The Battle at Home
Andrea Gurwitt of the Herald News in northern New Jersey has written a powerful story about what it's like for the families of soldiers living with post-traumatic stress disorder. In Part One of "Casualties of War," Gurwitt introduces us to Joseph Villabol, who has returned from Iraq carrying heavy emotional wounds, and the family that struggles to heal him. In Part Two, she shows how Joseph and his wife, Jovannie, desperately try to keep their marriage together. Both parts are full of vivid scenes such as this one that share the emotional aftermath of war:
His wife and three kids walking in after an ice cream social at the school.
His 3-year-old son asking, "Why does Poppy have his uniform on?"
His startled wife answering, "He's playing dress-up. Go get ready for bed."
Someone gently prying the fake weapon from his hands.
His frantically clutching it.
His wife saying, "I'm taking this. Babe, go to bed."
Gurwitt mixes her descriptions of the family's frayed life at home and their frustrating encounters with the VA with clear explanations of how and why post-traumatic stress disorder occurs.