Iraq war vet sues Gov. Scott, state of Florida over job demotion
Tampa Bay Times
Steve Bousquet
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
TALLAHASSEE — A decorated combat veteran of war in Iraq and Afghanistan sued Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday, claiming the state illegally eliminated his state job while he was serving his country overseas.
Walter Krietlow III is a master sergeant in the U.S. Army reserve who was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star during two tours of duty in Iraq. He's a Republican who said he voted for Scott in 2010 and denied that his filing of a lawsuit less than seven weeks before the election is politically motivated.
"This is not political," Kreitlow said. "This is for the citizen soldiers out there who are taken advantage of. They miss out on promotions. They are not given days off."
Krietlow, 45, works as a police officer in the state alcoholic beverage and tobacco division, part of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). He has worked for the state since 2006, but he wants his old job back.
While Kreitlow was at an Army training camp in Kentucky in the fall of 2011 preparing for a third deployment overseas, he says, DBPR moved his job from his Tallahassee home to Miami as part of a law enforcement consolidation effort that Scott supported.
read more here
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Search widens for missing Iraq veteran in Texas
UPDATE
Texas EquuSearch: Missing Iraq War veteran found at hospital
Texas EquuSearch: Missing Iraq War veteran found at hospital
Texas Equusearch looking for 27-year-old Iraq war veteran
Click2Houston.com
Author: Sara Fatima Dhanji, Content Editor
Published On: Sep 17 2014
HOUSTON
A Texas search and rescue organization is looking for a U.S. Army veteran in North Houston.
Texas Equusearch said 27-year-old Erica Odom disappeared in Houston on Saturday. Volunteers began a search for her Wednesday morning near The Lighthouse Church at 6650 Rankin Road in Humble.
Odom is a veteran of the war in Iraq. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with black sleeves and black shorts. She has a large brown birthmark on the upper part of her left arm. She also has the name "Sheila Gayle" tattooed on her lower back.
Texas Equusearch asks anyone with information about Odom's whereabouts or disappearance to call Houston police at 713-731-5223.
Check back here for updates
Healing Combat PTSD Spiritually Is Decades Old, Not New
Seriously? The article says “But only recently has their been a movement to address it not just as a psycho-medical condition but also as a spiritual phenomenon.” Too bad that isn't true. Point Man International Ministries started in 1984 working to heal veterans as well as families. Healing combat PTSD by spirit, mind and body is far from new. Just because someone makes a claim like that does not make it true but the truth behind this kind of healing is very true.
Over the years, it's gone by many names — combat fatigue, shell shock, combat trauma, to name a few. But recently the perspective on treating the condition commonly known as post traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans has started to shift, according to a military chaplain who has lately begun gathering vets together to share their experiences at Cottage Grove Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3473.
“Psychology has been trying to wrap its arms around PTSD since before World War II,” said Chaplain Jonathan Landon. “But only recently has their been a movement to address it not just as a psycho-medical condition but also as a spiritual phenomenon.”
For the complete article see the 09-17-2014 issue.
Combat trauma group aims to help vets heal spiritually together
Posted: Tuesday, Sep 16th, 2014
| ||||||||
Over the years, it's gone by many names — combat fatigue, shell shock, combat trauma, to name a few. But recently the perspective on treating the condition commonly known as post traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans has started to shift, according to a military chaplain who has lately begun gathering vets together to share their experiences at Cottage Grove Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3473.
“Psychology has been trying to wrap its arms around PTSD since before World War II,” said Chaplain Jonathan Landon. “But only recently has their been a movement to address it not just as a psycho-medical condition but also as a spiritual phenomenon.”
For the complete article see the 09-17-2014 issue.
Army National Guard Iraq Veteran PTSD Calmed by K9
Watch service dog calm war vet's PTSD reaction
USA TODAY
Elissa Koehl
September 16, 2014
Erick Scott knows first-hand how it feels to suffer from PTSD. A veteran who served in Iraq, this husband and father came home from the fighting only to be confronted by his own demons. Refusing at first to believe the PTSD diagnosis from his doctor, it wasn't until he heard about K9s for Warriors that he began to feel some hope.
Scott was paired with a dog whose main role was to notify him when he started showing symptoms of PTSD. Watch the video above to see the dog's amazing reaction when Scott gets agitated on camera.
K9's for Warriors is a non-profit program that works to train service dogs for veterans with diagnoses like PTSD, TBI (traumatic brain injury) and MST (military sexual trauma). Veterans come to Florida from all over the country to be paired with a service dog. In fact, the need is so great that the wait list is over a year long.
In an effort to handle the growing needs of veterans, a new facility is under construction in Nocatee, Florida. This facility will be able to house up to 16 veterans at a time.
K9s for Warriors founder Shari Duval says the new complex will be the "leading PTSD recovery center" in the nation using certified service dogs. The idea is to help them find their "reset button," Duval explains. The warriors need time to relax, but not too much idle time which can throw them into bad memories and anxiety.
read more here
USA TODAY
Elissa Koehl
September 16, 2014
Erick Scott knows first-hand how it feels to suffer from PTSD. A veteran who served in Iraq, this husband and father came home from the fighting only to be confronted by his own demons. Refusing at first to believe the PTSD diagnosis from his doctor, it wasn't until he heard about K9s for Warriors that he began to feel some hope.
Scott was paired with a dog whose main role was to notify him when he started showing symptoms of PTSD. Watch the video above to see the dog's amazing reaction when Scott gets agitated on camera.
K9's for Warriors is a non-profit program that works to train service dogs for veterans with diagnoses like PTSD, TBI (traumatic brain injury) and MST (military sexual trauma). Veterans come to Florida from all over the country to be paired with a service dog. In fact, the need is so great that the wait list is over a year long.
In an effort to handle the growing needs of veterans, a new facility is under construction in Nocatee, Florida. This facility will be able to house up to 16 veterans at a time.
