Gunman Kept Shooting, Paramedic Kept Helping Others After Being Shot

Las Vegas shooting: San Bernardino paramedic helps save lives after being wounded

ABC Eyewitness News
Elex Michaelson
October 8, 2017 

While helping a gunshot victim, Jimmy himself was shot in the leg. He didn't tell Matt about the gunshot wound, at first. He simply told him to run.

LAS VEGAS (KABC) --

Jimmy Grovom is a trained paramedic. But he never thought he'd need to work during his Las Vegas vacation.

The Mission Viejo native came to the Route 91 Harvest festival with his girlfriend, Briana, his brother, Matt, and a group of their friends.

They were enjoying the music when shots rang out. Jimmy knew it was time to get to work.

"It's just how I'm wired, I guess," he said. "I like to help people when I see them in need."

Amid the gunfire, Matt Grovom watched as a woman standing next to him was hit.

"When I first heard the shots, the first person I yelled for is my brother," he said. "That just says something about him right there."

Jimmy began to administer aid to that woman and then moved on to help someone else. Then there was another round of gunfire.
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Some Reporters Doing More Harm Than Good

(My two cents is that this article is very true, but also applies to man on social media.)

Some media covering Las Vegas shooting accused of doing more harm

News 1130

Marcella Bernardo

Associated Press

October 8, 2017

"Miller, who treats sufferers of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, says the last thing you should say to someone who’s been through a trauma is "'You’re lucky to be alive.'"

Melissa Gerber, left, Nancy Hardy, center, and Sandra Serralde, all of Las Vegas, embrace as they look on crosses in honor of those killed in the mass shooting Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Las Vegas. A gunman opened fire on an outdoor music concert on Sunday killing dozens and injuring hundreds.(AP Photo/Gregory Bull) 

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A local psychologist is worried about the impact on survivors of the Las Vegas massacre, saying some TV reporters are deliberately inciting an emotional response with their interview questions.

Doctor Lawrence Miller says it’s not a good idea for reporters to act as amateur psychologists for survivors or first responders who might be traumatized.

“So that’s really risky. If you go up to someone in the crowd in Las Vegas and you say, ‘Oh, you know, you’re lucky to be alive,’ the person may be just kind of still trying to formulate, like, what all this means.  Well, what the person hears is, ‘I could have been killed’ and that is the kind of thought process that can begin the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.”

He adds certain questions are deliberately asked with the goal of prompting tears, but that’s dangerous when dealing with someone who’s mentally fragile.

“When someone’s been through trauma like that, the worst thing you can do is start saying how they should be feeling and ‘You must be the luckiest guy alive, you know, you’re lucky to be alive. 
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Lt. Derrick “Bo” Taylor, Corrections Officer Honored After Las Vegas Shooting

Veteran Corrections Officer Killed In Vegas Massacre Remembered As A Hero

CBS Los Angeles

October 7, 2017

BURBANK (CBSLA) — A veteran corrections officer killed in the Las Vegas massacre was welcomed home in true hero fashion Saturday.

Family and colleagues of Lt. Derrick “Bo” Taylor gathered at Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport, where his body was flown Saturday morning.

On the tarmac, members of the color guard draped a flag over his casket; corrections officers then carefully loaded it into a van as part of a procession in his honor. 

Taylor and his girlfriend, Denise Cohen, of Carpinteria, were among the 59 people shot and killed at the country music festival in Las Vegas.

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Congress Turned VA Into PTSD Tar Pit

Is This The Best a Grateful Nation Can Do?
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
October 8, 2017

This was what happened 16 years ago yesterday, leading to reality of another war young men and women would put their lives on the line for.

President Bush announces military action in Afghanistan
History.com
October 7, 2001

On this day in 2001, less than a month after al-Qaida terrorists flew commercial jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, President George W. Bush announces that American troops are on the offensive in Afghanistan. The goal of Operation Enduring Freedom, as the mission was dubbed, was to stamp out Afghanistan’s Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime, which had aided and abetted al-Qaida and its leader, Osama bin Laden, a Saudi national who lived in the Afghan hills and urged his followers to kill Americans.

In a televised address that evening, Bush informed the American public that “carefully targeted actions” were being carried out to crush the military capability of al-Qaida and the Taliban, with help from British, Canadian, Australian, German and French troops. An additional 40 nations around the world provided intelligence, as well as bases from which the operations were conducted.
read more here

The problem was, and still is, Congress did not prepare the Department of Veterans Affairs to care for the veterans this war would create. Frankly, they had not taken care of the previous generations of those they sent before. While some settled for a war that would be over quickly, history had taught the rest of the people that it would be far from quick or easy. The Russians tried for 10 years to defeat the people fighting for their own country.

The invasion of Iraq followed and, yet again, historically known to be a lengthy commitment of lives, Congress failed to prepare the VA for even more wounded. 

"Had we taken all of Iraq, we would have been like the dinosaur in the tar pit - we would still be there, and we, not the United Nations, would be bearing the costs for that occupation." General Norman Schwarzkopf

That is what they knew after the Gulf War. In other words, they knew what this would do, how long it would go on, yet told the American public it would be over soon.

It wasn't over but no one has apologized to the veterans of either war. 

In 2006, The Washington Post reported the Army did a study on what redeployments would do to those sent back into combat.

