Vietnam Veteran Bill Landreth Point Man

Since 1984, when Seattle Police Officer and Vietnam Veteran Bill Landreth noticed he was arresting the same people each night, he discovered most were Vietnam vets like himself that just never seemed to have quite made it home. He began to meet with them in coffee shops and on a regular basis for fellowship and prayer. Soon, Point Man Ministries was conceived and became a staple of the Seattle area. Bills untimely death soon after put the future of Point Man in jeopardy.

However, Chuck Dean, publisher of a Veterans self help newspaper, Reveille, had a vision for the ministry and developed it into a system of small groups across the USA for the purpose of mutual support and fellowship. These groups are known as Outposts. Worldwide there are hundreds of Outposts and Homefront groups serving the families of veterans.

PMIM is run by veterans from all conflicts, nationalities and backgrounds. Although, the primary focus of Point Man has always been to offer spiritual healing from PTSD, Point Man today is involved in group meetings, publishing, hospital visits, conferences, supplying speakers for churches and veteran groups, welcome home projects and community support. Just about any where there are Vets there is a Point Man presence. All services offered by Point Man are free of charge.

Hotline: 1-800-877-VETS (8387)
Point Man Intl. Ministries
Po Box 267
Spring Brook, NY 14140
E -mail: dana@pmim.org

HQ Phone:1-716-675-5552

Point Man Intl. Ministries is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization

http://www.pmim.org/

It isn't about who got a parade! When I came home from Vietnam, my cousin, a WWII Vet invited me to a VFW meeting and I was all but ignored because I was not in a "real" war and so how could I have any kind of problem? All these guys stuck to each other like glue and pretty much ignored the "new" Vets. And you all remember how it felt. I see the same "new guys" 35 years later with the same baloney coming out of their mouths. How in the world can you say you support the troops and then ignore them when they get home?

Seems to me that no matter how many are killed, the survivors have an obligation to each other and to our posterity to insure the "new guys" don't go through the same stuff our dads, grandfathers and ourselves had to endure...

So to all you "NEW GUYS", Welcome Home. Thank you for a job well done. Your sacrifice is deeply appreciated here. We support you regardless of when or where you served; we understand what you've been through and what you're dealing with now. Continue through the site and get connected!
Dana Morgan (President of PMIM)

Homefront groups are lead by Christian mothers, wives and friends of both active duty military and veterans. They provide an understanding ear and caring heart that only those left behind at home can understand. They have experienced the stress of dealing with deployments and the effects of a loved one returning home from war. If you have someone you love deployed or having issues readjusting since coming home get connected with a local group or contact HQ for assistance.

http://www.pmim.org/index.html

Man admits killing Staff Sgt. Adam Sheda, Iraq Vet

Man admits killing Iraq war vet

The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Mar 31, 2008 20:19:53 EDT

DULUTH, Minn. — A 26-year-old Duluth man has pleaded guilty to killing a soldier who had just returned from Iraq.

Luis Mark Hogan admitted Monday that he fought with Iraq war vet Staff Sgt. Adam Sheda last June and used the soldier’s own pistol to shoot him.

Hogan pleaded guilty to unintentional second-degree murder and agreed to serve a 12 1/2-year prison sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19.

Hogan was crying in St. Louis County District Court as he recounted the June night when he killed the 26-year-old Sheda.

According to the criminal complaint, Sheda showed up uninvited in Hogan’s backyard and tried to get into a party; the two began fighting. The complaint says that later on, Sheda pulled a gun that was turned against him.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_vetkilled_033008/

PTSD coming to Stardust radio

My Massachusetts accent will be heard live on Wednesday night in case anyone is interested. We'll be discussing PTSD and offering insight as well as support for the families living with it. Most of my readers know our story very well. I tend to get on a soap box about it when I still see it happening to our newer generation of warriors. People tell me I'm passionate about them but they don't know the half of it. I eat most meals at my PC using the time of chewing so that I can read between posts. Half the time my daughter or husband have to remind me to eat because I'll forget. I do it because I know what it feels like.

