A mother's mission to help soldiers with PTSD
Posted on October 17, 2011
When military members come home from war, getting back to normal life can be agonizing. One mother has made it her mission to spread the word that soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder need more help.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Tallahassee Homeless Veterans Shelter Open
Tallahassee Homeless Veterans Shelter Open
Renovated Stuckey Avenue apartment complex to house 50 homeless veterans.
Posted: 12:06 AM Oct 22, 2011
Reporter: Gary Parker
Renovated Stuckey Avenue apartment complex to house 50 homeless veterans.
Posted: 12:06 AM Oct 22, 2011
Reporter: Gary Parker
Disabled veteran goes from combat to homeless
From combat to a parking lot
Disabled veteran lives with canine companion in his pickup in Augusta
By Betty Adams badams@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer
His family anxiously awaited. He had been in rehabilitation for the past six months at Fort Dix, N.J., for injuries suffered during his year in Iraq.
He was looking forward to spending time with his wife, their children and fellow members of Company B, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment of the Maine Army National Guard.
Little more than four years later, he has lost his family and -- at least temporarily -- his home.
Rollins, of Madison, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and other symptoms of battlefield injuries. He lives in his black Chevrolet Silverado pickup, moving it every couple of nights between the Walmart and Sam's Club parking lots in Augusta.
He and his service dog, Mabel, a German shepherd/Lab mix, sleep in the back seat of the crew cab. His belongings are in plastic tubs in the truck bed.
read more here
Disabled veteran lives with canine companion in his pickup in Augusta
By Betty Adams badams@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer
Aaron Rollins, a disabled veteran, is living in his truck in Augusta to be with his dog.AUGUSTA -- In June 2007, Sgt. Aaron Rollins got a hero's welcome and a special ride home from New Jersey to join fellow Iraq veterans at a Freedom Salute ceremony in Bangor.
Staff photo by Andy Molloy
His family anxiously awaited. He had been in rehabilitation for the past six months at Fort Dix, N.J., for injuries suffered during his year in Iraq.
He was looking forward to spending time with his wife, their children and fellow members of Company B, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment of the Maine Army National Guard.
Little more than four years later, he has lost his family and -- at least temporarily -- his home.
Rollins, of Madison, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and other symptoms of battlefield injuries. He lives in his black Chevrolet Silverado pickup, moving it every couple of nights between the Walmart and Sam's Club parking lots in Augusta.
He and his service dog, Mabel, a German shepherd/Lab mix, sleep in the back seat of the crew cab. His belongings are in plastic tubs in the truck bed.
read more here
Orlando showed off talent at the Bunker
Last Saturday after welcoming home 7 Marines, I went to the Bunker, National Vietnam War Museum in Orlando for a night of fun! There were really talented people at this fundraiser for Young Marines (ROTC) so they can go to Washington DC. These are some of the highlights. It proved that people my age still love to party like we did in the 70's!
Family members of vets who commit suicide seek understanding
Sometimes, it doesn't matter how much you know or understand. Sometimes, it doesn't matter if you get everything right but they still end up losing so much hope they end their own lives. I know. It happened when my husband's nephew, another Vietnam Vet, took his own life in a motel room. It didn't matter how much I knew about PTSD or how hard I tried to talk to him. He just didn't want to listen. To this day his death haunts me. All of the "would, could and should" questions still come up every now and then. Maybe losing him pushes me past the place where I want to stop doing this but then I think of how my own husband is still here, and I know there are many more who can still be saved.
Family members of vets who commit suicide seek understanding
October 22, 2011 8:38 PM
RYAN MAYE HANDY
THE GAZETTE
Sgt. Nick Pansini did not come home to die.
Pansini, from Littleton, joined the Marines 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) after he finished high school in 2005. After three years in Okinawa and tours in Iraq in 2008 and 2009, he was ready to return to civilian life.
He got a job, a girlfriend and dog, and filled his spare time by riding his mountain bike and putting together two hot rod cars. Nick’s father, Joe Pansini, thought his son had moved on from his war experiences, and was keeping busy.
