A Life Can Never Be The Same
By Dylan Hardwick- US Army veteran of Iraq
2/28/06
Last night I went to dinner with my former platoon sergeant who was visiting from out of state. I had served under him
during our tour of duty with the US Army in the Middle East. Seeing him was great, no doubt. However, the more we talked
the worse things seemed. Of course, when one returns from an extended period of absence away from civilian life and
families, it is never easy. But I think far more so for soldiers, especially for those who have “served their Country,”
or whatever noble cause we were convinced we were doing?
When I came home, it was very difficult. I am still looking over my shoulder, and looking at household things trying to
not think that it could be a bomb. Normal “Civilian” people would never imagine being afraid of a pile of trash or just
being scared when you hear a loud noise. Then there are the nights when you are so tired you could sleep for days, but
cannot. You lay there and so many things go through your mind to the point where sleep isn’t even an option.
When you are sent over seas, you may or may not know the people to whom you now are to trust with your life. And that is
a very scary fact, I look back on my deployment over seas and realize how worried I should have been, but wasn’t. I
suppose I am a product of the brainwashing or what the government calls “training”. And now, it’s a damn scary thing to
think about.
My life, you could say is starting to transition into something close to resembling normal some days, if that’s what I
could call it? I have been home since November, and that is a short time to try to readjust, especially if you have to
come home to more than I did. I am a single person with no children. So, I can do nothing but feel pain for the married
members of the armed forces with families who try to do this. Because I saw the pain across a table last night, and the
feelings I could see in my platoon sergeants eyes showed me how a life will never be the same.
Dylan Hardwick
U.S. Army Veteran