"Redeployment" by Phil Klay

"Redeployment" by Phil Klay is told from the point of view of a soldier named Price as he readjusts to normal life. Price begins by talking about some of the atrocities he experienced in the Middle East. His least favorite parts were shooting dogs and almost dying. After a brief detour in Ireland where every soldier gets as drunk as possible in a three hour span, Price arrives in the U.S. where he is greeted by his wife Cheryl. Price is also reunited with his dog Vicar who is so old that he can barely move or eat. Price attempts to resume life as usual. This involves sitting on the couch, watching baseball and going shopping which turns out to be stressful because it reminds Price of the war. When Price and Cheryl return from shopping, they decide that Vicar is too sick and should be put down. Price understandably takes his time to shoot Vicar. Price remembers the only other time he can remember hesitating when he was looking down at an Insurgent hiding in a cistern of feces. Price shoots Vicar three times, twice in the chest and once in the head, quickly because it is the most humane method. 

War is a traumatic experience. It is incredibly difficult to experience war and come through unscathed. Those who experience war are left with long-lasting psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Somehow our society expects soldiers to adjust back to normal life with little difficulty. "Redeployment" is a story that focuses first and foremost on the soldiers who must overcome the challenge of readjusting. I have read a few different stories like this, but I find this story never gets old. I relate with these soldiers because I too find it difficult to fit in with society. Perhaps my interest in these stories is morbid but I believe that our society should pay more attention to the soldiers like Price. These men have learned their entire lives to ignore their pain and pretend to be strong. Psychological pain is just as serious as physical pain and in some situations can have much more devastating effects.