Orlando Vet Fest Brings Veterans and Robosaurus Together

Vet Fest, featuring Robosaurus, to cause road closures in downtown Orlando
WFTV News
August 29, 2014

ORLANDO, Fla. — Crews will shut down several downtown Orlando roads for the Vet Fest USA Street Party this weekend.

The street party was designed to raise money for veterans charities, and organizers expect thousands of people to come.

Robosaurus, the 50-foot tall transformer-looking dinosaur known for crushing cars, will appear at the event, which begins Saturday.

"We think this is going to be so much fun," said event creator Bob Snow.
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Vietnam Veteran Shot, Granddaughter Arrested Among Others

Man wanted in shooting of York Co. Vietnam veteran arrested in Union
FOX Carolina
By Casey Vaughn
Posted: Aug 28, 2014

UNION, SC (AP/FOX Carolina)
Union police noticed a car parked in an area with previous vandalism but after running the tag, they said they discovered the driver was wanted in Rock Hill on an attempted murder charge.

According to the Associated Press, the victim is a disabled veteran. Wayne Whiteside served two tours in Vietnam and his home flies the Marine Corps and American flags and has other Marines regalia.
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No charges for Vietnam Veteran after SWAT Standoff

No charges for Vietnam vet in DeKalb SWAT standoff
Atlantic Journal Constitution
Mike Morris and John Spink
August 28, 2014

A DeKalb SWAT standoff ended peacefully just before 7 a.m. JOHN SPINK

A Vietnam veteran will not face charges stemming from a predawn SWAT standoff in a DeKalb County neighborhood, police said.

Officers were called to a home on Black Oak Drive off Bouldercrest Road before daybreak Thursday on reports of shots being fired.

“They found a gentleman in the backyard, randomly taking shots into the wood line,” DeKalb police Capt. A.J. Andrzejewski said. “He claimed he saw some people back there.”

After officers arrived, the man ran back inside the house, firing additional shots.
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Fort Lee Sgt. 1st Class Paula Walker commented on stress in 2009

Fort Lee Sgt. Paula Walker Commented On Military Stress In 2009: Why Mental Health Is Not Only A Problem On The Frontlines
Medical Daily
By Stephanie Castillo
Aug 28, 2014

In 2009, Walker was stationed at Fort Eustis (also in Virginia) when former Major Nidal Hasan, a military psychiatrist, killed 13 people and injured more than 30 on Fort Hood. U.S World News and Report referenced an archived interview Walker gave regarding the incident, in which she said, “People are people. They go through things in life. They either handle stresses in a good way or in a bad way.”

After nearly 14 years on active military duty, Sgt. 1st Class Paula Walker, 33, shot herself in the head on Fort Lee’s military base. She’d been stationed there since December 2011.

Prior to the incident, Walker was reportedly irate, throwing objects around in a room she barricaded herself in. Fort Lee was on an hour-long lockdown while negotiators tried to talk her down. Walker was rushed to the VCU Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

The gun in question was not a military-issued weapon, which, it turns out, is not unlikely for Fort Lee. If a gun is properly registered, it is allowed on base. Otherwise, there are currently no metal detectors, according to a report from CBS 6 News.
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Latest Fort Lee Suicide Part of Many

Jonathan Shay continues "missionary work" for PTSD Veterans in Town Hall

Dozens gather to join forces in battle against PTSD
UpNorthLive
by Meghan Morelli
Posted: 08.28.2014

GRAND TRAVERSE CO. -- Post-traumatic stress disorder impacts 5.2 million adults every year. On Thursday, 7 and 4 News held a Your Voice, Your Future Town Hall on PTSD at Milliken Auditorium in Traverse City.

A panel of experts discussed the causes, symptoms, effects, and treatments of PTSD.

“It’s a widespread thing especially with a lot of the troops coming home nowadays and it’s something that more people need to be educated on,” said veteran, David Graves.

One of the experts was Doctor Jonathan Shay, a former staff psychiatrist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Boston, where his only patients were combat veterans with severe psychological injuries.

Dr. Jonathan Shay
For 20 years Jonathan Shay was a staff psychiatrist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Boston, where his only patients were combat veterans with severe psychological injuries. He retired from clinical work in May, 2008 to devote himself full time to preventive psychiatry in military organizations—what he calls his "missionary work." He is the author of Achilles in Vietnam: Combating Trauma and the Undoing of Character (1994) and of Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming (2002). He has been a MacArthur Fellow since January. He has written and lectured on a variety of topics relating to veterans for decades and held a variety of positions with US military institutions.

Linda Fletcher was also on the panel. She is a retired Army Nurse (Lieutenant Colonel) with a Masters in Trauma Nursing who has been involved in an independent study of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for the last eight years.

Jacquelyn Kaschel, MLitt, CEIP-MH, PNH1 was another expert in attendance. She is the Executive Director of PEACE Ranch. PEACE Ranch is a center for experiential growth & learning where rescued, rehabilitated horses and licensed professionals help people dealing with a broad range of challenges including Addiction & Recovery, Behavioral & Emotional Issues, Marriage & Family Issues, Grief & Loss, PTSD & Trauma related issues.

