Iraq veteran wrestles with his invisible wounds
By David Crary
AP National Writer
On the plus side, David McBee has a fiancee who stuck by him, a 2-year-old son who loves him. They've helped him persevere through dark times -- blackouts, anger, confusion -- as he struggles with the invisible wounds of his combat duty in Iraq.
As a Marine, McBee engaged in the initial assault on Iraq from Kuwait in 2003 and the often-chaotic battle of Fallujah in late 2004.
He returned to the United States in 2005, worked for a time with the postal service and got engaged. His fiancee, Audra Cardoza, gave birth to a son in 2006.
About a year after his return, McBee began to notice a change in his personality, including what he describes as "blackouts" -- periods of time he couldn't account for.
"One day, me and my buddies and fiancee, we went out and started drinking," he said. "I had a meltdown. ... All this stuff that was in my head that I'd never said to anybody started coming out. I couldn't stop crying."
The "stuff" included images of Fallujah residents, children among them, killed by his own unit as it swept through neighborhoods that were supposed to have been evacuated.
"We search houses. We see people in there -- they're not supposed to be there. They're considered hostile. We just opened fire," he said.
"We saw a little kid in the middle road. There was no stopping the convoy. We ran him over."
go here for more
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008374857_webvethome11.html
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Maj. Gen. Polly A. Peyer of Leesburg caps 33 years of military service with commander job
Maj. Gen. Polly A. Peyer of Leesburg caps 33 years of military service with commander job
Sara Sheckler | Special To The Sentinel
November 11, 2008
LEESBURG - A Leesburg native has been named the first female commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.
Maj. Gen. Polly A. Peyer, who graduated from Leesburg High School in 1967, took command during a recent ceremony at the base.
The center is one of three Air Force air-logistics centers and the largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia, with more than 25,000 people.
"It is an honor to be the commander, regardless of gender," Peyer said.
Peyer, 59, is responsible for worldwide logistics support for C-130 and C-5 transport aircraft, F-15 fighter aircraft, U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, remotely piloted vehicles, Air Force helicopters, air-to-air missiles, surface motor vehicles, high-technology airborne electronics, avionics and electronic warfare requirements.
click link for more
Sara Sheckler | Special To The Sentinel
November 11, 2008
LEESBURG - A Leesburg native has been named the first female commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.
Maj. Gen. Polly A. Peyer, who graduated from Leesburg High School in 1967, took command during a recent ceremony at the base.
The center is one of three Air Force air-logistics centers and the largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia, with more than 25,000 people.
"It is an honor to be the commander, regardless of gender," Peyer said.
Peyer, 59, is responsible for worldwide logistics support for C-130 and C-5 transport aircraft, F-15 fighter aircraft, U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, remotely piloted vehicles, Air Force helicopters, air-to-air missiles, surface motor vehicles, high-technology airborne electronics, avionics and electronic warfare requirements.
click link for more
I year old missing baby found, under floorboards!
KPTV: Missing girl, 1, found under floorboards
Missing Child, 1, Found Under Floorboards
Police Say Child Dirty, Unhurt After Ordeal
WOODBURN, Ore. -- A 1-year-old child reported missing Monday was found under the floorboards of her grandparents' home, causing the floor to have to be torn up, police said.
Woodburn police responded to a call of a missing child on Sallal Rd. at about 5 a.m. Monday after the child's father woke to find the room his daughter had been sleeping in empty, officers said.
Lawrence Higgins Jr. told officers that he went to bed in the room in the grandparents' house at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday with his three children: a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old and the missing 1-year-old.
When Higgins awoke at about 4:50 a.m. he discovered that his daughter, Kate, was no longer in the room, police said. Higgins checked with the girl's grandparents who said they hadn't seen her and, after searching, they called police
click link for more
Linked from CNN
Missing Child, 1, Found Under Floorboards
Police Say Child Dirty, Unhurt After Ordeal
WOODBURN, Ore. -- A 1-year-old child reported missing Monday was found under the floorboards of her grandparents' home, causing the floor to have to be torn up, police said.
Woodburn police responded to a call of a missing child on Sallal Rd. at about 5 a.m. Monday after the child's father woke to find the room his daughter had been sleeping in empty, officers said.
Lawrence Higgins Jr. told officers that he went to bed in the room in the grandparents' house at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday with his three children: a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old and the missing 1-year-old.
When Higgins awoke at about 4:50 a.m. he discovered that his daughter, Kate, was no longer in the room, police said. Higgins checked with the girl's grandparents who said they hadn't seen her and, after searching, they called police
click link for more
Linked from CNN
Rural West Virginia Vets have higher rate of trauma risk
Study: Rural W.Va. vets at higher trauma risk
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 11, 2008 9:37:31 EST
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new study shows that rural West Virginia veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to suffer from mental health problems than their urban counterparts.
