James Winn was born in 1951. He had a difficult time in his teenage years. He went to enlist in the Army. Unfortunately they turned him down because he had an arrest record. He was disappointed but didn’t think a lot about it. In 1969 he was arrested again. The judge gave him a choice of jail or the military, saying it was obvious that he liked to fight. He ended up back where he started.
He went to boot camp and was stationed originally at Fort Ord, CA. From there he went to Colorado and then to Cam Rahn Bay in Vietnam. He spent 7 months there and mustered out in 1971. James says that the best thing about being on active duty was that he was able to travel, outside of the places he was stationed he was able to visit Japan. James valued the opportunity to acquire new skills that were otherwise inaccessible to him. Additionally, he found pleasure in the exhilaration that came with embracing novel experiences.
According to James, the worst thing about being in active duty was the adjustment to the situation and the people. Since he was “encouraged” to enlist, he didn’t really want to be in. Because of his background he did not like following orders. The officers were straightforward and strict, he felt that the experience was often confusing and contradictory. In the field there was no saluting because it would identify the people in charge and put everyone in danger. On the base, it was military courtesy.
During the 7 months he was in, James was in the thick of the action. He was strongly affected by the things he saw and developed PTSD. Like many others, he had difficulty readjusting to civilian life. The attitude toward Vietnam vets was often negative, but he said that the reactions of people depended on the situation. When he got out, he went to college but faced challenges. Adjusting to a new environment without the familiar structure of military life proved challenging for him. Consequently, he turned to drugs as a means of coping with the difficulties he faced.
James was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, depression and bipolar. He says that he has had a good experience with the VA and helping agencies. Medication has helped his condition and groups have helped him learn to cope. A group here called Disabilities in Action acts as a clearing house to help veterans access services from a variety of agencies such as MHMR, medical and emotional support.
James's journey embodies the resilience of the human spirit, overcoming adversity to find redemption in service. As we reflect on his tale, we are reminded of the transformative power of second chances and the unwavering spirit that drives us forward, even in the face of obstacles.
We salute James for his service and his courage in facing his challenges.
