“Only Easy Day” movie about Navy SEAL, PTSD and Homeless Veterans

Movie being shot in Huntsville combines local and award-winning talent
WSFA News
By Lindsey Connell, Reporter
Tuesday, April 10th 2018

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)
Lights, camera, action! Huntsville is getting a touch of Hollywood as crews get ready to start shooting a new movie in north Alabama.

The plot of the independent feature film called “Only Easy Day” packs a powerful message.

Director/producer Tim Reischauer is a Los Angeles transplant to Huntsville with lots major TV shows and movies to his credit, including "Desperate Housewives,"I"t’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "Medium," "13 Going on 30," and many more.

He says the Huntsville area was selected as the location for the movie because of the area’s strong support for those who have served our country.

“Huntsville is a mecca of military and retired military, but more importantly, the production being centered here gives it a base of reality,” Reischauer stated.

“Only Easy Day” follows the life of a former Navy Seal who has spiraled out of control. The main character, named Bradley Johnson, struggles with returning to civilian life.

“PTSD has pushed his life in a direction to self-medicating and alcoholism. It's a redemption movie as well. It follows him through some very tough times,” Reischauer explained. “It might a little more empathy, not sympathy, but empathy to somebody we see on the street.”

The movie is meant to bring awareness to PTSD, mental health issues, homelessness and addiction. Many of those involved in the project are veterans, including associate producer Kasey Brown.
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Vietnam Veteran Capt. Gary Rose Received Medal of Honor

WATCH LIVE: President Trump to award Medal of Honor to Vietnam War veteran

PBS
Elizabeth Flock
October 23, 2017

President Donald Trump will award the Medal of Honor on Monday to a Vietnam War veteran from Alabama who risked his life on multiple occasions while serving as a medic.

Retired Army Capt. Gary M. Rose, of Huntsville, Alabama, will receive the country’s highest military honor for “conspicuous gallantry,” the White House said in a statement.

“From September 11 through September 14, 1970, while his unit was engaged with a much larger force deep in enemy-controlled territory, then-Sergeant Rose repeatedly ran into the line of enemy fire to provide critical medical aid to his comrades, using his own body on one occasion to shield a wounded American from harm,” the White House said. 
source PBS

Two Fort Jackson Soldiers Killed, Several Injured

2 soldiers killed, Alabama soldier injured at South Carolina's Fort Jackson
AL.com
By Leada Gore
October 7, 2017

An Alabama soldier was injured and two others killed in a deadly accident Friday at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Pvt. Emmett Foreman of Daleville was injured in what officials are describing as a "tragic accident involving a military vehicle and a troop formation." Two Army personnel, later identified as Pvt. Ethan Shrader of Prospect, Tennessee, and Pvt. Timothy Ashcraft of Cincinnati, Ohio, were killed.

Foreman, Pvt. Hannah New of Cartersville, Georgia; Pvt. Benjamin Key of Livingston, Tennessee; Pvt. Alan Kryszak of Clarksville, Tennessee; Pvt. Cardre Jackson Jr. of Laurel, Maryland; and Pvt. James Foster of Macon, Georgia were injured.

Two of the service members are in critical condition but Fort Jackson public affairs did not identify the conditions of individual service members. The type of vehicle or the exact nature of the accident has not been released.
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Iraq Veteran Ron Creech Remembered After Fatal Motorcycle Accident

Family, friends gather to remember veteran killed in recent wreck

WHNT 19 News
Melissa Riopka
September 22, 2017

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Family and friends gathered together on Thursday to remember Ron Creech. They held a vigil near where the 33-year-old Iraq War Veteran died in a motorcycle wreck. The wreck happened on Triana Boulevard on September 15th.

"I knew something was wrong when I got there and the doors weren't opened," remembers Sheri Layne, the general manager of Durham School Services. "Something in my heart said I need to go check and see what's going here because Ron's not here and he's always here."

Ron was a mechanic with Durham Schools Services. Before that, he was in the military where he served with the 82nd Airborne Division with Military Intelligence. He was also a father. 

Ron had an infant daughter that passed away at 11 months old, and he was survived by a 12-year-old son.
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Jacksonville Navy Petty Officer Killed in Crash

U.S. Navy petty officer killed in crash in Jacksonville
Action News Jax
by: Brittney Donovan
Jul 13, 2017

Family and friends are mourning a U.S. Navy petty officer who was killed in a crash July 4 in Jacksonville.

