Much has been written of the short-term experience of combat trauma. Almost nothing has been documented about how that trauma impacts individuals years after their first conflict experiences and into later life. Here, Johnson relates the stories of fifteen of his combat brothers to share with the world what their terror of four decades ago has done to them and how it affects them to this day. With candor and vivid detail, they reveal how their combat trauma symptoms still infect their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors on a daily basis. Those returning from battle now and their family and friends will find here a roadmap of what to expect from those suffering from PTSD as a result of combat. With this knowledge, today's veterans and those who love and care for them can tackle the issues and challenges so that symptoms may be minimized and addressed. Those who still carry these wounds will find that they are not alone, and that there are ways of dealing with the horror, no matter how long ago it may have been. Johnson concludes the book with resources for obtaining help and mending the spirit in the face of what can be debilitating thoughts and fears.

1 1. Then and Now2 2. We Sixteen - Who We Are3 I. GOING TO THE HELL OF COMBAT4 3. Our Trauma5 4. Broken Bodies, Minds and Brotherhood6 II. HOME (BITTER) SWEET HOME7 5. On The Home Front8 6. Ignored by the Government, Society and the Public9 III. LIVING WITH OUR TRAUMA - SYMPTOMS10 7. Sleep Problems and Nightmares11 8. Flashbacks12 9. Triggers13 10. Withdrawal, Numbness and Depression14 11. Fear and Anger15 12. Hyper Vigilance, Startle and Concentration16 13. Guilt, Trust, Denial17 14. Memories and Re-experiencing Combat Trauma18 15. Work and Career19 16. Family, Faith and Morality20 17. Physical Problems and Combat Trauma21 18. Wannabees, Liars and Pretenders22 IV. HOPE AND HELP - Care and Treatment23 19. Re-establishment of the Brotherhood24 20. Treating Ourselves25 21. The Veterans Administration26 22. Veterans Helping Veterans27 23. Then and Now - Again28 24. In Memoriam - Mitch Perdue