WWII Female Marine "Determined not to stay behind"

Boston honors female WWII marine
Veteran cited as inspiration
Boston Herald
Dan Atkinson
November 25, 2016

Family portrait of World War II veteran Elizabeth Mackay Howden Denekamp

In 1943, Betty Denekamp watched the men of West Roxbury going off to war, and was determined not to stay behind.

Denekamp joined the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, and more than 70 years later, friends and family are going to see her service permanently commemorated outside the house she lived in nearly all of her life.

“That was the thing I always admired about her, she couldn’t hang around doing nothing,” said Edwin “Bud” Waite, a fellow World War II veteran and longtime friend of Denekamp who led the charge to memorialize her. “She had to do something.”

Her daughter Linda Denekamp said, “I thought it was so outstanding that a woman in those times would leave home at her age and go off and join the Marines. Everyone said the Marines were the best and that’s what she wanted to be.”
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Vietnam Veteran, Stephen Carl Reiman Family Member Found

Coroner finds sister of Vietnam veteran who will be buried Tuesday near Casper
Casper Star Tribune
Elise Schmelzer
Updated 3 hrs ago

After more than a week of searching, the Natrona County coroner has found a sister of the Vietnam veteran set to be be buried Tuesday morning near Casper. The sister plans to attend the funeral at the state veterans cemetery and will accept her brother’s flag.

Coroner Connie Jacobson said she spoke with the sister Sunday night and that the sister will fly into Casper from southern California on Monday evening.

Last week, Jacobson asked for help finding family members of Stephen Carl Reiman, a homeless Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War. Reiman died Nov. 17 in Casper, shortly after moving to Wyoming from California for unknown reasons.

The sister, Diane Reiman, hadn’t heard from her brother for at least two years, Jacobson said. The sister began to cry on the phone during their brief conversation, Jacobson said.

“She’s relieved and grateful that he’s going to have a decent burial with honor,” Jacobson said. “I’m just glad it’s all coming together. And maybe she’ll get some answers.”
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'A war within myself': One veteran's struggle for life after combat

'A war within myself': One veteran's struggle for life after combat
USA TODAY Network
Gregg Zoroya and Tony Leys

"I MISSED THE BATTLEFIELD MORE AND MORE, AND THAT CONSUMED MY MIND."

Chapter 1: 'Fog of another war'

TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN LEAVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SCARS.
On July 7, the day he saw psychiatrist Anthony Miller, agency officials in Washington released preliminary findings from a sweeping analysis of suicides among veterans. Scientists pored through 50 million death records from 1979 to 2014, counting every suicide. There were 7,403 in 2014 alone. They learned that, on average, 20 veterans commit suicide each day.

Donald Trump called the findings shocking. President Obama told a Disabled American Veterans convention in August that the suicide trend was a national tragedy. "We all have to do better," he said.

The VA analysis found that most suicides are among its largest constituency of veterans: those from the Vietnam era. But the highest rate of suicide was among younger veterans who served during the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — Ketchum's generation. Veterans ages 30-39 committed suicide at rates four times the national average and those 18-29 at nearly six times that average.

Caitlin Thompson, a clinical psychologist who runs the VA's suicide prevention program, recalled the wrenching experience of losing three veterans to suicide. They were patients of hers and a team of health care workers.

"That's why I dedicated my life to veteran suicide, because I see those three young men over and over and over," she said. “We know there is hope … we know that people do get better.”

The Iraq and Afghanistan wars were unique in physical and emotional demands. Because the wars lasted so long, large numbers of troops were required to serve multiple deployments that added up to years of cumulative combat duty. Ketchum did three tours.
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Missing in America Project Helps Honor The Forgotten

Homeless Vet Who Died in Casper is One of Many
K2 Radio
By Roger Gray
November 27, 2016

Stephen Carl Reiman was a veteran of the United States Navy.

He served during the tail end of the Viet Nam War on board the missile cruiser USS Long Beach.

And he died in Casper on November 17th.

But, no one knew where he was from, where his family was, or anything else, other than his military service.

He was in a motel room in Sheridan when he fell ill, and died at the Wyoming Medical Center.

And except for the doctors and nurses in attendance, Stephen Reiman was alone.

A group called the Missing in America Project is dedicated to finding these vets who die homeless and alone. And there are a lot of them.

