Lack of health care killed 2,266 US veterans last year: study
The number of US veterans who died in 2008 because they lacked health insurance was 14 times higher than the US military death toll in Afghanistan that year, according to a new study.
The analysis produced by two Harvard medical researchers estimates that 2,266 US military veterans under the age of 65 died in 2008 because they lacked health coverage and had reduced access to medical care.
That figure is more than 14 times higher than the 155 US troop deaths in Afghanistan in 2008, the study says.
Released as the United States commemorates fallen soldiers on Veterans Day, the study warns that even health care provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VA) leaves many veterans without coverage.
The analysis uses census data to isolate the number of US veterans who lack both private health coverage and care offered by the VA.
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http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Lack_of_health_care_killed_2_266_US_11112009.html
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Senator Tom Coburn blocks bill for veterans
On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th month, we honor all of America’s veterans. Today, because of you, we’re calling on one Senator to use today to truly honor veterans by ending his hold on a veterans spending bill.
Earlier in the week, I urged you to sign our petition calling on my Senator Tom Coburn to end his hold of S. 1963, "The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009." Within hours, over 10,000 of you signed.
Today, we’re turning over 13,000 signatures to the Senator.The petition was covered by the Military Times newspapers, which you can read here (Coburn blocking bill).
By blocking this bill Sen. Coburn is denying veterans a myriad of benefits and services: Caregiver assistance to our most wounded veterans, who often need assistance to do some of the smallest tasks; Funding for such issues as mental health care for women who suffered military sexual trauma, women’s health care needs and medical services for newborn children; Aid for rural veteran health care issues; Mental health care; and, Programs to help ease the burden of veteran homelessness.
On this veterans day, I’d urge Senator Coburn to think about the thousands and thousands of veterans he’s hurting by playing politics with veterans care. The best thing he can do to honor veterans today is to release his hold on this bill. Because of you, the pressure is on him to do so. Today, we honor all of America’s veterans. Now it’s time for Senator Coburn to join us.
Sincerely,Miranda Norman
Iraq War Veteran
Oklahoma State Captain, VoteVets.org
And Jon, Peter, Brian, Richard, and the entire VoteVets.org team
This is from his own site. Prepare to have a sick feeling in your stomach.
Dr. Coburn Challenges Senators to Make Sacrifices for Veterans Health Care
November 9, 2009
“Our nation’s veterans have made tremendous sacrifices in defense of our freedoms. The least Senators should do is make the easy sacrifice of eliminating a small amount of wasteful spending to improve veterans’ health care. Leadership, after all, is making sacrifices and hard choices. Veterans and every family in America make hard choices every day between competing financial priorities. It’s time for politicians in Washington to do the same,” Dr. Coburn said.......
“The American people and our veterans understand that our spending problem has become a national security problem. We are borrowing massive sums from potential adversaries and are watching the value of the dollar decline because other nation’s doubt our ability and willingness to pay off our $12 trillion debt. If we don’t start making hard choices we may not have a country left to defend,” Dr. Coburn said.
The problem here is that what we owe our veterans has been put aside for the sake of people like Coburn. Considering nothing they were in charge to do was done for the sake of the veterans coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq until the Democrats took over the committee chairmanships. They did not take over these seats until 2007 and mountains have been moved since then. What Senator Coburn seems to forget is that the American people do care and we watch CSPAN. We heard all the speeches over the last 8 years while the veterans waited for care but people like Coburn had a problem paying for the troops as easily as he found money for the contractors. He found it so difficult to increase the budget for the VA at the same time he thought the contractors were worthy of getting whatever they wanted. Imagine being a veteran, wounded in service and hearing how you had to prove the wound happened in Iraq but a contractor needed only to say they needed billions in cash to pay out, then decided they didn't have to account for any of this.
Does Coburn think the veterans in this country are idiots? They know what they earned and they know what they should be getting but above all, they know when they are being treated with such blatant disregard for their service especially by a senator hiding behind fiscal responsibility all of a sudden. This is a debt that came due and payable as soon as they came home! Shame on him!
This is what the veterans have been waiting to have delivered on instead of just empty words
At Arlington, Obama pays tribute to veterans
President visits section where soldiers killed in Iraq, Afghanistan are buried
By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 11, 2009; 1:22 PM
President Obama, marking Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery, paid tribute Wednesday to generations of American service members and pledged to "keep the promises that we've made" to all who have worn the nation's uniform.
