Life after door kicking.

Category: Veterans

  • Violence Is Violence—No Matter the Idea

    , ,

    I’ve seen what real violence looks like. I’ve walked through the streets of Baghdad after Saddam fell, where hatred exploded around every corner. Bodies in alleys. Trunks filled with the dead. Streets littered with people murdered for nothing more than who they were, what they believed, what sect they were born into. Sunni. Shia. Kurd.…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • The Soviets showed us what not to do. We did it bigger.

    , ,

    What We Left Behind We recently pulled out of the country, and after all that time, it feels like we left things not much different from when I was there over 20 years ago. One of my biggest fears won’t come true now, at least — my son won’t fight the same war I fought.…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • That day…

    ,

    That day was fucked.I’m not even sure who I’m supposed to be mad at anymore — some pissed-off local, the Taliban, or maybe the Russians who might’ve dumped it all 20 years before. At this point, who knows? And honestly, it probably doesn’t matter. We just left the country again, barely any better off than…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • Tips On How To Smile.

    , ,

    “Dad doesnt ever smile laugh or play with me.” “My oldest son around 7 years old” “Living with someone with PTSD you never see them smile.” “My wife” I’ve felt like this so long, I can’t really remember feeling any other way. A huge portion of my life I’m on autopilot. Maybe it’s the training.…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • Now what?

    , ,

    Since I got out the army my family has noticed I’m fairly good at maintaining my situational awareness. When I go places I pay attention for exits, I evaluate the threat capacity of all my fellow patrons, and I sit with my back to the wall so I have best field of vision. Doing so…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • Top 5 things I miss about the army.

    Not gonna be too worried about structure with this one. Not that I ever am but here we go. #5 Starting off with something you won’t hear to often, the pay. It’s a little ironic, because I started writing this after coming across a note I had wrote while in the Army. Reasons I won’t…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • Never be cool like we used to be

    When I was 17, I was a badass infantryman, anxious to do what I was trained to do. To close with and destroy the enemy. To kick ass, take names, and notch belts. Now I’m 32 and I shovel poo. Door kicking isn’t just a title. It was my way of life. It’s what pulled…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • Walking amongst heroes.

    Cheers to the dead. They’re the only ones whose war is truly over. A big part of my reservation about making these blog posts is I want to be candid, but I don’t want to dishonor my comrades or their memories. Exposing my wounds is my decision. I can live with whatever consequences may come.…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • I’m not bitter

    Some people might think I regret my time in the Army. Truth is, I don’t. I volunteered, reenlisted, and if my body held up, I’d still be in. I even loved the deployments—the rush, the purpose, the brotherhood. But I didn’t join to serve a noble cause. I joined to escape. I’d like to say…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking

  • Opening old wounds.

    This Is Gonna Hurt No matter how hard you tug, it’s not coming off fast. I’ve been picking at these scabs for a long time. Every now and then, after I get good and drunk, I find myself walking down memory lane with someone. Enthusiastically recalling my glory days. By the end, I’m half, maybe…

    Written by

    lifeafterdoorkicking