He learned later that there was one thing Nick was not doing.
“At what point did he deal with his war experience? He did not,” Joe said on Saturday.
Nick Pansini shot himself in his own home in Littleton on July 22, 2010. He was 23 years old and had been out of the Marines for about a year.
read more here
NJ Sheriff's Officer Killed While Serving in Afghanistan
NJ Sheriff's Officer Killed While Serving in Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Jorge Miguel Oliveira was killed during an attack on his unit
Saturday, Oct 22, 2011
Pat Battle reports
An 11-year veteran of the Essex County Sheriff's Office in New Jersey died Tuesday while serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Jorge Miguel Oliveira, 33, of Newark, died of wounds sustained during an attack on his unit in the Paktika province of Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Thursday.
Oliveira was serving a year-long tour, his third with the New Jersey Army National Guard, said military officials.
His first tour was in Iraq, in 2008.
read more here
Staff Sgt. Jorge Miguel Oliveira was killed during an attack on his unit
Saturday, Oct 22, 2011
Pat Battle reports
An 11-year veteran of the Essex County Sheriff's Office in New Jersey died Tuesday while serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Jorge Miguel Oliveira, 33, of Newark, died of wounds sustained during an attack on his unit in the Paktika province of Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Thursday.
Oliveira was serving a year-long tour, his third with the New Jersey Army National Guard, said military officials.
His first tour was in Iraq, in 2008.
read more here
Saturday, October 22, 2011
My Dad
All of the school projects I have to do end up being about the troops or veterans. As one of my professors says, "that's where your passion is" and he's right. I just can't seem to think of much else I want to work with.
We had to do a music video for this assignment. The reports about children of fallen soldiers always got to me. I couldn't think of any other song I want to work with than Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross.
Getting someone to act in this was tricky. The man I used as the "Dad" had dread locks down to his waist and he had to tuck them up. I couldn't find anyone active military on short notice. I had to reshoot the grown up "son" and found another student in the lab to fill in. Glad I found him. All in all this project proved that people do care about our men and women in the military. Once they found out what the project was, they were willing to do anything to pull it off. Glad they did!
We had to do a music video for this assignment. The reports about children of fallen soldiers always got to me. I couldn't think of any other song I want to work with than Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross.
Getting someone to act in this was tricky. The man I used as the "Dad" had dread locks down to his waist and he had to tuck them up. I couldn't find anyone active military on short notice. I had to reshoot the grown up "son" and found another student in the lab to fill in. Glad I found him. All in all this project proved that people do care about our men and women in the military. Once they found out what the project was, they were willing to do anything to pull it off. Glad they did!
Maine's Veterans Fight Another Battle: Homelessness
Maine's Veterans Fight Another Battle: Homelessness
10/21/2011 Reported By: Susan Sharon
Of the growing numbers of homeless people in the U.S., veterans are likely to be found in the statistics. An annual survey by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2009 found veterans make up about 12 percent of the population. Put another way, one of every 168 veterans is homeless. In Maine the number stands at close to 1,000 on any given night. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, other mental health issues, substance abuse and unemployment are among the many risk factors. In the second of a two-part report, Susan Sharon visits a transitional shelter in Saco and looks at what the federal government and others are doing to help.
For nearly a year, 10 veterans have listed the Arthur Huot house in Saco as their permanent address.
"This floor is basically equipped for people with wheelchairs. This, we got a grant from the Major League Baseball Players Trust. They donated $20,000 for exercise equipment," says Glenn Michaels, the director of marketing and public relations for the Volunteers of America New England, the organization that oversees homeless veterans programs in both Biddeford and Saco.
read more here
10/21/2011 Reported By: Susan Sharon
Of the growing numbers of homeless people in the U.S., veterans are likely to be found in the statistics. An annual survey by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2009 found veterans make up about 12 percent of the population. Put another way, one of every 168 veterans is homeless. In Maine the number stands at close to 1,000 on any given night. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, other mental health issues, substance abuse and unemployment are among the many risk factors. In the second of a two-part report, Susan Sharon visits a transitional shelter in Saco and looks at what the federal government and others are doing to help.
