Post by Scarfan on May 9, 2006 15:23:10 GMT -5
This is something I had to do for school in English twards the begining of this school year, but I wanted to share this with everyone. Basicly this is a journal written in the perspective of a Soldier who was injured in a war. I will warn you it's pretty long, but if you want to read it go ahead. Oh, BTW, I love commentary, just as long as it isn't flaming. Well, here it is.^_^
January 10, 2003
Dear diary,
A few days have felt like an eternity in this place they call a hospital. Although this is the start of my recovery it feels like forever. Sometimes I think this is nothing more than a horrible nightmare. That I will someday wake up. Then I realize that it’s nothing more than wishful thinking. The war continues to plague me and slowly ebbs away at my sanity. I only pray that I can grasp onto and keep even just a small sliver of it.
January 11, 2003
Dear diary,
A persistent dream once again disturbed my sleep. It was a memory of the combat I endured, specifically how I lost my leg.
I was in the desert of Iraq. Gunfire and explosions boomed in my ears as smoke filled the air. I held my weapon, ready to fight, but praying that I didn’t have to kill. There were screams among the gunfire of people who had been maimed. I clenched my eyes together as the gunfire and screams pounded louder in my ears. I took an unwilling shot, then suddenly heard a huge explosion. A grenade had gone off nearby, shattering a vehicle as if it was glass. I and the rest of the troops took cover as best as we could, but not before a piece of metal hit my right thigh. Searing pain coursed through every nerve in my body until my world had become black.
My dream ended there, but I knew the ending. They had to amputate my leg by the time they could help, leaving me with a stump and more painful memories.
January 12, 2003
Dear diary,
I once again awoke in the same eerie room I’ve been in for the past month now. There really is nothing new to say about my condition or anything new that happened.
January 20, 2003
Dear diary,
Today I thought about my family. They haven’t come to see me in a while and I wonder what they’re up to, hoping they’re well. The doctors say I’ll be in here for at least a few more months, which only makes my mental stability even more trying. I remember when first joined the military just one year ago.
I was 18 and had just graduated high school. I was aware of the war we had just begun to fight and the possibility of joining. However, I didn’t exactly come from a rich family, so I needed a way to get money for college. Besides, I was proud to be serving my country. I had no idea how terrible war really was.
I think this last thought and question myself if I had known then what I know now would I have still enlisted? Would I have felt the pros still outweighed the cons? This is a question unable to be answered now, but maybe if I just give it some time to sink in and sit it will.
January 21, 2003
Dear diary,
Today was just another day in the hospital. There’s really nothing to say and I still haven’t been able to answer my question yet.
January 22, 2003
Dear diary,
I finally found the answer to my question I had asked myself two days ago. I would have enlisted, even if I did know the danger. Though I lost a leg I fought for our freedom. I’ve gained unbreakable friendships and courage. And for this a leg was a small price to pay. Thinking this is the reason I haven’t gone completely insane by now.
January 28, 2003
Dear diary,
The doctors taking care of me have talked of the possibility of a prosthetic limb to replace my leg. They say it would be a long time before that was an possibility, but the strength that comes from regaining something lost has finally overcome the war.
January 29, 2003
Dear diary,
Today my mother and father came to visit me. I could see tears shining in their eyes and at the sight of this I struggled to fight my own. I had seen some terrible things, but I still wasn’t prepared for the two strongest people I knew to almost breakdown in front of me. They kept saying they were sorry. Sorry for what? For a choice I made? It wasn’t their fault. I chose to join the military, even though it was a time of war. And nothing could be done to change this fact.
January 30, 2003
Dear diary,
Today was a pretty uneventful day. I tried to relive my boredom. The only thing I could think of was to write in this journal. But, what to write is the question. More painful memories haunt me and I can feel another sliver of my mentality leave me once again. The endless days like this seem to do this the most.
January 31, 2003
Dear diary,
Today I remembered something of my childhood. I was 10 years old and with my youth came innocent foolishness.
I was playing with my GI Joe figures, mock fights ensuing when suddenly I stopped and asked my father what it was like in a war. (He was a veteran of Vietnam, which had interested me in the military in the first place.) He stared off into the distance, seemingly lost in his own little world. I felt awkward for asking him after that and continued playing with my figures acting like I never asked.
A few years later, I think I was 14, he told me something I wouldn’t forget. He put his arm around my shoulders and said, “Honey, sometimes in life there are tough decisions. But, no matter what do what feels right. Because you effect everyone around you by your actions.” I blinked in confusion because of those words coming out of the blue. But, it was a valuable lesson I clasped onto.
I’m really not sure how these two memories are connected, but some subconscious force brought them together. Whether it was nostalgia or something else I didn’t know. I smiled slightly, feeling the comfort of other childhood memories flooding into me. I think tonight might be my first night of peaceful sleep in a long time.
February 5, 2003
Dear diary,
It seems I’m getting better every day, at least physically. I’ve tried to keep my mind out of despair and it’s working, slowly, but surely. I have my family to thank a lot for this. If it hadn’t been for their visits and my memories of them I don’t think I would have made it with any of my sanity. I would have become trapped in the hell they call war. Which is why I dedicate this entry to them and the compassion they have for me.
February 6, 2003
Dear diary,
Today was an uneventful, yet good day. I could finally bring myself to relax in my bed. The doctors said they were amazed at my inner strength. I simply smiled at them, taking the complement well, but thinking I wasn’t any stronger than anyone else. Everyone had it in them. They just had to tap into the strength God gave them and let the bud bloom into a beautiful rose. But, unlike a flower, it would never die. I smiled once again. My grandma told me something very similar long ago. I once again thank my family for their wisdom and enjoyed another sunny day. I realized what I knew all along. Every day got better and better with a positive outlook. I have a feeling my recovering will be quicker knowing this.
