For Soldiers, Death Sees No Gender Lines
By ROD NORDLAND
Published: June 21, 2011
MEHTARLAM, Afghanistan — When Specialist Devin Snyder, a 20-year-old from the Southern Tier of New York State, was killed by a bomb planted on a highway near this town in eastern Laghman Province on June 4, she became the 28th female American soldier to die in Afghanistan.
Servicewomen have died in all of America’s wars, but usually they were support personnel such as nurses and clerks. In Afghanistan, most women who have died were killed in combat situations, as Specialist Snyder was, despite the military’s official prohibition on women in combat jobs.
The same has been true in Iraq, where 111 female soldiers have died, according to data compiled by icasualties.org, an independent organization that tracks military fatalities. In both wars, 60 percent of those deaths are classified by the military as due to hostile acts.
Wars with no clear front lines have put women in harm’s way more than ever before, blurring the boundaries between combat jobs that are outlawed for women, and support jobs that are often as dangerous and in some cases even more so.
read more here
For Soldiers, Death Sees No Gender Lines
linked from Stars and Stripes
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Military Dog Adoption Requests On Rise After Bin Laden Raid
Military Dog Adoption Requests On Rise
Military Dogs Classified As Inventory; Adoptions Up After Bin Laden Raid
SAN DIEGO -- Retirement for America's four-legged military veterans is looking a lot brighter.
Nearly two months after a Navy SEAL dog joined the raid that ended in the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, the list of those wanting to adopt military dogs is getting longer.
At a dog park in Encinitas, 10News learned 12-year-old Chyba was an Army patrol dog who once served at a prison in Iraq. Now, the German Shepherd spends her days with Jim Silveira, who cares for Chyba when her owner -- the wife of oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens -- is away.
Silveira heads the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, and Chyba is believed to be the only adopted retired military dog in the San Diego area.
read more here
Military Dog Adoption Requests On Rise
Military Dogs Classified As Inventory; Adoptions Up After Bin Laden Raid
SAN DIEGO -- Retirement for America's four-legged military veterans is looking a lot brighter.
Nearly two months after a Navy SEAL dog joined the raid that ended in the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, the list of those wanting to adopt military dogs is getting longer.
At a dog park in Encinitas, 10News learned 12-year-old Chyba was an Army patrol dog who once served at a prison in Iraq. Now, the German Shepherd spends her days with Jim Silveira, who cares for Chyba when her owner -- the wife of oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens -- is away.
Silveira heads the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, and Chyba is believed to be the only adopted retired military dog in the San Diego area.
read more here
Military Dog Adoption Requests On Rise
Telling veterans to only pop pills, nails coffins
by
Chaplain Kathie
The search has been on for so long now that the obvious has been forgotten. Virtual Reality graphics, all over the blog world for the last couple of years, is not the answer to all but can help some. Name the project funded and you'll find something someone wants to do but the bulk of our troops and veterans are given medication and sent on their way.
The obvious is therapy but few end up getting it. I've been reading what the experts have to say for almost 30 years now. Some "experts" have a book to sell or their own program to push. Others have only one agenda and that is to help veterans heal. These experts have said all along that PTSD is an "anxiety disorder" caused by traumatic events. In other words, not something they were born with. PTSD strikes only after traumatic events and all humans are subjected to it. The accepted rate is one out of three but some say "one out of five" for one exposure. Car accidents, natural disasters and crimes can cause PTSD after one exposure.
In New York, there has been an increase of PTSD linked back to September 11th attacks.
Notice that medications are at the bottom of the to do list and therapy is at the top?
Several years later studies came out showing that it was not just the survivors of the Twin Towers, but responders and New Yorkers facing this life altering challenge.
As you can see, the closer they were to the event itself, the more PTSD took hold. You can also see that the responders were changed even though they may not have been there when the Towers were hit or as they came down.
