Amputee Peter Damon painting inspiration

Veteran who lost both arms in Iraq discovers a talent for painting
CBS NEWS
By DAVID MARTIN
July 3, 2018

"I don't see it that way. Suffering an injury like this sort of has a way of making you focus on what's important in life." Peter Damon

Peter Damon at work on a painting CBS NEWS

MIDDLEBORO Mass. -- Peter Damon turns out about 30 paintings a year and sells them for between $250 and $1,500. That's not enough to make ends meet, but it has made him whole again. He lost both arms in Iraq.

"Having this skill or pursuing this skill that even able-bodied people find difficult was something that really sort of gave me a boost and sort of made me feel like I fit in more in the world," Damon said.

He was an Army helicopter mechanic working on landing gear in 2003 when pressurized gas blew it apart, killing one soldier and gravely injuring him. "I lost my right arm above the elbow, about three inches above the elbow, and my left about six inches below," he explained.

Damon was a blue-collar guy who had been an electrician before he joined the Army.

"How am I going to make a living and take care of my family? I had always worked with my hands," he said.

Then with a simple little drawing, a new future opened up for him.

"I was kind of miraculous in a way," Damon said. "Something was telling me to focus on this and everything will be alright."
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Reports on PTSD and fireworks focus on veterans

Reports on PTSD and fireworks focus on veterans because when they saw things "bursting in the night" in combat, people died.

CBS Los Angeles

“Sounds bother me […] because I don’t like loud noises,” former Marine master sergeant and Vietnam vet Tom Roulier told CBS2 News. “I’m still paranoid if I here like a loud bang or something like that. Sometimes I’ll duck, or I’ll just quickly look around to see where it came from.”

Siouxland Proud 

Sioux City, IOWA - As our country celebrates its independence, some of our most patriotic Americans dread this time of year. Michael Powell proudly spent 22 years serving our country."I was in Iraq constantly under mortar attacks, small arm fire, road side bombs," says Powell. And Like many veterans, he suffers from PTSD.

Boom Boom Boobs Blowing Big Bucks

Common sense moment: Fireworks bother everyone who did not have a choice to hear them! Plain and simple!

Sure it sounds like a great news story to cover what veterans with PTSD go through. Because this neighborhood or that one has plenty of people with enough disposable funds to blow off fireworks for weeks. 

They do not care they are taking away the choice of their other neighbors to live in peace or participate, they won't care about a veteran living in the neighborhood either. 

OK, so, it is not just veterans jumping out of their skin. Babies, elderly, pets, anyone who has to get up early the next morning and the list goes on.

If you are a veteran, have a plan for the endless annoyance of boom-boom boobs. 

Get headphones. 

Turn up the TV or music as loud as possible.

Remember, sooner or later, these people will run out of money! If you're lucky, they'll be out of fireworks tonight and eating PP and J sandwiches until payday.

Florida Airman retires after 44 years!

Longest Serving Air Force General Retires After 44 Years of Service
News 13
Penton LoCicero
July 2, 3018

Hurlburt Field, Fla. - Honor, duty and commitment are what it takes to lead an entire crew into harms way and still return victorious. It's been a successful career for an Air Force General, who is longest serving general and is now ready for retirement.

Trumpets sounded and flags flew as Lieutenant General Brad Heithold took his final salute after serving for 44 years in the Air force.

"My entire youthful years were dedicated to service to this country and to the United State Air Force. So, really today this day capsulated really all 44 years of my extremely proud service to the country," said Lt. Gen. Brad A. Heithold, United States Air Force, Retired.

Hundreds of distinguished military guest and the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Air Force gathered to celebrate, as Heithold officially enters retirement. He enlisted in the air force in 1974 and was commissioned in 1981.

Forty-four years later, Heithold has an outstanding list of accomplishments.
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#MissingSalior U.S. Navy Seaman Shaun Palmer

UPDATE

"Seaman Shaun Palmer is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.“Please help me find my son,” his mom, Diane, tweeted, adding that her son’s phone is dead and there has been no activity on his credit cards."

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Search for missing Navy sailor last seen in Waikiki
KHON 2 News
By: Brigette Namata
Posted: Jul 02, 2018

HONOLULU (KHON2) - U.S. Navy Seaman Shaun Palmer failed to report for duty at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on July 1, and was classified as unauthorized absence on July 2, after 24 hours.

Palmer is a hospital corpsman assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

A missing persons report has been filed with the Honolulu Police Department and his command is working closely with local and military officials to find the missing sailor.

Palmer was not scheduled to participate in the ongoing Exercise Rim of the Pacific, a large maritime exercise taking place on and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

Palmer's mother Elizabeth Diane Unterein, who lives in California, said she received a call from the military of her son's disappearance on Monday morning. She ran multiple scenarios in her head. "Maybe he just went out and had too much to drink and he'll show up... and he hasn't shown up."

On Saturday night, Palmer was last seen outside the Kelly O'Neil's bar on Lewers Street in Waikiki.
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