RANT: PTSD is pushed under the table

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The long road home
Boston Globe
by Bob Kinder

“Men and women, having seen years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, are killing themselves in record numbers. Many are divorcing. Some are addicted. Scores are angry and violent, unable to process their wartime experiences. Yet, routinely, these same brave veterans are kicked out of the service and denied benefits or hope of getting well. The problem isn’t new. … In 2007, under intense congressional pressure to improve mental-health care for combat veterans, the Department of Defense acknowledged it was unfairly discharging combat troops by erroneously claiming a service member had a personality disorder rather than post-traumatic stress disorder.” (11/11/10)

http://tinyurl.com/26ty47s

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Interesting. How does that jibe with the nation’s “care”?

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VETERANS: “a grateful nation remembers”; I think not!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

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“A grateful nation remembers”

You have to be kidding me. Remembers? No one even knows it’s Veteran’s Day or Armistice Day. Other than store “sales”, “We, The People” don’t remember. If we did, we wouldn’t permit young men and women to put their lives at risk for anything but the most well-thoughtout urgent national interest. And, when they come home broken or in a box, we’d give them the respect they deserve.

I’ll believe that “a grateful nation remembers” when:

• Military funerals are attended by the President or Vice-President, the Senators of that Vet’s State, their Congressman, the Governor, their state reps, their county reps, and their municipal reps. At least then, these “decision makers” would get the fullest sense of the cost of these escapades.

• When our troops are brought home from the 160+ countries. Why are we still in on the DMZ in South Korea and German? Didn’t those wars end long ago? Time for a new foreign policy and new Department of Defense.

• When our broken vets are fixed as best we can in a dignified humane fashion. “We, The People”, through the politicians we elected made this happen. We have to step up to our responsibility. We have failed. The politicians and bureaucrats are to blame. And we have to change the system.

• When we have a “war tax” to ensure that every American regardless of income level or station in life is overtly paying for these foreign excursions. Remember the Spanish American War Tax on every cell phone. Let’s bring it back! (I don’t advocate taxes.) But this will remind everyone every month that we have wars going on and they need an “exit strategy”!

Then, I’ll believe that “a grateful nation remembers”!

Donna Nobis Pacem!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: How do We, The People treat our vets

Thursday, July 8, 2010

http://www.sturgisjournal.com/opinions/columnists/x909196607/Bruce-Coulter-VA-acts-fast-when-it-feels-the-need

VA acts fast when it feels the need
By Bruce Coulter
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jul 07, 2010 @ 11:47 AM

*** begin quote ***

“Currently, the VA considers any reimbursement that compensates a veteran for his or her expenses due to accidents, theft or loss as income. Only reimbursements of expenses related to casualty loss are currently exempted from determination of income,” he wrote.

Under current law, if a veteran is injured in an accident or victimized by a theft and receives compensation to cover medical expenses, replacement cost of the items stolen, or for pain and suffering, he or she is subject to losing their pension.

“This means that the law effectively punishes veterans when they suffer from such an accident or theft,” Hastings said.

Despite the efforts of the veteran and Hastings, the VA has refused to reinstate the veteran’s pension.

To prevent a repeat of the VA’s idiocy (my words, not the congressman’s), Hastings introduced The Pension Protection Act of 2010, H.R. 4541 on Jan. 27. The bill would prohibit the VA from counting casualty windfall payments as income for the purposes of determining eligibility for the non-service connected pension benefit.

*** end quote ***

Gooferment!

Still haven’t heard anyone name a Gooferment that works (i.e., effectively accomplishes its mission, efficiently use the resources given it to accomplish an outstanding result, and cost-effectively at a cost that the folks can afford). We’ll leave aside the morality of stealing people’s wealth to do stuff that they didn’t agree to fund, don’t agree with, or don’t want to have anything to do with. Some “Land of the Free”. Free as long as you do what the plantation owners in the District of Corruption want you to do.

Argh!

Regardless about how you feel about any of the wars, these vets believed our sacred pledge. And, this is how we allow it to be redeemed in our name?

