Finally healing from ‘the forgotten war’

This is a great example of many things. One is that we didn't take care of older veterans properly and they suffered but above that, they survived. Some of them took their own lives many years ago. Some are still doing it. We don't know how many but then again, we still don't know how many take their own lives today. There are too many unknowable with questions left behind. No suicides notes. Drug overdoses are not always known to be accidental or on purpose. Vehicle accidents are another puzzle because there have been reports that the driver was suffering. We will never really know for sure.

Another lesson is that it is never too late to get help to heal.

My Dad was a Korean War veteran and he was 100% disabled. We knew he was an alcoholic but he very well could have had a mild case of PTSD. He passed away when he was only 58. We know that PTSD comes with a long list of health issues and one of them is damage to the heart. The VA took care of his physical health but back then, mental healthcare was not so great.

He went to AA.

Finally healing from ‘the forgotten war’
Montgomery Herald
May 22, 2013
By Linda Beaulieu

It used to be called shell shock or battle fatigue. Today, the term is post traumatic stress disorder – PTSD. And while it can affect the life of anyone who goes through some horrific event, it’s most closely connected to members of the armed forces who have survived physical battle only to face a mental and emotional battle that can go on for the rest of their lives.

Today, the military provides help for soldiers and veterans with PTSD. But in 1954, when young men returned from the horrors of what is often called “the forgotten war” in Korea, they were on their own.

One of those young men was James McQueen, of Star.

McQueen grew up in Okeweemee, left school in ninth grade and went to work driving a delivery truck for FCX farm supply.
read more here