Iraq Veteran's Day Will No Longer Be A Homeless One

Veteran and family gifted new house
FOX 13 News
Kelly Cowan
November 4, 2016

Guevara Ruiz was part of the first wave of soldiers sent to Iraq in 2003. He served 12 years in the army before being medically discharged. Suffering from PTSD and anxiety, he and his family struggled for years and were at times homeless.

TAMPA (FOX 13) - From homeless, to homeowner: with Veteran's Day just around the corner, a Bay Area vet and his family are moving into their very first home. Friday morning the dream of home ownership came true for Iraq War veteran Manny Guevara Ruiz and his family.

"It's something that never dawned on me that could happen to us," said Manny, who for nine years has moved his family from place to place, at times relying on the kindness of friends and family for a place to stay.

"Knowing that this is ours and we won't have to worry about being homeless again is very surreal, it's very humbling," said wife Erica Guevara Ruiz.
read more here

Air Force Afghanistan Veteran Receives Silver Star

Airman receives Silver Star for battlefield bravery in Afghanistan
Air Force Times
By: Charlsy Panzino
November 4, 2016

(Photo Credit: Airman Miranda A. Loera/Air Force)

Under fire and drenched from head to toe in the frigid waters of Afghanistan's Bala Murghab River, former Airman 1st Class Benjamin Hutchins refused to leave the two soldiers who needed his help.

Hutchins, a tactical air control party airman, fought back and refused to give up on the two soldiers, who were being swept away by the river's current, until reinforcements arrived.

For his actions on that day in 2009, Hutchins on Friday was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor.

"It's not a medal for me," Hutchins, who is now medically retired, told Air Force Times. "It's a medal for all the other folks who are slaving away right now and doing the same stuff but not getting the recognition."

Hutchins, who was assigned to the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Brag, North Carolina, was honored Friday, exactly seven years after his actions in Afghanistan.
read more here

Canada: Suicide Toll Reveals How System Failed Soldiers and Veterans

THE UNREMEMBERED
Suicide toll reveals how system failed Canada's soldiers and veterans
TORONTO/MONTREAL/CALGARY — The Globe and Mail
RENATA D’ALIESIO, LES PERREAUX AND ALLAN MAKI
Published Friday, Nov. 04, 2016

Since then, The Globe’s continuing investigation uncovered the suicide count has climbed to at least 70. There is no word yet of any government or military plans to remember these fallen.

Canadian army soldiers board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter as they leave forward fire base Zangabad in Panjwai district in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, June 18, 2011. (Baz Ratner/Reuters)

This article is part of The Unremembered, a Globe and Mail investigation into soldiers and veterans who died by suicide after deployment during the Afghanistan mission.

They were sons of bankers, miners and infanteers. They were strongmen and endurance runners. They were husbands and fathers who took their children camping and taught them how to play shinny on backyard rinks.

All 31 were dedicated Canadian soldiers and airmen who served on the perilous Afghanistan mission. They all came home. All ended their lives.

Most were haunted by the things they saw and did in Afghanistan, their families told The Globe and Mail. Many asked the military for help, but in several cases, their medical assessments and treatment were delayed, even as their post-traumatic stress, depression and sleeplessness worsened.

The families of the 31 fallen spoke to The Globe as part of a collaborative effort to commemorate military members and veterans lost to suicide after serving on the Afghanistan mission, Canada’s longest military operation. Many are speaking publicly about their loss for the first time. And for many of the military members, this is the first public recognition of their sacrifice.

Together, their stories paint a disturbing picture of delayed care, ineffective medical treatment and insufficient mental-health support. The 31 accounts are the most comprehensive public record of Canada’s Afghanistan war veterans lost to suicide – unwitting monuments to a system that is failing too many vulnerable soldiers and veterans.
read more here

Veterans Hooked on Heroin After VA Pain Pills

Veterans hooked on heroin struggle to find help
KRDO ABC 13 News
By: Bart Bedsole
Posted: Nov 03, 2016

A top VA pain management expert, Dr. Julie Franklin, recently testified to the House Committee On Veterans Affairs that almost 60% of veterans returning from the Middle East have some form of chronic pain requiring treatment.

A KRDO Newschannel 13 investigation found that 63,880 veterans were treated in 2015 for an opioid use disorder.

A KRDO Newschannel 13 investigation revealed that a large number of heroin addicts in America are veterans.

Not only has the VA health care system struggled to help them, but it may also be responsible for inadvertently creating the addictions in the first place.

Ross Armentor is recovering heroin addict who has been sober for three years this month.

