"Hey Friends -- Would you give a dollar to someone who risked their life for you? We are in a big push this weekend to try to get every American to give $1.00 (or better yet $5.25 - to signify the date of Memorial Day) to help our wounded troops. This is what Memorial Day is all about.
"Yesterday by being on CNN and CNBC to talk about it-- Bob and I raised $21,000 just from people twittering and going to the website to give."............
ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and wife Lee raise funds for injured service members. They join CNN's TJ Holmes.
You can Visit Tweet To Remind, or ReMind.org to find out much more about 'A Memorial Day Goal for Bob and Lee Woodruff'.
This 30-minute documentary focuses on three veterans who sustained a brain injury in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The film is designed to educate the public, professionals, and advocates about what it means to live with a brain injury...........More at the Documentary Site
The sight of those rows of white headstones dotting the rolling acres of Arlington National Cemetery evokes chills and tears, for each is a testament to bravery; a monument to sacrifice.
I have never gone there when I did not cry.
On this Memorial Day, each of the more than 300,000 gravesites there — containing the remains of individuals from every war fought by this country — will be decorated with small U.S. flags, the symbol of the republic they held dear.................
The Pledge we 'Nam Vets made, the Pledge this Country made, "We will never forget the lessons of Vietnam!", back than! Those lessons weren't on how to fight a Guerilla Insurgency of residents of another country We Invade, But Never Wage Wars Of Choice!! And our collective Apathy and Arrogance allows failed policies towards others which leads the few to Beat The Drums Of War Of Choice and we encourage the slaughter!!
The Country, who cheers them on, goes into Denial and Refusal to grant what is owed to those they send!
The first Gulf war was a War of Choice when Bush Sr gave a certain old U.S. buddy a 'wink and a nod'!
The conflict I served in was a War of Choice built on lies with the lies continuing, even to today, and just one of the many results was returning military suffering from results of Defoliant Spraying which Government, Producers of, and the Public Denied it had adverse effects. Vietnamesse and Soldiers are still suffering the effects and this Country still Denies!
There are other reports that trickle out, as there were with the defoliants of 'Nam, like this one from Australia that people who really care pay attention to, others just give passing glances to.
Every day five U.S. soldiers attempt to take their own precious lives in the U.S. army. Or this article about Military Suicides which gives referance to present mysterious ailments of returning OIF Military personal.
Many U.S. veterans of the 2003 U.S. war in Iraq have complained of a range of serious diseases, including tumors, chronic blood strains in their urine and stool, sexual dysfunction, migraines, frequent muscular spasms, and other health issues similar to the debilitating symptoms of the “Gulf War Syndrome” and the Vietnam War Syndrome, known as “Agent Orange”.
Which is a Powerful Writeup that should be a Must Read, giving context to the Suicides and PTSD, which I'll get to shortly, I suggest you visit and read!
Here are a few more recent reports on 'Gulf War Syndrom' you can view Here and Here, the second one again coming out of Australia.
A BIG Thank You goes out to Ilona Meagher over at PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within, if you don't visit You Should! Ilona posts up some very important information and reports that should be read and embedded in this countries concious.
She has two recent ones that are powerful reminders, out of many, of what the Tragic Trauma's many experiance, from the Combat Battlefields to the Extreme Tragedies within a society, can do to some who live them. Many of those who suffer from do so Silently, especially those who never experiance the Combat Trauma's but their own events that live on within them, as well as the Combat Soldier who won't admit to his or hers concious reminders and triggers.
Those of you who read PTSD Combat regularly know I'm currently a student at Northern Illinois University and shared my experiences the day of the shooting and beyond.
After all these years, and the many Wars, with returning troops, and the civilians of countries invaded, suffering from their Traumatic Nightmares of the Living Hell on Earth, PTSD is Finally being mentioned as a result to many who live through the personal and collective tragedies a society create.
It gave mention in an article, from my old hometown paper, I happened to catch yesterday, Discovery still haunts man, a very sad story about a baby:
"It was almost like a post-traumatic stress kind of thing. . . . It was haunting for a number of years, even today," he said.
Along with the above I've heard it brought into the public realm, where it should already have been, a few times recently. One was a movie on Lifetime. The main charactor described an event from her childhood that haunts her with nightmares and fear that she, which was what the movie was about, was trying to rid herself from. Another was an interview on NPR where the young women mentions the trauma of her mothers death, both actually say the four important letters, PTSD.
The second post Ilona has is about Combat PTSD and the effects of on one soldier.
That link brings you to her site post, but hopefully she won't mind, I'm bringing it over to you, as it contains just a short introduction with five video's containing the show.
