John Preston Lost His Hero Brother to PTSD Suicide

update

Marine veteran John Preston fights PTSD with his own rock songs

New Album ‘Battle Cry: Songs of America’s Heroes’ to Help Veterans
Muse Wire
By Raychel Harvey-Jones
Mar 10, 2017

“I wish my brother could have taken a glimpse into the future and see how families are torn apart by suicide. My message is always to move forward and be you. Find what you love and go after it. Losing one vet is losing one vet too many.” John Preston.

I feel as if we live in a society these days where most people are looking out for themselves with some out to make an easy buck. As a former professional singer music will always be a part of me, a passion. Many say music is the only universal language.

I first heard the music and story of Iraq Veteran and rock singer John Preston last year and had been inspired ever since. I got the chance to catch up with John again this year to talk about his new album, an album to solely benefit veterans – a selfless act in this ever-changing world.

“My mission is simple. I want to use my music and life experiences to help veterans all over the world find success in life after serving their country,” says Preston.

Preston penned his first song while serving in Iraq; the led to a record contract with Pacific Records. After returning to what we could call “normal” life his battle with PTSD consumed him and his life. “That fight is bigger than any I faced in Iraq; it’s almost like fighting the unknown. I realized that losing so many good men and women to suicide that I could bring awareness through my music.”

Last year Preston lost his brother after a battle with PTSD.

“He was my hero growing up, and I didn’t see the signs. I was traveling across our nation raising awareness of veteran suicide, and I lost my own brother; how do you explain to his 7-year-old son? How do I explain our hero is no longer here?” read more here

Superman Falls

Daring Dog Rescue by Iraq Veteran

Iraq War veteran rescues dog that fell through ice
Dog fell through ice 150 yards from shore
Channel 3000 News
Dave Delozier
Posted: Mar 10, 2017

“When the deed is done, then you realize, OK, boy, I really could have lost him. So you get a little different appreciation for things.” Justin Neumeier

BRIGGSVILLE, Wis. - When Justin Neumeier’s dog, Charles, fell through the ice on Lake Mason, the instincts he developed as a U.S. Marine serving Iraq kicked in and he went out to rescue the black lab.

“Maybe it was my Marine Corps mentality, just get it done,” Neumeier said.

Serving with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine, Neumeier saw some of the wars toughest combat in the battle for Ramadi in 2004.
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We May Matter After All As Caregivers Too!

There is nothing new to us, even though, younger veterans seem to believe it is all about them alone. The truth is, we've just been fighting for the things they get and got left out of most of it. Our husbands and wives came home with the same wounds and we had the same struggles but no one had the internet back then and reporters just didn't care. Imagine what could have happened if they had paid attention to us too?

VA secretary backs expanding caregiver program to older vets
Military Times
By: Leo Shane III
March 10, 2017

But when Congress authorized those services in 2010, they made the the majority them only available to caregivers of post-9/11 veterans. Researchers estimate that covers only about one-fifth of the 5.5 million family members providing home care for veterans.

WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin supports expanding his department’s caregiver benefits to families of veterans of all eras, and thinks the move may be far less costly than most critics expect.

In testimony before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee earlier this week, Shulkin said he believes the current restrictions on the caregiver program — which limit many benefits solely to families of post-9/11 veterans — need to be updated.

“I do believe it needs to be for all veterans,” he said, “particularly our older veterans who want to stay at home, and then maybe they wouldn't have to leave their home and into an institution.”

He said department officials have begun a review of the costs and procedures for expanding the program, and will formally approach lawmakers with a plan in the months to come.

Currently, VA caregiver programs provide a monthly stipend, travel expenses, access to health insurance, mental health services, training and respite care for designated caregivers of injured or infirm veterans.
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A Hundred Veterans Became Family to Vietnam Veteran At Funeral

Veterans provide burial for fellow veteran without a family
KTHV
Erika Ferrando
March 9, 2017

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - On February 8, 68-year-old Private First Class William A. Powers died alone in a central Arkansas hospital. He was a veteran who was nearly forgotten, but nearly 100 veterans who never met him, made sure Powers was laid to rest with the honor deserving of a hero.

Powers served as a soldier in the Vietnam War from 1966 until 1969. He was given a proper burial at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, thanks to a few phone calls.

"It's a very heartfelt appreciation for the service and sacrifice," said Jerry Ashby, Patriot Guard Riders.

They showed up not because they knew him, but because no one else did.

“We attempted to find family. There was none," said Mike Frazier, manager at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home.

Maybe it's fate Mike Frazier's funeral home received the call from the hospital.

“It's very sad," Frazier said. "No one should leave the world like that."

As a fellow veteran himself, he felt it was his duty to provide a proper burial.
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CBS to shoot pilot

"We will follow these men as they train, plan and execute some of the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask of them, (and) as they also work to preserve the delicate balance of their lives at home," an unofficial synopsis reads.

CBS to shoot pilot episode for planned Navy SEAL drama in New Orleans
The Times-Picayune
By Mike Scott, NOLA.com
March 09, 2017

Word is still out on whether the locally shot CBS series "NCIS: New Orleans" will return for a fourth season, but the network appears poised to come back to the Crescent City for a Navy-based drama one way or the other. Paperwork was recently filed with the state to film the pilot episode for an untitled CBS drama about a team of Navy SEALs in New Orleans this spring.

