Transcript
I continued to deal with it through alcohol abuse.
"I wasn't an alcoholic.
I was an alcohol abuser," that's what I told myself.
It allowed me to continue my behaviors, it allowed me
to justify my behaviors and myself
to my family members, to my peers.
And I ran with combat Vets so consequently I could look
at the other ones and say, "Hey, they're worst than me.
I'm fine. I haven't got a problem."
1980, the Agent Orange issue came up.
VA started the VA Outreach Vet Centers.
I went down there looking for Agent Orange information
because I had been contaminated and I backdoored
in to PTSD not knowing what it was.
I didn't want to deal with it.
I just wanted to be numb.
I wanted to be left alone.
I didn't know how to deal with it.
Things got worse.
My alcoholism became worse
and I had finally hit a major bottom in 1985.
My last drunk was January the 5th of 1985 and I never forget
that because I don't want to go back there.
It nearly cost me my life.