Army veteran who lost entire left leg in Afghanistan combat plans to run in Boston Marathon
By LARRY LARUE
The News Tribune
April 14, 2014
TACOMA, Washington — The first six times Edward Lychik told his physical therapist he wanted to run again, she was noncommittal, and with good reason.
The combat veteran's left leg had been amputated at the hip socket, and doctors had told him if he walked again, it would be on crutches.
Lychik ignored that diagnosis and kept talking to his physical therapist, Alicia White.
"The seventh time he said he wanted to run, I went in to see our prosthetist and said, 'We've got a problem," White said. "No one with this kind of amputation had ever run before, not like Edward wanted to run.
"We were still coming up with a walking leg, and he wanted to run mountain trails. He was talking about a marathon!"
An Army combat engineer at the age of 20, Lychik turned 21 in Afghanistan on a day that changed his life.
"I was riding in the back of our group and I was shot by a recoilless rifle," Lychik said. "The medic in the same vehicle, 'Doc' Padgett, saved my life, got tourniquets on both my legs so I didn't bleed to death. He did it with one hand wounded by shrapnel.
"I'd been through two explosions there already, had my one-man vehicle blown up. So I thought I knew what had happened. At one point I touched my left leg and thought I felt bone, and someone pulled my hand away and said 'Don't do that.'
read more here
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Florida Reps Want Lake Baldwin VA Clinic to Stay Open
We needed a new hospital considering Lake Baldwin, while huge, is just a clinic. We're getting a new one, (Lord only knows when it will open) but it should be used with the clinic considering how many veterans are in Central Florida. Lawmakers are pushing to keep it open and so are veterans.
Mica: Keep VA clinic open
Orlando Sentinel
April 14, 2014
U.S. Rep. John Mica, with support from other Central Florida congressmen, is pushing to keep open the Veterans Affairs clinic and two veterans housing centers on Lake Baldwin, even though those services are being moved to the new Veterans Affairs hospital in Lake Nona.
On Monday, Mica sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs urging the department to keep the Lake Baldwin facilities open to serve the increasing number of veterans needing health care. The letter also was signed by U.S. Reps. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden; Alan Grayson, D-Orlando; and Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville.
Besides the Lake Baldwin Outpatient Clinic, which has served an average of 96,000 veterans a year with virtually all medical services except in-patient hospitalization, the Lake Baldwin campus includes a 120-bed nursing center and a 60-bed domiciliary, which provided residential services to homeless veterans.
"We want action," Mica said. "We will get it."
Mica is a Winter Park Republican whose district includes the Lake Baldwin area.
The new 134-bed Orlando VA Hospital, part of a $665 million, million-square-foot Veterans Affairs complex at Lake Nona, is set to be completed late this year and likely will open next spring. Portions of the complex already have opened, and services are being transferred from Lake Baldwin.
The Lake Baldwin VA complex has about 400,000 square feet and costs about $8 million a year to operate, said Mike Strickler, spokesman for the Orlando VA Medical Center.
read more here
Monday, April 14, 2014
Wondering how to help Fort Hood Families?
Donations accepted for Fort Hood victims, families
Army Times
Apr. 14, 2014
A fund has opened to gather donations for wounded victims of the Fort Hood shooting and for the families of those killed in the tragedy.
Fort Hood, Texas, and the National Center for Victims of Crime are partnering to collect donations, Fort Hood officials announced on Monday, saying 100 percent of the donations to the National Compassion Fund will go to the wounded victims and families of those who died in the mass shooting.
Four people died, including the shooter, and 16 were wounded on April 2 when a soldier opened fire at Fort Hood.
“We know of no other fund set up especially for mass crime victims where the public knows that every dollar they donate is going directly to those victims,” said Mai Fernandez, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, quoted in Fort Hood’s news release.
read more here
Army Times
Apr. 14, 2014
A fund has opened to gather donations for wounded victims of the Fort Hood shooting and for the families of those killed in the tragedy.