The series would follow the lives of members of SEAL Team Six, one of the most elite SEAL teams, as they train for and are deployed on a series of dangerous missions. Production on the pilot is expected to begin in mid-March.

According to Deadline, the announced cast so far includes A.J. Buckley ("CSI: NY"), as a skilled but self-destructive member of the team; Max Theriot ("Bates Motel"), as a cocky but secretly insecure millennial SEAL; and Neil Brown Jr. ("Straight Outta Compton"), as the longest-tenured member of the team.
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Illinois Veterans Missing in Suicide Data

Just to give you an idea of how many veterans the following article is about, here is the breakdown for the state of Illinois

721,575 Total
539,880 War time
206,504 Gulf War
241,854 Vietnam
65,381 Korean
37,506 WWII
181,695 Peacetime
54,707 Female
666,868 Male

Think about how many veterans from Illinois would not have been included in the suicide research.

Tom Cullerton advances measures to combat veterans' suicide epidemic
Daily Herald
March 8, 2017

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) has started tackling obstacles found during the Veterans Suicide Taskforce hearings.

Cullerton advanced Senate Bill 1693 to allow deceased veterans with military service to include their veteran status, branch of military and the period of time served in the military on their death certificate.

"We need to get to the cause of veteran suicide," Cullerton said. "The only way to tackle the problem is to have a complete picture. This is a simple way to collect statistics and honor Illinois' veterans."

The idea was suggested by DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgenson, who indicated that veteran suicide was under reported since Illinois death certificates do not include information on the history of U.S. military service.

"These are our nation's heroes. They took care of us, now it is our time to take care of them," Cullerton said. "Every life we save is priceless."

Cullerton also advanced Senate Bill 866 to require the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to provide information and education on service animals to veterans.
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Veterans With Bad Discharges Get Mental Health Help Finally

VA Secretary Announces Intention to Expand Mental Health Care to Former Service members With Other-than-honorable Discharges and in Crisis

WASHINGTON – Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin while testifying in a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on March 7, 2017, announced his intention to expand provisions for urgent mental health care needs to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges. This move marks the first time a VA Secretary has implemented an initiative specifically focused on expanding access to assist former OTH service members who are in mental health distress and may be at risk for suicide or other adverse behaviors.

“The president and I have made it clear that suicide prevention is one or our top priorities," Shulkin said. “We know the rate of death by suicide among Veterans who do not use VA care is increasing at a greater rate than Veterans who use VA care. This is a national emergency that requires bold action. We must and we will do all that we can to help former service members who may be at risk. When we say even one Veteran suicide is one too many, we mean it.”

It is estimated that there are a little more than 500,000 former service members with OTH discharges. As part of the proposal, former OTH service members would be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact the Veterans Crisis Line.

“Our goal is simple: to save lives,” Shulkin continued. “Veterans who are in crisis should receive help immediately. Far too many Veterans have fallen victim to suicide, roughly 20 every day. Far too many families are left behind asking themselves what more could have been done. The time for action is now.”

Before finalizing the plan in early summer, Shulkin will meet with Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, and Department of Defense officials to determine the best way forward to get these Veterans the care they need.

“I look forward to working with leaders like Congressman Mike Coffman from Colorado, who has been a champion for OTH service members,” Shulkin added. I am grateful for his commitment to our nation’s Veterans and for helping me better understand the urgency of getting this right.”

Veterans in crisis should call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (press 1), or text 838255.

Iraq Veteran Killed in Police Standoff

Police kill Eagle River veteran after standoff near Denver
Chugiak Eagle River Star
Tuesday, March 7, 2017

A former Eagle River resident and Marine reservist was shot and killed by police after a standoff near Denver on Friday.

According to the Denver Post, police in Englewood, Colorado were called Friday afternoon for a report that an armed man was barricaded inside a home holding several hostages. During the incident, police fatally shot Michael Kocher, 32, in the torso.

Kocher was profiled in a 2009 story in the Alaska Star in which he talked about a recent seven-month tour of duty in Iraq. In the story, Lance Cpl. Kocher is described as having worked in intelligence and communications while deployed with Delta Company, 4th Anti-Terrorism Battalion. He shared fond memories of sharing candy with Iraqi children while deployed with the Marines.

“All the convoys would take candy to toss to the kids,” he said, according to the profile written by Jill Fankhauser. “I’d always read that there were groups that would send over shipments of soccer balls and things like that to handout.”

Kocher told the Star he enlisted the help of his mother in Eagle River, who got donations of soccer balls, candy and stuffed animals for her son to give away to kids in Iraq. He also mused about missing home while deployed near the Syrian border and said he wasn’t a supporter of the war but wanted to serve despite his misgivings.

“Even when the war started, I didn’t particularly agree with the war,” he told the Star. “I knew other people my age there, so I figured I ought to be with them.”

