Mike Batnick was a U.S. Navy 2nd Class Petty Officer on the USS Midway aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam. An incident took place in 1961 that left him with post-traumatic stress disorder, which he believes is responsible for his recurring nightmares and a short temper.
Counseling and drugs never really worked for him, but five years ago he found success in a bird. Batnick calls Sailor, a Green Cheek Conure (think parrot but smaller) his emotional support animal.