Queen Latifah daughter of Vietnam Vet with PTSD
America The Beautiful
Queen Latifah
NFL Super Bowl XLVIII
Renée Fleming : Super Bowl 2014 National Anthem
If you saw the Budweiser Commercial for Hero Welcomed Home, this is the video I filmed in the crowd. If you got chills watching the commercial, there are no words for what it felt like to be there.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Four Chaplains of the USS Dorchester Remembered
Four Chaplains, World War II heroes, recalled at rite at VA
Mass Live
By ALEX LYMAN
February 2, 2014
NORTHAMPTON – Seventy-one years after the USS Dorchester sank, four members aboard the ill-fated ship are still being remembered.
A commemorative service was held at the U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leeds to honor four chaplains who are remembered for their selfless reactions as the ship sunk.
The Dorchester carried troops during World War II and four chaplains of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faith. The ship went down on Feb. 3, 1943. But instead of despairing, the Four Chaplains, as they have come to be known, gave up their life preservers, linked arms and prayed together. Fellow passengers joined in, feeling a moment of unity and comfort in the impending disaster. Of the 904 men on board, 605 died.
read more here
Mass Live
By ALEX LYMAN
February 2, 2014
NORTHAMPTON – Seventy-one years after the USS Dorchester sank, four members aboard the ill-fated ship are still being remembered.
A commemorative service was held at the U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leeds to honor four chaplains who are remembered for their selfless reactions as the ship sunk.
The Dorchester carried troops during World War II and four chaplains of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faith. The ship went down on Feb. 3, 1943. But instead of despairing, the Four Chaplains, as they have come to be known, gave up their life preservers, linked arms and prayed together. Fellow passengers joined in, feeling a moment of unity and comfort in the impending disaster. Of the 904 men on board, 605 died.
read more here
The story of amazing heroism and faith during WW2. This is just part of the story of the four chaplains that is about to be made into a major Hollywood motion picture. The name of the movie is "LIFEBOAT 13".
Fort Carson Colonel removed for "cringe-inducing" comments
Army colonel removed from command for inappropriate comments
The Gazette
By Dave Philipps
POSTED:02/02/2014
COLORADO SPRINGS — The former commander of Fort Carson's hospital, Col. John McGrath, was removed from command because he regularly made brusque, "cringe-inducing" comments to his subordinates, according to newly released Army documents.
A 400-page investigation of McGrath, obtained by The Gazette through the Freedom of Information Act, shows there were no overt accusations of sexual misconduct or illegal reprisal by the commander of Evans Army Hospital. Instead, the report reads a bit like an episode of "The Office," with the oblivious boss constantly making inappropriate comments.
read more here
The Gazette
By Dave Philipps
POSTED:02/02/2014
COLORADO SPRINGS — The former commander of Fort Carson's hospital, Col. John McGrath, was removed from command because he regularly made brusque, "cringe-inducing" comments to his subordinates, according to newly released Army documents.
A 400-page investigation of McGrath, obtained by The Gazette through the Freedom of Information Act, shows there were no overt accusations of sexual misconduct or illegal reprisal by the commander of Evans Army Hospital. Instead, the report reads a bit like an episode of "The Office," with the oblivious boss constantly making inappropriate comments.
read more here
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Military personnel records dumped in St. Louis
More than 1,800 vets' records intentionally destroyed or misfiled by 2 clerks
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Robert Patrick
Published: January 30, 2014
ST. LOUIS -- More than 1,800 personnel records for U.S. veterans were destroyed or misfiled by two student employees of the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis County, federal criminal court documents show.
One of the student employees, Lonnie Halkmon, 28, was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. The other, Stanley Engram, 21, is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 7. Both pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government records and faced probation to six months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
Engram's guilty plea says that 241 military records were found in the woods near the center on July 3, 2012, with 300 names and Social Security numbers visible on the documents.
The records were traced to Engram, who admitted disposing of the records found in the woods, “abandoning” files in the center and throwing them away at home. In all, he admitted destroying or purposely misfiling more than 1,000 records.
