Soldier kills officer in Fort Bragg shooting
Staff reports
Posted : Thursday Jun 28, 2012 17:17:55 EDT
A battalion commander at Fort Bragg, N.C., was shot dead and two others were wounded, Army officials said in a news release.
The shooter, said to be an E-4, reportedly shot the officer and then turned the gun on himself. The shooter was reportedly injured and is in custody.
Initial reports that the shooter was dead are incorrect.
The two soldiers were with the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade. The shooting occurred during a unit-safety brief near 18th Airborne Corps headquarters around 3:30 p.m.
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
Veteran paints mural to raise awareness of Combat PTSD
Mural painted in SF alley to honor Iraq War soldiers, raise PTSD awareness
Thursday, June 28, 2012
KTVU.com and wires
SAN FRANCISCO — A mural project got under way in San Francisco Wednesday honoring the nearly 5,000 U.S. soldiers to die in the Iraq War.
The names of the 4,484 soldiers began being painted Wednesday morning on a mural in "Veterans Alley," located at Geary and Shannon streets near the city's Tenderloin neighborhood, according to Amos Gregory, who conceived the project.
Gregory, who is a veteran from the Persian Gulf War-era, said painting all the names could take as long as two months and is part of a larger project to transform the alley, which he said was a popular place for drug use among homeless veterans.
"They call it 'Crack Alley,'" he said. "There's a lot of drug use, a lot of trauma."
Gregory said he got permission from the owners of four of the six buildings in the alley to paint murals there, including the 76-by-30-foot mural with the Iraq War soldiers' names.
Veteran paints mural to cope with and raise awareness of PTSD
Thursday, June 28, 2012
KTVU.com and wires
SAN FRANCISCO — A mural project got under way in San Francisco Wednesday honoring the nearly 5,000 U.S. soldiers to die in the Iraq War.
The names of the 4,484 soldiers began being painted Wednesday morning on a mural in "Veterans Alley," located at Geary and Shannon streets near the city's Tenderloin neighborhood, according to Amos Gregory, who conceived the project.
Gregory, who is a veteran from the Persian Gulf War-era, said painting all the names could take as long as two months and is part of a larger project to transform the alley, which he said was a popular place for drug use among homeless veterans.
"They call it 'Crack Alley,'" he said. "There's a lot of drug use, a lot of trauma."
Gregory said he got permission from the owners of four of the six buildings in the alley to paint murals there, including the 76-by-30-foot mural with the Iraq War soldiers' names.
Veteran paints mural to cope with and raise awareness of PTSD
Twenty States File Settlement To Shut Down Veterans Services Website
Twenty States File Settlement To Shut Down Veterans Services Website
June 27, 2012
by Daniela Perallon
WHNT News
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Twenty states, including Alabama, will be reaping the benefits of the $2.5 million settlement filed against QuinStreet, Inc. on Wednesday.
The company runs GIBill.com, a website aiming to help veterans make sense of their benefits, but is accused of misleading and deceiving users by directing them to for-profit clients.
“It’s really tragic that organizations would intentionally be deceptive and take advantage of veterans,” said William Webb, a spokesperson for Still Serving Veterans in Huntsville.
read more here
June 27, 2012
by Daniela Perallon
WHNT News
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Twenty states, including Alabama, will be reaping the benefits of the $2.5 million settlement filed against QuinStreet, Inc. on Wednesday.
The company runs GIBill.com, a website aiming to help veterans make sense of their benefits, but is accused of misleading and deceiving users by directing them to for-profit clients.
“It’s really tragic that organizations would intentionally be deceptive and take advantage of veterans,” said William Webb, a spokesperson for Still Serving Veterans in Huntsville.
read more here
Veterans comfort dying Vietnam vet
Veterans comfort dying Vietnam vet
Posted: Jun 27, 2012
By Bob Hallmark
GREGG COUNTY, TX
(KLTV)
A small group of Vietnam veterans gather every Wednesday in Longview to be with a fellow veteran, in the final days of his life with an effort they call the Donut Club.
He was a staunch advocate of Vietnam veterans issues in Gregg County for decades, but life has taken mobility away from Navy Vietnam veteran Brad Bemis.
"Its very frustrating, I used to love working in my yard, now its full of weeds I can't even mow my own yard. I can't walk more than about 20 feet before being out of breath," Bemis says.
