Navy not following Army's lead on health care

Navy not following Army's lead on health care
By Ed Friedrich
The (Bremerton, Wash.) KitsapSun
Published: May 3, 2014

Active-duty service members and their families are automatically enrolled in TriCare Prime, a health care program that costs them nothing and covers everything.

BREMERTON — Naval Hospital Bremerton officials want local sailors and their families to use their facilities, but, unlike Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, aren’t making them leave private doctors.

Lewis-McChord, after opening new clinics in Puyallup and Lacey within the past two years, has extra capacity. Active-duty families that were allowed to use their Tricare military health insurance to pay for care at private facilities when space was tight are getting letters telling them to come back. The Army says military-run clinics can better track patients’ medical needs and influence their health.

Naval Hospital Bremerton also sent letters, but they only encourage families to enroll.
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Canadian Soldier with PTSD Jilted by National Defense

DND reverses decision on extended release for soldier with PTSD 
The Canadian Press
Posted: May 04, 2014

Master Cpl. Kristian Wolowidnyk was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after he returned from Afghanistan in 2010. He spoke with CBC News late last year.
(CBC )

"I can assure you Kristian attempted suicide because he is very, very ill and had hit rock bottom at that point. In no small part due to having the prospect of having the only career he has ever known ripped away from him."

National Defence has done an about-face and revoked an offer that would have allowed a soldier with post-traumatic stress disorder, who spoke publicly last fall about his attempted suicide, the right to an extended release from the military.

Master Cpl. Kristian Wolowidnyk's story made headlines across the country in November when it was revealed he tried to take his own life after the army put him on the fast-track for dismissal.

The military backed down after his case became public, but just last week reversed itself and said he doesn't qualify for the program.

He was given the latest news last Tuesday by officials at the Edmonton Joint Personnel Support Unit, one of several centres across the country designed to get injured and ill soldiers back to their units or — more often — out of the military.

Wolowidnyk, and wife Michele, were told the offer for an extended release under the Integrated Transition Program was withdrawn and that the base surgeon had stated that there was no medical reason why he couldn't be either working or in school.
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PTSD-suffering veteran speaks out about suicide attempt
As Canadian defence officials investigate the fourth apparent suicide of a soldier in the past two weeks, an Edmonton veteran is talking about his attempt to take his own life.

Donations for homeless after shelter fire fuel hope

Homeless Lose Everything in North Hollywood Shelter Fire
More than 20 people were sleeping inside when flames broke out. They were able to escape, but lost what little they had
NBC Los Angeles
By Oleevia Woo, Willian Avila and Gadi Schwartz
Monday, May 5, 2014

Donations can be made on the mission's website San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission.

NBC4 has a long partnership with the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission as part of the I am a Volunteer campaign. The station committed $5,000 on Sunday to help start a rebuilding fund.

About $25,000 had been raised by Sunday night.

Several homeless people lost the few items they owned in a fire that destroyed the shelter they were staying in early Saturday morning.

The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission at 13422 Saticoy Street in North Hollywood was declared a total loss after going up in flames, officials said. The fire was initially reported just before 1 a.m as flames from a large outdoor palette fire roared next door to the building that housed the shelter.

More than 20 people were sleeping inside when flames broke out. They were able to escape, but lost what little they had.
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Convicted of murder, soldier says Chantix made him do it

Convicted of recruit's murder, soldier blames anti-smoking drug
McClatchy Washington Bureau
By Michael Doyle
Published: May 4, 2014

WASHINGTON — Early one Sunday evening six years ago, Army Pfc. George D.B. MacDonald made his way through his Fort Benning barracks to the bunk where a 23-year-old recruit named Rick Bulmer lay sleeping.

They were strangers.

Wielding a 3-inch, double-edged knife, MacDonald stabbed and slashed Bulmer more than 50 times. He started with the throat, but didn’t stop there. Bulmer awoke and fought back, but he never had a chance.

With the May 18, 2008, homicide, MacDonald ended one life and tore apart many others. The 19-year-old onetime Eagle Scout created a widow and a fatherless child. He stole a son and took a beloved brother.

“I snapped and didn’t like it,” MacDonald wrote, about nine hours after the killing. “I was stretched and it made me crazy.”

What triggered the promising young paratrooper’s homicidal outburst?

MacDonald blames Chantix, a smoking-cessation drug used to wean people from their addiction to nicotine. A military jury didn’t buy his story, and in December 2009 he was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Sunday, May 18, during drills, his leg apparently hurt and he returned to the barracks. It was just past 6 p.m.

Bulmer fell asleep on his bunk. Elsewhere in the same barracks, MacDonald was reading “Lord of the Rings.”

MacDonald got up to do laundry and without knowing why, he said later, slipped a 3-inch knife into his pocket. He left his room, and came to Bulmer’s bunk. He said later that he thought for about 30 seconds. Then he attacked.
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Trooper Chelsea Renee Richard killed in line of duty

FHP trooper, tow-truck driver killed in multicar crash on I-75 near Ocala
Orlando Sentinel
By Kevin P. Connolly and Desiree Stennett, Staff Writers
May 3, 2014

A nine-year veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol and a tow-truck driver were killed in a crash Saturday on Interstate 75 near Ocala.

Trooper Chelsea Renee Richard, 30, stopped near mile marker 341 on southbound I-75 at 1:40 p.m. after two cars crashed in the area. Both cars were pulled off the highway onto the shoulder.

About 20 minutes later, as Richard was talking with the tow-truck driver, John Duggan, 57, of Levy County, another multi-vehicle crash happened in the same area.

