Roger That: Local vet wants others to be aware of hepatitis C dangers
April 1, 2010, 6:10 pm
Shaun Brown is on a campaign to make Vietnam veterans aware that their segment of the population faces what he calls "a grave epidemic."
Shaun is from Newfield, the son of a Vietnam vet who died last year -- the result, Shaun says, of the hepatitis C virus that he believes can be traced to his dad's service in the war.
"Medical professionals believe the high prevalence (of HCV in veterans) points to a single causality," Shaun wrote recently.
"Jet gun injectors have been at the forefront of possible causes."
Well, certainly one possible cause. There are many others, but let's go with this for now.
The jet gun, for those who haven't had the pleasure, was used to administer several immunizations at once by firing the fluids, with high pressure but no needles, into the upper arm.
read more here
Local vet wants others to be aware of hepatitis C dangers
Friday, April 2, 2010
One in three young vets now unemployed
Smart enough to learn new skills? Yep. Dedicated to the mission? Yep, can't beat willing to lay down your life to do it. Physically able? Yep, boot camp alone proved that one. Works great on team efforts? Ever see a soldier fighting alone and doing his own thing? That one's covered too. What more can an employer ask for? Considering they spent at least a year in combat, unable to call in sick, or take the easy way out of anything, the list of reasons to higher a veteran is a lot longer than the reason to pass them over. What kind of "grateful nation" is this when they come home after serving in the military and find out they don't have a job?
One in three young vets now unemployed
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Apr 2, 2010 15:12:51 EDT
Disturbing new statistics from the Labor Department show that one in three veterans under age 24 is unemployed — and that the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has jumped to 14.7 percent, half again as high as the national employment rate of 9.7 percent.
The March unemployment rate of 30.2 percent for veterans aged 18 to 24 is a big jump from February’s figure of 21.7 percent, although it may be partly the result of a small sample used by the Labor Department in determining unemployment, said Justin Brown, a labor expert for Veterans of Foreign Wars.
read more here
One in three young vets now unemployed
Grass-roots effort tries to fill needs while veterans wait
Help returning war vets
Grass-roots effort tries to fill financial and counseling gaps
Updated: April 01, 2010, 11:23 pm
Published: April 02, 2010, 6:51 am
For many veterans returning from both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and for their families, there are continuing issues that governmental entities may not be fully equipped to handle. Western New York veterans want to bridge that gap, and they deserve community support.
WNY Heroes, a grass-roots effort by the veterans and their supporters, is designed to help fill the financial and emotional gaps facing returning service members and their families, who face delays in getting medical treatment and financial hurdles worsened by deployments overseas. Through "A Salute to Service: Our Community Cares," a fundraising effort under the auspices of the Mental Health Association of Erie County, the group hopes to raise more than $535,000 over 60 days.
read more here
Help returning war vets
Grass-roots effort tries to fill financial and counseling gaps
Updated: April 01, 2010, 11:23 pm
Published: April 02, 2010, 6:51 am
For many veterans returning from both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and for their families, there are continuing issues that governmental entities may not be fully equipped to handle. Western New York veterans want to bridge that gap, and they deserve community support.
WNY Heroes, a grass-roots effort by the veterans and their supporters, is designed to help fill the financial and emotional gaps facing returning service members and their families, who face delays in getting medical treatment and financial hurdles worsened by deployments overseas. Through "A Salute to Service: Our Community Cares," a fundraising effort under the auspices of the Mental Health Association of Erie County, the group hopes to raise more than $535,000 over 60 days.
read more here
Help returning war vets
KBR sued by Uncle Sam after new contract
Why does this sound like something out of a bad movie?
US Sues Contractor KBR Over Iraq Bills
April 02, 2010
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The federal government sued KBR Inc., the largest contractor in Iraq, on Thursday over what prosecutors say were improper charges to the Army for private security services.
Houston-based KBR Inc. is a former subsidiary of Halliburton Co. It recently won a new contract potentially worth more than $2 billion for support work in the country.
The lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington charged that KBR and 33 of its subcontractors used private armed security at various times from 2003 to 2006. The suit claimed KBR knew under the terms of its contract the company could not bill the U.S. government for such services but did so anyway.
read more here
US Sues Contractor KBR Over Iraq Bills
New Agent Orange Rule to Allow Retro Claims by 86,000
Agent Orange Retro Claims Allowed
Tom Philpott April 01, 2010
New Agent Orange Rule to Allow Retro Claims by 86,000
About 86,000 Vietnam War veterans, their surviving spouses or estates will be eligible for retroactive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs -- an average of 11.4 years for veterans and 9.6 years for survivors -- under a draft VA rule to expand by three the number of diseases presumed caused by herbicide exposure in the war.
