Showing all posts tagged "Cb Security Emergency Response"
10 Incredibly Simple Things You Can Do To Protect Your Privacy
http://ift.tt/Kq1RtP
These are the really, really simple things you should be doing to keep casual intruders from invading your privacy.
IT General
via Forbes - Tech http://ift.tt/TPjgOX
January 18, 2014 at 09:34AM
Posted on January 19th, 2014
Repeated attacks hijack huge chunks of Internet traffic, researchers warn | Ars Technica
Repeated attacks hijack huge chunks of Internet traffic, researchers warn
Man-in-the-middle attacks divert data on scale never before seen in the wild.
Huge chunks of Internet traffic belonging to financial institutions, government agencies, and network service providers have repeatedly been diverted to distant locations under unexplained circumstances that are stoking suspicions the traffic may be surreptitiously monitored or modified before being passed along to its final destination.
Researchers from network intelligence firm Renesys made that sobering assessment in a blog post published Tuesday . Since February, they have observed 38 distinct events in which large blocks of traffic have been improperly redirected to routers at Belarusian or Icelandic service providers. The hacks, which exploit implicit trust placed in the border gateway protocol used to exchange data between large service providers, affected "major financial institutions, governments, and network service providers" in the US, South Korea, Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Libya, and Iran.
Further Reading
Insecure routing redirects YouTube to Pakistan
A black hole route to implement Pakistan's ban on YouTube got out into the …
"This year, that potential has become reality," Renesys researcher Jim Cowie wrote. "We have actually observed live man-in-the-middle (MitM) hijacks on more than 60 days so far this year. About 1,500 individual IP blocks have been hijacked, in events lasting from minutes to days, by attackers working from various countries."
At least one unidentified voice-over-IP provider has also been targeted. In all, data destined for 150 cities have been intercepted. The attacks are serious because they affect the Internet equivalents of a US interstate that can carry data for hundreds of thousands or even millions of people. And unlike the typical BGP glitches that arise from time to time, the attacks observed by Renesys provide few outward signs to users that anything is amiss.
"The recipient, perhaps sitting at home in a pleasant Virginia suburb drinking his morning coffee, has no idea that someone in Minsk has the ability to watch him surf the Web," Cowie wrote. "Even if he ran his own traceroute to verify connectivity to the world, the paths he'd see would be the usual ones. The reverse path, carrying content back to him from all over the world, has been invisibly tampered with."
Guadalajara to Washington via Belarus
Renesys observed the first route hijacking in February when various routes across the globe were mysteriously funneled through Belarusian ISP GlobalOneBel before being delivered to their final destination. One trace, traveling from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Washington, DC, normally would have been handed from Mexican provider Alestra to US provider PCCW in Laredo, Texas, and from there to the DC metro area and then, finally, delivered to users through the Qwest/Centurylink service provider. According to Cowie:
Instead, however, PCCW gives it to Level3 (previously Global Crossing), who is advertising a false Belarus route, having heard it from Russia’s TransTelecom, who heard it from their customer, Belarus Telecom. Level3 carries the traffic to London, where it delivers it to Transtelecom, who takes it to Moscow and on to Belarus. Beltelecom has a chance to examine the traffic and then sends it back out on the “clean path" through Russian provider ReTN (recently acquired by Rostelecom). ReTN delivers it to Frankfurt and hands it to NTT, who takes it to New York. Finally, NTT hands it off to Qwest/Centurylink in Washington DC, and the traffic is delivered.
Such redirections occurred on an almost daily basis throughout February, with the set of affected networks changing every 24 hours or so. The diversions stopped in March. When they resumed in May, they used a different customer of Bel Telecom as the source. In all, Renesys researchers saw 21 redirections. Then, also during May, they saw something completely new: a hijack lasting only five minutes diverting traffic to Nyherji hf (also known as AS29689 , short for autonomous system 29689), a small provider based in Iceland.
Renesys didn't see anything more until July 31 when redirections through Iceland began in earnest. When they first resumed, the source was provider Opin Kerfi (AS48685 ).
Cowie continued:
In fact, this was one of seventeen Icelandic events, spread over the period July 31 to August 19. And Opin Kerfi was not the only Icelandic company that appeared to announce international IP address space: in all, we saw traffic redirections from nine different Icelandic autonomous systems, all customers of (or belonging to) the national incumbent Síminn. Hijacks affected victims in several different countries during these events, following the same pattern: false routes sent to Síminn's peers in London, leaving 'clean paths' to North America to carry the redirected traffic back to its intended destination.
In all, Renesys observed 17 redirections to Iceland. To appreciate how circuitous some of the routes were, consider the case of traffic passing between two locations in Denver. As the graphic below traces, it traveled all the way to Iceland through a series of hops before finally reaching its intended destination.
Cowie said Renesys' researchers still don't know who is carrying out the attacks, what their motivation is, or exactly how they're pulling them off. Members of Icelandic telecommunications company Síminn , which provides Internet backbone services in that country, told Renesys the redirections to Iceland were the result of a software bug and that the problem had gone away once it was patched. They told the researchers they didn't believe the diversions had a malicious origin.
Cowie said that explanation is "unlikely." He went on to say that even if it does prove correct, it's nonetheless highly troubling.
"If this is a bug, it's a dangerous one, capable of simulating an extremely subtle traffic redirection/interception attack that plays out in multiple episodes, with varying targets, over a period of weeks," he wrote. "If it's a bug that can be exploited remotely, it needs to be discussed more widely within the global networking community and eradicated."
Posted on December 10th, 2013
Podcast: Inside Microsoft's Efforts to Fight Against Botnets | SecurityWeek.Com
Inside Microsoft's Efforts to Fight Against Botnets (27:30)
Date: November 15, 2013
By: Security Conversations
Description: In this edition of Security Conversations, Ryan Naraine is joined by Richard Boscovich , assistant general counsel in the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit to talk about the new Microsoft Cybercrime Center and the ongoing battle to stop the proliferation of botnets around the world.
Microsoft Opens High Tech Cybercrime Center
By Mike Lennon on November 14, 2013
Microsoft said Thursday that it has opened a new cybercrime center that combines the software giant's legal and technical expertise along with cutting-edge tools and technology and cross-industry expertise to combat cyber crime.
