Bringing the war back home ...
Growing numbers of war-traumatised US servicemen are going on the rampage. so what is the army doing to help its damaged GIs?
From Andrew Purcell in New York
BEFORE HE went on the rampage, John Russell was showing such obvious signs of combat-related stress that he should have been sent home from Iraq, according to military mental health professionals. The army sergeant, who killed five fellow soldiers at a clinic at Camp Liberty in Baghdad on Monday, was nearing the end of his third tour of duty. That he was still in a war zone despite his superiors knowing he was a threat to himself and others is a symptom of the institutional pressure to keep damaged men fighting.
Floyd "Shad" Meshad, director of charity the US National Veterans Foundation, was an army medic in Vietnam, where he counselled soldiers in the field suffering from combat-related stress.
"It's clear that this situation was escalating and sending this guy back for a third tour was just insane," he told the Sunday Herald. "If they see any sign of breaking or snapping they need to remove soldiers completely out of the combat zone and get them into professional care. That's the bottom line."
John Keaveney, a Scot who joined the US Army during the Vietnam war and now runs a veterans support organisation in California, believes that unless the military improves its mental health treatment, there will be similar massacres - but this time of civilians back home, not fellow GIs in a combat zone.
"It'll be a recurring theme," he said. "You have to understand how desperate a person has to be to get a gun and to kill something snapped inside of him, his mental pain became unbearable and he thought that maybe lashing out at people would bring attention to the fact that he was injured."
Russell's commanding officer had confiscated his weapon a week earlier because of concerns about his mental state, but on the way out of the clinic, he wrestled a gun from the staff sergeant who was escorting him, returned inside and began killing, apparently indiscriminately. Two of the dead were officer counsellors, including a volunteer psychiatrist from the army reserve. Three others were enlisted men.
Russell's comrades said that he was angry because his nightmares and constant anxiety were not taken seriously. His father, Wilburn Russell, claimed he had been sent to the clinic for punishment, not treatment. "I think they broke him," he said.
In an email, John Russell had said he was worried he would be dishonourably discharged, losing his salary and army pension, soon after taking out a mortgage on a house in Sherman, Texas.
A career soldier with the 54th Engineering Battalion, Russell had served in Kosovo and Bosnia. His specialism, salvaging robots used to destroy roadside bombs, meant that he saw "a lot of carnage and things he shouldn't have seen", according to his father. He lived in Germany, but on visits back to family in Texas he was perceptibly different - more nervous and unpredictable with each deployment. "Nobody should have to go three times. They should've realised that," his father said.
go here for more
Bringing the war back home
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What are you doing this Memorial Day?
This Memorial Day, I'll be doing the usual. Working on the blog and reading stories from across the country, thinking about my Dad, uncles, my husband's Dad and uncles. All of them gone, remembered by head stones and flags for this day. Remember them however is something I do a lot ore than once a year.
I'll be thinking about the men and women I've posted on over the years, maybe look back on some of their stories but one will stick out more than all others. Capt. Agnes "Irish" Bresnahan of New Hampshire. She passed away in Washington DC after another hearing on her VA claim. It was March 11th and it still feels as if I just got the news. The pain of losing her will not seem to fade and at times, grows even stronger. She fought so hard for other veterans and dedicated the rest of her life to helping them, even though she never managed to help herself on her own claim. She support them, gave them hope, compassion, understanding and a shoulder to cry on. A few of them, well, she managed to save their lives when they didn't want to live anymore. So many things she did over the years few will ever know. I miss my friend beyond what words can express.
The other difference between this and every other year is that I'll be back from Washington DC. Thursday we're leaving for Washington on a bike trip from Florida to DC with the Nam Knights and Rolling Thunder to the Wall. I've never seen it before. When we moved to Florida, the WWII Memorial was dedicated in 2004, so there was no chance we could stop on the way. Not that my husband could have taken seeing it before but this year, he feels he's ready.
There is a little secret about the Wall few talk about and that is how powerful this Wall is. Some veterans are just not prepared for it. A veteran I was helping crashed emotionally after going to it. He had never before realized he had a problem with PTSD until he stood in front of the Wall and his life changed in that moment. This has happened to more veterans but no one seems to be willing to talk about it because the vast majority of veteran feel somehow soothed by it. I don't know how I'll feel myself after seeing it but I know I'll be standing by my husband's side when he does.
Memorial Day is the time when we reflect on the sacrifices of the men and women paying with their lives to serve this country, but we never think of how many others paid with their lives also because they served the country but did not die in combat or a recognized wound. PTSD took too many other lives but had they thought of adding the names to any of the memorials in Washington, there wouldn't be very much room left over for cars. They say that if they added on the up to 200,000 veterans that committed suicide and those who died of Agent Orange, the Wall would end up four times the size but I think they're underestimating.
Irish had both. She had PTSD and Agent Orange illnesses. The fact her name will not be on the Wall when I finally see the real thing, well, that will be part of my thoughts that day, just as every other day but on this day especially, I will be thinking of her. This Memorial Day as you stop to honor the lives gone make sure you also watch over the lives we still have with us here and in honor of the fallen, make sure you do all you can for the living before a Memorial Day comes and they too are but a memory for you.
I'll be thinking about the men and women I've posted on over the years, maybe look back on some of their stories but one will stick out more than all others. Capt. Agnes "Irish" Bresnahan of New Hampshire. She passed away in Washington DC after another hearing on her VA claim. It was March 11th and it still feels as if I just got the news. The pain of losing her will not seem to fade and at times, grows even stronger. She fought so hard for other veterans and dedicated the rest of her life to helping them, even though she never managed to help herself on her own claim. She support them, gave them hope, compassion, understanding and a shoulder to cry on. A few of them, well, she managed to save their lives when they didn't want to live anymore. So many things she did over the years few will ever know. I miss my friend beyond what words can express.
The other difference between this and every other year is that I'll be back from Washington DC. Thursday we're leaving for Washington on a bike trip from Florida to DC with the Nam Knights and Rolling Thunder to the Wall. I've never seen it before. When we moved to Florida, the WWII Memorial was dedicated in 2004, so there was no chance we could stop on the way. Not that my husband could have taken seeing it before but this year, he feels he's ready.
There is a little secret about the Wall few talk about and that is how powerful this Wall is. Some veterans are just not prepared for it. A veteran I was helping crashed emotionally after going to it. He had never before realized he had a problem with PTSD until he stood in front of the Wall and his life changed in that moment. This has happened to more veterans but no one seems to be willing to talk about it because the vast majority of veteran feel somehow soothed by it. I don't know how I'll feel myself after seeing it but I know I'll be standing by my husband's side when he does.