Anyone may donate by going to the National Compassion Fund Website at www.NationalCompassionFund.org.
Fort Hood, Texas, and the National Center for Victims of Crime are partnering to collect donations, Fort Hood officials announced on Monday, saying 100 percent of the donations to the National Compassion Fund will go to the wounded victims and families of those who died in the mass shooting.
Four people died, including the shooter, and 16 were wounded on April 2 when a soldier opened fire at Fort Hood.
“We know of no other fund set up especially for mass crime victims where the public knows that every dollar they donate is going directly to those victims,” said Mai Fernandez, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, quoted in Fort Hood’s news release.
read more here
Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett doesn't get it
Top enlisted Marine pens open letter after testimony angers troops
Stars and Stripes
21 minutes ago
What started as a hard-charging Marine comment to Congress has turned into a public relations emergency for Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett.
Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel on Wednesday, Barrett was making the case that personnel costs needed to be reined in to maintain readiness — as all the services have in recent testimony — but went a step further by saying that lower pay would actually improve discipline within the Corps.
“I truly believe it will raise discipline,” Barrett said. “You’ll have better spending habits. You won’t be so wasteful.”
He told lawmakers that if the service didn’t check growth on personnel costs, “we will become an entitlement-based, a health care provider-based Corps, and not a warfighting organization.”
His comments lit up Facebook and other social media sites. Marines and their supporters derided foreign aid, spoke of themselves or comrades getting state or federal financial aid — “read that as welfare” — and chided Marine Corps leadership as being out of touch.
“Says the SMMC who is knocking down $8K+ a month, living in gov’t quarters, etc. You have forgotten your roots and have no clue how some of your Marines are living,” said one commenter on Facebook.
read more here
Stars and Stripes
21 minutes ago
What started as a hard-charging Marine comment to Congress has turned into a public relations emergency for Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett.
Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel on Wednesday, Barrett was making the case that personnel costs needed to be reined in to maintain readiness — as all the services have in recent testimony — but went a step further by saying that lower pay would actually improve discipline within the Corps.
“I truly believe it will raise discipline,” Barrett said. “You’ll have better spending habits. You won’t be so wasteful.”
He told lawmakers that if the service didn’t check growth on personnel costs, “we will become an entitlement-based, a health care provider-based Corps, and not a warfighting organization.”
His comments lit up Facebook and other social media sites. Marines and their supporters derided foreign aid, spoke of themselves or comrades getting state or federal financial aid — “read that as welfare” — and chided Marine Corps leadership as being out of touch.
“Says the SMMC who is knocking down $8K+ a month, living in gov’t quarters, etc. You have forgotten your roots and have no clue how some of your Marines are living,” said one commenter on Facebook.
read more here
April 11, 2014
Marine Sgt. Major wants less pay for troops?
Sgt. Maj. Of The Marine Corps Says Lower Pay For Marines “Will Raise Discipline”, Make Them Less Wasteful
The highest enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps said that lowering salary of Marines will “raise discipline” and make Marines less wasteful. The comments come as a debate in Washington talks about cutting active duty member pay in order to make sharp budget cuts at the Department of Defense. The comments came as he testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The base salary for the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is $7,816.20 per month.
When you are done screaming, read more here Maybe they should start with his pay?
He doesn't seem to know that a lot of his Marines and Soldiers are living on food stamps.
The base salary for the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is $7,816.20 per month.
When you are done screaming, read more here Maybe they should start with his pay?
He doesn't seem to know that a lot of his Marines and Soldiers are living on food stamps.
VA CHAMPVA plan we can sink our teeth into, dental coverage
All veterans eligible for VA dental coverage
JC Journal
Columnists
Randy Fairchild
Health
April 13, 2014
For the first time in history, the U.S. government has authorized a national dental insurance program for veterans enrolled in Veterans Affairs health care and individuals enrolled in VA’s CHAMPVA program.