Located at Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington, the center houses technologies that enable teams to visualize and identify global cyberthreats developing in real time, including SitePrint, which allows the mapping of online organized crime networks; PhotoDNA, a leading anti-child-pornography technology; cyberforensics, a new investigative capability that detects global cybercrime, including online fraud and identity theft; and cyberthreat intelligence from Microsoft’s botnet takedown operations.
The Cybercrime Center also has a secure location for third-party partners, including from academia and law enforcement, allowing cybersecurity experts from around the world to work in the facility with Microsoft’s experts for an indefinite period of time.
“With nearly 100 attorneys, investigators, technical experts and forensic analysts based around the world, the Microsoft Cybercrime Center is well positioned to make it safer for people online worldwide," Microsoft said in a statement.
“In the fight against cybercrime the public sector significantly benefits from private sector expertise, such as provided by Microsoft," said Noboru Nakatani, executive director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. “The security community needs to build on its coordinated responses to keep pace with today’s cybercriminals. The Microsoft Cybercrime Center will be an important hub in accomplishing that task more effectively and proactively."
Microsoft produced the video below which explains more about the new Cybercrime Center .
Posted on December 10th, 2013
From Prevention to Detection: A Paradigm Shift in Enterprise Network Security | SecurityWeek.Com
From Prevention to Detection: A Paradigm Shift in Enterprise Network Security
While the technology used by enterprises to protect against today’s advanced threats is quite complex, understanding the essence of what the technology does shouldn’t be complicated at all. Rather, it should be refreshingly simple and easy to grasp- both by CISOs, who are tasked with keeping their network safe, and CFOs, who hold the “purse strings" and need to justify the investment.
Fortunately, human beings have a method for explaining complicated things in a way that is “refreshingly simple" and “easy to grasp". Of course, I’m talking about a metaphor. And it’s through a metaphor that we can cut through the layers of confusion that continue to prevent many enterprises from understanding what their current network security solution can – and more importantly, cannot – do to keep them safe.
Our metaphor begins with a typical office in a typical city. To prevent criminals from breaking in and committing industrial espionage, the office has strong doors with secure locks. And on top of this, let’s add a security guard, and give him a list of known suspects. At a glance, this seems like a comprehensive security system, and one that should be capable of keeping would-be criminals at bay. Unfortunately, a closer look reveals that it’s hardly impenetrable.
We all know that skilled criminals can pick almost any lock, and that they’re adept at being unseen. So there goes our strong door and lock, along with our security guard and his list of known suspects useless. What’s more, if the criminal knows someone on the inside who is willing to unlock a window, hand over their keycard or passcode, or in some other way compromise the office’s security, then the question isn’t whether a break-in will occur, but when.
Frankly, this closer look at what seemed like a comprehensive security system is unsettling. But in my view, it’s not nearly as jarring as the fact that many enterprises are at this very moment exposing their network to glaring threats when, like our metaphorical office, they focus exclusively on perimeter security and ignore what goes on beyond their network and “behind the scenes".
In fact, enterprises that rely only on prevention-focused perimeter security tools -- which is typically comprised of anti-virus products, next generation firewalls, IPS and secure web gateways -- are actually positioning themselves to be the next victims of cyber criminals who “specialize" (for lack of a better word) in getting past perimeter security defenses, so they can deploy covert APTs and other advanced threats.
What’s more, such an attack can last weeks, months or even years before it’s spotted by an enterprise, and it’s often irate customers, concerned law enforcement officials, or terrified employees who sound the alarm bells.
So, while still being a critical piece of the overall puzzle, what can enterprises do when their perimeter security cannot prevent 100% of the advanced threats? Fortunately, this is where the bleak story brightens.
Just like an office that wisely implements a motion detection alarm to identify actual break-ins, and trains its security guard to look for suspicious behaviors rather than just for specific individuals, enterprises can quickly, simply, and cost-effectively augment their perimeter security with technology that lets them:
· Identify compromised devices of both local and remote employees
· Detect the onslaught of completely new and unknown malware, along with new variants of known malware, that are engineered to evade signature-based security products
· Use Big Data Analytics to look into their corporate network traffic for signs of unauthorized or suspicious activity
· Automatically integrate detection results with their on-premises network devices through a secure API, so they can take swift, focused action before the damage to their systems and reputation occurs
Ultimately, it comes down to this: just as offices need to detect break-ins to keep criminals from committing industrial espionage, enterprises need to put more focus on detecting APTs and other advanced threats to keep adversaries from penetrating their network.
This shift of focus from prevention to detection is more than just a change of course. Given the ever-worsening cyber threat landscape, coupled with the enormous strategic and financial value of intellectual property, it’s a view more and more enterprises today understand that they must adopt.
Posted on December 10th, 2013
11 sure signs you've been hacked - Network World
11 sure signs you've been hacked
InfoWorld - In today's threatscape, antivirus software provides little piece of mind. In fact, antimalware scanners on the whole are horrifically inaccurate, especially with exploits less than 24 hours old. After all, malicious hackers and malware can change their tactics at will . Swap a few bytes around, and a previously recognized malware program becomes unrecognizable.
To combat this, many antimalware programs monitor program behaviors, often called heuristics, to catch previously unrecognized malware. Other programs use virtualized environments, system monitoring, network traffic detection, and all of the above at once in order to be more accurate. And still they fail us on a regular basis.
[ Verse yourself in the 7 sneak attacks used by today's most devious hackers , 14 dirty IT security consultant tricks , 9 popular IT security practices that just don't work , and 10 crazy security tricks that do . | Learn how to secure your systems with the Web Browser Deep Dive PDF special report and Security Central newsletter , both from InfoWorld. ]
Here are 11 sure signs you've been hacked and what to do in the event of compromise. Note that in all cases, the No. 1 recommendation is to completely restore your system to a known good state before proceeding. In the early days, this meant formatting the computer and restoring all programs and data. Today, depending on your operating system, it might simply mean clicking on a Restore button. Either way, a compromised computer can never be fully trusted again. The recovery steps listed in each category below are the recommendations to follow if you don't want to do a full restore -- but again, a full restore is always a better option, risk-wise.
Sure sign of system compromise No. 1: Fake antivirus messages
In slight decline these days, fake antivirus warning messages are among the surest signs that your system has been compromised. What most people don't realize is that by the time they see the fake antivirus warning, the damage has been done. Clicking No or Cancel to stop the fake virus scan is too little, too late. The malicious software has already made use of unpatched software, often the Java Runtime Environment or an Adobe product, to completely exploit your system.
