Semper Fidelis went out to the Orlando VA Community Living Center for their annual July 4th Cookout with heroes.
Good food, great fun and awesome entertainment!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
It was a mother's ultimate sacrifice in Florida
Heather Town, Florida Mom, Dies Shielding 3-Year-Old Daughter In Tornado
(How You Can Help)
The Huffington Post
By Allie Compton
Posted: 06/28/2012
It was a mother's ultimate sacrifice.
A tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Debby ripped through the oak trees and barbed-wire fence near Heather Town's mobile home in Venus, Fla. In what must have been a moment of instinct, she grabbed her 3-year-old daughter and clutched the child in her arms, Bay News 9 reports.
Moments later, Town's home was thrown 200 feet into the woods by the powerful storm, according to Fox 13.
Two neighbors heard a child crying and tracked down the source of the sound, eventually finding Town cradling her daughter.
Once help arrived, Town was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Fox 13. The child is recovering from broken bones, including broken ribs, perhaps a result of her mother's tight, protective grip, WPTV reports.
"Anyone that can hold on to their baby like that, I mean, she was brave. To cling to her child, to keep her baby safe," Crystal Walker, Town's sister, told Bay News 9.
read more here
(How You Can Help)
The Huffington Post
By Allie Compton
Posted: 06/28/2012
It was a mother's ultimate sacrifice.
A tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Debby ripped through the oak trees and barbed-wire fence near Heather Town's mobile home in Venus, Fla. In what must have been a moment of instinct, she grabbed her 3-year-old daughter and clutched the child in her arms, Bay News 9 reports.
Moments later, Town's home was thrown 200 feet into the woods by the powerful storm, according to Fox 13.
Two neighbors heard a child crying and tracked down the source of the sound, eventually finding Town cradling her daughter.
Once help arrived, Town was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Fox 13. The child is recovering from broken bones, including broken ribs, perhaps a result of her mother's tight, protective grip, WPTV reports.
"Anyone that can hold on to their baby like that, I mean, she was brave. To cling to her child, to keep her baby safe," Crystal Walker, Town's sister, told Bay News 9.
read more here
Wounded Times wants to know what you think
So far the results are in and Wounded Times needed to change so that it loaded faster. No, that wasn't a poll question. That was from emails and my own frustration when I tried to view the blog checking on how it looks.
There are now pages to replace my older videos on YouTube and Great Americans, my Bio and poll results located on the tabs at the top. I hope it clears up the problem. If not, I'll keep trying until I get it right.
There is a new poll question to rate veterans charities. I didn't want to single any charity out because that would appear to be bias. I do really want to know what you think about the charity you have encountered so please leave a comment on this post so all of us can know what you think. Too many reports have come out stating most of the charities out there are not doing what they claim and too often really good ones don't have the money for publicity. Here's your chance to share your thoughts and stories with others.
There are now pages to replace my older videos on YouTube and Great Americans, my Bio and poll results located on the tabs at the top. I hope it clears up the problem. If not, I'll keep trying until I get it right.
There is a new poll question to rate veterans charities. I didn't want to single any charity out because that would appear to be bias. I do really want to know what you think about the charity you have encountered so please leave a comment on this post so all of us can know what you think. Too many reports have come out stating most of the charities out there are not doing what they claim and too often really good ones don't have the money for publicity. Here's your chance to share your thoughts and stories with others.
Families need help to visit wounded at Walter Reed
If you support any of the organizations out there, ask them why they aren't taking care of this? Wounded Warrior Project? Red Cross? IAVA? What about the hundreds of other groups out there taking your donations "for the troops" but these families have to go to the press so they can be able to go and see their wounded sons? This is horrible, has been horrible and will keep being horrible until we all make sure the organizations we support are actually doing what they say.
Fund established for family of wounded Seneca soldier
Ray Chandler
Special to Independent Mail
Posted June 29, 2012
SENECA — Family friends of A. J. Durham, a wounded National Guard soldier, want to make sure he has his family with him on his road to recovery.
