The Defenders Lodge keeping veterans from sleeping in cars

Veterans are sleeping in their cars at VA medical centers

Fox News
By Caleb Parke
October 10, 2018

“We didn’t have anything,” Freeman told Fox News. “We tried several things – beds in the hospital, hotel vouchers – but the biggest thing the Defenders Lodge provided was capacity and consistency.” The Defenders Lodge was the result of a public-private partnership between the VA and the PenFed Foundation, which raised $11 million in donations to fund the construction of the lodge. The 52 room facility can house up to 104 veterans and has a dining room, library, and private outdoor spaces. Freeman said it is full every night of the year.

James Schenck, President and CEO of PenFed Credit Union; Honorable Frederick F.Y. Pang, Chairman of the PenFed Foundation, Billy Bryels, Veteran; Lisa Freeman, former Director/CEO, VA Palo Alto Health Care System; Assembly Member Marc Berman (24th District); State Senator Jerry Hill (13th District); William Ball, Chief, Voluntary and Hospital Services, VA Palo Alto Health Care System at the Lee & Penny Anderson Defenders Lodge.

U.S. veterans are forgoing treatment at Veterans’ Affairs clinics due to the high cost of lodging in some areas, but one group has a solution.

Billy Bryels, a retired Vietnam Veteran and double Purple Heart awardee, told Fox News he slept in his car several times because of the high hotel costs, much like several of his fellow veterans.

But today he is one of many who goes to the “Lee & Penny Anderson Defenders Lodge” located in Palo Alto, California, where veterans and their caregiver can stay in the state-of-the-art $17 million facility free of charge. He called it a God-send for veterans getting treatment.

“What are other veterans doing if they don’t have a Defender’s Lodge available to them?” Bryels asked. “I hope this kind of facility continues across the country.”

It was an idea former VA Palo Alto Health Care System Director and CEO Lisa Freeman thought of after hearing stories like Bryels’ of the veteran’s plight. Today, a hotel room runs at about $300-400/night in the area.
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After Son Committed Suicide Mom Alerts Others

Pittsburg mother warns of PTSD's dangers after soldier son commits suicide
FOX 2 News
March 14, 2016

A mom in Pittsburg wants to speak out about the signs of post traumatic stress disorder after her soldier son killed himself recently.

The family of 30-year-old army veteran Terry O'Hearn is holding a memorial service for him at the VFW Post in Antioch this Saturday. His mother Robin Kiepert wants to help other military families struggling to cope with PTSD.

"For people like Terry, it's a need to take care of them when they get back. They're not the same person that left," said Kiepert, who's an Air Force veteran herself.

Kiepert says Terry was loving, playful and easygoing when he enlisted in the Army.

As a soldier, he saw combat during two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He survived with minor physical injuries, but the emotional wounds ran deep.

"When he got back from Afghanistan, he was angry. His personality really changed," said Kiepert.

She says the change was initially understandable because there is a period of adjustment to civilian life. But over time, it became more pronounced and then a suicide attempt, followed by treatment at the VA hospital in Palo Alto.

She says Terry was diagnosed with PTSD.
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Veteran Charged With Crime of Getting Upset at the VA?

You just can't make this stuff up anymore when the truth is so much stranger than fiction.

Vet's conviction upheld for "loud and boisterous" conduct at Palo Alto VA hospital
Inside Bay Area.com
By Howard Mintz
POSTED: 11/21/2014

A Bay Area veteran has lost an unusual legal challenge to a seldom-used federal law that criminalizes "loud, boisterous and unusual noise" at Veterans Affairs facilities.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday upheld Louis Agront Sr.'s 2013 conviction for disruptive conduct at the Palo Alto VA hospital, rejecting his lawyers' arguments that the law applied to the incident is so vague that it is unconstitutional.

"One may reasonably question the wisdom or necessity of the citation and of the prosecution that followed," 9th Circuit Judge Raymond Fisher wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel. "But Agront has not shown it was unconstitutional."

The ruling stems from a 2011 confrontation at the Palo Alto VA hospital, where Agront's family brought him for treatment. The family, court papers say, told Agront he was being treated for an injured knee, but they actually wanted the hospital to examine him for "unusual behavior" and a sudden weight loss.

