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 The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be free-men or slaves,,,consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of our country will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of [our military]. George Washington, 1776 Did You Know: Brain Flash: otherwise known as PTSD
One such event is what I call "Brain Flash". As you may know the atomic bomb that hit Nagasaki was so bright it left shadows on brick walls. The same thing happens in the human brain. You flash enough stimulus in all at once, and you are going to get mind shadows that can stay with a vet for decades, like shrapnel that has not worked its way out. Our Veterans proudly served the Nation with honor, yet sadly, some soldiers are killed. That is war. People die, many are injured, then hospitalized for weeks and months, or more. That's just the way it is. War is hell, but if you want to keep the next Hitler in check, someone has to do it for America. Don't watch this video of instant BrainFlash if you mind hearing the 'F' bomb So America has a boatload of Veterans with Brain Flash. It is not a character defect. It is a brain injury. These hurt guys have a suicide rate two or more times the national rate. Throwing money at the problem in the VA and DoD is not helping. The suicide rate keeps climbing. This brain injury can cause the Veteran to have a flash temper, have a hard time keeping jobs, to avoid crowds, and to be hyperalert. Vets with BrainFlash (PTSD) often have sleepless nights, they isolate themselves from others, they often use alcohol and dangerous drugs, they might threaten and hurt their family members, (without wanting to) to be highly agitated, and dangerously depressed, often at the same time. shapes how Veterans cope with daily stress. The more stressed out the Veteran is, the less brain power they have to make choices based on what the Vet actually wants. When the brain gets instantly and totally stressed out, the brain flashed memories burn their way into our conciousness like an atomic bomb burning shadows into brick walls. They are never truly forgotten in spite of all we can do to bury them. A friend might mention a place or time and the memory vividly leaps out like it happened yesterday. Sometime those memories, including surpressed memories, can trigger intense physical reactions in the body that can seem extreme for the situations. Bad memories can leap out in a way that is frightening for everyone around. Usually nobody is more scared than the Vet. The VA says "Once the event is implanted in the memory, it can continue to torment the individual, even after treatment or counseling." But I insist that it does not have to. You can do much more than learn a bunch of stress reduction techniques. You can actually reprogram your own brain, just like Pavlov trained his beagles to drool.
Everyone wants peace in his or her life and the ability to put painful experiences behind them. If you are dealing with painful memories, click here: TIGER WOODS SPEECH AT THE 2009
INAUGURATION:
"I grew up in a military family -- and my role models in life were my Mom and Dad, Lt. Colonel Earl Woods. My dad was a Special Forces operator and many nights friends would visit our home. They represented every branch of service, and every rank. In my Dad, and in those guests, I saw first hand the dedication and commitment of those who serve. They come from every walk of life. From every part of our country. Time and again, across generations, they have defended our safety in the dark of night and far from home. Each day -- and particularly on this historic day -- we honor the men and women in uniform who serve our country and protect our freedom. They travel to the dangerous corners of the world, and we must remember that for every person who is in uniform, there are families who wait for them to come home safely. I am honored that the military is such an important part, not just of my personal life, but of my professional life as well. The golf tournament we do each year here in Washington is a testament to those unsung heroes. I am the son of a man who dedicated his life to his country, family and the military, and I am a better person for it. In the summer of 1864, Abraham Lincoln, the man whose memorial we stand, spoke to the 164th Ohio Regiment and said: "I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country." Just as they have stood tall for our country -- we must always stand by and support the men and women in uniform and their families. Thank you. Thank You Tiger! aw The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. He is "not yet dry behind the ears." He's not old enough to buy a beer. But he IS old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either. More:
Looking For Work? Utah Sees Quicker Payback for Veterans Nursing Home By CHARLES F. TRENTELMAN OGDEN -- Thanks to government stimulus funds, Utah could get the $12.5 million back that it put up for a veterans nursing home sooner than it thought, state veterans officials said Tuesday. Either way, that's a lot earlier than the seven-year wait Utah officials were originally told to expect. Read the rest of the story here: Introducing Scott Lee, Read 'Can PTSD be Healed' here
Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland explains. Nothing in VA is Permanent and Total. Two plus two does not equal four. To be awarded a disability compensation rating by VBA is the beginning, not the end. Once you have that award letter, it's up to you to be in a state of constant readiness to defend it. As the man said long ago; "It ain't over until the fat lady sings". When we are speaking of our dealings with VBA, we'll never hear that song. It ain't over until long after they issue that final brass marker noting the end of our journey... How would VBA determine that your rating may be lowered? By ordering you to undergo a reexamination; §3.327 Reexaminations. (a) General. "Reexaminations, including periods of hospital observation, will be requested whenever VA determines there is a need to verify either the continued existence or the current severity of a disability. Generally, reexaminations will be required if it is likely that a disability has improved, or if evidence indicates there has been a material change in a disability or that the current rating may be incorrect." Read the rest of this VA Tried to Silence 56 year old Army Vet Claiming Racism in DC VA Hospital Thanks to Jim Hunter for the tip. Tommy Canaday of Washington DC alleges racial discrimination and a claim that he was twice given an overdose of morphine by a nurse who continues to work at the DC VA hospital. This peaked the interest of a local radio reporter who, when he tried to interview Canady, was interrupted by a hospital official. Gloria Hairston, a hospital public affairs officer, told reporter David Schultz he could not use the interview and told Canady he could not talk anymore. But when Canady insisted he would, Hairston returned with a pair of security guards and demanded Schultz turn over his recording equipment. full story from Military.com here Motorcycle Accidents More Deadly than Combat for Marines From Larry Shaughnessy
When this was written twenty-five Marines had died in motorcycle crashes in four months-- all but one of them involving sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph, according to Marine officials. In that same period, 20 Marines have been killed in action in Iraq. Read the rest of the article here. From the Dept of Labor's new site: Often, the on-the-job challenges of TBI and PTSD can be addressed with simple supports such as alarm clocks, scheduled rest breaks, memory/time management aids, adaptive technology and lighting adjustments. Other promising practices include job sharing, coaching and mentoring programs. Employers can learn more, select from the downloadable fact sheets, training tools and real-life success stories, or begin with a general overview by reviewing the frequently asked questions at the site. Employment can be difficult for combat veterans The Associated Press reports an estimated 300,000 from the two wars have returned home with mental health problems, so-called invisible wounds, and about the same number suffered head injuries, according to a private study from the RAND Corp. think tank. Associated problems can include depression, flashbacks, irritability, headaches and short-term memory loss. For those in the National Guard and Reserves, returning to a civilian job at a workplace such as a bank or firehouse can be difficult as they make the transition back while trying to cope with new issues. Also, some veterans have complained they can't find work after they leave the military because employers are hesitant to hire them because they are afraid of hiring someone with PTSD.
The Philadelphi Connection Professor Gerry sent us a clear, brief, analysis of what's Really going on in Iran. From the Brookings Institute... Excerpt: Gerry Ney is also a fine poet. See some of his poetry here: A Vietnam Veteran tells his story of PTSD, holding nothing backSteve Champeau has sad, tired eyes. He speaks cautiously, rarely laughs and rations smiles. His demeanor is not unkind — just worn-out. He is tired of fighting. Read a moving spiritual essay New Army program hints of great strides in early onset ptsd recovery. Soldiers who want to Soldier On have an alternative to Medical Discharge. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey: Replicate Fort Bliss PTSD Program Army News Service|by Virginia Reza FORT BLISS, Texas - Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey visited Fort Bliss July 13 and said that an innovative program there to treat post-traumatic stress disorders ought to be replicated at other locations across the Army. The "Restoration and Resilience Center" at Fort Bliss is a specialized treatment facility for Soldiers with PTSD who want to remain in the Army. The center is run by Dr. John Fortunato, a Benedictine monk, Vietnam veteran and clinical psychologist. Fortunato's first instinct was to design a place where Soldiers could go and feel comfortable. He did not want them isolated in their rooms because soldiers diagnosed with PTSD are easily over-stimulated and don't want to be around anybody. "Only - we can't leave them there," he said. "So I had to sort of seduce them out of their rooms." So Fortunato decided the center would have to look like a lodge at a ski resort. The entrance to the facility is equipped with oversized leather, mission-style chairs, wood floors and the sound of trickling water from a cascading fountain that sits in the lobby has a calming effect. At the end of a hallway, is an Asian-looking room with background therapeutic sounds, called the meditation room. "This room has a purpose," Fortunato said. "You can sense the music playing, which is based on breathing, and if you spend three minutes in this room with the door shut, without anyone talking you, you will find that your mental state has changed." Read more about this And another take on the story here. It seems to me this approach has much to offer Veterans: Maybe now is the time to buy or build your dream home. Click here for the Latest and Greatest page 2 "If I Die Before You Wake" sung by Dustin Evans. Do I Need To Be Tested For Hepatitis C? This article has been up for some time. It stays because it is so important to vets. Have you read it? aw What is Hepatitis C? Hepatitis C is a disease that affects the liver. It is caused by a virus called the hepatitis C virus, or HCV for short. According to published studies, almost 4 million people in the United States have hepatitis C. Veterans using VA facilities have higher rates of hepatitis C than the general population. Way.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C? Most people with hepatitis C don't have any symptoms. You feel fine, then you die. Some people have mild symptoms soon after being infected. jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) fatigue (being tired) muscle aches dark urine abdominal (stomach) pain loss of appetite nausea Usually, these symptoms go away without any treatment. Who should get tested? Talk with your VA doctor about being tested if any of the following are true for you.
