Street Rod Truck Dedicated to Vietnam Veterans

Street Rod Nationals truck dedicated to Vietnam Veterans
ABC 27 News
By Samantha Galvez
Published: June 5, 2016

“It’s just a great feeling now after 45 years to actually have somebody come up and say, ‘thank you,’ and shake your hand,” Charlie Bryson, a Vietnam Veteran, said.

YORK, Pa. (WHTM) – More than 3,000 street rods made their way through the York Expo Center this weekend, but one stood out among the rest; a 1946 Chevy with Vietnam Veteran signatures all over it.

“The Vietnam Veterans have a symbol of respect for each other called, ‘welcome home,’ and it’s so nice to meet a veteran that I have never met before from Vietnam to just approach me and say, ‘welcome home.’,” Dennis Dahlinger, a Vietnam Veteran, said.

The truck has more than a thousand signatures on it.
read more here

Other Than Honorable Discharges to Be Reviewed for PTSD and TBI

They know it happened, as with all other wars. What we do not know is who has been held accountable for service members suffering after they were kicked out instead of being helped?

PTSD to be factor in benefits decisions for sailors, Marines kicked out of military
The Virginian-Pilot
By Brock Vergakis
Jun 1, 2016

Under Mabus’ order, sailors and Marines who suffer from PTSD, TBI or any other mental condition who did not receive an honorable discharge may have that decision reviewed.

Sailors and Marines who are kicked out of the military for misconduct now may be eligible for disability benefits if they’ve been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or any other mental health condition that contributed to their behavior, under an order signed Wednesday by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

The order is the first of its type in the military and serves as another acknowledgment that many service members return home from combat with invisible psychological wounds that affect their daily lives.

“For more than a decade, we’ve asked a tremendous amount of our people and their families,” Mabus said in a statement. “In turn, we have a responsibility to support their needs, whether they are serving the Navy and Marine Corps mission around the globe or transitioning from uniformed service to civilian life.”

It wasn’t immediately clear how many people the order might affect.

About 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan suffer PTSD in a given year, according to statistics from the National Center for PTSD.

“Keeping faith with veterans under all circumstances is our solemn vow,” Mabus said. “It is vitally important to address those service members whose separation is a result of PTSD/TBI.”
read more here

Conscientious Objector To Heroic Action in Vietnam

Vietnam War veteran awarded overdue medals
The Missoulian
MIKE FERGUSON
Jun 2, 2016

BILLINGS – Nearly 50 years after performing the heroic deeds that garnered him medals including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, Vietnam War medic Gary Booth of Billings finally received what he’d earned Wednesday – with the help of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.

Tester told a crowd he has awarded overdue medals to more than 900 Montana veterans during his two terms in the senate. Booth’s story – which Tester plans to read into the Congressional Record next week – “is the longest citation I’ve ever done,” he said, “which speaks to what you’ve done in theater.”

Booth, 71, registered as a conscientious objector before being called into army service in 1965. According to the citation, Booth’s unit was ambushed by a battalion four times its size on Feb. 21, 1967.

It was Booth’s job to brave enemy fire and run to wounded American soldiers to stop the bleeding and stabilize them until they could be moved.
read more here

News Investigation Gets Justice for Camp Lejeune Marine

TV news investigation prompts action on Camp Lejeune poison water VA claim
WJHL News
By Mark Douglas
Published: June 2, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Bob Miranda-Boulay says he suffers from 16 medical conditions brought about by toxic water he drank at Camp Lejeune while training as a recruit in the Marine reserves 21 years ago.

Now, after three years of waiting and medical claim denials by the VA Boulay has a glimmer of hope, thanks to an 8 on Your Side investigation that caught the attention of VA claims managers in Louisville, Kentucky. They arranged for a Skype hearing at the VA Service Center at Bay Pines Friday. “If it wasn’t for you doing the story I wouldn’t be here today,” said Boulay after the hearing.