The 86,000 are beneficiaries who can reopen previously denied claims for these conditions: ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease and chronic B-cell blood cancers including hairy cell leukemia. But another 29,000 claims are expected to be approved this year for Vietnam veterans suffering from these diseases but applying for benefits for the first time.
The projected cost of this dramatic expansion of claims linked to Agent Orange and other defoliants deployed four decades ago is $13.6 billion this fiscal year and $42.2 billion over 10 years. VA plans to hire 1772 new claims processors, starting this October, to be able to handle these claims "without significantly degrading the processing of the non-presumptive workload."
read more here
Agent Orange Retro Claims Allowed
Tom Philpott April 01, 2010
New Agent Orange Rule to Allow Retro Claims by 86,000
About 86,000 Vietnam War veterans, their surviving spouses or estates will be eligible for retroactive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs -- an average of 11.4 years for veterans and 9.6 years for survivors -- under a draft VA rule to expand by three the number of diseases presumed caused by herbicide exposure in the war.
The 86,000 are beneficiaries who can reopen previously denied claims for these conditions: ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease and chronic B-cell blood cancers including hairy cell leukemia. But another 29,000 claims are expected to be approved this year for Vietnam veterans suffering from these diseases but applying for benefits for the first time.
The projected cost of this dramatic expansion of claims linked to Agent Orange and other defoliants deployed four decades ago is $13.6 billion this fiscal year and $42.2 billion over 10 years. VA plans to hire 1772 new claims processors, starting this October, to be able to handle these claims "without significantly degrading the processing of the non-presumptive workload."
read more here
Agent Orange Retro Claims Allowed
Senator Sherrod Brown learns more about homeless veterans
Senator learns more about homelessness, mental health of veterans
By Loren Genson • Gazette Staff Writer • April 1, 2010
Homelessness and mental-health issues were hot topics when Sen. Sherrod Brown visited the Chillicothe VA hospital Thursday to speak with veterans and center hospital directors.
Director Jeff Gering said he was pleased Brown, a member of the Veterans Affairs committee and a northeast Ohioan, took the time to visit and learn more about the veteran population in southern Ohio.
“Addressing homelessness among veterans in Cleveland is very different than in Appalachia,” Gering said.
While the center has always worked to find homeless veterans a place to stay, the troubled economy has increased the number of veterans it must serve.
Foreclosures and more recent veterans returning home with mental-health problems have added local veterans in need of housing and mental-health assistance.
read more here
Senator learns more about homelessness
By Loren Genson • Gazette Staff Writer • April 1, 2010
Homelessness and mental-health issues were hot topics when Sen. Sherrod Brown visited the Chillicothe VA hospital Thursday to speak with veterans and center hospital directors.
Director Jeff Gering said he was pleased Brown, a member of the Veterans Affairs committee and a northeast Ohioan, took the time to visit and learn more about the veteran population in southern Ohio.
“Addressing homelessness among veterans in Cleveland is very different than in Appalachia,” Gering said.
While the center has always worked to find homeless veterans a place to stay, the troubled economy has increased the number of veterans it must serve.
Foreclosures and more recent veterans returning home with mental-health problems have added local veterans in need of housing and mental-health assistance.
read more here
Senator learns more about homelessness
Apparent murder-suicide reported in Lawson
Apparent murder-suicide reported in Lawson
By St. Joseph News-Press
Friday, April 2, 2010
LAWSON, Mo. — Law enforcement officers continue to investigate what appears to be a murder-suicide involving a recently returned veteran from Iraq.
“At this time, we suspect that Alex C. Caton, 23, shot and killed his wife, Michelle, 22, wounded his father-in-law and then committed suicide,” said Brian LaFavor, Lawson chief of police. “We won’t know for certain until the autopsy results are in.”
By St. Joseph News-Press
Friday, April 2, 2010
LAWSON, Mo. — Law enforcement officers continue to investigate what appears to be a murder-suicide involving a recently returned veteran from Iraq.
“At this time, we suspect that Alex C. Caton, 23, shot and killed his wife, Michelle, 22, wounded his father-in-law and then committed suicide,” said Brian LaFavor, Lawson chief of police. “We won’t know for certain until the autopsy results are in.”