If you: are a Vietnam Veteran!!! Wish to be tested. Have ever used a needle to inject drugs, even if just once and it was a long time ago Had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1991 Are a health care worker who had contact with blood on the job Are or have been on long-term kidney dialysis If your mother had hepatitis C when you were born Had exposure to blood on the skin Have tattoos or body piercings Have ever snorted cocaine Have liver disease Have a history of drinking a lot of alcohol Have had an abnormal liver function test Have had multiple sex partners It's OK to get tested if you just want to know your status. How can I protect myself? Right now, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. But there are things you can do to protect yourself from infection. The most important thing is to avoid other people's blood or things that might have other people's blood on them. Here are some suggestions: Do not shoot drugs. If you shoot drugs, stop and ask your doctor about a treatment program. While you wait for enrollment in a treatment program, do not share or reuse needles or other equipment, and get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Don't share personal items that might have blood on them. These items include razors, toothbrushes, and personal health supplies. Consider the risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing. You might get infected if the tools have someone else's blood on them, or if the artist or piercer does not follow good health practices, such as washing hands and using disposable gloves. Use a latex condom every time you have sex. Hepatitis C can occasionally be spread by sex. Talk with your sex partner about hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted diseases. Get vaccinated against hep B. If you are a health care worker, follow standard precautions. Handle needles and other sharps safely. These suggestions also may help protect you from other diseases, such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and HBV (hepatitis B virus). Godspeed. This radical declaration should be required reading for veterans who have taken an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution. Unfortunately, many of us Americans don't have a clue... Too bad. When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. excerpt from: The Declaration of Independence (1776) What do you think would happen if some radical wrote this and published it in 2008? Do you think the Homeland Security folks ... Man, I don't want to get into that! We are publishing the entire Declaration here. We have located a source for the 73 Basics of Democracy documents formerly published by the United States Information Agency and will soon have them available to read or download at UtVet.com. Check back.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged every nation in the world to sign the painstakingly negotiated pact “without delay.” Twelve days of negotiations ended after diplomats from scores of nations delivered speeches embracing the accord. It requires signatories not to use cluster bombs, to destroy existing stockpiles within eight years, and to fund programs that clear old battlefields of dud bombs. Participants plan to sign the treaty in the Norwegian capital Oslo in December. It would go into effect in mid-2009. Norwegian Deputy Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide, whose nation launched the negotiations in February 2007, said he was confident that the treaty would discourage the United States, Russia, China, Israel and other proponents of cluster bombs to use the weapons again. “The reality is that states do care about not only the legality of their actions, but also the perceived legitimacy and appropriateness of their actions,” he said. But Washington this week dismissed the prospect that the treaty would alter U.S. policy. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the United States remained committed to United Nations-sponsored talks that seek voluntary codes of “best practice” among leading makers of cluster bombs. These talks, also involving Russia and China, are not considering a ban. Several concessions The pact would allow countries that sign the treaty to keep cooperating militarily with those that do not. Earlier drafts of the treaty sought to prohibit such cooperation, an idea fought by the United States and its NATO allies on the grounds this would make joint peacekeeping work difficult if not impossible. Cluster bombs have been used in conflicts worldwide, from Vietnam to Iraq, to crush enemy forces by laying a carpet of dozens to hundreds of explosions with a single bomb, shell or rocket. Their devastating impact on the battlefield often comes at a terrible cost to civilians afterward, including farmers who strike unexploded “bomblets” in their fields or children who mistake the objects for playthings. A great radio show featuring featured Don Bendell. "
This is my thoughtful spot. I know I'm insignificant when I visit any length of time. What a view.
People sometimes wonder about my political persuasion: Democrat or Republican? I've been called an iconoclast and even a Trotskyite. I don't even know what that is. I suppose I'm a bit of a Federalist. But speaking as a veteran I'm quite impressed with Marine Major General Smedly Darlington Butler; winner of TWO Congressional Medals of Honor. Check out his essay; "War is a Racket." Food for thought. | Welcome to the Latest and Greatest newsletter. Did you see The Utah Mobile Vet Center at Utah Workforce Services offices in Saint George, Cedar City and Beaver Utah last month?