A 20 year Navy veteran, Bemis is visited twice a week by the Donut Club, his fellow Vietnam vets.
Bemis has stage four emphysema, and is tethered on oxygen 24/7.
These gatherings mean everything to him.
"Means the world to me," he says.
read more here
Posted: Jun 27, 2012
By Bob Hallmark
GREGG COUNTY, TX
(KLTV)
A small group of Vietnam veterans gather every Wednesday in Longview to be with a fellow veteran, in the final days of his life with an effort they call the Donut Club.
He was a staunch advocate of Vietnam veterans issues in Gregg County for decades, but life has taken mobility away from Navy Vietnam veteran Brad Bemis.
"Its very frustrating, I used to love working in my yard, now its full of weeds I can't even mow my own yard. I can't walk more than about 20 feet before being out of breath," Bemis says.
A 20 year Navy veteran, Bemis is visited twice a week by the Donut Club, his fellow Vietnam vets.
Bemis has stage four emphysema, and is tethered on oxygen 24/7.
These gatherings mean everything to him.
"Means the world to me," he says.
read more here
Orlando VFW Medal Ceremony
Orlando VFW Medal Ceremony
With the help of Senator Nelson's office, the Orlando VFW was able to get medals to veterans they had not received when they should have. A WWII veteran and others were presented their awards including a Vietnam Veteran getting two Bronze Stars! The ceremony had to be moved because the fire department wouldn't let people inside the post after smoke was detected on June 23, 2012.
With the help of Senator Nelson's office, the Orlando VFW was able to get medals to veterans they had not received when they should have. A WWII veteran and others were presented their awards including a Vietnam Veteran getting two Bronze Stars! The ceremony had to be moved because the fire department wouldn't let people inside the post after smoke was detected on June 23, 2012.
Three Families Unite to Raise $30-Million for Aid to Veterans
Three Families Unite to Raise $30-Million for Aid to Veterans
June 27, 2012
By Maria Di Mento
Three affluent families are forming a fund with the purpose of raising $30-million to support programs that serve military veterans, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America announced today.
The families have donated more than $1-million and plan to seek contributions especially from other wealthy people, including those without personal connections to any service members.
Philip Green, president of PDG Consulting, a health-care consultancy, and his wife, Elizabeth Cobbs, chief of geriatrics at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C., joined with their friends Glenn and Laurie Garland and with the Jim Stimmel family to create the fund, Mr. Green said in an interview with The Chronicle.
The money raised for the new Veterans Support Fund will be funneled to five nonprofits that help returning service members and their families.
In addition to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which will operate the fund and conduct fundraising for it, the other beneficiaries include the National Military Family Association, Operation Homefront, Operation Mend, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
read more here
June 27, 2012
By Maria Di Mento
Three affluent families are forming a fund with the purpose of raising $30-million to support programs that serve military veterans, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America announced today.
The families have donated more than $1-million and plan to seek contributions especially from other wealthy people, including those without personal connections to any service members.
Philip Green, president of PDG Consulting, a health-care consultancy, and his wife, Elizabeth Cobbs, chief of geriatrics at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C., joined with their friends Glenn and Laurie Garland and with the Jim Stimmel family to create the fund, Mr. Green said in an interview with The Chronicle.
The money raised for the new Veterans Support Fund will be funneled to five nonprofits that help returning service members and their families.
In addition to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which will operate the fund and conduct fundraising for it, the other beneficiaries include the National Military Family Association, Operation Homefront, Operation Mend, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
read more here
Neighbors oppose plans for Calif. PTSD center
Neighbors oppose plans for Calif. PTSD center
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jun 27, 2012
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego City Council delayed voting Tuesday on a controversial plan to open a 40-bed treatment center for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder across the street from a charter elementary school.
City officials decided to hold off until negotiations wrap up between the Old Town Academy’s attorney, Cynthia Morgan, and the Department of Veteran Affairs medical director in San Diego, Jeffrey Gering.
read more here
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jun 27, 2012
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego City Council delayed voting Tuesday on a controversial plan to open a 40-bed treatment center for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder across the street from a charter elementary school.