It's done.^_^ Let me know if you liked it.^_^
January 10, 2003
Dear diary,
A few days have felt like an eternity in this place they call a hospital. Although this is the start of my recovery it feels like forever. Sometimes I think this is nothing more than a horrible nightmare. That I will someday wake up. Then I realize that it’s nothing more than wishful thinking. The war continues to plague me and slowly ebbs away at my sanity. I only pray that I can grasp onto and keep even just a small sliver of it.
January 11, 2003
Dear diary,
A persistent dream once again disturbed my sleep. It was a memory of the combat I endured, specifically how I lost my leg.
I was in the desert of Iraq. Gunfire and explosions boomed in my ears as smoke filled the air. I held my weapon, ready to fight, but praying that I didn’t have to kill. There were screams among the gunfire of people who had been maimed. I clenched my eyes together as the gunfire and screams pounded louder in my ears. I took an unwilling shot, then suddenly heard a huge explosion. A grenade had gone off nearby, shattering a vehicle as if it was glass. I and the rest of the troops took cover as best as we could, but not before a piece of metal hit my right thigh. Searing pain coursed through every nerve in my body until my world had become black.
My dream ended there, but I knew the ending. They had to amputate my leg by the time they could help, leaving me with a stump and more painful memories.
January 12, 2003
Dear diary,
I once again awoke in the same eerie room I’ve been in for the past month now. There really is nothing new to say about my condition or anything new that happened.
January 20, 2003
Dear diary,
Today I thought about my family. They haven’t come to see me in a while and I wonder what they’re up to, hoping they’re well. The doctors say I’ll be in here for at least a few more months, which only makes my mental stability even more trying. I remember when first joined the military just one year ago.
I was 18 and had just graduated high school. I was aware of the war we had just begun to fight and the possibility of joining. However, I didn’t exactly come from a rich family, so I needed a way to get money for college. Besides, I was proud to be serving my country. I had no idea how terrible war really was.
I think this last thought and question myself if I had known then what I know now would I have still enlisted? Would I have felt the pros still outweighed the cons? This is a question unable to be answered now, but maybe if I just give it some time to sink in and sit it will.
January 21, 2003
Dear diary,
Today was just another day in the hospital. There’s really nothing to say and I still haven’t been able to answer my question yet.
January 22, 2003
Dear diary,
I finally found the answer to my question I had asked myself two days ago. I would have enlisted, even if I did know the danger. Though I lost a leg I fought for our freedom. I’ve gained unbreakable friendships and courage. And for this a leg was a small price to pay. Thinking this is the reason I haven’t gone completely insane by now.
January 28, 2003
Dear diary,
The doctors taking care of me have talked of the possibility of a prosthetic limb to replace my leg. They say it would be a long time before that was an possibility, but the strength that comes from regaining something lost has finally overcome the war.
January 29, 2003
Dear diary,
Today my mother and father came to visit me. I could see tears shining in their eyes and at the sight of this I struggled to fight my own. I had seen some terrible things, but I still wasn’t prepared for the two strongest people I knew to almost breakdown in front of me. They kept saying they were sorry. Sorry for what? For a choice I made? It wasn’t their fault. I chose to join the military, even though it was a time of war. And nothing could be done to change this fact.
January 30, 2003
Dear diary,
Today was a pretty uneventful day. I tried to relive my boredom. The only thing I could think of was to write in this journal. But, what to write is the question. More painful memories haunt me and I can feel another sliver of my mentality leave me once again. The endless days like this seem to do this the most.
January 31, 2003
Dear diary,
Today I remembered something of my childhood. I was 10 years old and with my youth came innocent foolishness.
I was playing with my GI Joe figures, mock fights ensuing when suddenly I stopped and asked my father what it was like in a war. (He was a veteran of Vietnam, which had interested me in the military in the first place.) He stared off into the distance, seemingly lost in his own little world. I felt awkward for asking him after that and continued playing with my figures acting like I never asked.
A few years later, I think I was 14, he told me something I wouldn’t forget. He put his arm around my shoulders and said, “Honey, sometimes in life there are tough decisions. But, no matter what do what feels right. Because you effect everyone around you by your actions.” I blinked in confusion because of those words coming out of the blue. But, it was a valuable lesson I clasped onto.
I’m really not sure how these two memories are connected, but some subconscious force brought them together. Whether it was nostalgia or something else I didn’t know. I smiled slightly, feeling the comfort of other childhood memories flooding into me. I think tonight might be my first night of peaceful sleep in a long time.
February 5, 2003
Dear diary,
It seems I’m getting better every day, at least physically. I’ve tried to keep my mind out of despair and it’s working, slowly, but surely. I have my family to thank a lot for this. If it hadn’t been for their visits and my memories of them I don’t think I would have made it with any of my sanity. I would have become trapped in the hell they call war. Which is why I dedicate this entry to them and the compassion they have for me.
February 6, 2003
Dear diary,
Today was an uneventful, yet good day. I could finally bring myself to relax in my bed. The doctors said they were amazed at my inner strength. I simply smiled at them, taking the complement well, but thinking I wasn’t any stronger than anyone else. Everyone had it in them. They just had to tap into the strength God gave them and let the bud bloom into a beautiful rose. But, unlike a flower, it would never die. I smiled once again. My grandma told me something very similar long ago. I once again thank my family for their wisdom and enjoyed another sunny day. I realized what I knew all along. Every day got better and better with a positive outlook. I have a feeling my recovering will be quicker knowing this.
It's done.^_^ Let me know if you liked it.^_^
