The human spirit fails us unless the Holy Spirit fills us
Love balances power. It also is opposed to fear, because fear stems from self-love or self-concern or self-protection. Biblical love is concerned for the spiritual well being of others. Love for others will give you the boldness to overcome your fears so that
you can speak to them about their need for Christ or their need to obey His Word. Love for God and others should be your motivation whenever you exercise your spiritual gifts. (Steven J. Cole)
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
When the Word of God becomes a reality to your heart and not just your head, you begin to gain excitement about God’s Word and an expectation that God fulfills all of His promises in His Word. When the Word of God becomes God speaking to you, and when you begin to see and know that it is God speaking to you, your faith and confidence in God’s Word will rise up in your spirit man and you will become much more enthusiastic about the Word, and, you’ll be much bolder to witness others! (Jesse Rich)
Pray for our nation
Lord Jesus, fear stalks throughout this nation: help us to set aside fear and turn to you. Thank you for replacing our fears with the power of your Holy Spirit, and love, and a sound mind.
In God we trust: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7
Papa Roy
One last thought: Fear and timidity will keep you from using the gifts God has given you to touch His people and a needy world. God wants you to take His power, His love, and His calm thinking and overcome fear to be used of Him with all the gifts He has given you. (David Guzik)
Monday, March 2, 2009
The human spirit fails us unless the Holy Spirit fills us
One more gem from Papa Roy I needed today and thought I'd share this with all of you. In case you're new to this blog, Papa Roy is a Chaplain with Brevard County Chaplains group I belong to. He sends out a daily devotional.
The human cost of war is hidden from us
The human cost of war is hidden from us
Statistics for the number wounded in the line of duty have been buried. We need to know more
Magnus Linklater
Our friend Billy came back from Afghanistan rather earlier than planned. A Scots Royal Marine, he was on patrol in Sangin province when his Jackal armoured car hit a roadside bomb and was blown apart. Both his legs have been badly broken, but he has been told he is not going to lose them. “I'm definitely going to enroll in the Paralympics,” he joked from Selly Oak, the military hospital in Birmingham where all our serious casualties go. The reality is that months of long and painful recuperation lie ahead of him. As to the long-term mental effect, that can only be guessed at.
As Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, VC, pointed out so forcibly at the weekend, the war wounded returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, however well cared for initially, are too often left to fend for themselves later - the forgotten victims of an endless conflict. Beharry was hailed for his bravery, but the scars may be with him for life. “I am learning to live with it,” he said. “Everyone experiences combat stress differently. But we are all linked, we all suffer the same problem in different ways.” His charge was that the Ministry of Defence provides inadequate aftercare - he called it “disgraceful”. But perhaps too he meant that for every soldier who dies there are others whose suffering we hear little about.
The death of a soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq is still accorded a mention on the news. The statistics about the wounded are buried. You can find them on the Ministry of Defence's website. But they do not command the headlines. Death is different. British soldiers killed in action - 148 of them now, since 2001 - are returned home with full military honours. Flags fly at half-mast, and the Union Flag is draped over the coffins as they are carried in a slow march off the plane at Brize Norton.
click link for more
Statistics for the number wounded in the line of duty have been buried. We need to know more
Magnus Linklater
Our friend Billy came back from Afghanistan rather earlier than planned. A Scots Royal Marine, he was on patrol in Sangin province when his Jackal armoured car hit a roadside bomb and was blown apart. Both his legs have been badly broken, but he has been told he is not going to lose them. “I'm definitely going to enroll in the Paralympics,” he joked from Selly Oak, the military hospital in Birmingham where all our serious casualties go. The reality is that months of long and painful recuperation lie ahead of him. As to the long-term mental effect, that can only be guessed at.
As Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, VC, pointed out so forcibly at the weekend, the war wounded returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, however well cared for initially, are too often left to fend for themselves later - the forgotten victims of an endless conflict. Beharry was hailed for his bravery, but the scars may be with him for life. “I am learning to live with it,” he said. “Everyone experiences combat stress differently. But we are all linked, we all suffer the same problem in different ways.” His charge was that the Ministry of Defence provides inadequate aftercare - he called it “disgraceful”. But perhaps too he meant that for every soldier who dies there are others whose suffering we hear little about.
The death of a soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq is still accorded a mention on the news. The statistics about the wounded are buried. You can find them on the Ministry of Defence's website. But they do not command the headlines. Death is different. British soldiers killed in action - 148 of them now, since 2001 - are returned home with full military honours. Flags fly at half-mast, and the Union Flag is draped over the coffins as they are carried in a slow march off the plane at Brize Norton.
click link for more
A statue of compassion in Iraq
The following is from the Oregon Magazine. I decided to share the whole thing and hope the poster does not mind but it is just so powerful to me it seemed wrong to cut it. I want you to read what it says and then read more from me after.
Look at the picture. What do you see? Do you see your opposition to the occupation of Iraq or do you see human kindness? Do you see a child acting like a child without being politically correct or taking into account any kind of pain she may have felt in her own life as her country was being destroyed? Do you see an artist's skillful hands creating this tenderly with love as a human appreciating the depth of a soldiers pain when they kneel at a simple memorial?
This is what I see. I see humans caring about each other which too often is overlooked when mankind wages war. What makes us different is not as important in moments such as this when what makes us the same comes shining thru. There are many wonderful stories of Iraqis going above and beyond to help our troops and their own country at the same time others are doing horrible acts. There are many stories coming out of our troops doing wonderful things for the people of Iraq as well as horrible stories that happen in combat. There needs to be a balance of these stories, without politics, without supporting one position over another, but simply showing humans acting like humans. They are not numbers. They all have families and people that love them, and yes, even feel compassion for a human as a human.
E-RFD: A Soldier in Iraq
(sent to us by KB7RGX)
This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace, now home to the 4th Infantry diivision. It will eventually be shipped home and put in the memorial museum in Fort hood, TX. The statue was created by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad. Kalat was so grateful for the American liberation of his country that he melted three heads of the fallen Saddam and made the statue as a memorial to American soldiers both living and fallen..
He worked on this memorial night and day for several months. To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms.
How strange that this work of art has not been celebrated in our mainstream media.
http://oregonmag.com/ERFDIraqBronze309.html
Look at the picture. What do you see? Do you see your opposition to the occupation of Iraq or do you see human kindness? Do you see a child acting like a child without being politically correct or taking into account any kind of pain she may have felt in her own life as her country was being destroyed? Do you see an artist's skillful hands creating this tenderly with love as a human appreciating the depth of a soldiers pain when they kneel at a simple memorial?
This is what I see. I see humans caring about each other which too often is overlooked when mankind wages war. What makes us different is not as important in moments such as this when what makes us the same comes shining thru. There are many wonderful stories of Iraqis going above and beyond to help our troops and their own country at the same time others are doing horrible acts. There are many stories coming out of our troops doing wonderful things for the people of Iraq as well as horrible stories that happen in combat. There needs to be a balance of these stories, without politics, without supporting one position over another, but simply showing humans acting like humans. They are not numbers. They all have families and people that love them, and yes, even feel compassion for a human as a human.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Words from a Woman Warrior on The Voice, Women at War
The following is an email I received about my video The Voice, Women at War. It is beautiful and powerful.
Not often do these eyes of mine “leak.”
This video did it. PLEASE pass it on far and wide.
It is an excellent video-
http://www.greatamericans.com/videos/818f0a2250/the-voice-women-at-war-from-chaplain-kathie
Kathie’s website- http://www.namguardianangel.com/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Every 2 minutes, a woman in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. By the end of the video 18 women will have been sexually assaulted!!!
I am the voice that is calling you “To Arms!” (Was the Army OD color missed by anyone?)
If you do not think women are at War, then you need to change your definition of “war.”
