A hashtag started by the U.S. Army to illustrate how serving in the military has changed peoples lives for the better, has backfired into a thread about how it’s ruined people’s lives.
The U.S. Army shared a video of Private First Class Nathan Spencer on Thursday, just ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
“The Army supported me the opportunity to do just that, to give to others and protect the ones I love and to better myself as a man and a lawyer,” Spencer says in the video.
Hear from Pfc. Nathan Spencer, a scout with @FightingFirst who shares how the #USArmy has influenced his life.
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) May 23, 2019
Video by @FortBenning #WhyIServe #KnowYourMil #ArmyValues pic.twitter.com/yvkHAbFhUK
“How has serving impacted you?” the U.S. Army asked in a follow-up tweet.
While Spencer’s post was likely supposed to inspire others to share similar stories, it spiraled into a rather morbid thread about the numerous ways serving in the military has entirely changed people’s lives—and not for the better.
There were stories about addiction among veterans.
When I got out of the Army in 2010, I became addicted to heroin. It was my only escape. I lost my family, ended up in prison, in and out of jail more times than I can count, and am now luckily coming up on 2 years clean this August. I’m 30 years old with the mind of an 18 yr old
— Nemesis of the State (@NemesisRevolts) May 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/LilWookieMama/status/1132064559605407744
https://twitter.com/mollybessrector/status/1132109565431033856
The most common accounts were of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health trauma among people who had served in the military.
https://twitter.com/leinova/status/1131985368448950273
https://twitter.com/Ariiibabi/status/1132086995784818688
https://twitter.com/can_o_marx/status/1132318151335530501
https://twitter.com/MistressArdent/status/1132494384673353728
https://twitter.com/Ariiibabi/status/1132087286450053122
Many continue to suffer from various health issues after they return, and it’s exacerbated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ (VA) reported lack of initiatives to help them out.
https://twitter.com/PshrinkEmeritus/status/1132019977085739008
https://twitter.com/AmazonMistress/status/1132420457943228418
https://twitter.com/SkyMaranda/status/1132107406316638208
https://twitter.com/ByteMaddy/status/1132173997750345728
Some detailed health effects veterans suffer because of what they were exposed to during their time at war.
https://twitter.com/captainmattel/status/1132114125499359233
https://twitter.com/DeWayneLehman/status/1132564877657161728
https://twitter.com/eve_ghost/status/1132233432086601728
https://twitter.com/amazinisbrooke7/status/1132180234500038656
Many shared accounts of the suicides of loved ones.
and was found on a park bench. Single gunshot wound to the head.
— Jon Ferguson (@Jon_R_Ferguson) May 25, 2019
Just one story of how not all service related deaths come with ribbons or medals. I’m sure there are many more. I haven’t read comments here because it breaks my heart. #VeteransDay
My good friend who just got married redecorated his basement with the contents if his skull because it was preferable to remembering his service
— Williams (@ThiccDiccGrayso) May 25, 2019
People shared how some service members bring back the violence into their own homes due to the trauma they’ve experienced.
https://twitter.com/ItsJoshyPooh/status/1132068655154565120
https://twitter.com/polishirishmom/status/1132533653161107456
Others pointed out how recruiters target young, desperate individuals right before it’s time to go to college.
https://twitter.com/toxicbritspears/status/1132229420062826496
War is a reality when you are thinking about enlisting! Understand before you sign up for the college $. Both of my daughters served and one is 100% disabled with PTSD and could care less about college now. I loved my time in the Army but my girls did not. War is HELL!
— Leslie E Shirkey Jr (@ShirkeyJr) May 25, 2019
Served 4 years in the Army, including 5 months in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. No traumatic experiences. I used to recommend the military as a way to earn $ for college, but no longer do since those who enlist are now virtually guaranteed to be involved in an unnecessary war
— CJ Run (@cryptojane) May 26, 2019
The thread barely has any positive accounts of #WhyIServe.
https://twitter.com/Coops_Tra/status/1132482194222403584
https://twitter.com/RevFoxcraft/status/1132677438952148993
https://twitter.com/Litterpatrol201/status/1132610251780497409
It was obvious the thread had gone in an entirely opposite direction of its intended course.
People called on the VA to finally take action.
https://twitter.com/ByteMaddy/status/1132176509853143040
https://twitter.com/bountyofbeads2/status/1132474163896160256
On Saturday, the U.S. Army responded to the experiences in a tweet.
“To everyone who responded to this thread, thank you for sharing your story. Your stories are real, they matter, and they may help others in similar situations,” it wrote. “The Army is committed to the health, safety, and well-being of our Soldiers.”
People weren’t satisfied, wanting more than just words.
“Why can’t the U.S. military actually put its time and effort into helping those who served and came back a completely different and damaged person. why do we glorify veterans if we don’t help them after all the trauma they have had to live through and still struggle with,” wrote one user in response.
Mindfulness and actually doing it are two very different things.
— Garfield’s Ghost (@Occamsreznor) May 26, 2019
Try harder and do better, particularly when peoples’ lives are at stake
https://twitter.com/GregFraz/status/1132604068155805697
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