Halkmon's plea says that after an “incident,” the center conducted an audit of all records assigned to employees in 2011 and 2012.
From Dec. 7, 2011 to March 28, 2012, over 1,200 files were assigned to Halkmon, and 850 were reported missing.
read more here
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Robert Patrick
Published: January 30, 2014
ST. LOUIS -- More than 1,800 personnel records for U.S. veterans were destroyed or misfiled by two student employees of the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis County, federal criminal court documents show.
One of the student employees, Lonnie Halkmon, 28, was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. The other, Stanley Engram, 21, is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 7. Both pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government records and faced probation to six months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
Engram's guilty plea says that 241 military records were found in the woods near the center on July 3, 2012, with 300 names and Social Security numbers visible on the documents.
The records were traced to Engram, who admitted disposing of the records found in the woods, “abandoning” files in the center and throwing them away at home. In all, he admitted destroying or purposely misfiling more than 1,000 records.
Halkmon's plea says that after an “incident,” the center conducted an audit of all records assigned to employees in 2011 and 2012.
From Dec. 7, 2011 to March 28, 2012, over 1,200 files were assigned to Halkmon, and 850 were reported missing.
read more here
TV documentary on PTSD is seeking veterans with PTSD
When my husband came home from Vietnam, something like this was not possible. No one was interested in anything we were going through and there was no way to connect to others.
Things are a lot different today so when people care, they step up to make a difference. Hey veterans you know the deal. You stepped up and put your life on the line and you are even more tired than I am of losing veterans after combat.
If you want to make a difference, there are many more veterans out there waiting to hear someone talk about what they are feeling and let them know they are not alone. Your story matters to them and to the generations before you. They didn't have a voice but made sure they gave you one. Speak for them now and for the next generation. I talked to Dr. Silverman on the phone and she told me what she was trying to do but more, she told me why she wanted to. It is because of you.
Things are a lot different today so when people care, they step up to make a difference. Hey veterans you know the deal. You stepped up and put your life on the line and you are even more tired than I am of losing veterans after combat.
If you want to make a difference, there are many more veterans out there waiting to hear someone talk about what they are feeling and let them know they are not alone. Your story matters to them and to the generations before you. They didn't have a voice but made sure they gave you one. Speak for them now and for the next generation. I talked to Dr. Silverman on the phone and she told me what she was trying to do but more, she told me why she wanted to. It is because of you.
GUEST POST
Healthy Living Orlando
" The production team for an upcoming TV documentary on PTSD is seeking veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to be a part of the cast. Casting interviews will take place in early March, 2014.If you are a veteran with symptoms of PTSD who would like to be a participant on this show, please contact Dr Linda Silverman, Executive Producer, cpeenterprisesllc@gmail.com.
More information will then be provided to you. Thank you so much"Dr. Linda Levine Silverman
Founder and DirectorCenter for Personal ExcellenceExecutive Producer, CPE Enterprises, LLC
Marine's final fight on a Chicago street
A Troubled Marine's Final Fight
When his nation called, Marine Sergeant David Lindley answered. But when he came home hurting, his country let him down
TIME
By MARK THOMPSON
Monday, Feb. 10, 2014
At some point I remember looking out the window and seeing a man hiding behind a tree. I knew I could kill him, but some part of me kept saying, No, don't hurt anyone. I fired at the tree and laughed because I knew I could have hit him. When I smelled the smoke from the rounds fired, I had a rush. Suddenly I was back in the fight.
David Linley's last night as a free man began, like so many others before it, in his dark basement, watching Band of Brothers. Or was it Saving Private Ryan? Deep into a bottle of Bombay gin at the time, Linley can't recall what was on the screen when his wife Kristin came downstairs to do the laundry. She was surprised to see him wearing, for the first time at home, the Marine fatigues he had worn in Iraq.
