Soldier's Heart

"This highly significant and relevant volume focuses on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a devastating but little understood wound suffered by many American soldiers who served in the Vietnam War. The heart of the book consists of highly revealing interviews with five Vietnam veterans who relate, in candid and graphic detail, the impact of the disorder upon their lives, and how they attempted to blunt that impact by resorting to alcohol and drugs. Their return to civilian life often signaled the beginning of downward spirals marked by inability to relate to other people, drifting from one job to another, ultimate unemployment, and alienation from their families. The authors are to be commended for placing this crippling disorder within a meaningful context. The specialist as well as non-specialist will profit enormously by reading this volume the contents of which have obvious implications for the present and future." -- Willard B. Gatewood, Alumni Distinguished Professor of History (Emeritus), University of Arkansas "William Shroder and Ron Dawe take us into the hearts, souls and lives of Vietnam Vets, with gripping stories that will tear your heart and bring you to tears, opening your mind to the emotional devastation of war and to the ongoing needs of such courageous soldiers. Interspersed with sound psychological observations about the development of each soldier's post traumatic stress syndrome, and a fascinating review of the diagnosis, their stories are brilliantly told--as vivid as seeing a movie-with scenes that bring the stories to life. I beseech everyone to read this book. Be inspired to take some action to insure that soldiers get the honor-and treatment-they need and deserve." -- Dr. Judy Kuriansky, clinical psychologist, Columbia University Teachers College, Editor of Terror in the Holy Land: Inside the Anguish of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Praeger, 2006) "Soldier's Heart provides a unique perspective of how certain reactions and symptoms may emanate from combat and other life-threatening situations. And it is written to be understandable, regardless of the reader's background." -- John F. Somner, Jr., Executive Director, The American Legion, Combat Medic, Vietnam

Living in the shadow interior of the brain's limbic system and invisible to the untrained eye, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can not only torture its victims for a lifetime, but often reaches beyond its victims to negatively influence family members and loved ones. This work conveys the symptoms of PTSD in non-technical language.

Living in the shadowy interior of the brain's limbic system and invisible to the untrained eye, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can not only torture its victims for a lifetime, but reaches beyond victims to negatively influence family members and loved ones. Soldier's Heart, titled after one of the early names for PTSD, delves into the lives of otherwise normal American veterans who, seemingly for no reason, display lasting patterns of bad choices and erratic, self-destructive behavior. Analysis of the life portraits of combat veterans brings the myriad symptoms of PTSD to light, equipping the lay reader to recognize the disorder and gain a thorough understanding that can be the foundation for steps to facilitate healing. Four men and one woman who served in Vietnam describe how PTSD still tears at their lives 30 years later. The symptoms of PTSD are conveyed in non-technical language by the veterans featured in this absorbing work, presented by authors Schroder and Dawe, both Vietnam veterans and, respectively, now a writer-businessman and a mental health counselor.

To fully explore the lifelong effects of war trauma in the 20th century, the focus must be on Vietnam veterans, explain Schroder and Dawe. Profound statements on the human condition, the narratives of the five featured veterans, from across branches of the military, offer emotional and intellectual comfort to millions of Americans whose relatives and friends have served the country in time of war. This book, which also includes a glossary of military terms, will be of interest to veterans and their families, as well as to counselors, therapists, psychologists, veteran care workers and students of studies in trauma, psychopthology, and treatment. These are more than war stories, because for these veterans the lingering war is internal—and it may never end.