Darryl

Growing up, Darryl experienced homelessness and an unstable home life. At 17, he joined the Marine Corps when finishing high school. He was in the Marines for three years before being deployed to the Gulf War. While serving in the Gulf, he was exposed to the fallout of missiles being exploded overhead, smoke from oil field fires, and poor-quality protective gear. “We would get a lot of the SCUD missiles that were being shot overhead, so we had a lot of times where we had to put on our chemical weapons suits.” He also experienced racism and physical abuse during his service. “You know, I kind of saw myself as just a number. And that’s kind of—being in a combat replacement company, you’re just—they used to call us body bag replacement. So, you’re just numbers. Bodies.”

Darryl stayed in the Marine Corps for ten years before leaving the service. He developed symptoms soon after getting home from the Gulf War that included PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic stomach problems, acid reflux and extreme heartburn, and chronic sinus congestion. He never sought out health care for his health problems because “when you came back—you just kind of went back to work. You know, there was no debriefing or anything like that.” He was receiving care through private insurance from his job, until he experienced a severe mental health episode that sent him to the VA for care.

He has never received a diagnosis for Gulf War Illness, but he has discussed whether his health issues are related to his time in the Gulf with his primary care physicians. Although he still faces a lot of barriers to getting health care, he says the care at the VA has gotten better over the years. Darryl still feels a lot of anger and resentment with the way he was treated and discarded by the military after returning from the Gulf War.

Darryl volunteers with patient transport at the VA hospital and participates in different groups at the VA. He says connecting with other Veterans at the VA has helped him realize that he is not alone. “Okay, I’m not the only one that’s struggling with this. And it can get better.” To manage his symptoms, he has started practicing mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and he exercises every day. He has a good relationship with his son and lives a life of solitude. “I have a pretty quiet life. I don’t go a lot and do a lot of things. Pretty quiet.”