MSNBC's Witt aired McCain ad without noting misleading claims about visiting wounded troops, Afghanistan hearings, military funding
On MSNBC Live, Alex Witt aired an ad from Sen. John McCain asserting that Sen. Barack Obama "made time to go to the gym, but canceled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras." But in neither segment did Witt or her guests note that Obama reportedly previously visited wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center without the media, or that although Obama decided not to visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, he reportedly made phone calls to wounded soldiers there. Nor did they challenge any of the other misleading claims in the ad. Read More
Monday, July 28, 2008
MSNBC Alex Witt must not read Army Times
This goes with the other posts on the propaganda against Obama's trip. Looks like a lot of the false claims in the email the Army was even upset about was wide spread. Too bad the real facts were not.
77,000 calls in one year to VA suicide hotlines
Suicide hot line got calls from 22000 veterans
The Associated Press
By KATHARINE EUPHRAT – 8 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 22,000 veterans have sought help from a special suicide hot line in its first year, and 1,221 suicides have been averted, the government says.
According to a recent RAND Corp. study, roughly one in five soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan displays symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, putting them at a higher risk for suicide. Researchers at Portland State University found that male veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide than men who are not veterans.
This month, a former Army medic, Joseph Dwyer, who was shown in a Military Times photograph running through a battle zone carrying an Iraqi boy, died of an accidental overdose after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder for almost five years.
Janet Kemp, national suicide prevention coordinator for the Veterans Affairs Department, said the hot line is in place to help prevent deaths such as Dwyer's. "We just want them to know there's other options and people do care about them, and we can help them make a difference in their lives," she said in an interview.
The VA teamed up with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to launch the hot line last July after years of criticism that the VA wasn't doing enough to help wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. In April, two veterans groups sued the VA, citing long delays for processing applications and other problems in treatment for veterans at risk for suicide. The department has spent $2.9 million on the hot line thus far.
The hot line receives up to 250 calls per day — double the average number calling when it began. Kemp said callers are divided evenly between veterans from the Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam wars. Richard McKeon, public health adviser for SAMHSA, said 10 to 20 of the 1,575 calls received each week have to be rerouted to high-volume backup call centers throughout the country.
The Associated Press
By KATHARINE EUPHRAT – 8 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 22,000 veterans have sought help from a special suicide hot line in its first year, and 1,221 suicides have been averted, the government says.
According to a recent RAND Corp. study, roughly one in five soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan displays symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, putting them at a higher risk for suicide. Researchers at Portland State University found that male veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide than men who are not veterans.
This month, a former Army medic, Joseph Dwyer, who was shown in a Military Times photograph running through a battle zone carrying an Iraqi boy, died of an accidental overdose after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder for almost five years.
Janet Kemp, national suicide prevention coordinator for the Veterans Affairs Department, said the hot line is in place to help prevent deaths such as Dwyer's. "We just want them to know there's other options and people do care about them, and we can help them make a difference in their lives," she said in an interview.
The VA teamed up with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to launch the hot line last July after years of criticism that the VA wasn't doing enough to help wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. In April, two veterans groups sued the VA, citing long delays for processing applications and other problems in treatment for veterans at risk for suicide. The department has spent $2.9 million on the hot line thus far.
The hot line receives up to 250 calls per day — double the average number calling when it began. Kemp said callers are divided evenly between veterans from the Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam wars. Richard McKeon, public health adviser for SAMHSA, said 10 to 20 of the 1,575 calls received each week have to be rerouted to high-volume backup call centers throughout the country.
The veterans hot line, which is linked to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, received 55,000 callers in its first year, including both veterans and people who are concerned about them, according to figures being released Monday. One-third of the 40 specially trained counselors are veterans themselves.
click above for more
Back From the War and on MTV’s Radar
Back From the War and on MTV’s Radar
New York Times - United States
By BRIAN STELTER
Published: July 28, 2008
Lorenzo Zarate sits on a couch and plays an Xbox game while a cameraman films him. Mr. Zarate, an aspiring rapper, thinks he is being featured in an MTV news segment.
