Iraq Veteran From Stop Loss to Nashville

Iraq War veteran's inspiring journey from front lines to 'Nashville'
FOX News
By Hollie McKay
Published September 22, 2014

LOS ANGELES – Melvin Kearney may be best-known for playing Hayden Panettiere’s bodyguard Bo on the hit ABC series “Nashville,” but as a two-time Iraq combat veteran, his story away from the cameras is even more moving and drama-filled.

“I grew up as an Army brat, my dad was my hero and I saw the sense of pride that came over his face every time he put on that uniform,” Kearney told FOX411. “I knew that was what I wanted to do. I thought I would just be guarding a base near my college in North Carolina, but halfway through basic training 9/11 happened.”

Kearney deployed to Iraq in 2003, and lost a number of close friends on the battlefield. His plan was to finish college and become a U.S. Marshall after returning, but as he was walking to the stage on college graduation day, he received a call from the Army: “Kearney, its Stop Loss. You’re going back to Iraq.”

Stop Loss was a policy that extended one’s military contract, which the Pentagon ended in 2011. From 2001 to 2009, an estimated 120,000 soldiers were affected by stop loss.
read more here

Private Needham's War

UPDATE

Tuesday's "48 Hours Mystery" Was #1 in Households and Viewers
CBS spins the numbers for Tuesday, June 26.
[via press release from CBS]
"48 HOURS MYSTERY" TUESDAY'S EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE PLAYED BY POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN PVT. JOHN NEEDHAM'S KILLING OF HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS #1 IN HOUSEHOLDS AND VIEWERS

CBS News' 48 HOURS MYSTERY TUESDAY (R) was first in households (4.0/07) and viewers (5.66m), while delivering a 1.5/04 in adults 25-54, according to preliminary Nielsen same day ratings for June 26. Compared to last week, 48 HOURS MYSTERY TUESDAY was even in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

The broadcast, which aired on the eve of National PTSD Awareness Day, featured Troy Roberts' emotional report on Pvt. John Needham, who beat to death the woman he loved, 19-year-old Jacque Villagomez. Needham's story started in Iraq where he was severely injured in combat and exposed to multiple IED and grenade attacks. He was later diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Needham's father says the war took a heavy toll on his son, and ravaged his mind and body. From the beginning, Needham took responsibility for Villagomez's death but said he remembered little of the incident. He said that as they argued one night, something inside him snapped. He blamed his brain injury and PTSD for the beating that came next.
Read more

I watched this last night and wanted to share it with you. There are so many stories out there that do not get the attention of the national media, but are reported all across the country.

While millions of veterans return from combat with PTSD, few commit crimes and even fewer commit them "in their right mind" but we don't talk about them. They are just not "newsworthy" enough to have their stories told the same way Needham's story was.

When you watch this I hope you take away what happened to Needham while he tried to get help and his Dad fought hard for him. Needham's trouble got worse when he tried to commit suicide in Iraq but his buddy stopped him. During the struggle, the gun went off.

Before you watch this, keep an open mind and watch the whole thing. The ending shocked me too.

Private Needham's War
CBS News

original story PTSD on Trial Private John Needham

Time to claim military Stop-loss pay extended

This money is yours. You earned it. There are no strings attached to this so file your claim for the money you are owed. If you don't want it file the claim and give the money away to charity.

Stop-Loss Claims Deadline Extended

October 01, 2010

Stars and Stripes|by Jeff Schogol

WASHINGTON -- Congress has extended the deadline to December for veterans to apply for retroactive stop-loss pay.

Under the program, troops who have been stop-lossed since Sept. 11, 2001, or their surviving spouses are eligible for $500 for every month they were kept beyond their initial separation date. The program was slated to end in October, but now it has been extended to Dec. 3.

The move drew praise from AMVETS spokesman Ryan Gallucci, who said, “Extending the deadline is an appropriate course of action to ensure that veterans have an opportunity to take advantage of their earned benefit.”
click link for more

Did you get your Stop-loss pay? 120,000 didn't and the Army is trying to find them

United States Army owes 120,000 veterans money

Updated: 07.16.10
The U.S. Army owes about 120,000 veterans extra pay, and the Veterans Administration is reaching out to find them.

