Historians Press For Access To Files On Civil War Soldiers From Connecticut

If we are ever going to get to the point where no one ever feels ashamed of serving this country and ending up paying for it with PTSD, this is the way we get there. Uncovering what was known way back in the Civil war, what they went through and what happened to them after is vital to illuminating one simple fact, humans go to war and suffer after it. It really is that simple.

If you read the Bible, it's in there. If you read any history books about ancient warfare, it's in there. Talk to any veteran and you'll see it. None of this is new because humans have the same original design they always did. We can talk all we want about what to do when veterans ask for help but getting them to even want to admit they need help is the hardest battle of all to win. You have to take someone that was trained to kill and risk their lives everyday, then ask them to be "weaker" in their own minds asking for help. This is one of the hardest things to get past. If they understood what it was, they would know it had nothing to do with courage or their ability. It only had to do with being human and being compassionate.

Historians Press For Access To Files On Civil War Soldiers From Connecticut

By JESSE LEAVENWORTH

The Hartford Courant

September 3, 2009


HARTFORD — - Historians seeking to probe the mental health records of Connecticut Civil War veterans pressed their case Wednesday at a state Freedom of Information Commission hearing.

The state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has refused to allow researchers unfettered access to records at what is now Connecticut Valley Hospital, formerly the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane.

The main sticking point is researchers' insistence that they be allowed to use individual patients' names in a planned book on Connecticut's role in the war. The state's position is that research could be allowed, but unrestricted use of names would violate patient confidentiality laws.
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Historians Press For Access To Files On Civil War

Health-care overhaul debate puts VA in the spotlight

It looks like some people would rather treat veterans so badly they will allow them to feel as if they are just not as capable as the rest of the people in this country making their own choices when it comes to the end of their lives. As I've posted here many times, we used our right with the VA and with a lawyer to make sure our own choices would be honored when we couldn't speak for ourselves. Too bad some think they can use veterans in a political game, but it's even worse when others just play along instead of finding out what the truth is. Veterans deserved a lot better out of all of us.

Health-care overhaul debate puts VA in the spotlight
While Republicans are calling a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health-planning booklet a "death book" that encourages veterans to kill themselves or forgo care, ethicists and legal and medical experts say it's a reasonable attempt to help veterans plan for the end of their lives.
By Chris Adams

McClatchy Newspapers

Republicans call VA's "Planning ... " a "death book."

WASHINGTON — While Republicans are calling a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health-planning booklet a "death book" that encourages veterans to kill themselves or forgo care, ethicists and legal and medical experts say it's a reasonable attempt to help veterans plan for the end of their lives.

Jim Towey, former director of President George W. Bush's White House office of faith-based initiatives, wrote in The Wall Street Journal last month that the VA's "Your Life, Your Choices" booklet encourages veterans to "hurry up and die." Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said the VA effort aimed at veterans was "encouraging them to commit suicide."

"There is nothing in this pamphlet or in any of the VA effort in this area that is aimed at asking that veterans be allowed to die to save money," said the University of Pennsylvania's Arthur Caplan, one of the nation's leading bioethicists. "To say otherwise is just an exercise in ludicrous, inflammatory rhetoric."

VA chaplains said "Your Life" is helpful.
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Health-care overhaul debate puts VA in the spotlight

Healthcare supporter bites off opponent’s pinky

Not only were the people shocked, this has gotten way out of hand and totally ironic when you think the man that was against public healthcare, used it to get his finger put back on.

Healthcare supporter bites off opponent’s pinky
By John Byrne

Published: September 3, 2009

According to reports, the man then picked up his finger and promptly walked to a nearby hospital for treatment. Neither individual was identified.

The altercation took place outside at a rally sponsored by MoveOn.org.

The news comes just a day after a man was reportedly punched in the face and knocked to the ground by a supporter of the public health insurance option in Miami.

An Associated Press report published Thursday afternoon indicates that the protester had successful surgery on his finger, and was covered by a government health plan.

“A hospital spokeswoman says the man lost half the finger, but doctors reattached it and he was sent home the same night,” the AP reports. “She says he had Medicare.”

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Healthcare supporter bites off opponents pinky

Teen crashes into war memorial

Teen crashes into war memorial
By Brenna R. Kelly • bkelly@nky.com • September 2, 2009


ERLANGER – Three granite stones that memorialize Kenton County residents who died in the Vietnam War will have to be replaced after a car slammed into the Erlanger Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wednesday.

