A Marine corporal from Nyack survived two tours in Iraq without any physical wounds, but mental ?scars? slowly began to show.Marine Corporal Jack Frawley?s life was changed forever during his second tour of duty in the troubled country. Sent to Al-Qa?im, in the insurgent-filled Anbar Province, Frawley saw nearly 80 fellow Marines die. Forty of them were friends.

?The worst thing I experienced over there was, we were on a convoy, two French rockets went off?they basically tore three Marines into bits," Frawley said.

Five months later when the Marine was home in Nyack, the wounds of war followed him home. Unable to sleep, drinking too much and having nightmares about the war, Frawley dropped out of college and withdrew from his family and friends. Jerry Donnellen, a Vietnam veteran and director of Rockland's Veteran's Services, was among the first to see the warning signs of trouble in Frawley. What Donnellen noticed were the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. After being home for a year, Frawley was officially diagnosed with PTSD and sought help. The treatment for Frawley consists of talking about his experiences in group therapy at the New City VA Clinic.

Others suffering from PTSD require medication, and doctors say half of those diagnosed with PTSD will suffer chronically from the ailment. The military estimates 15 percent of returning soldiers have PTSD, but many believe that number is much higher.

Frawley, now 25, is looking into a law enforcement career. He is still on active duty. Despite his traumatic experiences, he says he would go back to Iraq in a heartbeat if asked.

Related Information Wounds of War I: Marine Sgt. Eddie Ryan MentalHealth Screening