Volusia soldier dies in Kuwait
By Gary Taylor, Orlando Sentinel
10:09 p.m. EDT, September 26, 2010
Four days after spending time with his family while on leave, a soldier from Volusia County was killed in a training exercise in Kuwait.
Marc Whisenant, 23, died Friday, his father said.
Few details were available Sunday, but Jerry Whisenant said he was told his son died during a training exercise when a Humvee overturned.
Marc Whisenant spent four years in the ROTC program at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange and soon after graduating in 2005 he enlisted in the U.S. Army, his father said.
Volusia soldier dies in training exercise
Orlando Sentinel
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wave of violence may be due to combat PTSD
If you are sitting there judging the veterans in this report then you should start by wondering what makes them so different from you that they would willingly risk their lives for the sake of this country. Did they serve in a foreign land like Iraq and Afghanistan? Yes, but they didn't decide to serve either nation. They served this one. Just like when they went to Vietnam, it was not about serving Vietnam, but this nation they went for.
They are less than 10% of the population of this nation. Even less are combat veterans but somehow we managed to ignore most of what combat does to a person. We ignored too much for far too long. Today there is only 1% of the population serving in the military. We can't take care of them either.
So if you want to judge consider these men and women went from being willing to die for strangers to committing crimes against family and strangers alike. There is a reason for it.
Some do commit crimes. They need to be brought to justice but that must include taking a look at what they were like before combat and taking into consideration if there are other issues behind the crime like PTSD or TBI. The victims deserve justice but they also deserve answers. An honest trial and outcome demands all things be considered.
When they are wounded and suffering it is our job to help them heal before they commit crimes, before they commit suicide and before their families are destroyed. If you still want to judge, then wonder what you have done to be part of any solution instead of ignoring them.
They are less than 10% of the population of this nation. Even less are combat veterans but somehow we managed to ignore most of what combat does to a person. We ignored too much for far too long. Today there is only 1% of the population serving in the military. We can't take care of them either.
So if you want to judge consider these men and women went from being willing to die for strangers to committing crimes against family and strangers alike. There is a reason for it.
Some do commit crimes. They need to be brought to justice but that must include taking a look at what they were like before combat and taking into consideration if there are other issues behind the crime like PTSD or TBI. The victims deserve justice but they also deserve answers. An honest trial and outcome demands all things be considered.
When they are wounded and suffering it is our job to help them heal before they commit crimes, before they commit suicide and before their families are destroyed. If you still want to judge, then wonder what you have done to be part of any solution instead of ignoring them.
Wave of violence may be due to combat PTSD
Kern County has seen a recent wave of young war veterans accused of serious crimes. Many of our returning troops are silently suffering from flashbacks of things they saw or did during the war.
Iraq war veteran Torrance Kendricks is accused of trying to kill his mother by choking her, slamming her head on the cement and running her over with a car. A police report states that he is 'possibly suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.'
Iraq war veteran Marcus Trevino is accused of driving drunk, after having two previous DUI arrests, causing a fiery crash on Mt. Vernon Avenue that killed a woman in another car. Trevino’s mother previously said her son suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
War veteran Timothy Atkins is accused of shooting Air Force Staff Sergeant Brian Carragher to death Saturday in California City. Atkins returned from Iraq just weeks ago, police said.
"A normal person, they can take quite a bit on their shoulders before they snap. We don't have that luxury. That's gone for us," Iraq combat veteran and PTSD sufferer J.R. Browning said. He saw combat during the start of the Iraq war in 2003. He said for combat vets, violence was the norm, making it hard to adapt back to normal life.
go here for more
Wave of violence may be due to combat PTSD
Fort Bragg soldier killed on 9th deployment
Soldier killed on 9th deployment
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
FORT BRAGG (WTVD) -- A Fort Bragg Special Operations soldier who truly dedicated his life to fighting for America won't make it home.
The Pentagon says 30-year-old Sergeant 1st Class Ronald "Aaron" Grider died after being hit by machine gun fire September 18 during a combat operation in Konduz Province, Afghanistan. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
His is a story of unbelievable courage, bravery, and dedication. It was his ninth military deployment overseas. He went seven times to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.
read more here
Soldier killed on 9th deployment
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
FORT BRAGG (WTVD) -- A Fort Bragg Special Operations soldier who truly dedicated his life to fighting for America won't make it home.
The Pentagon says 30-year-old Sergeant 1st Class Ronald "Aaron" Grider died after being hit by machine gun fire September 18 during a combat operation in Konduz Province, Afghanistan. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
His is a story of unbelievable courage, bravery, and dedication. It was his ninth military deployment overseas. He went seven times to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.
read more here
Soldier killed on 9th deployment
Jacksonville honors Vietnam veterans with parade
Jacksonville honors Vietnam veterans with parade
Jacksonville honors Vietnam veterans with parade
"We've had people tell us, 'well, why bother now--it's 40 years too late," said Larry Walker, a Vietnam veteran. "Ask any Vietnam veteran, and they'll tell you it's never too late."read the rest here
Jacksonville honors Vietnam veterans with parade
Iraq War veteran to get treatment after Oklahoma bomb charge
Iraq War veteran to get treatment after Oklahoma bomb charge
Iowa man pleads guilty to bomb charge.
BY NOLAN CLAY Oklahoman
Published: September 19, 2010
A brain-damaged veteran of the Iraq War pleaded guilty Friday to an Oklahoma County bomb charge.
Steven Andrew Jordal, 26, was ordered to get treatment at a Veterans Affairs hospital.
Jordal spent almost two years in the Oklahoma County jail. A judge Friday agreed to a plea deal that puts him on probation and requires him to get mental health treatment at the VA medical center in St. Cloud, Minn.
"I hope you're able to get some help for that," District Judge Don Deason said.
Jordal was released about 3 p.m. Friday to his mother, who promised to take him to Minnesota.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed he needed treatment. A psychologist reported Jordal suffered from poly-concussion syndrome. He was an infantry tank specialist in the U.S. Army from 2002-07. He is from Iowa.
Read more: Iraq War veteran to get treatment
Iowa man pleads guilty to bomb charge.
BY NOLAN CLAY Oklahoman
Published: September 19, 2010
A brain-damaged veteran of the Iraq War pleaded guilty Friday to an Oklahoma County bomb charge.
Steven Andrew Jordal, 26, was ordered to get treatment at a Veterans Affairs hospital.
Jordal spent almost two years in the Oklahoma County jail. A judge Friday agreed to a plea deal that puts him on probation and requires him to get mental health treatment at the VA medical center in St. Cloud, Minn.
"I hope you're able to get some help for that," District Judge Don Deason said.
Jordal was released about 3 p.m. Friday to his mother, who promised to take him to Minnesota.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed he needed treatment. A psychologist reported Jordal suffered from poly-concussion syndrome. He was an infantry tank specialist in the U.S. Army from 2002-07. He is from Iowa.
Read more: Iraq War veteran to get treatment
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)