The analysis is based on the ongoing West Virginia Returning Soldiers Study, which has surveyed more than 930 veterans.
The study shows that about 56 percent of returning soldiers from rural counties suffer from post-traumatic distress and other mental health problems, compared to 32 percent of soldiers in urban areas and 34 percent of those living on out-of-state military bases.
Rural veterans are also at greater risk for suicide.
Hilda Heady, a rural health specialist at West Virginia University, says part of the problem is a lack of mental health care facilities in rural areas.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_wvruralvets_111108/
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 11, 2008 9:37:31 EST
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new study shows that rural West Virginia veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to suffer from mental health problems than their urban counterparts.
The analysis is based on the ongoing West Virginia Returning Soldiers Study, which has surveyed more than 930 veterans.
The study shows that about 56 percent of returning soldiers from rural counties suffer from post-traumatic distress and other mental health problems, compared to 32 percent of soldiers in urban areas and 34 percent of those living on out-of-state military bases.
Rural veterans are also at greater risk for suicide.
Hilda Heady, a rural health specialist at West Virginia University, says part of the problem is a lack of mental health care facilities in rural areas.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_wvruralvets_111108/
PTSD veterans 2-3 times more likely to be involved with domestic violence
PTSD ups veterans' domestic violence risk
Published: Nov. 11, 2008
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- An increasing number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder means an increased risk of domestic violence, U.S. researchers said.
Monica Matthieu, an expert on veterans' mental health, and Peter Hovmand, domestic violence expert, both at Washington University in St. Louis, are merging their research interests to design community prevention strategies to address what they say is an emerging public health problem.
"Treatments for domestic violence are very different than those for PTSD," Matthieu said in a statement. "The Department of Veterans Affairs has mental health services and treatments for PTSD, yet these services need to be combined with the specialized domestic violence intervention programs offered by community agencies for those veterans engaging in battering behavior against intimate partners and families."
I've posted about this many times. This was the last post I did on it and it is important to understand.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
PTSD:When domestic violence is not what you think
I've written often about this issue. When it comes to PTSD and domestic violence, sometimes, it isn't what you think.
Are there combat veterans who commit domestic violence without PTSD being involved? Absolutely. We forget that the men and women who serve are just like the rest of us.There are many cases where abuse and domestic violence have the contributing factor of PTSD. This is not blame the victim but without knowing what PTSD is and what it does to some people, all too often the reaction of family members contributes to the escalation of angry situations.
click the link for more of this so you can understand there is a difference and it does not have to happen to anyone.
Published: Nov. 11, 2008
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- An increasing number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder means an increased risk of domestic violence, U.S. researchers said.
Monica Matthieu, an expert on veterans' mental health, and Peter Hovmand, domestic violence expert, both at Washington University in St. Louis, are merging their research interests to design community prevention strategies to address what they say is an emerging public health problem.
"Treatments for domestic violence are very different than those for PTSD," Matthieu said in a statement. "The Department of Veterans Affairs has mental health services and treatments for PTSD, yet these services need to be combined with the specialized domestic violence intervention programs offered by community agencies for those veterans engaging in battering behavior against intimate partners and families."
Research in the Veterans Administration shows that male veterans with PTSD are two to three times more likely than veterans without PTSD to engage in intimate partner violence, and more likely to be involved in the legal system, Matthieu said.
go here for more
I've posted about this many times. This was the last post I did on it and it is important to understand.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
PTSD:When domestic violence is not what you think
I've written often about this issue. When it comes to PTSD and domestic violence, sometimes, it isn't what you think.
Are there combat veterans who commit domestic violence without PTSD being involved? Absolutely. We forget that the men and women who serve are just like the rest of us.There are many cases where abuse and domestic violence have the contributing factor of PTSD. This is not blame the victim but without knowing what PTSD is and what it does to some people, all too often the reaction of family members contributes to the escalation of angry situations.
click the link for more of this so you can understand there is a difference and it does not have to happen to anyone.
Why Phil Donahue made Body Of War
By Gilbert Cruz
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
Long-time talk show host Phil Donahue wants America to take a long look at what the Iraq War is doing to its young men and women. Body of War, which Donahue produced and co-directed with Ellen Spiro, and which airs tonight on the Sundance Channel in honor of Veterans Day, tells the story of Tomas Young, a formerly gung-ho soldier who was paralyzed after less than a week in Iraq. Donahue spoke with TIME about getting kicked off MSNBC, why Iraq war movies are not a draw, and the death of the word "liberal."
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
Long-time talk show host Phil Donahue wants America to take a long look at what the Iraq War is doing to its young men and women. Body of War, which Donahue produced and co-directed with Ellen Spiro, and which airs tonight on the Sundance Channel in honor of Veterans Day, tells the story of Tomas Young, a formerly gung-ho soldier who was paralyzed after less than a week in Iraq. Donahue spoke with TIME about getting kicked off MSNBC, why Iraq war movies are not a draw, and the death of the word "liberal."