Police say a 16-year-old Elsmere boy was driving drunk in a stolen 2003 Hyundai Elantra was speeding down Dixie Highway while fleeing from police early Wednesday morning. The teen lost control, hit the curb and crashed into the memorial, knocking the stones off their bases and bending a flag pole.

Vietnam veteran Allen Thomas, who lives nearby, surveyed the damage Wednesday morning.

“It’s a sad feeling…but it’s property – we can rebuild it,” said Thomas, secretary of the Northern Kentucky chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. “We’ll feel bad for a few days or a few weeks until we get it back up.”

The memorial, which has been at the intersection more than 20 years, lists the names of all the Kenton County residents killed in the war. The chapter, which had insurance on the monument, will likely hold a rededication ceremony after the memorial is fixed, Thomas said.
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Teen crashes into war memorial

Pastor Mistakenly Killed In Drug Sting

Friends: Pastor Mistakenly Killed In Drug Sting
GBI Investigating Fatal Shooting
POSTED: 3:53 pm EDT September 2, 2009

STEPHENS COUNTY, Ga. -- A pastor was shot and killed following a drug sting in Stephens County, Ga., on Tuesday, and the officers involved and friends of the pastor are giving different versions of what led up to the shooting.

The Stephens County coroner confirmed that 28-year-old Jonathan Ayers was pronounced dead at Stephens County Hospital on Tuesday.

Ayers, a father-to-be, was the pastor of the Shoal Creek Baptist Church. He maintained a personal blog linked off the church's Web page, jonathanayers.blogspot.com.
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http://www.wyff4.com/cnn-news/20690809/detail.html

Sen. Udall Opens Regional Office, Talks PTSD and Afghanistan

Sen. Udall Opens Regional Office, Talks PTSD & Afghanistan

Posted: Sep 2, 2009 05:37 PM EDT

Updated: Sep 2, 2009 06:12 PM EDT

by Zach Thaxton
z.thaxton@krdo.com


COLORADO SPRINGS - Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) announced the grand opening Wednesday of his new Pikes Peak Regional Office. It's located inside the Pikes Peak Regional Development Center at 2880 International Circle near Memorial Park. During an afternoon press conference, Sen. Udall also announced the formation of and first meeting with a new 12-member military advisory committee made up of statewide leaders with a range of military expertise. The Senator will confer with the committee twice a year.

Sen. Udall also addressed the topics of Post-Traumatic Stress and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. A half-dozen Fort Carson have been charged in Southern Colorado murders committed after returning from conflict in Iraq. An Army report concluded combat stress may have been a contributing factor in their violent acts back on U.S. soil. Sen. Udall says enhanced diagnosis and treatment tactics were among the first topics discussed by his new committee. He told the gathered press Wednesday, "The mind is a marvelous organ. It's probably the most powerful human weapon that we have, but it's also very fragile. And we're increasingly aware of ways in which you can train troops before they go into theater as to how to maintain the health of your mind, how to deal with the inevitable stresses and strains of being in a combat setting."

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Sen Udall Opens Regional Office, Talks PTSD and Afghanistan


Senator to visit Carson, meet base officials

The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 3, 2009 8:29:08 EDT

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., is meeting with Fort Carson military officials to discuss the role of soldiers from the base in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Udall will meet with Maj. Gen. David Perkins and other military leaders Thursday. A Udall spokeswoman says the senator and the military officials will discuss the soldiers’ training and making sure they have all the resources they need.

Udall is also expected to talk about health and behavioral care for soldiers, and helping returning veterans adapt to civilian life after their deployments.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/ap_army_udall_carson_090309/

Iraq war vet in Vicksburg threatens suicide

Iraq war vet in Vicksburg threatens suicide
A 23-year-old man engaged police in a nearly four-hour standoff outside Vicksburg Municipal Court after being sentenced this morning on a domestic violence charge.

Torrance Burnett of Vicksburg walked out of the courtroom after being assigned to counseling, went to his car and retrieved an automatic handgun, Chief Walter Armstrong said.

"He didn't have the gun in the courthouse," Armstrong said. "But some people in the courtroom indicated (to authorities) that he had a weapon with him. Officers went outside and saw him with his hands in his pockets."

Upon seeing police, Burnett ran, the chief said. Officers chased him for a block before Burnett stopped behind the library on Washington Street and pointed the gun at his own head.