Why does the malicious program bother with the "antivirus warning"? This is because the fake scan, which always finds tons of "viruses," is a lure to buy their product. Clicking on the provided link sends you to a professional-looking website, complete with glowing letters of recommendation. There, they ask you for your credit card number and billing information. You'd be surprised how many people get tricked into providing personal financial information. The bad guys gain complete control of your system and get your credit card or banking information. For bad guys, it's the Holy Grail of hacking.
What to do: As soon as you notice the fake antivirus warning message, power down your computer. (Note: This requires knowing what your legitimate antivirus program's warning looks like.) If you need to save anything and can do it, do so. But the sooner you power off your computer, the better. Boot up the computer system in Safe Mode, No Networking, and try to uninstall the newly installed software (oftentimes it can be uninstalled like a regular program). Either way, follow up by trying to restore your system to a state previous to the exploitation. If successful, test the computer in regular mode and make sure that the fake antivirus warnings are gone. Then follow up with a complete antivirus scan. Oftentimes, the scanner will find other sneak remnants left behind.
Posted on December 10th, 2013
Facebook users warned of leaked Snapchat photos phishing threat
http://grahamcluley.com/2013/12/facebook-users-warned-leaked-snapchat-photos-phishing-threat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=facebook-users-warned-leaked-snapchat-photos-phishing-threat
Facebook pages claiming to link to leaked photos distributed via the Snapchat smartphone app can be attempting to steal your passwords. Be on your guard, and warn your friends to be more careful about what they "Like".
IT Security
via Graham Cluley http://grahamcluley.com
December 03, 2013 at 05:36AM
Posted on December 3rd, 2013
Tactical Flashlights: How to Use Them for Self-Defense | The Art of Manliness
How to Use a Flashlight in a Tactical Situation
by Brett & Kate McKay on November 7, 2012 · 98 comments
in Manly Skills , Survival
It’s late Friday night and you’re walking to your car after a fun evening with your friends downtown. As you turn the corner down an unlit side street, you see a shadow dart across the wall and hear footsteps. The hairs on your neck stand straight up. You quicken your pace, but the other footsteps speed up as well. You look around trying to make out shapes in the dark, when out of nowhere a fist connects with your cheekbone. The sucker punch takes you to the ground and you can feel your wallet being taken from your back pocket.
Before you have time to react, your assailant has disappeared back into the cover of darkness.
You really could have used a flashlight.
If you’re like me, you typically think of flashlights as something you keep in your kitchen drawer in case the power goes out, or as what you bring along on an infrequent camping trip so you can find your way back to the tent after you take a middle-of-the-night leak. But according to Mike Seeklander, firearms and tactical trainer with Shooting Performance , a flashlight is something every man should have with him at all times. I met Mike over at the US Shooting Academy here in Tulsa to go over the ins and outs of using a flashlight in a tactical situation. Here’s what he told me.
What Is a Tactical Flashlight?
In today’s post we’re not talking about just any old flashlight. We’re talking about tactical flashlights. What makes a flashlight tactical? A tactical flashlight is simply a flashlight that’s been designed for tactical (i.e. military or police) use. Many tactical flashlights are designed to be mounted to a weapon for low-light shooting. They’re typically smaller than traditional flashlights, emit much more light, and are made of weapon-grade aluminum for maximum durability. While tactical flashlights are designed primarily for military and police units, as we’ll see below, they’re also a really handy everyday and personal defense tool for the average civilian.
Why Every Man Should Carry a Flashlight
Before we even get into the tactical and self-defense uses of a flashlight, let’s talk about why you should start carrying one even if you don’t plan on using it to thwart would-be attackers. Next to a pocket knife, a small, tactical flashlight is one of the most useful and versatile tools a man can have in his Every Day Carry kit.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been in a situation where a flashlight would have been handy, but I was left stumbling in the dark. Take the other day for example. I was trying to fix a connection on our TV’s audio output, but I couldn’t see a thing behind the stand. So I had to go rummage around my house looking for a flashlight. I could have saved myself about 15 minutes if I simply had a small flashlight tucked in my pocket along with my knife.
And as the residents of the Eastern seaboard learned firsthand last week, electrical power can go out at any time and for long periods. Having a flashlight on you can save time and toe stubs as you navigate about your darkened apartment.
And, besides helping you fix wire connections or navigating your home after a power outage, a flashlight can also be used as an effective self-defense tool.
Flashlights: The Most Underestimated Tool for Personal Defense
If you use a handgun as a personal defense weapon, a flashlight is vital for low-light shooting. Not only does it help you to identify your target, but it also allows you to see your gun sights in the dark. Even if you don’t carry a gun for personal defense, a flashlight, when used correctly, can be very handy in tough situations. (We’ll talk more below about using a flashlight when armed or unarmed.) They can be taken into places like movie theaters or airplanes where guns are banned, and are great for men who live in countries with strict weapons laws, but who still want to carry something for personal defense.
There are two important self-defense functions that a tactical flashlight serves, plus one bonus use.
Helps identify threats. Attackers often use the cover of darkness as an advantage. A bright flashlight can help identify threats in a low-light environment and eliminate the advantage of an attacker stalking in the shadows. Simply shining a light on a bad guy can be enough to get him to take off.
Momentarily disorients attackers. Have you ever had a bright light shined in your eyes when it was dark outside? You probably felt disoriented and even blinded for a bit. You can take advantage of that natural reaction to bright light to defend yourself against would-be attackers.
Whenever you encounter a possible threat, shine your flashlight directly in their eyes, or as Mike says, “dominate their face." Your assailant will likely reach his hands up to his face and experience three to four seconds of disorientation and semi-blindness. That gives you enough time to either flee or attack.
Bonus use: Improvised weapon. Some tactical flashlights have a serrated or toothed bezel. Manufacturers advertise these specialty bezels as a tool that can be used to break car windows in an emergency. But according to Mike, breaking a window with a small, tactical light is easier said than done. “Me and a bunch of Military Special Operations personnel tried for hours to break a car window with the toothed bezel of a small tactical flashlight. We never broke it."
While the bezel on a tactical flashlight isn’t going to break windows, it can be used as an improvised striking device during an attack. After you’ve shined the light in your attacker’s eyes and disoriented him, strike his face with the toothed bezel as hard as you can. The motion should be like stamping him with a giant rubber stamp.
