Shadow of the Sword: A Marine’s Journey - Jeremiah Workman Interview
Gerald D. Swick September 09, 2009
On December 23, 2004, in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, then-Corporal Jeremiah Workman led a squad of U.S. Marines into an enemy-occupied building where other Marines had been cut off and isolated. For hours, he and his men made repeated attacks under heavy fire. Three Marines died that day, including two of those they were trying to rescue. Workman personally dragged one wounded man to safety as a sniper’s bullets ricocheted off the street.
For his actions, he was awarded the Navy Cross and was told his commander had recommended him for the Medal of Honor. Everyone would say Jeremiah Workman was an American hero.
Everyone except Jeremiah Workman.
Wracked by survivor’s guilt and suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after returning home, he ran up a $3,000 bar tab self-medicating with alcohol. He fought frequently with his wife and engaged in self-destructive behavior that culminated in a suicide attempt.
He’s not alone. In 2008, the U.S. Marine Corps reported 22 confirmed and suspected post-deployment suicides and eight in-theater, plus 13 more among Marines with no deployment history; an additional 146 suicides were attempted. For the first time, this rate of 19.5 per 100,000 nearly equaled the civilian suicide rate of 19.9 per 100,000. Marine suicide rates in 2002, the last year before deployment to the Mideast began, were 23 known and suspected, or 12.5 per 100,000. Other military branches are also reporting a similar rise in suicides and suicide attempts.
It is, Workman says, "The eight-thousand-mile sniper shot."
After confronting his own demons, Workman now is a public speaker about PTSD and a consultant to the Marines Corps’ suicide prevention program. With his writing collaborator, John R. Bruning, he tells his story in Shadow of the Sword: A Marine’s Journey of War, Heroism, and Redemption, a soul-searing, nothing-held-back memoir due for publication by Presidio Press in September 2009.
On September 1, Jeremiah Workman, now a staff sergeant serving with the Wounded Warrior Regiment at Quantico, Virginia, talked in an exclusive interview with ArmchairGeneral.com.
read more here
Shadow of the Sword: A Marines Journey
Friday, September 11, 2009
Anniversary of September 11th, normal Americans back in news
by
Chaplain Kathie
We all remember where we were eight years ago when that beautiful morning in America was shattered. We all remember what it felt like to all be Americans with flags flying from almost every house, flags attached to car windows and bumper stickers with patriotic slogans covering cars on the highways. We remember all gathered together in prayer in religious sanctuaries across the nation. We we all Americans. How could we not be when we saw what happened after the Twin Towers fell? We saw the police and firefighters rush to into the burning buildings and we saw them after when they went to recover their dead. We saw heroes that day out of the ashes created by hatred and we saw the love they had for the fallen.
For all the news we've heard over the past eight years, it seems that this nation is in crisis, but that's only if you just watch the news instead of watching normal Americans.
When you see reports about the Town Hall meetings, the camera will focus on the angry people, screaming for attention. If you look behind them, you see disgusted people shaking their heads because the Town Hall was taken over. If you go to any political event, you see the same thing. Hot heads from both sides get the attention of the camera and the microphone, while normal Americans are right behind them wondering what the hell is wrong with them.
We are a nation of over 300 million people, yet the attention is always on minority groups, filled with anger and rage on both sides. Normal Americans, well, not much news to cover there. They are the people going to work everyday as police officers, firefighters, emergency responders and our military. They are the men and women going on with their lives, trying to do right for their families, doing the best they can to hang onto hope of a better nation to leave to their kids, while they hear so much rage on TV everyday. They wonder if there are any normal people interested in the truth, fixing problems and getting politics out of every aspect of their lives.
No longer can they go gatherings without someone starting some kind of political rant. It stopped being about the greater good to too many, but the majority you don't hear about on the news are working for the greater good, the good of the nation and for answers to the problems we all face.
The response from Americans on September 11th was not a freak of our nature. It was the camera being focused on people working together as Americans and as humans. They worked together with other groups with common lives. It was our better nature you saw on your TV sets and in your newspapers. Because of the media coverage, focused on people doing good, we all felt good and united. Since then the focus has been on what divides us and we all feel bad.
I have to read constantly to do this blog. I read about the real problems we face from across the country but what I hear on the TV is pretty much nonsense and fueling the division in this country spotlighting minority political interest views. What I don't see is what the rest of Americans are doing everyday to make a difference. I don't see reports on how normal Americans rise above their own pain to help others. I don't see how they don't care what political party someone belongs to when they need help. I don't see how they put others first everyday of the year and make a difference in their own communities.
If a tenth of what I have on this blog were on the news about normal Americans working for the greater good, were shown, we'd all be a lot happier because there would be the same inspiring stories about what we can do when we are all Americans again instead of members of a political party with an agenda.
CNN reminds us of 8 years ago and remembrances this morning. Try to remember than when you see reports during the year and some hot head is talking or shouting, there are normal Americans right behind them wondering what's wrong with them.
Ceremonies to honor September 11 victims
Memorial services in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania today will mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. Eight years ago, al Qaeda terrorists hijacked airplanes to crash them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Another hijacked plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania -- its intended target was the White House or the Capitol. full story
Eight years after 9/11
Time: The challenge of memorializing 9/11
iReport.com: 9/11 in New York, New Jersey
Flagging down support
Flagging down support
Disabled veteran flies basketball court-sized Stars and Stripes at various American Legion posts to raise awareness about troops who return but become homeless.
By Joseph Serna
Updated: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 8:30 PM PDT
There are 2 comment(s) View Comments
It was a scene that made people stop and stare.
Some parked their cars and snapped a quick picture. Others, like one man on a motorcycle, pulled up to the curb alone in a quiet, personal moment and just stared for a couple of minutes before leaving.
No one who passed by 15th Street on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach on Wednesday missed the 80-foot American flag flapping in the wind above the American Legion Yacht Club Post No. 291.
“It’s awesome!” said Robin Thoraldson of Orange, who passed the flag as she returned kayaking equipment. “It makes you proud to be an American.”
read more here
http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/09/09/topstory/dpt-giantflag091009.txt
“No one should be homeless. But on top of that, there’s no reason for a veteran to be homeless,” he said. “I might as well do something that can make a difference.”
Disabled veteran flies basketball court-sized Stars and Stripes at various American Legion posts to raise awareness about troops who return but become homeless.
By Joseph Serna
Updated: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 8:30 PM PDT
There are 2 comment(s) View Comments
It was a scene that made people stop and stare.
Some parked their cars and snapped a quick picture. Others, like one man on a motorcycle, pulled up to the curb alone in a quiet, personal moment and just stared for a couple of minutes before leaving.
No one who passed by 15th Street on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach on Wednesday missed the 80-foot American flag flapping in the wind above the American Legion Yacht Club Post No. 291.
“It’s awesome!” said Robin Thoraldson of Orange, who passed the flag as she returned kayaking equipment. “It makes you proud to be an American.”
read more here
http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/09/09/topstory/dpt-giantflag091009.txt
OPRAH INVESTIGATING PTSD, SUICIDE, HOMICIDE
Linked from VAWatchdog
OPRAH INVESTIGATING PTSD, SUICIDE, HOMICIDE
Have you personally experienced a suicide, homicide or physical abuse caused by combat-related PTSD? Are you fearful your loved one may have PTSD?
NOTE from Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org ... Oprah is going to be taking a look at combat-related PTSD ... and suicide, homicide and abuse.
To share your story, go to this link on ...
Oprah.com
SHARE YOUR STORY
PTSD: Suicide and Homicide in the Armed Forces
Former Marine alerts police to veterans’ stress, problems
Former Marine alerts police to veterans’ stress, problems
by Special to Your TIMES
John Bennett, a former U.S. Marine, recently taught a class for the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) in Ada. The class was on veterans’ issues and the kinds of trauma veterans may suffer after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bennett said he reviewed the signs and symptoms of trauma, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) signs and symptoms, common PTSD reactions and how to recognize and respond to the symptoms, how PTSD is related to criminal behavior, related problems such as suicides, court issues and resources available.
Bennett, who is working to establish veterans’ courts, which deal with these behaviors, said the training is open to criminal justice practitioners such as judges, prosecutors, public defenders, probation, and law enforcement through CLEET, and veteran service providers and agencies.
“The purpose of this training is to educate the criminal justice community about the challenges facing returning veterans involved in the criminal justice system, effective treatment services available to veterans, and the development of a coordinated response to the particular problems presented,” Bennett said.
read more here
Former Marine alerts police to veterans stress problems
by Special to Your TIMES
John Bennett, a former U.S. Marine, recently taught a class for the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) in Ada. The class was on veterans’ issues and the kinds of trauma veterans may suffer after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bennett said he reviewed the signs and symptoms of trauma, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) signs and symptoms, common PTSD reactions and how to recognize and respond to the symptoms, how PTSD is related to criminal behavior, related problems such as suicides, court issues and resources available.
Bennett, who is working to establish veterans’ courts, which deal with these behaviors, said the training is open to criminal justice practitioners such as judges, prosecutors, public defenders, probation, and law enforcement through CLEET, and veteran service providers and agencies.
“The purpose of this training is to educate the criminal justice community about the challenges facing returning veterans involved in the criminal justice system, effective treatment services available to veterans, and the development of a coordinated response to the particular problems presented,” Bennett said.
read more here
Former Marine alerts police to veterans stress problems
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Canine reports for duty at Kane'ohe base
Marine Staff Sgt. Karlo Salgado gets to know Finn at the Kane'ohe base. Lance Cpl. Zachary Kemp and Cpl. Masato Takaki, standing, also enjoyed the dog's company.
Photos by JEFF WIDENER The Honolulu Advertiser
Canine reports for duty at Kane'ohe base
Service dog lifting spirits of Marines recovering at Wounded Warrior barracks
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward Writer
KANE'OHE — Marine Corps Base Hawaii's latest recruit breaks the mold with his laid-back attitude and nonregulation hairstyle. But he's highly trained and devoted to his unit.
Pressed into service about a month ago, Finn, a yellow Labrador retriever, is stationed at the Wounded Warrior Battalion at the Kane'ohe base. His duty is simple — bring joy to the people around him — but his ability to carry it out took two years of rigorous training that's expected of any Marine.
A highly trained service dog, Finn spends his days in a comfortable air conditioned lounge filled with brown leather sofas, computers, a television and game table. The people there are recuperating and Finn brings a touch of home and a sense of calm to a sometimes alien or depressing situation.
read more here
Canine reports for duty at Kaneohe base
Mother of MacDill airman killed in Iraq says son was "very, very dedicated"
[Photo by ANTHONY LACHICA]
In Iraq, 1st Lt. Joe Helton’s job was to help train Iraqi police. In a blog post, he wrote that Iraqis were “just like us on a basic, human level.” He was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad.
Mother of MacDill airman killed in Iraq says son was "very, very dedicated"
By Michael Kruse, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, September 10, 2009
TAMPA — Back when he was a senior in high school in Monroe, Ga., Joe Helton told his mother he thought the Air Force Academy in Colorado was too far away. He had three sisters. His parents were divorced.
"He felt like he had to stay around home and take care of the girls and me," his mother, Jiffy Helton, said Wednesday night on the phone from Georgia. "He felt like he was the man of the house."
She said go.
"I told him," she said, "he had a life to lead."
