Felling the Dragon: Killing P.T.S.D.

By Coralie Seagraves

About the Book
In the aftermath of her nephew Kenneth’s suicide,
Auntie recalls each of his stories from his time in the Viet Nam War.
Growing evermore harrowing and tragic, Auntie notices the threads interweaving, and the emotional torment Kenneth suffered each day becomes more and more apparent.
A devastating look into the mind of army veterans and post-traumatic stress disorder, Felling the Dragon is a dive into the psyche of veterans and those whose lives are touched by them. Written after twenty years of experience with speaking to veterans, Coralie Seagraves has imbued the essence of veterans’ mental illness and what lurks in the mind after the traumatic experiences of war.
About the Author
Born into a loving family in Deer Lodge, Montana, between the last Great Depression and World War II, Coralie Seagraves has had a long and interesting life. Becoming ordained as priest in the Community of Christ Church in Independence, MO, has been the opening of many doors for her. She has been gifted with her present life on Planet Earth and communication with folks beyond the veil. As many have learned, continual prayer is the key.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: Feb 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9798892115971

Book preview

Chapter 1

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In the crisp autumn air military bugle notes sing their sad song. Young men in uniform tend a United States of America flag. It has been carefully folded in preparation to honor the professional military man’s long years of service.

Auntie’s mind drifts back two years, to when she and Kenneth were so unexpectedly reunited. At our meeting I was unaware of his intention to take his own life during the recent holiday season of November to December (homicide/suicide, his VA psychiatrist calls it).

There was some indication of Kenneth’s past when in my sleep/waking twilight the figure of a man appeared to me. Seated in a 1920 or 30s wooden swivel office chair, he was dressed in a brown suit, with a gold watch chain draped across his vest. Although his face was not visible, he motioned to me what appeared to be some kind of moving picture. Fierce warfare was engaged by soldiers wearing WWI and WWII uniforms. He indicated that Kenneth was in battle there. His parting words were ‘Always remember he is professional military.’

Auntie’s mind is startled by another bugle echoing Taps from a distant part of the memorial site. Her mind returns to Kenneth’s suicide plan. His plan is simple, she recalls. "He will find a particularly tall and steep cliff in the Rocky Mountains. It will be without guardrail, as he spins the tires of his heavyweight Lincoln Continental. Over the cliff edge it will fall in a fatal drop to impale upon unyielding pinnacles below. Authorities will consider this an accidental death, thus protecting the money set aside for his beloved children and grandchildren.

The plan is perfect—except for one other loved one: GD, Golden Dog! Who will take good care of him? Who will take him for rides in their car while he sheds monumental heaps of his coat? Who will buy him special food and doggy toys? Who will keep their edibles out of his exceptional reach of paws and nose? Who will protect him from the neighbor’s pit bull when GD is holding him down by his neck on the lawn? GD does not know how to release his snarling adversary until Kenneth saves GD by calling him inside the house. With small caliber rifle in hand, Kenneth can successfully demand his neighbor retrieve his powerful animal.

A muffled sob pulls Auntie back to the closing ceremony. She notices friends and family dab their eyes as Kenneth’s military memorial service quietly disperses.

Gone now are the after-church visits. In Auntie’s apartment or seated for lunch at a small café, Kenneth would meticulously spin dark memories that lurked in the corners of his mind. If he spoke in raised tones without hearing aids, Auntie would notice other listeners nearby. Never during their last two years together did she see him shed tears.

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CHAPTER 2

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Kenneth is a post-World War II Baby Boomer. He is a handsome little guy and adores his dad. As Kenneth’s early years progress, he is allowed to ride in a light plane, where Dad helped him guide the plane.

At five years of age, his mother takes Kenneth and his two sisters on a vacation trip to visit relatives in Montana. Without explanation Kenneth is soon separated from his biological dad—a lifelong resentment. His new stepdad is a beefy fellow with no parenting experience. Friction soon develops in the new household.

Kenneth later likes to recall his grade school years in the town’s Catholic academy. There, he and his friends declared war on the nuns. One teacher’s discipline choice was to crack down on finger knuckles of an offender with her a metal ruler. Kenneth was particularly offended by this practice. Vengeance came in