Proper Exit, trips offer Iraq vets closure

Brian A. Barbour / Courtesy of the U.S. Army
From left: Sgt. Robert Brown, retired Staff Sgt. Bradley Gruetzner and Sgt. Christopher A. Burrell walk through “Hero’s Highway” on June 25 at the Air Force Theater Hospital at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Brown, Gruetzner, Burrell and four other soldiers wounded in Iraq had the opportunity to return to the places they once served in a program called Operation Proper Exit.

For the wounded, one last mission
‘Proper Exit’ trips offer Iraq vets closure
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, September 21, 2009

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — Some soldiers are returning to the places where they were wounded in Iraq under a program that aims to speed their recovery and close a painful chapter in their lives.

"They left without closure. … They left behind their belongings, their friends and battle buddies," said Rick Kell, director of the Troops First Foundation, who devised Operation Proper Exit after hearing wounded soldiers talk of their desire to return to Iraq. "We have heard for so long that Vietnam veterans wanted to go back and in their words, ‘have some closure.’ I thought why not try to get some of these guys to go back in real time so they don’t have to wait 30 years? "

Six soldiers took part in the initial trip in June, and another is planned for November.

One participant in the June trip was Staff Sgt. Kenneth Butler, 29, of Braintree, Mass., who lost his right arm above the elbow in a bomb attack while serving in Baghdad in 2007.

"I blacked out a few times," said Butler, who recently retired from active duty. "The last time was at FOB Rustamiyah and I woke up at Walter Reed."

Almost all wounded soldiers want to go back to where they served, Butler said.

"They want to rejoin their team and to be part of the fight and leave that place on their own terms and not on a gurney almost dead," he said.
read more here
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=64913

Also older story on Operation Proper ExitWounded Warriors Return to Iraq

Five reported dead in Georgia flooding

Five reported dead in Georgia flooding
Story Highlights
NEW: Girl who was swept from father's arms is among those killed

At least four other people missing in Georgia; one presumed dead in Tennessee

300 people in Trion, Georgia, evacuate homes amid fears levee might fail

Hundreds of roads closed, official says; more rain expected before finally ending

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Georgia creeks and rivers, swollen by days of rain, burst their banks Monday, and at least five people were killed in flooding in the state, officials said.

At least four others were thought to be missing, said Wes Tallon, spokesman for fire and emergency management services in Douglas County, west of Atlanta.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/21/southeast.floods/index.html#cnnSTCText

2 dozen motorcycles crash on I-5 in Oregon

2 dozen motorcycles crash on I-5 in Oregon
By Meghan Kalkstein KATU News and KATU.com
WILSONVILLE, Ore. – An accident involving almost 30 motorcycles just south of Wilsonville on Interstate 5 Friday afternoon injured several people, two critically.

The crash happened at about 3 p.m. near milepost 282. LifeFlight airlifted Herbert Sinclair of Heyburn, Idaho and David Bowyer of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to Oregon Health Sciences University and Legacy Emanuel Hospital, respectively. Both were motorcyclists.

Representatives of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue said that it treated eight patients for shoulder and hip injuries and broken bones. They were also taken to area hospitals.

The accident closed northbound lanes of Interstate 5 for over two hours.

The motorcyclists were part of a local motorcycle club called Brothers Speed which was established in May 1969, according to its Web site. It has chapters in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, specifically in Portland, Ore. Camas, Wash., and Boise, Idaho.
read more here
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/59860797.html

Father, daughter deploy jointly with ND Guard

Father, daughter deploy jointly with ND Guard

The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Sep 21, 2009 18:13:08 EDT

WEST FARGO, N.D. — National Guard Spc. Heather Zimmerman followed in her father’s footsteps in joining the military. Now the two are being deployed together.

Zimmerman and her father, Sgt. Major Alvin Zimmerman of West Fargo, are among 650 North Dakota National Guard members assigned to a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Officials say the North Dakotans will lead a multinational group of about 1,400.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/ap_guard_nd_family_deployment_092109/

AZ police investigate apparent murder-suicide

AZ police investigate apparent murder-suicide
Posted: Sep 21, 2009 1:55 PM EDT
Arizona police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide that left a mother and her two teenage sons dead.

Mesa police spokesman Detective Steve Berry said the woman's husband came home from work late Saturday and found her dead. As he continued checking the home, the man found his two sons dead, too.

The dead were identified as 50-year-old Susan Mullaly, 15-year-old Ryan Mullaly and 12-year-old Nicholas Mullaly
read more here
http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=11168858

Deputies To Learn About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Deputies To Learn About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Law Enforcement Often First Professionals To Come In Contact With Ailing Soldiers
Last updated Sunday, September 20, 2009 11:55 PM CDT in News
By Anna Fry
THE MORNING NEWS

Benton County Sheriff's Office deputies will learn about veterans and post-traumatic stress disorder during special training scheduled for October.

