Fast-Acting Officer Stopped Rampage
FORT HOOD, Texas (Nov. 6) -- A civilian police officer who shot the Fort Hood gunman four times during his bloody rampage stopped the attacker cold, a U.S. Army official said Friday.
Officer Kimberly Munley of the Fort Hood Police Department is a "trained, active first responder" who acted quickly after she "just happened to encounter the gunman," said Lt. Gen. Bob Cone, Fort Hood's commanding general.
Full Coverage: Deadly Rampage at Fort Hood
Cone said the officer and her partner responded "very quickly" to the scene of the shootings -- reportedly in about three minutes.
Munley "just happened very fortunately to be very close to the incident scene," Cone told CNN's "American Morning."
He said she shot the gunman four times and was wounded herself in an exchange of gunfire with him.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Orlando shooting suspect captured
The news just broke that the suspect has been taken into custody
At Least 6 Shot At Downtown Office, Ex-Employee Sought
Friday, November 06, 2009 2:21:14 PM
ORLANDO -- Police said at least six people have been shot at a downtown Orlando office at the Gateway Center at 1000 Legion Place.
Police said the suspect, Jason Rodriguez, 40, may be armed and dangerous. He was described as a disgruntled former employee at Reynolds, Smith and Hills Inc.
Authorities said Rodriguez is a Hispanic male reportedly wearing a light blue polo shirt and jeans, and possibly driving a 2002 silver Nissan SUV with Florida tag D11-9UX.
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/11/6/downtown_orlando_shooting.html
Screams, sirens herald Fort Hood chaos
Screams, sirens herald Fort Hood chaos
By Moni Basu, CNN
November 6, 2009 10:51 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Parents worry about dangers overseas, not in Texas
Soldiers use battlefield medical training on home soil
Mother worries about son in day care as post is locked down
Watch a CNN special investigation at Saturday 8 p.m. ET on CNN TV
The CNN Special Investigations Unit drills down on the causes and the impact of the Fort Hood shootings, at 8 p.m. ET Saturday on CNN TV.
(CNN) -- It was the kind of phone call military families dread receiving from Iraq and Afghanistan -- not from Texas.
Peggy McCarty's daughter called Thursday afternoon to say she had been wounded by a gunshot in her left shoulder. Keara Bono, 21, assured her mother that she was OK, but McCarty's heart skipped.
She knew she had much to fear when Bono, an Army specialist, arrived at Fort Hood to prepare for an early December deployment to Iraq. But McCarty never thought she would have to worry about her child getting wounded on American soil.
"I thought I was more worried about her going over to Iraq than here, just doing training in Texas. She just got there yesterday," McCarty told CNN affiliate KSHB-TV in Kansas City, Missouri.
Bono was one of 30 people hurt when a soldier opened fire on a military processing center at Fort Hood, the place where soldiers report before they head to war. They get medical and dental checkups there. They settle finances and even make out their wills.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/06/fort.hood.shootings.scene/index.html
By Moni Basu, CNN
November 6, 2009 10:51 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Parents worry about dangers overseas, not in Texas
Soldiers use battlefield medical training on home soil
Mother worries about son in day care as post is locked down
Watch a CNN special investigation at Saturday 8 p.m. ET on CNN TV
The CNN Special Investigations Unit drills down on the causes and the impact of the Fort Hood shootings, at 8 p.m. ET Saturday on CNN TV.
(CNN) -- It was the kind of phone call military families dread receiving from Iraq and Afghanistan -- not from Texas.
Peggy McCarty's daughter called Thursday afternoon to say she had been wounded by a gunshot in her left shoulder. Keara Bono, 21, assured her mother that she was OK, but McCarty's heart skipped.
She knew she had much to fear when Bono, an Army specialist, arrived at Fort Hood to prepare for an early December deployment to Iraq. But McCarty never thought she would have to worry about her child getting wounded on American soil.
"I thought I was more worried about her going over to Iraq than here, just doing training in Texas. She just got there yesterday," McCarty told CNN affiliate KSHB-TV in Kansas City, Missouri.
Bono was one of 30 people hurt when a soldier opened fire on a military processing center at Fort Hood, the place where soldiers report before they head to war. They get medical and dental checkups there. They settle finances and even make out their wills.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/06/fort.hood.shootings.scene/index.html
Multiple deployments take toll on military families, experts say
Multiple deployments take toll on military families, experts say
By MICHAEL E. YOUNG / The Dallas Morning News
myoung@dallasnews.com
One day back from a year's tour in Iraq, Army Capt. Nick Jefferson had just come home after running errands when he flipped on the TV and heard about the shootings at Fort Hood, where his wife, Erica, was working.
"She had called and left a message while I was out, telling me about it and saying that everything was OK," Jefferson said by phone from Killeen. "But you sure don't expect something like this to happen here, after you've come back from Iraq."
No one knows for certain what led to the mass shootings at the Soldier Readiness Center, where troops about to be deployed and others returning from overseas are processed. The suspect, Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was reportedly about to be deployed to Iraq.
But mental health experts and those who work with military families say the multiple deployments today's soldiers face lead to stresses that are different than those in past wars.
read more here
Multiple deployments take toll on military families
By MICHAEL E. YOUNG / The Dallas Morning News
myoung@dallasnews.com
One day back from a year's tour in Iraq, Army Capt. Nick Jefferson had just come home after running errands when he flipped on the TV and heard about the shootings at Fort Hood, where his wife, Erica, was working.
"She had called and left a message while I was out, telling me about it and saying that everything was OK," Jefferson said by phone from Killeen. "But you sure don't expect something like this to happen here, after you've come back from Iraq."
No one knows for certain what led to the mass shootings at the Soldier Readiness Center, where troops about to be deployed and others returning from overseas are processed. The suspect, Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was reportedly about to be deployed to Iraq.
But mental health experts and those who work with military families say the multiple deployments today's soldiers face lead to stresses that are different than those in past wars.
read more here
Multiple deployments take toll on military families
2 coalition service members missing in Afghanistan
2 coalition service members missing in Afghanistan
(AP) – 1 hour ago
KABUL — Two NATO soldiers are missing in western Afghanistan from a routine resupply mission, the alliance said Friday.
The two were reported missing on Wednesday, NATO forces headquarters in Afghanistan said in a statement. It did not specify their nationality or which province they had been in, or provide any details of the resupply mission.
"We continue exhaustive search and rescue operations to locate our missing service members," spokeswoman Navy Capt. Jane Campbell said in the statement. "We are doing everything we can to find them."
read more here
2 coalition service members missing in Afghanistan
(AP) – 1 hour ago
KABUL — Two NATO soldiers are missing in western Afghanistan from a routine resupply mission, the alliance said Friday.
The two were reported missing on Wednesday, NATO forces headquarters in Afghanistan said in a statement. It did not specify their nationality or which province they had been in, or provide any details of the resupply mission.
"We continue exhaustive search and rescue operations to locate our missing service members," spokeswoman Navy Capt. Jane Campbell said in the statement. "We are doing everything we can to find them."
read more here
2 coalition service members missing in Afghanistan
American Legion ups pressure on Coburn
American Legion ups pressure on Coburn
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 5, 2009 13:39:38 EST
The American Legion is organizing a grassroots campaign in Oklahoma to try to persuade Republican Sen. Tom Coburn to lift his hold on S 1963, an omnibus veterans bill, so it can be approved and enacted.
“We are contacting Legionnaires in Oklahoma to inform them about how their senator is delaying the bill and what that means for veterans, especially seriously injured veterans and their families,” said Steve Robertson, the Legion’s national legislative director.
The idea is that Legionnaires in Oklahoma would be able to spread the word to bring pressure on Coburn to change his mind, Robertson said.
Coburn is using Senate procedures to delay a vote on the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act because he wants to be able to offer an amendment that would pay for the new caregiver benefits, which would include monthly stipends, health care, counseling and other services.
Senate leaders do not want to allow the amendments, hoping to pass the bill quickly before Veterans Day, but Coburn — using rights available to every senator — has been able to prevent this from happening.
read more here
American Legion ups pressure on Coburn
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 5, 2009 13:39:38 EST
The American Legion is organizing a grassroots campaign in Oklahoma to try to persuade Republican Sen. Tom Coburn to lift his hold on S 1963, an omnibus veterans bill, so it can be approved and enacted.
“We are contacting Legionnaires in Oklahoma to inform them about how their senator is delaying the bill and what that means for veterans, especially seriously injured veterans and their families,” said Steve Robertson, the Legion’s national legislative director.
The idea is that Legionnaires in Oklahoma would be able to spread the word to bring pressure on Coburn to change his mind, Robertson said.
Coburn is using Senate procedures to delay a vote on the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act because he wants to be able to offer an amendment that would pay for the new caregiver benefits, which would include monthly stipends, health care, counseling and other services.
Senate leaders do not want to allow the amendments, hoping to pass the bill quickly before Veterans Day, but Coburn — using rights available to every senator — has been able to prevent this from happening.
read more here
American Legion ups pressure on Coburn
Fort Hood:He swore an oath of loyalty to the military
One of the questions that needs to be asked over the terror Maj. Hasan inflicted on the troops he was supposed to be taking care of, is what was he telling them? He was their psychologist! What did he tell them when they went to him for help with combat trauma? Did he end up with secondary PTSD from hearing their stories and seeing the wounded at Walter Reed?
Families have been wounded by secondary PTSD from living with PTSD veterans. Mental healthcare providers have been wounded by it because of all they have to hear and the repeated stress. Burnouts happen all the time. This has happened to me more times than I can remember and readers of this blog have witnessed it in me when it has gotten too much for me. But all of this leads to even more questions.
Did he make things worse for them? According to news reports, he was not that great at his job in the first place. What kind of training did he have on PTSD? Was he just what the DOD had their hands on to use to take care of the increased need of our troops to heal from all the traumatic events they were exposed to, especially with these multiple deployments? The Army study a few years ago stated clearly the redeployments increased the risk of PTSD by 50%. Didn't the troops deserve experts on PTSD instead? Don't they still deserve it?
This Major was supposed to be loyal to the troops like they were his own family because it is a military family. They are supposed to be willing to die for the sake of their brothers and sisters. We saw examples of this yesterday when they were pulling off their uniforms to bandage the wounded while waiting for help. This is as if it were domestic violence because a trusted member of the family killed others. I fear not many are taking yesterday's events seriously enough.
Over the years I've heard all kinds of statements that cause me to fear what is coming. I heard a Chaplain say that he does not know anything about PTSD but was sent to be counseling Marines in Iraq. While Chaplains are supposed to be taking care of the spiritual needs of the troops, this is a concern because PTSD is an emotional wound, caused by an outside force with one of the biggest issues is spiritual. They question their lifetime of understanding their faith, remembering a loving God, then wonder where God was with all of the horror they saw. They wonder how a loving God could allow all of that. They wonder if they were judged or abandoned by God. They need someone who not only knows God but what PTSD is as well. The other factor is that with the lack of trained psychologist, the chaplains are the next best thing for them to turn to, but over 60% seem to more interested in proselytizing than ministering to their needs.
Some psychologists and therapist believe that telling the troops they can prevent PTSD by training their minds is the answer, but it's not. They cannot stop being human. Scientists found the region of the brain where emotions live. They have seen the changes after trauma. PTSD is not a mental illness the way many think it is but an anxiety disorder caused by an outside force and it attacks the compassionate because they carry away the pain of others as well as their own pain. If they simply tell them they can train their brains, they are missing what PTSD is.
Are any of the troops prepared with what they really need to hear? Do they know how to heal? Do family members know what to do? After what I've seen in news reports, the answer is doubtful. With the increase of suicides and attempted suicides, that answer is supported by the results of the attempts they've come up with to address this.
With what happened at Fort Hood, there are many things they are missing. Now the biggest one after yesterday is the fact they were attacked by one of their own on their base where they are supposed to be safe. The "secondary stressor" of yesterday piled onto what they've already been exposed to will cause many to experience a full blown assault of PTSD without warning. Many think that their mild PTSD is as bad as it can be and they have not been given the proper treatment to begin to really heal. With this striking, there will be many in crisis and shocked over the sudden changes in themselves. The military has proven they were ill prepared for all of this and now it is very doubtful they will be prepared for what is to come.
Calling in crisis teams is the best thing they can do to take care of people who need to talk. Who will call in crisis teams for the already wounded now exposed to trauma at home? This was a man trusted to take care of them instead of trying to kill them and now there are 13 of their own they will have to grive for along with 30 more wounded. They will be looking for answers and wondering who they can trust. Aside from this, they will also be wondering who the miltiary decided was worthy of trusting with their care.
Families have been wounded by secondary PTSD from living with PTSD veterans. Mental healthcare providers have been wounded by it because of all they have to hear and the repeated stress. Burnouts happen all the time. This has happened to me more times than I can remember and readers of this blog have witnessed it in me when it has gotten too much for me. But all of this leads to even more questions.
Did he make things worse for them? According to news reports, he was not that great at his job in the first place. What kind of training did he have on PTSD? Was he just what the DOD had their hands on to use to take care of the increased need of our troops to heal from all the traumatic events they were exposed to, especially with these multiple deployments? The Army study a few years ago stated clearly the redeployments increased the risk of PTSD by 50%. Didn't the troops deserve experts on PTSD instead? Don't they still deserve it?
Details Emerge on Hood Rampage Suspect
November 06, 2009
Associated Press"He swore an oath of loyalty to the military," Grieger said. "I didn't hear anything contrary to those oaths."
