Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder -- July 24, 2005

  -- A weekly feature on This Week.

Voices/Images

Our voice this week is Stefanie Pelkey. When her husband headed to Iraq in March 2003, Stefanie feared she'd never see him again. Six months later, Michael came home safe -- but not sound. He was one of the many victims of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Stefanie Pelkey: The symptoms started arising, I'd say, about six months after he got back. He started forgetting to mail bills … engaging in some dangerous behaviors … like driving really recklessly. … He started overreacting to things.

One day, I was making the bed, and I picked up the pillow to take off the pillowcase, and there falls the gun on the pillowcase. I don't think he knew what was happening to him.

First, we said we need marriage counseling, because that's what we thought it was. On Michael's first individual session with her, she told him he had post-traumatic stress disorder … and he was excited. And he was excited for us, because he said, "Now I know I have something that we can work on."

The last conversation I had with him was "Hey, when are you getting home? I'm hungry. I'm waiting for you guys to come home." And my father walked into the house, completely passed Michael. He was sitting in an overstuffed armchair. And he looked down at him and thought he was sleeping, and … turned around and he said, "There's something not right." Michael was completely pale and there was a wet spot on his chest. And then my father saw the pistol on the floor of the living room. And he knew. He said he just went over and he touched him on his head and asked him, "What happened Michael?"

To me, he gave his life just like anyone else gave their life over there. I want my son to know he died of wounds of war -- not your typical wounds, or I should say typical wounds, but they're not recognized as typical wounds.

Funnies

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:

Leno: My first guest [is] one of the most respected members of the U.S. Senate. He is now a movie star, starring in a new film, "Wedding Crashers," runaway hit, the comedy smash of the summer. Please welcome Sen. John McCain. … I have to ask you something. I know it's an R-rated movie, and I know the Drudge Report called it a raunchy boob fest.

McCain: But you know, in Washington, I work with boobs everyday.

Late Show with David Letterman:

Letterman: Here's how hot it is today: It is so hot today that deputy chief of staff Karl Rove leaked the names Ben and Jerry.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart:

Stewart: Of course, there has only been 109 Supreme Court justices in our history, so it is a solemn occasion. The ceremony was marked by-- Hey, what the hell?--

[Footage shows Bush announcing the nomination with Roberts' family present, and son Jack dancing]

Stewart: That's Roberts' wife and his two kids Josie and Jack. Jack, of course, is on his way to losing the case of "Family v. Ritalin." By the way, the next time Bush seems to be distracted during a speech keep in mind it's because "Dancing Jack" is always there.

[Doctored images of Jack dancing at various events.]

Stewart: At the state of the union. Last year's debates. Even when he went to the U.N. to make the case for war. The kid loves to dance.