"If I ever get home to Houston alive, I won't drive a truck anymore"
--Steve Earle, Home to Houston, The Revolution Starts Now
Civilians the forgotten victims of Iraq stress disorder
by Veronique Kiss 2 hours, 1 minute ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060611/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqhealthstress
WASHINGTON (AFP) - David Meredith was one of tens of thousands of
American civilians who believed the high salary to be earned as a
contractor in Iraq outweighed the risks.
"Before, I was a cool, laid-back, easygoing guy," said the 37-year-old
truck driver and father of four. "Since I came back from Iraq, I have
suicidal thoughts, angry outbursts, insomnia, flashbacks."
Meredith, who spent one year in Iraq from 2004-2005, is among thousands
of military and civilian veterans of the Iraq conflict to be diagnosed
with post-traumatic stress disorder.
US soldiers get psychological treatment. Meredith says he gets no help
from his former employer, Halliburton, which had major contracts in Iraq.
Meredith earned 90,000 dollars a year in Iraq. "It is true, I earned
nearly double what I could in the United States but now I feel like my
country is turning its back on me," he told AFP by telephone.
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When I pulled out of Basra they all wished me luck
Just like they always did before
With a bulletproof screen on the hood of my truck
And a Bradley on my back door
I wound her up and shifted her down
And I offered this prayer to my lord
I said “God get me back home to Houston alive
and I won’t drive a truck anymore”
Early in the mornin’ and I’m rollin’ fast
Haulin’ nine thousand gallons of high test gas
Sergeant on the radio hollerin’ at me
Look out up ahead here come a R.P.G.
If I ever get home to Houston alive
Then I won’t drive a truck anymore
I’ve driven the big rigs for all of my life
My radio handle’s “Train”
Down steep mountain roads on the darkest of nights
I had ice water in my veins
And I come over here ‘cause I just didn’t care
Now I’m older and wiser by far
If I ever get home to Houston alive
Then I won’t drive a truck anymore
Great God A’mighty what was wrong with me
I know the money’s good but buddy can’t you see
You can’t take it with you and that ain’t no lie
I don’t wanna let ‘em get me I’m too young to die
If I ever get home to Houston alive
Then I won’t drive a truck anymore
Sarangel Music (ASCAP)