Premium rates will vary depending on your geographic region and the plan option you select. There are three options that are available: basic, enhanced and comprehensive. These plans range from about $8 for the basic up to about $27 for comprehensive.
In the Tippecanoe County area there are many dentists who have signed up for this program. Veterans will not be getting dental care done by the VA but veterans must be signed up with the VA for health care to be eligible for the dental insurance plan.
As stated above, this is the first time that the VA has actually assisted veterans with dental care except for those veterans rated at 100 percent service-connected, have a service-connected disability for a dental injury, or on the VA Voc-Rehab program.
read more here
JC Journal
Columnists
Randy Fairchild
Health
April 13, 2014
For the first time in history, the U.S. government has authorized a national dental insurance program for veterans enrolled in Veterans Affairs health care and individuals enrolled in VA’s CHAMPVA program.
Premium rates will vary depending on your geographic region and the plan option you select. There are three options that are available: basic, enhanced and comprehensive. These plans range from about $8 for the basic up to about $27 for comprehensive.
In the Tippecanoe County area there are many dentists who have signed up for this program. Veterans will not be getting dental care done by the VA but veterans must be signed up with the VA for health care to be eligible for the dental insurance plan.
As stated above, this is the first time that the VA has actually assisted veterans with dental care except for those veterans rated at 100 percent service-connected, have a service-connected disability for a dental injury, or on the VA Voc-Rehab program.
read more here
Vietnam Veteran Sued VA for Malpractice and Won $12 Million
Vietnam veteran wins twelve million dollars in medical malpractice settlement
Posted by: briadm
A Vietnam veteran and Chicago-area resident will receive a $12 million settlement from the federal government in a medical malpractice case.
John Johnson is a Vietnam combat veteran who served in the Army from 1970 to 1971. In 2007, Johnson was admitted to Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois for oral surgery. After he was put under anesthesia, Johnson went into cardiac arrest, which resulted in brain damage. Johnson filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital.
According to the lawsuit, doctors did not prepare adequately for the surgery and failed to properly monitor Johnson’s heart condition after he received anesthesia.
read more here
Posted by: briadm
A Vietnam veteran and Chicago-area resident will receive a $12 million settlement from the federal government in a medical malpractice case.
John Johnson is a Vietnam combat veteran who served in the Army from 1970 to 1971. In 2007, Johnson was admitted to Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois for oral surgery. After he was put under anesthesia, Johnson went into cardiac arrest, which resulted in brain damage. Johnson filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital.
According to the lawsuit, doctors did not prepare adequately for the surgery and failed to properly monitor Johnson’s heart condition after he received anesthesia.
read more here
VA honors almost 80,000 volunteers
Veteran Affairs honors 79,000 volunteers
Montgomery Advertiser
Written by
Rebecca Burylo
April 14, 2014
More than 79,000 citizen volunteers were honored recently for their service to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities in recognition of National Volunteer Week.
Locally, 600 volunteers were recognized Sunday for their daily support to the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System during an award appreciation ceremony at Tuskegee VA.
Together, local volunteers were able to contribute more than 51,000 hours in 2013 to the CAVHCS through regular care and meeting driving, directing, sitting, serving, comforting and counseling need.
Volunteers provide a direct impact to a veteran's quality of life and contribute essential operational support, William Petty explained, Chief of Voluntary Service.
read more here
Montgomery Advertiser
Written by
Rebecca Burylo
April 14, 2014
More than 79,000 citizen volunteers were honored recently for their service to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities in recognition of National Volunteer Week.
Locally, 600 volunteers were recognized Sunday for their daily support to the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System during an award appreciation ceremony at Tuskegee VA.
Together, local volunteers were able to contribute more than 51,000 hours in 2013 to the CAVHCS through regular care and meeting driving, directing, sitting, serving, comforting and counseling need.
