Missing Veteran Alert: Scotland Veteran Paul Ellis

UPDATE
An Iraq War veteran who was reported missing has been found.


Family's desperate plea over missing Iraq war veteran
STV News Scotland
Chris Foote
29 mins ago

The family of a missing Iraq war veteran and PTSD-sufferer say they are "desperate to get him home".

Paul Ellis is believed to have travelled from Glasgow to Edinburgh by train on Saturday afternoon.

He arrived at Waverley station at around 2.35pm and then boarded a second train headed to London, although it is unclear whether he arrived in the capital.

The family of the 53-year-old, who served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Royal Navy Reserve, are concerned for his welfare.

Speaking to STV News, they said: "Paul's family loves him so much and we're desperate to get him home. We just want to know that he's okay."
read more here

Woman Convicted of VA and Freddie Mac Employee Idenity Theft

Jury Convicts Woman Of Freddie Mac And Veterans Affairs ID Theft
Alexandria News
February 17th 2017

Allise Jones, 29, of Lanham, Maryland, was convicted today by a federal jury on charges of conspiracy to commit identity theft, conspiracy to commit access device fraud, two counts of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Jones conspired with others to use personally identifiable information (PII) about current and former employees of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), Department of Veterans Affairs, and others. From October 2012 to April 2014,

Jones and her co-conspirators had access to PII from over 100 VA employees and more than 2,000 Freddie Mac employees and affiliates. Jones and her co-conspirators used that information to obtain fraudulent identification documents and credit accounts used to defraud financial institutions, retailers, and others. Jones used the information to obtain credit cards she used to purchase goods and services such as plastic surgery, expensive jewelry, and travel.
read more here

Suicide Awareness Nothing More Than a Gimmick

Veterans Search For Hope, Find Deadly Gimmick
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 18, 2017

The definition of Gimmick is

"1. an ingenious or novel device, scheme, or stratagem, especially one designed to attract attention or increase appeal.
2. a concealed, usually devious aspect or feature of something, as a plan or deal:

That is exactly what has been going on when folks talk about, and raise money for, talking about veterans committing suicide. They search for answers and hope about how to heal PTSD and find rumors.

Are veterans committing suicide? Yes. What good does it do to talk about a number when it is only partly true? No good at all.

The number "22" is nothing more than an alternative fact, but they don't mention the rest of the news they don't want you to hear.

There are simple facts they don't want you to pay attention to so that you open your wallet and feel as if you just did something to help change the outcome. You haven't done anyone any good by supporting something that does not exist.

How can repeating a number, that is only partially true, help anyone? It can't but that doesn't stop anyone from using it unless they have integrity enough to do so much more than talk about what they think is true.

That maybe the worst example of all. If they do not know what the real facts are, it pretty much shows they do not care enough to find the truth. If they have not invested the time in learning that, then it is obvious they haven't take any time to learn what to do to actually change the outcome.

So here are some basic, actual facts to counter their alternative "facts" they want you to be aware of.

The CDC suicide research has, 

All suicides

• Number of deaths: 42,773

• Deaths per 100,000 population: 13.4

• Cause of death rank: 10

In 2007 CBS News had this,

Suicide Epidemic Among Veterans

It found that veterans were more than twice as likely to commit suicide in 2005 than non-vets. 

And that has not changed. That means for the 42,773 suicides per year, veterans were taking their own lives 2 to 1 civilian rate. Do the math. Far from 22 a day isn't it?

Top that off with back in 2007 most of the folks talking about raising awareness were still sleeping on the subject. Not that is anything new considering that the other piece of fact they totally overlook is that the majority of the veterans committing suicide are over the age of 50 and that very well could be due to the other fact they are also the largest group of veterans in the country.

It is even worse for younger veterans when compared to their peer rate. Often the reports have them committing suicide triple their civilian peer rate. For female veterans it is higher and young female veterans, even higher than that.

The fact is, this whole business of raising awareness is exactly that, a business. If you are planning on contacting this site about what you're doing, take this as a warning because you will be blasted publicly. Too many veterans and families are searching for hope but you think you deserve their money for offering this deadly gimmick? WTF is wrong with you?

