Opinion | My Friend Lives Inside the War on Terror. Listen to Him.

"Far beyond the superficial politics of patriotism is the lived experience of patriotism. For Captain Murphy [a behavioral health officer in the 1st Brigade Combat Team], that means keeping soldiers mentally healthy so they can fight overseas and stay healthy once their fight is over."

"You really become desensitized to the human condition when you’re at a place like Abu Ghraib. Every night, every night you see something that you wouldn’t see in an entire lifetime in the States. I saw a man eat a fluorescent light bulb … I saw a man rub feces into his hair … I saw prisoners cut themselves with razor blades."

"But he remained anxious and depressed. What he’d been through at the prison didn’t fade. His condition worsened over the years. When his thoughts turned darker he sought help. He said he felt ashamed and embarrassed when he walked into his supervisor’s office to let him know."