Veteran of 4 armed services dies on Fourth of July
By KVAL News
Published Jul 9, 2012
FLORENCE, Ore. - Ron Mossholder, a veteran of four different armed services, died on the Fourth of July from lung cancer.
He would have turned 85 on July 14.
Services for Mossholder are planned Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Three Rivers Casino.
Tom Adams from KVAL News interviewed Mossholder in May after a caregiver discovered Mossholder's interesting past.
Mossholder was honorably discharged from the Navy, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard and Army; once sparred with Muhammed Ali; and helped manage the cleanup after the Exxon Valez oil spill.
read more here
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Firefighter may lose job for serving in Iraq and having PTSD
A veteran fights to keep his job
Chief looks to terminate firefighter being treated for PTSD for not working
By Brendan J. Lyons
July 9, 2012
Jeffrey Wright, 36, had once served as grand marshal of a city parade.
He was an Army Reserve staff sergeant who became a city firefighter in 2007, about two years after he returned from Iraq. He was notified in writing last December by Chief Thomas O. Garrett that he is being targeted for termination. Wright said he has not worked since February 2010 and has been undergoing treatment for PTSD since 2009 related to his combat service.
"The city of Troy's records reflect that you have been continuously absent from the Troy Fire Department and unable to perform the duties of firefighter for more than one year by reason of a disability other than a disability resulting from an occupational injury or disease," Garrett wrote in the letter to Wright. "As permitted by Section 73 of the NYS Civil Service Law, it is the city's intention to terminate your employment ..."
read more here
Chief looks to terminate firefighter being treated for PTSD for not working
By Brendan J. Lyons
July 9, 2012
Jeffrey Wright sits on the porch of his home Friday, July 6, 2012 in Troy, N.Y. Wright is a war veteran diagnosed with PTSD and is a married father of four. The City of Troy Fire Department is seeking to fire him due to fire chief's decision not to allow him to work. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)TROY — The Troy fire chief is trying to fire a firefighter who is undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder related to his military service in the Iraq war.
Jeffrey Wright, 36, had once served as grand marshal of a city parade.
He was an Army Reserve staff sergeant who became a city firefighter in 2007, about two years after he returned from Iraq. He was notified in writing last December by Chief Thomas O. Garrett that he is being targeted for termination. Wright said he has not worked since February 2010 and has been undergoing treatment for PTSD since 2009 related to his combat service.
"The city of Troy's records reflect that you have been continuously absent from the Troy Fire Department and unable to perform the duties of firefighter for more than one year by reason of a disability other than a disability resulting from an occupational injury or disease," Garrett wrote in the letter to Wright. "As permitted by Section 73 of the NYS Civil Service Law, it is the city's intention to terminate your employment ..."
read more here
Florida Marine doing 1 million pushups to help PTSD wounded veterans
Florida Marine doing 1 million pushups to help wounded veterans
By NBCMiami.com and msnbc.com staff
Florida Marine Sgt. Enrique Trevino is more than halfway to his goal of completing one million push-ups to raise money and awareness for wounded veterans.
"In the very beginning, there were a lot of people who said your body can't handle it," Trevino told NBCMiami.com. "That's their first mistake was telling a Marine you can't do something."
Trevino began his one million push-up pursuit as a New Year's fitness resolution, but soon realized he could turn it into an opportunity to help the Wounded Warriors Project. The organization helps veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, where Trevino himself has served, get reacquainted into post-military life.
He said not all vets return with wounds that one can easily see.
"People who are suffering from PTSD. Those are scars that are not seen, but people don't notice everyday," Trevino pointed out. "I'm just trying to bring awareness to those veterans who're transitioning into civilian life, and just make sure they're never forgotten."
read more here
By NBCMiami.com and msnbc.com staff
"In the very beginning, there were a lot of people who said your body can't handle it," Trevino told NBCMiami.com. "That's their first mistake was telling a Marine you can't do something."
Trevino began his one million push-up pursuit as a New Year's fitness resolution, but soon realized he could turn it into an opportunity to help the Wounded Warriors Project. The organization helps veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, where Trevino himself has served, get reacquainted into post-military life.
He said not all vets return with wounds that one can easily see.
"People who are suffering from PTSD. Those are scars that are not seen, but people don't notice everyday," Trevino pointed out. "I'm just trying to bring awareness to those veterans who're transitioning into civilian life, and just make sure they're never forgotten."
read more here
We Remember
We Remember
Too many news producers say there is just not enough interest in our veterans. I think this video proves that is just what they think and not what they know.
I received a link to "We Remember" and smiled when I saw the number of views it has received. It is not an MTV video. Not a rap video. There is not glitzy concert with a "headliner" screaming instead of singing. It is a song about remembering our veterans and how most of the people in this country feel about them.
While news producers want to think that murder, sex and politics along with other crimes should be all they report on, the rest of the country hungers for something good and honorable to be reported on.
When a veteran commits a crime and has PTSD, the headline makes sure to mention that it is about a veteran. Why is that? Is it because they are only 8% of the population? Why is it they need to make sure everyone sees that word?
When it was reported that "Data from the Department of Justice indicates that the homicide offender rate in the civilian population during that same period varied between 25 and 28 homicides per 100,000 young American males – implying that veterans might actually be less likely than their non-veteran, age-group peers to commit a violent homicide." Did we get to read that in every single newspaper and online news in the country? Did we ever get the news that when it comes to veterans with PTSD they were more likely to kill themselves than harm anyone else?
