PTSD's Toll on our Soldiers

'Support our troops' rings hollow when it comes to post-traumatic stress disorder

My brother, Jim, was a soldier once, but when he died, at age 53, he was long past the time when anyone called him a hero. He died alone, in poverty, alienated from family and friends, his life and death complicated by war wounds that penetrated far deeper than the pieces of shrapnel that won him his Purple Heart. Jim was a Vietnam combat engineer who survived the war but later became another kind of statistic -- a lost soul, a veteran who never recovered from his experiences.......Read Rest Here

Catherine Whitney is the author of "Soldiers Once: My Brother and the Lost Dreams of America's Veterans"

Medal Of Honor Recipient’s Father:

FATHERS!

They seem to be the ones coming out and showing the civilian and military leadership, as well as this apathedic country, how the Military Troops should be treated!

From the deployable living conditions in military base barracks, World Wide, to newly built barracks that are now housing those suffering with PTSD, from their Multiple Tours in these theaters of occupations, 200yrds from a Firing Range, with day and night fire practice on a veriaty of arms!

Another father comes forward, still grieving the loss of his soldier son in one of those theaters:

Bush Must Sign The GI Bill If He Wants To Show Appreciation For Troops

Watch Video Here

Read Transcript of Video Here

McGinnis told the Army Times that he felt he had to seize the opportunity to speak out about the bill while in Washington: “If I didn’t do it when I was down there at the Pentagon or the White House, one of the two, when will I ever have the chance to make an impact?”
Both Bush and the Pentagon oppose Webb’s GI bill.

Ever wonder why we celebrate Fathers Day, this sunday June 15th, for those in the need to know, the above answers that Loud and Clear!!!

Happy Fathers Day well ahead of time!!

Keep In Front Of Mind, Who Had Total Control.......

As they Rubber Stamped Two Major Conflicts!

Signing off on Conflict Budgets with No Oversite and No Questions!

Whatever this administration wanted They Got, and are Still getting even though the People Want the Complete Opposite and Spoke out for last election!

Well we have now been watching the Results of Their 'Tough On National Defense and Supporting The Troops'!

They sent our Military into these Wars of Choice, and showed a Total lack of Concern about our returning Military Personal. Speaking hollow words of 'Support'!

Their Choice, to follow the Failed Policies and Incompetent Corrupt Leadership!!

Tampa Bay VA hospitals forced to turn away patients
Overloading is the reason for denying services. Critics say it's a national crisis.

Two Tampa Bay veterans hospitals turn away critically ill patients for huge chunks of the year because of an overloaded veterans' health-care system.

They managed to take an already strained VA Health Care system, thanks to inaction for far too long, and not only strained it further but once again broke it, as it was after our last major debacle.

"The VA has never dealt with its capacity issues seriously," said Bill Geden, district director in west-central Florida for the Blinded Veterans Association. "They're underfunded, undermanned and overloaded."

With the Billions, 'rubber stamped', and spent creating another generation of major numbers of maimed Combat Veterans, not only are these recent Veterans not being cared for properly, as we've been finding out, but Veterans of past conflicts are being pushed aside by a Nation, who through their Representatives, shows the lack of caring and concern!

Now who can Speak of 'Strong on National Defense', it certainly isn't those who base their political ideology on those words, they can't even take care of those who serve to make Defense Strong!

Who can speak of 'Supporting The Troops', it certainly isn't those who's Representatives show their total lack of 'Support'!

I went way beyond Fed Up long ago.

I want any and all running for National Office against any, who still call themselves republicans, asking the Questions of why our returning Military and our Veterans are facing these Major Problems. But especially our returning Combat Troops at a time of two Major Theaters of Operations!

They beat the drums of war and gave our Military the Finger!

UPDATED

New report on Military Suicides

Iraq, Afghan vets at risk for suicides

By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer 31 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Mary Gallagher did not get a knock at the door from a military chaplain with news of her Marine husband's death in a faraway place. Instead, the Iraq war veteran committed suicide eight months after returning home.