Danish Soldiers Focus on Oscar Nominated "A War"

‘A War’: Oscar nominee turns on battle in Afghanistan Danish film captures moral dilemma, human drama
Washington Times
By Emery A. Popoloski
February 26, 2016
Author’s note: This review of the Oscar-nominated movie “A War” includes spoilers.

Recently, I had the chance to watch and review an Oscar nominated film titled “A War” written and directed by Tobias Lindholm. What really intrigued me about this film is that it is about Danish soldiers fighting in the current war in Afghanistan. Although the soldiers were not American, many of the issues faced by the Danish soldiers were similar to those faced by American soldiers. Lindholm also included veterans and Afghan refugees in the film as extended cast members.

The film centers on the company commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk) and his men who are in Afghanistan. At home Pedersen’s wife, Maria (Tuva Novotny) is managing three young children, who are also affected by their father’s deployment and acting out. Pedersen and his men are ambushed, which leads Pedersen to make a split second decision, who gets to live and who dies. A moral dilemma faced by many combat veterans regardless of their nationality.

Throughout the film Lindholm successfully weaves the story of not only what Pedersen is going through, but also the stories of his family back home, the soldiers, and innocent Afghanistan civilians. Lindholm thankfully does not make any charged political statements in the film. Instead, he explores the lines between what is morally acceptable and what needs to be done to survive when in war, including the unintended consequences.
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New Implant Helps Amputees at Salt Lake VA Hospital

Two veterans take their first steps on revolutionary prosthetic legs
Deseret News
By Jed Boal
Published: Friday, Feb. 26 2016
Updated: 12 hours ago

If the trial proves successful, both veterans hope the new artificial legs will improve the lives of other veteran and civilian amputees.

Bryant Jacobs of Herriman, who is learning to walk for the third time: first, as an infant; second, with his socket prosthetic; and now, with his percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses, or POP implant. He is part of a 10-year study to see if this prosthetic will improve the lives of other veteran and civilian amputees. In Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. Mark Wetzel, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — Two Iraq War veterans are taking their first steps on revolutionary prosthetic legs at the Salt Lake VA Hospital.

This is literally the next step for the veterans since undergoing surgeries for their percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses, or POP implant, in December.

The veterans can now walk on their residual limbs.

"It's all about baby steps right now," said Bryant Jacobs of Herriman, who is learning to walk for the third time: first, as an infant; second, with his socket prosthetic; and now, with his POP implant.

A roadside bomb explosion damaged his leg in Iraq 11 years ago. After nearly a decade of trying to rehabilitate the limb, he decided to have it amputated two years ago.

"We are not setting expectations, we're not doing any of that," Jacobs said. "We're just progressing."
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Iraq Veteran, Victim of Home Invasion Seeks Justice

Veteran shot in a home invasion speaks out about his ordeal
ABC Action News
Clifton French
8:20 PM, Feb 26, 2016

Today, the veteran is out of work while trying to find a way to pay his extensive medical bills. But, his priority is to help sheriff's deputies find the men who almost killed him before they attack someone else.

TOWN N' COUNTRY, Fla. - He survived a war, twice, only to be shot in the chest in his own home by strangers.

The masked men who attacked Grant Langenburg of Hillsborough County are still on the run, while the 34-year-old Iraq War veteran recovers and tries to find a way to pay a $170,000 medical bill.

"I've done two combat tours in Iraq, it's not what you expect." Langenburg said of his recently shooting. "You don't expect to get shot in your own house."

Langenburg spent eight days in the hospital. He has three broken ribs, a hole in his lung, and a bullet still lodged in his chest.

The bullet "went through my rib, hit my lung and ended up stopping on my ribcage right behind my heart," Langenburg said.
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Medical Marijuana ID Not Good In All States

If you have the right to use medical marijuana in your state, that's great but check the other state before you enter it. Just like gun laws change from state to state, so does this.

Veteran plans to sue Villa Rica police over arrest
WSB-12 News
February 26, 2016

CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. — A veteran told Channel 2 Action News he's planning to sue local law enforcement for what he's calling a "traumatic arrest." The man has a medical marijuana card from Colorado, but he had marijuana with him in Georgia.

"It was probably one of the most horrific things I've ever been through and I've been through a lot," veteran Bill Clanton said.

On Feb. 9, Villa Rica police spotted Clanton exiting I-20 eastbound onto Highway 61. Police say Clanton was pulled over, because the officer couldn't clearly see his license plate.

The officer smelled marijuana in Clanton's car and took him to jail.

Clanton says he's still shaken by his recent arrest in Carroll County. The Colorado resident served in the Persian Gulf War and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.
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Hundreds Welcome Home Montana National Guardsmen

A Big Sky welcome: Hundreds turn out for Montana soldiers returning from Afghanistan
Independent Record
AL KNAUBER
Updated 4 hrs ago

“This is not where you expect to be. I didn’t expect at 50 years old to be waiting for my husband to return from war.”
Mary Graff

A soldier poses with his family after returning from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. Thom Bridge, Independent Record

A six-month wait came to an end Friday for the families of six Montana Army National Guard soldiers.

Wives and children, mothers and fathers waited for a plane to arrive that carried the soldiers who were returning from duty in Afghanistan, as did friends and others in uniforms of camouflage who said they too were in service.

John Bebich, a Marine Corps veteran, was among those who came for the ceremony. His son, David, was on the incoming plane. He said he understood what it’s like to leave for duty. He also understood what it’s like to return.

Bebich served from 1969 to 1972 and said as he waited for David that “the going part isn’t so fun.”

“To come back, it’s like Christmas. You wait for it to arrive.”
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