"U.S. soldiers serving repeated Iraq deployments are 50 percent more likely than those with one tour to suffer from acute combat stress, raising their risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Army's first survey exploring how today's multiple war-zone rotations affect soldiers' mental health.More than 650,000 soldiers have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001 -- including more than 170,000 now in the Army who have served multiple tours -- so the survey's finding of increased risk from repeated exposure to combat has potentially widespread implications for the all-volunteer force. Earlier Army studies have shown that up to 30 percent of troops deployed to Iraq suffer from depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with the latter accounting for about 10 percent."

And yet again, they were failed by the Congress when the increased risk of PTSD was not addressed. Far too many were sent back over and over again.

And yet again, Congress seems committed to repeating the same Bills to reduce the rate of suicides after war. Does that mean they are satisfied with the results? If they are then nothing will ever change unless they change their minds or we change them!

Suicides tear at the soul of the veterans community because it means these men and women survived combat but could not survive being back home. What is worse is that no one seems concerned with the fact that as the number of servicemembers decreased, suicides did not decrease. Yes, even after all these years of Congress passing Bills and paying billions out without any accountability to those getting the checks.

Some want to guess at the number of veterans ending their lives instead of taking their lives back. The truth is, we will never know for sure. Too many states to not track them. Too many deaths are not counted when they are tied to "suicide by cop" or single vehicle accidents, drug overdoses and the list goes on.

The only thing we know for sure is that Congress has had jurisdiction over the way veterans are treated in this country since 1946, and have never once apologized for what they failed to do!

Is this the best a grateful nation can do for those who are willing to die to save lives, yet still cannot find what they need to save their own?

PTSD Female Veteran Helps Others With Open Studio and Heart

Serving her own
Albuquerque Journal
By Elaine D. Briseño / Journal Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, October 8th, 2017

"Not only did she endure all the horrors that come with combat, but lived in constant fear of being sexually assaulted again."

Sitting on the floor of her KD Neeley studio, Katie Neeley, 33, looks through a sketchbook she kept while she was serving in the military. Neeley uses the gallery space to host fundraisers for local nonprofit groups, especially those that support veterans. (Marla Brose/Albuquerque Journal)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Katie Neeley has always considered herself an artist but said when she reached adulthood she lost her voice and inspiration.

“I got to a point in my studies where I could draw or paint anything,” she said. “But I felt like I had nothing offer. I had no life experience.”

Neeley, 33, decided joining the military would give her that life experience while giving her some direction. That decision would send her on a dark path that ended with a suicide attempt and hospitalization. Now the former Marine is using her experience, and money, to help other veterans dealing with the emotional ramifications of their military service.

The Albuquerque native opened the KD Neeley studio in the heart of Downtown and uses the gallery to not only display the work of local artists but as a place to host fundraisers. The gallery is located on Fourth Street just north of Central.
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VA Counselor Helped Police End Standoff With Veteran Peacefully

Standoff with Springfield veteran, suffering from PTSD, ends peacefully

The Register Guard

Chelsea Defenbacher

October 8, 2017

SPRINGFIELD — A Department of Veterans Affairs counselor was rushed to a Springfield home Saturday by police to help a 23-year-old Army veteran in crisis, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

With the help of the counselor and a police negotiator, the man did not hurt himself and was voluntarily taken in for a police-directed mental health detention and evaluation.

The incident happened around 3 p.m. Friday, when a neighbor on 20th Street called police to report a man with a knife at a nearby home.

Springfield police arrived to find the veteran in his open garage, holding a large knife to his own throat and threatening suicide, police said.

Springfield police officers, one of whom is a trained negotiator, stood in the driveway and spoke to the man.

During that conversation, the man told police that he was a veteran with PTSD, police said.
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Jason Aldean Tribute to Las Vegas Victims and Survivors

Jason Aldean Pays Tribute to Las Vegas Victims, Sings Tom Petty Song on ‘SNL’
NBC News
by PHIL HELSEL
October 8, 2017

Jason Aldean, the musician who was on stage when a gunman opened fire on a crowd of Las Vegas concert-goers this week, opened "Saturday Night Live" with a tribute to those affected by the massacre and a musical nod to recently-deceased rock legend Tom Petty.

The show skipped the traditional joke-filled cold open and began with Aldean on stage.

"This week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history. Like everyone, I'm struggling to understand what happened that night, and how to pick up the pieces and start to heal.” Jason Aldean
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"You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down
No, I'll stand my ground
Won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground"

Saturday Night Live
Published on Oct 7, 2017

Jason Aldean pays tribute to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting with a performance of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

Two Fort Jackson Soldiers Killed, Several Injured

2 soldiers killed, Alabama soldier injured at South Carolina's Fort Jackson
AL.com
By Leada Gore
October 7, 2017

An Alabama soldier was injured and two others killed in a deadly accident Friday at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Pvt. Emmett Foreman of Daleville was injured in what officials are describing as a "tragic accident involving a military vehicle and a troop formation." Two Army personnel, later identified as Pvt. Ethan Shrader of Prospect, Tennessee, and Pvt. Timothy Ashcraft of Cincinnati, Ohio, were killed.

Foreman, Pvt. Hannah New of Cartersville, Georgia; Pvt. Benjamin Key of Livingston, Tennessee; Pvt. Alan Kryszak of Clarksville, Tennessee; Pvt. Cardre Jackson Jr. of Laurel, Maryland; and Pvt. James Foster of Macon, Georgia were injured.