City officials decided to hold off until negotiations wrap up between the Old Town Academy’s attorney, Cynthia Morgan, and the Department of Veteran Affairs medical director in San Diego, Jeffrey Gering.
read more here
Wounded Iraq war vet paroled, will receive treatment for PTSD
Wounded Iraq war vet paroled, will receive treatment
BY PETER E. BORTNER
STAFF WRITER
Republican Herald.com
Published: June 28, 2012
Jonathan T. Porter received another chance Tuesday in Schuylkill County Court to recover from both the physical and emotional wounds he suffered while in combat in Iraq.
"Thank you, Your Honor. I'm not too far gone," Porter told President Judge William E. Baldwin after being paroled for a second time on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. "I just want to be the person I was before this."
"This" consisted of two tours of duty as a combat medic beginning in 2004 in Iraq, climaxing in one terrible day that changed his life forever.
"I was blown up while riding in a Humvee," testified Porter, 27, of Pottsville.
As a result, he received his second Purple Heart, the medal awarded to troops who are wounded in combat, but also a shove down the dark road of disability, post-traumatic stress disorder and drug addiction, the dual diagnosis for which he must receive help as a condition of his parole.
"I'm on nine medications," after never having had a problem with either drugs or alcohol before his military service, Porter said. "I haven't been idle in trying to deal with my addiction."
One benefit he did receive from his service was the opportunity to meet President Obama.
"Obama shook my hand and said, 'We need more soldiers like you'," Porter recalled.
However, neither meeting Obama nor the Purple Hearts helped Porter overcome PTSD, drug addiction or the traumatic brain injury that has left him permanently disabled.
read more here
BY PETER E. BORTNER
STAFF WRITER
Republican Herald.com
Published: June 28, 2012
Jonathan T. Porter received another chance Tuesday in Schuylkill County Court to recover from both the physical and emotional wounds he suffered while in combat in Iraq.
"Thank you, Your Honor. I'm not too far gone," Porter told President Judge William E. Baldwin after being paroled for a second time on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. "I just want to be the person I was before this."
"This" consisted of two tours of duty as a combat medic beginning in 2004 in Iraq, climaxing in one terrible day that changed his life forever.
"I was blown up while riding in a Humvee," testified Porter, 27, of Pottsville.
As a result, he received his second Purple Heart, the medal awarded to troops who are wounded in combat, but also a shove down the dark road of disability, post-traumatic stress disorder and drug addiction, the dual diagnosis for which he must receive help as a condition of his parole.
"I'm on nine medications," after never having had a problem with either drugs or alcohol before his military service, Porter said. "I haven't been idle in trying to deal with my addiction."
One benefit he did receive from his service was the opportunity to meet President Obama.
"Obama shook my hand and said, 'We need more soldiers like you'," Porter recalled.
However, neither meeting Obama nor the Purple Hearts helped Porter overcome PTSD, drug addiction or the traumatic brain injury that has left him permanently disabled.
read more here
Brush fire at Camp Pendleton 90 percent contained
Brush fire at Camp Pendleton 90 percent contained
June 27, 2012
A fire that has burned nearly 400 acres poses no threats to buildings or residents, base officials reported.
By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ and SEAN EMERY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
CAMP PENDLETON – A fire that has burned nearly 400 acres in a remote part of the Marine base is 90 percent contained, base officials said.
The fire was first seen about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, about 3 miles northwest of the Marine Corps Air Station. Since then, the fire has burned about 395 acres.
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June 27, 2012
A fire that has burned nearly 400 acres poses no threats to buildings or residents, base officials reported.
By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ and SEAN EMERY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
CAMP PENDLETON – A fire that has burned nearly 400 acres in a remote part of the Marine base is 90 percent contained, base officials said.
The fire was first seen about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, about 3 miles northwest of the Marine Corps Air Station. Since then, the fire has burned about 395 acres.
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Fort Carson scrambled to build fire breaks
Fire Forces Air Force Academy to Evacuate
Jun 28, 2012
UPI
Army combat engineers rushed to stop a major wildfire that left tens of thousands of people homeless, from consuming the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
The military school for officer candidates relocated about 550 cadets off academy grounds Wednesday night, 200 new cadets were moved to the University of Colorado's
Colorado Springs campus and 350 moved in with local sponsor families, the Army said.
Commanders suspended all training programs as an engineer battalion from the Army's Fort Carson near Colorado Springs scrambled to build fire breaks around the 18,500-acre school's boundaries.
