Army study finds that troops suffer concussions in training
Brain specialists: Army’s training may make soldiers more vulnerable to head injuries on battlefield
By JOAQUIN SAPIEN, PROPUBLICA AND DANIEL ZWERDLING
NPR
Published: August 24, 2012
A new military study has found that almost 6 percent of soldiers who took hand-to-hand combat courses at a Texas Army base were struck in the head and suffered symptoms the Pentagon says are consistent with concussions, also called mild traumatic brain injuries.
Over the last decade, hundreds of thousands of soldiers have taken such classes – called “combatives” – at bases nationwide before deploying overseas.
Researchers stress that the study is relatively small, drawing from classes at Ft. Hood with just under 2,000 soldiers. And they haven’t finished the study yet. But the preliminary results have sparked concern among brain specialists inside and outside the military, suggesting that some soldiers went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan having suffered mild traumatic brain injuries in training – and might have been more vulnerable to long-term consequences from additional concussions later.
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Friday, August 24, 2012
Special Operations Chief Adm. Bill McRaven says "Pipe Down"
Special ops chief to troops: Pipe down
Army Times
By Kimberly Dozier
AP Intelligence Writer Posted : Friday Aug 24, 2012
WASHINGTON — Special operations chief Adm. Bill McRaven warned his troops, current and former, that he would take legal action against anyone found to have exposed sensitive information that could cause fellow forces harm.
"We will pursue every option available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where appropriate," the four-star commander wrote, in an open, unclassified letter emailed to the active-duty special operations community Thursday, and obtained by The Associated Press.
The warning came a day after a retired Navy commando revealed he is publishing a first-hand account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Pentagon officials say they have not been given a chance to review the book, but Pentagon spokesman George Little said Friday officials expect to receive a copy "very shortly."
Little said the Pentagon will decide whether to take any action against the author once officials review the book's contents to determine whether it includes classified information. He said the Department of Justice would have the lead role if any legal action were to be taken.
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FOX News identified Navy SEAL
Army Times
By Kimberly Dozier
AP Intelligence Writer Posted : Friday Aug 24, 2012
WASHINGTON — Special operations chief Adm. Bill McRaven warned his troops, current and former, that he would take legal action against anyone found to have exposed sensitive information that could cause fellow forces harm.
"We will pursue every option available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where appropriate," the four-star commander wrote, in an open, unclassified letter emailed to the active-duty special operations community Thursday, and obtained by The Associated Press.
The warning came a day after a retired Navy commando revealed he is publishing a first-hand account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Pentagon officials say they have not been given a chance to review the book, but Pentagon spokesman George Little said Friday officials expect to receive a copy "very shortly."
Little said the Pentagon will decide whether to take any action against the author once officials review the book's contents to determine whether it includes classified information. He said the Department of Justice would have the lead role if any legal action were to be taken.
read more here
FOX News identified Navy SEAL
Vietnam Vet on hunger strike to spur action on suicides
Vet on hunger strike to spur action on suicides
By Patricia Kime
Staff writer
Marine Corps Times
Posted : Friday Aug 24, 2012
A 65-year-old Army veteran is on his sixth day of a hunger strike in Washington, D.C., to push for White House action to address the rising tide of suicides in the military.
Tom Mahany, a former West Point cadet who served as a specialist second class in Vietnam in 1969, wants the Obama administration to create a federal advisory committee to address troops’ mental and physical health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and depression, which can contribute to suicide.
Such a committee, Mahany argues, would pull together the many disparate groups and task forces within the government now working on the subject.
“There are 24 different groups working on this — it’s like 24,000 people all talking at once. But what are they actually doing? They are still compiling information, not doing,” he said from his bench in Lafayette Square, across from the White House.
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By Patricia Kime
Staff writer
Marine Corps Times
Posted : Friday Aug 24, 2012
A 65-year-old Army veteran is on his sixth day of a hunger strike in Washington, D.C., to push for White House action to address the rising tide of suicides in the military.
Tom Mahany, a former West Point cadet who served as a specialist second class in Vietnam in 1969, wants the Obama administration to create a federal advisory committee to address troops’ mental and physical health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and depression, which can contribute to suicide.
