News - Local News

POSTED: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

Iraq War veterans share perspective at WWU forum

It's been three years since Western Washington University student Pat English finished serving his year in the Iraq War, but he said he continues to struggle reintegrating with society.

When he enters a building, he said he looks for the nearest exit in case of an attack. He said he flinches when he runs over a plastic bag with his car out of fear that he might have just hit a bomb.

"I'm not sure you ever fully integrate," English said. "It's a day-to-day struggle. Even sitting in Bellingham on a perfectly clear day with blue sky, (I imagine) an artillery shell coming in."

English, three other Western students who are Iraq War veterans and two women who had family serve in the war shared their perspective and feelings on what it was like to serve and return home at a forum titled Soldiers After War on the university's campus Thursday, Nov. 13.

The veterans, English, Rick Lawson, Ash Woolson and Jared Gardner, discussed difficulties they face in receiving benefits from their service from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or, for some, overcoming post traumatic stress disorder.

Doris Kent, whose son, Jonathan Santos, died in Iraq, and Tiffany Schoessler, whose husband, Adam, is a veteran, discussed what is was like to go through life with a loved one serving in a combat zone.

Kent, who grew up in a military family, said she felt that the military has not done enough to take care of veterans and their families. After her son died, she said she found solace in reaching out to her community in Bellingham.

"Our community in Bellingham has been absolutely amazing," Kent said.

Lawson said reintegrating has been difficult because of misperceptions of the Iraq War that have persisted in media coverage of it or because of society's apathy toward it.

"(People's reaction is) kind of like a big, blank stare," Lawson said. "It's not something they can understand. There's a real disconnect."