Volunteers provide a direct impact to a veteran's quality of life and contribute essential operational support, William Petty explained, Chief of Voluntary Service.
read more here
Canadian Soldier sues government after financial loss from move
Veteran soldier sues federal government after costly move
HALIFAX — The Canadian Press
ALISON AULD
Published Sunday, Apr. 13 2014
A 24-year veteran of the Canadian military is taking the federal government to court Tuesday to recover thousands of dollars he lost on his home when he was posted to another base and got little compensation through a program that he says has caused financial hardship for dozens of members.
Maj. Marcus Brauer will be in federal court to seek a judicial review of a decision by the Treasury Board that concluded he should receive only $15,000 for an $88,000 loss he took on the sale of his house in Alberta upon moving to Halifax in 2007.
Maj. Brauer said the unique case is being watched closely by other members who have suffered losses on home sales when they get posted to new bases, but usually only collect a portion of those losses through a federal home-equity assistance program.
read more here
HALIFAX — The Canadian Press
ALISON AULD
Published Sunday, Apr. 13 2014
A 24-year veteran of the Canadian military is taking the federal government to court Tuesday to recover thousands of dollars he lost on his home when he was posted to another base and got little compensation through a program that he says has caused financial hardship for dozens of members.
Maj. Marcus Brauer will be in federal court to seek a judicial review of a decision by the Treasury Board that concluded he should receive only $15,000 for an $88,000 loss he took on the sale of his house in Alberta upon moving to Halifax in 2007.
Maj. Brauer said the unique case is being watched closely by other members who have suffered losses on home sales when they get posted to new bases, but usually only collect a portion of those losses through a federal home-equity assistance program.
read more here
VA therapist claims 70% cure rate for PTSD?
VA director said that 70% of veterans with PTSD going thru Cognitive Therapy walk out the door without PTSD. Guess that means all the veterans taking up parking spots at the VA can just go back to work. The veterans lining up for medications don't need to be there. The veterans waiting for claims to be approved can just go for therapy and get cured too. Oh and by the way since the VA has cured 70% that means no more need to pay them for their disability. Right?
I have heard a lot of claims made over the years but this one really tops them. Considering how long they have been using Cognitive Therapy if it worked as well as this claim says, then where is the proof?
Local veteran opens up about struggles with PTSD
Kathleen Chard, director of the Trauma Recovery Center at the Cincinnati Veterans Administration Recovery Center, said PTSD can manifest itself from a single incident, like a horrific car accident or a prolonged state of fear. Child abuse, domestic violence and combat are common causes of the disorder.Chard said Perry’s situation is fixable and most sufferers can overcome their problems with therapy. Two treatments that have been endorsed by all, are cognitive processing therapy that examines the point where people are “stuck” in their recovery and prolonged exposure, that attacks the trigger, such as fireworks. Both therapies can be accomplished in seven to 15 sessions and there are various options, including bringing along a spouse or family member for support.“Over 70 percent of people who go through these therapies walk out the door without a diagnosis of PTSD,” she said. “That’s treatable. The remaining 30 percent typically show improvement. We don’t see worsening from these two treatments, so we’re not going to make anybody worse.”
I have heard a lot of claims made over the years but this one really tops them. Considering how long they have been using Cognitive Therapy if it worked as well as this claim says, then where is the proof?
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Iraqi boy became a US Marine serving in Japan
How one Iraqi boy dodged extremists and came to serve in the US military
Stars and Stripes
By Matthew M. Burke
Published: April 12, 2014
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — While his fellow Marine recruits cried and urinated in their trousers in the face of Parris Island’s tough-as-nails drill instructors, Pvt. Mansure had never been more thrilled.
A drill instructor barked at him to run.
“My pleasure,” he enthusiastically replied.
He was told to do pushups.
“I will do this all day long,” he recalled thinking. “I’m like, ‘This is awesome. I have a bed to sleep in, food; I get to work out all day.’”