Now is the time to pick up your {Sword, Pen, Gun, Voice, or Torch} and “Fight the Fight.”
You KNOW a woman who has been touched by war, assault or rape. Do you care? Are you part of the solution?
Do something… And, Do it NOW!
Namaste’
Susan
Retired, Disabled, Combat Veteran
Earned the Bronze Star w/ V Device, Desert Storm Veteran, former victim of rape
Women’s Self Defense Instructor
"The Voice"
I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name
"Listen, my child," you say to me"
I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call, and I'll set you free"
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain
I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep thoughout all the cold winter long
I am the force that in springtime will grow
I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future, bring me your peace
Bring me your peace, and my wounds, they will heal
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice
I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the futureI am the voice,
I am the voice
I am the voice, I am the voice
Carly Simon Touched By The Sun Lyrics
If you want to be brave
And reach for the top of the sky
And the farthest point on the horizon
Do you know who you'll meet there
Great soldiers and seafarers, Artists and dreamers
Who need to be close, close to the light
They need to be in danger of burning by fire
And I, I want to get there I,
I want to be one One who is touched by the sun,
One who is touched by the sun
Often I want to walk The safe side of the street
And lull myself to sleep
And dull my pain
But deep down inside I know
I've got to learn from the greats,
Earn my right to be living,
Let my wings of desire Soar over the night
I need to let them say "She must have been mad"
And I, I want to get there I,
I want to be one One who is touched by the sun,
One who is touched by the sun
I've got to learn from the greats,
Earn my right to be living,
With every breath that I take,
Every heartbeat And I, I want to get there I,
I want to be one,
One who is touched by the sun,
One who is touched by the sun.
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
- Mary Frye (1932)
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow;
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain;
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush;
I am in the graceful rush.
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
In 2007, there were 248,300 victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.1 (These figures do not include victims 12 years old or younger.)
Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. By the end of the video 18 women will have been sexually assaulted!!!
Victims of sexual assault are:7
3 times more likely to suffer from depression.
6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.
26 times more likely to abuse drugs.
4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.
1 out of every 6 American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime
17.7 million American women have been victims of attempted or completed rape. DO THE MATH!!!
15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under age 12.
Warlords gang-rape 12-year-old girl, her family threatens to commit mass suicide if justice is not done
Man, Friend Raped Girls, Police Say
china girl was raped on street ,nobody help her - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbX-XzPsC2o&feature=related
7 year old girl raped on school bus by teenager - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR0FRHd62GU&feature=related
http://www.rainn.org/ (Rape, Abuse, & Incest national Network)
You can always reach your local rape crisis center directly by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE
Silver Star for Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Kinney
Medic honored for Afghanistan actions
Staff sgt. awarded Silver Star for saving patients, soldiers and medevac crew
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Mar 1, 2009 13:16:44 EST
When Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Kinney’s boots touched the ground in Afghanistan’s rugged Korengal Valley, he knew that six wounded soldiers were waiting for him.
Over the next 45 minutes to an hour, Kinney’s actions under fire to evacuate what eventually became eight wounded men would earn him a Silver Star, the nation’s third highest award for valor.
Kinney, 30, had already served twice in Iraq when he deployed for his first tour in Afghanistan with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, of Fort Campbell, Ky.
By the time he came home in January after 12 months in Afghanistan, Kinney had earned a Silver Star, a Distinguished Flying Cross from a separate engagement, and responded to the aftermath of the July 2008 battle in Wanat, Afghanistan, a bloody clash that claimed the lives of nine soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
“In my mind, I’ve done a lot of stuff throughout my Army career, and I don’t feel like I should be awarded [the Silver Star],” Kinney told Army Times on Feb. 19 after his award ceremony. “It’s like I’m not deserving of the award. I was just doing my job.”
go here for more
Medic honored for Afghanistan actions
Staff sgt. awarded Silver Star for saving patients, soldiers and medevac crew
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Mar 1, 2009 13:16:44 EST
When Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Kinney’s boots touched the ground in Afghanistan’s rugged Korengal Valley, he knew that six wounded soldiers were waiting for him.
