Military bonds draw veterans to mental health jobs
By Maria LaMagna
Special to CNN
August 8, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Study: Only half of U.S. service members with PTSD received treatment
18 veterans commit suicide every day, VA statistics show
Programs that train veterans to assist other veterans have popped up
"They let you talk about the stuff that's ugly," one veteran says
(CNN) -- Things probably should have turned out differently for Samantha Schilling.
The stories she tells have dark beginnings and could have had, under different circumstances, dark endings -- as so many stories for those in the military do.
Schilling, now 31, served in the U.S. Navy from 1999 to 2003. She was never deployed but worked as an information systems technician at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
Several of her friends were killed during the 2000 al Qaeda bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, which left 17 dead and at least 37 injured. Some of the injured were transferred to her base in Norfolk.
Many of the survivors suffered from mental trauma after the bombing. One of them, a man who had been aboard the ship, attacked Schilling and attempted to rape her.
That assault drove home the impact that active duty had on her colleagues' mental state.
"I experienced military sexual trauma, and that just inspired me," she said. "Coming back into civilian life, you're not the same person you were in the military. ... You carry with you all these burdens, all these stressors."
Schilling was released from service with an honorable medical discharge in 2003. Since that time, she has taken on a personal mission to help others who need counseling after military service. She's nearly completed a masters in a joint military psychology and neuropsychology program at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago and plans to finish her doctorate degree in 2015.
read more here
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Military bonds draw veterans to mental health jobs
This is a great article on veterans helping veterans as well as a reminder that after all this time, all this attention and all the new groups popping up online, less than half of the veterans needing help, receive it.
Father honored for fight against Camp Lejeune water
Father honored for fight against Camp Lejeune water
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Fred Shropshire
ABC News Team
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A retired North Carolina Marine is finally seeing the results of a 15 yearlong crusade.
Retired Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger set out on a mission to honor his daughter's memory and help others poisoned by tainted tap water at Camp Lejeune.
Tuesday evening, Sen. Richard Burr attended a ceremony in downtown Raleigh to honor Ensminger's efforts.
read more here
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Fred Shropshire
ABC News Team
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A retired North Carolina Marine is finally seeing the results of a 15 yearlong crusade.
Retired Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger set out on a mission to honor his daughter's memory and help others poisoned by tainted tap water at Camp Lejeune.
Tuesday evening, Sen. Richard Burr attended a ceremony in downtown Raleigh to honor Ensminger's efforts.
read more here
Vietnam Veteran Larry A. Polzin Elected DAV National Commander
Larry A. Polzin Elected DAV National Commander
Associated Press
Posted August 7, 2012
LAS VEGAS
(BUSINESS WIRE)
Aug 7, 2012
Larry A. Polzin, a service-connected Vietnam-era veteran, was elected DAV’s National Commander at the organization’s 91 st National Convention in Las Vegas.
“As National Sr. Vice Commander, Polzin showed solid leadership skills and a strong vision for the organization,” said Arthur H. Wilson, DAV’s National Adjutant and CEO.
“We look forward to advancing the organization and achieving our strategic goals under his leadership.”
Polzin joined the U.S. Marine Corps following high school graduation in eastern Colorado. After boot camp, he was assigned to the 1 st Marine Division, 1 st Engineer Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He continued to serve until his medical discharge in 1966.
Read more
Associated Press
Posted August 7, 2012
LAS VEGAS
(BUSINESS WIRE)
Aug 7, 2012
Larry A. Polzin, a service-connected Vietnam-era veteran, was elected DAV’s National Commander at the organization’s 91 st National Convention in Las Vegas.
“As National Sr. Vice Commander, Polzin showed solid leadership skills and a strong vision for the organization,” said Arthur H. Wilson, DAV’s National Adjutant and CEO.
“We look forward to advancing the organization and achieving our strategic goals under his leadership.”
