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Operation Proper Exit: A return to the war zone

November 6, 2011 4:01 PM

Wounded American combat veterans return to Iraq to face their traumatic memories of the war, hoping this helps them move forward in their lives. Scott Pelley reports.

Operation Proper Exit: A return to the war zone

60 Minutes OverTimeSteven Cornford: Life after Operation Proper Exit

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by cannon6152 May 27, 2012 7:45 PM EDT
To see this American soldier weeping and sobbing like a child on national television is an embarrassment to our military and our fighting men and women. This story panders to the most emotional aspect of your viewing audience and in no way represents the men who serve the American people as our protectors and first line of defense.
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by aliceaisawsome November 18, 2011 9:31 PM EST
I think Operation Proper Exit needs to be availible to all veterans. the veterans gave their lives for us and they deserve some closure. It is good for them to see what their work has done. I have had a simular experance. I am not a soldier and I have done nothing that compares to them. I was dianosed with PTSD at a young age. I am learning how to manage it. I was badly absed as a child and now I am in CPS coustidy. 3 years later I made a visit back to the dentist office I had gone to with my abusive parients. I thought it would make me go crazy and have a flashback. I went with an adult and my caceworker knew where I was. I had many unconfitible fealings. I delt with them. I cried and stuff. i felt a change in about a day. I felt calmer and more relaxed,I could foucuus on my school work. That experince changed my lif for the grater. I want to make a program to help teans in foster care with PTSD. I want the kids to be able to visit places which they have been abused and for them to work through their isues and help them let go some of what has happend. I will consider their safty. I am confident this will be life changing and benifitial for them. I want to help them become the best they can be
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by dawniejane November 9, 2011 6:30 PM EST
For god sake bring these men home
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by wcornford November 9, 2011 9:13 AM EST
I am Mrs. Wcornford Stevens mom.. I have kept my mouth shut through most of the garbage talk on here. It absolutley amazes me how men who served with another man in the iraq my son was in could down play any kind of service of another man. My son did not ask for any awards or medals he earned the ones given to him. He believes LT Neel is the hero that night and many nights before that one. My son spoke to me many times of LT Neel on the phone before that night and he was very close to him. I have to say on many occasions since Steven returned from iraq I have felt we lost our son that night too. His wife and daughter has lived a life of hell on many occasions. I can never explain to you what it feels like to have this person who looks and sounds like your son but you cant recognize the person in front of you. If you cant find it in your hearts to not post these horriable words on here for a fellow battle buddy... Then do it for his family and for LT Neel himself...
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by Semper914 November 7, 2011 9:02 PM EST
There's another story that hasn't been considered here. There are lots of vets who've been deployed tons of times, and some were were traumatized because they were involved in wrenching experiences like checkpoints, house raids, abuse and sometimes torture. This afflicted lots of vets I know, especially when they think about how people reacted to them in Iraq and Afghanistan or how they reckon with stuff that they did when they return home. It's a really intense story, and not really understood. But this kind of stuff hurt many vets today, and explains why some haven't gotten the help they need. I just read about this in the book "None of Us Were Like This Before." Don't think I read a better book that describes what so many vets are going through today, and how they're silently suffering...and likely will be for years to come. That's a story that 60 Minutes should really be doing.
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by julianpenrod November 7, 2011 4:53 PM EST
Once again tromping over other people's land for U.S. self interest.
No mention, of course, that these are the insipid individuals who believed absolutely everything the government tells them, with no question; who couldn't abide the nation that maybe "the other guy" was right and it was the U.S. that was in the wrong; and that violence solves everything!
Their kind put out inactive video cameras so that, if anyone approached them, they "assumed" they were "terrorists" trying to interfere with the U.S. Occupation and so they shot them dead and upped their quota. Or they put out unloaded weapons and, if anyone tried to take them, it was "assumed" they were "terrorists" and they were shot without even questioning. These are the ones poisoning the country with toxic fumes from their "burn pits". These are the ones abut whom there are reports that they would invade homes even of non-combatants and steal all their money "so it wouldn't fall into the hands of the 'enemy'". These are the ones who always gave out candy to local children apparently so they would form a "human shield" for their patrols. These are the ones who were caught planting explosives inside the walls of a girls' school and then claimed it was "terrorists" who were responsible.
And all in the name of the perverted "backward flag". It was instituted as the syumbol of a New World Order program in IRaq, to distinguish it in the International Criminal Court from a U.S., operation, to show that they shouldn't be interefered with unless so brazenly unjustifiable and widely disseminated. That's why it's worn on the sleeves of every soldier. Note it's not worn, for example, by airmen, Marines or Navy personnel. The "explanation" was the moronic description that "it's suposed to represent the position of the American flag on a pole as an army charged forward". The flag is a symbol of the country, it's like a signcature, it has a specific, defined configuration! Anything else is not "the flag"! Note how, when not on active duty, the wounded aren't wearing the perverted banner. Note, though, the reversed flag one desicded to wear on his backpack. How does it represent the position of a flag as the bearer moves forward if it's perpendicular to the direction of travel on a backpack? It doesn't represent a flag moving forward, it's a symbol of the depraved and foul actions undertaken and sold to the insipid as "defending America".
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by agwinsurprise November 7, 2011 12:13 PM EST
to "damalama572" - don't you think that 60 minutes and the US government does their research? Why would you post such a negative comment about such a brave soldier? Maybe you were the one curled up in the fetal position and came home with no honor at all and that is why you seem to want to bring a hero down. Keep your negativity to yourself and leave the world to thank and reward soldiers who deserve such things.
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by McCarrell November 7, 2011 11:52 AM EST
Thank you, again, 60 minutes. Spot On! Operation Proper Exit is an inspiration. There is help out there. Combat Veterans receive specialized treatment for PTSD, Couple and Family issues, Depression, Military Sexual Trauma/Harrassment and more at Vet Centers nationwide. Vet Centers are part of the VHA and are stand alone centers whose mission to provide quality readjustment counseling services to help veterans make a successful post-combat adjustment to civilian life. Frequently veterans can be seen the same day or with little wait. Help is free, vets need to take in a copy of their DD214. Info at: www.vetcenter.va.gov or dial 877-WARVETS 24/7.
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by greatfulgrandmother November 7, 2011 8:26 AM EST
Please continue to tell the stories of our American warriors. They deserve a voice. Every soilder has a story and wounds we as a nation need help them heal. I am reminded of this when I am at the VA Hospital watching both the young and the old come for treatment. Many wearing hats and t-shirts with their war service displayed. They served proudly and deserve to be treated with great respect. I overheard a younger vetern ask a an old guy displaying a Korean Vet hat, where he served. The young warrior was trying to make a connection. The old vet answer was to raise his hand and point. His words brought tears to my eyes and I cried for both of them. Do you see that hill over there, look to the next one. That is were I was in that war. He served proudly and defended the DMZ. As a country we have ask our soldiers to give their all. Now we need to give our all to this new generation of warriors. It is our turn to step up and be the country they defended. To do less is to dishonor their service. They must be able to come home to jobs and all that is needed to return to the lives they left behind. My tears will not heal their wounds. Lets get it done.
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by Damalama572 November 7, 2011 2:47 AM EST
Um, sorry but I was deployed with Cornford (steven if you will). His story was complete bologna, he curled up into the fetal position when the bullets started flying and then took all the credit. LT Neel was a good man, and didn't deserve to be around cornford while the rest of the platoon actually sought out the bad guys and took care of them. Don't believe me? Send me a message on facebook and I'll link you to the MEDIC WHO TOOK CARE OF LT NEEL.
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