Argh squared!!

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GOVERNACIDE: Only vets should vote

Monday, May 31, 2010

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Today, I think and pray for all the dead — vets, non-vets, the “draft dodgers”, and those that have had their lives ruined by wars throughout our history.

I’m reminded of Washington’s “entangling alliances”. I think of Heinlein’s “Only vets should vote” and decide when to send troops in harm’s way. I think of all the venial politicians and some of the larger mass murders, some of whom were Presidents; they have led us astray.

But mostly I pray for all the lost potential.

And, of course, for my fellow vets, for the boys and girls in the field, and for the “dim bulb” politicians and bureaucrats who can’t seem to steer us to peace.

Signed, a USAF vet 70-73, who defended Maryland to the best of his meager abilities!

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RANT: “Pacific” short changed me?

Monday, April 19, 2010

Anyone watching “Pacfic”? It’s the “Band of Brothers” clone but aimed at the Pacific THeater of Ops as opposed to the European.

(You had to be crazy to do some of the stuff ordered. Like Hank’s portrayal of the DDay invasion, or the fire fights in Band of Brothers, only a crazy person would cross and open terrain like that airport under Japanese fire.)

Pacific was scheduled from 9PM to 10PM.

It ended at 9:50PM.

Then there was 10 minutes of filler.

Argh!

I have always thought the opening credit was long, but … …

So are we being “shortchanged”?

I felt so; maybe it’s just me.

Argh!

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INSPIRATIONAL: Hero has a heroine for a wife; shame on the VA

Friday, April 16, 2010

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2010/04/remembering-hero.html

Thursday, April 15, 2010
Remembering a Hero

*** begin quote ***

Almost everyone knows about Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier in World War II. For his combat actions in the European Theater, Murphy received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars and three Purple Hearts.

But fewer know the story of his widow, Pam. After her husband’s death in a 1971 plane crash, Pam Murphy went to work as a clerk at the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, a VA facility in North Hills, California.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like a heroic woman married to bona fide war hero.

Argh!

Never heard this story when she was alive; too bad. She deserved her own medals from the VA.

We’ll get VA level service from Obamacare andwe’ll wish she was still around.

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GOVERNACIDE: VA “care”?

Thursday, August 20, 2009

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090818/D9A58L482.html

6 more cases of botched cancer treatment at Pa. VA

*** begin quote ***

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Six more cases have been found of cancer patients being given incorrect radiation doses at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia. The errors happened in a common surgical procedure to treat prostate cancer. That brings the total to 98 veterans who were given…

*** end quote ***

Obama44 didn’t mention that in his speech to the VFW. Did he? Guess he just didn’t know.

And these bozos want to run everyone’s health care?

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VETS: Brian Bradshaw overshadowed by Michael Jackson

Monday, July 13, 2009

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2009/07/remembering-real-hero.html

Remembering a Real Hero
from In From the Cold by Spook86

*** begin quote ***

Amid today’s orgy of adulation over Michael Jackson, we should pause and remember real heroes–men and women who paid the ultimate price for this nation, but whose lives go uncelebrated.

U.S. Army Lieutenant Brian Bradshaw was one of individuals. He died on June 25th, the same day that Michael Jackson passed away. But Lieutenant Bradshaw didn’t die in a Hollywood mansion from a drug-induced heart attack. He was killed on a road in Afghanistan, when his vehicle was targeted by an improvised explosive device.

*** end quote ***

Well from now on anytime I hear “michael jackson” I will think of “Brian Bradshaw”! What about you?

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LIBERTY: Memorial Day; very sad

Monday, May 25, 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

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A lot of good men, and even some women, paid the ultimate price getting us to where we are now. Memorial Day remembers them.

And, that their sacrifice should not be in vane.

Sigh, sadly, I’m not so sure we appreciate it.

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RANT: Politicians and their stooge take the “don’t ask me” route

Saturday, March 7, 2009

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-about-families.html

Friday, February 27, 2009

What About the Families?