How is it that we can understand someone being forever changed by one event in their lives but cannot understand when they have been exposed to a year of multiple events? How can it be that we expect them to pop some pills and pick up their weapons everyday for the rest of their tour? What's worse is, we seem to expect them to just get over all of it afterwards.
ICasualties.org
When an IED blows up, body parts are disconnected. Some die, some survive. We don't want to think about the rest of the unit seeing all of it any more than we want to think about the people showing up to claim the remains. We sure don't want to think about the fact these men and women can't just go back home, get some rest and take it easy for while. They have to get back into a vehicle and return to duty, facing more and more threats of other bombs planted in the road. Each day increases what PTSD has already begun inside of them but that is just one example. Firefights, suicide bombers, snipers and even some of the locals they are training can and have turned on them. These men and women, when they finally admit they need help, are given medications and sent back to duty. Then the generals wonder why they have such a high suicide rate?
Here is just one example of what life is like after repeated traumatic events and the need for therapy instead of just medication.
Until the experts without connections to products to sell are heard, those supporting therapy will not be paid attention to and the numbers will still go up. The number of suicides continues to go up along with the attempted suicides. The number of veterans involved with SWAT teams and police officers goes up. Giving them pills to pop is more nails in their coffins but providing them with therapy is healing someone willing to die for the sake of this country.
A pill will not help anyone to forgive themselves or others. Therapy helps them work things out until they are able to do it.
Chaplain Kathie
The search has been on for so long now that the obvious has been forgotten. Virtual Reality graphics, all over the blog world for the last couple of years, is not the answer to all but can help some. Name the project funded and you'll find something someone wants to do but the bulk of our troops and veterans are given medication and sent on their way.
The obvious is therapy but few end up getting it. I've been reading what the experts have to say for almost 30 years now. Some "experts" have a book to sell or their own program to push. Others have only one agenda and that is to help veterans heal. These experts have said all along that PTSD is an "anxiety disorder" caused by traumatic events. In other words, not something they were born with. PTSD strikes only after traumatic events and all humans are subjected to it. The accepted rate is one out of three but some say "one out of five" for one exposure. Car accidents, natural disasters and crimes can cause PTSD after one exposure.
In New York, there has been an increase of PTSD linked back to September 11th attacks.
What is the treatment for PTSD
Treatment most often consists of individual and/or family therapy, group meetings with other PTSD sufferers, and sometimes medicines. Medicines used to treat the symptoms of PTSD include antidepressants, lithium, anti-anxiety medicines, beta-blockers, clonidine and others.
What can I do to help get my PTSD under control?
Meet regularly with your therapist and/or support group.
Learn stress management, assertiveness, relaxation and/or self-hypnosis.
Avoid highly stimulating or violent TV, movies, music, videotapes, or situations that increase your anxiety or symptoms.
Since sleep can be a problem with this disorder, learn ways to promote restful sleep.
Eat a healthy diet.
Exercise regularly.
Discuss the social use of alcohol with your therapist or counselor.
Avoid street drugs.
Work at forming and maintaining friendships and a network of support.
Work hard in therapy.
Accept that there may be setbacks.
Take medicines regularly if they have been prescribed for you.
Ask for help when you need it.
Notice that medications are at the bottom of the to do list and therapy is at the top?
Several years later studies came out showing that it was not just the survivors of the Twin Towers, but responders and New Yorkers facing this life altering challenge.
PTSD and September 11
Several studies have been published that examined rates of PTSD as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One study of 2,733 people across the United States conducted in October and November of 2001 found that 11.2% of New York City residents had PTSD, and 4% of U.S. residents had PTSD. Another study of 998 adults in New York City five to nine weeks after the attacks found that 7.5% had PTSD.
Distance Made a Difference
As would be expected, people who were in closer proximity to the attacks have been found to have higher rates of PTSD. In particular, 20% of people who lived below Canal Street in New York City (which is close to the World Trade Center) were found to have PTSD following the attacks.