Such a committee, Mahany argues, would pull together the many disparate groups and task forces within the government now working on the subject.
“There are 24 different groups working on this — it’s like 24,000 people all talking at once. But what are they actually doing? They are still compiling information, not doing,” he said from his bench in Lafayette Square, across from the White House.
read more here
Army Mom, veteran takes care of other veterans
Returning soldiers get healing Homestead from mother of 3 war veterans
By Rick Leventhal
Published August 22, 2012
FoxNews.com
When America launched the war on Iraq in 2003, Adam Morse was a specialist with the U.S. Army, driving a wrecker, towing damaged Humvees and other heavy equipment out of Nazaria and other combat zones.
He was just 17, and still in high school, when he joined the National Guard in 1999.
His dad had to sign the paperwork for him, and Adam says he never expected he'd be in battle.
After he came home, Adam says the weight of his experiences and lack of understanding by the civilians around him led him to abuse alcohol and drugs.
He got married and bought a home, but his addiction grew so bad he wound up losing the house and growing estranged from his wife and three young children. Then he found Veteran Homestead, got sober and turned his life around.
"Yesterday was 11 months for me, and I couldn't get 11 minutes before" Adam said of his newfound sobriety. "It was bad… so this place has, I believe, saved my life and … saved my family."
Veteran Homestead is a community of 20 two-bedroom, one bath homes on 10 wooded acres in central Massachusetts designed to help young men and women having difficulties recovering from their service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The facility has a clubhouse-like rehabilitation center with state-of-the-art equipment, including a gym, wave pool and therapy room. There's even a pool table that provides recreation and also can help improve hand-eye coordination.
The Homestead was built by Leslie Lightfoot, a former Army medic who spent three years at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany during the Vietnam War. Leslie has three children who've all done multiple tours in Iraq or Afghanistan and has dedicated her life to helping service members struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury or war-related substance abuse issues.
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By Rick Leventhal
Published August 22, 2012
FoxNews.com
When America launched the war on Iraq in 2003, Adam Morse was a specialist with the U.S. Army, driving a wrecker, towing damaged Humvees and other heavy equipment out of Nazaria and other combat zones.
He was just 17, and still in high school, when he joined the National Guard in 1999.
His dad had to sign the paperwork for him, and Adam says he never expected he'd be in battle.
After he came home, Adam says the weight of his experiences and lack of understanding by the civilians around him led him to abuse alcohol and drugs.
He got married and bought a home, but his addiction grew so bad he wound up losing the house and growing estranged from his wife and three young children. Then he found Veteran Homestead, got sober and turned his life around.
"Yesterday was 11 months for me, and I couldn't get 11 minutes before" Adam said of his newfound sobriety. "It was bad… so this place has, I believe, saved my life and … saved my family."
Veteran Homestead is a community of 20 two-bedroom, one bath homes on 10 wooded acres in central Massachusetts designed to help young men and women having difficulties recovering from their service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The facility has a clubhouse-like rehabilitation center with state-of-the-art equipment, including a gym, wave pool and therapy room. There's even a pool table that provides recreation and also can help improve hand-eye coordination.
The Homestead was built by Leslie Lightfoot, a former Army medic who spent three years at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany during the Vietnam War. Leslie has three children who've all done multiple tours in Iraq or Afghanistan and has dedicated her life to helping service members struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury or war-related substance abuse issues.
read more here
Military Spouse says resiliency program "too little too late"
This article is about some military spouses protesting during Paul Ryan's visit but when I was reading it, what one of them said about "resiliency" supports what I've been saying since 2008. It is not too late but it is too wrong. Most of the program is fine but when it tells the troops they can "train their brains to be mentally tough" it ends up telling them they are mentally weak if they end up with PTSD. This program needs to either end or get a major readjustment.
A Few Military Spouses Protest Outside During Ryan's Fayetteville Visit
Some spouses feel that the Romney/Ryan ticket offers nothing for the military and their wounded warriors.
Fort Bragg Patch
By Kelly Twedell
The resiliency program in her opinion has not been a huge help to them after ten years at war. "Too little, too late," McCarthy said.