According to the article, the 6-foot-8 Kocher studied political science at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he was the first person to win a designated on-campus parking spot, the university reported in 2009.
read more here

Veteran Marine-Police Officer Death Suspected Suicide

Lompoc Police officer dead in apparent suicide
Santa Maria Times
Logan B. Anderson
Mar 7, 2017

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the apparent suicide of a Lompoc Police Department officer that occurred early Tuesday morning.

City officials announced the death of three-year Lompoc Police Department veteran Miguel Grijalva on Tuesday afternoon.

“The Lompoc Police Department asks the community to keep Miguel and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Our Lompoc Police Department employees are devastated by this news and are grieving, as well,” said Samantha Scroggin, city spokeswoman.

According to the city’s statement, Grijalva was off duty and outside of Lompoc city limits when he died.

“The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is handling the death investigation case, and the preliminary investigation indicates that the death was a suicide,” Scroggin said.

Prior to joining the Lompoc Police Department, Miguel served in the United States Marine Corps.
read more here

Family Wants Answers After Two Fort Stewart Soldiers Shot to Death

update

Fort Stewart Sergeant Arrested in Soldiers Deaths

Fort Stewart soldier from Macon shot to death, family pleads for answers 
WMAZ 13 News
March 7, 2017

Hinesville Police found the 23-year-old and fellow soldier 21-year-old Malika Jackson, dead in a townhouse Sunday night. They were both on active duty at Fort Stewart.

Marquez Brown (family photo)

The family of a Macon soldier found dead late Sunday in Hinesville is searching for answers. "Anything he wanted to do, any goal he had, he would reach it," Shakeera Simmons said. "And you knew he was going to do it to the best of his ability."

read more here

Five Days After Suicide, Veteran Found in VA Parkinglot

Veteran’s suicide in Durham VA parking lot highlights problem
WNCN News
By Jonathan Rodriguez
Published: March 6, 2017

“He had gotten partial benefits, and he found out that Wednesday that he went missing that he would not be getting full benefits because of a paperwork error. Had he been a little patient, we don’t think it would have taken a lot longer to get them but he had been waiting, struggling emotionally and financially for quite some time,” Donald said.

RALEIGH, NC – A veteran who took his own life in the parking lot of the Durham VA hospital was in struggling to get his benefits.

Veterans are promised care in return for serving our country, but many veterans say getting their financial support is incredibly challenging.

63-year-old Paul Shuping was found in the parking lot by Durham VA police.

“He tried to do things the right way and it just didn’t work,” his brother Donald explained.

It took five days before police found Paul in his car.

“He was in a seldom used area of the parking lot in a corner,” said Donald.

The veteran served 6 years in the United States Navy. Donald says the care this veteran got at the Durham VA was great, but he was battling emotional issues, depression, and PTSD and had just found out he was denied his veteran benefits.
read more here

Warrior Transition Leader Mocked Soldier Suicides!

Just add this to the fact that they have been decreasing enlisted numbers at the same time suicide numbers went up. Then add this to the simple facts that the Army has been "addressing" the seriousness of suicide, or at least telling us that, and yet, here we are with another example of soldiers being mocked! Oh, sure this will get them to seek help especially when it comes after the reports from the Dallas Morning News about this type of crap happing to others in Texas Warrior Transition units

Soldiers angry, say social media post mocks suicide
KENS 5 News
Priya Sridhar
March 06, 2017

SAN ANTONIO - Soldiers at Brooke Army Medical Center's Warrior Transition Battalion are angry after they claim a senior enlisted leader posted a picture to social media that they believe mocks suicide.

The Warrior Transition Battalion helps injured and wounded soldiers transition back to their units or to civilian life.

A former soldier who used to work there told KENS 5 he believes the issue was swept under the rug. Many of the soldiers who are upset over these pictures don't want to be identified because they said they don't want to jeopardize their careers.

The picture that was allegedly posted by a senior enlisted leader at BAMC's Warrior Transition Battalion shows a snowman hanging from a ceiling.

"It's very disturbing, insensitive and childish. Somebody needs help. Anybody contemplating suicide, they don't need to see this. It's going to push them over the edge," said John Ornelaz, commander of VFW Post 76 and Army veteran.

Army veterans from VFW Post 76 said they are disturbed by the picture and want to speak out for their fellow active duty soldiers who are afraid to talk about it publicly.

"It hurts me, and it upsets me because there are services out there to help soldiers," said Richard Valenzuela III, an Army veteran.

One former soldier shared his concerns on JBSA's Facebook page. He said JBSA responded to his post last week saying that they take this seriously and will work to ensure that the information is passed to the correct leadership.

Since then, he said that post and the picture have been taken off JBSA's Facebook page.
read more here

Orlando Rocks for Veterans for 5th time

UPDATE VIDEOS ARE UP AT THE BOTTOM!

Here are some of the pictures from the Semper Fidelis America-VFW Orlando Rocks for Veterans Event last night. Check back tomorrow for more pictures and videos.

These are from Gunny of SFA

And these are from Wounded Times Kathie Costos, Proud member of SFA

BG Deborah L. Kotulich

Orlando Rocks for Veterans Part One
Orlando Rocks for Veterans and Gets Amp'd
Part three with more from Amp'd