K9s for Warriors founder Shari Duval says the new complex will be the "leading PTSD recovery center" in the nation using certified service dogs. The idea is to help them find their "reset button," Duval explains. The warriors need time to relax, but not too much idle time which can throw them into bad memories and anxiety.
read more here
Suicidal Iraq Veteran's Life Saved By Police Captured on Video
E. Texas officers use tourniquet to save suicidal veteran
KLTV 7 News
By Summer Dashe
Posted: Sep 16, 2014
WHITEHOUSE, TX (KLTV) - Whitehouse Police Department is changing its policy after an officer saved a veteran's life.
On Sept. 4, police received a call about a man bleeding on the side of the road in Smith County. A fisherman saw the man walking near Lake Tyler, covered in blood. When police arrived, the man told officers he was an Iraq war veteran and that he wanted to end his life.
"Where's your knife? How'd you get hurt?" Sgt. Shawn Johnson, with WPD, can be heard saying in a dash-camera video.
Sgt. Johnson walked up and the man explained he was a veteran and had intentionally cut his wrist.
"He told us that he was an army vet, that he served a couple tours in Iraq and that was part of his wanting to die," Johnson explained.
On the video, the officers can be heard talking with the man and asking him why he wanted to end his life. When he tells them he feels nobody cares about him they respond, "We care. If we didn't care we wouldn't be here, right?"
He had used a broken beer bottle to cut himself and was losing a lot of blood.
"(We) went and spoke with him and as I was talking with him, he moved his arm and then I could actually see blood start, you know, coming out rather quickly," Johnson recalled.
Minutes went by as they, along with Tyler police officers, awaited EMS.
read more here
KLTV 7 News
By Summer Dashe
Posted: Sep 16, 2014
Dash camera video shows suicidal man sitting with police officers. (Source: Whitehouse Police Department)
WHITEHOUSE, TX (KLTV) - Whitehouse Police Department is changing its policy after an officer saved a veteran's life.
On Sept. 4, police received a call about a man bleeding on the side of the road in Smith County. A fisherman saw the man walking near Lake Tyler, covered in blood. When police arrived, the man told officers he was an Iraq war veteran and that he wanted to end his life.
"Where's your knife? How'd you get hurt?" Sgt. Shawn Johnson, with WPD, can be heard saying in a dash-camera video.
Sgt. Johnson walked up and the man explained he was a veteran and had intentionally cut his wrist.
"He told us that he was an army vet, that he served a couple tours in Iraq and that was part of his wanting to die," Johnson explained.
On the video, the officers can be heard talking with the man and asking him why he wanted to end his life. When he tells them he feels nobody cares about him they respond, "We care. If we didn't care we wouldn't be here, right?"
He had used a broken beer bottle to cut himself and was losing a lot of blood.
"(We) went and spoke with him and as I was talking with him, he moved his arm and then I could actually see blood start, you know, coming out rather quickly," Johnson recalled.
Minutes went by as they, along with Tyler police officers, awaited EMS.
read more here
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Bombing near US Embassy leaves 2 US servicemembers dead
2 US troops, 1 Polish sergeant killed in bombing near US Embassy in Kabul
Stars and Stripes
By Slobodan Lekic
Published: September 16, 2014
KABUL, Afghanistan — Two U.S. servicemembers and a Polish soldier were killed Tuesday when a suicide bomber struck a convoy of vehicles near the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy compound in Kabul, officials said.
The International Security Assistance Force said three of its servicemembers died “as a result of an enemy attack” in Kabul, but did not disclose the nationalities. Five ISAF members were reported wounded.
In Washington a defense official said two of the three fatalities were Americans. The third was a Polish sergeant, the Poland’s Defense Ministry said.
Separately, another coalition soldier was killed on Monday in an apparent insider attack in western Afghanistan, an ISAF statement said. A Pentagon official said the victim was an American.
Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the attack.
read more here
Stars and Stripes
By Slobodan Lekic
Published: September 16, 2014
KABUL, Afghanistan — Two U.S. servicemembers and a Polish soldier were killed Tuesday when a suicide bomber struck a convoy of vehicles near the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy compound in Kabul, officials said.
The International Security Assistance Force said three of its servicemembers died “as a result of an enemy attack” in Kabul, but did not disclose the nationalities. Five ISAF members were reported wounded.
In Washington a defense official said two of the three fatalities were Americans. The third was a Polish sergeant, the Poland’s Defense Ministry said.
Separately, another coalition soldier was killed on Monday in an apparent insider attack in western Afghanistan, an ISAF statement said. A Pentagon official said the victim was an American.
Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the attack.
read more here
Wounded Iraq Veteran lost more than stuff in stolen van
Iraq war vet's rental truck stolen with family ashes inside
KING 5 News
Alex Rozier
September 16, 2014
TACOMA, Wash. – An injured Iraq War veteran had his rented truck and trailer stolen Monday and the family doesn't know if the thieves took off with the ashes of two family members.
James Dunahoe said he couldn't believe how his morning played out. At 7 a.m. Monday, his truck was there. A few hours later, it was not.
"I went to get my family something to drink and eat this morning and when I came back at 11, it was not there," Dunahoe said.
"I thought he was joking," Leahana Dunahoe said. "Everything's in there. Our clothes, our kitchen, our living room, dining room."
There were also some things you just can't replace.
"Our son just passed away and his ashes are in there," Dunahoe said. "My mom just passed away. Her ashes are in there."
read more here
KING 5 News
Alex Rozier
September 16, 2014
James was injured in combat, he got full retirement from the Army, and the plan was for the family to start a new life in Puyallup.
TACOMA, Wash. – An injured Iraq War veteran had his rented truck and trailer stolen Monday and the family doesn't know if the thieves took off with the ashes of two family members.