During Thursday's campaign visit to Fayetteville, around 12 protesters gathered at the end of the driveway leading into the PDI lab where Rep. Paul Ryan was greeted for a private gathering. Some protesters were military families from Fort Bragg.
Jillian McCarthy, a military spouse at Fort Bragg for the past four years, says while she does not have to worry about health care, since her family is covered through the military, she has other concerns.
"What's important to me is my children and their education. Romney/Ryan want to cut infrastructure and spending in all areas and I don't agree with that," said McCarthy.
This military spouse feels strongly that the Romney ticket is not offering help that the military needs, particularly more funding for PTSD. McCarthy also mentioned the overstocking of the Veterans Administration hospital is an issue, and the strain the constant deployments have taken on both the families and soldiers.
The McCarthy family has 18.5 years of active duty service, but they might have to stay in in order to send their kids to college, the way the economy looks right now.
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Camp Lejeune Marine Cpl. Jason M. Hassinger "shocked" with Silver Star
Lejeune Marine awarded Silver Star during change of command ceremony
August 24, 2012
AMANDA WILCOX
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The 2nd Marine Division commander’s last act as leader of the over 24,000 Marines was to award one of them the Silver Star at an elaborate change of command ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune Thursday morning.
At quite possibly the largest ceremony to take place on Lejeune this year, 5,000 of the 24,000 total 2nd Marine Division Marines bid farewell to their commander of two years, Maj. Gen. John Toolan — but not before he had the opportunity to award one of the Marines, Cpl. Jason Hassinger, the Silver Star for his heroic acts in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
During a security patrol in northern Marjah, Afghanistan, Hassinger’s squad became engaged in machine gun fire, and Hassinger took four shots to the chest of his personal protective equipment. Hassinger disregarded his injuries and calmly and fearlessly directed his team to overtake the enemy. He repeatedly refused medical evacuation until he finally collapsed from his wounds, according to the citation signed by the Secretary of the Navy.
“By his decisive actions, bold initiative, and complete dedication to duty, Cpl. Hassinger reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps,” the citation read.
“I’m shocked,” Hassinger told The Daily News after the ceremony. “It’s still sinking in ... I just did what my fallen sergeant, Sgt. Garrison, told me to do.”
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August 24, 2012
AMANDA WILCOX
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Don Bryan/The Daily NewsMaj. Gen. John A. Toolan Jr. shakes hands with Cpl. Jason M. Hassinger after presenting citation and Silver Star medal during the 2nd Marine Division change of command ceremony at W.P.T. Hill Field Thursday.
The 2nd Marine Division commander’s last act as leader of the over 24,000 Marines was to award one of them the Silver Star at an elaborate change of command ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune Thursday morning.
At quite possibly the largest ceremony to take place on Lejeune this year, 5,000 of the 24,000 total 2nd Marine Division Marines bid farewell to their commander of two years, Maj. Gen. John Toolan — but not before he had the opportunity to award one of the Marines, Cpl. Jason Hassinger, the Silver Star for his heroic acts in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
During a security patrol in northern Marjah, Afghanistan, Hassinger’s squad became engaged in machine gun fire, and Hassinger took four shots to the chest of his personal protective equipment. Hassinger disregarded his injuries and calmly and fearlessly directed his team to overtake the enemy. He repeatedly refused medical evacuation until he finally collapsed from his wounds, according to the citation signed by the Secretary of the Navy.
“By his decisive actions, bold initiative, and complete dedication to duty, Cpl. Hassinger reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps,” the citation read.
“I’m shocked,” Hassinger told The Daily News after the ceremony. “It’s still sinking in ... I just did what my fallen sergeant, Sgt. Garrison, told me to do.”
read more here
At least 10 shot at Empire State Building
UPDATE August 25, 2012
Decision by 2 Officers to Open Fire in Busy Midtown Leaves Bystanders Wounded
By JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN and WENDY RUDERMAN
Published: August 24, 2012
As the two officers confronted a gunman in front of the Empire State Building on a busy Friday morning, they had to make a snap decision: Do they open fire in the middle of Midtown?
From a distance of less than 10 feet, the officers, Craig Matthews and Robert Sinishtaj, answered in unison; one shot nine times and the other seven.