Once Agront consulted with VA staffers about his treatment, he grew upset and stormed out of the hospital, leading to a loud confrontation with his son outside, according to court records. A VA police officer tried to calm Agront, but he resisted and was arrested.

Federal prosecutors charged Agront with a misdemeanor for violating the VA "unusual noise" statute. He was sentenced to six months probation and a $50 fine, but a federal public defender challenged the constitutionality of the law.
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DOGS EASE VETERANS’ TRAUMA AT VA CENTER

DOGS EASE VETERANS’ TRAUMA AT VA CENTER
Man’s best friends become vital part of PTSD treatment, train for service to physically disabled veterans
San Jose Mercury News
By Mark Emmons
DEC. 7, 2013

MENLO PARK — The black Labrador retriever knew something was wrong. He refused to leave the side of Sandro Navarro, repeatedly nuzzling the troubled man, trying to comfort him.

It was the anniversary of that terrible 2003 day in Iraq when Navarro was the first to arrive at a blast scene that killed two friends in his Army unit and severely wounded a third. Somehow, the dog named Jason realized he was distraught.

“It was like he was telling me, ‘I’m going to keep licking your face until you stop feeling down, and I going to make you smile by doing something goofy,’ ” said Navarro, 36.

Some of man’s best friends are playing an innovative role in the VA Palo Alto Men’s Trauma Recovery Program as four-legged therapy for veterans finding their way through the darkness of post-traumatic stress disorder, thanks to Paws for Purple Hearts. The dogs are so perceptive they even will awaken vets from nightmares.

But there’s also a dual purpose to the program. Some of the veterans who come to the VA’s Menlo Park campus from around the country for military-related PTSD treatment are helping train the canines to become service dogs for physically disabled vets.
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Dogs ease veterans' trauma at Palo Alto VA center

Dogs ease veterans' trauma at Palo Alto VA center
San Jose Mercury News
By Mark Emmons
November 19, 2013

Veteran William Smith with his dog, "Venuto" at their Modesto home Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. Smith, who is handicapped, received the dog from a service dog program for veterans. Some of man’s best friends are playing an innovative role in the VA Palo Alto Men’s Trauma Recovery Program as four-legged therapy for vets finding their way through the emotional darkness of post-traumatic stress disorder through Paws for Purple Hearts. (Patrick Tehan/Bay Area News Group)

MENLO PARK -- The black Labrador retriever knew something was wrong. He refused to leave the side of Sandro Navarro, repeatedly nuzzling the troubled man, trying to comfort him.

It was the anniversary of that terrible 2003 day in Iraq when Navarro was the first to arrive at a blast scene that killed two friends in his Army unit and severely wounded a third. Somehow, the dog named Jason realized he was distraught.

"It was like he was telling me, 'I'm going to keep licking your face until you stop feeling down, and I going to make you smile by doing something goofy,' " said Navarro, 36.

Some of man's best friends are playing an innovative role in the VA Palo Alto Men's Trauma Recovery Program as four-legged therapy for veterans finding their way through the darkness of post-traumatic stress disorder, thanks to Paws for Purple Hearts. The dogs are so perceptive they even will awaken vets from nightmares.

But there's also a dual purpose to the program. Some of the veterans who come to the VA's Menlo Park campus from around the country for military-related PTSD treatment are helping train the canines to become service dogs for physically disabled vets.
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Palo Alto campus searches for healing after suicides

Palo Alto campus searches for healing after suicides
Since May, four students at Henry Gunn High School have taken their own lives at a nearby railroad crossing. Classmates have started using notes of affirmation and blog posts to try to restore hope.
Reporting from Palo Alto, Calif. - The small squares of colored paper began cropping up on the doors and walls of Henry M. Gunn High School last week, two days after William Dickens, 16, killed himself on the nearby train tracks.

"Just keep swimming," one Post-it note said. "There is always someone who will listen," was written on another. And, "There's no meaning to happiness w/o sadness. Take it easy."