Petty Officer First Class David Dake, 24, leaves behind a 4-year-old daughter and pregnant wife.

He was killed in a crash on Dunn Avenue and Young Road just after 3 a.m.

Dake grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, where he met his high-school sweetheart, Darcie.

He joined the Navy in October 2012 and was stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
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Man Shot in Alabama Possible Suicide By Cop?

Knox man killed in Alabama officer-involved shooting
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee
Hayes Hickman
Jan. 26, 2017

Partridge added that Oxford police were notified by the Heflin, Ala., Police Department, which initiated the pursuit, that the suspect was armed, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had made suicidal threats in the past. He could not confirm whether Lambert was a military veteran.

Micah R. Lambert

(Photo: Knox County Detention Facility)

A Knoxville man who fled the state after an alleged assault on a Knox County sheriff's deputy was fatally shot by police in Alabama following a pursuit Wednesday, authorities said.

Micah R. Lambert, 37, was killed when he attempted to charge officers with his SUV, according to Oxford, Ala. Police Chief Bill Partridge.

The chief said Lambert was wanted on a charge of aggravated assault on police officers in connection with an incident earlier this week in Knox County.

"Lambert had been reported missing and had left a friend's house with a loaded handgun after making threats to harm himself, according to the report.

"Mr. Lambert had left his dog with his friend and signed over the title to his vehicle before leaving," the report states.
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Veterans 2017 National Veterans Golden Age Games

Applications to be accepted for 2017 National Veterans Golden Age Games

Event Takes Place in Biloxi, May 7-11

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will accept applications from Veterans interested in competing in the 2017 National Veterans Golden Age Games beginning Feb. 1. Veterans ages 55 and older and enrolled in VA health care may complete applications online at www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov. Applications will be accepted through March 1.

“VA is committed to offer sports and fitness as an integral part of a successful healthcare program, and I encourage every eligible Veteran to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Carla Carmichael, National Veterans Golden Age Games director. “There are significant health benefits to leading an active lifestyle, and in keeping with the Games motto, we want every Veteran to achieve 'Fitness For Life.’”

The 2017 National Veterans Golden Age Games will take place in Biloxi, Mississippi, May 7-11. Nearly 800 athletes are expected to compete in the national multi-sport competition for senior Veterans, embracing the “Fitness for Life” motto. The event encourages participants to make physical activity a central part of their lives, and supports VA’s comprehensive recreation and rehabilitation therapy programs. Competitive events include air rifle, badminton, boccia, bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, nine ball, powerwalk, shuffleboard, swimming, table tennis, and track and field. Exhibition events include: air pistol, archery, basketball, blind disc golf and pickleball. 

VA research and clinical experience verify that movement and exercise are important to maintaining good health, speeding recovery and improving overall quality of life. The games encourage participants to continue in local senior events in their home communities and every other year serve as a qualifying event for competition in the National Senior Games. VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System will host this year’s games. The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System provides care for more than 50,000 Veterans throughout Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

For more information visit www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov and follow VA Adaptive Sports on Twitter at @VAAdaptiveSport or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vaadaptivesports.

Bar Angels Buy Home For Homeless Navy Veteran

Bar owners buy house for homeless Alabama veteran
AL.com
William Thornton
on December 23, 2016

By the time Mark Holman showed up at Blu's Karaoke Bar in Anniston this September, 2016 had already been rough.

Daniel and Cynthia Mosley own Blu's Karaoke Bar in Saks

But the year is ending on a higher note, as the once homeless Naval veteran is living in his own home, thanks to donations and some timely intervention.

"It shows you there's still some good people in America," Holman said. "It ain't all about stuff. There's people who want to know how they can help you out."

In January, the 55-year-old Naval veteran had a stroke. Then he could no longer afford the monthly payments on his Jacksonville home. He spent time at the Anniston Salvation Army shelter until his money ran out. Then he made him home in a wooded area in Saks.

The day of the Alabama-Ole Miss game, Holman came into the bar and ordered water, still carrying his backpack.
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Death of Fort Bragg Soldier Under Investigation

Army Investigating Soldier's Death at Fort Bragg Barracks
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT BRAGG, N.C.
Nov 19, 2016

Army officials say a 21-year-old decorated soldier was found dead in his barracks at Fort Bragg.

Local media outlets report that Pfc. David Winchester, of Adamsville, Alabama, was found Wednesday. Agents with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating.

