Tony
Taylor:
I'm a survivor
Clip 3
Student: Have you ever had flashbacks?
Taylor: I've never had a flashback, but I often remember what I went through. We don't often see people with flashbacks in this line of work. Flashbacks are one of the characteristics of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but we don't see it that often. But, we do see a lot of people who have memories about what they went through.
Student:
What does PTSD stand for?
Taylor: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Student: Do you ever regret going to Vietnam?
Taylor: No, I think I learned a lot about myself that I would never have known had I not done that. I think it made me a better person. Not everyone can say they've been tested like that. There are a lot of guys who never went to Vietnam, who wonder if they could have made it. It's like a test, and I passed the test.
Student: You're one of the lucky ones.
Taylor: Well, I guess, yes. I'm a survivor, so when I'm faced with things today that present certain types of challenges, I can always look back to my Vietnam experience and tell myself that when times were really tough - you know, when people were trying to kill me - I got through that, then I can get through this.