Doctor Neil was the final panel expert at the event. He is a licensed clinical psychologist, has been in private practice for over 20 years. He has specialized in treating trauma for more than half of his career. Dr. O’Donnell uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and body based approaches to help those suffering from PTSD.
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Death of Fort Bragg Soldier Under Investigation

Fort Bragg soldier found dead on post
WRAL.com
August 28, 2014

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — An 82nd Airborne paratrooper was found dead on post Saturday from a gunshot wound, the military announced Wednesday.

Sgt. Adam Gilliam, 28, of Morristown, Tenn., was a cavalry scout in B Troop, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Military officials did not say whether the gunshot wound was self-inflicted or not.
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People raise thousands "Get Wet for a Vet"

"Get Wet for a Vet" raises $15K for homeless veterans
WSBT-TV Report
Aug 27, 2014

Veterans sleeping on the street down 40 percent

Number Of Homeless Vets Sleeping On Street Drops Nearly 40 Percent In 4 Years
The Huffington Post
By Robbie Couch
Posted: 08/27/2014

Thousands of homeless veterans have found stable housing in recent years, thanks to federal, state and local initiatives combating the crisis.

According to a press release issued Tuesday by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), data collected from the annual Point-in-Time Count showed there were 49,933 homeless veterans in the U.S. in January, reflecting a 33 percent decline since 2010. The data also revealed a nearly 40 percent drop in the number of veterans sleeping on the street.

The decline continues a downward trend: Last November, the VA announced a 24 percent reduction in veteran homelessness over the previous three years.
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Marine Justin Kuhel has 850 more miles to go

Man walks across U.S. for veteran causes
Albuquerque Journal
Charles D. Brunt
Journal Staff Writer
August 28, 2014

Marine veteran Justin Kuhel, who has completed nearly 2,000 miles of his 2,700-mile journey from Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Camp Pendleton, Calif., chats with 98-year-old Bataan Death March survivor Ralph Rodriguez on Wednesday at the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial. Rodriguez was among about 75 people who welcomed Kuhel to Albuquerque.
(Marla Brose/Albuquerque Journal)

Only 850 miles and about $50,000 to go before Marine veteran Justin Kuhel, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, reaches his goal of walking across America to raise $100,000 for two charities that help veterans.

“I decided a couple of weeks ago that if I don’t reach my ($100,000) goal, I’ll just turn around and walk back until I make it,” Kuhel said Wednesday as he prepared to continue his March Across America.

After visiting with a group of supporters at Tramway and Central – which included a local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers, the New Mexico Patriot Guard Riders and a vintage six-wheel-drive military vehicle known as a Gama Goat – the 26-year-old veteran marched briskly down Central en route to the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial.

Passers-by along Central and Louisiana cheered and honked as Kuhel passed by. He smiled and waved, occasionally handing out pamphlets explaining what he was up to.

Accompanied by a city police escort and a small parade of supporters, the Clintonville, Ohio, native said he left Camp Lejeune, N.C., on May 23 and plans to arrive at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in late September or early October. That’s 2,753 miles, give or take.

When he started at Central and Tramway about noon Wednesday, he had walked 1,923 miles.

“I walk about 23 miles a day,” he said. “The (support van) picks me up at the end of the day, takes me wherever we’re staying, then drops me right back where I left off the next morning.”
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Soldier killed in Afghanistan on Third Tour

Family remembers soldier killed in Afghanistan
TBO.com staff
Published: August 27, 2014

Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew I. Leggett, 39, died during combat in Kabul on Aug. 20.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew I. Leggett, 39, died during combat in Kabul on Aug. 20.

The family of an Army paratrooper who was killed in action in Afghanistan last week has released a statement.

The Department of Defense said Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew I. Leggett died during combat in Kabul on Aug. 20. The 39-year-old was assigned to the headquarters battalion of the 18th Airborne Corps.

Leggett enlisted in the Army in May 1995 and had been based at Fort Bragg since 2012. He served three combat tours and was the recipient of numerous awards and decorations, including a Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster and a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat.

His mother, Thea Marie Kurtz, is from Ruskin.
Here is the family's statement:

“LET'S GET IT ON” was Matthew's favorite saying when he was on motorcycle rides with his brother Ben or participating in online racing forums. Matthew (Matt) was born in Wabasha, Minnesota on October 13, 1974 to Thea Kurz, of Port Edwards, Wisconsin and Thomas Leggett of Nekoosa, Wisconsin. He has two brothers, Roderick and Benjamin, as well as two nieces and a nephew. He was raised with his brothers in Pepin, Wisconsin. He spent his early childhood and early teenage summers fishing and paddling around the Mississippi river on various watercrafts.

Matt completed two previous combat tours in Iraq and was on his third combat tour in Afghanistan. He was set to retire from the United States Army in the summer of 2015. read more here