He said, "Our servicemen and women have been doing right by America for generations, and as long as I am commander in chief, America is going to do right by them. And that is my message to all veterans today. . . . America will not let you down. We will take care of our own."
Addressing those serving on distant battlefields, Obama pledged, "When your tour ends, when you see our flag, when you touch our soil, you will be home in an America that is forever here for you, just as you've been there for us. That is my promise -- our nation's promise -- to you."
Amazing Grace to heal PTSD
Can you believe such greatness of pain can be healed?
It can when you understand what it is and why it hit you but not someone else.
It was not by lack of courage nor dedication to duty, but the strength of your compassion that makes you grieve. You took away the pain of others along with your own. You wondered where God was while He was there all the time inside of you allowing you to care just as He was inside of you the day you decided to serve.
His grace was there in the midst of horror. His grace was there while you risked your life to care about those you served with more than your own life. His grace was there when you cared about strangers you would never meet and the strangers you ended up calling family.
He was there when you were willing to leave your family and friends for what your nation needed.
He was there when you wept for a fallen friend and when you mourned the loss of life for even the enemy.
He was there when you laid awake at night with memories that would not let you go.
He was there and is there in all moments of your life and He will forgive anything you believe you need to be forgiven for, for He knows where your heart was, just as He knew you before He sent you here.
You may think the person you were before is gone forever, but he/she still lives behind the wall of pain. You can find "you" again when you begin to heal.
You are blind to the cause of PTSD because no one ever told you but once you see it was caused by the events you lived through, you can see all that there is inside of you that is good, loving and still compassionate.
The God you knew all your life has not changed. He still loves and still grieves that man has not learned to live in peace. He grieves over what man does with freewill and weeps for the sake of those who defend others because of this.
God created a warrior long before He created man because He knew some would put themselves first and others last. Yet it is the Archangel Michael created to defend, just as you were created to defend.
We do not know why some die in service to this nation and others survive. We do not know why some will be called to greater glory as Medal of Honor heroes and other heroes return forgotten. There is much we do not know this day but there is also much we do know. We know that those who are willing to put the lives of others ahead of their own are to be called heroes even though you will say you were just doing your job, humbled as you bow your head.
God's grace is able to fill all the needs you have to heal this wound to your soul so that you may find the amazing grace within you. You can be found, you can see the truth and you can come all the way back home.
It can when you understand what it is and why it hit you but not someone else.
It was not by lack of courage nor dedication to duty, but the strength of your compassion that makes you grieve. You took away the pain of others along with your own. You wondered where God was while He was there all the time inside of you allowing you to care just as He was inside of you the day you decided to serve.
His grace was there in the midst of horror. His grace was there while you risked your life to care about those you served with more than your own life. His grace was there when you cared about strangers you would never meet and the strangers you ended up calling family.
He was there when you were willing to leave your family and friends for what your nation needed.
He was there when you wept for a fallen friend and when you mourned the loss of life for even the enemy.
He was there when you laid awake at night with memories that would not let you go.
He was there and is there in all moments of your life and He will forgive anything you believe you need to be forgiven for, for He knows where your heart was, just as He knew you before He sent you here.
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
You may think the person you were before is gone forever, but he/she still lives behind the wall of pain. You can find "you" again when you begin to heal.
You are blind to the cause of PTSD because no one ever told you but once you see it was caused by the events you lived through, you can see all that there is inside of you that is good, loving and still compassionate.
T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.
The God you knew all your life has not changed. He still loves and still grieves that man has not learned to live in peace. He grieves over what man does with freewill and weeps for the sake of those who defend others because of this.
God created a warrior long before He created man because He knew some would put themselves first and others last. Yet it is the Archangel Michael created to defend, just as you were created to defend.
Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.
We do not know why some die in service to this nation and others survive. We do not know why some will be called to greater glory as Medal of Honor heroes and other heroes return forgotten. There is much we do not know this day but there is also much we do know. We know that those who are willing to put the lives of others ahead of their own are to be called heroes even though you will say you were just doing your job, humbled as you bow your head.
