Friday, November 6, 2009

Fort Hood

I can't stop thinking about what happened at Ft Hood yesterday. It is so hard to comprehend how someone could do something so unspeakable. First, to do it at all. Second, to do it to your fellow soldiers and civilians working with soldiers. Third, having been a psychiatrist, entrusted with people who are possibly mentally fragile, to betray the trust that should exist between a doctor and patient, especially a fellow soldier. I can't imagine the horror of waiting to find out if your loved one was involved. It will take a long time for people to recover from this. I read a quote from a soldier who said that overseas, you are ready for it, but here you can't even defend yourself. I would think that it would be a pretty helpless feeling, especially to have been deployed, to not be able to do anything when you have been trained to defend yourself and your fellow soldiers.
One thing about a military base, it's kind of like a big family in a way. I've never lived on a base since my husband has only been in the Guard, not the active Army, but when we have spent time on bases it feels comforting to me. With being in the Guard, everyone lives "regular" lives for the most part and your friends and neighbors don't get it. When you are on a base, you're a part of a shared experience. You're surrounded by people who "get" it. People know what your feeling and experiencing because they have been there. Out here in the regular world you feel like a minority. Most people that you come in contact have no idea what it's like to have your family member leave for a year or worry about whether they will come home and when they do come home will life be the same as before or different. On a base, everyone around you is, has, or will go through it and it's comforting.
I'm glad the people at Ft Hood have the support of their community and they will be on my mind and heart and in my prayers!

3 comments:

a girl in the life said...

it's odd, i've always felt that way too. whenever we'd go to Rilea or where ever, even just driving around, i felt like i was in a safe place with people who understood.

i guess that's not just a me thing.

Marcella{The Life After "Trust Me"} said...

Its why I dont move home when Josh deploys like so many of the other wives do. Its easier to feel sorry for yourself when you are away from it, but when alot of your neighbors are going through it at the same time, its a reminder that I am not the only one going through it!

Linda said...

In a small way, I almost wish I could move to a base while he's gone. When I was with Britt at the PX or commisary it just feels comforting somehow. It's nice to have someone who "gets" it. Thanks!