James Dunahoe said he couldn't believe how his morning played out. At 7 a.m. Monday, his truck was there. A few hours later, it was not.
"I went to get my family something to drink and eat this morning and when I came back at 11, it was not there," Dunahoe said.
"I thought he was joking," Leahana Dunahoe said. "Everything's in there. Our clothes, our kitchen, our living room, dining room."
There were also some things you just can't replace.
"Our son just passed away and his ashes are in there," Dunahoe said. "My mom just passed away. Her ashes are in there."
read more here
Military Suicide Awareness Month Makes Us Aware They Suck At Preventing Them
Awareness of the wrong results
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
September 16, 2014
The numbers are bad yet after years of "prevention" along with "awareness" topped off with billions of dollars spent, most of the people I know are feeling the loss at an unbearable level. Why? Because we've been doing this for so long now that we know what works actually works.
We have to get the facts right first. Tired of reading all the wrong data being used over and over again.
Veteran suicides and military suicides are two separated groups. The DOD counts active duty while the VA is responsible for veterans. Stop blending them together.
Military suicides reported average was less than 1 a day but here is the truth on that one.
How does 120 end up being equal to 90? Do you think they are missing a month somewhere?
Veteran suicides reported at 22 a day. Not even close. The number used came from 21 states and then they took the average of those states excluding California with the most veterans, followed by Texas with the second highest and then Florida with the 3rd highest.
Veteran suicides are mostly Afghanistan and Iraq veterans but again, not even close. 78% of the suicides within the VA system are 50 and over. One more thing that keeps getting missed is that while we have about 22 million veterans the VA is only compensating less than 4 million for disabilities.
The myth of deployment not connected to deployments
PTSD connected to military is NOT NEW and it is high time we all got that. WWI studies began on what war does to the men we send to fight.
Less than honorable discharges are not new. As a matter of fact they have been doing it all along however unlike the other wars when they were simply shot. Oh, don't forget the UK shot their own too. Vietnam veterans were kicked out and left with nothing.
As Paul Harvey used to end his radio show, "now you know the rest of the story" and it is about time they stopped trying to cover up for the fact what they have done failed the men and women with their lives in the hands of people they trusted.
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
September 16, 2014
 |
| Wounded Times |
The numbers are bad yet after years of "prevention" along with "awareness" topped off with billions of dollars spent, most of the people I know are feeling the loss at an unbearable level. Why? Because we've been doing this for so long now that we know what works actually works.
We have to get the facts right first. Tired of reading all the wrong data being used over and over again.
Veteran suicides and military suicides are two separated groups. The DOD counts active duty while the VA is responsible for veterans. Stop blending them together.
Military suicides reported average was less than 1 a day but here is the truth on that one.
According to the Pentagon, 74 active-duty personnel died by suicide in the first quarter: 19 airmen, 28 soldiers, 11 Marines and 16 sailors.Sure it is less than one a day until National Guards and Reservists manage to matter.
From January to March, 120 active-duty, reserve and National Guard members died by suicide.
The total number of days between Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 and Monday, April 1st, 2013 is 90 days.
How does 120 end up being equal to 90? Do you think they are missing a month somewhere?
Veteran suicides reported at 22 a day. Not even close. The number used came from 21 states and then they took the average of those states excluding California with the most veterans, followed by Texas with the second highest and then Florida with the 3rd highest.
Veteran suicides are mostly Afghanistan and Iraq veterans but again, not even close. 78% of the suicides within the VA system are 50 and over. One more thing that keeps getting missed is that while we have about 22 million veterans the VA is only compensating less than 4 million for disabilities.
"Veterans over the age of 50 who had entered the VA healthcare system made up about 78 percent of the total number of veterans who committed suicide"(You do the math on that one because I already have a headache.) Then there are the attempted suicides in the military and among veterans. DOD reported for 2012
2012 Reported Suicide Attempts As of 31 March 2013, there were 869 submitted suicide attempt DoDSERs among Active duty Service members for all services in calendar year 2012. Active duty includes members of the Active component and members of the Reserve components who were in a Title 10 status at the time of the event. Since Service members could have had more than one suicide attempt during the year, the number of unique Service members and the number of DoDSERs differ. The DoDSERs described suicide attempts for 841 unique Service members: 815 with one DoDSER, 24 with two, and 2 with three. The distribution of suicide attempt DoDSERs across the services was as follows: Air Force – 26.4%, Army – 42.0%, Marine Corps – 19.4%, and Navy – 12.2%. All DoDSERs were included in the tables, figures, and summary text.The wrong "reduction in suicides" information is out there.
“With an 18 percent drop in 2013, something is going right,” the general said. “One suicide is always too many, but we have to focus our efforts now where we think they are most needed.”Why, because they didn't think a little detail like reduction of military folks serving also went down. According to the DOD these are the numbers from 2012 to 2014 just for an example.
2012 1,393,948
2013 1,372,336
2014 1,347,187
The myth of deployment not connected to deployments
The five-year study was undertaken in 2009, in response to the rising rate of military suicides. It's the largest study ever attempted on mental health risk and resilience among service members, and it involves an expansive partnership between the Army, the National Institute of Mental Health and several universities.
The coalition of researchers found a statistically significant rise in suicides following initial deployments. This finding contrasts sharply with a study featured in the Journal of the American Medical Association's Aug. 7 edition. Led by personnel at the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, that study found no association between deployments and increased suicide risk.
That's just not the case for the Army, as depicted by Army STARRS data, said Dr. Michael Schoenbaum, collaborating scientist at NIMH.
"Soldiers who have deployed at least once do have an elevated suicide rate compared with Soldiers who never deployed," Schoenbaum said.
The AMA Journal article was based on analysis of data from the DOD Millennium Cohort Study that sampled all service members, Schoenbaum said, surmising at least half of the participants were Sailors and Airmen. In contrast, Army STARRS examines only Soldiers.