“As of today, we have contacted about 2000 funeral homes out of about 23,000 in the nation, so we are still only at the start of our project,” said Fred Salanti, who heads up the project.

“We have found cremains in those 2000 funeral homes of 14,202 unclaimed people. Of that number, we have identified veteran’s cremains of 3,206. Of that number, 2,947 are already buried. And the rest are waiting for a service to be held in the area.”
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Stolen Valor Texas Marine Pleads Guilty

Texas Marine pleads guilty to stealing dead veteran’s war story, defrauding government
New York Daily News
Sarah Grochowski
November 28, 2016

A former Marine who cashed in on false claims of a wounded combat veteran's story is now facing 21 years behind bars.

A federal investigation has accused Brandon Blackstone with taking another veteran's tale of survival as his own. (MIKE FAVAZZA VIA YOUTUBE)

Brandon Blackstone, a Texas Marine, for years told the heart-wrenching tale of a Humvee that drove over an active landmine during his service in the Iraq War, claiming he sustained traumatic brain, head, and leg injuries.

A federal investigation has accused the Marine with taking another veteran's tale of survival as his own. Blackstone pleaded guilty to all of the charges, ABC affiliate WFAA reports.

Blackstone garnered monthly stipends from the U.S. Veteran's Association and secured a mortgage-free home from charity in 2012, according to the report.
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Marine Riders of Michiana Spent Thanksgiving with "Family"

Local Marines open doors for homeless vets on Thanksgiving
WNDU 16 News
Shaun Gallagher
November 24, 2016

"A lot of us when we were in the service, a lot of us couldn't go home, couldn't afford to go home or couldn't make a drive," Castillo said. "We all got together and that was Thanksgiving. It was as good as being with family without being with your family."

ELKHART, Ind. --- Thanksgiving is a day to enjoy time with family and some great food but for some local veterans, they don't have that option. Some homeless veterans from Miller's Vets had the opportunity to experience Thanksgiving with a family of a different kind; their extended military family.

"We've all had our Thanksgiving with our families," Paul "Goose" Patillo, Squad Leader of Marine Riders of Michiana said. "Every year, it's the same thing. Well, we'd like to start taking care of the veterans on Thanksgiving Day to have the full effect of Thanksgiving."

Patillo is a member of Marine Riders of Michiana, a local motorcycle club of marines. Patillo says many times people hold dinners for veterans down on their luck a week or two after Thanksgiving but it loses its luster. So he wanted to hold something day of to give them the full effect of the holiday.

For the veterans in attendance, they're familiar with missing holidays like Thanksgiving while serving overseas. So they depend on each other as family to enjoy Thanksgiving.
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Navy Capt. Paul "Bud" Rogers to be buried at sea

Navy veteran, who was supposed to be on USS Thresher, to be buried where submarine sank
The Day
By Julia Bergman Day staff writer
November 26, 2016

Groton — A Navy veteran will soon be laid to rest at the bottom of the ocean, more than 200 miles off the New England coast. A submarine from the Naval Submarine Base will fulfill the wish of deceased Navy Capt. Paul "Bud" Rogers to be buried at sea. During routine operations, the submarine will transport Rogers' cremated remains to where the USS Thresher (SSN-593) sank. The Navy is not releasing the name of the submarine or the date the burial will take place, since it does not discuss submarine operations.

Rogers, who spent much of his 41-year career serving on submarines, was supposed to be an observer on the Thresher during the boat's sea trials, but his supervisor, at the last minute, decided that he didn't have enough experience and replaced him with someone else.

It was just a day or two later, according to Rogers' wife, that on April 10, 1963, the Thresher sank — killing all 129 men aboard.

Rogers was devastated, and felt survivor's remorse for much of his life.

"Bud felt that he should've been the one to go down with the Thresher, not this other man," his wife, Barbara "Bobbye" Rogers, 86, said from her home in Wernersville, Penn. "All those years, it bothered him."
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Massachusetts College Removed American Flag? Seriously!

The state where the Revolutionary started raised a bunch of whiners afraid of the flag patriots died for? And the college gave into them, taking it down...can't publish the rest of what I'm thinking right now.

Veterans to Protest at College That Stopped Flying US Flags
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AMHERST, Mass
Nov 27, 2016

Veterans are planning a protest at a western Massachusetts college facing criticism from around the country for its decision to stop flying U.S. flags after students allegedly burned a flag in protest of Donald Trump's presidential election.

