Retired Army police officer saved by rescued Pug

Rescued pug taught to dial 9-1-1 is 'saving grace' for owner with post traumatic stress disorder


By: Rikki Klaus

VERO BEACH, Fla. - They say a dog is man's best friend, and there's a dog in Vero Beach who's living proof.

She may be tiny, but Pei Pei packs a powerful punch. Not only can she sense her owner's moods, she can contact emergency responders when he's in danger. The service dog is a mix of a beloved family member and a diligent worker who could rescue her owner's life if need be.

"Go get help!" James Taylor shouted to his 11-pound pug. Pei Pei ran to a phone on the living room floor and pressed both paws onto the large, circular button. The dial tone sounded. Praise followed.

With the press of that single button, service dog Pei Pei can dial 9-1-1. That's a huge comfort for the retired Army police officer, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and hearing loss. Sometimes he falls too, so Pei Pei is his 'saving grace.'

"Without her, I couldn't imagine my life. I'd probably be home-bound a lot because of what I suffer severely. I know if I have any kind of problems, she's going to help me right through it," said Taylor.
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Veteran's claims of awards, service do not withstand scrutiny

Imagine being in this family and left with this.

Veteran's claims of awards, service do not withstand scrutiny
Cemetery to change headstone after review of records does not match materials provided by family

By Steve Mills, Chicago Tribune reporter
December 28, 2011

When David Stump died last year, the south suburban man left his family a sheaf of yellowing documents and a troubling question: Did the U.S. Army veteran earn the Bronze Star and the three Purple Hearts the records suggested, or were the military documents falsified?

The question of Stump's legacy was more than an idle curiosity.

Officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery south of Joliet have decided to replace the simple granite headstone at Stump's grave site. The officials say military records do not support claims in the records the family provided when Stump died.

A new headstone will be ordered, Marty Fury, the cemetery's director, said last week.

"We want all of our headstones to be an accurate reflection of a veteran's service," Fury said.
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Alabama Special Forces soldier returns home and finds out his son has cancer

Alabama soldier returns home and finds out his son has cancer

Soldier returns
Special Forces Sergeant First Class Smiddie Avery and his family celebrated Monday night in Alabaster. Sgt. Avery was in Afghanistan, but he found out his son faces a different type of battle here.

By: KALISHA WHITMAN
Alabama's13.com
Published: December 26, 2011

Coming home for the holidays isn't something every soldier gets to experience, however, this year Special Forces Sergeant First Class Smiddie Avery made it home just in time.

“You don't realize what home is until you have to leave it and go away for a long period of time,” Sgt Avery said. “Everything means that much more when you get back.”

However, not long after his arrival he found out his 18-year-old son, Sam, would prepare for a fight that has nothing to do with the battle field.

He said, “I was home about two weeks and found out he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.”
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Transitioning From War to Home

Transitioning From War to Home
By Brandi Devine

December 27, 2011
Updated Dec 27, 2011 at 5:13 PM EST
Binghamton,NY (WBNG Binghamton) Returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan is a time of celebration for families and their soldiers, but it's after the celebrations are over that the real struggle begins.

It can be difficult for a soldier to pick up where they left off when they come home from war.

They have to switch gears from living in a high stress environment to living an ordinary life at home.

There is help out there for soldiers and their families.

The Binghamton Vet Center in Binghamton offers counseling and other programs like Yoga and musical therapy for soldiers.
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Disabled Iraq Veteran called "cripple and worthless" as civilian Army employee

How does something like this happen?

Judges OK Tossing of $4.4M Verdict in Disabled Army Vet
Military.com
by David Ashen, Detroit Free Press

"supervisor and co-workers derided him, calling him a "cripple" and "worthless."

A federal appeals court upheld Wednesday a judge's decision to throw out a $4.4-million jury verdict for an Army veteran who lost his hand while serving in Iraq -- only to be ridiculed about his disability by co-workers and a boss while working as a civilian Army employee.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said the district judge didn't abuse his discretion by instead requiring the Army to follow through on its offer to reinstate James McKelvey to a job with higher pay at the Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren.

But the appellate panel reversed U.S. District Judge John O'Meara on another point, concluding that a hostile work environment forced McKelvey, 40, of Macomb Township to quit. So, the Army must provide McKelvey with about $100,000 in back pay, his lawyer said.
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