President wins praise of veterans

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Barack Obama Hosts Roundtable Discussion with South Carolina Veterans
Obama noted that his commitment to veterans is grounded in his experience being raised in part by his grandfather, who served during World War II.“I will never forget that everyone who wears the uniform deserves the opportunities that my grandfather got – to have a Commander-in-Chief who is accountable, and to have a grateful nation that helps you live the American Dream that you have defended,” Obama said.

And he didn't forget. The problem is, not many knew about any of this. When he was Senator Obama, he did a lot of things no one really paid attention to and that was what made me admire him more.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Obama, Hagel, and Harkin Address GI Suicides
Obama, Hagel, and Harkin Address GI Suicidesby Piuma, Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 11:36:08 PM EST
The following is excerpted from a diary on the Think On These Things blog:As news reports reveal growing numbers of suicide among soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin, Chuck Hagel, and Barack Obama on January 31, introduced major legislation aimed at preventing suicide among active duty members of the military.

The Senators' bill, the Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act, would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a comprehensive suicide prevention program including annual training for soldiers, improved instruction for field medics and post deployment assistance. The legislation authorizes six million dollars for implementation of the programs. A companion measure will be introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA).

Today's Washington Post reported that Army statistics show that 121 soldiers committee suicide last year - a 20 percent increase from 2006. This is the highest rate of Army suicides recorded since the Army started collecting this data in 1980. The Post also reported that last year about 2,100 soldiers "injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002.""These startling statistics should serve as a wakeup call that suicide among soldiers and veterans is more than a problem, it is an epidemic," said Senator Harkin. "Thankfully, our push to provide America's veterans with a suicide prevention program was heard last year, when the President signed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act into law. But there is more work ahead - especially in serving our active duty military personnel. We can and must act quickly to save our soldiers who are so bravely fighting for our country."

But that was just the start. When no one was looking, he was paying attention to what programs were in the country for veterans.

Obama: Real patriotism is treating veterans right
Obama: Real patriotism is treating veterans right
Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor May 12, 2008 12:35 PM
Barack Obama told West Virginia voters today that a test of real patriotism is giving veterans the care and services they need -- a test he argued that the Bush administration has sorely failed in a "betrayal of the ideals that we ask our troops to risk their lives for.""We must never forget that honoring this service and upholding these ideals requires more than saluting our veterans as they march by on Veterans Day or Memorial Day," he said, according to prepared remarks. "It requires marching with them for the care and benefits they have earned It requires standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our veterans and their families after the guns fall silent and the cameras are turned off.
At a time when we’re facing the largest homecoming since the Second World War, the true test of our patriotism is whether we will serve our returning heroes as well as they’ve served us," said Obama, who has been criticized for not wearing a flag lapel pin.The Democratic front-runner renewed his call for creating a "21st century VA," for expanding treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, and for a new GI bill for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.In calling for expanding services and benefits, Obama also talked at length of personal memories of his grandfather, Stanley Dunham, who enlisted after the Pearl Harbor attacks, fought with General George Patton during World War II, and is buried in a national cemetery in Hawaii with Pearl Harbor victims

At the time, the one I thought did the most good was the Montana National Guards Program.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Obama talks about Montana National Guard at Columbia University
Columbia University Presidential ForumLIVE VIDEO: Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain make a joint appearance at Columbia University to discuss civic engagement in the post 9/11 world.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22886841#22886841
At about half way through Senator Obama's question and answer session, he brings up the Montana National Guard and their PTSD program. I know I must be boring some readers with this but it is one of the best programs in the country.

Obama promises to repeat Montana's National Guard PTSD work nation wide

Obama Pledges Nationwide Use of PTSD Program
Eric Newhouse
Great Falls Tribune
Aug 28, 2008 - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama promised Wednesday to expand Montana's pilot program to assess the mental health of combat vets nationwide, if elected.The Montana National Guard has developed a program to check its soldiers and airmen for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder every six months for the first two years after returning from combat, then once a year thereafter. The program exceeds national standards set by the U.S. Department of Defense.The pilot program was created in response to the suicide of former Army Spc. Chris Dana of Helena, who shot himself on March 4, 2007, days after being given a less-than-honorable discharge because he could no longer handle attending drills following a tour in Iraq.
"He (Obama) told me he understood why we need to have additional screenings for PTSD," said Matt Kuntz, Dana's stepbrother, who was among a small group invited to meet with Obama on Wednesday in Billings. "And he told me when he is elected president, he will implement Montana's pilot program nationwide."Kuntz, who recently gave up his job as a lawyer in Helena to advocate for the mentally ill and their families, said he was invited to brief Obama on how Montana had become a national model for assessing the mental health of its combat vets.

How else would he have known about this program if he didn't care? I do this as my job (unpaid but hey, it's my mission in life) and he had a lot of other things he had to learn at the time he was trying to become the president. He knew this was the best program out there at the time simply because he bothered to pay attention. Things have changed a lot for the veterans in this country and the way the troops are treated when they have PTSD. We have a long way to go but he's part of the reason we've come this far. The proof is there but too few have bothered to pay attention. As for me, I believe he earned praise from veteran a long time ago but few in the media will even talk about any of this. It's the reason so many at the DAV Convention were shocked by what he knew and how much he cared. No one ever told them.

President wins praise of veterans
By Walter C. Jones
Morris News Service
Tuesday, Aug 3, 2010
ATLANTA --- The big news from President Obama's speech to disabled veterans Monday was that the Iraq pullout is on schedule.


But the commander in chief's words about the veterans themselves were what stuck with Augustan Willie Davis Jr.

"He really surprised me," the Vietnam veteran said. "We had everybody from World War II to current war veterans here, and everybody said the same thing. They were surprised that the president was so knowledgeable and cared so much for the veterans."

They responded with a standing ovation as the president finished, said Davis, who is the chief of staff in the Georgia Disabled American Veterans.

"Most presidents or politicians will tell you anything, but hearing him speak, you could tell it came from his heart," he said.

Obama told the veterans that the planned troop drawdown from Iraq will be completed this month, with more than 90,000 troops returned. Not all troops will be home until the end of 2011.
read more here
President wins praise of veterans

By the way, he's the third President to go to speak to the DAV. First Ford, then Clinton and now Obama.