Helton, 24, died Tuesday in Iraq while on patrol when a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday. He was in the 6th Security Forces Squadron out of MacDill Air Force Base. He had been stationed at MacDill since 2007, base spokeswoman Rebecca Heyse said.
This was his first tour in Iraq. He volunteered to go.
Col. Lawrence Martin of the 6th Air Mobility Wing called Helton "an amazing airman," saying in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by his loss and very proud of his service."
read more here
MacDill airman killed in Iraq
Firefighter's stolen 9/11 pins replaced with help from Tampa congresswoman
Firefighter's stolen 9/11 pins replaced with help from Tampa congresswoman
By Rebecca Catalanello, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Sep 10, 2009 10:25 AM
TAMPA — The local family of a firefighter who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, has gotten good news.
Two 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor pins stolen from the family six months ago have been replaced with new ones, thanks to the help of a local congresswoman.
In March, Anne Muldowney, mother of New York firefighter Richie Muldowney, returned to her Tampa apartment to find her sliding glass door had been pried open and several valuables gone, including items from the jewelry box in her bedroom.
Among the stolen items: two 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor pins bestowed on the family by U.S. Congress four years after the terrorist attacks.
Though deputies arrested two people in connection with the break-in, law enforcement has not been able to find the missing pins.
A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said Castor saw media coverage of the stolen pins and decided to reach out to the Department of Justice to see if they might be replaced.
read more here
Firefighters stolen 9 11 pins replaced
By Rebecca Catalanello, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Sep 10, 2009 10:25 AM
TAMPA — The local family of a firefighter who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, has gotten good news.
Two 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor pins stolen from the family six months ago have been replaced with new ones, thanks to the help of a local congresswoman.
In March, Anne Muldowney, mother of New York firefighter Richie Muldowney, returned to her Tampa apartment to find her sliding glass door had been pried open and several valuables gone, including items from the jewelry box in her bedroom.
Among the stolen items: two 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor pins bestowed on the family by U.S. Congress four years after the terrorist attacks.
Though deputies arrested two people in connection with the break-in, law enforcement has not been able to find the missing pins.
A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said Castor saw media coverage of the stolen pins and decided to reach out to the Department of Justice to see if they might be replaced.
read more here
Firefighters stolen 9 11 pins replaced
Clermont police officer killed in motorcycle crash
Clermont police officer killed in motorcycle crash
By Martin E. Comas
Sentinel Staff Writers
5:07 p.m. EDT, September 10, 2009
CLERMONT - Police this morning had fond memories of Officer Robert Sayers, who was killed Wednesday in a motorcycle crash in Sumter County while riding home from work.
"He always had a positive attitude," police Chief Steve Graham said. "He was one of the most pleasant fellows. He was never in a bad mood."
Sayers, 39, lived in Spring Hill with his wife, Sarah, and two young boys.
He was driving home from work, heading west on State Road 50 at about 4:30 pm on his 2006 Triumph motorcycle when the crash happened. A 2004 Volkswagen Golf in front of Sayers stopped behind a school bus at a sharp bend of the road near County Road 757, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Sayers' motorcycle then struck the rear of the Volkswagen.
read more here
Clermont police officer killed in motorcycle crash
DoD IDs 3 Marines, corpsman killed in ambush
DoD IDs 3 Marines, corpsman killed in ambush
Staff report
Posted : Thursday Sep 10, 2009 20:29:58 EDT
Three Marines and a corpsman were killed early Tuesday during an hours-long shootout in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/marine_attacked_091009w/
Report: Marines killed in ambush denied support
Staff report
Posted : Thursday Sep 10, 2009 20:29:58 EDT
Three Marines and a corpsman were killed early Tuesday during an hours-long shootout in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said.
Killed in the attack were
Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr., 31;
1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson, 25;
Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick, 30; and
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class James Ray Layton, 22,
according to the Pentagon. Johnson and Kenefick were assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, based at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. Johnson was assigned to 7th Communications Battalion, based at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. Layton deployed with the Marines as part of the Okinawa-based 3rd Marine Division.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/marine_attacked_091009w/
Report: Marines killed in ambush denied support
Capitol site chosen for female veteran statue
September 9, 2009
Capitol site chosen for female veteran statue
With approval Wednesday from the Capitol Building Commission, the director of the state Division of Veterans Affairs said he hopes to have a long-delayed, much-debated statue to honor female military veterans in place on the Capitol grounds by Nov. 11.
By Phil Kabler
Staff writer
Advertiser
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With approval Wednesday from the Capitol Building Commission, the director of the state Division of Veterans Affairs said he hopes to have a long-delayed, much-debated statue to honor female military veterans in place on the Capitol grounds by Nov. 11.
"We're hoping for a dedication on Veterans Day," Keith Gwinn said, shortly after the commission approved the location for the 7 1/2-foot tall statue of a female soldier.
"We have everything ready. The statue itself is ready," he said.
read more here
http://wvgazette.com/News/200909090168
Capitol site chosen for female veteran statue
With approval Wednesday from the Capitol Building Commission, the director of the state Division of Veterans Affairs said he hopes to have a long-delayed, much-debated statue to honor female military veterans in place on the Capitol grounds by Nov. 11.
By Phil Kabler
Staff writer
Advertiser
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With approval Wednesday from the Capitol Building Commission, the director of the state Division of Veterans Affairs said he hopes to have a long-delayed, much-debated statue to honor female military veterans in place on the Capitol grounds by Nov. 11.
"We're hoping for a dedication on Veterans Day," Keith Gwinn said, shortly after the commission approved the location for the 7 1/2-foot tall statue of a female soldier.
"We have everything ready. The statue itself is ready," he said.
read more here
http://wvgazette.com/News/200909090168
Vandals destroy Veteran's Park shelter
Vandals destroy Veteran's Park shelter using 4-wheel drive
Chris Williams 8 On Your Side Reporter
4:03 PM CDT, September 9, 2009
MOLINE, Illinois - A night of drinking and mischief is going to leave Moline taxpayers with a hangover. Investigators are looking for vandals who did tens of thousands in dollars of damage to a landmark park. News 8's Chris Williams has the story from the banks of the Rock River in Veteran's Park.
For years this was the site of the 30 feet wide by 64 feet long park shelter. Part of it came crashing down over the weekend. City crews feared someone would get hurt so they finished the vandals work today.
American Legion Volunteers built the shelter years ago when they hosted baseball games here. When the city took over the property, they kept the name Veteran's Park out of respect. But it appears respect was the last thing on the minds of whoever came here Friday night.
read more here
Vandals destroy Veterans Park shelter
Chris Williams 8 On Your Side Reporter
4:03 PM CDT, September 9, 2009
MOLINE, Illinois - A night of drinking and mischief is going to leave Moline taxpayers with a hangover. Investigators are looking for vandals who did tens of thousands in dollars of damage to a landmark park. News 8's Chris Williams has the story from the banks of the Rock River in Veteran's Park.
For years this was the site of the 30 feet wide by 64 feet long park shelter. Part of it came crashing down over the weekend. City crews feared someone would get hurt so they finished the vandals work today.
American Legion Volunteers built the shelter years ago when they hosted baseball games here. When the city took over the property, they kept the name Veteran's Park out of respect. But it appears respect was the last thing on the minds of whoever came here Friday night.
read more here
Vandals destroy Veterans Park shelter
BUSH ERA "PLANTS" SABOTAGING MEDICAL CARE AND COMPENSATION
What we know for a fact is, two active military campaigns but there were less doctors and nurses working for the VA than after the Gulf War. They wanted to privatize the VA by getting sub-contractors to replace VA workers. This was done in a lot of departments including IT and claims processing.
The rest, well you've read most of it here but even I didn't know how low they would sink when it came to veterans. The real issue here is that this is life and death for our veterans. Now you can end up getting ten or twenty emails from your "Republican friends" about the non-existent death book of doom, but I doubt you'll ever receive what was going on that was really hurting our veterans. As I said many times, when you get emails wonder what the motive is behind it and check it out. It is a fact the VA budget was not even close to where it needed to be and it is a fact that money was returned unspent while veterans were committing suicide. There are a lot of facts we do know about but what was behind all of this will come out in law suits which I bet are being put together right now if this article is true. Don't forget that most of the people working for the VA are in it because they love veterans. They could make a lot more money working some place else. If there are plants in the VA trying to destroy it, they need to be found out and let justice handle the rest.
What I know has happened, but not sure what was behind it, will be in bold. The rest, well, not sure right now. If this is all true, then every veteran suffered because of this.
The rest, well you've read most of it here but even I didn't know how low they would sink when it came to veterans. The real issue here is that this is life and death for our veterans. Now you can end up getting ten or twenty emails from your "Republican friends" about the non-existent death book of doom, but I doubt you'll ever receive what was going on that was really hurting our veterans. As I said many times, when you get emails wonder what the motive is behind it and check it out. It is a fact the VA budget was not even close to where it needed to be and it is a fact that money was returned unspent while veterans were committing suicide. There are a lot of facts we do know about but what was behind all of this will come out in law suits which I bet are being put together right now if this article is true. Don't forget that most of the people working for the VA are in it because they love veterans. They could make a lot more money working some place else. If there are plants in the VA trying to destroy it, they need to be found out and let justice handle the rest.
What I know has happened, but not sure what was behind it, will be in bold. The rest, well, not sure right now. If this is all true, then every veteran suffered because of this.
SHENSIKI TOLD BUSH ERA "PLANTS" SABOTAGING MEDICAL CARE AND COMPENSATION
CRIPPLING REFORMS TO KEEP VET VOTES FOR GOP
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER
Information was leaked to Veterans Today that General Shensiki, Veterans Affairs Secretary, has been briefed on the source of the scandals plaguing his department.
Months into his tenure, late by our standards, staffers have finally revealed the depth of a Bush era plan to maintain control of the DVA and sabotage its medical and compensation programs in order to embarass the Obama administration.
Shensiki was informed that key administrators and regional directors, some long term employees and all promoted based on willingness to undermine veterans medical care and other programs have been working, not only to hold up implementation of needed reforms but to cause public scandals and embarassment.
