Tallahassee Soldier Lives With PTSD, Divorce and Death of a Child

I could tell you about the numbers of veterans with PTSD, like the post from Veterans for Common Sense, VA Report Obtained by VCS Using FOIA Reveals 182,147 OEF/OIF Veterans Treated for PTSD, but you don't read their stories in those numbers. They live in different parts of the country, served with different units, in different years, but the aftermath of combat PTSD was a lot of suffering. Some had wives, others had parents, most had friends. Some committed crimes and their stories are told along with the victims and accounts from police officers. Some committed suicide and their stories are told from family and friends left behind.

These are not numbers but lives. With each story comes a family and friends affected by the changes combat caused in someone they love. This is why their stories are told, to the best of my ability to track them, and remind you that no one is ever alone with PTSD.

Tallahassee Soldier Lives With PTSD, Divorce, and Death of a Child
It's been a tough road for Rob Springer since returning from the war.
Posted: 3:34 PM Mar 2, 2011
Reporter: Lee Gordon
Rob Springer and his best friend Puma are enjoying a little sunshine and a a rare outing away from home.

Rob and Puma have been together for about three years, a bond that became necessary after Rob returned from overseas…


"I don't want to get out, I don't want to be bothered. The only one that gives me comfort is my dog Puma."

Rob Springer spent over nine months in the Middle East, four months in Iraq, a month in Afghanistan, and the rest of the time in Qatar. He was a medic nurse-his job was to heal his fellow soldiers and he took great pride in serving his country. It was the best and worst experience of his life.

"My first night in Iraq…incoming rockets and missiles were coming in and I jumped out of bed and went under the bed and had the Kevlar over me. It took awhile to get used to it."

Springer returned stateside in 2007 and moved back into civilian life with his wife and his two kids, son James and daughter Kaitlyn.

"Man that was awesome to be home with my family."

It was awesome, until it wasn't anymore. Rob said he knew right away something just wasn't right. He wasn't sleeping well, and he just felt lost-like he didn't belong in his own skin.

It was then that Springer discovered that he had PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a very common condition for soldiers who return from the war.

"You don't have control over being able to do that, to get up when the alarm rings or etc. It's a frustrating feeling that you can't perform like you did before."

Rob struggled through a job at the VA and had a hard time dealing with life----it was also around that time that his wife decided that she too had enough.
read more here
Tallahassee Soldier Lives With PTSD, Divorce, and Death of a Child