Rates of PTSD in Relief Workers
Another study looked at 109 mental health relief workers who went to Ground Zero for one week during the first 2 months after the 9/11 attacks. This study found that relief workers showed signs of PTSD as a result of direct and indirect exposure to traumatic events at Ground Zero.
Specifically, it was found that 4.6% of relief workers had PTSD as a result of hearing stories from survivors of the attacks. A slightly higher percentage (6.4%) had PTSD as a result of direct exposure to stressors at Ground Zero. However, it is important to point out that 6 to 8 months following the attacks, none of the relief workers were found to have PTSD.
As you can see, the closer they were to the event itself, the more PTSD took hold. You can also see that the responders were changed even though they may not have been there when the Towers were hit or as they came down.
How is it that we can understand someone being forever changed by one event in their lives but cannot understand when they have been exposed to a year of multiple events? How can it be that we expect them to pop some pills and pick up their weapons everyday for the rest of their tour? What's worse is, we seem to expect them to just get over all of it afterwards.
When an IED blows up, body parts are disconnected. Some die, some survive. We don't want to think about the rest of the unit seeing all of it any more than we want to think about the people showing up to claim the remains. We sure don't want to think about the fact these men and women can't just go back home, get some rest and take it easy for while. They have to get back into a vehicle and return to duty, facing more and more threats of other bombs planted in the road. Each day increases what PTSD has already begun inside of them but that is just one example. Firefights, suicide bombers, snipers and even some of the locals they are training can and have turned on them. These men and women, when they finally admit they need help, are given medications and sent back to duty. Then the generals wonder why they have such a high suicide rate?
Here is just one example of what life is like after repeated traumatic events and the need for therapy instead of just medication.
Serbs go from pill poppers to couch therapy
By Aleksandra Niksic (AFP) – 1 day ago
BELGRADE — After decades of widespread use of tranquillisers and antidepressants, readily prescribed by doctors, Serbians have discovered the wonders of couch therapy.
"A Benjo a day takes your troubles away," said a tongue-in-cheek Belgrade graffiti featuring the slang name of a popular antidepressant in the 1990s.
It became a mantra for many trying to escape the gloomy everyday life under the repressive rule of the late communist strongman Slobodan Milosevic.
The wars that led to the bloody dissolution of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, the failing economy with dozens of people losing jobs every day, deteriorating living standards and international isolation pushed many to seek help in the form of a "magic pill".
"I simply could not force myself to get out of bed. Just a glance at the news and everything was falling apart. But with tranquillisers a couple of times a day, everything became bearable," said Darja Tosic, a 52-year mother of two.
It was easy to get the pills legally: they were cheap and a regular family doctor could write a prescription, she said.
Health controls were also more lenient with loose regulations on many drugs imported from China, India and Russia that were sold freely, so popping pills was easy.
But a regime change a decade ago brought new methods into what has traditionally been a conservative, macho society where discussing emotions was not encouraged.
read more here
Serbs go from pill poppers to couch therapy
Until the experts without connections to products to sell are heard, those supporting therapy will not be paid attention to and the numbers will still go up. The number of suicides continues to go up along with the attempted suicides. The number of veterans involved with SWAT teams and police officers goes up. Giving them pills to pop is more nails in their coffins but providing them with therapy is healing someone willing to die for the sake of this country.
A pill will not help anyone to forgive themselves or others. Therapy helps them work things out until they are able to do it.
You caused a death. Can you forgive yourself?
By Todd Leopold, CNN
June 22, 2011 8:44 a.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Darin Strauss recounts hitting a cyclist in memoir "Half a Life"
Forgiving yourself -- especially after blameless incident -- is difficult, say counselors
Key to the process: Talking to others, being honest with self
(CNN) -- Darin Strauss was 18, a month from graduating high school, when he climbed into his father's Oldsmobile and picked up some friends to play miniature golf. He drove in the left lane of a four-lane thoroughfare in Long Island, New York, shooting the breeze, enjoying the watercolored scenery, not a care in the world. Up ahead, on his right, two girls pedaled bicycles on the shoulder.