The Army is seeking soldiers, veterans and survivors of soldiers whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss Authority between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2008.

The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act stipulates they are eligible for special pay; those eligible will receive $500 for each month or partial month served in stop-loss status.

To receive this benefit, those who served under Stop Loss must submit a claim by Oct. 21, 2010. Stop-loss veterans can submit their claims online at www.stoplosspay.army.mil
read more here
United States Army owes 120000 veterans money

13,000 Stop-loss troops still wait for pay

Gates, Army working out stop-loss payments

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 3, 2009 14:46:26 EST

The snail’s-pace development of a plan to pay a monthly allowance of up to $500 for soldiers affected by stop-loss orders has not escaped Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has now taken a personal interest in getting the payments to 13,000 eligible soldiers.

Gates and Army leaders are negotiating final details for a proposal that could be announced within weeks to provide a congressionally approved payment that is expected to apply to 7,300 active-duty soldiers, 4,430 National Guardsmen and 1,452 Army Reserve members, according to testimony Tuesday before the House Armed Services military personnel panel.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/03/military_stoploss_payments_030309w/

Pentagon failure to act delays stop loss pay

Soldiers still waiting for stop-loss bonuses
By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Monday Feb 23, 2009 15:45:35 EST

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has not started complying with a law requiring the payment of monthly bonuses of up to $500 to soldiers forced to remain on active duty beyond their enlistment period, military officials said.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman acknowledged the five-month delay in paying the bonuses and said the Defense Department is working on a plan to start paying the almost 13,000 soldiers under the Army’s stop-loss orders. Although Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants to end the policy, the number of soldiers affected has risen since the middle of 2007.

Congress added $72 million to pay for the bonuses in its plan for fiscal year 2009, which started Oct. 1. The money was to be paid after the Pentagon submitted a plan outlining how the payments would be made.

But no plan has been provided, Rob Blumenthal, a spokesman for the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Friday.
click link for more

Murtha pushes retroactive stop-loss payments

Murtha pushes retroactive stop-loss payments
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 11, 2008 13:15:33 EST

Retroactive stop-loss allowances of up to $500 a month could be included in the next supplemental war funding bill, providing back payments for anyone whose military service was involuntarily extended since the 2001 terrorist attacks, a key lawmaker said Wednesday.

Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, said about 185,000 people would be eligible for one month of retroactive payment for any month during which their separation or retirement was delayed by as little as one day.

Congress created the stop-loss allowance earlier this year, but restricted the payments only to people affected by involuntary extensions in fiscal 2009, which began on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30. Those payments have not yet begun because the Army — the only service that has had people under stop-loss orders since Oct. 1 — is still working out details, including whether to pay the full $500-per-month maximum authorized under the law, or a lesser level of payment.
click link above for more

Ordered stop-loss payouts still undelivered

It's not bad enough they get stop-loss ordered to stay in now they are not even getting what they were promised as far as paying them! First they are promised they will serve a certain amount of time, but we go back on that promise. Then we promise to pay them extra for what they are put through. Then we go back on that promise too? We also promise to take care of them if they get wounded and we all know how that turns out too many times for them. Can't we get anything right when it comes to the men and women serving?

Ordered stop-loss payouts still undelivered
Two months after Congress ordered special pay of up to $500 a month for anyone involuntarily kept on active duty under stop-loss orders, nobody has received a dime.

But the wait may be coming to an end. Senior Army officials are close to issuing a recommendation on whether to pay the full $500 allowance authorized by Congress and when payments might begin, according to Senate aides monitoring the program.

The decision, one of the last military pay actions by the Bush administration, must be cleared by the House and Senate Appropriations committees before payments begin.

Army spokesman Maj. Nathan Banks could not say when an announcement would be made, but he noted that top Army officials are reviewing a payment plan for submittal to Congress.

“Congress authorized the payment, but the amount could be anywhere from zero to $500,” Banks said.

Senate aides, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Banks appears cautious about not overpromising.

“I would be very surprised if the amount was less than $500, especially because we provided full funding for that amount,” one aide said. “The Army would have to make a very strong case why it needs to pay less.”