PTSD connected to military is NOT NEW and it is high time we all got that. WWI studies began on what war does to the men we send to fight.
"English Professor at Dickinson College, Wendy Moffat is writing the biography of Doctor Thomas Salmon, a civilian psychiatrist who voluntarily went to the front during WWI to study, diagnose and treat mentally broken soldiers. He's the first U.S. Army psychiatrist and the first to recognize PTSD."
Less than honorable discharges are not new. As a matter of fact they have been doing it all along however unlike the other wars when they were simply shot. Oh, don't forget the UK shot their own too. Vietnam veterans were kicked out and left with nothing.
According to the suit, approximately 250,000 Vietnam-era veterans received less-than-honorable discharges, and as many as 80,000 of those service members could be eligible for PTSD-related benefits.
As Paul Harvey used to end his radio show, "now you know the rest of the story" and it is about time they stopped trying to cover up for the fact what they have done failed the men and women with their lives in the hands of people they trusted.
Soldier of Fortune "We knew he was suffering but no one expected this"
Sister blames SA soldier's suicide on PTSD
Jayme Pohovey remembered as a hero, 'a soldier’s soldier'
KSAT
By Paul Venema
Reporter
September 16, 2014
SAN ANTONIO - The sister of Army Spc. Jayme Pohovey said his family was devastated upon learning that Pohovey had taken his own life Monday morning.
"We knew he was suffering but no one expected this," Jessica Baker said as she talked about her older brother’s death.
Pohovey was stationed at San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he worked as an emergency room medic.
Baker said her brother had served several tours in Afghanistan and was a decorated hero who was once featured on the cover of Soldier of Fortune magazine for acts of heroism while serving in Afghanistan.
read more here
‘Hero’ receives welcome home
IndeOnline
By Matthew Rink
Posted Aug. 8, 2008
AKRON
Spc. Jayme Pohovey hugged mom and dad, grandma and grandpa.
The soft-spoken soldier looked over the group that turned out to welcome him home.
“Everyone’s here,” he said.
Glenn B. Dettman
Army Spc. Jayme Pohovey, center, is greeted by his grandmother Dorothy Pohovey, left, as his wife Svetlana holds daughter Selene Thursday evening at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. Pohovey has spent all but 30 days in the past 3 1/2 years overseas.
Pohovey’s work that day would later earn him a nickname: the Soldier of Fortune.
“We were going to give the national blankets and all kinds of things.”
But the Army officers were ambushed, facing heavy fire from the Taliban.
“We heard there were casualties and they were still shooting at us,” he said.
From his Humvee, Pohovey could see an ANA truck in flames with the commander lying on the ground behind it.
“He was pretty heavily injured,” Pohovey said.
The medic pulled out his aid kit and radioed for a helicopter, reassuring the bloodied ANA commander he would be OK, the Army reported.
“The training took over,” he said. “I didn’t even think about it until the next day. I got him a a helicopter and he survived.”
read more here
U.S., Afghan Soldiers Fight Their Way Out of an Ambush
Jayme Pohovey remembered as a hero, 'a soldier’s soldier'
KSAT
By Paul Venema
Reporter
September 16, 2014
SAN ANTONIO - The sister of Army Spc. Jayme Pohovey said his family was devastated upon learning that Pohovey had taken his own life Monday morning.
"We knew he was suffering but no one expected this," Jessica Baker said as she talked about her older brother’s death.
Pohovey was stationed at San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he worked as an emergency room medic.
Baker said her brother had served several tours in Afghanistan and was a decorated hero who was once featured on the cover of Soldier of Fortune magazine for acts of heroism while serving in Afghanistan.
read more here
‘Hero’ receives welcome home
IndeOnline
By Matthew Rink
Posted Aug. 8, 2008
AKRON
Spc. Jayme Pohovey hugged mom and dad, grandma and grandpa.
The soft-spoken soldier looked over the group that turned out to welcome him home.
“Everyone’s here,” he said.
Army Spc. Jayme Pohovey, center, is greeted by his grandmother Dorothy Pohovey, left, as his wife Svetlana holds daughter Selene Thursday evening at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. Pohovey has spent all but 30 days in the past 3 1/2 years overseas.
Pohovey’s work that day would later earn him a nickname: the Soldier of Fortune.
“It was surprising when I found out,” he said, noting that fellow soldiers were expected to grace the cover. “I got ragged on the whole time. They kept calling me ‘Soldier of Fortune.’”“We were just out on a normal patrol with the Afghan National Army in the lead,” he recalled Thursday.
“We were going to give the national blankets and all kinds of things.”
But the Army officers were ambushed, facing heavy fire from the Taliban.
“We heard there were casualties and they were still shooting at us,” he said.
From his Humvee, Pohovey could see an ANA truck in flames with the commander lying on the ground behind it.
“He was pretty heavily injured,” Pohovey said.
The medic pulled out his aid kit and radioed for a helicopter, reassuring the bloodied ANA commander he would be OK, the Army reported.
“The training took over,” he said. “I didn’t even think about it until the next day. I got him a a helicopter and he survived.”
read more here
U.S., Afghan Soldiers Fight Their Way Out of an Ambush
Monday, September 15, 2014
Why don't you fit in with buddies back home after combat?
Why don't you fit in with buddies back home after combat?
While they were watching reality TV shows, reruns on Netflix, playing computer games, checking out Facebook and killing time chilling out,,, this was your life.
But even with that there is also this. Some of your buddies think they should get $15 an hour for working at a fast food place but this is what you did for less than minimum wage, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Now you do understand why you can hang out with them but not feel as if you fit in anymore? You never did and be proud of that.
You wanted to serve your country and risked your life to do it. You were willing to die for your "coworkers" but they have a hard time saying "hi" to theirs.