Operation Song Helps Veterans Change Conversation About PTSD

Pensacola veterans finding healing through song
Charlotte Observer
BY MELISSA NELSON GABRIEL
The Pensacola News-Journal
February 18, 2017

PENSACOLA, FLA.
Nashville songwriter Bob Regan has written hit songs for well-known stars including Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker.

But those songs aren't the ones that have meant the most to the Grammy-nominated artist.

Regan is proudest of dozens of songs that will likely never become mainstream hits — songs of pain and loss written by combat veterans through Operation Song, a nonprofit organization he created to connect veterans with professional songwriters.

"The veterans bring the stories and we bring the songwriting experience. All of the songwriters we use are pros who have been at this for many years and decades. We sit in a room together, listen to their stories, pick out pieces and make it rhyme," he said.

"It can be very therapeutic. If your emotions and your experiences are scrambled from trauma, sometimes it is difficult to put things in their proper perspective and to sort them out. Through songwriting, the jumble of feelings gets a beginning, an end, a resolution."

The result is a song like Fight For Me, written by Tim Chandler, a Pensacola-area Marine veteran who survived an IED blast during combat in Iraq. Regan and award-winning songwriter Don Goodman helped Chandler come up with the emotional song that tells the story of his return from war, subsequent divorce and difficult child custody battle.
read more here

Vietnam Veteran's Wheelchairs Stolen, Faith Restored by Stranger's Kindness

Disabled Vietnam veteran gifted new wheelchair after his was stolen
The Indy Channel
Eric Cox, Melissa Mahadeo
7:59 AM, Feb 17, 2017

But thanks to the kindness of a stranger, the 63-year-old said his faith in humanity is restored.

"I'm glad that there are people that really do care," said Wood.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A disabled Vietnam veteran was gifted a new wheelchair on Friday after a thief stole his from his yard.

Clifford Wood was charging his brand-new wheelchair when someone took it. As if that weren't bad enough, the thief also took his old one, too.

Physical Therapist Alex Stoughton heard Wood's story and decided to step up and help him out.

"Being a disabled vet is tough, and there's just not a lot of support for him," said Stoughton. "This was one of those times I feel like I could actually help him."

Wood served in Vietnam and had to move around often when he got older.

"I ended up becoming homeless because I couldn't afford the rent," he said.
read more here

Man Charge for Stealing Prescription Pain Drugs From Veterans

Staunton Man Accused of Stealing Prescriptions from Veterans 
NBC 29 News 
Posted: Feb 17, 2017

Schuyler A. Lotts

STAUNTON, Va. (WVIR) - A 22-year-old Staunton man is facing dozens of drug charges after an investigation by federal, state, and local law enforcement. 

Schuyler A. Lotts is charged with 37 misdemeanor counts of petit larceny, 37 felony counts of possession of a schedule II narcotic and one count of possession with intent to distribute. 

Lotts is accused of stealing packages from a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacy while working at the UPS facility in Fishersville. 

Virginia State Police say he is responsible for the theft of approximately 3,500 oxycodone tablets, valued at $35,000. read more here

Vietnam Veteran Started FEDEX and Spread Encouragement

A Marine Gives Back
FORBES
Don Esmond
February 17, 2017

Cori says they chose the fund to honor veterans. “The fund bridges the gap when service men and women return home and are awaiting certain VA pay and benefits but are in immediate need and would otherwise be unable, or severely financially harmed, to fulfill such needs on their own.

Beau and Cori O’Steen (Beau O'Steen)

When Frederick W. Smith was an undergrad at Yale, he wrote a paper outlining his plans to start a company to deliver urgent, time-sensitive shipments nationwide. He only got a “C” on the paper because his professor didn’t think the plan was “feasible.”

However, after serving as a Marine officer in Vietnam, he put what he had learned to good use. The result was FedEx. Indeed, he credits his military experience for part of his success. “Nothing has prepared business leaders better for their role in business and society than the lessons they learned in the Corps – lessons of discipline, organization, commitment and integrity.”

While not every veteran can build a booming global enterprise like FedEx, I know from personal experience that what veterans learn while serving our country has real application in the civilian world and can make a real difference in the civilian workplace.

