I have seen almost a dozen different counselors in the 10 years I’ve been home from war.  One question can stop most of them on their tracks.  “Have you ever KNOWN you were going to die?” See, I have.  After a while of being outside the wire in a combat zone, there is only one thing that makes that shit manageable. Only one thing will allow you to operate effectively when faced with your own demise daily. Accepting death.  It sounds cliche, I know. You’ve probably heard it is a catchy dramatic line in a movie. But it’s the truth.
You see, once you have accepted your own death, very little else matters.  Most people’s worst fear is dying, if you just know, you are going to die, only then will you do the things required of a soldier in combat, without hesitation.  That’s why so many veterans will say…