Weekend Writing Prompt – War Wound

Published May 9, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend.  How you use the prompt is up to you.  Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like.  Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise.  If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

WAR WOUND

In research for a character in my novel-in-progress, I’ve watched some You Tube interviews with Vietnam veterans. Recently, one in particular captured my attention. The gentleman, who’s had a successful career as an actor since his discharge, spoke candidly of his deployment and subsequent wounding.

“Thirty years later, after bouts of alcoholism and depression I sought help for PTSD and found healing.”

He shrugged. “Thanks for your service? What does that mean? I get it. You mean well.” His voice caught in his throat and my breath caught in mine when he said, “I like best what we vets say to each other since we didn’t hear it when we came back, ‘Welcome home.’”

36 comments on “Weekend Writing Prompt – War Wound

  • Dear Rochelle,

    This is absolutely wonderful. Not that all a vet wants only to hear “Welcome Home” because that is a sad reality. You wrote this beautifully,

    Happy Mother’s Day!

    Shalom and Lotsa welcome love,

    Dale

    Liked by 1 person

  • How odd – I thought I commented on this yesterday and only now realize that I never did complete the comment, and then must have signed off … and if it weren’t for your comment on my post, I wouldn’t have stopped by again to check. These fairies are up to some mischief again …
    And … yes, war wounds in ways that often cannot be verbalized. And too many have returned home to a society that did not understand, to some who even vilified them (though many did not have a real choice in being deployed), and to many who had no interest in understanding.
    Thank you for shining a light on this, as you so often manage to do for the unspoken.
    Na’ama

    Like

  • An attempt at amends has been made to some Viet Nam vets in that they got to go on a flight and reenter with the welcome they didn’t get on their return from Nam. (I tried to find the link to Charli Mills’ post on it at Carrot Ranch but was unsuccessful) I also can’t remember the title of a really good book I read written by a Viet Nam Vet that does a really good job of explaining the view points and the era. (gave the book to a vet)
    So basically, I have been no help here at all, but I can say I thought that was a wonderful flash and I will watch the video you mentioned.

    Liked by 1 person

  • Rochelle,

    SO powerful. And how true is this? The fact that these men were not welcomed home, by and large? That they were treated as scapegoats is a black mark on our nation’s history, no doubt about it.

    As with all vets I’ve come across, they’re selfless too. They supply us all with some much needed humility, tell you what.

    Very well done.

    Shalom,

    Marco

    Like

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