Memorial Day is the time when we reflect on the sacrifices of the men and women paying with their lives to serve this country, but we never think of how many others paid with their lives also because they served the country but did not die in combat or a recognized wound. PTSD took too many other lives but had they thought of adding the names to any of the memorials in Washington, there wouldn't be very much room left over for cars. They say that if they added on the up to 200,000 veterans that committed suicide and those who died of Agent Orange, the Wall would end up four times the size but I think they're underestimating.
Irish had both. She had PTSD and Agent Orange illnesses. The fact her name will not be on the Wall when I finally see the real thing, well, that will be part of my thoughts that day, just as every other day but on this day especially, I will be thinking of her. This Memorial Day as you stop to honor the lives gone make sure you also watch over the lives we still have with us here and in honor of the fallen, make sure you do all you can for the living before a Memorial Day comes and they too are but a memory for you.
Seacoast veterans sit on N.H. Guard panel on Vietnam War
Seacoast veterans sit on N.H. Guard panel on Vietnam War
Veterans to give talk on Vietnam
By Joshua Clark
news@seacoastonline.com
May 19, 2009 6:00 AM
CONCORD — Four days before the country officially celebrates Memorial Day, a group of N.H. Army National Guard veterans will meet in Concord to remember and discuss their experiences during the Vietnam War.
The eight-member panel includes veterans John Sullivan of Portsmouth, Bill Toland of Exeter and John Barvenik of North Hampton. In honor of the 40th anniversary of their tour of duty in 1969, members of the 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery, will share their experiences on Thursday as the only N.H. Army National Guard unit to serve in Vietnam.
Toland, a retired Exeter fire chief, said while this will mark the first time he has been part of a Guard forum, he has spoken publicly on his experiences as a medic in Vietnam on numerous occasions.
From high school students to those preparing to leave for the Gulf War, Toland has shared his insight and provided depictions of "things that happen in real life the movies don't capture," such as details about the sounds and smell of warfare.
"They'll learn a lot more about Vietnam," he said, "and hopefully walk away with a different perspective."
go here for more
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090519-NEWS-905190379
Veterans to give talk on Vietnam
By Joshua Clark
news@seacoastonline.com
May 19, 2009 6:00 AM
CONCORD — Four days before the country officially celebrates Memorial Day, a group of N.H. Army National Guard veterans will meet in Concord to remember and discuss their experiences during the Vietnam War.
The eight-member panel includes veterans John Sullivan of Portsmouth, Bill Toland of Exeter and John Barvenik of North Hampton. In honor of the 40th anniversary of their tour of duty in 1969, members of the 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery, will share their experiences on Thursday as the only N.H. Army National Guard unit to serve in Vietnam.
Toland, a retired Exeter fire chief, said while this will mark the first time he has been part of a Guard forum, he has spoken publicly on his experiences as a medic in Vietnam on numerous occasions.
From high school students to those preparing to leave for the Gulf War, Toland has shared his insight and provided depictions of "things that happen in real life the movies don't capture," such as details about the sounds and smell of warfare.
"They'll learn a lot more about Vietnam," he said, "and hopefully walk away with a different perspective."
go here for more
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090519-NEWS-905190379
Seattle hospital teaches meditation to troubled vets
Seattle hospital teaches meditation to troubled vets
The Seattle veterans hospital is teaching patients a form of meditation to ease their post-traumatic stress disorder. The technique called mindfulness-based stress reduction helps patients deal with anxiety, chronic pain and other health issues.
By Michelle Ma
Seattle Times staff reporter
After four combat tours — two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan — normal life seemed impossible for one Seattle Army veteran.
His heart raced when driving under an overpass, and he had trouble breathing when stuck in snarled traffic. As a soldier in combat, he wouldn't dare slow down for fear of being bombed or shot.
Crowded rooms were just as bad. He locked himself away at home and drank instead of facing large groups or loud, sudden noises. He responded to the slightest sense of threat with all-out aggression.
Last summer, the 34-year-old sergeant sought help at the Seattle veterans hospital, enrolling in group and individual therapy and starting medication to treat what doctors diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He also practices a form of meditation he learned through the VA Puget Sound Health Care System that has eased the horrific memories that bombarded his mind.
go here for more
Seattle hospital teaches meditation to troubled vets
The Seattle veterans hospital is teaching patients a form of meditation to ease their post-traumatic stress disorder. The technique called mindfulness-based stress reduction helps patients deal with anxiety, chronic pain and other health issues.
By Michelle Ma
Seattle Times staff reporter
After four combat tours — two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan — normal life seemed impossible for one Seattle Army veteran.
His heart raced when driving under an overpass, and he had trouble breathing when stuck in snarled traffic. As a soldier in combat, he wouldn't dare slow down for fear of being bombed or shot.
Crowded rooms were just as bad. He locked himself away at home and drank instead of facing large groups or loud, sudden noises. He responded to the slightest sense of threat with all-out aggression.
Last summer, the 34-year-old sergeant sought help at the Seattle veterans hospital, enrolling in group and individual therapy and starting medication to treat what doctors diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He also practices a form of meditation he learned through the VA Puget Sound Health Care System that has eased the horrific memories that bombarded his mind.
go here for more
Seattle hospital teaches meditation to troubled vets
Veteran claims PTSD in court
Veteran claims PTSD in court
May 19, 2009
By STEWART WARREN swarren@scn1.com
JOLIET — Almost three years ago, William B. Linley barricaded himself in his Bolingbrook home and fired hundreds of rounds at police.
None of the officers were hurt. But nearby homes and businesses were evacuated and the Federal Aviation Administration declared a "no-fly" zone in the airspace above the Hunters Trail neighborhood near Illinois 53.
Ten hours later, the former Marine surrendered after a police officer shot him in the arm.
Linley, 43, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, criminal damage to state property, armed violence, knowingly damaging state property and reckless discharge of a firearm. He was taken to the Will County jail and still is being held there on $300,000 bond.
go here for more
Veteran claims PTSD in court
May 19, 2009
By STEWART WARREN swarren@scn1.com
JOLIET — Almost three years ago, William B. Linley barricaded himself in his Bolingbrook home and fired hundreds of rounds at police.
None of the officers were hurt. But nearby homes and businesses were evacuated and the Federal Aviation Administration declared a "no-fly" zone in the airspace above the Hunters Trail neighborhood near Illinois 53.
Ten hours later, the former Marine surrendered after a police officer shot him in the arm.