Her interruption was minor and routine--a light switched on, a noise from the washer--but it triggered in Linley something he couldn't ignore. Feeling an irrational rage welling up inside, Linley ordered Kristin to leave the house with their 3-year-old son Hunter and 3-week-old daughter Hannah. Then Linley, age 41, kept drinking. Over the next 24 hours, he tried to kill himself twice by filling the house with natural gas, once by sitting in his running car inside the garage and once by hanging.
As a Marine sergeant, Linley saw action and witnessed horrors in Grenada, Lebanon and Iraq a generation ago. Ten years ago in January, he headed back to Iraq on his final combat deployment. He had earned an expert rifleman's badge, the corps's highest. The Marines tapped him for prized assignments guarding U.S. diplomatic outposts in Brazil and Pakistan, jobs that required top-secret clearance. He was discharged from the corps, honorably. Twice.
But his final firefight was on his suburban street 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Chicago, and the enemy was local police. When it ended, he'd traded 17 years in uniform for 16 years behind bars.
When his nation called, Marine Sergeant David Lindley answered. But when he came home hurting, his country let him down
TIME
By MARK THOMPSON
Monday, Feb. 10, 2014
At some point I remember looking out the window and seeing a man hiding behind a tree. I knew I could kill him, but some part of me kept saying, No, don't hurt anyone. I fired at the tree and laughed because I knew I could have hit him. When I smelled the smoke from the rounds fired, I had a rush. Suddenly I was back in the fight.
David Linley's last night as a free man began, like so many others before it, in his dark basement, watching Band of Brothers. Or was it Saving Private Ryan? Deep into a bottle of Bombay gin at the time, Linley can't recall what was on the screen when his wife Kristin came downstairs to do the laundry. She was surprised to see him wearing, for the first time at home, the Marine fatigues he had worn in Iraq.
Her interruption was minor and routine--a light switched on, a noise from the washer--but it triggered in Linley something he couldn't ignore. Feeling an irrational rage welling up inside, Linley ordered Kristin to leave the house with their 3-year-old son Hunter and 3-week-old daughter Hannah. Then Linley, age 41, kept drinking. Over the next 24 hours, he tried to kill himself twice by filling the house with natural gas, once by sitting in his running car inside the garage and once by hanging.
As a Marine sergeant, Linley saw action and witnessed horrors in Grenada, Lebanon and Iraq a generation ago. Ten years ago in January, he headed back to Iraq on his final combat deployment. He had earned an expert rifleman's badge, the corps's highest. The Marines tapped him for prized assignments guarding U.S. diplomatic outposts in Brazil and Pakistan, jobs that required top-secret clearance. He was discharged from the corps, honorably. Twice.
But his final firefight was on his suburban street 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Chicago, and the enemy was local police. When it ended, he'd traded 17 years in uniform for 16 years behind bars.
The trouble is, Linley has never gotten that treatment. "I've seen a psychiatrist about every six months for 30 minutes, which is absolutely useless," he says. "I have received no treatment for PTSD at all--nothing." Linley says he sought an antidepressant in anticipation of a VA-sponsored prison PTSD-counseling group. Such counseling depresses Linley, so he wanted to get on an antidepressant for the sessions. He took Celexa, prescribed by a corrections psychiatrist, for about a year, awaiting the counseling. But the VA never came, prison officials say, because there weren't enough veterans seeking such help there. Linley says he stopped being "doped up" on the medicine, which made him "foggy and nauseous," once it became clear the VA wasn't coming.
read more here
Andrew Bailey Spencer: In service, abides
Andrew Bailey Spencer: In service, abides
In life, Andrew Spencer had a constant desire to help people. His family hopes a memorial fund in his name will continue his commitment to others by helping to prevent deaths from substance abuse. Roanoke.com
Tonia Moxley
February 1, 2014
His father says he was diagnosed late last year with “significant post-traumatic stress disorder.” Andrew died Jan. 19 after inhaling compressed gas used to clean electronic equipment.