Plus, he had been spared from the Islamic militants hunting him in his native Iraq. Mansure — whose name has been changed by Stars and Stripes due to safety concerns for his family in Iraq — was so happy to accept the physical and mental punishment that he got in trouble for not looking depressed enough, the Marine said last month from his duty station near Hiroshima in southeastern Japan, where he works in administration.
His story is similar to that of thousands of Iraqis who worked for U.S. forces following the 2003 invasion.
After U.S. forces pulled out in December 2011, many were left to dodge extremists looking to kill “traitors” who had worked for the American military while trying to navigate the bureaucratic process to get U.S. visas.
Mansure knows some didn’t make it. But his story has a happy ending. Now a private first class, the hulking 6-foot-3, 24-year-old is having a big impact on fellow Marines in Iwakuni, where he has been stationed for about three months.
read more here
Stars and Stripes
By Matthew M. Burke
Published: April 12, 2014
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — While his fellow Marine recruits cried and urinated in their trousers in the face of Parris Island’s tough-as-nails drill instructors, Pvt. Mansure had never been more thrilled.
A drill instructor barked at him to run.
“My pleasure,” he enthusiastically replied.
He was told to do pushups.
“I will do this all day long,” he recalled thinking. “I’m like, ‘This is awesome. I have a bed to sleep in, food; I get to work out all day.’”
Plus, he had been spared from the Islamic militants hunting him in his native Iraq. Mansure — whose name has been changed by Stars and Stripes due to safety concerns for his family in Iraq — was so happy to accept the physical and mental punishment that he got in trouble for not looking depressed enough, the Marine said last month from his duty station near Hiroshima in southeastern Japan, where he works in administration.
His story is similar to that of thousands of Iraqis who worked for U.S. forces following the 2003 invasion.
After U.S. forces pulled out in December 2011, many were left to dodge extremists looking to kill “traitors” who had worked for the American military while trying to navigate the bureaucratic process to get U.S. visas.
Mansure knows some didn’t make it. But his story has a happy ending. Now a private first class, the hulking 6-foot-3, 24-year-old is having a big impact on fellow Marines in Iwakuni, where he has been stationed for about three months.
read more here
Reporter finally remembers Vietnam Veterans
"Why Are So Many Older Veterans Committing Suicide?" By Jordain Carney on the National Journal deserves a lot of credit. She actually paid attention to Vietnam veterans and what has been happening to them. So few others have bothered.
This is the part everyone should read and let sink in.
Most of my friends are Vietnam Veterans and families just like mine. While my heart grieves for the younger generation, it grieves more for our group. We've been forgotten. Pushed aside by the VA because they didn't have enough to take care of the newer generation while the press was reporting on what happened to them. Fell into the backlog pile as the highest percentage VA Claims along with the newer claims. Not even considered in the "Caregivers" package even though we've been taking care of our disabled veterans longer.
In 2007 the Fresno Bee reported on the crisis Vietnam veterans were facing.
Turned out they were very close because in 18 months 148,000 Vietnam veterans sought help for PTSD for the first time.
What makes my heart grieve even more is that no one seems to care that we've been doing all of it longer and the younger generation can learn a lot from us. Learn for the Vietnam veterans that lived all these years with PTSD and still managed to end up on their feet strong enough, healed enough, to live better lives. Learn from the families and how our marriages lasted longer than the national average. Learn how we managed to join forces long before the Internet and Facebook. We could save them so much grief, save marriages and relationships that don't need to end but above all, save lives that should be putting flags on graves next month for Memorial Day instead of being in one.
This is the part everyone should read and let sink in.
Some veterans' advocates say it's easier for older veterans to feel America has forgotten their sacrifices.
"You know, 'We're just old guys, and we're going to die, so why pay much attention to them?' ...That's kind of the feeling that some of our members have," said Tom Berger, executive director of the Vietnam Veterans of America national health council.