For nearly a year, 10 veterans have listed the Arthur Huot house in Saco as their permanent address.
"This floor is basically equipped for people with wheelchairs. This, we got a grant from the Major League Baseball Players Trust. They donated $20,000 for exercise equipment," says Glenn Michaels, the director of marketing and public relations for the Volunteers of America New England, the organization that oversees homeless veterans programs in both Biddeford and Saco.
read more here
Draft Gulf War Task Force Report Is Released
Draft Gulf War Task Force Report Is Released
Report Redefines How Care and Services Are Provided
to Gulf War Veterans
WASHINGTON (Oct. 21, 2011)- Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that the Department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force has completed the draft of a comprehensive report that will outline how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) addresses the concerns of Veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991.
"This report provides a roadmap for our continued enhancements in our care and services we provide to Gulf War Veterans," said Shinseki. "We will be applying lessons learned from this report to Veterans of all eras."
Notification of the draft written report is published in the Federal Register, and the draft written report addresses seven areas where VA provides services for this group of Veterans.
Over the past year, the task force has examined, evaluated, designated and adjusted the initial roadmap outlined in last year's report. VA has designated steps to improve care and services to Gulf War I Veterans and these improvements are becoming a part of our culture and operations.
This year's report focuses on improvements in the delivery of health care for Gulf War Veterans. One of the most substantial additions is modifications to clinical care models used for Gulf War Veterans, which is the most critical point of service VA provides. There are better linkages between specialty knowledge and services at the basic point of care. Clinical research and development is significantly contributing new concepts and methods to clinical practice and clinical education throughout VA.
Two new positions were established in the Office of Research and Development for deployment and Desert Shield and Desert Storm health-related issues. Both positions have been filled and are enhancing research efforts for Gulf War Veterans and will continue to do so in the coming years.
VA is also strengthening partnerships and medical surveillance to address the potential health impacts on Veterans from the environmental exposures on today's battlefield. Additionally, VA continues to use social media to improve communication with Gulf War Veterans.
The Chairman of the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force is John R. Gingrich, chief of staff at VA, a retired Army officer who also served in the Gulf War.
"To ensure we are tracking the needs of our Veterans, we want to get feedback from Gulf War Veterans on this draft report," said Gingrich. "Their feedback is critical to our efforts to understand and serve their specific needs. Therefore, we hope they take advantage of one of the different opportunities to provide feedback that we have created for them."
As a first step, VA is seeking public comments on the draft written report before final publication. The public notice and instructions for how to submit electronic and comments via postal mail will be posted at www.regulations.gov, and the draft written report will be open for comment for 30 days. In addition, VA recognizes that a great number of Gulf War Veterans use the Internet on a daily basis to share their ideas and concerns, so VA has also created a public discussion board on the seven recommendations at: VA Gulf War Task Force.
To view the report without making recommendations, please visit VA's website at Gulf War Report.
Report Redefines How Care and Services Are Provided
to Gulf War Veterans
WASHINGTON (Oct. 21, 2011)- Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that the Department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force has completed the draft of a comprehensive report that will outline how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) addresses the concerns of Veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991.
"This report provides a roadmap for our continued enhancements in our care and services we provide to Gulf War Veterans," said Shinseki. "We will be applying lessons learned from this report to Veterans of all eras."
Notification of the draft written report is published in the Federal Register, and the draft written report addresses seven areas where VA provides services for this group of Veterans.
Over the past year, the task force has examined, evaluated, designated and adjusted the initial roadmap outlined in last year's report. VA has designated steps to improve care and services to Gulf War I Veterans and these improvements are becoming a part of our culture and operations.
This year's report focuses on improvements in the delivery of health care for Gulf War Veterans. One of the most substantial additions is modifications to clinical care models used for Gulf War Veterans, which is the most critical point of service VA provides. There are better linkages between specialty knowledge and services at the basic point of care. Clinical research and development is significantly contributing new concepts and methods to clinical practice and clinical education throughout VA.