Suddenly, one of the girls swerved left across the road. Strauss, with no time to react, hit her at 40 miles per hour. The girl -- Celine Zilke, a student at Strauss' high school -- died.
Strauss was exonerated by the legal system. His friends, for the most part, were supportive. But he privately carried around the memory of Celine Zilke's death for decades. After a poor experience with a therapist, who seemed as determined to impress Strauss with his sports car as help him past the guilt, Strauss went off to college and essentially buried the incident except to a few intimates.
Charges may be dropped in Fort Campbell soldier's murder trail
Brent Burke Charges Could Be Dropped Tuesday
Dropped Charges First Step For Brent Burke
By Eric King/WLKY
HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. -- A Fort Campbell soldier charged in a double slaying may have spent his last night in jail.
In September 2007, the bodies of Tracy Burke and her former mother-in-law, Karen Comer, were found shot to death inside Comer's Rineyville home.
The victim’s 9-year-old child called 911 and said he witnessed the slayings of his mother and grandmother.
Tracy Burke’s husband, Brent Burke, a military police officer at Fort Campbell, was arrested and charged and charged in the slayings.
read more here
Brent Burke Charges Could Be Dropped Tuesday
More Fort Campbell news
Fort Campbell soldier sentenced to 8 years
in prison on child abuse charges
12:23 AM, Jun. 15, 2011
Written by
Tavia D. Green
A Fort Campbell soldier will serve eight years in prison for beating his 4-month-old son.
James S. Marcinkowski Sr., 23, was indicted in March and charged with one count of aggravated child abuse/ neglect. According to his arrest warrant, Marcinkowski took his 4-month-old son to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital's emergency room on Jan. 3 between 12:30 and 3 p.m. because the infant was bleeding from the mouth.
read more here
Fort Campbell soldier sentenced to 8 years
A Fort Campbell soldierhas been charged with criminal homicide and attempted criminal homicide after two people were shot at an apartment complex in Clarksvilleclick links for more of these stories
Report highlights VA Hospital violations in Fort Wayne
Report highlights VA Hospital violations
Updated: Tuesday, 21 Jun 2011, 7:17 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 21 Jun 2011, 7:12 PM EDT
Adam Widener
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Healthcare inspectors have released a report prompting necessary changes to Fort Wayne’s VA Hospital. The Office of Healthcare Inspections (OHI) found a handful of staffing and treatment violations in the facility.
In 2010, an anonymous complaint spurred inspectors to take a look at the hospital. It claimed a physician was responsible for several patient deaths. Inspectors found that complaint to be invalid, but discovered several other problems.
read more here
Report highlights VA Hospital violations
Updated: Tuesday, 21 Jun 2011, 7:17 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 21 Jun 2011, 7:12 PM EDT
Adam Widener
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Healthcare inspectors have released a report prompting necessary changes to Fort Wayne’s VA Hospital. The Office of Healthcare Inspections (OHI) found a handful of staffing and treatment violations in the facility.
In 2010, an anonymous complaint spurred inspectors to take a look at the hospital. It claimed a physician was responsible for several patient deaths. Inspectors found that complaint to be invalid, but discovered several other problems.
read more here
Report highlights VA Hospital violations
Purple Heart Harley stolen from National Guard soldier
Soldier’s Purple Heart bike stolen
In his 28 years in the armed forces, Russ Long has guarded the Tomb of the Unknowns, worked as a military police officer and served as an Army reservist.
But Long said he recognized that some had given even more in service to the country, and he wanted to honor them. So, two months ago, he decided to turn his 2003 Harley-Davidson into a rolling, roaring memorial to the service members who had fallen.
On Thursday, with his work still unfinished, a thief snatched the bike.
