If you Kill an Innocent Civilian in the line of duty how do you cope with it?

Question

If you Kill an Innocent Civilian in the line of duty how do you cope with it?

Answer 1

My marine buddies had that problem, but the only thing they told me that kept them sane was having humor with everything. They said that if you could keep the humor up, it would prevent you from going nuts.

Answer 2

I'm going to presume you mean "non-combatant."

"Innocent civilian" is a term used by protesters to stir up emotions.

In today's wars, it's hard to tell the friendly non-combatants from the bad guys. The reason for the confusion is that the bad guys hide among non-combatants for cover. They know we don't like to kill non-combatants.

While one feels terrible about it, collateral deaths are unavoidable. Bullets don't care who they hit. They bounce around. They miss intended targets. They hit the wrong person.

When one kills somebody one didn't intend to shoot, a bunch of things go through one's mind. One of those things is regret. But you can't change the fact that somebody is dead. It might be somebody's father, son, husband, wife, mother, sister. The person will be missed and mourned. But the person is dead and there's nothing you  can do about it. While you dwell on it, the person you intended to kill might well be lining you up in his sights.

Answer 3

You just do.  It's not like you did it on purpose.  But that is why they have counselors.  

Answer 4

In war.........some of us are soldiers.......some of us are bakers.........and some of us............do nothing at all.

Life is not fair.

John F. Kennedy.

You were there.........trying to do the right thing.........and sh*t happens.   The problem  with bullets flying everywhere, is that sometimes they hit the wrong thing or person.  

In a firefight..........it's YOU or them.........

you KNOW who YOU are.........but sometimes.,...it's hard to tell who "they" are .

All ya can do, is pray you're right........and then pray some more if you turn out to be wrong.  

What's done is done, though..........and regrets and second guesses don't undo anything.   Suck it up , and move on Soldier.

Answer 5

I suppose the first thing to do is realize that no amount of beating yourself up will accomplish anything. What's done is done.

The second is to realize that, as hard as it may seem, God will forgive you if you ask. You are not at a "dead end" with God, like you're probably telling yourself right now.

In the Bible, both David and Paul (sometimes referred to as Saul in the New Testament) killed innocent people, and God forgave them both. He can forgive you too if you ask. Read 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12, especially chapter 12 verse 13. Also see Acts 8-9.

While there were consequences of their actions, God still clearly forgave them.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

You just have to tell yourself they probably weren't all that innocent.  

Answer 7

you kill them all and let god sort them out