I post whatever I find that can make a difference in someone's life. I post reports when I find them because I figure the more it's reported, the more it's talked about, the sooner the stigma ends. They say "misery loves company" for a reason. No one wants to feel alone in any crisis. If they know there are others going through it, they take away some comfort. The other reason is that the more bloggers post about the reports coming out, paying attention to them, getting hits because of them, the reporters will be more inclined to do some more reporting on it.

Call in the show and ask questions. Learn from the years I've walked in the shoes and pick my brain. There is a lot even I still don't know, but if you come away from the show with hope, I will feel as if we've accomplished what we set out to do. Don't forget my book can be opened right here on the blog on the right side. It opens in Adobe and lets you in on 18 years of our life as PTSD went from mild to sending my husband over the edge and then into healing. We've been married since 1984. If he can live again after all the years he had no help at all, there is hope anyone can. He'll never be free of PTSD but he is living a life again thanks to some great doctors back at Bedford VA who wouldn't give up on him and some great ones down here in Florida. OK, I had something to do with it to, but I thank God everyday that He held my hand all the way through it.

This is the main Stardust Radio Network site:

http://www.stardustent.com/
You will see the various shows on the left. Choose SVR Broadcast. That will take you to this link:

http://www.stardustent.com/svr.htm

To listen to the shows simply click on the "Listen Live" button up in the upper left hand corner. The show is from 6:30 - 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

Severed Soul, a woman's journey through PTSD

Amazon.com Books Hot New Releases: The bestselling new & fut...
Severed Soul: One Woman's Journey Through Post Traumatic Stress · Severed Soul: One Woman's Journey Through Post Traumatic Stress by J. L. Vallee
Severed Soul: One Woman's Journey Through Post Traumatic Stress (Paperback)
by J. L. Vallee (Author)

List Price: $14.95
Price: $14.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Honest and insightful..., March 11, 2008
By P. Turner - See all my reviews

Author J.L. Vallee writes from the heart. Even if you haven't been a victim of domestic abuse, I'm sure everyone will recognize the main character as someone they know. I've already bought a copy for women I know who may find comfort in recognizing the symptoms of post traumatic stress and discovering where they may be able to find help. Writing this book took insight, bravery, courage, and faith. I credit the author with successfully producing a work that should inspire those who might not have had the strength before to finally determine that enough is enough.

Courageous and touching, March 11, 2008
By R. Matthews "reader In Ma" (Leominster, Ma) - See all my reviews


Excellent read! An incredible story of a woman who has been through alot and conquered it all. She gives a new insight on Post Tramatic Stress and shows how it affects people in many ways. Women who have been through a terrible relationship would truly understand they are not alone in life. A very courageous and heartfelt story.

Faithbase DV groups, March 31, 2008
By Facilitator "Faithbase DV Groups" (Gardner, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a great example of how difficult a toxic relationship can be while experiencing PTSD. I would recommend to those who have a faithbase background to read. How shocking to know while the author is a church goer, she lived like this in her home. It takes tremendous strength and courage to stand strong, that Only God could give. Thank you for telling your story. For any man who is being called by God to help stop violence...this book is a must.

There are many joys in doing what I do. One of them is when people will send me books or links they want to share with me. I love going to the UPS box and see a surprise! Friday was one of those days. This book was in it. I had been writing back and forth with JL for a while as she was writing the book and wanting to learn more about PTSD. Even living with it, she knew there was a lot more to learn. I remembered the days of writing my own book and while it was healing to do it, it was also some very dark times to remember. JL tells of some of the darkest days of her life and does it bravely.

The reason why people do something like this is simple. They know there are so many other hurting people out there who need so much more than cold, clinical books or case studies written from someone who really couldn't care less about the people involved in the stories they tell, but works that offer hope. JL offers hope because she came shining through and shares her story so that others can believe that they too can overcome and survive. Not just survive but live a life again. JL also stands as an example that when you do come through you can reach back and help someone else make it too.

Over the years I've read a lot of personal accounts and this I highly recommend.

