Suicide tragedy of Iraq war hero: Soldier struggled with PTSD after his time in the army Daily Star UK Ross Kanluk April 4, 2018
“Returning to civilian life was a big shock. The skills I learnt, especially being in the infantry, were all combat-based, but civilian life doesn’t have any combat.”
SPORTY: Kevin had been a keen boxer before joining the Royal Green Jackets
Kevin Williams was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after a comrade was killed.
He was then discharged after failing a drugs test when he was 22.
Keen boxer Kevin, who joined the Royal Green Jackets at 16, found it difficult to adapt to civilian life and ended up homeless.
In a documentary recorded before his death aged 29, he said: “Not long after coming back from Iraq I just felt sad all the time.
“I lost a friend out there and I didn’t really grieve till I got back. read more here
Air Force veteran sues after being thrown out of flag-folding ceremony Air Force Times By: Stephen Losey 4 hours ago
Oscar Rodriguez, the retired senior master sergeant whose ejection during a flag-folding ceremony at Travis Air Force Base in California sparked a nationwide uproar, is suing the Air Force for alleged civil rights violations.
In April 2016, Rodriguez was thrown out of a retirement ceremony for his friend Master Sgt. Charles Roberson when he stood — at Roberson’s request — to deliver an unauthorized speech during a flag-folding ceremony that mentioned God.
Roberson is also a plaintiff to the lawsuit, which was filed on their behalf by the religious freedom organization First Liberty Institute. Rodriguez is alleging violations of his rights under the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.
The IG said that Rodriguez had been told multiple times that he could not deliver his speech because the ceremony was an official on-base retirement, and his speech was not the one spelled out in Air Force regulations. He was told he could attend the ceremony quietly as a guest but not as a participant.
Oscar Rodriguez, the retired senior master sergeant whose ejection during a flag-folding ceremony at Travis Air Force Base in California sparked a nationwide uproar, is suing the Air Force for alleged civil rights violations. read more here
Police report details suicide by veteran, 76, in Boynton City Hall lot Palm Beach Post By Alexandra Seltzer Staff Writer April 2, 2018
BOYNTON BEACH A 76-year-old Vietnam War veteran ended his life last week in a Boynton Beach public parking lot shared by City Hall and the police department.
City police said John Troyan of suburban Boynton Beach died from a single-gunshot wound to his head Tuesday, March 27.
Police video shows Troyan driving into the parking lot at 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. in a grey Dodge Caravan at about 10:50 a.m. Police said Troyan shot himself with a silver Smith and Wesson revolver in the driver’s seat of the car at about 11:15 a.m.
Troyan wore a camouflage ball cap with “Vietnam Veteran” imprinted along the front and side, according to the police report. read more here
April Fools' Day pranks include ‘military working cats,’ Marine ‘drill sergeants’ STARS AND STRIPES By SETH ROBSON Published: April 3, 2018
U.S. Forces Japan celebrated April Fools' Day by tweeting a photo of a cat named Muffins tactical patches and the sort of camouflage harness you might expect to see on a military working dog.
SCREENSHOT FROM FACEBOOK
Military working cats were in the news along with a slew of other unbelievable stories on April 1.
U.S. Forces Japan celebrated April Fools' Day by tweeting a photo of “MWC (Military Working Cat) Muffins” wearing tactical patches and the sort of camouflage harness you might expect to see on a military working dog.
The image shows Muffins alerting on a suspect during a tracking exercise, according to USFJ’s post. read more here
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is shifting its focus from ending veteran homelessness to preventing veteran suicides. With supporting data, this Open Forum argues that VA homelessness services also help address veteran suicides.
Analysis of a nationally representative survey of U.S. veterans in 2015 shows that veterans with a history of homelessness attempted suicide in the previous two years at a rate 5.0 times higher compared with veterans without a history of homelessness (6.9% versus 1.2%), and their rates of two-week suicidal ideation were 2.5 times higher (19.8% versus 7.4%).
Because the majority of veterans who die by suicide are not engaged in VA care, VA services for the homeless that include outreach efforts to engage new veterans may be reaching some of these veterans.
Thus continued federal support for VA homelessness services not only may help address homelessness but also may help prevent suicide of veterans. Linked from Yale News