Linley, 43, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, criminal damage to state property, armed violence, knowingly damaging state property and reckless discharge of a firearm. He was taken to the Will County jail and still is being held there on $300,000 bond.
go here for more
Veteran claims PTSD in court
Sanford woman settles lawsuit in flesh-eating-bacteria case
Sanford woman settles lawsuit in flesh-eating-bacteria case
Rene Stutzman Sentinel Staff Writer
6:51 PM EDT, May 18, 2009
SANFORD - The mother who entered a Longwood maternity ward, delivered a healthy baby boy and suddenly became so sick with flesh-eating bacteria that doctors wound up amputating both arms and legs has settled her lawsuit against the hospital.
Claudia Mejia Edwards of Sanford, will receive an undisclosed sum from Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc., now called Orlando Health, according to court records. So will the baby she delivered, Matthew Edwards, 4, and her older son, Jorge Mejia Valle, a fifth grader.
The amount is a secret, said her attorney, Ron Gilbert. Hospital company Jennings L. Hurt III on Monday confirmed the settlement but declined comment.
Mejia, 27, was admitted to Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital in Longwood on April 28, 2005, and that morning delivered a healthy boy, Matthew.
Over the next few hours, she developed a rash, fever, chills and other symptoms, according to her suit. The next day, she was in extreme pain, but the hospital tried to discharge her, according to the suit. Her husband, Timothy B. Edwards, refused to leave.
The day after that, doctors performed exploratory surgery and discovered gangrene in her belly.
She was transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center, but her condition worsened. She went into shock, lost consciousness and her kidneys began to shut down.
Doctors eventually concluded her body was being ravaged by flesh-eating bacteria, also known as Group A Streptococcal infection. They amputated all four limbs, hoping to save her life.
go here for more
Sanford woman settles lawsuit in flesh-eating-bacteria case
Rene Stutzman Sentinel Staff Writer
6:51 PM EDT, May 18, 2009
SANFORD - The mother who entered a Longwood maternity ward, delivered a healthy baby boy and suddenly became so sick with flesh-eating bacteria that doctors wound up amputating both arms and legs has settled her lawsuit against the hospital.
Claudia Mejia Edwards of Sanford, will receive an undisclosed sum from Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc., now called Orlando Health, according to court records. So will the baby she delivered, Matthew Edwards, 4, and her older son, Jorge Mejia Valle, a fifth grader.
The amount is a secret, said her attorney, Ron Gilbert. Hospital company Jennings L. Hurt III on Monday confirmed the settlement but declined comment.
Mejia, 27, was admitted to Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital in Longwood on April 28, 2005, and that morning delivered a healthy boy, Matthew.
Over the next few hours, she developed a rash, fever, chills and other symptoms, according to her suit. The next day, she was in extreme pain, but the hospital tried to discharge her, according to the suit. Her husband, Timothy B. Edwards, refused to leave.
The day after that, doctors performed exploratory surgery and discovered gangrene in her belly.
She was transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center, but her condition worsened. She went into shock, lost consciousness and her kidneys began to shut down.
Doctors eventually concluded her body was being ravaged by flesh-eating bacteria, also known as Group A Streptococcal infection. They amputated all four limbs, hoping to save her life.
go here for more
Sanford woman settles lawsuit in flesh-eating-bacteria case
House Subcommittee Reviews Appellate Process for Veterans
House Subcommittee Reviews Appellate Process for Veterans
Written by Imperial Valley News
Monday, 18 May 2009
Washington, DC - The House Veterans’ Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, led by Chairman John Hall (D-NY), conducted a hearing to continue its oversight of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA), the Appeals Management Center (AMC), and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).
The hearing focused on the efficiency and effectiveness of the agencies tasked with handling appeals filed by veterans pertaining to claims for benefits initiated at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“The process a veteran goes through when filing an appeal is a never ending story that this Subcommittee has heard many times before,” said Chairman Hall. “A new claim is more like a short story. Upon submission, it can be developed and rated in about six months. However, if a veteran disagrees with the VA decision and files an appeal, then it becomes an epic tale that can go on for years or even decades. Our goal today is to learn more about the causes of delays in order to improve the administrative and judicial appeals processes to more efficiently serve veterans.”
At the hearing, Members heard the frustrations that veterans and survivors encounter waiting months and years on an appeal decision. Veterans who are denied or have benefits delayed as a result often face socioeconomic hardships, lack access to medical care, and miss opportunities to take advantage of other benefits that would come with service connection, such as vocational rehabilitation, life insurance or housing allowances. Veterans also find traveling to Washington, DC or even a Regional Office (RO) for a personal hearing with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to be cost prohibitive and travel boards often are difficult to schedule.
click link for more
Written by Imperial Valley News
Monday, 18 May 2009
Washington, DC - The House Veterans’ Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, led by Chairman John Hall (D-NY), conducted a hearing to continue its oversight of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA), the Appeals Management Center (AMC), and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).
The hearing focused on the efficiency and effectiveness of the agencies tasked with handling appeals filed by veterans pertaining to claims for benefits initiated at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“The process a veteran goes through when filing an appeal is a never ending story that this Subcommittee has heard many times before,” said Chairman Hall. “A new claim is more like a short story. Upon submission, it can be developed and rated in about six months. However, if a veteran disagrees with the VA decision and files an appeal, then it becomes an epic tale that can go on for years or even decades. Our goal today is to learn more about the causes of delays in order to improve the administrative and judicial appeals processes to more efficiently serve veterans.”
At the hearing, Members heard the frustrations that veterans and survivors encounter waiting months and years on an appeal decision. Veterans who are denied or have benefits delayed as a result often face socioeconomic hardships, lack access to medical care, and miss opportunities to take advantage of other benefits that would come with service connection, such as vocational rehabilitation, life insurance or housing allowances. Veterans also find traveling to Washington, DC or even a Regional Office (RO) for a personal hearing with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to be cost prohibitive and travel boards often are difficult to schedule.
click link for more
Police: Unidentified 'Baby Justice' buried in playground sand
Police: Unidentified 'Baby Justice' buried in playground sand
Story Highlights
Boy found Friday at Alvarado Park buried under sand in playground
Police say nobody has been reported missing, nobody has claimed body
Nobody knows name of boy dubbed "Baby Justice" or "Baby Angel"
No cause of death for boy who may be Native American or Hispanic
By Mallory Simon
CNN
(CNN) -- Walking through an Albuquerque, New Mexico, park a passerby made a startling discovery -- a tiny black and lime shoe protruding from beneath the playground sand.
It led police to the body of a young boy, who had been buried there in a shallow grave less than 48 hours earlier.
That was Friday.
On Tuesday, police still had no answers as to what happened at Alvarado Park -- or even who the boy was.
