Wounded veteran gives Purple Heart to Giffords

Wounded veteran gives Purple Heart to Giffords


Posted: Mar 17, 2011 1:54 PM

Web Producer: Layla Tang

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A veteran wounded while fighting in Iraq has given his Purple Heart to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head January 8 in an assassination attempt.

Al Lee, a Sierra Vista resident, was awarded the Purple Heart after being injured in Fallujah, Iraq, in September 2003.
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Wounded veteran gives Purple Heart to Giffords

Westboro "pastor's" son says kids were abused

Added On March 16, 2011
HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell talks with Nate Phelps, the son of the pastor who founded the Westboro Baptist Church.



Also
Gold Star Mom
Woman asks justices to reconsider Westboro case
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Mar 17, 2011 4:03:35 EDT
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa City mother of a soldier whose funeral was picketed by members of a Kansas church wants the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling that such protests are constitutionally protected.

Patty Sourivong has started a petition campaign. She says she has no lawyer and knows that persuading the court to take another look at its 8-1 ruling earlier this month is a long shot.
Woman asks justices to reconsider Westboro case

And also today

Hearing for vet accused of Westboro stalking
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Mar 17, 2011 9:06:18 EDT
WICHITA, Kan. — The attorney for a disabled Army veteran accused of stalking members of a Topeka church says his client will not waive a hearing at which the government must present evidence supporting the charges.
McPherson — who lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan — is charged with felony conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and five misdemeanors.
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Hearing for vet accused of Westboro stalking

"We've got a grieving department" at Orange County Sheriff's Office

OCSO: Deputy On Duty Collapses, Dies

Rescue Workers Called To YMCA Aquatic Center

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orange County Sheriff's Office officials said a deputy died while on the job at the YMCA Aquatic Center Wednesday evening.

"We've got a grieving department, I've got personnel here that are really shaken up, we've got a wife here that's really shaken up," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.

OCSO Deputy Michael Erickson
OCSO identified the deputy as homicide investigator Deputy First Class Michael Erickson.
Officials said the sheriff's office received a 911 call at about 4:30 p.m., after Erickson collapsed at the YMCA Aquatic Center.

Fire Rescue arrived at the scene and transported the deputy to Dr. Phillips Hospital. OCSO officials said that despite the best efforts of rescue workers, Erickson passed away.
"Deputy Erickson proudly served the Orange County Sheriff's Office since January of 1998," the OCSO said in a news release. "He leaves behind a loving wife, and two sons. Please keep his family, friends and co-workers in your thoughts and prayers."

OCSO Deputy Sebastian Diana
Sebastian Diana, 40, died on Sunday from an illness he contracted five years ago while performing CPR on a baby, OCSO officials said.

"In less than a week's time the Orange County Sheriff's Office is mourning the untimely death of two of its finest officers," the OCSO said in a news release.

Diana's memorial service will be this weekend. Erickson's has not been announced.
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http://www.wesh.com/news/27219627/detail.html

One tough Marine, declared dead three times survived Vietnam

This sounded like a good story as it was but when I read this Marine was declared dead three times, it turned into an amazing story.

Charles “Graves” Roth made sure this Marine stayed alive after he was told three times Gil Hernandez was dead at Graves Registration. He not only lived long enough to make it back home, after 43 years, he met the man who saved his life.

A Maine meets the man who saved his life 43 years ago.

Published: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
By Anne Neborak

For many the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is a place to commemorate the dead for Charles “Graves” Roth, age 62 of Collingdale each year he would visit the Wall remembering those who died during the Tet Offensive and his best friend Robert L. Stanek who died on Feb. 4, 1968.


But on this breezy day on March 7, it was a day to celebrate life. Today he would meet the Marine whose life he had miraculously saved forty-three years ago.


Roth was in Graves Registration where he tended to over 2,700 bodies of the fallen soldiers, children and even military dogs in Vietnam. He would retrieve bodies during the day repelling out of helicopters and spend his nights preparing the dead for their trip home. He and another Marine would fingerprint the soldiers and then put them in body bags.

Roth began hollering “this Marine is alive” They continued working on Hernandez and found a faint pulse. Amazingly, Hernandez was pronounced dead three times before being sent to Japan for treatment. His injuries were so massive he never would have survived the plane ride home to the states.
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Maine meets the man who saved his life 43 years ago

General Petraeus reveals that son served in Afghanistan

Petraeus reveals that son served in Afghanistan
– Wed Mar 16, 7:09 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Challenged by a congressman to "be honest" about how long American troops might have to fight in Afghanistan, Army Gen. David Petraeus revealed that he has a personal stake in ensuring that the U.S. war objectives are met — his son, Stephen, whose recent combat tour was kept "very quiet."

