Veteran Found the Tree to Hang Himself, But Wrote Book Instead

He Found the Tree to Hang Himself; Instead, Marc Raciti, Wife Now Help Other Vets

Phoenix New Times
Lindsay Moore
July 28, 2017

Marc enlisted in the military as a private at 25 and retired 24 years later as an Army major. He was deployed five times and “frequently provided good medicine in bad places” as an orthopedic physician assistant.

Among all the lush Hawaiian greenery stood a bare, gray trunk with roots shooting out in all directions. It was easy to miss and even easier to forget. Birds wouldn’t even perch on the bony branches.

Marc and Sonja Raciti wrote, edited, and published a book on how PTSD affects veterans and their families.

Marc Raciti said that he and the tree shared a connection. This was the tree he chose to hang himself on.

“We’re both strong and had this greatness about us, but we’re both broken,” he said.

He wrote the notes, he brought a rope, and he was prepared to go. But instead, he fell asleep leaning on the long roots that formed a natural armchair. He dreamed of the drop from the tree branch and waited for whatever version of the afterlife would present itself.

He woke up and decided to seek help.

Marc is shy to talk about how he met his wife, Sonja, at Schofield Barracks army base in Hawaii. He lets her do most of the talking about how they were set up by a mutual friend and waited a whole year to meet to each other.

But when it comes to the mental health of veterans, Marc is quick to speak up. He’s written and published a book on the subject, specifically centered on his own journey.

His self-published novel, I Just Want to See Trees, was recently named a finalist in the International Book Awards for two categories, Health: Psychology/Mental Health and History: Military, earning the book a small golden sticker on the front cover.

The title and cover are a tribute to the large, dead tree Marc considered hanging himself on. He named the tree, and the poem it inspired, "Unforgiven."
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Iraq Veteran Meets His Family Through MyHeritageDNA

NJ Iraq War veteran meets his birth family

ABC 6 News

Jeff Chirico

July 29, 2017

After years of searching Kyle learned about Melissa in November through MyHeritageDNA dot com. Their DNA matched and so did their personalities.

WESTAMPTON, N.J. (WPVI) --

A New Jersey veteran who was adopted got the thrill of a lifetime when he was reunited with his birth family.

It took years of searching, but this brother and sister finally met for the first time Friday in Burlington.

"I feel like I'm standing outside my body looking at someone else's story unfolding," Melissa Galatas of Arizona said.

Action News was there with Melissa as she waits to meet the brother she only recently learned she had.

"I hope I don't cry, but it's definitely a possibility," Melissa said.

The emotional hug, years in the making for Kyle Gulden,from Pemberton who's never met his father despite years of searching.

The Iraq War veteran is married and has two daughters. His wife says the not-knowing weighed on him.

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Dwight “Maddog” Maness Veteran Assistance Motorcycle Ride

Residents prepare for Dwight 'Maddog' Maness Veteran Assistance Motorcycle Ride 
Northwest Herald 
Jordyn Reiland 
July 29, 2017

Before his nearly eight-year stint with the sheriff’s office, Dwight Maness spent 20 years with the U.S. Army and saw combat in Iraq from 1990 to 1991. He retired with the rank of sergeant first class.

WONDER LAKE – McHenry County motorcyclists are ready to put up their kickstands and ride in honor of McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Dwight Maness at a charity event this weekend. 

The second Dwight “Maddog” Maness Veteran Assistance Motorcycle Ride will kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday at Horizontals Saloon, 7620 Hancock Drive, Wonder Lake, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Once riders leave the saloon, they will head to The Bunker in Waterford, Wisconsin, for drinks. 

Participants then will ride back to Horizontals between 2 and 2:30 p.m. for food, live music and the chance to win several raffle prizes. read more here

RED SOX FOUNDATION Looking for People Like Me...And You!

VETERANS OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR THE INTENSIVE CLINICAL PROGRAM, THE RED SOX FOUNDATION AND MGH HOME BASE PROGRAM 

The Home Base Program is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial warrior to identify, motivate and guide into care veterans and families struggling with the invisible wounds of war. The Home Base Veterans Outreach Coordinator will be part of a vital team of professionals and will serve as a critical "boots on the ground" liaison between The Home Base Program and the veterans community.

The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Home Base Program is an initiative supported by philanthropy that serves New England by identifying, motivating, and treating veterans and families impacted by the invisible wounds of war. Having served over 1000 veterans and families in clinical care alone through 2015, the Home Base Program is recruiting a qualified candidate to help significantly expand its impact in 2016 and beyond.

Through the Intensive Clinical Program, Home Base serves the nation as a successful private-public partnership and as a source of communication and educational resource to health and community providers seeking to support our veterans. In addition, the Home Base program serves as a leader in research, identifying and implementing new treatments for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other deployment-related mental health challenges.