“We want them to have the piece of mind to be able to go see him,” said Clemson businessman Rusty Senn, one of the organizers of a fund to ensure some travel expenses and other costs of family members going to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
“His mother works at Milliken and his father is a truck driver,” said Senn. “This is going to be a long haul and means are limited.”
Specialist Durham, a combat medic, was one of eight South Carolina National Guardsmen of the 133rd Military Police Company who were casualties of a June 20 ambush by suicide bombers in Khowst, Afghanistan. Three were killed and five seriously wounded.
Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Sgt. 1st. Class Brad Thomas of Easley, 1st. Lt. Ryan Davis Rawl of Lexington and Sgt. John David Meador II of Columbia.
Durham suffered a broken femur and shrapnel wounds. After field treatment he was flown to Germany for further treatment and on Wednesday flown to the Walter Reed hospital.
read more here
Family of Injured Soldier in Need of Financial Assistance
WTMA
WALLACE, S.C.
Sgt Devin Davis, a Military Policeman from the 133 Military Police Company of Timmonsville is fighting for his life after being injured in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. His family is hoping to raise enough money so they can visit him at Walter Reed Army Hospital, ABC affiliate WCIV Charleston reports.
They have set up a fund to solicit donations to cover those travel expenses. read more here
Fund established for family of wounded Seneca soldier
Ray Chandler
Special to Independent Mail
Posted June 29, 2012
SENECA — Family friends of A. J. Durham, a wounded National Guard soldier, want to make sure he has his family with him on his road to recovery.
“We want them to have the piece of mind to be able to go see him,” said Clemson businessman Rusty Senn, one of the organizers of a fund to ensure some travel expenses and other costs of family members going to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
“His mother works at Milliken and his father is a truck driver,” said Senn. “This is going to be a long haul and means are limited.”
Specialist Durham, a combat medic, was one of eight South Carolina National Guardsmen of the 133rd Military Police Company who were casualties of a June 20 ambush by suicide bombers in Khowst, Afghanistan. Three were killed and five seriously wounded.
Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Sgt. 1st. Class Brad Thomas of Easley, 1st. Lt. Ryan Davis Rawl of Lexington and Sgt. John David Meador II of Columbia.
Durham suffered a broken femur and shrapnel wounds. After field treatment he was flown to Germany for further treatment and on Wednesday flown to the Walter Reed hospital.
read more here
President Obama visits Alabama soldier in hospital
President Obama visits AL soldier in hospital
Posted: June 29, 2012
WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama visited wounded Alabama soldier Josh Wetzel in the hospital where he's recovering from losing both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.
President Obama stopped by to visit Wetzel and his wife, Paige, while making the rounds to meet wounded service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Family members said at one point, the president took Wetzel's hand and they prayed together. In one photograph from the visit, President Obama is shown shaking Wetzel's hand while his wife, Paige, looks on, smiling. Wetzel wore an Auburn shirt during his meeting with the president.
read more here
Posted: June 29, 2012
President Barack Obama visited SPC Josh Wetzel, a Glencoe native and Army paratrooper, at Walter Reed hospital on Thursday. Photo released by family.
WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama visited wounded Alabama soldier Josh Wetzel in the hospital where he's recovering from losing both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.
President Obama stopped by to visit Wetzel and his wife, Paige, while making the rounds to meet wounded service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Family members said at one point, the president took Wetzel's hand and they prayed together. In one photograph from the visit, President Obama is shown shaking Wetzel's hand while his wife, Paige, looks on, smiling. Wetzel wore an Auburn shirt during his meeting with the president.
read more here
Sam's Club Operation Shoebox Supporting Our Troops
Operation Shoebox - Supporting Our Troops
2012: Operation Shoebox Supporting Our Troops
Alert:
DEAR SUPPORTERS:
Currently we are in desperate need of travel sized hygiene products for the troops. If you have any you would like to donate, please send it to us at: Operation Shoebox, 8360 E. Highway 25, Belleview FL 34420. Thank You!
Contact Us for information on how you can help.
Send Us Your Videos!
