The Most Efficient Marine

Abstract

War changes people, my Marines always said. Having spent much of 2004 in western Iraq—a Navy clinical psychologist with a Marine surgical company—I am living proof. I am changed. A piece of me is injured. But another part is now more patient, more empathic, more flexible—and more thankful. This is only one story of one deployment for one combat psychologist. As that psychologist, who happened to be the mother of baby twins when she deployed, I have been given the gift of perspective and growth as I look back on this and many other stories. This is a tale of the strength than can be found through pain, and the growth that can emerge out of trauma – for both the patients and providers alike.

Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of my patients and the members of their commands.