War Vets, Kids Scarred by Gangs Help Each Other
CHICAGO
By SHARON COHEN AP National Writer
Sep 27, 2014
Jorge Maya sat in a circle at his neighborhood YMCA, a sturdy Afghanistan vet listening to a group of teenage boys scarred by gang violence.
There was Sammy, 16, who could describe the times he'd dodged gunfire, once ducking behind a tree.
Anderson, 17, who'd been around gangs most of his life. By his teens, he was carrying knives and bricks for protection.
And 14-year-old Fernando, who was just 12 when a pistol-wielding kid killed his friend.
Maya's own story was much the same. He'd grown up on the same streets, faced the same dangers, known the same temptations. He'd escaped Little Village, the largely Mexican community that had been home. He eventually joined the Army, trading one violent place for another, a war zone far away. And when he returned, he felt lost.
Now he was at the Y, sitting with other Afghanistan and Iraq vets and these teens, the two groups bound by a history of violence and trauma — on distant battlefields, nearby street corners or both.
They were the first class of a new YMCA-sponsored pilot program, Urban Warriors. For a dozen Saturdays, the two generations opened their hearts and minds, the vets finding new purpose after the war, the kids drawing guidance from mentors who understood their lives.
"I told them I've been through tough times," Maya says. "I've been shot. I dropped out of high school. I'd say, 'Look man, you can do something different with yourself. If I can do it, you can, too.'... There is hope."
read more here
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Navy Veteran has "home for life" because people cared
Navy veteran in danger of becoming homeless allowed to keep his home
WXYZ News
Jane Park
Sep 26, 2014
HAMBURG TOWNSHIP - Ross Dahlberg admits his Hamburg Township home is too big for one person. But he says he wouldn't want to be anywhere else - it's the home he shared with his wife until the divorce two years ago.
"I cry a lot. I miss her," Dahlberg said.
The split was tough on him. He eventually fell behind on mortgage payments and being in and out of the hospital didn't help.
In March, Dahlberg's home was foreclosed and sold at a sheriff's auction.
Friday, Sept. 26 would have been the end of the six-month redemption period. Dahlberg and his beloved dog, Schatz, would have been out on the streets.
The story takes a turn with Josh Parish, a veterans benefits counselor with the Livingston County Veterans Services department. He gets many calls for help, but the one he got from Dahlberg six months ago was different.
read more here
WXYZ News
Jane Park
Sep 26, 2014
HAMBURG TOWNSHIP - Ross Dahlberg admits his Hamburg Township home is too big for one person. But he says he wouldn't want to be anywhere else - it's the home he shared with his wife until the divorce two years ago.
"I cry a lot. I miss her," Dahlberg said.
The split was tough on him. He eventually fell behind on mortgage payments and being in and out of the hospital didn't help.
In March, Dahlberg's home was foreclosed and sold at a sheriff's auction.
Friday, Sept. 26 would have been the end of the six-month redemption period. Dahlberg and his beloved dog, Schatz, would have been out on the streets.
The story takes a turn with Josh Parish, a veterans benefits counselor with the Livingston County Veterans Services department. He gets many calls for help, but the one he got from Dahlberg six months ago was different.
read more here
Watchfire Burns for the Missing
Watchfire Burns for those Missing in Action
Ithaca.com
By Chris Hooker
September 27, 2014
A bonfire burned brightly Friday night at Myers Point Park in Lansing, but to veterans everywhere, it was something much more symbolic.
Last week, September 19, the Finger Lakes Chapter #377 of the Vietnam Veterans of America held their 24th Annual Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Watch Fire at 7 p.m. The watch fire was held in commemoration of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The watch fire is an enormous bonfire that can be seen from afar, and especially across the lake from Myers Point Park. The watch fire aspect of National POW/MIA Recognition Day is not just a Lansing thing, as cities and towns all of America honor those who are still listed as a prisoner of war and missing in action in the same way.
