Day in the Life of a Tier 1 Operator After 25 Years of War

so true that people who have never been there and been through it have no ideal what it is like. had an uncle tell me one time that he knew what it was like because he was there, told me he read books about it. wrong answer mf.

The things our best endure for our benefit. 🫡

Perocet is Oxycodone for anyone wondering

I wish our country focused more on connection and care for one another, and regulating drugs than fighting the drug war and making the addiction problem worse. Broken people fuel socialism. One party benefits greatly from the death of American culture, and loss of choice. Democracy seems to be transforming into a technocracy. The technocrats are big in China as well. Weird. Anyway love your interviews. Thank you for your service

He just described my life for close to twenty years. I was in an explosion at the age of 20. Burned 2nd and 3rd degree burns over half my body. Lost most of my teeth, tons of nerve damage. Many many surgeries later I was in constant pain. My drug of choice was Norco 10s, Percocet any strong opioid. I never liked uppers. My rock bottom was my taking 60 to 80 Norcos on a day. The opiates eased my pain and made me feel somewhat normal for a while. I was in the shower in the middle of the night and a voice told me “if you don’t stop this you will die “. Getting off the opiates and Benzos was horrible. Truly a living hell.
I would not wish this on anyone.

My Dad always said it wasn't what was done to him when he was a soldier. It was what he had to do to come home that haunted him.

Tom is a great hero

And "civilians" wonder why the men they send to fight for them are allowed to retire at 20. In a combat zone, you do and see things that are beyond what you can explain, things you shouldn't explain, and things you just need to STF about. It destroys your mind, spirit, and body, but the whole time you have to be in tip top for your boys, to show them they can make it.

As a young man coming out of the cold war (85) with the Soviets, I NEVER thought I'd see combat. As an "old" man, (08) I did 4 tours in Afgan, and now I fully understand. The things we do to each other, being human, is beyond what most may understand, and it sickens me to this day.

Real men like this are the reason I grow psilocybin

Been there and was scrounging for Percs, Oxy's whatever I can get my hands on if I couldn't fool the docs anymore.
I felt everything he was talking about.
I had withdrawal so I took leave to withdrawal from the medication then went straight back to work.

Firefighters understand!

Yeah you come home, but never really considering especially how the military used to just dump you and pretty much told you your on your own so you get out and you fit in nowhere. was told for years after i got out stuff like the military isn't job experience, come back when you have real experience, sorry your too old to hire at 30 "30 is the new 50," etc., etc.

I think any soldier from any era goes through this type of thing. You can be sure soldiers in the Roman Empire, armies of Ghengis Khan and all the warriors throughout history relived the horrors they saw and did.

Some heavy medications.

Powerful stuff man...

This seemed like a therapy session for Tom. He needed to talk about that.

So intense
I really like Tom’s interview
I like the way he expressed himself
I also liked his genuine sharing of his life

My dad came back from ww2 changed , all he wanted to do was work . My mom ran the house .

Thanks for sharing these Shawn.

All of the Tylenol in the Percocet is a terrible damage to the Liver and Kidneys and then drink on top of it OUCH !!

I was taking 3-4 ambien a night for about 8 years. It was an absolute terror being able to quit. I switched to lunesta to try to taper down. Then used weed. And finally this year was able to correct it mainly through Christianity and meditation. It has been a nightmare.

social anxiety got me bad dude, i just did blow and alcohol.

That’s how you know you’re not in real pain Percocets do nothing for real pain they can kind of numb you up but I’ve been in pain where you can mainline me that shit and it wouldn’t matter I don’t care what they give you unless they made me unconscious nothing would stop the pain. You just wanna get high and feel good!

we need to take care of the people who fucking take care of us!

Thank you

I love how these soldiers fight wars for a country who is setting them up to die on purpose then called themselves heroes 😂 bro the delusion is unreal 😂

We addicts do not an informed decision to become addicted.
The part where he starts talking about awareness accompanied by denial…ever addict in recovery could finish every sentence he just spoke.
The clinic I volunteer at is full of doctors and lawyers…white collar folks with a few street junkies like myself thrown in.
Addiction knows no boundaries; racial, financial, political, whatever. It’s not about the substance, it’s about self destructive behavior. It’s about the part where giving into impulse becomes habit.
If having to find receipts to find your car is your rock bottom….good. Embrace it.
Know you are not alone. The program works if you work it. ❤ don’t be afraid to ask for help

Damn,. Sounds like me. British vet.

thank you shawn for organising those podcasts, it must be a real hassle to schedule everything (probably more so at the start than now)
also thanks for staying open to those topics and sharing your own experiences and your own healing process <3
would be an honor to meet you one day

Percs from surgeries are the worst gateway I’ve even seen and experienced. I am thankful I was able to realize it was getting bad early.

what is your take on the Israeli-Hamas situation? Any guest opinions yet?

Algorithm.

Alcholol, drug abuse, self harm and human suffering is not limited to soldiers who lost themselves in war.

Hey Shaun that was a brilliant clip, makes me feel human again 🙏..

I understand thank you for the show

I bought his book back in 2018. Great story. Glad he and the foundation are doing well.

So just because you abused drugs gives you no right to seek removal from others who need them to survive. Some people are responsible and would rather not endure painful hell just because you couldn't control yourself. Many people would rather kill themselves than love in pain. Sounds like the meds helped you survive too.. This demonization of treatment is going to bite everyone one day when no options exist and your laying on a bed begging for relief. Good luck.

I could see his pain. He’s been in hell for a long time. Hope one day escapes that hell. He’s a good guy dealing with a lot of demons

Thanks for talking about the drugs and alcohol.

These men risk life and limb. Their mental health for fat, corrupt politicians who do not give them the medical support from medical issues and PTSD. These men are heroes. They are not expendable.

he's scratching his forearm...

So much truth here. I injured my S1/L5/L4 on an op in Iraq. Went home via Landstuhl. 4 years later was now drinking 7 days a week to the point I was pre diabetic. And my diet and exercise were excellent so yeah…
All he said is true. First the pain dissipates. Then you’re happier. Then you’re more active again. But by the evening you’re in pain again and on drink #4 with dinner and for dessert I’m eating Percocet or tramadol. It wasn’t til I started seeing a new woman who told me my speech was slow sometimes (pain pills) and I now walked with a noticeable limp. 6 months later I was off 99% of the booze and meds. Sleep was horrible but I’ve adjusted now years later. As I write this my knees ache. Just from normal life yesterday. The military destroys your body. While telling you it’s what tough guys do. So we take the pain and damage ourselves to be a meat eater. Then in mid 40’s it all comes at you fast and you’re now broken down.

This happens also in Denmark. Our special forces also come home with an addiction to drugs. One soldier even was sent to prison for stealing morphine doses for his back pain from the military infirmary. Come on how on earth can a free democratic country like Denmark do that to our elite special forces?

Bro I understand!
Former SOF medic who got 4 felonies because of drinking …. Found a Rescued not Arrested Bible in jail changed my life. Thank you Jesus. Family and life have been repaired by Him!
Jesus is Lord
Jesus Saves!

I'm right here with you, Tom. After getting blown up in Iraq I was on the pill rollercoster. Every painkiller I could get became the next milestone.

I didn't serve, and I don't understand.
But I care, and I'm sorry for what you had to do for the rest of us.
My son is a Marine, was a police officer, and I have worried for him every day.
I don't understand, but I greatly appreciate your service...as every American should

Yep. Yep. Yessir y'all.

Great anologies of life and it's tribulations, sounds like my story of my life. I can relate bruddah. Good peope😢 last of a dieing breed . We the people unite

600mg a day for 8 years i had to stop