Local veterans and others intend to place hundreds of U.S. flags on the streets around Hampshire College in Amherst on Sunday, as part of what organizers are calling a "peaceful demonstration of freedom."
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Hampshire College In Amherst Stops Flying All Flags
CBS News Boston
November 22, 2016

“There were a range of views on campus, including people whose experience growing up have made the flag a symbol of fear,"

A worker takes down an American flag on the campus of Hampshire College. (WBZ-TV)

AMHERST (CBS) — It’s been a week of flag-related controversy for Hampshire College, after the school’s Board of Trustees made the decision to lower the U.S. flag on campus to half-staff in the wake of the presidential election–and then decided to remove the flag entirely after a wave of backlash.

Hampshire College President Jonathan Lash told WBZ NewsRadio 1030’s Ben Parker he knows it’s a controversial decision to remove the flag, but he wanted to create a dialogue among those with differing opinions about the symbol.
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It is ridiculous to talk about their suffering and committing suicide

History Has Proven You Wrong
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
November 27, 2016


Did you know if you are using veterans committing suicide, most veterans are making fun of you? It is ridiculous to talk about their suffering when you are doing absolutely nothing to prevent them from taking their own lives. It is like taking a video on your smart phone while you operate it dumb as dirt, filming someone dying on the side of the road, so you get to say you're raising awareness they did, instead of using that phone to call 911 and try to save their life. KNOCK IT OFF!

“Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” Edmund Burke

If you're thinking you have done any good, history has proven you wrong. Aside from the simple fact all this awareness of "22 a day" or "20 a day" being quoted as if they are real numbers, or as the military puts it for current service members as "one too many" it has gotten worse. But hey, just keep talking about their suffering.

The time to raise awareness happened decades ago when it was happening to veterans but you didn't notice. I've been noticing for over three of those decades when there were more veterans in the country. Yep, much more veterans suffering while fighting for the right to live after war.

If you doubt any of this, then look at the numbers the VA released in the misquoted report of 2012 when the number was released as "22 a day" since apparently you didn't read the report. You didn't notice that the "number" came with a notice that it was taken from just 21 states, that they knew they missed many, or the other overlooked fact that most of the veterans they did know about were over the age of 50.

Currently available data include information on suicide mortality among the population of residents in 21 states. Veteran status in each of these areas is determined by a single question asking about history of U.S. military service. Information about history of military service is routinely obtained from family members and collected by funeral home staff and has not been validated using information from the DoD or VA. Further, Veteran status was not collected by each state during each year of the project period.

And you must have missed this part as well, since none of you are even mentioning it,

Information reported on state death certificates indicates that the ages 50-59 years is also an important group for addressing risk for suicide.

And on page 18 of the report, you must have missed this too,

So when the VA did a larger study and released that report in 2016, you must have also missed this part.

The final report will be publicly released later this month. Key findings of the analysis will include:

65% of all Veterans who died from suicide in 2014 were 50 years of age or older.
Veterans accounted for 18% of all deaths from suicide among U.S. adults. This is a decrease from 22% in 2010.
Since 2001, U.S. adult civilian suicides increased 23%, while Veteran suicides increased 32% in the same time period. After controlling for age and gender, this makes the risk of suicide 21% greater for Veterans.
Since 2001, the rate of suicide among US Veterans who use VA services increased by 8.8%, while the rate of suicide among Veterans who do not use VA services increased by 38.6%.
In the same time period, the rate of suicide among male Veterans who use VA services increased 11%, while the rate of suicide increased 35% among male Veterans who do not use VA services.
In the same time period, the rate of suicide among female Veterans who use VA services increased 4.6%, while the rate of suicide increased 98% among female Veterans who do not use VA services.

As you can see, back in 1999 when no one was raising funds doing pushups, taking walks or making speeches, when we had over 5 million more veterans in this country, the number reported by the VA was 20 a day. So, what good have you done any of them? Keep making this about you wanting to raise awareness instead of raising a reason to enjoy living again, and it will keep getting worse for them as you gain more publicity for yourself.

If your guessing I got another email from yet another "awareness raiser" wanting me to publicize them, you're right and they are still way too wrong!