His name is unknown, though the community has dubbed him "Baby Justice" or "Baby Angel." Nobody in the area has claimed his body, and nobody has reported a child of his age missing.
Police said they couldn't even show a photo or give a sketch of the boy because his body was so disfigured by the sand's heat.
All they have is a description based on how they found him.
Police say the Native American or Hispanic boy was between 3 and 5 years old, 38 pounds, 38 inches in height, with brown eyes and dark quarter-inch hair. When he was found, he was wearing Arizona brand clothing, size 3T -- nylon black running pants with red stripes, a red shirt with a monster truck on it and black, gray and lime green Skechers sneakers.
Police aren't sure how he died.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/19/nm.buried.boy/index.html
Story Highlights
Boy found Friday at Alvarado Park buried under sand in playground
Police say nobody has been reported missing, nobody has claimed body
Nobody knows name of boy dubbed "Baby Justice" or "Baby Angel"
No cause of death for boy who may be Native American or Hispanic
By Mallory Simon
CNN
(CNN) -- Walking through an Albuquerque, New Mexico, park a passerby made a startling discovery -- a tiny black and lime shoe protruding from beneath the playground sand.
It led police to the body of a young boy, who had been buried there in a shallow grave less than 48 hours earlier.
That was Friday.
On Tuesday, police still had no answers as to what happened at Alvarado Park -- or even who the boy was.
His name is unknown, though the community has dubbed him "Baby Justice" or "Baby Angel." Nobody in the area has claimed his body, and nobody has reported a child of his age missing.
Police said they couldn't even show a photo or give a sketch of the boy because his body was so disfigured by the sand's heat.
All they have is a description based on how they found him.
Police say the Native American or Hispanic boy was between 3 and 5 years old, 38 pounds, 38 inches in height, with brown eyes and dark quarter-inch hair. When he was found, he was wearing Arizona brand clothing, size 3T -- nylon black running pants with red stripes, a red shirt with a monster truck on it and black, gray and lime green Skechers sneakers.
Police aren't sure how he died.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/19/nm.buried.boy/index.html
Veterans Get 1st Visit To WW II Memorial
Veterans Get 1st Visit To WW II Memorial
'First Coast Honor Air' Provides Trip To Retired Servicemen
POSTED: Monday, May 18, 2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A little more than a week before Memorial Day, a group of 40 World War Two veterans from northeast Florida took a special trip to Washington, D.C., to see the memorial honoring their war efforts.
Paul Casteel was among those who went to the nation's capitol, thanks to a group known as Honor Air. Casteel, a Navy veteran, said he'd seen a lot in his day. During the war, he saw American troops die, fighting for their country. "It was so bad over there that you can't imagine."
Casteel's seen Marines storm the beaches of Iwo Jima and he's seen the ship he served on nearly sink. "We were torpedoed, bombed, strafed," he said.
On May 16, Casteel got to see a token of the American people's appreciation for veterans like him, for the first time. The 40 veterans from the Jacksonville area joined others who had traveled to D.C. this weekend, from around the country.
go here for more
http://www.news4jax.com/news/19496894/detail.html
Jury convicts Akron man in shooting of Marine
Jury convicts Akron man in shooting of Marine
By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A 21-year-old Akron man was found guilty Monday of all charges in the shooting and robbery of a Marine veteran last summer at an Akron gas station.
Breshaun Nichols showed no reaction as guilty verdicts were read in the courtroom of Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tom Parker. Nichols was convicted of attempted murder, aggravated robbery and felonious assault, all with gun specifications.
The jury deliberated less than two hours to reach its verdicts.
Nichols was convicted of robbing and shooting 25-year-old Richard Dawson of Springfield Township at a Circle K gas station at Arlington Street and Wilbeth Road on June 13.
Dawson, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, received a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in January 2004 in Afghanistan.
Dawson testified that he had purchased a soda and was going to fill up his truck on his way to work as a welder when he was assaulted.
Nichols, who did not testify, also was convicted of having a weapon illegally.
He will be sentenced at 10 a.m. June 24.
go here for more
Jury convicts Akron man in shooting of Marine
By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A 21-year-old Akron man was found guilty Monday of all charges in the shooting and robbery of a Marine veteran last summer at an Akron gas station.
Breshaun Nichols showed no reaction as guilty verdicts were read in the courtroom of Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tom Parker. Nichols was convicted of attempted murder, aggravated robbery and felonious assault, all with gun specifications.
The jury deliberated less than two hours to reach its verdicts.
Nichols was convicted of robbing and shooting 25-year-old Richard Dawson of Springfield Township at a Circle K gas station at Arlington Street and Wilbeth Road on June 13.
Dawson, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, received a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in January 2004 in Afghanistan.
Dawson testified that he had purchased a soda and was going to fill up his truck on his way to work as a welder when he was assaulted.
Nichols, who did not testify, also was convicted of having a weapon illegally.
He will be sentenced at 10 a.m. June 24.
go here for more
Jury convicts Akron man in shooting of Marine
Former Marine Fights Homelessness In Face Of Economy
Former Marine Fights Homelessness In Face Of Economy
Posted: May 18, 2009 07:26 PM EDT
MARINA, Calif.- For 37-year-old Raymond Lavorico, life nowadays is far different from the battlegrounds of Iraq, where he fought both as a Marine and worked as an Army Reservist.
"This is actually harder than that," said Lavorico, referring to the challenges he faces now as a father and husband looking for work during a time when the U.S. unemployment rate is at the highest since the Great Depression.
Lavorico said these are the toughest times he's facing now as he looks for a full time job and tries to keep his wife and three boys off the streets.
"I work very hard, constantly hitting the pavement, going and calling and seeing people who might have a job, I go to job fairs, show my resume."
Lavorico said he applied for everything and anything. During the last two interviews he's had, Lavorico said he's been turned away because of his time in the service.
go here for more
http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10383771
Posted: May 18, 2009 07:26 PM EDT
MARINA, Calif.- For 37-year-old Raymond Lavorico, life nowadays is far different from the battlegrounds of Iraq, where he fought both as a Marine and worked as an Army Reservist.
"This is actually harder than that," said Lavorico, referring to the challenges he faces now as a father and husband looking for work during a time when the U.S. unemployment rate is at the highest since the Great Depression.
Lavorico said these are the toughest times he's facing now as he looks for a full time job and tries to keep his wife and three boys off the streets.
"I work very hard, constantly hitting the pavement, going and calling and seeing people who might have a job, I go to job fairs, show my resume."
