Chief Navy Diver Offering hope from darkness of PTSD

Veteran who once contemplated suicide is now a Warrior Games winner
CBS News
Jeremy Bradly
July 2, 2018

"It gave me light at the end of the tunnel. It showed me that I am worth something, that I'm not alone."

Chief Navy Diver Julius McManus  

PTSD. Traumatic brain injury. Patellar tendon injured by a stingray. Years of rehabilitation, both physical and mental. These are the sacrifices Chief Navy Diver Julius McManus made while serving his country over the course of his career, for 21 years and counting.

Ask him about it, and he says he would do it all over again. "There's nothing about my service I would change," McManus says. "I've had some great opportunities with repatriation of remains — bringing missing brothers home — to combat tours where I'm supporting the guys doing the hard business, and leading my sailors. I wouldn't trade it for the world."

"I was in some dark places," McManus says. "I was looking at avenues to end my own life without causing harm to my family."

With the support of his wife and three sons, McManus says he has now come back from that dark place. He credits the camaraderie and competition he's found with other wounded service members at programs like the Warrior Games for helping change his outlook on life.

Every year since 2010, the Department of Defense's Warrior Games bring together wounded service members in a supportive and competitive environment to enhance their recovery and rehabilitation.

This year, 300 athletes from all branches of the armed forces came to the Air Force Academy for the event. CBSN brings you five stories of these "American Warriors."
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Iraq War Veteran Built Memorial By Name

Iraq War veteran‘s breathtaking tribute to the fallen: ‘It’s truly amazing’
CBS 6 News
BY GREG MCQUADE
JULY 1, 2018

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- On the banks of Gregory’s Mill Pond, veteran James Howard has found a slice of heaven on earth.

“It's very, very secluded [and] kind of tucked away. That's why I love it,” Howard said. “I roll right down to the lake and take it all in. It's medicinal out here. I think it does that for many people that come visit too.”

The Iraq War veteran, who is one with nature at the pond, enjoys sharing his "happy place" with others.

“Every day I wake up and I’m just thankful,” Howard said.

As a result, twice a month, Howard welcomes veterans from McGuire VA Medical Center as an escape through his non-profit, Veterans and Athletes United.

But Howard always dreamed of building an addition. Not a pool or man cave, but something more meaningful dedicated to those who will never have a chance to visit.

“It was extremely powerful to go down there and see it for the first time,” Howard said.

The new 28-foot Fallen Heroes Memorial has been a dream of Howard's for four years.

The memorial, funded and built by veterans and volunteer groups, honors the 6,941 service members killed in the War on Terror.
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Army veteran killed by lightning in Florida

This Army Veteran Was Killed By A Lightning Strike Right Before His Friend’s Eyes
TAMPA BAY TIMES
By TONY MARRERO
July 1, 2018

“People need to take storms seriously and seek shelter immediately. I never thought this would happen but it has, and it was a horrific experience that will never leave me.”

As the rain poured, Karen Zannone’s new friend turned around and flashed a smile.

Zannone and James Barton had spent hours at the beach Sunday before the storm moved in. Now they were hustling back to Barton’s car, but neither minded the refreshing dousing.

“I remember him looking into my eyes and saying, ‘This is so great, I love the rain,’?” Zannone recalled. “I said, ‘I love the rain, too.’ We were definitely hurrying up to get back, but he was very happy.”

“He said the water was clear and beautiful and he had a great time,” Zannone said.

She grabbed her bag and they started the long trek to the car. About 10 minutes later, the sky opened wider.

They kept walking.

“I’m not afraid of storms and neither is James, so we weren’t thinking about it in a fearful way even though it was really, really bad,” said Zannone, a Florida resident since 1989.

“I’m beating myself up about why I didn’t say, ‘Let’s just go find shelter.’?”
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Navy Veteran Postal Employee Lost Life Breaking Up Fight

Man Killed By Armed PSU Officers Had Valid Concealed Carry Permit
OPB
by Ericka Cruz Guevarra
June 30, 2018

Washington was a Navy veteran and an employee with the United States Postal Service since 1998. He worked with the collections unit as a letter carrier at the main office in downtown Portland, where he also served as the union shop steward.

Keyaira Smith, who filmed the encounter, told OPB that Washington was "trying to be a good Samaritan."

Jason Erik Washington, the man killed by armed Portland State University officers early Friday morning, had a valid concealed carry permit at the time of his death.

Two of Washington’s colleagues and at least one witness say Washington, 45, was black.

Keyaira Smith, a witness who took video of the moments leading up to Washington’s death, told OPB that he was “trying to be a good Samaritan” by breaking up a fight.

Video footage shows what appears to be a black object attached to Washington’s right side as he’s seen pulling one man off another. Two PSU police officers can also be seen.

“The gun slipped out of the holster when he had fallen, and I think he may have tried to retrieve it,” Smith said. “Then they said ‘gun.’”

That’s when police fired, she said.
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31% of known veterans committing suicide were Vietnam Veterans

Veterans Administration: Efforts continue to reduce vets' suicides
TRIB Live
JOE NAPSHA
June 28, 2018

“It is going to take a lot of public knowledge to educate people to get the care they need. We must focus on identifying the risks,” said McGraw, noting the VA does publicize its crisis services.

Despite their efforts to reach out and help veterans in crisis, the suicide rate among veterans remains about 20 a day, said a Veterans Affairs official in Pittsburgh.

“It's very disturbing. We want to make sure we do all we can to save a life. It's going to take a community to do that,” said Karin McGraw, medical center director for the VA in Pittsburgh, told about 30 veterans Wednesday.

They were gathered at the American Legion Post No. 344 in Jeannette for one of a series of town hall meetings the VA is holding in Western Pennsylvania to discuss the services the agency provides veterans.

“It is going to take a lot of public knowledge to educate people to get the care they need. We must focus on identifying the risks,” said McGraw, noting the VA does publicize its crisis services.

The VA has learned that more than one-half of the veterans who have committed suicide never got intervention from the VA for the available care, McGraw said.

They can phone the VA or go online to receive assistance, regardless of their discharge status or whether they are currently enrolled in the VA medical system, McGraw said.

“We're trying to maximize social media,” McGraw said.

The suicide rate among middle-age and older adult vets remain high, with about 65 percent of all veterans who committed suicide in 2014 age 50 or older. About 31 percent of the suicides were committed by Vietnam War-era veterans.
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