Marine Veteran Honors Fallen Friend, With Country Music at Cemetary

Veteran plays music at grave of fallen comrade
ABC News 10
Anne State
Nov 23, 2016

SAN DIEGO - A Marine veteran continues to give thanks at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Simon Sandoval visits the cemetery often, and he plays music for fallen service members. While he has lost many friends during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, his good friend, Lance Cpl. Jason Hill, is his only friend buried at Fort Rosecrans.

"I play a little bit of country music for him since he's a country boy," said Sandoval.

10News was there as Sandoval cued up the music on his phone, adding, "I think he still likes listening."

Sandoval said of Hill: "He was one of my fine young men."

Hill, a native of Poway, was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. Shortly after his death, his friends gathered at the family home and described Hill as loyal, funny and charming. They said he was proud to serve his country.
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UK: Paratrooper Fell to His Death Waiting For Help For PTSD

Paratrooper who saw 'very severe action' in Afghanistan fell to his death from a hotel rooftop in Vietnam while waiting for a psychiatrist to decide whether he had PTSD, inquest hears
Daily Mail
By RORY TINGLE FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:21 EST, 25 November 2016

Peter O'Sullivan was assessed by a nurse who felt he might of had PTSD.
Nurse decided to refer him to psychiatrist but was a 4 month waiting list.
Former soldier did not survive until then, falling to his death in Vietnam.

Peter O'Sullivan, who had seen 'very severe military activity' in Afghanistan during ten years in the Parachute Regiment, had been assessed by a mental health nurse

A former paratrooper fell to his death from a hotel rooftop while waiting for a psychiatrist to decide whether he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, an inquest heard yesterday.

Peter O'Sullivan, who had seen 'very severe military activity' in Afghanistan during ten years in the Parachute Regiment, had been assessed by a mental health nurse from the Combat Stress charity who felt he might have PTSD.

The nurse decided to refer him to a consultant psychiatrist - but there was a four month waiting list for an appointment and Mr O'Sullivan did not survive until then.

Two months before the appointment he took crystal meth while on holiday in Vietnam and fell to his death from the top of the Liberty Hotel in Ho Ch Minh City on Feb 13th this year, the Gloucester inquest was told.

His family, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, are now hoping the authorities will recognise Mr O'Sullivan's death as a direct consequence of PTSD resulting from his service in the elite Pathfinder platoon of the Parachute Regiment.
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Afghanistan Veteran Recovering After Disc Surgery

Veteran gets first type of spinal surgery in Upstate
Index Journal
By: Ariel Gilreath
Posted: Sunday, November 27, 2016

When Marcus English first got back from his service with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, he not only had to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder from watching his squadmate die right in front of him from an improvised explosive device (IED), but he also dealt with the pain of a herniated disc from the blast for six years.

As of Sept. 21, he is the first patient in the Upstate to receive the BRYAN artificial disc surgery on two disc levels.

The BRYAN surgery uses artificial discs to alleviate herniated discs rather than the traditional operation spinal surgeons use, which fuses the two discs together.

English was first deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and was part of front line infantry. His squadron was doing a foot patrol to secure a compound in 2010 when one of them set off an IED.

“There was actually two guys in front of me -- the one guy kind of leaned up against the side of the building, hit a pressure plate IED and it went off,” English said. “I caught the blast that kind of threw me back, but when I landed, I actually landed on my neck and shoulders. So the blunt of the force was actually when I landed.”

English said the soldier who leaned against the pressure plate died.

“Then the gentleman behind him, he caught some fragments to his face from the fellow that was in front of him, and he went blind, and he actually had, I’d say, seven or eight different eye surgeries and they finally restored his vision,” English said.

English still has flashbacks of that moment and said he has since been diagnosed with PTSD.

From 2012-16, he lived with the pain of a herniated disc from the IED blast until almost exactly six years later, Dr. Michael Kilburn, with Self Regional’s South Carolina Spine Center, performed the BRYAN artificial disc surgery on him.

“The pain itself was gone immediately,” English said. “It made a world of difference immediately.”
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Dying Vietnam Veteran Continues to Fight VA For Benefits

After fighting in Vietnam, he struggles with PTSD, the VA – and a terminal diagnosis
News and Observer
Michael Doyle
November 23, 2016

“I did the very best I could for my country,” Sosa said.

