The scars of war: 'The look in her eyes was the look of a lost soul'

Former U.S. Army Capt. Fayette Frahm was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and traumatic brain injury, or TBI, after returning from a tour in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Ruben R. Ramirez / El Paso Times)

The scars of war: 'The look in her eyes was the look of a lost soul'
El Paso Times - El Paso,TX,USA
Chris Roberts / El Paso Times
Posted: 12/23/2008

EL PASO -- In Iraq, soldiers barely clinging to life asked Capt. Fayette Frahm to contact loved ones and deliver deathbed messages. She saw the ghosts of those mangled soldiers wandering her home after she returned.

In Afghanistan, late into the night, she contemplated what she would do if the camp was overrun by nearby Taliban fighters and she was unable to kill her attackers. Those long nights and days come back to her in nightmares.

Frahm's experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan are a testament to the fact that women, although not allowed in combat occupations, increasingly are dealing with the terrors and tests of mettle that come with war. Frahm, serving as a hospital administrator, found herself daily confronting death and her own mortality.

At 38 years of age, she has more than 17 years of experience in the medical field serving in four wars in 12 countries. Out of the Army for nearly a year, she suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and traumatic brain injury, or TBI, and she says the transition from soldier to civilian has been anything but smooth.

Her tour in Iraq started with Fort Bliss' 31st Combat Support Hospital.

She arrived at the Balad Hospital
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