Then Kanye West comes to the door. Once the surprise subsides and the two men settle down in the living room, the talk turns to “before I went” and “when I got back.” Mr. Zarate, 24, is a veteran of the Iraq war who suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder. He is also a member of MTV’s core young demographic of teenagers and 20-somethings.
A recent MTV survey showed that nearly 70 percent of that demographic knew someone who had served in Iraq. “In some ways we think it’s the defining issue of this generation,” said Ian Rowe, vice president for public affairs and strategic partnerships at MTV.
With that in mind MTV is reinvigorating its get-out-the-vote campaign, “Choose or Lose,” even though it has scaled back its news and documentary programming in recent years. MTV plans to cover the 2008 election largely by spotlighting a few of the roughly 1.6 million Americans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr. Zarate’s story will be featured in “Homecoming,” an hourlong special about veterans presented by “Choose or Lose” and Mr. West on Monday night at 10.
In “Homecoming” Mr. West and an MTV correspondent, Sway Calloway, show up at the homes of three veterans and surprise them with gifts. Mr. West participated despite saying in the fall, after being overlooked at the MTV Video Music Awards, that he would never again appear on the channel.
click above for more
New York Times - United States
By BRIAN STELTER
Published: July 28, 2008
Lorenzo Zarate sits on a couch and plays an Xbox game while a cameraman films him. Mr. Zarate, an aspiring rapper, thinks he is being featured in an MTV news segment.
Then Kanye West comes to the door. Once the surprise subsides and the two men settle down in the living room, the talk turns to “before I went” and “when I got back.” Mr. Zarate, 24, is a veteran of the Iraq war who suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder. He is also a member of MTV’s core young demographic of teenagers and 20-somethings.
A recent MTV survey showed that nearly 70 percent of that demographic knew someone who had served in Iraq. “In some ways we think it’s the defining issue of this generation,” said Ian Rowe, vice president for public affairs and strategic partnerships at MTV.
With that in mind MTV is reinvigorating its get-out-the-vote campaign, “Choose or Lose,” even though it has scaled back its news and documentary programming in recent years. MTV plans to cover the 2008 election largely by spotlighting a few of the roughly 1.6 million Americans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr. Zarate’s story will be featured in “Homecoming,” an hourlong special about veterans presented by “Choose or Lose” and Mr. West on Monday night at 10.
In “Homecoming” Mr. West and an MTV correspondent, Sway Calloway, show up at the homes of three veterans and surprise them with gifts. Mr. West participated despite saying in the fall, after being overlooked at the MTV Video Music Awards, that he would never again appear on the channel.
click above for more
IFOC Chaplain Susan Westfall of Charleston offering training
This is what I've been talking about. I hope that Dawn Schabbing forgives me for posting all of this instead of just a teaser. Please click on the link to make sure she gets the hits for this. It shows what chaplains do in everyday life. I may be the only chaplain you've ever been in any kind of contact with.
Thursday, July 24, 2008 8:10 PM
CDT Training for chaplains to help serve Coles County to be offered soon
BY DAWN SCHABBING, Features Writer
There are lots of times when we just need someone to listen. And some people believe they were called by God to listen, inspire, calm and help the hurting, all with confidentiality. In secular settings these people are called chaplains. The International Fellowship of Chaplains Inc. is a non-profit group that helps train volunteer chaplains to work in a variety of settings.
Susan Westfall of Charleston, a senior chaplain with IFOC, is hopeful that an upcoming training session planned Aug. 18-22 in Charleston will help fill the need for chaplains across Coles County.
The training will be held at the Salisbury Church in Charleston. There is a $295 registration fee. The pre-registration deadline is Aug. 8. For brochures and more information about the 48-hour intense training, visit the church or go online to http://www.ifoc.org/.
