Iowa veterans speak out about getting service members the help they need
The DesMoines Register
Molly Longman
May 20, 2017
Vietnam veteran Larry Clayton approached a podium under the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda Saturday with a message for Iowans.
He wanted veterans, their families and their friends to realize the physical and mental health problems veterans face during and after their service — and to understand that there’s help.
“I am proud of the part I played in the Vietnam conflict, and I pray for all those soldiers who did not come home and those who came home physically or emotionally broken,” Clayton said. “And I thank God every day that he has seen fit to grant me peace during my life.
"Others haven't been nearly as fortunate."
Clayton talked about the effects of Agent Orange, a defoliant chemical sprayed over South Vietnam to eliminate forests and militia crops used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. The chemical is linked to diseases such as B-cell leukemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
He talked about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the high rate of veteran suicides.
He wanted veterans to know this: “Admit to yourself that you or a family member might benefit from some medical attention.
"There’s no need to suffer alone anymore.”
read more here
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Dying Vietnam Veteran's Bucket List Had Marry Wife Again--So They Did
Terminally ill veteran surprises wife with wedding: 'It was on my bucket list'
KVAL 13 News
Ashley Force
Nay 20, 2017
ALBANY, Ore. – A wedding 50 years in the making has finally happened, and it was a surprise to the bride.
A terminally ill Vietnam veteran made it his goal to give his wife the wedding she never had.
The KVAL news team was first introduced to Charles Upton during our recent coverage of Honor Flights.
Upton was one of the local veterans traveling to Washington DC.
The trip was something on his bucket list he made during his battle with cancer. A surprise wedding for his wife was another check off the list.
read more here
KVAL 13 News
Ashley Force
Nay 20, 2017
ALBANY, Ore. – A wedding 50 years in the making has finally happened, and it was a surprise to the bride.
A terminally ill Vietnam veteran made it his goal to give his wife the wedding she never had.
The KVAL news team was first introduced to Charles Upton during our recent coverage of Honor Flights.
Upton was one of the local veterans traveling to Washington DC.
The trip was something on his bucket list he made during his battle with cancer. A surprise wedding for his wife was another check off the list.
read more here
Las Vegas Patriot Fest Shows "Magnitude of lives lost" in Vietnam
Replicated monument draws Vietnam vets to Patriot Fest in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Review-Journal
By Katelyn Newber
May 20, 2017
But Dennis was afraid to look.
“It just brings back instant memories,” the 70-year-old said. “I don’t want to look and see if they’re up there.”
The Danielses were attending the third annual American Patriot Fest, underway at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas, on Saturday during Armed Forces Day.
This was the first year the American Veterans Travel Tribute organization brought the replica, sized down 80 percent from the fixture in Washington, D.C., said Branan Allison, the president of Source 1 Events, which organized the festival. The memorial will be open to the public until 3 p.m. Sunday.
Allison said he hopes to bring the memorial to the festival each year.
read more here
Las Vegas Review-Journal
By Katelyn Newber
May 20, 2017
“It’s a powerful thing. When you see how small the names are and how big it is, you see the magnitude of how many people lost their lives.” Branan Allison
A replica of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall hosted by American Veterans Traveling Tribute at Craig Ranch Park on Friday May 19, 2017 in North Las Vegas.As his motorized wheelchair rolled past 58,307 names on the replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Dennis Daniels was consumed with grief. He reminded his wife, Aleta, to use her walker as she traced three familiar names on the wall.
Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review Journal
But Dennis was afraid to look.
“It just brings back instant memories,” the 70-year-old said. “I don’t want to look and see if they’re up there.”
The Danielses were attending the third annual American Patriot Fest, underway at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas, on Saturday during Armed Forces Day.
This was the first year the American Veterans Travel Tribute organization brought the replica, sized down 80 percent from the fixture in Washington, D.C., said Branan Allison, the president of Source 1 Events, which organized the festival. The memorial will be open to the public until 3 p.m. Sunday.
Allison said he hopes to bring the memorial to the festival each year.
read more here
In Depth of Despair Veteran "Drove to Top of Mountain" and Died
Soldier and father Dylan Jones took his own life after suffering with PTSD
Wales Online
BY PHILIP DEWEY
20 MAY 2017
But an impressive career in the forces took an emotional toll.
