Goodwill program helps Savannah Marine veteran rise from homelessness
Posted: July 8, 2012
By Corey Dickstein
Things kept getting worse for Royce Brown.
The plumbing job he’d held for more than 15 years had slowly become less steady. By the time the company he was working for went defunct toward the end of 2010, the then-45-year-old couldn’t afford to pay his rent.
He lost his home. Within a month he’d lost everything.
Brown placed blame on anything he could.
“I blamed the economy, I blamed the president, I blamed from top to bottom, you know,” he said. “I blamed everything. What can you do? What can you do? There’s no more work out there. No work. Nobody needs a plumber.”
For more than a year, the U.S. Marine Corps veteran lived on the streets. He slept on friends’ couches when he could; other nights he just walked. Often he meandered from one side of Savannah to the other just to kill time. Just to stay alive.
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Sunday, July 8, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Stories of Medal Of Honor Heroes
The Medal Synopsis
This television special and DVD documentary explores our nation’s recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Of the over 40 million men and women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces, there stands above all a group of but 3,442 individuals – our nation’s recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
They came from every corner of our nation, and together they represent every race and creed that has formed our rich and diverse culture. More than half died in the action that resulted in their receiving the Medal.
Of those who survived, some became household names and went on to fame and fortune. But most went quietly home to the towns and cities they loved across America. Still others lived out their remaining life in poverty and obscurity, forgotten by the nation for which they sacrificed so much.
read more here
The Medal
Among the Medal of Honor Heroes are stories you never hear. One of them is Sammy Davis. I interviewed him at the Orlando Nam Knights Homes for Our Troops fundraiser. Sammy did what he did to earn the Medal of Honor, was beaten up at the airport back home, but Sammy loved this country so much that instead of just going back home to live a quiet life, he served more years as a member of the National Guards.
Here's Sammy's story.
This television special and DVD documentary explores our nation’s recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Of the over 40 million men and women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces, there stands above all a group of but 3,442 individuals – our nation’s recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
They came from every corner of our nation, and together they represent every race and creed that has formed our rich and diverse culture. More than half died in the action that resulted in their receiving the Medal.
Of those who survived, some became household names and went on to fame and fortune. But most went quietly home to the towns and cities they loved across America. Still others lived out their remaining life in poverty and obscurity, forgotten by the nation for which they sacrificed so much.
read more here
The Medal
Double Medal of Honor Heroes
Click this link to read their stories!
BALDWIN, FRANK D. First Lieutenant U.S. Army Indian War Campaigns
BUTLER, SMEDLEY DARLINGTON Major U.S. Marine Corps Haiti 1915
COOPER, JOHN Coxswain U.S. Navy Civil War
CUKELA, LOUIS Sergeant U.S. Marine Corps World War I
CUSTER, THOMAS W.Second Lieutenant U.S. Army Civil War
DALY, DANIEL JOSEPHGunnery Sergeant U.S. Marine Corps Haiti 1915
HOFFMAN, CHARLES F. (AKA ERNEST JANSON) Gunnery Sergeant U.S. Marine Corps World War I
HOGAN, HENRY First Sergeant U.S. Army Indian War Campaigns
KELLY, JOHN JOSEPH Private U.S. Marine Corps World War I
KING, JOHN Watertender U.S. Navy Interim 1901-1911
KOCAK, MATEJ Sergeant U.S. Marine Corps World War I
LAFFERTY, JOHN Fireman U.S. Navy Civil War
McCLOY, JOHN Coxswain U.S. Navy Boxer Rebellion
MULLEN, PATRICK Boatswain's Mate U.S. Navy Civil War
PRUITT, JOHN HENRY Corporal U.S. Marine Corps World War I
SWEENEY, ROBERT Ordinary Seaman U.S. Navy Interim 1871-1898
WEISBOGEL, ALBERT Captain of the Mizzen Top U.S. Navy Interim 1871-1898
WILLIAMS, LOUIS Captain of the Hold U.S. Navy Interim 1871-1898
Among the Medal of Honor Heroes are stories you never hear. One of them is Sammy Davis. I interviewed him at the Orlando Nam Knights Homes for Our Troops fundraiser. Sammy did what he did to earn the Medal of Honor, was beaten up at the airport back home, but Sammy loved this country so much that instead of just going back home to live a quiet life, he served more years as a member of the National Guards.