The series of recent scandals where VA directors and legal staff have operated directly outside Shensiki policies have seriously undermined confidence in the VA and its current leadership. We are told that a program to purge the VA of Bush "moles" is underway. This is some of the activities of this "holdover" group:
REFUSAL TO USE ALLOCATED FUNDS TO END THE MASSIVE CLAIMS BACKLOG
SPREADING FALSE RUMORS OF "DEATH PANELS" AND ORGAN HARVESTING TO THE PRESS
REFUSAL TO IMPLEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMS IN PTSD CARE
SABOTAGE OF GULF WAR ILLNESS STUDIES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TREATMENT
INCREASING REPRISALS AGAINST "WHISTLEBLOWERS" TRYING TO REFORM VA PRACTICES
CONTINUED DENIAL OF NEW PTSD THERAPIES NOT TIED TO DRUGS NOW PROVEN DANGEROUS AND INEFFECTIVE
ALTERATION AND DESTRUCTION OF MEDICAL RECORDS USED IN COMPENSATION CLAIMS
RETENTION AND PROMOTION OF UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL
CONTINUED OPEN RECRUITMENT OF UNQUALIFED TEMPORARY STAFF, DOCTORS AND NURSES
CONTINUED TRAINING AND ORIENTATION PROGRAMS STRESSING "PATIENT LAST" ETHIC
MISUSE OF VA FUNDING FOR COVERT SURVEILLANCE OF EMPLOYEES AND PATIENTS TAGGED AS "ACTIVIST" TROUBLEMAKERS
USE OF ARMED VA POLICE IN EMBARASSING CONFRONTATIONS WITH WHEEL CHAIR WW2 VETS SEEN IN NEWS MEDIA AROUND THE WORLD
REFUSAL TO PROCESS VA EDUATION CLAIMS OR ISSUE CHECKS IN TIMELY FASHION
ENGINEERING INVENTORY "SHORTAGES" AT VA PHARMACIES
SABOTOGING PROCESSING OF GRANTS FOR STATE VETERANS HOMES
REFUSING TO SPEND FUNDS EARMARKED FOR SURGE OF RECENT WAR VETS
MILLIONS PAID IN QUESTIONABLE BONUSES IN MIDST OF SCANDALS
VETS PROSECUTED BASED ON VA MISCONDUCT, RECORD ALTERATION
VA LAWYERS TELL JUDGES ONLY 4% OF CLAIMS NOT PROCESSED IN TIMELY WAY, LIE SEEN AND READ ACROSS THE COUNTRY
BILLIONS IN VETERAN LAND AT RISK, BEING "LEASED" OR GIVEN TO POLITICAL INSIDERS
read more here
http://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8516
Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Event
Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Event Truman Presidential Library Sept. 12th, 2009
Call to Ride Kansas City!!!
Now is the time for all patriotic riders to show respect, honor, and appreciation for the service and sacrifice of their Vietnam service brothren.
This Saturday, September 12th, 2009 KC Metro area bikers will indeed let the thunder roll, as they motor from Hub Cycle to the Truman Presidential Library in a show of gratitude for nearly 1000 veterans of the armed conflict in Vietnam and attend the Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Event.
read more here
Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Event
Service to country finished, Vietnam vets now help others
Veterans making a difference
Service to country finished, Vietnam vets now help others
By Deanna Brown
It has been nearly a year since the Vietnam Veterans of America Navarro County Chapter 1009 — Navarro Rifles — received its charter.
Since Oct. 14, 2008, the group has seen an increase in membership, helped fellow veterans and their families, and made a positive difference in the community.
“This is a group of men and women who have fought and served their country, and come back to a situation where they weren’t accepted very well,” said president Alvin McClure. “This went on for years. Finally we have a situation where we can be accepted and do something good. The good side of the Vietnam vet is not always noticed.”
A fund-raiser dance will be held at the VFW on State Highway 31 from 8:30 p.m. to midnight Oct. 31. Costumes are encouraged, and there will be a prize for the best costume. Door prizes will be awarded, and separate tickets are being sold to raffle a Remington 700 BDL, the caliber to be chosen by the winner. Tickets for the dance are $10 each.
The Navarro Rifles has raised $500 which they will donate to the Navarro County Food Pantry, and another $500 for the House of Refuge.
As they did last year, the VVA members will meet the Sunday afternoon prior to Veteran’s Day in order to put as many American flags on the graves of servicemen and women as possible.
read more here
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/local_story_252230604.html
Service to country finished, Vietnam vets now help others
By Deanna Brown
It has been nearly a year since the Vietnam Veterans of America Navarro County Chapter 1009 — Navarro Rifles — received its charter.
Since Oct. 14, 2008, the group has seen an increase in membership, helped fellow veterans and their families, and made a positive difference in the community.
“This is a group of men and women who have fought and served their country, and come back to a situation where they weren’t accepted very well,” said president Alvin McClure. “This went on for years. Finally we have a situation where we can be accepted and do something good. The good side of the Vietnam vet is not always noticed.”
A fund-raiser dance will be held at the VFW on State Highway 31 from 8:30 p.m. to midnight Oct. 31. Costumes are encouraged, and there will be a prize for the best costume. Door prizes will be awarded, and separate tickets are being sold to raffle a Remington 700 BDL, the caliber to be chosen by the winner. Tickets for the dance are $10 each.
The Navarro Rifles has raised $500 which they will donate to the Navarro County Food Pantry, and another $500 for the House of Refuge.
As they did last year, the VVA members will meet the Sunday afternoon prior to Veteran’s Day in order to put as many American flags on the graves of servicemen and women as possible.
read more here
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/local_story_252230604.html
Waning war interest frustrates wounded troops
Waning war interest frustrates wounded troops
By Michelle Roberts - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 10, 2009 7:11:47 EDT
SAN ANTONIO — A year after Capt. Sam Brown was set ablaze when a bomb blew up his Humvee in Afghanistan, the 25-year-old West Point graduate endures a steady schedule of painful surgery and stretching to break up knotty burn scars.
He also has another routine: checking a Web site that counts U.S. and coalition troop deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For Brown, it’s one more regular reminder that the wars have not ended — something he says many Americans seem to have forgotten.
With the timetable set for withdrawal from Iraq and the fighting in Afghanistan nearing its ninth year, U.S. war coverage has waned, often pushed off the front page by the economy, health care and celebrity deaths.
But for severely wounded soldiers — those with huge burn scars and amputated limbs — the wars are no distant memory. Their long and painful recovery battles are a constant reminder.
“Unless you see it all the time, it’s just kind of easy not to remember,” Brown said. “The war is definitely not over.”
read more here
Waning war interest frustrates wounded troops
By Michelle Roberts - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 10, 2009 7:11:47 EDT
SAN ANTONIO — A year after Capt. Sam Brown was set ablaze when a bomb blew up his Humvee in Afghanistan, the 25-year-old West Point graduate endures a steady schedule of painful surgery and stretching to break up knotty burn scars.
He also has another routine: checking a Web site that counts U.S. and coalition troop deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For Brown, it’s one more regular reminder that the wars have not ended — something he says many Americans seem to have forgotten.
With the timetable set for withdrawal from Iraq and the fighting in Afghanistan nearing its ninth year, U.S. war coverage has waned, often pushed off the front page by the economy, health care and celebrity deaths.
But for severely wounded soldiers — those with huge burn scars and amputated limbs — the wars are no distant memory. Their long and painful recovery battles are a constant reminder.
“Unless you see it all the time, it’s just kind of easy not to remember,” Brown said. “The war is definitely not over.”
read more here
Waning war interest frustrates wounded troops
"Innovation Competition" Begins at Veterans Affairs
Recent VA News Releases
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
"Innovation Competition" Begins at Veterans Affairs
VA Employees Asked to Submit Recommendations for Transforming Service to
Veterans
WASHINGTON (Sept. 10, 2009) - To speed its transformation into a 21st
Century organization that is Veteran-centric, results-oriented and
forward-looking, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched
one of the largest innovation competitions in the agency's history. The
competition solicits ideas from VA employees and co-located Veterans
Service Organizations who are on the front lines of the Veterans
Benefits Administration (VBA) and encourages them to submit entries
addressing everything from claims processing times to better process
transparency.
"The men and women of VA know that many Veterans are often asked to wait
too long for the critical services they have earned while defending our
Nation," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "These
employees who grapple with the claims process every day have the first
hand knowledge and experience necessary to help us understand
inefficiencies and improve the system. We are confident that our team
will come forward with many creative and original ways to accelerate
processes and better deliver services for our nation's Veterans."
The on-line proposal period began on Tuesday, Sept, 8, and will conclude
after Veterans Day. Employees from the agency's 57 regional offices
have been encouraged by the Secretary to submit entries via a secure
online platform. At the close of the competition, VA administrators
from each regional office will select the winning ideas, which will be
reviewed by a team chaired by Patrick W. Dunne, the VA Under Secretary
for Benefits. The final selections will receive full funding for
project development and execution at the Regional Offices submitting the
idea.
President Obama announced the innovation competition while speaking to
the Veterans of Foreign Wars in August. "We're going to fund the best
ideas and put them into action, all with a simple mission: cut those
backlogs, slash those wait times, deliver your benefits sooner," said
Obama.
VA and the White House will share the winning entries with the public
after selection.
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
"Innovation Competition" Begins at Veterans Affairs
VA Employees Asked to Submit Recommendations for Transforming Service to
Veterans
WASHINGTON (Sept. 10, 2009) - To speed its transformation into a 21st
Century organization that is Veteran-centric, results-oriented and
forward-looking, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched
one of the largest innovation competitions in the agency's history. The
competition solicits ideas from VA employees and co-located Veterans
Service Organizations who are on the front lines of the Veterans
Benefits Administration (VBA) and encourages them to submit entries
addressing everything from claims processing times to better process
transparency.
"The men and women of VA know that many Veterans are often asked to wait
too long for the critical services they have earned while defending our
Nation," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "These
employees who grapple with the claims process every day have the first
hand knowledge and experience necessary to help us understand
inefficiencies and improve the system. We are confident that our team
will come forward with many creative and original ways to accelerate
processes and better deliver services for our nation's Veterans."
The on-line proposal period began on Tuesday, Sept, 8, and will conclude
after Veterans Day. Employees from the agency's 57 regional offices
have been encouraged by the Secretary to submit entries via a secure
online platform. At the close of the competition, VA administrators
from each regional office will select the winning ideas, which will be
reviewed by a team chaired by Patrick W. Dunne, the VA Under Secretary
for Benefits. The final selections will receive full funding for
project development and execution at the Regional Offices submitting the
idea.
President Obama announced the innovation competition while speaking to
the Veterans of Foreign Wars in August. "We're going to fund the best
ideas and put them into action, all with a simple mission: cut those
backlogs, slash those wait times, deliver your benefits sooner," said
Obama.
VA and the White House will share the winning entries with the public
after selection.
Suicide numbers still on pace to top last year
With this, the usual press release will follow about how hard they are trying to get ahead of suicides, about what wondrous new program they will begin and plenty of statements about how they are doing everything possible. This has happened every time there has been a suicide report with negative news. The truth is, until they really understand what is behind all of this and stop finding excuses, they will keep going up and more, more will keep trying to commit suicide.
Reminder 18 veterans a day commit suicide and over 10,000 attempt it. Those are only the ones we know about but there are more the system just never seems to catch up with.
Reminder 18 veterans a day commit suicide and over 10,000 attempt it. Those are only the ones we know about but there are more the system just never seems to catch up with.
Suicide numbers still on pace to top last year
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 10, 2009 14:00:14 EDT
As many as 17 soldiers killed themselves in August, one fewer than in July, the Army announced Thursday.
Of the 17 deaths, 11 were active duty soldiers and six were Army National Guard or Army Reserve soldiers who were not on active duty at the time of their deaths.
All 17 cases remained under investigation and none have been confirmed as suicides. However, Army officials have said that about 90 percent of these cases typically are confirmed to be suicides.
In July, the Army reported eight possible suicides among active duty soldiers and six among those who were not on active duty. Since then, four additional active duty deaths have been reported as suspected suicides, bringing the total for July to 18.
Two of the 12 active duty deaths in July have been confirmed to be suicides. The other 10 are still being investigated.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/army_suicides_091009w/
Videos Notice to viewers
Great Americans had a redesign issue and all of my videos are gone. I have to reload all of them. This will take some time. They will back up as soon as possible. This also means that if you linked to my videos, any of the over 25 of them, you will have to re-embed them as well. I am so sorry about this and really appreciate your patience in this. We need to get the information about PTSD out to the people who need it the most.