"It’s the recognition of MIAs and POWs," said organizer Danny Baker, of Vietnam Veterans of America. "There are still people missing from Vietnam, Korea, World War II, Korea and Afghanistan. It’s just a way to bring attention that there are still people missing, so politicians won’t forget."
read more here
Ithaca.com
By Chris Hooker
September 27, 2014
Remembering the Missing
ROTC members from three colleges showed up to light the symbolic beacon for missing soldiers on the shore of Cayuga Lake.
A bonfire burned brightly Friday night at Myers Point Park in Lansing, but to veterans everywhere, it was something much more symbolic.
Last week, September 19, the Finger Lakes Chapter #377 of the Vietnam Veterans of America held their 24th Annual Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Watch Fire at 7 p.m. The watch fire was held in commemoration of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The watch fire is an enormous bonfire that can be seen from afar, and especially across the lake from Myers Point Park. The watch fire aspect of National POW/MIA Recognition Day is not just a Lansing thing, as cities and towns all of America honor those who are still listed as a prisoner of war and missing in action in the same way.
"It’s the recognition of MIAs and POWs," said organizer Danny Baker, of Vietnam Veterans of America. "There are still people missing from Vietnam, Korea, World War II, Korea and Afghanistan. It’s just a way to bring attention that there are still people missing, so politicians won’t forget."
read more here
Firefighters and Vietnam Veteran Rush to Save People Trapped by Fire
Huntsville firefighters, Vietnam veteran rescue residents trapped in apartment fire
Al.com
By Jonathan Grass
September 26, 2014
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- A fire in a north Huntsville apartment complex left residents fleeing the building anyway they could, even if that meant through the second story windows. When two of those residents didn't get out, firefighters went in and pulled them to safety.
Fire crews arrived at Redbrick Square Apartments at 2216 North Memorial Parkway at about 6 p.m. to find heavy smoke coming from a downstairs unit. That smoke traveled the halls throughout the building. Huntsville Fire and Rescue spokesman Capt. Frank McKenzie said everyone had gotten out at that point except two women in the unit directly above the one on fire.
Al.com
By Jonathan Grass
September 26, 2014
Huntsville firefighters rescued two people from an upstairs unit when a fire broke out at Redbrick Square Apartments on Friday. Some residents fled the building by jumping from the upstairs windows.
(Jonathan Grass/jgrass@al.com)
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- A fire in a north Huntsville apartment complex left residents fleeing the building anyway they could, even if that meant through the second story windows. When two of those residents didn't get out, firefighters went in and pulled them to safety.
Fire crews arrived at Redbrick Square Apartments at 2216 North Memorial Parkway at about 6 p.m. to find heavy smoke coming from a downstairs unit. That smoke traveled the halls throughout the building. Huntsville Fire and Rescue spokesman Capt. Frank McKenzie said everyone had gotten out at that point except two women in the unit directly above the one on fire.
A neighbor in the complex came to the rescue of another woman trying to escape to the ground below. Billy Smith said he smelled the smoke and followed it to the building where his friend lived. He saw his friend had already made it out safe but a woman was trying to get down to the ground. The Vietnam veteran said he grabbed her legs and helped her down.
read more here
VIDEO: US troops sent to advise Afghan forces drawn into firefight
VIDEO: US troops sent to advise Afghan forces drawn into firefight
Stars and Stripes
By Jad Sleiman
Published: September 26, 2014
LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Earlier this month, Dragon Troop returned to Combat Outpost Kherwar, which was turned over to the Afghan National Army in 2011, to help coordinate a major clearance operation against Taliban forces in the area.
They were the first American soldiers to set foot in this remote corner of Logar province in more than three years. Deployed to support an Afghan battalion, they did not intend to engage in combat. The Taliban, however, had other plans for them.
When early success against the militants left the Afghans with more territory than they could control, Gen. Abdul Raziq asked the Americans to cover for the last days of the mission.
The Americans agreed to help, and their advise-and-assist mission quickly turned to open combat.
