Agencies Boost Efforts to Stop Wildland Firefighter Suicides
By ASSOCIATED PRESS July 15, 2019
Reasons for the rise are unclear, though some cite longer and tougher wildfire seasons and an increase in the number of wildland firefighters who previously served in the military and were already dealing with post-traumatic stress.
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Federal wildland firefighting authorities are increasing mental health resources following an apparent increase in firefighter suicides in recent years.
Officials at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise say it's difficult to track the number of suicides because many federal agencies can't tally fatalities outside of work hours and some families don't want the cause released. But officials say there appears to be a jump in known suicides, so efforts are being boosted to get wildland firefighters help.
Experts say the high-intensity camaraderie of the wildfire season can be followed by months of isolation in the offseason and sometimes money concerns without a steady paycheck. read it here
If you are reading this, there is a reason you are here.
The fact that over 7 million Americans have PTSD, and most from just one event, needs to sink into your brain. Why? Because you are still just another human, susceptible to the same kind of events the rest of the population goes through. For us, it can be just one event. That said, you decided to put your own life on the line to save as many other people as possible. For you, it is the one event too many. If you do not look down on the people you are risking your life for...THEN WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF?
Decorated special forces soldier dies in combat in Afghanistan
NBC News By Tim Stelloh July 14, 2019
Sgt. Maj. James Sartor "was a beloved warrior who epitomized the quiet professional," a military official said.
A Special Forces company sergeant was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan, military officials said Sunday.
Sgt. Maj. James Sartor, 40, died Saturday in the country’s northern Faryab Province, U.S. Army Special Operations spokesman Lt. Col. Loren Bymer said in a statement.
Additional details about Sartor’s death were not immediately available.
Sartor, of Teague, Texas, was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group in Fort Carson, Colorado, Bymer said. He deployed to Iraq as an infantryman in 2002 and later as a Green Beret. Sartor had served in Afghanistan twice — once in 2017 and again this year.
Sartor, who went by "Ryan," joined the Army in June, 2001, and was given more than 20 awards and decorations during his military career. He will posthumously receive a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, Bymer said. read it here
Robert Kraft Pledges $100,000 To Families Of Motorcyclists Killed In NH Crash
CBS News Boston July 13. 2019
“I know you have a GoFundMe page and it said you’re looking to raise 700 (thousand dollars) and you’re somewhere near $560,000, so our family, we’re going to commit $100,000 to that,” Kraft said.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
“And if you don’t get to the 700 today, we’re making it up whatever it is,” the Patriots owner said. “We are all Patriots and you are the true Patriots.”
FOXBORO (CBS/AP) — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made a surprise announcement Saturday, as he pledged to donate $100,000 to the families of seven motorcyclists killed in a tragic crash in New Hampshire last month.
More than a thousand bikers came from across the country to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro to celebrate the lives of the men and women who were killed when a pickup truck and trailer crashed into a group of motorcycles in Randolph, New Hampshire on June 21. They were members or supporters of the Jarheads, a New England motorcycle club that includes Marines and their spouses.
Kraft met the group in the parking lot for the event Saturday, which raised money for the families of the victims. When he got up on stage to address the crowd, he made this surprise announcement. read it here
Dramatic video shows Coast Guard leaping onto submarine carrying 17,000 pounds of cocaine
NBC News By Doha Madani July 11, 2019
Crew members can be seen jumping onto a moving narco-sub and busting open the hatch in the USCG video.
The U.S. Coast Guard released video Thursday of service members leaping onto a submarine carrying 17,000 pounds of cocaine as part of a months long, $569 million cocaine bust.
A member of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro can be seen in the video yelling at an unidentified aquatic vehicle to stop as it moved alongside the cutter at the surface of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Crew members then jump onto the top of the mostly submerged vessel as it's moving and bust open the hatch.
A person inside the vessel can be seen briefly just as the hatch opens at the end of the minute long video.
About 17,000 pounds of cocaine were found inside along with five suspected smugglers, the U.S. Coast Guard told NBC News on Thursday. The estimated street value of the drugs is $232 million.
Self-propelled submersible vessels, often called “narco-subs,” are sometimes used by cartels and traffickers to smuggle drugs across borders.
The operation, which occurred June 18, was one of 14 drug-smuggling vessels intercepted off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America by three Coast Guard cutters between May and July of this year. A total of 39,000 pounds of cocaine and 933 pounds of marijuana, were seized in that time, for an estimated worth of $569 million, according to a press release Thursday. read it here
Heroes Among Us: Navy Veteran James Pepe Helped Many Wounded Soldiers During World War II
CBS 4 News By Marybel Rodriguez July 12, 2019
U.S. Navy World War II veteran Jimmy Pepe was awarded the bronze star for his service. He was recently honored at a Florida Panthers game.
SUNRISE (CBSMiami) – Now to a weekly segment you will only see right here on CBS4.
Every Friday, in partnership with the Florida Panthers, we put the spotlight on a hero among us men or women who have gone beyond the call of duty for our country.
This week we’re meeting World War II veteran James Pepe.
James Pepe, who goes by Jimmy, served in the United States Navy as a pharmacist from 1943 to 1945. He enlisted and was part of the new Georgia-Rendova-Vanganu Campaign.
Pepe’s job was to take care of the wounded and although he says they were under very stressful conditions he did whatever he had to do save lives. read it here
