Soldier’s Heart: Survivors’ View of Combat Trauma

This first-of-its-kind compilation of original prose, poetry, and art is written by veterans — primarily Vietnam vets, yet with contributions by veterans of World War II, Korea, and Desert Storm — with combat-induced trauma disorders. Soldier’s Heart seeks to illuminate the range of emotions and reactions to diagnosis that often characterize individuals healing from PTSD. In the process, this book offers survivors and their families a sense of community, helping to dispel the isolation frequently felt by people with trauma disorders. Contributions for this book were solicited from veterans outreach programs, military service organizations, and at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. They were selected and edited by the National Trauma Institute at Baltimore, a non-profit organization founded to promote the study and treatment of trauma-related disorders. The editorial board includes a Marine Vietnam veteran and his wife, as well as trauma treatment professionals. The 200 works in Soldier’s Heart depict an outpouring of emotion which covers all aspects of combat trauma. The book begins with the awareness that something is wrong, and then moves through the frustrations of seeking help. Soldier’s Heart ends with veterans’ attempts to make sense of their ordeal and live in peace with the society around them: “…reclaiming my life, molecule by molecule… climbing out of the shadow of war.” Spouses, therapists, friends, families, and those who would like to understand — from the veteran’s point of view — what the long-term consequences of trauma can be are invited to read and share the words of those who live the experience.