Pentagon to review how military handles PTSD cases
February 28, 2012
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has asked for a review of how the military diagnoses post-traumatic stress order, in the wake of a controversy surrounding a Madigan Army medical center team that screened soldiers for PTSD.
By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporter
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has asked for a Pentagon review of how the military diagnoses post-traumatic stress disorder, a request triggered by controversy surrounding a Madigan Army Medical Center forensic psychiatric team that screened soldiers for PTSD.
Soldiers at Madigan complained that they were improperly stripped of the PTSD diagnoses that would have qualified them for a medical retirement benefit.
That prompted a recent review by a Walter Reed National Military Medical Center team that reinstated six of 12 PTSD diagnoses.
read more here
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Jurist, War Hero, Prosecutor ‘Buck’ Compton Dead at 90
Jurist, War Hero, Prosecutor ‘Buck’ Compton Dead at 90
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Retired Court of Appeal Justice Lynn “Buck” Compton of this district’s Div. Two has died at age 90.
Compton passed away Saturday evening at his home in Burlington, Wash. Both a small, private memorial service and a larger public one will be held at a later date, writer Marcus Brotherton wrote on his website.
A veteran of the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, Compton was a first lieutenant in Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division—made famous in the Stephen Ambrose book and HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” Brotherton helped Compton write “Call of Duty: My Life Before, During, and After the Band of Brothers,” published four years ago.
Brotherton wrote on his site:
“I was so greatly honored to have met this man, to speak with him on many occasions, to have participated in the writing of his book, and to travel with him to several shows and signings around the country.
“I can’t say enough good things about him.”
Compton, who took his nickname during elementary school—he once explained that he liked it because it rhymed with “Truck,” as in Truck Hannah, a baseball player with the Los Angeles Angels whom Compton admired—was a Los Angeles native. He took prelaw courses at UCLA, where he played football and baseball—he was a teammate of Jackie Robinson on the 1943 Rose Bowl team—and graduated in 1943 before joining the service.
In one battle depicted in the “Band of Brothers” television series, the assault on Brécourt Manor, Compton and others assaulted a German battery firing on Utah Beach, disabling the guns and forcing the Germans to flee. Compton was awarded the Silver Star, one of several decorations he earned during the war, including the Purple Heart and the French Croix de guerre with palm.
In 1944, Compton was shot while participating in Operation Market Garden, the Allies’ ill-fated attempt to seize a number of bridges in Holland and cross the Rhine River into Germany. He recovered sufficiently to rejoin Easy Company in time for the Battle of the Bulge.
Discharged from active service in 1946—he served in the Army and later Air Force reserves prior to retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1970—he turned down a chance to play minor league baseball and joined the Los Angeles Police Department. He attended Loyola Law School while working as an LAPD detective and was admitted to the State Bar in 1949.
He remained with the LAPD until 1951, when he accepted an offer to become a deputy district attorney. Serving under four district attorneys, he became chief deputy under Evelle Younger in 1966 and headed the three-man prosecution team that won the conviction of Sirhan Sirhan for the 1968 murder of Robert Kennedy.
read more here
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Retired Court of Appeal Justice Lynn “Buck” Compton of this district’s Div. Two has died at age 90.
Compton passed away Saturday evening at his home in Burlington, Wash. Both a small, private memorial service and a larger public one will be held at a later date, writer Marcus Brotherton wrote on his website.
A veteran of the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, Compton was a first lieutenant in Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division—made famous in the Stephen Ambrose book and HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” Brotherton helped Compton write “Call of Duty: My Life Before, During, and After the Band of Brothers,” published four years ago.
Brotherton wrote on his site:
“I was so greatly honored to have met this man, to speak with him on many occasions, to have participated in the writing of his book, and to travel with him to several shows and signings around the country.
“I can’t say enough good things about him.”
Compton, who took his nickname during elementary school—he once explained that he liked it because it rhymed with “Truck,” as in Truck Hannah, a baseball player with the Los Angeles Angels whom Compton admired—was a Los Angeles native. He took prelaw courses at UCLA, where he played football and baseball—he was a teammate of Jackie Robinson on the 1943 Rose Bowl team—and graduated in 1943 before joining the service.
