Stressed: Destruction of Mr. D — David Horn

This is the chronicle of Donald Warren, a Viet Nam military veteran who suffered physical issues from his exposure to Agent Orange and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a direct result from his participation in the war. These issues were not diagnosed until he was in his middle fifties. He had become severely ill and a financial burden to his family. He was desperate, and up until then, would deny his service in Viet Nam. He did not want to recognize he was worthless, and unable to support himself or his family, so he decided to go to the Veterans Hospital and beg for help. The tragedy in this story is, he was never told by the military or the U.S. Government that he could have issues from his exposure to Agent Orange, and may succumb to psychological problems from his killing of innocents in the police actions taken on by our military in Viet Nam. He had several failed suicide attempts and wasn't able to deal with his continued failures. He reflects on his life, and is determined he wants to escape his failures, and sets out to do so. His steps to leave are covered through his diary, miscellaneous notes, and recordings, to give insight into his thought process, as he attempts to escape. He weaves between reality and fantasy throughout his story.