“The military is my life,” said Long, currently serving in the Army National Guard. “That’s why I knew this project was the right thing to do. That’s why I’m so devastated my motorcycle was stolen.”
Long had sketched a design for two Purple Hearts to adorn the back and a third to be emblazoned across the front along with the slogan, “Dedicated to those who sacrificed all.”
read more here
Soldier Purple Heart bike stolen
By Justin Jouvenal, Published: June 21
(Courtesy of Fairfax County Police) - The 2003 Harley Davidson — with a unique custom purple paint job — was stolen from a parking garage in the 5500 block of Seminary Road in Fairfax County.
In his 28 years in the armed forces, Russ Long has guarded the Tomb of the Unknowns, worked as a military police officer and served as an Army reservist.
But Long said he recognized that some had given even more in service to the country, and he wanted to honor them. So, two months ago, he decided to turn his 2003 Harley-Davidson into a rolling, roaring memorial to the service members who had fallen.
On Thursday, with his work still unfinished, a thief snatched the bike.
“The military is my life,” said Long, currently serving in the Army National Guard. “That’s why I knew this project was the right thing to do. That’s why I’m so devastated my motorcycle was stolen.”
Long had sketched a design for two Purple Hearts to adorn the back and a third to be emblazoned across the front along with the slogan, “Dedicated to those who sacrificed all.”
read more here
Soldier Purple Heart bike stolen
Court to emphasize rehab, counseling for veterans
Court to emphasize rehab, counseling for veterans
June 21, 2011 8:55 PM
Jared Janes
The Monitor
EDINBURG — As Rio Grande Valley soldiers return from Middle East deployments, Hidalgo County’s new veterans court will offer mental health and substance abuse treatment for those involved in brushes with the law.
The veterans court will begin operations this summer to assist veterans on probation for nonviolent offenses by placing them in a court-supervised program with counseling and rehabilitation services. Since Buffalo, N.Y., began the first court in 2008 to give veterans a second chance, more than 40 other cities and counties have adopted the model to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression or substance abuse problems traced to their military service.
With U.S. military personnel encountering multiple deployments to war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, the veterans court is recognizing that some of those soldiers will have difficulties readjusting to civilian life, said Emilio De Los Santos, the Hidalgo County veterans service director. Rather than incarcerating them if they are arrested, a veterans court focuses on rehabilitation to reduce the chances they show up in the legal system again.
“We’re beginning to see after our veterans come back from two or three deployments, some of them aren’t reaching out for help right away because they’re afraid of the stigma” of post-traumatic stress disorder, said De Los Santos, adding that combat veterans also must adjust to the rigors of everyday life like securing a job or paying a mortgage. “We’re not asking for them to be slapped on the wrist, but we want a treatment program that can provide relief to those veterans.”
read more here
Court to emphasize rehab, counseling for veterans
June 21, 2011 8:55 PM
Jared Janes
The Monitor
EDINBURG — As Rio Grande Valley soldiers return from Middle East deployments, Hidalgo County’s new veterans court will offer mental health and substance abuse treatment for those involved in brushes with the law.
The veterans court will begin operations this summer to assist veterans on probation for nonviolent offenses by placing them in a court-supervised program with counseling and rehabilitation services. Since Buffalo, N.Y., began the first court in 2008 to give veterans a second chance, more than 40 other cities and counties have adopted the model to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression or substance abuse problems traced to their military service.
With U.S. military personnel encountering multiple deployments to war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, the veterans court is recognizing that some of those soldiers will have difficulties readjusting to civilian life, said Emilio De Los Santos, the Hidalgo County veterans service director. Rather than incarcerating them if they are arrested, a veterans court focuses on rehabilitation to reduce the chances they show up in the legal system again.
