Dear brother and sister veterans,

A number of authors who have written about military veterans returning to civilian life have claimed that veterans, especially those who have been in combat, have a special wisdom to share, warrior wisdom. Karl Merlantes not only speaks about this in his book, What It’s Like to Go to War, but also incarnates it in his soft-spoken presence.  Watch the video below where he is interviewed about what he learned.  it’s a long one, but well worth watching the whole thing.  He finishes by speaking about the importance of spiritual resources in a warrior’s recovery:

Karl Marlantes: What It’s Like to Go to War from ALOUDla on Vimeo.

Veteran Dan Sheehan in his book about struggling with PTSD, Continuing Actions:  A Warrior’s Guide to Coming Home, gives just a little content to his warrior wisdom, not much.  That’s typical.  My father didn’t share warrior :wisdom with me.  He rode a cruiser and an aircraft carrier in the Pacific when each was torpedoed.  The only tales he told me were humorous, though I know he suffered from nightmares ten years after his war.

Those who have written about warrior wisdom don’t flesh it out, don’t give it much content.  You veterans in the Interfaith Veterans’ Workgroup, especially those of you who have experienced combat, what did you learn from your experience?  What is your warrior wisdom?  You don’t have to share it here, on this blog, but will you talk with me about this?  If we work on this together, as we already have through images in the Veterans’ Freedom mural, our wisdom could enlighten our grandchildren.

Peace,
Tom