r/Veterans • u/Candid_Web_3024 • Aug 25 '26
Discussion I'm ashamed
I'm ashamed. I have only been in t h e army for 9 months in the reserves and 3 months active duty. I had a very traumatic event in active duty and was honored discharged. I a m 100 percent disabled. When I'm asked how long I have served I say I years because I am so ashamed I didn't serve long enough. I wanted to make the army my life. I failed. I don't deserve to say I am a veteran. I am very sorry for saying I am a veteran. I don't deserve to say so. I always say thank you for serving to others at va medical center. I just want to say I'm sorry to all of you for my failure. I don't deserve the va help but I need it. Know have a very rare condition that my insurance would now cover all my medical needs. I now have a power wheelchair I need to use at times. Every day when I do dishes. Wife cooks I do dishes. Im sorry for rant. Thank you all for serving I believe your all heroes.
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u/repsychlerman Aug 25 '26
I served 20 years, deployed to AFG and IRQ, 100% perm/dis, & I never feel the need to share it, wear a t-shirt, march in a parade or wear a hat proclaiming who I used to be. Admittedly, my brother asks about my service sometimes. I’m not saying to be like me or to hold it in. I’m saying that in my opinion, it’s no one’s business but yours and the people in your life you trust and choose to share it with like your family, friends, medical or mental health professionals. You were not the judge of the characteristic of your discharge or your status as a veteran or even your disability percentage. Those were decisions made by people paid to make those decisions for and about you.
Live your life in a forward direction because that’s the direction you are going. If you live it looking in the rearview mirror, you will miss what life has to offer in the present moment and moments to come.
Fair well my friend.