Over the next 45 minutes to an hour, Kinney’s actions under fire to evacuate what eventually became eight wounded men would earn him a Silver Star, the nation’s third highest award for valor.
Kinney, 30, had already served twice in Iraq when he deployed for his first tour in Afghanistan with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, of Fort Campbell, Ky.
By the time he came home in January after 12 months in Afghanistan, Kinney had earned a Silver Star, a Distinguished Flying Cross from a separate engagement, and responded to the aftermath of the July 2008 battle in Wanat, Afghanistan, a bloody clash that claimed the lives of nine soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
“In my mind, I’ve done a lot of stuff throughout my Army career, and I don’t feel like I should be awarded [the Silver Star],” Kinney told Army Times on Feb. 19 after his award ceremony. “It’s like I’m not deserving of the award. I was just doing my job.”
go here for more
Medic honored for Afghanistan actions
PTSD:Now here this, you're normal!
by
Chaplain Kathie
PTSD is a normal reaction to abnormal events no matter where they happen, when they happen or why they happen and the reason you have PTSD is that you care. How many times have you confused caring about others with lack of courage? Did it take courage to enlist in the military? Did it take courage to risk your life for the sake of someone else? Then why in the hell are you having a problem understanding that you were not wounded by the events you lived through because you're weak, or because you just weren't brave enough or tough enough?
It takes courage to rush into a burning building to save the life of someone else. Do you think firefighters are cowards? Did you think they were on September 11th when they rush into the Twin Towers while everyone else was running away from them? Do you think they would have done what they did if they didn't care about other people? Then how in the hell can you have it in your brain that you're any different? Yes, I'm talking to you!
It takes courage to rush out into the street because there is a kid about to be hit by a car. First you have to care and then you have to have the courage to be able to do it. Yes, courage!
It takes courage to be a police officer facing off with someone with a gun pointed at someone else or at your partner but first you have to care about other people. Why can't you get this?
After you decided to enlist in the military, or were drafted into it in case you're an older veteran, did you also decide that you were only going to watch out for yourself or did you end up watching out for the men you were with too? Do you have a clue how much that requires inside of you to be able to do that?
You can listen to all the "experts" you want but this is what you need to know about being wounded by PTSD and what makes you different. It takes that special quality that allows you to be sensitive to others, care more deeply and have more courage in you along with the rest of it. Courage is doing for others what you would not expect to be done for you. When someone else's life is on the line, your the one rushing in without much regard for yourself. As kids you were probably the one beating up the bully because they picked on someone else. The men and women you served with, all have courage but they don't have what you do. You can feel things more deeply than they can. This is not always a bad thing because it also allowed you to love more deeply and feel joy more deeply. It is that same part of you also making you feel the pain more deeply than the others do. Don't fool yourself into thinking they don't feel anything. No one leaves combat unchanged or untouched.
It takes all kinds of people to make this world balance. There are selfish people thinking more of themselves than others, there are the types with a good balance of self and others and then there is you. You are the one that put others before "you" since the day you were born. No, I don't mean you never cared about yourself. Even people with the most generous hearts have needs like anyone else, but most of the time, they are more caring about others.
I'm really tired of trying to get this into your brains! Yesterday I had a chance to speak to a few police officers that are also veterans. They got it. They understood it and they knew it before the words even left my mouth because some else had already told them the same message. Isn't it time that got it as well? How many more years am I going to read articles like the following before you finally understand that when it comes to PTSD, you're normal but the world is screwed up and things that shouldn't happen do? Wars shouldn't happen. Crime shouldn't happen. Natural disasters shouldn't happen. Accidents shouldn't happen and that's why they're called an accident. Now, you can walk away from all of the things people survive and expect yourself to freeze out your character, but you only end up miserable by changing into a person filled with anger and focusing on the injustice of it all, or you can be true to the person you are inside and use the same courage you always had to heal, then you can put your experience and your courage back to work taking care of other people. We're in for a tsunami of more PTSD wounded needing help and they will need all the help they can get but you have to heal first before you can help anyone.
