My Private War: Liberated Body, Captive Mind: A World War II POW's Journey
Bussel, a B-17 crewman just turned 19, was shot down over Germany in the spring of 1944. He spent the rest of the war as a POW and returned home suffering from what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the cases of POWs, the major cause of PTSD was the helplessness of their situation, aggravated by privation. For Bussel, the costs of PTSD were alcoholism, a broken marriage, claustrophobia, and a constant struggle with nightmares. He fought back by becoming involved in organizations helping PTSD sufferers and eventually by writing this eloquent book, which is full of information and quite devoid of self-pity. It is hard to think of a better recent book on the POW experience from the inside, and it is also a notable addition to the PTSD literature for lay readers and helping professionals. --Roland Green