Operation Shoebox is interested in featuring videos from the troops right here on our website! If you are a troop, or family member, and have videos you would like to share.
Please upload them onto YouTube and send us an email with a link to the video and your information and comments that you would like to share. We look forward to sharing our troops experiences. troops@operationshoebox.com
We are currently looking for softball equipment for some troops in Kuwait, they have 45 teams and only enough equipment for 2. If anyone can help us please contact us at troops@operationshoebox.com Thank you!
Sams Club Collection Points
Operation Shoebox is pleased to announce the Sams Clubs in the north FL region will be doing a collection for us the weekends of 6/30 and 7/1 and again on 7/7 and 7/8!!!
If you are in the Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Gainesville,Kissimmee, Ocala or Lady Lake area please stop by and say hi and help us support our troops deployed overseas! Lets show our troops we still care and support them!
4763 WEST IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY KISSIMMEE FL 34746
1101 RINEHART RD SANFORD FL 32771
755 N. HWY 27/441 LADY LAKES FL 32159
7701 E COLONIAL DR ORLANDO FL 32807
7810 W COLONIAL DR ORLANDO FL 32818
3921 SW COLLEGE RD OCALA FL 34474
6373 YOUNGERMAN CIR JACKSONVILLE FL 32244
10690 BEACH BLVD JACKSONVILLE FL 32246
1175 BEVILLE RD DAYTONA BEACH FL 32119
2801 NW 13TH ST GAINESVILLE FL 32609
355 SEMORAN BLVD FERN PARK FL 32730
300 BUSCH DR JACKSONVILLE FL 32218
9498 S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRL ORLANDO FL 32837
2012: Operation Shoebox Supporting Our Troops
Alert:
DEAR SUPPORTERS:
Currently we are in desperate need of travel sized hygiene products for the troops. If you have any you would like to donate, please send it to us at: Operation Shoebox, 8360 E. Highway 25, Belleview FL 34420. Thank You!
Contact Us for information on how you can help.
Send Us Your Videos!
Operation Shoebox is interested in featuring videos from the troops right here on our website! If you are a troop, or family member, and have videos you would like to share.
Please upload them onto YouTube and send us an email with a link to the video and your information and comments that you would like to share. We look forward to sharing our troops experiences. troops@operationshoebox.com
We are currently looking for softball equipment for some troops in Kuwait, they have 45 teams and only enough equipment for 2. If anyone can help us please contact us at troops@operationshoebox.com Thank you!
Sams Club Collection Points
Operation Shoebox is pleased to announce the Sams Clubs in the north FL region will be doing a collection for us the weekends of 6/30 and 7/1 and again on 7/7 and 7/8!!!
If you are in the Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Gainesville,Kissimmee, Ocala or Lady Lake area please stop by and say hi and help us support our troops deployed overseas! Lets show our troops we still care and support them!
4763 WEST IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY KISSIMMEE FL 34746
1101 RINEHART RD SANFORD FL 32771
755 N. HWY 27/441 LADY LAKES FL 32159
7701 E COLONIAL DR ORLANDO FL 32807
7810 W COLONIAL DR ORLANDO FL 32818
3921 SW COLLEGE RD OCALA FL 34474
6373 YOUNGERMAN CIR JACKSONVILLE FL 32244
10690 BEACH BLVD JACKSONVILLE FL 32246
1175 BEVILLE RD DAYTONA BEACH FL 32119
2801 NW 13TH ST GAINESVILLE FL 32609
355 SEMORAN BLVD FERN PARK FL 32730
300 BUSCH DR JACKSONVILLE FL 32218
9498 S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRL ORLANDO FL 32837
Friday, June 29, 2012
NBA draft pick three tour veteran of OEF and OIF
A 27-Year-Old Iraq War Vet Was Selected In The NBA Draft Last Night
Prior to winning an ACC Tournament at Florida State, 6'7” forward Bernard James accomplished something a little more important: three tours of duty in the Middle East with the United States Air Force.