The Mobile Vet Center is designed to reach rural veterans. If you are interested in learning more about "evidence based wellness recovery training", which is what the Mobile Vet Van is really selling, you can call Brandon Gwilliam at 801 – 377 – 1117. aw
 Afghan tour is sobering An anonymous Utah serviceman writes this: "The only way we will win the war against terror is to help improve the quality of life and independence of these people. We will never win it with military might. Afghanistan has never been conquered — Alexander the Great, Genghis Kahn, the British, the Soviets have all come and gone. Read the rest of this compelling letter from the front lines in Afghanistan Remember last year when there was a stink that Soldiers and Marines were being discharged for Personality Disorder (where no benefits are awarded) and PTSD (that requires extensive care)? It's still happening! For three years The Nation has been reporting on military doctors' fraudulent use of personality disorder to discharge wounded soldiers [see Kors, "How Specialist Town Lost His Benefits," April 9, 2007]. PD is a severe mental illness that emerges during childhood and is listed in military regulations as a pre-existing condition, not a result of combat. Thus those who are discharged with PD are denied a lifetime of disability benefits, which the military is required to provide to soldiers wounded during service. Soldiers discharged with PD are also denied long-term medical care. And they have to give back a slice of their re-enlistment bonus. That amount is often larger than the soldier's final paycheck. As a result, on the day of their discharge, many injured vets learn that they owe the Army several thousand dollars. According to figures from the Pentagon and a Harvard University study, the military is saving billions by discharging soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan with personality disorder. Check out Sergeant Chuck Luther's sad situation here: It's very bad. Very.
Remember VA supervisor, Norma Perez's, email, calling for diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder; ruling out PTSD in order to save money? Many Veterans feel that she was only repeating what she was told from the top. This diagnosis makes subsequent truthful claims of PTSD problems much more difficult, if not impossible, for the Veteran. Her email was later repudiated by top VA brass but apparently she was not disciplined in any way, except to be transferred to a still undisclosed location. Read more about her email here... Derek Tolman, the two tour commander of a Utah-based military intelligence unit that was based in Afghanistan, has been promoted to Colonel. More on the promotion here: "Success in Afghanistan will not solely be a military solution," he said. "The military has its role in supporting security and it certainly has a role in disrupting insurgent networks, but I would place greater emphasis on the importance of the Afghan government . . . a lot of that is based on the successes in Iraq." Read the rest of the article from the Salt Lake Tribune here. Some neat pictures of new armored vehicles that are replacing humvees. The point is that no major power has ever prevailed in Afghanistan. Are we so different? And we are spending two Billion Dollars A WEEK in Afghanistan. aw Here is a point of view you just don't get on NBC, CNN, or Fox News.
from the Miami Herald By DAVID GOLDSTEIN McClatchy Newspapers Suicides among Army and Air National Guard and Reserve troops have spiked this year, and the military is at a loss to explain why. Sixty-five members of the Guard and Reserve took their own lives during the first six months of 2010, compared with 42 for the same period in 2009. The grim tally is further evidence that suicides continue to plague the military even though it's stepped up prevention efforts through counseling and mental health awareness programs. "Suicides among military personnel and veterans are at an epidemic rate, and it's getting worse," said Tim Embree, a former Marine who served two tours in Iraq and is now a legislative associate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, an advocacy group. Army Suicides Hit Record Number in June
Eleven of the soldiers were not on active duty. Of the 21 who were, seven were serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said. (The Department of Defense says that 20 of these 21 deaths are "potential suicides" that "remain under investigation." Read the DoD story here. aw ) Army officials say they don't have any answers to why more and more soldiers are resorting to suicide. "There were no trends to any one unit, camp, post or station," Col. Chris Philbrick, head of the Army's suicide prevention task force, told CNN. "I have no silver bullet to answer the question why." Last year, a record-breaking 245 soldiers committed suicide. The Army seems on track to surpass that number this year, as 145 soldiers have taken their lives in the first half of 2010. Tim Embree of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America testified Wednesday before the House Veterans Affairs Committee that many soldiers fear seeking help. "The heavy stigma associated with mental health care stops many service members and veterans from seeking treatment," he said. "More than half of soldiers and Marines in Iraq who tested positive for a psychological injury reported concerns that they will be seen as weak by their fellow service members." He pointed out that the statistics don't include the number of veterans who end their own lives. That figure surged 26 percent from 2005 to 2007, according to the Veterans Affairs Department. The Army has a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline, and has videos and other resources on its website. The Army's new suicide