But on Capitol Hill, efforts to combat veteran suicides—specifically among older veterans—are largely missing in the flurry of mental-health and VA legislation. Two omnibus veterans bills in the Senate include a provision to extend enrollment eligibility for VA health care from five years after the end of service to 15 years, which would account for possible delayed effects of war. Sen. John Walsh, D-Mont., who introduced one of the omnibus bills, is the first Iraq War combat veteran to serve in the Senate.
But only veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars would be eligible for the 15-year deadline.
Berger, who served in the Navy in Vietnam, laments that expanding the enrollment eligibility does nothing for Vietnam veterans. But he added that the extension "would have made a world of difference" for veterans directly after the war, when suicide rates first tend to spike.
Berger credited the recent shootings on military bases for being "one of the things that has propelled the mental-health issue … to the forefront," but he added that the Vietnam Veterans of America has been "dealing with mental-health issues for a long time."
The VA estimates that 30 percent of Vietnam veterans suffer from posttraumatic-stress disorder, compared with 11 to 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
Most of my friends are Vietnam Veterans and families just like mine. While my heart grieves for the younger generation, it grieves more for our group. We've been forgotten. Pushed aside by the VA because they didn't have enough to take care of the newer generation while the press was reporting on what happened to them. Fell into the backlog pile as the highest percentage VA Claims along with the newer claims. Not even considered in the "Caregivers" package even though we've been taking care of our disabled veterans longer.
In 2007 the Fresno Bee reported on the crisis Vietnam veterans were facing.
Up to 80% are older veterans who served in Vietnam and Korea and suffer from anxiety, anger or depression.
They did not seek treatment before because they didn't know they had the disorder or they didn't want to ask for help, say VA officials.
They believe the trend is seen elsewhere as well, and will continue as the war in Iraq progresses. Dr. Cara Zuccarelli Miller, a clinical psychologist at the Fresno VA, said many older veterans only become aware that they have PTSD because they recognize their symptoms in those returning from Iraq who have been diagnosed.
Turned out they were very close because in 18 months 148,000 Vietnam veterans sought help for PTSD for the first time.
What makes my heart grieve even more is that no one seems to care that we've been doing all of it longer and the younger generation can learn a lot from us. Learn for the Vietnam veterans that lived all these years with PTSD and still managed to end up on their feet strong enough, healed enough, to live better lives. Learn from the families and how our marriages lasted longer than the national average. Learn how we managed to join forces long before the Internet and Facebook. We could save them so much grief, save marriages and relationships that don't need to end but above all, save lives that should be putting flags on graves next month for Memorial Day instead of being in one.
Remarkable Billy Joel takes back seat for elementary school kids
Remarkable history of things he does just got more remarkable. Billy Joel attended a concert at Deasy Elementary because the students were singing his songs. He didn't sit on stage or in the front row. He sat behind parents several rows back. He was asked if he wanted to sit closer but said he didn't want to make the kids nervous.
As soon as I read this story, the song Goodnight Saigon started to play in my head. It is a haunting song about Marines fighting for their lives in Vietnam. I found this online from a concert he did. Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon (Live at Shea Stadium)
I used this song a long time ago because of how powerful it is.
Nam Nights Of PTSD Still from Kathleen "Costos" DiCesare on Vimeo.
As soon as I read this story, the song Goodnight Saigon started to play in my head. It is a haunting song about Marines fighting for their lives in Vietnam. I found this online from a concert he did. Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon (Live at Shea Stadium)
Goodnight Saigon LyricsBilly Joel doesn't know it but he has helped to heal thousands of Vietnam Veterans.
