A presentation was hosted at Stem Hall in the Ogle Center on April 6. The event was sponsored by IU Southeast Student Veterans Organization and the Military Family Research Institute’s Operation Diploma Grant.
Becky Hall, a military mother, and Jennifer Crane, Army veteran and Kingston, N.Y. native, spoke about their experiences and struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I thought it was a very interesting event,” David McLain, biochemistry sophomore, said. “It gave me a lot of insight on people who deal with PTSD.”
Hall is the mother of Eric Hall, a veteran who was dealing with PTSD and founder of the Eric Hall Foundation.
Becky Hall talked about why veterans with PTSD need to get help before it is too late.
Eric Hall died due to a flashback and drowned in a drainage pipe he took refuge in during a small brush fire in Deep Creek, Fla. Eric Hall was a member of the Marine Corps.
Crane spoke about her experiences dealing with PTSD after coming home from Afghanistan in December 2003.
Becky Hall and her husband, Kevin Hall, talked to veterans about why they needed to get help with their PTSD. Becky Hall became emotional while trying to speak about her son’s death and asked Kevin Hall to take over.
The Halls provided statistics during the presentation that said 40 percent of soldiers coming home from war are being diagnosed with a mental illness. This percentage is only a third of the soldiers who are being treated and given proper care when they come home.
Crane spoke to the audience after the Halls and talked about her struggle with PTSD when she came home in 2003.
Crane enlisted in the military at 17 with her parent’s approval, and her first day of basic training was on Sept. 11, 2001. She said she didn’t quite understand what affect the tragedy would have on her at the time.
When Crane was sent to Afghanistan, she said there were two events that affected her the most during her time there. Crane said she lost one of her best friends to a heart attack.
When she heard the news, Crane said she cut herself off. She stopped eating and drinking, and, at 5-foot-4-inches tall, she weighed less than 105 pounds.
She told the audience she was diagnosed with an “adjustment disorder” and honorably discharged. She was sent to the intensive care worldwide unit.
Also, while she was being sent home, her colonel died from heavy sedation because he was diagnosed as acutely psychotic. Her last memory from being overseas was having her feet resting on her colonel’s coffin.
She said, when she came home, she tried to go to the Veterans Affairs Hospital and get treatment for her PTSD but couldn’t deal with the doctor.
Two months after being home, Crane said she began using cocaine which helped stop all of her PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks and night terrors.
Her addiction continued until she weighed 96 pounds and decided to reach out for help at the VA. “I [had] created a monster,” Crane said to the audience, “and this is not who I want to be.”
Crane now speaks to veterans around the country to give them insight and tell her story on dealing with PTSD.
She said she will always have struggles with PTSD but not as bad as they once were.
“I will never be able to watch the fireworks with my daughter,” Crane said.
A candlelight vigil memorial service was held in McCullough Plaza immediately after the presentation from Crane and the Hall family in honor of Eric Hall.
“It was great,” Richard Madley, geosciences sophomore, said. “It couldn’t [have been] any better.”
Madley also said he has dealt with the loss of some of his friends to suicide because of complications with PTSD.
Aaron Neely, psychology junior, introduced both speakers and also gave a short introduction and conclusion to the presentation. He also did the role call during the vigil.
Neely said he has also dealt with PTSD.
“I think the hardest part was coming to terms with [the fact] that I had it,” Neely said, “and I needed help.”
By JOSHUA WILSON
Staff
wilsjosh@ius.edu