“Our role wasn’t really to fight,” said Lt. Graham Hennig, a platoon leader with Dragon Troop. “It just so happened that the fight crept it’s way up to us.”
read more here
Stars and Stripes
By Jad Sleiman
Published: September 26, 2014
LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Earlier this month, Dragon Troop returned to Combat Outpost Kherwar, which was turned over to the Afghan National Army in 2011, to help coordinate a major clearance operation against Taliban forces in the area.
They were the first American soldiers to set foot in this remote corner of Logar province in more than three years. Deployed to support an Afghan battalion, they did not intend to engage in combat. The Taliban, however, had other plans for them.
When early success against the militants left the Afghans with more territory than they could control, Gen. Abdul Raziq asked the Americans to cover for the last days of the mission.
The Americans agreed to help, and their advise-and-assist mission quickly turned to open combat.
“Our role wasn’t really to fight,” said Lt. Graham Hennig, a platoon leader with Dragon Troop. “It just so happened that the fight crept it’s way up to us.”
read more here
Marine's Best Friend Lost Limb to Save Him
A Marine's Best Friend
Parade
SEPTEMBER 27, 2014
Military dogs are often our troops’ first line of defense, sniffing out hidden bombs in some of the most dangerous places on earth. This excerpt from the new book Top Dog by Maria Goodavage recalls the sacrifice and bravery of a smart German Shepherd–Belgian Malinois mix, who led Special Forces soldiers onto a battlefield in Afghanistan’s Helmand River valley in March of 2012. But it also captures the loyalty and trust that develop between a dog and her handler and the deep, loving bond that lasts a lifetime.
Rod watched his dog Lucca, who was 30 feet ahead, inspecting for IEDs. Unlike much of the agricultural land around here, this field was barren. In the distance, a compound, a tree line, some worn-down mountains.
Rod could see Lucca trotting with a purpose, nose down, tail up. She was an old pro at the business of sniffing IEDs off leash. “Good girl, Mama Lucca,” he said under his breath.
Lucca Bear. Lucca Pie. Bearcat Jones. Mama Lucca. The Special Forces soldiers Rod was working with had come to know Lucca by all the terms of endearment she had inspired during her career. She had led more than 400 missions, and no one had been hurt by an IED when they were with her.
Mama Lucca was the name that had stuck lately. She was the only one that the Green Berets felt comfortable hugging after a tough day. The maternal moniker was a natural fit.
A History of Canines in Combat
Parade
SEPTEMBER 27, 2014
Military dogs are often our troops’ first line of defense, sniffing out hidden bombs in some of the most dangerous places on earth. This excerpt from the new book Top Dog by Maria Goodavage recalls the sacrifice and bravery of a smart German Shepherd–Belgian Malinois mix, who led Special Forces soldiers onto a battlefield in Afghanistan’s Helmand River valley in March of 2012. But it also captures the loyalty and trust that develop between a dog and her handler and the deep, loving bond that lasts a lifetime.
Marine Cpl. Juan “Rod” Rodriguez crunched across the dry farm field, his right hand resting on the M4 rifle strapped to his chest. He kept clear of the path that meandered through hard clumps of dirt that looked nothing like the rich soil of his New England roots. The road less traveled—ideally, no road at all—was the safest from homemade bombs sowed by the Taliban.Rod never left Lucca's side as she recovered from surgery.(Courtesy of Juan Rodgriguez)
Rod watched his dog Lucca, who was 30 feet ahead, inspecting for IEDs. Unlike much of the agricultural land around here, this field was barren. In the distance, a compound, a tree line, some worn-down mountains.
Rod could see Lucca trotting with a purpose, nose down, tail up. She was an old pro at the business of sniffing IEDs off leash. “Good girl, Mama Lucca,” he said under his breath.
Lucca Bear. Lucca Pie. Bearcat Jones. Mama Lucca. The Special Forces soldiers Rod was working with had come to know Lucca by all the terms of endearment she had inspired during her career. She had led more than 400 missions, and no one had been hurt by an IED when they were with her.
