STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0038.txt
Page: 0038
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











             message was clear. The crew of tAe.Iwo Jima was a group of

             normal people who could be expected to have normal and

             predictable responses to a grossly abnormal event.

                  Formal debriefings for 20 to 30 individuals at a time

             began at 0900. The composition of the groups was based on

             the sailors normal working relationships within work spaces.

             Attendance was mandatory. The members at greatest risk were

             judged to be those who had been on firefighting teams,

             handled dead or dying sailors, or who had worked in the

             boiler spaces. The groups, which lasted about 90 minutes,

             were structured but allowed the open expression of thoughts

             and feelings about the disaster.

             1, -@Group members were asked to describe their experiences

             during the steam explosion. This allowed the members to

             construct a coherent picture of the disaster. it was clear

             that in the midst of confusion, heat, blackness, and terror

             the sailors were unable to comprehend "the big picture."

             During this part of the debriefing, myths about what had

             happened were constructively shattered.

             .. . Next, peoples' thoughts and reactions concerning the

             tragedy were elicited. This naturally led to the expression

             of strong feelings. Many of the sailors clung to the belief

             that they could have prevented the tragedy, or saved one of

             their shipmates. Having said this out loud, however, they

             were able to see that it simply was not so. Crew members




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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