How did you come across the story of Tomas Young?
I was invited to visit Walter Reed [Army Medical Center] by Ralph Nader. I had been on the Nader bus in 2000. And after the 2004 election, Nader said, "A mother at Walter Reed has asked to see me. Do you wanna go?" I said yes immediately. I'd never been to America's most famous military hospital, so off we went. And here is this young man. 24 years old. Very thin. His cheekbones stuck out. He was totally whacked out on morphine. And his mother explained his injury to me. He was in Sadr City, in an uncovered truck, when a bullet entered his shoulder from above. How it didn't hit a major artery, I'll never know. And now Tomas is paralyzed from the nipples down. Tomas can't walk. Tomas can't cough. Tomas throws up every morning.
You get a sense of the domino effect here. You put a bullet through a man's spine, all kinds of things happen. Tomas has bowel and bladder issues. Tomas has erectile dysfunction—28 years old, in the prime of his life. What we're saying with this film is that what you see with Tomas is a drama taking place behind the closed doors of thousands of homes in this country. Thousands. We're trying to show the reality of this war, which is the most sanitized war in our lifetime.
go here for more
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1857979,00.html
Central Florida veterans remember what they brought to war
Central Florida veterans remember what they brought to war
Darryl E. Owens | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 11, 2008
When patriots answer the call of war, they carry with them crackerjack training, high-tech gear and the hopes of a nation.
Troops also often carry along something else: mementos from home.
War fighters bring along amulets against homesickness, reminders of why they are fighting, portable succor -- whether a piece of jewelry, a four-leaf clover or a dog-eared photo of their best girl. Just about anything that whispers sweetly of home.
Three Central Florida veterans recall, in their own words, the mementos that brought a taste of home to the front lines.
Darryl E. Owens | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 11, 2008
When patriots answer the call of war, they carry with them crackerjack training, high-tech gear and the hopes of a nation.
Troops also often carry along something else: mementos from home.
War fighters bring along amulets against homesickness, reminders of why they are fighting, portable succor -- whether a piece of jewelry, a four-leaf clover or a dog-eared photo of their best girl. Just about anything that whispers sweetly of home.
Three Central Florida veterans recall, in their own words, the mementos that brought a taste of home to the front lines.
Online social network offers support for vets
Online social network offers support for vets
By Janet Kornblum - USA TODAY
Posted : Tuesday Nov 11, 2008 6:20:44 EST
After Brendan Hart left the Marine Corps in 2005, he wanted to reconnect with other veterans, people who would understand what he went through and what support he might need.
Plenty of services exist, says Hart, 26, who is on medical leave from Dartmouth College due to a contaminated smallpox vaccine he was given while serving. But finding them was another matter.
Hart launched Student Veterans of America, and now he’s applauding a new service officially launching Tuesday in honor of Veteran’s Day: MyVetwork. It is a non-profit social Web community that wants to bring together veterans, their families and their supporters.
“When I was making a transition out of the military, I had a ton of questions that I could not find thorough and honest answers for,” says Hart, who lives in New York City.
Sometimes, veterans are reluctant to seek out services, says Jaine L. Darwin, a psychologist who directs Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists, a non-profit providing free mental health support to extended family of those in the Reserve and National Guard who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Based in Cambridge, Mass., the group has expanded to Michigan and soon will offer services to New York and southeastern Florida.
”So much of what soldiers are concerned about feels shameful to them,” Darwin says. “Soldiers are not supposed to be fearful. Soldiers are not supposed to be scared. They’re not supposed to be upset by things they did.”
That’s why they need support.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/gns_myvet_network_111008/
By Janet Kornblum - USA TODAY
Posted : Tuesday Nov 11, 2008 6:20:44 EST
After Brendan Hart left the Marine Corps in 2005, he wanted to reconnect with other veterans, people who would understand what he went through and what support he might need.
Plenty of services exist, says Hart, 26, who is on medical leave from Dartmouth College due to a contaminated smallpox vaccine he was given while serving. But finding them was another matter.
Hart launched Student Veterans of America, and now he’s applauding a new service officially launching Tuesday in honor of Veteran’s Day: MyVetwork. It is a non-profit social Web community that wants to bring together veterans, their families and their supporters.
“When I was making a transition out of the military, I had a ton of questions that I could not find thorough and honest answers for,” says Hart, who lives in New York City.
Sometimes, veterans are reluctant to seek out services, says Jaine L. Darwin, a psychologist who directs Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists, a non-profit providing free mental health support to extended family of those in the Reserve and National Guard who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Based in Cambridge, Mass., the group has expanded to Michigan and soon will offer services to New York and southeastern Florida.