Mama Lucca was the name that had stuck lately. She was the only one that the Green Berets felt comfortable hugging after a tough day. The maternal moniker was a natural fit.
A cloud of gray smoke erupted before Rod heard the explosion. “No!” Rod shouted, squeezing his helmet between his hands. Radios around him buzzed into a frenzy, but he didn’t hear words. As the curtain of debris curled away, he could see Lucca had dragged herself up and was standing, dazed, alive. Rod dashed toward her, not thinking about IEDs that might be between them. Lucca could take only a few steps before Rod swept her up in his arms.
A History of Canines in Combat
When called, these tail-wagging warriors became battlefield heroes
Sgt. Stubby served through 17 battles in World War I, leading medics to the wounded and saving his regiment from a gas attack. He made the front page of newspapers back home when he caught a German spy literally by the seat of his pants.
Smoky, a Yorkie discovered in a foxhole in New Guinea during World War II, accompanied Cpl. William A. Wynne (often riding in his backpack) for nearly two years through the South Pacific. When Wynne was hospitalized, Smoky lifted the spirits of other patients and even went on rounds. She’s considered the first therapy dog.
Nemo protected his handler, Robert Thorneburg, during a fight with Viet Cong in South Vietnam. Despite a gunshot wound and an injury that would lead to the loss of his eye, the 85-pound German Shepherd crawled on top of his injured handler until help arrived.
read more here
Georgia Korean War Veteran Had to Prove He's Not Dead Yet
VA declares living Korean War veteran dead, stops benefits: report
William Maroney, of Henry County, Ga., needed his medical insurance more than ever after his wife of 65 years died and his health took a turn for the worse. But Veterans Affairs declared the 82-year-old grandfather dead instead, which reportedly halted the benefits until his family brought their woes to the media.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
BY MICHAEL WALSH
September 26, 2014
A Korean War veteran's much-need disability benefits and medical insurance were cut off when he was inexplicably declared dead, his family said.
William Maroney, 82, is still alive but not doing well and needs coverage while he is bound to his bed at a nursing home in Henry County, Ga., WSB-TV reported.
His health deteriorated after his wife of 65 years passed away on June 9 but the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs thought he died, according to his granddaughter Bridgett Maroney.
"They think he's dead. They told me this man is deceased," Maroney told the local ABC affiliate. "I said,
'No ma'am, he is not deceased, he is sitting right here in front of me.'"
William Maroney, of Henry County, Ga., needed his medical insurance more than ever after his wife of 65 years died and his health took a turn for the worse. But Veterans Affairs declared the 82-year-old grandfather dead instead, which reportedly halted the benefits until his family brought their woes to the media.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
BY MICHAEL WALSH
September 26, 2014
A Korean War veteran's much-need disability benefits and medical insurance were cut off when he was inexplicably declared dead, his family said.
William Maroney, 82, is still alive but not doing well and needs coverage while he is bound to his bed at a nursing home in Henry County, Ga., WSB-TV reported.
His health deteriorated after his wife of 65 years passed away on June 9 but the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs thought he died, according to his granddaughter Bridgett Maroney.
"They think he's dead. They told me this man is deceased," Maroney told the local ABC affiliate. "I said,
'No ma'am, he is not deceased, he is sitting right here in front of me.'"
"I called a hundred different numbers, (and) everybody rerouted me to other numbers and stuff," she said.
So she contacted WSB-TV who ran a story on the mix-up Thursday night. Afterward, the Veterans Affairs' Atlanta regional office sent a statement to the station saying that the issue has been resolved.
read more here
Marine facing involuntary manslaughter charges
New Info: Marine charged in fatal April shooting at Camp Lejeune gates
WNCT News
By WNCT STAFF
Sep 26, 2014
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A Camp Lejeune Marine has been charged in the apparent negligent shooting by another Marine aboard Camp Lejeune in April.
