Quotes by David Finkel

It seems like it might go on for a while, so Tausolo takes a seat and looks around the sergeants cubicle. Theres not much to see, since the guy just arrived at the WTB, only a blank form tacked to a wall that looks like every other army form in the world.Hurt Feelings Report, it is titled. Whiners name, it says under that. Which ear were the words of hurtfulness spoken into? it says under that. Is there permanent feeling damage? Did you require a tissue for tears? Has this resulted in a traumatic brain injury?Reason for filing this report, it says under that. Mark all that apply. I am a wimp. I am a crybaby. I want my mommy. I was told that I am not a hero. Narrative, it says under that. Tell us in your own sissy words how your feelings were hurt. Finally at the bottom of the form:We, as the Army, take hurt feelings seriously. If you dont have someone who can give you a hug and make things all better, please let us know and we will promptly dispatch a hugger to you ASAP. In the event we are unable to find a hugger we will notify the fire department and request that they send fire personnel to your location. If you are in need of supplemental support, upon written request, we will make every reasonable effort to provide you with a blankey, a binky and/or a bottle if you so desire.

The greatest regret of my military career was as Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq in 2004-2005, he later wrote of the decision he made. I lost 169 soldiers during that year-long deployment. However, the monument we erected at Fort Hood, Texas, in memoriam lists 168 names. I approved the request of others not to include the name of the one soldier who committed suicide. I deeply regret my decision.

It wasnt as if they had a choice. They were soldiers whose choices had ended when they had signed contracts and taken their oaths. Whether they had joined for reasons of patriotism, of romantic notions, to escape a broken home of some sort, or out of economic need, their job now was to follow the orders of other soldiers who were following orders, too. Somewhere, far from Iraq, was where the orders began, but by the time they reached Rustamiyah, the only choice left for a solider was to choose which lucky charm to tuck behind his body armor, or which foot to line up in front of the other, as he went out to follow the order of the day.

He is a true casualty of battle. Theres not a physical scar, but look at the mans heart, and his head, and there are scars galore.

Its a thin line between what were calling acceptable and not acceptable. As a leader, youre supposed to know when not to cross it. But how do you know? Does the army teach us how to control our emotions? Does the army teach us how to deal with a friend bleeding out in front of you? No.

To hear them laugh was to hear that everything was all right, but to see them laugh was to see otherwise

The lessons learned, then, in Robinsons case: Additional training is required to inform soldiers of the dangers of self-medicating along with the associated risk of overdosing is the first. Encourage the use of a battle buddy among warriors is the second. Increase suicide prevention classes is the third. Increase communication to twice a day with high-risk soldiers is the fourth. Continue improvements in leader communication is the fifth. And thats that. Eight months. Five minutes. The army moves on to the next suicide. Case forever closed.

Congratulations for conquering PTSD. And now youre fucked.

I can see the little girl, the face of the little girl. And as much as people say that they dont care about these people and all that, I dont care about these people - but I do, at the same time, if that makes any sense. They dont want to help themselves, theyre blowing us up, yeah, that hurts, but it also hurts to know that Ive seen a girl thats as old as my little brother watch me shoot somebody in the head. And I dont care if shes Iraqi, Korean, African, white - shes still a little girl. And she watched me shoot somebody.