Shortly after serving in Iraq in 2003, he was prescribed the powerful painkiller Percocet, which contains the opioid oxycontin.

He was suffering from a torm hamstring at the time.

Within a few months, he was addicted.
read more here

Fort Carson Special Forces Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

DOD confirms two soldiers assigned to Fort Carson died in Afghanistan
KKTV News 11
November 4, 2016

FORT CARSON, Colo. (KKTV) The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed Friday two soldiers working with Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan who were killed were assigned to Fort Carson.

They have been identified as Capt. Andrew Byers, 30, of Rolesville, N.C. and Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Gloyer, 34, from Greeville, Penn.

The DOD says the soldiers were assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) of Fort Carson.
read more here

Golden Retriever Watches Over PTSD Veteran on Job as Paramedic

Local service dog rides in ambulance to help her owner cope with PTSD
ABC 13 News
Lisa Guyton
November 2,016

TOLEDO (13abc Action News) - You've no doubt seen service dogs providing all kinds of help to people around the community. But Star is probably the first of her kind in our region She rides around in a ProMedica ambulance, helping her owner as he battles Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

Star is a one-year-old Golden Retriever, Labrador mix. She's only been on the job for a few weeks but she has already had a big impact on the man she was trained to help.

Louis Belluomini is a ProMedica paramedic. Before this career, he was in the Army for nine years. He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, "I think the majority of veterans have PTSD to some extent."

Louis says he was diagnosed with PTSD after his first tour. Medicine is what helped him at first, now it's Star, "She's woken me up from nightmares sometimes two and three times a night. She senses when something is off, when it's not right."

Louis says one of the other important things Star does is protect his personal perimeter, "As members of the military we are trained to watch our back and our partner's back. By having her I don't have to ever worry that someone is behind me because she is always watching behind me."
read more here

Vietnam Veteran Gets Home Repaired by Miami Dolphines

Miami Dolphins, Bank of America Repair Veteran’s Home
NBC Miami
November 3, 2016

In honor of Veterans Day, the Miami Dolphins partnered with Bank of America in giving the home of a U.S. Army veteran a major makeover.

Joe Riddick, 65, is a U.S. Army veteran who's served in Vietnam, and parts of the Gulf War.

"I did it for the country you know, because I love this country of America," Riddick said. "I'm glad to do it, and I would do it again."

Riddick and his wife Shonda now live in Opa-Locka but his home isn't a symbol of a heros welcome. The home is in need of several repairs.

That's why the Miami Dolphins and Bank of America is partnering to give Reddick's home a makeover.
read more here

November Central Florida Veterans Events

Central Florida Veterans Events
From Cathy Haynes

NOVEMBER 2016 –Week #1 of veterans, military and patriotic events in Central Florida This list does NOT include the Veterans Day events. It will be sent soon.
*Send me your events – people cannot attend an event if they don’t know about it!
*Event information is concentrated mostly on the Central Florida counties served by the new VA Hospital at Lake Nona – Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Lake and Volusia. Other events elsewhere are considered based upon uniqueness and groups best served.
*Every effort is made to put a space into email addresses and websites – firewalls and spam filters don’t like direct links, website and email addresses. If you use ‘Copy and Paste’ to make contact or get additional information, please keep this in
Avoid the confusion - Just a bit of a reminder - There is a difference between veterans and military.

Sometimes people get confused that veterans were once active military but they are not officially serving anymore. And our military who are serving now and will one day be veterans. Retired veterans served a specified required time in service. All military retirees are veterans but not all veterans are military retired.

Veterans Day honors all persons who once were in the military - especially the living. Formerly known as Armistice Day after WWI – 11/11/11 – Eleventh day of the Eleventh month at the Eleventh hour.

Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May - it was established in 1950 to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force Days. That is a day to pay tribute to men and women who ARE currently serve the United States’ armed forces.

Memorial Day honors those who died while serving in the military; Observed on the last Monday in May.