One friend died in his arms after being shot. A number of others were killed by an explosive device.
Sick of suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), on July 4, 2015, the 37-year-old, of Llansawel, Carmarthenshire, drove to the top of a mountain and took his own life - leaving twin children behind.
read more here
Wales Online
BY PHILIP DEWEY
20 MAY 2017
'More should have been done' for Dylan Jones, 37, who was traumatised by his time in the Armed Forces
Dylan Jones served in the Armed Forces for 18 years and served tours in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq, as a member of the Welsh Guards, 14 Signal Regiment and Royal Welch Fusiliers.Dylan served tours of Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan with the armed forces
But an impressive career in the forces took an emotional toll.
One friend died in his arms after being shot. A number of others were killed by an explosive device.
Sick of suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), on July 4, 2015, the 37-year-old, of Llansawel, Carmarthenshire, drove to the top of a mountain and took his own life - leaving twin children behind.
read more here
Sergeant First Class Kevin Heins came home
Myrtle Beach police officer comes home after serving in Afghanistan for a year
WBTW 13 News
By Sina Gebre-Ab
Published: May 20, 2017
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Dozens of people filled Myrtle Beach International Airport to welcome a local hero home on Saturday.
Sergeant First Class Kevin Heins came home to Myrtle Beach, after serving in Afghanistan for a year with the Army Reserves. He’s served in the Reserves for a little over 27 years, and this was his last deployment overseas, much to the joy of his wife and two teenage children.
Heins is also a Captain with the Myrtle Beach Police Department. He’s been a part of the force for 25 years, and many of his fellow officers were also at the airport to welcome him back.
read more here
WBTW 13 News
By Sina Gebre-Ab
Published: May 20, 2017
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Dozens of people filled Myrtle Beach International Airport to welcome a local hero home on Saturday.
Sergeant First Class Kevin Heins came home to Myrtle Beach, after serving in Afghanistan for a year with the Army Reserves. He’s served in the Reserves for a little over 27 years, and this was his last deployment overseas, much to the joy of his wife and two teenage children.
Heins is also a Captain with the Myrtle Beach Police Department. He’s been a part of the force for 25 years, and many of his fellow officers were also at the airport to welcome him back.
read more here
Illinois VA Bill Worth-less than Veterans Deserve
This is the headline:
I left this comment:
I need to go to the bathroom now since I am sick to my stomach thinking of all the veterans who will still commit suicide while politicians leave them paying the price with their lives.
Illinois VA bill would address veteran suicides
But clearly shows the lack of knowledge behind it,
HB2647 is a 10-point plan to prevent the 22 daily suicides of veterans across the country. After three amendments, the bill has passed the House and the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee. It is up for a second reading in the Senate.
"It's about time they do something like this," said Dennis Boden, commander of the Quincy American Legion Post. "It seems to me that vets have been neglected."
The bill amends the Department of Veteran Affairs Act, requiring the department, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, to identify veterans returning from heavy casualty units or units where at least one service member committed suicide upon returning stateside.
How many more Bills will politicians write but leave veterans still paying the price? Considering I only read the first couple of paragraphs where it has the nauseating misquoted number of "22 a day" which came from the VA along with the fact that it was limited data from just 21 states, from 2012, it shows no one read the report. Then there was the followup research with "20 a day" but that was also the same number the VA found committed suicide in 1999 when no one was making money or a name for themselves "raising awareness" about it. The other fact is there were over 5 million more veterans in the country. You know, the older guys no one talked about and still never seem to mention when they are over 65% of the suicides that still happen. How about politicians actually take the time to understand what has been done, failed and then know enough to actually do something about it?Did you know that Illinois doesn't know how many veterans in that state commit suicide?
Tom Cullerton advances measures to combat veterans’ suicide epidemic
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.
I need to go to the bathroom now since I am sick to my stomach thinking of all the veterans who will still commit suicide while politicians leave them paying the price with their lives.
PTSD on Trial: "And please leave poppy flowers at my grave at Arlington"
Affidavit details armed standoff with police, allegations of gunshots, threats, animal abuse
Lawrence Journal
By Conrad Swanson
May 21, 2017
When Michael Kewley surrendered himself to officers, police say they found several loose rounds of .45-caliber ammunition in his pocket.