After a seven-vehicle pileup, the driver of a southbound pickup traveled onto the east shoulder where the trooper stood with Duggan and a third man, George Robert Phillip, 52, of Ocala.

The pickup struck Richard, Duggan and Phillip. Both Richard, an Ocala resident who had a 4-year-old son, and Duggan were killed at the scene. Phillip remained in critical conditon at Ocala Regional Hospital late Saturday.
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PTSD Canadian Soldier Discharged from Hospital, Booted From Military Same Day

Master corporal with PTSD says military would use force to remove her from rental home
OTTAWA CITIZEN
BY DAVID PUGLIESE
MAY 4, 2014

Even as Canada’s top soldier promises more help to those dealing with mental health issues, the military has threatened to use physical force against a master corporal suffering from post traumatic stress if she and her husband don’t vacate their rental house on time.

Master Cpl. Jen MacLeod, 44, was booted from the Canadian Forces on March 26, the same day she was released from the psychiatric hospital where she was being treated.

But what upsets MacLeod is the letter sent by the commander of Canadian Forces Base Borden, Ont., which noted she must vacate the military house she has been renting by May 30. “Failure to leave the said premises by that date shall render you and your family liable to physical removal from the above housing unit,” the letter to the Afghan veteran warned.

MacLeod and her husband had paid their rent in full up to that date and had every intention of leaving by May 30. They had already acquired a new house and were getting ready to move.
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Florida Marine with PTSD held shackled in Mexican jail

UPDATE
American Marine Chained In Mexican Jail Is Unshackled But Remains Behind Bars

U.S. Marine Detained in Mexico Prison on Weapons Charge
Congressman asks Defense Secretary to help in Marine's release, fears for his safety in Mexican custody
NBC News
By Brian Hamacher, R. Stickney and Monica Garske
Saturday, May 3, 2014

Congressional leaders, including U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, are pushing for the release of a U.S. Marine veteran who was detained in Mexico last month for bringing outlawed weapons into the country.

Marine Reservist Andrew Tahmooressi, 25, of Weston, Fla., was arrested April 1 after driving his black Ford pickup into Tijuana at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, near south San Diego.

Tahmooressi, who was in possession of three U.S.-registered firearms, got lost near the border after dark and took a wrong turn into Mexico, his family said.

Now Tahmooressi, who was in the San Diego area to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, is shackled to a cot with his limbs restrained following an escape attempt at the La Mesa penitentiary, his mother, Jill Tahmooressi, told NBC Miami.

On Friday, Congressman Hunter sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry asking the State Department to “secure Andrew’s release,” saying it’s “critical” that the Marine be released as soon as possible.
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Hidden Vietnam War Memorial in Colorado

Received an email from a Vietnam Veteran about a hidden war memorial in Colorado. Watching the video made me think about Vietnam veterans and how they are like the memorial. They are "there" but no one seems to know they are.

'Mysterious' Vietnam War Memorial Posted Nov 04, 2013 by EighthCard "Cycle ride from Tomichi Creek off of Highway 50 near Gunnison, CO up to the Continental Divide, where we found this war memorial tucked away in seclusion. You won't find it on any maps. An old local at the Tomichi Trading Post said the Park Rangers keep it off maps...the story is that a Vietnam Vet somehow used a chopper to sneak the pieces in. If anyone knows the true story, I'd love to hear it." Some additional info can be found at http://neighbors.denverpost.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=17636 - To see on Google Maps go to: http://goo.gl/maps/RQFjA

Unless you happen to know the person you are speaking with is a veteran, you really have no way of knowing you could be talking to a hero. They look like everyone else. They talk like everyone else when it comes to things they are interested in. The difference is, they don't act like everyone else. They just care a lot more about others than the other 93%.

Florida Veterans' Reunion Not Rained Out

The 27th Annual Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion was not rained out yesterday. Sure there were a lot less people and vendors but I was surprised by so many others coming out in the rain to visit the Vietnam Wall. The ground was saturated but no one seemed to be willing to let that stop them. There was an elderly woman in a wheelchair being pushed thru the mud and puddles and kids jumping in others.

Mazda's MX-5 Cup race car driver amputee Marine

Marine races on despite combat injuries
Staff Sgt. Liam Dwyer competing at Laguna Seca
Monterey Herald
By Tony Karis
POSTED:05/02/2014
MONTEREY

Marine Staff Sgt. Liam Dwyer's current deployment is in one of Mazda's MX-5 Cup race cars driving for Freedom Autosport.

Marine Staff Sgt. Liam Dwyer, a team driver with Freedom Autosport, practices a vehicle exit with driver assistant Robert Pielli at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Friday. Dwyer is combat-wounded Marine who was injured in Iraq in 2007 and in Afghanistan in 2011, when he lost his left leg.
(Vern Fisher - Monterey Herald)

"Racing is not cheap," Dwyer said. "I'm very fortunate to have Mazda and Freedom Autosport giving me this opportunity; without them I couldn't do it."

Despite the loss of his left leg from the thigh down and having little to no feeling in his right hand and arm, Dwyer is able, with some mechanical help, to drive. He makes his first professional appearance as a race driver this weekend at the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Dwyer's tours of duty were interrupted by injuries inflicted by improvised explosive devices. In Iraq in 2007, the left side of his body was seriously damaged when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb. He lost his left leg in Afghanistan in 2011 when he stepped on an IED while searching a compound. His rehabilitation began in 2012 and will last for another year before he returns to civilian life.

His prosthetic left leg is his biggest challenge in driving the car. A special prosthesis was modified to fit onto the clutch pedal with a quick-release pin in case of an emergency.
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