STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0010.txt
Page: 0010
Total Pages: 48

Subject: STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF        

Unit: VAR. BUMED  

Parent Organization: BUMED       

Box ID: BX303818

Folder Title: USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992                                                  

Document Number:          4

Folder SEQ  #:         13










              took on special significance. The. tension rose slowly then

              dropped precipitously after each date passed. Many

              acknowledged the irrationality of predicting the date the

              war would begin, but then participated in contests to

              predict the date of the first casualties, the outbreak of

              hostilities, etc. There was a sense of security on those

              days not identified as probable start dates.
                -  Rumors of a rotation policy were ever present and

              provided much opportunity for disappointment, excitement,

              and conflict. it was very difficult to cope with being away

              for an unknowable amount of time. The Commanding Officer

              generated a rotation list that would allow the crew to

              return home in sections beginning in late December. This

              list was prepared in response to a message from the

              logistics command requesting such a list "just in case."

              Everyone wanted to be in the first section to go home and

              felt slighted if they were not chosen. Some crew members

              even wrote to their families telling them when they would be

              home.

                   Early in December, President Bush announced there would

              be no rotation policy. This announcement was passed over

              the ship's intercom by the Captain. The crew was informed

              that they should prepare to stay for a year. After this

              stark announcement there was increased anger and depression

              as well as complaints of headache, seasickness, muscle ache,




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Document 48 f:/Week-39/BX303818/USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992/stress and coping with trauma of war in the pers:1104960910243
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-39
Box ID = BX303818
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERS
Document Seq # = 4
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 04-NOV-1996