America Honors Heroic Men and Woman on Medal of Honor Day

Woman? Yes! Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Andrew Jackson.

MEDAL OF HONOR CONTROVERSY

In November 1865, having left government service for good, Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson, even though she was a civilian who had never been a commissioned officer in military service.

That civilian status is why Walker's medal was rescinded in 1917, two years before she died -- along with 910 others. Walker refused to return the medal, though, and continued to wear it until she died two years later.

Sixty years after that, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter restored the honor in her name, thanks to efforts made by her family.

Commentary: Medal of Honor Day reminds us there’s a hero in everyone
Military Times
Ret. Army Maj. Drew Dix
March 24, 2018

Medal of Honor recipients Mike Fitzmaurice and Will Swenson, center, participate in a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating valor and sacrifice on National Medal of Honor Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on March 25. 2017. (Francis Chung/Defense Department)

On a hilltop in Arlington National Cemetery, servicemen from our nation’s wars, whose names we don’t know but whose service and sacrifice we will always remember, have found their final resting place in the Tomb of the Unknowns.

It’s fitting that these courageous Americans, who represent all who have worn the cloth of our great country, received our nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor. In addition to these unknown heroes, for many of us Medal of Honor recipients, and for many veterans, Arlington National Cemetery evokes specific memories of incredible people we served with and long-ago battles we fought.

There are 71 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, and this week, 31 of my brothers are in our nation’s capital to commemorate National Medal of Honor Day, which falls every year on March 25. While they lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and render salutes as a lone bugler plays “Taps,” all of us, no matter where we are, will be paying our respects to the men and women who have served our great nation in uniform.

To a man, the privilege and burden of wearing the Medal of Honor is our opportunity to represent the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have served, fought, and in some cases sacrificed their lives to preserve America’s liberty. All 71 of us have witnessed firsthand the ravages of the battlefield.
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What is wrong does not mean you are not strong!

PTSD: What is wrong does not mean you are not strong!
PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
March 25, 2018

My buddy Murray is one hell of a strong dog. He is as tough as they come and not much bothers him. (Well, aside from a couple of TV commercials making him freak out, or anyone near our house.) He loves people (as long as he is outside with them.)

We have a routine when I get home from work. I dump my purse and shoes just inside of the bedroom doorway and jumps on the sofa for his petting. First behind the ears and then he'll roll over for a belly rub. Wednesday when I rubbed behind his ears, he winced. Trying to figure out what was wrong, I did it again, and that time he almost cried.

I took him to the Vets and sure enough, he has a massive double ear infection. It must have been there for a while as his body was trying to fight it off.  

The fact he has an infection, does not mean he is any less strong, or brave. It means something hit him and tried to defeat him. With the right medicine and treatment, he'll be fine soon.

So will you! PTSD hit you! It does not mean you are not brave, or strong, or any less resilient than before. It means all the stuff you went through, your whole body was trying to fight off. There comes a time when it just can't fight anymore without help.

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Navy SEAL Cleared After "Witch Hunt"

Navy SEAL acquitted in rape case
San Diego Union Tribune
Carl Prine
March 24, 2018

Three months later, Navy officials charged Benevento, sparking calls from Waddington that the case against his client was a “witch hunt.”

Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL students participate in "Surf Passage" on Feb. 6 at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. (U.S. Navy)

A military jury on March 15 acquitted Navy Lt. Joseph “Joey” Benevento in two rape cases. The Navy SEAL had faced six specifications of rape tied to two separate charges involving civilian women.

Benevento’s defense attorney complains that a senior military prosecutor in the case was unprofessional.

A military jury has acquitted a commissioned SEAL officer in a rape case his defense team called a “witch hunt.”

During his March 15 court-martial trial, Navy Lt. Joseph “Joey” Benevento, 33, faced six specifications of sexual misconduct tied to two civilian women during a pair of separate incidents that allegedly occurred in 2015 and 2016.
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Aberdeen Proving Ground soldier dead after standoff

Soldier Dead After Barricade Situation At Aberdeen Proving Ground
Associated Press
CBS Baltimore
March 23, 2018

The soldier’s name is being withheld until next of kin has been notified. The soldier was assigned to the Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (WJZ/AP) — Army officials say an incident involving a soldier who barricaded himself inside a home on a U.S. Army installation ended after a 17-hour standoff.