To say this totally sucks is putting it mildly, but I'm sure you know I'm thinking something much harsher right now,.,,,,,,it will take me at least most of the day to get them all reloaded. There won't be much posting done today because of this.
Chaplain Kathie
UPDATE
About 20 more to go. The other problem is that Great Americans changed their player and I cannot embed all the videos on this blog at the same time. Hero After War starts to play when the blog is opened. I'll keep changing which one plays when opened as time permits.
Check back later for links to the rest of the videos. I'll put the links in here and on the side bar.
To say this totally sucks is putting it mildly, but I'm sure you know I'm thinking something much harsher right now,.,,,,,,it will take me at least most of the day to get them all reloaded. There won't be much posting done today because of this.
Chaplain Kathie
UPDATE
So far I have seven of them back up.
Posted Hero After War
When it comes to the wound of war that leaves a scar on the soul, Vietnam veterans have been there fighting to make sure it is treated and helping to heal all generations of veterans. Brothers taking care of brothers and...
Posted Women at War
First part in series of women at war. They have been going to where they have been needed since this nation began. They are heroes most forget and they suffer from PTSD at higher rates.
Posted The Voice, Women at War
Part of a series on women at war. This video has part of a rich history of women during combat, usually forgotten by most Americans. It also show how they too end up wounded by PTSD
Posted Women at War, Sisters After War
Part of a series of videos on women at war. This one is a tribute to my friend Capt. Agnes "Irish" Breneahan, a Vietnam era veteran from Fort McClellan. She suffered from PTSD and Agent Orange, but never stopped fighting...
Posted Women at War, Hardest Times
Part of a series of videos on wmen at war. Hardest Times You Could Imagine, are forgotten by most when we think about women in combat and what they go through. This video uses Wildflower by Skylark with the help and...
Posted Coming Out of the Dark of PTSD
Having PTSD and not knowing what it is, is like living in darkness. Nothing seems the same. When you know what it is, you can begin to heal the wounds you brought back home with you.
Posted PTSD Final Battle After War
When the boots come off, when the uniform is put away, sometimes the last battle to fight is healing from all you went through. With the knowledge you need to understand it, you can heal. It is never too late to begin to...
About 20 more to go. The other problem is that Great Americans changed their player and I cannot embed all the videos on this blog at the same time. Hero After War starts to play when the blog is opened. I'll keep changing which one plays when opened as time permits.
Check back later for links to the rest of the videos. I'll put the links in here and on the side bar.
Crucial time, crucial work for military chaplains
Crucial time, crucial work
Posted By Scott Fontaine on September 8, 2009
They often are too injured to serve with their unit by the time they arrive at Fort Lewis. Their war wounds from Iraq and Afghanistan have inevitably left them with lots of questions: about life, about morality, about spirituality.
Many go to Maj. Dale Forrester, the unit's chaplain since 2008.
"When you have a traumatic experience, questions about faith naturally pop up," said Forrester, who turns 63 this month. "The first one is always: Where is God in this? Is there a God?
"Now we're starting to talk about great, overarching issues, and they're all rational questions: If there is a God, does He care? If He cares, why me? How do I interpret what's happened? What is the meaning of life? Why is there death and injury if there's a good God out there? Why did my buddy die? And why was I spared?"
Forrester is the first to admit he doesn't have all the answers. But the north California native, who describes himself as a "moderately conservative evangelical Protestant," tries to help the unit's soldiers work through their issues.
A big one is the guilt of waging war.
"I've had soldiers tell me, ‘Chaplain, I can never go to heaven," he said. "You have no idea the things I've seen, the things I've done.' And to be able to talk to that soldier, and help him understand God better, they are then able to forgive themselves."
read more here
Crucial time crucial work
Nam Guardian Angel multi-media PTSD educational source
Nam Guardian Angel multi-media PTSD educational source
NamGuardianAngel.com
Wounded Times Blog www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com
Blog with news taken from online news reports from across the country and internationally focused on
Nam Guardian Angel is a multi media resource providing education and support for veterans and their families living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Because of my work with veterans, police officers, firefighters and emergency responders have sought out my assistance.
I have been on the front lines of PTSD since 1982, created educational support videos before anyone else was doing them. These videos are used all over the country by therapists, service organizations and people with a hunger to learn more about PTSD.
The following are some of the emails I received on the videos
Recent emails
There are many more emails on the videos as well as the self-published book. I have more than enough proof that what I’m doing is reaching veterans and their families from all generations and giving them what they need to know from someone who has been where they are. That is my mission. To provide the education I gained by reading clinical books and news reports for over half my life, living with my own veteran and talking to these other veterans since 1982.
There are now over 25 videos on Great Americans and my website.
What I need is financial support to keep this work going. I need help with publicizing what my work and more exposure online.
I want to take these videos to service groups and provide educational presentations, which means more travel. I need a new car and have the travel expenses covered by donations. I also need a new video camera along with a computer with higher memory and more powerful operating system.
Since I carry my own insurance and license (which is very expensive), I also need help with covering the cost of training so that I can continue to learn the latest programs to address responding to traumatic events so that less people develop PTSD, and those who do, know what to watch out for so they get help as soon as possible.
Since I spend an average of 70 hours a week online doing this, I need help with what I am really no good at. Promoting my work, which I'm the type of person that would rather promote the work of others, and especially fund raising. I've been in financial trouble for a long time now and have been torn between looking for work again in the business world and doing what I do for our veterans. Yesterday I went to a job fair in Orlando, attempting to find a job. I can't even do that right. I worked my way through the crowds of job seekers and ended up talking to military recruiters and law enforcement people about PTSD and the work I do, instead of spending time looking for a paying job.
All I keep thinking about is if I go back to work, which veteran or family do I not help? Who do I say no to? What videos do I get the idea to make and not make because there isn't enough time in the day? What service group do I not talk to and help with the work they are trying to do? So I'm leaving this in God's hands. If He really called me to do this work the way I believe He did, then He will touch your hearts so that you help me continue this work.
The other way you can help is to join me at Brave-Aid, Warrior Support.
This is a member supported site and will cost you $20.00 per month and is tax deductible. Your membership supports veterans in need. It also supports me if you come in under my link-in. What this also does is allows you to get others to join and you get some of their membership fee, plus they help veterans. What can be better than that? You get to deduct your membership fee and you can make some money at the same time you are helping veterans.
http://chaplainkathie.warriorsupport.us/
If you are reading this blog then you love veterans as much as I do so bring in your friends into Brave-aid and let's get this group funded faster so they help more veterans quicker. We know what their problems are and we know it will take an army to get them the help they're waiting for.
The other problem is that for all the time I take trying to find a way to pay my bills, there are veterans waiting for help. Right now there are ten more emails I need to get through, but had to put together this so that my family does not keep having to suffer financially for what I do. I would much rather be working on the emails, the websites and videos than doing this. I really hate this part because I am just not good at it at all.
NamGuardianAngel.com
Website with videos to provide education and support for veterans and their families living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Developed from over 25 years of research and personal experience as well as working with veterans.Free self-published book For the Love of Jack, His War My Battle, about life with my husband, a Vietnam Veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This book offers first hand knowledge about PTSD from the veteran’s point of view and the affects on the family. It also offers coping skills and the tools to alleviate escalation of turmoil.This reduces domestic violence, divorce, adverse affects on children, homelessness, secondary PTSD, reduces stigma of PTSD, raises awareness of symptoms, explains the difference between self-medicating and addictions, above all, puts it all into plain simple English.Power Points that can be used by educators taken from two videos.
Wounded Minds, Veterans and PTSD walks the viewer from start to finish of PTSD with all the life altering damages unaddressed PTSD can cause.
Death Because They Served, shines a spotlight on suicides taken from news reports on verified suicides so these deaths are not forgotten. There are over 100 of them on this Power Point.
Wounded Times Blog www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com
Blog with news taken from online news reports from across the country and internationally focused on
Veterans
Military
Police officers
Firefighters
Traumatic events
Editorials composed as issues arise backed by extensive research and over 17,000 posts online with two blogs.
Nam Guardian Angel’s videos are also available on this site.
Links to support
Links to groups
Links to Veterans Centers
Nam Guardian Angel is a multi media resource providing education and support for veterans and their families living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Because of my work with veterans, police officers, firefighters and emergency responders have sought out my assistance.
I have been on the front lines of PTSD since 1982, created educational support videos before anyone else was doing them. These videos are used all over the country by therapists, service organizations and people with a hunger to learn more about PTSD.
The following are some of the emails I received on the videos
2-27-05
We were posting today on aol. this morning. I would like to thank you for your support for the vet's that were in country. I spent 28 day's in the VA hospital in Menlo Park Ca. for PTSD. Our views my differ in some things but your support for us speaks volumes. I salute you! If only there were a few more like yourself what a great world this would be.Have a real good day.
deleted for confidentiality
Cam Ranh Bay Air Base
South Vietnam
3-24-06
I work as a psychologist at the faculty of psychology of the Erasmus
University Rotterdam (The Netherlands).
On the internet I stumbled upon your video about PTSD. I would like to
ask your permission to use this video on our website for strictly
educational purposes.
Kind regards,
deleted for confidentiality
University Rotterdam
Institute of Psychology
7-9-06
Thanks for your presentation on PTSD. This is an issue of interest to me as my father served in Vietnam, and I have two sons who are Marines... one of whom is getting ready to return to Iraq.
This is excellent and well-needed information... thank you for your work to help others not have to go thru what you & your husband have.
deleted for confidentiality
7-17-06
Katherine ~ I saw your PTSD presentation online and want to share it with our Sailors returning from Iraq/Afghanistan. Thanks for providing this much needed information,
deleted for confidentiality
9-12-06
Beautiful work in your video presentation. I’ve been looking for songs to introduce physicians to the impact of post traumatic stress disorder. I may use some of you work if you grant permission.
(deleted for confidentiality) Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
12-4-06
I wanted to write and tell you what a wonderful video this is. I emailed (deleted for confidentiality) to find out how to get a copy and she sent back the message you sent her. I really want to thank you for doing this, it helps all with PTSD, from WWII to Iraq War. I have quite a few women and men here in Maryland that will really appreciate this video.
Thank you again!
(deleted for confidentiality)
National Commander
2-4-07
God Bless You for your work. I just found your site and watched the first video. I’ll be back for more, as I need more.
Warm Regards and Thank You,
(deleted for confidentiality) (with the Love and Help of my wife of 10 years) a recovering PTSD guy
Class of ‘67
2-25-07
Hi - I am a nursing student at a southern university. I am to give a presentation on PTSD, fitting really since I've had the disorder! I came across your video while I was researching films/video clips/images to use in my powerpoint presentation. I liked your 4 or so minute video regarding PTSD. You started out with images from 9/11 and moved to thing such as domestic violence and other tragedies not just here, but wordlwide. Is it possible to get a copy of the video to incorporate into my presentation? Your vid said free use for all but I need to download it.
Thank you!
3-5-07
My name is (deleted for confidentiality) , a Vietnam Veteran, and manager of a web group called (deleted for confidentiality) .
I recently viewed your google video and it was so very informative, and I have posted a link to it on my group message board for all to watch.
The resolution is a little less than desirable in certain frames, and I would like to get yoru permission to copy each frame and send it to my members for them to use in their ongoing help for our Brothers.