“We want to develop a Chaplaincy Corps in Coles County. We want to serve those who serve our community,” Westfall said. Westfall said duties of a chaplain fall in a variety of settings, including at the scene of a fire, working with police, at a hospital, in an industrial setting, with youth, in nursing homes, detention centers and many more.
“Dealing with the victims and/or their families also frees the professionals to do their jobs better. In a suicide attempt, I can comfort other family members, while the police, fire, medic personnel deal with the person in trouble,” Westfall said. “In a domestic, I can deal with the children, the neighbors, or the person who called in the emergency.”The chaplain also makes death notifications. Westfall works full time as the director of operations with Serve India Ministries, an organization that she helped start in 2006. She trained with the IFOC and was ordained in August 2007. As a volunteer chaplain, Westfall works with the Charleston Police, Eastern Illinois University Police and Charleston Fire Department.
Mark Jenkins, Charleston police chief, said the department started utilizing chaplains about two years ago, as a ministry to the police officers and their families.“We had a couple of instances involving police officers (in the area) who had committed suicide. Officers typically won’t reach out to conventional mental health counseling,” Jenkins said. But, both Westfall and Chaplain Bill Phillips, who is also a pastor at the Church of God in Charleston, have built a link of trust with the officers and their families.“They are there for the families. They help take care of the families, pray with them, make sure they have a hotel if needed to stay in, and this helps us, so we can do our work,” Jenkins said.
Chaplaincy training involves dealing with trauma, critical incident stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, divorce, substance abuse, suicide, grief and loss, and death notifications.“In any secular setting, a chaplain can offer a wide-variety of things. Spiritually, chaplains can organize worship services, prayer meetings and Bible studies. They can provide religious assistance and counseling for employees of large corporations,” Westfall said.
Chaplains can be available for listening, for directing to available resources, provide pastoral counseling in marriage, depression, anxiety, family concerns, sexual concerns, vocational crisis, bereavement and substance abuse.Jenkins said he still considers the program to be in the infant stages.“It’s been wonderful. We are always looking for chaplains that want to help. We want to be prepared. You never know what could happen,” he said. For more information call Westfall, 549-0285.
Contact Dawn Schabbing at dschabbing@jg-tc.com or 238-6864.
http://jg-tc.com/articles/2008/07/25/features/doc48892223f1bd1095119364.txt
Sunday, July 27, 2008
4 drown, 3 missing at New York beaches
4 drown, 3 missing at New York beaches
Story Highlights
Strong currents, rough seas reported at Long Island, New York City beaches
Among drowning victims was girl, 10, who was playing in waters off Coney Island
Man drowns in 3 to 5 feet of water while playing football at Long Beach
NEW YORK (AP) -- Rescuers suspended their search Sunday for a 10-year-old girl in the water off Coney Island, one of three swimmers still missing from powerful ocean currents at New York City and Long Island beaches over the weekend.
Some authorities said the spate of swimmers being swept away seemed unprecedented.
Four other victims drowned at local beaches Friday and Saturday, authorities said.
The search for the girl was suspended Sunday afternoon pending further developments, Coast Guard Cmdr. Gregory Hitchen said.
Akira Johnson was pulled under by currents while swimming with her cousin Saturday afternoon. Her cousin, Tyriek Currie, also 10, was rescued.
The children's grandfather, Charles German, went to the beach Sunday to watch the search effort. He said the family was doing as well as could be expected.
With a steady punch of stronger rip currents possible over the weekend, "only experienced surf swimmers should enter the waters," said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Connolly.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/27/drownings.ap/index.html
Story Highlights
Strong currents, rough seas reported at Long Island, New York City beaches
Among drowning victims was girl, 10, who was playing in waters off Coney Island
Man drowns in 3 to 5 feet of water while playing football at Long Beach
NEW YORK (AP) -- Rescuers suspended their search Sunday for a 10-year-old girl in the water off Coney Island, one of three swimmers still missing from powerful ocean currents at New York City and Long Island beaches over the weekend.
Some authorities said the spate of swimmers being swept away seemed unprecedented.