BLACKSBURG — Andrew Bailey Spencer’s motto was simple. Whether he was helping the elderly find their groceries at his new job at Kroger, serving his country in Bosnia or power washing the walkways at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church’s columbarium, it was always “Andrew, at your service! How may I help you?” And although his ashes will now rest beside those of his late mother, Norrine Bailey Spencer, in the columbarium he tended, Andrew will still be at the service of his community.
Spencer’s family and his church have set up a memorial fund in his name to help prevent deaths from substance abuse, which took his life unexpectedly on the morning of Jan. 19. He was 41. “We wanted something that could serve a useful purpose and do some good,” his father, Ed Spencer, said of the fund. “Maybe save a life.”
Born in Delaware, Andrew Bailey Spencer was adopted and came to Blacksburg while still a young boy. As he grew, Ed Spencer said, his son became a gifted athlete, able to play nearly every sport he tried. He also showed a constant desire to help others and to take physical risks that often landed him in the emergency room. Andrew Spencer excelled in structured environments from an early age, his father said, working his way up to Eagle Scout and becoming a member of the Order of the Arrow, another scouting program. The young man tried college, but found his calling in the military. read more here
In life, Andrew Spencer had a constant desire to help people. His family hopes a memorial fund in his name will continue his commitment to others by helping to prevent deaths from substance abuse. Roanoke.com
Tonia Moxley
February 1, 2014
His father says he was diagnosed late last year with “significant post-traumatic stress disorder.” Andrew died Jan. 19 after inhaling compressed gas used to clean electronic equipment.
Andrew Spencer served with the Army Corps of Engineers from 1992-2004.
BLACKSBURG — Andrew Bailey Spencer’s motto was simple. Whether he was helping the elderly find their groceries at his new job at Kroger, serving his country in Bosnia or power washing the walkways at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church’s columbarium, it was always “Andrew, at your service! How may I help you?” And although his ashes will now rest beside those of his late mother, Norrine Bailey Spencer, in the columbarium he tended, Andrew will still be at the service of his community.
Spencer’s family and his church have set up a memorial fund in his name to help prevent deaths from substance abuse, which took his life unexpectedly on the morning of Jan. 19. He was 41. “We wanted something that could serve a useful purpose and do some good,” his father, Ed Spencer, said of the fund. “Maybe save a life.”
Born in Delaware, Andrew Bailey Spencer was adopted and came to Blacksburg while still a young boy. As he grew, Ed Spencer said, his son became a gifted athlete, able to play nearly every sport he tried. He also showed a constant desire to help others and to take physical risks that often landed him in the emergency room. Andrew Spencer excelled in structured environments from an early age, his father said, working his way up to Eagle Scout and becoming a member of the Order of the Arrow, another scouting program. The young man tried college, but found his calling in the military. read more here
Endangering Veterans and Victimizing Its Workforce
When you read this, notice the dates. Some happened during the Bush Administration and some happened in the Obama Administration. These cases are one more reason why I am an Independent. The GOP and the Dems failed our veterans. Time to wake up and notice that when it comes to our veterans, the only side we should take is on the side of veterans, not politicians.
Veterans Affairs: Endangering Veterans and Victimizing Its Workforce
OpEdNews
By Ward Jordan
2/1/2014
With a workforce of more than 300,000 civilian employees, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the second largest department in the U.S. Government. The VA operates the nation's largest integrated health care system and purports to maintain a "customer service" organization. But, some employees and veteran groups unwaveringly challenge that notion.
VA's mantra "I CARE," an acronym meant to reflect its core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy , Respect, and Excellence draws fire from America's veterans in need of timely care and benefits. "The VA uses the disingenuous "I Care" catchphrase to veil the truth," says Chauncey L. Robinson, a disabled veteran who served in the Persian Gulf War. "If you ask me, the term best explains how the VA callously treats wounded veterans by -- Ignoring, Concealing, Altering, Rejecting and Expelling their medical and benefit claims," says Robinson.