They complain about a long commute but your commute took you thousands of miles away for months.
They complain about a jerk for a boss but you put your life into the hands of yours.
They complain about working too many hours. Your hours didn't end.
They make excuses for not getting their work done on time, but if you were not doing your job, it meant more would have died.
You earned the title of Veteran and that set you apart from them but with the other 7%!
HERE ARE TWO MORE REASONS TO THINK ABOUT
Published on Mar 4, 2014
Army Capt. Will Swenson received the Medal of Honor for his bravery while defending his country. The small act of kindness caught on video shows his real nature, even in the middle of combat. God Bless Will Swenson, and God Bless our troops!
You wanted to serve your country and risked your life to do it. You were willing to die for your "coworkers" but they have a hard time saying "hi" to theirs.
They complain about a long commute but your commute took you thousands of miles away for months.
They complain about a jerk for a boss but you put your life into the hands of yours.
They complain about working too many hours. Your hours didn't end.
They make excuses for not getting their work done on time, but if you were not doing your job, it meant more would have died.
You earned the title of Veteran and that set you apart from them but with the other 7%!
HERE ARE TWO MORE REASONS TO THINK ABOUT
Published on Mar 4, 2014
Army Capt. Will Swenson received the Medal of Honor for his bravery while defending his country. The small act of kindness caught on video shows his real nature, even in the middle of combat. God Bless Will Swenson, and God Bless our troops!
80,000 Vietnam Veterans Wrongly Discharged May Get Benefits for PTSD
Defense Department opens door for Vietnam vets seeking PTSD-related VA benefits
Jacksonville
Times Union Staff
Posted: September 15, 2014
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has made the path to PTSD treatment easier for some Vietnam-era veterans. In response to a lawsuit filed earlier this year by a group of Vietnam War veterans, the Department of Defense issued new guidelines governing the review of PTSD-related discharge upgrade requests.
Most of the 3.4 million Americans who deployed to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict left the military before 1980, the year post-traumatic stress disorder became a recognized medical condition.
The new directive is aimed at helping military officials who consider petitions from veterans seeking to have their less-than-honorable discharges upgraded, which would allow them access to medical benefits from the VA not available at the time of their discharge.
The change was sparked by a March lawsuit brought by five Vietnam veterans and three organizations representing veterans. It alleged the military systematically avoided requests for discharge upgrades even when they included evidence of a PTSD diagnosis.
According to the suit, approximately 250,000 Vietnam-era veterans received less-than-honorable discharges, and as many as 80,000 of those service members could be eligible for PTSD-related benefits.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said review boards have been advised to give “liberal consideration” to petitions that cite PTSD.
read more here
Jacksonville
Times Union Staff
Posted: September 15, 2014
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has made the path to PTSD treatment easier for some Vietnam-era veterans. In response to a lawsuit filed earlier this year by a group of Vietnam War veterans, the Department of Defense issued new guidelines governing the review of PTSD-related discharge upgrade requests.
Most of the 3.4 million Americans who deployed to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict left the military before 1980, the year post-traumatic stress disorder became a recognized medical condition.
The new directive is aimed at helping military officials who consider petitions from veterans seeking to have their less-than-honorable discharges upgraded, which would allow them access to medical benefits from the VA not available at the time of their discharge.
The change was sparked by a March lawsuit brought by five Vietnam veterans and three organizations representing veterans. It alleged the military systematically avoided requests for discharge upgrades even when they included evidence of a PTSD diagnosis.
According to the suit, approximately 250,000 Vietnam-era veterans received less-than-honorable discharges, and as many as 80,000 of those service members could be eligible for PTSD-related benefits.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said review boards have been advised to give “liberal consideration” to petitions that cite PTSD.
read more here
Medal of Honor Hero Bennie Adkins Helped by Tiger in Vietnam
Despite wounds, Medal of Honor recipient killed up to 175 enemies, saved comrades
CNN
By Brad Lendon
September 15, 2014
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins will be honored for his actions in Vietnam in 1966
Adkins was wounded 18 times during the battle for Camp A Shau
Adkins fought and evaded North Vietnamese troops for 86 hours before he was rescued
(CNN) -- As many as 175 enemy troops killed, 18 wounds from enemy fire, 38 hours of battle, 48 hours evading the North Vietnamese troops in the bush -- and one tiger. Those are the numbers behind Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins' Medal of Honor, an award he will receive from President Obama in a White House ceremony Monday.
Adkins, of Opelika, Alabama, is being honored for his actions in Vietnam's A Shau Valley more than 48 years ago. Then a 32-year-old sergeant first class, Adkins was among a handful of Americans working with troops of the South Vietnamese Civil Irregular Defense Group at Camp A Shau when the camp was attacked by a large North Vietnamese and Viet Cong force on March 9, 1966, according to an Army report.
"Adkins rushed through intense enemy fire and manned a mortar position defending the camp," the Army report says. "He continued to mount a defense even while incurring wounds from several direct hits from enemy mortars. Upon learning that several soldiers were wounded near the center of camp, he temporarily turned the mortar over to another soldier, ran through exploding mortar rounds and dragged several comrades to safety. As the hostile fire subsided, Adkins exposed himself to sporadic sniper fire and carried his wounded comrades to a more secure position."
UPDATE From The White House
CNN
By Brad Lendon
September 15, 2014
Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins is pictured in an undated U.S. Army photo. He is cited for his action at Camp A Shau in Vietnam in 1966, where the Army says he killed 135 to 175 enemy troops during a battle.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins will be honored for his actions in Vietnam in 1966
Adkins was wounded 18 times during the battle for Camp A Shau
Adkins fought and evaded North Vietnamese troops for 86 hours before he was rescued
(CNN) -- As many as 175 enemy troops killed, 18 wounds from enemy fire, 38 hours of battle, 48 hours evading the North Vietnamese troops in the bush -- and one tiger. Those are the numbers behind Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins' Medal of Honor, an award he will receive from President Obama in a White House ceremony Monday.