In an emotional exchange with Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., Petraeus said "if I ever felt that we couldn't achieve our objectives," he would be "very forthright" not only with his superiors in the military chain of command but also with President Barack Obama and members of the Congress.

Noting that Obama has said the U.S. will have combat troops out by the end of 2014, with the Afghan government in position to provide its own security, a skeptical Jones said he could imagine a senior military leader coming before Congress in 2015 and pleading for more time and more sacrifice.

"You know, 15, 16, 17 years, for God sakes, how much more can we take, how much more can we give treasure and blood?" Jones asked.

Petraeus replied: "I may not be at this table, probably won't be, in 2015, but I'll tell you that my son is in uniform, and Lieutenant Petraeus just completed a tour in Afghanistan, which thankfully we were able to keep very quiet, and left in November after serving as an infantry platoon leader. We're very proud of what he did. He thinks he was doing something very important."

His son, 2nd Lt. Stephen Petraeus, served in Afghanistan as a member of Alpha Company, 3rd Platoon, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

At first I thought this was just one more of our elected suddenly saying that Afghanistan is not worth it. I was wrong. It seems that Congressman Jones has been saying something as serious as war needs serious debate for a long time.

JONES REGISTERS DISAPPOINTMENT WITH HOUSE DEBATE

Washington, D.C., Jun 16, 2006 - In a House vote today, Third District Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) registered a “present” vote on H. Res. 861, a resolution dealing with the ongoing conflict in Iraq and the Global War on Terror. The House vote followed yesterday’s full day of debate on the resolution.

“Without question, I fully support our nation’s efforts to win the Global War on Terror,” Congressman Jones said today. “And I, like all of my colleagues in Congress, will always support the brave men and women of our military.”

“What I have encouraged in the months leading up to this week’s debate was a day set aside for a wide-ranging discussion of our campaign in Iraq, including serious consideration of issues such as the status of Iraqi infrastructure, the Iraqi economy and the training of Iraqi troops.”

“I could not vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on H. Res. 861 today because a resolution to merely “declare that the United States will prevail” in a “noble struggle” misses the point. A ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote would have legitimized an effort to effectively avoid the subject,” Jones said.

“I have done everything in my ability, as one member of Congress, to encourage a serious debate – including an appearance with colleagues before the House Rules Committee to appeal for a less restrictive format for debate,” Jones said. “The House debate should have offered an opportunity to vote on a variety of proposals on what should be the way forward in Iraq. Unfortunately, we have yet to have that discussion or debate.”

“We owe it to the 130,000 men and women of our military who are serving in Iraq to have a serious discussion on a full range of issues – not just a political match with two parties retreating to their respective corners with prepared talking points and rhetoric. When the House of Representatives conducts a “debate” in which one side does nothing but launch an offensive attack and one side does nothing but defend, it is not what our men and women in uniform need.”

“It is disappointing that neither party has distinguished itself in its handling of this issue,” Jones said. “To some extent, both parties participating in this debate have unfortunately put their political interests above the interests of the troops.”

For additional information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.

There was very little debate before troops were sent into Afghanistan in 2001 and even less debate about sending them into Iraq. The lives of the men and women sent should have been taken far more seriously just as taking care of them when they came home should have been planned out. It seems Jones cared. Did your congressman care or was it all about politics back then? Look them up and what their votes were and find their speeches to learn about what they really care about.

PSA on Suicide Prevention for Veterans

VA Launches New PSA on Suicide Prevention for Veterans

Confidential Crisis Line Provides 24/7 Access to Help

WASHINGTON (March 15, 2011)- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is
reaching out to Veterans in crisis and their families in a new public
service announcement to raise awareness about suicide prevention
resources, such as the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

"As more Veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan, the critical need
for mental health care is rising," said Sonja V. Batten, assistant
deputy chief patient care services officer for mental health. "VA is
increasing its efforts to reach out to Veterans in need and their
families, to inform them about available services and programs."

The new television spot encourages Veterans in crisis to call the crisis
hotline number at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and then push 1 on their
telephone keypad to reach a trained VA mental health professional who
can assist the Veteran 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Suicide is preventable," said Batten. "Every Veteran suicide is tragic
and regardless of the numbers or rates, one Veteran suicide is too many.
We feel the responsibility to continue to spread the word throughout the
nation that suicide prevention is everyone's business."

So far, more than 379,000 people have called the hotline, and more than
200,000 of these callers have identified themselves as Veterans, family
members or friends of Veterans. The hotline has led to more than 13,000
rescues of actively suicidal Veterans.