Here's Sammy's story.
Iraq Veteran Marine homeless in St. Augustine with Combat PTSD
Last night there wasn't much on TV so we did a pay-per view Big Miracle about whales facing death, trapped beneath the ice in Alaska. A reporter told the story on local news, people knew about the problem, cared enough to try and do something about it. As a filler for national news, the entire country knew about these whales and the people trying help them survive. Then the world knew. They took action to save them.
No one blamed them for ending up the way they did or settled for just letting them die there. No one complained about how much money it would take to save three whales or how much it cost to travel there to tell the story. Sure, greed got involved when some thought it would be great public relations to get involved but in the end, even the greedy CEO managed to care more about the whales than himself.
Wouldn't it be really a big miracle if the same thing happened for our veterans trapped beneath a frozen society allowing them to suffer? How is it people moved heaven and earth to save three whales but we don't do much when veterans end up homeless?
No one blamed them for ending up the way they did or settled for just letting them die there. No one complained about how much money it would take to save three whales or how much it cost to travel there to tell the story. Sure, greed got involved when some thought it would be great public relations to get involved but in the end, even the greedy CEO managed to care more about the whales than himself.
Wouldn't it be really a big miracle if the same thing happened for our veterans trapped beneath a frozen society allowing them to suffer? How is it people moved heaven and earth to save three whales but we don't do much when veterans end up homeless?
Former Marine on the streets, frustrated with delays in getting help
11:09 PM, Jul 6, 2012
Written by
Mike Lyons
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Former Marine Sgt. Mark Reynolds is a homeless veteran who can often be seen walking through St. Augustine, frustrated his pleas for help are going unanswered.
"I don't like living like this," said 33-year old Reynolds.
Reynolds served in Iraq 14 months and was involved in the seize of Fallujah in 2004 during one of the major battles of the Iraqi war. Now he roams the streets of St. Augustine, dealing with the problems of post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
"I have some nightmares here and there, sometimes the clarity of thought isn't quite where it should be. I am startled easily, there are a lot of things that are a little bit strange. It's difficult for me to enjoy life the way I used to be able to enjoy life. I don't like crowds or loud places."
Reynolds pitches his tent wherever he can at night, whether it is on a lawn or the woods or wherever he can. He has a part-time job he loves at Home Depot, but the income is just enough for food, a cell phone, and a storage unit for a few belongings, not enough for a roof over his head.
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USS Carl Vinson Sailor Prevents Suicide on Coronado Bay Bridge
USS Carl Vinson Sailor Prevents Suicide
Jul 06, 2012
Navy News
by MC2 Luke Meineke
Shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday, June 19, 2012, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 1st Class (AW/SW) David Lawrence, Air Department’s V4 Division maintenance leading petty officer, was driving to Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) for a pre-work workout when he made a fateful decision to help a stranger.
Lawrence was driving across the Coronado Bay Bridge when he noticed the car in front of him pull over and stop near the bridge’s apex.
“I saw he was an older guy and he didn’t have his hazard [lights] on, so I didn’t want him to get hit – and he was in a black Fiat and it was dark out,” Lawrence said. “Most people going over the bridge at that time won’t be paying attention; they’re just trying to wake up.”
Lawrence said he thought he would be helping with a flat tire or offering a ride to the Highway Patrol station on the other side of the bridge when he pulled over in front of the black Fiat and turned on his hazard lights. This decision to help was reflex for Lawrence, stemming from his belief that good deeds produce good rewards.