WASHINGTON - His name appears on radical Internet postings. A fellow officer says he fought his deployment to Iraq and argued with Soldiers who supported U.S. wars. He required counseling as a medical student because of problems with patients.
There are many unknowns about Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the man authorities say is responsible for the worst mass killing on a U.S. military base. As of this morning 13 people are dead and 30 wounded following his alleged shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas.For six years before reporting for duty at Fort Hood, Texas, in July, the 39-year-old Army major worked at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center pursuing his career in psychiatry, as an intern, a resident and, last year, a fellow in disaster and preventive psychiatry. He received his medical degree from the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., in 2001.
While an intern at Walter Reed, Hasan had some "difficulties" that required counseling and extra supervision, said Dr. Thomas Grieger, who was the training director at the time.
read more here
http://www.military.com/news/article/details-emerge-on-hood-rampage-suspect.html?ESRC=eb.nl
This Major was supposed to be loyal to the troops like they were his own family because it is a military family. They are supposed to be willing to die for the sake of their brothers and sisters. We saw examples of this yesterday when they were pulling off their uniforms to bandage the wounded while waiting for help. This is as if it were domestic violence because a trusted member of the family killed others. I fear not many are taking yesterday's events seriously enough.
Over the years I've heard all kinds of statements that cause me to fear what is coming. I heard a Chaplain say that he does not know anything about PTSD but was sent to be counseling Marines in Iraq. While Chaplains are supposed to be taking care of the spiritual needs of the troops, this is a concern because PTSD is an emotional wound, caused by an outside force with one of the biggest issues is spiritual. They question their lifetime of understanding their faith, remembering a loving God, then wonder where God was with all of the horror they saw. They wonder how a loving God could allow all of that. They wonder if they were judged or abandoned by God. They need someone who not only knows God but what PTSD is as well. The other factor is that with the lack of trained psychologist, the chaplains are the next best thing for them to turn to, but over 60% seem to more interested in proselytizing than ministering to their needs.
Some psychologists and therapist believe that telling the troops they can prevent PTSD by training their minds is the answer, but it's not. They cannot stop being human. Scientists found the region of the brain where emotions live. They have seen the changes after trauma. PTSD is not a mental illness the way many think it is but an anxiety disorder caused by an outside force and it attacks the compassionate because they carry away the pain of others as well as their own pain. If they simply tell them they can train their brains, they are missing what PTSD is.
Are any of the troops prepared with what they really need to hear? Do they know how to heal? Do family members know what to do? After what I've seen in news reports, the answer is doubtful. With the increase of suicides and attempted suicides, that answer is supported by the results of the attempts they've come up with to address this.
With what happened at Fort Hood, there are many things they are missing. Now the biggest one after yesterday is the fact they were attacked by one of their own on their base where they are supposed to be safe. The "secondary stressor" of yesterday piled onto what they've already been exposed to will cause many to experience a full blown assault of PTSD without warning. Many think that their mild PTSD is as bad as it can be and they have not been given the proper treatment to begin to really heal. With this striking, there will be many in crisis and shocked over the sudden changes in themselves. The military has proven they were ill prepared for all of this and now it is very doubtful they will be prepared for what is to come.
Calling in crisis teams is the best thing they can do to take care of people who need to talk. Who will call in crisis teams for the already wounded now exposed to trauma at home? This was a man trusted to take care of them instead of trying to kill them and now there are 13 of their own they will have to grive for along with 30 more wounded. They will be looking for answers and wondering who they can trust. Aside from this, they will also be wondering who the miltiary decided was worthy of trusting with their care.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Report: Vets need drug treatment, not jail
Report: Vets need drug treatment, not jail
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 5, 2009 14:25:31 EST
Treatment, not incarceration, should be the first option for veterans who commit nonviolent drug-related offenses, a group advocating alternatives to the nation’s “war on drugs” said Wednesday in a new report.
The Drug Policy Alliance report also called on government agencies to adopt overdose prevention programs and policies for vets who misuse substances or take prescription medicines, and urged “significantly expanded” access to medication-assisted therapies, such as methadone and buprenorphine, for the treatment of dependence on opioid drugs used to treat pain and mood disorders.
During a conference call with a Drug Policy Alliance representative and seven other advocates for change in the treatment of veterans, the military’s Tricare health benefits program came under fire for what a New York-based physician and specialist in drug addiction treatment called its failure to pay for veterans’ and family members’ opioid dependence treatments.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/military_veterans_drug_treatment_110509w/
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 5, 2009 14:25:31 EST
Treatment, not incarceration, should be the first option for veterans who commit nonviolent drug-related offenses, a group advocating alternatives to the nation’s “war on drugs” said Wednesday in a new report.
The Drug Policy Alliance report also called on government agencies to adopt overdose prevention programs and policies for vets who misuse substances or take prescription medicines, and urged “significantly expanded” access to medication-assisted therapies, such as methadone and buprenorphine, for the treatment of dependence on opioid drugs used to treat pain and mood disorders.
During a conference call with a Drug Policy Alliance representative and seven other advocates for change in the treatment of veterans, the military’s Tricare health benefits program came under fire for what a New York-based physician and specialist in drug addiction treatment called its failure to pay for veterans’ and family members’ opioid dependence treatments.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/military_veterans_drug_treatment_110509w/
MTV Returns to Duty and still focusing on our troops
MTV’s “Return to Duty”, a documentary honoring young veterans and active duty servicemen and women that will follow “The Real World: Brooklyn’s” Ryan Conklin as he returns to the battlefields of Iraq for a second tour of duty. “Return to Duty” airs on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11, at 9pm ET/PT.
MTV’S “RETURN TO DUTY” TAKES AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY WITH “THE REAL WORLD: BROOKLYN’S” RYAN CONKLIN AS HE RETURNS TO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF IRAQ
One-Hour Documentary Premieres On MTV Veteran’s Day,
Wednesday, November 11 at 9PM ET/PT
MTV, MTV2 and mtvU to Celebrate Millennial Veterans’ Service, Connect Them to Resources, and Empower Young Civilians to Support their Peers
New York, NY (October 28, 2009) –MTV will honor young veterans and active duty servicemen and women this Veteran’s Day with the premiere of “Return to Duty” -- Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 9 pm ET/PT on MTV, and at 11 pm ET/PT on MTV2 – along with a suite of special programming and links to Veterans resources across all of its platforms. Viewers of “The Real World: Brooklyn” vividly remember the emotional moment when cast member and Army vet Ryan Conklin was unexpectedly recalled for a second tour of duty in Iraq. And now, Ryan himself takes us through the year since that day. In “Return to Duty”, we go to Ryan's hometown of Gettysburg as he prepares to go back to Iraq, and as he once again has to say good-bye to his family. Once in Iraq and back on parole through the streets of Baghdad, Ryan shows us a view of the war that's different than anything we've seen before.
Recently, MTV research revealed that 74 percent of young people ages 18-29 personally know someone who has fought in Iraq or Afghanistan. With this in mind, MTV, MTV2 and mtvU are featuring a number of public service announcements, short-form features and resources as part of an ongoing commitment to support our newest generation of veterans. This content will focus on the difficult transition these men and women face as they come home to civilian life and how their civilian counterparts can help make this adjustment easier.
Veteran’s Day Programming Includes:
Return To Duty (9 pm ET/PT on MTV; 11 pm ET/PT on MTV2) - Return to Duty is Ryan’s gritty and very personal document of his return as a patrol gunner to the sweltering streets of Baghdad. Equipped with his own video camera, and the addition of a camera crew embedded with his unit, it’s a soldier’s view of America’s changing military presence in the long war in Iraq. His very close-knit family back home must cope with the fear and absence of their son fighting overseas once again; while his new found relationship with Real World: Brooklyn roommate Baya is put to a critical test.
Today’s Student Vets: From War to College (Airing on MTV, MTV2, and mtvU) - Rich, a young veteran, attends a University in Manhattan after his military tour abroad and talks candidly about the difficulties he’s faced since returning to campus - from emotional to academic. This short-form feature will follow Rich and two other young veterans as they make the challenging transition back into college life, delving into the emotional struggles they face, and how civilian students can play a role in helping them adjust back into civilian life. This feature, sponsored by the McCormick Foundation, will be released as part of mtvU and The Jed Foundation’s Peabody Award-winning “Half of Us” campaign, which works to fight the stigma around mental health and encourage help-seeking among college students across the country. Veterans and students can access the campaign’s Veterans resource center at www.halfofus.com/veterans
Public Service Announcements (Airing on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU)– In partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation, mtvU’s Half of Us campaign is releasing three new PSAs addressing the emotional struggles college veterans face when returning to campus and how civilian students can play a role in easing that transition. To view the public service announcements, please head to http://www.halfofus.com/video/.
Brave.MTV.com – All of MTV’s Veterans-related programming will drive viewers to this comprehensive action center, where Vets can access resources, civilians can get involved and support America’s young veterans, and anyone can check out MTV’s acclaimed veterans programming, including “Kanye West: Homecoming” and “A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE.” The site connects Veterans to online support systems from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) the country’s first and largest nonpartisan, non-profit for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The website also offers a broad range of resources, including information on how to use the new GI Bill, and for those enrolled in college a pathway to join the Student Veterans of America. Civilians are offered opportunities to sign MTV’s B.R.A.V.E. petition -- to ensure our returning veterans get the support they need – and to get involved in Vets-related service projects and more.
IAVA’s Third Annual Heroes Gala- Additionally, the network will be deeply involved with IAVA’s Third Annual Heroes Gala. Here, MTV networks will be honored with the 2009 IAVA Civilian Service Award for stewarding programming showing the true face of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing new veterans.
MTV.com - For exclusive video blogs and photos of Ryan and his family, including never before seen video from Iraq, check out www.returntoduty.mtv.com. The site also allows viewers to watch the full season of The Real World: Brooklyn and view photos of the cast.
“Return To Duty” was created for MTV by Bunim-Murray Productions. Jon Murray and Jim Johnston serve as Executive Producers of “Return To Duty.” Jacquelyn French is the MTV executive overseeing the project.
Aftermath of Fort Hood shootings may be worse
Aftermath of Fort Hood shootings may be worse
As the news reports kept coming out today about the carnage at Fort Hood, my greatest fears were not for today, but for the next few months ahead. No one is talking about "secondary stressors" and this needs to be addressed quickly.
There are crisis teams heading there according to the press briefing by Lt. Gen. Robert Cone. This is one of the best things they can do. I spent months taking this kind of training and it is very thorough. The issue that we need to be concerned about is when there are thousands of soldiers, combat soldiers with multiple tours, many of them are dealing with mild PTSD. Mild PTSD is not that hard to cope with. They live pretty normal lives while covering up the pain they have inside. Many even cope well the rest of their lives but many do not. Like a ticking time bomb, PTSD rests waiting to strike if untreated. It waits for the next traumatic event and then mild PTSD turns into PTSD on steroids.
These are the soldiers that will need the greatest help as soon as possible.
These bases are very well secured. That makes the soldiers and their families feel safe. Think about going into combat and then making it home alive where you are supposed to be safe. Then having this happen.
I was at Fort Hood in March. I had an auto rental and even though I had a military issued ID, that was not good enough at the guard house. I had to show my rental agreement every time I drove onto the base. Even if you have a Department of Defense sticker on your car, you still have to show your military ID. That makes them feel they are safe. Then away from harm, away from combat, they end up having to face something like this from not only one of their own, but a Major and a Doctor who is supposed to be there for them, trying to kill them.
Crisis teams will address the traumatic events of today, but the soldiers that have already been involved in traumatic events cutting into them will need far greater help than anyone is really prepared to deliver. This is my greatest fear for them.
Then we have troops from Fort Hood and other bases deployed into Iraq and Afghanistan wondering who they can trust now after one of their own did something like this. None of this is good and the aftermath may be worse than this day itself.
As the news reports kept coming out today about the carnage at Fort Hood, my greatest fears were not for today, but for the next few months ahead. No one is talking about "secondary stressors" and this needs to be addressed quickly.
There are crisis teams heading there according to the press briefing by Lt. Gen. Robert Cone. This is one of the best things they can do. I spent months taking this kind of training and it is very thorough. The issue that we need to be concerned about is when there are thousands of soldiers, combat soldiers with multiple tours, many of them are dealing with mild PTSD. Mild PTSD is not that hard to cope with. They live pretty normal lives while covering up the pain they have inside. Many even cope well the rest of their lives but many do not. Like a ticking time bomb, PTSD rests waiting to strike if untreated. It waits for the next traumatic event and then mild PTSD turns into PTSD on steroids.
These are the soldiers that will need the greatest help as soon as possible.
These bases are very well secured. That makes the soldiers and their families feel safe. Think about going into combat and then making it home alive where you are supposed to be safe. Then having this happen.
I was at Fort Hood in March. I had an auto rental and even though I had a military issued ID, that was not good enough at the guard house. I had to show my rental agreement every time I drove onto the base. Even if you have a Department of Defense sticker on your car, you still have to show your military ID. That makes them feel they are safe. Then away from harm, away from combat, they end up having to face something like this from not only one of their own, but a Major and a Doctor who is supposed to be there for them, trying to kill them.
Crisis teams will address the traumatic events of today, but the soldiers that have already been involved in traumatic events cutting into them will need far greater help than anyone is really prepared to deliver. This is my greatest fear for them.
Then we have troops from Fort Hood and other bases deployed into Iraq and Afghanistan wondering who they can trust now after one of their own did something like this. None of this is good and the aftermath may be worse than this day itself.