We met as soul mates
On Parris Island
We left as inmates
From an asylum
And we were sharp
As sharp as knives
And we were so gung ho
To lay down our lives
We came in spastic
Like tameless horses
We left in plastic
As numbered corpses
And we learned fast
To travel light
Our arms were heavy
But our bellies were tight
We had no home front
We had no soft soap
They sent us Playboy
They gave us Bob Hope
We dug in deep
And shot on sight
And prayed to Jesus Christ
With all of our might
We had no cameras
To shoot the landscape
We passed the hash pipe
And played our Doors tapes
And it was dark
So dark at night
And we held on to each other
Like brother to brother
We promised our mothers we'd write
And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together
Remember Charlie
Remember Baker
They left their childhood
On every acre
And who was wrong?
And who was right?
It didn't matter in the thick of the fight
We held the day
In the palm
Of our hand
They ruled the night
And the night
Seemed to last as long as six weeks
On Parris Island
We held the coastline
They held the highlands
And they were sharp
As sharp as knives
They heard the hum of our motors
They counted the rotors
And waited for us to arrive
And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together
I used this song a long time ago because of how powerful it is.
Nam Nights Of PTSD Still from Kathleen "Costos" DiCesare on Vimeo.
Tupelo twin Marine shot Tuesday in accident at Camp Lejeune
Mississippi Marine dies
Tupelo twin shot Tuesday in accident at Camp Lejeune
The Clarion-Ledger
Written by
Therese Apel
April 11, 2014
Twins Mike and Mark Boterf knew when they decided to go into the Marines together during wartime that they might not come out of it together.
“We made up our minds that whatever happened, happened, and if it did, we’d see each other on the other side,” Mike Boterf said of his brother, who was killed in what officials say was an accident on Tuesday at Camp Lejeune.
“God handpicks them. God made some men to be the ones who fight the battles, and we wanted to be those men, to devote our lives to our country. It wasn’t just for an enlistment. The war was in full swing when we were growing up. We knew we were joining in a time of war,” Mike Boterf said. “But I never actually thought I’d see the day I’d have to bury him.”
The twin 21-year-old Marines from a family of 10 children were once Tupelo High School students.
Tupelo twin shot Tuesday in accident at Camp Lejeune
The Clarion-Ledger
Written by
Therese Apel
April 11, 2014
Twins Mike and Mark Boterf knew when they decided to go into the Marines together during wartime that they might not come out of it together.
“We made up our minds that whatever happened, happened, and if it did, we’d see each other on the other side,” Mike Boterf said of his brother, who was killed in what officials say was an accident on Tuesday at Camp Lejeune.
“God handpicks them. God made some men to be the ones who fight the battles, and we wanted to be those men, to devote our lives to our country. It wasn’t just for an enlistment. The war was in full swing when we were growing up. We knew we were joining in a time of war,” Mike Boterf said. “But I never actually thought I’d see the day I’d have to bury him.”
The twin 21-year-old Marines from a family of 10 children were once Tupelo High School students.
It has been widely reported that Mark Boterf was serving orders voluntarily for a friend who had gone to get married, but Mike Boterf said it was a six-month assignment that he took in order to allow his friend to get married.
read more here
Man charged in St. Petersburg shooting
Reminder: Over 23 million veterans in this country, things like this are rare.
Military veteran arrested on 1st-degree murder charge
WFLA News
By WFLA.com web staff
Posted: Apr 13, 2014
ST. PETERSBURG, FL. - A 34-year-old Bay area man is facing a variety of charges stemming from a fatal shooting that occurred late Saturday night in St. Petersburg.
Jason Michael Faber was arrested just before midnight following a short pursuit. He is being held without bond at the Pinellas County Jail.
According to a St. Petersburg Police Department report officers were dispatched to the 4300 block of 7th Ave. North just after 10 p.m. in response to a shots fired call. When they arrived they found three men suffering from gunshot wounds.
An investigation revealed that Faber served in the military and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. According to his wife the suspect believed the people he shot were dealing drugs. Ms. Faber did not know what led up to the incident and was unaware of any provocation between her husband and the two men.
read more here
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