Two of the service members are in critical condition but Fort Jackson public affairs did not identify the conditions of individual service members. The type of vehicle or the exact nature of the accident has not been released.
read more here

If You Think Veterans Are Not News Worthy, You're Not Paying Attention

SEVEN DAYS IN OCTOBER
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
October 7, 2017

There are so many times when I have to explain to people why I do not have time for Facebook or other social media sites. Aside from this site, working a full time job, family, friends and more, this is what my week also looks like.

Seven Days Ago

Veterans angry, disappointed following PBS’ Vietnam War documentary

"But veterans of the South Vietnamese military say they were largely left out of the narrative, their voices drowned out by the film’s focus on North Vietnam and its communist leader, Ho Chi Minh. And many American veterans say that the series had several glaring omissions and focused too much on leftist anti-war protesters and soldiers who came to oppose the war."

Bill would help veterans exposed to burn pits

"Amie Muller returned home to Woodbury nearly a decade ago after serving a two-year tour in Iraq. The end of her deployment, however, ushered in a gamut of health issues for Muller, including severe skin rashes and sun sensitivity, chronic fatigue and a fibromyalgia diagnosis. She was eventually diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer in 2016. Amie, a mother of three, died from the disease in February at age 36...."

Army Specialist Pleads Guilty in Female Soldier's Slaying

"The Leaf-Chronicle reports that Spc. Charles Robinson III pleaded guilty at his court-martial Thursday to murder, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in the death of Pfc. Shadow McClaine. The post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line houses the 101st Airborne Division."

Army Ends Search for Remains, Wreckage from Hawaii Helicopter Crash

"The 25th Infantry Division said in a statement Thursday officials wrapped up the search after concluding it was unlikely to find additional remains. Investigators also determined they had gathered enough evidence for a thorough probe into the cause of the crash. All five crew members on board were killed when the UH-60 helicopter went down off Oahu on Aug. 15."

2 Troops Injured in Non-Combat V-22 Crash in Syria

"The two were evaluated for non-life threatening injuries and quickly transported to a medical treatment facility where they were seen and released," said the statement from Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve.

Dad learns why you shouldn't drop the f-bomb in front of your toddler

"As a former U.S. Marine, now a father, there is perhaps one word I should try to cut out of my vernacular around my soon to be 2-year-old', he posted on Twitter."

Retired Gen. Ham: I got emotional support. You can, too.

This guy...General Ham, is one of the heroes on PTSD and getting help! “I didn’t die, but I was definitely reborn,” said Parish, who spent the last seven years of his military career as a lead instructor for resilience training. “I strongly encourage anyone to ask for help before it’s too late.” "The first step is the hardest, Ham said. “It’s knocking on the door and saying, ‘Hey, chaplain, you got a minute?’ But once you take the first step, it’s easy. If you experience hardship and then get help to work your way through it, you come out stronger.” #combatptsd

Mom with disabled veteran son blasts NFL protests

"Rolaine Stoddard said she cries when no one is around because of the grief she has experienced as a military mom. Her one moment that made it seem like the sacrifices were worthwhile was when NFL stadiums filled with fans would stand during the National Anthem in unison - a moment that she said was stolen from her by the protests"

Peterson AFB delivers food and water to thousands in Puerto Rico

"COLORADO SPRINGS - The U.S. Northern Command, in support of FEMA continues to conduct 24-hour operations working to open ports and roads, restore power, and assist with bringing life-saving commodities into disaster-affected areas."

Burnette Chapel Church Of Christ Fellowship Unbroken Faith

"I sat out here. It was early Monday morning and I was looking up and I could see Orion's Belt," Carter said. "I mean just how great — don’t understand why — but how great God truly is." Terry Carter If you want to know what causes #ptsd read this story and not only understand it better, but know more about what it takes to heal it!

Missing Veteran Alert: James Kozik 

"Police said James Kozik, 31, of New London has been missing for approximately three weeks. His friend said he went for a walk one evening and never returned home, and anyone with information on his location is asked to contact police immediately." 

Six Days Ago 
County Vietnam dead, missing remembered in annual vigil

“We’ve got at least one person per shift” to staff the vigil, White said, and more in some cases. “We’ve got an assortment of people. We’ve got some guys that are still on active duty, a couple of guys that helped us out last year. And some new Vietnam veterans have stepped up to the plate” who haven’t previously participated. A surviving sister of an individual killed in the war also volunteered for the first time.

Fort Snelling Veteran Volunteer Received Veterans Voices Award

"The actions of people like Anderson exemplify mission of Veterans Voices, which is to let them dictate their own narrative, O'Fallon said. "They say, 'We get trapped into two stories: "You're a hero, thanks for your service," or, 'Oh my God, maybe you're troubled and have #PTSD and we don't know how to talk to you,'" he said.

England cricket star's punch victim an Afghanistan war veteran: report

"[The victim is] a loving dad and a proper family man. He's got a little boy … he wouldn't instigate a fight," the relative said. "He's a trained soldier, he's been to Afghanistan, he knows better than that. But he knows how to handle himself. "It's quite shocking. I don't think he's said much to anybody. You wouldn't expect that kind of behaviour."