In one battle depicted in the “Band of Brothers” television series, the assault on Brécourt Manor, Compton and others assaulted a German battery firing on Utah Beach, disabling the guns and forcing the Germans to flee. Compton was awarded the Silver Star, one of several decorations he earned during the war, including the Purple Heart and the French Croix de guerre with palm.
In 1944, Compton was shot while participating in Operation Market Garden, the Allies’ ill-fated attempt to seize a number of bridges in Holland and cross the Rhine River into Germany. He recovered sufficiently to rejoin Easy Company in time for the Battle of the Bulge.
Discharged from active service in 1946—he served in the Army and later Air Force reserves prior to retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1970—he turned down a chance to play minor league baseball and joined the Los Angeles Police Department. He attended Loyola Law School while working as an LAPD detective and was admitted to the State Bar in 1949.
He remained with the LAPD until 1951, when he accepted an offer to become a deputy district attorney. Serving under four district attorneys, he became chief deputy under Evelle Younger in 1966 and headed the three-man prosecution team that won the conviction of Sirhan Sirhan for the 1968 murder of Robert Kennedy.
read more here
Vietnam veteran killed by speeding car while dumpster diving
Middleburg man killed near supermarket trash bin was Army veteran
Tragic end to search for food, items to repair.
Posted: February 27, 2012
By William Browning
MIDDLEBURG - He spent a handful of nights each week diving into garbage bins, looking for discarded items. Appliances he could repair and sell, food he could eat or pass around.
He left home Saturday evening to do just that but never made it back.
Authorities pronounced Harry Collins dead beside a supermarket trash bin about 6:30 p.m. The 68-year-old Vietnam veteran was behind the Winn-Dixie at 8560 Argyle Forest Blvd. when a car slammed into a Dumpster. That container bumped into a second one, which hit Collins, throwing him into the air, police said.
The car was being driven at a high rate of speed by 18-year-old Josh Caban. Police said he swerved to miss a store employee emptying trash moments before the collision.
Blake Sercu, a Winn-Dixie employee, was also struck but his injuries were not life-threatening, police said.
Tragic end to search for food, items to repair.
Posted: February 27, 2012
By William Browning
MIDDLEBURG - He spent a handful of nights each week diving into garbage bins, looking for discarded items. Appliances he could repair and sell, food he could eat or pass around.
He left home Saturday evening to do just that but never made it back.
Authorities pronounced Harry Collins dead beside a supermarket trash bin about 6:30 p.m. The 68-year-old Vietnam veteran was behind the Winn-Dixie at 8560 Argyle Forest Blvd. when a car slammed into a Dumpster. That container bumped into a second one, which hit Collins, throwing him into the air, police said.
The car was being driven at a high rate of speed by 18-year-old Josh Caban. Police said he swerved to miss a store employee emptying trash moments before the collision.
Blake Sercu, a Winn-Dixie employee, was also struck but his injuries were not life-threatening, police said.
Harry Collins, a Kentucky native, had 16 brothers and sisters. He joined the Army and spent nearly two decades in the military, serving in Vietnam before marrying, settling in Germany and leaving the Armed Forces.
read more here
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
New Mexico National Guardsman arrested in fatal shooting
Guardsman arrested in fatal shooting
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 27, 2012 10:35:22 EST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque police have arrested a member of the National Guard following a fatal shooting. Anthony Baldonado was arrested on suspicion of murder following a shooting Saturday that left one man dead. Baldonado appeared in court Sunday.
New Mexico Guard officials tell KOB-TV that the 22-year-old Baldonado recently returned from a deployment in Kosovo.
read more here
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 27, 2012 10:35:22 EST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque police have arrested a member of the National Guard following a fatal shooting. Anthony Baldonado was arrested on suspicion of murder following a shooting Saturday that left one man dead. Baldonado appeared in court Sunday.
New Mexico Guard officials tell KOB-TV that the 22-year-old Baldonado recently returned from a deployment in Kosovo.
read more here
Bobby Norman wins gold at Wounded Warriors trials, swam with one arm
Bobby Norman wins gold at Wounded Warriors trials
By Matt Montgomery
mathew.montgomery@news-star.com
Posted Feb 27, 2012
SHAWNEE, Okla.
Norman was born in California, but moved to Oklahoma and grew up in Dale, where he played baseball for the Pirates and won a couple of state championships along the way.
