March 14, 2008 -
A badly-wounded Iraq War veteran, missing since February, has been found dead inside a culvert in Charlotte County, Florida, according to Indiana's News and Tribune.As GamePolitics reported last month, 24-year-old Eric Hall, still suffering from grievous combat wounds as well as post-traumatic stress disorder, fled a relative's home after a session of Call of Duty 4. Hall, who had previously caused a traffic accident in his native Indiana after hallucinating an Iraqi roadblock, may have experienced a flashback of some sort. Relatives report that his combat experiences, which included seeing his best friend decapitated at Fallujah, left him badly traumatized.
It's not clear why Hall crawled 60 feet into the roadside culvert. His motorcycle was found nearby.
Comments
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reading this, think maybe I had missed the point. Think maybe it wasn't about the snow so much as just plain driving in adverse conditions.
Ah well. Of course, condolences to the family. Unfortunately, I'm inclined to believe disorders of this nature rise to the surface eventually. If it hadn't been CoD, it might just as easily have been something else. As far as I'm concerned, he should probably be considered a casualty of the war.
@Gameboy
He'd probably been debriefed, but PSTD isn't the sort of thing that goes away easily.
@Nick
Unfortunately it's almost inevitable that someone will try and use this for an agenda. I can only hope the only agenda it gets used for is to push for better mental care for our veterans.
Didn't we say no soap boxing here, and woop dee dee have a bowl of me. Coming from a Military family doesn't make you an expert on PTSD. FYI I come from a military, oh heres the kicker joined the military and had PTSD.
And wow saying "There's a diffrence between just war and a unjust war" is BS! I can tell you right now, only people who have a pleasure in killing would not go "I just shot a man, what have I done?!" I can tell you from the way I am, I would have PTSD from killing a man in self defense or accidental homicide.
Don't you dare take a Marines death or any brance of service from ANY country to further pro-war or anti-war soap boxing. A death is a death and honorable war or not, this man died with honor so don't you dare attempt to disgrace him.
Once again I'm sorry soap boxing from a soldiers death just angers me to no end.
Semper Fidalius
I thought soldiers had to be debriefed after returning home. A family member of mine was in Iraq a few years back and was told not to drive until after he had been debriefed (for fear of flashbacks). Was he not yet debriefed? Or was he just that upset?
It's more of what's referred to as "Wife Beating Debriefing" it's an unpleasent term where small groups of people returning from a conflict are "briefed" on how to readjust to realitively peaceful area.
Wife Beating Debriefing I know is used in the USAF, not sure about the other brances.
The transition from full-time garrison life state-side is hard enough. War veterans will still try to take cover whenever they hear someone say "Wow, look at that!" even if they haven't been near actual combat. I can't even imagine what it must be like for someone like this Marine.
As for the agenda, this will more than likely be used to enhance PTSD awareness. With any luck, it'll also be used to shorten tours.
RIP.
Sounds like he may have been trying to escape a brush fire by hiding in the culvert. He may also have had another flashback and panicked. But the official investigation is still ongoing.
My sympathies for the family.
And I hope, for gods sake hope to everyone from Hilary to the Jack of all trades never tries to use this for any Videogame Bashing....because it is just too much in bad taste...
I don't know what they go though, but I sure hope that people who return home from war hope that they go to see someone to talk to about their problems if they know themselves that their war expeirience has stressed them out so badly.
As we say in Australia, less we forget....
It is so hard to control something like that when it happens in the mind...it is something that I feel no one can fully control or get over.
Being debriefed wouldn't probably made a difference. I'm a veteran myself, but I'll give you an example. Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? Well... just add images to that! One thing that helps is meditation, taking control of your mind and focusing on something else. Believe it or not this is harder than what it sounds, but once achieved this can help immensely. To any veterans out there take my advice buy a book on meditation and take control.
Its not a matter of "if" certain anti-game folks exploit this, just a matter of "when".
Condolences to the family.
I have a cousin in the Air Force right now. He'll be off to Iraq again in a few weeks. My family is terrified for him.
This young man is no different. And although I don't know what PTSD is like, I can understand, even if its the tiniest bit. A teacher of mine had flashbacks very rarely. He's an ex-Marine. I forget where he served though... I want to say Vietnam... but that might not be right...
Not that I'm aware of, but I do know some therapists have used FPSs to try to trigger certain emotions in PTSD patients in order to help treat them. It's not usually the patient playing though, just watching the action on a screen.
Some games have done flashback type events. MGS 3, where you go down the 'Sorrow river' surrounded by all the ghosts of those you've killed up until that point in the game. Max Payne, where you twice 're-live' the trauma of finding your wife and child murdered (those were whacked levels...)
Thoughts and well wishes to this Vet's family.
I'm going to school you in a little psycology. PTSD can happen from even seemingly minor events, such as a near miss on the freeway, it's the inability to form a proper chping mechignism.
I had PTSD after being stabbed, so it can be triggered from minor events. So get off you damn soap box and show the Marine some proper respect.
Sorry things like that just piss me off that someone uses a member of the military members death to further their soap box.
@ GP
Can you by chance put Semper Fi somewhere in the post?
Actaully yes Max Payne had PTSD, they we're flash backs and bad dreams.
PS Sorry for double post.
I still maintain that this is the responsibility of the US Military and the Federal Government.
RIP to all fallen soldiers.
It's in human nature to do things to ourselves that we shouldn't. Especially when we're very far from in our right minds, which is unfortunately the case for most sufferers of PTSD.
This story also fills me with something approaching white hot rage. I've felt for a long time now that there's not enough done for the wounded soldiers. It seems like we just patch up their bodies and send them home with a pat on the back. There needs to be follow up and psychological care as well. I think this story, and the others like it, are a clear indicator of just how much reform we need in this area.
But the potential for a political scandal is nauseating, Florida? Jack Thompson is a Florida attorney.
Ergh.
It's sad that events like these show the short-comings in the VA system.
To remember our fallen son, I have no words that can express the feel we all have, only a poem that have been spoken hundreds of thousands of times before.
The Final inspection by Anonymous
The Marine stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you Marine,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The Marine squared his shoulders and
said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Marine waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God,
"Step forward now, you Marine,
You've borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
PTSD can occur even outside of combat, as other posters have said. Look, the validity war stirs up passions on both sides, but the debate doesn't have to be brought to this thread.
Having a sick loved one missing for a whole month must have been terrifying. I feel so sorry for his family.