The US Army probably expected an influx of patriotic replies when it asked for testimonies about people’s service. Instead, Twitter offered disturbing stories of debilitating injuries, mental health problems and suicide.
It all began with a a video of a soldier who told the camera he joined to serve “something greater than myself.” The army, the featured soldier said, had given him the opportunity to “give to others” and better himself “as a man and a lawyer.”
How has serving impacted you?
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) May 23, 2019
The Army then made the mistake of asking Twitter at large for their thoughts.
That was where the patriotism ended. The account was quickly inundated with responses from former service members and their families — and they make for some seriously disturbing reading.
From damaged mental health and suicide, friends lost to war, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), nightmares and life-changing injuries, almost none of the responses were positive.
didn't serve but my best friend was USAF. Came back depressed with a drinking problem under age 21, and killed himself a year later
— Cap'n Thick Dick (@C0rpsePimp) May 24, 2019
lemme think
I didn’t serve but my brother did
he never went to war but still shot himself in the head so— penni, large person the size of a small person (@Pennijj) May 24, 2019
“Three generations of emotional trauma and instability.”
https://twitter.com/SNCCiMinaj/status/1131789690426683392
“…the 4th of July is a nightmare…”
I’ve been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and PTSD. I’m almost obsessed with cleaning, I hate crowds, the 4th of July is a nightmare..
— Montag451 (@JasonRoss70) May 24, 2019
“…omnipresent feeling that I’ve taken part in great evil and been truly duped.”
Best friend killed himself, PTSD from Iraq, daily anxiety, chronic depression, nightmares, omnipresent feeling that I've taken part in great evil and been truly duped.
— Henry Stamper (@cigarettes4kids) May 24, 2019
“I can’t pick up my kids from my back pain.”
https://twitter.com/hbadger26/status/1131761373052952578
“I’m filled with rage at all times.”
https://twitter.com/WinstrolM/status/1131775503159840768
“Debilitating alcoholism.”
Debilitating alcoholism
— Sturm (@wvrginyn) May 24, 2019
For one former member, serving showed him “how f*cked up our system truly is” and guided him “down the path to socialism.”
Read the rest here: https://www.rt.com/usa/460211-us-army-service-impacted-twitter/
‘That was where the patriotism ended’……NO NO NO, RT….telling the truth IS patriotic
i have a disdain for other humans. Im embarrassed i helped kill a million people for israel. I was gullible enough to think america was a free country of for and by the people and we where helping make the world better so i hate myself. My idea of a relationship is being left alone. I look forward to the house of cards falling even if i die from it. Oh and all the vaccines they gave me disallow me from giving blood. So i imagine having kids is a bad idea.too.
I have a meme that shows soldiers, and says;
‘These men are not heroes. They are pawns being used in the immoral game of wholesale murder.
If you’re aware of the real reasons America goes to war (corporate profits/Israel/Central Banks) and the role soldiers play in making such immoral acts possible, the last thing you would label a soldier is a ‘hero’. There is nothing heroic about blindly following immoral and illegal orders for a paycheck, especially when such orders involve the unnecessary murder of others.
“War is a Racket”