Fort Hood Shooting: A Closer Look at Soldiers and PTSD
Fort Hood Shooting: A Closer Look at Soldiers and PTSD
Fort Hood, the site of Thursday's horrific attack on U.S. soldiers, was the focus of a NOW on PBS report about American troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Many of the thousands of U.S. troops discharged from the Army each year suffer from PTSD and say they lack the vital care they need. The Army claimed these soldiers were let go due to pre-existing mental illnesses or because they were guilty of misconduct. But advocates argue this was a way for the Army to get rid of "problem" soldiers quickly, without giving them the treatment and benefits to which they're entitled.
In our online coverage, NOW interviewed two Fort Hood soldiers about the personal trauma they experienced while fighting in Iraq.
NOW will air a new report about caring for injured veterans, including those suffering from PTSD, on November 20.
Posted by Joel Schwartzberg on November 5, 2009 5:37 PM
http://www.pbs.org/now/blog/2009/11/fort_hood_shooting_a_closer_lo.html
Fort Hood, the site of Thursday's horrific attack on U.S. soldiers, was the focus of a NOW on PBS report about American troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Many of the thousands of U.S. troops discharged from the Army each year suffer from PTSD and say they lack the vital care they need. The Army claimed these soldiers were let go due to pre-existing mental illnesses or because they were guilty of misconduct. But advocates argue this was a way for the Army to get rid of "problem" soldiers quickly, without giving them the treatment and benefits to which they're entitled.
In our online coverage, NOW interviewed two Fort Hood soldiers about the personal trauma they experienced while fighting in Iraq.
NOW will air a new report about caring for injured veterans, including those suffering from PTSD, on November 20.
Posted by Joel Schwartzberg on November 5, 2009 5:37 PM
http://www.pbs.org/now/blog/2009/11/fort_hood_shooting_a_closer_lo.html
Fort Hood Resident: Incident "Disturbing"
Fort Hood Resident: Incident "Disturbing"
Katie Couric Speaks with Advocate for Soldiers Suffering from PTSD Whose Husband is Based at Fort Hood
By Katie Couric
Fort Hood is the largest U.S. military base - home to more than 53,000 active duty soldiers, many of whom have served multiple times in Iraq and Afghanistan. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a major concern there as at any base.
CBS News Anchor Katie Couric spoke via Skype with Carissa Picard, an advocate for soldiers suffering from PTSD. Her husband is a soldier based at Fort Hood.
Katie Couric: Can you tell me what was going on when all of this was unfolding?
Carissa Picard: It was a little bit disturbing, for those of us here in the military housing community. We had these tornado sirens, and those started going off and telling us that we needed to seek shelter immediately, close and lock our doors and windows.
It also said that we needed to turn off our ventilation system.
So that last part had us wondering what is going on? At that point we didn't know that there had been this mass shooting.
Couric: And we understood from a spokesman at Ft. Hood, General Cone, it took place in the building where soldiers are processed before they go off on their deployments?
Picard:In fact, it's also the building where when you come back from a deployment, you actually go through you're first PTSD screening, or your screening to see if you're at risk for that.
It's the first place that when a unit returns in mass, they would have to go individually into this building, and this is their first contact with a social worker or a counselor.
read more here
Fort Hood Resident: Incident Disturbing
Katie Couric Speaks with Advocate for Soldiers Suffering from PTSD Whose Husband is Based at Fort Hood
By Katie Couric
Fort Hood is the largest U.S. military base - home to more than 53,000 active duty soldiers, many of whom have served multiple times in Iraq and Afghanistan. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a major concern there as at any base.
CBS News Anchor Katie Couric spoke via Skype with Carissa Picard, an advocate for soldiers suffering from PTSD. Her husband is a soldier based at Fort Hood.
Katie Couric: Can you tell me what was going on when all of this was unfolding?
Carissa Picard: It was a little bit disturbing, for those of us here in the military housing community. We had these tornado sirens, and those started going off and telling us that we needed to seek shelter immediately, close and lock our doors and windows.
It also said that we needed to turn off our ventilation system.
So that last part had us wondering what is going on? At that point we didn't know that there had been this mass shooting.
Couric: And we understood from a spokesman at Ft. Hood, General Cone, it took place in the building where soldiers are processed before they go off on their deployments?
Picard:In fact, it's also the building where when you come back from a deployment, you actually go through you're first PTSD screening, or your screening to see if you're at risk for that.
It's the first place that when a unit returns in mass, they would have to go individually into this building, and this is their first contact with a social worker or a counselor.
read more here
Fort Hood Resident: Incident Disturbing
Fort Hood gunman identified as Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan
UPDATE 9:31est
Officials: 12 killed in Fort Hood shootings; suspect alive
November 5, 2009 9:24 p.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Suepect in shootings wounded but alive, Army official says
Source: Gunman identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist
Senator: Hasan was "upset" about scheduled deployment to Iraq
Shooting happened in building that is one of last stops before soldiers deploy
(CNN) -- At least one soldier opened fire on a military processing center at Fort Hood in Texas on Thursday, killing 12 and wounding 31 others, officials at the Army base said.
The gunman, who officials initially said was killed, is wounded but alive, Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said.
Cone said that man is believed to be the only shooter. Two other soldiers briefly taken into custody after the incident were later released, a spokesman said.
The gunman, who officials said was wounded by emergency personnel, was identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, a law enforcement source told CNN.
A graduate of Virginia Tech, Hasan was a psychiatrist who was licensed in Virginia and was practicing at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, according to professional records. Previously, he worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/05/texas.fort.hood.shootings/index.html
UPDATE
Officials: 11 killed, plus gunman, in Fort Hood shootings
November 5, 2009 6:14 p.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Source: Slain gunman identified as Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan
NEW: One of the dead was a civilian police officer, official says
NEW: Senator says she was told soldiersere filling out paperwork to go overseas
More than one shooter may have been involved, Fort Hood spokesman says
(CNN) -- Eleven people plus a gunman were dead and 31 wounded after the gunman opened fire Thursday on a soldier-processing center at Fort Hood, Texas, officials said.
The gunman was a soldier, and two other soldiers have been detained as suspects, Army Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said.
The slain gunman was identified as Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan, according to a law enforcement source. The source believes he is 39 or 40 years old.
Ten of the other dead also were soldiers, while the remaining one was a civilian police officer who was working as a contractor on the base, Cone said.
Two of the injured were in "very serious" condition, Fort Hood spokesman Christopher Hogue said.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/05/texas.fort.hood.shootings/index.html
Officials: 12 killed in Fort Hood shootings; suspect alive
November 5, 2009 9:24 p.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Suepect in shootings wounded but alive, Army official says
Source: Gunman identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist
Senator: Hasan was "upset" about scheduled deployment to Iraq
Shooting happened in building that is one of last stops before soldiers deploy
(CNN) -- At least one soldier opened fire on a military processing center at Fort Hood in Texas on Thursday, killing 12 and wounding 31 others, officials at the Army base said.
The gunman, who officials initially said was killed, is wounded but alive, Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said.
Cone said that man is believed to be the only shooter. Two other soldiers briefly taken into custody after the incident were later released, a spokesman said.
The gunman, who officials said was wounded by emergency personnel, was identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, a law enforcement source told CNN.
A graduate of Virginia Tech, Hasan was a psychiatrist who was licensed in Virginia and was practicing at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, according to professional records. Previously, he worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/05/texas.fort.hood.shootings/index.html
UPDATE
Officials: 11 killed, plus gunman, in Fort Hood shootings
November 5, 2009 6:14 p.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Source: Slain gunman identified as Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan
NEW: One of the dead was a civilian police officer, official says
NEW: Senator says she was told soldiersere filling out paperwork to go overseas
More than one shooter may have been involved, Fort Hood spokesman says
(CNN) -- Eleven people plus a gunman were dead and 31 wounded after the gunman opened fire Thursday on a soldier-processing center at Fort Hood, Texas, officials said.
The gunman was a soldier, and two other soldiers have been detained as suspects, Army Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said.
The slain gunman was identified as Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan, according to a law enforcement source. The source believes he is 39 or 40 years old.
Ten of the other dead also were soldiers, while the remaining one was a civilian police officer who was working as a contractor on the base, Cone said.
Two of the injured were in "very serious" condition, Fort Hood spokesman Christopher Hogue said.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/05/texas.fort.hood.shootings/index.html
• Army official: As many as 9 shot dead at Fort Hood
• Texas senator informed 30 people were wounded
• Spokesman: One shooter held, another at large
• President Obama informed of shooting FULL STORY
This is a developing story PLEASE PRAY FOR THE TROOPS AND THE FAMILIES AT FORT HOOD
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: President informed of incident, press secretary says
NEW: Attackers were in military uniform, Sen. Hutchison says
NEW: Two shooters involved, Fort Hood spokesman says
(CNN) -- Two gunmen in military uniforms shot and killed as many as nine people and wounded as many as 20 at Fort Hood in Texas on Thursday, officials said.
One of the shooters has been apprehended, Fort Hood spokesman Sgt. Maj. Jamie Posten told CNN.
"At this point we're looking for the other shooter," Posten said. Asked for a description, he said, "we're trying to develop that information."
The shooters were wearing military uniforms, but it was unclear whether they were soldiers, said U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas
President Obama has been informed of the incident, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.
Watch developments live
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/05/texas.fort.hood.shootings/index.html
Operation Warrior Support puts out call to America
One of the groups I belong to working on taking care of veterans is Operation Warrior Support/Brave Aid. I've taken part on many conference calls and last night was no exception. I informed the callers how there was another veteran no longer alive due to combat. No, he did not die in battle but he did die because of it.
The story came out of Seattle. A three tour Iraq veteran was shot by police due to a domestic dispute. At least that is what the headlines said when it added the words "angry man" trying to describe this veteran.
His father said John LaBossiere joined the Marines after high school and after September 11th, so this proved he was patriotic as well as willing to give up his life for the sake of the country. He was deployed twice with the Marines. He was not done yet. John ended up going into the National Guards after. Imagine that! He had a wife and three children but his marriage fell apart. The article went on to say his family said "turned into someone his family hardly recognized." This is all too common because they didn't understand PTSD or what to do to help.
You can read more of this here
Man shot by police a Iraq three tour veteran
The problem is not that his family didn't care, they didn't know. No one told them. This is not just about one veteran, but thousands of veterans across the country needing help from the people of this country. It's about stepping up to fill in the gaps.
For every claim tied up in the VA backlog, there is a veteran and a family waiting for the wounds created by service to be taken care of as well as compensated for in far too many cases when the veteran is unable to earn a living to pay their bills.
While some groups only seem interested in the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, Brave Aid wants to care for all veterans.
Operation Warrior support is about raising funds to do this. Much like many charities and foundations are funded by business ends, this group is funded by cause marketing. Members make a tax deductible donation of $20.00 a month and then the membership is grown by caring people. These funds support Brave Aid. Brave Aid supports veterans in need. The really great thing is that members also gain by being fundraising donors. You can go here for more information about it.
http://www.braveaid.org/
http://chaplainkathie.warriorsupport.us/
There is a lot to learn about this group and here is a start. There are many who will read this and think it's a scam but I know it isn't. I've met most of the people in this out of Florida. They have already cut checks to help veterans, gotten me involved in helping and this group has not even had the offical kick off yet which will happen on Veterans day. This is all about veterans and for veterans we are all supposed to care about.
The story came out of Seattle. A three tour Iraq veteran was shot by police due to a domestic dispute. At least that is what the headlines said when it added the words "angry man" trying to describe this veteran.
His father said John LaBossiere joined the Marines after high school and after September 11th, so this proved he was patriotic as well as willing to give up his life for the sake of the country. He was deployed twice with the Marines. He was not done yet. John ended up going into the National Guards after. Imagine that! He had a wife and three children but his marriage fell apart. The article went on to say his family said "turned into someone his family hardly recognized." This is all too common because they didn't understand PTSD or what to do to help.
You can read more of this here
Man shot by police a Iraq three tour veteran
The problem is not that his family didn't care, they didn't know. No one told them. This is not just about one veteran, but thousands of veterans across the country needing help from the people of this country. It's about stepping up to fill in the gaps.
For every claim tied up in the VA backlog, there is a veteran and a family waiting for the wounds created by service to be taken care of as well as compensated for in far too many cases when the veteran is unable to earn a living to pay their bills.
While some groups only seem interested in the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, Brave Aid wants to care for all veterans.
Operation Warrior support is about raising funds to do this. Much like many charities and foundations are funded by business ends, this group is funded by cause marketing. Members make a tax deductible donation of $20.00 a month and then the membership is grown by caring people. These funds support Brave Aid. Brave Aid supports veterans in need. The really great thing is that members also gain by being fundraising donors. You can go here for more information about it.
http://www.braveaid.org/
http://chaplainkathie.warriorsupport.us/
There is a lot to learn about this group and here is a start. There are many who will read this and think it's a scam but I know it isn't. I've met most of the people in this out of Florida. They have already cut checks to help veterans, gotten me involved in helping and this group has not even had the offical kick off yet which will happen on Veterans day. This is all about veterans and for veterans we are all supposed to care about.
Convention Tickets Are Free!
In keeping with the “donation” concept of Operation Warrior Support’s program, we have decided not to charge for attendance.
However, due to limited seating, you should still reserve seating early.
This will be such a terrific event, so plan on being there, let’s show the world who we are and what we stand for, so please invite everyone you know
Click Here To Reserve Seating Now!Please click the above link to send a reservation email to:jborger@warriorsupport.us
Remember!