Chaplain Kathie
PTSD is a normal reaction to abnormal events no matter where they happen, when they happen or why they happen and the reason you have PTSD is that you care. How many times have you confused caring about others with lack of courage? Did it take courage to enlist in the military? Did it take courage to risk your life for the sake of someone else? Then why in the hell are you having a problem understanding that you were not wounded by the events you lived through because you're weak, or because you just weren't brave enough or tough enough?
It takes courage to rush into a burning building to save the life of someone else. Do you think firefighters are cowards? Did you think they were on September 11th when they rush into the Twin Towers while everyone else was running away from them? Do you think they would have done what they did if they didn't care about other people? Then how in the hell can you have it in your brain that you're any different? Yes, I'm talking to you!
It takes courage to rush out into the street because there is a kid about to be hit by a car. First you have to care and then you have to have the courage to be able to do it. Yes, courage!
It takes courage to be a police officer facing off with someone with a gun pointed at someone else or at your partner but first you have to care about other people. Why can't you get this?
After you decided to enlist in the military, or were drafted into it in case you're an older veteran, did you also decide that you were only going to watch out for yourself or did you end up watching out for the men you were with too? Do you have a clue how much that requires inside of you to be able to do that?
You can listen to all the "experts" you want but this is what you need to know about being wounded by PTSD and what makes you different. It takes that special quality that allows you to be sensitive to others, care more deeply and have more courage in you along with the rest of it. Courage is doing for others what you would not expect to be done for you. When someone else's life is on the line, your the one rushing in without much regard for yourself. As kids you were probably the one beating up the bully because they picked on someone else. The men and women you served with, all have courage but they don't have what you do. You can feel things more deeply than they can. This is not always a bad thing because it also allowed you to love more deeply and feel joy more deeply. It is that same part of you also making you feel the pain more deeply than the others do. Don't fool yourself into thinking they don't feel anything. No one leaves combat unchanged or untouched.
It takes all kinds of people to make this world balance. There are selfish people thinking more of themselves than others, there are the types with a good balance of self and others and then there is you. You are the one that put others before "you" since the day you were born. No, I don't mean you never cared about yourself. Even people with the most generous hearts have needs like anyone else, but most of the time, they are more caring about others.
I'm really tired of trying to get this into your brains! Yesterday I had a chance to speak to a few police officers that are also veterans. They got it. They understood it and they knew it before the words even left my mouth because some else had already told them the same message. Isn't it time that got it as well? How many more years am I going to read articles like the following before you finally understand that when it comes to PTSD, you're normal but the world is screwed up and things that shouldn't happen do? Wars shouldn't happen. Crime shouldn't happen. Natural disasters shouldn't happen. Accidents shouldn't happen and that's why they're called an accident. Now, you can walk away from all of the things people survive and expect yourself to freeze out your character, but you only end up miserable by changing into a person filled with anger and focusing on the injustice of it all, or you can be true to the person you are inside and use the same courage you always had to heal, then you can put your experience and your courage back to work taking care of other people. We're in for a tsunami of more PTSD wounded needing help and they will need all the help they can get but you have to heal first before you can help anyone.
Stress, suicide: tough wounds for the US Army
1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and record-high suicide rates are haunting American veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, amid a taboo over mental distress.
At the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, psychological help is part and parcel of the care provided to soldiers wounded in combat, according to Colonel John Bradley, chief of the hospital's psychiatric department.
"We don't wait for a declaration of emotional distress or dysfunction but we rather see the patient right from the beginning. We are looking for early signs of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression or difficulty coping with their battle injuries," he told AFP.
Insomnia, violent nightmares, high agitation and a constant state of high alert are some of the more common PTSD symptoms, he explained.
