James E Hackbarth

From Darkness to Light James E Hackbarth

My PTSD raise its ugly head on many occasions especially with authoritative figures, mostly showing up with anger issues getting in the way. I didn't know there was a name for it until 1992 when I went to the Wall in Washington DC and visited the Vietnam Memorial on November 11. Veteran's Day. I wrote poetry early on but didn't really start writing about trauma until my first flashback in 1986 sixteen years after Vietnam. Blood Brothers was the first related to the Nam the guilt of a survivor I guest. So, the book is a deep journey into my life and that of many veterans unable to speak about the horrors of war and it effects on their life. You can't really write about this stuff unless you lived it. I was diagnosed with PTSD in March 2003 when they bomb Bagdad and brought the horrors of war back to reality. I think this is a must read for my brothers who need help to explain their trauma of this terrible war and how we were denied are honor upon are return home. It also is a read for family, sons and daughters to understand their fathers and grandfathers war experiences.







This is my story my journey about living with and surviving for many years with PTSD So rather than write the words without the tears I choose to put them in poetry. I am a Vietnam Veteran I was station in South Vietnam from Oct, 1968 TO Oct. 1969. I was a Door gunner on a UH-1H Huey Troop Transport. I flew with the First Cavalry Division A229th Assault Helicopter Battalion Black Bandits on Tay Ninh South Vietnam III Corp. I was in the Army for three years got out in June of 71, was diagnose with PTSD in 2003.