Lavorico said he applied for everything and anything. During the last two interviews he's had, Lavorico said he's been turned away because of his time in the service.
go here for more
http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10383771
CONTRACTORS WORKING IN WAR ZONES UNAWARE OF MENTAL HEALTH RISKS
May 19, 2009 08:01 ET
CONTRACTORS WORKING IN WAR ZONES UNAWARE OF MENTAL HEALTH RISKS
Market Wire (press release) - USA
Attention: Assignment Editor, Health/Medical Editor, Media Editor, News Editor, Photo Editor
TORONTO, ONTARIO, MEDIA ADVISORY--(Marketwire - May 19, 2009) - While there have been a number of studies examining the psychological health of soldiers returning home from war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, a new study is the first of its kind to take a closer look at the mental health of contractors working in war zones.
"Like soldiers, there is a significant number of contractors who suffer from post-traumatic stress when returning home from a war zone," says Dr. Anthony Feinstein, lead investigator of the study and a neuropsychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. "Our study shows that there is little in place to educate contractors on the psychological risks they may face in conflict zones and they are not receiving appropriate help when they return home."
After seven years into a war in Afghanistan and five years into a war in Iraq, this study is the first of its kind to present empirical data on this particular group of individuals working in a war zone.
It is estimated that up to 126,000 contractors are currently working in Iraq. Unofficial estimates put their death toll at a little over 1,000, with nearly 13,000 injured in the past six years. The average number of traumatic events faced by this group is double that reported by front-line journalists.
click link for more
CONTRACTORS WORKING IN WAR ZONES UNAWARE OF MENTAL HEALTH RISKS
Market Wire (press release) - USA
Attention: Assignment Editor, Health/Medical Editor, Media Editor, News Editor, Photo Editor
TORONTO, ONTARIO, MEDIA ADVISORY--(Marketwire - May 19, 2009) - While there have been a number of studies examining the psychological health of soldiers returning home from war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, a new study is the first of its kind to take a closer look at the mental health of contractors working in war zones.
"Like soldiers, there is a significant number of contractors who suffer from post-traumatic stress when returning home from a war zone," says Dr. Anthony Feinstein, lead investigator of the study and a neuropsychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. "Our study shows that there is little in place to educate contractors on the psychological risks they may face in conflict zones and they are not receiving appropriate help when they return home."
After seven years into a war in Afghanistan and five years into a war in Iraq, this study is the first of its kind to present empirical data on this particular group of individuals working in a war zone.
It is estimated that up to 126,000 contractors are currently working in Iraq. Unofficial estimates put their death toll at a little over 1,000, with nearly 13,000 injured in the past six years. The average number of traumatic events faced by this group is double that reported by front-line journalists.
click link for more
"Vets' Sudden Cardiac Deaths Are Not Suicides or Overdoses" says doctor
Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD Announces: Vets' Sudden Cardiac Deaths Are Not Suicides or Overdoses
EL CAJON, Calif., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD today announced the results of his research into the "series" of veterans' deaths acknowledged by the Surgeon General of the Army.
Upon reading the May 24, 2008, Charleston (WV) Gazette article "Vets taking Post Traumatic Stress Disorder drugs die in sleep," Baughman began to investigate why these reported deaths were "different." And, why they were likely, the "tip of an iceberg."
Andrew White, Eric Layne, Nicholas Endicott and Derek Johnson were four West Virginia veterans who died in their sleep in early 2008. Baughman's research suggests that they did not commit suicide and did not overdose as suggested by the military. All were diagnosed with PTSD. All seemed "normal" when they went to bed. And, all were on Klonopin (a benzodiazepine), Paxil (an SSRI antidepressant) and Seroquel (an antipsychotic).
On January 15, 2009, the New England Journal of Medicine (Ray et al), reported that antipsychotics double the risk of sudden cardiac death.
On February 7, 2008, Surgeon General Eric B. Schoomaker, said there has been "a series of deaths in Warrior Training Units" -- "often as a consequence of the use of multiple prescription and nonprescription medicines and alcohol ... we all saw the unfortunate death of Heath Ledger, the 'Brokeback Mountain' star, who died from an accidental overdose."
But Ledger was not on any heart-toxic medication. When found, his pulse and respirations were intact! When found, none of the veterans were breathing or had pulse. There's, most likely, were sudden cardiac deaths!
go here for more
Vets Sudden Cardiac Deaths Are Not Suicides or Overdoses
=
EL CAJON, Calif., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD today announced the results of his research into the "series" of veterans' deaths acknowledged by the Surgeon General of the Army.
Upon reading the May 24, 2008, Charleston (WV) Gazette article "Vets taking Post Traumatic Stress Disorder drugs die in sleep," Baughman began to investigate why these reported deaths were "different." And, why they were likely, the "tip of an iceberg."
Andrew White, Eric Layne, Nicholas Endicott and Derek Johnson were four West Virginia veterans who died in their sleep in early 2008. Baughman's research suggests that they did not commit suicide and did not overdose as suggested by the military. All were diagnosed with PTSD. All seemed "normal" when they went to bed. And, all were on Klonopin (a benzodiazepine), Paxil (an SSRI antidepressant) and Seroquel (an antipsychotic).
On January 15, 2009, the New England Journal of Medicine (Ray et al), reported that antipsychotics double the risk of sudden cardiac death.
On February 7, 2008, Surgeon General Eric B. Schoomaker, said there has been "a series of deaths in Warrior Training Units" -- "often as a consequence of the use of multiple prescription and nonprescription medicines and alcohol ... we all saw the unfortunate death of Heath Ledger, the 'Brokeback Mountain' star, who died from an accidental overdose."
But Ledger was not on any heart-toxic medication. When found, his pulse and respirations were intact! When found, none of the veterans were breathing or had pulse. There's, most likely, were sudden cardiac deaths!
go here for more
Vets Sudden Cardiac Deaths Are Not Suicides or Overdoses
=
Monday, May 18, 2009
Military needs new mindset to help soldiers adjust
They need to not only think outside of the box, they have to first know what filled the box in the first place. Over thirty years ago, they had a better understanding of PTSD than ever before even though under different titles, it was the same wound mankind has suffered from since the beginning of time. The difference was Vietnam veterans were not about to return to their homes and suffer in silence with it. They had done enough suffering already. Their fathers came back from WWII with it and their grandfathers came back from WWI with it. Their cousins and older brothers came back from Korean with it and they were not about to just "suck it up" and "get over it" the way the other generations did, or thought they did, because it was clear they were not the same person they were before they went into combat.