"He kept it there for three or four hours," Armstrong said.
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Iraq war vet in Vicksburg threatens suicide

Saved from bullet by a Vera Bradley handbag

Saved from bullet by a handbag
Suspect arrested in shooting at Kennedy Krieger, but incident points to continuing challenges near Hopkins

By Justin Fenton justin.fenton@baltsun.com

September 3, 2009


Sitting in her car Tuesday night outside the Kennedy Krieger Institute as police investigated a shooting, Ana Matheus held up what may have spared her from serious injury: her Vera Bradley handbag.

She reached in and pulled out her pocketbook. Inside was a checkbook, a credit card and a $20 bill - all pierced by a bullet that narrowly missed striking her as she left work at Kennedy Krieger.

Matheus was not harmed, but a female co-worker was wounded when one of the stray bullets struck her in the hand about 6:30 p.m. Matheus said the woman was walking just a foot in front of her when the shots rang out. With the errant bullet piercing the bag that was slung over her shoulder, Mathus was inches away from being wounded herself.

"I've always felt pretty safe with the security guards on the corners, but I don't know, it definitely feels less safe now," said Matheus, a 27-year-old social worker in the pediatric hospital at Kennedy Krieger. "It's pretty surreal."
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Saved from bullet by a handbag

Do our elected deserve better healthcare than us?

UPDATE, Looks like we now know why


Six lobbyists per lawmaker enough on health care?
Posted: 01:09 PM ET
FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

Want to know why they’re having trouble getting health care reform passed in Washington? Consider this: There are six…. count ‘em — six, lobbyists for each of the 535 members of Congress.

This translates to 3,300 lobbyists working on health care — or three times the number who lobby on defense. These groups reportedly spent more than $263 million on lobbying during the first six months of this year — with drug makers alone spending more than $134 million.

One expert tells Bloomberg news: “The sheer quantity of money that’s sloshed around Washington is drowning out the voices of citizens and the groups that speak up for them.”

And let’s talk about that money for a minute. According to The Center for Responsive Politics, health-related companies gave almost $170 million to federal lawmakers in 2007 and 2008.


It's really amazing the same people saying government healthcare is no good, are also the same people thinking private healthcare is not good enough for them. Why do you think that is? Could you imagine if we told them that they have to give their's up and live like the rest of us?
Six lobbyists per lawmaker enough on health care

GOPers Decrying "Socialized Medicine" Go To Govt. Hospital For Surgeries



By The Huffington Post News Team, Huffington Post
Republicans in Congress have raised the specter of a bloated, "socialized," bureaucrat-run nightmare of a health care system as a means of undermining the White House's effort at a systematic overhaul. And yet, as Democratic sources are now pointing out, when medical crisis hit close to home, many of these same officials turned to a government-run hospital for their own intensive care and difficult surgeries.

Take, for instance, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who warned that "a government takeover of health care" would "take away the care that people already have [and] are perfectly satisfied with." In its place, the senator said, would be "a system in which care and treatment will be either delayed or denied."

That was July 2009. In February 2003, McConnell actually went to one of those government-run institutions (where treatment is, apparently, "either delayed or denied") for a procedure of his own. The Kentucky Republican traveled to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to have an elective coronary artery bypass surgery after it had been revealed that he had arterial blockages.

Also known as Bethesda Naval Hospital, the National Naval Medical Center is the premier branch of the United States Navy's system of medical centers -- as in, the government runs it. It's also the place where elected officials of all ideological stripes and political branches often go get surgery performed. Indeed, members of Congress pay an annual fee for the privilege of getting treatment at Bethesda Naval Hospital or, for that matter, Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It is, as longtime Democrat Martin Frost wrote for Politico, "like belonging to an HMO." Only, in these cases, the surgery is conducted at a public facility.
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GOPers Decrying Socialized Medicine

Service Dogs Help Traumatized Veterans Heal

Service Dogs Help Traumatized Veterans Heal
These trained canines alert owners to warning signs of PTSD, experts say
By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Sept. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Iraq war veteran Jennifer Pacanowski was unaware that she was racing dangerously down the freeway at 85 miles an hour when she felt a wet nose nudge her elbow.

She immediately slowed down.

The wet nose belonged to Boo, Pacanowski's 110-pound Bull Mastiff, warning her that her anxiety levels were rising, a dangerous state given that Pacanowski has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from her experiences as a medic in the war.

Boo, who turned 1 in August, has been with Pacanowski, helping her deal with the world since last December.

"Sometimes I forget where I am and will go back to the war in Iraq. He brings me back to reality and makes me realize that I can't run people off the road. It's a frequent thing with PTSD to have road rage," said Pacanowski, who returned to the United States at the end of 2004 and now lives in northeastern Pennsylvania. "He's a comfort. I also know I'm not alone, and people can't just sneak up on me without his knowledge."