Boulay’s attorneys say out of the blue they received a call from a VA hearing officer about a week after we reported on Boulay’s inability to get assistance from the VA. The story had been re-broadcast by other Media General TV stations and was linked on a number of websites catering to veterans.
read more here

Vietnam Veteran Remembers Donut Dollie

Soldier remembers a 'Donut Dollie'
The Dispatch
June 4, 2106

"I came home from Vietnam on Jan. 22, 1971. Every year on Memorial Day I pause to remember several names of those I knew who will be “forever young.” Hannah’s name is one of those names." Vietnam Veteran Doug Rowe

Editor: In June 1969, I was a young Army soldier in Vietnam. Late in the summer a group of young ladies arrived in our unit. These young ladies were Red Cross “Donut Dollies.” Any war vet will recognize this title because Red Cross Donut Dollies have served soldiers in all wars since World War I including 627 who served during the Vietnam War. These young ladies went to Vietnam to give a year of their life to “bring home” to young soldiers like me.
I quickly struck up a conversation with one of the young ladies who came to visit us that day in the summer of ’69. One of the first questions she asked me was, “Where are you from?” When I told her I was from Lexington, N.C., her face lit up and with a measure of disbelief she told me that she was from Thomasville. Hannah and I made an instant connection, and although she was there to lift the spirits of all the men in our unit she spent her time exclusively with me. When Hannah left our unit we expressed hope that we would see each other again “back home.”
read more here

"Passion for Flag" on Memorial Day Cost Veteran His Job?

Former Marine fired from job for lowering flag on Memorial Day
FOX News
June 5, 2016

A former U.S. Marine said Friday he was fired from his contract job with Time Warner Cable in Charlotte after he lowered the American flag to half-staff on Memorial Day.

Allen Thornwell, 29, was thinking about his best friend, a former Marine who he said killed himself two years ago when he returned to the U.S., the Charlotte Observer reported.

The paper reported that Thornwell was fired Tuesday. The service that arranged the job for Thornwell said Time Warner told them they were disturbed by what was termed as “passion for the flag and (his) political affiliation.”

Thornwell said he remains in shock over his firing. Murphy Archibald, Thornwell’s attorney, said his client should have never lost his job.

Thornwell, who was discharged in 2014, knew the U.S. Flag Code policy which states that the banner should be half-staff until noon on Memorial Day. Thornwell said the incident happened at around 2:30 p.m. He said he wishes now he had permission.
read more here

Two Fort Hood Soldiers Lost in Flood From Florida

Fort Hood releases names of soldiers killed in training accident
FOX News
June 5, 2016

Fort Hood officials released the names of eight of the nine soldiers Saturday who were killed earlier this week in Texas after floodwaters overturned an Army tactical vehicle at a low-water crossing during a training exercise.

Officials identified the soldiers as

Staff Sgt. Miguel Angel Colonvazquez, 38, of Brooklyn, New York

Spc. Christine Faith Armstrong, 27, of Twentynine Palms, California

Pfc. Brandon Austin Banner, 22, of Milton, Florida

Pfc. Zachery Nathaniel Fuller, 23, of Palmetto, Florida

Pvt. Isaac Lee Deleon, 19, of San Angelo, Texas

Pvt. Eddy Raelaurin Gates, 20, of Dunn, North Carolina

Pvt. Tysheena Lynette James, 21, of Jersey City, New Jersey

Cadet Mitchell Alexander Winey, 21, of Valparaiso, Indiana.

Officials with the post said the name of the ninth soldier who died won’t be released until the family can be notified.
read more here

Pfc. Zachery Fuller, 23, was a "health nut," she said. A Palmetto resident and third-generation soldier, he especially loved the camaraderie of the military.

Service Dogs vs Puppy Pets

There seems to be a lot of confusion over service dogs, beginning with why they are so expensive. If our experience with our puppy Murray helps you understand, then maybe donate to help service dogs get proper training. If nothing else, then please understand how much work goes into training them properly.

Our German Shepherd puppy was two months old when I knew I met my match. Now at three months he already weighs 27 pounds and will reach about 100. He is my sixth dog, so I am used to training large breed puppies just as pets. 

With Murray, it was obvious he was very smart. The problem is he only does what he wants to do when he wants to do it. Our biggest issues with him were barking because he felt like it and bitting. (Guess he thought we were chew toys.)

We got Murray right from a local breeder after we had to put down our five year old Harry. He was Rottweiler-Rhodesian Ridgeback-Hound. In other words, a handful.

He was the palace guard and pillow prince. No one could get near our house. It was not so much we were worried about him bitting someone.  We were worried he was thinking dinner just arrived. As soon as someone came over, he had to go into the cage. Harry was actually easier to train than Murray. 

During a visit to our veterinarian, she looked at our arms and asked what was going on.  We told her what we tried to do to get him to stop bitting.  The last straw was taking coins, putting them into a container and shaking it.  While it worked to frighten him, Murray ended up getting mad and bit me.  The vet said, "You're getting a trainer now."

