Topic: Care Packages for the Troops; Jacob's Light
Originally aired on December 17th, 2008
Dorine Kenney lost her only child Jacob to the Iraq war. Eleven days after Jacob's death, on his 29th birthday, Dorine sent a care package to one of her son's friends still serving in Iraq. This single act spawned The Jacob's Light Foundation, an organization to honor her son and care for those still fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Topic: Care Packages for the Troops
Jacob's Light
Dorine Kenney
Founder
Jacob's Light Foundation
Operation Homefront, Inc.
Dorine Kenney
Dorine Kenney gave birth to Jacob Fletcher on November 25th, 1974. As the years past and he grew older their bond only grew stronger. Dorine was supportive of her son when he was deployed to Iraq, and once he had settled in she sent him care packages once a week. When Jacob asked her to send a package to his buddy she did not hesitate. Tragically, Jacob was killed on November 13, 2003 by an IED. On Jacob's birthday, November 25th, 2003, Dorine sent another care package to Jacob's buddy in Iraq. She believed it was the best way she could honor her son. That day Jacob's Light Foundation was born, and 5 years later Dorine and her amazing set of volunteers have sent over 200,000 pounds of supplies to those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cpl. Jacob Fletcher
Jacob Fletcher was born on Novemer 25, 1974 and was raised by his mother Dorine in New York. He had always had a love for the military, but after September 11th he decided he had to join the Army and serve his country. Jacob was with the 173rd Airborne Brigade when he jumped into Iraq on March 26, 2003. While in Iraq he wrote his mother often. In one letter he requested she send one of her care packages that he had grown to love to his friend that had no family. This request was just one example of how he was always looking out for those around him. Tragically, on November 13th, 2003, Jacob was killed by an IED on Highway 1 in Samarra. Jacob left his mother and his community with a profound sense of loss but he also left them with his light. It was his light of sharing that inspired his mother to form Jacob's Light Foundation and send care packages and gifts to those fighting in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the hopes that no one serving will ever feel alone.
Topic: Military Suicide Featuring: The War Within: Chapter 1
Originally Aired on December 3rd, 2008 and Will Continue on December 10th, 2008
The War Within
A Marine Reservist seeks help from the Veterans Administration to heal his invisible wounds. But like too many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, his condition worsens, his medical needs go un-met, and he ultimately takes his own life. For the past four years, his family has been advocating to prevent other veterans from experiencing a similar fate.
Joyce Lucey
Jeffrey's Mother
Kevin Lucey
Jeffrey's Father
Dr. Judith Broder
Director
The Soldiers Project
Jeff Lucey
Jeffrey Lucey joined the US Marine Corps Reserves in December 1999 while attending Holyoke Community College. He was 18 years old. Three years later he was driving a convoy through the desert during the initial invasion of Iraq. While he returned home physically unscathed, Jeff was mortally wounded, suffering from PTSD/combat operational stress. "Jeffrey slept little, ate little, was restless, hyper-vigilant, confused, angry, and frustrated," say his parents, Kevin and Joyce Lucey. "[He was] isolated in his mind, wracked with guilt, sadness, depression, rage; he was panicked, desperate, hopeless, overwhelmed, and full of rage, wanting to talk and yet at the same time wanting to be silent." Jeffrey went to the VA twice for help, but didn't get the care he needed. On June 22, 2004, 23-year-old Jeffrey Lucey decided he could no longer live with himself and took his own life. While his struggle has ended, his family's is far from over.
Kevin and Joyce Lucey
Kevin, a therapist in Connecticut, and Joyce, a retired nurse, are the parents of three. Jeffrey was their only son. Ever since Jeff lost the battle with his PTSD, Kevin and Joyce have been advocating for the establishment of a realistic and efficient healthcare system, especially for veterans dealing with invisible wounds, like post-traumatic stress disorder. Part of that advocacy involves a lawsuit they've filed against the Veterans Administration for medical malpractice and wrongful death.