THE APPELLANT RECOUNTED EXCHANGING GUNFIRE WITH THE ENEMY AND THE WOUNDING AND KILLING OF MEMBERS OF HIS UNIT . . . THE APPELLANT ALSO STATED THAT DURING THE AMBUSH HE ‘PRAYED FOR HIS LIFE.’
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Judge Mary J. Schoelen

The Gulfport, Mississippi, resident couldn’t escape them. Shards of what happened in South Vietnam in 1966 burst inside the 78-year-old Army veteran, shredding his peace of mind, he says.

For years, though, Department of Veterans Affairs examiners repeatedly denied Sosa’s claim of suffering from service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. Inadequate evidence, one examiner said. Too vague, said another. Unsupported by “objective test results,” ruled a third.

Now, a specialized federal court for veterans has given Sosa another fighting chance to obtain the diagnosis he’s been seeking. If he succeeds this time, his VA benefits will increase, as will, perhaps, this terminally ill man’s belief in the system that so far has frustrated him.

“I am sorely disappointed in the VA,” Sosa said in a telephone interview. “They didn’t do nothing for me.”

Time, for Sosa, is getting short.

The retired commercial artist has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He says doctors have given him just several months to live.

At one point, thinking about a potential increase in VA benefits, he imagined taking a vacation with his wife, Sheryl. Now, having given up morphine because of the hallucinations, he ranks his pain at 8 on a 10-scale, and future planning is stripped to the bone.

“My main concern: not to leave my wife in (bad) financial circumstances,” Sosa said.

Sosa started seeking post-traumatic-stress disability compensation benefits more than a dozen years ago, launching a prolonged process that has since carried him through myriad medical exams, administrative hearings and court proceedings.

“The court notes that (Sosa’s) claim has been pending since 2004 and has been remanded by the board three times for additional development,” Schoelen wrote, adding pointedly that she “regrets that this claim must be remanded to the board but expects that the secretary (of veterans affairs) will handle this claim in an expeditious manner.”

Judge Schoelen, in her 12-page ruling, called that assessment inadequate, in part because it failed to properly consider Sosa’s own account of what he’d experienced. Her decision bounces Sosa’s application back to the Board of Veterans Appeals, where a new review will have to race against Sosa’s decline.
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Veteran Forced Out of PTSD-Rehab Committed Suicide At Alvin York VA

Friends: Soldier who took his life outside VA is tragic example of vets desperate for help
FOX 17 News
BY ERIKA LATHON FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 25TH 2016

"My only three options now or go back to jail, be homeless or check myself into the psych ward they knew the extent of my problems with PTSD depression,” Toombs says in the video.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WZTV) -- Friends say a soldier who took his life before Thanksgiving is a tragic example of veterans desperate for help.

Authorities found the soldier's body on the Alvin York campus in Murfreesboro where he'd been recently discharged from a drug treatment program.

Veterans helping veterans as the Military Vets Motorcycle Club is camping for 48 hours.
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From YouTube
My friend John Toombs last testament before he committed suicide after the VA refused to help him. Justice For Toombs

Sister Begs For Help While Vietnam Veteran Brother Sits in Jail With PTSD

Veterans 911: What’s Being Done to Combat Suicide After Service
FOX 40 News
BY NIKKI LAURENZO
NOVEMBER 23, 2016

On July 28, right after he was released from Doctors Behavioral Health Center in Modesto, Scott went to Costco. He was shot by an off-duty police officer after lunging at him with a knife, according to investigators.

He survived and is now in the Stanislaus County Jail.
It's a bond that began when they were kids, growing even stronger as they got older. Suzanne Perez said she tried everything.

"It was very hard. I wanted to make him better,” she said.

As the big sister, she felt a sense of responsibility.

“It was out of my control, and that was hard to accept,” Perez said.

Her brother, Gary Scott, is a Vietnam veteran who she said is battling severe depression and early signs of multiple sclerosis.

“He felt like it was hopeless, like nobody could help him. So he wanted to end his life,” Perez explained, fighting back tears.

She said she knew her brother was going to do something, but she didn’t imagine what was about to happen.
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Army Veteran With PTSD Faces Deportation?

ARMY VETERAN FACES DEPORTATION
ABC 7 News
By Evelyn Holmes
Thursday, November 24, 2016

"He offered his life for this country for this nation and he has a right to live in the country that he fought for," said Miguel Perez, Sr.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- An Army veteran who served two tours of duty could be deported as soon as next week.