The Army said in a release Friday that Winchester was a biomedical equipment specialist. He joined the Army in April 2015 and was assigned to Fort Bragg last June.
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Family of Maj. Gen. John Rossi Wants Others To Seek Help To Heal

Army Says 2-Star General Committed Suicide
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OCT. 28, 2016

"To the Army, he was Maj. Gen. Rossi. To us, he was John -- husband, dad."

WASHINGTON — The Army said Friday it has determined that suicide was the cause of death of a two-star general who was found dead in his home on a military base in Alabama.

Maj. Gen. John Rossi was found dead July 31 at Redstone Arsenal, two days before he was to assume command of Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

He is the first Army general to commit suicide on active duty since record-keeping began in 2000, according to the Army. Military suicides soared earlier this decade and remain a major source of concern; they typically have affected lower-ranking military members.

Rossi, a West Point academy graduate and an air defense artillery officer by training, had just moved onto Redstone Arsenal and was scheduled to be promoted to lieutenant general when he took command of Space and Missile Defense Command.

"To all the other families out there, to the man or woman who may be facing challenging times, please seek assistance immediately. Compassionate and confidential assistance is available."
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Veteran Sang National Anthem in Front of Whining Protestor

Do they actually teach what respect is there? The young woman seems to think that the veteran, who risked his life for this country, did not deserve any respect at all. Freedom of speech does not trump the rights of others to do the same. It is about time folks understood the full impact of the 1st Amendment.

Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

My Dad and my Uncles served and so did my Husband and his Dad and his Uncles. What they are doing is showing disrespect to every generation that thought this country, as imperfect as it is, was worth dying for. She couldn't even stop whining long enough to think about that.

Video captures national anthem standoff between #BamaSits protesters and veteran
WBMA
by Andrew Donley
October 27th 2016

A peaceful protest during the national anthem before Alabama's last home game was disrupted by a proud veteran, and the incident was captured on video.

Protesters saying that the way the veteran interrupted them was uncalled for, but the veteran says he was well within his rights.

"#BamaSits is a peaceful protest. We are protesting social injustice. We support underrepresented LGBTQ community and people of color against discrimination and we're also protesting against police brutality," Emerald Vaughn said.
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Gulf War Veteran Woke Up From Coma After Final Prayer

Veteran awakens from coma during final prayer; family now faces mountain of red tape to bring him home
WHNT News
BY DAVID KUMBROCH
OCTOBER 17, 2016

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Gulf War veteran’s family had to make a difficult choice recently, and only a miracle could change their tragic course.

Gulf War veteran Frank Bedwell was in a coma. With the pressure of a brain bleed pressing against them, his family came to a conclusion.

“My kids and myself, we all knew what he would want for himself. We knew that he didn’t want to live on machines for the rest of his life,” said Amy Bedwell, Frank’s wife.

They decided to turn off the machines at six o’clock.

“Fifteen minutes before it was time to pull the plug, I sent everybody out except for my kids,” Amy recalled.

“We called my dad. We prayed for him. And he woke up.”
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Colin Kaepernick Can Sit On It!

Ok, so a guy gets millions to toss around a football but refused to stand up during the National Anthem.

Colin Kaepernick Sits During National Anthem Before Packers vs. 49ers
CNN
By Adam Wells
Featured Columnist
Aug 27, 2016

I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.

That must have made sense to him anyway.

Well if that is what he chooses to focus on, then ya the country, in his mind, would suck.  Bet it sucks that he's been so oppressed to have to be able to hire someone to go to the bank for him. But hey, he doesn't want to be selfish, so I bet he's donating all his millions to communities around the country. After all, he's got plenty of it.

Colin Kaepernick signed a 6 year, $114,000,000 contract with the San Francisco 49ers, including a $12,328,766 signing bonus, $61,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $19,000,000. In 2016, Kaepernick will earn a base salary of $11,900,000, a roster bonus of $2,000,000 and a workout bonus of $400,000. Kaepernick has a cap hit of $15,890,753 while his dead money value is $19,697,260.

So since those things mattered so much to him, he decided to make that much money? Did he join any community centers to make lives better or volunteer for any of the charities out there trying to make a difference everyday?

See that's the biggest problem. Some people would rather sit back, complain and then refuse to do anything to make anything better.

There are men and women risking their lives everyday while they are either hated or ignored until someone needs them to show up. They still do it for a lot less money. Here is just one of them.

