James Dahan stands with his son, Kalel, 4, after a recent eye exam at the VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois. Dahan, a Marine, was exposed to more than 30 improvised explosive devices while in Iraq and suffers from traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. William DeShazer - MCTDec. 25, 2011 - It was just after midnight when former Marine Cpl. James Dahan was awakened by a faint noise in the distance.
Except for the glare of his flashlight, there was darkness all around as he crept from room to room, searching for an unknown enemy.
Windows sealed: check. Doors locked: check. Building secure: check.
Yet with people pacing about upstairs, voices he did not recognize billowing through the walls and the incessant roar of traffic, he dared not fall asleep. So he stayed up all night repeating the routine.
Dahan returned from Iraq seven years ago. But the horrors of war followed him home. The last convoy of U.S. troops left Iraq last Sunday, but for thousands of veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, the haunting memories might never go away.
Since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars began a decade ago, the U.S. Veterans Administration has treated more than 212,000 combat veterans for PTSD, an anxiety disorder resulting from traumatic events during war. read more>>>
Photo by Troy Harvey, Ventura County Star: David W. Franco (left) holds his Marine uniform while his father, David R. Franco, holds a binder filled with military medals at their Moorpark home Thursday. They both served in the Marines and deployed multiple timesDecember 24, 2011 - Six years after a roadside bomb in Iraq charred his foot, blew out his eardrum and rattled his brain, David R. Franco chooses the seat in restaurants where he can see the most people. Always.
"I'm constantly watching my back. I have to face where the most traffic is," said the 51-year-old former Marine from Moorpark. "I always look to see where my avenue of exit is. I'm constantly watching everybody."
Many soldiers who have returned or are headed home from Iraq won't struggle with memory loss, life-changing injuries or feelings of isolation and depression. They adjust and resume their lives. Others will be cornered by acronyms that identify the nearly nine-year war like dog tags: IED, TBI and PTSD.
Franco is mired in that stew of letters. An improvised explosive device sent shrapnel through a floorboard into his foot. It affected his heart and liver and might have killed him if not for the armor of a brand-new Humvee. read more>>>
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