A lot of them raised hell over it and made sure the VA took care of them, all of them. The problem was even though people in the mental health field knew what was going on, the general public didn't. Too many Vietnam veterans and their families never got the word and never had what they needed to know to heal this wound caused by trauma. There are still Vietnam veterans showing up at the VA for the first time because they either finally know what caused their suffering or they were forced to face it. Even some WWII and Korean veterans are presenting for the first time seeking help and this is a good thing but the bad thing is they are sent to the back of the line so that the newer veterans can be treated first.
Back when the Vietnam veterans pushed for changes, there were veterans centers across the country offering counseling viewed as "friendly" and not part of the VA. The veterans felt more able to talk because they didn't trust anything associated with the government. Considering what happened when they were serving, it would have been very hard for them to trust anything connected to Uncle Sam. The government understood this and supported the centers. Even organizations like the Disabled American Veterans were not turned to at first because there was the assumption they were connected to the government instead of just able to deal with the government. There was also the issue of them not being welcomed back then by the established organizations. They turned around and started their own organization much like today's veterans are beginning their own.
VA clinics and hospitals ran support groups for the families of the PTSD veterans before book were in the self-help sections of book stores. There was a lot being done back then and now that the need is so great, better reporting by local newspapers offering accounts of PTSD and more accessibility to information on the Internet, they developed their own communication system to support each other. This has been going on since before most of the "experts" on PTSD were even born.
So it would be a great start if they finally figured out what we already know and then maybe someone could ask us what mistakes we already made so we can stop being disgusted they are making the same mistakes we already learned our lessons from. A new mindset? Oh please, try the old one first because we already figured out what works!
A lot of them raised hell over it and made sure the VA took care of them, all of them. The problem was even though people in the mental health field knew what was going on, the general public didn't. Too many Vietnam veterans and their families never got the word and never had what they needed to know to heal this wound caused by trauma. There are still Vietnam veterans showing up at the VA for the first time because they either finally know what caused their suffering or they were forced to face it. Even some WWII and Korean veterans are presenting for the first time seeking help and this is a good thing but the bad thing is they are sent to the back of the line so that the newer veterans can be treated first.
Back when the Vietnam veterans pushed for changes, there were veterans centers across the country offering counseling viewed as "friendly" and not part of the VA. The veterans felt more able to talk because they didn't trust anything associated with the government. Considering what happened when they were serving, it would have been very hard for them to trust anything connected to Uncle Sam. The government understood this and supported the centers. Even organizations like the Disabled American Veterans were not turned to at first because there was the assumption they were connected to the government instead of just able to deal with the government. There was also the issue of them not being welcomed back then by the established organizations. They turned around and started their own organization much like today's veterans are beginning their own.
VA clinics and hospitals ran support groups for the families of the PTSD veterans before book were in the self-help sections of book stores. There was a lot being done back then and now that the need is so great, better reporting by local newspapers offering accounts of PTSD and more accessibility to information on the Internet, they developed their own communication system to support each other. This has been going on since before most of the "experts" on PTSD were even born.
So it would be a great start if they finally figured out what we already know and then maybe someone could ask us what mistakes we already made so we can stop being disgusted they are making the same mistakes we already learned our lessons from. A new mindset? Oh please, try the old one first because we already figured out what works!
Military needs new mindset to help soldiers adjust
A column by Kevin Leininger
of The News-Sentinel
Just days after an Army sergeant killed five fellow soldiers at a military stress center in Baghdad, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen acknowledged the obvious need to “redouble our efforts in terms of dealing with” the psychology of modern warfare.
But Leslie Haines fears those words will ring dangerously hollow unless the military fundamentally changes its traditional response to mental illness – an approach that subordinates the well-being of individual soldiers to the needs of the unit.
The epiphany came earlier this month while attending a seminar in Bethesda, Md., for mental-health workers dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder but, to Haines, the source of the inspiration was as surprising as it was disappointing.
“A chaplain said, ‘We don’t need to send (soldiers with PTSD) home. We can fix it in the field.’ That made me realize his primary client is the military and its need to keep boots on the ground. But if nothing changes, what kind of soldiers will we have on the ground?” said Haines, an Army reservist and founder of the Lutheran Military Veterans and Families Ministries. The year-old Fort Wayne-based organization provides Christ-centered counseling to veterans and their families.
The realization that war inflicts invisible scars is nothing new, as evidenced by the evolution of terminology from shell shock, to battle fatigue, to PTSD. But the changing nature of warfare and the military have conspired to create a unique mental-health threat that demands a new and more individualistic response, Haines said.
go here for more
Military needs new mindset to help soldiers adjust
Bakersfield dad accused of biting out son's eye
Bakersfield dad accused of biting out son's eye
BY STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer
sswenson@bakersfield.com
Friday, May 15 2009 10:27 AM
A Bakersfield father is accused of biting out one of the eyes of his small child and similarly mutilating the other eye, leaving the child blind.
After attacking the child, 34-year-old Angel Vidal Mendoza Sr. quickly left his apartment in a wheelchair, entered a backyard of a nearby vacant home and attacked his own legs with an ax, severely injuring himself, Bakersfield police reported.
The child, 4-year-old Angelo Mendoza Jr., later told police, "My daddy ate my eyes."
Doctors at Mercy Hospital said it is unknown whether the child will regain vision in his right eye.
go here for more
Bakersfield dad accused of biting out sons eye
linked from
Father, High on PCP, Eats Son's Eyeballs Out - Boing Boing By Xeni Jardin
BY STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer
sswenson@bakersfield.com
Friday, May 15 2009 10:27 AM
A Bakersfield father is accused of biting out one of the eyes of his small child and similarly mutilating the other eye, leaving the child blind.
After attacking the child, 34-year-old Angel Vidal Mendoza Sr. quickly left his apartment in a wheelchair, entered a backyard of a nearby vacant home and attacked his own legs with an ax, severely injuring himself, Bakersfield police reported.
The child, 4-year-old Angelo Mendoza Jr., later told police, "My daddy ate my eyes."
Doctors at Mercy Hospital said it is unknown whether the child will regain vision in his right eye.
go here for more
Bakersfield dad accused of biting out sons eye
linked from
Father, High on PCP, Eats Son's Eyeballs Out - Boing Boing By Xeni Jardin
Investigation sought into POW discrepancies
Investigation sought into POW discrepancies
The Associated Press
DENVER—Reps. Mike Coffman of Colorado and Jim Marshall of Georgia have asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate whether some veterans are falsely claiming to have been prisoners of war.
Coffman, a Republican, and Marshall, a Democrat, sent the request to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki on Monday.
The Associated Press reported in April that the Department of Defense has identified a total of about 580 surviving POWs from the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War in 1991, but the VA is paying disability benefits to about 1,250 purported POWs.
