ARS on Twitter
RSS
On a sad note
Posted by civil truth on July 9th, 2008
The U.S. Army news also carried a sobering story this past week:
Medic in famous photo dies after PTSD struggle
During the first week of the war in Iraq, a Military Times photographer captured the arresting image of Army Spc. Joseph Patrick Dwyer as he raced through a battle zone clutching a tiny Iraqi boy named Ali. The photo was hailed as a portrait of the heart behind the U.S. military machine, and Doc Dwyer’s concerned face graced the pages of newspapers across the country.
But rather than going on to enjoy the public affection for his act of heroism, he was consumed by the demons of combat stress he could not exorcise. For the medic who cared for the wounds of his combat buddies as they pushed toward Baghdad, the battle for his own health proved too much to bear.
His death was the end of a downward spiral in which, despite the best efforts of family and army medical personnel, he just couldn’t find healing from the wounds to his spirit that he had suffered during his service in Iraq.
Joe’s wife, Matina Dwyer, told the a reporter for their local newspaper, “He was a very good and caring person. He was just never the same when he came back, because of all the things he saw. He tried to seek treatment, but it didn’t work.” She told the paper she hoped his death would bring more awareness about PTSD.
If any veterans are reading this, this story again emphasizes that PTSD can be a killer. Please don’t try to solve it yourself, but seek the help you need. Some battles have such overwhelming odds that you can’t get out of it safely by yourself; you need buddies.
We at ARS would again salute Joe Dwyer’s heroism and extend to his wife and family our gratitude for his service and sacrifice along with our condolences. At times like this, words fail.
(H/T)
July 9th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
It is sad we can not do more for our vets during and after there combat service for the mental health.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Check out this take on this:
http://jdlong.blogspot.com/2008/07/solider-dies-of-inhalant-abuse-media.html
July 10th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Thanks for the heads-up, Raven. I posted a comment on that blog defending Spc. Dwyer.
I was also reminded of my post on the 4th of July of the six Marines in that iconic photograph from Iwo Jima, in particular how the story of Ira Hayes bears an eerie similarity to Spc. Dwyer’s life.