Dickens was the fourth Gunn student in less than six months to commit suicide near where East Meadow Drive crosses the Caltrain tracks here in the affluent, high-achieving heart of the Silicon Valley. A fifth student tried to kill himself but was thwarted by his mother, who suspected his intentions, followed him to the crossing and saved him with the help of a passer-by.
read more here
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-student-suicides30-2009oct30,0,6600846.story

PFC Hunter Levine needs to feel the love we have for him

Every once in a while I'll be forwarded an email that breaks my heart. This is one of them. Pfc. Hunter Levine needs to feel the love and support this country has for him. There are too many who do not know exactly how special they are to us. Here is a chance to do something for one of them. There are many in this country who want to send cards, letters, care packages, but have no idea who to send them to. If you know of any wounded soldier in need of some TLC, add the name and where to send it to on the comment section of this post or email me. We'll see what we can do.

I need your support! Please get a card or package to our wounded
brother that is up in the VA Hospital in palo Alto, CA. It is urgent that
he get love and support of his countrymen who care! Keep him and his family
in your prayers.
Thank you so much!
God Bless you!
Continue to pray for them that keep us safe!!



Subject: [modestobluestarmothers] Cards needed

Passing this all along as I just received...thanks in advance for any
cards & prayers -

____________ _________ _________ _________ ___
All-

I know a young man who is in desperate need of help. His name is
PFC Hunter Levine. He is 20 years old and hails from Houston, Tx.
He was in my company and was wounded on 9 May, 2008 while
conducting combat operations in East Baghdad. He recieved a very
serious injury to his face, resulting in the loss of his entire
bone structure, mouth, nose, and vision.

He was evacuated to Walter Reed Hospital where the Doctors
performed numeorus surgerys to repair his face. I was fortunate
enough to attend a Purple Heart Ceremony at Walter Reed while I
was home on leave in June. I was also able to meet with Hunter's
father Beau.

Hunter was transferred to a VA hospital in Palo Alto, where the
best care for his vison would be available. He is a true fighter
with a heart of gold. Unfortuntaly, I recieved some bad news from
the hospital doctors. Lately, he has been resisiting treatment
and being somewhat combative with the hospital staff. He has had
a few outbursts and the staff is real worried about him. It seems
like a serious case of depression is setting in. Although his
wounds on the outside may look bad, they may never compare with
the wounds he has on the inside.

I spoke with him on the phone this evening, and he seemed real
down. The reality is that he still has a long road to recover and
may never see again. This young man has everything to live for
and is a true inspiration. He is exactly the kind of person we
would all want in a brother, son, or friend. I feel obligated to
try and rally some support for him.

I know we have a lot of caring people out there who would love to
do something sepcial for an outstandig American who gave his all
for his country. If you know of any church groups, school room
classes, or other benevolent organizations that would be
interested in assiting this brave young man, please forward this
message on to them as well.

He is a pretty typical young man, so he likes sports and other
typical young men stuff. A small care package with some goodies
and such would mena the world. Again, please forward this message
to as many people as you know. It would be so great if we can all
give way togther and show Hunter that his country will never
forget his sacrifices or service. He is down and needs our help.
Thank you for your support...it means everything.

Address:

PFC Hunter N. Levine
C CO 2-30 IN
3801 Miranda Ave
Building 7D
Palo Alto, CA 94304



V/R,

1SG Brian M. Disque
C CO 2-30 IN
"Our Country, Not Ourselves!"

California war vets to get PTSD, TBI testing

California war vets to get PTSD, TBI testing

By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 8, 2008 13:53:53 EDT

Reacting to complaints of delays in care as well as a recent report that found hundreds of thousands of combat veterans are living with undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill providing screening and mental health care for California war veterans.

SB 1401, authored by State Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, Calif., requires that the Defense Department or Veterans Affairs Department reach out and assist all National Guard members and discharged combat veterans returning to California to receive screening for PTSD or TBI.

A second bill requires the Calfornia’s Department of Health Care Services, in conjunction with its Department of Mental Health, to seek federal funding for mental health services for those combat veterans.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_california_veterans_100808w/

Woman Interrupts Molesting, Beats Brother

Woman Interrupts Molesting, Beats Brother
A woman beat up her brother after she caught him sexually assaulting her 2-year-old daughter in his East Palo Alto home, police said today.
by Henry K. Lee

Joel Aguilar Guizar, 23, was allegedly attacking the child when his sister broke down a locked bedroom door about 1 p.m. Wednesday, said East Palo Alto police Detective Jeff Liu.
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