tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post8116626933864671645..comments2024-03-28T20:57:55.651-07:00Comments on Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart: Through The Forest - A Story of Viet Nam {#BlogBattle}Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-79440983870854799952016-02-11T16:53:09.498-08:002016-02-11T16:53:09.498-08:00Just now getting around to reading this, Congrats ...Just now getting around to reading this, Congrats on the win!! I feel like I have gotten to know each and one of these characters personally, your scene descriptions are so detailed, I can’t help but picture them clearly in my mind. I have to say this one, though, made me a little anxious as I pictured it in my mind, well done!! Glad you’ve been back writing for the battles when you can, though I know it is a struggle for you now. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-85284569251867828122016-02-08T19:27:43.251-08:002016-02-08T19:27:43.251-08:00Oh, my gosh! Rachael, thank you so much! The oppor...Oh, my gosh! Rachael, thank you so much! The opportunity to share these stories, through your running #BlogBattle, means the world to me!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-58669151693459895892016-02-08T19:26:38.300-08:002016-02-08T19:26:38.300-08:00John, thank you so much! Your comment means a lot ...John, thank you so much! Your comment means a lot to me.<br /><br />Combat is by its nature profane and grisly...but its essence is not in the description. It's all about the guys, and it's an honour to be able to tell their stories, at long last.<br /><br />Thank you so much for being here!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-7704488842424517512016-02-08T19:21:37.323-08:002016-02-08T19:21:37.323-08:00Andrew! You are the winner of the battle for this ...Andrew! You are the winner of the battle for this week. :) A well-deserved win, for sure. Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18087143201681283081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-65425701264722199502016-02-08T09:44:41.210-08:002016-02-08T09:44:41.210-08:00Andrew, as others have stated: Thank you deeply fo...Andrew, as others have stated: Thank you deeply for your past service and sacrifices. I did try to join, way back when, but I had surgery before, and made me a medical risk.<br />This story is right up there with any others I've seen dealing with combat. I must say, if the scenes were grisly enough to make your team members "unswallow," I'm really glad they weren't described.<br />Keep up the good writing, especially if it helps you. Because if it does you good, it will do someone else some good, too!<br />#WriteOn!<br />-- John<br />johntmherres.comJohn T. M. Herreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09102549912628098473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-39200672880929696292016-02-07T16:32:18.813-08:002016-02-07T16:32:18.813-08:00Beth, I really appreciate this...writing through a...Beth, I really appreciate this...writing through all of this is very hard sometimes, and the 'temperature check' on sanity's a must! :)Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-44816934466652547782016-02-07T14:07:00.112-08:002016-02-07T14:07:00.112-08:00Teresa, you made my day! Thank you so much!Teresa, you made my day! Thank you so much!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-60645949332719052792016-02-07T13:00:39.396-08:002016-02-07T13:00:39.396-08:00Outstanding! I always hold my breath reading your ...Outstanding! I always hold my breath reading your stories, which are so visit I taste and smell them. Stunning writing. :-DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03939076879700452675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-49570718597175822062016-02-07T09:05:50.769-08:002016-02-07T09:05:50.769-08:00Very sane, Andrew. Very sane! Keep on doing the ha...Very sane, Andrew. Very sane! Keep on doing the hard work of unpacking the pain, since it is helpful to you and all of us as well! Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13156048755652103073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-87083869446379222912016-02-03T22:16:36.937-08:002016-02-03T22:16:36.937-08:00Thank you so much, Cathleen...for awhile there I d...Thank you so much, Cathleen...for awhile there I did not think I would be well enough to get it posted...but it was another 'need to write this' piece.<br /><br />I sure appreciate your being here!