According to Robinson, VA officials destroyed his original benefits claim in 1995 and altered his medical records in 2012. He says, the VA has been processing his claim for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a heart condition for twenty-one (21) years. In June 2012, Robinson joined the Kendall, et. al. v Shinseki, class action lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses VA officials of intentionally depriving veterans of their rights (Case No.: 12-330-CV LMB, filed June 26, 2012, U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho).
Veterans are not alone in their frustration with the VA. Present and former VA employees tell of an intolerable workplace of reprisal where civil servants suffer when exposing wrong-doing by management officials. From fiscal year 2008 thru fiscal year 2013, VA employees filed over twelve thousand EEO employment claims against VA based on its "No FEAR" report data, as required by the Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002. Employees commonly and markedly alleged "retaliation" as a basis for filing employment discrimination complaints against the VA.
In 2008, Jamie Fox and Oliver Mitchell learned quickly of VA's "culture of reprisal." Both veterans blew the "whistle" while employed by the VA. They did so at a time when VA was feverishly struggling to meet President-Elect Barack Obama's "aggressive goal to transform VA into a modern 21st century organization that would effectively and efficiently care for Veterans" (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs FY 2014-2020 Draft Strategic Plan (p8).
read more here
Military solution caused suicides
Military solution caused suicides
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 2, 2014
Groundhog Day 2014: Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, 6 more weeks of winter and the military not seeing shadows of suicides.
Veterans are not the problem. They have problems because they were the solution for troubles this nation decided had to be taken care of. While no war was completely justified in the minds of 100% of the population, the men and women sent took on the 100% of the risk. Not just during combat, but for the rest of their lives.
The suicide deaths of military and veterans have been caused by the military solution to reduce them. How else could we end up with more committing suicide after the DOD started to try to reduce them?
While the military tries to explain that suicides went down in 2013 they are able to avoid the obvious tiger in the room. Reducing suicides has been something the DOD claimed was at the top of their list. Yet when we look at the facts, we see they are far from reaching it even after 5 years of pushing their "resilience" training.
The suicide rate went up after 2009. In the last two years there has been a reduction in the number of troops serving along with one less war and a drawdown of troops in Afghanistan. The military has not had to explain any of this.
They have not had to explain how the rate of younger veterans, recently discharged, has also increased.
Only 1% of the population serve in the military and only 7% are veterans. Both categories have experienced a rise in suicides.
When do we get answers and accountability? When do families get explanations so they stop blaming themselves for what the DOD did not do?
Army Suicides
For 2010, 156 potential active-duty suicides and 145 "among reserve component soldiers."
CY 2011: 166 and 116 (80 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve)
For 2012, there have been 182 and 143 potential not on active-duty suicides (96 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve) (Revised to 185 in December of 2013)
For calendar year 2013, there have been 139 potential active duty suicides and 139 potential not on active duty suicides (89 Army National Guard and 50 Army Reserve (Up to November Source Department of Defense)
All this ended with the press release of
Comprehensive Soldier Fitness was supposed to address combat PTSD. While on one hand they say they are encouraging troops to seek help, that hand came after the slap of telling them they could train their brains to be mentally tough. Nothing the DOD told them afterwards would undo the damage done. They ended up thinking the problems they had were caused by being weak minded and not training right.
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 2, 2014
Groundhog Day 2014: Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, 6 more weeks of winter and the military not seeing shadows of suicides.
The suicide deaths of military and veterans have been caused by the military solution to reduce them. How else could we end up with more committing suicide after the DOD started to try to reduce them?
The suicide rate went up after 2009. In the last two years there has been a reduction in the number of troops serving along with one less war and a drawdown of troops in Afghanistan. The military has not had to explain any of this.
Army2011As of March 31, 2012557,7802012Total as of December 31, 2012535,247 (-22,533)Total as of July 31, 2013530,382 (-4,865)(-27,398)
They have not had to explain how the rate of younger veterans, recently discharged, has also increased.
