The High Cost Of Service, An Expose into PTSD And Agent Orange
This book is a fictional novel and may bear some similarities to situations or people. Any resemblance to a person, ship or incident is purely coincidental.
Chapter 1, The High Cost of Service, an Expose into PTSD and Agent Orange
You've waited long enough to read Chapter 1 of "The High Cost of Service, an Expose into PTSD and Agent Orange. I hope you will enjoy the first chapter and I know you will look forward to reading Chapter 2 next week. The High Cost Of Service, An Expose into PTS And...
Chapter 2 – The Rise of the Red Tide
The Rise of the Red TideChapter 2“Капитан, отпустите командование этим кораблем. Мы вооружены и готовы умереть за наше дело.” English translation, Captain, release command of this ship. We are armed and are willing to die for our cause.Fifteen sailors were...
Chapter 3 – Fire Away
Chapter Three FIRE AWAY He followed orders and none too soon as the Captain appeared with his cup of coffee in hand and a stern look on his face. “Are we locked in position, chief?” “Yes, Sir” he uttered. The chief checked the coordinates put into RUR-5 ASROC...
Chapter 4 – Bob – Years After Vietnam
Chapter Four Bob - Years after Vietnam He stood gazing down the pier. His eyes although stoic swelled up producing a tear that grazed his cheek. It was a lifetime ago, but the memory was still as vivid as the day it happened. He stared at the ships lining the pier...
Chapter 5 – The Unveiling
Chapter Five The Unveiling The thick fog covered Point Loma and the Harbor in San Diego like a blanket warming an infant from the cold. A foghorn sounded alerting mariners of the dangers that may await them. The loud bellowing blast echoes “-BWAAAAAAH-caution,...
Chapter 6, Time to Say Good-Bye
Chapter Six Time to Say Good-bye Bubba wasn’t married when he entered the Navy, but some of his shipmates were. He had the opportunity to meet a group of the wives when the Captain invited the families of the crew to come aboard for one last visit before the ship...
Chapter 7 – His Side of the Story
Chapter Seven His Side of the Story The ship slipped away from the pier and is no longer tethered to the dock. Left behind are the families, the homes, the friends and the country all which they so loved. Alone on the ship meant being with three-hundred-fifty sailors...
Chapter 8 – The Ship
Chapter Eight The Ship Vietnam was reaching a pinnacle and the Conflict escalated in the late sixties. The naval vessel, the USS Mathers, was a fighting ship. It was new and outfitted with some of the most modern equipment a ship of this size could handle. She was...
Chapter 9 – The Orders
Chapter Nine The Orders The Mathers arrived in beautiful Hawaii for two days of rest and recreation (R&R) before heading out to its station in Vietnam. It was 1969 and even though the word was out that we were winning the war, the reality was that U.S. led forces...
Chapter 10 – The Motive
Chapter Ten Motive This was a significant time in the history of the United States. There was divisiveness at home splitting the country into several factions. Vietnam remained high on the list of reasons why the relations between China, Russia, and the United...
Chapter 11 – ‘Til Death Do Us Part
Chapter Eleven Until Death Do Us Part The helicopter searching for the Russian submarine radioed a find. “Located target. The coordinates are 27.49 North and 161.59 East. Do you copy?” “Mathers copies,” replied a voice from the ship. “We have visual confirmation. She...
Chapter 12 – ‘Nam Away
Chapter Twelve Nam Away Bob noticed the ship wasn’t going in circles. She was steaming Southwest with the controls set at fast speed ahead. If you were on the bridge, you realized they were going twenty-five to thirty knots. The Mathers could go faster, but for...
Chapter 13 – Who Do They Think They Are?
Chapter Thirteen Who Do They Think They Are? “I’m so sick of being out here in the Gulf following the same pattern for over thirty days now. This wasn’t my idea of fun when I joined the Navy”. Bob felt so trapped on the ship that he thought he would...
Chapter 14 – Home Sweet Home
Chapter Fourteen Home Sweet Home We’re on our way home. Nine and one-half months gone. I can’t wait to get back to the States. Bob knew he had channel fever. He felt the excitement of being on the ship as they approached their destination. He pictured the pier lined...
Chapter 15 – Coming to terms
Chapter Fifteen Coming to Terms “I’m sorry I raised my voice, Jenna,” Brad said apologetically. “I’m so used to yelling orders at my crew that it’s hard to adjust back to you. Please forgive me?” Jenna stared into thin air trying to decide what her answer would...
Chapter 16 – The Long Wait
Chapter Sixteen The Long Wait “Why are they always late? My God, it’s like waiting to have your tooth pulled” said Jenna as she sat in the counselor’s office. She was nervous and worried. What if the counselor told her to get a divorce? What would she do? The door...
Chapter 17 – What is Happening?
Chapter Seventeen What is Happening? Bubba returned home after his first deployment on the USS Lawrence Mathers. After his tour was up, he decided not to re-enlist but rather go back to Virginia to his family’s small farm. What’s the matter with me? Bubba would ask...
Chapter 18 – Happy Days
Chapter Eighteen Happy Days Bubba returned home from the hospital to stay with his father and mother. They needed him to help on their small farm since both were getting on in age. Bubba needed to spend some time in a familiar setting where he could have down-time to...
Chapter 19 – Married Life
Chapter Nineteen Married Life Bubba and Angie were married by his father and in their family church. The service was simple but beautiful. Angie found a used wedding dress that looked glamorous on her. When she walked down the aisle toward Bubba, he couldn’t take his...
Chapter 20 – Life Goes On
Life Goes On Ten Years Ago Brad and Jenna filed for divorce. Each went their own way. There was no other way to deal with the situation. It was the hardest on the children. Brad elected to be an absent father, so his two sons saw very little of him. It was...
Chapter 21 – Let the Good Times Roll
Chapter Twenty-one Let the Good Times Roll Jenna finished her classes and internship and now was referred to as Dr. Jenna Woods. She was so proud to graduate after all this time. She still needed two more years to work with another psychiatrist before being able to...
Chapter 22 – Baby Makes Three
Chapter Twenty-two Baby Makes Three Bubba and Angie still refused to discuss their dilemma. Whenever Angie attempted to talk about the baby, Bubba flew into a rage. “Bubba, why won’t you talk to me about the baby?” “You know how I feel about it.” “He’s not it,”...
Chapter 23 – A Flash from the Past
Chapter Twenty-Three A Flash from the Past Jenna was helping her husband, Mark, by attending the front desk. His secretary, Jill, was out with the flu and Jenna was only too glad to help. The door swung open and the next patient walked in. There stood Brad. He was...
Chapter 24 – PTSD – Agent Orange
Chapter Twenty-four PTSD - Agent Orange Thirty years later. Jenna’s career as a psychiatrist was rewarding and fulfilling. She remained happily married to Mark. Mark gazed at Jenna and said, “I’ve been invited to be the guest speaker for the last reunion of the USS...