Four other victims drowned at local beaches Friday and Saturday, authorities said.
The search for the girl was suspended Sunday afternoon pending further developments, Coast Guard Cmdr. Gregory Hitchen said.
Akira Johnson was pulled under by currents while swimming with her cousin Saturday afternoon. Her cousin, Tyriek Currie, also 10, was rescued.
The children's grandfather, Charles German, went to the beach Sunday to watch the search effort. He said the family was doing as well as could be expected.
With a steady punch of stronger rip currents possible over the weekend, "only experienced surf swimmers should enter the waters," said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Connolly.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/27/drownings.ap/index.html
Church shooting leaves 2 dead, 7 wounded
Church shooting kills 2; suspect charged
A shotgun-wielding man opened fire at a Tennessee Unitarian church during a children's play Sunday, killing two adults and wounding seven more before worshippers tackled him, officials said. A suspect, Jim Adkisson, 58, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, a city official said. full story
A shotgun-wielding man opened fire at a Tennessee Unitarian church during a children's play Sunday, killing two adults and wounding seven more before worshippers tackled him, officials said. A suspect, Jim Adkisson, 58, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, a city official said. full story
Some could get $100K in retroactive benefits
Some could get $100K in retroactive benefits
Traumatic injury insurance payments would increase
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jul 27, 2008 10:05:56 EDT
More than 1,600 severely disabled veterans could receive retroactive traumatic injury insurance payments as a result of a newly released review of how benefits have been paid under the 3½-year-old supplemental benefits program.
The payments, which range from $25,000 to $100,000, could be paid as early as this fall as a result of discussions between the Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs the program, and doctors who are treating severely wounded combat veterans. The average retroactive payment would be $32,000, according to the review, dated July.
About 4,400 people have received traumatic injury insurance payments since the program was created in 2005. The estimated 1,640 people who would receive retroactive benefits as a result of the review include some who did not previously qualify and some who received payments but now would get more, according to VA officials.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/army_traumatic_072708w/
Traumatic injury insurance payments would increase
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jul 27, 2008 10:05:56 EDT
More than 1,600 severely disabled veterans could receive retroactive traumatic injury insurance payments as a result of a newly released review of how benefits have been paid under the 3½-year-old supplemental benefits program.
The payments, which range from $25,000 to $100,000, could be paid as early as this fall as a result of discussions between the Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs the program, and doctors who are treating severely wounded combat veterans. The average retroactive payment would be $32,000, according to the review, dated July.
About 4,400 people have received traumatic injury insurance payments since the program was created in 2005. The estimated 1,640 people who would receive retroactive benefits as a result of the review include some who did not previously qualify and some who received payments but now would get more, according to VA officials.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/army_traumatic_072708w/
International Fellowship of Chaplains Conference in Tiffin Ohio
HEIDELBERG COLLEGE TIFFIN, OHIO
The International Fellowship of Chaplains, Inc. (IFOC) is a non profit, providing training, recognition, certification and information in the varied areas of Chaplaincy. We also interface with the secular and ministry worlds for the purpose of promoting tolerance and understanding, as well as, provide professional, trained and dedicated Chaplains in the various fields of need.
The work of the Chaplain differs greatly from the work of the Pastorate. The Pastor cares for the Spiritual needs of the congregation; whereas, the Chaplain must care for the needs of the Secular World as well.
There are several fields of Chaplaincy, some of which are easily recognized. Others are not. The IFOC endorses all types of Chaplains and recognizes the need for Credentialed Coverage. Some Chaplaincy areas of note are, Police, Fire, Hospital, Jail, Industrial, Transportation, Search & Rescue, Sports, Collegiate, Hospice, Nursing Home, Motor Cycle, and the list goes on. All are valid in scope and design. All need Education, Credentials & Guidance to do the work their hearts desire.
http://www.ifoc.org/
The title of this year's conference was Receiving the Land. Very appropriate considering how God is moving the IFOC into uncharted territory. Dr. Dave Vorce had a vision of beginning a new location for the home of the IFOC. He didn't decide on Tiffin accidentally. It all came together because of the dedication of Chaplain Tracy. What a dynamo she is! There was a Kroger grocery store that was donated to the IFOC. This was owned by a Jewish family and they donated it because of the work the IFOC does for all of God's children. A donation came in from a Muslim organization. People began to come in an offer to donate materials and funds to turn this once food source for bodies to a feeding source for souls.