We are very much intune to the problems of our returning veterans from Iraq and Aftanistan, and your information would be a big help in us helping them and their family members.
Thank you for all you are doing,
3-12-07
I just saw your touching video on youtube. WOW does that hit a spot.
We seem to both be advocates for those suffering from PTSD. I would like to place your video on the web site for a group I am Lt Commander of. (deleted for confidentiality)
I know you have given permission for the vedio to be used the problem is I cannot get a good file of the flash swf. can you send one to me at this address? I would greatly appreciate it.
3-13-07
I am the clinical director of the (deleted for confidentiality) for Homeless Veterans in (deleted for confidentiality) . I am a veteran of Vietnam where I served as a hospital corpsman with a Marine Corps rifle platoon in 1968 - 2nd Batt. 1st Marines.
I would like a copy of you video to use in our program. It is a beautiful, powerful piece of work.
I am an Australian Veteran still serving in the Royal Australian Navy. I have watched both your movies on the net and have had some uncany resemblence to my life within the details you have posted.,,,,,, I see that you have offered a free copy of your book to those who write to you. I would be very interested in reading it and hope it may help me and my problems.
Thankyou for your support of us VETERANS and I await your reply and look forward to reading your book.
Recent emails
8-18-09 (sent from a phone)
your videos have been received quite well by
all who i've shown them to. i haven't got any formal feedback, but the
stunned silence, transfixed faces, and teary eyes tell me a lot.
i think it's especially meaningful that i'm able to show them to groups
of young people who will be tomorrow's leaders. i think many of them are
unaware of the unseen emotional ravages of war and the sacrifice and
burden borne by the troops. i will have another class of 60 students
this fall, and will show one or two of your videos. i have no doubt that
it will change the way some of them look at and think about veterans and
war.
7/24/09
I am trying to get my son in law who is the Firechief in (deleted for confidentiality) to look at this great video. I viewed it myself and as a social worker found it very helpful and inspiring. Symptoms of PTSD were well explained and you made it clear that such symptoms were caused by trauma , not craziness or punishment from God. The photos were outstanding and not something we see on everyday TV. Thank you Chaplain Kathie! I hope that you can get someone to help you with the videos so that you can get some time for your family and yourself. I will share this video with other social workers at our community health center. Thank you again.(deleted for confidentiality) MSW, LICSW
6/22/09
Great work, NamGuardianAngel, on the PTSD videos. I'm a mental health provider working with those who have PTSD. Great Work.
There are many more emails on the videos as well as the self-published book. I have more than enough proof that what I’m doing is reaching veterans and their families from all generations and giving them what they need to know from someone who has been where they are. That is my mission. To provide the education I gained by reading clinical books and news reports for over half my life, living with my own veteran and talking to these other veterans since 1982.
There are now over 25 videos on Great Americans and my website.
What I need is financial support to keep this work going. I need help with publicizing what my work and more exposure online.
I want to take these videos to service groups and provide educational presentations, which means more travel. I need a new car and have the travel expenses covered by donations. I also need a new video camera along with a computer with higher memory and more powerful operating system.
Since I carry my own insurance and license (which is very expensive), I also need help with covering the cost of training so that I can continue to learn the latest programs to address responding to traumatic events so that less people develop PTSD, and those who do, know what to watch out for so they get help as soon as possible.
Since I spend an average of 70 hours a week online doing this, I need help with what I am really no good at. Promoting my work, which I'm the type of person that would rather promote the work of others, and especially fund raising. I've been in financial trouble for a long time now and have been torn between looking for work again in the business world and doing what I do for our veterans. Yesterday I went to a job fair in Orlando, attempting to find a job. I can't even do that right. I worked my way through the crowds of job seekers and ended up talking to military recruiters and law enforcement people about PTSD and the work I do, instead of spending time looking for a paying job.
All I keep thinking about is if I go back to work, which veteran or family do I not help? Who do I say no to? What videos do I get the idea to make and not make because there isn't enough time in the day? What service group do I not talk to and help with the work they are trying to do? So I'm leaving this in God's hands. If He really called me to do this work the way I believe He did, then He will touch your hearts so that you help me continue this work.
The other way you can help is to join me at Brave-Aid, Warrior Support.
This is a member supported site and will cost you $20.00 per month and is tax deductible. Your membership supports veterans in need. It also supports me if you come in under my link-in. What this also does is allows you to get others to join and you get some of their membership fee, plus they help veterans. What can be better than that? You get to deduct your membership fee and you can make some money at the same time you are helping veterans.
http://chaplainkathie.warriorsupport.us/
If you are reading this blog then you love veterans as much as I do so bring in your friends into Brave-aid and let's get this group funded faster so they help more veterans quicker. We know what their problems are and we know it will take an army to get them the help they're waiting for.
The other problem is that for all the time I take trying to find a way to pay my bills, there are veterans waiting for help. Right now there are ten more emails I need to get through, but had to put together this so that my family does not keep having to suffer financially for what I do. I would much rather be working on the emails, the websites and videos than doing this. I really hate this part because I am just not good at it at all.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Anderson Cooper:Marines don't know when last step will be their last
Marines look for IEDs 4:35
CNN's Anderson Cooper travels with U.S. Marines in Afghanistan as they look for IEDs.
CNN's Anderson Cooper travels with U.S. Marines in Afghanistan as they look for IEDs.
Parental Suicide: The child left behind.
Parental Suicide: The child left behind.
September 9, 3:39 PMEast LA Child Care ExaminerRosemary Akhavan
David’s mother committed suicide. David found his mother lying on the kitchen floor, dead from an intentional drug overdose. As an adult, David is still traumatized by the event. He drinks and takes drugs to help ease his emotional pain. David also has problems with interpersonal relationships, and is now divorced. He suffers from depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (PTSD) David does not realize it, but without treatment, David is at risk becoming another suicide statistic.
Studies have shown that there is an increased risk of suicide in people whose parent(s) committed suicide, and if the individual is dealing with a mental health disorder. When a parent commits suicide, the child feels helpless and abandoned. Quite often, they also feel guilty. The child may feel that they were responsible for the suicide, and believes that if they were a better child, this would not have happened. Sometimes the child may be aware of problems in the home, but was powerless to change the situation. A parent’s suicide may convince the child that their parent was also powerless to change their life.
read more here
The child left behind
September 9, 3:39 PMEast LA Child Care ExaminerRosemary Akhavan
David’s mother committed suicide. David found his mother lying on the kitchen floor, dead from an intentional drug overdose. As an adult, David is still traumatized by the event. He drinks and takes drugs to help ease his emotional pain. David also has problems with interpersonal relationships, and is now divorced. He suffers from depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (PTSD) David does not realize it, but without treatment, David is at risk becoming another suicide statistic.
Studies have shown that there is an increased risk of suicide in people whose parent(s) committed suicide, and if the individual is dealing with a mental health disorder. When a parent commits suicide, the child feels helpless and abandoned. Quite often, they also feel guilty. The child may feel that they were responsible for the suicide, and believes that if they were a better child, this would not have happened. Sometimes the child may be aware of problems in the home, but was powerless to change the situation. A parent’s suicide may convince the child that their parent was also powerless to change their life.
read more here
The child left behind
Victim hacked nine times with hatchet
Victim hacked nine times with hatchet; Suspect says he 'blacked out'
Walter Pacheco and Willoughby Mariano
Sentinel Staff Writers
1:59 p.m. EDT, September 9, 2009
A Winter Park-area man arrested in a bloody attack with a hatchet told deputies he blacked out and couldn't remember any of it, according to a sheriff's report released this afternoon.
Glenard Paul Williams, 50, faces one count of attempted first-degree murder after his roommate Andrea Lea Dinos, 56, was found hacked nine times in the head at their home near Fairbanks Avenue and Interstate 4. She remains in critical condition this afternoon.
Orange County deputy sheriffs were called to a house in the 800 block of Driver Avenue about 11:10 p.m. Tuesday. They found Williams sitting on his bed, with a hatchet at his feet.
"She had been bugging me all day, I blacked out and when I woke up I had the ax in my hand and she was hurt," Williams told a deputy, according to a report.
But deputies think otherwise.
go here for more and video report
Victim hacked nine times with hatchet
Walter Pacheco and Willoughby Mariano
Sentinel Staff Writers
1:59 p.m. EDT, September 9, 2009
A Winter Park-area man arrested in a bloody attack with a hatchet told deputies he blacked out and couldn't remember any of it, according to a sheriff's report released this afternoon.
Glenard Paul Williams, 50, faces one count of attempted first-degree murder after his roommate Andrea Lea Dinos, 56, was found hacked nine times in the head at their home near Fairbanks Avenue and Interstate 4. She remains in critical condition this afternoon.
Orange County deputy sheriffs were called to a house in the 800 block of Driver Avenue about 11:10 p.m. Tuesday. They found Williams sitting on his bed, with a hatchet at his feet.
"She had been bugging me all day, I blacked out and when I woke up I had the ax in my hand and she was hurt," Williams told a deputy, according to a report.
But deputies think otherwise.
go here for more and video report
Victim hacked nine times with hatchet
'We're pinned down:' 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush
'We're pinned down:' 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush
By Jonathan S. Landay McClatchy Newspapers
GANJGAL, Afghanistan — We walked into a trap, a killing zone of relentless gunfire and rocket barrages from Afghan insurgents hidden in the mountainsides and in a fortress-like village where women and children were replenishing their ammunition.
"We will do to you what we did to the Russians," the insurgent's leader boasted over the radio, referring to the failure of Soviet troops to capture Ganjgal during the 1979-89 Soviet occupation.
Dashing from boulder to boulder, diving into trenches and ducking behind stone walls as the insurgents maneuvered to outflank us, we waited more than an hour for U.S. helicopters to arrive, despite earlier assurances that air cover would be five minutes away.
U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village.
"We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. We've lost today," Marine Maj. Kevin Williams, 37, said through his translator to his Afghan counterpart, responding to the latter's repeated demands for helicopters.
Four U.S. Marines were killed Tuesday, the most U.S. service members assigned as trainers to the Afghan National Army to be lost in a single incident since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.
read more here
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/75036.html
linked from http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
By Jonathan S. Landay McClatchy Newspapers
GANJGAL, Afghanistan — We walked into a trap, a killing zone of relentless gunfire and rocket barrages from Afghan insurgents hidden in the mountainsides and in a fortress-like village where women and children were replenishing their ammunition.
"We will do to you what we did to the Russians," the insurgent's leader boasted over the radio, referring to the failure of Soviet troops to capture Ganjgal during the 1979-89 Soviet occupation.
Dashing from boulder to boulder, diving into trenches and ducking behind stone walls as the insurgents maneuvered to outflank us, we waited more than an hour for U.S. helicopters to arrive, despite earlier assurances that air cover would be five minutes away.
U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines — despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village.
"We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. We've lost today," Marine Maj. Kevin Williams, 37, said through his translator to his Afghan counterpart, responding to the latter's repeated demands for helicopters.
Four U.S. Marines were killed Tuesday, the most U.S. service members assigned as trainers to the Afghan National Army to be lost in a single incident since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.
The Marines were cut down as they sought cover in a trench at the base of the village's first layer cake-style stone house. Much of their ammunition was gone.