The Army, which initially committed 121 troops, along with construction and demolition equipment, to helping the Academy -- said in a statement Fort Carson would devote as much resources as it had to fighting the Waldo Canyon fire, which doubled in size Wednesday and blackened more than 30 square miles by Thursday morning.
An aerial photograph taken Wednesday and published in The Denver Post Thursday showed approximately 300 homes, all of them inside the Colorado Springs city limits, evidently reduced to charred rubble.
read more here
also
News: Fort Carson assists displaced service members, Families
Jun 28, 2012
UPI
Army combat engineers rushed to stop a major wildfire that left tens of thousands of people homeless, from consuming the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
The military school for officer candidates relocated about 550 cadets off academy grounds Wednesday night, 200 new cadets were moved to the University of Colorado's
Colorado Springs campus and 350 moved in with local sponsor families, the Army said.
Commanders suspended all training programs as an engineer battalion from the Army's Fort Carson near Colorado Springs scrambled to build fire breaks around the 18,500-acre school's boundaries.
The Army, which initially committed 121 troops, along with construction and demolition equipment, to helping the Academy -- said in a statement Fort Carson would devote as much resources as it had to fighting the Waldo Canyon fire, which doubled in size Wednesday and blackened more than 30 square miles by Thursday morning.
An aerial photograph taken Wednesday and published in The Denver Post Thursday showed approximately 300 homes, all of them inside the Colorado Springs city limits, evidently reduced to charred rubble.
read more here
also
News: Fort Carson assists displaced service members, Families
Supreme Court says you can lie about valor
Update July 1, 2012
What bothers me is this Stolen Valor ruling. This court does not support the military and that is now very clear. First it was the right of Westboro hate group to protest at military funerals, thus giving them the right to single out families and stalk them when they are simply trying to bury a family member who gave their lives for this country. Now they gave the right to people to lie about being a hero.
Some say it is not a big deal because sooner or later these people are proven to be liars. The problem is what happens before the "later" comes and they have swindled generous people out of a lot of money. The American people are generous and while they hear little about the servicemen and women, when they do, they rush to help those in need. Knowing someone can no legally lie about being wounded in combat or being awarded the highest honors in this country will cause them to think longer and harder about doing anything for anyone.
UPDATE 1:25 pm est
From Stars and Stripes
Veterans respond to court overturning lying lawUPDATE The mandate to buy health insurance coverage was a no-brainer since we already have one and if you look at your pay stub, you see the deduction for it.
Published July 01, 2012
Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Jack Jacobs can proudly — and truthfully — say he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor in Vietnam. After a recent Supreme Court ruling, anyone else is free under the First Amendment to make the same claim, whether it's true or not.
Some military veterans say they consider the ruling a slap in the face. For Jacobs, though, it was the right decision. He said he wore the uniform to protect people's rights — even if he doesn't agree with how they exercise those rights.
"There are lots of things people do that revolt me, but I'm happy that I fought for this country not to give them the right to do something stupid, but for the majority of the people to do the right thing," said Jacobs, 66, who earned the Medal of Honor in 1969 for carrying several of his buddies to safety from a shelled rice field despite the shrapnel wounds in his head, the streaming blood clouding his vision.
"I'm a free speech guy," he said.
read more here
What bothers me is this Stolen Valor ruling. This court does not support the military and that is now very clear. First it was the right of Westboro hate group to protest at military funerals, thus giving them the right to single out families and stalk them when they are simply trying to bury a family member who gave their lives for this country. Now they gave the right to people to lie about being a hero.
Some say it is not a big deal because sooner or later these people are proven to be liars. The problem is what happens before the "later" comes and they have swindled generous people out of a lot of money. The American people are generous and while they hear little about the servicemen and women, when they do, they rush to help those in need. Knowing someone can no legally lie about being wounded in combat or being awarded the highest honors in this country will cause them to think longer and harder about doing anything for anyone.
Opinion 1 is out.
Court rules in favor of man who lied about receiving the medal of honor.
Court says lies protected by 1st amendment.
28 Jun 12
At issue is the constitutional value of false statements of fact, and whether Congress went too far when passing the Stolen Valor Act in 2006.
The Supreme Court ruling effectively has thrown out the Stolen Valor act, a federal law that would make it a crime to lie about receiving certain military honors.
