Guard briefs community on what to expect when troops come home
By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

With their tour of duty in Afghanistan soon coming to an end, soldiers from the local National Guard will make the swift transition from life in a war zone to the comforts of home.

To help make that change much easier, members of the community were on hand Wednesday for a reintegration briefing at Gaffney City Hall.

Hundreds of businesses were invited to the briefing. Its purpose is to help families deal with the possible difference they could see in a loved one when they come home.

"They have been over there for 16 months killing bad guys to help us," Chief Warrant Officer Terry O' Conner said. "But they have been in a war zone for all of that time, and it takes a while for that to wear off. It is up to you to make their transition from being at war to home easier."

While at war, troops only have one duty - staying alive. Choices available to those in society such as when to sleep and what to eat are replaced by the sleepless nights and an occasional military ready-to-eat (MRE) meal.

But after leaving the war zone, some find adapting back into the fast pace of life in the states troublesome.

"It is kind of like a tidal wave for some of them when they come back," O' Conner said. "They look at all the changes in society and wonder where they fit."

Such problems contribute to the high rate of alcohol and drug abuse as well as suicide among war veterans. Others find it hard to find peace with God and loved one due to their call of duty.

According to O' Conner, the best way to deal with these issues is to simply ignore the subject of war altogether.

"Civilians cannot understand exactly what has happened to these guys over there. Some of them may be scarred mentally for the rest of their lives," O' Conner said. "But the best thing to do is not talk to soldiers about their experience. They are already struggling with their feelings and discussing them makes things all the more difficult."

More than 1,400 troops are expected to return from Afghanistan by the end of the summer. In between now and the time of their arrival, O' Conner hopes to be able to speak to schools, colleges and other organizations across the state.

"A lot of soldiers are coming home, and we want all within their communities to be ready to welcome them with open arms," O' Conner said.

However, while all are invited to celebrate in the soldiers' safe return, O' Conner advises everyone to give the soldiers some time.

"These guys have gone from chaos to order and danger to safety in a matter of hours," he said. "A lot of the time we don't admit it...but we are scared when we are out there. The best thing to do is let soldiers compress their feelings and time helps the healing process."