Contrast between Iraq and home a challenge to some returning SC soldiers

[kayell]

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1816809

(Columbia) April 26, 2004 - Imagine living in a war zone. You're always on alert and always ready for battle. It's a reality for many soldiers from Columbia and Sumter in the 101st Airborne. They're home after serving a year in Iraq.

Some, like SGT. Charles Robinson, are facing a new battle, "You snap real quick. You find yourself getting mad over simple stuff."

They're fighting to readjust and learning how to live life after combat. SGT. Herbert Caldwell says he's sensitive to noises and touch, "My mom want to sneak up on me and give me a hug and I just jump up for no reason."

SPC. Nichole George has a hard time sleeping at night, "I get flashbacks of how it used to be over there."

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[rangerfan]

1. The readjustment is tough.

One of my sons returned from Iraq in February. For a while everytime he would wake up he said he would feel for his M16 next his bed. I know how he felt, when I was in Vietnam I slept with a .45 under my pillow and even after I returned home I would find myself feeling for it in the mornings when I woke up.