"When I came back, initially I would have dreams that I wouldn't remember, things like that. You go through some pretty nasty things," Staff Sergeant Michael Downing, a double amputee and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, said in an interview.
But at Walter Reed, "they help you with PTSD, brain traumatic injuries.... Here, I am talking to a lot of soldiers, people who have been through what you've been through and it kind of helps," he added.
go here for more
Stress, suicide: tough wounds for the US Army
Standoff veteran's family mourns loss
Standoff veteran's family mourns loss
Updated: Sunday, 01 Mar 2009
Oren Liebermann
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Before police officers surrounded the home of Marshall Franklin and a SWAT team moved in, all Franklin's family could do was watch.
The standoff ended with two officers shot and Franklin dead, a scenario, Franklin's family says that could have been avoided. That is, if they ever got a chance to talk to him.
"He was blocked off from every single thing that he knew," said his sister, Tony Franklin Dixon, "the people who loved him, the people who he trusted. He was not allowed to talk with us at all."
"He died thinking that his family neglected him, didn't care about him, and he was alone," added Juanita Ebron, one of his other sisters.
Franklin's nine brothers and sisters displayed pictures of the man who served two tours in Vietnam and had a penchant for painting and crafts. But when he came back from Vietnam, his family says he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
"There were periods where he was fine and able to function at a full level," said his sister, Alberta Thomas, "but then there were periods where he needed to be on some type of medication."
click link for more
Updated: Sunday, 01 Mar 2009
Oren Liebermann
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Before police officers surrounded the home of Marshall Franklin and a SWAT team moved in, all Franklin's family could do was watch.
The standoff ended with two officers shot and Franklin dead, a scenario, Franklin's family says that could have been avoided. That is, if they ever got a chance to talk to him.
"He was blocked off from every single thing that he knew," said his sister, Tony Franklin Dixon, "the people who loved him, the people who he trusted. He was not allowed to talk with us at all."
"He died thinking that his family neglected him, didn't care about him, and he was alone," added Juanita Ebron, one of his other sisters.
Franklin's nine brothers and sisters displayed pictures of the man who served two tours in Vietnam and had a penchant for painting and crafts. But when he came back from Vietnam, his family says he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
"There were periods where he was fine and able to function at a full level," said his sister, Alberta Thomas, "but then there were periods where he needed to be on some type of medication."
click link for more
Veterans' families question cause of deaths
Veterans' families question cause of deaths
Post-traumatic stress syndrome treatment cited
By Julie Robinson
Staff writer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Stan and Shirley White's son Andrew, a Marine reservist, died at home 2 1/2 years after he returned from Iraq. Janette Layne lost her husband, Eric, in similar circumstances after his return from Iraq.
More than a year later, they still don't know if the medication their loved ones were taking for post-traumatic stress disorder contributed to their deaths.
Andrew White and Eric Layne were taking Seroquel, Klonopin and Paxil, along with prescription painkillers.
Three other West Virginia servicemen have died in their sleep while undergoing PTSD treatment after returning from Iraq.
Investigators from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs looked into the deaths. Stan White, who actively researches similar deaths and PTSD-related medications, contacted Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who requested the investigation.
go here for more
http://wvgazette.com/News/200902280644
Post-traumatic stress syndrome treatment cited
By Julie Robinson
Staff writer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Stan and Shirley White's son Andrew, a Marine reservist, died at home 2 1/2 years after he returned from Iraq. Janette Layne lost her husband, Eric, in similar circumstances after his return from Iraq.
More than a year later, they still don't know if the medication their loved ones were taking for post-traumatic stress disorder contributed to their deaths.
Andrew White and Eric Layne were taking Seroquel, Klonopin and Paxil, along with prescription painkillers.
Three other West Virginia servicemen have died in their sleep while undergoing PTSD treatment after returning from Iraq.