prevention video features a soldier talking about his own failed suicide attempt after his wife said she wanted to divorce him. The rifle he used to try to kill himself didn't fire, he says, and he later found out his comrade had disabled it because he was worried about him. Recovery: Family to Family The whole family is often wounded after a family member is exposed to something really horrible; beyond imagining. Often the result is broken families and disposable relationships. This is a tragedy; multiplied by the fact that relationships can become repairable. All the family members can get well! This goes way beyond learning to cope with the Veterans incurable mental illness! This is helping Veterans recover mental wellness and helping the whole family to do the same. I want families to know JOY. The VA has hard evicence that Veterans Can Recover Mental Wellness. We are teaching how to do it! Buddhists have a saying: "Man wait long time for roast duck to fly into mouth." You will wait a long time for the VA to deliver happiness to your home. You have to go out and seek it. You have to want it. But first you have to hope that life can actually be different. Without hope there can be no healing. But then Hope animates awareness. Awareness helps us accept that we can make some significant Changes. Not because we Have To. Simply because we want to. And we "want to" because we are focused on that which we desire. In this instance I think about any Veteran would agree that, next to health, there is nothing as valuable as a truely happy family in a stable home situation. Unfortunately, many of us have never experienced such a thing, living in a perpetual war of blame and guilt and anger. Active Conditioning can literally 'magnitize' us to draw to ourselves that which we desire through the powers of our minds and spirits. Imagine getting into a tub filled with water. The mass of our bodies pushes out the water, overflowing the tub. When we magnitize ourselves to attract Recovery, it fills our lives and pushes out chaos, uncertainty and fear; replacing it with Peace. What's the big deal about Recovery? Reprogramming ourselves to successfully live in harmonius relationships with others is the big deal. Relationships are the heart of anybody's Recovery. Love is a fundamental pillar of recovery. One can't really experience the joy of recovery alone. We need relationships to experience all life has to offer. Expanding someones potential to experience love is a huge deal. That's Recovery. We know we can never change the bad stuff that has happened. But what we can do is radically change how we think about it. That can change how we feel about it. And that can change how we act about it. When we can chose the changes we want to make: Show Time. That's when the benefits of Recovery emerge.
The yellow circle is as pure yellow as the internet will allow. Viewed on the black background that little circle of yellow looks hot and bright as the sun. But place the mouse over the sun. The background switches to white. What does the yellow circle remind you of now? One wiseacre said; "A urine hole in the snow." What happened to the bright yellow heat of the sun? Nothing changed in the yellow circle. It's all about the context. Combat, and military training change the mind. The brain will never work that same old way again. It's not a character defect. It's a bio-chemical neuro-muscular evolutionary survival mechanism in full working order. We don't want to train that battle mind away with "Coping Skills" that always let us down in the end. We want to form new neural pathways that can ease those PTSD symptoms to the degree that the Veterans PTSD symptoms can become practically "Undiagnosable." That doesn't mean the condition is 'cured'. That is not going to happen. But if you not experiencing any symptoms of illness, does it matter if you are not completely well? If you, or a Veteran you love has this brain injury, it can cause a flash temper, hard time keeping jobs, powerful urge to avoid crowds, and to be hyperalert. Vets with BrainFlash (PTSD) often have sleepless nights, they isolate themselves from others, they often use alcohol and dangerous drugs, they might threaten and hurt their family members, (without wanting to) to be highly agitated, and dangerously depressed, often at the same time. If all I was telling you that Veterans and their families often get wounded from military experiences, that would be bad. Terribly depressing. But I'm saying that Mental Health Recovery is possible. I'm also saying you don't have to have a PhD to recognize PTSD and do something about reducing the symptoms. Read a little about the VA's evidence based "Prolonged Exposure Therapy" here. More info on Mental Health Recovery and Family to Family come back to this spot soon. Post-traumatic stress disorder takes a 'village' Vets with PTSD need boosted grass-roots response In a long overdue move, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials took shears to the red tape that tangled up veterans pursuing disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder. Noncombat veterans who served in war zones no longer need produce backing documents or buddies to vouch for a specific event that triggered their PTSD. Now, it's presumed that a combat-zone veteran's claim of PTSD is service-connected. Certainly, the VA would have made an even bigger splash had it also lightened the load of its understaffed ranks of mental-health professionals by blessing PTSD diagnoses from private-sector therapists. While nearly 20 percent of troops in our two current wars struggle with PTSD, fewer than half ever seek treatment, according to a 2008 RAND Corp. study. The VA's struggle to trot out trained counselors fast enough to keep pace with the mounting need is partly to blame.