The hotline also operates an online Veterans Chat program, which
provides Veterans, their families and friends with the ability to
communicate anonymously online in real-time with a trained VA mental
health professional. Veterans Chat can be accessed through the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline


Through the hotline and Veterans Chat, VA can connect Veterans and their
families with important services, including suicide prevention
coordinators, as well as general inpatient and outpatient psychiatric
services at VA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics.

The hotline, which is part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline,
was started in 2007 as a partnership between VA and the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The PSA can be viewed at PSA on Suicide Prevention for Veterans

Family of Kenneth Guy Ellis III calls for better training after police shooting

Here is the story.

Iraq veteran fatally shot by APD
by Patrick Hibbard; Managing Editor
Volume 15, Issue 17
January 19, 2010

Kenneth Guy Ellis III died Wednesday, Jan. 13 after being fatally shot by an Albuquerque Police Department (APD) detective. The APD has disclosed to various news agencies that Ellis was pulled over in the 7-11 parking lot at Eubank and Constitution because the corvette he was driving did not match the license plate that was on it. Ellis had been struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) since he was injured while serving with the Army Infantry in Iraq.

He had previously described the incident to his sister, Krissy Ellis-Encinio, wherein his unit was assigned to paint over graffiti “for two days in a row and were sent back for a third.” As Ellis and his unit – including his close friend Wes whom he had met at basic training – were approaching a site, Wes stepped on an Improvised Explosive Devise and was blown up. Ellis received shrapnel in his leg and was eventually medically discharged for his injuries. “Half his unit was taken out. He managed to drag himself to a radio and call for help. The next thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital.”

“My son was a hero, he served his country well. I truly wish that our country could have served him as well as he served them,” said Annelle Wharton, Ellis’ mother. Both Ellis’ mother and sister noted that they had continually sought help for him, but could not do anything unless he consented. His sister said, “If he’s an [active] soldier and he says he wants to go home they won’t let him. But once he’s discharged, they say ‘goodbye, go home.’ They force him to stay and fight, but they wouldn’t force him into treatment.” She took him to the VA for treatment, but he said he wasn’t suicidal or homicidal and “they said ‘I’m sorry, ma’am, there’s nothing we can do for you.” Ellis-Encinio hopes for the day when the families of veterans can find unity of purpose: “We need to all get together and change this. We need to be able to make choices for them because they are unable to make choices for themselves.” Both mother and sister also note that vets are reluctant to seek or agree to help because of the “Macho” attitude they learn in the military.
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Iraq veteran fatally shot by APD

All he had to do was claim he was not "suicidal or homicidal" so the VA couldn't take him in when he was clearly in crisis to his family. That is the biggest problem of all when the families are on the front lines when they come home. Families are the first to notice changes in veterans but if they somehow manage to get the veterans to go for help and no one will listen to them, it is easy for the veteran to hide what is really going on. Most of the time they don't want to admit how much pain they are in to anyone, especially themselves.

After all, they survived the worst conditions in combat, so back home should be nothing to complain about to them. Maybe they just expect they will be able to just get over it. Maybe they think they are hiding it but the families always know something is wrong even if they don't know what it is.

Ellis, like so many others, survived bombs and bullets in combat but could not survive being back home and this is clearly wrong. There needs to be more done to save the lives of those who serve us.

The difference now is we know what to do living with PTSD

If the conference in Boston produced only one thing, this is it.

“We have good days and we have bad days,’’ she said. “The difference now is we know what to do.’’ Sheri Hall

Her husband served two tours in Iraq as a Major. He was worried about his career and what seeking help would do to it, so he avoided going to a psychiatrist. His wife made sure he did. She didn't just stand by him. She stood up for him when he needed help.

For too many wives they fail at doing their duty. That is exactly what it is when they are married to veterans of combat.

It is hard on families when they get deployed but it should never be harder when they come back home. During deployment, families say they have enough to worry about and they use this as an excuse to not become informed about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some are under the delusion that after a first tour, the return went well, so all other wills. What they are unwilling to understand is that more they are exposed to traumatic events in combat, the higher the risk of PTSD setting in.

If they are aware of the signs of PTSD, they know what they are seeing and they are the first to see the changes. Without knowledge, they don't have a clue what is behind the changes. Families can make coming home worse or families can save their lives. The choice is ours. They learn how to fight, but it is our duty to help them learn how to live after.

Boston conference focuses on military suicide prevention
VA reaches out via social media

Associated Press / March 16, 2011

Army Major Ed Pulido knows what it’s like to feel the despair that comes with losing a limb and knowing his military career was over.

Pulido, who had a traumatic brain injury and lost his left leg after his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq, would lie in bed and wonder when the night terrors would end, how he would support his family, and whether he would ever feel like himself again.

