Soldier on the lam battles guilt over Iraq combat killings

[greatauntoftriplets]

Soldier on the lam battles guilt over Iraq combat killings

By Scott Calvert
Tribune Newspapers: Baltimore Sun
Published October 27, 2003

FT. CAMPBELL, Ky. -- During the Iraq war, Pfc. Tyrone Roper became a combat star. By early April his Kevlar helmet bore three hand-drawn feathers, one for each of his confirmed kills. His buddies in the 101st Airborne Division praised his machine-gun prowess. He was the one they most wanted by their side in a firefight.

These days, Roper's battles are raging mostly inside his head. He was evacuated to Ft. Campbell this past summer after being found psychologically unfit. He says he is still racked by bad dreams, acute loneliness and punishing guilt over the killings he carried out for the U.S. Army.

Now Roper, 27 and a married father of two, is on the run.

This month, days before he was to be released from the Army, he left his blue stucco rowhouse on the base, possibly headed to Texas, where his mother lives, or to Canada, where he was born. No one is sure where he went or why. But he has communicated by e-mail to The Baltimore Sun in rambling, unpunctuated and uncapitalized messages about his pain.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0310270190oct27,1,402317.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

greataunt's comment: This is such a sad story. Thanks to Scott Calvert for telling it.

[incapsulated]

1. Jesus...

That is so sad.

I can't believe this country is scarring yet another generation of young men like this.

:(

[Mari333]

2. God DAMN to HELL the *Bush Administration

DAMN THEM for THIS!!!!! This kid is only 27 yrs old...THIS is why I fought to keep my son out...a parent does not raise a child so that THEY CAN SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIFE LIVING IN HORROR...
and for what..for fucking what???? for corporate bastards !!! these kids are dying for N O T H I N G and coming home alive but damaged for life...for life....
My brother in law was a Vietnam Vet...had 2 kids, but blew his brains out one morning in his bedroom from the NIGHTMARES...
No fucking MORE this has got to end NOW.....

[Mandate My Ass]

3. Very sad

A lot of them will come home like this, or worse. The initial stages of PTSD are horrific. I hope he gets the help he needs and returns to his family.

[Pastiche423]

8. All stages of PTSG are horrific

I was at a friend's house when his buddy called him. My friend was out, so I took the call. The buddy said, I'm coming over, I need to talk. My gun will be on the seat beside me.

It was the fourth of July.

My friend came home before his buddy got there. I told him his friend was on the way over and he confirmed to me what I thought was happening.

His buddy has been back from Nam for way over thirty years. The nightmares never stop. A loud burst of noise can bring it all back in a second.

It's been quite a while since I listened helplessly to too many young men recount the horrors they'd seen and were a party to. I gave my ear and my heart to them as they tried to find a resolution that would somehow allow them to mentally just get by. Some "suceeded" on a day by day basis. Others failed.

I believe this time around, it is going to be deadlier. The times are different. Our society is different. The quickness of communication spreads the information of what this present invasion was about further and faster.

There are worse things than death. My heart, once again, aches for those that must deal w/them.

[Sperk]

4. If Smirky thinks I'm gonna let this happen to my son.....

he's got another thing coming. Parents in America better start protesting this war before it's their sons writing such e-mails...if they're lucky enough to come home alive. If Satan were to send an anti-Christ what would he look like?

[ErasureAcer]

5. We should withdraw troops immediately

[Minstrel Boy]

6. Someday Americans will know

what Bush has done to them, and the judgement will be terrible.

[Andy_Stephenson]

7. God I hate bush and Co

I really really do!