God's grace is able to fill all the needs you have to heal this wound to your soul so that you may find the amazing grace within you. You can be found, you can see the truth and you can come all the way back home.
Volunteer Vets: Returning Troops Still Want to Serve
Volunteer Vets: Returning Troops Still Want to Serve
By Mark Thompson / Washington Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
Veterans Day traditionally is when the nation thanks those who have served in the nation's armed forces, especially in a time of war. But as much as our gratitude, what the 1.8 million U.S. troops back home from Iraq and Afghanistan want is to be asked to serve again, this time on the home front. That, at least, is the conclusion of a new study that highlights many vets' hunger to serve in their communities and their frustration that their talents aren't being tapped. "We now know that veterans who serve" their communities after shedding their uniforms "have better transitions," says John Bridgeland, chief of Civic Enterprises, the public-policy group that conducted the landmark survey, which was funded by Target and the Case Foundation.
"We don't need handshakes and victory parades," says Alex Lemons, 30, who spent eight years in the Marines as a scout-sniper, including four tours in Iraq, before leaving the service last month. "We need to come back and see that people are ready to put us to work after we've been out there on their behalf doing some crazy dirty work." The stresses of deployment leave some veterans unable to reach out to help, but many are eager to do so just the same, which could help smooth their transition back to civilian life. "Getting involved in volunteer projects helps you get out of your own self-pity and pain," says Lemons, who has volunteered with environmental groups near his San Clemente, Calif., home. "It helps me reintegrate into society and not feel so alienated."
read more here
Returning Troops Still Want to Serve
By Mark Thompson / Washington Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
Veterans Day traditionally is when the nation thanks those who have served in the nation's armed forces, especially in a time of war. But as much as our gratitude, what the 1.8 million U.S. troops back home from Iraq and Afghanistan want is to be asked to serve again, this time on the home front. That, at least, is the conclusion of a new study that highlights many vets' hunger to serve in their communities and their frustration that their talents aren't being tapped. "We now know that veterans who serve" their communities after shedding their uniforms "have better transitions," says John Bridgeland, chief of Civic Enterprises, the public-policy group that conducted the landmark survey, which was funded by Target and the Case Foundation.
"We don't need handshakes and victory parades," says Alex Lemons, 30, who spent eight years in the Marines as a scout-sniper, including four tours in Iraq, before leaving the service last month. "We need to come back and see that people are ready to put us to work after we've been out there on their behalf doing some crazy dirty work." The stresses of deployment leave some veterans unable to reach out to help, but many are eager to do so just the same, which could help smooth their transition back to civilian life. "Getting involved in volunteer projects helps you get out of your own self-pity and pain," says Lemons, who has volunteered with environmental groups near his San Clemente, Calif., home. "It helps me reintegrate into society and not feel so alienated."
read more here
Returning Troops Still Want to Serve
Blame game erupts over probe of Fort Hood suspect
Blame game erupts over probe of Hood suspect
By Devlin Barrett - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 8:19:56 EST
WASHINGTON — Finger-pointing erupted between federal agencies Tuesday over Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan. Government officials said a Defense Department terrorism investigator looked into Hasan’s contacts with a radical imam months ago, but a military official denied prior knowledge of the Army psychiatrist’s contacts with any Muslim extremists.
The two government officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case on the record, said the Washington-based joint terrorism task force overseen by the FBI was notified of communications between Hasan and a radical imam overseas, and the information was turned over to a Defense Criminal Investigative Service employee assigned to the task force. The communications were gathered by investigators beginning in December 2008 and continuing into early this year.
read more here
Blame game erupts over probe of Hood suspect
By Devlin Barrett - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 8:19:56 EST
WASHINGTON — Finger-pointing erupted between federal agencies Tuesday over Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan. Government officials said a Defense Department terrorism investigator looked into Hasan’s contacts with a radical imam months ago, but a military official denied prior knowledge of the Army psychiatrist’s contacts with any Muslim extremists.
The two government officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case on the record, said the Washington-based joint terrorism task force overseen by the FBI was notified of communications between Hasan and a radical imam overseas, and the information was turned over to a Defense Criminal Investigative Service employee assigned to the task force. The communications were gathered by investigators beginning in December 2008 and continuing into early this year.
read more here
Blame game erupts over probe of Hood suspect
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