Memorial Day is a time to reflect and pay your respects to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country and died for the United States. The U.S. Army attempted to get a conversation started about military members and it backfired stupendously, but it did give regular civilians jaw-dropping testimonies of what servicemen and women put on the line when they button up that camouflage military uniform.
The official Twitter account for the U.S. Army shared a video of Pfc. Nathan Spencer, a scout with the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, explaining how the Army has positively influenced his life. The Army’s Twitter account then asked their followers: “How has serving impacted you?”
Video by @FortBenning #WhyIServe #KnowYourMil #ArmyValues pic.twitter.com/yvkHAbFhUK
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) May 23, 2019
For the most part, the responses that went viral were stories of military members who suffered great physical or emotional damage from serving in the Army. The tweets are absolutely heartbreaking. There were over 11,000 responses to the question, that ranged from being separated from their families for long periods of time to sexual assault to debilitating injuries to poor treatment from VA hospitals to PTSD to depression to suicide. Here are just a few of the heartwrenching stories, but you should check out all of the important stories in the thread.
— C & B (@johnsoncale1) May 27, 2019
— Andi in Philly, MA, MSW (@philadelphiandi) May 24, 2019
Nobody I know who served escaped intact.
— Otto (@OttoLontra) May 24, 2019
— Mattao Mischief Melly (@Matthew05761231) May 25, 2019
— ana | 21 • 45 • 47 • 52 (@starlightmara) May 24, 2019
— Bella⛓ (@bellabeela_) May 24, 2019
— J.L. ☭ Kagubatan 🇮🇪/🇵🇭(via 🇲🇽) (@JLKagubatan) May 24, 2019
— David Byrne's Long Hair Period (@ShigBit) May 24, 2019
— Shane Burley (@shane_burley1) May 25, 2019
— diablita (@pIayboy182) May 25, 2019
— Ken Beane Jr (@builtcftough) May 24, 2019
— 会長ちゃん (@krogerbranded) May 24, 2019
— Sean (@ShanusMcAnus) May 24, 2019
I didn’t serve but my brother did
he never went to war but still shot himself in the head so
— penni on the move (@Pennijj) May 24, 2019
— Valar Morghulis, but Not Today (@Katchin05) May 25, 2019
— Lacy M. Johnson (@lacymjohnson) May 25, 2019
— Archie Danger (@ArchieSwift) May 26, 2019
— schmox (@IvoryGazelle) May 25, 2019
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) May 23, 2019
— Nathan💍 (@naathantyler_) May 27, 2019
— Beautyjunkie💕 (@keelyshay8) May 26, 2019
He's currently in a multiple appeal process w/ @NJDMAVA for a spot in the dementia unit of the nearby VA Home that says it "can't care for his needs."#VeteransDeserveBetter pic.twitter.com/BBaVmc0bUQ
— Doctor of Words (and tights and positive thinking) (@docllv) May 27, 2019
— #CitizenG (@TheG_ist) May 27, 2019
— Anita C Roberts (@theluxuryceo) May 27, 2019
— Emily M (@emilynm41) May 27, 2019
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) May 25, 2019
— C & B (@johnsoncale1) May 27, 2019
— 🎭 Coco Pazzo 🎭 (@CocoPazzo) May 25, 2019
The Army’s Twitter account responded to the tweets:
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. The Army is committed to the health, safety, and well-being of our Soldiers. As we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice this weekend by remembering their service, we are also mindful of the fact that we have to take care of those who came back home with scars we can’t see.
If you’d like to help out veterans who were injured while fighting for your freedoms, you can make a donation at any of these charities: Fisher House Foundation, Homes for Troops, ThanksUSA, Wounded Warriors Family Support, and the Semper Fi Fund.
[Heavy]