General Job Description

The Home Base Programs Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the Intensive Clinical Program serves as a point of contact for veterans and their families seeking care and/or education regarding Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other post 911 combat-related stress. When not assigned to the Intensive Clinical Program, the Veterans Outreach Coordinator role changes to educate and provide outreach to New England-based veterans and their families about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and encourages the community to take advantage of services available through the Home Base Program. The Coordinator is an employee of MGH and works alongside a team of world class medical professionals to help educate veterans, their families, social workers, employers, community service providers, veterans groups and others as to how to recognize symptoms of PTSD/TBI and the ways in which they or their loved ones can seek help. The Veterans Outreach Coordinator guides veterans through the treatment evaluation process in the Home Base Clinic and works closely with the Clinical staff in the Home Base Program around patient case management and ongoing monitoring of patient needs. The Coordinator provides active patient outreach, including phone, email, in-person meetings and text messaging.

Responsibilities Of The Home Base Veterans Outreach Coordinator Include

The Veteran Outreach Coordinator for the Intensive Clinical Program is New England based. The Home Base Clinic and the National Intensive Clinical Program is located at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, but the Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the Intensive Clinical Program will work both in the Intensive Clinical Program and travel throughout New England in fulfillment of other Outreach responsibilities when not assigned to the Intensive Clinical Program.

Massachusetts General Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. Applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged. Employer's Job# 3040325

Please visit job URL for more information about this opening and to view EOE statement.


Here's my application! I'll even move from Florida!

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Woman with PTSD Kicked Out of Walmart Because of Service Dog?

Walmart needs to stop making own rules on service dogs.
A woman with a PTSD service dog was told to leave the store. She is a civilian but that shouldn't matter to any of us because if they are still disregarding the law on service dogs, they disregard all the disabled with with these dogs. 

The goal of a service dog is to get people out of their houses and into the community. All the training these dogs go through cannot prevent the extra stress of being treated like a criminal because of them.

Despite following rules, asked to leave

Vindy.com

Billy Ludt

July 29, 2017

“No Pets Allowed” is common signage found outside businesses, but not all domesticated animals are pets. Some are service animals.

Ann Gott, 67, Austintown, was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after her husband died. Not long after, she received Barney, a Maltese service dog that helps detect and calm her symptoms.

"An employee from Walmart customer service told The Vindicator service animals 12 pounds or less are allowed in the shopping cart, as along as the dog is atop a cover in the cart."

"The U.S. Department of Justice requires any private business that serves the public to permit service animals anywhere customers are allowed. A physical or mental impairment that may limit a person’s ability to function is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That includes PTSD."

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Why Did POTUS Lie to Veterans?

AP FACT CHECK: President Trump’s phantom VA reform claims
The Associated Press
By HOPE YEN
July 27, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump paints a rosy picture of an improved Department of Veterans Affairs under his watch where accessing electronic medical records is “so easy and so good” and health care is freely available without any delays. The problem: It’s not true.

President Donald Trump speaks at the Covelli Centre, Tuesday, July 25, 2017, in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

At a campaign-style event in Ohio this week, Trump’s claims of progress were so overstated that even his own VA secretary, David Shulkin — who stood right next to him — would have to disagree.

“Since my first day in office, we’ve taken one action after another to make sure that our veterans get the care they so richly deserve,” Trump said.

But the multibillion-dollar IT initiative Trump cites has yet to be even budgeted, and an alternative program of private-sector care he describes is running out of money and needs reauthorization by Congress. Government auditors and whistleblowers say problems of long wait times and shoddy care persist. Some VA improvements happened before Trump took office.
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Wait times at Colorado VA facilities 

among worst in the nation, new data 

show

Two years after scandal broke, Denver is worse off than Phoenix was

Wait times for medical appointments at veterans facilities in eastern Colorado and the Denver area are among the worst in the nation, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data show. Front Range veterans have seen little improvement in the three years since a national scandal erupted over the problem.

The average wait for a primary care appointment at just the Denver VA Medical Center has grown to more than 18 days as of July 1 — three times higher than those at the main VA facility in Phoenix, where the problem was first exposed in 2014, and nearly four times the national average.

The waiting period in Denver had been half of what it was in Phoenix, according to VA data released earlier this month.

Veteran: VA home care will be cut by July 31

In June, the VA announced that cuts to home care would be on hold, but Rosenstock said his family was notified Wednesday that his care would be cut by Monday. 

"This is the only thing I ever asked for," Rosenstock said.

