He was there. Then he got PTSD so he could come home early. Probably hasn't had a job since.
That's sad on a couple levels.
The PTSD from being there sucks so he gets sympathy for that.
The fact he hasn't gotten the eff over it yet despite resources available to do so is sad as well but not the sympathy sad way. One of my best friends was on the Army's initial push into Baghdad and lost a good portion of his unit/squad/whatever the army calls it to IEDs and pot shotters/snipers. It took him awhile but he is a productive member of society now.