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Veterans Fine Arts Studies & Training
Testimonial
SP5 Martin Contreras
Aero Scout Platoon, 10th Cav, 4th Inf. Div. (Tree Top Airlines)
Central Highlands, Vietnam 1966 & 67
400 + Missions in a Vintage Korean War Helicopter @ Tree Top level
Marty with "Shamrock C5" OH-23 - Photo, M. Maldonado
Somewhere near the Cambodian / Vietnam Border December 1966
Project Testimony:
I am a war veteran, who on the impact of the second plane on 911, knew automatically that my country and my family were under attack. All the years of war memories from the Vietnam War were ready to aide me in preparing for war once again. My wife asked if we should stock up on ammunition, my response was one that every war veteran knows is true - in war there is plenty of opportunity to stock up on ammunition. War mode was back and I was ready to protect my family and country. I started to plan an attack on any enemy within our American borders.
War memories are forever; never will come the day that a veteran will forget these memories. On 911, close to 40 years after my own war experience, my memories were lined up and ready for battle. Combat was here again, there was no rejecting or shelving these memories, they would now aide me in combat. I could see fear in my family's eyes. War veterans are beyond the initial fear of war. That initial fear did not penetrate my planning to be combat ready. No time for fear, push it to the side, coping with death and destruction that war brings becomes automatic. Forty years had passed and in a heart beat I was ready for war. I was back in war mode and this time it would be harder to return to civilian life. Those that have not experienced combat, in time, will adjust and life as usual returns in a relatively short time. This time I was stuck in war mode. My doctor and wife asked me to look into counseling. I was told that I had PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) which was exposed after 40 years by the 911 attack. I entered into counseling for PTSD with an excellent Vietnam War combat veteran who helped me understand PTSD. I then had the opportunity to be counseled by a non-combat veteran, who asked me to explore the non-combat side of my brain, the right side. Through this training of both sides of my brain I now have a better understanding and am better equipped to deal with and control my war memories and their effects on my social life.
Once I combined Fine Arts Studies and Training from a great instructor, Joe Corda, my life stopped and took a new direction. I was positive because I allowed the right brain training to relax me enough to make use of the PTSD counseling. I haven't forgotten the combat, nor have I been able to keep the memories out of my day-to-day life, but I now deal with them in a positive manner. I fully recommend this program to any person that has experienced actual combat or has been in a combat situation. Although returning to the main stream work force is over for veterans of my age and health, I believe this program, in conjunction with PTSD counseling, will help young veterans better cope with combat PTSD. I hope this time our returning veterans get what was promised to them. Don't let our soldiers fend for themselves with the trauma of war. If you want to know how severely war changes young soldiers, don't ask the soldier, ask their mother.
SP5 Martin Contreras