Some justices expressed concerns during February arguments that the act could "chill" other types of speech, while others said they felt the law was narrowly tailored and preserved the integrity of military honors.
also
Supreme Court upholds entire health care law
June 28th, 2012
Editor's note: We're live blogging from the Supreme Court today as the nation waits to see how the justices will rule on the health care law. You can follow along below as CNN Supreme Court Producer Bill Mears and Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin get the latest details live from the court as well as analysis when the opinion is delivered.
[Updated at 10:16 a.m. ET] Kate Bolduan reports that the Chief Justice John Roberts issued a long opinion in which he said the controversial individual mandate may be upheld and is within Congress’ power under the taxing clause rather than the commerce clause.
[Updated at 10:15 a.m. ET] The Supreme Court has upheld the entire health care law by a vote of 5 to 4, Supreme Court Producer Bill Mears said. That includes the medicare provision
[Updated at 10:06 a.m. ET] In a landmark decision that will impact the nation for decades, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a key provision of President Barack Obama's health care law, ruling that requiring people to have health insurance violates the Constitution.
Chief Justice John Roberts had noted that however that the mandate would have been struck down based on the commerce clause , saying it would "open a new and vast domain" for Congressional power.
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UPDATE 1:25 pm est
From Stars and Stripes
2 minutes ago
Supreme Court strikes down Stolen Valor Act
By CHRIS CARROLL
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 28, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday tossed out a 2006 law making it a federal misdemeanor to lie about receiving a military service medal, but left the door open for Congress to try again with a more finely tuned law.
In a 6-3 ruling, the court said the Stolen Valor Act violated First Amendment free-speech protections, ruling in favor of Xavier Alvarez, a California man prosecuted for false claims in 2007 that he had received the Medal of Honor.
Alvarez, a former member of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District Board, speaking at his first meeting as a board member, said: “I’m a retired Marine of 25 years. I retired in the year 2001. Back in 1987, I was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. I got wounded many times by the same guy.”
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Community rallies behind wounded Maine soldier
Community rallies behind wounded Maine soldier
Jun 27, 2012
Written by
Sarah Delage
LIVERMORE FALLS, Maine (NEWS CENTER)
The community is rallying behind a local family whose daughter was critically injured in a suicide bomber attack in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Helaina Lake is being treated at Walter Reed hospital near Washington D.C. Lake's mother, Jeannine Lake, is heading to D.C. to see her daughter for the first time since last Wednesday's attack. She has had brief conversations with her daughter over the phone, and has said that she is in a lot of pain, and just wants to be reunited with her family, especially her two year-old son Aden.
During the bombing, Sergeant Lake was hit with shrapnel and ball bearings on the right side of her body. She was in a medically-induced coma until Monday morning as doctors performed several surgeries and worked to control her pain.
read more here
Jun 27, 2012
Written by
Sarah Delage
LIVERMORE FALLS, Maine (NEWS CENTER)
The community is rallying behind a local family whose daughter was critically injured in a suicide bomber attack in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Helaina Lake is being treated at Walter Reed hospital near Washington D.C. Lake's mother, Jeannine Lake, is heading to D.C. to see her daughter for the first time since last Wednesday's attack. She has had brief conversations with her daughter over the phone, and has said that she is in a lot of pain, and just wants to be reunited with her family, especially her two year-old son Aden.
During the bombing, Sergeant Lake was hit with shrapnel and ball bearings on the right side of her body. She was in a medically-induced coma until Monday morning as doctors performed several surgeries and worked to control her pain.
read more here
Disrespect for Vietnam vets is fact, not fiction
There are stories of Vietnam veterans coming home, pretty much ignored by the general public. There are other stories of them being spit on or beaten. The truth is, both. It depended on when they came home and where they came home to.
I interviewed Sammy Davis and he told the story of what happened to him when he came home. He was beaten among other things, after his actions as a Pfc. saved lives and he earned the Medal of Honor. After being beaten, Sammy turned around and joined the National Guards.
Disrespect for Vietnam vets is fact, not fiction
Article by: BOB FEIST
June 26, 2012
Spitting stories, while true, aren't the point. But denial of what we suffered dishonors us again. Counterpoint
I am a combat-disabled Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1968-69. I was infantry, in the field, fighting the most misunderstood and unpopular war in American history.
I've studied the history, and I've lived it.