Mike says to be careful with the toothed bezeled flashlights when flying. He had one taken away by a TSA agent because it was deemed a “striking tool." When in doubt, put your flashlight in your checked bag.
Which Flashlight Is the Best Flashlight in Tactical Situations?
So a tactical flashlight is a great self-defense tool. Which one should you get? There are literally nearly 100 different models on the market. The one you choose will typically come down to your budget and personal preference. But here are a few things you should look for when selecting a tactical flashlight for everyday carry:
- Small. You want something small enough to carry in your pocket every day. Your flashlight should be no bigger than the size of your palm.
- At least 120 lumens of light output. For a flashlight to be an effective self-defense tool, it needs to be bright enough to disorient attackers. Anything less than 120 lumens just won’t get the job done.
- Simple. There are flashlights on the market that have strobe or SOS functions, or flashlights that allow you to change the brightness of your light output depending on how many times you push the on/off switch. While many tactical flashlight users swear by these features, Mike recommends keeping things simple. You don’t want a flashlight so complex that you have a hard time using the primary feature (bright light) when you really need it. A simple on/off switch should do the trick.
- Waterproof. You want a flashlight that will work in ALL situations. Get a flashlight that’s waterproof so it will work even in the rain or other wet conditions.
- Ruggedly constructed. Your flashlight will likely see a lot of action, so get something that will withstand the use. Look for one made from hard anodized aluminum. It’s a tough, yet light metal. Also, make sure the metal on the flashlight is machined so that it’s easy to grip. You don’t want to drop your flashlight when you need it most.
- LED or incandescent? Mike prefers LEDs because in his experience incandescent bulbs break easily when dropped while LEDs can withstand a beating. Incandescent bulbs also aren’t very energy efficient. You’ll burn through bulbs and flashlight batteries faster than you will LED bulbs.
Suggested Tactical Flashlights
Surefire P2X Fury Dual Output LED. After the tragic shootings in Aurora, former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb wrote an article about what citizens could do to help protect themselves in a similar situation . His number one recommendation? Carry a super bright tactical flashlight with you at all times. He recommended the Surefire P2X Fury Dual Output LED flashlight. This bad boy puts out 500 lumens of light. Downside of the Surefire is price. This little guy will set you back $121. Ouch.
Streamlight 88031 Protac Tactical Flashlight 2L. If you’re looking for a more affordable tactical flashlight, check out the Streamlight ProTac. Its 180 lumens of light output is more than enough to blind an attacker so you can escape and evade. $44.
NiteCore Extreme LED Flashlight . Mike’s go-to flashlight. His has taken a beating and been through the wash three times, but still works like a champ. Unfortunately, it appears NiteCore no longer makes this flashlight, but you still might find some places that still sell it new. If all else fails, look for a used one.
How to Safely Maneuver in a Dark Space With a Flashlight
When you hear something go bump in the night and you think that something might be armed and dangerous, there’s a particular way you want to maneuver in a dark space when using your flashlight to maximize your safety. Here’s how to do it.
Try the light switch first. If you’re in a low-light environment, your first step should be to simply turn on the main light source if it’s convenient and safe to do so. Don’t be like the forensics teams on CSI. The more light you have, the better.
Of course, there will be situations when turning on the main light source is impossible — you’re not near the switch, electricity is out, you’re outside, etc. In that case you’ll need to use your flashlight. But if you suspect there’s an attacker nearby with a weapon, you’ll need to use your flashlight in a certain way to keep yourself safe.
Light on, scan, light off, move. When you’re maneuvering in a low-light environment and believe there’s an armed attacker nearby, you don’t want to leave your flashlight on the entire time. That just makes you an easy target. Instead, follow this sequence:
- Light on
- Scan environment. Look for threats.
- Light off
- Repeat
When maneuvering in a low-light environment, don’t leave your flashlight on the entire time. That just makes you an easy target. Instead follow this sequence: turn light on, scan, turn light off, move.
Your threat will likely shoot at or attack where they last saw the light from your flashlight. By turning off your light and then moving, you’ll increase the chances that you’re not standing where your threat is going to shoot or attack.
How to Use a Tactical Flashlight When You’re Unarmed
Even if you don’t carry a firearm, you can use a small flashlight to defend yourself from a would-be assailant. Whenever you encounter a threat, shine the light on his face, and dominate his eyes. The bright light will cause momentary blindness and disorientation, giving you enough time to flee or engage your attacker. If you don’t have any combatives training or if you don’t know whether or not your threat is armed, your best option is to flee. No need for the macho stuff; living is manlier than having your gut poked through with a knife.
If you must engage your attacker, a quick, hard hit to the face with the toothed bezel on your tactical flashlight should incapacitate him enough for you to get away. Low, hard kicks to the groin or knees are also effective in this situation as he won’t be able to see them coming with the light shined in his eyes.
How to Hold a Flashlight When Using a Gun
If you use a gun for personal defense, you’ll definitely want to learn how to manipulate and fire the weapon with a flashlight. According to FBI statistics, the likelihood of having to use your weapon in a low-light situation is much greater than that of using in broad daylight. While weapon-mounted lights and night sights both serve a purpose when using a gun in a dark environment, both have downsides as well. The big issue with weapon-mounted lights is that because the flashlight is mounted on your gun, you have to point your gun at the object you want to illuminate. Not very safe. The problem with night sights is that while you can see your sights so you can align them, if it’s too dark (and you don’t have a flashlight), you can’t see the target and whether he/she/it is actually a threat. Plus, night sights can be pretty dang expensive and might not be in your budget.
When used in a certain way, a small, tactical flashlight can allow you to safely assess your situation without pointing your gun at a non-threat (solving the issue with weapon-mounted lights) and you’ll be able to see your sights and your target without dropping a big chunk of change (solving the issues with night sights).
Below, we’ll first take a look at the techniques Mike doesn’t recommend using when carrying both a flashlight and a gun, and then explain the method he prefers.
The Disadvantages of Two-Handed Flashlight-Gun Techniques
The first two-handed technique for holding both gun and flashlight involves holding the flashlight in front of you with your non-dominant hand, while resting your gun-holding hand on top, as seen in the left-side image above. You’ll oftentimes see this technique being done on cop shows. The second two-handed approach is called the Rogers technique. The Rogers technique is a modification of the normal shooting grip with the flashlight trapped between the first and second or second and third finger of your non-dominant hand, as seen in the right-side image above.