Demons Defeated UK Veteran--MoD Left Him Unarmed to Fight PTSD

"The demons are winning the battle, I can’t keep going any more and I’m so tired. I have seen things nobody should ever see and I see it ­everywhere I go and it’s eating away at me. It hurts babe, it’s been 20 years of pain and so much that I can only think of one way to stop the pain." Mike Emslie #combatptsd

'It's a vendetta' Hero veteran who fought ISIS investigated by MoD for fraud

Allan Duncan, 50, spent the last three years as the only British veteran fighting alongside the Peshmergan 7 Brigade, official coalition partners in the war against the evil death cult in the Iraq. His experiences have been featured in the Daily Express and even used by British security services hungry for vital intelligence on ISIS. But now the Ministry of Defence is investigating him for fraud, because he claims a partial pension for post-traumatic stress disorder #PTSD

UPDATE-She was not alone!!!!

Vietnam Veteran's Widow Planned Lonely Funeral For Tomorrow

FIVE DAYS AGO 
USS Kirk Crew Honored for Rescues After Vietnam War

Saturday was the first time the crew had been recognized formally by the U.S. government. The ceremony included dignitaries and congressional, county and city officials."

Corporal Legend, Parris Island Mascot, Has Passed Away

"Corporal Legend, a mascot who has served as a Parris Island morale booster since 2011, died on Sept. 17, according to a release from the Marine Corps depot. The English Bulldog was found unresponsive and taken to the depot's veterinary clinic where he was pronounced dead, according to the release. It states a funeral ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at the depot's mascot cemetery."

After losing their loved ones at war, survivors find strength in each other on Colorado ranch

Howell described surviving in one word: stuck. At least, that’s how she felt for the first several years. “When you grieve you kind of get stuck in the muckery,” she said. “The shock of grief. It takes time to come out of it.”

Navy training jet is missing after reports of crash in Tennessee

“At approximately 6 p.m., Training Air Wing ONE, based at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., was made aware of the reports of a jet crash near Tellico Plains, Tenn., in the Cherokee National Forest,” a Navy statement said.

First woman takes command at Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss

"Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager grew up in a military family, but no one really expected her to become a soldier too. Yeager, the new commanding general at Joint Task Force North, originally joined the Army to help pay for her college education."

Las Vegas shooting near Mandalay Bay - live updates

"A shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 100 others late Sunday, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said. He said the man authorities think was the sole gunman was killed by police on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino across Las Vegas Boulevard from the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a country music festival."

Gorham police officer recognized for helping Vietnam veterans

"The two Vietnam vets that were in that truck are the true heroes. Unfortunately, it was not just a battery issue wrong with the truck the alternator had seized also. It was time for me to go off duty shortly after this picture was taken."

Protests muted week after NFL responds to Trump criticism

"The Colts tweeted a statement from their players explaining why kneeling is not meant to be disrespectful of the flag." Then they should stop using it to make a point about what is important to them. The Anthem is more than just a "song" to far too many!

Service dog warns ex-Army sergeant of seizures

"But for Sgt. Mark Jenkins, his relationship with Scout, a 9-year-old yellow Lab, is more than just a bond of friendship. It's a lifesaving connection. Jenkins, who medically retired from the U.S. Army in 2010, depends on Scout — considered a "service animal' — to alert him to the fact he's close to suffering a seizure."

Veterans audition to tell other vets' stories

"Henne and Ploof interviewed 42 local military veterans since August 2016 in writing the script for “The Veterans Project,” which will debut in November. They range from a 93-year-old World War II veteran to twenty-something soldiers still on active during, Henne said."

More than 20 people killed, 100 hurt in Las Vegas Strip shooting

"People kept dropping and dropping… People were getting shot one foot away from us," she said. “People were trying to save their friends. There were gunshots everywhere. Helping them would’ve meant that we got shot too.”

Dead rats and frogs discovered in Camp Pendleton water supply

"Despite the nauseating discovery, Camp Pendleton officials say the water — consumed by some 55,000 Marines and their families — is safe, and that there is no need to boil water or take other precautions, according to a memo circulated by the base’s leadership."

Two Pilots Killed in Cherokee National Forest Navy Jet Crash

Both pilots aboard a Navy training jet that went down in Cherokee National Forest have been confirmed dead, military personnel said Monday.

" Las Vegas shooting victims identified

"LAS VEGAS -- At least 58 people were killed and more than 500 others were injured after a gunman opened fire at a country music festival in Las Vegas. The victims of the deadliest mass shooting in recent American history were beginning to be identified on Monday afternoon."

Will Veterans’ Family, Caregiver, and Survivor Advisory Committee Remember Us?

The Committee will advise the Secretary, through the Chief Veterans Experience Officer, on matters related to Veterans’ families, caregivers, and survivors across all generations, relationships, and Veteran status..."

Gary Sinise honors military in Melbourne

"Lieutenant Dan, certainly, when I played that I got more involved with our wounded through the Disabled American Veterans Organization and started supporting them," he told FLORIDA TODAY. The group contacted Sinise three weeks after the movie opened in 1994, inviting him to a convention.

Pennsylvania now has Stolen Valor Law

GOV. Tom Wolf has announced that the Pennsylvania Stolen Valor Law is now in effect. The law protects benefits for Pennsylvania’s service members and veterans. It makes it a crime to impersonate a service member, a veteran of the armed services, or a recipient of a service medal or decoration to gain access to those privileges set aside specifically for those who have served our country.

Maine veterans given substandard care are told it’s too late to sue

"Now, Wood and five other Maine veterans are suing, claiming that the VA fraudulently concealed that a podiatrist at the VA hospital in Togus gave them substandard care, subjecting them to years of pain that hospital officials now say could have been avoided. Their case is currently before U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy in Portland, who will decide whether the lawsuits can move forward."