Investigators from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs looked into the deaths. Stan White, who actively researches similar deaths and PTSD-related medications, contacted Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who requested the investigation.
go here for more
http://wvgazette.com/News/200902280644
Montana National Guard's proactive PTSD program becoming national model
Montana National Guard's proactive PTSD program becoming national model
By ERIC NEWHOUSE • Tribune Projects Editor • March 1, 2009
HELENA — Two years after former Army Spc. Chris Dana committed suicide after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, the Montana National Guard is spending approximately half a million dollars a year to make combat deployments easier for its soldiers and their families.
The Montana Guard's Yellow Ribbon program has become a model that the rest of America should adopt, said U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.
"We're getting terrific responses to the program from the families of our soldiers, but also some great suggestions," said Col. Jeff Ireland, chief of manpower and personnel for the Montana Guard. "For instance, we were told it would be useful to have a special breakout session for spouses.
Ireland said officials believe the session was a great idea.
"We plan to act on it and other suggestions until we meet all the needs we're aware of," he added.
With the approval and funding of the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., the Montana National Guard is adding five positions and spending approximately $500,000 to fund the Yellow Ribbon program, Ireland said.
The core of the program is twofold: mental health assessments every six months after deployment and crisis response teams that can be activated immediately to check out concerns about the emotional wellbeing of a soldier.
"The genius of the Montana screening model is that it happens every six months," Matt Kuntz, Dana's stepbrother, told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee last week during testimony in Washington.
click link for more
By ERIC NEWHOUSE • Tribune Projects Editor • March 1, 2009
HELENA — Two years after former Army Spc. Chris Dana committed suicide after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, the Montana National Guard is spending approximately half a million dollars a year to make combat deployments easier for its soldiers and their families.
The Montana Guard's Yellow Ribbon program has become a model that the rest of America should adopt, said U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.
"We're getting terrific responses to the program from the families of our soldiers, but also some great suggestions," said Col. Jeff Ireland, chief of manpower and personnel for the Montana Guard. "For instance, we were told it would be useful to have a special breakout session for spouses.
Ireland said officials believe the session was a great idea.
"We plan to act on it and other suggestions until we meet all the needs we're aware of," he added.
With the approval and funding of the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., the Montana National Guard is adding five positions and spending approximately $500,000 to fund the Yellow Ribbon program, Ireland said.
The core of the program is twofold: mental health assessments every six months after deployment and crisis response teams that can be activated immediately to check out concerns about the emotional wellbeing of a soldier.
"The genius of the Montana screening model is that it happens every six months," Matt Kuntz, Dana's stepbrother, told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee last week during testimony in Washington.
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Nam Knights Orlando Memorial Dedication
Medal Of Honor Sammy Davis and Silver Star Ken Mellick, both Nam Knights photo by Chaplain Kathie
Yesterday I attended the memorial dedication ceremony of the Nam Knights Orlando Eternal Chapter. It was a very impressive ceremony. I planned to film it all so that I could share it with everyone, but things didn't work out that way. Five minutes before the ceremony was to begin, I was approached by a Nam Knight informing me that the Chaplain scheduled to do the invocation had not arrived. Five minute warning to find someone to hit record on my video camera and then pray to God for the words to use and the courage to speak! God delivered the right words to my mouth and calmed my nerves long enough to get me up there and back down without falling.
This video has the small contribution I made to the event and several speakers but I was very disappointed when I was loading the video onto my PC and discovered that most of the speech Sammy Davis, Medal of Honor Recipient, gave was not included in the video or the rest of the ceremony. Sammy told the story of his time in Vietnam and it was really moving. I hope to be able to get my hands on a copy of the entire program but for now, at least you will know what Sammy did as the account of his actions was spoken. Sammy is warm, down to earth and very humble.
Also on the video is the account of how the Nam Knights began. I've said it more than I can remember of how honored I am to know the men in the Nam Knights and I could not have been more proud to be among them.
I promise the if I do find a copy of the entire event, I will post it up.
Nam Knights Orlando Memorial Dedication - watch more videos
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