While Mike thinks both grips have some merit, he also believes each has some downsides that compromise your safety and the safety of others when using a firearm in a low-light situation.
The big downside of both two-handed techniques is that if you want to shine a light on something, you also have to point your gun at that object or person. While you may be practicing good safety measures by keeping your finger off the trigger, you have to accept the risk that you’re pointing your muzzle at a potential non-threat, like your kiddo or your weird neighbor.
Moreover, two-handed techniques may leave you vulnerable to a head strike. With both hands holding the gun and flashlight, you have no way of protecting your head from a swing from a hidden attacker.
Another issue Mike has with two-handed techniques is that, with the exception of the Rogers technique, none of them really offer any decent recoil control over one-handed shooting.
Finally, if you’re not careful, it can be easy to activate your gun’s magazine release when using a two-handed technique.
Mike’s Recommendation: The Eye Index Technique
Instead of a two-handed shooting technique, Mike recommends and teaches a one-handed approach that he calls the “Eye Index Technique." The Eye Index Technique is a modification of a gun/flashlight technique taught to Federal Air Marshals called the “Neck Index."
To perform the Eye Index Technique follow these steps:
1. Hold your tactical flashlight in your non-dominant hand so that the light is by your eye. This serves two purposes. First, the placement of the flashlight here will illuminate not only your target, but also your gun sights. You need to see both in order to hit your target. Second, having your hand up by your head like this offers you protection from any head strikes that might come your way.
2. Extend your gun hand out. Because you’ll be firing with just one hand, you’ll need to modify the way you hold the gun for recoil control. Grip the gun tighter with your dominant hand than you would if you were firing with two hands, yet ensure that your trigger finger remains as relaxed as possible. Your thumb should be angled up slightly to ensure that there’s equal pressure on the rear back strap of the gun. Don’t extend your arm all the way out. Leave a slight bend in your elbow. This will help keep your arm behind the gun for recoil control.
3. Turn your flashlight on. If you’re holding the flashlight in the correct place, the light beam should illuminate your gun sights as well as any target you engage in. Scan and assess. Turn off the light and move. When you engage a threat, dominate his face and use the time that he’s disoriented to assess the threat level and make your choice on how to proceed.
4. If you want to shine a light at a person that isn’t a threat, bring the gun to your chest in a one-handed, high ready position. By having your gun close your body like this, you prevent it being taken away from you by an attacker you can’t see.
As with all firearms techniques, consistent training is key. It’s especially important if you’ve never done one-handed firing. If you have an outdoor gun range that’s open when it’s dark, take advantage of that. Even if you don’t have access to a low-light gun range, you can and should practice firing your gun one-handed while holding a flashlight with your non-dominant hand.
Big thanks to Mike Seeklander at Shooting Performance . If you have a chance, I highly recommend you take a class from Mike. Fantastic teacher who really knows his stuff. If you can’t make it to one of his classes, pick up his latest book Your Defensive Handgun Training Program. Mike lays out a detailed training program on how to use a handgun in defensive situations. I just got my copy and I can’t wait to get started with it.
Posted on November 30th, 2013
Advice From a 92-Year-Old Veteran of WWII on Getting Out of a Dark Place | The Art of Manliness
Advice From a 92-Year-Old Veteran of WWII on Getting Out of a Dark Place
by A Manly Guest Contributor on November 12, 2012 · 43 comments
in A Man's Life
Editor’s note: This is guest post from Marcus Brotherton. It originally ran on Men Who Lead Well (www.marcusbrotherton.com ).
I recently interviewed T.I. Miller, a 92-year-old WWII vet who fought on Guadalcanal and New Britain.
When it came to war, Mr. Miller had seen it all. Charging banzai attacks. Severed heads. Bloody arms, legs, and torsos. The works.
After he came home, a man doesn’t forget these things instantly, he said.
I asked him what helped. This was his answer:
“What helped? My wife and family were a big help, especially my wife, Recie. At the same time, it’s something you gotta just do yourself. The secret, I found out, is just to stay busy. There were no government programs to help back then. No therapists to see. Nothing like that.
I was born and raised out in the country. So after I came back from the war, I built me and Recie a house out there close to where I’d grown up. I got out there and roamed around in the mountains. That’s what helped.
One time they closed the mines down for three months. Someone said, “Where you gonna go look for a job." I said, “I ain’t. I’m gonna spend the summer out in the sunshine."
And I did. I took a two pound double bladed axe, walked a half mile up above where I lived. We had a field there, and I cut down big trees and cut them into fence posts. All I had was that axe. I made my own mallet and split those trees myself.
I got me a half acre of ground, plowed it up, and had a field. That same summer I grew potatoes, corn, and beans. The whole summer I spent growing things I wanted to. I’d be out in the woods at daylight. I just worked like that and built myself back up."
Notice three key actions in Mr. Miller’s plan to heal. I’m no therapist, but I’d consider these important components to helping anybody out of a hard spot.
1. He busied himself with straightforward, non-emotional work.
The war had taxed Mr. Miller’s ability to cope. During those years of horror, he had experienced too many events larger than himself. Splitting wood helped him connect with a simpler world.
2. He got active, outside.
Fresh air, sunshine, nature, and physical exercise helped him regain a sense of security and peacefulness. Notice he didn’t turn to alcohol, drugs, or any such trappings that only result in harm.
3. He could see what he accomplished each day.
Plenty of beneficial activities have non-identifiable benchmarks, but it’s much harder for a man doing this kind of work to feel good about what he’s done. By splitting wood and growing a garden, Mr. Miller could see clear progress on a regular basis. At the end of each day he could point to a pile of fence posts and say, “There it is. I did that."
If you know a returning veteran, or anyone for that matter struggling with a dark place, please consider passing this article along.
The advice doesn’t come from me. It comes from someone who was there, survived, healed, and went on to thrive with the rest of his life.
Are you a vet who struggled after coming home from war, or have been in another kind of dark place? What did you do to help heal?
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
- 1João Cavaleiro November 12, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Excellent peace of text.
- 2J.T.November 12, 2012 at 3:22 pm
I’ve also been in a dark place and I sought therapy for it. What my therapist told me is that there are 3 things that fend off depression: social support, mastery, and pleasure. I see all of them in this piece. Social support – “My wife and family were a big help." Mastery and feelings of accomplishment – “I made my own mallet and split those trees myself." Pleasure – “I got out there and roamed around in the mountains."