The best that comes out of many because of the "one"

Time and time again we have witnessed the worst that can be done, but we have also witnessed the best that comes out of many because of the one.

Navy SEAL killed in California skydiving accident FOUR DAYS AGO

"The SEAL, Cmdr. Seth Stone, died after jumping out of a hot air balloon in Perris in Riverside County, Calif. The Federal Aviation Administration said his parachute failed to open properly and the agency is investigating."

Vietnam veteran earned more than 45 military awards

"While Joseph L. Durbin Jr. is proud to have served his country for 39 years, when he talks about his three Bronze Stars earned during two tours of duty in Vietnam, he modestly shrugs off the medals as simply recognition for doing his job."

Iraq war veteran borrows a utility van to ferry dozens of victims to the hospital

"“We started grabbing people and loading them in the truck,” Winston said. “Some were in critical condition. We took a full load to the hospital and then came back for more.” Winston estimates that he ferried around 30 people to the hospital, where emergency workers waited to take over."

Army Veteran: Las Vegas Shooting Worse Than Iraq Skirmishes

The soldier, who was on a search and rescue team in 2012, said he started helping people get out of the line of fire. "I just did what I was supposed to do and what I was trained to do, and I was trying to take care of people."

Stories of heroism emerge from Las Vegas massacre

When you see evil, think help comes too late, too little, remember angels often come in the middle. “What these people did for each other says far more about who we are as Americans than the cowardly acts of a killer ever could,” Sanders said, fighting back tears during the daily news briefing.

12 hours after deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, fear grips Vegas strip

By Monday afternoon, 59 victims were dead and 527 injured in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. "You just didn't know what to do," Akiyoshi said. "Your heart is racing and you're thinking, 'I'm going to die.'"
"Tales of heroism and compassion emerged quickly: Couples held hands as they ran through the dirt lot. Some of the bleeding were carried out by fellow concertgoers. While dozens of ambulances took away the wounded, some people loaded victims into their cars and drove them to the hospital."

Iraq War Veteran Helped Direct Cops To Vegas Shooter’s Room

Gunfire rang out last night just two floors below Chris Bethel’s Mandalay Bay Hotel room. “I could just hear the gun shots. Continuously. Just full automatic,” said Bethel. “There’s explosions going off. It was like, a bomb just went off man. And then there were more gun shots.”

Community turns out to honor Vietnam veteran Roman Belasco

"When veteran organizations stepped in to help it was estimated 100 people would show, but there were hundreds of people. "It was shoulder to shoulder," said Steve Kjonaas, COO of VFW in Colorado, "People right next to each other. Everybody from all the veterans organizations, active duty military, I saw some cadets around here and everybody working together. It was just a wonderful sight.""

Spokane Army veteran describes terror of Vegas shooting

"I've done a lot of deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and it's kind of different because there was no way to really protect yourself. It's a whole new feeling for me," said Jon Tampien. Minutes after posing for a photo outside Mandalay Bay, Tampien was forced to fight for his life.

WWII veteran finally gets VA benefits after more than 70 years without

"World War II veteran could’ve been receiving veteran benefits for the past 70 years, but he never signed up with the VA...Thanks to Kurt Heitman at the VA office on Fort Carson, who has gone above and beyond to help this hometown hero out, in a matter of about six weeks the VA determined Sgt. Sekulich is 100 percent disabled due to his hearing loss suffered from the war and he is now receiving his very well-deserved benefits."

Pulse survivors stand with Vegas

"After Sunday night’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, survivors of the Pulse Nightclub attack are responding with words of support. "I can feel it in all my wounds, it's like reliving that morning all over again," said survivor Tony Marrero. "All my senses and emotions are triggered just thinking of those families and friends of victims.""

How to Help Mandalay Bay Survivors. Be There!

Having seen the worst that can happen after a survivor is suffering without help, I weep more because I know that suffering did not need to happen. #combatptsd

General Tries to Avoid Political Firestorm over Puerto Rico Relief

"I'm not a Republican. I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a member of the blue party. I'm not a member of the green party. I'm a soldier and I'm here to help people," Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan said. "The people here need help and we're going to give them all the help we've got," he told PBS...

Soldier killed in Iraq bomb blast was just starting first deployment

"Army Spc. Alexander W. Missildine died Sunday of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in northern Iraq, according to a Pentagon statement released Tuesday. He was assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Polk in Louisiana."

Truck Thief You Got To Love!

An Iraq veteran is being hailed as a hero for stealing a festival truck and rescuing dozens of shooting victims as gunfire rained down in Las Vegas Sunday night."

THREE DAYS AGO 
Beaufort Marine found shot is released from the hospital. But who pulled the trigger?

An active-duty Marine who arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort’s gate Sept. 21 with multiple gunshot wounds is out of the hospital, according to the Corps, but the case remains under investigation."

Pilots killed in Tennessee jet trainer crash identified

"Lt. Patrick L. Ruth and Lt. j.g. Wallace E. Burch were the Navy pilots killed Sunday when the T-45C training jet that they were flying crashed into the Cherokee National Forest in eastern Tennessee..."

