One Man's War

In the Alaskan wilderness, about a six-hour drive from the small-town Sitka, lived Mitch. Mitch wrote in his , as he does every day "September 13, 1976. This morning is especially foggy for this time of year. You can't see the mountains reflection on the lake." Mitch rarely ever went into town as he is a solitary man. Living alone in the woods away from Outside of his log went about his daily for the fall in preparation for winter, king wild , logging and for the winter. Mitch would hunt bighorn mountain ram, small game, and fish for meat. Mitch keeps his garden of potatoes, onions, and tomatoes from being eaten by wild animals. Mitch lived in his bin in a small half/acre . Only once every three months did Mitch drive into town in his Ford bronco for mail, exchange books at the library, and buy staples like , , and . No one really much about the small town's , shopkeep, and . The one thing that all town folk know about Mitch is that he lives alone with his dog with no name, his private property is one of the in size and he is not to be trifled with.

Mitch writes "October 18, 1976. As the days grow colder, I am preparing for the winter and am on sequel to have enough supplies to last until spring. With preparations completed I read my mail from the town." One letter is from his old army pals living in South Africa named Sam. They talk about the war and how they haven't been the same sense it ended in 1973. They talk about their normal lives before the war and how they live in the present. Sam talks about his struggles to live with what they did during the war and how helping others in South Africa can he to cope with . Mitch only speaks out loud when he is in town or having a post disorder and loses touch for a hort while. The only thing that him form D is his dog and lack of other people on his .

The other letter Mitch was from an unknown man amed Lowers requesting that Mitch meet with him in town over the winter. Mitch chooses not to on account of not giving a damn. Mitch only s with those whom he knows from town and life before and during the war.

Two months go , and Mitch is back in town for the usual supples and to attend the only event he goes to outside of the norm; Christmas mass. Mitch gives his few friends the librarian, shopkeeper, and munitions store owner some cut timber as a Christmas gift. After doing so, Mitch tries to leave quickly after mass only to be stopped by a man that stuck out like a sore . Austin Lowers had come to find Mitch knowing this was the only place he'd be for certain. Mitch showed he was not interested in whatever Austin wanted. Austin persisted by blocking Mitch from leaving the church. Despite standing at 7-foot 1 inch tall and having been a hardened soldier, Mitch began to have a PTSD episode. Mr. Lowers made an offer to buy Mitch's land from him and make him wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. At this point Mitch began to lose touch with reality and started to pass out. The owner of the munitions store saw what was happening and knew what he had to do having been a soldier himself long before Mitch. The munitions store owner ran Mr. Lowers off for being so inconsiderate and causing an episode. For the first time ever Mitch stayed the night in the town as he had passed out so late at night and was in no condition to drive for hours. The whole congregation of the small church had gathered around a passed-out .

The night had passed making way for dawn. Mitch wakes up not knowing where he is or how he got there. Despite his size and physical strength, he could not help but cower in fear, lying in an unfamiliar bed, as he was reminded of an event during the war as a prisoner of war. Trying to gather himself, he writes in his pocket journal "Not sure what day it is but its 5:20 am. I am not sure what exactly happened. I last remember being at Christmas mass, that must mean its Christmas day. I clearly had another episode and this one was a bad one. I cannot remember what happened but I am sure it was a scene in front of the town." Heading downstairs, trying to leave unnoticed, Mitch could not find his keys to his bronco. In trying to find his belongings the store, the munitions store owner had been waiting for Mitch to come. Startled at first seeing the store owner, Mitch mustered the strength to say "thank you" in a subtle but genuine way that only those who have been scared know. Mitch saw his belongings sitting on the table and went to grab them and leave, but before he could the store owner asked him to stay for breakfast claiming that no one should be alone on Christmas. Hesitantly, Mitch agreed to do so only on the premise that he needed to take care of his dog soon. Despite both knowing this was just an excuse, it did not matter. Mitch tried to eat quickly to leave as soon as possible but slowed as he realized he, for the first time in years, was eating in the presence of someone else and so he tried to remember manners. The munitions store owner eventually broke the silence by talking about his experience of coming home from the Second World War and what a time it was. He talked about how reuniting with his wife, his family and his hometown in Montana was. He talked about these things as if it were yesterday and with such joy that even he was surprised. He only became solemn when he remembered that was over 30 years ago and what he brought it all up for in the first place. Despite his reputation, Mitch was intrigued by what the store owner had to say. Mitch's intrigue turned to sorrowful realization after the store owner had told him what he did in the month following his return to his small town after the war. The store owner had told him that he too has always had PTSD from his time in the military and what it led to. He spoke of his not being the same man who left to fight in war. He spoke of how he felt broken beyond repair and how he isolated himself from others; including his family and wife. The store owner began to speak with a warble in his voice as if he was about to break down. He pointed out that he had pushed those who tried to help him away and that he was the warden of his own prison. He finally said that by the time he realized what he had done, it was to late. He did not allow himself to heal and by doing so he lost those whom he cared about. He said "The point I am trying to make is that if you do not allow others in and accept help, you will live for nothing. It took me to long to realize this and I don't want to see it happen to anyone else." Mitch had clearly been shaken as his repressed self had come to light despite his usual hubris self. Mitch stayed and talked with the munitions store owner until dusk. He left silently and in a credulous spirit.

Mitch wrote in his journal "March 8, 1977. At one point not too long ago, I thought living alone in the woods was the best life I could live. I thought that living far away from anyone else was the best thing for me; I couldn't have been more wrong. These past few months have been some of the best times I have lived in years. Today is my birthday and several town folk have come into my home to celebrate with me and my dog. While I still struggle here and there with the past, I have been able to not allow it to affect my present self. Seeing people having fun, laughing, and enjoying the spring weather down by my lake makes me feel whole again; Its as if I was lost and have now been found. I owe it all to the wise old man who owns the munitions store. I am glad he came today. Sometimes we think we know what is best for us. Sometimes we isolate ourselves whether it be mentally, literally, or both. The only problem with that is what is a life lived worth if no one else is apart of it. Sometimes we are our own antagonist and seeking help is not a weakness. Now, my war is over."