mochi thanks for the reply I was 17 when I entered and 28 when I left these were my very formative years. I don't want to get into politics but I was stationed in Kuwait when Sept 11 happened. I was part of a joint task force. We had orders to deploy to Afghanistan but, the orders were nullified and we were told we were invading Iraq. Which made no common sense the U.N. Inspectors had just left and found no weapons of mass destruction. 1 year into the war I separated from the Army.

Neel

Veteran

I can't even begin to imagine how hard this might have been and still is. Being away from loved ones and losing loved ones is something that I find very hard to fathom. Hugs to you and thanks for doing this for all of us

BethL

(website)

Veteran

I'm so sorry you're feeling melancholy, ladywone. Without getting more deeply into the politics either, I hear what you're saying. I'm sending good thoughts and hugs your way. Hang in.

LACeleste

Veteran

Hi Ladywone,

I have been reading a lot about PTSD and sacrifices among military people and my heart feels for you. You have been through a lot.
Thank you for sharing your pictures and a first-person account.
Sending you support, positive thoughts, and gratitude.

Alassë

Veteran

Thank you for serving. With military family members, I deeply appreciate your career choice for those 10 years.

Laurinda

Veteran

Thank you for your service, and thoughtful post. Wars without end take a deep toll on those who serve as well as their loved ones; I'd go so far as to say they sap our country's very soul.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I'm so grateful for your service, and the sacrifices of so many men and women. I hope that the lessons of perseverance, loyalty and courage outlast the scars and disillusionment that are an inevitable part of war.

My Dad was a reservist for 20 years -- just missing Vietnam, and retiring just weeks before the Gulf War. He feels a faint regret over training (transportation unit - Army) and never deploying. Both of his units have deployed many times since then. As his daughter, I let out a big sigh of relief!

Peace and freedom are both things to be cherished everywhere.

I'm guessing your not tempted to try "uniform dressing" ever again. All eclectic and bold for you, eh?

Gigi

Veteran

For us civilians, Memorial Day usually comes and goes, like any other holiday. But for people who have served, I imagine they are like you...melancholy for some days before and after. Thank you for serving and for sharing how you are feeling.

Parsley

Veteran

Ladywone, please know that your service to our country is appreciated more than we can express. People don't realize often enough how your sacrifice lasts way past your active duty, with PTSD and all the after-effects.
Thank you. I salute you!

Isis

Veteran

Ladywone, thank you for your service. Thank you also for the reminder that Memorial Day is not about sales or about picnics, something I lose sight of as a civilian.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Another who thanks you for your brave and loyal service to the US, Ladywone. I salute you and hug you for your incredible spirit. xo

Mona

Veteran

You are a very brave woman to go through all this. I know how hard it is to live away from the loved ones.

rabbit

Veteran

Thank you for sharing your story, the decade of service you offered and the hard choices you had to make following your conscience, and the toll war takes no matter what.

On memorial day, me and my husband were remembering his two grandfathers and keeping their stories alive. The stories have both sweetness and bitterness. He is from the UK and one grandfather was in the Royal Marines (special forces/commandos) during WWII. He was involved with some raids in Norway to prevent the Germans from getting 'heavy water' which could be used to make nuclear weapons.

The second grandfather was a merchant marine officer and ran the gauntlet bringing supplies in convoys from the US and Canada to the UK. His ship was sunk by a Uboat in the mid-Atlantic. My husband says that in convoys when a ship was sunk the other friendly ships couldn't stop to pick up survivors, you had to just keep going to save your own ship. His grandfather, one other officer and three Egyptian crew men made it to a life raft. They floated on the life raft in the middle of the ocean for ten days while the German Uboat followed them.

At the end of the ten days the German captain of the Uboat rescued the two officers on the raft. The Germans didn't take the three Egyptian crewmen off the raft (all the people on his grandfather's ship were civilians, merchant sailors, not soldiers) although they left them water and supplies. According to the grandfather it was rare for a Uboat at that time in the war to pick up survivors. My husband thinks it was very unlikely any other ship would be able to pick up the crew members.

After the war both men came home and were not able to reintegrate well with their families. They were almost never spoken of by their children in later years as their relationships with their wives and children were very troubled, and there was no understanding of PTSD at the time.

However, the grandfather rescued by the German Uboat captain corresponded with him the rest of his life, they became good friends and visited each other several times. The grandfather owed his life to that captain, and therefore so did my husband's mother and aunt (born after the war), and of course my husband and his brother.

rachylou

Veteran

Perhaps I was born in a strange year, to parents slightly older than the norm, but WWII has always been a thing of living memory. My family is part German, and although they left Germany in the 1800s, there were still ties up until WWII. You have to ask yourself, what happened? So to be very honest, I feel very proud how you served and how you left. You have done a soldier's duty. We all get different choices in life, but it's important to make them.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Neel, Alasse, Laurinda,- Families are greatly impacted by the stress of service members who come home. It can be very challenging divorce rate is higher than the national average. I truly give thanks for all the extended families. I remember being a young SGT and spouses calling me telling me why their husbands and wives could not be deployed. I remember all the insecurities I faced as I tried to calm there fears. All the while I was facing the same fears and insecurities but as a leader you were taught that you could not show fear in the face of. They teach you not to show fear but they don't teach you how to deal. That is until after your broken. Atleast our goverment is trying to deal with the brokenness instead of hiding it.