Anyone who spends even one day of a month in fiscal 2009 under stop-loss orders would be eligible for what the law calls “stop-loss special pay.”
click link above for more

Iraq veteran relays the trauma, tragedy of war

Iraq veteran relays the trauma, tragedy of war
Christopher Baker
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Campus News
The Brown Daily Herald - Providence,RI,USA

Tuesday night, Iraq War veteran Kristofer Goldsmith tried to describe what a dead human body smells like to a wide-eyed audience of more than 50 students, professors and community members.

"I can tell you that it doesn't smell like a raccoon that got run over a week ago. It doesn't smell like road kill. There is a very, very distinct smell to a dead human."

He said he experiences this smell every time he sees gore in a movie like "Saw."

"The smell isn't just your nose. You can taste it. You can taste the iron of the blood floating in the air," he said.

Goldsmith, 23, came to Brown as a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, a group that advocates for veterans' rights and the end of U.S. involvement in the war in Iraq, to speak about his traumatic experience serving in the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry between 2005 and 2007. The talk was sponsored by anti-war group Operation Iraqi Freedom, Students for a Democratic Society, Brown Democrats, Rhode Island Mobilization Committee, Active Minds and Brown American Civil Liberties Union. It took place in MacMillan 115.

Goldsmith, a Long Island native, joined the army when he was 18 in response to the Sept. 11 attacks. He was first deployed to Iraq in January 2005. By the time he returned to the United States in December 2006, he had developed post-traumatic stress disorder and severe alcoholism.

"I didn't feel human anymore," Goldsmith said.

His contract, which was set to expire in May 2007, was extended indefinitely as part of the troop surge announced by President Bush in January 2007. On Memorial Day of that year, the day his infantry was set to redeploy to Iraq, he attempted suicide.
click post title for more

Stop-loss payouts won’t be retroactive leaving out 148,000

Stop-loss payouts won’t be retroactive

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 29, 2008 7:30:37 EDT

A compromise defense funding bill includes a $500 monthly allowance for service members extended on active duty by stop-loss orders.

But the deal will disappoint more than 160,000 people because it is not retroactive as previously proposed.

Instead, about 12,000 soldiers would qualify for payments under the deal announced Sept. 23.

The stop-loss allowance is included in an omnibus appropriations bill that provides one year of funding for defense, veterans and homeland security programs but temporary funding through March 6 for other federal agencies.

Lawmakers are rushing to pass the omnibus bill before ending the current legislative session. Aides cautioned that while most differences have been resolved, the bill is subject to change if that is what it takes to get it passed.

“Everything is a little fluid at this point,” said a House aide who asked to not be identified.

Limiting the stop-loss allowance to troops whose duty is extended after the appropriations bill becomes law holds the cost to $72 million for fiscal 2009 — a small dent in the $487.7 billion set aside in the defense portion of the bill. Making the benefits retroactive would have cost about $280 million.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/airforce_stoploss_092608p/

Does McCain know what he says is taped?

Stars and Stripes' interview with Sen. John McCain
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes online edition, Monday, August 11, 2008

Q: The backlog in the VA system is still very sizeable and a concern to even many of the younger guys. I don’t know how you’re looking at the issue, and how you fix something that the current administration has really struggled with.

I think the best thing we could possibly do is focus military medical care and the VA on treating the wounds directly related to combat: PTSD, combat wounds which they are uniquely qualified, through years of experience, to address.

I think in the case of veterans that have ordinary health care needs, routine health care needs, we should do everything we can to give them a card that they can take to the health care provider or doctor of their choice to get health care immediately.

Q: I know there has been a push by the current administration to take those healthier veterans and have them pay to help support the system, even a small, nominal fee. I don’t know if that’s something that you’d support.

First I think we’ve got to make sure that veterans receive the care, and then we have to worry about if there’s any necessary changes. I’m unalterably opposed to telling future generations of Americans that we’re not going to give them the health care they need in service for our country.

That means that I would be very reluctant, I would be opposed to imposing more financial costs.
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56693

AT DAV CONVENTION, McCAIN WITHDRAWS PROMISE OF "VA CARD" FOR EVERY VETERAN (08-10-08)McCain's card that would privatize a great deal of VA healthcare now would be only for certain veterans in special circumstances. DAV doesn't like card idea and says, "Veterans are better served at VA."

