Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall more than names
The Chronicle-Telegram Bruce Walton July 16, 2019
Gannett spent the last few hours looking over the wall to find several names, including the name of 1st Sgt. Charles Sellers, Gannett’s sergeant, who died in Vietnam. The worst part, he said, was that he died at the hands of his own soldiers. It was through his work at the wall he said, that he even remembered his name Monday.
WELLINGTON — A small but dedicated group assembled for the closing ceremony of the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall on Monday afternoon.
Although attendance was less than for the opening ceremony Thursday, the respect was just as overwhelming.
The Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard led the presentation of colors, followed by the last reading of the 98 Lorain County Vietnam veterans who died in the war. Brant Smith, Wellington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6941 quartermaster and one of the main organizers of the event, gave the last words before the closing prayer.
“I truly love all of our Vietnam veterans, these men are my heroes, these men are the reason that myself and so many other young men of my generation have served our country because of these men and women that paved the way for us,” he said. read it here
Did study show that 70% of veterans who committed suicide had THC in their system?
Politifact.com By Taylor Goldenstein July 15th
But the study Campbell cited doesn’t seem to exist. Some research does exist on this topic, but experts questioned the validity of drawing a conclusion about the connection between marijuana use and suicide generally — let alone among veterans.
🤬We rate this claim Pants on Fire.
Texas lawmakers this year voted to broaden the state’s medical marijuana program to include more qualifying conditions than just intractable epilepsy.
Under the bill, which was signed into law, patients with several more conditions, including terminal cancers, autism and multiple sclerosis, will now be eligible to participate in the program.
During a debate in the Senate over the proposal, state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, argued against including post-traumatic stress disorder in the bill. The disorder was ultimately not included in the bill that passed.
"A study was done, a post-mortem, so a retrospective study done, looking at autopsies and drug levels, what drugs were in the blood of veterans that committed suicide, and 70 percent had THC," Campbell said.
We decided to take a look at Campbell’s claim to see if a study of this nature existed and whether there’s a connection between veterans, marijuana use and suicide. read it here
Tom Hanks encourages people to ‘Be There' and help prevent veteran suicide
Connecting Vets By Ben Krimmel JULY 15, 2019
Even the smallest action can make the world of a difference.
Actor Tom Hanks is joining the call to promote the "Be There for Veterans" public service announcement to raise awareness for the VA's #BeThere campaign to support veterans in need.
"Twenty veterans take their lives every day," Hanks says in the PSA. "Learn how to be there for a veteran at bethereforveterans.com. Honor the code! Be there! Leave no one behind."
The VA hopes their #BeThere campaign underscores how everyone can play a role in suicide prevention.
“This PSA underscores VA’s public health approach to preventing Veteran suicide, which encourages everyone to play a role in suicide prevention,” said Aaron Eagan, deputy director of operations and integration for suicide prevention in VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. “The ‘Be There’ campaign is focused on simple yet impactful ways we can all reach out to and engage Veterans.” read it here
Where will you be when they need you?
That is the question I have been asking since I began my online work back in 93. I was known as Namguardianangel. It seems like a lifetime ago, especially now that all the results seem so bad. There used to be good results because people with good intentions back it up with diligent work on research to know exactly how to help them. Now it is whatever will obtain the most popularity, even if that means they have to lie to gain it. The lie is "suicide awareness" actually means something other than spreading misery instead of healing. After all these years I am still asking "where are you when they need you" because from what I have seen, most are just taking whatever they can get while veterans are still suffering.
Military Unit, Ravaged by War, Regroups Back Home to Survive the Peace
The Wall Street Journal By Ben Kesling July 14, 2019
“Derek, Grant, Timmy—all those guys died at their own hands,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Musil, listing close friends from Bravo Company and other units he served in who had killed themselves. “All those men were warriors. If they can do it, what’s stopping me?”
Veterans at the reunion talk about their experiences since returning from deployment to Afghanistan. PHOTO: TRAVIS DOVE FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Suicides drive Bravo Company veterans to test whether reuniting will help overcome lingering effects of battle
Nearly a year ago, the combat-hardened paratroopers of Bravo Company realized things were getting too dangerous. They weren’t working as a team. Too many men were dying. Nobody seemed to know how to stop the bloodletting.
And that was a decade after they got home from war.
During an 11-month tour of Afghanistan’s notorious Arghandab Valley, three soldiers from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment were killed in action and a dozen more lost at least one leg or arm. In the 10 years since they returned to the U.S., two B Company soldiers—isolated from their buddies, struggling with their demons—have killed themselves, more than a dozen have tried and others admit they have considered it.
“I didn’t think I deserved to get help,” Jason Horton confessed to the group over a microphone in a conference room. It’s hard to find help in a system as large as the VA, he said. He found it helpful to talk one-on-one with someone who experienced the same trauma he did. “It’s a big sea, and it’s hard to swim in that sea,” he said. read it here
You learned how to fight...now learn how to live! #BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife
Off-duty Air National Guard member kills armed man at Maryland restaurant
By: The Associated Press July 12, 2019
MILLFORD MILL, Md. — Authorities in Baltimore County say an off-duty member of the Maryland Air National Guard shot and killed an armed man while reportedly breaking up a fight outside a restaurant.
Baltimore County Police say the shooting happened early Friday after the airman saw people arguing outside the restaurant in Windsor Mill.
Authorities initially identified the airman as an off-duty officer. They say he has a gun permit. read it here