Hats Off to Our Veterans – Nov 1 – 14 – AVET Project, based near Patrick Air Force Base, sponsors this fundraiser where businesses/groups offer special HATS that can be purchased for a donation. The HATS can hang on a chosen WALL – at work, at home, etc., for the month of November. The HATS are provided by AVET Project. Proceeds assist active military, veterans, and their families in MANY ways. Contact: Kim at kim@ avetproject .org

Space Coast Veterans Prayer Breakfast – Wed. Nov 2 – Keynote speaker Col. Danny McKnight will address the attendees from 7:30-9:30, at Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, 200 Rialto Pl, Melbourne, 32901. Coordinated by the Space Coast Paratroopers Association (SCPA). Contact Doug at 321-408-2289 Donald.Overton@ palmbayflorida .org

Career Fair – Wed. Nov 2 - Over 35 employers will be conducting interviews with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Golf Channel, Sea World, Massey, UPS, The Middlesex Corporation, Universal Orlando, Amazon and many more. 11am – 2pm at the UCF Venue (behind the CFE Arena). Attendees who RSVP will be entered to win various door prizes. Parking is available in garages D and H, across from the arena. Info: lorine.cisch-taylor@ ucf .edu or joshua.johnson@ ucf .edu

Greeters needed! Honor Flight Welcome Home – WED. NOV 2 - Orlando Int’l Airport – LAST FLIGHT FOR 2016! After a day spent in Washington DC, 40 veterans - 13 veterans of WWII, 27 beginning their service from the Korean War - return home thru Orlando Int’l Airport. (This group includes an Air Force fighter pilot shot down over Vietnam and spent over 6 years as a POW, a Marine who took part in the Inchon Landing in Korea, an Air Force test pilot, and a Canadian engineer.) This Honor Flight hub is a part of the nation-wide organization that takes veterans on a single day trip to our nation’s capital where they visit the WWII, Korea, and Vietnam War Memorials, Marine Corps Iwo Jima and the Air Force Monuments, and witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. This particular group will return just about 9:20pm and enter the terminal area at (+/-) 10:00pm. Come welcome these former warriors home! “Welcome Home” receptions at the airports makes a difference! Bring your flags, banners and signs! – Southwest Airlines # 936 from Reagan National (DCA) (Note: Different departure airport than usual), Terminal A, Airside 2 (hotel area in front of Starbucks.)
Before leaving home, check online to see if the flight is on time because there may be delays due to weather, mechanical or medical issues. Free parking has been arranged at an off airport property – FastPark and Relax – who has been very generous to Honor Flights with free parking and shuttles to the airport (tips welcomed by drivers!) - 7870 N Frontage Rd, Orlando, 32812. Contact Cathy Haynes for those details NLT 7pm 407-239-8468 chaynes11629 @yahoo .com
New: Vouchers are available for airport garage parking from a GOAA rep. in the terminal for this event – maximum of 3 hours – BUT you have to take a paper ticket upon entering the airport garage. The vouchers will NOT work if you use the SunPass transponders – we cannot credit the charge back. For the Early Birds - you can wave these veterans off in the morning no later than 5am – same location. They process thru Security early and quickly. Wave them off for a wonderful day! (NOTE: This is the LAST 2016 Honor Flight from this area – weather gets unpredictable over the winter. Honor Flight Missions resume in Spring 2017.)

Every Day is Veterans Day – Thurs. Nov 3 – A special tribute celebration to honor and remember the service and sacrifice of our veterans past and present. Open to the public. 10-11:30am at the Wayne Densch YMCA, 870 N Hastings St, Orlando, Florida 32808 Keynote Speaker is Army 1st Sgt Daila Espeut-Jones, ret. Info: Casman.Flowers@ VITAS .com or 407.865.4614

City of Orlando Mayors’ Veterans Advisory Council – Thurs. Nov 3 – 1:30pm monthly meeting of numerous organizations and individuals for the benefit of local veterans and active duty personnel. Planning of functions (ie: Veterans Day parade) and awareness of events is shared. Designated representatives allow groups to coordinate efforts. If your Orlando area vet/military associated group isn’t attending, it should plan to get involved. Networking before and after the meeting. See website at cityoforlando.net, Office of the Mayor, Mayor’s Committees, Veterans. Contact Chairman Michael Waldrop for attendance and location information. mwaldrop@ blue-cord. com

Vietnam Era Veterans luncheon – Sat. Nov 5 – Sebastian in Brevard Co. but are welcome! The American Legion Auxiliary Dept of Florida 12th District have a special “Welcome Home” luncheon planned for all Vietnam era veterans. 11am – 3pm with special guest speaker. Hosted by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 189, at 807 Louisiana Ave., Sebastian 32958. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will award each Vietnam Era Veteran in attendance a special congressional pin and certificate. RSVP requested by Wed. Oct 19 for proper count for food and planning. RSVP/Info: Dorothy Walsh at dwalshusa @gmail .com or 321-426-6736

Veterans Village Groundbreaking – Sat. Nov 5 - Hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter FL from 11am – 2pm at 112 Turtle Run, Umatilla, 32784-9545. Do a Search or contact them about specifics. Danielle at 352-483-0434 Ext 133 or Danielle @habitatls .org.