Once an NFL running back, now he's on the Army Ranger School staff

Spec. Glen Coffee works in the boat house at Army Ranger School's installation at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He joined the Amy after starring as a football running back at Alabama and playing for the San Francisco 49ers. DAN LAMOTHE/THE WASHINGTON POST

PTSD On Trial: Iraq Veteran Faces Murder Charges in Alabama

Keep in mind that we have millions of veterans with PTSD yet the majority are more of a danger to themselves than anyone else. These cases are in fact rare.

Attorney: Dothan murder suspect an Army veteran diagnosed with PTSD
Dothan Eagle
Matt Elofson
August 2, 2016

Steensland said his client is a disabled veteran of the U.S. military.

“It’s my understanding he’s 100 percent disabled, and diagnosed with PTSD,” Steensland said. “I believe he served a 15-month tour in Iraq, and served approximately eight years in the Army.”

A Dothan man who surrendered to police Monday night after being charged with murder hopes to be released from jail after a bail hearing next week.

Attorney John Steensland III said he formally requested a bail hearing for his 29-year-old client, Brandon Allen Ransom, during his first appearance of court on Tuesday.

Dothan police filed a felony warrant charging Ransom with murder in the shooting death of 26-year-old Christopher “Chris” Bailey.
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Fort Sill Commander Found Dead Days Between Posts

Former Fort Sill commander found dead Sunday in Alabama
NewsOK
Silas Allen by Silas Allen
Published: August 2, 2016

Maj. Gen. John Rossi, the former commanding general at Fort Sill, died Sunday at a U.S. Army installation in Alabama, officials said.

Rossi, 55, was found dead Sunday at Redstone Arsenal, an Army installation near Huntsville, Ala., officials at the post said.

Rossi left Fort Sill last month to head up the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Redstone Arsenal. John Cummings, a Redstone Arsenal spokesman, said Rossi arrived on post about a week before his death, but hadn't taken command of the missile defense command.

Rossi's cause of death remains under investigation, officials said.

A native of Long Island, N.Y., Rossi graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1983 and was commissioned as an air defense artillery officer.

He served in South Korea, Germany, Iraq and southwest Asia, as well as several assignments in the United States, before coming to Fort Sill in 2014. He remained at the southwest Oklahoma post until he relinquished command at a ceremony last month.
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PTSD Veteran Waited Days After Calling Crisis Line

Veterans Crisis Line following 48 hour response time
WTVM News
By Tiffaney Bradley, Reporter
June 22nd 2016

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)
A veteran who fought in two combat tours said he was left neglected when he needed help the most. He called a crisis hotline but didn't get a response for days.

Benjamin Burks is a proud Marine.

"I did two combat tours to Iraq,” said Burks.

Now, he said he's fighting another war, post-traumatic stress disorder.

When he needed someone to talk to, he called the Veterans Crisis Line but didn't hear back for two days.

"I called back the next day which was past the 24 hours they said they would call back,” said Burks. “And,I waited another 24 hours and they did call.”

Burks worries the long wait time could be devastating for someone suffering from P.T.S.D.

"Why is there a 24-hour waiting period for somebody that could be or going to harm their self," said Burks.

Crisis Services of North Alabama is listed as a resource agency on the Veterans Crisis Line's website but there's no affiliation.
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WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

OEF OIF Veteran Survived Combat, Killed in Hometown

Purple Heart veteran survives two tours in Middle East, murdered in hometown
WTVM News 9
Lauren Bale Reporter
Friday, June 24th 2016

A man served two tours in the Middle East only to be shot and killed back in his hometown. (Source: Family)

DECATUR, AL (WAFF)
A man served two tours in the Middle East only to be shot and killed back in his hometown.

Friday family members remembered Josh McLemore, a decorated war veteran killed after a dispute in Decatur.

Police arrested Scott Dutton and charged him with murder. Investigators said Dutton punched McLemore in the face and fired one round at the victim's feet before firing a fatal shot into his abdomen.

Josh was a decorated war veteran. He served a tour in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"They hit an IED in Iraq,” his mother Janice McLemore said. “And he had some shrapnel go through his head."

Despite his injuries, Josh pulled his fellow soldiers to safety.
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WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather and Sports

Veteran Marine Killed on Highway

UPDATE
Mother: Former Marine had PTSD Attack When Killed on Interstate
Associated Press
Jun 07, 2016

FAIRFIELD, Ala. — A former Marine and combat veteran who was killed when he ran into traffic on Interstate-20 had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and he thought he was under attack when it happened, his mother says.

The Jefferson County coroner's office says Samuel Wayton, 27, of Bessemer, Alabama, died Friday near Fairfield, according to multiple news organzations.