As Ilona writes:
A&E's Intervention program recently featured a segment on Brad, a young man coping with his PTSD by self-medicating with alcohol and marijuana after two Iraq tours with the 101st Airborne.
For those unfamiliar with the show, Intervention is a "series in which people confront their darkest demons and seek a route to redemption" by profiling "people whose dependence on drugs and alcohol or other compulsive behavior has brought them to a point of personal crisis and estranged them from their friends and loved ones." Brad's journey is a powerful and important episode.
These are ambitious but critical goals. "Let me tell you my theory about PTSD," said US VET's Mitchell, a Vietnam veteran and licensed counselor. "Everyone that is in a combat zone experiences PTSD. The key is what support systems are there for when they get home."
There is no shortage of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who need help adjusting to civilian life. And, unlike during the Vietnam War, there is no shortage of civilians who want to embrace the nation's returning warriors, even if they don't support the war.
One new grassroots effort will take place at noon Monday, when more than 1,000 therapists from around the country will participate in an online forum on treating Iraq war vets suffering from trauma. It can be seen at UCTV - University of California.
Actually If one visits, or listens to, the Pro-War, though Not Serving, folks and their sites, Very Little is being done or said by them!
This planet, not only this country, but this country Must Take The Lead, must finally start to realize what it's Wars of Choice do to those they send but more important to those innocents forced into that Hell, the Long Term Effects!
By doing so it will better understand what, in silence, many living within it's communities are going through from their own extreme tramatic life events and how it effects much of what they do as they moved forward from them, from the silent suffering to possibly causing others experiances that should not have occurred!
This is a day late, but important, especially for those in the state of Wisconsin and may not have known about it. I want to thank Ilona Meagher, of PTSD Combat : Winning the War Within for pointing me over to a radio show, on a day I'm getting Iced out of work, that actually aired yesterday:
WGTD Morning Show: A Discussion with Dr. Edward Tick on Combat PTSD Posted: 16 Jan 2007 11:38 PM CST Thanks to new media, you don't have to be in Kenosha, WI Wednesday morning to catch an informative program on combat PTSD. Just tune into WGTD's online stream at 8:10 am CST/9:10 am EST (or check show archives following its airing). Click on 'Article Link' below tags for more...
in her postings that are sent out.
I visited to see if it was archived, it wasn't yet, the most recent on that list is from the 12th, looks like they let the week run out before posting those shows. So I decided to listen to the live feed. On their local and state news section a report came up about 'Gulf War Syndrom', so in searching to see if I could find a link to it, or a printed report I found a link to the Wisconsin Veterans Section with 'Gulf War Syndrom' listed which led me to what's posted below.
Kicking off the day's conference will be a proclamation issued by Governor Jim Doyle, remarks by WDVA Secretary John A. Scocos on the significance of the day, comments by various dignitaries, and a presentation on Gulf War veterans' service-connected disability claims that will be of particular interest to Gulf War veterans and their advocates.
In public recognition of the continuing sacrifice by members of the U.S. armed forces who develop illnesses from exposure to Gulf War-related risk-substances,2005 Wisconsin Act 37designates January 17th of each year as"Gulf War Illnesses Recognition Day."
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN _________________________ OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR A PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, in response to the August 2, 1990 invasion of the State of Kuwait by the Republic of Iraq, a coalition of approximately 30 nations including the United States of America launched Operation Desert Storm at 3:00 a.m. local time on January 17, 1991 in order to enforce United Nations resolutions for Iraq to end its occupation of Kuwait; and WHEREAS, about 10,400 Wisconsin service members served in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, with 11 losing their lives; and WHEREAS, during the course of their Persian Gulf War service, these service men and women were exposed to endemic diseases, anti-nerve agent pills and biological warfare agent vaccinations administered without informed consent, and a veritable toxic soup of burning oil well fires, depleted uranium, low-level exposures to chemical warfare agents, pesticides, and petroleum products; and WHEREAS, nearly one-third of the approximately 697,000 U.S. service men and women who served in the 1991 Persian Gulf War have been granted federal service-connection for a myriad of illnesses and injuries, including chronic multi-symptom illnesses, neurological disorders, and an array of disabling health conditions; and WHEREAS, elevated rates of life-threatening diseases including Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), brain cancer, and testicular cancer have been documented among Gulf War veterans in peer-reviewed medical studies; and WHEREAS, as a public expression in recognition of the continuing sacrifice by members of the U.S. armed forces who develop illnesses from exposure to Gulf War-related risk-substances, the State of Wisconsin, by 2005 Wisconsin Act 37 enacted on August 17, 2005, designated January 17 of each year as "Gulf War Illnesses Recognition Day"; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jim Doyle, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, do hereby proclaim January 17, 2007, as GULF WAR ILLNESSES RECOGNITION DAY throughout the state and encourage all Wisconsinites to honor and recognize those members of the United States armed forces who served in Operation Desert Storm ? the Gulf War ? for their dedicated service, and courage in protecting and defending the United States, and request that part of the day be used for quiet contemplation to honor those brave members of the U.S. armed forces who suffer illnesses as the result of their service to our nation. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Madison this tenth day of January in the year two thousand seven.