Coffman is a Marine veteran of the first Gulf War who also served in Iraq. Marshall served in Vietnam with the Army.
go here for more
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_12395601?source=rss
The Associated Press
DENVER—Reps. Mike Coffman of Colorado and Jim Marshall of Georgia have asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate whether some veterans are falsely claiming to have been prisoners of war.
Coffman, a Republican, and Marshall, a Democrat, sent the request to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki on Monday.
The Associated Press reported in April that the Department of Defense has identified a total of about 580 surviving POWs from the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War in 1991, but the VA is paying disability benefits to about 1,250 purported POWs.
Coffman is a Marine veteran of the first Gulf War who also served in Iraq. Marshall served in Vietnam with the Army.
go here for more
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_12395601?source=rss
Duckworth Joins U.S. Postal Service for Purple Heart Stamp Ceremony
Assistant Secretary Duckworth Joins
U.S. Postal Service for Purple Heart Stamp Ceremony
WASHINGTON (May 18, 2009)- Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, L.
Tammy Duckworth, spoke at a U.S. Postal Service ceremony announcing the
reissue of the Purple Heart stamp. Hundreds of people attended the
morning event at the Washington Convention Center.
"This stamp is a tribute to our nation's wounded Veterans and a reminder
of our society's commitment to care for them when the war is over,"
Assistant Secretary L. Tammy Duckworth said. "Many people who are
severely wounded have their initial fears of a life destroyed replaced
by the understanding that they can do just about anything."
This is the fifth issue of the Purple Heart definitive postage stamp.
The Purple Heart stamp was first issued on May 20, 2003, at Mount
Vernon, Va. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of
the United States to members of the U.S. Military who have been wounded
in combat or to the next of kin of those killed in action.
Assistant Secretary L. Tammy Duckworth is a recipient of the Purple
Heart for wounds she sustained while serving in Iraq with the United
States Army. In 2004, her aircraft was ambushed and a rocket-propelled
grenade struck the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting during a
mission north of Bagdad.
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
U.S. Postal Service for Purple Heart Stamp Ceremony
WASHINGTON (May 18, 2009)- Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, L.
Tammy Duckworth, spoke at a U.S. Postal Service ceremony announcing the
reissue of the Purple Heart stamp. Hundreds of people attended the
morning event at the Washington Convention Center.
"This stamp is a tribute to our nation's wounded Veterans and a reminder
of our society's commitment to care for them when the war is over,"
Assistant Secretary L. Tammy Duckworth said. "Many people who are
severely wounded have their initial fears of a life destroyed replaced
by the understanding that they can do just about anything."
This is the fifth issue of the Purple Heart definitive postage stamp.
The Purple Heart stamp was first issued on May 20, 2003, at Mount
Vernon, Va. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of
the United States to members of the U.S. Military who have been wounded
in combat or to the next of kin of those killed in action.
Assistant Secretary L. Tammy Duckworth is a recipient of the Purple
Heart for wounds she sustained while serving in Iraq with the United
States Army. In 2004, her aircraft was ambushed and a rocket-propelled
grenade struck the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting during a
mission north of Bagdad.
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
Student Fires At Teacher, Then Shoots Self
Student Fires At Teacher, Then Shoots Self
Lafourche Parish Middle School Student Hospitalized With Gunshot Wound
POSTED: 9:27 am CDT May 18, 2009
LAROSE, La. -- A student at the Larose/Cut Off Middle School in Lafourche Parish has been hospitalized after trying to shoot a teacher and then shooting himself in the head, the sheriff said.
go here for more
http://www.wdsu.com/news/19491574/detail.html
UPDATE
Journal indicates gunman may have had bigger plans
05:31 PM CDT on Monday, May 18, 2009
Katie Moore / Eyewitness Newskmoore@wwltv.com
LAROSE, La. ― The 15-year-old 8th grader who fired a shot into a ceiling at Larose-Cut Off Middle School before turning the gun on himself may have had more ambitious plans that were detailed in a loose-leaf journal found inside his backpack.
go here for more
Journal indicates gunman may have had bigger plans
Lafourche Parish Middle School Student Hospitalized With Gunshot Wound
POSTED: 9:27 am CDT May 18, 2009
LAROSE, La. -- A student at the Larose/Cut Off Middle School in Lafourche Parish has been hospitalized after trying to shoot a teacher and then shooting himself in the head, the sheriff said.
go here for more
http://www.wdsu.com/news/19491574/detail.html
UPDATE
Journal indicates gunman may have had bigger plans
05:31 PM CDT on Monday, May 18, 2009
Katie Moore / Eyewitness Newskmoore@wwltv.com
LAROSE, La. ― The 15-year-old 8th grader who fired a shot into a ceiling at Larose-Cut Off Middle School before turning the gun on himself may have had more ambitious plans that were detailed in a loose-leaf journal found inside his backpack.
go here for more
Journal indicates gunman may have had bigger plans
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli orders, Restore discipline, stop suicides
Vice chief: Restore discipline, stop suicides
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 18, 2009 6:09:34 EDT
A record number of suicides has prompted Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli to launch a massive house-cleaning plan with orders to garrison, installation and medical commanders to revive lapsed health and welfare programs, and restore discipline in the barracks.
The plan addresses two broad areas: closer attention to suicide prevention and tighter adherence to discipline in garrison after eight years of tending to the wars and overseas deployments.
Suicide rates among soldiers have nearly doubled in the last four years, reaching a record high last year. The current rate of suicides suggests that 2009 may exceed numbers for 2008.
A renewed focus on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of soldiers and their families will eventually lead to a more resilient force and fewer suicides, Chiarelli said.
On May 1, Chiarelli issued the Army Campaign Plan for Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention. It includes a checklist and about 250 tasks for commanders with deadlines as early as June. Most have deadlines before the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30.
Soldiers living in barracks can expect to feel the impact in coming months with a return to inspections, when commanders feel it necessary, to find troubled soldiers and get them the help they need and crack down on those whose illicit behavior, such as drug use or having firearms in their rooms, has gone unchecked.
Soldiers increasingly are “popping hot” on urine analysis tests for substances that include LSD, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines, heroin and illegally used prescription drugs, according to Brig. Gen. Colleen McGuire, director of the Suicide Prevention Task Force, who described that as “an eye opener.”
Almost as unexpected as the rise in drug and alcohol abuse was that most of those soldiers haven’t been referred for treatment or evaluation, McGuire said.
Many soldiers would have been chaptered out if regulations had been followed, she said.
