UK: Homeless Veteran's Life Changed By Human Kindness

Woman's kind-hearted gesture could change a homeless war veteran's life forever - and she's inspired others to do the same "Nobody should be alone. Nobody should be on the streets with nobody to support them"
Mirror UK
BY JOSHUA BARRIE
20 NOV 2016

Kevin says he returned from the war to find his partner with another man

(Photo: Facebook)

A woman's kind deed in helping a homeless war veteran has moved thousands – and caused the start of a ripple effect, inspiring others to do the same.

Kerry Stewart, who lives in Darwen, Lancashire, shared on Saturday a sad story about a homeless man called Kevin, whom she'd met late one evening in Blackburn.

Kerry writes that she first met a man called Kevin in a retail park. She bought him a cup of tea and a muffin and got chatting. Kerry says that she and her daughter spoke to Kevin for some time, and "learned that Kevin is not an addict or alcoholic, as many will presume, but is an ex-squaddie who came back to Burnley from the Army to find his wife shacked up with someone else."

Kevin apparently left his children, his dog, and now sleeps rough. He says that he stays away from local hostels as they're "full of junkies and dodgy landlords".

Mum Kerry continues in her Facebook post that she provided Kevin some clothes and food . She's carried on meeting up and finding out more about his life.

"Clearly suffering with PTSD, he cried when he told me of his recurring nightmare remembering the sight of body parts in an Iraqi village, most notably the arm of a child," Kerry writes.

She adds that Kevin told her "nothing could have prepared him" for a life after the Army, and it seems like he's suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Another Suicide Prevention Bill, Just More of the Same

This may sound good to you,

SPEAKER RYAN SIGNS BILL TO HELP VETERANS IN CRISIS
The Scoop
Speaker Ryan Press Office
November 18, 2016
Yesterday, Speaker Ryan signed H.R. 5392, the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act—legislation introduced by Rep. David Young (R-IA) to assure veterans’ needs are prioritized. Prior to signing the bill, Speaker Ryan discussed its significance during his weekly press briefing:

“This week, Congress gave final approval to legislation that will help veterans in need. H.R. 5392 requires the VA [to] respond to calls to its crisis hotlines in a timely manner.

“This is one of those bills that should not even be necessary, but sadly—and tragically—it is. read more here

In June of this year, a veteran called the Crisis Hotline and WTVM News reported,

"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. 

But a Bill to prevent suicides sounded good before. Actually, scratch that. Make it many, many times before.

May 2, 2015 Military Times reported this.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., recently sent a letter to VA Secretary Bob McDonald asking for data on the Crisis Line's call volume, hold times, and average wait times between when a call is made and the caller can see a VA therapist or counselor, or a community provider, in person.

Nelson's request was made in response to a news report by Tampa television station WFTS that Air Force veteran Ted Koran was placed on hold repeatedly for up to 10 minutes at a time as he fought off suicidal thoughts.

According to the report, Koran's wife died of cancer last year and he was despondent the day he made the call.

But when he dialed, he was placed on hold numerous times. After he reached a counselor, he said he did not feel comforted, according to the report.

"They had me on the [verge] of saying to hell with it," he said, according to WFTS.

Makes sense that Florida Senator would be paying attention considering it turns out that in 2014 the number of veterans in Florida committing suicide was called a "staggering" number when between 1999 and 2011 there were 31,885 reported suicides.

April 13, 2015 ABC News reported this

Ted Koran was thinking about committing suicide Saturday night.

He reached out to the VA and the Veterans Suicide Hotline for help, but said he couldn't get any until after he was repeatedly put on hold for up to 10 minutes at time.

Veterans in Crisis: Vets put on hold for 36 minutes His case is just the latest the I-Team has been exposing for months now.

When the Veterans Crisis Hotline was first set up by the VA in 2007, it averaged 60 calls a day on four manned phone lines.

Now, 52 operators at a time field about a thousand calls a day, and that's not always even enough to keep some veterans on the verge of suicide from being placed on hold.

