The Battle Buddy Project

"The Burden"

An image from my veteran suicide awareness project the other night.... It was my intent to capture the burden, sadness, despair, anger, honor, faith, helplessness and struggle all in one image. Imagine for a moment reliving your most horrific experience almost daily. You can smell the smells, you can hear the screams, your pulse quickens and you begin to sweat. What's worse is that there's no way to forget..... That experience is as vivid today as it was 5, 10, 20, even 40 years ago. You want it to stop!!! You see, I can only imagine that a combat veteran struggling with PTSD has a gamut of emotions. He/she know's that they're fortunate to be alive yet at the same time they may feel like maybe they shouldn't. They may feel that maybe it should have been them that didn't make it home. They may want help from their loved ones but they don't want to be a burden. Or worse, appear to be weak. They may feel misunderstood (especially when being laughed at because a loud noise startled them). Unfortunately, to my limited knowledge there is no cure. There is only a "treatment" for the symptoms (which for the VA is generally a cocktail of drugs). It is up to us to be a support system for our veterans. We must make ourselves available to talk, listen, be supportive and be incredibly patient. Veteran friends & family, I am only a phone call, text message or Facebook message away. Should you find yourself with a finger on the trigger (even if only in your mind) don't hesitate to reach out to me. Before taking drastic measures please talk to someone. I am also including the Veterans Crisis Line number...... you can call 1-800-273-8255 or chat with someone online at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net Please feel free to share.....as this is about awareness and support. God Bless and Carry On

"The Hard Truth"

Isolation

An image from my ongoing Post Traumatic Stress Awareness project. I asked this Viet Nam veteran to write something about Post Traumatic Stress that he wanted people to know. Imagine for a moment reliving the most horrific experience imaginable time and time again. You can smell the smells, you can hear the screams, your pulse quickens and you begin to sweat. What's worse is that it can happen at any moment. There is no way to forget..... That experience is as vivid today as it was 5, 10, 20, even 40 years ago. You want it to stop!!! I can only imagine that a combat veteran struggling with Post Traumatic Stress has a gamut of emotions. He/she know's that they're fortunate to be alive yet at the same time they may feel like maybe they shouldn't be. They may feel that maybe it should have been them that didn't make it home. They may want help from their loved ones but they don't want to be a burden. Or worse, appear to be weak. They may feel misunderstood and completely isolated (especially when being laughed at because a loud noise startled them). Unfortunately, to my limited knowledge there is no cure. There is only a "treatment" for the symptoms. It is up to us to be a support system for our veterans. We must make ourselves available to talk, listen, be supportive and be incredibly patient. That is the intent of this project; to help and support combat veterans as well as create awareness and educate the public about Post Traumatic Stress. I can not do it alone though & neither should they. So I am searching for combat veterans (of all ages) that reside in Arizona and are willing to be photographed. Regardless of branch affiliation, age, or gender I'd be honored to listen to your story and God willing be your voice. Should you be (or know of) a combat veteran that may be dealing with Post Traumatic Stress and is interested in this project please have them contact me via PM or email at chriscouturephotography@gmail.com

As part of my continued Post Traumatic Stress Awareness project, I had the opportunity to visit with this Viet Nam Veteran yesterday morning. We swapped stories of our respective deployments, boot camp experiences, and our mutual genuine disdain of snakes. We also spoke in length about Post Traumatic Stress and the treatment of the symptoms. Which at this point in time is a cocktail of various medications. This image is an attempt to illustrate that, as well as the frustration our combat veterans battling Post Traumatic Stress may feel. As a veteran myself, my heart aches for our combat soldiers afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress. So as a photographer I find myself compelled to use my God given talent to help these brave men and women. With that being said, I can not do it alone & neither should they. So I am searching for combat veterans (of all ages) that reside in Arizona and are willing to be photographed. Regardless of branch affiliation, age, or gender I'd be honored to listen to your story and God willing be your voice. Should you be (or know of) a combat veteran that may be dealing with Post Traumatic Stress and is interested in this project please have them contact me via PM or email at chriscouturephotography@gmail.com

"Learning To Cope"

"Never Forget"

"One way or another far as I can tell, every good soldier does time in hell. The lucky make it home but we never escape. I get lucky sometimes, when I wish I could've stayed" Lyrics by Tennessee Jet

"Never Forget"

Totally humbled, honored, and blessed to have had one of my favorite singer/songwriters use an image of mine for such a powerful song. Tennessee Jet has released "Never Forget on iTunes and I implore you to spend your hard earned .99 cents to download this gem. This song coincidentally aligns with my photo project to bring awareness to those afflicted with PTSD and allows you the opportunity to put yourself in the combat veteran's mind for about four minutes. You can hear this powerful song here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx-ysLwxoSA Lyrics: All it takes is a date or a smell or a sound I'm buried alive but above the ground My knees get weak, I get dizzy in my head Chains around my chest, I can’t catch my breath Cause I can’t forget I’ll never forget I came home with my head held high A few days shy of the 4th of July Fire cut the sky, smoke filled the air Had me reaching for a gun that wasn't even there No, I can’t forget I’ll never forget One way or another far as I can tell Every good soldier does time in hell The lucky make it home, but we never escape I get guilty sometimes, when wish I could’ve stayed I can't take these pills they're giving me They numb what's left of who I used to be I'm a prisoner of war in the land of the free Treating those I love like the enemy Cause I can't forget No, I'll never forget One way or another far as I can tell Every good soldier does time in hell The lucky make it home, but we never escape I get guilty sometimes, when wish I could’ve stayed First day of work having second thoughts I been sitting here an hour in the parking lot These things I learned can't be untaught These wars we fight have already been fought But I can't forget No I'll never forget Wish I could forget But I'll never forget I get guilty sometimes, yeah I wish I could've stayed #tennesseejet

"Finger On The Trigger"

Although this image may be disturbing, unfortunately it is a true story for 22 American veterans every single day. That's right, on average 22 U.S. Veterans die by suicide every single day!!! Although the war may be over for a veteran when he/she returns home, the battle is never ending. PTSD, survivor's guilt, & the VA's inability to successfully treat our nation's finest is killing our vets. I have had this image in mind ever since my good friend & fellow veteran nominated me for the 22 day challenge. Although I failed to meet that challenge, it was simply because I felt that maybe, just maybe I could create even more awareness using my God given talent. A very special thank you to my good friend Ted Quinn who answered the call to help me get this image done. To my veteran friends and family, I am only a phone call, text message or Facebook direct message away. Should you find yourself with a finger on the trigger please call someone.....anyone.