Kevin Lincoln
BuzzFeed
The NBA Draft often plays host to the stories of surprising professional athletes, but Thursday's 2012 version saw the capping of a particularly unlikely narrative. 27-year-old Bernard James was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 33rd pick of the draft, having just spent four years with the Florida State Seminoles.
James' age would make him special enough — he's the oldest player to get picked in the last 20 years.
But the real story behind James is his previous job: he served six years in the Air Force, starting at age 17. His stint included three tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar, serving as military law enforcement. Even though he only started playing at 14 or 15, he says, FSU coach Leonard Hamilton spotted him at an Armed Forces tournament in Las Vegas and gave him a scholarship.
read more here
Prior to winning an ACC Tournament at Florida State, 6'7” forward Bernard James accomplished something a little more important: three tours of duty in the Middle East with the United States Air Force.
Kevin Lincoln
BuzzFeed
The NBA Draft often plays host to the stories of surprising professional athletes, but Thursday's 2012 version saw the capping of a particularly unlikely narrative. 27-year-old Bernard James was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 33rd pick of the draft, having just spent four years with the Florida State Seminoles.
James' age would make him special enough — he's the oldest player to get picked in the last 20 years.
But the real story behind James is his previous job: he served six years in the Air Force, starting at age 17. His stint included three tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar, serving as military law enforcement. Even though he only started playing at 14 or 15, he says, FSU coach Leonard Hamilton spotted him at an Armed Forces tournament in Las Vegas and gave him a scholarship.
read more here
VA Selects Site for the New Louisville Replacement Hospital
UPDATE
This morning something crazy happened attached to this press release from the VA. I had two requests to remove them from my subscriber list but they were not my subscribers. The email attached to it was to the VA site. Not sure what is going on, if the VA press office was hacked or not, but I received another email stating they are working on the problem. If you get an email with this released attached to it, I suggest you do not click a link or do anything more than just delete it. I'll let you know if this gets cleared up.
Press Release
VA Selects Site for the New Louisville Replacement Hospital
WASHINGTON (June 29, 2012) - The Department of Veterans Affairs has selected a site to serve as the location of a 21st century medical center in Louisville, Ky., replacing an existing 60-year-old facility.
“This new hospital will provide state-of-the-art health care for the Veterans of Louisville and the surrounding 35-county region,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “At VA, we’re committed to upgrading our facilities, programs and technologies to ensure our patients receive the best care anywhere.”
The site for the new VA medical center is located in Jefferson County, adjacent to the Brownsboro Road and I-264 interchange. That location is close to the current Robley Rex VA Medical Center and the downtown University of Louisville Hospital.
Now that the site has been selected, VA will undertake master planning and design. The facility is expected to cost about $883 million and open in late 2017 or early 2018.
The new medical center will have 110 inpatient beds and clinics specializing in primary care, surgery, and mental health. The new facility will also have a geriatric and extended care program, a home-based primary care program, and a substance abuse residential rehabilitation treatment program.
VA operates one of the nation’s largest integrated health care systems in the country. With a health care budget of about $50 billion, VA expects to provide care to 6.3 million patients during 920,000 hospitalizations and nearly 90 million outpatient visits this year. VA’s health care network includes 152 major medical centers and more than 800 community-based outpatient clinics.
Last year, VA spent more than $1.9 billion on behalf of Kentucky’s 331,000 Veterans.
In addition to the Louisville facility, VA operates a two-campus medical center in Lexington, nearly two dozen community-based outpatient clinics across the state, Vet Centers in Louisville and Lexington, and seven national cemeteries.
Chiarelli seeks clarity in PTSD treatment?
This is one of the worst ideas that is being pushed.
I used to belong to NAMI but when I figured out they were not willing to listen, or for that matter, get ahead of all of this, I stopped supporting them.
Frankly, it has to be understood that changing PTSD to anything other than Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will not help at best, but it could end up hurting more. Stress is something you get over. An injury is something that heals. Both go away. A disorder is a profound change that does not go away and you can't get over it. While you can heal it, can find ways of coping with what remains, it changes you forever. One other thing is, stress is not a lifetime disability any more than an injury is.