”So much of what soldiers are concerned about feels shameful to them,” Darwin says. “Soldiers are not supposed to be fearful. Soldiers are not supposed to be scared. They’re not supposed to be upset by things they did.”
That’s why they need support.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/gns_myvet_network_111008/
Veteran's Day message from Veterans For Common Sense
This week's VCS update focuses on five pieces of news you will want to share with your friends on Veterans Day.
First, PTSD News. In a bold and courageous step, a high-ranking officer took a sledge hammer to the wall of silence that prevents many combat veterans from seeking mental healthcare.
If you have concerns about your mental health, it is OK to seek VA care. Thank you General Blackledge, you are saving veterans' lives.
Second, More PTSD News.
Two veterans' groups sued VA due to long delays in processing PTSD disability compensation claims. VA currently takes more than six months to process a PTSD claim, and appeals drag on for years, while veterans and their families can't pay the rent, buy food, or cover the costs of utilities. The lawsuit is a blunt and honest reminder of the abject failure of the current Administration to address the needs of our Nation’s veterans.
Third, Hope for VA in 2009. VCS released our "Vision for a Vibrant VA in 2009," a report detailing VA’s serious problems as well as pragmatic solutions to fix them. VCS sent our report to President-Elect Barack Obama. VA remains in crisis, yet there is hope on the way.
How bitterly ironic it is to learn that last month President George W. Bush gave a stealth $140 billion dollar tax break to banks while hundreds of thousands of veterans remain homeless, while hundreds of thousands more veterans wait forever for VA assistance, and millions foreclosures rock our Nation.
Fourth, How Did Veterans Vote? Everyone wants to know how veterans voted for President.
Here are the facts. In a huge surprise, younger veterans favored Senator Obama over Senator McCain. The national Edison/Mitofsky exit poll included the following question: “Have you ever served in the U.S. military?” Veterans made up 15 percent of the voters, and among all veterans, 54 percent backed John McCain and 44 percent supported Barack Obama.
There was a tremendous difference in voting based on age, with younger voters supporting Obama, and older veterans supporting McCain:- 24 percent of veterans were under 45: 51 percent voted for Obama and 49 percent for McCain.- 24 percent of veterans were aged 45 to 59: 53 percent voted for Obama and 45 percent for McCain. - 53 percent of veterans were age 60 and older: 61 percent voted for McCain and 37 percent voted for Obama.
And, Fifth, Let’s Close Gitmo. Our service members and veterans swore an oath to protect and defend our Constitution. That’s what Veterans Day is all about. That’s why VCS urges you to join several groups in calling for President-Elect Obama to close the prisoner of war camp and torture facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
We ask you to assist VCS this Veterans Day by making a generous contribution so we can continue to hold our next President and Congress responsible for taking care of our troops, our veterans, and our Constitution.
Thank you,
Paul Sullivan, Executive DirectorVeterans for Common Sense
Veteran's Day message from VoteVets.org
On the 11th Day of the 11th Month each year, we honor all those veterans who came before us. This year, as in recent years, we also honor the newest generation of war veterans. Today is not a day for partisan politics, it's a day for the nation to come together as one to honor those who sacrificed for our nation, in uniform.
This year, however, we also have a tremendous opportunity to honor two of the greatest veterans this nation has ever seen. With the incoming administration, comes the opportunity to send incredible veterans back into government to serve this nation, as they have time and time again.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN OUR PETITION FOR MAX CLELAND AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH TO HAVE A ROLE IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
Max Cleland served our nation with honor in Vietnam, losing three limbs on the battlefield. Max could have used that as an excuse to live out the rest of his life quietly, but he did not. Upon his return, he served Veterans in his home state of Georgia, and then became the head of the Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs). He served his home state again, as a member of the U.S. Senate. Every step of the way, Max never forgot the veterans who came before him, and those who would be coming after him.
Tammy Duckworth served America in Iraq. Duckworth lost both of her legs in 2004, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents. Duckworth received a Purple Heart and was promoted to Major at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she was presented with an Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal. Upon her return home, she ran for Congress in 2006, and now serves as the head of the veterans department in Illinois. Tammy has even remained in the National Guard, showing that nothing will keep her from serving her country!
Now is the time for President-Elect Obama to show the nation that he recognizes it is important to bring America's great veterans into his administration. One way he can do that is to name Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth to roles in his administration.
CLICK HERE TO ASK THAT MAX CLELAND AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH BE GIVEN A ROLE IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION
Please use today to honor the veterans in your area – volunteer your services to the local veterans center, connect with veterans in the area and listen to them about the challenges veterans face, and above all, thank them for their service. But, also take a moment to show support for two particular veterans, Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth, and tell your friends and family to join us in asking that they be asked back into government at this crucial time for veterans in America.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran Chairman,
VoteVets.org
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