The Pentagon is scrambling to help war-torn vets, but it's a mission that extends to all ranks of society. Read the rest of the story from the Orlando Florida Sentinal here:
******************************************** ALL VETS SHOULD COPY THIS A healthful diet is essential for a healthy life. Read a recipe for a tasty, easy meal that your body will appreciate. Richard Baca's recipe for Pinto Beans and Bacon
Sunday 17 January 2010 http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news A US soldier on active duty commits suicide nearly every two days, the Pentagon has admitted. Has anyone seen this reported in the US media? I have not. (except the Army Times) aw
From our friends at the American Legion: A rising number of state and local criminal courts are recognizing that combat veterans who commit crimes may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or mild traumatic brain injury. If such is the case, they may need – and deserve – health care more than jail time. The trend is seen in jurisdictions that have established special veterans courts, and in states that have passed legislation to raise awareness among judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys that combat-related stress may be causing some veterans’ misbehavior. When PTSD is confirmed, judges today are handing down more constructive sentences to troubled veterans than stints in prison. These initiatives, combined with news accounts of “invisible injuries” inflicted on thousands of troops overseas, have changed the way many veterans who break the law are handled. Read more here:
Subject: Cursing at Work Dear Employees: It has been brought to management's attention that some individuals throughout the VA have been using foul language during the course of normal conversation with their co-workers and veterans. Due to complaints received from some employees who may be easily We do, however, realize the critical importance of being able to accurately express your feelings when communicating with co-workers. Therefore, a list of 18 New and Innovative 'TRY SAYING' phrases Number 1 Number 2 read the rest of these TRY SAYING phrases here: The Battle Inside Recent studies show that over a third of Veterans are diagnosed with a combat stress-related behavioral health issue like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or major depression. Of those diagnosed, nearly half won't seek any help and half of those that do seek help don't receive adequate care. The consequences of untreated behavioral health problems like PTSD can be grave. Compared to civilians, veterans living with PTSD are two times more likely to divorce, three times more likely to be unemployed and four times more likely to commit suicide. Deployment-related mental health issues are challenging to address from a warrior's perspective and from the standpoint of those currently trying to solve this problem. Stigma is always a concern, and common symptoms like avoidance can keep returning troops from asking for help, or in some cases even leaving the house. Read the whole story from Military.com here
Landing Zone X-ray , Vietnam November 11, 1965 Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in. You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out. Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again. Unless Ed Freeman performs a miracle... The Eagles' Nest:
Read more about the Eagles' Nest and North Star here:
Clik on the Picture for a Terrific List of Resources from The Welcome Home Project dot Org
A great west wind at three read more of Gerry's excellent poetry here Veterans of Foreign Wars offers practical help for Veterans experiencing stress saturation In the year ahead, thousands of troops will be returning from Iraq, while others will continue to serve in Afghanistan and other locations.
VFW programs and services are available to all veterans and their families and are not limited to VFW members. If you know of a returning service member or a military family in need of assistance, please forward this VFW website and encourage them to contact the VFW Department Service Officer, Dino Genco. 550 Foothill Drive, Suite 203. PO Box 581900. Salt Lake City, UT 84158-1900. Phone: 801 326-2385. Fax: 801 326-2388 For returning vets, a tragic toll on the roads “I was looking for that rush, and you just couldn’t find it,’’ said Taverna, 28, staring past his folded hands. “You’re driving 90 all the time. You’re hauling ass under overpasses. You just can’t flip a switch [when you come home].’’