One Marine was bending over a second, tending his wounds, when both were killed, said Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, 21, of Greensburg, Ky., who retrieved their bodies.
read more here
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/75036.html
linked from http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
Campbell soldier charged in fatal car crash
Campbell soldier charged in fatal car crash
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Sep 9, 2009 15:39:53 EDT
COVINGTON, Ky. — A Fort Campbell soldier who was behind the wheel of a car when it crashed and killed his friend is facing criminal charges.
The Kentucky Enquirer reports that Erlanger police charged 26-year-old Riley Ealy with driving under the influence, second-degree manslaughter and wanton endangerment.
Police say Ealy was on leave from Iraq when he crashed into a tree early Sept. 3. His passenger, 25-year-old James Fry, died in the crash.
read more here
Campbell soldier charged in fatal car crash
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Sep 9, 2009 15:39:53 EDT
COVINGTON, Ky. — A Fort Campbell soldier who was behind the wheel of a car when it crashed and killed his friend is facing criminal charges.
The Kentucky Enquirer reports that Erlanger police charged 26-year-old Riley Ealy with driving under the influence, second-degree manslaughter and wanton endangerment.
Police say Ealy was on leave from Iraq when he crashed into a tree early Sept. 3. His passenger, 25-year-old James Fry, died in the crash.
read more here
Campbell soldier charged in fatal car crash
What PTSD numbers really mean
Half a million soldiers are being asked to take part in the biggest ever investigation into the number of suicides in the US armed forces.
Last year, 143 soldiers killed themselves and there were 113 suicides in the other armed services - the highest number since records began 30 years ago.
Already this year there have been more than 100 reported suicides among soldiers on active duty.
This report came from the BBC the beginning of September. This does not include suspected suicides or non-combat deaths that are still under investigation. We do not know how many attempted suicides in the military there were.
We also know there are 18 veterans a day committing suicide and another 10,000 a year attempt suicide. This number only represents the figures given to the VA and numbers they accept, but according to other reports we know the VA has a habit of hiding data. A friend of mine, Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense, was part of the law suit against the VA seeking the true data.
We know by 1978 there were 500,000 Vietnam veterans with PTSD. My husband was one of the ones they predicted would discover it later and be diagnosed within the following ten years from this report.
By 1986 there were 117,000 suicides of Vietnam veterans. Two later studies had the figures as high as 200,000. Over 300,000 Vietnam veterans ended up homeless. Many still live in the woods all over the country.
With all of what we know, including homeless veterans, incarcerated veterans, the divorce rate, there is much that is not known and that is the truly frightening part.
When they leave the military they no longer come under the Department of Defense. Until they enter into the VA system, they are not tracked by them either. We don’t know how many committed suicide after combat but before the VA. PTSD has been linked to heart problems, but we don’t know how many died from service related heart attacks.
The general rate of PTSD after traumatic events is one out of three. There is another rule of thought putting it at one out of five. With almost 2 million serving between Iraq and Afghanistan, these numbers are still not a true reflection simply because redeployments, or what the civilian world would call re-exposures, increases the risk of PTSD by 50%. What we are about to see is one million veterans with PTSD just from Iraq and Afghanistan alone. Then you can add in the Vietnam veterans finally understanding what’s been wrong with them all along.
This is why I do what I do. Someone has to be on the front lines with the knowledge they and their families need, but someone who has walked in their shoes as well. I got into this in 1982 and have not stopped. I have a self published book online about my marriage to my own Vietnam vet. I have videos to explain to people what PTSD is and what the signs are, as well as offer support and hope that they can survive with PTSD and live lives instead of just existing in them. There are now over 25 videos.
The psychologist and psychiatrists will only tell them what they have learned from books, not by living with them. Many of them are using my work all over the country and internationally. Yet even though they do, what they will not do is address the spiritual aspect of PTSD. I do. The clergy will reluctantly address the spiritual but not the clinical. I do. I don’t diagnose them. I help them understand so that by the time they feel they can go for help, they are already aware of what the psychologist or psychiatrists needs to know from them.
The other factor in working with them online is that they have nothing to gain by lying to me. They are provided with the anonymity they need and this allows them to be open. The law only requires me to report them if are a danger to themselves or others.
I do not play political games. My blog goes after any politician that does not help our veterans. If they use them and vote against them, I post it so that anyone can read their voting record. This nation has had too many secrets and in the end, the veterans are the ones who paid the price. It should matter they already paid it when they served in combat for our sake. Now go back to the BBC report at the top and notice, the 100 suicides this year are from the Army alone and do not include the other branches. If that doesn't wake the experts up, nothing will.
A look at Vietnam veterans in jail as warning of newer veterans fate
If saving veterans is not morally right to you enough, then think of how much money it costs to send them to jail because it's "between $62,492 and $88,892 a year." Is it worth getting this right finally? These are the men and women we trained to go into combat and risk their lives for us. What did we do when they came home? We tested the wind to see what we could get away with. We were able to just write off Vietnam veterans because we didn't have the Internet and the ability to cover their stories from around the country. We can't hide them now. You can't just write them off or the newer veterans.
Here in Florida there is not enough begin done for any of them and I've tried for 5 years to break through whatever stupid wall there is separating all the different groups while they play games. This is about their lives! It's about their families and it's about our communities. I tried to get churches involved and all but one door was closed. They wouldn't even discuss it. I tried to get service groups involved, but none of them responded. Folks, we're talking about what I do for free and they wouldn't even give me the time of day! For heaven's sake I live in Central Florida and only a few groups have supported the work I do. The last couple of years I had to travel out of state to help their veterans and help set up programs with other groups online. Not here though and that's a real shame.
Here in Florida there is not enough begin done for any of them and I've tried for 5 years to break through whatever stupid wall there is separating all the different groups while they play games. This is about their lives! It's about their families and it's about our communities. I tried to get churches involved and all but one door was closed. They wouldn't even discuss it. I tried to get service groups involved, but none of them responded. Folks, we're talking about what I do for free and they wouldn't even give me the time of day! For heaven's sake I live in Central Florida and only a few groups have supported the work I do. The last couple of years I had to travel out of state to help their veterans and help set up programs with other groups online. Not here though and that's a real shame.
Think Vietnam Vets Were Screwed? Wait Until You See How Many Veterans of Bush's Wars End up in Jail
By Penny Coleman, AlterNet. Posted September 9, 2009.
Far too many soldiers end up behind bars while the rest of us are free to ignore the human evidence of what our military ventures really cost.
As all the other justifications for the U.S. invasion of Iraq have fallen by the wayside, it is ironic that the one that remains is "freedom," because in the name of someone else's freedom, we train our own soldiers to behave in ways that may very well cost them their own.
Gordy Lane is a retired Syracuse police detective who served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. As a cop, it was his job to put lawbreakers behind bars, but as a veteran, he understands that when you go to war, "you come back a little different than when you went over there."
"Listen," he says, "you pop up out of a foxhole, and you blow a guy's head open like a watermelon. The other two guys in the foxhole start patting you on the back and saying, 'Good job!' because you just did the worst thing that you can do to another person. How do you translate that into civilian life?"
For far too many soldiers, the simple answer is, you don't.
But with them behind bars and out of sight, most of the rest of us are free to ignore the human evidence of what our military ventures really cost. Even putting issues of compassion and justice aside, any number of alternatives to prison have been shown to save taxpayer money.
For example, the average annual cost of incarceration in New York state in 2008 was $44,000 a year. But a 2009 report by the Legal Action Committee found that for every individual diverted from prison into community-based treatment programs, the state would save between $62,492 and $88,892 a year.
read more here
Think Vietnam Vets Were Screwed
Schwarzenegger vetoes bill honoring Vietnam veterans
Stop playing political games using veterans and shame on Governor Schwarzenegger for not signing it to get his way, but also shame on Alberto Torrico for daring him to do it. Vietnam veterans have waited far too long for their sacrifices to be honored, not used in some kind of political game! Don't they get this? Don't they understand that some Vietnam veterans enlisted and others were forced to go but they all worked together and risked their lives no matter how they ended up there for each other? They did not serve Republicans or Democrats! They served doing what the nation asked of them. No one owns them but everyone seems to forget what they owe them!
Schwarzenegger vetoes bill honoring Vietnam veterans
By Kevin Yamamura
The Sacramento Bee
In the latest round of Capitol brinksmanship, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill honoring Vietnam veterans and threatened to kill 72 other proposals on his desk because he said lawmakers have ignored his priority issues.
The Senate withdrew all of its 43 bills from the Republican governor's desk for temporary safekeeping. But in an act of defiance, the Assembly left on his desk a bill that would designate March 30 as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day."
"I dare the governor to veto this bill," said Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, D-Newark, before the close of Tuesday's session.
read more here
Schwarzenegger vetoes bill honoring Vietnam veterans
Two detectives lauded by veteran's group
Two detectives lauded by veteran's group for helping give dead Vietnam vet military funeral
Palm Beach Post Staff Report
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
RIVIERA BEACH — A local veteran group is honoring two investigators who tracked down the history of a man found dead in the city and insured he got the military burial he deserved, city officials said.
Detective Sgt. Pat Galligan and Detective Jeremy Summers pushed for the burial of Gary Dale Wilson, a Vietnam veteran found dead in some woods in Riviera Beach.
read more here
Two detectives lauded by veterans group
Palm Beach Post Staff Report
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
RIVIERA BEACH — A local veteran group is honoring two investigators who tracked down the history of a man found dead in the city and insured he got the military burial he deserved, city officials said.
Detective Sgt. Pat Galligan and Detective Jeremy Summers pushed for the burial of Gary Dale Wilson, a Vietnam veteran found dead in some woods in Riviera Beach.
read more here
Two detectives lauded by veterans group
More Attempted Suicides Among Military
MHMR Seeing More Attempted Suicides Among Military
Monica Balderrama-KFOX News Reporter
Posted: 4:44 pm MDT September 8, 2009
Updated: 9:08 pm MDT September 8, 2009
EL PASO, Texas -- Officials for El Paso's local authority for mental health said they're seeing an increase of suicides among military personnel. But how can an agency that cut off 1,500 patients because of a budget shortfall help?
El Paso Mental Health Mental Retardation is making some changes and additions to its facility to accommodate a growing trend among military families. One of those new elements is that the staff is training for post-traumatic stress disorder.
"The dreams are always gonna be there. Just live with it. You can still see the pictures of all the dead. They're going to be there all your life," said Mike Anslinger.
Anslinger just retired from the military after 22 years. He was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Anslinger is just one of hundreds in the Fort Bliss/El Paso community who suffer from PTSD symptoms.
"The suicides have soared for this war beyond any other war in history," said Jesus Quiroga, the manager for intake and crisis emergency for the MHMR.
As KFOX reported, MHMR will be cutting off 1,500 patients because of a budget shortfall, but soldiers with insurance will be able to get services. Quiroga says MHMR has seen an increase in attempted suicides among the military.
read more here and for video report
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/20799562/detail.html
Monica Balderrama-KFOX News Reporter
Posted: 4:44 pm MDT September 8, 2009
Updated: 9:08 pm MDT September 8, 2009
EL PASO, Texas -- Officials for El Paso's local authority for mental health said they're seeing an increase of suicides among military personnel. But how can an agency that cut off 1,500 patients because of a budget shortfall help?
El Paso Mental Health Mental Retardation is making some changes and additions to its facility to accommodate a growing trend among military families. One of those new elements is that the staff is training for post-traumatic stress disorder.