Investigators believe at least 7 of those 16 bullets struck the gunman, said Paul J. Browne, the Police Department’s chief spokesman. But the officers also struck some, if not all, of the nine bystanders who were wounded.
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UPDATE Empire State Building shootings kill 2 and wound 8, police say
At least 10 shot at Empire State Building, authorities say
By David Ariosto
CNN
updated 11:02 AM EDT, Fri August 24, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
At least 2 people are dead after the shooting
Police have closed streets around 5th Avenue and 34th Street in Manhattan
One man says he heard at least nine gunshots
Authorities converged on the building around 9 a.m. after reports of gunfire
New York (CNN) -- A shooting at the Empire State Building -- one of the most iconic tourist destinations in New York City -- killed two people and wounded at least eight others Friday, a law enforcement official said.
The shooter was one of the two killed, investigators said.
A security guard chased the gunman down 5th Avenue and helped alert police, who shot the man at least three times, witnesses said.
The man had opened fire with a large gun, they said.
"It's just a crazy scene here," said Rebecca Fox, who works across the street. She said she had been getting coffee with her headphones on when she saw people running.
Fox said she saw a woman who had been shot near a brewery, as well as blood splattered on the sidewalk.
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Fort Bragg has most Army suicides this year
Study: Fort Bragg has most suicides so far this year out of any Army installation
By: NBC17 STAFF
MyNC
Published: August 23, 2012
FORT BRAGG, N.C.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among the military. A new study released Thursday says this year’s Army suicides are surpassing last year’s suicide rate.
According to the study, there were 38 confirmed or suspected suicides in the month of July. There have been 116 deaths so far this year, compared to 95 during the same seven months last year.
Fort Bragg reported the most suicides out of any Army installation this year with a total of 13.
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By: NBC17 STAFF
MyNC
Published: August 23, 2012
FORT BRAGG, N.C.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among the military. A new study released Thursday says this year’s Army suicides are surpassing last year’s suicide rate.
According to the study, there were 38 confirmed or suspected suicides in the month of July. There have been 116 deaths so far this year, compared to 95 during the same seven months last year.
Fort Bragg reported the most suicides out of any Army installation this year with a total of 13.
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Military spouses learn to cope with unexpected
The Unknown Soldiers: Military spouses learn to cope with unexpected
By Tom Sileo
Leavenworth Times
Posted Aug 23, 2012
Leavenworth, Kan
When Spc. Austin Monk deployed to Iraq in August 2009, the soldier's wife expected the worst.
"When your loved one deploys to Iraq, you expect them to come home injured ... (physically or emotionally) wounded, or you expect them to come back dead," Laura Monk told "The Unknown Soldiers."
She never thought her 20-year-old husband's combat deployment would end with a shocking diagnosis of leukemia.
"You never expect them to come back with cancer," she said.
"This is what I signed up to do," Austin said to his wife. Austin first complained about a terrible headache during one of the couple's Skype conversations. Then, on Halloween 2009, Austin wrote Laura a MySpace message saying he had a 104-degree fever.
"Don't worry about me," Austin added.
A few weeks later, fellow soldiers found Austin lying on the floor of his barracks. The ordeal that followed, which took the soldier from hospitals in Iraq to Germany, left Laura feeling helpless as she agonized over her husband's condition from thousands of miles away.
"They initially thought he had mono or tuberculosis and that the headache could have been from his wisdom teeth," Austin's wife said.
When Laura was informed her husband was suffering from leukemia, all she wanted was to be by his side.
"I'll be there soon," she said.
read more here
By Tom Sileo
Leavenworth Times
Posted Aug 23, 2012
Leavenworth, Kan
When Spc. Austin Monk deployed to Iraq in August 2009, the soldier's wife expected the worst.
"When your loved one deploys to Iraq, you expect them to come home injured ... (physically or emotionally) wounded, or you expect them to come back dead," Laura Monk told "The Unknown Soldiers."
She never thought her 20-year-old husband's combat deployment would end with a shocking diagnosis of leukemia.
"You never expect them to come back with cancer," she said.