- 3cmtNovember 12, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Amazing article. Short and to the point, but well organized and very deep.
- 4Mark November 12, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Congrats on hitting 92. My father is 87 and has perfect mental clarity on every aspect of the war.
- 5Ivan NogueiraNovember 12, 2012 at 4:22 pm
(sorry for my poor english in advance, i’m brazilian!)
I’m actually graduating in psychology and going through some dark times myself.
The end of a almost 7 years relationship made me focus all my willpower on myself, but not everyone is able to. I can do that because I’m only 24 and a student, but that kind of advice is exacly what is helping to keep myself happy.It’s time to lose some weight, grow that long beard you wanted, and do whatever brings you self-satisfaction. (in my case, me and some friends are building our own cabin to pratice some blacksmithing).
From my degree’s point of view, a therapist can help a lot, specially when it comes to knowing yourself. Just take your time to find the one you feel best with (try professionals from different psychology theories/schools).
I hope this can be useful!
- 6BryceNovember 12, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Your post reminded me of my now-deceased grandpa (“Pappy" to his grandkids), a WW2 Marine Corps veteran who saw combat at Iwo Jima (He saw the flag go up from the bottom of the hill).
I talked to Pappy about his time in the Corps. When he was talking about Iwo Jima, all he said was “It was really gruesome…there were dead people everywhere…" and he had to stop at that.
Pappy came home, went back to his previous civilian job at the steel mill, and bought the grocery store where my grandma was working the year after he got back. Since I knew him, he always kept himself busy. He never could just sit around and do nothing…now I know why.
- 7David YNovember 12, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Excellent article.
It shows that we can get out of that dark place with positive things. Retreating into drugs, booze, or isolation wont’t help, they just make things worse.
My dad was a Marine in WW2. Wounded at Peleliu. If he talks about the war or his time in the Marines, it it the lighter side of things that happened during the down time. Fortuneatly, he had a good family to come home to.
- 8Marcus November 12, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I love reading these comments, thanks.
J.T. — excellent summary and thoughts.
- 9TheodoraNovember 12, 2012 at 6:49 pm
As someone who is in a dark place herself, this advice rings true. While, yes, I have my medication to help me, I find I’m happiest when I’m working with my hands — simple things, like beadwork, or digital painting, or cooking — helps me to feel happier, more able to cope. Between that, and the support of my family and friends, I feel I’ve been able to have a fighting chance at coping with my own dark place.
- 10dannyb278November 12, 2012 at 8:58 pm
When I got back from from oversea with th with the army i in 2003 I fell I fell into a rut an and depression and bet and lots tha that only made things worse . The solution was leaving my home in Minnesota and move to Wyoming in hopes of losing the madness over the mountains as the great author Jim Harrison put it. I did it by finding a job working on potentia wind farms in oil pipel wind farms in oil pipeline projects hiking up to 10 miles today through deserts and mountains. I think it was Teddy Roosevelt heal the hear of a youn of a young man the the best is to to remov is to remove him from t the problem can a physically demanding job
- 11dannyb278November 12, 2012 at 11:31 pm
wow my phone sucks. sorry about all the typos/mistakes. wish i could edit the above post.
- 12JoeyNovember 12, 2012 at 11:36 pm
I could not agree more.
We’re so coddled in this age. We expect help from everyone else, and although their help is needed and indeed encouraging, eventually we have to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.
My wife passed away last year, leaving me with a college education to finish and a daughter to raise. I rely on my family (Mom and Dad) every day to help manage life (babysitting, school, work). I rely on God, too. But at the end of the day, I have to make the decision to carry on.
And he’s right; the best way to do carry on is to just stay busy. I threw myself into fatherhood, school, and work. It’s paying off.
The occasional glass of whiskey helps, however. It’s the little pleasures in life that make the best pleasures, I think.
- 13Clevertrousers November 13, 2012 at 3:09 am
Excellent article. All the points that Mr. Miller touches on are great for dealing with coming from a dark place. Also it should be noted that there isn’t anything wrong with going to a therapist or a counselor to talk things out. Quite the contrary, as you will find that many in the mental health field will make many of the suggestions that Mr. Miller did. Things like keeping busy, having a routine, and getting exercise all lead to better mental health.
I say this because I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety for a very long time and only over the past few years have I been able to progress in a healthy direction.
I’ve seen a lot of stories with unhappy endings and a lot of those endings could be prevented by seeking out a mental health professional. Mental health therapy is a relatively new thing but I can’t stress enough the idea that seeking out help isn’t a sign of weakness or being a sissy.
Again I really appreciate the article because too often in this day and age men are increasingly closed off when it comes to addressing issues of mental health.- 14Andrew VNovember 13, 2012 at 6:44 am
I disagree strongly with the notion in this article that vets today are coddled, and that when they come home from combat they should just suck it up and make a farm in the woods. I’m glad it worked for Mr. Miller, but some veterans come back and have nightmares, and problems reintegrating into society or problems interacting with others, and it is hardly fair to say it is their fault for not manning up. I do think that our culture does too much coddling, but the problems our returning military veterans face are often ignored.
- 15ConnerNovember 13, 2012 at 7:15 am
Artofmanliness needs more like this.
- 16Dan MNovember 13, 2012 at 10:21 am
There’s nothing wrong with going to a therapist sure, but it also isn’t for everyone. I think that it’s encouraged too much in our collectivist american society to see a therapist about your mental issues. There are a lot of people like me (or maybe there aren’t, I don’t know) who believe that the only person who can bring you true happiness is yourself. I was never able to solve, in any permanent way, my issues by talking to a therapist or anyone else for that matter. Doing exactly what this man did seems to me more therapeutic than talking to any therapist. Simplify, seek solace in your own mind, feed it with positive actions and knowledge, feed your soul as well, and you will find happiness.
- 17Mike November 13, 2012 at 10:24 am
Great piece. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for vets that don’t have access to the kind of nature that Miller did. More and more of us live in urban areas these days (I believe I read that it’s more than 50% of the U.S. population now). I know I’d feel pretty lost if I came home from war and returned to my hometown of Baltimore. Listing a few suggestions here might really help some vets that find this article.
- 18claudeNovember 13, 2012 at 12:27 pm
A wise man. Im lucky to have learned this lesson at a young age.
