Interview with combat veteran, Army National Guard Sgt. Chris Lindsay, 32, on his experience transitioning back to civilian life.

by | Feb 22, 2012

The following quote is from a recent news story in the below link.  It is a good measure of the family dynamics of a combat veteran’s transition back to civilian life.  A veteran’s family serves too!  I am most encouraged by the number of news items of late that help the cause of PTSD awareness and what our heroes are going through in a challenging transition back to a normal life style.  It is tough to say the least, but friends and family can clearly help, and should.  During my day as a child of a WWII combat veteran, we didn’t know about it, talk about, nor hear anything in the news about it.  No social networking, and not even support groups at our schools or church during that time so many years ago.  So, like me, most of we boomers who lived in a toxic military family home, became angry adults, taking on the symptoms of PTSD ourselves.  It took me until age 64 while researching and writing my book to find out.  What a tragedy!  I hope my book and blog helps countless children of WWII and Vietnam veterans to become more aware and seek treatment.  It is never too late.  I am no longer angry,  just sad…


Steve Sparks
Author
Reconciliation: A Son’s Story

Nine months ago, Chris said family moments his wife Kristy and three young children were rare, “I was getting snappy with my family. I was losing my temper easily.”
He tried to push those emotions aside.
“It took me nearly losing my marriage before I finally agreed something had to be done,” explained Chris.
“I gave him an ultimatum: Either you get help or I’m going to take our three kids and I’ll leave you,” said Kristy. http://www.wbir.com/news/article/206845/2/Returning-from-War-An-East-TN-soldier-shares-his-story-of-PTSD–getting-back-to-civilian-life

About the author

Steve Sparks is a retired information technology sales and marketing executive with over 35 years of industry experience, including a Bachelors’ in Management from St. Mary’s College. His creative outlet is as a non-fiction author, writing about his roots as a post-WWII US Navy military child growing up in the 1950s-1960s.
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