IED's and PTSD: Interview with an Iraq War Vet

Jonathan "Stokes" Smith is a US soldier who did two tours of Iraq for a total of 28 months, and a tour of Kosovo. This is his story of war, and the things that go along with war.

JH: What was your lowest point in Iraq?

Would have to be the day after we were told that we would be staying. That is when it all sunk in. That week I first lost my grandfather who was my guiding light. Then the extension and my now ex's crap just starting. I'm man enough to admit that it broke me for little bit where I had to be by myself for twenty minutes or so.

JH: How have IED's (Improvised Explosive Device's) played a major role in the war?

They (IED's) are so tricky. I remember when they first started to use them they were so cheap. An old missile tip under a bag with a detonation cord. Nowadays they are removing pieces of the road at nighttime, placing the bombs and refilling the road for the new morning. I have even heard a case where they put an IED on the back of a donkey next to the road. A triggerman some 100 yards away would watch for a HumVee to drive by then exploded it. The reason for it on the donkey? Well they know we have been making the HumVees more protected and stuff, but not so much around the windshield so they are trying to find any weakness. The best line I ever heard from a soldier is "They're Arabic not stupid."

JH: When you were in that plane, coming home, how did you feel?

We had a four star general on ours and I got to talk to him. He now wears a suit and tie and advises the war recovery effort. I was with most of my best friends at the time and you could not slap the smiles off our faces. As I'm told they still have a picture of the soldiers coming off the plane in Germany with me just to the side kissing the ground. Wasn't our land but damn it, it was still free soil.

JH: Any lasting mental effects from the war that you have noticed since being home?

I know I am very forthcoming on almost everything but I will admit I'll be a little short on this. Yes I do to a point. The Docs have diagnosed me with PTSD. I'd rather not talk too much but it's centered on two single events out there.

JH: I have to ask, what are those two events?

I'll talk about one event but not the other.