A new band of brothers

A new band of brothers

By JON ERICSON
Courier Staff Writer



WATERLOO — Iraq war veterans Joe Nolte and Ron Devoll find it hard to fit in with existing veterans organizations. Members are too old and the causes aren’t tailored to the experiences of Iraq War vets, they say.

So the men want to launch their own veterans organization.

Devoll is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, while Nolte belongs to none of the existing groups.

They haven’t defined exactly what their new organization will be, but they want it to accomplish at least two things — be a place a veteran can go for help and provide a forum for veterans to talk about issues.

"We don’t want it to be a typical organization, not a club, not a political organization," Nolte said. "We want a place where a vet can call when they need help."


The working name for the potential organization is Veterans with a Voice. They are looking into registration as a nonprofit 501(c)3 entity exempt from some taxes.

For now, they want to see what interest is out there for such an organization.

"We wanted to get it out there to see if there are other people out there with concerns that may want to help them get off the ground," Nolte said.

Both men have had their own problems since returning from Iraq.

Nolte is a Mason City native now living in Waterloo and going to school at the University of Northern Iowa. The Marine suffered injuries when his vehicle drove over a roadside bomb in Iraq. When he returned, Nolte struggled to get the Veterans Affairs hospital to cover the cost of his injuries.

Devoll of Cedar Falls is an army veteran and has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder since his return.
go here for the rest
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAR08/nf033108-4.htm


Women are doing the same. Will the DAV, VFW, American Legion and the rest get the point before it's too late?

Medal of Honor, Michael Monsoor was killed saving fellow SEALS

Garden Grove SEAL to get Medal of Honor
By Tony Perry
Michael Monsoor was killed saving fellow SEALS while battling insurgents in Iraq in 2006.


Monsoor "without hesitation and showing no regard for his own life" fell on the grenade although he had a clear path to escape, Navy documents show. He had earlier been awarded a Silver Star for rescuing a wounded SEAL during the same deployment.

His parents, George and Sally Monsoor, have been invited to the White House to receive the Medal of Honor from President Bush. Their son is the first sailor to receive the medal for combat in Iraq; another SEAL, Lt. Michael Murphy, received the Medal of Honor, also posthumously, for actions in Afghanistan.

Marine Eric Hall's life and story won't end

Eric Hall, an Iraq war veteran, disappeared last month after having a flashback. (Chip Litherland for The New York Times)

Photos and Audio: The search and mourning for a Marine» View
Hunt for lost marine brings a community together
By Damien Cave
Published: March 31, 2008

PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida: A week after Eric Hall disappeared into the woods of Southwest Florida, his mother stood in a parking lot overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. She had asked for volunteers. Would they come?
Becky Hall's son had experienced a flashback, fleeing a relative's home after sensing that Iraqi insurgents had surrounded him. He was 24, a former marine corporal from Indiana who had been medically discharged after a bomb ripped through his leg. Here, among the retirees and strip malls, he was a stranger.
And yet his absence spurred a community to action. More than 50 people stepped forward that first day in February. Others came later, young and old, contributing four-wheelers, pickup trucks, boats, horses, search-and-rescue dogs, and even a small plane.
They searched day in day out for weeks because Hall's story broke their hearts and, many said, because his case inspired them to look past arguments over whether the war was right or wrong. It was a mission, not a debate: A marine was missing and had to be found.
"He has these issues as a result of what we asked him to do," said Kathryn Preston, 52, a botanist who spent time in the Army as a young woman and used her pontoon boat for the search. "It felt like we were responsible for him. People in the United States. All of us."

go here for the rest
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/31/america/marine.php

There are very few stories I have time to cover from start to finish. While I have tried to post every story on Eric Hall, I doubt I will ever know how this ends. His family has been trying to heal at the same time they have joined other families fighting to end the stigma of PTSD, have the wounded cared for as soon as possible and better than they have been. Joshua Omvig's story didn't end yet, and I doubt Eric Hall's story will end either. As long as there are wounded in this country dealing with war that never ends inside of them, there will be more Eric's and Joshua's stories still developing. I will do what I can to make sure their stories are not forgotten.