Daylight Savings Time ends – Sun. Nov 6 – Turn your clocks back one hour. Use that bonus time to do something nice for our veteran and service personnel!

Election Day – Tues. Nov 8 – Become educated and do your civic duty – VOTE! Our local elections are especially important as they tend to have a more direct impact on us.

Misc. info
Everyone and especially Veterans – please plan to attend the various school programs. There MAY be events at some schools near your home that are not listed here. Our young ones need to be aware of who veterans are and how they have served our country. Your attendance reinforces the efforts that some teachers are trying to provide. Be an example – be someone that the young generation will remember and model after…

Shopping consideration – As we are preparing for the upcoming holidays, please consider buying items that are made in this country. Buying “Made in U.S.A.” allows employment for more persons in this country and some of those workers may be veterans, reservists, or guardsmen/women. UPC barcodes do not always indicate the country of manufacture. Look for the “Made in U.S.A.” labeling.

Volunteering - Would you have liked to be able to help senior veterans, active military and veteran families after the hurricane? You still can, and it doesn’t require damage from hurricanes.
Hands On Orlando - Volunteer Central Florida - Brittany@ HandsOnOrlando .com 407.740.8652 (c) 407.375.9389 The Mission Continues - Orlando 1st Platoon –Daniel Kalagian at dkalagian@ missioncontinues .org or Eric Weiss, 2nd Platoon Leader Orlando eweiss@ missioncontinues .org Team Red, White and Blue (RWB) – Sherrie LaBarre at sherrie.labarre@gmail.com

Mentors needed - Veteran Courts ARE succeeding! Longer term success is possible with community mentors and there are mentoring programs in Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties. Be a “battle buddy” or “foxhole buddy” by assisting someone with life challenges. No proselytizing – just non-judgmental caring. Most of the offenders are DUI or possession, or PTS anger issues that are being rechanneled. If you have experienced substance abuse – although not required - and came thru it, you may be very helpful to someone else. If you are interested in participating as a mentor, know someone who is interested, or are a part of an organization where Mentors can be recruited, contact your local Veterans Court resource.

Caring and sharing,

Cathy Haynes

Member/supporter of numerous veteran and military organizations in Central FL
407-239-8468

NOTE TO READERS OF WOUNDED TIMES

Just to let you know, there will be limited posts for the near future. I am dealing with arthritis in my spine, plus discs crushing some nerves. Not much fun working all day for a paycheck, then trying to sit at the computer doing this afterwards. I'll do what I can but please don't forget about me.

If you are a regular reader please take some time to check out my latest book, RESIDUAL WAR, SOMETHING WORTH LIVING FOR on AMAZON and also on Kindle. 

This one is fiction but totally inspired by the men and women I've met over the last 3 decades. It has a female hero, actually make that two, PTSD, suicides, murder, homeless veterans, and all the other bad stuff, but it also has hope, peer support, love, compassion and a whole lot of finding something worth living for after have plenty to die for in combat, like the others they served with.

I was hoping to have part two done by Veterans Day, but that isn't going to happen. Hopefully by the end of the year anyway.

Soldier Wanted Help For PTSD, He Faced Being "Disciplined" Instead

A soldier battling PTSD reported that he wanted to hurt his commanders. They disciplined him.
The Baltimore Sun
Ian Duncan
November 1, 2016

Since returning from his second deployment to Afghanistan, Army Spc. Scott Miller had been through several stays at a mental health hospital. But after Christmas, the thoughts about taking his own life were joined by new ones about killing members of his unit.

Scott Miller suffered PTSD after serving with the Army in Afghanistan. When his symptoms got worse and he was having thoughts of killing people in his unit, he sought treatment but ended up being disciplined for making threats. (Family photo / HANDOUT)

Miller, a helicopter mechanic from Bowie, sought help in the emergency room at the hospital on his post at Fort Campbell, Ky. He says he revealed his murderous thoughts so that he could get the treatment he thought he needed.

He eventually was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. But his words triggered a criminal investigation and a lengthy disciplinary process that ended with him stripped of his rank on his way out of the service.

"I didn't threaten anybody directly," Miller said. "I was there to try and get help, and I was honest with the behavioral health provider. I know that I'm not going to get any better if I'm not honest with my feelings and thoughts."

Lt. Col. Jay Thoman, the Army lawyer who represented Miller in his disciplinary proceedings, said he was unable to find other cases in which hospital staff aided a criminal investigation, or a commander took disciplinary action over something a soldier said to a medical provider.
read more here