After graduating high school, he decided to fall into the footsteps of his father and grandfather and enlist in the United States military. He said he chose the Marine Corps because that was considered by many to be the toughest branch of the military, and according to him, he is the type of person who believes in doing something that is going to challenge him and make him work hard for something.
By Matt Montgomery
mathew.montgomery@news-star.com
Posted Feb 27, 2012
SHAWNEE, Okla.
Robert "Bobby" Norman from Dale, took first place in the swimming competition, Feb. 21, at the Wounded Warriors 2012 Marine Corps Trials at Camp Pendleton , Calif.. His gold medal guarantees him a trip to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. at the end of April for the Wounded Warriors Games.Shawnee resident and United States Marine Corps Sgt. Bobby Norman recently won the gold medal in the 50-meter free-style swimming event for the Wounded Warriors trials last week at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif. He will be competing the first week of May in the Wounded Warriors competition in Colorado Springs, Colo., where all of the branches of the United States military will face-off and compete head-to-head.
Norman was born in California, but moved to Oklahoma and grew up in Dale, where he played baseball for the Pirates and won a couple of state championships along the way.
After graduating high school, he decided to fall into the footsteps of his father and grandfather and enlist in the United States military. He said he chose the Marine Corps because that was considered by many to be the toughest branch of the military, and according to him, he is the type of person who believes in doing something that is going to challenge him and make him work hard for something.
Norman was in a motorcycle accident Aug. 12, 2007 that left his left arm paralyzed. After several nerve graphs, where they look nerves from the back of each of his legs to try to replace the damaged ones in his arms, no progress was being made and his arm was still immobile. He eventually made the decision to have his left arm amputated below the elbow in August 2011.
read more here
Once homeless, a U.S. veteran reaches out to others
Once homeless, a U.S. veteran reaches out to others
Reported by: Dan Ball
LAS VEGAS (KSNV & MyNews3) -- They fight for our country but for some U.S. Veterans the battle continues after they get home as they try to survive life on the streets.
read more here
Reported by: Dan Ball
LAS VEGAS (KSNV & MyNews3) -- They fight for our country but for some U.S. Veterans the battle continues after they get home as they try to survive life on the streets.
read more here
Guilty plea in death of Fort Bragg medic
Guilty plea in death of local medic
By RUSTY DENNEN
The second Fort Bragg soldier charged in the 2010 Iraq death of a Fredericksburg-area medic will plead guilty.
The Fayetteville Observer on Monday reported that Spc. Nicholas Bailey would enter a plea March 9 to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Spc. Morganne McBeth. He faces up to 10 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge and loss of all pay and allowances.
McBeth, 19, who grew up in Spotsylvania County, died in July 2010 at Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq.
read more here
By RUSTY DENNEN
The second Fort Bragg soldier charged in the 2010 Iraq death of a Fredericksburg-area medic will plead guilty.
The Fayetteville Observer on Monday reported that Spc. Nicholas Bailey would enter a plea March 9 to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Spc. Morganne McBeth. He faces up to 10 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge and loss of all pay and allowances.
McBeth, 19, who grew up in Spotsylvania County, died in July 2010 at Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq.
read more here
Female Afghanistan War veteran honored with gift of home
War veteran honored with gift of home
Monday, February 27, 2012
Erik Barajas
More: Bio, E-mail, Facebook, News Team
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An Afghanistan war veteran who lost her leg during an insurgent attack nearly two years ago is back on her feet and helping other wounded veterans. On Monday, she was the focus of attention as she was honored and awarded for her sacrifice, with a house warming party like no other.
Sgt. Kendra Coleman saw her new home for the first time, with our cameras rolling. She arrived at her new home amid much pomp and circumstance.
On May 11, 2010, an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan took Sgt. Coleman's leg.
Former presidential candidate Ross Perot, Sr. depicts the next moments.
He read, "'I knew I was hit,' she said. 'I reached down to my left leg pocket to grab my tourniquet, my pocket wasn't there, just the remaining pieces of what had been my left leg.'"
Her fellow battle buddies were able to save her. And her little brother then called himself up to duty, dropping everything he was doing to help her rehab.
read more here
Monday, February 27, 2012
Erik Barajas
More: Bio, E-mail, Facebook, News Team
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An Afghanistan war veteran who lost her leg during an insurgent attack nearly two years ago is back on her feet and helping other wounded veterans. On Monday, she was the focus of attention as she was honored and awarded for her sacrifice, with a house warming party like no other.