Across the street, Kewley's neighbor found another bullet on his kitchen floor and several bullet holes in his home.
The affidavit — a document that explains the reasons for an arrest — offers new details in the case of an armed standoff between police and Kewley that lasted several hours on Lawrence's southwest side and resulted in a number of felony charges. Allegations in an affidavit still must be proved in a court of law.
Currently Kewley is being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $50,000 bond and is awaiting a hearing later this month.
Kewley served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, said one person who asked not to be named but said she lived with him. The woman also said Kewley is under care of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and recently experienced the deaths of two close friends, which caused him to become suicidal, the Journal-World previously reported.
And if officers weren't aware before, they were told on April 4 of Kewley's distrust of law enforcement, the affidavit says.
That morning, around 7:15 a.m. officers were dispatched to Kewley's home at 2525 Scottsdale St. to check on Kewley, who was reportedly threatening to commit suicide.
One woman who met Kewley on a dating website called police, the affidavit says. She told them she woke up that morning to a text message from Kewley that said "I'm sorry dear I'm gonna have to do something very dumb and regretful. And please leave poppy flowers at my grave at Arlington."
read more here
Lawrence Journal
By Conrad Swanson
May 21, 2017
Lawrence police officers were familiar with Kewley, according to a recently released arrest affidavit. They were aware that he is a veteran who reportedly served time in special forces and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, night terrors and blackouts.
When Michael Kewley surrendered himself to officers, police say they found several loose rounds of .45-caliber ammunition in his pocket.
Across the street, Kewley's neighbor found another bullet on his kitchen floor and several bullet holes in his home.
Lawrence police officers were familiar with Kewley, according to a recently released arrest affidavit. They were aware that he is a veteran who reportedly served time in special forces and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, night terrors and blackouts.Photo by Nick Krug.Armored members of the Lawrence Police Department respond to a standoff in the 2500 block of Scottsdale Street, Tuesday, April 4, 2017.
The affidavit — a document that explains the reasons for an arrest — offers new details in the case of an armed standoff between police and Kewley that lasted several hours on Lawrence's southwest side and resulted in a number of felony charges. Allegations in an affidavit still must be proved in a court of law.
Currently Kewley is being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $50,000 bond and is awaiting a hearing later this month.
Kewley served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, said one person who asked not to be named but said she lived with him. The woman also said Kewley is under care of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and recently experienced the deaths of two close friends, which caused him to become suicidal, the Journal-World previously reported.
And if officers weren't aware before, they were told on April 4 of Kewley's distrust of law enforcement, the affidavit says.
That morning, around 7:15 a.m. officers were dispatched to Kewley's home at 2525 Scottsdale St. to check on Kewley, who was reportedly threatening to commit suicide.
One woman who met Kewley on a dating website called police, the affidavit says. She told them she woke up that morning to a text message from Kewley that said "I'm sorry dear I'm gonna have to do something very dumb and regretful. And please leave poppy flowers at my grave at Arlington."
read more here
Saturday, May 20, 2017
"He's going to be free": Sea turtle named for deceased Army Ranger
"He's going to be free": Sea turtle named for deceased Army Ranger released at Virginia Beach Oceanfront
The Virginian-Pilot
By Katherine Hafner
May 19, 2017
The sea turtle was the first catch James Spray had made all day.
At the Buckroe Fishing Pier in Hampton on Monday, Spray had just about given up, when his hook snagged a juvenile Kemp’s ridley turtle – the world’s most endangered sea turtle.
In the hands of the other anglers it flopped around and struggled, but in Spray’s hands the turtle was still and calm.
It “just seemed so peaceful,” he said.
So attached did Spray become to the turtle in the days that followed, that on Friday he gathered with the Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Response Team at the North End to release it back into the Atlantic.
For him, the turtle he dubbed Ranger Tan was more than just a peculiar catch.
Something about it connected him to his Army friend, Jason Benchimol, who died of a heroin overdose a few months ago. The name – Ranger Tan – refers to Benchimol’s status as an Army Ranger and the distinctive tan beret Rangers wear (the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center has been naming each rescued sea turtle after a Crayola crayon color). The men met in the military in 2008 and became close friends over the years.
His death “was a terrible blow,” said Spray, who added that his friend suffered from “severe” post-traumatic stress disorder after combat overseas. “He was much better than the disease.”