When I volunteer at children’s hospitals or for fundraisers, I believe “somebody is returning the favors,” Lawrence said. “My health is good. My family’s health is good. [So I take] any opportunity I get to help somebody.”
read more here
Jul 06, 2012
Navy News
by MC2 Luke Meineke
Shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday, June 19, 2012, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 1st Class (AW/SW) David Lawrence, Air Department’s V4 Division maintenance leading petty officer, was driving to Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) for a pre-work workout when he made a fateful decision to help a stranger.
Lawrence was driving across the Coronado Bay Bridge when he noticed the car in front of him pull over and stop near the bridge’s apex.
“I saw he was an older guy and he didn’t have his hazard [lights] on, so I didn’t want him to get hit – and he was in a black Fiat and it was dark out,” Lawrence said. “Most people going over the bridge at that time won’t be paying attention; they’re just trying to wake up.”
Lawrence said he thought he would be helping with a flat tire or offering a ride to the Highway Patrol station on the other side of the bridge when he pulled over in front of the black Fiat and turned on his hazard lights. This decision to help was reflex for Lawrence, stemming from his belief that good deeds produce good rewards.
When I volunteer at children’s hospitals or for fundraisers, I believe “somebody is returning the favors,” Lawrence said. “My health is good. My family’s health is good. [So I take] any opportunity I get to help somebody.”
read more here
One piece of information relayed to him by a police officer will stay with the Carl Vinson Sailor foreverthough. “It was his sixtieth birthday,” said Lawrence, shaking his head. He didn’t have to say it, but Lawrence knew. His compassion made it possible for one man to see 61.
Joe Walsh faces campaign backlash over comments on double-amputee rival
Rep. Walsh faces campaign backlash over comments on double-amputee rival
Published July 06, 2012
FoxNews.com
Republican Rep. Joe Walsh is facing a campaign trail backlash after he was caught on camera last weekend accusing his double-amputee opponent of talking too much about her military record.
The Illinois congressman, who is running against Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth, has defended his remarks and reiterated that he still thinks his Democratic opponent is a "hero."
But Duckworth has used the gaffe to hammer the incumbent congressman almost daily this past week, even prompting one veterans group to call for Walsh's resignation.
While Walsh says Duckworth is manufacturing outrage, that hasn't stopped the decorated Democratic candidate from turning his remarks into a centerpiece campaign issue.
Duckworth earlier this week called Walsh's comments "irresponsible" and "insulting" to servicemembers.
Atop her campaign website is an online petition seeking support over the comments.
"It's time we teach Joe Walsh a lesson about true heroism," the petition says.
read more here
also Tammy Duckworth lost legs in service to country, Rep. Joe Walsh lost his mind
Published July 06, 2012
FoxNews.com
Republican Rep. Joe Walsh is facing a campaign trail backlash after he was caught on camera last weekend accusing his double-amputee opponent of talking too much about her military record.
The Illinois congressman, who is running against Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth, has defended his remarks and reiterated that he still thinks his Democratic opponent is a "hero."
But Duckworth has used the gaffe to hammer the incumbent congressman almost daily this past week, even prompting one veterans group to call for Walsh's resignation.
While Walsh says Duckworth is manufacturing outrage, that hasn't stopped the decorated Democratic candidate from turning his remarks into a centerpiece campaign issue.
Duckworth earlier this week called Walsh's comments "irresponsible" and "insulting" to servicemembers.
Atop her campaign website is an online petition seeking support over the comments.
"It's time we teach Joe Walsh a lesson about true heroism," the petition says.
read more here
also Tammy Duckworth lost legs in service to country, Rep. Joe Walsh lost his mind
Duckworth defends military talk on the campaign trail
Posted by
CNN's Ashley Killough
(CNN) – Democratic congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran and double-amputee, fired back at opponent Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois after he criticized her for talking too much about her military service.
"It's very irresponsible for Mr. Walsh, as a sitting congressman, to try to muzzle war veterans and keep them from talking about their service," Duckworth said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."
read more here
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