Adkins, of Opelika, Alabama, is being honored for his actions in Vietnam's A Shau Valley more than 48 years ago. Then a 32-year-old sergeant first class, Adkins was among a handful of Americans working with troops of the South Vietnamese Civil Irregular Defense Group at Camp A Shau when the camp was attacked by a large North Vietnamese and Viet Cong force on March 9, 1966, according to an Army report.
"Adkins rushed through intense enemy fire and manned a mortar position defending the camp," the Army report says. "He continued to mount a defense even while incurring wounds from several direct hits from enemy mortars. Upon learning that several soldiers were wounded near the center of camp, he temporarily turned the mortar over to another soldier, ran through exploding mortar rounds and dragged several comrades to safety. As the hostile fire subsided, Adkins exposed himself to sporadic sniper fire and carried his wounded comrades to a more secure position."
But Adkins' ordeal was not over. Because he was carrying a wounded comrade, he and his small group couldn't get to the evacuation helicopters sent to pick up the battle's survivors. The band faded into the jungle, avoiding their North Vietnamese pursuers for 48 hours.
And that's where the tiger comes in.
"The North Vietnamese soldiers had us surrounded on a little hilltop and everything started getting kind of quiet," Adkins is quoted as saying in an Army report. "We could look around and all at once, all we could see were eyes going around us. It was a tiger that stalked us that night. We were all bloody and in this jungle, the tiger stalked us and the North Vietnamese soldiers were more afraid of the tiger than they were of us. So, they backed off some and we were (able to escape)."
Others to receive honor
Honored with Adkins at the White House ceremony was one other soldier, posthumously.
Spc. Donald P. Sloat was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in using his body to shield comrades from a grenade blast near Danang, Vietnam, in January 1970.
Additionally, the White House has announced one more Medal of Honor recipient: From the Civil War, 1st Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing, who held out against Confederate troops during Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863, part of the Battle of Gettysburg.
read more here
UPDATE From The White House
Remarks by the President at Presentation of the Medal of Honor to Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins and Specialist Four Donald Sloat
East Room
1:52 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, and welcome to the White House. More than four decades ago, in early 1970, an American squad in Vietnam set out on patrol. They marched down a trail, past a rice paddy. Shots rang out and splintered the bamboo above their heads. The lead soldier tripped a wire -- a booby trap. A grenade rolled toward the feet of a 20-year-old machine gunner. The pin was pulled, and that grenade would explode at any moment.
A few years earlier, on the other side of the country, deep in the jungle, a small group of Americans were crouched on top of a small hill. And it was dark, and they were exhausted; the enemy had been pursuing them for days. And now they were surrounded, and the enemy was closing in on all sides.
Two discrete moments, but today we honor two American soldiers for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty at each of those moments: Specialist Donald Sloat, who stood above that grenade, and Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins, who fought through a ferocious battle and found himself on that jungle hill.
Nearly half a century after their acts of valor, a grateful nation bestows upon these men the highest military decoration –- the Medal of Honor.
Normally, this medal must be awarded within a few years of the action. But sometimes even the most extraordinary stories can get lost in the fog of war or the passage of time. Yet when new evidence comes to light, certain actions can be reconsidered for this honor, and it is entirely right and proper that we have done so. And that is why we are here today.
So before I go any further, I want to thank everyone present here today whose research and testimonies and persistence over so many years finally resulted in these two men deserving the recognition they so richly deserve. I especially want to welcome members of the Medal of Honor Society, as well as two American families whose love and pride has never wavered.
Don Sloat grew up in the heart of Oklahoma in a town called Coweta. And he grew big -- to over 6’4”. He loved football, and played for a year at a junior college. Then he decided to join the Army. But when he went to enlist, he didn’t pass his physical because of high blood pressure. So he tried again. And again. And again. In all, he took the physical maybe seven times until he passed -- because Don Sloat was determined to serve his country.
In Vietnam, Don became known as one of the most liked and reliable guys in his company. Twice in his first months, his patrol was ambushed; both times, Don responded with punishing fire from his machine gun, leaving himself completely vulnerable to the enemy. Both times, he was recognized for his bravery. Or as Don put it in a letter home, “I guess they think [that] I’m really gung-ho or something.” (Laughter.)
And then one morning, Don and his squad set out on patrol, past that rice paddy, down that trail, when those shots rang out. When the lead soldier’s foot tripped that wire and set off the booby trap, the grenade rolled right to Don’s feet. And at that moment, he could have run. At that moment, he could have ducked for cover. But Don did something truly extraordinary -- he reached down and he picked that grenade up. And he turned to throw it, but there were Americans in front of him and behind him -– inside the kill zone. So Don held on to that grenade, and he pulled it close to his body. And he bent over it. And then, as one of the men said, “all of a sudden there was a boom.”
The blast threw the lead soldier up against a boulder. Men were riddled with shrapnel. Four were medevaced out, but everyone else survived. Don had absorbed the brunt of the explosion with his body. He saved the lives of those next to him. And today, we’re joined by two men who were with him on that patrol: Sergeant William Hacker and Specialist Michael Mulheim.
For decades, Don’s family only knew that he was killed in action. They’d heard that he had stepped on a landmine. All those years, this Gold Star family honored the memory of their son and brother, whose name is etched forever on that granite wall not far from here. Late in her life, Don’s mother, Evelyn, finally learned the full story of her son’s sacrifice. And she made it her mission to have Don’s actions properly recognized.
Sadly, nearly three years ago, Evelyn passed away. But she always believed -- she knew -- that this day would come. She even bought a special dress to wear to this ceremony. We are honored that Don -- and his mom -- are represented here today by Don’s brother and sisters and their families. On behalf of this American family, I’d ask Don’s brother, Dr. Bill Sloat, to come forward for the reading of the citation and accept the gratitude of our nation.