The two recently had undergone treatment together at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where Spray is living, though he owns a home in Moyock, N.C.
Inexplicably, catching Ranger Tan became a way to for him reconnect with Benchimol – there was something about the way the animal was at peace.
read more here
My two cents:
PTSD is not now, nor has it ever been, a "disease" and that is a major problem. If you think all that is "wrong" with you came from you, then where is the hope to heal? If you know the only way you ended up with PTSD is because you survived something that could have killed you, then you know, it happened to you!
They forgot to add in occupations like First Responders rushing to what the rest of us run away from!
You can only heal if you fight to take back control of your life!
The Virginian-Pilot
By Katherine Hafner
May 19, 2017
The sea turtle was the first catch James Spray had made all day.
At the Buckroe Fishing Pier in Hampton on Monday, Spray had just about given up, when his hook snagged a juvenile Kemp’s ridley turtle – the world’s most endangered sea turtle.
In the hands of the other anglers it flopped around and struggled, but in Spray’s hands the turtle was still and calm.
It “just seemed so peaceful,” he said.
So attached did Spray become to the turtle in the days that followed, that on Friday he gathered with the Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Response Team at the North End to release it back into the Atlantic.
For him, the turtle he dubbed Ranger Tan was more than just a peculiar catch.
Something about it connected him to his Army friend, Jason Benchimol, who died of a heroin overdose a few months ago. The name – Ranger Tan – refers to Benchimol’s status as an Army Ranger and the distinctive tan beret Rangers wear (the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center has been naming each rescued sea turtle after a Crayola crayon color). The men met in the military in 2008 and became close friends over the years.
His death “was a terrible blow,” said Spray, who added that his friend suffered from “severe” post-traumatic stress disorder after combat overseas. “He was much better than the disease.”
The two recently had undergone treatment together at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where Spray is living, though he owns a home in Moyock, N.C.
Inexplicably, catching Ranger Tan became a way to for him reconnect with Benchimol – there was something about the way the animal was at peace.
read more here
My two cents:
PTSD is not now, nor has it ever been, a "disease" and that is a major problem. If you think all that is "wrong" with you came from you, then where is the hope to heal? If you know the only way you ended up with PTSD is because you survived something that could have killed you, then you know, it happened to you!
Causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a very stressful, frightening or distressing event, or after a prolonged traumatic experience.
- serious road accidents
- violent personal assaults, such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery
- prolonged sexual abuse, violence or severe neglect
- witnessing violent deaths
- military combat
- being held hostage
- terrorist attacks
- natural disasters, such as severe floods, earthquakes or tsunamis
- a diagnosis of a life-threatening condition
- an unexpected severe injury or death of a close family member or friend
They forgot to add in occupations like First Responders rushing to what the rest of us run away from!
You can only heal if you fight to take back control of your life!
Central Florida Veterans Events Includes Tall Ship!!
If you're a Central Florida veteran and think there is nothing to do, this should prove you are wrong. Great way to get out and meet other veterans!
About the Eagle: Originally operated by Nazi Germany to train cadets for the German Navy, the ship was taken by the United States as a war prize after World War II. In 1946, a U.S. Coast Guard crew – aided by the German crew still on board – sailed the tall ship from Bremerhaven to its new homeport in New London, Connecticut. Eagle returned to Bremerhaven for the first time since World War II in the summer of 2005, to an enthusiastic welcome.
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Friday, May 19, 2017
Navy SEALs "Still human with emotions"
2 former Navy SEAL commanders explain what Hollywood gets wrong about the SEALs
Business Insider
Richard Feloni
May 19, 2017
He said the reality was that while SEALs may be highly trained, elite warriors, they're still humans with emotions. They are putting their lives and the lives of their friends on the line with every mission they take, and in a situation like that, you don't quietly follow orders you disagree with.
Leif Babin and Jocko Willink were deployed in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. Echelon Front
Nearly all the movies, TV shows, and video games about the US Navy SEALs portray them as real-life superheroes.
This image may help draw people to Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, the former SEAL commanders behind the leadership consulting firm Echelon Front, but they're quick to dispel the notion.
"We're not Terminators," Willink said at the firm's two-day Musterconference in New York in May.
Willink led Task Unit Bruiser, the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War, and Babin was his second-in-command as a senior platoon leader. read more here
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