"This is what I signed up to do," Austin said to his wife. Austin first complained about a terrible headache during one of the couple's Skype conversations. Then, on Halloween 2009, Austin wrote Laura a MySpace message saying he had a 104-degree fever.
"Don't worry about me," Austin added.
A few weeks later, fellow soldiers found Austin lying on the floor of his barracks. The ordeal that followed, which took the soldier from hospitals in Iraq to Germany, left Laura feeling helpless as she agonized over her husband's condition from thousands of miles away.
"They initially thought he had mono or tuberculosis and that the headache could have been from his wisdom teeth," Austin's wife said.
When Laura was informed her husband was suffering from leukemia, all she wanted was to be by his side.
"I'll be there soon," she said.
read more here
What It's Like Waiting In The VA Benefits Line
Helping Our Heroes: What It's Like Waiting In The VA Benefits Line
KUHF.fm news
August 23, 2012
by: Edel Howlin
Veteran's disability claim issues are growing. In the past, it the issue might have been an injured knee or back but now veterans are dealing with many more medical issues, like traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. So if the nearly 1.7 million veterans living in Texas submitted an average of ten disability claims each, well, that’s a lot of claims and a long waiting list. As part of our ongoing military series "Helping Our Heroes," Edel Howlin asks what's it like for a local veteran to be on that list?
U.S Army veteran Wallace Smith is from New Boston a small town just outside Texarkana.
He’s tall, broad and dressed very smartly today because he’s trying to find a job to get his life back on track.
Smith left the military in 1995 with severe migraines and an injured knee. He filed his disability claim with these two issues not knowing he’d left something out.
“And then I didn’t know about the Post Traumatic Stress ‘til later. There’s a lot of issues a lot of stuff we [were] exposed [to] that I really didn’t know. I was having a lot of anger issues. I didn’t know how to deal with them, so I was having problems with my family and relationships.”
Problems that landed him on the streets, in different treatment centers and jail. He will be the first to admit that he’d hit rock bottom. The good news is Smith is getting help from the U.S. Veteran’s Initiative in Houston. But eventually to get back on his feet, he needs a job and his disability benefits.
“It’d help me support my kids for one thing and it’d be a lot less stress on me. You know that’s kinda hard too, not being the man I’m supposed to be to my family and that’s hurt a lot of veterans — not being the men that we’re supposed to be.”
The U.S Vets office re-filed for Wallace’s disability benefits 90 days ago and counting. His name is on a list of over 38,000 pending claims in Houston with an average waiting time of 309 days.
read more here
KUHF.fm news
August 23, 2012
by: Edel Howlin
Veteran's disability claim issues are growing. In the past, it the issue might have been an injured knee or back but now veterans are dealing with many more medical issues, like traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. So if the nearly 1.7 million veterans living in Texas submitted an average of ten disability claims each, well, that’s a lot of claims and a long waiting list. As part of our ongoing military series "Helping Our Heroes," Edel Howlin asks what's it like for a local veteran to be on that list?
U.S Army veteran Wallace Smith is from New Boston a small town just outside Texarkana.
He’s tall, broad and dressed very smartly today because he’s trying to find a job to get his life back on track.
Smith left the military in 1995 with severe migraines and an injured knee. He filed his disability claim with these two issues not knowing he’d left something out.
“And then I didn’t know about the Post Traumatic Stress ‘til later. There’s a lot of issues a lot of stuff we [were] exposed [to] that I really didn’t know. I was having a lot of anger issues. I didn’t know how to deal with them, so I was having problems with my family and relationships.”
Problems that landed him on the streets, in different treatment centers and jail. He will be the first to admit that he’d hit rock bottom. The good news is Smith is getting help from the U.S. Veteran’s Initiative in Houston. But eventually to get back on his feet, he needs a job and his disability benefits.
“It’d help me support my kids for one thing and it’d be a lot less stress on me. You know that’s kinda hard too, not being the man I’m supposed to be to my family and that’s hurt a lot of veterans — not being the men that we’re supposed to be.”
The U.S Vets office re-filed for Wallace’s disability benefits 90 days ago and counting. His name is on a list of over 38,000 pending claims in Houston with an average waiting time of 309 days.
read more here
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