SWAT Standoff in Texas With Veteran

SWAT called after man barricades himself inside home near Baytown 
KHOU
Staff 
April 08, 2017 

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - SWAT officers were called after a man barricaded himself inside a home near Baytown Saturday evening.

Harris County Sheriff's deputies on the scene Saturday evening. 

(Photo: Tim Wetzel, KHOU 11 News)

Officers responded to the home on Crossvine Avenue. Harris County Sheriff's deputies have blocked off nearby streets in the neighborhood. 

The man's girlfriend told authorities he locked himself in a bathroom and threatened to harm himself. The girlfriend said he was armed with a gun. 

The woman said he formerly served in the Army and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

We have a crew at the scene and will update this story as more information becomes available. go here for updates

Special Forces Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

U.S. Soldier Killed In Afghanistan 
WPRL News 
By MAGGIE PENMAN 
April 8, 2017 

An American soldier was killed in Afghanistan late Saturday, according to a statement posted on Twitter by the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. 

A spokesman for U.S. Forces in Afghanistan said that the soldier was part of an operation against ISIS-Khorasan, a branch of the Islamic State operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

The same spokesman confirmed to Reuters that the soldier was a special forces operator.
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Maj. Gen. Francisco Espaillat Died But Left a Legacy

There are some Generals that make you cringe when they walk into a room. Then there are Generals like Maj. Gen. Francisco Espaillat that make you want to walk over to them and give them a big hug.

Last year at Orlando Rocks Maj. Gen. Francisco Espaillat was the guest speaker. He was a lot more than that when he told the crowd about his history as well as explaining how important military families are. 

He didn't stop smiling the whole day.

 

He even let us lock him up! 

Army Reserve general dies after collapsing during physical fitness training
Army Times
By: Staff
April 8, 2017

An Army Reserve major general died Friday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, officials announced Saturday.

Maj. Gen. Francisco Espaillat collapsed Friday during individual physical training and was rushed by ambulance to Womack Army Medical Center, where medical staff pronounced him dead, according to a news release.

The 56-year-old, who was from New York City, was assigned to General Officer Support, Office of the Chief of Army Reserve, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

He received his second star only a couple of weeks ago, on March 27. He had been selected to serve as the chief of staff for U.S. Army Reserve Command.

"Just last month I had the privilege of promoting him in a low-key ceremony at my office in Washington, D.C.," said Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey, the Army Reserve chief and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, in a statement. "This was just his style, as a soldier he was humble, never seeking recognition. He was a splendid soldier who embodied leadership, energy and a relentless spirit of execution in everything he did."
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This is the video from his inspiring speech.

Death of Fort Hood Solider From Florida Under Investigation

Combat engineer dies at Fort Hood
Army Times
By: Charlsy Panzino
April 7, 2017

A Fort Hood soldier has died after being transported from his barracks to a medical center on post, according to an Army news release on Friday.

Sgt. Daniel William Wildeman, 40, of Panama City, Florida, was taken to the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, Texas, and pronounced dead.

The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Wildeman, a combat engineer, had been assigned to the 91st Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division since April 2015, according to the release. He entered active-duty service in July 2008.
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Australia: Police Officer Finds Healing PTSD Better Than Dying

Post-traumatic stress disorder: NSW police sufferers estimated to number 1600
The Sunday Telegraph
BEN PIKE
April 8, 2017

IN a career as one of our top cops, Luke Moore had seen it all — and finally he couldn’t bear to see any more.

Suffering the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, Det Supt Moore jumped from the 13th floor of a hotel, expecting to die.

But things didn’t go according to plan. After plunging 40m, Mr Moore crashed through the lid of a skip filled with linen, cushioning his fall and saving his life.

While he shattered his pelvis, hip, and elbow and broke his leg, arm and back, he suffered no permanent brain or organ damage and is once again able to walk.

Mr Moore, 49, who remained conscious throughout the ordeal, said: “When I was laying there it was instant relief in terms of I knew that I was not going back to work.

“I knew instantly that I did not want to die. I am not a spiritual person at all but I’m very conscious of how lucky I am and what an opportunity it is to go on and live life.

“It puts in perspective how good it is to be alive.”

Now he is hoping his story will encourage others officers suffering PTSD — a crippling psychological condition that currently affects an estimated 1600 officers in NSW — to seek help.
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