MILITARY AIDE: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Specialist Four Donald P. Sloat, United States Army.
Specialist Four Donald P. Sloat distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Machinegunner with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on January 17, 1970.
On that morning, Specialist Four Sloat’s squad was conducting a patrol, serving as a blocking element in support of tanks and armored personnel carriers in the area. As the squad moved up a small hill in file formation, the lead soldier tripped a wire attached to a hand grenade booby trap set up by enemy forces. As the grenade rolled down the hill, Specialist Four Sloat knelt and picked up the grenade. After initially attempting to throw the grenade, Specialist Four Sloat realized that detonation was imminent. He then drew the grenade to his body and shielded his squad members from the blast, saving their lives.
Specialist Four Sloat’s actions define the ultimate sacrifice of laying down his own life in order to save the lives of his comrades. Specialist Four Donald P. Sloat’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division and the United States Army.
[The medal is presented] (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: At this point, I’d like to ask Bennie Adkins to come join me on stage.
Now, let me just say the first thing you need to know is when Bennie and I met in the Oval Office, he asked if he could sign back up. (Laughter.) His lovely wife was not amused. (Laughter.)
Most days, you can find Bennie at home down in Opelika, Alabama, tending his garden or his pontoon boat out on the lake. He’s been married to Mary for 58 years. He’s a proud father of five, grandfather of six; at 80 still going strong. A couple years ago, he came here to the White House with his fellow veterans for a breakfast we had on Veterans Day. He tells folk he was the only person he knows who has spilled his dessert in the White House. (Laughter.) And I just have to correct you, that makes two of us. (Laughter.) I’ve messed up my tie. I’ve messed up my pants. (Laughter.)
But in the spring of 1966, Bennie was just 32 years old, on his second tour in Vietnam. He and his fellow Green Berets were at an isolated camp along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. A huge North Vietnamese force attacked, bombarding Bennie and his comrades with mortars and white phosphorus. At a time, it was nearly impossible to move without being wounded or killed. But Bennie ran into enemy fire again and again -- to retrieve supplies and ammo; to carry the wounded to safety; to man the mortar pit, holding off wave after wave of enemy assaults. Three times, explosions blasted him out of that mortar pit, and three times, he returned.
I have to be honest, in a battle and daring escape that lasted four days, Bennie performed so many acts of bravery we actually don’t have time to talk about all of them. Let me just mention three.
On the first day, Bennie was helping load a wounded American onto a helicopter. A Vietnamese soldier jumped onto the helo trying to escape the battle, and aimed his weapon directly at the wounded soldier, ready to shoot. Bennie stepped in, shielded his comrade, placing himself directly in the line of fire, helping to save his wounded comrade.
At another point in the battle, Bennie and a few other soldiers were trapped in the mortar pit, covered in shrapnel and smoking debris. Their only exit was blocked by enemy machine gun fire. So Bennie thought fast. He dug a hole out of the pit and snuck out the other side. As another American escaped through that hole, he was shot in the leg. An enemy soldier charged him, hoping to capture a live POW and Bennie fired, taking out that enemy and pulling his fellow American to safety.
By the third day of battle, Bennie and a few others had managed to escape into the jungle. He had cuts and wounds all over his body, but he refused to be evacuated. When a rescue helicopter arrived, Bennie insisted that others go instead. And so, on the third night, Bennie, wounded and bleeding, found himself with his men up on that jungle hill, exhausted and surrounded, with the enemy closing in. And after all they had been through, as if it weren’t enough, there was something more -- you can’t make this up -- there in the jungle, they heard the growls of a tiger.
It turns out that tiger might have been the best thing that happened to Bennie in those -- during those days because, he says, “the North Vietnamese were more scared of that tiger than they were of us.” (Laughter.) So the enemy fled. Bennie and his squad made their escape. And they were rescued, finally, the next morning.
In Bennie’s life, we see the enduring service of our men and women in uniform. He went on to serve a third tour in Vietnam, a total of more than two decades in uniform. After he retired, he earned his Master’s Degree -– actually not one, but two. Opened up an accounting firm. Taught adult education classes. Became national commander of the Legion of Valor veterans organization. So he has earned his retirement, despite what he says. (Laughter.) He’s living outside Auburn. And, yes, he is a fan of the Auburn Tigers, although I did a poll of the family and there are some Crimson Tide fans here. (Laughter.) So there’s obviously some divisions.
But Bennie will tell you that he owes everything to the men he served with in Vietnam, especially the five who gave their lives in that battle. Every member of his unit was killed or wounded. Every single one was recognized for their service. Today, we’re joined by some of the men who served with Bennie, including Major John Bradford, the soldier that Bennie shielded in that helicopter, and Major Wayne Murray, the soldier Bennie saved from being captured. And I’d ask them and all our Vietnam veterans who are here today to please stand or raise your hand and to be recognized. (Applause.)
And now, I’d ask that the citation be read.
MILITARY AIDE: The President of the United States, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Bennie G. Adkins, United States Army.
Sergeant First Class Bennie G. Adkins distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Intelligence Sergeant with Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, during combat operations against an armed enemy at Camp A Shau, Republic of Vietnam, from March 9 to 12, 1966.
When the camp was attacked by a large North Vietnamese and Viet Cong force in the early morning hours, Sergeant First Class Adkins rushed through intense enemy fire and manned a mortar position continually adjusting fire for the camp, despite incurring wounds as the mortar pit received several direct hits from enemy mortars. Upon learning that several soldiers were wounded near the center of camp, he temporarily turned the mortar over to another soldier, ran through exploding mortar rounds, and dragged several comrades to safety.