By the Governor DOUGLAS LA FOLLETTE Secretary of State
Fifteen years ago, as the nation sat down to dinner, President George H.W. Bush announced to a hushed nation, “ Just two hours ago, allied air forces began an attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait.” After months of deploying military forces from dozens of nations in a massive coalition troop buildup, so began the Persian Gulf War on January 17, 1991 at 3:00 a.m. local time.
In all, nearly 697,000 Americans served in theater during the 1991 Gulf War, including an estimated 10,400 from Wisconsin. Eleven of our brave Wisconsin service members never came home. For those who did return home, some had been wounded – physically, psychologically, morally. For others, the host of strange symptoms they were experiencing came to be known collectively as Gulf War Related Illnesses or Gulf War Syndrome. Of those who were deployed to the Persian Gulf between Aug. of 1990 and Jul. 1991, more than one of every three have now filed claims for service-connected disability compensation, including nearly half of those identified as having been exposed to low levels of Sarin nerve agent when a bunker filled with chemical munitions was detonated near Khamisiyah, Iraq shortly after the Feb. 1991 ceasefire. Veterans identified by the Department of Defense as included in the Khamisiyah group received a letter in December informing them of the elevated rate of brain cancer among their group. Researchers have also found doubled rates of Lou Gherig’s Disease (ALS) among Gulf War veterans. This year, our “Year of the Disabled Veteran,” we must do better at effectively helping our disabled veterans to gain effective treatment. And this January 17, Wisconsin is the first state in the nation to recognized Gulf War Illnesses Recognition Day, a day statutorily designated for recognition of those who still suffer from post-deployment health issues. In order to protect our current troops, we must learn the lessons of the 1991 Persian Gulf War to ensure that we will one day be able to treat and prevent the lingering health effects experienced by those who waged the war for the liberation of Kuwait amidst a battlefield filled with burning oil well fires, low levels of chemical warfare agents and other toxins, and exposure to a host of experimental drugs and vaccines. And, through “Mission: Welcome Home” and related efforts, we must ensure that our newest returning veterans are warmly reintegrated into the society that caused them to be sent to war, while ensuring that they are made fully aware of the range of programs and services available to them.
When was the last time you heard about 'Gulf War Syndrom' and the Thousands of Veterans, of the first gulf war, who are suffering from? Why is this just a Single State Action, and still not being covered by the Media, as it should, nor given the recognition by the Federal Government of whom these Military Personal Served Their Duty to, Us, when being sent into a War Theater? This is something that Should Not Be left to the individual states, not only to recognized but fund, this is a Federal Government Issue, as are All Issues related to what the Federal Government does concerning our Military Personal, Period!! I'll give you the quick but most important reason that issues such as this are pushed off the public radar, as they always are concerning our Military Personal and the results of the Conflicts they are sent into, M*O*N*E*Y!! I don't care what political party one belongs to No One Wants To Pony Up The Costs Needed, but Many are more than Willing to Spend Multi-Billions to Wage Senseless Wars on others, have No Questions about where the Billions upon Billions are going as to the Defense Department or the Military Industrial Complex thinking they are being Tough on National Security. Hell we don't even want to Rebuild the Countries We Destroy, we call the people our Enemies after Destroying them and their Countries!!! Human 'Animal' Nature, Disgusting!!! Just ask a 'Nam Vet how Country treats you if you had developed illnesses from Defoliants. or PTSD, hell ask any Conflict Vet about what some have and are going through. And just watch what happens to our Present War Theater Veterans, hell it's been happening already!!
WGTD Morning Show: A Discussion with Dr. Edward Tick on Combat PTSD Posted: 16 Jan 2007 11:38 PM CST Thanks to new media, you don't have to be in Kenosha, WI Wednesday morning to catch an informative program on combat PTSD. Just tune into WGTD's online stream at 8:10 am CST/9:10 am EST (or check show archives following its airing). Click on 'Article Link' below tags for more.................
DoD's 2005 Survey of Health Related Behaviors Posted: 16 Jan 2007 03:08 PM CST Released on Friday, the DoD's 2005 Survey of Health Related Behaviors among Active Duty Military Personnel is now available. From the DoD: This is the ninth survey in the series of anonymous surveys asking active duty service members about various lifestyle and.............