From the same interview on stop loss

Q: I wanted to ask about stop loss, which has been another big issue for our guys too. Do you think that’s an appropriate tool for filling the gaps?

I hate it. So does everybody in the military. The way you cure the problem is by having a bigger military and succeeding and having victory in Iraq. It’s a symptom of the problem of the mismanagement of the war by (former Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld, which we paid a very heavy price for for nearly four years.

Again, I stood up and said it was wrong, and I was criticized for being disloyal for doing so.

McCain Adviser Ralph Peters: Military Strain From Stop-Loss Policies Is ‘A Myth Of The Left’»
On Sept. 14, 2001, President Bush issued Executive Order 13223, allowing the administration to implement a “stop-loss” policy. Under stop-loss, “military personnel can be prevented from leaving the armed forces upon completing their enlistment terms.” Stop-loss policies were created after the Vietnam War. However, the Bush administration has overstretched the military by extensively using these orders to make up for declines in re-enlistment as the Iraq war drags on.

Yesterday on PBS’s Newshour, ret. Lt. Col. Ralph Peters — who now advises Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) presidential campaign on national security affairs — called the dangers of stop-loss policies a “myth of the left.” “Stop-loss is old,” said Peters. “This is not a new thing. In time of crisis, soldiers can be extended. They know it.”

Peters was sharply rebutted by Bobby Muller, president of Veterans for America, who pointed out that many high-ranking military officials have also warned that the Bush administration’s policies are overstretching the armed forces:

BOBBY MULLER: You might think that Bobby Muller is parroting myths created by the left in this country when I talk about stop-loss, but Colin Powell is not parroting any left-wing fantasies. General Casey, General Cody, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mullen, they’re on record. This is not sustainable. There are people being held…

RALPH PETERS: But that’s a different issue.

BOBBY MULLER: I suggest that you may be out of touch with the military today if you think that all of these people that sign up for four years or five years of active military duty really expected — just like the National Guard — that they would wind up being extended for, additionally, a couple of years beyond their contract period?

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/11/peters-stop-loss/

Maybe he doesn't understand that when the cameras are on, they are taping what he says as well as getting visual conformation he is the one saying it. Except in the case of the stop loss interview when it was just one of his supporters uttering McCain's views.

When will military brass stop malingering on PTSD?

When I see videos done by the military interviewing commanders who get it, there is so much hope that this wound will finally be treated for what it is. Yet while the vast majority of the military leaders are educated, care about their soldiers and use intelligence, some report comes out about another uneducated, closed minded leader that find no shame in being out of the loop.

Army's battle: Mental illness
Military tries to balance caring for true PTSD patients, keeping eye out for malingering soldiers
By Aamer Madhani Tribune correspondent
2:30 AM CDT, June 23, 2008

BELLMORE, N.Y. — Kristofer Goldsmith was so distressed about the prospect of returning to Iraq that he decided he was willing to kill himself to avoid serving a second tour.

Just as Goldsmith's three-year Army contract was to expire, it was extended under the military's "stop loss" program, and his unit was set to deploy to Baghdad to take part in the troop surge. On the day before he was to ship out in May 2007, he took a dozen Percocet painkillers, washed down with more than a liter of vodka.

Soon after Goldsmith was admitted to Winn Army Community Hospital at Ft. Stewart, Ga., a senior non-commissioned officer from his brigade visited the young sergeant, along with an Army psychologist, to discuss discharging him from the military."We all agreed that it was for the best that my Army career come to an end then," said Goldsmith, 22, who added that he'd scrawled the words "stop loss killed me" in marker on his body before his suicide attempt. "It was a few days later when they told me that they were going to come at me for faking a mental lapse."

Malingering
The rear detachment commander of Goldsmith's unit, Maj. Douglas Wesner of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, quickly initiated an administrative punishment known as an Article 15 against Goldsmith for malingering—that is, feigning a mental lapse or derangement or purposely injuring oneself—to avoid being deployed to Iraq.

