Quote:
Originally Posted by batgirl  He was part of the UN peacekeeping forces, and was posted in several places during my childhood. He always seemed really happy when he came home, happy to be with us again, until he came back from Rwanda. He didn't seem like the same person after Rwanda, but he still worked. Kosovo was the last place he served, and after that he had the stress leave. |
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Batgirl,
Often 'UN peacekeeping' is a contradiction in terms. Sure the media portrays it one way but, generally the environment that troops are initially deployed into is anything but peaceful. Its a fallacy that because you were not in a designated war zone as such that nothing traumatic happens. Rwanda particularly has a nasty reputation for military personnel returning with PTSD and we have a number of Aussie veteran's from that campaign with this illness. In fact there was a prominent Canadian leader, who wrote a book 'Dance With the Devil' or something like that, who acquired PTSD from Rwanda. I started to read the book but it was too much for me as PTSD is so close to home. As for topping Rwanda off with a deployment to Kosovo, its almost a dead cert that your Dad had PTSD.
I am sorry for your trauma. Its a sad legacy that a man who was serving his country ends up with PTSD and leaves his child with that illness as well. I could never imagine myself how it must feel for you. I hope that within this community you can begin the process of healing. Take care of you.