ghosts of war 3

Smithson has witnessed his first death from someone he knew closely in Iraq. One of his friends died from a mortar attack, which is a specialized bomb that enemies drop on people. Mortars have become a regular occurance by this time, and this was the first casualty it caused. Smithson finishes his tour soon after this. When he goes home, he has a big bout with PTSD, which he goes to his doctor and learns a great deal of people who fought in wars have this disorder. He wakes up at night thinking someone is going to shoot or bomb him, even sometimes scaring his girlfriend. He goes to school to make something out of his life besides war, and he chronicles of how all of his friends are a year or two ahead of him in college, but he feels like he will be able to catch up. The story ends on a good note and Smithson and those around him all have high spirits.