Oregon Law enforcement agencies prepare for return of National Guards

Across the nation things like this are happening and it's a good thing. The problem is there will always be some part of society treating the combat veterans like criminals instead. If they commit crimes, then they need to be arrested but more often than not, they should receive help instead of incarceration. The reason is simple. These are not self-centered, selfish people with no regard for others. They proved that when they decided to enlist in the National Guards, become Reservists or enter into the regular military. They knew their lives would be on the line on these dangerous jobs. They put other people first.

The same men and women we cheer as we send them off to fight our battles return home with all the burdens of what they went through. Coming home is often harder than leaving because they expect more out of themselves as the people they love wait for the day they "just get over it" and get back to normal. The problem is while everyone is waiting for that day to come PTSD is getting a stronger hold on them. The veteran then tries anything and everything to kill off what PTSD is doing to them. In the process, the family falls apart and the veteran sinks deeper into PTSD along with making bad choices they would normally not have allowed to enter into their minds.

It would be really supporting the troops if this type of program was repeated in every city, in every state since the numbers of PTSD veterans will only rise.

Law enforcement agencies prepare for return of deployed ONG soldiers

By Tove Tupper

March 23, 2010

MEDFORD, Ore. - Law enforcement agencies are teaming up to welcome home National Guard soldiers.

Troops deployed in Iraq are set to return to Oregon in a little over a month.

When 23-year-old Veteran Shane Hornbeck arrived home from his 15-month tour in Iraq, he had a rough time. He suffered PTSD, abused drugs, ruined relationships with his family and was eventually convicted of two felony charges.

"You feel like you're being forced into poverty. And you know that basically when you're in the criminal system that's what happens," Purple Heart Veteran Shane Hornbeck said... "They need to know that these soldiers are coming back with plaguing issues and they don't necessarily know how to deal with them or cope with them."

The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs says 10-percent of those behind bars in Oregon are veterans.
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