Thom Patterson
CNN
When Iraq war veteran Angela Peacock is in the shower, she sometimes closes her eyes and can't help reliving the day in Baghdad in 2003 that pushed her closer to the edge.
While pulling security detail for an Army convoy stuck in gridlocked traffic, Peacock's vehicle came alongside a van full of Iraqi men who "began shouting that they were going to kill us," she said.
One man in the vehicle was particularly threatening. "I can remember his eyes looking at me," she said. "I put my finger on the trigger and aimed my weapon at the guy, and my driver is screaming at me to stop."
"I was really close to shooting at them, but I didn't."
Now back home in Missouri, Peacock, 30, is unemployed - living in a friend's home in North St. Louis County without a lease and paying minimal rent.
| Tim Gibson |
November 30th, 2009 11:35 am ET And this is the thanks we give to our veterans. |
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| Dean, Palm Springs, Florida |
November 30th, 2009 11:41 am ET In the past, many women complained that mostly returning male veterans were extended a preference for Federal civilian sector jobs following our past conflicts. Today a veteran might get a true preference for a Custodian appointment if one still exists. Many employers will not hire veterans of actual conflict. This woman's plight is not an isolated incident and her situation is sure to worsen. In my opinion, most veterans are treated like a TV, watched and admired for their bravery, but when it starts to go on the fritz, nobody repairs them, they are just thrown onto the trash heap of life. |
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| Paula |
December 1st, 2009 3:02 am ET A tradgedy, no matter the sex. This is not a woman thing- this is a life and war thing. The economy is daunting by itself and put war on top of it- that much worse. Sad-let's pray-this too shall pass! |
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