Polzin joined the U.S. Marine Corps following high school graduation in eastern Colorado. After boot camp, he was assigned to the 1 st Marine Division, 1 st Engineer Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He continued to serve until his medical discharge in 1966.
Read more
'Ride for Heroes' to reach Pendleton on Friday
MILITARY: 'Ride for Heroes' to reach Pendleton on Friday
By MARK WALKER
North County Times
Four recumbent tricycle riders who departed St. Augustine, Fla., in early June for fundraising trip for the Oceanside-based Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund are scheduled to arrive at Camp Pendleton on Friday afternoon.
Three of the participants in the "Ride for Heroes" are former Marines, including a double amputee Afghanistan veteran.
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By MARK WALKER
North County Times
Four recumbent tricycle riders who departed St. Augustine, Fla., in early June for fundraising trip for the Oceanside-based Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund are scheduled to arrive at Camp Pendleton on Friday afternoon.
Three of the participants in the "Ride for Heroes" are former Marines, including a double amputee Afghanistan veteran.
read more here
Officer wounded in temple shooting was a Marine
Officer wounded in temple shooting a skilled veteran
By Meg Jones of the Journal Sentinel
Unable to speak, Oak Creek police Lt. Brian Murphy held up his hand for Chief John Edwards to hold.
He mouthed one word: "Sorry."
"He was stable. He was alert. He acknowledged me. He smiled, brought up his hand, (he) wanted me to grab his hand. Kind of mouthed to me he was sorry," said an emotional Edwards.
After taking a few moments to compose himself, Edwards said in an interview Tuesday at the Oak Creek police station, "It's been a long couple days."
Murphy, 51, sped to the temple Sunday morning after people inside called 911 to report hear ing gunshots. Before Murphy could get inside the temple, Wade Michael Page, 40, opened fire, hitting the officer eight or nine times. Another Oak Creek police officer, Sam Lenda, shot and killed Page after the assailant refused to drop his weapon and surrender.
Six people who had gone to the temple to participate in a Sunday service were slain by Page; three others were wounded in addition to Murphy.
Murphy grew up in New York City - a fact readily apparent to anyone who hears him talk. Despite more than two decades in Wisconsin, Murphy has not lost his accent.
Before he became a cop, he was a U.S. Marine deployed overseas. He was later assigned to the United Nations in New York as part of the U.N. security detail, protecting dignitaries.
read more here
By Meg Jones of the Journal Sentinel
Unable to speak, Oak Creek police Lt. Brian Murphy held up his hand for Chief John Edwards to hold.
He mouthed one word: "Sorry."
Edwards visited Murphy on Monday night at Froedtert Hospital - a day after the 21-year Oak Creek police veteran was shot numerous times while responding to the massacre at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek.
Oak Creek Police DepartmentOak Creek Police Lt. Brian Murphy, who was wounded in the Sikh Temple shooting.
"He was stable. He was alert. He acknowledged me. He smiled, brought up his hand, (he) wanted me to grab his hand. Kind of mouthed to me he was sorry," said an emotional Edwards.
After taking a few moments to compose himself, Edwards said in an interview Tuesday at the Oak Creek police station, "It's been a long couple days."
Murphy, 51, sped to the temple Sunday morning after people inside called 911 to report hear ing gunshots. Before Murphy could get inside the temple, Wade Michael Page, 40, opened fire, hitting the officer eight or nine times. Another Oak Creek police officer, Sam Lenda, shot and killed Page after the assailant refused to drop his weapon and surrender.
Six people who had gone to the temple to participate in a Sunday service were slain by Page; three others were wounded in addition to Murphy.
Murphy grew up in New York City - a fact readily apparent to anyone who hears him talk. Despite more than two decades in Wisconsin, Murphy has not lost his accent.
Before he became a cop, he was a U.S. Marine deployed overseas. He was later assigned to the United Nations in New York as part of the U.N. security detail, protecting dignitaries.
read more here
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