As usual, I got lost. It was supposed to take an hour and a half to drive from Columbus airport to Tiffin. Tiffin is located north covered by corn fields. Getting lost there is not a great thing to do considering there is no one to ask directions from. Chaplain Tracy later said that she couldn't understand why I couldn't get directions from the cornfields considering "they're all ears!" so yes, she has an amazing sense of humor as well. By the time I finally found out where I needed to be, it turned out that I was right in between the college and the hotel I was staying at.
I arrived at the college at the exact moment I was supposed to be there. Several people told of their stories. There was an ex-police officer telling how God was moving in his life after a traumatic event. A businessman spoke of how God was moving him to help the IFOC and his community. A judge spoke of how attitudes were changing to people in need. After the speeches, I was a bit surprised that people were coming up to me telling me how happy they were to finally meet me. My friend Chaplain Zeta told me that they were talking about some of my videos they've been using in training.
Yesterday more people were coming up to me, which I am not accustomed to. I'm the type more comfortable in the back of the room except on the occasions when I know I have to be a presence. In my class a uniform, badge and all, I look like a cop. What I didn't know was what apparently, they all knew. It was what happened last night that left me in shock.
After all these years of just doing what I do, blending into the crowd, the spotlight hit me. You have to understand what it took to get me to this conference, besides getting lost. I couldn't afford to go. That was really bothering me but I figured if God wanted me there, He'd find a way to get me there. Monday, I went to check my box at the UPS store and there was "love donation" that just about covered the cost of the plane ticket. There was no time to register for any of the certification classes and not enough money to cover the cost as it was. I just knew I had to be there.
Yesterday there was a film crew from LA taping interviews. I was put on the list before they even knew I was coming. Chaplain Tracy was doing the interview and as the equipment was being set up, she told me that Dr. Vorce had me on the list in advance. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to interview me considering the work the other Chaplains were doing. They deal with people in every walk of life, face to face, but the work I do in online and the only time I do the appearances it is to do educational presentations with the videos. I think I'm kind of boring and strange because this is ground breaking work into new territory. Using the videos in a whole new different way and the reach out work online with the addition of the blog covering reports from all over the nation and internationally, is not something chaplains have been doing. Truthfully, I'm in awe of the Chaplains working in the fields they are in. Interviewing them really made sense considering how they are there when people need them the most, right after traumatic events.
Anyway, last night was the awards night. Before the awards were given out, Dr. Vorce made a speech about the work I do and I got a standing ovation. As I struggled to keep myself from running out the back door, my friend Zeta made me get up. Dr. Vorce called me to the podium. I stood there not knowing what to say. Yes, I was speechless. When it comes to PTSD, people can't shut me up when I get started and there I was without knowing what to say.
I told the story of how the video PTSD Not God's Judgment was created. As I was making the other videos, I was being tugged to do on addressing the spiritual wound that happens after trauma. I didn't want to do it. I found excuse after excuse to not do it. I used the inability to find the right music, the right layout, the right pictures or I had better things that needed to be done first.
One of the Vietnam veterans I've been helping, has tugged at my heart since the first email. He's very special to me. One day as I was answering his email, I addressed how God did not judge him and this was not punishment. It was one of those days when I saw all the emails and was just drained. I didn't want to do anything that day until I read his email. After I responded, I look up and said in a very loud voice, "OK! YOU WIN! I'LL DO THE VIDEO! Amazed I didn't wake up the entire house, I got to work. A couple of hours later, it was done. The video I didn't want to do is healing a lot of people.
