“It has taken nearly a month of planning, but now these three scumbags will have the life drained out of them. The first-round hits scumbag#1 in the head and his head explodes into dust. Scumbag#2 takes a round to where his genitals used to be just a few seconds ago. As the leader of the group, scumbag#3 will suffer before he begs to die. Round one blows off his left kneecap. Round two takes his right kneecap off. He yells in pain and tries to crawl away. The third-round separates most of his left shoulder from his body. The fourth-round hits just below his buttocks and he flips over. The fifth-round hits the middle of his throat and finishes the job.”

PTSD – “A Condition of persistent mental and mental stress occurring because of injury or severe psychological shock.” The effects of Post-traumatic stress disorder on someone’s life leaves almost nothing unchanged. The longer that PTSD exists without treatment, the greater the effects of PTSD on a person’s life.

"Killing Animals is a Precursor to Killing People - You're A Walking Time Bomb Ready To EXPLODE." – The Medical team giving an assessment of me during my lock-up - “Mr. Kirkpatrick represents a threat to any work environment. He is quickly and easily angered and has the capacity for violent behavior.” – Psychological Evaluation, 2007

Loss of Interest, Emotional Detachment, Memory Problems, feeling different from others, drug abuse, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, hyper vigilance (severe anxiety, fear panic), violent behavior, rage and hate, flashbacks, nightmares, depression, anxiety attacks, paranoia (excessive or irrational suspiciousness of others), trouble sleeping (sleep apnea), feeling jumpy and easily startled, always on high alert, having trouble concentrating, relationship issues, a suicide attempt, and a ten-day commitment to a mental institution for killing animals.

My non-fiction, US history book is about my service in Vietnam, my exposure to Agent Orange, and many decades of dealing with PTSD (Complex PTSD). This is my story of my struggles with many examples of my many issues since 1968.
I hope my story helps families dealing with PTSD or Complex PTSD to know what PTSD is and help you heal and learn how to deal and cope with PTSD.

War is a devastating occurrence that destroys lives and leaves a long-lasting effect on its victims. One of its effects is PTSD. Why Didn't I Die: A Memoir of PTSD by F. W. Kirkpatrick is a memoir of the author's experience in the army during the Vietnam War and also his struggles with PTSD.

During the Vietnam War era, Fred Kirkpatrick was drafted. He joined the army and was assigned to the First Infantry Division. He served his country bravely and witnessed a great deal of horror. After his discharge, he married Barbara and started a family. But life after Vietnam was not easy. He suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder. It affected almost every area of his life. He had paranoia, anger, survivor guilt, substance abuse, anxiety attacks, and depression, amongst others. He suffered this for forty years.

PTSD is a prevalent issue in our society that desperately needs more awareness. It affects not only veterans but also individuals who have experienced trauma. This book sheds light on this issue. Kirkpatrick uses his experience to show us the devastating impact of war and the long-lasting effect it can have on individuals and families. By sharing his story, he sheds light on PTSD and dispels stigmas and misconceptions surrounding it. It also shows the importance of providing support and empathy to those struggling with PTSD.

This book gave me a deeper understanding of the horrors of war. Kirkpatrick's vivid storytelling quickly transported me to Vietnam, where I witnessed the brutality and chaos of war through soldiers' eyes. Kirkpatrick spares no details as he recounts the horrors that occurred in Vietnam. His willingness to share his war struggles and mental health makes this book a jewel. I found this book enlightening. It has educational value. Before reading this book, I did not know much about the Vietnam War or the Army, and I found Kirkpatrick's explanation of military protocol and strategy fascinating.

This is a great book, but it has a drawback. I spotted over ten errors while reading, and these errors disrupted my reading flow. For this reason, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this book to avid readers of the Vietnam War and the effects of PTSD.

****** Review by Sbitan Mohammad, Sept 1, 2024, OnlineBookClub.org Review from Onlinebookclub.org - September 4, 2024

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