Thank you, Troy, and please accept my apology for being in a bit of a snit.
Within the first few years of returning stateside, many nurses sought help for our problems and were turned away--by professionals and by peer to peer support groups.
Apparently no one understood we also had PTSD and part of that was survivors guilt, and guilt in general...despite our efforts, not everyone made it home obviously.
Several of my nursing sisters, and myself, spent countless days wondering if we had done anything differently...would they have made it home.
Yeah, I know the answer but it's still hard at times.

stumpy, I have hit the floor while shouting, Incoming!, when there would be a particularly loud noise--living near a military base does not help especially when maneuvers are near daily occurrences.
on a lighter note, I was leaving a shopping mall, don't know what the big bang was, but I hit the ground and so did seven other Vets...we could see each other and we burst out laughing (slightly embarrassed)...we went to the coffee shop to talk and share and welcome each other home. Problem was everyone wanted to sit with their backs to the wall. Eight of us squabbling like kids...lol...the manager rearranged the sitting area and we all had our backs against that wall.
When we questioned the manager, he told us he is a Marine and understood completely...
Semper Fi!
Both my younger brothers are Marines. The remains of one are in Nam and his name is on the Wall. The other died a few years ago from brain cancer, the type usually considered connected to Agent Orange exposure.
His widow fought and won bennies from it...
Strangest damn--oops! darn--thing happened the night of his wake. We went outside to smoke--I know I know it's a bad habit--and started talking to another family.
Long story short--their Marine died of the same cancer, was stationed in the same area as my brother, and in the same year...

I didn't mean to write a novella! It's most likely part of my PTSD that once I start writing...and to think that at one time all I could do was basically grunt a Go To The Hot Place.
Coping mechanism for sure...in response to the suggestion to several of us "females" that our hormones were the source of our problems; here's a Valium for you.

I salute all Vets and their families.
I'm an Army brat and my gratitude goes back a long way.

Cap
Again, I appreciate your over-looking my initial attitude, Troy...
I'm very glad you also made it home.