- 19AndrewNovember 13, 2012 at 1:12 pm
I think that main difference, between Mr. Miller and current vets is that in the case of Mr. Miller his fellows genuinely acknowledged, that despite he did bloody job there in Pacific, it was for the good of nation (because do not fool ourselves, somebody had to kill the poor Japanese in banzai charges, and sever that heads, arms, legs and torsos). Now when you return from Afghanistan nobody cares…
- 20jaredNovember 13, 2012 at 3:06 pm
i hope that any vet that reads this looking for help gets in contact with the VA if they are in deeper than what they can handle on their own. while this worked for this man it is not going to work for everyone. the ugly secret about the current military is the high rate of suicide of returning vets. god bless and get help wherever you can find it.
- 21Hilton HendersonNovember 13, 2012 at 6:09 pm
I was hit by an uninsured driver and lost my leg below the knee, so I’ve been in a dark place at times. Please read my story here: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/boycott_fedex_20100222/
" Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it."
Joseph Conrad- 22J. CrouchNovember 14, 2012 at 3:52 am
Hi. Im glad Mr Miller found the answer to his dark place. Vets deserve all the help they need and should get it without any stigma being attached. Not everyone can get to the countryside, walk or even use their hands to make things. If the problems are of the mind and physical, other options have to be looked for to help.
- 23Bear November 14, 2012 at 3:54 am
Thank you for the great and timely article!
I honestly don’t know how my grandfather coped, as an officer in the US Army Infantry, he was captured by the Nazi’s during the battle of Anzio (during the Italian campaign) and spent the rest of the war in the prison camps. To prevent any rescue operations by the Allies, his group was moved every few months by foot giving him a horrific tour of Dachau, Treblinka, and other facilities. As an officer, he should have been theoretically treated somewhat better, but he was a very dark skinned Chickasaw; malnutrition during his imprisonment cost him all of his teeth. He never said much to anyone about his experiences, but after the war, he found work as a carpenter, and did two decades in the Army Reserves, serving his one weekend a month/two weeks a year. Perhaps that gave him the support or community he needed. He did however hold a lifelong hatred of german shepherds.
Obviously in our post 9/11 world, the Guard or Reserves isn’t a part time gig anymore. I did over 6 years in the Guard with tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, over 3 and a half of the years I was in I was gone on missions. I was discharged two years ago when the stop loss from my last deployment ended; I was done. I had seen enough.
I’m still working things through. I did some counseling for a while, simply being able to talk about my experiences with someone who wouldn’t freak out was helpful to an extent (the counselor I was seeing retired, I haven’t sought out anyone else since). I learned some good relaxation exercises from him that have been useful too.
I’m am also so very fortunate to have an amazing wife who has stood by me through the whole military experience; not just the hassles of deployments and army bureaucracy, but my emotional struggles too. Too many I know lost their marriages to deployment. I am more blessed than I deserve here.
I agree that being in the outdoors is helpful. Even if you live in an urban area, there are still parks or green spaces where you can go and listen to the nature that is there. It’s a different rhythm or pace than our artificial and modernized world, but it’s much more closer to how we are wired as humans; taking time to slow down, stop, and listen, to absorb the wonders around us can help a lot. At least for me when I’m in the woods, the sights, sounds, smells, and beauty of creation can help make the darkness in my memories seem more distant.
Lots have been written about the mental/physical/emotional benefits of consistent exercise; while I have found that running and kettlebells have been good for blunting the edge off anger or depression, I am ultimately responsible for whatever emotional or mental state I’m in. I know that this (taking back control of my mind and spirit) can take a lot of time and patience, I don’t think PTSD is a fight that a man can win in a day. In the end, I don’t believe that you can make peace with your demons, you have to face them.
- 24PhilipNovember 14, 2012 at 8:21 am
I’m an Iraq vet and every day I want to escape to the woods, build a house, grow a garden, see my life unfold in real-time rather than work a f’d up meaningless office job.
Seeing death up close and personal really takes the pleasure out of “later", which is when most occupations promise you your reward.
I just want to live “now".
- 25Father Muskrat November 14, 2012 at 8:37 am
Loved this. Wish I’d done this when I got back from Iraq in 2003 instead of drinking a bunch and wrecking a car!
- 26GeneNovember 14, 2012 at 2:58 pm
I trully enjoyed the article. I am currently in the Guard, I’ve have been back and forth to the the “desert" since ’03, six deployments so far.
During this time I lost the three most important men in my life, both Grandfathers and my Dad. During that time I Iost focus as a husband and father, I isolated myself away from my loved ones. In Feb. of ’10 I had a huge wake up call, almost lost it all through stuppidity on my part.
I agree with the comments, I had to deal with my demons. I’ve had anger issues. As a kid I always heard about “working off a mad" I honestly believe a sense of true accomplishment helps immensely.
I am a runner, 4 to 7 miles daily, gives me time to think things through (like how to effectively deal with the demons).
The being outside is just good for my soul! If I remember correctly, this sight has spoken about some pretty influential fella’s that advocate getting out of doors on a daily basis to clear their heads.
Thanks for listening…it’s been good to get this off of my mind.- 27Marcus November 14, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Again–thanks so much for these comments. You men are living through this adjustment process today. Thank you for your service to our country.
- 28JakeNovember 14, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Excellent article. Just the right length and sensible analysis. This is just the sort of writing that makes this a great site. I like to bounce from here to straightdope.
- 29Pat S.November 14, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Excellent advice from Mr. Miller. Sadly, many WW II vets, like my Dad, really started to face their demons mentally / emotionally when they stopped being busy with their work. I read an article somewhere that upon retirement many seemingly well adjusted WW II vets started to have nightmares etc., something to do with having the time to think after a long, busy working life. Our family saw this with my Dad after his retirement.
- 30MelNovember 16, 2012 at 12:58 am
Thank you for that kind article.
- 31EricaNovember 17, 2012 at 11:09 am
I am a therapist, and I can say that this strategy works well for a lot of people dealing with trauma or depression/anxiety. It’s solid advice. However, it does not work for everyone. If you’ve been struggling with mental illness and healthy activities like the one described in the this article aren’t working for you then please get yourself to a mental health care provider.