9 On Your Side reported back then that Lance Cpl. Mark Boterf, 21, was killed after being shot while guarding the bases' gates.
Lieutenant Adam Flores at Camp Lejeune now confirms that Lance Cpl. Brandon Little is facing involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide and dereliction of duty charges in Boterf's death.
Flores tells us Little is a field artillery cannoneer assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment. He has awards including the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
read more here
WNCT News
By WNCT STAFF
Sep 26, 2014
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A Camp Lejeune Marine has been charged in the apparent negligent shooting by another Marine aboard Camp Lejeune in April.
9 On Your Side reported back then that Lance Cpl. Mark Boterf, 21, was killed after being shot while guarding the bases' gates.
Lieutenant Adam Flores at Camp Lejeune now confirms that Lance Cpl. Brandon Little is facing involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide and dereliction of duty charges in Boterf's death.
Flores tells us Little is a field artillery cannoneer assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment. He has awards including the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
read more here
Happily Ever After Marines Marry on Battleship
Marines marry on historic Battleship Texas
Wedding almost didn't happen after bride suffered hip injury in boot camp
Click2Houston
Author: Keith Garvin, Anchor/Reporter
Published On: Sep 26 2014
LA PORTE, Texas
The setting: The historic Battleship Texas on the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. The occasion: A wedding complete with an arch on the bow of the ship. Oh, and don't forget the beaming mother of the bride.
"I'm very happy and Kasey's awesome and she's really happy," said the bride's mother, Linda Hann. "You know, that's what we want for our kids."
Lance Cpl. Kasey Graham, from Tarkington Prairie in Liberty County, met his bride, Pvt. Mallory Curtner of Conroe, at a local Marine recruiting station earlier this year.
read more here
Wedding almost didn't happen after bride suffered hip injury in boot camp
Click2Houston
Author: Keith Garvin, Anchor/Reporter
Published On: Sep 26 2014
LA PORTE, Texas
The setting: The historic Battleship Texas on the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. The occasion: A wedding complete with an arch on the bow of the ship. Oh, and don't forget the beaming mother of the bride.
"I'm very happy and Kasey's awesome and she's really happy," said the bride's mother, Linda Hann. "You know, that's what we want for our kids."
Lance Cpl. Kasey Graham, from Tarkington Prairie in Liberty County, met his bride, Pvt. Mallory Curtner of Conroe, at a local Marine recruiting station earlier this year.
read more here
Veterans Victimized by Congressional Ambivalence
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
September 27, 2014
Why do we keep asking why instead of "why not" when things go wrong. We have a huge problem with settling for the obviously easy answers.
The headline over at the Houston Chronicle "White House intruder seen as victim of Iraq war" is a great example of that. The story of Omar Gonzalez captured national attention because he was filmed hoping over the fence at the White House, outrunning Secret Service and dogs. What most people missed was that he has PTSD, is an amputee and happens to be a homeless veteran.
Sig Christenson wrote "Those close to Gonzalez, veterans and experts familiar with the effect on troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan say Gonzalez likely is a casualty of war. Thousands of veterans suffer post-traumatic stress, and experts have said not enough is being done to help them." What Christenson didn't seem able to explain was why he put "victim" in the title.
Gonzalez is not a "victim of war" but is a survivor of it.
They have sunk to a new low when they decided to leave Washington when we are yet again on the brink of war in Iraq and Syria hanging like the Sword of Damocles. They did a lot of talking over the years as everything got worse. They also did a lot of spending on stupid stuff that really didn't work. They just kept writing the checks to fund FUBAR like Comprehensive Soldier Fitness and "Resilience Training" no one seemed able to show one single shred of proof it worked before they bought it. It was a research project to give school aged kids a better self image of themselves.
RAND Corp told Congress they had better pay attention to PTSD Afghanistan and Iraq veterans in 2008.
In 2013 RAND issued the most damaging report of all. The "programs" didn't work.