You don't want to miss tonights conference call. You will hear a special preview of our introduction of"Operation Warrior Support's Lead Management System"
Guest speaker will be Gale Farup, consultant for PM Marketing. Join us and invite guests, this system will become a tremendous sales tool in promoting the simplicity of building your business.
The call WILL START promptly at 9:00 PM (EST)
"Call To America"
Phone Blitz
(712) 432-1699 Access Code: 1078608 #
Mullen calls for better PTSD care
Mullen calls for better PTSD care
By Hugh Lessig
247-7821
11:42 p.m. EST, November 4, 2009
NORFOLK — As a combat medic in Iraq, Megan Krause had seen plenty.
When she came home, she thought her mental state was fine.
"We're medics," she said. "We're supposed to know the signs and symptoms of depression."
She misdiagnosed this case.
The reason for that failure — and her subsequent success — provided a real-life lesson for attendees of a Pentagon-sponsored conference on improving the resiliency of today's warfighter.
The two-day conference, which ended Wednesday, featured an address by the nation's top military officer, who called for better coordination of mental health services as individuals move from active-duty to veteran status.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, weighed in via audio link to address the conference and take questions.
"Our problem is stove-piped," he said.
He called for better coordination of services between the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and the general public.
"We're not very well-connected across these three areas," he said.
Many discharged veterans know little about VA services, and many groups across the country "would go out of their way to help their veterans" if they knew how and where to help.
read more here
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_ptsd_1105nov05,0,7842432.story
By Hugh Lessig
247-7821
11:42 p.m. EST, November 4, 2009
NORFOLK — As a combat medic in Iraq, Megan Krause had seen plenty.
When she came home, she thought her mental state was fine.
"We're medics," she said. "We're supposed to know the signs and symptoms of depression."
She misdiagnosed this case.
The reason for that failure — and her subsequent success — provided a real-life lesson for attendees of a Pentagon-sponsored conference on improving the resiliency of today's warfighter.
The two-day conference, which ended Wednesday, featured an address by the nation's top military officer, who called for better coordination of mental health services as individuals move from active-duty to veteran status.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, weighed in via audio link to address the conference and take questions.
"Our problem is stove-piped," he said.
He called for better coordination of services between the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and the general public.
"We're not very well-connected across these three areas," he said.
Many discharged veterans know little about VA services, and many groups across the country "would go out of their way to help their veterans" if they knew how and where to help.
read more here
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_ptsd_1105nov05,0,7842432.story
Lakeland baby starves and dies in a well-stocked home
This just sounds too evil to believe! How could anyone do this? It's not that they didn't have enough money and since they had other children, it is not as if they didn't know children need to be fed.
Lakeland baby starves in a well-stocked home
By Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, November 5, 2009
LAKELAND — The pantry and refrigerator were full of juice, pasta, snacks and canned food — plenty to fill the bellies of the two adults and five children who lived in the house on Sunshine Drive.
But not enough for the baby.
Only 2 ounces of formula were found Monday in the home where paramedics pronounced an emaciated 5-month-old girl dead. She weighed just 6 pounds.
Chauntasia Gardner starved to death in a house with more beer than infant formula, investigators said, and the Polk County Sheriff's Office blames the parents. Tivasha E. Logan, 25, and her boyfriend, Chauncey Gardner, 27, were charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
"It is mind-boggling," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "I've done this job my entire adult life, and I've seen a lot of violence against children and babies, but I can't ever remember seeing one starve to death. This child was tortured for days on end until she finally died from starvation."
read more here
Lakeland baby starves in a well-stocked home
Missing Florida baby found alive under baby sitter's bed
Missing Florida baby found alive under bed
Melissa Nelson and Erin Gartner, Associated Press Writers
7:30 a.m. EST, November 5, 2009
CHIPLEY, Fla. - A baby missing for five days was found alive and well under her baby sitter's bed, and Florida authorities said Thursday they plan to charge the sitter, her husband and the child's mother.
Investigators found 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick in a box tucked under a bed surrounded by items intended to hide the child at Susan Elizabeth Baker's home near Chipley, a rural Panhandle town, Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said in an interview early Thursday. The baby was placed in protective custody.
"Statistically speaking this should not have ever happened, that we found this child alive, especially after so many days. Time was against us," Haddock said.
Shannon was taken to a hospital but appeared healthy, Haddock said.
read more here
Missing Florida baby found alive under bed
Melissa Nelson and Erin Gartner, Associated Press Writers
7:30 a.m. EST, November 5, 2009
CHIPLEY, Fla. - A baby missing for five days was found alive and well under her baby sitter's bed, and Florida authorities said Thursday they plan to charge the sitter, her husband and the child's mother.
Investigators found 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick in a box tucked under a bed surrounded by items intended to hide the child at Susan Elizabeth Baker's home near Chipley, a rural Panhandle town, Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said in an interview early Thursday. The baby was placed in protective custody.
"Statistically speaking this should not have ever happened, that we found this child alive, especially after so many days. Time was against us," Haddock said.
Shannon was taken to a hospital but appeared healthy, Haddock said.
read more here
Missing Florida baby found alive under bed
Woman Calls 911, Says Boyfriend Won't Marry Her
Woman Calls 911, Says Boyfriend Won't Marry Her
Same Person Called 911 Saying She Couldn't Find Car
Reported by Carley Gordon
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Clarksville police said they arrested a woman on Wednesday morning after she repeatedly made non-emergency calls to the city's 911 system.
Hee Orama, 34, was arrested after police said she recently made frequent calls to 911complaining about a man lying to her about marrying her.
Police said they responded to two calls from Orama and explained that this was not an emergency situation and to stop calling.
read more here
http://www.wsmv.com/news/21521559/detail.html
linked from CNN
Same Person Called 911 Saying She Couldn't Find Car
Reported by Carley Gordon
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Clarksville police said they arrested a woman on Wednesday morning after she repeatedly made non-emergency calls to the city's 911 system.
Hee Orama, 34, was arrested after police said she recently made frequent calls to 911complaining about a man lying to her about marrying her.
Police said they responded to two calls from Orama and explained that this was not an emergency situation and to stop calling.
read more here
http://www.wsmv.com/news/21521559/detail.html
linked from CNN
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
U.S. serviceman dies in shooting at Mexican strip club
U.S. serviceman dies in shooting at Mexican strip club
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Air Force Staff Sgt. David Booher shot with 5 others in Ciudad Juarez
Gunmen appeared to have targeted the victims, Mexican spokesman says
Juarez is considered off-limits for the U.S. military because of drug violence
(CNN) -- A U.S. serviceman was among six victims of an early morning shooting at a Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, strip club Wednesday, officials said.
Unidentified gunmen entered the Amadeus club in the border city across from El Paso, Texas, just after midnight and fatally shot six men, Chihuahua state attorney general's office spokesman Arturo Sandoval said.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Air Force Staff Sgt. David Booher shot with 5 others in Ciudad Juarez
Gunmen appeared to have targeted the victims, Mexican spokesman says
Juarez is considered off-limits for the U.S. military because of drug violence
(CNN) -- A U.S. serviceman was among six victims of an early morning shooting at a Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, strip club Wednesday, officials said.
Unidentified gunmen entered the Amadeus club in the border city across from El Paso, Texas, just after midnight and fatally shot six men, Chihuahua state attorney general's office spokesman Arturo Sandoval said.
A statement from Holloman Air Force Base, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, confirmed that the airman was based there, and identified him as Staff Sgt. David Booher, 26.
read more here
U.S. serviceman dies in shooting at Mexican strip club
Fort Benning soldier dies in Iraq
Fort Benning soldier dies in Iraq
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 3, 2009 20:24:44 EST
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Defense Department says a Fort Benning soldier from Colorado Springs has died in Iraq of injuries from a noncombat incident.
Military officials said Tuesday that 21-year-old Spc. Jonathon M. Sylvestre died Monday in Kut, Iraq. Details of his injuries weren’t released.
Sylvestre was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.
The circumstances of his death are under investigation.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_benning_soldier_dies_iraq_110309/
Military Family Caucus has Mullen’s OK
Military Family Caucus has Mullen’s OK
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Nov 4, 2009 14:43:37 EST
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs said both he and his wife fully support the new Congressional Military Family Caucus, a group formed to work on child care, education, health and deployment issues.
Adm. Mike Mullen was the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s inaugural meeting of the caucus — which has 70 members and growing — formed by members of the House of Representatives to identify and try to resolve issues affecting military families.
Mullen said he and his wife, Deborah, will do everything they can for the cause.
“We are extremely grateful for your starting the caucus,” he said. “This is a big deal.”
Mullen endorsed the list of issues gaining attention from the caucus, saying it matches the feedback he has received from his wife and from meeting with military family members around the world. He urged the caucus to also listen to families.
read more here
Military Family Caucus has Mullens OK
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Nov 4, 2009 14:43:37 EST
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs said both he and his wife fully support the new Congressional Military Family Caucus, a group formed to work on child care, education, health and deployment issues.
Adm. Mike Mullen was the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s inaugural meeting of the caucus — which has 70 members and growing — formed by members of the House of Representatives to identify and try to resolve issues affecting military families.
Mullen said he and his wife, Deborah, will do everything they can for the cause.
“We are extremely grateful for your starting the caucus,” he said. “This is a big deal.”
Mullen endorsed the list of issues gaining attention from the caucus, saying it matches the feedback he has received from his wife and from meeting with military family members around the world. He urged the caucus to also listen to families.
read more here
Military Family Caucus has Mullens OK
Veterans agency to track, assess PTSD treatments
Veterans agency to track, assess PTSD treatments
By Mary Mosquera
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
The Veterans Affairs Department wants to develop a Web-based system for tracking and analyzing clinical data about the treatment that veterans receive for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The VA has said previously that it has expanded care for the large number of soldiers returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan who suffer from the condition. The department now wants to be able to assess its treatment and outcomes.
VA published a request for proposals from vendors for the PTSD treatment monitoring tool on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site Oct. 28.
The software will run alongside VA’s VistA computerized patient record system and extract data on veterans’ PTSD care, according to the notice. The system will then generate reports for VA healthcare program managers.
read more here
Veterans agency to track, assess PTSD treatments
By Mary Mosquera
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
The Veterans Affairs Department wants to develop a Web-based system for tracking and analyzing clinical data about the treatment that veterans receive for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The VA has said previously that it has expanded care for the large number of soldiers returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan who suffer from the condition. The department now wants to be able to assess its treatment and outcomes.
VA published a request for proposals from vendors for the PTSD treatment monitoring tool on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site Oct. 28.
The software will run alongside VA’s VistA computerized patient record system and extract data on veterans’ PTSD care, according to the notice. The system will then generate reports for VA healthcare program managers.
read more here
Veterans agency to track, assess PTSD treatments
No excuse for Senator Colburn holding up bill for veterans
The "objection is cost" and he said that? The price was due and payable as soon as the first pair of boots was sent into Afghanistan and then into Iraq. Didn't they think of this when they sent them? After all, wars do not produce only coffins coming back but wounded as well. Keep in mind that there were less doctors and nurses working for the VA with two campaigns going on than there were after the Gulf War. Also keep in mind that there was nothing really being done for any of the wounded for far too long, so there is no excuse Senator Coburn can use now. This money should have been paid in full years ago. To complain now is forget what a huge role he played in all of this in the first place. He should be ashamed he does not understand that while he's complaining about money, they are suffering. They didn't make the congress wait when they were told to go so why the hell should they have to wait until Coburn finds his conscience and understands this is what we owe them now?
Sen. blocking bill: Objection is cost, not vets
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Nov 4, 2009 17:09:49 EST
The senator holding up consideration of an omnibus veterans’ health bill doesn’t hate veterans and their families, but he does hate the idea of creating new benefits without paying for them, his spokesman says.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., is using Senate rules to block a vote on S 1963, a major veterans bill, unless he has the chance to offer amendments to pay for the new benefits it creates, especially stipends, health benefits, counseling and other programs aimed at family caregivers of seriously wounded combat veterans.
Coburn spokesman John Hart said the senator has questions about the new benefit, wondering why, if it is such a good thing for families, it is limited to helping only those of Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans. But the main objection is cost.
“We are at a point in our history when we have to start paying for things,” Hart said.
read more here
Objection is cost, not vets
We've lost our legend:Staff Sgt. Olaf Schmid
We've lost our legend: Tributes for hero bomb expert Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid killed in Afghanistan
By Chris Hughes 3/11/2009
He saved countless lives as he defused 64 Afghan bombs. He died doing the job he loved.. days before he was due home
A crack bomb expert who saved scores of lives as he defused 64 Taliban devices was killed as he tried to dismantle yet another.
Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid, 30, paid the ultimate sacrifice just a week before he was due home on leave.
Yesterday, he was hailed as "a legend" as senior officers paid tribute to the nerveless courage that had prevented casualties on countless occasions.
His CO, Lt Col Robert Thomson of 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: "He saved lives in 2 Rifles time after time and for that he will retain a very special place in every heart of every rifleman in our Battle Group. Superlatives do not do the man justice. Better than the best."
read more here
Tributes for hero bomb expert Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid
By Chris Hughes 3/11/2009
He saved countless lives as he defused 64 Afghan bombs. He died doing the job he loved.. days before he was due home
A crack bomb expert who saved scores of lives as he defused 64 Taliban devices was killed as he tried to dismantle yet another.
Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid, 30, paid the ultimate sacrifice just a week before he was due home on leave.