Dominick Sondrini, 28, a former Marine officer, raced his car for the pure thrill of driving 90 miles per hour, “because I knew I wasn’t going to get in trouble.’’ Police nearly always allowed Sondrini, who would flash his military ID after a traffic stop, to drive away without a ticket, he said. Dangerous driving is often a byproduct of military bravado, the three veterans said. But among survivors of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the practice is now seen as a deadly crisis, prompting the Department of Veterans Affairs to take unprecedented preventive action. In the first years after returning from deployment, veterans of the two wars are 75 percent more likely to die in motor vehicle accidents than civilians of comparable age, race, and sex, according to a 2008 VA study. It's a simple fact that Veterans with PTSD often choose to treat their symptoms with drugs and alcohol. If you have reached the time when you discover that self medication has taken control of your life, check out the Eagles Nest and the Northstar residential recovery center at the Salt Lake VA I think this brief email from one of the staff there will give you a feel for the spirit of the place... Hello Andrew, So if you have a need for graphic design I suggest you contact Danielle. aw
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them. I met Shifty in th Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. Read the whole story here:
Seconds before the 24-year-old Army specialist lay prostrate, gasping for breath, he had been patrolling a northern road in Iraq from the back bench of his unit's Humvee. Cruising at 55 mph, the troops were clearing a route near the city of Kirkuk early in December 2004 when their truck hit a roadside bomb that obliterated their Humvee. "I couldn't get comfortable," Spec. Bryant Jacobs said he remembered thinking as he laid face down in the sand. "I couldn't really see it, but shrapnel went through my back and blew my large intestines out." Five years and 37 surgeries later, the heavily scarred veteran appeared to be sitting a little more comfortably Tuesday morning in what will soon become his own upper-bench Herriman neighborhood. Jacobs watched as a crowd of volunteers from Rainey Homes strapped on tool belts and went to work framing him a rambler in The Cove at Herriman Springs subdivision. Read the rest of this cool news here: Many Dying Vets Unaware Of End Of Life Benefits A Cool Video From Gordon Reno, USMC
New Stress Reduction Technique That Really Works! Just in case you are having a rough day (week, year, life), here is a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological journals. The funny thing is that it really does work and will make you smile. 1. Picture yourself lying on your tummy on a warm rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream.
This video might be a total scam; but if it is real, it's breathtaking. Check it out at www.UtVet.com/NukesForSale.html
Some Veterans in Provo, Utah have been meeting to discuss ways we can help one another. Our friend Don Weber shared some terrific ideas. I asked him to write them down so I could share them with you. aw IDEAS FOR VETERANS Preserve not only what we were and what we were part of, but who we are now. When you give “ten bucks” to a guy standing on a freeway off-ramp, not only is he appreciative, but you go on your way feeling better for having made a difference. It doesn’t matter what he does with the money. We need to learn and encourage “Brainstorming”, the concept that encourages ideas to flow, no matter how sublime or ridiculous, to bring ourselves out of our shells and allow bits of intelligent ideas to come together into a workable format. We need to overcome our innate fear of being “wrong” or seen as “stupid” or “out of touch”. This “coming together” will bring out cohesiveness, once the concept is learned. It is counterproductive to sit and be silent, waiting for the right moment when you are finally sure your idea will be accepted – that moment may never come and your voice may never be heard. Your original idea, while extreme or ridiculous at first, may jog another idea that is the right fit. Donald R. Weber You Might Have Diabetes and Not Know It Diabetes will sneak up on a vet. No heavy symptoms, maybe a little thirsty, then peeing every couple of hours, then BOOM. Amputations, Heart Attacks, Stroke, Premature Decrepitude, Death. And if you have spent any time around Agent Orange, your odds of metabolic problems just skyrocket. Take care of yourself! You think "That can't happen to me. I'm young and healthy." That's what my buddy, Annapolis grad Keith Haines, thought. Younger than me... then dead. InterMountain Health Care has invested big bucks in one of the premier Online Diabetes Education web sites in the nation. If you want to learn more, and live a longer, healthier life, Click here. Check it out. Utah soldiers watching Obama on wars "I'm not sure what is going to happen with the new administration coming in," said Green, now a student at Utah State University. "I don't know how much they'll support intelligence operations to find these guys." Read the rest of the story here
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Homeless Veterans This information, with some editing, is taken
from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Who are homeless veterans? The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says homeless veterans
are mostly males (2 % are females). The vast majority are single, most
come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45% suffer from mental illness,
and half have substance abuse problems. America's homeless veterans
have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam, Grenada,
Panama, Lebanon, the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts
in South America, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq.. Forty-seven percent of homeless veterans served during
the Vietnam Era. More than 67% served our country for at least three
years and 33% were stationed in a war zone. It is even more difficult to estimate Utah's
homeless population. It appears that Utah veterans are more likely to
be able to draw on family or Church resources than veterans in other
states, and are quite reluctant to seek out State or local social services. Thus, their need is less likely to be reported in official statistics. We are confident
that Utah's homeless veterans population directly proportional to the national
homeless veterans population. Hence we calculate that 2,395 Utah veterans are homeless on any given night and nearly 5,000 experience homelessness over the course of a year .
