>>Very few who have experienced real combat do.
They'll mention it in the course of conversation, but they certainly won't have a conversation about 'it'.
One guy I like very much had volunteered with his two brothers. Overland to Buenos Aires and boat to Southampton; a treacherous journey. One Army, one Navy and him. RAF Bombers. He'll talk about the camaraderie, the life, the emotions but will not talk about the action itself. It is my custom to refer to them all as Mr. or Sir. when I greet them. This particulary chap has been known to rip my head off about it; "I'm not a b***** officer, you can call me [first name], or [last name] or any insult you like, but do NOT call me sir!"
Another guy, a particularly friendly and cheerful chap, was in charge of a S&R MTB. He will talk again about the lifestyle and the colleagues but not about specific action. Actually he spends most of his time complaining about the higher command and various idiots he blames for the war in the first place.
It constantly impresses me that the Chileans who went through such hardship to volunteer in the war have, almost without exception, been successful in their civilian life as well. Those that survived, that is.
They're all old now, very old. I have been to so many funerals over the last few years I find it very sad and emotional.
Out of interest our youngest beneficiary is an Afghanistan veteran fallen upon hard times with severe mental and emotional problems. He should go back to the UK, but he simply won't. He believes that the Government and The Queen in person are involved in a conspiracy against him.
He lives in a shack in the middle of nowhere, he won't tell us exactly where, though I suspect that I know. We try to send him food parcels to a nearby bus station but he believes that we'll either drug the food or put tracking devices in the package. Very difficult.
i knew him before the mental issues, perfectly normal pleasant chap.
|