Two new positions were established in the Office of Research and Development for deployment and Desert Shield and Desert Storm health-related issues. Both positions have been filled and are enhancing research efforts for Gulf War Veterans and will continue to do so in the coming years.
VA is also strengthening partnerships and medical surveillance to address the potential health impacts on Veterans from the environmental exposures on today's battlefield. Additionally, VA continues to use social media to improve communication with Gulf War Veterans.
The Chairman of the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force is John R. Gingrich, chief of staff at VA, a retired Army officer who also served in the Gulf War.
"To ensure we are tracking the needs of our Veterans, we want to get feedback from Gulf War Veterans on this draft report," said Gingrich. "Their feedback is critical to our efforts to understand and serve their specific needs. Therefore, we hope they take advantage of one of the different opportunities to provide feedback that we have created for them."
As a first step, VA is seeking public comments on the draft written report before final publication. The public notice and instructions for how to submit electronic and comments via postal mail will be posted at www.regulations.gov
To view the report without making recommendations, please visit VA's website at Gulf War Report.
Reflections On The Plight Of Severely Wounded Veterans
Beyond The Battlefield: A Reporter's Reflections On The Plight Of Severely Wounded Veterans
David Wood
Posted: 10/21/11
"Beyond The Battlefield" is a 10-part series exploring the challenges that severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan face after they return home, as well as what those struggles mean for those close to them. Learn how you can help here. Other stories in the series can be found here. Listen to reporter David Wood discuss "Beyond The Battlefield" with NPR's Terry Gross here. Wood and wounded veteran Bobby Henline will hold a live video chat this afternoon. See more details and send them questions.
In the dusty desert village of Jigjiga, in Ethiopia, I once watched a man die.
He'd been caught in fighting between Ethiopians and Somalis, in one of those senseless wars that go nowhere and settle nothing.
The Somalis had routed Ethiopian forces after a brief battle between their pre-World War II tanks. Now the Ethiopians were counterattacking. Airstrikes by a couple of aging American and British fighter-bombers, flown by Ethiopians, had us pinned down. Bombs tore into the village health clinic, a modest, green tin building. Rockets splintered crude shacks in the market, pulverized the mud wattle huts where most people lived. Strafing rounds of .50-cal bullets caught the unlucky who were trying to flee.
I didn't see the young man get hit, but he crawled toward me and collapsed where I was huddled against a low wall. His wound was horribly obvious: shrapnel had ripped open his chest and stomach. Blood soaked his clothes, matted his beard. His eyes were glazed.
read more here
David Wood
Posted: 10/21/11
"Beyond The Battlefield" is a 10-part series exploring the challenges that severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan face after they return home, as well as what those struggles mean for those close to them. Learn how you can help here. Other stories in the series can be found here. Listen to reporter David Wood discuss "Beyond The Battlefield" with NPR's Terry Gross here. Wood and wounded veteran Bobby Henline will hold a live video chat this afternoon. See more details and send them questions.
In the dusty desert village of Jigjiga, in Ethiopia, I once watched a man die.
He'd been caught in fighting between Ethiopians and Somalis, in one of those senseless wars that go nowhere and settle nothing.
The Somalis had routed Ethiopian forces after a brief battle between their pre-World War II tanks. Now the Ethiopians were counterattacking. Airstrikes by a couple of aging American and British fighter-bombers, flown by Ethiopians, had us pinned down. Bombs tore into the village health clinic, a modest, green tin building. Rockets splintered crude shacks in the market, pulverized the mud wattle huts where most people lived. Strafing rounds of .50-cal bullets caught the unlucky who were trying to flee.
I didn't see the young man get hit, but he crawled toward me and collapsed where I was huddled against a low wall. His wound was horribly obvious: shrapnel had ripped open his chest and stomach. Blood soaked his clothes, matted his beard. His eyes were glazed.
read more here
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