As the country steps back to remember Veterans Day, students in Hailey Contine’s senior English classes had a moment to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of all those who have served through the eyes of one man. According to speaker Stuart Sax, for a large number of veterans, returning home symbolizes a silent war against their everlasting battle scars. This day acknowledges not only the sacrifices of each veteran but also everyone they leave behind.  Sax, a Vietnam War veteran, and his wife, Lauren, recalled his experiences of fighting different battles alone, but still together, as they spoke.

Contine decided to bring in Sax and his wife to speak to her class, on Nov. 10, about his own personal experience serving in the military. As part of a class project, all the students were reading the book “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. The story follows the author’s own experience as a veteran, showing his experience in the Vietnam War.

“When I originally reached out and connected with Mr. Sax, I shared that we were going to be reading this novel, and he went out of his way to read it, too,” Contine said. “I am still unbelievably touched that he and his wife would go this far above and beyond just to be able to relate to our students.”

Sax was an ammunition officer during the Vietnam War from 1969-1970.

“If bombs were dropped and bullets were fired in Vietnam,” Sax said, “chances are they came from my battalion.”

Doing this job for almost nine months can impact a person. When Sax came home, he thought he could leave everything behind. But, when neighbors approached him, they asked what he had been up to while he was gone. He would answer “Vietnam.” After his reply, they walked away, never to talk to him again.

“It hurt me for a long, long time,” Sax said. “It hurt us Vietnam veterans because nobody had appreciated what we had done because they were against the war.”

For Sax, coming back home didn’t bring peace. Like thousands of Vietnam veterans, he carried home invisible wounds.

“I am a disabled veteran,” Sax said. “I suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder that is caused by stressful or terrifying events, either by being a part of it or witnessing it. In the case of veteran Sax, a small mishap, such as dropping a fork, can trigger a fight or flight response, causing him to be on high alert.

“The first year we were married, I’ll never forget it,” his wife Lauren said. “It was like yesterday. We were having a discussion about something, and all of a sudden, he flew into a rage.”

According to Sax, PTSD can show itself at any time and anywhere. It is hard to predict when something might trigger a person.

“There’s a song that is probably the deepest, closest song to my heart,” Sax said. “The first verse is, ‘There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear. There’s a man with a gun over there, telling me I got to beware.'”

Sax said the second verse gives more context.

“That battle line’s being drawn,” Sax said. “‘Nobody’s right when everybody’s wrong.’ Those words are as prominent today as they were back then.”

Edited by: Aarushi Rana, Emily Logan and Sahasra Kandiboyina.