The Ray County sheriff’s department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are assisting in the investigation. Mr. LaFavor said Mr. Caton was in the military and had recently returned from service in Iraq.
read more here
Vietnam vet who lost son in USS Cole bombing wins in court
Judge: Lejeune officials violated veteran's rights by demanding removal of anti-Islam decals
By: MIKE BAKER
Associated Press
04/01/10 4:30 PM EDT
RALEIGH, N.C. — Camp Lejeune officials violated the rights of a military veteran who came to his job on base in a vehicle emblazoned with anti-Islamic decals after his son died in a terrorist bombing, a federal judge ruled.
Jesse Nieto's stickers included one that said "ISLAM (equals) TERRORISM" and another with a threat to defecate on the Quran. He also had a decal to commemorate the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, in which 17 shipmates died including Nieto's youngest son.
"His vehicle is a way to express his mourning and anger," said Nieto's attorney, Robert Muise. Nieto has been driving a different vehicle to his on-base job since the summer of 2008, but Muise said he plans to return with his decals next week. He has worked at Lejeune since 1994 and previously served 25 years in the Marine Corps, including two combat tours as an infantryman in Vietnam.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: Lejeune officials violated veteran rights
By: MIKE BAKER
Associated Press
04/01/10 4:30 PM EDT
RALEIGH, N.C. — Camp Lejeune officials violated the rights of a military veteran who came to his job on base in a vehicle emblazoned with anti-Islamic decals after his son died in a terrorist bombing, a federal judge ruled.
Jesse Nieto's stickers included one that said "ISLAM (equals) TERRORISM" and another with a threat to defecate on the Quran. He also had a decal to commemorate the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, in which 17 shipmates died including Nieto's youngest son.
"His vehicle is a way to express his mourning and anger," said Nieto's attorney, Robert Muise. Nieto has been driving a different vehicle to his on-base job since the summer of 2008, but Muise said he plans to return with his decals next week. He has worked at Lejeune since 1994 and previously served 25 years in the Marine Corps, including two combat tours as an infantryman in Vietnam.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: Lejeune officials violated veteran rights
Dad walking across country for Fisher House
Dad walking cross-country to help wounded troops' families
By Patty Lane, CNN
April 1, 2010 10:59 a.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Soldier's father will walk from California to Georgia
Going solo with five pairs of running shoes, two pairs of hiking boots
"Comfort homes" house injured troops' families near military hospitals
(CNN) -- Inspired by his West Point cadet son, a California man sets out Thursday on a cross-country trek to raise money for an organization that supports wounded troops and their families.
John Conte of San Diego will begin his walk at Camp Pendleton on the West Coast and expects to wrap up at Fort Benning, Georgia, sometime in July.
His goal is to raise $50,000 for Fisher House to help it build more "comfort homes." Such homes provide housing for injured soldiers' families near a hospital where their loved one is recovering. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/01/cross.country.walk/
By Patty Lane, CNN
April 1, 2010 10:59 a.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Soldier's father will walk from California to Georgia
Going solo with five pairs of running shoes, two pairs of hiking boots
"Comfort homes" house injured troops' families near military hospitals
(CNN) -- Inspired by his West Point cadet son, a California man sets out Thursday on a cross-country trek to raise money for an organization that supports wounded troops and their families.
John Conte of San Diego will begin his walk at Camp Pendleton on the West Coast and expects to wrap up at Fort Benning, Georgia, sometime in July.
His goal is to raise $50,000 for Fisher House to help it build more "comfort homes." Such homes provide housing for injured soldiers' families near a hospital where their loved one is recovering. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/01/cross.country.walk/
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Grieving Mom doesn't want others sons or daughters to die because of PTSD
A Grieving Mother Calls on Congressman to Help Veterans With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
SAUK CENTRE, Minn - Dorothy Sills lost her son Johnny last year and she believes his death was a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"When someone who values life is in a situation where life isn't valued and they have to kill people it sticks with them," Sills said.
Sills said when her son came home from the Iraq War horrific memories haunted him.
She believes those memories led to his death last summer.
"He crashed his motorcycle and I was told his death was unexplained. I think he had a flashback and thought he saw something," she said.
According to Sills, if her son had more help he might still be alive.
read more here
http://ksax.com/article/stories/S1495107.shtml?cat=10230
SAUK CENTRE, Minn - Dorothy Sills lost her son Johnny last year and she believes his death was a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"When someone who values life is in a situation where life isn't valued and they have to kill people it sticks with them," Sills said.
Sills said when her son came home from the Iraq War horrific memories haunted him.
She believes those memories led to his death last summer.
"He crashed his motorcycle and I was told his death was unexplained. I think he had a flashback and thought he saw something," she said.
According to Sills, if her son had more help he might still be alive.
read more here
http://ksax.com/article/stories/S1495107.shtml?cat=10230
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