Members of America’s armed forces who serve in a war zone have immense challenges to overcome. They are expected to make snap judgements, sometimes under hostile fire, while maintaining a level of decorum befitting a professional and accountable American soldier. Staying alive in a war zone is a challenge unto its self, and sometimes, simply following the orders or a superior can have horrific consequences.
Wednesday’s show features Francesco & Olimpia Lucente, the director and producer of Badland, a new film focused on the life of Jerry, a fictionalized marine who is haunted by his memories of the Iraq war. Jerry has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, a common condition among soldiers and marines returning from combat. Jerry is deeply affected by his PTSD which leads him to commit terrible acts of violence, but like so many in his situation, Jerry is not receiving any support or treatment.
-Dan Bloom
For more information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, visit the following sites:
National Center for PTSD
Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation
Iraq War Veterans Foundation on PTSD
National Institute of Mental Health on PTSD