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-91240620337222218712016-02-03T21:35:13.733-08:002016-02-03T21:35:13.733-08:00This is a beautiful tale, Andrew, full of real sor...This is a beautiful tale, Andrew, full of real sorrow and courage. Thank you for sharing it.Cathleen Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03488714093444030351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-57515249095652702792016-02-03T20:43:18.148-08:002016-02-03T20:43:18.148-08:00And a PS...I hope you'll enjoy Angela's st...And a PS...I hope you'll enjoy Angela's story...the first Christmas story I ever tried writing...and if you know people for whom the PTSD book can serve as a resource, please pass it along. It's meant to be used.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-21628036391165080222016-02-03T20:41:52.250-08:002016-02-03T20:41:52.250-08:00Jackie, thank you so much...you've made my day...Jackie, thank you so much...you've made my day.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-75804394821629291752016-02-03T20:41:20.921-08:002016-02-03T20:41:20.921-08:00June, thank you so much for this...and yes, embrac...June, thank you so much for this...and yes, embracing it all...and embracing, as it were, the guys...is part of redemption.<br /><br />I am so appreciative for your being here, and for your comment!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-19313136069114708742016-02-03T13:37:32.074-08:002016-02-03T13:37:32.074-08:00I already have Faith in the Night, and now I'v...I already have Faith in the Night, and now I've added your PTSD and the Holidays book. I'm so glad you included them in your blog today.Jackie Laytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11921544145225306649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-67292613132916621592016-02-03T13:33:37.012-08:002016-02-03T13:33:37.012-08:00What a powerful story. Again I'm reminded to s...What a powerful story. Again I'm reminded to say thank you for serving our country and the sacrifice you made. Blessings to you!Jackie Laytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11921544145225306649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-65234582330701409962016-02-03T11:12:59.380-08:002016-02-03T11:12:59.380-08:00I don't know which is harder to read, Andrew, ...I don't know which is harder to read, Andrew, your reality or your fiction. Wait, the fiction is your reality too, isn't it? I'm so sorry. I can't understand what you've been through, or what you're going through, but I can understand embracing all of life {the good, the bad and the ugly} as part of who we are - as part of someone who stands redeemed.Bless you, Andrew.Inspired By Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09846209740481251443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-44493763699651096902016-02-03T06:34:32.124-08:002016-02-03T06:34:32.124-08:00Beth, yes...exactly. Writing about it makes it eve...Beth, yes...exactly. Writing about it makes it evergreen, and while that may seem contradictory to healing, it's really not.<br /><br />With PTSD, at least the kind and severity I deal with, you're 'stuck', and the dichotomy of a violent past and a 'peaceful' present is simply too much to bear. One can't choose; one has to move through the world of the past, kept alive in one's heart and outlook, through the present...but not really part of it.<br /><br />Many combat veterans are thereby unquiet ghosts, but it's not a bad thing, and I would not trade the experiences. Thy didn't make me; they ARE me, and I simply can't imagine - nor would I ask - anything else.<br /><br />Does this make sense to you? I tried to describe it from the 'inside', but I'd love to know how it comes across...sensible, or quite mad.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-62118593231733825352016-02-03T06:27:15.648-08:002016-02-03T06:27:15.648-08:00You give us a peek into the vileness that is war, ...You give us a peek into the vileness that is war, Andrew. It is painful to envision, though I'm certain must be more than painful for you. But at the same time I also wonder how this must help you process your experience, bringing healing to your PTSD. Is that true? Do you find it healing to remember and write about your experiences? I'm not sure what psychologists would prescribe a man with PTSD to do, but it seems like this may be one thing that really helps to drain the pain from the wounds of your past. Hugs to you, my friend! Such vivid, visceral writing!Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13156048755652103073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-65456008527410475182016-02-02T22:17:31.036-08:002016-02-02T22:17:31.036-08:00Grace, thank you so much!Grace, thank you so much!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230537202427640540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4095822388315899381.post-73601167862895324092016-02-02T22:16:35.050-08:002016-02-02T22:16:35.050-08:00As always, very well written and extremely vivid. ...As always, very well written and extremely vivid. Nice.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07649203322888690350noreply@blogger.com