And David Sirota is wrong about the history and policies of that war and about the treatment of returning military men and women ("The myth of the spat-upon war veteran," June 8).
Contrary to protesters' claims, then and now, the Vietnam War did not begin without good reasons. It was a direct result of the 1945 Yalta Conference, where Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill agreed to abandon the Vietnamese (who had helped defeat the Japanese in World War II) and give all of Indo-China back to the French. Despite U.S. economic support and military advisers, the French lost the ensuing Vietnamese independence struggle and withdrew from all of Indo-China. Vietnam ended up divided.
In the era when the North Vietnamese invaded the South, the world was facing Russian colonialism, the spread of communism, nuclear arms, the Cuban missile crisis and other threats to world peace. We fought to "contain" communist aggression and adopted the "domino theory," believing that if one country in a region fell, the rest would.
Although the history of the past 50 years is complex, it's fair to observe that the spread of communism has been contained.
We need to remember that it was the South Vietnamese government that lost their war, not the much-maligned American soldier. American service members did not suffer defeat, even though most of us felt defeated. Policy and politics out of Washington had failed, not the military.
read more here
I interviewed Sammy Davis and he told the story of what happened to him when he came home. He was beaten among other things, after his actions as a Pfc. saved lives and he earned the Medal of Honor. After being beaten, Sammy turned around and joined the National Guards.
At the Orlando Nam Knights fundraiser for Homes For Our Troops, Vietnam Veteran and Medal of Honor hero Sammy Davis talked to me about what it was like coming home after all he'd been through. It is a story few have heard before. As Sammy put it, it is one of the reasons no other veteran will ever come home treated like that again.
Timothy couldn't believe the brave soldier he worshipped shot himself on purpose
Soldier's son on a mission to help others after father's suicide
He has a message for other grieving military children
By Lindsay Wise
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Timothy Swenson was 6 years old when his father, a soldier, died by suicide at Fort Hood. Thinking to spare the little boy, his mother told him that Daddy had died of a heart attack.
But Timothy's grandparents, who had been taking care of him at their home in Humble, wanted to be as open as possible. They told him the truth.
"He didn't believe us," said his grandmother, Judi Swenson. "He said, 'Nobody was in the apartment when he died. Nobody knows. I know he didn't commit suicide.' "
It took Timothy years to come to terms with how his father died. Now 13 and a student at Timberwood Middle School, he wants to help other grieving military kids heal.
"Let your feelings out. And just, like, don't hide it," Timothy advises. "Don't keep it to yourself."
For adults, he has this message: "Suicide is not the answer."
Timothy's father, Spc. David Paul Swenson Jr., served in the U.S. Army and Texas Army National Guard. He is among a record number of Guard members, reservists and active-duty service members who have killed themselves in the decade since the start of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Their children, like Timothy, grow up grappling with a complicated legacy of patriotism and pain.
"Timmy was extremely close to his daddy," Judi said. "His daddy was his hero."
read more here
He has a message for other grieving military children
By Lindsay Wise
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Timothy couldn't believe that the brave soldier he worshipped had shot himself on purpose.
When his father returned from Iraq in 2004, Timothy, dressed in a mini version of a miliatry uniform, welcomed him home. Photo: Karen Warren / © 2012 Houston Chronicle
Timothy Swenson was 6 years old when his father, a soldier, died by suicide at Fort Hood. Thinking to spare the little boy, his mother told him that Daddy had died of a heart attack.
But Timothy's grandparents, who had been taking care of him at their home in Humble, wanted to be as open as possible. They told him the truth.
"He didn't believe us," said his grandmother, Judi Swenson. "He said, 'Nobody was in the apartment when he died. Nobody knows. I know he didn't commit suicide.' "
It took Timothy years to come to terms with how his father died. Now 13 and a student at Timberwood Middle School, he wants to help other grieving military kids heal.
"Let your feelings out. And just, like, don't hide it," Timothy advises. "Don't keep it to yourself."
For adults, he has this message: "Suicide is not the answer."
Timothy's father, Spc. David Paul Swenson Jr., served in the U.S. Army and Texas Army National Guard. He is among a record number of Guard members, reservists and active-duty service members who have killed themselves in the decade since the start of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Their children, like Timothy, grow up grappling with a complicated legacy of patriotism and pain.
"Timmy was extremely close to his daddy," Judi said. "His daddy was his hero."
read more here
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