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  1. #1
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    Question Ever get flashbacks?

    We have Air National Guard Hueys and Cobras that fly over occasionally. My former next door neighbor was a medic in Viet Nam. He said the chopper sounds would give him flashbacks sometimes. Does this ever happen to you?
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  2. #2
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    Certain sounds and smells in the winter always remind me of boot camp at Great Lakes
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  3. #3
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    Only once that I remember. I was being tested for sleep apenia and had not had a good nights sleep for months. I would even fall asleep driving. After they put on the CPAP mask I was out quick. And there I was in VN and couldn't wake up. I don't know how long this lasted but it seened like hours. SCARED TO HELL OUT OF ME.
    Last edited by joem; 05-04-2014 at 01:46.

  4. #4

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    As Smokey said, certian smells or sounds plus the lack of bug sounds. At night when the bugs are loud-then no sound I go into a almost combat mode with the shotgun coming off safe.
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  5. #5
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    The smell of diesel takes me back to my days in Armor (tanks).

  6. #6
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    Whenever my wife gets mad at me and goes off, it reminds me of Drill Instructor Sergeant Bowman. They are both equally mean.

  7. #7

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    The whop whop of Huey helicopter blades especially when I'm in the middle of wherever. At times I smell those smells from 'Nam.
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  8. #8
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    When I first came home from 'Nam, I really didn't believe the 'flashback' thing. I lived near a USMC base. Heard cannon fire and Hueys all the time, day and night. Never had a problem.

    Then one afternoon I was walking down an empty isle in a Safeway store doing some shopping. All of a sudden I heard people speaking in Vietnamese. I broke into a cold sweat and started shaking. One isle over, Mama-san and Papa-san were doing their own grocery shopping.

    That's the only occasion that I can recall. Although I do get pissed off when I come across documentaries involving LBJ or McNamara.
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  9. #9

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    To me, a "flashback" is different than a memory, and what the VA terms "intrusive thoughts".
    Dan (above) had what I would consider a flashback. I have never had one of those, a sort of out-of-body experience. One that is so real it is overwhelming. Although I was in treatment at the VA with some who have.
    I have had certain sights, sounds and smells trigger memories that have lain dormant for years, yes.
    And I have had intrusive thoughts of the war come with no stimulus, out of the clear blue sky. Things I had forgotten about, repressed.
    Last edited by Big_Al; 05-06-2014 at 11:29.

  10. #10
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    Not anymore and not for a long , long time. As stated some sounds and smells will trigger a memory but I don't register that as a flashback. Only twice can I think of a " flash back reaction " , once , just back from my first tour from Nam and on leave, late night, just went to sleep, a car passed by on the near by high way, muffler was dragging, sounded just like a M60. I woke up on the floor shaking, I remember I was trying to find my gear and was getting frantic about it. There was one other time, my wife knows about it, no one else does, when I had a flash back about the flight my friend ( as those who serve know, friends become closer than blood. ) was killed. That was triggered by believe it or not a police radio next door. sounded just like the FM radio in flight operations. Other wise no, I grew up very hard and very little bothers me.
    Last edited by Ron James; 05-09-2014 at 09:48.

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