Yesterday, he was hailed as "a legend" as senior officers paid tribute to the nerveless courage that had prevented casualties on countless occasions.
His CO, Lt Col Robert Thomson of 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: "He saved lives in 2 Rifles time after time and for that he will retain a very special place in every heart of every rifleman in our Battle Group. Superlatives do not do the man justice. Better than the best."
read more here
Tributes for hero bomb expert Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid
UK "Rambo" pulled out bullet and kept on fighting Taliban
Hero Afghanistan soldier: I dug Taliban bullet out of my arm... and carried on fighting
By Rod Chaytor 4/11/2009
His extraordinary heroics sound like something out of a Rambo movie.
When Grenadier Guardsman Lewis Coulbert, 22, was shot in the left arm during a Taliban firefight he refused to quit the battlefield.
Bloodied and in agony, he poked around the wound with his fingers before plucking out the bullet.
He then applied a bandage, resumed his position and started shooting at the insurgents again.
What makes Guardsman Coulbert's actions even more amazing is that it was his first gun battle and tour of duty in Afghanistan.
read more here
I dug Taliban bullet out of my arm
linked from
http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
By Rod Chaytor 4/11/2009
His extraordinary heroics sound like something out of a Rambo movie.
When Grenadier Guardsman Lewis Coulbert, 22, was shot in the left arm during a Taliban firefight he refused to quit the battlefield.
Bloodied and in agony, he poked around the wound with his fingers before plucking out the bullet.
He then applied a bandage, resumed his position and started shooting at the insurgents again.
What makes Guardsman Coulbert's actions even more amazing is that it was his first gun battle and tour of duty in Afghanistan.
read more here
I dug Taliban bullet out of my arm
linked from
http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
Shinseki Announces Veterans' Stories Posted on VA's Web Page
Shinseki Announces Veterans' Stories Posted on VA's Web Page
Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress
WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join
with the Library of Congress to host a "Veterans History Countdown" on
the VA Web site - www.va.gov- featuring the oral
histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.
"VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans,
preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and
heroism will never be forgotten," said Secretary Shinseki. "We want to
encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future
generations."
Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA's Web feature will introduce new personal
histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran's history from
each state and U.S. territory will be available simply by clicking on
the U.S. map in the display.
As Veterans Day approaches, the VA Web display will urge Americans to
"Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!" The display will link to
the library's Veterans History Project Web site -- www.loc.gov/vets --
which provides background about the program, a guide for volunteers to
follow in recording and submitting Veterans' oral histories and to
access the project's extensive digital archive.
VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its
implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000. VA
Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program.
VA offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its
facilities and special events. These collections of first-hand accounts
are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
"We hope the Veterans History Countdown will serve as a call to action
for volunteers to record the first-hand stories of the Veterans they
know-relatives, neighbors, friends," said Bob Patrick, director of the
Veterans History Project.
The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of
American war Veterans and civilian workers who supported them.
The recordings make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American
wartime Veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from
Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Approximately
65,000 individual stories comprise the collection of the Veterans
History Project.
The project relies on volunteers to record Veterans' remembrances using
guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets
Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov
or the toll-free message line at (888)
371-5848.
Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress
WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join
with the Library of Congress to host a "Veterans History Countdown" on
the VA Web site - www.va.gov
histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.
"VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans,
preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and
heroism will never be forgotten," said Secretary Shinseki. "We want to
encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future
generations."
Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA's Web feature will introduce new personal
histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran's history from
each state and U.S. territory will be available simply by clicking on
the U.S. map in the display.
As Veterans Day approaches, the VA Web display will urge Americans to
"Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!" The display will link to
the library's Veterans History Project Web site -- www.loc.gov/vets --
which provides background about the program, a guide for volunteers to
follow in recording and submitting Veterans' oral histories and to
access the project's extensive digital archive.
VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its
implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000. VA
Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program.
VA offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its
facilities and special events. These collections of first-hand accounts
are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
"We hope the Veterans History Countdown will serve as a call to action
for volunteers to record the first-hand stories of the Veterans they
know-relatives, neighbors, friends," said Bob Patrick, director of the
Veterans History Project.
The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of
American war Veterans and civilian workers who supported them.
The recordings make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American
wartime Veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from
Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Approximately
65,000 individual stories comprise the collection of the Veterans
History Project.
The project relies on volunteers to record Veterans' remembrances using
guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets
Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov
371-5848.
Soldiers look to ATV rides to beat stress of returning
Soldiers look to ATV rides to beat stress of returning
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Last week, they used the same type of four-wheeled motorcycles to blow off steam after returning home.
Hohenfels Outdoor Recreation recently purchased 20 ATVs, helmets, body protection, gloves and goggles with a $150,000 seed grant to set up a riding program at the sprawling training facility in southern Germany, said Outdoor Recreation ATV instructor Brian Witty.
The daylong safety course and trail ride is part of Warrior Adventure Quest — a program that aims to help soldiers beat post-deployment stress through adventure sports.
One of the Company B soldiers riding an ATV last week was Pfc. Christopher Gist, 20, of Union, S.C. Gist said he and his buddies just returned from Forward Operating Base Baylough, a platoon-size outpost high in the mountains of Zabul province, Afghanistan.
read more here
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65836
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Last week, they used the same type of four-wheeled motorcycles to blow off steam after returning home.
Hohenfels Outdoor Recreation recently purchased 20 ATVs, helmets, body protection, gloves and goggles with a $150,000 seed grant to set up a riding program at the sprawling training facility in southern Germany, said Outdoor Recreation ATV instructor Brian Witty.
The daylong safety course and trail ride is part of Warrior Adventure Quest — a program that aims to help soldiers beat post-deployment stress through adventure sports.
One of the Company B soldiers riding an ATV last week was Pfc. Christopher Gist, 20, of Union, S.C. Gist said he and his buddies just returned from Forward Operating Base Baylough, a platoon-size outpost high in the mountains of Zabul province, Afghanistan.
read more here
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65836
White River's VA hospital grows for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
White River's VA hospital grows for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
By Gregory Trotter
Valley News of Lebanon
Published: Wednesday, November 04, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. — The White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center is expanding and evolving to help a new generation of soldiers returning from war.
The first physical proof is the metal frame of the new office building, visible from Route 5, which will eventually house the Executive Division of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
After its slated March 2010 completion, the PTSD center will provide evidence-based research and expert access for VA hospital administrators and regional directors trying to stay abreast of the most effective ways to help soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The center will also inform the care at the White River facility, as more young men and women in military uniform begin to populate the campus.
“This is about meeting the needs of patients like this young man,” said Andy LaCasse, spokesman for the VA Medical Center, nodding toward a young soldier in full dress bustling past. “Until two years ago, the majority of our patients were World War II veterans but we’re going to start seeing more young people like him.”
There are about 4,000 veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom in Vermont, according to a PTSD center news release. That number stands to increase after the National Guardsmen and others return. Vermont and New Hampshire will each have approximately 1,800 young men and women deploying by the end of the year.
read more here
http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2009/11/04/features/health_fitness/free/id_377694.txt
By Gregory Trotter
Valley News of Lebanon
Published: Wednesday, November 04, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. — The White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center is expanding and evolving to help a new generation of soldiers returning from war.
The first physical proof is the metal frame of the new office building, visible from Route 5, which will eventually house the Executive Division of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
After its slated March 2010 completion, the PTSD center will provide evidence-based research and expert access for VA hospital administrators and regional directors trying to stay abreast of the most effective ways to help soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The center will also inform the care at the White River facility, as more young men and women in military uniform begin to populate the campus.
“This is about meeting the needs of patients like this young man,” said Andy LaCasse, spokesman for the VA Medical Center, nodding toward a young soldier in full dress bustling past. “Until two years ago, the majority of our patients were World War II veterans but we’re going to start seeing more young people like him.”
There are about 4,000 veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom in Vermont, according to a PTSD center news release. That number stands to increase after the National Guardsmen and others return. Vermont and New Hampshire will each have approximately 1,800 young men and women deploying by the end of the year.
read more here
http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2009/11/04/features/health_fitness/free/id_377694.txt
Man shot by police a Iraq three tour veteran
Man shot by police a veteran
The father of a 26-year-old Lake Stevens man who was fatally shot by police on Sunday, says his son returned from three deployments in Iraq an angry man.
By Christine Clarridge
Seattle Times staff reporter
When John LaBossiere returned from his third tour in Iraq this summer, he was an angry man, according to his father.
"I'm not saying that all of his issues were war-related," Phil LaBossiere said on Tuesday. "But it seems to me that the service just used him and spit him out."
John LaBossiere, 26, was fatally shot by a Lake Stevens police officer on Sunday after he reportedly forced his way into a home where his wife and three children were staying with friends. Investigators found one handgun near him and another on his body, according to Sgt. Robert Goetz, a spokesman for the Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team (SMART), which is investigating the shooting.
According to Goetz, officers were called to a "domestic disturbance" that involved a weapon at about 8 p.m. in the 10400 block of 25th Street Southeast near Lake Stevens in unincorporated Snohomish County. Two Lake Stevens officers arrived and almost immediately got into an "altercation" with LaBossiere that ended in LaBossiere's death, Goetz said.
The father of a 26-year-old Lake Stevens man who was fatally shot by police on Sunday, says his son returned from three deployments in Iraq an angry man.
By Christine Clarridge
Seattle Times staff reporter
When John LaBossiere returned from his third tour in Iraq this summer, he was an angry man, according to his father.
"I'm not saying that all of his issues were war-related," Phil LaBossiere said on Tuesday. "But it seems to me that the service just used him and spit him out."
John LaBossiere, 26, was fatally shot by a Lake Stevens police officer on Sunday after he reportedly forced his way into a home where his wife and three children were staying with friends. Investigators found one handgun near him and another on his body, according to Sgt. Robert Goetz, a spokesman for the Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team (SMART), which is investigating the shooting.
According to Goetz, officers were called to a "domestic disturbance" that involved a weapon at about 8 p.m. in the 10400 block of 25th Street Southeast near Lake Stevens in unincorporated Snohomish County. Two Lake Stevens officers arrived and almost immediately got into an "altercation" with LaBossiere that ended in LaBossiere's death, Goetz said.
Phil LaBossiere, however, confirmed his son's death.
He said he believes his son was "confused and upset" by his return to the civilian world and a deteriorating marriage.read more here
United States Marine Corps met a wild stray dog
'Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle'
by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts)
Nov 3rd 2009 6:00PM
When Maj. Brian Dennis of the United States Marine Corps met a wild stray dog with shorn ears while serving in Iraq, he had no idea of the bond they would form, leading to seismic changes in both their lives. "The general theme of the story of Nubs is that if you're kind to someone, they'll never forget you -- whether it be person or animal," Dennis tells Paw Nation.
In October 2007, Dennis and his team of 11 men were in Iraq patrolling the Syrian border. One day, as his team arrived at a border fort, they encountered a pack of stray dogs -- not uncommon in the barren, rocky desert that was home to wolves and wild dogs.
"We all got out of the Humvee and I started working when this dog came running up," recalls Dennis. "I said, 'Hey buddy' and bent down to pet him." Dennis noticed the dog's ears had been cut. "I said, 'You got little nubs for ears.'" The name stuck. The dog whose ears had been shorn off as a puppy by an Iraqi soldier (to make the dog "look tougher," Dennis says) became known as Nubs.
by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts)
Nov 3rd 2009 6:00PM
When Maj. Brian Dennis of the United States Marine Corps met a wild stray dog with shorn ears while serving in Iraq, he had no idea of the bond they would form, leading to seismic changes in both their lives. "The general theme of the story of Nubs is that if you're kind to someone, they'll never forget you -- whether it be person or animal," Dennis tells Paw Nation.
In October 2007, Dennis and his team of 11 men were in Iraq patrolling the Syrian border. One day, as his team arrived at a border fort, they encountered a pack of stray dogs -- not uncommon in the barren, rocky desert that was home to wolves and wild dogs.
"We all got out of the Humvee and I started working when this dog came running up," recalls Dennis. "I said, 'Hey buddy' and bent down to pet him." Dennis noticed the dog's ears had been cut. "I said, 'You got little nubs for ears.'" The name stuck. The dog whose ears had been shorn off as a puppy by an Iraqi soldier (to make the dog "look tougher," Dennis says) became known as Nubs.
Dennis' experience with Nubs led to a children's picture book, called "Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle," published by Little, Brown for Young Readers. They have appeared on the Today Show and will be appearing on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on Monday.
read more here
The True Story of a Mutt a Marine and a miracle
Obama declares November Military Family Month
Obama declares Military Family Month
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 3, 2009 14:09:03 EST
For 14 years, the Armed Forces YMCA and others have celebrated November as Military Family Month. Now, President Barack Obama has made it official throughout the country — at least for this November.
“I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our nation,” Obama stated in his proclamation, signed Oct. 30, designating November 2009 as Military Family Month.
Obama included the parents of service members in his message, as well as spouses and children.
“As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage,” he wrote. “They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our nation in their own right.”
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/military_familymonth_110309w/
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 3, 2009 14:09:03 EST
For 14 years, the Armed Forces YMCA and others have celebrated November as Military Family Month. Now, President Barack Obama has made it official throughout the country — at least for this November.
“I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our nation,” Obama stated in his proclamation, signed Oct. 30, designating November 2009 as Military Family Month.
Obama included the parents of service members in his message, as well as spouses and children.
“As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage,” he wrote. “They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our nation in their own right.”
