STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0024.txt
Page: 0024
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











                    One person who had been content in a somewhat solitary

               existence found that she could develop close friendships.

               The closeness was situation specific, however, and did not

               last after she returned home. The shared experience of

               fear, loneliness, physical stress, lack of control, and

               sadness brought people together in profound ways, but faded

               quickly after the ship returned.

                    Saturday night parties in the officer's berthing spaces

               became a routine source of relief and a chance to unwind.

               Individuals brought their personal food from home to share.

               Slides were shown of recent ship activities. There were no

               couples and no alcohol. People mixed freely and developed

               warm relations. in some ways the deployment seemed similar

               to a summer camp experience. People were freed from their

               usual responsibilities but the resultant boredom took a

               toll.

                    Physical closeness and sexual intimacy were prohibited

               by edict. Those used to nightly intimacy found themselves

               cut-off and hungry. Rumors of sexual exploits were rampant.

               The command responded by setting clear limits 11 ... no

               touching is allowed where body fluids could be exchanged.,'

               Some, however, began to disregard even stern warnings about

               fraternization. They felt that so many pleasures had been

               removed that they deserved a little "harnless" fun. Others

               rationalized their behavior saying that the war might expose




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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