As the hostile fire subsided, Sergeant First Class Adkins exposed himself to sporadic sniper fire while carrying his wounded comrades to the camp dispensary. When Sergeant First Class Adkins and his group of defenders came under heavy small arms fire from members of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group that had defected to fight with the North Vietnamese, he maneuvered outside the camp to evacuate a seriously wounded American and draw fire, all the while successfully covering the rescue. When a resupply air drop landed outside of the camp perimeter, Sergeant First Class Adkins, again, moved outside of the camp walls to retrieve the much-needed supplies.
During the early morning hours of March 10, 1966, enemy forces launched their main attack and within two hours, Sergeant First Class Adkins was the only man firing a mortar weapon. When all mortar rounds were expended, Sergeant First Class Adkins began placing effective recoilless rifle fire upon enemy positions. Despite receiving additional wounds from enemy rounds exploding on his position, Sergeant First Class Adkins fought off intense waves of attacking Viet Cong. Sergeant First Class Adkins eliminated numerous insurgents with small arms fire after withdrawing to a communications bunker with several soldiers. Running extremely low on ammunition, he returned to the mortar pit, gathered vital ammunition and ran through intense fire back to the bunker.
After being ordered to evacuate the camp, Sergeant First Class Adkins and a small group of soldiers destroyed all signal equipment and classified documents, dug their way out of the rear of the bunker and fought their way out of the camp. While carrying a wounded soldier to the extraction point he learned that the last helicopter had already departed.
Sergeant First Class Adkins led the group while evading the enemy until they were rescued by helicopter on March 12, 1966. During the 38-hour battle and 48 hours of escape and evasion, fighting with mortars, machine guns, recoilless rifles, small arms, and hand grenades, it was estimated that Sergeant First Class Adkins had killed between 135 and 175 of the enemy while sustaining 18 different wounds to his body.
Sergeant First Class Adkins’ extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces and the United States Army.
[The medal is presented.] (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Over the decades, our Vietnam veterans didn’t always receive the thanks and respect they deserved. That’s a fact. But as we have been reminded again today, our Vietnam vets were patriots and are patriots. You served with valor. You made us proud. And your service is with us for eternity. So no matter how long it takes, no matter how many years go by, we will continue to express our gratitude for your extraordinary service.
May God watch over Don Sloat and all those who have sacrificed for our country. May God keep safe those who wear our country’s uniform, and veterans like Bennie Adkins. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.
At this point I’d ask our chaplain to return to the stage for the benediction.
[The benediction is offered.]
THE PRESIDENT: And at this point, I would welcome everybody to join the Sloat family and the Adkins family for a reception. I hear the food is pretty good. (Laughter.) And once again, to all of you who serve and your families who serve along with them, the nation is grateful. And your Commander-in-Chief could not be prouder.
Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)
Family grieves after PTSD Marine veteran lost battle
Family mourns after local marine falls to PTSD
WECT News
By: Stacey Pinno
Posted: Sep 15, 2014
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT)
Nearly 10 percent of Americans will suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. It is a deadly sickness that has claimed the lives of countless military members -- it's most recent victim was a 32-year-old marine veteran from Pender County.
James "Jimmy" Salvatore Kalitz went missing on August 27, and left a note saying that he planned to hurt himself.
There was an extensive search for him until his body was found on August 31, by officials in a wooden area near his home in Pender County.
Kalitz was a member of the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Jacksonville, NC.
"Some of these pictures really capture his personality," smiled his sister Michelle Kalitz, as she pointed to the dozens of pictures that showed the happy and joyful life her brother had before PTSD took over.
Kalitz held a memorial for her older brother on Sunday to honor both his life and spread awareness of this common sickness.
read more here
WECT News
By: Stacey Pinno
Posted: Sep 15, 2014
Kalitz held a memorial for her older brother James on Sunday to honor both his life and spread awareness of this common sickness. (Source: WECT)
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT)
Nearly 10 percent of Americans will suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. It is a deadly sickness that has claimed the lives of countless military members -- it's most recent victim was a 32-year-old marine veteran from Pender County.
James "Jimmy" Salvatore Kalitz went missing on August 27, and left a note saying that he planned to hurt himself.
There was an extensive search for him until his body was found on August 31, by officials in a wooden area near his home in Pender County.
Kalitz was a member of the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Jacksonville, NC.
"Some of these pictures really capture his personality," smiled his sister Michelle Kalitz, as she pointed to the dozens of pictures that showed the happy and joyful life her brother had before PTSD took over.
Kalitz held a memorial for her older brother on Sunday to honor both his life and spread awareness of this common sickness.
read more here
PTSD Iraq Veteran Killed By Police After Wife Called For Help
Jeffrey Johnson ran out of medication moving from one place to another so he self-medicated with alcohol. His wife blames herself. When do we get that? When do we understand that the families left behind don't just suffer while their veterans struggle, but suffer more after the battle for life is lost?
Wife of Suspect Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting Says He Had PTSD
Big Country
Matthew Torres
09/14/2014
The wife of Jeffrey Johnson, the 33-year-old father and veteran killed during an officer-involved shooting last Friday, says he was dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.
Police first contacted Jeffrey at Best Western in north Abilene after receiving a welfare call indicating he may have been suicidal. Upon arrival, Johnson slammed and barricaded the door, and fired two shots from inside which nearly hit an officer, according to police.
The SWAT team arrived trying to make contact, but Jeffrey jumped out of the window and drove away. He was later found and followed until he entered Texas State Veteran's Cemetery on FM 600. That's when police say he drove and crashed into an officer's car.
The Abilene Police Department said the officer shot Jeffrey after he was seen pulling out a handgun.
The call was first made by Jeffrey's wife, Barbie Johnson, after receiving concerning messages from him. Prior to that, the couple got into a fight and Jeff stayed somewhere else. With suspicion that he was staying at a motel in Abilene, Barbie asked police to search for him.
read more here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)