Tonight I write about something I watched on TV tonight, which realyl hit close to home. It was called 'Flashpoint' it was about Kimberly Dozer who was severely wounded when the humvee she was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. She was a reporter, she lost her camera man and sound man. This was to be just a regular patrol that turned into something a lot more for many familes. You hear about them all the time on the news...we know that they are out there, but what can do to stop them?? That question is being tossed around on the hill by many people who believe that there is more that we can do to stop these 'roadside bombs'. However, it is far too late for the men and women of the 4th ID, based out of Fort Hood Texas. They took a huge loss that day.
It was Memorial Day, 2006, Kim and her crew meet up with members from the 4th ID to go on a routine patrol of Baghdad City. Around 10 am, there was an unchangeable matter of events that unfolded that would lead one Reporter to the other side. The Humvee that Kim was riding in, took a roadside bomb blast, it was left in a car, and detonated by remote. The blast killed her camera man, and sound man, and the Capt. of the 4th ID Capt. Funkhouser. The medic with the 4th ID that day scurred about attempting to fix those that he could, and making sure that those who needed medical attention were seen. Kim, lay in a pool of her own blood....had it not been for the quick wits of a soldier from Iowa, she would've lost both her legs. This soldier just trained in basic first aid, saved her from losing both her legs. she was rushed to the 10th Mountain Division's CSH (Combat Surgical Hospital). Where when she arrived...was clinging to life. Shortly after arriving, an amazing turn of events unfolded. She was teetering on the edge of death, by clinical standards, she'd already died once, and a second time was on the way. The Doctor made the call to put blood into her, because had almost bled out all of her blood. She suffered both femurs being broken in three places, a busted eardrum (Tympanic Membrane), and other wounds from the shrapnal of the blast. Kim was more worried about her guys then herself. After being stabalized at the 10th MD's CSH, she was taken to another hospital inside Baghdad city to recieve emergency surgery. After that she was flown to Landsthul Germany where she would remain until better to fly home. While in Germany, she learned about the death of her crew. To me, this is the worst part of it all, when they talk about the toll that it took on everyone. (I cried throughout the whole thing) There were many soldiers that were injuried there as well. On lost his leg, the other was all beat up, and had shrapnal wounds, another soldier was injuried so bad, that he will not be returning to service. If not for the brave actions of the 4th ID that day, there would've been a lot more deaths. However, Kimberly is able to continue on with her life, she is recovering, and working on walking and running. She went to see the family of Capt. Funkhouser, his wife and two daughters. She told his wife of the horrific details, and let her know that he died instantly, that he didn't suffer. That makes me so sad to know that this wonderful man left behind a wife and two girls, what I'd give to be in his place, so he could be home with his wife and daughters. Don't think for a second I wouldn't give up my life for anyone of those brave Men and Women over there, because I would.
With this story comes a price...a price of human lives, not only that, but now the real healing begins. These and those who were effected by the deaths, or the blast are going through something called PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.) And with that comes it's own form of punishment....guilt. You lay in bed at night, and think...why was I spared...what did I do that was go great to be saved? You constantly dwell on this, after a while it consumes you, and you keep thinking about it, and wondering what, and how you were so lucky, and that you miss your buddies. It's hard, because there is no cure for PTSD, there seems to be only therapy that can help the symptoms, however that is not 110% going to work either. I know I suffer from PTSD, and the guilt...you only wish would go away. The nightmares, the cold sweats, everything, you wish like hell that it'd all go away. I know first hand what they are dealing with....I know that feeling of guilt never goes away...it's always there, no matter how many you drink, or how much you take, it's always there. A sight, sound, smell, anything...can trigger a memory that will bring back the awful nightmares, and dreams. The dreams that PTSD suffers face is those of very vivid and 'life like' dreams. You can recall them because you've had them so many times that you know them by heart, because it's the same on over and over again. You know what it's like, you feel it as if you were there, you wake up and look around....and it takes you a while to realize that you aren't there....that you're at home....
There's an endless cycle of nothing but dreams, and nightmares, sometimes it goes away, other times it doesn't....So when you are reading this, stop and think about your life, and realize that there are often times innocent people that are sometimes caught in the crossfire, and stop and ask yourself....is it fair that they were caught in the crossfire, or is it something that we all must face in what we call 'war'? We have to realize that no matter what....there will always be innocents caught in the crossfire....but does it make it fair to them, on either side? Just a little thought, I will write more on this tomorrow...just giving you a little thought. ~~~MATT~~~