On Thursday, his parents joined with members of Rainbow Push and called for help to keep their son here.

Miguel Perez, Sr., and his wife Espranza said they have a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving although their son, Gulf War veteran Miguel Perez, Jr., could be deported soon.

"It's very hard for us," said Esperanza Perez, Miguel's mother.

Perez is one of the thousands of so-called green card soldiers, undocumented immigrant men and women who served in the American military, but still face deportation.

Relatives say the 36-year-old has lived in the Chicago area most of his life and is father to a 18-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son, who are both born U.S. citizens.

His family pleaded his case while attending the Rainbow Push Thanksgiving Day dinner for veterans, their families, the homeless and anyone else in need of a hot meal.

Miguel's parents said his troubles began after he returned home after completing two tours of duty overseas. They said after being diagnosed with PTSD, their son had a hard time finding a job.
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OEF-OIF PTSD Veteran and Family Get New Home to Heal In

EXCHANGE: Veteran given a new house as he confronts PTSD
Belleville News Democrat
Marie Wilson
November 26, 2016

"I was in shock," Chobanov said, recalling his reaction to the news he'd be getting a debt-free house and a lot fewer financial worries. "I didn't have words for it at first."

ADVANCE FOR USE SATURDAY, NOV. 26, 2016, AND THEREAFTER - In this Oct. 6, 2016 photo, Army Spc.Tony Chobanov, who served two tours of combat duty, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, is seen with his wife Abby, right, and their children, from left, Olivia, 6, Milan, 8,and Faith,11, in Lisle, Ill. Chobanov can't wait to get his family into their new home. They will be a recipient of a new house to be built by a charity by an Arlington Heights-based nonprofit called 'A Soldier's Journey Home' with help from District 214 high school students. Daily Herald, via AP Paul Michna

NAPERVILLE, ILL.

The burden of spending roughly half his family's income on rent isn't even lifted yet, but Army Spc. Tony Chobanov of Naperville already feels better.

He's been working on getting better for the past two years, and this most recent step is proving a giant help.

An Arlington Heights-based nonprofit called A Soldier's Journey Home chose Chobanov, his wife, Abbey, and their three children as the 2017 recipients of a new house, built free for the family with donated materials and labor. The house, on 1.3 acres in Spring Grove donated by First Midwest Bank, should be complete by next June - just in time for the family's lease on a house near Abbey's parents in Lisle to expire at the end of the month.

Chobanov, 32, has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury stemming from his four years in the Army, which took him through two tours of combat duty - one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq.
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Native American Veteran: “As a soldier, it's our duty to protect the people of this country."

New Mexican veteran heading back to Standing Rock
KOB 4 News
Joy Wang
November 25, 2016

Protesters aren't taking any holiday breaks as they continue demonstrating against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

There are a number of New Mexicans up at Standing Rock to help fight for that cause.

Many, including New Mexican and Veteran Jason Joe, are saying what's happening up there is unconstitutional

Joe was in Iraq about ten years ago. Joe says he sees a lot of similarities with what’s happening in North Dakota and what happened while he was in the military.

He says it's his duty as a veteran and an American to protect this land.

In September, Joe traveled 16 hours with his girlfriend from New Mexico to North Dakota.

“I am a Native American Veteran,” said Joe. “As a soldier, it's our duty to protect the people of this country. I took an oath just like many of my brothers and sisters took that oath.”
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Navy Veterans Help Others Ride "One More Wave"

Surfing veterans ride the wave to recovery
San Diego Union Tribune
Pam Kragen
November 22, 2016

“Getting people out of the hospital, off the meds, out of the dark place they’re in, treating them like the men they are and not talking to them like kids ... I mean, really, depending upon where some guys are at, it could save their life,” McFadden said.

One More Wave volunteers Micah Shanahan, left, Kyle Buckett and Alex West at Shanahan's Addict Surfboards in Sorrento Valley.

(Peggy Peattie / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Alex West and Kyle Buckett didn’t become friends until two years ago, but their lives have long followed parallel paths. Each of the San Diego men has served more than 15 years in the Navy, each completed more than a dozen deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and each is passionate about the healing power of surfing.

Together, they’re now the volunteer force behind One More Wave, an 18-month-old San Diego nonprofit that provides free custom-designed surfboards to wounded military veterans.

Over the past year-and-a-half, West, