Military Background (Claims 88-98)
Shortly after 9/11, John Thuesen enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 18. He missed his high school graduation to attend boot camp, ultimately serving for 6 years.
“Thuesen was deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2004, fighting there until his return home in the spring of 2005. He experienced many combat missions during a particularly difficult time in the war, in what was known as the Sunni Triangle.”
“Although Thuesen enlisted and was trained as a field radio operator, he was primarily assigned as a machine gunner for security patrols in combat zones. He served honorably until his discharge.”
“Thuesen experienced multiple traumatic events and life-threatening situations in Iraq, such as taking fire from rocket and mortar rounds, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and land mines.”
Also, he “witnessed and participated in killing what were perceived as enemy combatants but were later determined to be innocent civilians, a situation commonly faced in the urban setting of the Iraq War.”
Due to these ordeals, Thuesen developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).