38 year-old Goochland Army vet found dead in his wheelchair last spring in apartment

A Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper carrier found the body of Paul Chisholm between 4:30 and 4:45 a.m. April 17 in the parking lot of the Retreat at West Creek, located on Wilkes Ridge Parkway just west of the Short Pump area."

Veterans among victims of Las Vegas shooting, others fought to save lives

"No active duty servicemembers were among the dead or injured, the Pentagon said, but reports of National Guard, reserve and military veterans are slowly emerging from the horrific scene: a 34-year-old off-duty police officer who was a military veteran who coached youth football; a California Guardsman and his wife, wounded and in stable condition; a former Marine, a former Army Ranger and other veterans whose battlefield training kicked in, prompting them to jump in to save lives."

VA apologizes to Vietnam vet for ER denial

Despite doing exactly what the VA instructed, Rocky received a denial letter in the mail. The VA was refusing to pay for the stent removal, leaving the 100% service connected disabled veteran with the $1,200 bill. “What more could I have done?” Rocky asked while throwing his hands in the air. “I did as I was told, I don’t know how else you could do it!”

Dakota Meyer slams Dan Bilzerian for filming himself fleeing Vegas

'This is what kills me about people like you,' Meyer wrote to Blizerian. 'Always playing 'operator dress up' and so, so tough when the cameras are on''Running away filming, that's not what operators do. Please stop trying to be someone your not. People are dying, you're running away' Bilzerian constantly posts photos of himself alongside his arsenal of weapons, working out topless, or surrounded by a bevvy of Instagram models...But he failed to make the grade when he applied to join the Navy SEALs...

Mobile veterans services center touring county

"VA's Office of Rural Health (ORH), created in 2007, strives to eliminate the barriers between rural Veterans and the services they have earned and deserve, thus improving Veterans' health and well-being by increasing access to care. According to ORH, 5.2 million Veterans live in rural communities across the United States, and more than 32.9 million rural Veterans rely on VA for their health care."

Dennis Eakin Kia honors Vietnam veterans

“This is a big thing,” Jones said. “I’m hoping that it will spread across this country to tell those that are still living, Vietnam vets, that it did matter and that we were doing something that, at that time, no one else was willing to do.” Jones served in the Army and the Marine Corps from 1966-1987 and currently works as a minister and pastor.

Vietnam veteran earned more than 45 military awards

"While Joseph L. Durbin Jr. is proud to have served his country for 39 years, when he talks about his three Bronze Stars earned during two tours of duty in Vietnam, he modestly shrugs off the medals as simply recognition for doing his job."

Iraq war veteran from Lake Elsinore helped victims after Las Vegas mass shooting

“I still have dried blood in the cracks of my hands,” said Tami Colosimo, 44, a Moreno Valley High graduate who lives in Lake Elsinore. “I have probably washed my hands 100 times.” And, with all the trauma she saw during two tours as a military police officer in Iraq, she can’t get one image out of her mind from Sunday night.

Army veteran risked his life to save others at Las Vegas concert massacre, but don't call him a heor

"Robert Ledbetter was a scout sniper for the U.S. Army Rangers during one tour of duty in Iraq. He was trained for war. Those instincts kicked in on Sunday night at a different battlefield: about 40 yards from the stage where Jason Aldean was performing."

5 Hero Veterans Who Saved Lives in Las Vegas 'War Zone'

1. Marine vet Taylor Winston stole a truck to evacuate the wounded
2. Army vet Colin Donohue moved others out of the line of fire
3. Marine vet Scott Yarmer evaded gunfire while leading others out
4. Army vet John Tampien moved his group to safety
5. Army vet Robert Ledbetter treated the wounded and made a tourniquet with a shirt

Man caught at traffic stop with automatic weapons, 900 rounds

"... Scott Edmisten, 43, of Johnson City, carrying a .357-caliber Magnum, a loaded .45-caliber semi-automatic, a .223-caliber fully automatic assault rifle, a .308-caliber fully automatic assault rifle, (aren't registered and lack serial numbers ) more than 900 rounds of ammunition, and survival equipment, Washington County Sheriff Ed Graybeal said."

The general's speech is the one we wish the President could make

In the battlefield of ideas, the general launched a frontal assault. "We are here," he said, "because we have a better idea." He called for "civil discourse" on the issues tearing the country apart. And he explained why the ideas of the bigots are wrong, speaking about how diversity creates strength, about the power we derive because, "we come from all walks of life... from all races ... all backgrounds ... all upbringings."

Defendant pleads guilty in disabled veteran's beating death

"The third of four suspects accused in the beating death of a disabled veteran in 2012 has pleaded guilty. The death penalty trial for Leroy Hines, 37, was scheduled to begin Monday in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court. He avoided a possible death sentence by pleading guilty to felony murder Friday, and will be sentenced at a hearing scheduled for Nov. 13."

Providing An Adrenaline Rush For A Disabled Veteran

"...Retired Army Captain Edward Klein. The unique part is that Klein, who served 16 years in the Army; with tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan; is a triple amputee. He lost both legs above the knee, the right arm above the elbow, and three fingers on his left hand."

Contractors will pay $3 million settlement after allegedly

“Every time an ineligible contractor knowingly pursues and obtains such set-aside contracts, they are cheating American taxpayers at the expense of service-disabled veterans.” Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler.

Homeless Army Veteran Died Left Behind Bible

"The flag was placed there by members of a homeless community to honor Jeffrey R. Bakos, a 55-year-old veteran of the U.S. Army, according to his grieving friends."