Sgt. Kendra Coleman saw her new home for the first time, with our cameras rolling. She arrived at her new home amid much pomp and circumstance.
On May 11, 2010, an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan took Sgt. Coleman's leg.
Former presidential candidate Ross Perot, Sr. depicts the next moments.
He read, "'I knew I was hit,' she said. 'I reached down to my left leg pocket to grab my tourniquet, my pocket wasn't there, just the remaining pieces of what had been my left leg.'"
Her fellow battle buddies were able to save her. And her little brother then called himself up to duty, dropping everything he was doing to help her rehab.
read more here
Gay marine homecoming sealed with a kiss
Gay marine homecoming sealed with a kiss
Posted: Feb 27, 2012
KANEOHE (HawaiiNewsNow) – A kiss is still a kiss, right?
In 1945, an impromptu kiss in Times Square New York for V-J Day - between a sailor and a nurse - chronicled a generation. In 2012, it's another kiss that could be changing one.
Last Wednesday, during a routine homecoming at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 25 year old Sergeant Brandon Morgan jumped into the waiting arms of his new boyfriend, Dalan Wells. The image - framed by the American flag - is going viral and getting thousands of Facebook comments nationwide.
"We've known each other for four years, but we only just started going out this last deployment," explains Morgan. "And I've known how I've felt about him - ever since we've met but had to keep it down."
"Down" because it's only been six months since the Don't ask, Don't tell law was repealed. Without it, the couple says they'd likely have reunited with a simple handshake.
"Apparently this photo has been dubbed 'The Kiss Seen or Heard ‘Round the World' and is breaking barriers," says Morgan. "People feel more confident to live their own life and be truthful to who they know they are."
read more here
Posted: Feb 27, 2012
KANEOHE (HawaiiNewsNow) – A kiss is still a kiss, right?
Sgt. Brandon Morgan and his partner embrace after returning from a recent deployment. Photo Credit: Gay Marines Facebook PageA Kaneohe couple wasn't planning on becoming famous or making splashy headlines, but the pair's happy homecoming has done just that.
In 1945, an impromptu kiss in Times Square New York for V-J Day - between a sailor and a nurse - chronicled a generation. In 2012, it's another kiss that could be changing one.
Last Wednesday, during a routine homecoming at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 25 year old Sergeant Brandon Morgan jumped into the waiting arms of his new boyfriend, Dalan Wells. The image - framed by the American flag - is going viral and getting thousands of Facebook comments nationwide.
"We've known each other for four years, but we only just started going out this last deployment," explains Morgan. "And I've known how I've felt about him - ever since we've met but had to keep it down."
"Down" because it's only been six months since the Don't ask, Don't tell law was repealed. Without it, the couple says they'd likely have reunited with a simple handshake.
"Apparently this photo has been dubbed 'The Kiss Seen or Heard ‘Round the World' and is breaking barriers," says Morgan. "People feel more confident to live their own life and be truthful to who they know they are."
read more here
Monday, February 27, 2012
2 Dating Websites Sued Over Fallen Soldier’s Photo In Ads
2 Dating Websites Sued Over Soldier’s Photo In Ads
February 27, 2012
DALLAS (AP/CBSDFW.COM) - Two dating websites are being sued for allegedly using a fallen soldier’s photo in their ads “Military Men Searching for Love.”
The parents of Army Lt. Peter Burks, who grew up in Collin County, have sued PlentyofFish.com and TRUE.com. They say his photo was used in ads without their permission.
“I went through there and saw it with my own eyes, there is my sons picture military man looking for love. And I clicked through and was invited to sign up at true.com,” said Burks’ father Allen Burks.
read more here
February 27, 2012
DALLAS (AP/CBSDFW.COM) - Two dating websites are being sued for allegedly using a fallen soldier’s photo in their ads “Military Men Searching for Love.”
The parents of Army Lt. Peter Burks, who grew up in Collin County, have sued PlentyofFish.com and TRUE.com. They say his photo was used in ads without their permission.
“I went through there and saw it with my own eyes, there is my sons picture military man looking for love. And I clicked through and was invited to sign up at true.com,” said Burks’ father Allen Burks.
read more here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)