We received many letters about Daniel Zwerdling's story on mental health care for soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. We also received comment on the problems of a new child in Baghdad. And some listeners questioned a guest who criticized workers for calling in sick when they're not.
STEVE INSKEEP, host: And it's time again for your comments. We received many letters about Daniel Zwerdling's story on mental healthcare for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Many of you wrote in about your own experiences, including Captain Matthew Carter of Auburn, Alabama.</s>Captain MATTHEW CARTER (Physician): Thank you for your story on post-traumatic stress disorder and returning veterans. I've been on both sides of this as a physician screening soldiers in-theater and as a veteran with horrendous, vivid nightmares who could not find help in the Army. As a physician, I was told that soldiers were quote “faking it” in order to go home or get out of the Army. What I have discovered is that the Army has a system in place that requires questions be asked, but requires no action - in fact, discourages action on the part of questioner.</s>DEBORAH AMOS, host: This week, we also heard from an Iraqi under stress. Salim Ararh(ph) works for NPR in Baghdad, and he's absorbing what should be good news. His wife is about to have a baby.</s>SALIM ARARH: Why would I want to bring an innocent child into a bloody, savage world? I don't. I regret what I did. I got my wife pregnant in Baghdad.</s>DEBORAH AMOS, host: Trish St. Michelle of Silver Spring, Maryland wrote, I am seven months pregnant with our first child, and while it was heartbreaking to hear his story and his regrets about bringing a child into a war zone, it helped my husband and me put our frustrations with insurance companies in true perspective.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Some listeners questioned a guest who criticized workers for calling in sick when they're not. Richard Castellini of careerbuilder.com described one of the more creative excuses that he has heard people give for missing work.</s>Mr. RICHARD CASTELLINI (CareerBuilder.com): And in this one I actually don't know if it is made up, but someone claimed they said that they had sneezed and they threw out their back.</s>DEBORAH AMOS, host: As it turns out, Peter Wunsch(ph) of East Northport, New York, found this excuse entirely plausible. As a 56-year-old accountant who has only missed one day of work in the past 10 years, I took great offense at the remark that someone called in sick because they injured their back while sneezing. My one absence was exactly that. I sneezed while brushing my teeth and wound up in the emergency room.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: We hope you're brushing your teeth safely this morning, and afterward you're welcome to comment. Go to npr.org and click Contact Us.