List of Resilience Programs Reviewed by RAND
Christenson wrote that "A little more than 1.8 million troops have served in one or both theaters of war, and 60 percent of the war veterans have received VA health care since 2002. They were screened upon returning from the war zone, having face-to-face interviews with health-care providers, but troops still must disclose their concerns." but here is the truth on that.
That report from March of 2013 also stated
As for screenings, the don't really do that either. The Senate Armed Services Committee held hearing after hearing with the Joint Vice Chiefs of Staff and were told that they were doing pre-deployment screenings.
The military leaders have attempted time and time again to point the finger at the troops instead of what they were doing to them. Nice trick if people settled for their response however the truth has been out there for years. Too many people made the choice to ignore the obvious.
People keep wondering why there are so many suicides but the question asked by those among us paying attention is, "Why aren't there more of them?"
Actually there are many more.
The DOD no longer has to count the ones we call veterans. Once they are out of the military, they are not an issue for the DOD, not that it mattered when they were. They fall under the Department of Veterans Affairs.
When the "22 veteran suicides a day" is quoted the edited portion is, 21 states were part of the study leaving out California, Texas and Florida and is only an average of the participating states. The numbers came from certificates of death and not from the VA. Within the VA database among the 4 million veterans they treat, there are an additional 1,000 a month attempting suicide. While most seem to only want to see this happening among Afghanistan and Iraq veterans the bitter truth is that 78% of the suicides are 50 and older.
The numbers are only a fraction of what we will never know for sure. The only people with the right numbers are the families. Most of them still feel as if they have something to be ashamed of, so they don't talk publicly about what happened.
That's all the bad parts. There is still another "why not" question we keep missing. Why have so many not committed suicide and found what they needed to heal?
Most veterans with PTSD do not commit suicide. They were finally able to see within themselves the healing property of truth. They had no evil intention when they decided to join and risk their lives. They didn't risk their lives for any other reason than a deep devotion to those they served with.
Sure we can settle for "their country needed them" but the truth is, we needed all of them to retain the freedom obtained by those who risked all in the 1700's and long before as members of the National Guards called the Minute Men
They paid a price because they cared so deeply feeling the events more extremely. They used that same strength of emotions within them to heal then managed to yet again push past their own pain to help other veterans.
Some get to witness this all the time when attending veterans events or spending time with groups. While far too many veterans seem to seek nothing more than "fitting" back in with people who will never understand them, more seek to return to the brotherhood of those bonded to battle. There is no judgement or shame among them. They are understood by other veterans. They are support by those who share the experience of what others simply write about. The least we can do for these men and women is taking the time to get it right.
Kathie Costos
September 27, 2014
Why do we keep asking why instead of "why not" when things go wrong. We have a huge problem with settling for the obviously easy answers.
The headline over at the Houston Chronicle "White House intruder seen as victim of Iraq war" is a great example of that. The story of Omar Gonzalez captured national attention because he was filmed hoping over the fence at the White House, outrunning Secret Service and dogs. What most people missed was that he has PTSD, is an amputee and happens to be a homeless veteran.
Sig Christenson wrote "Those close to Gonzalez, veterans and experts familiar with the effect on troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan say Gonzalez likely is a casualty of war. Thousands of veterans suffer post-traumatic stress, and experts have said not enough is being done to help them." What Christenson didn't seem able to explain was why he put "victim" in the title.
Gonzalez is not a "victim of war" but is a survivor of it.
No veteran is a "victim" of anything other than when they are victimized by Congressional ambivalence.
Ambivalence: simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action
They have sunk to a new low when they decided to leave Washington when we are yet again on the brink of war in Iraq and Syria hanging like the Sword of Damocles. They did a lot of talking over the years as everything got worse. They also did a lot of spending on stupid stuff that really didn't work. They just kept writing the checks to fund FUBAR like Comprehensive Soldier Fitness and "Resilience Training" no one seemed able to show one single shred of proof it worked before they bought it. It was a research project to give school aged kids a better self image of themselves.