Beth Ann- My Dad retired from the marines right after Vitenam. Small world. He was a drill instructor and set young men to war. Her also served in Vietnam. I was not even born. But I had his full support for going into the Military.
You would be surprised I went from wearing Camo every day to another uniform Denim everyday I pretty much stay away from the stuff when not working. On a lighter now, Now because we are all fashion inclined I could never wear the headgear like the older veterans because that is just not stylish. The way I come to grips is that I do wear fashion camo. Its getting to be kind of outrageous but, that is ok.

LACeleste, Gigi, Parsley- PTSD is alive and kicking. When I received my Honorable Discharge from the military PTSD was only wispered about I did not have one clue why I was suffering. It took me a long while to seek help on my on and that is a difficult undertaking. I know Retired General Eric Shinseki is taking alot of grief right now but, I served under his command. And I greatly respect him for cutting alot of red tape.

Thanks again for letting me vent this is such a tough topic of conversation. I that is why I enjoy fashion so much it is a common ground and lets you express yourself in any way you feel comfortable in doing so.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Wow, Thank you all for your wonderful stories. I am VERY VERY proud to have served my country. For the most part I would not take anything back. Oh boy don't you let anybody talk about America you want to talk about pride. Anyway. Like most who joined at peace time I just wanted to travel the world and earn money for college. Which I did and I have formed deep and abiding friendships that will last beyond time and location. I always tell people I believe America for a country so young Is the best country and I would never choose to exist anywhere else.

MsMary

Veteran

Ladywone, thank you for serving, and thank you for sharing with us! My son was just 14 when the towers fell, and it's hard to believe the war is still going on now that he's 27 and a Marine himself. I am thankful he never had to go to the Middle East and I am thankful to you for your service there. I am sending you my love and support as you continue to deal with the aftermath.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for sharing this. And thank you for all you've done. I have so much respect and admiration for those who serve. My dad was a veteran of WWII (dropped out of high school and fudged his age to join the Navy) and Korea. Mom said he was never the same after Korea, and I can only imagine. He rarely -- almost never -- spoke of his time in the service. He only shared with me a very brief recollection of being on the USS Enterprise when it was attacked by a kamikaze near Okinawa. I now wish I had asked him more about it all, but he died at a relatively young age, just as we were starting to relate more as two adults and not just as parent-child, and there is a lot I never got to ask him.

You're right -- the price is very high. I am glad the draw down is finally happening -- it's taken so long, and I have big issues with how the whole war was started (it sounds like we share that view). Bless you and your friends who did not make it home. My heart goes out to all of you.

Anonymous

Thank you for your service, Ladywone. I'm sending you good thoughts.

Anonymous

Ladywone, add me to the long list of people who want to thank you for your service to our country. Whenever I see a service member in uniform in the grocery store or post office, I actually get a little choked up thinking about the sacrifice they have made for the rest of us. If a moment presents itself, I like to look them in the eye and thank them personally, even though that's way out of my comfort zone. I figure they've already gone way out of theirs.

Windchime

Veteran

Thank you so very much for your service to our country. I recently watched a documentary about some of the challenges which are unique to female soldiers. One young woman had a baby girl and was then deployed overseas while her husband raised the baby. When she came home a couple years later, her two-year-old daughter didn't know who she was and wanted nothing to do with her. Of course the mother desperately wanted to be able to cuddle and play with her daughter. That was just one example of the toll military service takes on women soldiers and families.

Windchime

Veteran

Thank you so very much for your service to our country. I recently watched a documentary about some of the challenges which are unique to female soldiers. One young woman had a baby girl and was then deployed overseas while her husband raised the baby. When she came home a couple years later, her two-year-old daughter didn't know who she was and wanted nothing to do with her. Of course the mother desperately wanted to be able to cuddle and play with her daughter. That was just one example of the toll military service takes on women soldiers and families.

Deborah

Veteran

Ladywone, I am really moved by your story. And thank you also for your service. I am not an American but I believe your role was not just a service to the US but also to countries like my own (Australia). Blessings to you xxx Deborah

WingGirl

Ladywone,
Thank you so much for sharing your story, and allow me to offer my deepest gratitude for your service.

deb

Veteran

Thank you so much for sharing this. My ex-husband lost an eye and part of his face in the Viet Nam war when he was 19. The affects of the injury, both physically and mentally, will never go away. I, too, am glad that the troops are coming home and we need to honor and take care of them and their families.

Adelfa

Veteran

Ladyone, I too thank you for your service. I hope your treatment was/is successful and that you are relatively symptom-free!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for your service, your strength in following your convictions and for sharing. You are a true soldier in the best possible way.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

This is such a wonderful community. I appreciate and value each and every one of you who took the time to share your own personnel story or just to comment. Just like everyone else I have my good days and not so good days. Suffering from PTSD is challenging. When I left the service I had served one tour of deployment (War) and I am still adjusting. Every day seems so trivial so that is why I find my Happiness in the clothing that represents me. That is why I dance in the rain. That is why I take comfort in my spirituality. This community that Angie and Greg have created is such a restful respite from the harsh world sometimes. Sending you all virtual Hugs an blessings.

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