While Tracy was interviewing me she told me how much it's helping police officers and other people she helps everyday. She told me she can see the look of relief on their faces. It's the video that has opened a lot of doors for me that used to be locked shut. I had no idea what I had done.
They showed the video I did for the IFOC taking traumatic events from news and everyday life to explain how important the IFOC is. Again I was honored by the reaction. Later I was given an award, again shocked, for special achievement. "Exceptional Performance with Outstanding Achievement in the Service as a Chaplain" and a pin. I had no clue of any of this.
You have to understand that the other chaplains were receiving awards for the work they do and tremendous accomplishments helping others. Dr. Vorce's wife Judy, also a chaplain I adore, had gone with two other chaplains to respond the drowning of a 9 year old girl, who was also a relative. The child drowned saving the life of her sister. They responded not just for the family, but for the other people on the beach that day. Another chaplain had responded to the scene of a child who died at school when a flag pole fell on her. Chaplains just being there to help people after traumatic events that no one ever knows about when they read about these stories in the paper or watch the report on their local news. They never hear about the chaplain who takes care of officers at hospitals when one of their own is injured or killed in the line of duty. They never hear about how they comfort the families when the officers have to make a death notification and they bring the chaplain with them. I lost count on how many awards Chaplain Tracy received along with Chaplain Mindy. These people are unsung heroes acting out of love on a daily basis humbly and magnificently.
People told me that I deserved to be among them, honored at this event, but I feel I did not deserve to be anywhere near these people. They are heroes to me.
I hope to be able to tell more of their stories but they do not publicize their work. Their stories need to be told. Until then, please be aware that just because they do not have a blog or a web site, they are changing lives a lot more than I ever could. No one goes through life without facing events that are traumatic. The chaplains are there when they do need someone to help them get through it. The problem is there are not enough of them to go around. We need them everywhere.
If you have a tug at your help to help others, please consider becoming a chaplain. You get to decide where you are being lead and God will find a way to get you to where you are called to be. If ever you wondered who the people are coming to your rescue after a natural disaster, with IFOC Chaplain on their jacket, now you know who they are. You couldn't ask for a better group of people to serve your fellowman with. Go to the link above and learn more about these people who I am humbled standing next to.
Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
International Fellowship of Chaplains
Namguardianangel@aol.com
http://www.namguardianangel.org/
http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
U.S. military confronts unprecedented emotional war wounds
U.S. military confronts unprecedented emotional war wounds
BY MIKE THARP • MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS • July 27, 2008
KIRKUK, Iraq -- Sgt. Seth (Doc) Musikant could be a recruiting poster for the Army's new approach to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Last April, Musikant and his team were driving around a traffic circle in the city of Tuz. It was their second time through the roundabout that day, and between trips somebody had planted a homemade bomb. It blew up their Humvee.
One of his comrades was killed, three were wounded. In the frenzy that followed, Musikant handed his M4 rifle to the Iraqi interpreter, screaming, "Pull security!" Then Doc, a medic, scrambled to treat the wounded.
Musikant, with the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Combat Brigade, was on his second tour in Iraq. Although he felt that he'd proved he had guts during his first tour in Baghdad in 2005, the incident in Tuz bothered him. "It's like there's an invisible wall," Musikant said about the anxiety that temporarily troubled him.
He went to see the brigade's main mental health officer, Maj. Kyle Bourque.
"I told him it was bothering me," the 23-year-old former art student recalled. "I literally walked away with scratches. He said not to keep it inside, gave me some Ambien (a sleep aid). I still don't talk about it with anybody I don't know."
Never has the U.S. military been forced to confront so much of the psychological and emotional wounds of war. What's more, infantry soldiers no longer bear the brunt of such attacks; thanks to suicide bombers and homemade bombs, drivers, cooks and other rear-echelon troops also have been killed and wounded.
click post title for more
I really hope to anyone who still does not get how these occpations are different than any other war, they pay attention to this part if nothing else.