- 32Joe RubioNovember 17, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Good article and I agree with much of it. But it pays to be careful not to romanticize those days. My parents had me late in life. So they, my relatives were all of the immigrant WWII generation. My uncle was a hero and he struggled horribly with PTSD. If he had some the tools we had now and less of a social stigma about talking about things he would’ve been way better off. In some ways people in those days had more freedoms. Their time wasn’t taken up as much and things moved slower. What we can learn from this story is to get out of the “social incubator" many of us live in and go do what you believe in. Take the wonderful freedoms we have now and look to the past to learn some “new ideas"
- 33jtNovember 21, 2012 at 11:14 pm
“Invisible Heroes" is a book on PTSD I’d highly recommend.
Therapy is a good thing. Seeking help is a good thing. Just because some method happened to seem to work for one person in retrospect by no means indicates it actually worked, or will work for anybody else.
The timeline in this elderly person’s head as to his “recovery" may be quite skewed.
Essentially, everything about this article is flawed. The first thing to do is to seek professional help, not try to self-treat.
- 34John T.November 22, 2012 at 11:21 am
I feel that the article, while good, missed two essential points. Most of the commenters missed them too. They are (1) connection with God to seek His help and influence. I firmly believe in God. I firmly believe a close relationship with Him is fundamental. Anyone has the right to pray, to tell Him you troubles and ask his advice. He can help.
(2) Get your mind off yourself and look for opportunites to help other people, to lift their burdens and bring them some joy. That advice came from Jesus in the New Testament, and I think it helps quite a lot.
Yes, the other advice in the article is good, but I think these two things I mentioned are really big in getting out of dark places.- 35OddballNovember 24, 2012 at 6:37 am
Physical labor is not just for returning vets – it is also good for frustrated office jockeys, the kind of people who wouldn’t know a hard day’s work if it bit them in the cock. It teaches them what real work is like and that there is more to life than massaging a keyboard or dodging paper cuts.
I have done my time in the wars and done my time doing hard labor. I did and still do trips to the wars, but between those trips spend time in unforgiving construction jobs. It’s tough and nasty, but so is life. It keeps me ahead of the pack when it comes to doing the office jockey jobs.
- 36SailorRobNovember 26, 2012 at 11:57 am
I’m a Navy Vet and I find that splitting wood helps more than anything. It gets you out doors. It helps to take out aggression and it is an activity you have complete control over. It helps center me.I totally agree with this article. Get back to nature. It helps.
- 37A RNovember 26, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Read “With the Old Breed" by Eugene Sledge. His father worked with shell shocked vets from WW1. When Gene came home, he got the same advice from his dad: don’t drink, keep busy, spend time outdoors. He had PTSD like I’ve never heard of. His wife couldn’t wake him without a fight until a buddy told her to just whisper his nickname ‘Sledgehammer’. He’d pop awake ready for action but quiet and calm. His dad’s advice kept him functional in society. He also wrote down his nightmares and that gave him relief as well.
When I was in college the last time, I was married, 2 kids, in a place that ran about 15-20% unemployed. I was a full time student and worked 3 part time jobs to make ends meet. My wife didn’t work.
I bought a frontier tomahawk kit, found some old pine tree sections and setup a throwing “range" near the house.When stuff started to close in, I’d practice throwing that ‘hawk. Outside, cool nights, the steady beat of throw, retrieve, setup, throw was like medicine.
Sometimes it’s the simplest thing that helps.
- 38AndrewNovember 28, 2012 at 12:55 am
This article was great. After a year at war in Iraq, 5 years later I am still trying to move on with my life. VA helps, but one step at a time
- 39Alex KDecember 6, 2012 at 9:26 am
This article is valuable.
One thing, though. If a man is sidelined by injuries that prevent him from ‘keeping busy’ or later, in life, incurs illnesses in old age or an accident that forces him to in activity, the darkness formerly kept at bay through activity can then return.
And today’s veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan war, have been cycled through very many more tours of duty than veterans in earlier wars. Many are returning home with brain and body injuries that veterans of earlier wars would not have survived.
And as noted above, the Iraq/Afghanistan wars have not affected civilian life over here. No sense of shared purpose or ‘home front’ as we had in World War II.
- 40SeanJanuary 23, 2013 at 8:01 pm
I have a difficult time reading stories like these. Not because of the content but because I have served in the U.S. Army for 14 years and have been on 7 different combat deployments. I have my share of demons and am still currently working through them. There is no one size fits all answer for “shell shock" “PTSD" or the “thousand yard stare". Each man’s story and experience is different and his life is what leads him to interpret those experiences. No one way is right or wrong but the one common denominator is that man needs to want to get help and admit to himself he does in fact have a problem. That my friends is far easier said than done. Sharing your stories is a highly personal and hard thing to do. So sharing how you worked through things is a good thing because your methods may help another brother in arms but in such a macho setting as combat arms the stigma is an added obstacle So the fact that this man worked outside and grew some veg is great and I’m happy it worked for him, but, offering it up as a try this cause it’s a manly fix is irresponsible. I know you meant well but try not to attach a try this cause it worked for him to something as serious as PTSD. for combat or not men come here for manly advice and some men may think them self’s less than manly if this does not in fact work for them. Which may do more harm than good. Just my opinion, I know it was not your intention good sir but simple things like this on such a touchy subject can cause strife. But I applaud the fact that you are showing this is not an issue which makes one less of a man for having the problem. Thank you from me and all my brothers in arms.
- 41NickJanuary 29, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Combat Medic here, I loved every aspect of my job, even the bad parts. My biggest advice to cherry medics is to know that men will die, you will see things you won’t ever forget. If you loose a soldier, do everything you possibly can to help him, then you can go home and look his parents in the eye and say “sir, ma’am, I’m the medic that worked on your son before he died. I did absolutely everything I could, but I couldn’t save him." Give them specifics and don’t let any man die alone.
Myself, I threw my whole being into work. Returning to civilian life was an awkward transition. Mostly I threw myself into my work. I lived and continue to live to honor the lives of those that I lost, in addition to staying tight with their families. As I continue in my career field as a Fireman, I hang on to the code of “do more good than harm".
- 42jerryFebruary 11, 2013 at 6:40 pm
The bravado that one uses when saying they came back and just got on with life makes me suspect of them. 45 years later I process my combat experiences at some point daily. It is part of our life and we deal with it the best way at the moment it bites you. It is who you are and you control it because the real you can be a very bad man.
- 43jerryFebruary 11, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Andrew..better that they don’t care than that they despise you. rvn
Leave a Comment
Name *
E-mail *
Website
Posted on November 30th, 2013