We knew he was smart because my husband had him sitting, giving his paw, laying down and even rolling over on command.  He also knew what several words meant.  No dummy here however far from ready to learn he isn't the alpha male.

John McGrath of JM Canine Services was recommended and we are glad we called him. It isn't cheap but worth every penny.

Puppy Training $575
This package is for puppies under one year of age and includes an evaluation of your puppy, 5 private 1 hour in-home sessions (covering obedience training, problem solving, housebreaking, etc.) and the 6 week Basic Obedience class.

You did notice how long we're talking about. Eleven weeks of training just for a pet, not a service dog. It can take up to two years to train a service dog properly. Keep in mind that there is also constant work going on with these dogs, just as with canine pets, it ain't easy.

The AKC explains the difference between therapy dogs, service dogs and support animals. With service dogs, they are allowed anywhere with the disabled person they are trained for.

SERVICE DOGS
Service dogs have full public access rights. Actually, to be technically correct, the rights are given to the person -- the service dog user who has a disability. If the dog were being handled by a non-diabled person, public access rights don’t apply. Service dogs are dogs that are individually trained to work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Service dogs have specialized training. Examples include guiding people who are blind or alerting a person who is deaf to a sound.

PTSD dogs are service dogs. There is a category of service dog that is gaining a lot of attention and that is the PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) dogs who are working with people with PTSD. PTSD can result with any major trauma; this is not only military veterans as the caller above thought. PTSD can be the result of war, rape, witnessing a violent crime, being the victim of a violent crime or abuse, etc.

While some veterans seem to think that they do not have to assure business owners their dogs are actually training and are actually service dogs, you need to keep in mind that anyone can buy a vest and even a certificate online with absolutely no right to do so. They make real service dogs look bad because they are clearly not trained. Think about how you would feel if you allowed in a dog you thought was trained only to have that dog bite a customer. Until Congress gets their act together, there will always be a doubt you need to remove. 

Your dog is supposed to help with your stress. Not add to it. While the law protects your right, you have to consider other people.

The only way to get folks to relax over dogs is to be a good example. Once they see how well behaved your dog is, they will be able to spot a fake a mile away.

Another issue that pops up is with veterans traveling with their dogs and checking into lodging without telling the staff you have one. There are people staying in rooms who are allergic to dogs and no amount of cleaning will remove everything left behind. Most are "pet friendly" and have special rooms for people with animals. That includes service dogs. You cannot just stay in any room you want and yes, often you do have to pay a pet fee. 

Be considerate of other people and set an example for the staff about how responsible a true service dog owner really is.

What does the VA say about PTSD Service Dogs?

Las Vegas DA Challenges Authority of Veterans Court?

DA Wolfson challenges standing of courts that help veterans
Las Vegas Review Journal
Keith Rogers
June 4, 2016

“For five years, it has worked great and there wasn’t any problems. Why now? I don’t know.” Judge Mark Stevens

Steve Wolfson, Clark County District Attorney, speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas to discuss ongoing efforts to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors.

(Jacob Kepler/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Other than judges themselves, few people know the virtue of veterans treatment courts better than Jason Brooks.

The 43-year-old Iraq War Marine veteran was among the first to graduate from Henderson Municipal Veterans Court with his domestic violence case dismissed and records sealed.

He’s gone from being a client to a mentor. Now he helps other veterans facing misdemeanor DUI and domestic violence charges meet the requirements of counseling, rehabilitation and community service to get a second chance at succeeding in life.

Gov. Jim Gibbons signed a 2008 law creating veterans courts; they were established three years later. Now, after five years, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has filed papers with the Nevada Supreme Court challenging the legal authority for municipal and justice courts to host veterans treatment courts. He contends the law specified only District Courts have authority for veterans courts.

“It makes no sense. We have a proven track record that it’s working,” Brooks said Thursday. “We’ve been doing it for five years now and 90 percent of the cases going through are DUI and domestic violence.”
read more here

Fort Carson Soldiers Evacuated from Rocky Mountain

Fort Carson soldiers evacuated from Colorado peak by helicopter
FOX news
June 3, 2016

North Face of Longs Peak, May 2016
(National Park Service)

Several military personnel were rescued by helicopter Friday in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park after some had trouble climbing one of the state's highest peaks.

Defense officials told Fox News that 11 Green Berets from Fort Carson in Colorado Springs were involved in a climbing training exercise Thursday on 14,259-foot Longs Peak, but a few of them had trouble continuing.
read more here