Aberdeen Proving Ground spokesman David Patterson says the man was alone in the home when a concerned relative called Thursday morning saying he’d locked himself inside. In a statement Friday afternoon, the installation stated emergency responders found the soldier dead inside the home early Friday morning.
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Fort Campbell Soldier AWOL After Hazing

Maine man charged with military desertion was hazed by team leader, father says
MORNING SENTINEL
BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
March 23, 2018

Anthony Seeley of Farmington says his son Austin and a fellow recruit were driven to leave their base in Kentucky after being put in dangerous situations by their team leader.

Austin Seeley, 19, of Farmington, third from the right in this group shot, left his Army post at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and was advised by his father to turn himself in to the Franklin County sheriff. Anthony Seeley, Austin's father, a combat veteran, said his son has been hazed and put in unnecessarily dangerous situations by his team leader. Contributed photo

The Farmington soldier who was charged with desertion was being hazed and put in dangerous situations by his team leader when he left his base without permission, his father said.

Pvt. Austin Seeley, 19, and his friend, Noah Fisher, 18, of Boise, Idaho, whose rank was unavailable but who also is enlisted in the Army, left their base, driving from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Maine, and turned themselves in Monday at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office once the military issued a warrant for their arrests.

But that’s not the whole story, said Anthony Seeley, Austin’s father.

During an interview Thursday, Seeley said his son has undergone constant hazing – to the point of physical injury – from his unit’s team leader since he arrived at Fort Campbell in October.
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Heroic Iraq Veteran/Police Officer killed in France

French officer who swapped places with a hostage in terror attack dies
CNN
Nicole Chavez, associate writer CNN Digital
By Hilary Clarke and Nicole Chavez
March 24, 2018

Married with no children, Beltrame had served in the French military police and received a number of awards for bravery. He served in Iraq in 2005, and was given an award for bravery in 2007, Macron said. For four years, he was a commander in the Republican Guard, which provides security at the Élysée Palace, home of the French president.

(CNN)A police officer who swapped places with a female hostage during an attack by an ISIS supporter on a supermarket in southern France has died of his wounds, French authorities said.

Lt. Col. Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was shot in the neck Friday after offering to take the place of a woman during a gunman's assault on the Super U supermarket in Trèbes.

Police found two unexploded homemade bombs, a 7.65 mm pistol and a hunting knife when they searched the market after the attack, a French judicial source told CNN.

The attacker, Radouane Lakdim, 26, a Moroccan-born French national, was a petty criminal already on the radar of French police for his links to radical Salafist networks, authorities said.
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Air Force veteran survived 16 years of service, but not Wednesday night

Man Killed In Owasso Officer-Involved Shooting 16-Year Veteran
News On 6
Brian Dorman
March 23, 2018

Duane served in the Air Force for 16 years, completing three tours overseas. Stephanie said those tours changed him.

OWASSO, Oklahoma - As the OSBI continues its investigation into a deadly officer-involved shooting in Owasso Wednesday night, the fiancée of the man killed is speaking out. Stephanie Perdew recounted what started out as a normal day and turned into one that changed her life forever.

"I think that maybe he went out there crying for help. I don't think he thought it was going to be over," said Perdew.

Police were called to Stephanie and Duane Preciado's house Wednesday night. Stephanie said Duane had been drinking and was depressed and called his best friend for help.

"His wife called to have a wellness check done. Duane didn't know the cops were coming. Of course, when you have PTSD it can be triggered at all times, when there's a big knock at the door," Perdew said.
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Inspirational Hero Marine Sgt. Maj. Bradley A. Kasal

James C. Roberts wrote in The Washington Post about heroes who should be wearing the Medal of Honor around their necks.

The fact that not a single living Iraq War veteran has received the Medal of Honor is a serious injustice to the 1.5 million Americans who served in that conflict.