Boos for Bush at Washington Nationals Opening Game

Boos for Bush
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com Monday, March 31, 2008; 1:52 PM
There's a reason President Bush almost never appears before members of the general public: They really don't like him.
Despite the delirious mood of Washington Nationals fans on opening night at their new stadium, Bush was greeted with loud boos when he came to the mound to deliver the traditional first pitch.
Video from the Washington Times indicates that the boos were lusty. An ESPN video, via ThinkProgress.org, is more of a mixed bag of boos and cheers. But in additional Youtube videos from fans in right field and high above first base the boos had it.
It was a rare moment for Bush, who avoids public expressions of disagreement by appearing almost exclusively before carefully selected audiences. In fact, this is the first time in years I can recall him appearing before the unscreened masses. Far more typical are events like his most recent Thanksgiving address. As I wrote then, even when he was talking about something as uncontroversial as the essential goodness of our country, he wanted his audience prescreened for obsequiousness.
click post title for the rest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFERHI5CbCM

Orlando Cable failure sends fireworks into WrestleMania fans

Cable failure sends fireworks into WrestleMania fans
Walter Pacheco Sentinel Staff Writer
11:30 AM EDT, March 31, 2008

A cable failure near the conclusion of Sunday's WrestleMania 24 event sent burning fireworks shooting into the crowd of cheering fans.

Orlando Fire Department officials this morning said that 30 to 35 wrestling fans suffered minor welts and other first-degree burns when the cable holding the fireworks on the west end of the Citrus Bowl collapsed.

"The west cable failed and then dropped the fireworks into the crowd below," Assistant Fire Chief Greg Hoggatt said. "The fireworks and hot cables fell into the 300 section, the middle of the 200 section and into the 100 section, close to the stage."

Hoggatt said there were reports of multiple injuries in various parts of the stadium as a result of the fireworks. "The people with non-critical and non-life-threatening injuries were asked to go to first aid for treatment. Three people requested that they be transported to the hospital."

Those victims were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, reports show. There is no information on their condition.

Calls to the World Wrestling Entertainment corporation were not immediately returned to the Orlando Sentinel.

Check back for more updates.
click post title for link

I wonder if there were any veterans with PTSD there. They do not react well to July 4th fireworks. I doubt they did very well with this last night. I also wonder if any of the people there will end up with PTSD. Can you imagine going there to enjoy the night and have this happen?

Couples Row for Iraq deployed spouses

Married Troops Can Live Together in Iraq
By BRADLEY BROOKS and RUSS BYNUM Associated Press Writers
2:15 PM EDT, March 31, 2008

BAGHDAD - When American soldiers get off duty in Iraq, the men usually return to their quarters, the women to theirs. But Staff Sgt. Marvin Frazier gets to go back to a small trailer with two pushed-together single beds that he shares with his wife.

In a historic but little-noticed change in policy, the Army is allowing scores of husband-and-wife soldiers to live and sleep together in the war zone -- a move aimed at preserving marriages, boosting morale and perhaps bolstering re-enlistment rates at a time when the military is struggling to fill its ranks five years into the fighting.

"It makes a lot of things easier," said Frazier, 33, a helicopter maintenance supervisor in the 3rd Infantry Division. "It really adds a lot of stress, being separated. Now you can sit face-to-face and try to work out things and comfort each other."

Long-standing Army rules barred soldiers of the opposite sex from sharing sleeping quarters in war zones. Even married troops lived only in all-male or all-female quarters and had no private living space.

More than 10,000 couples are in the Army. Exactly how many are serving in the war zone, and how many of those are living together, are not clear. The Army said it does not keep track.

But Frazier and his wife, Staff Sgt. Keisha Frazier, are among about 40 married Army couples living together on "Couples Row" at Camp Striker, which is on the oustkirts of Baghdad and is one of more than 150 U.S. military camps in Iraq. Similarly, a Couples Row opened in October at nearby Camp Victory, though it has trailers for only seven of the many couples who have requested them.
click post title for the rest