Anything cause you a flashback type experience? (Navy, training, military)

[victimofGM]

Working in the engine room of a navy ship, for more than a decade when we lost power at home, I'd jump out of bed ready to run.

Sometimes I'll encounter a smell that reminds me of a specific traumatic event. No "flashback", but the memories flood back.

My refrigerator is about 4 feet behind my recliner. Was nearly asleep in the recliner when my wife's soda exploded in the freezer. I dove to the floor and crawled to the bedroom to check on my wife thinking our home had been shot by a large caliber gun.

Thankfully, the most common event is productive. Extensive Navy firefighting training means every time in experienced a fire type event I didn't have to think, just react calmly and instantly while hearing in my head, "fire fire fire, class bravo fire in the engine room".

[Caltovegas]

Back in my military days I noticed a guy always sitting by himself drinking and never t a liking to anyone. Being who I am I went over and sat down and started knocking back some long necks chatting. All of a sudden he flips the table and starts yelling incoming. No one looked surprised.

The waitress told me whenever the drinks kick in he does that but he was basically harmless so they left him alone. So I righted the table and listened to his stories about his kids. After that I understood when people said war is hell. I can't imagine what he went through.

One good thing that did happen is after people saw me having a couple with him and just picking up the table more people sat and talked with him. What was odd was when there were people sitting across from him he wouldn't toss the table he would just yell incoming every now and then.. I don't think anyone asked him about his combat experiences. I forget his name but we did have some good times. He was given mad respect whenever he walked into the NCO Club.