This story brought to mind the fact our National Media stations, calling their programs "news" need a refresher on what they used to find important enough to cover. 

The one group, who represent what can be achieved when people work together, are those who risk their lives side by side no matter what. Would be great if the news stations would remember that when all they want to cover is political divisions in this country.

When you read about Marine Sgt. Maj. Bradley A. Kasal, you'll wish you saw the report on your news station.

"Emblematic is the story of Marine Sgt. Maj. Bradley A. Kasal. On Nov. 13, 2004, then-1st Sgt. Kasal entered an enemy-occupied building in Fallujah, a death trap our troops had dubbed “Hell House,” to assist fellow Marines who were pinned down by a superior enemy force. Under withering fire, Kasal killed an insurgent immediately; then, while dragging a wounded Marine to safety, he was struck with seven rounds of small-arms fire. Severely wounded, Kasal used the few bandages he had to treat his injured comrade rather than himself."

A seriously injured 1st Sgt. Brad Kasal, center, is carried by fellow Marines from a house in Fallujah, Iraq. (Lucian Read)

"When the insurgents lobbed a grenade at them, Kasal rolled on top of the wounded Marine, absorbing the impact of the blast and suffering 43 shrapnel wounds. He refused to leave the house until all of the other Marines were safe. A photograph taken of Kasal staggering from the house, pistol in hand, supported by fellow Marines, his uniform soaked in blood, became an iconic image of the Iraq War." read more here

Mr. Roberts, thank you for telling this story. I saw this picture a long time ago and always wondered what happened to him.

Iraq veteran inspirational message after tornado

'I'm glad we...didn't die,' says Iraq vet who lost arm in Jacksonville tornado
ABC 33 40 News
by Andrew Donley and Emma Simmons

Lindsay has lost more than most, but he's already looking up, because he knows he still has something dear to his heart: his community.

Pictured: Paul Lindsay, Jacksonville storm survivor (right) and his car after the storm
(Courtesy of Rachel Boehnlein)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
"I love them all, I'm glad we all survived and didn't die," said Paul Lindsay, Jacksonville storm survivor.

Even so, Jacksonville residents' lives were spun into shambles, and it's one of the reasons Lindsay is speaking out.

"Jacksonville's messed up. I live there, I'm going to help my friends and community," said Lindsay.

While he can't physically help right now, he wanted to share his story to remind his community of the most important thing they all still have: their lives.

During Lindsay's two stints in Iraq, he suffered two brain injuries, PTSD, and has since developed a "real need" to help people.

"If someone's out there who needs my help, I can't just make that go away. I'll go and help that person, then I can go and fall asleep," said Lindsay.
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Judge gives Iraq veteran chance to heal PTSD

Getting rid of his demons
Leader Telegram
By Chris Vetter Leader-Telegram staff
March 23, 2018

Veteran gets mandatory sentence for 7th OWI, but judge seeks to expedite treatment

“We need to get rid of your demons — we need to get you to stop.”
Chippewa County Court. Judge Steve Gibbs

CHIPPEWA FALLS — A U.S. Army veteran who was convicted of his seventh drunken driving offense Friday will serve three years in prison, but his sentence will overlap with the final four months he has remaining on a prior conviction.

Seth A. Schussler, 35, of Wrightstown pleaded no contest in Chippewa County Court. Judge Steve Gibbs asked Schussler about his military service prior to sentencing. Schussler said he served two tours in Iraq. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. “I can’t imagine the horrors you saw over there,” Gibbs told Schussler. “I believe that’s affected your life. And I believe you have used alcohol as your way of coping. I wish there wasn’t a mandatory minimum (sentence) here because you’d be a perfect fit for veterans court.”

However, defense attorney Jessie Weber pointed out that Gibbs could make Schussler’s sentence concurrent with his present sentence for sixth-offense drunken driving from Marinette County, which occurred in July 2016. Weber said it will speed up the ability for Schussler to enter a treatment facility.

“I think Mr. Schussler will benefit from it,” Weber told Gibbs. “He’s been trying to gain treatment through the VA.”

Gibbs decided to follow that recommendation, which shortens Schussler’s sentence by about four months.
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