BY MIKE THARP • MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS • July 27, 2008
KIRKUK, Iraq -- Sgt. Seth (Doc) Musikant could be a recruiting poster for the Army's new approach to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Last April, Musikant and his team were driving around a traffic circle in the city of Tuz. It was their second time through the roundabout that day, and between trips somebody had planted a homemade bomb. It blew up their Humvee.
One of his comrades was killed, three were wounded. In the frenzy that followed, Musikant handed his M4 rifle to the Iraqi interpreter, screaming, "Pull security!" Then Doc, a medic, scrambled to treat the wounded.
Musikant, with the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Combat Brigade, was on his second tour in Iraq. Although he felt that he'd proved he had guts during his first tour in Baghdad in 2005, the incident in Tuz bothered him. "It's like there's an invisible wall," Musikant said about the anxiety that temporarily troubled him.
He went to see the brigade's main mental health officer, Maj. Kyle Bourque.
"I told him it was bothering me," the 23-year-old former art student recalled. "I literally walked away with scratches. He said not to keep it inside, gave me some Ambien (a sleep aid). I still don't talk about it with anybody I don't know."
Never has the U.S. military been forced to confront so much of the psychological and emotional wounds of war. What's more, infantry soldiers no longer bear the brunt of such attacks; thanks to suicide bombers and homemade bombs, drivers, cooks and other rear-echelon troops also have been killed and wounded.
click post title for more
I really hope to anyone who still does not get how these occpations are different than any other war, they pay attention to this part if nothing else.
PTSD leaves physical footprints on the brain
PTSD leaves physical footprints on the brain
Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, July 27, 2008
At a recent conference for some of the area's leading neurologists, San Francisco physicist Norbert Schuff captured his colleagues' attention when he presented colorful brain images of U.S. soldiers who had returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The yellow areas, Schuff explained during his presentation at the city's Veterans Affairs Medical Center, showed where the hippocampus, which plays major roles in short-term memory and emotions, had atrophied. The red swatches marked hyperfusion - increased blood flow - in the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for conflict resolution and decision-making. Compared with a soldier without the affliction, the PTSD brain had lost 5 to 10 percent of its gray matter volume, indicating yet more neuron damage.
Schuff, who was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt just as colorful as the brain images he'd brought, reminded his colleagues that while his findings were preliminary and the trials ongoing, researchers were at least inching closer to finding the biological markers that distinguish a brain affected by PTSD. As the technology of brain imaging improves and the resulting data are refined, doctors believe that one day they will be able to look at a computer screen and see PTSD as clearly as they now see a brain tumor.
"But we're still in the infancy of neuroimaging," Schuff cautioned later in his office. "Do you get PTSD because you have a small hippocampus? Or does a small hippocampus mean you'll develop PTSD? That, we still don't know."
go here for more
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/27/MNH611UUP5.DTL
Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, July 27, 2008
At a recent conference for some of the area's leading neurologists, San Francisco physicist Norbert Schuff captured his colleagues' attention when he presented colorful brain images of U.S. soldiers who had returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The yellow areas, Schuff explained during his presentation at the city's Veterans Affairs Medical Center, showed where the hippocampus, which plays major roles in short-term memory and emotions, had atrophied. The red swatches marked hyperfusion - increased blood flow - in the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for conflict resolution and decision-making. Compared with a soldier without the affliction, the PTSD brain had lost 5 to 10 percent of its gray matter volume, indicating yet more neuron damage.
Schuff, who was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt just as colorful as the brain images he'd brought, reminded his colleagues that while his findings were preliminary and the trials ongoing, researchers were at least inching closer to finding the biological markers that distinguish a brain affected by PTSD. As the technology of brain imaging improves and the resulting data are refined, doctors believe that one day they will be able to look at a computer screen and see PTSD as clearly as they now see a brain tumor.
"But we're still in the infancy of neuroimaging," Schuff cautioned later in his office. "Do you get PTSD because you have a small hippocampus? Or does a small hippocampus mean you'll develop PTSD? That, we still don't know."
go here for more
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/27/MNH611UUP5.DTL
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