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/military_familymonth_110309w/
Afghan policeman kills 5 British soldiers
Afghan policeman kills 5 British soldiers
By Elena Becatoros - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 4, 2009 10:25:53 EST
KABUL — An Afghan policeman opened fire on British soldiers in the volatile southern province of Helmand, killing five before fleeing, British and Afghan authorities said Wednesday, raising concerns about discipline within the Afghan forces and possible infiltration by insurgents.
The attack Tuesday afternoon came a month after an Afghan policeman on patrol with U.S. soldiers fired on the Americans, killing two. Training and operating jointly with Afghan police and soldiers is key to NATO's strategy of dealing with the spreading Taliban-led insurgency and, ultimately, allowing international forces to leave Afghanistan.
Attacks such as these will heighten concern about the effectiveness of the Afghan forces.
Lt. Col. David Wakefield, spokesman for the British forces, told Sky News that the soldiers had been mentoring Afghan national police and had been working and living in the police checkpoint in Helmand's Nad-e-Ali district.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_british_soldiers_killed_110409/
By Elena Becatoros - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 4, 2009 10:25:53 EST
KABUL — An Afghan policeman opened fire on British soldiers in the volatile southern province of Helmand, killing five before fleeing, British and Afghan authorities said Wednesday, raising concerns about discipline within the Afghan forces and possible infiltration by insurgents.
The attack Tuesday afternoon came a month after an Afghan policeman on patrol with U.S. soldiers fired on the Americans, killing two. Training and operating jointly with Afghan police and soldiers is key to NATO's strategy of dealing with the spreading Taliban-led insurgency and, ultimately, allowing international forces to leave Afghanistan.
Attacks such as these will heighten concern about the effectiveness of the Afghan forces.
Lt. Col. David Wakefield, spokesman for the British forces, told Sky News that the soldiers had been mentoring Afghan national police and had been working and living in the police checkpoint in Helmand's Nad-e-Ali district.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_british_soldiers_killed_110409/
Craigslist Founder Joins VA Innovation Search Panel
Craigslist Founder Joins VA Innovation Search Panel
Craig Newmark to Help Pick Winners of National Competition
WASHINGTON (November 4, 2009) -- Craig Newmark, the founder of
"craigslist" and a well-known technology visionary, has agreed to serve
on the blue-ribbon panel of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that
will review and evaluate ideas to improve disability claims processing
times and provide greater transparency to Veterans.
"Transforming VA into an organization that is Veteran-centric,
results-oriented and forward-looking is my top priority," said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Leveraging the talent, innovation
and creativity of stakeholders, like Craig Newmark, is just one of the
many ways VA can think outside of the box to help deliver tangible
results to our nation's Veterans."
The innovation competition solicited ideas from VA employees and members
of Veterans Service Organizations who are on the front lines every day,
working with Veterans to help deliver benefits they deserve and need.
VA officials from each of the 57 regional offices across the country
have submitted promising ideas, which will be reviewed by Newmark and
other panel members. The panel will be chaired by Patrick W. Dunne, the
VA Under Secretary for Benefits.
"I look forward to working with VA's leadership team to bring tangible
results to our Veterans," said Craig Newmark. "I am very encouraged by
the fact that VA is embracing new ways to look at old problems."
In 1995, Newmark launched the first community site on the Internet for
people to share information about housing, jobs and other needs. By
April 2009, craigslist received more than 22 billion page-views per
month, with more than 50 million members worldwide.
Newmark is a vocal proponent of using the Internet and technology to
support government innovation and maximize the utilization of human
capital. Additionally, Newmark is a passionate supporter of Veterans
causes.
VA has received and reviewed over 3,000 suggestions since Sept. 8th. The
panel will review the top 17 submissions and chose 5 projects that will
receive full funding for project development and execution at the
Regional Office that submitted the idea.
Craig Newmark to Help Pick Winners of National Competition
WASHINGTON (November 4, 2009) -- Craig Newmark, the founder of
"craigslist" and a well-known technology visionary, has agreed to serve
on the blue-ribbon panel of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that
will review and evaluate ideas to improve disability claims processing
times and provide greater transparency to Veterans.
"Transforming VA into an organization that is Veteran-centric,
results-oriented and forward-looking is my top priority," said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Leveraging the talent, innovation
and creativity of stakeholders, like Craig Newmark, is just one of the
many ways VA can think outside of the box to help deliver tangible
results to our nation's Veterans."
The innovation competition solicited ideas from VA employees and members
of Veterans Service Organizations who are on the front lines every day,
working with Veterans to help deliver benefits they deserve and need.
VA officials from each of the 57 regional offices across the country
have submitted promising ideas, which will be reviewed by Newmark and
other panel members. The panel will be chaired by Patrick W. Dunne, the
VA Under Secretary for Benefits.
"I look forward to working with VA's leadership team to bring tangible
results to our Veterans," said Craig Newmark. "I am very encouraged by
the fact that VA is embracing new ways to look at old problems."
In 1995, Newmark launched the first community site on the Internet for
people to share information about housing, jobs and other needs. By
April 2009, craigslist received more than 22 billion page-views per
month, with more than 50 million members worldwide.
Newmark is a vocal proponent of using the Internet and technology to
support government innovation and maximize the utilization of human
capital. Additionally, Newmark is a passionate supporter of Veterans
causes.
VA has received and reviewed over 3,000 suggestions since Sept. 8th. The
panel will review the top 17 submissions and chose 5 projects that will
receive full funding for project development and execution at the
Regional Office that submitted the idea.
Sgt. at Fort Bliss needs our help
I received an email from OperationSafety91 about a request from a Sgt. at Fort Bliss. They need our help. Let's take care of these needs by those who ask so little of us but give us everything they have!!!!
Send what you can to
Send what you can to
Darrin Domko
13031 Bergstrom
Ft Bliss TX 79908
The need:
books
board games
poker chips and cards
movies
game systems and games
phone cards
goodie boxes
any type of prize give aways
There are 150 soldiers, all male. They will be deployed next year. They need decent recreation. Let's all see how we can help!
You can beat PTSD but it is not like the flu you just get over
This is one huge part of the problem and it will continue to produce more and more devastation with our veterans as well as their families. I won't jump on this bandwagon just because this is what is getting attention in the blog world.
PTSD is not like having the flu when you take a few pills, rest and just get over it. That statement indicates how little they really know about PTSD. Maybe they think they can just brainwash the veterans into thinking they can get over it, but that leaves them feeling it's their fault if they don't.
If they cannot figure out their programs have produced a higher suicide rate over the last few years as they come up with programs to cope with the ravage of PTSD, then nothing will convince them to open their eyes, minds and hearts to address all of this properly. Frankly, I'm tired of having to talk veterans off the ledge and then be told by officials that all is well.
You've read about the suicides over the last couple of years on this blog and on my other blog at www.namguardinanangel.blogspot.com. You've seen the videos, especially Death Because They Served where there are over a hundred names of those who did in fact take their own lives. This gets worse every year because no one with the power to do what needs to be done will listen.
Veterans can beat PTSD but like most things, they are changed by their experiences. With knowledge of what PTSD is, where it comes from and hearing what they need to heal, as well as getting families up to speed on this, they can heal. They come out changed but often they come out changed for the better. They already have what they need within them to do this but they need a GPS to find it.
Families need knowledge so they don't make things worse for the veteran. Simple things like pushing them into doing things they don't want to do when they are having a very bad day, it is a huge mistake and adds guilt to the wounded veteran. Waking them up from a nightmare the wrong way can lead to bloody noses and black eyes, the same way addressing them when they are having a flashback can end up with the family member being attacked. When they understand what PTSD is doing to the veteran, they are more apt to want to help than to walk away from them.
Most PTSD veterans don't even understand why certain times of the year are worse for them than others. They don't understand that their subconscious remembers the anniversary of a traumatic event for them. They don't understand this because no one ever told them.
They don't understand that PTSD hit them because they were compassionate people and they took away the pain of others on top of their own pain. They struggle with their spiritual connection to God questioning how the same loving God they prayed to allowed it to happen. They end up feeling their compassion was a curse instead of a blessing to others. Yet when they know what they need to know, their compassion is fed and they once again reach out with that same compassion to help others.
They don't understand that courage is required for the compassionate to act in times of need. Did anyone tell them how much courage it takes to be willing to lay down their lives for the sake of someone else? As for the "sheep dogs" comment, he has part of this right. They are filled with compassion and often they know they may have to take a life to save a life. Much like people entereing into law enforcement. They would rather not have to kill to save but they know sometimes they must. That does not change the fact they are still human and it does not mean they like it or have a "propensity for violence."
It's very difficult to keep reading what the military and the VA is doing when it comes to PTSD when they keep getting it wrong. It's not that they don't care, but they don't know more than they are told.
Psychiatrists and psychologist do not know what clergy know and they don't know what physical therapists know. None of them know what the families know. Healing PTSD requires addressing the body, mind and spirit. Until all these are addressed, the military will keep getting this wrong and we will see more suicides.
This is not just about what is easy. This is not about telling them they can "get over it" the way they were told by others all along. This is about showing them how they can "beat it" while living with it.
This takes everyone involved. From the top of the military chain of command all the way down to the kids. Families have to be included in the veterans healing as well as the military itself. They have yet to address the fact that PTSD comes at different levels. There are depths of cuts depending on how many times the exposure to traumatic events is. Some feel it all deeper than others. Some feel it soon after the event and others feel it many years after. The one common factor no one seems to dispute is the sooner it is addressed the less the wound is.
Much like an infection, PTSD claims more and more territory left untended to. When it is treated and they begin to heal, the scar left behind is the result of the time between wound and healing.
They need to know that even with the parts of PTSD they will have to live with, they can find peace with all of it. Families need to know what it is so they can forgive the way the veteran acted while PTSD was taking more and more parts of them and locking them away behind a wall of pain.
Why is it we never seem to read anything like this when they are talking about PTSD? Because of examples like this when they equate it to the flu!
But it is not just the military suffering. It is the National Guards as well. This is what some in the DOD want to treat like the "flu" and it should really break your heart.
PTSD is not like having the flu when you take a few pills, rest and just get over it. That statement indicates how little they really know about PTSD. Maybe they think they can just brainwash the veterans into thinking they can get over it, but that leaves them feeling it's their fault if they don't.
If they cannot figure out their programs have produced a higher suicide rate over the last few years as they come up with programs to cope with the ravage of PTSD, then nothing will convince them to open their eyes, minds and hearts to address all of this properly. Frankly, I'm tired of having to talk veterans off the ledge and then be told by officials that all is well.
You've read about the suicides over the last couple of years on this blog and on my other blog at www.namguardinanangel.blogspot.com. You've seen the videos, especially Death Because They Served where there are over a hundred names of those who did in fact take their own lives. This gets worse every year because no one with the power to do what needs to be done will listen.
Veterans can beat PTSD but like most things, they are changed by their experiences. With knowledge of what PTSD is, where it comes from and hearing what they need to heal, as well as getting families up to speed on this, they can heal. They come out changed but often they come out changed for the better. They already have what they need within them to do this but they need a GPS to find it.
Families need knowledge so they don't make things worse for the veteran. Simple things like pushing them into doing things they don't want to do when they are having a very bad day, it is a huge mistake and adds guilt to the wounded veteran. Waking them up from a nightmare the wrong way can lead to bloody noses and black eyes, the same way addressing them when they are having a flashback can end up with the family member being attacked. When they understand what PTSD is doing to the veteran, they are more apt to want to help than to walk away from them.
Most PTSD veterans don't even understand why certain times of the year are worse for them than others. They don't understand that their subconscious remembers the anniversary of a traumatic event for them. They don't understand this because no one ever told them.
They don't understand that PTSD hit them because they were compassionate people and they took away the pain of others on top of their own pain. They struggle with their spiritual connection to God questioning how the same loving God they prayed to allowed it to happen. They end up feeling their compassion was a curse instead of a blessing to others. Yet when they know what they need to know, their compassion is fed and they once again reach out with that same compassion to help others.
They don't understand that courage is required for the compassionate to act in times of need. Did anyone tell them how much courage it takes to be willing to lay down their lives for the sake of someone else? As for the "sheep dogs" comment, he has part of this right. They are filled with compassion and often they know they may have to take a life to save a life. Much like people entereing into law enforcement. They would rather not have to kill to save but they know sometimes they must. That does not change the fact they are still human and it does not mean they like it or have a "propensity for violence."
It's very difficult to keep reading what the military and the VA is doing when it comes to PTSD when they keep getting it wrong. It's not that they don't care, but they don't know more than they are told.
Psychiatrists and psychologist do not know what clergy know and they don't know what physical therapists know. None of them know what the families know. Healing PTSD requires addressing the body, mind and spirit. Until all these are addressed, the military will keep getting this wrong and we will see more suicides.
This is not just about what is easy. This is not about telling them they can "get over it" the way they were told by others all along. This is about showing them how they can "beat it" while living with it.
This takes everyone involved. From the top of the military chain of command all the way down to the kids. Families have to be included in the veterans healing as well as the military itself. They have yet to address the fact that PTSD comes at different levels. There are depths of cuts depending on how many times the exposure to traumatic events is. Some feel it all deeper than others. Some feel it soon after the event and others feel it many years after. The one common factor no one seems to dispute is the sooner it is addressed the less the wound is.
Much like an infection, PTSD claims more and more territory left untended to. When it is treated and they begin to heal, the scar left behind is the result of the time between wound and healing.
They need to know that even with the parts of PTSD they will have to live with, they can find peace with all of it. Families need to know what it is so they can forgive the way the veteran acted while PTSD was taking more and more parts of them and locking them away behind a wall of pain.
Why is it we never seem to read anything like this when they are talking about PTSD? Because of examples like this when they equate it to the flu!
On warrior resiliency at Pentagon-sponsored conference
By Kate Wiltrout
The Virginian-Pilot
© November 4, 2009
NORFOLK
Dave Grossman puts humans into three categories: Ninety-eight percent are "sheep," content to graze and likely to stampede when they're threatened. One percent are "wolves," psychopaths with a propensity for violence who lack empathy. The other 1 percent: "sheepdogs," who have both empathy and a propensity for violence.
The sheepdogs are also called warriors, he said. They're not always liked or appreciated by the sheep, but they come to the herd's rescue when wolves threaten.
Grossman seemed to captivate the crowd Tuesday at a Pentagon-sponsored conference on warrior resiliency. Most in attendance wore camouflage military uniforms, but the two-day meeting includes civilian therapists and health care providers, as well as personnel from Veterans Affairs.
The program continues today with a video address from Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and concludes with a panel of "real warriors" talking about combat experiences.
Grossman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and former professor of psychology at West Point, acknowledges the reality of combat stress and psychological trauma. World War II's "greatest generation" included 500,000 soldiers who were psychiatric casualties, he noted."Post-traumatic stress disorder is not like pregnancy " is one saying he likes to use. It's not like frostbite, either: You can have PTSD, overcome it and suffer no permanent damage. It's more like the flu, he said: "It can kick your tail," but once you've had it, you probably won't catch it again.
read more here
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/warrior-resiliency-pentagonsponsored-conference
But it is not just the military suffering. It is the National Guards as well. This is what some in the DOD want to treat like the "flu" and it should really break your heart.
Posted to Great Americans by NamGuardianAngel on September 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Problems Still Plague Illinois VA Hospital
Report: Problems Still Plague Illinois VA Hospital
by David Schaper
November 3, 2009
A new report from the inspector general in the Department of Veterans Affairs finds that the VA Medical Center in Marion, Ill., continues to be plagued by quality management and patient care problems some two years after a suspicious spike in the number of post-surgical patient deaths there.
A 2008 investigation found that at least nine patients died because of surgical mistakes and poor post-surgical care at the VA hospital in Marion, which is in southern Illinois. That report made recommendations to improve conditions at the facility.
The new report finds poor quality management oversight, inconsistencies in the way patient deaths are reported and continuing problems with ensuring patient safety — including the discovery that surgeons were performing procedures they were not authorized to handle.
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) calls the findings "appalling."
read more here
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120053973
by David Schaper
November 3, 2009
A new report from the inspector general in the Department of Veterans Affairs finds that the VA Medical Center in Marion, Ill., continues to be plagued by quality management and patient care problems some two years after a suspicious spike in the number of post-surgical patient deaths there.
A 2008 investigation found that at least nine patients died because of surgical mistakes and poor post-surgical care at the VA hospital in Marion, which is in southern Illinois. That report made recommendations to improve conditions at the facility.
The new report finds poor quality management oversight, inconsistencies in the way patient deaths are reported and continuing problems with ensuring patient safety — including the discovery that surgeons were performing procedures they were not authorized to handle.
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) calls the findings "appalling."
read more here
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120053973
Golden Gate High students say ‘thank you’ to vet paralyzed in Afghanistan
VIDEO/PHOTOS: Golden Gate High students say ‘thank you’ to vet paralyzed in Afghanistan
By KATHERINE ALBERS
Posted November 2, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. , updated November 2, 2009 at 7:57 p.m.
NAPLES — Romulo “Romy” Camargo never had a nickname until he joined the Special Forces.
“The guys had trouble pronouncing my name, so they started calling me Romy,” he said. “Eventually, I started introducing myself as Romy and ordering business cards with Romy on them.”
Those at Golden Gate High School Monday morning left with another name for Camargo: Hero.
Veterans Day came early to Golden Gate High School this year so that the school could accommodate a special visit by Camargo, a Special Forces chief warrant officer. It was Camargo’s first public speaking engagement since he was shot through the neck and paralyzed from the neck down while on a mission in Afghanistan a little more than one year ago.
read more here
Golden Gate High students say thank you
linked from
http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
By KATHERINE ALBERS
Posted November 2, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. , updated November 2, 2009 at 7:57 p.m.
NAPLES — Romulo “Romy” Camargo never had a nickname until he joined the Special Forces.
“The guys had trouble pronouncing my name, so they started calling me Romy,” he said. “Eventually, I started introducing myself as Romy and ordering business cards with Romy on them.”
Those at Golden Gate High School Monday morning left with another name for Camargo: Hero.
Veterans Day came early to Golden Gate High School this year so that the school could accommodate a special visit by Camargo, a Special Forces chief warrant officer. It was Camargo’s first public speaking engagement since he was shot through the neck and paralyzed from the neck down while on a mission in Afghanistan a little more than one year ago.
read more here
Golden Gate High students say thank you
linked from
http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
Afghanistan vets fear for future care
OttawaCitizen: Afghanistan vets fear for future care
OTTAWA — Canada's Afghan veterans are raising serious concerns about their future and whether they will be taken care of by the government in the decades to come, says the country's Veterans Ombudsman.
Retired Col. Pat Stogran says the problems revolve around the New Veterans Charter and some of the provisions in that legislation. One concern is that Afghan veterans who are wounded now receive a lump-sum payment. In the past, former soldiers got a monthly disability pension, he noted.
"I have some significant misgivings about that," said Stogran, a veteran of Afghanistan and missions in the former Yugoslavia. "Personally, my instincts tell me the last thing you want to do when a young soldier comes back from overseas, perhaps with an operational stress injury, or with a dependency on alcohol or drugs, is give him $250,000 to self-medicate."
The money is meant to recognize and compensate Canadian Forces members, veterans and their families for a service-related disability. The award is a tax-free lump-sum payment with the amount depending on the extent of the injury. The maximum amount is slightly more than $267,000.
read more here
Afghanistan vets fear for future care
linked from
http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
OTTAWA — Canada's Afghan veterans are raising serious concerns about their future and whether they will be taken care of by the government in the decades to come, says the country's Veterans Ombudsman.
Retired Col. Pat Stogran says the problems revolve around the New Veterans Charter and some of the provisions in that legislation. One concern is that Afghan veterans who are wounded now receive a lump-sum payment. In the past, former soldiers got a monthly disability pension, he noted.
"I have some significant misgivings about that," said Stogran, a veteran of Afghanistan and missions in the former Yugoslavia. "Personally, my instincts tell me the last thing you want to do when a young soldier comes back from overseas, perhaps with an operational stress injury, or with a dependency on alcohol or drugs, is give him $250,000 to self-medicate."
The money is meant to recognize and compensate Canadian Forces members, veterans and their families for a service-related disability. The award is a tax-free lump-sum payment with the amount depending on the extent of the injury. The maximum amount is slightly more than $267,000.
read more here
Afghanistan vets fear for future care
linked from
http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
Afghanistan choice won't make everyone happy
No matter what President Obama does about Afghanistan, he will not be able to make everyone happy since no one agrees now.
If President Obama increases the number of troops he has no way of really knowing if it will be enough or not. He's being advised by other humans, with differing opinions and just as much experience as well as concern for the lives on the line.
The military families can't agree on what the right move will be either.
It would be wonderful if the Afghan people would finally take full responsibility for their own country since they have proven time after time throughout their history they are perfectly capable of fighting their own battles. The problem is, since most are very poor, they have to decide to fight the Taliban or support them, grow poppies or food. No one really knows what will happen in Afghanistan no matter what he decides to do.
Can we do anything about it and know for sure if we are right or wrong? Not really. Ask a group of Vietnam veterans if it was right to pull out of Vietnam and you will find different answers. Just like what is happening now, no one really knows what the answer is.
The only thing we really can be sure of is for however long this goes on, there will be more casualties. Some will come home to an honor guard at Dover. Others will come home looking as if they were not paying the price of combat, but paying none the less with it embedded deeply inside of them. Some will have to live the rest of their lives missing limbs. The list of wounds is endless and so is our obligation to them.
This we know for sure. The wounded will need to be taken care of for the rest of their lives and the fact they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of what the nation asked of them should never, ever be diminished by time or budgets.
Let the experts debate what President Obama should do or not do because the next day after he decides, they will come out against him no matter how many experts he has giving him advice. Let the hot heads on TV say how wrong he is but it will not change the lives of a veteran already paying the price for their service when they are waiting for a claim to be approved, praying they don't end up homeless, or save a family falling apart.
We can!
Navy wife wants US military out of Afghanistan now
By David Edwards
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 -- 9:47 am
The wife of a Navy fighter pilot is calling for President Barack Obama to pull troops out of Afghanistan now. "I think we should pull out of Afghanistan entirely. I think that after eight years of war it has become quite clear that especially to those of us who are the very few americans who are really suffering in this war that the price is not worth it," Lisa Leitz told CNN's Kiran Chetry Tuesday.
"A number of Americans have lost their lives, many military families have been completely crushed by the burden of these wars and we have very little to show for it," Leitz continued. "We have a corrupt Afghanistan government and we have a number of people who are still trying to attack us, particularly not because they belong to the Taliban or terrorist organizations, but rather because we are occupying them.".
Leitz is a board member of Military Families Speak Out. The group is urging President Obama to bring all the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Not all family members are calling for the war to be ended now. Karen Irwin's son is serving in Afghanistan and she wants the president to send more troops to the war zone. "I would tell the president that our soldiers, our brave young men and women, including my son, have invested a lot of their time in support of that country and our country, putting their lives on the line," she told CNN's Chetry. "Some of them have given the ultimate sacrifice and I think they deserve support of our government and support of our people to give them everything they need to complete this mission and to win, leaving a free afghanistan, leaving the people the opportunities, the personal opportunities that we have here in our country."
read more here
http://rawstory.com/2009/11/navy-wife-afghanistan-withdrawal/
If President Obama increases the number of troops he has no way of really knowing if it will be enough or not. He's being advised by other humans, with differing opinions and just as much experience as well as concern for the lives on the line.
The military families can't agree on what the right move will be either.
It would be wonderful if the Afghan people would finally take full responsibility for their own country since they have proven time after time throughout their history they are perfectly capable of fighting their own battles. The problem is, since most are very poor, they have to decide to fight the Taliban or support them, grow poppies or food. No one really knows what will happen in Afghanistan no matter what he decides to do.
Can we do anything about it and know for sure if we are right or wrong? Not really. Ask a group of Vietnam veterans if it was right to pull out of Vietnam and you will find different answers. Just like what is happening now, no one really knows what the answer is.
The only thing we really can be sure of is for however long this goes on, there will be more casualties. Some will come home to an honor guard at Dover. Others will come home looking as if they were not paying the price of combat, but paying none the less with it embedded deeply inside of them. Some will have to live the rest of their lives missing limbs. The list of wounds is endless and so is our obligation to them.
This we know for sure. The wounded will need to be taken care of for the rest of their lives and the fact they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of what the nation asked of them should never, ever be diminished by time or budgets.
Let the experts debate what President Obama should do or not do because the next day after he decides, they will come out against him no matter how many experts he has giving him advice. Let the hot heads on TV say how wrong he is but it will not change the lives of a veteran already paying the price for their service when they are waiting for a claim to be approved, praying they don't end up homeless, or save a family falling apart.
We can!
Man, woman, 2 youths dead in apparent shooting in North Carolina
Man, woman, 2 youths dead in apparent shooting in North Carolina
November 3, 2009 10:34 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Chief says police were told there were bodies inside residence Monday night
Police saw body of woman before entering, found bodies of older man and 2 juveniles inside
Police didn't name the four; tax assessor's office, paper say couple, 2 kids live at the home
(CNN) -- Police on Tuesday were investigating the apparent gunshot deaths of four people in a home in the upscale Haymount neighborhood of Fayetteville, North Carolina, authorities said.
Police were called to the residence at 8:08 p.m. Monday by someone who reported there were bodies inside, Police Chief Tom Bergamine said in a news release.
Bergamine said police were able to see the body of a woman in the house before entering. Once inside, officers also found the bodies of an older man and two juveniles -- a male and a female. Police did not name the four.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/03/north.carolina.deaths/index.html
November 3, 2009 10:34 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Chief says police were told there were bodies inside residence Monday night
Police saw body of woman before entering, found bodies of older man and 2 juveniles inside
Police didn't name the four; tax assessor's office, paper say couple, 2 kids live at the home
(CNN) -- Police on Tuesday were investigating the apparent gunshot deaths of four people in a home in the upscale Haymount neighborhood of Fayetteville, North Carolina, authorities said.
Police were called to the residence at 8:08 p.m. Monday by someone who reported there were bodies inside, Police Chief Tom Bergamine said in a news release.
Bergamine said police were able to see the body of a woman in the house before entering. Once inside, officers also found the bodies of an older man and two juveniles -- a male and a female. Police did not name the four.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/03/north.carolina.deaths/index.html
7th person arrested in Richmond High gang rape
7th person arrested in gang rape
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Police have not identified latest person arrested in the attack
Police say as many as 10 people involved in rape outside northern California high school
Attack occurred during homecoming dance
Ten people watched attack without calling 911, police say
(CNN) -- A seventh person has been arrested in a gang rape on a high school campus in northern California, police said Tuesday.
Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan did not identify the suspect. Of those arrested so far, one was released for lack of evidence.
Police say as many as 10 people were involved in the rape October 24 in a dimly lit alley outside Richmond High School, where a homecoming dance was taking place.
Another 10 people watched the attack without calling 911, police say.
Authorities say the attack lasted for more than two hours. The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and was released Wednesday.
Read local coverage of story from CNN affiliate KTVU
read more from CNN here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/03/california.gang.rape/index.html
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Police have not identified latest person arrested in the attack
Police say as many as 10 people involved in rape outside northern California high school
Attack occurred during homecoming dance
Ten people watched attack without calling 911, police say
(CNN) -- A seventh person has been arrested in a gang rape on a high school campus in northern California, police said Tuesday.
Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan did not identify the suspect. Of those arrested so far, one was released for lack of evidence.
Police say as many as 10 people were involved in the rape October 24 in a dimly lit alley outside Richmond High School, where a homecoming dance was taking place.
Another 10 people watched the attack without calling 911, police say.
Authorities say the attack lasted for more than two hours. The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and was released Wednesday.
Read local coverage of story from CNN affiliate KTVU
read more from CNN here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/03/california.gang.rape/index.html
GOP senators voted against rape victims for contractors
This is not about an employment issue but it is about a crime against women and the attitude some men have. These people should be ashamed and the rest of the senators that voted to treat rape like a crime should be honored by all women for this.
GANG RAPE LEGISLATION NIXED BY 30 GOP'ers
DEFENSE CONTRACTORS BUY SENATE VOTES
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
Is it this plain? Are the facts this clear? Did 30 Republicans vote to allow defense contractors protection if their employees are raped, drugged and imprisoned? Haliburton/KBR, the "Dick" Cheney company did exactly this, locked a rape victim in a box, drugged her and kept her prisoner.
68 Senators, every single Democrat and some Republicans, voted to allow defense contractors whose employees are sexually assaulted be taken to court. Robert Kennedy Jr. and Mike Papantonio describe their take on opposition to the Rape Protection bill.
"I checked to make sure that the 30 Republican Senators who voted against Jamie Leigh Jones' anti-rape bill two weeks ago had wives and daughters. Most of them did. But their love for defense contractor PAC money is obviously greater than their love even for their own daughters. The Senate bill was simple to follow: if a contractor like KBR has an employee who is sexually assaulted on the job, that employee has a right to have a jury hear and decide the facts of the case. If the contractor denies the victim that right, then the U.S. government won't do business with that contractor. In 2005, Jones, a KBR employee, was gang-raped in Iraq by KBR workers. After she was gang-raped, KBR security held her prisoner inside a 5' x 6' shipping container to make sure she kept her mouth shut.
The vote to enact the bill was 68 to 30. Go to the website Republicans For Rape, and you can see the list of those 30 GOP leaders who voted against offering justice to victims like Jamie. They argued that it is too harsh to force a valued defense contractor like KBR or Haliburton to appear in front of a civil jury to face outraged and repulsed fathers, mothers, and sisters when stories like Jamie's are told. What those 30 all-male, all-Republican Senators would prefer is that Jamie and victims like her would be raped again by KBR by appearing in a closed door, secretive, arbitration hearing where no one would hear the details of the assault.
read more here
http://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9224
Secretary Shinseki Details Plan to End Homelessness for Veterans
Preventing veterans from becoming homeless is something that can happen and needs to happen. For many, it is not as complicated as you may think it is. Just as education is important for the future of our kids, education is important to the future of our veterans. Too many do not know what PTSD is or what causes it. Families don't know and have an impossible task trying to cope with it in their veteran when they do not know what caused the changes in them. It also leads to many other issues that are preventable.
When we do not know what PTSD is it can lead to domestic violence. When we are unaware of what is happening to the veteran in the middle of a nightmare, we make mistakes in how we wake them up. This has lead to bloody noses and black eyes because a wife tried to shake them awake or yelled at them. When they are startled awake, in those few seconds, they are not in their bed or on the couch. They are right back in Iraq, Afghanistan or Vietnam, in danger, and their wife, she is not there in their mind but the enemy is. They have no clue they are safe in their own home. This also happens with flashbacks when they are not consciously there but someplace terrifying to them.
Dealing with all that comes with PTSD, from mood swings, to angry outbursts, irrational decisions, detachment, avoidance all the way down the list to self-medicating, it makes it hard to want to be able to have them stay in the home. That is unless you know where it is all coming from, why it's happening and what you can do about it to help them heal. This is the families job.
This is what can happen when there is clear, common sense, information available to them so they overcome the stigma and the needless shame they feel. Once they understand it comes after traumatic events and not because of them, they will overcome the fear they have inside about seeking help. They think that everything they do is odd until they find out how normal most of it is when they are dealing with PTSD. Once they know they can heal and learn how to cope with what will remain, they can live lives filled with hope and yes, even happy lives. The problem is, so far, the only thing they've heard is only part of the story because most of the people telling them about it only found it in books instead of life.
It's all possible but above all, it is all something they have been waiting for.
When we do not know what PTSD is it can lead to domestic violence. When we are unaware of what is happening to the veteran in the middle of a nightmare, we make mistakes in how we wake them up. This has lead to bloody noses and black eyes because a wife tried to shake them awake or yelled at them. When they are startled awake, in those few seconds, they are not in their bed or on the couch. They are right back in Iraq, Afghanistan or Vietnam, in danger, and their wife, she is not there in their mind but the enemy is. They have no clue they are safe in their own home. This also happens with flashbacks when they are not consciously there but someplace terrifying to them.
Dealing with all that comes with PTSD, from mood swings, to angry outbursts, irrational decisions, detachment, avoidance all the way down the list to self-medicating, it makes it hard to want to be able to have them stay in the home. That is unless you know where it is all coming from, why it's happening and what you can do about it to help them heal. This is the families job.
* VA will spend $3.2 billion next year to prevent and reduce
homelessness among Veterans. That includes $2.7 billion on medical
services and more than $500 million on specific homeless programs.
* VA aggressively diagnoses and treats the unseen wounds of war
that often lead to homelessness - severe isolation, dysfunctional
behaviors, depression and substance abuse. Last week, VA and the
Defense Department cosponsored a national summit on mental health that
will help both agencies better coordinate mental health efforts.
This is what can happen when there is clear, common sense, information available to them so they overcome the stigma and the needless shame they feel. Once they understand it comes after traumatic events and not because of them, they will overcome the fear they have inside about seeking help. They think that everything they do is odd until they find out how normal most of it is when they are dealing with PTSD. Once they know they can heal and learn how to cope with what will remain, they can live lives filled with hope and yes, even happy lives. The problem is, so far, the only thing they've heard is only part of the story because most of the people telling them about it only found it in books instead of life.
It's all possible but above all, it is all something they have been waiting for.
Secretary Shinseki Details Plan to End Homelessness for Veterans
Five-Year Plan Unveiled at Homeless Summit
WASHINGTON (Nov. 3, 2009) - Today, at the "VA National Summit Ending
Homelessness Among Veterans" Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki unveiled the department's comprehensive plan to end
homelessness among Veterans by marshalling the resources of government,
business and the private sector.
"President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness
among Veterans within the next five years," said Shinseki. "Those who
have served this nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the
streets, living without care and without hope."
Shinseki's comprehensive plan to end homelessness includes preventive
measures like discharge planning for incarcerated Veterans re-entering
society, supportive services for low-income Veterans and their families
and a national referral center to link Veterans to local service
providers. Additionally, the plan calls for expanded efforts for
education, jobs, health care and housing.
"Our plan enlarges the scope of VA's efforts to combat homelessness,"
said Shinseki. "In the past, VA focused largely on getting homeless
Veterans off the streets. Our five-year plan aims also at preventing
them from ever ending up homeless."
Other features of the plan outlined by Shinseki include:
* The new Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a powerful option for
qualified Veterans to pursue a fully funded degree program at a state
college or university. It is a major component of the fight against
Veteran homelessness.
* VA is collaborating with the Small Business Administration and
the General Services Administration to certify Veteran-owned small
businesses and service-disabled Veteran-owned small businesses for
listing on the Federal Supply Register, which enhances their visibility
and competitiveness - creating jobs for Veterans.
* VA will spend $3.2 billion next year to prevent and reduce
homelessness among Veterans. That includes $2.7 billion on medical
services and more than $500 million on specific homeless programs.
* VA aggressively diagnoses and treats the unseen wounds of war
that often lead to homelessness - severe isolation, dysfunctional
behaviors, depression and substance abuse. Last week, VA and the
Defense Department cosponsored a national summit on mental health that
will help both agencies better coordinate mental health efforts.
* VA partners with more than 600 community organizations to
provide transitional housing to 20,000 Veterans. It also works with 240
public housing authorities to provide permanent housing to homeless
Veterans and their families under a partnership with the Department of
Housing and Urban Development. The VA/HUD partnership will provide
permanent housing to more than 20,000 Veterans and their families.
Over the duration of the conference it is expected that over 1,200
homeless service providers from federal and state agencies, the business
community, and faith-based and community providers will attend and
participate in the summit.
"This is not a summit on homelessness among Veterans," added Shinseki
"It's a summit on ending homelessness among Veterans."
Study says Risk of PTSD Linked to Genes, Environment
In keeping with the mission of Wounded Times Blog, providing information, I am posting this but I do not agree with this at all. After reading it, there are too many other reports in disagreement to this study. I'm living proof of some of them. A lifetime of exposure to traumatic events did not cause PTSD in me, but that is not the reason I doubt this report.
One of my brothers was in mental health and worked with inner city youth trying to get them what they needed so that they would find reason to continue with their education. Before he passed away, we argued over the cause of PTSD. He understood how kids growing up surrounded by violence would end up with PTSD but could not understand how his own brother-in-law did from Vietnam. The thing with PTSD is that it is so complicated that no matter what answer researchers are looking for, that's what they'll find with PTSD.
It comes from an outside force and is caused by traumatic events. That is the only way to get PTSD but if they look for any mental illness, they will find symptoms of it even though it came after traumatic events. There are some people with mental illness also exposed to traumatic events just as there are some using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate but are also dealing with the addiction itself.
That's my opinion but here is what this article said.
One of my brothers was in mental health and worked with inner city youth trying to get them what they needed so that they would find reason to continue with their education. Before he passed away, we argued over the cause of PTSD. He understood how kids growing up surrounded by violence would end up with PTSD but could not understand how his own brother-in-law did from Vietnam. The thing with PTSD is that it is so complicated that no matter what answer researchers are looking for, that's what they'll find with PTSD.
It comes from an outside force and is caused by traumatic events. That is the only way to get PTSD but if they look for any mental illness, they will find symptoms of it even though it came after traumatic events. There are some people with mental illness also exposed to traumatic events just as there are some using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate but are also dealing with the addiction itself.
That's my opinion but here is what this article said.
Risk of PTSD Linked to Genes, Environment
By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 3, 2009
Childhood adversity and trauma during adulthood appear to predispose individuals to post-traumatic stress disorders.
Researchers found the combination of insults were more predictive of PTSD than exposure to only one type of disturbance.
Furthermore, the risk was additionally accentuated among individuals with a certain genetic mutation.
The report is found in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Although 40 percent to 70 percent of Americans have experienced traumatic events, only about 8 percent develop PTSD during their lifetimes, according to background information in the article.
PTSD is a complex anxiety disorder that involves re-experiencing, avoidance and increased arousal following exposure to a life-threatening event.
read more here
Risk of PTSD Linked to Genes, Environment
Officer Remains Remarkably Calm After Being Shot
Radio Recording Reveals Wounded Officer Remains Remarkably Calm As He Calls For Help
Jared Broyles Reporter
November 2, 2009
FORT SMITH - From the radio transmission between a wounded Fort Smith police officer and the dispatcher he called for help reveal his state of mind at the time.
Officer Parsons was surprisingly calm and impressively professional, although you could clearly hear the urgency in his voice. These were his first words: "Station, shots fired...I need help...I've been shot...I'm on Cliff Drive...I've been hit." Within seconds you hear the concerned voice of his supervisor Sgt. Dewey Young asking the station where he's at. A short time later, Parsons radios again: "I've been hit pretty good...I need an ambulance out here."
The suspect, 25-year-old Tristan Honey fled to New Mexico and later turned himself in to officials at this port of entry in San Jon. Parsons was shot four times; once in the center of his chest, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Chief Kevin Lindsey says the shot could have been fatal. Lindsey has visited parsons in the hospital and says he's doing well and will likely be released tomorrow.
go here for more
Officer Remains Remarkably Calm
Jared Broyles Reporter
November 2, 2009
FORT SMITH - From the radio transmission between a wounded Fort Smith police officer and the dispatcher he called for help reveal his state of mind at the time.
Officer Parsons was surprisingly calm and impressively professional, although you could clearly hear the urgency in his voice. These were his first words: "Station, shots fired...I need help...I've been shot...I'm on Cliff Drive...I've been hit." Within seconds you hear the concerned voice of his supervisor Sgt. Dewey Young asking the station where he's at. A short time later, Parsons radios again: "I've been hit pretty good...I need an ambulance out here."
The suspect, 25-year-old Tristan Honey fled to New Mexico and later turned himself in to officials at this port of entry in San Jon. Parsons was shot four times; once in the center of his chest, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Chief Kevin Lindsey says the shot could have been fatal. Lindsey has visited parsons in the hospital and says he's doing well and will likely be released tomorrow.
go here for more
Officer Remains Remarkably Calm
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