Wayton's mother, Clair Wayton, told WBRC her son returned from fighting overseas 10 months ago. She said he had been hit with an IED and developed traumatic brain injury and PTSD.
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Former Marine with PTSD struck, killed on I-20/59
AL.Com
By Carol Robinson
on June 06, 2016

A former U.S. Marine died when he was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 20/59 in Fairfield.

Samuel Howard Wayton, 27, was killed early Friday morning, according to Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates. Wayton, of Bessemer, was struck when he walked into interstate traffic about 5:20 a.m.

Authorities said Wayton suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his girlfriend when he heard some kind of loud noise on the interstate and became agitated. Yates said Wayton's girlfriend wasn't able to calm him down, and he got out of the car and walked into traffic.
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Iraq War Veteran James ‘Bo’ Greenwood Battle Ended

Iraq War Veteran James ‘Bo’ Greenwood deserved a lot more than just this poorly written account of the way his life ended. First it would have been helpful to have at least put in the effort to link to the report where he was interviewed. Secondly, it appears the reported decided that he was "just another statistic" considering he used "18-22" veterans committing suicide a day, then adding to that erroneous claim, he added it could be less. Frankly most experts actually read the report on number of veterans committing suicide because they are more important than just a headline grabbed off a report with 59 pages of information along with the fact those numbers were released in 2012 from limited data collected from just 21 states. It also lists the limits to the data they obtained but he'd have to bother to actually read up to 15 pages into it to know that.

Bill Riales wrote that "we wanted to put his face on the issue" yet failed miserably because this veteran's face, along with the over 26,000 a year committing suicide have faded away, replaced by worthless "awareness" of something that is not true. Oh, by the way another thing he didn't mention is that over 70% of the veterans committing suicide are over the age of 50. But hey, why tell their story since no one else is telling the truth?

Veteran Suicide Issue Hits Home For Mobile Family
WKRG News
By Bill Riales
Published: May 16, 2016

Davis and Greenwood interviewed with News 5 just last year, shortly after Greenwood laid out his problems for V.A. officials.

Just last year Iraq War Veteran James ‘Bo’ Greenwood was sounding off to Veterans Administration officials about the problems veterans face. Late last week, Greenwood died by his own hand.

So that he wouldn’t become just another statistic we wanted to put his face on the issue of Veteran Suicide. According to a 2012 VA report on veteran suicide, 18 to 22 veterans take their own lives each day. Those numbers may or may not be taken out of context. Various media reports have argued the number is exactly that, or perhaps much less.

What is not disputed is that the risk of veterans, particularly those who have deployed and served in a combat zone is as much as 3 times higher than the civilian population. Statistics don’t really mean much to those left behind however. In Greenwood’s case that would be his parents, his wife and son, and friend Matthew Davis.
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Marine in Famous Photo Survived Even After Being in Bodybag

VALLEY VET STUNNED TO HEAR FROM US MARINE HE THOUGHT WAS DEAD
ABC 30 News
Dale Yurong 
March 29, 2016

Grantham told Action News, "When we got back to triage they actually put me in a body bag."

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A retired US Marine from the Valley has been on one final mission - to find a comrade who he thought died by his side.

In an iconic Vietnam War photo taken in February of 1968 Lance Corporal Rick Hill of Coalinga could found at the top right. Laying on his side was a fellow US Marine named Alvin Grantham. Up until a few weeks ago Rick thought Alvin died shortly after the picture was taken but that was not the case.

Hill recalled the most intense firefight of his two tours. He was shot in one leg and took shrapnel in the other. "I was wounded in the battle of Hue during Tet February 68. We were pinned down. We were in trouble."

Rick noticed a tank rolling by.

"They asked me, got room for one more and they always got room for one more and they threw me up on the tank."

The famous picture of wounded US Marines being medevaced on a tank appeared in Life and Time magazine. Rick's mom told him, "That's the only way I knew you were still alive."

Rick tearfully told us, "For 48 years I look at this picture and look at these guys looking back at me and I always figured it's an honor."

Since 1991 Rick and his wife Hayley have lived the quiet life in Coalinga but that all changed a few weeks ago when someone answered a facebook post about the photo.

"He says, hey I'm the guy laying on the tank without a shirt. I look at my wife and go no way. That guy died."

That's what Rick was told but Alvin Grantham of Mobile, Alabama messaged him and wrote, "Lots of people think I didn't make it."
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