I've been around long enough to have seen a lot of things go on that turn out to be all about money. In this case, it very well could be about ending payments to Combat PTSD veterans.
Chiarelli seeks clarity in PTSD treatment Speaking Thursday at the Seattle convention of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Chiarelli described how his frustrations with the current state of mental-health medicine led to his new role as chief executive of One Mind for Research, a nonprofit with an office in Seattle.(You can click the link to read the rest.)
One Mind was founded by former congressman Patrick Kennedy and Garen Staglin, a winemaker, investor and philanthropist whose son was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Chiarelli hopes One Mind can be a catalyst for finding new treatments and join the fight against stigmas that surround mental illness.
Chiarelli already is adamant on one point. He wants post-traumatic-stress disorder to be shortened to post-traumatic stress. Labeling it a disorder, he says, discourages people from seeking help.
I used to belong to NAMI but when I figured out they were not willing to listen, or for that matter, get ahead of all of this, I stopped supporting them.
Frankly, it has to be understood that changing PTSD to anything other than Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will not help at best, but it could end up hurting more. Stress is something you get over. An injury is something that heals. Both go away. A disorder is a profound change that does not go away and you can't get over it. While you can heal it, can find ways of coping with what remains, it changes you forever. One other thing is, stress is not a lifetime disability any more than an injury is.
I've been around long enough to have seen a lot of things go on that turn out to be all about money. In this case, it very well could be about ending payments to Combat PTSD veterans.
VA records found in private home called "grievous injustice to veterans"
Ohio VA hospital records found at private home
Friday, June 29, 2012
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center is notifying 16 people that medical records containing their personal information were found at the former home of a now-deceased employee, drawing more attention to a hospital recently scrutinized amid allegations of poor hygiene at a dental clinic and improper conduct by an anesthesia unit employee.
The home's current owner found the boxed records in an attic and contacted police about two months ago, the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/L6huGY ) reported. The police report indicated no one at the hospital knew why or how someone removed the records, which included birth dates and Social Security numbers.
Former Marine Angelo Arnold of Centerville said he learned about the problem this week in a letter from medical center Director Glenn Costie.
"This is a grievous injustice to veterans," the 51-year-old Arnold told the newspaper.
"Someone has to be accountable at the Dayton VA. This sends a message that certain VA staffers are very careless and reckless with our files."
read more here
Friday, June 29, 2012
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center is notifying 16 people that medical records containing their personal information were found at the former home of a now-deceased employee, drawing more attention to a hospital recently scrutinized amid allegations of poor hygiene at a dental clinic and improper conduct by an anesthesia unit employee.
The home's current owner found the boxed records in an attic and contacted police about two months ago, the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/L6huGY ) reported. The police report indicated no one at the hospital knew why or how someone removed the records, which included birth dates and Social Security numbers.
Former Marine Angelo Arnold of Centerville said he learned about the problem this week in a letter from medical center Director Glenn Costie.
"This is a grievous injustice to veterans," the 51-year-old Arnold told the newspaper.
"Someone has to be accountable at the Dayton VA. This sends a message that certain VA staffers are very careless and reckless with our files."
read more here
Tenth Anniversary of For the Love of Jack, His War/My Battle
Tenth Anniversary of For the Love of Jack, His War/My Battle
Ten years ago I self published For The Love Of Jack, His War/My Battle about living with Combat PTSD. I wanted to help other veterans and their families by talking about what was still a secret war going on when men and women came home from war.
It was finished and I was looking for a publisher when September 11th came. I rushed to have it self-publised. You can read more about this on the above link. To make a long story short, there is so much we knew back then that there are no excuses for what is not being done today. When you read it, you'll know what I mean.
I hope it helps you to understand a few things.
With the reports of 18 veterans suicides per day and an average of one military member committing suicide, it breaks my heart knowing none of this had to happen and I couldn't get anyone with the authority to do anything about it to listen.
For all the talk about June being PTSD Awareness Month, it seemed only right to release this work at the end of the month.
