Hello world!
I've been given this great opportunity to communicate via "blog" for the first time in my life. While this may be a simple process for most of you, I am incarcerated. In other words I am locked up in jail and to be perfectly honest, this really sucks.

Let me encourage anyone who has served in combat operations in Iraq or Afghanistan to seek help if you're sensing PTSD symptoms. Please...man up and face it before you lose everything. Or worse, end up hurting someone else.

I've never been to jail before and did not live a criminal lifestyle. In fact I was (am) a law abiding citizen. As a sergeant I served over 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Receiving 2 honorable discharges I had a top secret clearance and 4 tours in combat zones. After 9/11 I reenlisted and returned to Iraq in 2004. So was it the half dozen, ear ringing, close calls? Seeing a passenger filled bus drive over a land mine intended for me and disintegrate 30 yards away? Or was it the image of a fellow sergeant set on fire by a phosphorous I.E.D? Maybe it was knowing the bloody pancake which used to be a simple truck driver would never talk to his kids again, after his own truck flipped on top of him? Perhaps it was the 14 year old kid screaming while swinging the stump of his arm in the air painting everything with his blood? Maybe it was the fact that we laughed about these things, To not go insane with rage you laugh at such horrors like it was stand up comedy. Can you relate?

Before being arrested myself I thought anyone in prison was scum and getting what they deserve. The experience has shown me that while we suffer the consequences of poor decisions, most of these men are not scum. They're just like you, but more on that later.

Here's what you need to hear now. Your family and friends may step in and tell you, "something's wrong." YOU need to listen even if you feel okay and in control.

I knew deep down I had symptoms of PTSD, but feared being labelled as crazy or losing my job or being rejected by my loved ones. I certainly couldn't talk to them about it. While I thought those dark memories were buried forever I understand better now. A fresh combat experience will rekindle those smoldering memories you never dealt with.

Whatever the cause, I ended up in an altercation with police and now in my 4th year of a 16 year sentence.

The battle rages on.

"Semper Fi!"

David