Marine Found

[SJB358]

Guys, this feller was a GREAT Marine. Recon Marine, Mountain Warfare Instructor, the works. Something happened when he split from his wife, but it is hard to see things like this as he was an excellent operator. He ended up doing a few years in Guy Miner's detention system for something to do with an armed offense. I don't believe it was robbery or anything, but it was dumb on his part. We floated together in 99-2000 and 2001-2002. I believe between a little PTSD and life gone wrong, nothing has really came out well for him. Most all of his real problems happened long before folks in the MC knew much about PTSD or any of that. Not saying what he ever did was justified, but the guy was the real deal.. Sad to see him in such a state now though.. Last time I saw him was when he was a Mountain Warfare Instructor up in Pickle Meadows.. Again, talented, skilled, deliberate operator..

On a positive note, he does seem to be maintaining his Mountain Warfare Skills!

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/10/ma ... latestnews

Sorry guys, didn't mean to post this in the RIFLES section... I just got the article from a mate and made a mistake.. Jim/Fotis if you could fix me I would appreciate it. Scotty

 

[JD338]

I wish him well and hope he gets the help he needs.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Scotty - I dislike seeing our fellow veterans, of any branch, in that sort of condition. It's pretty easy to get your head messed up, dealing with the stress of duty & possibly combat. Sometimes it takes a massive effort to undo all that.

I've run into guys having trouble w/PTSD (or other mental/emotional problems) often. Like the Trooper in your story, I often rely on that good old warrior-brother thing to help out. It usually works.

Hoping Staff Sergeant Cooper gets the help he needs.

Pickle Meadows - now that name brings back some great memories. Pickle Bunker.

Semper Fi, Guy

 

[SJB358]

Scotty - I dislike seeing our fellow veterans, of any branch, in that sort of condition. It's pretty easy to get your head messed up, dealing with the stress of duty & possibly combat. Sometimes it takes a massive effort to undo all that.

I've run into guys having trouble w/PTSD (or other mental/emotional problems) often. Like the Trooper in your story, I often rely on that good old warrior-brother thing to help out. It usually works.

Hoping Staff Sergeant Cooper gets the help he needs.

Pickle Meadows - now that name brings back some great memories. Pickle Bunker.

Semper Fi, Guy

It is about the 1st Marine in my circles that has gone really wrong like that. Some of us have gone astray, but thankful to being surrounded by other GREAT Marines, we were brought back into the fold. Sometimes a break is all that is needed, sometimes it is more serious. Physical wounds are the easier to treat ones, the mental stuff, well, that is the tough one..

Pickle Meadows and the surrounding area is some of the most awesome mountains around. Talk about preparing for a deployment. We felt like Mountain Men after carrying a ruck up and down those mountains for two weeks. I am not sure anyone could have stopped us back then!

 

[DrMike]

Good that he had the training to survive and good that the LEO treated him with respect. I do pray he gets the help he needs. I witnessed a fair amount of that with Viet Vets in Canada, a high percentage of whom were Marines.

 

[6mm Remington]

I wish the man the best with the hard time he's having right now. A lot of good people struggle every day with things that no-one around them knows about or understands. One tough man to survive as he did out there.
David

 

[35 Whelen]

What a mess this poor fella is in.................................... gosh he must be one tough SOB to still be alive out there in that atire............ sad to hear he is in such a state of mind. Probably still upset about the wife thing as well everything else he has going on! You better call him Scotty; and let him know you are worried about him. Sure it would mean alot to him right now; as he is likely thinking some horrible stuff, and can use all the help he can get

 

[Too Tall]

Theres a lot to say about healing. I have been doing and trying for 39 years. Hardest thing is when people who wern't there telling you, "I understand what your going through." So many Vets, get the help they need from other Vets. It depends on how you were raised, I think.

Hey I hope your friend finds his place, again.

Semper Fi

 

[Desert Fox]

Sad story. God bless to all our service men and women.

 

[Elkman]

"God bless them all"

 

[BK]

Semper Fidelis..... Always Faithful

I really respect the fact that Marines, by and large, look out for each other, even post-service.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Sad to see such a fine Marine go thru these mental trials. I hope he finds himself again.

I support a local fishing tournament at West Point for disabled vets. All of these vets have been physically disabled in some manner. They're very appreciative and we have alot of fun with inter-service rivalry and such.

Those vets that have been injured mentally are the hardest to assist. They carry a stigma of embarrassment and shame. They all need a wingman or foxhole buddy.

 

[.280 Remington]

Scotty I'm bummed to see your friend in this condition. I am glad that a fellow brother is alive and well though. Those of us that are lucky to not have those issues will never understand, but can only be there for our buddies when they need it. I too have friends with PTSD, among other issues and I count my blessings everyday for those that are still on this earth. I have two friends that could not deal with the battle they were going through. One was a mentor to me. Double bronze star, double purple heart. A true warrior. All I can say is he is in a better place now, without the torture he was going through everyday.

Glad your buddy is well Scotty, it's always great to hear of such stories when the outcome is good.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Scotty, I hope that your friend is able to stay in a permanently good place, mentally from now on. We need more people around who understand service and heroism in a positive, practical and experienced way. I hope that he gets what ever help that he needs and seeks out. PTSD or whatever may be hiss issue, it can be a real challenge to get rubber to-the-road, clinical counseling sometimes.

Life can be an arduous enough path and to have to do it along is not good sometimes. I hope that your friend can find whatever he needs in the way of help, friendship or counseling.

 

[SJB358]

We all kinda lost touch with Coop after he got out. Last time I really heard much from him was when he was in prison for the armed offense. We sent him some care packages and things like that, but as any unit, we moved on and to be totally honest, we all lost touch with him. This was the first I have heard about him since 05-06 I guess. None of his old comms are able to get through to him, so it is harder to get in touch. I hope they are able to help him out. It is pretty rough to see a guy going through this stuff.

Mike nailed it though, some of the demons are pretty rough on guys. I feel lucky I've gotten through most all of everything, but then again, I am a team rat and have plenty of guys around me to chat with. Helps all of us out.