Boo is one of a team of "psychiatric service dogs" being used all over the country to help people with various mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and, perhaps most notably, PTSD.
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http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100244515

Iraq, Afghan Vet Drug Problems Could Surpass Those of Vietnam Era

Iraq, Afghan Vet Drug Problems Could Surpass Those of Vietnam Era
Published August 31st, 2009
A report from the recent Wounds of War Conference at Columbia University focused on the issue of Veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with a host of issues, including drug and alcohol abuse and untreated PTSD. Experts projected that drug problems for young Veterans will exceed those of the Vietnam era.

Today's soldiers have spent more time deployed in combat than their Vietnam era counterparts, according to experts at the conference, which is contributing to more soldiers suffering from PTSD. The drugs on which service men and women become dependent are frequently pharmaceutical painkillers issued to them for combat injuries. They often do not realize how reliant they have become on the drugs to help them cope with the anxiety of their war experiences until they return home. Illicit drug and alcohol abuse then often take the place of painkillers and other prescribed drugs

Presenters at the conference addressed the fact that many returning soldiers are just out of their teens, have transitioned from the structure of high school, to the structure of the military, and have witnessed and been a part of extreme acts of violence while deployed. Former soldiers are then are sent home as civilians and left to figure out how to live their lives while coping with the aftereffects of war.

Only a third of returning Veterans seek out help from the VA after leaving the services, and many former soldiers are uncomfortable getting counseling from a government organization. In particular, female Veterans, who report high rates of sexual abuse and rape while in the military report feeling unsafe in VA buildings full of “men in uniforms.”
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http://www.nvfnews.org/news

Florida Veteran Elected Leader of The American Legion

CORRECTING and REPLACING Florida Veteran Elected Leader of The American Legion
Wed Sep 2, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(Business Wire)--
Please replace the correction dated Aug. 27, 2009 with the following corrected
version due to multiple revisions.

The corrected release reads:

FLORIDA VETERAN ELECTED LEADER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

A retired U.S. Navy captain has been elected national commander of the nation`s
largest veterans organization.

Delegates to The American Legion`s 91st National Convention here chose Clarence
Hill of Jacksonville, Fla., to lead the 2.5 million-member organization of
wartime veterans for a one-year term.

The new national commander plans to increase The American Legion`s outreach
efforts using social media networks and other technologies. His goals also
include diversifying The American Legion by recruiting more minorities and
increasing awareness of issues affecting women veterans. While veterans from any
war era will always be welcome in The American Legion, Hill plans to expand
outreach efforts to Vietnam era, post-Vietnam era and current War on Terrorism
veterans.

A native of Martin`s Ferry, Ohio, Hill graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in
1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Heserved 19 of the next 24 years on sea
duty and retired in 1996. His afloat service included one frigate, two
destroyers, two cruisers, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 12 in Mayport, Fla, and the
Sixth Fleet in Gaeta, Italy. He served as officer-in-charge of a PT boat,
commanded the Naval Communications Station United Kingdom in Thurso, Scotland,
for three years, and the guided missile frigate USS MCINERNEY (FFG-8) for two
years, including combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. Ashore, he
earned two masters degrees, one from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey,
Calif., and the other from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

A 27-year Legionnaire, Hill is a Life Member and three-time Post Commander of
American Legion Post 316 in Atlantic Beach, Fla. He is a dual member belonging
to SAL Squadron 316. He attended the National American Legion College in 2000
and was an instructor in 2001. He was department commander for Florida from July
2002 to July 2003, achieving an all-time-high in membership. Hill earned eight
"Gold Brigade Awards" for recruiting 50 or more members of The American Legion
in a single year. He served for three years as the national chairman of The
American Legion National and Homeland Security Commission and belongs to The
American Legion Riders.

Cmdr. Hill took the oath of office along with five other national officers.
Serving as national vice commanders are Eugene A. Schumacher of Aberdeen, S.D.;
James C. Morris of Cardington, Ohio; Dr. Gordon B. Browning of Chestertown, Md.,
Mark A. Avis of Palmer, Mass., and Morris M. Bentley of Grangeville, Idaho.

National Historian James T. Higuera of Arcadia, Calif., National Chaplain John
L. Beaver of Mobile, Ala., and Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Martel of Pierson, Fla.,
were appointed to their positions by Cmdr. Hill following the close of the
national convention.

