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A famous image of "The Thousand Yard Stare"
An exhausted American Marine Pvt. Theodore J. Miller exhibits the thousand-yard stare after two days of constant fighting on Eniwetok. He was KIA at 19, March 24, 1944 at Ebon Atoll. He is buried at The Punch Bowl, HI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Eniwetok
This young man lived through the Battle of Eniwetok but was 1 of 2 marines killed on Ebon Atoll:
Shisler's men landed at Ebon Atoll on the morning of 23 March and, on the following day, killed 17 Japanese in a vicious fight that cost the lives of two Marines. Six enemy noncombatants were taken into custody.
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/III/USMC-III-III-5.html
RIP young man and thank you cannot ever be enough for what you gave

Some more

A fellow in my company, first tour had hair turning white... at age 18. He never said much about it - or anything else. He survived his tour, but I never saw him again. I hope all of him made it home & some part of his mind still isn't out there somewhere humping the bush.

If that makes any sense.

...that would be the supreme act of being "aware" !!