That’s as true for post 9/11 veterans as it was for Vietnam vets, like Fred Smith and me. A case in point is Beau O’Steen, who joined the Marine Corps right out of high school in 1999. As a Marine infantryman, he deployed three times during the next six years.
read more here

UK: Community Makes House a Home for Veteran with PTSD

A soldier with PTSD was discharged with nothing. We made his house a home
The Guardian
Julian Cash and Marianne Cash
February 17, 2017

Using donations from local residents, we furnish homes for people rebuilding their lives, to give them a fresh start and restore their dignity

Using donations from local residents,

Community Furniture Aid furnish homes for people who have nothing.

Photograph: Community Furniture Aid

Totally shut down, sitting motionless and staring at the floor, his only communication was “I don’t think I can cope with this”.

My wife and I had been approached by the support worker of an ex-soldier, who was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

He was being rehoused – but into a completely empty property, with bare walls and concrete floors. Having lived all his life at home and then in barracks, this young man did not know how to furnish the property. Until then, everything had always been provided for him.

Worse still, he was struggling to even communicate after his traumatic experiences in Afghanistan. We tried to take away the pressure by listing all the essential items that he would need: something to sleep on, sit on, eat off and cook with. Essentially, all the things we take for granted. We also added pictures for the wallsand rugs on the floor. The only charge was £70 to cover our basic costs.

When we delivered all the furniture, the young man was overwhelmed and his support worker was amazed at the amount that was provided. The empty house suddenly became a home. All the stress of having to source each individual item was taken away and the young man was able to concentrate on his rehabilitation.
read more here

Fort Bragg Solider's Body Returns Home

HEARTBREAKING VIDEO CAPTURES FALLEN SOLDIER'S HOMECOMING
ABC 13 News
February 16, 2017

RALEIGH, N.C. (KTRK) -- They are the sniffles heard around the world.

When Lisa Williams' plane arrived at Raleigh-Durham Airport, passengers were asked to wait to let someone off the plane first.

When she looked out the window, there were several soldiers unloading a flag-draped coffin from the cargo hold. For minutes, the plane remained silent, aside from the sniffles coming from the passengers.

A woman walked over and placed her hand on the casket to say her final goodbyes, and others -- presumably family members -- joined her.

Then, seven Green Beret soldiers dressed in full uniform carried the casket off the plane and loaded it into a black hearse, paying their respects as they marched away.

Eventually, a pilot came on the intercom to thank the passengers for waiting.
read more here

Army: Green Beret dies in non-combat accident in Niger
Army Times
By: Meghann Myers
February 9, 2017

A Special Forces warrant officer has died from injuries he suffered in a vehicle accident while serving in Africa, a U.S. Army Special Operations Command spokesman confirmed to Army Times on Thursday.

Warrant Officer 1 Shawn Thomas, of 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, died Feb. 2, Lt. Col. Robert Bockholt confirmed. His death was first reported by U.S. Army W.T.F.! Moments.

"Our deepest condolences go out to Warrant Officer Thomas' family, friends and colleagues," 3rd Special Forces Group officials said in a statement.

Officials couldn't specify the type of vehicle or any other details of the accident because of the ongoing investigation, said Sgt. 1st Class Victor Aguirre, a USASOC spokesman.
read more here

St. Paul Cop Just Couldn't Leave Homeless Veteran Alone...Became His Friend

Skeptical cop befriends homeless veteran
KARE
Boyd Huppert
February 15, 2017

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Not everyone comes to Xcel Energy Center to feast on hockey. William Tentis comes to get dinner.

Homeless veteran William Tentis and St. Paul police officer Eric Reetz

(Photo: Eric Reetz)

As fans of the Minnesota Wild stream through the arena’s entrances, William has perched himself on a landscaping stone next to the sidewalk.

“Got to get something to eat,” he says softly. “Get food in my belly.”

Most fans walk past, barely acknowledging his presence. A woman stops and pulls a couple of bills from her pocket. “Thank you ma’am,” William tells her sincerely. “God bless.”

William, 64, has been at this awhile. He’s good at it - friendly, humble and unthreatening.

“It's been about five years since I've had a job,” he reveals.

Sir William, as he’s known on the street, tells his story on a small cardboard sign he holds. “Veteran,” it reads. “10 yrs Army.”
read more here

American Veteran Love Story Started at the Long Beach VA

This Paralyzed Veteran’s Love Story Began In The VA Hospital
Huffington Post
By Elyse Wanshel
February 15, 2017

Sometimes you find love where you least expect it.

