Fit -- Just because H doesn't go outside the wire much doesn't mean he's not under a tremendous amount of stress. The environment alone is a stressor. Because you just never know. In a weird way it's easier for the full-combat-arms guys because they KNOW they're not in control and can adapt to that, at least during the deployment. Because they at least get out into the street -- they see Iraqis, they see something like the "normal life" we were supposed to be creating for those folks. And when they're in action, they're all about the action.
But for the Support guys, there's frustration at the Groundhog Day like nature of life on the FOB -- oh, look, a line at the sh*tter. Hardly ever see that. Oh, look, hard-boiled eggs in the chow hall. Hardly ever see that. Oh, look, a mortar attack. Hardly ever see that. No matter what the MOS, the Support guys actually get a kind of envy of the combat-arms guys. At least THEY are doing a "mission." What am I doing? Turning a wrench. I could be doing that back at Fort Bliss or wherever.
So he's under a lot of stress and going through a lot of changes even though he might not know it.
And I'll use myself as an example. I was too old and of too high a rank and of too much of some other stuff to go around kicking in doors. But when I came back from OIF I was completely checked out -- totally disassociative -- which started me on the path to this board.
Everything's fine at home. You're fine. The truck is fine. It's fine, fine, fine. Tell him light-hearted stories. Hook him up with some dip or some magazines or some red twists or whatever. But DON'T try to manage the relationship from 12 time zones away.
Just DB. Do YOUR work for YOU. And let him start remembering what he's missing.