Florida Veteran Elected Leader of The American Legion

Orlando's Arcadian Broad, explains what happened

Totally off topic, but one of the luxuries of having your own blog. One of my pleasures is watching America's Got Talent. My husband got me hooked on this show a couple of years ago. I would be working online and hear him laughing his head off in the other room. I'd sit and watch for a few minutes, then get back to work. Soon I found myself watching longer. Then it was watching all of it. I love to see the talent this country has, and yes, even enjoy watching the people with no talent at all, but then feel sorry for them.

Arcadian Broad is one with great talent and he's just a kid. His audition was fantastic. It's easy to notice that when they audition and are on their own, they are amazing, but as the show goes on, they change their style, do things that are not that great and then get nailed by the judges for the changes. It looks like now we know why.

Well since he lives in Orlando, I think Disney should sign him fast and put him to work. He is one amazing kid.

I'll still watch the show because of the talent but now I won't wonder why people change their acts so much and end up off the show.

Is 'America's Got Talent' fixed? Just ask contestant Arcadian Broad.

After his semifinal performance last night, Broad accused the 'Talent' producers of forcing him to do a 'High School Musical'-esque dance routine -- a routine that failed to impress judge Piers Morgan. "Are you good enough to get to the final?" Piers asked. "The answer would be no."

Broad tried to explain himself -- "I didn't have this planned. I didn't want to do 'High School Musical,' and the producers gave me this hand," he said -- but was quickly cut off by both Piers and fellow judge Sharon Osbourne. "It's not about what you did tonight. It's purely about your technical ability as a dancer," Piers said. Even host Nick Cannon jumped in to say each contestant ultimately has a final say in what they perform.
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Is Americas Got Talent fixed

Healthcare opponent punches 65-year-old supporter

Healthcare opponent punches 65-year-old supporter

For political drama, there's always Florida.

A 65-year-old man cheering healthcare reform in Miami was punched in the face and knocked to the ground by an opponent of a public health plan, according to a reporter at the scene. The rally took place outside a Great Miami Chamber of Commerce event where Florida Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL - below right) was speaking.

"Luis Perrero of Coral Gables was standing among about 40 Democratic activists and union workers when a man in a Ford pick-up truck pulled up to the rally at Jungle Island and began arguing with the crowd," the Herald's Tolouse Oloronippa blogged Wednesday. "The man, who only gave his first name as Raul, said Perrero called him a Spanish curse word. He punched Perrero in the face. Perrero fell to the ground and lay motionless for a few minutes."

"I'm amazed the way this has become such a politicized issue,'' Perrero told Oloronippa. "It shows that people who are against the public option will resort to anything, including battery on a senior citizen to prevent healthcare reform.''

"It was totally uncalled for," Wilhelmina Ford, another public healthcare supporter quipped. "The guy may have had words with him but he didn't have to hit him in the face.''
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Healthcare opponent punches 65 year-old supporter

What is this really all about? Is it that the people, like this man accused of punching out a senior citizen, doesn't really care about anyone but themselves, or is it a matter of something much more sinister at work here?

This is not a matter of facts fueling opinions. This is more a matter of them being formed from obvious lies. So who is behind them? PR firms paid to make sure the giants get their bounty? Politicians motivated to put the interests of companies ahead of people? Not really sure but it's becoming more clear it's business fueling all of this.

When you think about the basis for the lies,they are all personal ones and intended to get passions pumping, and not in a good way. Veterans are used. The elderly are used. Both groups, sensitive subjects in any debate, but both groups also end up with "socialized" medical care. Last time I checked the VA and Medicare were government health. But even with that, both groups are the targets of these emails filled with lies. Then people screaming at these town halls end up saying they don't want government involved in their healthcare, but they never seem to hear that it would be an added option and not forced for all, plus they ignore the fact they could have a veteran or a senior citizen sitting right next to them using the VA or Medicare, feeling as if they've just been slammed.

They say that they work for their healthcare but they never seem to stop and think they have no control over if they even have a job or not and could lose it like so many others over the last couple of years. What will they use for healthcare then? What if they end up with a pre-existing medical condition, like so many other people getting older and a bit grayer, but not in the elderly category? Right now they only see what they have but don't seem to understand what they have to give up to have it, like pay raises because their company has to pay more to cover them and their own portion of the premium has gone up, meaning they have less money to take home. Ever wonder what that kind of money could do to the economy if it was put back into it instead of the insurance companies hands?

Everyone has some kind of an agenda but when it comes to changes in healthcare, the only ones that can gain anything are in the healthcare industry, and not the doctors and nurses we count on everyday for delivering it.