The Marlboro Man
01.31.06
Some of you may remember this photo when it first came out. Here’s some info on the soldier. It’s about post traumatic stress disorder, and the true burden that a soldier in action carry’s. Well worth the read.
The photograph hit the world on Nov. 10, 2004: a close-cropped shot of a U.S. Marine in Iraq, his face smeared with blood and dirt, a cigarette dangling from his lips, smoke curling across weary eyes.
It was an instant icon, with Dan Rather calling it “the best war photograph in recent years.” About 100 newspapers ran the photo, dubbing the anonymous warrior the “Marlboro Man.”
The man in the photograph is James Blake Miller, now 21, and he is an icon, although in ways Rather probably never imagined.
He’s quieter now — easier to anger. He turns to fight at the sound of a backfire, can’t look at fireworks without thinking of fire raining down on a city. He has trouble sleeping, and when he does, his fingers twitch on invisible triggers.
The diagnosis: post-traumatic stress disorder.
Continue Reading »
When I was in the Army I was trained to treat PTSD and other forms of Combat Fatigue. It’s a horrible condition, very scary. Let’s all pray from the men and women who suffer from this disorder and ask God to heal them and draw them closer to His presence. Amen.
# January 31st, 2006 at 11:08 pmSgt. David L. Herrera, 26, of Oceanside, Calif., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 28, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations.
Just thought I would let you all know about another hero who died for his country. Please pray for his family and friends.
# February 1st, 2006 at 2:34 amIs that the guy who’s folks and wife were at the State of the Union?
# February 1st, 2006 at 8:42 amGod Bless the men and women who allow us to sleep safely in our beds.
# February 1st, 2006 at 9:09 amamen to that medic
# February 1st, 2006 at 1:57 pmHe’s also questioning whether US forces should be in Iraq:
Sounds like the things I said. He must be an anti-American commie traitor or whatever JJ used to call me
# February 2nd, 2006 at 11:35 amP.S. Not to mention—concerning his analogy—the group (or “gang”) that attacked us was not even from Iraq at all, making it even more irrational.
# February 2nd, 2006 at 11:38 amYea Guav, you are a dirty commie.
# February 2nd, 2006 at 12:35 pm
# February 2nd, 2006 at 12:35 pmYou know all that talk turns me on JJ …. don’t go getting all Brokeback on me now haha
# February 2nd, 2006 at 2:32 pmdude. brokeback should be a banned word from PTA. It causes me to stumble, everytime.
anyways, I’m pretty sure that we’ve already discussed the whole “Iraq didn’t presonally send terrorists to blow up the WTC, but Iraq harbored the terrorists and terrorist training grounds” conversation in the past.
besides, we needed to sock it to saddam anyhow.
# February 2nd, 2006 at 2:40 pmthe whole saga of his trial is just plain hilarious. Nothing like watching a belligerent sissy try to threaten his way out of prison.:roll:
# February 2nd, 2006 at 4:05 pmWhatever, I think that is the most sensible thing you have ever typed on PTA. You are now an honorary member of the club known as “People Who Think Before They Type.”
# February 2nd, 2006 at 6:16 pmbwahahaha, Me, you just made me shoot root beer outta my nose
# February 2nd, 2006 at 6:22 pmOk, quick little interesting tidbit about this “Marlboro Man”. He was in a friend’s brother’s platoon. And they all hated him. All he did, apparently, was smoke. He put his gun down and left his men at risk. Not exactly a good soldier from what I hear. Granted, this isn’t a primary source, but it’s pretty darn close. I know the point of the article was PTSD, and I thought it was a great read, but just thought I’d throw that out there. Any questions, or if you’d like any further details, etc., just let me know. I’m sure my friend’ll be more than happy to share.
# February 2nd, 2006 at 9:30 pmGlad I could be of service JJ, I tend to make people do that every once in a while.
# February 3rd, 2006 at 6:37 amThats neat. Thank Pam.
# February 3rd, 2006 at 7:33 amMy stepmother’s cousin’s uncle’s from her first marriage told me that Pam still sucks her thumb when she thinks nobody’s looking. Granted, this isn’t a primary source, but it’s pretty darn close. If you’d like any further details, just let me know, and I’ll try to get some more third-hand information about this shocking revelation.
# February 3rd, 2006 at 7:34 amHaha! Guav, you punk.
# February 3rd, 2006 at 7:47 amI don’t know if it’s true or not but my mother’s, uncle’s, investment banker’s red-headed step-son told me that Guav touches his food to his chin before he eat it like the guy off “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
# February 3rd, 2006 at 8:54 amHahaha. Nice, JJ. And my thumb usually tastes pretty good.
Will somebody remind me to send Guav napkins for Christmas? I figure since I believe my own information there’s no reason to doubt yours…
# February 4th, 2006 at 5:09 pmJJ hahahahaha … I love that show, the wife and I watch it every night. Great episode.
# February 7th, 2006 at 6:17 pmPam, I personally know the ‘Marlboro Man’, well as I know him
# April 28th, 2006 at 4:47 pmBlake. I think that you are full of — for believing whatever whoever
told you that. He is a kind person and would never put someone
else’s live at risk, at least not intentionally. I think that you need to
recheck your resources, and tell whoever told you that to shut their
mouths because he was over there risking his life for yours!
Which is probably something that you wouldn’t do for him or for
anyone else. Your resource is probably jealous because it wasn’t
them on the cover of every newspaper in this country.
Dont underestimate the power of Pam, she said it wasnt a primary source, theres not need for you to say she’s full of $h!t because she didnt hear about it firsthand. Dont shoot the messenger.
# April 29th, 2006 at 5:08 am