BETTER THAN FICTION PRODUCTIONS

Sgt. Nick Mendes met Wendy Eichler while he was being treated at the VA hospital in Long Beach, California.

Sgt. Nick Mendes, a veteran who was paralyzed from the neck down by an IED in Afghanistan in 2011, found love in an unexpected place — a Veterans Affairs hospital.

Mendes had been at the VA hospital in Long Beach, California for five months when he met Wendy Eichler, a medical caregiver who specialized in paralyzed patients.

The pair hit it off, and Eichler began visiting Mendes during her off hours and continued to see him when he was released from the hospital. Their friendship turned into a romantic relationship and they soon fell in love.

The two are the subjects of a new documentary by filmmaker Julie Cohen called “American Veteran.”

ENDY EICHLER

Mendes and Eichler on their wedding day on Sept 28, 2014.

“American Veteran” will be screened five times in New York in early March as part of the ReelAbilities Film Festival, which promotes awareness and appreciation for the disability community through film, and will then travel to a number of other cities through the ReelAbilities tour.
read more here

Canada: PTSD Veteran Survived 3 Tours, Sought Help... Then Killed Himself

Military veteran’s suicide preceded by calls for help
The Star Canada
Allen Woods
February 14, 2017

Carl Jason Dunphy, 39, wrote of frustration with Veterans Affairs Canada before ending his life in Feb. 11 confrontation with Quebec police

MONTREAL—A Canadian military veteran with post-traumatic stress syndrome killed himself Saturday in a confrontation with police just hours after complaining about the government’s handling of his case.

Carl Jason Dunphy, 39, wrote on his Facebook page Saturday morning that he had been fighting with Veterans Affairs Canada for additional help with operational stress injuries after serving three combat tours in Afghanistan.

“It’s eating away at my resources and my strength. It’s not up to friends and spouses to deal with this because a government organization doesn’t act,” the native of Edmunston, N.B., wrote.

That night, the Sûreté du Québec responded to a tip from the Edmunston police force about a suicidal man headed into their jurisdiction.
Paul Nichols met Dunphy in Edmunston during the tail end of a horseback ride across Canada in 2015 to raise awareness about veterans’ issues.

Nichols said in an interview that Dunphy had suffered multiple concussions as a result of roadside-bomb strikes over the course of three deployments in Afghanistan and was left struggling with short-term memory as a result.

read more here

Vietnam Veteran Dennis Gray Laid to Rest with Honors

‘Unclaimed’ Vietnam veteran who died in December buried with honors in Higginsville
FOX 4 KC
BY MICHELLE PEKARSKY AND MARCUS OFFICER
FEBRUARY 15, 2017

HIGGINSVILLE, Mo. — A Vietnam War veteran who died in December and whose body remained unclaimed until a Missouri coroner got involved, was laid to rest with honors Wednesday afternoon in Higginsville, Mo., surrounded by some of his relatives.

Pettis County Coroner Robert ‘Skip” Smith found Dennis Gray’s discharge papers at Gray’s home in Sedalia, Mo., after the veteran passed away.

Initially, no one knew how to contact Gray’s family members but with the help of the coroner and other strangers, they were located and attended the service.
read more here

Ralph Jesters 3 Tour Vietnam Veteran Passed Away Homeless

Homeless veteran to be honored at Beaumont funeral home
KFDM 6 News
by Brandon Scott
Wednesday, February 15th 2017

BEAUMONT — A Beaumont funeral home is inviting the public to support a deceased homeless veteran at a service to be held in his honor Thursday.

Claybar Funeral Home will host a service to honor Ralph Jesters, an Army veteran who served three tours in the Vietnam War.

Jesters was found dead Jan. 22. Investigators found that Jesters was homeless and did not have any local relatives.

They later learned of his military service.
read more here

Man killed by plow at Bedford VA hospital identified

Man killed by plow at Bedford VA hospital identified
Lowell Sun
By Robert Mills
UPDATED: 02/13/2017

BEDFORD -- A 60-year-old man was killed in a parking lot at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford Sunday night when he was struck by a Veterans Administration plow truck as it was backing up.

