Two vets struggle to adapt to civilian, student life

For Michael Anderson and Chris Dattola, life changed at the age of 18 when they faced the biggest decision of their lives: Joining the United States Army.

"Signing up for the Army wasn't my first choice; in fact, it really wasn't an option for me.

My father pressured me a lot if I didn't sign up," said Chris Dattola, 23, sophomore, a criminal justice major from Albany, N.Y.

These two students are realizing how hard it is cope with life after being in Iraq.

"Sometimes it is hard for me to sleep, focus on my work and just enjoy a lot of the activities I did before I joined the Army," said Anderson, 25, senior, a sports medicine major from Sterling, Mass.

Some of the most common missions that can occur for infantry units are convoy security missions.

U.S. Army 377 field artillery air assault, which is convoy security, was Chris Datolla's company.

"It was a mixture of different companies ranging from infantry, field artillery and any kind of support unit," said Datolla.

Anderson was part of U.S. Army 3rd 172nd Mountain Infantry, which is the army's only battalion fully trained in military mountaineering.

Upon deployment, Anderson and Dattola thought it was going to be like a paid vacation away from school.

While in Iraq, things were a lot different than they thought. The people were different, and having to watch your every move was very scary. Driving was just as scary because there were bombs in the road.  

"I honestly thought I was going to die there, I didn't think I was going to ever see my family again, I had a lot of close calls and in order for me to be able to do my job better I had to accept the fact that I was already dead until I got home," said Anderson.

"Before I was deployed, all that was on the news was convoys being hit and being ambushed so I just prayed that I was going to come home in one piece," said Dattola
June 2006 seemed like it would never come after being in Iraq for the longest year of their lives.

Coming home was difficult. Everything seemed different.

"When I came home it took me a while to realize that as a person I had changed tremendously, I didn't enjoy the things I used to do with my friends and family. I was always mad and on edge about everything," said Anderson.

Being looked as a hero is not what most veterans want. It was a lifestyle they chose just like another kid who decides he wants to pursue a basketball career or become a judge.

"At first it felt good when I came home; people would come up to me and thank me for service, but after it gets worn out I felt I was no more important than the guy who pumps the gas at the gas station during a snow storm," said Datolla.

It is assumed that someone in the armed forces returning from Iraq or Afghanistan has killed someone.

"I hate the questions people ask about killing. Killing is not natural. You have to actually force yourself to pull the trigger. Once you kill someone that feeling of taking another person's life doesn't leave," Anderson explained.

Having trouble sleeping isn't something new to Chris and Michael. On average they sleep between four to six hours a day and some days not at all.

"I'm always thinking about strange things, it's not the same thing all the time. Before going to Iraq I didn't have any issues with falling asleep," said Dattola

"The majority of the time I have the same dream. I had to shoot a 12-year-old kid that's was standing there after a bomb had gone off because of the rules of engagement, and I have nightmares about that kid all the time," said Anderson.

According to a study of the first 100,000 veterans seen at facilities operated by the department of Veterans Affairs reported by www.windycitymediagroup.com, 25 percent of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans received mental health diagnoses.

Even though they are struggling with living as civilians, Anderson and Dattola are doing the best they can to adapt. Twice a week they go to a therapist to help cope with their feelings.

"At times things get really hard but I know it's going to take some time to get adjusted and back to doing the things I used to do," said Dattola

"I know it's going to take time and sometimes I get dangerously depressed but I know I've made decisions that aren't normal but I have to live with what I did and move on," said Anderson.