I actually had a site rep dealing with veterans in legal trouble stunned by this report.
We have about 24 million veterans in this country yet compared to how many end up in trouble, it always seems to be such a huge problem but no one is pointing out that we are not seeing millions of reports about veterans getting into trouble. As a matter of fact, while the reports have been coming out more with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans coming home, the crime reports are lower than reports of them taking their own lives.
If your local news is not covering veterans, (we know the big boys on cable news won't) you may want to mention how many views We Remember received in just over 6 months.
So yes America does care about our veterans and yes, we do remember.
This video was sent to be in an email link. A lot of what you see posted here comes from emails. If you find a video or news story that you think needs attention, just send me the link.
Too many news producers say there is just not enough interest in our veterans. I think this video proves that is just what they think and not what they know.
I received a link to "We Remember" and smiled when I saw the number of views it has received. It is not an MTV video. Not a rap video. There is not glitzy concert with a "headliner" screaming instead of singing. It is a song about remembering our veterans and how most of the people in this country feel about them.
While news producers want to think that murder, sex and politics along with other crimes should be all they report on, the rest of the country hungers for something good and honorable to be reported on.
When a veteran commits a crime and has PTSD, the headline makes sure to mention that it is about a veteran. Why is that? Is it because they are only 8% of the population? Why is it they need to make sure everyone sees that word?
When it was reported that "Data from the Department of Justice indicates that the homicide offender rate in the civilian population during that same period varied between 25 and 28 homicides per 100,000 young American males – implying that veterans might actually be less likely than their non-veteran, age-group peers to commit a violent homicide." Did we get to read that in every single newspaper and online news in the country? Did we ever get the news that when it comes to veterans with PTSD they were more likely to kill themselves than harm anyone else?
I actually had a site rep dealing with veterans in legal trouble stunned by this report.
We have about 24 million veterans in this country yet compared to how many end up in trouble, it always seems to be such a huge problem but no one is pointing out that we are not seeing millions of reports about veterans getting into trouble. As a matter of fact, while the reports have been coming out more with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans coming home, the crime reports are lower than reports of them taking their own lives.
If your local news is not covering veterans, (we know the big boys on cable news won't) you may want to mention how many views We Remember received in just over 6 months.
1,438,473
So yes America does care about our veterans and yes, we do remember.
Uploaded by ICASHQ on Dec 13, 2011 Country music recording artist Dwayne O'Brien performed his song "We Remember" (available on the CD "Song Pilot" at www.flightsongrecords.mybigcommerce.com) at the annual convention of the International Council of Air Shows last December in Las Vegas, Nevada. And he produced this video to be projected on the screens behind him while he sang. We hope that you'll share this link widely with friends and family who appreciate America's aviation legacy and all that our country's airborne warriors have done to defend our country. Many thanks to Dwayne O'Brien for both performing his wonderful song and producing this moving video.
This video was sent to be in an email link. A lot of what you see posted here comes from emails. If you find a video or news story that you think needs attention, just send me the link.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Soldier's text to Mom "I just can't take living anymore"
Fort Bragg soldier's story shows why preventing military suicides is a 'frustrating challenge'
By GREG BARNES
The Fayetteville Observer
Published: July 9, 2012
Fayetteville, N.C.— At 3:37 a.m. on May 19, Fort Bragg Pvt. Eric Watson sent a text message to his mother:
"I love you mom. I just can't take living anymore and I'm so sorry. I will always be with you."
The message set off a flurry of texts between Watson and his mother, Angela Moore, who said she tried to keep her son on the phone until she could get someone to check on him.
Watson, who Moore said had tried to overdose on pills and alcohol, was found in time.
Watson's story provides insight into how far the military has come in helping mentally ill soldiers, even as too many continue to slip through cracks in the system.
At the same time, the fact that Watson ended up in the Cumberland County Detention Center three days after his suicide attempt -- where jailers weren't even told to put him on suicide watch -- raises questions about Fort Bragg's handling of his problems.
Military suicides are soaring.
According to an Associated Press analysis, from the first of the year to June 3, suicides among active-duty U.S. military service members averaged nearly one per day.
The 154 suicides represent the highest rate since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began a decade ago and an 18 percent increase from the same period a year earlier.
read more here
By GREG BARNES
The Fayetteville Observer
Published: July 9, 2012
Fayetteville, N.C.— At 3:37 a.m. on May 19, Fort Bragg Pvt. Eric Watson sent a text message to his mother:
"I love you mom. I just can't take living anymore and I'm so sorry. I will always be with you."
The message set off a flurry of texts between Watson and his mother, Angela Moore, who said she tried to keep her son on the phone until she could get someone to check on him.
Watson, who Moore said had tried to overdose on pills and alcohol, was found in time.
Watson's story provides insight into how far the military has come in helping mentally ill soldiers, even as too many continue to slip through cracks in the system.
At the same time, the fact that Watson ended up in the Cumberland County Detention Center three days after his suicide attempt -- where jailers weren't even told to put him on suicide watch -- raises questions about Fort Bragg's handling of his problems.
Military suicides are soaring.
According to an Associated Press analysis, from the first of the year to June 3, suicides among active-duty U.S. military service members averaged nearly one per day.
The 154 suicides represent the highest rate since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began a decade ago and an 18 percent increase from the same period a year earlier.
read more here
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