In Their Words

Joseph L. Burris

My name is Joseph L. Burris. I am a recently discharged veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was deployed twice as a Combat medic. I crossed the line in the initial attack, and deployed a second time during 2004-2005.

On first returning stateside from Iraq, I was scared. Iraq was a "simple" place for me. I had a job, I went and did it. I didn't have to deal with anything else, or any other people besides other soldiers. I didn't know what to expect from the people back in the United States.

Every day in Iraq was scary. I was on a Quick Reaction Force. Our job was to rapidly respond to any incident on the road. Needless to say, there were lots of attacks. I had to patch up many fellow soldiers, and keep them alive long enough to get medevaced to a combat hospital. Time slows down in those cases. I spend every day wondering if I did the right things for some of the soldiers who didn't make it under my care.

I try not to talk too much about specific incidents to my family. They're not for good conversation. I deal with PTSD regarding it. The stigma attached to having any sort of mental health problem in the military makes it hard to seek treatment. I medicated myself with alcohol before I finally buckled down and admitted I had a problem.

PTSD affects everyone who comes back from downrange. Anything the Army, or VA says, in my opinion, is wrong. You can't go to war without being changed. Even sitting on the FOB doing nothing, there's always the out of the blue threat of being mortared, with no warning. That wears on you.

Being discharged now, I'm finding navigating VA to be horrendous. I take a couple medications to help with PTSD symptoms. Since I haven't been evaluated by VA for them yet, I can't use VA benefits to refill. I'm paying out of my own pocket to see a local provider, so I can continue my treatment and lead a normal life.

We can do more to help our vets. We have to.

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