Eventually his commanders dropped the Article 15, but not before removing Goldsmith from the service on a general discharge. Because he did not receive an honorable discharge, Goldsmith was stripped of his Montgomery GI Bill benefits, which he'd been counting on to help pay for college.

Goldsmith's tough treatment is not unheard of.

Twenty-one soldiers in Iraq have been punitively discharged since 2003 after being convicted of malingering, according to the Army.

Goldsmith remains adamant that he did not fake a mental illness. After Goldsmith's discharge, a psychologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder.

go here for more
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-gi_suicidejun23,0,5414569.story

Maj. Douglas Wesner apparently remains unable to understand what has been known since the time of King David in the Bible. While every organization in the military, serving the military and every veterans organization is stepping up, he remains sitting in the back of the room with his fingers in his ears. Over and over again we see leaders taking time to understand the men and women they command, yet others like Wesner cannot even understand their lack of knowledge is not a badge of honor but something to be ashamed of.

Ignorance is nothing to be proud of in the military or any walk of life. Malingering? What would he do if one of his soldiers had lost his legs and could not rise to do a proper salute? Just because he is unable to use his mind to understand this wound is a wound, why should he be allowed to make the wounded suffer under his command? The evidence is in. The facts are in. This wound has a long, long history but so have leaders like Wesner with the mentality that caused PTSD soldiers to be shot as cowards instead of treated with the dignity they deserved. Every leader needs to stop malingering when it comes to getting their act in gear and catching up to the rest of their counterparts who do get it! PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of but ignorance of what PTSD is a thing to be ashamed of. Had Goldsmith been in someone else's unit, he would have received better care and treatment because he deserved it. Too many have been forced out of the military when they were willling to stay in even after being wounded by PTSD. All they needed was the help to do it.

For Heaven's sake, we deal with PTSD in police departments across the country, fire departments across the country and all other walks of life. It's as if those who still want to treat PTSD like some "thing" of shame is insulting every other person in the country who has been wounded by trauma. Would Wesner have insulted Audie Murphy too? Maybe Wesner is a fine military man otherwise but until someone explains what PTSD is to him, he will never be all he can be and his troops will suffer for it. Time for some lessons to the others like Wesner. It's like leaving a commander still using a flint lock rifle while everyone else moved on to machine guns.

Bad Meds for wounded being sent back to Iraq with PTSD

Disabled soldier facing ‘stop-loss’ tour
By Tom Philpott, Special to Stars and Stripes,
European edition, Saturday, June 21, 2008


One day last August, while manning the .50-caliber gun atop his a Humvee on a dirt road in northern Iraq, Army Spc. Daniel "Joey" Haun suddenly lost consciousness. His vehicle had been struck by a buried bomb, an "improvised explosive device." Haun was ejected, his vehicle flipped over.

On impact with the ground, Haun’s left hand was driven up toward his forearm, crushing his wrist. The surgeon who rebuilt the wrist, using a metal plate and screws, told Haun last year that his infantry days were over.

The blast also blew out Haun’s right ear drum, which required surgery to partially restore his hearing. That surgeon warned him to avoid sustained exposure to any loud noises or risk having to wear a hearing aid.

As to head injuries, a neurologist diagnosed the 24-year-old with post-concussive syndrome and mild traumatic brain injury, the likely cause of his daily headaches since the attack. Finally, a psychologist urged Haun to get counseling for his post-traumatic stress symptoms or they could devolve into post-traumatic stress disorder, a more debilitating condition. So while recuperating in a wounded warrior unit at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Haun regularly saw a psychologist. He takes the drug Tramadol for his migraine headaches and Elavil, an antidepressant, to ease his stress.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55687


Pay attention to this one really well,,,,

Tramadol
Generic Name: tramadol (TRAM a dol)
Brand Names: Ultram, Ultram ER

What is tramadol?
Feedback for Tramadol
Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever.

Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol extended-release is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain when treatment is needed around the clock.

Tramadol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert

Important information about tramadol
You should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Seizures (convulsions) have occurred in some people taking tramadol. You may be more likely to have a seizure while taking tramadol if you have a history of seizures or head injury, a metabolic disorder, or if you are taking certain medicines such as antidepressants, muscle relaxers, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.