"The dreams are always gonna be there. Just live with it. You can still see the pictures of all the dead. They're going to be there all your life," said Mike Anslinger.
Anslinger just retired from the military after 22 years. He was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Anslinger is just one of hundreds in the Fort Bliss/El Paso community who suffer from PTSD symptoms.
"The suicides have soared for this war beyond any other war in history," said Jesus Quiroga, the manager for intake and crisis emergency for the MHMR.
As KFOX reported, MHMR will be cutting off 1,500 patients because of a budget shortfall, but soldiers with insurance will be able to get services. Quiroga says MHMR has seen an increase in attempted suicides among the military.
read more here and for video report
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/20799562/detail.html
Soldier Faces Homicide Charge In Wife's Death
Soldier Faces Homicide Charge In Wife's Death
A soldier faces a criminal homicide charge after his wife was found shot to death early Tuesday.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A soldier faces a criminal homicide charge after his wife was found shot to death early Tuesday.
The Leaf Chronicle reports Clarksville Police responding to a welfare check found 25-year-old Sena Marie Downing's body. They put out an alert for a Ford Explorer with Fort Campbell decals.
The vehicle turned up in Robertson County where the police also found 31-year-old Jonathan Clyde Downing hiding in the woods. Police talked with him for a couple of hours before arresting him without incident at around noon.
Clarksville Police spokesman Jim Knoll said officers then transported Downing to the Montgomery County Jail to be booked. Knoll did not know whether Downing had obtained a lawyer.
http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/57773572.html
A soldier faces a criminal homicide charge after his wife was found shot to death early Tuesday.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A soldier faces a criminal homicide charge after his wife was found shot to death early Tuesday.
The Leaf Chronicle reports Clarksville Police responding to a welfare check found 25-year-old Sena Marie Downing's body. They put out an alert for a Ford Explorer with Fort Campbell decals.
The vehicle turned up in Robertson County where the police also found 31-year-old Jonathan Clyde Downing hiding in the woods. Police talked with him for a couple of hours before arresting him without incident at around noon.
Clarksville Police spokesman Jim Knoll said officers then transported Downing to the Montgomery County Jail to be booked. Knoll did not know whether Downing had obtained a lawyer.
http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/57773572.html
Another PTSD study, another waste of time
When will they ever contemplate the fact they are getting this wrong constantly while veterans wait for healing? One of the biggest problems is short term memory loss. It does not go away or ease. Ask any Vietnam veteran and you'll know that fact but they never think to talk to older veterans living with PTSD all these years.
When will these researchers stop wasting time and money and start to include older veterans and their families to find out the real answers? After all, by 1978 there were 500,000 Vietnam veterans they could have talked to, but too many of them committed suicide. How many of our newer veterans will do the same while they refuse to open their eyes and their amazing minds to really understand them?
This is not that complicated because wives like me, well, we made all the mistakes you can make while living with our Vietnam Vet husbands. We ended up learning from those mistakes to find what works and what doesn't. Living with them also gave us the ability to understand what it is they need and what the newer families need to know to help their own veterans heal faster. The key word is "heal" because researchers have yet to come up with a cure.
This month, my husband and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary. An anniversary statistically we should not be having. Too many marriages with Vietnam veterans fell apart when there is this silent killer trying to reclaim them for the demon of combat. This is a battle for their lives, for our marriages and for our children. If families do not understand PTSD, they fall apart, kids suffer and veterans are left to fight or die on their own.
This is going to take an army of educators to go across the country to teach what we have already learned and we need to stop this kind of study that does not include older veterans so they can really find out what the facts are.
When will these researchers stop wasting time and money and start to include older veterans and their families to find out the real answers? After all, by 1978 there were 500,000 Vietnam veterans they could have talked to, but too many of them committed suicide. How many of our newer veterans will do the same while they refuse to open their eyes and their amazing minds to really understand them?
This is not that complicated because wives like me, well, we made all the mistakes you can make while living with our Vietnam Vet husbands. We ended up learning from those mistakes to find what works and what doesn't. Living with them also gave us the ability to understand what it is they need and what the newer families need to know to help their own veterans heal faster. The key word is "heal" because researchers have yet to come up with a cure.
This month, my husband and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary. An anniversary statistically we should not be having. Too many marriages with Vietnam veterans fell apart when there is this silent killer trying to reclaim them for the demon of combat. This is a battle for their lives, for our marriages and for our children. If families do not understand PTSD, they fall apart, kids suffer and veterans are left to fight or die on their own.
This is going to take an army of educators to go across the country to teach what we have already learned and we need to stop this kind of study that does not include older veterans so they can really find out what the facts are.
Study sheds light on post-combat mental problems
By Anne Harding
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are typical after deployment to a war zone, and may even represent a healthy reaction to stress, but can lead to problems with mental functioning if they persist, new research in Iraq vets suggests.
Past research has demonstrated that people exposed to life-threatening situations will show changes in their nervous and hormonal systems, Dr. Jennifer J. Vasterling of the VA Boston Healthcare System and her colleagues note, but it's not clear how long such symptoms last after exposure ends, and if they do last, what the consequences might be.
Vasterling and her colleagues are conducting a long-term study called the Neurocognition Deployment Health Study to help answer these questions.
In the current report, Vasterling and her team report the outcomes of neurological and psychological assessments of two groups of soldiers before and after deployment to Iraq
Attention problems can be very relevant to how a person functions in daily life, Vasterling noted in an interview, even though the deficits that she and her colleagues identified were relatively mild.
The hope, she said, is that these problems will resolve once a person's PTSD is treated. However, the researcher added, there are also strategies that can help people cope with their attention problems until they get better.
read more here
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58768F20090908
2nd Annual Tribute to First Responders in Orlando
Last night there was a fantastic tribute to First Responders at First Baptist Orlando Church. Ed and Mary Ganster, founders if OperationSafety91, pulled in a wonderful group of speakers and performers. Moving songs by Lt. Connie Baldwin of the Orlando Police Department, who sang God Bless America. She has such a beautiful voice, she should be on America's Got Talent. Gina Marie Incandela, the little girl with autism famous for her singing at the Magic game, once again sang The Star Spangled Banner. She left all of us speechless with her beautiful voice, especially knowing her story. Eric Horner sang Footsteps of a Hero and Proud to be an American.
Police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, veterans, active military, you name it. If they serve this country, they were represented last night.
I was asked to do a video for this event and was so humbled to be sitting next to true heroes. Below is the video I did, Honor Them.
That's something we just don't seem to do enough. We see them everyday, count on them all the time when we are in need. After then emergency is over, after the fire is out, after we send them off to war and after they come home, we never really think about them again until we need them again. The rest of us just get on with our lives. Tributes like this need to happen more often so they know how much we really do appreciate what they do for all of us. They risk their lives for us everyday willingly and to have an event like this for them was something we all did joyfully.
I wanted to make sure you knew about this event because the media, well, they didn't cover it and they missed a great opportunity to shine a light on our heroes.
Honor Them - watch more videos
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
L.A. firefighters escape as truck sinks into hole
L.A. firefighters escape as truck sinks into hole
Story Highlights
Los Angeles firetruck nearly swallowed by sinkhole Tuesday morning
Firefighters in truck were responding to flooding call when incident happened
Two firefighters escaped truck through windows; no injuries reported
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Los Angeles firefighters and city crews worked for several hours Tuesday to rescue one of their own: a 22-ton firetruck that was nearly swallowed by a water-logged sinkhole.
Two firefighters crawled out of the truck's windows after it sank Tuesday morning. No one was injured.
The incident happened after four firefighters took the truck to the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Valley Village, where flooding had been reported after a water main break, just before 6 a.m. PT.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/08/california.stuck.fire.truck/index.html
Story Highlights
Los Angeles firetruck nearly swallowed by sinkhole Tuesday morning
Firefighters in truck were responding to flooding call when incident happened
Two firefighters escaped truck through windows; no injuries reported
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Los Angeles firefighters and city crews worked for several hours Tuesday to rescue one of their own: a 22-ton firetruck that was nearly swallowed by a water-logged sinkhole.
Two firefighters crawled out of the truck's windows after it sank Tuesday morning. No one was injured.
The incident happened after four firefighters took the truck to the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Valley Village, where flooding had been reported after a water main break, just before 6 a.m. PT.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/08/california.stuck.fire.truck/index.html
A Sister to All Vietnam Veterans Needs Your Help
Please put politics aside and at least read this. If you are so moved to help someone who has waged a great fight for all Vietnam Veterans, bless you for helping her.
A Sister to All Vietnam Veterans Needs Your Help
Chuck Palazzo Salem-News.com
Our supporter and her family need our help...
(DA NANG, Vietnam) - A family whose members have laid down their all for the benefit of all Vietnam Veterans is in a desperate situation and needs assistance to weather an ongoing storm.
One of VVAW's own has been in the fight for political as well as very personal reasons, for a very long time. That person is Rena Kopy, widow of John Kopystenski, VVAW member and Agent Orange victim.
read more here
A Sister to All Vietnam Veterans Needs Your Help
Anderson Cooper talks to U.S. Marines in Helmand Province
A model for success? 3:10
CNN's Anderson Cooper talks to U.S. Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, about the work they're doing to win peace.
At Patrol Base Jaker
Four U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan
Story Highlights
Four U.S. service members killed in fighting in eastern Afghanistan
Two people killed in explosion at Kabul International Airport, six wounded
Official: Suicide bomber struck near gate of military section of airport
KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Four U.S. service members were killed in fighting Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said.
The deaths took place in Kunar province in what a spokeswoman called an "ongoing event."
Troop deaths have mounted in Afghanistan this year as American and other international forces have stepped up their fight against the Taliban.
August was the deadliest month for the U.S. military in the nearly eight-year-old war, with 52 fatalities. The four deaths on Tuesday bring the number of U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan to 13 in September.
Elsewhere, a suicide bomber killed two people and wounded six others Tuesday morning in the Kabul airport's military section, Afghan officials said.
U.S. and Belgian nationals were among the wounded, a Western diplomatic official told CNN. The victims were all civilians, the Interior Ministry official said.
for more of this go here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/08/afghanistan.blast/index.html
CNN's Anderson Cooper talks to U.S. Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, about the work they're doing to win peace.
At Patrol Base Jaker
Four U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan
Story Highlights
Four U.S. service members killed in fighting in eastern Afghanistan
Two people killed in explosion at Kabul International Airport, six wounded
Official: Suicide bomber struck near gate of military section of airport
KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Four U.S. service members were killed in fighting Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said.
The deaths took place in Kunar province in what a spokeswoman called an "ongoing event."
Troop deaths have mounted in Afghanistan this year as American and other international forces have stepped up their fight against the Taliban.
August was the deadliest month for the U.S. military in the nearly eight-year-old war, with 52 fatalities. The four deaths on Tuesday bring the number of U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan to 13 in September.
Elsewhere, a suicide bomber killed two people and wounded six others Tuesday morning in the Kabul airport's military section, Afghan officials said.
U.S. and Belgian nationals were among the wounded, a Western diplomatic official told CNN. The victims were all civilians, the Interior Ministry official said.
for more of this go here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/08/afghanistan.blast/index.html
World War II POW’s medals to go to widow
World War II POW’s medals to go to widow
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Sep 8, 2009 8:01:21 EDT
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — Daniel Johnson may not have taken pride in having been a prisoner in Japan during World War II, but his widow is making sure that his service is fully noted.