It was finished and I was looking for a publisher when September 11th came. I rushed to have it self-publised. You can read more about this on the above link. To make a long story short, there is so much we knew back then that there are no excuses for what is not being done today. When you read it, you'll know what I mean.
I hope it helps you to understand a few things.
First, it is not hopeless and it does not have to win.I don't just study PTSD and report it on my blog. I live with it everyday. I've seen the darkest days losing hope but I've also seen my wonderful husband come out on the other side of darkness. Sadly as you'll read in the book, his nephew did not make it and took his own life. His death was one of the reasons I decided to fight even harder to make sure there were more healing and less dying.
Families can stay together and help each other heal.
Older wives like me can help the younger generation learn what it took us 40 years to understand, in my case, 30 years.
That family members need just as much support living with Combat PTSD as the veteran does. Families are on the front line of this and it is up to us to fight for them when they come home.
Above all this, the need for spiritual healing since PTSD is a wound to the soul.
With the reports of 18 veterans suicides per day and an average of one military member committing suicide, it breaks my heart knowing none of this had to happen and I couldn't get anyone with the authority to do anything about it to listen.
For all the talk about June being PTSD Awareness Month, it seemed only right to release this work at the end of the month.
Some veterans hired on spot at job fair
Some veterans hired on spot at job fair
June 29, 2012
By Michael Martinez
The Detroit News
Ivy Scorzelli grudgingly came to Detroit's Veteran Job Fair Wednesday at the urging of her husband, John. They both left Thursday overjoyed — and ready to move to Texas for her new job.
The couple, who both served in Afghanistan in the Army Reserve, have been without work since they returned in March. But now the 26-year-old is ready to start a position in human resources for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in Austin, and she couldn't be happier.
"I love the uniform, but I'm ready to take it off and look cute for work," she said.
Scorzelli was part of a fortunate group who found employment on the spot at the three-day job fair at Cobo Center. While final numbers were still being calculated, 10,000 total veterans were expected to walk through Cobo's doors for approximately 25,000 jobs nationwide.
The event, billed as the "mother of all hiring fairs," attempted to put a dent in Michigan's 11 percent veteran unemployment rate.
The roster of local employers included Detroit's Big Three automakers, online home lender Quicken Loans Inc., Big Boy restaurants and Two Men and a Truck, a Lansing-based moving company. National companies included General Electric, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Sears, Home Depot and Edward Jones.
The Veterans Affairs department and Aaron's furniture store were two entities that were able to hire on the spot.
read more here
June 29, 2012
By Michael Martinez
The Detroit News
Ivy Scorzelli grudgingly came to Detroit's Veteran Job Fair Wednesday at the urging of her husband, John. They both left Thursday overjoyed — and ready to move to Texas for her new job.
The couple, who both served in Afghanistan in the Army Reserve, have been without work since they returned in March. But now the 26-year-old is ready to start a position in human resources for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in Austin, and she couldn't be happier.
"I love the uniform, but I'm ready to take it off and look cute for work," she said.
Scorzelli was part of a fortunate group who found employment on the spot at the three-day job fair at Cobo Center. While final numbers were still being calculated, 10,000 total veterans were expected to walk through Cobo's doors for approximately 25,000 jobs nationwide.
The event, billed as the "mother of all hiring fairs," attempted to put a dent in Michigan's 11 percent veteran unemployment rate.
The roster of local employers included Detroit's Big Three automakers, online home lender Quicken Loans Inc., Big Boy restaurants and Two Men and a Truck, a Lansing-based moving company. National companies included General Electric, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Sears, Home Depot and Edward Jones.
The Veterans Affairs department and Aaron's furniture store were two entities that were able to hire on the spot.
read more here
Veterans speak out about PTSD, suicide
Veterans speak out about PTSD, suicide
Posted: Jun 29, 2012
Elizabeth Vowell
BATON ROUGE, LA
WAFB)
E5 Sgt. Matthew Davis has been in the military for 10 years and spent a total of 40 months in the theater of the Iraq War. He's one of thousands of soldiers who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"I'm still dealing with it," said Davis. "It's something that I'm going to be dealing with the rest of my life. It's not just an on and off switch. So, I'm learning to cope with it."