RAND Corp told Congress they had better pay attention to PTSD Afghanistan and Iraq veterans in 2008.
RAND researchers extrapolated from a survey they conducted of 1,965 vets to conclude that nearly 300,000 service members and vets of Iraq and Afghanistan were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder — PTSD — or major depression. Filner told the pair of researchers, who summarized their findings for his committee, that their work probably understated the problem.
In 2013 RAND issued the most damaging report of all. The "programs" didn't work.
List of Resilience Programs Reviewed by RAND
Christenson wrote that "A little more than 1.8 million troops have served in one or both theaters of war, and 60 percent of the war veterans have received VA health care since 2002. They were screened upon returning from the war zone, having face-to-face interviews with health-care providers, but troops still must disclose their concerns." but here is the truth on that.
Since the U.S. went to war in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, about 2.5 million members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and related Reserve and National Guard units have been deployed in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, according to Department of Defense data. Of those, more than a third were deployed more than once.
That report from March of 2013 also stated
"As of last September, more than 1.6 million military members who’d been deployed in what’s classified as the global war on terror – in Iraq and Afghanistan, primarily – had transitioned to veteran status, VA records show. Of those, about 1 million were from active-duty service and about 675,000 from Reserve or guard deployments.
And of those, about 670,000 veterans have been awarded disability status connected to their military service. Another 100,000 have their initial claims pending, according to a November VA analysis.
As for screenings, the don't really do that either. The Senate Armed Services Committee held hearing after hearing with the Joint Vice Chiefs of Staff and were told that they were doing pre-deployment screenings.
The GAO Report Mental Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Screening Efforts Implemented, but Consistent Pre-Deployment Medical Record Review Policies Needed" but the Generals admitted that while they were doing pre-deployment screenings, they were not doing post-deployment screenings. The excuse was they did not have enough time or mental health workers. They also stated they were getting too many "false-positive" results.This is what they were talking about in 2010, four years ago.
The military leaders have attempted time and time again to point the finger at the troops instead of what they were doing to them. Nice trick if people settled for their response however the truth has been out there for years. Too many people made the choice to ignore the obvious.
People keep wondering why there are so many suicides but the question asked by those among us paying attention is, "Why aren't there more of them?"
Actually there are many more.
The DOD no longer has to count the ones we call veterans. Once they are out of the military, they are not an issue for the DOD, not that it mattered when they were. They fall under the Department of Veterans Affairs.
When the "22 veteran suicides a day" is quoted the edited portion is, 21 states were part of the study leaving out California, Texas and Florida and is only an average of the participating states. The numbers came from certificates of death and not from the VA. Within the VA database among the 4 million veterans they treat, there are an additional 1,000 a month attempting suicide. While most seem to only want to see this happening among Afghanistan and Iraq veterans the bitter truth is that 78% of the suicides are 50 and older.
The numbers are only a fraction of what we will never know for sure. The only people with the right numbers are the families. Most of them still feel as if they have something to be ashamed of, so they don't talk publicly about what happened.
That's all the bad parts. There is still another "why not" question we keep missing. Why have so many not committed suicide and found what they needed to heal?
Most veterans with PTSD do not commit suicide. They were finally able to see within themselves the healing property of truth. They had no evil intention when they decided to join and risk their lives. They didn't risk their lives for any other reason than a deep devotion to those they served with.
They paid a price because they cared so deeply feeling the events more extremely. They used that same strength of emotions within them to heal then managed to yet again push past their own pain to help other veterans.
Some get to witness this all the time when attending veterans events or spending time with groups. While far too many veterans seem to seek nothing more than "fitting" back in with people who will never understand them, more seek to return to the brotherhood of those bonded to battle. There is no judgement or shame among them. They are understood by other veterans. They are support by those who share the experience of what others simply write about. The least we can do for these men and women is taking the time to get it right.
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