February 23, 2015 KJRH News reported this.

Hughes decided that night to turn to the national Veterans Crisis Line, a 24-hour, seven-day-a week service that promises an immediate, open line to professional help. But when Hughes phoned, she said, her call went straight to hold. After several minutes, she became frustrated and hung up. “I would never call the hotline again,” said Hughes. She said she needed to quickly get to someone that night who could give her help and reassurance.

Does it sound bad now? Wait because this was reported on Army Times July 14, 2010. The link no longer works but it is still alive on Wounded Times

Even as Veterans Affairs Department officials offered testimony that 10,000 people have been saved by VA’s suicide hotline, veterans themselves said help should come long before a person needs to make that call. “The suicide hotline is too much of a last alternative,” said Melvin Cintron, an Army veteran who served as a flight medic in Desert Storm and in aviation maintenance in the current war in Iraq. “Either you don’t have enough of a problem and you can wait for weeks for an appointment, or you have to be suicidal.”

Cintron spoke Wednesday before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s oversight and investigations panel.

A lot of things may sound good, but you have to look back to see if what sounded good produced good results. The fact is, there have been some veterans rescued by the Crisis Hotline. It is also a fact that it began back in 2007 with The Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act. It is also a fact that considering we have over 5 million less veterans than we did in 1999, the VA has reported the same, stunning number, of veterans committing suicide at 20 per day.

Richard Reisz "Green Beret" Stolen Valor

14 News Investigation: Stolen Valor?
KXXV News
Posted by Jess Powers, Reporter
November 18th 2016

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE)
For six months, 14 News has been investigating a claim of stolen valor involving an Evansville business owner.

That's after several people contacted us, asking us to look into the matter.

Investigative reporter Jess Powers spent months acquiring documents and sifting through the information to get answers for you.

All of those documents are public records. Documents that help tell a tale, some may not want you to hear.

Veterans earn the right to wear the uniform. They have the right to display their earned patriotism.

When people falsify military claims or embellish their records, it's taken very seriously.

14 News received an email on May 20th titled "Stolen Valor".

The email claimed an Evansville business owner was portraying himself as a military veteran, but did not serve in the military.

The claims surround Richard Reisz, a man who previously identified himself to 14 News as the owner of the former Ground Zero Fitness.
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Donations Stolen From Ohio Homeless Veterans Shelter

Donations stolen from Lorain homeless veterans
ABC News Cleveland
Tara Molina
Nov 18, 2016

LORAIN, Ohio - A veteran's shelter relied upon by dozens of Cleveland veterans was robbed of its donations.

"I could be homeless and I'm not," Carmen Tucker said.

For Tucker, and so many other veterans, Valor Home and Family and Community Services offer more than shelter from the streets. Tucker calls it his second chance.

"They gave me the opportunity to achieve some of the things I need in my life to move forward," he said.

But when he learned someone stole their donations? Someone stole cash, gift cards, food and cleaning supplies meant for veterans.

"I probably can't say what I want to say on TV," he said.

Senior Veteran's Advocate, Sandra Wright, said those are items they provide to any vet who comes through the door and needs some help.

"It hurts ! It's here to help other people," Wright said.
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Death of Fort Hood Soldier Under Investigation

Pvt. Kevin Paulino, 24, was shot in Peru, Ind., and died Wednesday, officials said. (U.S. ARMY)

If you saw the following copy of the report, it is wrong. The picture below is of a Sailor.

Bronx soldier, 24, fatally shot while serving in Indiana
New York Daily News
Ginger Adams Otis
November 19, 2016

A Bronx soldier serving in Indiana died of a gunshot wound, Army officials said Friday.

Provided by New York Daily News Pvt. Kevin Paulino, 24, was shot in Peru, Ind., and died Wednesday, officials said. - Byron Smith for New York Daily News

Pvt. Kevin Paulino, 24, died Wednesday, according to officials at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas.

Paulino entered active-duty service in May as an infantryman.

He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood in September, officials said.
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