djofraleigh: blog 
djofraleigh's blog
the final peace for a stressed soldier
Published Jul. 4, 2008
Read this: sad that something didn't stop him, besides death.
From TWO years ago SOURCE
Last year, a buddy of mine, Joseph Dwyer, popped up in the Army Times. In 2003, he had been all over the media for a picture that an embedded journalist shot of him running while carrying an Iraqi kid out of a firefight. This guy is the nicest, most down-to-earth New Englander you’d ever want to meet. He was an older guy who had joined the Army two days after 9/11, and he hated the fame that the picture brought. Well, last year, the Army Times ran the old picture of him carrying the kid along with an article about soldiers suffering from PTSD. What I read next broke my heart. When he returned to Ft. Bliss, he picked up a drinking habit and started displaying weird behavior. It all culminated one night when he began firing his 9mm into the wall of his bedroom. He ended up in a standoff with the MPs for 3 hours, firing into the wall over and over again and calling for close air support on his cell phone, using correct military radio procedures. The poor guy literally thought he was back over there in a firefight, for three hours! I’ve got another buddy who recently stopped drinking and subsequently had to go on some sort of psychoactive meds when memories came flooding back. There are tons of others who have dreams or suddenly break down in tears for no apparent reason.
Today, he died of an overdose...see the story at
WRAL http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/3154922/
close17 Comments
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I don't appreciate it when people say stuff about things that they don't know anythting about. It has been a tough five years since my fiance has been in the Army and diagnosed with PTSD, we take it one day at a time.
Some days are better than others, but it is one day at a time and obviously Joseph had a lot of bad things going through his mind to think that taking his life would be better than living.
July 8, 2008 9:33 p.m.
DJ - at this point I don't know if theres away to screen but I do know it takes the help of friends and relatives to make your way back. Even then it can be rough.
Now he is at rest and I hope his family can find peace. God speed for his war is over.
GOLO member since June 27, 2008
July 5, 2008 1:06 a.m.
GOLO member since December 11, 2007
July 4, 2008 8:26 p.m.
PTSD is something to be avoided, and somehow we have to find a way to screen out people with potential PTSD...if that is possible. I think it is.
GOLO member since January 20, 2008
July 4, 2008 7:29 p.m.
GOLO member since November 27, 2007
July 4, 2008 7:07 p.m.
GOLO member since August 22, 2007
July 4, 2008 6:49 p.m.
July 4, 2008 6:39 p.m.
July 4, 2008 6:39 p.m.
There is no way to "ease" back into the life you once had. Remember when your soldier, friend or relative, they will need someone to listen. Just listen that's all. Don't comment, just listen.
GOLO member since June 1, 2008
July 4, 2008 6:13 p.m.
GOLO member since May 7, 2008
July 4, 2008 6:00 p.m.
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