The transition from military to civilian life has been difficult for him and coping with PTSD is a constant struggle.
"I don't like to go out in public, really. I no longer hang out with friends. I have lots of nightmares. My wife told me that I rolled over, told her crazy things," Davis added.
To help manage his PTSD, Davis receives counseling each week at the New Orleans Veterans Affairs. A few weeks ago, he took another step to recovery. Inspired by Ron Zaleski, an ex-Marine who walked cross-country barefoot to raise awareness about veteran suicide, Davis started walking from his home in Houma all the way to the heart of Baton Rouge. All the while, he carried a sign with a chilling fact: 18 veterans a day commit suicide.
"It's too much for someone to deal with," said Mike McNaughton, VA director of veteran outreach. "We've got to find other ways to take care of them."
McNaughton is a veteran of Afghanistan, where he lost a leg and some fingers after stepping on a land mine. He has his own experiences with PTSD and uses that knowledge to help fellow military members.
"These are our sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, everybody and we have to take care of them," McNaughton said.
read more here
Posted: Jun 29, 2012
Elizabeth Vowell
BATON ROUGE, LA
WAFB)
E5 Sgt. Matthew Davis has been in the military for 10 years and spent a total of 40 months in the theater of the Iraq War. He's one of thousands of soldiers who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"I'm still dealing with it," said Davis. "It's something that I'm going to be dealing with the rest of my life. It's not just an on and off switch. So, I'm learning to cope with it."
The transition from military to civilian life has been difficult for him and coping with PTSD is a constant struggle.
"I don't like to go out in public, really. I no longer hang out with friends. I have lots of nightmares. My wife told me that I rolled over, told her crazy things," Davis added.
To help manage his PTSD, Davis receives counseling each week at the New Orleans Veterans Affairs. A few weeks ago, he took another step to recovery. Inspired by Ron Zaleski, an ex-Marine who walked cross-country barefoot to raise awareness about veteran suicide, Davis started walking from his home in Houma all the way to the heart of Baton Rouge. All the while, he carried a sign with a chilling fact: 18 veterans a day commit suicide.
"It's too much for someone to deal with," said Mike McNaughton, VA director of veteran outreach. "We've got to find other ways to take care of them."
McNaughton is a veteran of Afghanistan, where he lost a leg and some fingers after stepping on a land mine. He has his own experiences with PTSD and uses that knowledge to help fellow military members.
"These are our sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, everybody and we have to take care of them," McNaughton said.
read more here
Database of Veterans’ Medals Cited as Alternative to ‘Stolen Valor’
Database of Veterans’ Medals Cited as Alternative to ‘Stolen Valor’
By JAMES DAO
June 28, 2012
In his opinion striking down the Stolen Valor Act on Thursday, United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy offered an alternative solution for defending the military’s award system against fakers, one he said would not infringe on First Amendment rights.
“The government could likely protect the integrity of the military awards system by creating a database of medal winners accessible and searchable on the Internet, as some private individuals have already done,” Justice Kennedy wrote. “Were a database accessible through the Internet, it would be easy to verify and expose false claims.”
“Some private individuals” might have been a reference to Doug Sterner, a Vietnam veteran who for more than a decade has been painstakingly logging military award citations into a public database, a task the Defense Department has declined to take on.
So far, Mr. Sterner said on Thursday, he has logged more than 104,000 award records, including every recipient of the top two tiers of military honors: the Medal of Honor, the highest military award, and the Air Force Cross, the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal. (The Congressional Medal of Honor Society also maintains a database of all Medal of Honor recipients.)
Mr. Sterner says he has done all that data entry himself, helped on the technical side by Militarytimes.com, which hosts the database, known as the Hall of Valor. He asserts that for a few million dollars, he could hire a team of data entry workers and, within three years, log every military valor award ever awarded by the United States military.
“I’ve done this much by myself,” he said. “Imagine what I could do if I had a team.”
read more here
By JAMES DAO
June 28, 2012
In his opinion striking down the Stolen Valor Act on Thursday, United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy offered an alternative solution for defending the military’s award system against fakers, one he said would not infringe on First Amendment rights.
