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Resilient Tears
I met him for the first time last week. Previously he’d seen one of my colleagues for treatment of a problem that was not PTSD. He had spoken some of his combat experiences, but as best as I could...
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One More Time Around, With Feeling
Often Thursdays are quieter days for me. I only began working them in January, when I began working full-time at the VA; consequently not a lot of appointments have found me, so to speak. The Joint...
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The Killing Floor (Audio Version)
On April 18, 2012, I posted The Killing Floor, in which I described my encounter with a soldier who had written a song about his experiences in Iraq. Since that day, the post has had, as of this...
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Location, Location . . .
When I checked with him Monday to verify our appointment time, he let me know that he couldn’t “make it downtown,” but suggested we could meet later in the week. I took him up on the offer, arranging...
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Dear Doc/Dear Winston, 02.25.13
Dear Doc, I hate waking up and looking outside to see it gray and cold, rain setting in. It just feels like a day for a funeral. I think about shit like that. When you have seen death like I have, it...
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Dear Doc/Dear Winston, 03.03.13
Dear Doc, Dear Mom and Dad, Just another day in Iraq, waking up wondering if today is the day I get to meet the Maker at this fuckin’ place. I put a bullet in clip with HOMIS written on the side of it....
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In Memoriam, Clay Warren Hunt, 1982-2011
I have been putting off this post for several days. Fortunately, Life has been more than accommodating in this procrastination, given that it has certainly proceeded at a hectic pace recently, what...
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Goodbye, My Friend
Mere hours ago, one of my patients died, not by his own hand, but suddenly, unexpectedly, far too young, far too soon. Words fail me. Yet at the same time, I cannot let this night pass without my...
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“Taps” and the Last Musketeer
It’s time to get this written. Spring has slowly been intimating its way into Indiana these past several days, although, admittedly, I’m being kind in giving it this much due. Still, the snow is gone,...
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The Tattoo Graft
Even though I had promised to break my blog “fast” with reflections on the Boston Marathon bombing and its aftermath, Life led me elsewhere. Thankfully. I have known him for a while now, this former...
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“Taps,” Déjà Vu
One week ago today, I again headed south of Indianapolis, seven weeks to the day after I had begun a similar trip for a similar purpose, all-too-sad, all-too-soon. It was time to bury Ethan (Reporting...
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The Handshake
Finally, I’m back. The movers have driven away. Much to the relief of our children, my wife and I have returned (somewhat) to the world of the living and semi-human. A very good thing. Now . . . First,...
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A Goede Hombre
I received the text earlier this week, at 1404h, Central Daylight Time, Tuesday, July 2, 2013, a picture. He looked great, wearing what appeared to be a simple, black suit/tux, sporting with it a...
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Lambs, Lions, Lights
I have settled into my new position as the Medical Director of the Warrior Wellness Unit at the TriStar Skyline Madison Campus Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, and I am proud to be working with a...
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I’ll Fly Away
“My wife read your blog. She loved it.” He surprised me, this handsome fly-boy, with his mentioning the blog. Since my move to Nashville earlier this summer, I’d been wondering how to proceed with it,...
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Semper Silouan
I got out of Nashville quite late this past Monday, so I was heading into a long trip up I-65. It turned out not too badly, though, all said and done. Eastside Indianapolis should probably be farther...
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Veteran’s Day 2013
Last year on Veteran’s Day, I posted the following. Sadly I can only add to it this year, names of veterans I have known only by their impact on others (Dr. Peter Linnerooth, Clay Hunt), names of...
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1K a Day
So much has changed in the past year. There could have been so many words. So how about a challenge to myself: although I will continue to write longer essays, each day I will try to write no more than...
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Amicus Optimus
“Diamonds Will Safeguard the Next Generation of US Soldiers,” Mashable announced on my Facebook page, assuring me, as only the “top resource” of “digital culture” can, that (at least for now) we may...
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Grand Opening
I still recall Dr. Hook’s The Cover of the “Rolling Stone,” my generation’s lament over what it takes to get noticed around these parts. What lyrics might have been spawned had BuzzFeed, The Daily Kos,...
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