For veterans, the feeling of always being on guard is hard to shake

For veterans, the feeling of always being on guard is hard to shake
By JAMES A. FUSSELL
The Kansas City Star

Maj. Jason “Tank” Sherman “never ran into things like the infantry guy goes through.” Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment of our veterans roundtable. To read previous installments, go to KansasCity.com.

Q. Many soldiers talk about the heightened sense of alert needed to survive in war. How long did that feeling of always being “on guard” take to go away?

Joseph L. Dickerson (Korean War): It never left me. I never liked to sit with my back to the window. Snipers will get you. I don’t feel comfortable like that. And I don’t feel comfortable going in places with one door. You’re trapped.

And I have dreams. I’ve been having those dreams for years. I make sure all the doors are locked. And I have a weapon.

Gary Shepard (Vietnam War): I lock my door at night. I lock and load and set my pistol up by my head — every night. I’ve got a 9 millimeter. I still check all the doors, and my dog usually sleeps close to me — I like that.

I still don’t like my back to the door, or any of that kind of stuff. But it’s not as bad.

I know I said our country didn’t do enough for us as they should. I don’t think they have. But I still love this country. And I would fight for (it) again today.

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