Rosenstock says he needs help cooking, showering and even walking at times.
"Not only have I been receiving it, but I need it. I'm not in a stage of production or getting money or anything else," Rosenstock said. "I mean what I have received, I feel I've earned and what's more, I'm proud to have served."

Plus the three veterans who committed suicide at different VA hospitals.

WWII Veteran Back in the Navy

96-year-old vet gets his wish of visiting US Navy station
The Associated Press
By: Jennifer Mcdermott
July 27, 2017

WWII veteran Edmund DelBarone, second from right, makes the U.S. Navy crossed anchors symbol with his arms while posing for a photograph at Naval Station Newport, in Newport, R.I., Thursday July 27, 2017. DelBarone, a 96-year-old World War II veteran, once dreamed of returning to a Navy installation to reminisce about his naval career, and help of a nonprofit it has become a reality.
(Jennifer McDermott/AP)

NEWPORT, R.I. — A 96-year-old World War II veteran who dreamed of returning to a Navy installation to reminisce about his more than 20-year naval career got his wish on Thursday.

Edmund DelBarone toured Naval Station Newport in a visit arranged by Denver-based nonprofit Wish of a Lifetime. After seeing some of the ships assigned to the base, he said he’d have no trouble taking them out to sea.

“It’s exciting,” he said after. “I didn’t expect to see so much.”
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Caregiver Support Program Resumes Full Operations...For Some Veterans

VA Caregiver Support Program Resumes Full Operations
July 28, 2017

WASHINGTON – Today the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is resuming full operations of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. The resumption follows an April 17 decision to temporarily suspend certain clinical revocations from the program to conduct a strategic review aimed at strengthening the program.

“VA has taken immediate steps to improve the program’s operations,” said VA Secretary David J. Shulkin. M.D. “Our top focus during the review has been to listen, evaluate and act swiftly to make changes that will better meet the needs of our Veterans and caregivers. This does not mean our work is done. We will continue to refine and improve this important program.”

VA’s three-month review indicated a need for better communication about clinical revocations, improved internal processes and procedures, and additional staff training.

Following the review, VA issued a new directive outlining staff responsibilities, Veteran and caregiver eligibility requirements, available benefits and procedures for revocations from the program.

VA also conducted mandatory staff training on the new directive and implemented standardized communications and outreach materials to educate Veterans and caregivers about the program.

Additionally, the VA will be formalizing additional ways to ensure that the experience of Veterans’ families, caregivers and survivors are understood and that, where needed, new, or additional, assistance is explored. The VA is committed to listening to the voices of those who care for Veterans of all eras and to collaborating to improve services, outreach and awareness.

The caregiver program website has also been redesigned, and now includes a section linking caregivers and Veterans of all ages to resources and home- and community-based services available through VA’s Geriatrics and Extended Care programs.

More information on the program is available at www.caregiver.va.gov.

Love Story Just Beginning For Newlywed Navy SEAL After Accident

Navy SEAL embraces wife for first time since tragic accident 
FOX News 
Published July 26, 2017 

A touching video of a Navy SEAL standing and embracing his wife four months after a traumatic car accident left him with a severe brain injury has been viewed by more than 3 million people. 

Jonathan Grant, 36, was serving as a combat medic instructor at Fort Bragg at the time of the accident, according to the couple’s GoFundMe page. He suffered a diffuse axonal injury (DAI), and was in a coma for nearly two months as doctors gave him just a 10 percent chance of survival. 

His Pilates instructor wife, Laura, has stood by his side throughout his recovery, which included moving to a Richmond, Virginia, rehabilitation facility where Grant could receive intensive therapy.
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Jimmie Smith, Homeless Veteran Laid to Rest

update

Hundreds honor homeless vet at Sierra Vista funeral

Hundreds gathered at the Southern Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista to honor the life of a homeless veteran.

Pfc. Jimmie Smith, from Tennessee passed away at the age of 60. He served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 1977. Smith was discharged from Fort Bliss.

According to officials with the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, not much is known about Smith’s background or family.

Dee Foster and Arthur Parson, both Sierra Vista residents, remember Smith as a man with a gentle heart.

Strangers gather to give homeless Arizona veteran proper burial 
The Republic
Cydney Henderson
July 27, 2017

Smith served in the U.S. Army from September 1975 until August 1977 before getting discharged from Fort Bliss in Texas, according to the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services.

A homeless Arizona Army veteran is going to get the funeral he deserves today, after a call for help on Facebook.

Pfc. Jimmie Smith has no family. Despite bravely serving his country, the 60-year-old died alone.

The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services is doing its part to make sure the veteran is not alone during his memorial service in Sierra Vista, near Tucson.

The department asked community members to attend Smith’s Thursday morning funeral in place of his family, to give a man who fought for his country a proper send-off.
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