| My Tour In Hell: A Marine's Battle with Combat Trauma | | | | marriage ends. He is unable to maintain relationships |
| David W. Powell | | | | with his children. He goes from job to job. He finds that |
| Modern History Press, an imprint of Loving Healing | | | | he has become obsolete because his computer |
| Press (2006) | | | | programming experience is two years out of date. His |
| ISBN 1932690220 | | | | self esteem suffers and due to his experiences he |
| "My Tour in Hell" is the first book in "The Reflections of | | | | has difficulties taking orders from superiors. Along the |
| History Series." It is a very powerfully written | | | | way, Powell learns about a technique called "Traumatic |
| autobiography by David W. Powell about his horrific | | | | Incident Reduction" (TIR) and is able to use the |
| experiences while serving in Vietnam and how his life | | | | techniques to free himself from the symptoms of Post |
| drastically changed upon his return to the states. The | | | | Traumatic Stress Disorder. |
| horrors that Powell had to endure while in Vietnam | | | | I highly recommend this book for people who are |
| caused him to experience Post Traumatic Stress | | | | either experiencing PTSD or are close to someone |
| Disorder (PTSD). As a result of this disorder, he is | | | | that has it. I think that Rehabilitation Counselors who |
| unable to maintain steady employment, healthy | | | | work with military veterans would also benefit from |
| relationships, and he has difficulties with his emotions. | | | | reading this because it will give them a greater |
| The disorder also affects his ability to sleep, and keeps | | | | understanding of what these veterans have gone |
| him stuck in a hyper vigilant state. | | | | through. War Veterans would also gain something |
| Powell goes into great depth about what he | | | | from reading this book because they will find that they |
| experienced in Vietnam. He makes himself vulnerable | | | | are not alone in dealing with the trauma created by |
| to his readers by writing about his reactions to | | | | their experiences. |
| situations that he encountered. He has to deal with his | | | | I asked a disabled Marine Vet if I should share this |
| own reactions when he kills. He also has to deal being | | | | book with my nephew while he is in Iraq. I wasn't sure |
| abandoned by his comrades while under enemy | | | | if it would be too much for him to read while he is |
| attack. He sees people shot, raped, or killed for no | | | | involved in combat. The Marine felt that it would be |
| reason. He learns to keep his mouth shut about while | | | | good for him because it talks about the problems and |
| he watches supposedly honorable soldiers commit | | | | symptoms that he might experience and most |
| these crimes. He watches while soldiers intentionally | | | | importantly how to deal with them. "My Tour in Hell" |
| injure themselves as a way to get out of the military. | | | | shows that there is hope for people that are |
| These same men receive Purple Hearts because they | | | | experiencing PTSD. |
| were injured in war. There are pictures included, that | | | | "My Tour in Hell" has been nominated for the 2007 |
| make the people that he was involved with more real. | | | | Charles E. Shelton Award for unique literary |
| There are also some horrible pictures of victims of the | | | | achievement. This award honors our nation's most |
| war. These are hard to stomach, but show the reader | | | | famous and bravest Prisoner of War, shot down in |
| that these people really did exist. | | | | Vietnam and never returned. |
| When Powell returns home, his life is a mess. His | | | | |