On Monday, the Middlesex District Attorney's office identified the victim as Gerald Flynn, a resident of 100 Pride Way on the VA hospital's property.

Bedford police Chief Robert Bongiorno and fire Chief David Grunes said in a press release that emergency crews were called to a parking lot on the hospital grounds for a report that a man was in cardiac arrest after being struck by a plow truck about 6 p.m.
read more here

Will Staff Sgt. Cory Griffin Get Justice and Help?

Judge considers shortening ex-soldier's sentence due to PTSD
By: Associated Press
Posted: Feb 13, 2017

Staff Sgt. Cory Griffin

COLORADO SPRINGS - A judge in central Colorado is considering reducing a former soldier's sentence for drunkenly shooting his friend based on whether he is receiving adequate mental health care in prison.

The Gazette of Colorado Springs reports that 4th Judicial District Judge Lin Billings-Vela said on Thursday that reports that former Staff Sgt. Cory Griffin's mental health is deteriorating while he serves his eight-year sentence may rise to the level of an extraordinary circumstance that merits a sentence reduction.
read more here

Dog Has Afghanistan Veteran's Back...On Motorcycle

Dog Loves Going On Motorcycle Rides With His Veteran Dad
The DoDo
Christian Cotroneo
February 14, 2017

"With my PTSD, I don't do well in crowds and with unfamiliar people and places. She watches my back."

When the crowds got to be too much for Keith Campeau, he had a friend to take him away from it all: his motorcycle.

Campeau would get on the open road in Edmonton, Alberta, and feel the sanity-saving grace of being alone. It's been like that ever since the Canadian soldier came back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2011 with a crippling case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Crowds made him painfully anxious.

"When I first got back, that was my one escape — to jump on the bike and take a ride when I was getting out of hand," Campeau tells The Dodo. "That was a kind of self-induced therapy."

But the motorcycle couldn't always be there for him. And the crowds — on busy sidewalks and in teeming malls — never seemed too far behind.

"It was like World War 3 every night getting home from work," he explains. "When I went out in public, I started bumping into people. In crowded areas, I started knocking people over."

A psychologist recommended Campeau find another friend: a dog.
read more here

Soldiers in Afghanistan Send Valentines to 5 Year Old

Soldiers in Afghanistan among hundreds who sent valentines to New Castle boy battling cancer
CBS 4 Indy
BY CBS4 WEB
FEBRUARY 14, 2017

NEW CASTLE, Ind. – A New Castle boy battling brain cancer is feeling the love from people across the world this Valentine’s Day.

The family of 5-year-old Jace Griffin has been encouraging others to send the kindergarten student cards to distract him from his pain.

Jace’s father told CBS4 that the little boy “is doing GREAT!” after receiving over 1,400 valentines. He said they had received some as far away as Japan.

A group of soldiers stationed in Afghanistan even sent the little boy a video message to lift his spirits.
read more here

Army Investigating Death of Fort Bragg Soldier Found in Woods

Army investigating death of Fort Bragg soldier 
Fay Observer 
By Amanda Dolasinski 
Staff writer 
Feb 14, 2017 Updated 2 min ago 

The Army Criminal Investigation Command is looking into the death of an 82nd Airborne Division soldier whose body was found in a wooded area more than a week ago. 

Spc. Victor Aponte-Rosado, 31, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was found in woods near Preachers Road on Fort Bragg around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 6, according to Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Army's CID. Grey said someone found something suspicious in the woods and reported it. 

He declined to give any details about possible injuries or details surrounding the death. read more here

Orlando Veterans Make the News In a Good Way

News 6 gives voice to veterans The Veteran's Voice debuts on ClickOrlando.com 
Click Orlando
February 14, 2017

ORLANDO, Fla. - WKMG-TV News 6 this week launched "The Veteran’s Voice," a section of ClickOrlando.com dedicated to those in Central Florida who have served our country. "The Veteran’s Voice" is designed to be a platform that gives veterans an opportunity to be candid about the daily challenges they face.  
Over the next year, News 6 will interview local veterans in an effort to understand more clearly how our community can help make Central Florida a model when it comes to veterans’ needs. To see their stories, go to ClickOrlando.com/veteransvoice.