Department of Veterans Affairs recently released a report that shows suicides among young veterans just getting out of the military are three times higher than active-duty soldiers. The report shows that in 2011 the annual suicide rate for young veterans was 80 for every 100,000 of the population.
In 2009, 46 out of 100,000 committed suicide. Suicide rates among Army soldiers peaked in 2012 with 185. However, the overall suicide rate for active-duty soldiers stayed the same at 22 per 100,000 from 2009-2011. (KFOX News January 29, 2014)
Only 1% of the population serve in the military and only 7% are veterans. Both categories have experienced a rise in suicides.
When do we get answers and accountability? When do families get explanations so they stop blaming themselves for what the DOD did not do?
For 2010, 156 potential active-duty suicides and 145 "among reserve component soldiers."
CY 2011: 166 and 116 (80 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve)
For 2012, there have been 182 and 143 potential not on active-duty suicides (96 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve) (Revised to 185 in December of 2013)
For calendar year 2013, there have been 139 potential active duty suicides and 139 potential not on active duty suicides (89 Army National Guard and 50 Army Reserve (Up to November Source Department of Defense)
All this ended with the press release of
There were 150 suicides among soldiers on active-duty status last year, down from a record 185 in 2012, according to Army data. The numbers include both confirmed and suspected suicides.
Comprehensive Soldier Fitness was supposed to address combat PTSD. While on one hand they say they are encouraging troops to seek help, that hand came after the slap of telling them they could train their brains to be mentally tough. Nothing the DOD told them afterwards would undo the damage done. They ended up thinking the problems they had were caused by being weak minded and not training right.
They ended up with the same numbers they had in 2009 with less serving.
Florida Airman talks about switching from Marine Corps
Airman: Marines aren't that different
Former corporal raves about jump from Corps to AF
Air Force Times
By Gina Harkins
Staff writer
Feb. 1, 2014
Marines and airmen might have opinions about what each other’s service is like, but one devil dog who made the switch to the Air Force said both sides might be surprised to learn that they’re not as different as they might think.
Senior Airman Kentavist Brackin was a Marine until 2011. As a corporal, he found out that his combat correspondent military occupation specialty was closed to promotion. But he wasn’t quite ready to leave the military, he said.
He faced a tough decision — leave the MOS he set his hopes on since shipping off to boot camp behind, or leave the Marine Corps. And his Marine buddies had some surprising advice.
“They were telling me [the Air Force] had a higher quality of living, and they have an emphasis on career development and education,” Brackin said.
So in November 2012, Brackin replaced his MARPAT with an Airman Battle Uniform.
The switch didn’t come without its challenges. Brackin, now assigned to 1st Special Operations out of Hurlburt Field, Fla., recently detailed his move in a commentary titled “Trading my eagle, globe and anchor to be an airman,” which was published by Air Force public affairs.
read more here
Former corporal raves about jump from Corps to AF
Air Force Times
By Gina Harkins
Staff writer
Feb. 1, 2014
Marines and airmen might have opinions about what each other’s service is like, but one devil dog who made the switch to the Air Force said both sides might be surprised to learn that they’re not as different as they might think.
Senior Airman Kentavist Brackin was a Marine until 2011. As a corporal, he found out that his combat correspondent military occupation specialty was closed to promotion. But he wasn’t quite ready to leave the military, he said.
He faced a tough decision — leave the MOS he set his hopes on since shipping off to boot camp behind, or leave the Marine Corps. And his Marine buddies had some surprising advice.
“They were telling me [the Air Force] had a higher quality of living, and they have an emphasis on career development and education,” Brackin said.
So in November 2012, Brackin replaced his MARPAT with an Airman Battle Uniform.
The switch didn’t come without its challenges. Brackin, now assigned to 1st Special Operations out of Hurlburt Field, Fla., recently detailed his move in a commentary titled “Trading my eagle, globe and anchor to be an airman,” which was published by Air Force public affairs.
read more here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)