Hit and Run in Florida Killed Michigan Sheriff's Deputy

"A 31-year-old Oakland County sheriff's deputy died in a hit-and-run crash in Orlando, Florida, while on vacation with her husband on Sunday, Oct. 1, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office says."

Saving Veterans Is Not In Awareness, It Is In The Works

If someone is hungry, do you give them sand to eat or do you give them food? If a veteran lost hope, do you make them aware of so many others who also lost hope, and then took their own lives, or do you give them hope they can heal #combatptsd

Ex-soldier convicted of manslaughter starts GoFundMe to pay restitution, causes outrage

Let's get this straight. He did it, was found guilty and now he wants others to pay the debt he owes the families? "Jan Michael Nieves Delgado, 22, on the crowd funding account pleaded for donations toward the $10,000 in restitution he was ordered to pay to the victims’ families."

Two Days Ago
House Dems boycott VA reform discussion over inclusion of right-leaning group: report

You know how I feel about politicians...all of them. This may shock you, but on this one, I totally agree with this boycott. "House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats would not attend the meeting because Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) would be there. Democrats accused the group of being more interested in political attacks than creating new policy."

Navy officer fights for right to try unproven drugs before dying

"Matt Bellina was a 30-year-old officer in the U.S. Navy flying out of the Pacific Northwest to protect the country when he started showing symptoms of the deadly Lou Gehrig's disease in 2012. Now he's taken on a new fight: a law making it easier for terminally ill patients to get access to experimental drugs."

Valley Vietnam Veteran Battles Diabetes Linked to Agent Orange Exposure

"Veterans who believe they are suffering from an illness linked to Agent Orange may have health care options through the VA. "One of the most important things that they need to do when they believe that they've been exposed to Agent Orange is to come by either the McAllen outpatient clinic or the Harlingen outpatient clinic," said VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend spokesperson Reynaldo Leal." #agentorange

Judge won't release Iraq War veteran fighting deportation - ABC News

"Chong Kim, a South Korean immigrant and green card holder from Portland, Oregon, struggled with drug addiction, homelessness and post-traumatic stress following his time in Iraq in 2009 and 2010, leading to convictions for burglary and other charges. Kim's lawyer and friends have said he has done well since completing a substance abuse treatment program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs early this year." #combatptsd

3 Green Berets killed, 2 wounded in Niger ambush

"Three Green Berets were killed and two others wounded, military officials speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press. The injured soldiers were taken to Niger’s capital city of Niamey and were in stable condition, said the officials, who had not been authorized to speak publicly."

While others were fleeing Las Vegas shooting scene, an Army veteran drove straight to it

"While thousands of people scrambled from the parking lot where the Route 91 Harvest music festival was held as bullets rained down from overhead, Stalker ran straight into the crowd. He searched frantically for his girlfriend and her mother. Unable to find them in the chaos, "I just started helping anyone and everyone I could," Stalker said."

Veteran charged in Gray's Creek murder

"He was the court’s first graduate during a ceremony in April 2016, earning praise from local judges, Veterans Affairs officials and others. But a little more than a year later, Vann, 32, of the 300 block of Southern Comfort Drive in Parkton, was led into a courtroom under very different circumstances."

‘Alzheimer’s is a veterans’ disease:’ New group tries to improve support for vets

Her (Shawn Taylor) decision to focus her attention on veterans -- a group disproportionately at risk for dementia – was personal, too. Taylor’s grandfather, John Gavin, was an Army colonel and West Point graduate, and her father, Bernard Landau, is a retired lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran.

The five former presidents will headline a hurricane benefit concert

"Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter will be the headliners at a special concert Oct. 21 at Texas A&M's Reed Arena in College Station, which will raise money for hurricane relief efforts."

Vets Sue Defense Department over 1966 Spain H-Bomb Mishap

"The lawsuit was filed by Yale Law School students representing Vietnam Veterans of America, the group's Connecticut chapter and Anthony Maloni, a 72-year-old veteran airman from Agawam, Massachusetts."

California Guard soldier and his wife injured in Las Vegas shooting

"A California National Guard soldier and his wife were among those injured in the shooting Sunday night in Las Vegas. The couple is in stable condition, Capt. Will Martin, a spokesman for the California Guard, confirmed to Army Times."

Green Alerts bill helps at-risk veterans

"Months after a missing veteran was found dead, his family is calling on lawmakers for change. It's called The Corey Adams Searchlight Act, named after a Milwaukee veteran who went missing earlier this year."

Air Force veterans reconnect after more than 50 years apart

"Cheyenne resident Ray Cahoon and Roy Salmon of Melbourne, Florida, met while stationed at Tachikawa Airfield in western Tokyo in 1957. Two years later, however, they lost touch after Cahoon was transferred while Salmon was at a track meet in the United States. For decades, the two men didn’t speak, but they never forgot one another."

Unclaimed veterans deserve a proper military funeral

As many as five of 64 unclaimed bodies that were set for mass interment could be veterans, according to Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni. If those bodies turn out to be veterans, they will have a military funeral, likely held at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, a local Veterans Affairs official said."

Service to be held today for slain off-duty Las Vegas police officer - ABC News

"A service will be held this evening for Charleston Hartfield, an off-duty Las Vegas police officer and Nevada Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class, who was killed Sunday night when a gunman opened fire on a county music festival. Hartfield, who leaves behind a son and daughter, was attending Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas when he and 57 others were gunned down in what is now the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history."