Johnson, an Army corporal, was taken prisoner on May 6, 1942, on the Philippine island of Corregidor when Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright surrendered to the Japanese.
Johnson was held in some of the worst Japanese prison camps for 39 months before being liberated, only to spend another six months hospitalized because of malnutrition.
His widow, Phyllis Johnson of Mountain Home, is to formally receive her husband’s medals in a ceremony planned for Sept. 19.
“He wasn’t proud to be a POW, so he never cared about getting his medals,” Phyllis Johnson said.
Phyllis Johnson sought the medals after reading that a family member could request them. She has acquired her husband’s honorable service lapel pin, two presidential unit citations and five medals — WWII, POW, American Defense, Liberation of the Philippines and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign.
The ceremony will be held at a VFW hall in Cotter, Ark.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/ap_widowmedals_090809/
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Sep 8, 2009 8:01:21 EDT
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — Daniel Johnson may not have taken pride in having been a prisoner in Japan during World War II, but his widow is making sure that his service is fully noted.
Johnson, an Army corporal, was taken prisoner on May 6, 1942, on the Philippine island of Corregidor when Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright surrendered to the Japanese.
Johnson was held in some of the worst Japanese prison camps for 39 months before being liberated, only to spend another six months hospitalized because of malnutrition.
His widow, Phyllis Johnson of Mountain Home, is to formally receive her husband’s medals in a ceremony planned for Sept. 19.
“He wasn’t proud to be a POW, so he never cared about getting his medals,” Phyllis Johnson said.
Phyllis Johnson sought the medals after reading that a family member could request them. She has acquired her husband’s honorable service lapel pin, two presidential unit citations and five medals — WWII, POW, American Defense, Liberation of the Philippines and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign.
The ceremony will be held at a VFW hall in Cotter, Ark.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/ap_widowmedals_090809/
Pinellas Park officer, two medics hurt in U.S. 19 crash
Pinellas Park officer, two medics hurt in U.S. 19 crash
By Aaron Sharockman, Chris Zuppa and Brant James, Times Staff Writers
Posted: Sep 07, 2009 11:25 PM
PINELLAS PARK — A Pinellas Park police officer and two Sunstar paramedics were injured late Monday after a car hit their vehicles as they responded to a call on U.S. 19 N near 49th Street. The officer and emergency responders, and at least two others, were transported to area hospitals.
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Pinellas Park officer two medics hurt in U.S. 19 crash
By Aaron Sharockman, Chris Zuppa and Brant James, Times Staff Writers
Posted: Sep 07, 2009 11:25 PM
PINELLAS PARK — A Pinellas Park police officer and two Sunstar paramedics were injured late Monday after a car hit their vehicles as they responded to a call on U.S. 19 N near 49th Street. The officer and emergency responders, and at least two others, were transported to area hospitals.
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Pinellas Park officer two medics hurt in U.S. 19 crash
Disney-area McDonald's robbed, two employees tied up
Disney-area McDonald's robbed, two employees tied up
Witnesses said a man wearing a hood and gloves robbed the McDonald's on Buena Vista Drive near Disney, deputies said.
Sentinel Staff Writer
11:14 a.m. EDT, September 8, 2009
A man robbed a Disney-area McDonald's restaurant this morning, authorities said.
Orange County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a robbery at the McDonald's restaurant at 1674 E. Buena Vista Drive just before 7 a.m, the agency said.
Deputies found two employees tied up inside.
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Disney area McDonalds robbed, two employees tied up
Witnesses said a man wearing a hood and gloves robbed the McDonald's on Buena Vista Drive near Disney, deputies said.
Sentinel Staff Writer
11:14 a.m. EDT, September 8, 2009
A man robbed a Disney-area McDonald's restaurant this morning, authorities said.
Orange County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a robbery at the McDonald's restaurant at 1674 E. Buena Vista Drive just before 7 a.m, the agency said.
Deputies found two employees tied up inside.
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Disney area McDonalds robbed, two employees tied up
Local Teen Launches Web Site To Stop Gun Violence
Local Teen Launches Web Site To Stop Gun Violence
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
BRADENTON -- The girlfriend of a Manatee County teenager shot to death in August has started a Web site to bring awareness about gun violence.
After Mariah Ward’s boyfriend, DeJuan Williams, was shot and killed in his backyard, the Bayshore High School senior launched the site Speak for the Unspoken.
“I have gotten quite a few stories that are like, ‘I know what you are going though. If you could put my story in, I would really appreciate that,’ and now, with Jazmine, it’s been growing,” Ward said, referring to slain Bayshore High cheerleeader Jazmine Thompson, 17, who was shot and killed Friday.
“How can this keep happening?” Ward said. “She was 17. My boyfriend was 18. They had futures.”
The Web site collects donations to help with funeral costs for victims of gun violence.
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Local Teen Launches Web Site To Stop Gun Violence
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
BRADENTON -- The girlfriend of a Manatee County teenager shot to death in August has started a Web site to bring awareness about gun violence.
After Mariah Ward’s boyfriend, DeJuan Williams, was shot and killed in his backyard, the Bayshore High School senior launched the site Speak for the Unspoken.
“I have gotten quite a few stories that are like, ‘I know what you are going though. If you could put my story in, I would really appreciate that,’ and now, with Jazmine, it’s been growing,” Ward said, referring to slain Bayshore High cheerleeader Jazmine Thompson, 17, who was shot and killed Friday.
“How can this keep happening?” Ward said. “She was 17. My boyfriend was 18. They had futures.”
The Web site collects donations to help with funeral costs for victims of gun violence.
read more here
Local Teen Launches Web Site To Stop Gun Violence
Driver Flees In Deadly Road Rage Hit-And-Run
Driver Flees In Deadly Road Rage Hit-And-Run
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:06:28 AM
Reported by Mark Jenkins
ORLANDO -- Orange County homicide detectives are looking for a driver who fled the scene after hitting and killing a woman early Tuesday.
North Goldenrod Road was shut down for hours in both directions at Valencia College Lane as investigators gathered evidence in what they called a road rage incident.
Investigators said Monica Salana, 24, and a friend got into an altercation at a nightclub on Bumby Avenue. The two then left in Salana’s car, but were followed by five people inside a black, four-door Nissan Altima.
After the people inside the Nissan began throwing things at Salana’s Volkswagen convertible, Salana pulled over on Goldenrod Road to confront them.
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Driver Flees In Deadly Road Rage
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:06:28 AM
Reported by Mark Jenkins
ORLANDO -- Orange County homicide detectives are looking for a driver who fled the scene after hitting and killing a woman early Tuesday.
North Goldenrod Road was shut down for hours in both directions at Valencia College Lane as investigators gathered evidence in what they called a road rage incident.
Investigators said Monica Salana, 24, and a friend got into an altercation at a nightclub on Bumby Avenue. The two then left in Salana’s car, but were followed by five people inside a black, four-door Nissan Altima.
After the people inside the Nissan began throwing things at Salana’s Volkswagen convertible, Salana pulled over on Goldenrod Road to confront them.
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Driver Flees In Deadly Road Rage
Hiker Rescued After Accepting Marriage Proposal
Caught on Tape: Hiker Rescued After Accepting Marriage Proposal
CABIN JOHN, Md. - It began as a romantic hike, and ended with a helicopter rescue after one of the hikers fell and was injured, just moments after she accepted a marriage proposal.
The unidentified couple was hiking the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River Sunday went something went right, then wrong.
"In that area, although beautiful, it can be very dangerous," said Montgomery Co. Fire & Rescue Captain Derrell Walker.
It was also apparently a beautiful place for an engagement.
"And the story is he proposed to her just prior to her falling," Captain Walker said.
We're told after she said, 'Yes', she lost her footing and fell onto a large, jagged rock.
read more here
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0909/656914.html
linked from CNN
CABIN JOHN, Md. - It began as a romantic hike, and ended with a helicopter rescue after one of the hikers fell and was injured, just moments after she accepted a marriage proposal.
The unidentified couple was hiking the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River Sunday went something went right, then wrong.
"In that area, although beautiful, it can be very dangerous," said Montgomery Co. Fire & Rescue Captain Derrell Walker.
It was also apparently a beautiful place for an engagement.
"And the story is he proposed to her just prior to her falling," Captain Walker said.
We're told after she said, 'Yes', she lost her footing and fell onto a large, jagged rock.
read more here
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0909/656914.html
linked from CNN
Marine graduation plays a part in saving woman's life
Marine graduation plays a part in saving woman's life on flight to Savannah
By PATRICK DONOHUE
pdonohue@beaufortgazette.com
843-706-8152
Published Monday, September 7, 2009
Delta Air Lines flight 5446 was about 25 minutes from touchdown Wednesday at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, and Marine Sgt. Derrick Hengst was trying to get some sleep.
Hengst, a 23-year-old recruiter at Recruiting Station Nashville, was on the final leg of his trip to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island to see one of his recruits -- Pfc. Christopher Higley -- graduate from boot camp Friday.
He was beginning to doze off when he heard commotion in the row behind him.
"I heard the flight attendant saying, 'Ma'am? Ma'am, are you all right?' so I turned around and this woman was slouched over, almost falling onto her husband," Hengst said Friday.
Seated in the row behind the woman, Al Solomon, a 22-year-old whitewater-rafting guide from western Massachusetts, also noticed the situation, which quickly grew dire for the woman.
read more here
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/956368.html
By PATRICK DONOHUE
pdonohue@beaufortgazette.com
843-706-8152
Published Monday, September 7, 2009
Delta Air Lines flight 5446 was about 25 minutes from touchdown Wednesday at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, and Marine Sgt. Derrick Hengst was trying to get some sleep.
Hengst, a 23-year-old recruiter at Recruiting Station Nashville, was on the final leg of his trip to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island to see one of his recruits -- Pfc. Christopher Higley -- graduate from boot camp Friday.
He was beginning to doze off when he heard commotion in the row behind him.
"I heard the flight attendant saying, 'Ma'am? Ma'am, are you all right?' so I turned around and this woman was slouched over, almost falling onto her husband," Hengst said Friday.
Seated in the row behind the woman, Al Solomon, a 22-year-old whitewater-rafting guide from western Massachusetts, also noticed the situation, which quickly grew dire for the woman.
read more here
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/956368.html
Police officer, Army Veteran, killed in the line of duty
9-year veteran of suburban force 'meant a lot to so many people'
Police officer's death deeply affects peers on his force and around metro area.
By MIKE KASZUBA, Star Tribune
Last update: September 7, 2009 - 10:30 PM
He was a grandfather, a U.S. Army veteran and had a wife who had once worked as a reserve officer on the same North St. Paul police force he worked on. He was a "fantastic person" with a sense of humor who led his department's motorcycle squad, the police chief said.
On a sunny Monday, he began a holiday shift at 7 a.m. Ninety minutes later Richard Crittenden, 57, who had spent nine years on the 19-member suburban police force, was dead.
The Maplewood police officer who had assisted Crittenden on a call to check a possible violation of a domestic protection order was wounded. And a 34-year-old suspect with a lengthy criminal record whom they had struggled with -- and who presumably shot Crittenden -- had also been killed.
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9-year veteran of suburban force
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