Coping with deployment: Letters or Videos
One of the most difficult aspects of war is the psychological impacts that is has on others, such as family and friends. Throughout the semester we have focused on themes found in the text that we have read and analyze the connections that the authors are making. The psychological effects of war are something that I cannot fully understand or experience because I currently do not have a friend or relative serving in the military. I find this theme to be challenging as a student to understand and discuss because of its psychological impacts. As I read letters from the wives whose husbands are fighting in WWII in “Since You Went Away” by Judy Litoff and David Smith, I begin to understand how positive and supportive the wives were of their husband’s.
The letters show how much the wives cared about their husbands during the war. The wives write the letters with a very positive tone of voice. For example, in a letter from Isabel on December 28, 1944 she writes, “I find that I am thrilled at some of the visions I have of our life when you get back…” In addition there is evidence of how difficult it was to cope with the stress and the loneliness of being a military spouse. The latter theme appeared throughout most of the letters. In a letter by Renee she writes, “I am beginning to get very weary now and nervous…” which illustrates again, how intricate it is to be a military spouse.
Since WWII there have been many American wives who have had to deal with the deployment of a husband going to war. The psychological impacts are still the same, but the advanced technology has changed the means of communication from hand written letters to emails and satellite video. As I listened to a podcast from a military spouse talk radio show, a spouse discussed the loss of her husband in Iraq and the emotional rollercoaster she has went through.
Rachael Arroyave, who lost her husband when he died in a non-combat mission, became very emotional throughout her conversation on the radio talk show. Her voice cracked as she tried to explain her experience of what it was like to be a single mother and explain to her children that “daddy won’t be coming home.” Fortunately, her oldest daughter was able to see her daddy one last time via satellite video as he told her that he loved her with all his heart and to give her new baby sister a kiss for him when she is born. Unlike during WWII, the methods of communication have become enhanced so that the families can interact with soldiers live over satellite video. These new technologies offer more realistic communication and comfort to families but there are still the same physiological impacts of war that do not change.
Whether it is through letters or video, the words are still the same. The pain, agony, and emotional rollercoaster still exist. As Arroyave mentioned, “even after two years, I still have my really good days but my kids and I have more really bad days. It just depends on the day. The one thing I do is spend as much time with my kids as I can because they are the most important thing in my life.”
Dealing with the psychological effects of losing a spouse or having a spouse go to war is a life challenging experience. For the individuals that do not have to deal with it should maybe step back and attempt to reach out to those who need support.