“We’re beginning to see after our veterans come back from two or three deployments, some of them aren’t reaching out for help right away because they’re afraid of the stigma” of post-traumatic stress disorder, said De Los Santos, adding that combat veterans also must adjust to the rigors of everyday life like securing a job or paying a mortgage. “We’re not asking for them to be slapped on the wrist, but we want a treatment program that can provide relief to those veterans.”
read more here
Court to emphasize rehab, counseling for veterans
New Braunfels Police: Marine choked out cop
New Braunfels Police: Marine choked out cop
By Dalondo Moultrie
New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
NEW BRAUNFELS — A U.S. Marine and his wife were arrested and charged over the weekend in connection with an attack on a New Braunfels Police Department officer near the Comal River, police said.
read more here
Marine choked out cop
By Dalondo Moultrie
New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
NEW BRAUNFELS — A U.S. Marine and his wife were arrested and charged over the weekend in connection with an attack on a New Braunfels Police Department officer near the Comal River, police said.
read more here
Marine choked out cop
Ryan Dunn's passenger an Iraq war veteran
Ryan Dunn's passenger an Iraq war veteran
By David Riedel
Read more: Ryan Dunn passenger an Iraq war veteran
By David Riedel
Ryan Dunn, left, and Zachary Hartwell, right, were killed in a car accident near Philadelphia on Monday, June 20, 2011. The man in the middle is unidentified. Dunn tweeted this photo shortly before the accident.(Credit: Personal photo)(CBS) Zachary Hartwell, the passenger in "Jackass" star Ryan Dunn's Porsche, who was killed with Dunn in a car accident outside Philadelphia early Monday morning, was a 30-year-old Iraq war veteran.
Read more: Ryan Dunn passenger an Iraq war veteran
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Our dog Mac is gone
Personal note to family and friends
Last Wednesday I was having fun taping Mac for a project in Digital Media. Mac used the recycle bin like a toy box. He had a system of taking out a bottle, getting the cap off, then the ring, going after the paper, destroying the bottle, then moving on to the next one. Once in a while he would pick up his mess and put one back before taking another one. Not bad for a year old!
Here he is in action.
Thursday morning he got sick. He was vomiting up a large amount of pure white fluid. Friday he got worse, so we took him to the Vet. They took x-rays as we were wondering why he got so sick all of a sudden. So many thoughts, so many what if's, but the x-ray and blood work came back fine. He was given a shot to control the vomiting and medication to help clear him up.
Saturday we were back at the Vet's because he seemed worse, wasn't eating or drinking.
By this time the Vet thought it may be, Canine distemper but was not sure. We agreed he'd stay over the weekend so they could get more fluid into him and planned on picking him up yesterday.
Yesterday morning the Vet was on the phone telling us he couldn't walk anymore.
A lot of crying later, this morning he was put out of his misery. He just turned a year old last month. We only had him for five months. He gave us so much love in those five months that the pain of his loss is very hard to take.
Last Wednesday I was having fun taping Mac for a project in Digital Media. Mac used the recycle bin like a toy box. He had a system of taking out a bottle, getting the cap off, then the ring, going after the paper, destroying the bottle, then moving on to the next one. Once in a while he would pick up his mess and put one back before taking another one. Not bad for a year old!
Here he is in action.
Thursday morning he got sick. He was vomiting up a large amount of pure white fluid. Friday he got worse, so we took him to the Vet. They took x-rays as we were wondering why he got so sick all of a sudden. So many thoughts, so many what if's, but the x-ray and blood work came back fine. He was given a shot to control the vomiting and medication to help clear him up.
Saturday we were back at the Vet's because he seemed worse, wasn't eating or drinking.
By this time the Vet thought it may be, Canine distemper but was not sure. We agreed he'd stay over the weekend so they could get more fluid into him and planned on picking him up yesterday.
Yesterday morning the Vet was on the phone telling us he couldn't walk anymore.
A lot of crying later, this morning he was put out of his misery. He just turned a year old last month. We only had him for five months. He gave us so much love in those five months that the pain of his loss is very hard to take.
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