Pulido’s mother sought help for him, and now he is seeking help for others like him.

The retired serviceman is speaking to veterans this week at the third annual suicide prevention conference sponsored by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The conference, called “All the Way Home,’’ is focusing on finding ways to prevent military suicides by removing the stigma of seeking mental health counseling and mustering stronger support throughout the community.
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Boston conference focuses on military suicide prevention

Do I sound angry? I am. Back when I met my husband, he had been home for 11 years and no one helped him. No one understood what Vietnam was doing to him. There was nothing available for anyone to learn from. The Internet did not really start up until the 90's so the support and the lifeline depended on finding other veterans. Most of their families didn't know what any of this was about. There was no support for me or my family.

My own family said I needed to get a divorce because what I was learning from clinical books was nearly impossible to explain to them. The news didn't cover any of it unless a Vietnam veteran was arrested but families like mine were still falling apart and too many had to bury their veteran because of suicide. We'd read the obituary of a veteran, see the words "died suddenly" and then the whispers would start that it was suicide. Families were left to wonder what they could have done to have their veteran live on and they eventually blamed themselves.

I knew what PTSD was early on and I understood why he acted the way he did but even understanding it did not make it easy. It was hard. As hard as it was knowing it, it made me more aware of how impossible it was to stay on wives without a clue. They had absolutely no tools to help them help their husbands.

Back then they had excuses that were real. Now no family has any excuse other than not wanting to know.

PTSD and suicides are all over the Internet. I know because I track them across the country and you've read most of the reports here. Brave families come forward and talk about what happened. They join groups online to support others. Veterans have been telling their own stories to help other veterans. They know what it is like to have PTSD but more, they want to share what it is like to survive it and heal. Wives want to make it easier for others to understand what it took them years to learn so the newer wives won't have to waste time searching instead of finding the answers.

The job of the families is to do all they can for the veteran but the time to look only at the military the VA for exclusive blame ended a long time ago. While they have been falling down on the job of doing all that is possible to help the veterans, the families share blame when they refused to learn.

Stunned by the response from too many younger wives telling me "I have enough to worry about when he's deployed so I don't want to worry about what may not happen." it made me wonder what wives like me would have given back in the 80's for a tenth of this support to have been there. Friends of mine have been married for 20, 30 and 40 years because they cared enough to make mistakes and learn from them. While half of average marriages end in divorce, these marriages survived with PTSD because the spouse was committed to the veteran and the veteran was committed to their spouse. We tried, made mistakes and learned from them so that our lives would be better and our families would be stronger.

Can we save all of them? No, sadly no, we can't. There were a lot of suicides even with knowing what PTSD was. It happened in my own family with the suicide of my husband's nephew. Everyone including his girlfriend, a psychologist, did all we could but we couldn't heal his pain enough. While we may always wonder what else we could have done, at least we know we did the best we could with the knowledge we had. We can save a lot more of them than we are now and we can save a lot more families from falling apart.

The choice is either this fight is worth it or it isn't. Do we love them enough to learn or don't we? Do we feel they are worth the time to learn what we need to do to help them or don't we? Sheri Hall made the choice to learn so that she could help her husband. What if she didn't?

FBI searching for killer of Afghanistan Veteran-armored car guard

Armored Car Guard Killed After Tour In Afghanistan

Armored Car Guard Killed During Robbery ID'd
March 16, 2011


DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- The FBI has released surveillance photos in hopes that someone will come forward with information on the men responsible for shooting and killing an armored car guard outside a Kroger grocery store Tuesday.

The guard has been identified as Garry Castillo, 32, of Lawrenceville, police said.

Channel 2’s Ryan Young learned that Castillo had just returned from a tour in Afghanistan.
Family members told Young on Wednesday that Castillo has an 8-year-old son.

The FBI is renewing its plea for people to come forward with information in the shooting.
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Armored Car Guard Killed After Tour In Afghanistan

Disabled Marine Vet sues insurance company and wins

Paraplegic Marine Awarded $19 Million in Fight Against Insurance Company
Insurance Company only agreed to pay for 19 of 109 days he spent in the hospital, a lawyer said.
Updated 5:45 PM PDT, Wed, Mar 16, 2011

A paraplegic former Marine from Westminster was awarded more than $19 million in punitive damages in his lawsuit against an insurance company that denied him full coverage while hospitalized after breaking a leg, his attorney said.

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated less than two hours before finding in favor of 57-year-old Thomas Nickerson, who sued Stonebridge Life Insurance Co. for breach of contract in January 2009.

The same jury previously awarded Nickerson more than $65,000 in compensatory damages, most of it for emotional distress.
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Paraplegic Marine Awarded 19 Million