The breakdown in discipline is one of the more glaring examples of falling morale and points to an environment in which tired leaders have had their focus on war for almost eight years, she said.
go here for more
Vice chief: Restore discipline, stop suicides
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 18, 2009 6:09:34 EDT
A record number of suicides has prompted Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli to launch a massive house-cleaning plan with orders to garrison, installation and medical commanders to revive lapsed health and welfare programs, and restore discipline in the barracks.
The plan addresses two broad areas: closer attention to suicide prevention and tighter adherence to discipline in garrison after eight years of tending to the wars and overseas deployments.
Suicide rates among soldiers have nearly doubled in the last four years, reaching a record high last year. The current rate of suicides suggests that 2009 may exceed numbers for 2008.
A renewed focus on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of soldiers and their families will eventually lead to a more resilient force and fewer suicides, Chiarelli said.
On May 1, Chiarelli issued the Army Campaign Plan for Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention. It includes a checklist and about 250 tasks for commanders with deadlines as early as June. Most have deadlines before the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30.
Soldiers living in barracks can expect to feel the impact in coming months with a return to inspections, when commanders feel it necessary, to find troubled soldiers and get them the help they need and crack down on those whose illicit behavior, such as drug use or having firearms in their rooms, has gone unchecked.
Soldiers increasingly are “popping hot” on urine analysis tests for substances that include LSD, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines, heroin and illegally used prescription drugs, according to Brig. Gen. Colleen McGuire, director of the Suicide Prevention Task Force, who described that as “an eye opener.”
Almost as unexpected as the rise in drug and alcohol abuse was that most of those soldiers haven’t been referred for treatment or evaluation, McGuire said.
Many soldiers would have been chaptered out if regulations had been followed, she said.
The breakdown in discipline is one of the more glaring examples of falling morale and points to an environment in which tired leaders have had their focus on war for almost eight years, she said.
go here for more
Vice chief: Restore discipline, stop suicides
NJ:Military counselors travel the state to prepare families for returning soldiers
Military counselors travel the state to prepare families for returning soldiers
by Judy Peet and Tomas Dinges/The Star-Ledger
Sunday May 17, 2009, 11:02 AM
Each time the baby of a New Jersey Army National Guardsman is born, the department sends a baby blanket. Since last June, when nearly 3,000 New Jersey troops left for a yearlong deployment, the Guard sent out 30 blankets.
These 30 newborns are among scores of Guardsmen's children who have had to spend a year without their father or mother. Now the soldiers are coming home.
Nobody is sure exactly when, but the return of New Jersey's largest deployment since World War II is expected to start shortly after Memorial Day. Unlike other wars in other times, these soldiers will get more legal, financial and psychological support than any returning troops in U.S. history.
What they may not immediately receive, however, is one of the things they dreamed about most: Their child's hug.
Of all the uncertainties associated with returning to civilian life after a year in a combat zone, perhaps the least predictable is how the children will react.
"You give me an age and I'll give you a problem the kids experienced when their father came home," said Randi Cairns, 39, of East Brunswick, who raised four children through her husband's three deployments. "The thing I've learned is: Never underestimate the impact on the children."
For months, military counselors have traveled throughout the state, preparing families for what to expect from the children when their loved ones return from the desert.
Anger, joy, fear, neediness, resentment, relief, indifference, temper, passivity, laughter, tears.
Pick an emotion, experts say, and a Guard child somewhere in New Jersey will likely feel it over the next few months.
From the toddler who has no idea who that man in the uniform is to the 16-year-old who took on extra responsibility and may not want to give it up, Guard spouses are in for a bumpy ride that may take months to smooth out, experts say.
"We normally think of a joyous reunion, but that may not be the case, especially after the initial 'thank goodness' wears off," said Rutgers psychology professor Maurice J. Elias. "Kids will frankly be almost as destabilized when a parent returns home as when the parent leaves."
Unlike regular military, the "civilian soldiers" of the National Guard do not have the support of living on a military base, where every parent understands the sacrifice of active duty and every child's friend is another soldier's child, experts said.
The Guard families live in urban areas and suburbia, where -- despite supportive neighbors -- they are often the only family on the block or in school whose parent was called away by military service. Adding to the burden is the fact that, for two out of three New Jersey Guardsmen who served in Iraq this past year, it was their first tour of duty.
go here for more
New Jersey Army National Guardsman
by Judy Peet and Tomas Dinges/The Star-Ledger
Sunday May 17, 2009, 11:02 AM
Each time the baby of a New Jersey Army National Guardsman is born, the department sends a baby blanket. Since last June, when nearly 3,000 New Jersey troops left for a yearlong deployment, the Guard sent out 30 blankets.
These 30 newborns are among scores of Guardsmen's children who have had to spend a year without their father or mother. Now the soldiers are coming home.
Nobody is sure exactly when, but the return of New Jersey's largest deployment since World War II is expected to start shortly after Memorial Day. Unlike other wars in other times, these soldiers will get more legal, financial and psychological support than any returning troops in U.S. history.
What they may not immediately receive, however, is one of the things they dreamed about most: Their child's hug.
Of all the uncertainties associated with returning to civilian life after a year in a combat zone, perhaps the least predictable is how the children will react.
"You give me an age and I'll give you a problem the kids experienced when their father came home," said Randi Cairns, 39, of East Brunswick, who raised four children through her husband's three deployments. "The thing I've learned is: Never underestimate the impact on the children."
For months, military counselors have traveled throughout the state, preparing families for what to expect from the children when their loved ones return from the desert.
Anger, joy, fear, neediness, resentment, relief, indifference, temper, passivity, laughter, tears.
Pick an emotion, experts say, and a Guard child somewhere in New Jersey will likely feel it over the next few months.
From the toddler who has no idea who that man in the uniform is to the 16-year-old who took on extra responsibility and may not want to give it up, Guard spouses are in for a bumpy ride that may take months to smooth out, experts say.
"We normally think of a joyous reunion, but that may not be the case, especially after the initial 'thank goodness' wears off," said Rutgers psychology professor Maurice J. Elias. "Kids will frankly be almost as destabilized when a parent returns home as when the parent leaves."
Unlike regular military, the "civilian soldiers" of the National Guard do not have the support of living on a military base, where every parent understands the sacrifice of active duty and every child's friend is another soldier's child, experts said.
The Guard families live in urban areas and suburbia, where -- despite supportive neighbors -- they are often the only family on the block or in school whose parent was called away by military service. Adding to the burden is the fact that, for two out of three New Jersey Guardsmen who served in Iraq this past year, it was their first tour of duty.
go here for more
New Jersey Army National Guardsman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)