Seizures have occurred in some people taking tramadol. Your risk of a seizure may be higher if you have any of these conditions:
a history of drug or alcohol addiction;
a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
a history of head injury;a metabolic disorder; or
if you are also taking an antidepressant, muscle relaxer, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.

Before taking tramadol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
kidney disease;
liver disease;
a stomach disorder; or
a history of depression, mental illness, or suicide attempt.
http://www.drugs.com/tramadol.html
Elavil
Generic name: Amitriptyline hydrochloride

Why is Elavil prescribed?Return to top
Elavil is prescribed for the relief of symptoms of mental depression. It is a member of the group of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. Some doctors also prescribe Elavil to treat bulimia (an eating disorder), to control chronic pain, to prevent migraine headaches, and to treat a pathological weeping and laughing syndrome associated with multiple sclerosis.
Special warnings about ElavilReturn to top
In clinical studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of Elavil or any other antidepressant in a child or adolescent must balance this risk with the clinical need. Elavil is not approved for treating children less than 12 years old.

Additionally, the progression of major depression is associated with a worsening of symptoms and/or the emergence of suicidal thinking or behavior in both adults and children, whether or not they are taking antidepressants.
Individuals being treated with Elavil and their caregivers should watch for any change in symptoms or any new symptoms that appear suddenly—especially agitation, anxiety, hostility, panic, restlessness, extreme hyperactivity, and suicidal thinking or behavior—and report them to the doctor immediately. Be especially observant at the beginning of treatment or whenever there is a change in dose.

Do not stop taking Elavil abruptly, especially if you have been taking large doses for a long time. Your doctor probably will want to decrease your dosage gradually. This will help prevent a possible relapse and will reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms.

Elavil may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Try to stay out of the sun, wear protective clothing, and apply a sun block.

Elavil may cause you to become drowsy or less alert; therefore, you should not drive or operate dangerous machinery or participate in any hazardous activity that requires full mental alertness until you know how this drug affects you.
While taking this medication, you may feel dizzy or light-headed or actually faint when getting up from a lying or sitting position. If getting up slowly doesn't help or if this problem continues, notify your doctor.

Use Elavil with caution if you have ever had seizures, urinary retention, glaucoma or other chronic eye conditions, a heart or circulatory system disorder, or liver problems. Be cautious, too, if you are receiving thyroid medication. You should discuss all of your medical problems with your doctor before starting Elavil therapy.
Before having surgery, dental treatment, or any diagnostic procedure, tell the doctor that you are taking Elavil. Certain drugs used during surgery, such as anesthetics and muscle relaxants, and drugs used in certain diagnostic procedures may react badly with Elavil.
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/rx/rx-mono.aspx?contentFileName=Ela1155.html&contentName=Elavil&contentId=201

Do you really think someone on these medications should be given a gun and sent back to Iraq, into the sunny Iraq in the Summer? I am not a doctor but since I had never heard of these two, I decided to look them up online. Maybe it would have been a good thing if the doctor did the same? Ya think!

Stop Loss soldier refuses to report for active duty in Iraq

US soldier refuses to report for active duty in Iraq


WASHINGTON (AFP) — A month after US army reservist Matthis Chiroux publicly refused to deploy to Iraq, the former sergeant on Sunday set himself up for possible prosecution by failing to report for active duty with his unit in South Carolina.

"Tonight at midnight, I may face further action from the army for refusing to reactivate to participate in the Iraq occupation," Chiroux told reporters in Washington.

"I stand here today in defense of those who have been stripped of their voices in this occupation, the warriors of this nation...", Chiroux read from a statement as his father Rob, who had travelled to Washington from Alabama to support his son on Father's Day, stood beside him.

Last month, Chiroux rejected an order calling him back to active duty in Iraq, saying he considers the war "illegal and unconstitutional."

Chiroux served five years in the army, with tours in Afghanistan, Japan, Germany and the Philippines.

He was honorably discharged last year and was placed in the Individual Ready Reserves (IRR), a pool of former soldiers who can be "reactivated" in a national emergency or war.
go here for more
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jlR6Ky_n9NjGaMqzy4Ks9bk-PThw