When we went into Afghanistan and Iraq, we were told we needed to fight the war abroad so that we wouldn't have to fight it at home. But as our veterans return from the front lines, the war is brought right to our doorstep.
When the Band of Brothers returned to Colorado Springs after their first tour in Iraq, a series of violent crimes swept through the city. Journalist David Philipps went to investigate, and soon discovered that the men involved were all part of that same battalion. The Band of Brothers had been deployed to the most violent places in Iraq and some of the soldiers were suffering from what they had seen and done in combat. Without much time to recover, they were sent back to the front lines. After their second tour of duty, the battalion was renamed the Lethal Warriors, and true to their name, they brought the violence home.
Lethal Warriors brings to life the chilling true stories of these veterans -- from their enlistment, through relentless tours of duty, to the creeping effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and their failure to reintegrate in society. Philipps applies his piercing insight and relentless investigative skills not only to this particular unit, but to the broader issue as it rages throughout the country, unraveling the painful reality of PTSD -- the science, the stigma, and what needs to be done to fight back.
By exploring the evolving nature of war trauma through history -- from "shell shock" to "battle fatigue" to "combat stress injuries" -- Philipps shows that the problem has always existed and that, as the nature of warfare changes, it is only getting worse. In highlighting the inspiring stories of the resilient men and women in the Armed Forces who have the courage to confront the issue and offer a potential lifeline to the soldiers, Lethal Warriors challenges us to deal openly, honestly and intelligently with the true costs of war.
http://www.amazon.com/Lethal-Warriors-When-Band-Brothers/dp/0230104401/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291511607&sr=1-1
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