“The government could likely protect the integrity of the military awards system by creating a database of medal winners accessible and searchable on the Internet, as some private individuals have already done,” Justice Kennedy wrote. “Were a database accessible through the Internet, it would be easy to verify and expose false claims.”
“Some private individuals” might have been a reference to Doug Sterner, a Vietnam veteran who for more than a decade has been painstakingly logging military award citations into a public database, a task the Defense Department has declined to take on.
So far, Mr. Sterner said on Thursday, he has logged more than 104,000 award records, including every recipient of the top two tiers of military honors: the Medal of Honor, the highest military award, and the Air Force Cross, the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal. (The Congressional Medal of Honor Society also maintains a database of all Medal of Honor recipients.)
Mr. Sterner says he has done all that data entry himself, helped on the technical side by Militarytimes.com, which hosts the database, known as the Hall of Valor. He asserts that for a few million dollars, he could hire a team of data entry workers and, within three years, log every military valor award ever awarded by the United States military.
“I’ve done this much by myself,” he said. “Imagine what I could do if I had a team.”
read more here
PTSD Awareness is everyday here
by
Chaplain Kathie
Wounded Times Blog June 30, 2012
Here at Wounded Times Blog PTSD awareness is everyday. There are no days off. There are no slow news days. It doesn't take a day off and deserves attention everyday, not just one. People need to pay attention to the men and women suffering from Combat PTSD more than anyone else if researchers will ever really be able to come up with plans of actions that will work.
There is a huge difference between what civilian survivors of trauma suffer from and what veterans end up with. Police come close to this type of PTSD but in all these years, I've read few reports from experts pointing out there is a difference.
This is the last day of PTSD Awareness month and it took a lot of restraint to avoid highlighting it. There were some posts about this month just as the last couple of days a few mentioning the "day" that was set aside for it.
This is how the bill reads from California
Filed Secretary of State May 31, 2012.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 107, Eng. PTSD Awareness Day.
This measure would recognize June 27, 2012, as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day.
DIGEST KEY
Fiscal Committee: no
BILL TEXT
WHEREAS, Throughout our nation’s history, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces have preserved our freedom, protected our security, and upheld our democratic values; from the battles of the American Revolution through the crucible of two world wars to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan today, our men and women in uniform have stood proudly in defense of the United States and the cause of liberty; and
WHEREAS, The brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom of the United States and deserve the investment of every reasonable resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and
WHEREAS, The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in members of the military is rising as the United States Armed Forces conducts two wars, exposing hundreds of thousands of soldiers to traumatic life-threatening events; and WHEREAS, The federal Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that as many as 95 percent of veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have some form of PTSD; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms include nightmares, feeling numb, having difficulty experiencing love or closeness with others, feeling jittery or overly alert, having difficulty sleeping, experiencing anger or irritability, having difficulty concentrating, substance problems, and having feelings of despair or hopelessness; and
WHEREAS, Although the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have made significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and the symptoms of PTSD, many challenges remain; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Institute for Mental Health, PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened; and
WHEREAS, The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense should continue to work to educate service members, veterans, the families of service members and veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of PTSD; and
WHEREAS, It is important to all citizens of the State of California, that those who served our country in the military are aware of the symptoms of PTSD and are able to seek help; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., and to proclaim June 27, 2012, as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day in the state, fully confident that such procedure mirrors our shared commitment to preserve, to ensure, and to yet effect that patrimony of freedom which is our American Heritage; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
There is a difference and if we forget that, if we still have not been able to understand that, then all the research and money in the world will not stop the suicides of the combat survivors.
How can the anyone in the general public understand this, understand the men and women coming home, if we are still not making them aware how very different Combat PTSD is from a one time event in the general public?
This is the last day of "PTSD awareness" month and there are still 19 needless funerals everyday of the month. Looks like awareness is not always a good thing when they are made aware of failures passing off as a treatment.
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