Ed Martin came from a long line of men that defended their country in war.  His roots could be traced back to the Revolutionary War and beyond, if anyone wanted to look.

All Ed knew was that it was his duty, as it had been for all of the males in his family, to serve his country, so he joined the Army.

Ed went to basic, then was trained to drive a truck and was sent to a transportation company where he served for three years, and then he was sent to Iraq to fight in a war.

The training Ed had received did not prepare him for what was to come while he was in Iraq.  He had not expected to be the target of an enemy that he could not make out from those he was supposed to be fighting for.  He was not prepared to watch his friends be blown up or shot.  He was not prepared to be disliked by some of those he was there to protect.

Ed served his tour and a little more, as the Army could not spare him when his enlistment was up.  He finally came home to his family and friends, but was not the same as when he left.

At first Ed would sit and look out the window of his parent’s house with what his parents thought was a strange look in his eyes.  Ed would try and sleep, but the memories would come back, and sleep was impossible so he began to drink to try and kill the memories.

Ed went to the VA and they gave him pills that were supposed to help him sleep, supposed to help him forget the memories long enough to sleep, but they did not work and Ed drank more.

One night Ed couldn’t take it anymore.  The lack of sleep, the memories that would not go away, and the pain he carried within him for those that had not returned was driving him mad.

Ed Martin went out in the woods behind his house and shot himself.

Ed Martin has come home at last.

© 6/2/2007 by Tina L. Rice