Emotions in the Combat Zone

1. Emotions in the Combat Zone VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE OF LONG ISLAND MHA NASSAU COUNTY JOHN A. JAVIS Director of Special Projects Phone: (516) 489-1120 ext. 1101 E-Mail: jjavis@mhanc.org

2. HISTORICAL CONTEXT WORLD WAR II • US attacked – Pearl Harbor • World-wide conflict / Struggle for Freedom • Feeling of all that “we are at war” – Rationing, blackout drills, “Rosie the Riveter” etc. • Draft / Enlistment • Atlantic + Pacific Theaters

3. World War II (Cont’d) • Went away for “years” – Not coming home until the war is won. • Communication: Slow, Censorship of mail • Achieved a victory / Liberation • Returning home on slow troopships gave troops opportunity to reflect / share about the experiences. • Returned home and became the “greatest generation”.

4. NORMAN ROCKWELL: Homecoming Marine

5. KOREAN WAR

6. KOREAN WAR • The “Forgotten War” • “War” vs UN “Police Action” • “Stop the spread of Communism” • Few civilians in combat zone • Hand-to-hand combat earlier in war • Enemy preferred to attack at night • Cold Weather injuries • War became a “stalemate” and then unpopular

7. OPINION ON KOREAN WAR (May 1953) • “As things stand now, do you feel that the war in Korea has been worth fighting, or not?” • Not worth fighting 55% • Worth Fighting 36% • ******************************************** • These veterans returned home to the America of the 1950’s – a time of “peace and prosperity”

8. VIETNAM

9. 265,000 Women also served in Vietnam

10. VIETNAM WAR • Draft still in place • System of 1 year tours = High number of veterans • Accountability? / “Short Timers” • “Individual Replacement” – Newcomers shunned by those more experienced. • Guerrilla Warfare – Who is the enemy? • Me Lei Massacre (March 1968)

11. VIETNAM (Cont’d) • Easy access to alcohol through military • Easy access to drugs (By the enemy to degrade the U.S. fighting force) • First “TV War” – Families watch evening news nightly • War becomes unpopular at home – Peace movement • Veterans poorly treated upon return home

12. Post Vietnam “Cold War” Era • Switch to an all-volunteer force • “Professional Army” (Ethics, Management) • Heavy concentration of troops in West Germany • Training focused on large scale conflict in Europe against Soviet Bloc • Issues of peacetime soldiers – Boredom / Not being home / Marital / Alcohol

13. 1st Encounter With Terrorist / Suicide Bombers • “Peacekeeping Role” • Beirut, Lebanon (Oct. 25, 1983) • Islamic Jihad car bomber blows up Marine Barracks in Beirut • 241 Americans KIA • Iran implicated • “Rules of Engagement” hindered sentries from effectively engaging the vehicle

14. Post Vietnam Operations • Operation Urgent Fury (Oct. – Nov. 1983) • Grenada • Rescue of American Citizens threatened by Cuban Forces • Heavy use of Special Operations • 18 KIA

15. Operation Just Cause • Invasion of Panama (Dec. 20, 1989 – Jan. 1990) • Safeguard US Citizens threatened by Gen. Manuel Noriega • Heavy use of Special Operations • 24 KIA

16. OPERATION DESERT STORM

17. Fighting the enemy at a distance

18. STEALTH TECHNOLOGY

20. Laser Guided Munitions

24. GROUND TROOPS

25. Threat of Chemical Attack / MOPP Gear

26. PATRIOT MISSILES vs SCUDS

27. A “Dirty War”

28. OPERATION DESERT STORM • US Forces on the ground August 7,1990 • January 17, 1991 Air Campaign begins • Series of TV Briefings by General Norman SChwarzkopf • February 24, 1991 Ground Campaign begins • February 27, 1991 Hostilities ceased • 408 KIA

29. HOMECOMING VICTORY PARADE

30. OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM / OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

31. AFGHANISTAN

32. Afghanistan

33. AFGHANISTAN

34. IRAQ: After the Invasion, the Insurgency

39. CONVOY

42. OEF / OIF vs Previous Wars • OEF / OIF: Heavy use of Guard / Reserves – Same individuals serving multiple tours. • Communication: WW II Slow, censored mail vs. OEF / OIF: E-mail • Media reporting: WW II Time delayed, “Patriotic” reporting vs. OIF / OIF: “Instant” reporting, some veterans complain that the “good stories” don’t get out.

43. VOLUNTEER • “Nothing is as strong as the heart of a volunteer” • LTC. “Jimmy” Doolittle (WW II)

44. Why Fight? • “American soldiers in battle don’t fight for what some president says on TV, they don’t fight for mom, apple pie, the American flag – they fight for one another.” • LTC. “Hal” Moore (Vietnam)

45. VALUES • “The Soldiers of TF 2-7 Infantry rose to the occasion. All of the values their mothers and fathers and grandparents taught them, they learned. They stepped up to the plate. They did not just followed their leaders, they accompanied the leaders. Sometimes they lead the way! They said, “Sir the enemy’s over there, don’t worry, we’ll get you over there!” • LTC. Scott Rutter (Operation Iraqi Freedom)

46. THE NATURE OF COMBAT • (Battlemind) • Percentage occurred at least once during most recent deployment (OIF) • 92% Knew someone seriously injured or killed • 74% Had a member of their team become a casualty • 74% Saw dead or seriously injured American • 47% Handled or uncovered human remains • 33% Responsible for death of enemy combatant • 19% saved the life of soldier or civilian

47. CHAOS OF COMBAT (Battlemind) • Heat, noise, blast • Hard to identify targets • Many yelling commands / screams of wounded

48. FEAR • (Walter Reed Army Institute of Research) • Fear is common in combat • 2/3 of Silver Star recipients reported an increase in fear as the battle progressed

49. SENSORY OVERLOAD (Battlemind) • SEE: Poverty, garbage and decay, rubble, fire, wounded and dead friends + enemies, “gawkers” • HEAR: Explosions, gunfire, ricochets, cries of wounded, wailing of civilians, commands • SMELL: Rot, garbage, feces, burning, chemicals, smoke

50. PERCEPTION OF THE ENEMY • Hard to tell Friend from Foe (Some Sects have “switched sides” during the war) • Non-uniformed combatants • Enemy doesn’t follow recognized rules of land warfare • Use of disabled individuals as suicide bombers • IEDs / VBIEDs