*** begin quote ***

Even by Washington standards, there’s something particularly feckless about the change in media coverage rules for the homecoming of our fallen troops.

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the press will be allowed to cover the return of their remains to Dover AFB, Delaware, but only on a case-by-case basis. Before being allowed to report (and photograph) the arrival of those flag-draped coffins, media outlets must gain permission from the families of slain personnel.

*** and ***

That should be the real legacy of our war dead–not some fleeting image from Dover AFB, aimed at advancing a certain point-of-view. Secretary Gates should learn to respect the wishes of most military families and the majority of those who have served in the War on Terror. As the Pentagon’s most powerful official, Dr. Gates has the obligation to disagree with his boss–when the situation warrants–and tell the media “no.”

This is one of those times.

*** end quote ***

Disgraceful!
The politicians and their stooge Gates are putting the families of the returning dead vets on the hot seat.
Just not fair! Just not proper! Just not appropriate!
Gates should revisit that BAD decision!
Argh!
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VETERANS: Get snubbed. No surprise there.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2009/01/little-unfinished-inaugural-business.html

Friday, January 23, 2009
A Little Unfinished Inaugural Business

*** begin quote ***

Among all the inaugural hoopla this week, there were a few incidents that we found disturbing–if not down-right offensive–because they took a direct shot at the nation’s military heroes, and the out-going commander-in-chief.

And we’re not referring to the smattering of boos and the refrain of “nah-nah-nah-nah, hey, hey…goodbye” that greeted George Bush as he arrived at the inauguration on Tuesday morning. These events occurred after Mr. Bush left town, at galas that commemorated the swearing-in of Barack Obama.

*** and ***

By comparison, the quadrennial “Salute to Heroes Ball” went on as planned, just as it has on every Inauguration Night since 1953. But this year’s event was noteworthy for its most prominent no-show: the new commander-in-chief. Barack Obama was the first president to skip the event, breaking a tradition that began with Dwight D. Eisenhower.
To his credit, Mr. Obama did attend the Commander-in-Chief’s ball, but the Heroes gala is no ordinary event. It’s been a staple of the inauguration for six decades and it’s chief sponsor is a powerful organization (the American Legion) that has been courted by every recent president and presidential candidate. Among those honored at the Heroes ball are the nation’s Medal of Honor recipients. This year, 47 of the 99 living MOH winners were at this year’s ball, where they were honored by Vice-President Joe Biden and other dignitaries.
Obviously, the president can’t make it to every inaugural event, but nine commanders-in-chief found time to attend. As for President Obama, he found time to attend something called the “Neighborhood Inaugural Ball,” aimed at D.C. residents. Apparently, living inside the federal district puts you higher on the social register than winning the nation’s highest decoration for military valor.
*** end quote ***

Sorry to hear this. Not surprised. Just sorry.
As a vet and an American Legion member, Liberals don’t value the military. Sometimes their disrespect is palpable. In this case, it’s subtle.
Argh!
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VETS: Closing the Speicher Case? The People need to “help” the politicians and bureaucrats!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2009/01/closing-speicher-case.html

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Closing the Speicher Case?

*** begin quote ***

The Navy will hold a hearing Monday on the status of Captain Scott Speicher, the F/A-18 pilot who disappeared on the opening night of Operation Desert Storm almost 18 years ago.

Members of the Speicher family believe that Navy Secretary Donald Winter is moving toward changing the aviator’s status from missing/captured to killed. Speicher was initially listed as killed in the hours after his jet went down over Iraq in January 1991. However, his status was changed to “missing in action,” based on an absence of evidence that he died.

A decade later, in October 2002, the service revised Speicher’s status again, listing him as “missing/captured,” although the Navy never explained the reason for the change. The revision came just months before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

*** end quote ***

Now no one would suspect that the Navy might want to save a few bucks. I smell politics between the “pentagon perfumed princes” and “congress critters”.

But then I am always suspicious of them and their actions. It’s not like the put servicemen first.

We, the People, need to “help” them understand that they can’t sweep this out of view!

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