Related Organizations:
The Soldiers Project
SPAN - Suicide Prevention Action Network
Topic: Military Sexual Trauma Angie's Story
Originally aired on November 19th, 2008
Angela Peacock
Army Veteran
Smita Satiani
Sexual Assault Counselor
Certified (State of CA)
Related Organizations:
RAINN - Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
TS Nelson Publications
US Vets
Sgt. Angela Peacock
Army Sergeant Angela Peacock joined the military in February 1998. She wanted to travel, serve her country and gain some life experience. In 2001, while deployed in South Korea, Angie was raped by a fellow soldier. She was encouraged by her command not to tell, so she held it in, and in 2003 she took it to Iraq with her. She led her unit courageously, but silently struggled until she couldn't stay quiet any longer. Out of Iraq and back at home, Angie decides to take control of her PTSD - a result of both her military sexual trauma and combat stress - and take her life back.
Topic: Employment After Service Beyond Basic Training Chapter 2
Kevin Randolph
Army Specialist (RET)
David Leonard
Liberty Project Coordinator, The Salvation Army
After being medically retired from the Army, Iraq veteran Kevin Randolph and his family are without options. They move to a transitional housing facility, and Kevin must enter one of the worst job markets in recent history to support his wife and their new baby.
Originally aired on November 5th, 2008
Kevin Randolph
Army Specialist (Ret.) Kevin Randolph joined the service straight out of high school. In 2003, he started in the Air Force and in 2005 switched to Army. He deployed to Iraq out of Fort Drum, New York in 2006. Six months into his deployment Kevin was hit with an IED, which broke his fibulae, tore his meniscus and did a lot of irreparable damage to his knee and leg. Since returning stateside, the 23-year-old vet received a disability discharge and was forced to move his family off of base, and move back into the civilian world with no job and only $1,000 per month from the Army. Like many vets, Kevin has struggled with reintegrating. Now, he and his wife Elise and their new baby Zeppelin live in a transitional housing facility in San Antonio, while Kevin awaits his VA benefits and looks for employment in an unraveling job market.
Elise Randolph
Elise met Kevin shortly after he returned from Iraq, and it wasn't long before they were married and had baby Zeppelin on the way. Without any other options, the young family moved into Operation Homefront Village in San Antonio, where they currently reside. There, Elise is able to get financial help with buying diapers and other baby needs, while Kevin tries to find a job. Now the stakes are higher. Elise recently found out she's pregnant again, which means she'll have two babies to care for with an unclear financial future. Once Kevin gets his VA benefits, they have to leave Operation Homefront, whether Kevin has a job or not.
Topic: Employment After Service Beyond Basic Training Chapter 1
Originally aired on October 29th, 2008
Beyond Basic Training
After being medically retired from the Army, Iraq veteran Kevin Randolph and his family are without options. They move to a transitional housing facility, and Kevin must enter one of the worst job markets in recent history to support his wife and their new baby.
Elise Randolph
Army Wife
Gracie Broll
Director
Operation Homefront Village
Kevin Randolph
Army Specialist (Ret.) Kevin Randolph joined the service straight out of high school. In 2003, he started in the Air Force and in 2005 switched to Army. He deployed to Iraq out of Fort Drum, New York in 2006. Six months into his deployment Kevin was hit with an IED, which broke his fibulae, tore his meniscus and did a lot of irreparable damage to his knee and leg. Since returning stateside, the 23-year-old vet received a disability discharge and was forced to move his family off of base, and move back into the civilian world with no job and only $1,000 per month from the Army. Like many vets, Kevin has struggled with reintegrating. Now, he and his wife Elise and their new baby Zeppelin live in a transitional housing facility in San Antonio, while Kevin awaits his VA benefits and looks for employment in an unraveling job market.
Elise Randolph
Elise met Kevin shortly after he returned from Iraq, and it wasn't long before they were married and had baby Zeppelin on the way. Without any other options, the young family moved into Operation Homefront Village in San Antonio, where they currently reside. There, Elise is able to get financial help with buying diapers and other baby needs, while Kevin tries to find a job. Now the stakes are higher. Elise recently found out she's pregnant again, which means she'll have two babies to care for with an unclear financial future. Once Kevin gets his VA benefits, they have to leave Operation Homefront, whether Kevin has a job or not.
