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Coming Back From War

AIR DATE: Wednesday, January 23rd 2008

POSTED BY: EMILY HARRIS

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What do you say to a person lying flat on his back in a hospital in Baghdad after getting hit by a roadside bomb? I was reporting for NPR when I first met Corporal William Congleton in the Green Zone hospital. He was wondering whether he'd have to lose a leg. Or two.

I told him he looked great (that sounds really cheerleadery, but it was true), and I told him it seemed he was in good hands. He told me what happened — he said he never blacked out, and it all seemed pretty vivid in his mind. Then I asked him where he was from. (You have to get this basic info, trite as it seems at the time.) He said Oregon, and listening back to the tape from that interview I can hear the sort of silly delight of connection in my voice. "Me too!" I said. "Whereabouts?"

That was four years ago. I wonder what happened to many people I met in Iraq, and he always stayed in my mind as someone I could actually find again. So last week I did.

William Congleton will join us to tell us more about that day that changed his life in Iraq and what has happened since. He has been through a lot of physical and emotional pain, he got married (choosing the day his convoy was hit as his wedding date), and he lost one foot after working to avoid any amputations.

We'll hear also from Mandy Martin, another Oregon vet who came back from a year of service: not physically injured, but a whole new person her family didn't recognize... or like very much.

It's an hour about remembering, recovery, and reintegration.

Tagged as: iraq · ptsd · veteran

I have a brother-in-law who was in the military in Iraq. He was home for about a year, after retiring, before he signed up as a contractor in Afghanistan. I often times wonder what the parts of combat make some people go back, while others find the phsyical or psychological injuries as their main experience.

I sometimes wonder if we let him down in reintegrating him back into the stateside cultural, and what we can do when he comes home in a year to help better reintegrate him this time.

JuliaMJK — Tue Jan. 22nd 10:01p.m.

Show 2: What's the premise or goal of this show. What do you want to illuminate and what's the Oregon tie-in?

This show will be more satisfying if you set the stage and place each story in a larger context.

Gene Dieken — Wed Jan. 23rd 12:23p.m.

I'm with Gene. I think this show needs to find it's purpose (or a less front and center time slot). I've listened to both shows this week and it was almost painful- amateurish interview questions. Also, I'm all for the local tie-in but show 2 was just a rehash of old national news.

lone limner — Wed Jan. 23rd 4:15p.m.

I agree, Gene. Context, big picture, it's vital, for sure. And - I like the word you chose - satisfying. All around. I was drawn in to Bill's experience, and it was not an easy interview for me because it took me back to some of my own stresses of Iraq - much more minor than his or Mandy's, but real. Anyway, backing off for context and - if I may - brighter illumination would have been good. It's what we're shooting for. Thanks for the reminder.

Emily Harris — Thu Jan. 24th 1:41a.m.

Have Bill's injury or Mandy's experiences influenced their views on war, and the war on terror?

Nickel Arcade — Wed Jan. 23rd 12:27p.m.

I would like to thank Bill for his service. I would like to know what he would say to a cousin or a friend of a friend that is considering signing up for The Guard and wanted to go to Iraq. What would Bill say/counsel?

dougadler — Wed Jan. 23rd 12:34p.m.

Is there a sense from your guests that the military did right by them, or was there more that they would have wanted from the military?

JuliaMJK — Wed Jan. 23rd 12:35p.m.

Thank you Emily for the broadcast this morning.

To Bill and Mandy, thank you for your service and welcome home!

dkimbrow — Wed Jan. 23rd 12:53p.m.

Bill and Mandy, thanks for your work and for sharing your experiences with us.

After what you saw being there and what your life has been like after your return, would you do it again? would you go again?

Silvia

silviat — Wed Jan. 23rd 12:53p.m.

This was a good and timely show. I want Bill and Mandy to know how much we all appreciate their service. I am against the war in general, but I fully support the troops, and I think they deserve our full support, and all we can do for them when they return. This can seem like a contradiction, but I don't see it that way. The Iraq war is ill-advised, and is a distraction from the real fight in Afghanistan. The servicemen and women who have signed up to serve didn't have the choice to fight - it was and is their job. They are there for us, and we have to be there for them, both while they serve overseas, and when they return. Like it or not, we owe them a lot for what they do, regardless of our personal opinions about the war. It is shameful when we cannot support our servicemen and women properly, either overseas or at home.

jmarcw — Wed Jan. 23rd 1:07p.m.

I agree. As someone passionately opposed to war, I still feel that I need to do what I can to support the troops. So, I write letters, help my cub scouts send packages to the soldiers at Ghazni base, and try to say thank you to all the vets and current soldiers I know.

I do wish there were more organizations that had ways for those of us who are opposed to war but want to support the soldiers in ways that do not include supporting the war.

I recently called an organization that was looking for volunteers to pack up supplies to send to the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was told that the first thing they had everyone do was sign a petition for congress in support of the war and soldiers. When I said I wasn't interested in goign ot their website and signing it, that I only wanted to come help, the lady called me a traitor and hung up on me.

JuliaMJK — Wed Jan. 23rd 1:25p.m.

Julia, If you are looking for a way to support the soldiers, there is a place online where you can support the soldiers directly called Soldiers Angels. On this site, no one cares whether or not you support the war, it's all about the soldiers. You can sign up to "adopt" a specific soldier or you can just periodically send care packages to soldiers who need them. Last year I adopted a soldier from Indiana who was in Iraq and we emailed back and forth (he had access to a computer) and it was lots of fun! He was expecting a baby so I even got to send stuff to his fiance' in Indiana for the baby!

When you adopt a soldier, you agree to send them care packages once or twice a month for the time that they are over there. If you can't do a long term committment, you can just send packages periodically to soldiers through the website. Even though I'm NOT a supporter of the war, I AM a supporter of the soldiers and have found that this is an great way to do that directly. Check it out at www.soldiersangels.com The organization is in demand with the soldiers (many of them know about it) so there are many soldiers waiting to be adopted and supported. They deserve it!

Thanks Bill and Mandy for your service!

kmbrly101 — Wed Jan. 23rd 4p.m.

Toward the end of your show, your guest commented that he didn't previously understand how people could support the troops but not the war before the comments of one of the callers. I, too am one of those, but not so much as my cousin. He has a master's degree from Columbia and was working in the office of Sen. Carper (D-Del) when 9-11 happened. He was/is adamantly against the war in Iraq (not the war on terror), but is more against the fact that predominantly lower income, less educated kids are off fighting our wars. Thus, despite his politics, he enlisted in the US Marines (refused OCS). He was on patrol in Fallujah when a snipers' bullet pierced his neck, severing his carotid artery and just missing his spinal cord. Miraculously, he survived with no brain damage, though lost the use of his right arm. He is done with rehab, and has begged to complete his obligation through some desk assignment. Now that is the penultimate example of supporting our troops, despite being against the war.

lyanase — Thu Jan. 24th 12:51a.m.

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