Everyday Life & Health
A year has passed since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and many troops have been rotated home. Physical and mental complications from the war are beginning to surface but the severity of these problems may take years to unfold.
Marines from 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 4th AABN returned home from the war in 2004, many with the same war experiences, but few with the same health problems.
Cpl. Jay Jenkins, a senior at Texas A&M University, said he feels the same about his health as the day he left.
“The only problem I have encountered,” said Jenkins, “is a lack of interest in almost everything. I’ll sit in class and just daydream. Nothing back home is near as exciting as what I’ve been through.”
When asked if he encountered environments that may have harmed him physically he replied, “Sure I did. The Iraqis didn’t have sewage systems so there was fecal matter on the sides of the streets. They burned trash everywhere also, so I’m sure I breathed some bad stuff.”
Another Marine, Sgt Miller, said that he has been affected by smoke inhalation from the vehicles he was on throughout the war.
“We were always running the vehicles and there was no way escape the fumes,” Miller said. “I can’t run or participate in aerobic activities like I used to without getting winded very quickly.”
The Marines from 3rd Platoon said they worked with armor plates that contain asbestos and did not take the same precautions that they would take at home when handling the hazardous material.
“We’re supposed to use masks and gloves when applying or extracting the armor from the vehicle,” said Miller. “We didn’t have the organizations watching us in Iraq that set forth rules and regulations here in the U.S. We can only hope that illness or death don’t stem from this in the future.”
Other physical conditions reported were neck and back injuries from prolonged periods in awkward positions, hearing loss, rashes and extreme fatigue.
“War is not only physically challenging,” said SSgt. Jim Williams. “It is mentally challenging. We saw things that we may never see again. We have vivid images that will stay with us for life. I will never forget the smell of burning flesh or the harsh reality of combat casualties, both foreign and domestic.”
Williams has sought help for countless nights without sleep due to nightmares about the war.
“When we got back, we were put through days of classes on returning to civilian life how to seek out help in the event we are having problems adjusting,” said Williams. “Our experiences aren’t something we can explain to someone who has not been there. These doctors and psychologists they send us cannot relate to us, and it only makes it worse.”
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