As bullets flew in Las Vegas, Tacoma surgeon improvised to help victims

"Dr. James Sebesta is a surgeon who retired last year from service at Madigan Army Medical Center after an Army career that included four deployments to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan."
"Sunday, he encountered some of the worst carnage of his career during what he called a “prolonged date night” as he attended the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. After surviving the onslaught of bullets unleashed in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, he sent his wife away with friends to a safe place while he stayed behind to help the wounded."

Las Vegas Survivors and Responders Struggle to Heal

After Pulse, Police Officers said that the worst part was after the shooting stopped. They had to walk around in puddles of blood, but even that wasn't the worst for them. It was the constant ring of cell phones as they prayed the batteries would die. They knew on the other end of the call, was someone looking for someone who was not going home to them. #ptsd

After Hurricane Maria, The Flood of PTSD Cases

"PTSD doesn't develop immediately, it develops after about a month," Asim Shah, M.D., chief of the division of community psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, told CBS News. #PTSD

Army of Heroes Showed Up in Las Vegas

A few of the Army veterans still putting their lives on the line for the sake of others. And thy wonder why the rest of us call them heroes?

One Day Ago 
A skydiver's parachute failed; prosecutors say her husband sabotaged it

"Prosecutors said Cilliers, a 37-year-old sergeant in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, removed parts of his wife's parachute in hopes that she would die in the jump, according to British media."

Heartwarming: Disabled Napa Veteran Wins Toyota Tundra

"As an aircraft mechanic,( Steven) Hale was stationed in South Korea and did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He might still be serving today had a 100-pound generator not been dropped on him while he was on the job, injuring his shoulder; or had a drunk driver not hit him, breaking his neck and back."

Tricare reform rules fire a curveball over Jan. 1 fee levels

"Elderly or disabled retirees who use Tricare for Life, the military’s supplemental insurance to Medicare, and families of active duty enrolled in Prime, the managed care plan supported by military treatment facilities, will not impacted by the new set of appointment fees established under Select."

Union warns of VA privatization ahead of Choice reform debate

One word for this, Yep! "Using sometimes fiery language, they illustrated the VA as a model example of health care that was being starved of money and staff to benefit 'corporate cronies.'"

Honor Vietnam veterans

"To every Vietnam veteran, I admire and respect the sacrifices that you made. In fact, it was part of that selflessness and duty that influenced me to join the Army in 1989. I did not suffer like the Vietnam vets did, but it was because of your example that I enlisted. Having come from a long line of veterans, I wanted my family to be proud of me." Michelle L. Berthon

Missing leg won't keep 94-year-old veteran from standing for national anthem

"Marian Morreale has been practicing how to stand for the last three months. She is a 94-year-old World War II veteran and her left leg was amputated last year. But she practiced standing so that she could when the national anthem opening game of the Sabres tonight. She is trying to make a point."

Meet the veteran WUSA9's service dog Bunce is helping

"Dan Berschinski served our country as an Army Lieutenant in Afghanistan. In 2009, he lost both legs to an IED. He was 25. Fast forward to 2017, and Bunce now helps him in so many ways.

Head of Vietnam veteran charity who embezzled $150,000 sentenced to five

"John Thomas Burch, 75, of Alexandria, Virginia, who pleaded guilty in June to wire fraud, was the president of the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation until last year." "The former head of a Washington, D.C., charity meant to benefit Vietnam veterans, who embezzled about $150,000 of donations to spend on women he was involved with, was sentenced Thursday to five months in prison."

82nd Airborne in Afghanistan helps with gender reveal for fallen NC soldier

"All the way from Afghanistan, members of the 82nd prepped confetti canons and began to record. “My boy Harris, we’re gonna do it for him, find out what kind of baby he is going to have,” a soldier says in the video."

Tampa veteran police officer's son was in the middle of the Vegas shooting, helped save lives

"His son is a 29-year combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and now with the LAPD. A good guy in a crowd of victims..."Whenever you go into a crowd you see two guys with there heads up the good guys and the bad guys. We take an oath to do the job, and it doesn't matter what venue or what time of day it is. We are what we are," Jim says."

Bogus Lincolnshire Help for Heroes collector pretended to be Afghanistan veteran

UK: "But Santini, from south Lincolnshire, could not produce an armed forces identity card and it was later discovered that he had not been a soldier since 1983 when he was given a “dishonourable discharge.”"

Soldier committed suicide after seeing friends killed in Lebanon

UK: "Patrick Nolan, 60, from Hatfield, suffered from alcohol dependency and depression and was found dead on the rail tracks north of Hatfield on February 4. The inquest heard that to deal with his PTSD and depression following a tour of duty in Lebanon with the Irish Armed Forces..." #combatptsd

Ottawa, military in joint offensive to save soldiers from suicide

"The Globe's continuing investigation has found that more than 70 Canadian military members and veterans who were deployed on the Afghanistan operation have killed themselves after returning home. Another six ended their lives while on tour, and are counted among the 158 mission deaths."

Service-connection for PTSD important for spouse, children

"VA provides dependency and indemnity to surviving spouses and/or minor children of a veteran who dies on active duty or of a service-connected disability. In most cases, dependents are eligible even if the veteran never filed for the service-connected condition, with the exception of suicide." #combatptsd

And on the seventh day, I did not rest but you'll have to go to Google+ to find out.