Iraq War vet wants to return his medals to NATO

Iraq War vet talks about why he wants to return his medals during NATO summit
Ohio guardsman's hitch as gunner in Iraq turned him against war

Iraq War veteran Greg Broseus, who has a photography exhibit at the National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago, wants to hand over the medals he received for his service to a NATO representative during this weekend’s summit. (Nancy Stone, Tribune photo / May 14, 2012)

Dawn Turner Trice
May 14, 2012

Greg Broseus joined the Ohio National Guard in 2002 to help pay for college. He wound up spending all of 2005 in Iraq as a gunner on a convoy whose mission was to search for roadside bombs.

For his service, he received 11 medals. But now he wants to give them all back.

On Sunday, he plans to participate in a unity march for reconciliation and justice at the 25th NATO summit. The march, organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War, will culminate in a ceremony in which veterans will get rid of their medals.

Organizers said they wish they could hand over their medals to a NATO representative. Since that's unlikely, contingency plans range from members erecting a memorial site where the medals would be pinned to an American flag to tossing them over a barricade near McCormick Place, where NATO officials will be meeting.
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Colin Powell on the Bush Administration's Iraq War MistakesThe General's Orders
May 13, 2012
Colin Powell reflects on lessons from the battlefield to the halls of power-including the mistakes of the Iraq War, his infamous U.N. speech, and the crimes at Abu Ghraib.

Chaos in Baghdad

On the evening of Aug. 5, 2002, President Bush and I met in his residence at the White House to discuss the pros and cons of the Iraq crisis. Momentum within the administration was building toward military action, and the president was increasingly inclined in that direction.
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2 National Guard Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan Promoted Posthumously

2 National Guard Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan Promoted Posthumously

Wednesday April 11, 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio

The military honored two central Ohioans killed while on duty in Afghanistan, 10TV News reported Wednesday.

Sgt. First Class Shawn T. Hannon of Grove City and Sgt. First Class Jeffrey Rieck of Columbus were promoted posthumously to the rank of master sergeant effective April 4, the day they died as a result of a suicide bomb in Maimanah, the capital of the Faryab province.
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Ohio Army National Guard grieves for killed and wounded

Three Ohio Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan, Four Others Wounded
By Leslie Barrett, Co-anchor/Reporter
COLUMBUS, Ohio-
Military officials are releasing more details about the three soldiers who were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan Wednesday. The Ohio Army National Guard said the soldiers who died were from Franklin County and four others from the state were wounded, some critically.

The Department of Defense said Capt. Nicholas Rozanski of Dublin, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Rieck of Columbus and Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Hannon of Grove City, Ohio died.

The Ohio National Guard said the soldiers wounded are Private 1st Class Jacob Williams of Summersville, Cpl. Everett Haworth of Olmsted, Spc. Austin Weigle of Bryan, and First Lt. Christopher Rosebrock of Hicksville.
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Mother of Ohio soldier: He was a natural leader

Brother of Ohio soldier killed in Afghan suicide bombing urges Americans not to forget troops

War's violence hits home in Guard unit

Combat PTSD, hard fall of the survivor

Suicide followed weeks of turmoil

Suicide followed weeks of turmoil
Police reports detail Hamrick's final days
Written by Lou Whitimre News Journal
Mar. 30, 2012

MANSFIELD -- Military services were conducted Thursday for Russell Hamrick, the same day charges were filed against a man accused of stealing his wallet and credit cards. Police reports also detail repeated complaints by Hamrick in the weeks before his death. Hamrick, 48, died in a 30-foot plunge from a bridge to Richland B and O Trail on March 22.

Richland County Coroner Dr. Stewart Ryckman ruled the death a suicide.

The Mansfield man attempted suicide on at least two other occasions, in 2010 and 2011, police say.

Hamrick reported a variety of complaints to police in the last two weeks of his life, including theft, assault, being threatened at knifepoint and being burned with cigarettes.

Relatives believe Hamrick was tortured and pushed to the edge figuratively, if not literally, according to Randy Hamrick, Russell's brother. Hamrick served 10 years in the 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard. Military services were conducted by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Squad. Only hours earlier, Mansfield police arrested Kevin Davis, 20, of 140 Wood St., on a felony warrant citing forgery charges stemming from purchases made with Hamrick's credit cards. read more here

National Guard Try To Stop Suicides Among Veterans

National Guard Try To Stop Suicides Among Veterans
Military Suicide Rates Double National Average

By MIKE BOWERSOCK
Published: November 04, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio --
Inside a classroom near Beightler Armory Thursday, a group of mostly Ohio National guardsmen learned how to better diagnose their fellow soldiers who may be on the brink of committing suicide.

"Historically the suicide rate in the military, in the Army has been lower than the national average. But about two years ago, we started to go above the national average," said Ohio National Guard Capt. Nick Chou.

The suicide rate in the general public is about 11 people per 100,000, but among veterans it's 20 per 100,000.

The reason? It seems veterans, reserve, guard, and active military have come into a perfect storm of stress




Suicides Among Veterans