"We're not going to turn them into mental health experts," said Vaughn DeCoster, team leader with the Fayetteville Veterans Center. "It's kind of sensitivity training, if you will."

DeCoster and two Veterans Affairs-affiliated nurses are providing the training. The training is mandatory for all deputies in the field, who are the sheriff's office employees most likely to deal with people with the disorder, said Capt. Mike Jones.

Deputies recently responded to a disturbance involving a recently-returned soldier with the disorder, Jones said. The man's family was complimentary of the deputies' handling of the situation but recommended training, he said.

The Sheriff's Office approached the center about the training and it's the first time it's been done, DeCoster said. The purpose is to educate deputies about soldiers returning from war and the community resources to which deputies can refer them.

The area doesn't have any big active-duty bases near, so soldiers returning from war can go unnoticed in public, he said.

"There are people out there that are suffering silently," DeCoster said.

All soldiers returning from war must decompress and adjust, he said. Just because soldiers are returning from combat and show symptoms doesn't mean they have post-traumatic stress disorder
read more here
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2009/09/21/news/092109bzptsd.txt

Longwood FL school under lock down over black bear

Bear At School; Campus Locked Down
Bear In Tree Near Classrooms

POSTED: Monday, September 21, 2009
UPDATED: 1:01 pm EDT September 21, 2009



LONGWOOD, Fla. -- A Seminole County school is on lock down after a black bear was found on its campus.

According to Fish and Wildlife, the bear was found on Pace-Brantley Hall school property Monday morning.
read more here
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/21039378/detail.html
linked from CNN

Sgt. Rafael Peralta should have honor earned

The excuse of a friendly fire bullet limiting his capacity to act when a grenade came, is blown away by the military procedures they already have. PTSD medicated troops sent back into combat, but no one questions their mental capacity if they act heroically. TBI troops still kept on duty, but no one questions their mental capacity either. Here they have someone with a bullet wound but still put others first and pulled the grenade to himself. This act, was worthy of one medal but not the Medal of Honor because he was already wounded? Dah! How stupid does this get?

Marine could still get medal

By William Cole

President Obama on Thursday posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military recognition, to a Massachusetts soldier who died in Afghanistan trying to save a wounded comrade.

Staff Sgt. Jared C. Monti, a team leader with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division, died in Nuristan province on June 21, 2006.

It was a reminder of a Medal of Honor not received in the case of a Hawai'i Marine, Sgt. Rafael Peralta. It is a cause that fellow Marines refuse to give up on.

At least four Marines with Peralta on Nov. 15, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq, have stated in written reports that they saw the short and stocky Marine nicknamed "Rafa" pull a grenade to his body after it had bounced into a room, saving the lives of others in the process.

The 25-year-old was with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment out of Kane'ohe Bay.

A Medal of Honor recommendation for Peralta made it through examinations by the Marine Corps, U.S. Central Command and the Department of the Navy before being rejected by five individuals appointed in an unusual move by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to review the nomination.
read more here
Marine could still get medal

Marine ride to provide holiday cheer

Marine ride to provide holiday cheer
Toys for Tots campaign kicks off
Updated: Sunday, 20 Sep 2009, 7:53 PM EDT
Published : Sunday, 20 Sep 2009, 11:46 AM EDT

Anthony DiLorenzo
FEEDING HILLS, Mass. (WWLP) - Local bikers wound their way through the Pioneer Valley, Sunday morning with the Marine Corps League of Westfield, raising money for an important cause.

Their efforts will help needy children this holiday season as well as wounded warriors.

Hundreds of bikers are all revved up for the holiday season. Even Santa Claus himself, and bikers from throughout New England spread Christmas cheer with the kickoff of the Toys for Tots campaign with a benefit ride through the Pioneer Valley.

Around 200 bikers are not only helping the needy children but also the wounded warriors that have come back from battle with deep scars.

"Toys are coming in one at a time as a donation, and then a donation will go toward the 'Marine Helping Marine' program," explained Commandant Fran Curnow, of the Westfield River Valley Marine Corps League.

It's a program Lou Johnson champions in his fallen son's name, "participating in something like this makes me feel we're extending his example of doing for others."

Nineteen-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Phil Johnson of Enfield, CT, was killed three years ago in Iraq.

The Johnson family now makes it their mission, to help other military families with similar struggles.
go here for more
Marine ride to provide holiday cheer

Marine reservist killed after stopping to help accident victims

Marine reservist dies after being hit by car in Arlington

11:54 PM CDT on Sunday, September 20, 2009
By RICHARD ABSHIRE / The Dallas Morning News
rabshire@dallasnews.com

Arlington's 27th traffic fatality of 2009 was a Marine reservist who stopped to help victims of a traffic accident on Interstate 20 between Collins Street and Matlock Road shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday.

According to police, the original accident involved three vehicles in the westbound lanes of I-20. Two people were sent to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

The reservist and another man stopped to divert traffic and help the victims of the accident get out of their cars.
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Marine reservist dies after being hit by car in Arlington