The Mindless Menace of Violence in America (A politician's speech I actually think is worth reading. ed.) This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity to speak briefly to you about this mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives. Read the rest of this powerful speech here: UtVet.com's good friend, Steve Champeau, contributed this insight just before he passed away. Great message, Steve. God and the Spider  During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen." Read the rest of this story of a Marine's personal miracle here: Just for fun: Would you believe we have video of Elton John
Have some fun. Read the development plan written by Sarge here: The Future of Veterans Benefits? The Veterans Administration is already the Second largest Federal bureaucracy. Even with all the "patriotism" that abounds today, I believe it is only a matter of time until citizens and bean counters begin to realize how big the VA really is! Some clever blogger will spread the news ... disabled vets only want a free ride. The media will eventually demand that the Government clear up the "waste, fraud, and abuses" at the VA -- in other words / Slash the budget. When that happens -- damn the torpedos. Your Veterans Benefits will be in grave danger.
I would remind them that President Hoover called out Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the 12th Infantry Regiment, and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, supported with six battle tanks to drive off the Bonus Army. These men had been promised Veterans Benefits after WWI. Thousands of Civil Service employees left work to line the street and watch the U.S. Army attack its own veterans with cavalry and tanks. Read an interesting article about the Bonus Army here.
Click on Vanessa to see the show. ----- Original Message ----- Readers note: I take no responsibility for the accuracy of the statements above. This is an email and may contain inaccuracies and opinions. On the other hand... I am a firm supporter of the second amendment to the US Constitution. The idea of federal gun control on the Australian model is a grave concern to veterans who have sworn an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution against all enemies; foreign and domestic. aw Farewell and Godspeed Steve Our good friend and frequent contributor, Steve Champeau, has passed away. His wife Suzanne says he left quickly and painlessly. Our love and condolences go out to his family. Steve worked tirelessly to overcome the heartbreaks of PTSD. He stands as an example for all vets who seek to improve their lives and relationships. We are sustained by our belief that life and love are eternal and that we will renew our friendship and continue our efforts to serve Vets on the other side of the veil. For those who know Steve, you can send condolences to his family at this address: Champeau Family
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“Anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.”
Veterans may go through many life–changing events while serving our country. 
My unit fought the Iraqi Republican Guard in three campaigns and my vehicle was point for the brigade. I drove for 172 hours straight, engaged in 100 hours of sustained combat and witnessed literally thousands of enemy combatants die in that short span of time. 
A 70% disabled vet, Don served as an officer in four Special Forces (Green Beret) Groups, including a 1968-1969 tour on an A-team at Dak Pek, in the northwest corner of II Corps, Vietnam. He was also a District Coordinator for the top-secret Phoenix Program"... Veterans Radio.
"The Mobile Vet Center reaches out to rural veterans in need of readjustment counseling after service to their country. Anyone wishing to schedule an appointment with the Mobile Vet Center readjustment counselor should call Brandon Gwilliam (located at the Provo Vet Center) at 801 – 377 – 1117" 
What Ever Happened to Norma Perez? Apparently nothing.
National Guard and Reserve suicide rates climbing
Sergeant Mike Overmeyer, past president of the Utah VVA Chapter 924, forwards this very informative info from SFC Robert D. Hitchings,
USA (RET) RGR/ABN
Stress relief in criminal courts
Read this 
A few choice words
Former Army sergeant Carlton Duncan, 26, nodded knowingly. He would drink too much, Duncan said, before grasping the wheel of his car and driving without any memory of where he went or how he got there.
Darrell "Shifty" Powers.
Volunteers Building a Home to Honor a Utah veteran
Palliative care is aimed at easing a person’s symptoms, for example pain or difficulty breathing, but is not intended to cure an illness or halt its progress. The VA pays for “full-scale” hospice and palliative care, and all VA hospitals have palliative care consultation teams on staff.
A tip of the UtVet hat to Gordon Reno. Thanks for this valuable insight.
Want to Buy a Black Market Nuke?
Sgt. Michael Green wants President Barack Obama to focus on human intelligence in Afghanistan, taking the needed time and tapping into the right military talent pool to dig for information from Afghani locals on where the "bad guys" are before sending in more troops to use force.
n this age of frightening news it's often valuable to get a second opinion. In fact, some declare All is well. All is Well. When I listen to this hymn I can believe it... at least for a little while.
We have leared by sad experience that these things never work out well unless they are fun. The most valuable resource in a vets recovery from Combat is a resillient safety net of friends and associates. A lifesaver when we fall off the trapeeze we put ourselves on. We want to help build that safety net for Utah veterans: one vet at a time. And have fun. Tell jokes, go to the movies with the boys, burn weiners, go fishing, go golfing, ride Harleys. Hang out with the home boys and get a reality check when your wife is driving you out of your frick'n mind. To get more information, or get on the phone list, or the email list, 
Some may say "Oh! Our government would never do that!"
