Key Takeaways
- NPR's Quil Lawrence spent a decade reporting on Iraq War veteran Dave Carlson's struggles with PTSD.
- Carlson's difficult childhood and combat trauma contributed to a cycle of addiction, violence, and incarceration.
- National Guard members face unique challenges transitioning to civilian life after deployments.
- Support systems and interventions, like that from a Vietnam veteran, can be critical for recovery.
Deep Dive
- Host Aisha Roscoe introduces NPR's Quil Lawrence and his 10-year reporting project on Iraq War veteran Dave Carlson.
- Lawrence transitioned from war correspondent to veterans reporter to understand war's long-term impact on soldiers.
- He notes that incarcerated veterans often lose access to crucial VA benefits.
- Dave Carlson, a decorated Iraq War veteran, was incarcerated in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in 2015.
- The judge outlined Carlson's extensive criminal history, including felony charges for operating under the influence and bail jumping, with potential sentences up to 12 years.
- Carlson's pre-existing issues stemmed from a difficult childhood marked by his mother's addiction and a period of juvenile detention.
- He lived with his maternal grandparents in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, after his mother's suicide attempt.
- Carlson experienced a stable period in Rice Lake, excelling in high school with good grades and participating in football and boxing.
- He struggled in college with depression, social anxiety, and drinking, leading him to enlist in the National Guard after needing an Army waiver for a felony.
- Upon joining, Carlson found a sense of purpose and capability.
- He began his first Iraq tour in late 2004 near Dulawiyah, a period of significant violence, and actively sought combat patrols.
- Carlson earned respect by actively joining patrols with Sergeant Alwyn Cash's platoon, despite being a private.
- Near the end of his year-long deployment, Carlson's commander refused his request to remain with Sgt. Cash's platoon, prioritizing his unit's return.
- Weeks after Carlson's unit departed, on October 17, 2005, Sgt. Cash and his platoon were ambushed; Cash saved seven men before succumbing to his injuries.
- Sgt. Cash was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and Carlson grappled with guilt and survival.
- The death of an interpreter during the ambush contributed to Carlson's lasting emotional distress, evident 20 years later.
- After his first tour in November 2005, Carlson's return to Wisconsin was disorienting, leading to nightmares and guilt.
- He volunteered for a second tour after only 20 months, performing well in combat but exhibiting disengagement and anger off-duty.
- Near his second tour's end, Carlson assaulted an airport policeman; upon release, his mother noted his vacant eyes and rapid descent into alcohol and fighting.
- Carlson recounted shooting at streetlights and contemplating "suicide by cop" before being stabilized at a VA psych ward.
- He relapsed into drug use, violence, and arrests, with his family and friends frequently contacting the VA for assistance.
- His mother, Heidi, contacted Vietnam veteran Mike Orbin, who agreed to meet Carlson at a bus depot in Milwaukee, noticing a significant untreated gash on Carlson's forehead.
- Orbin took a hungry Carlson for a meal, during which Carlson broke down, expressing feelings of lost identity.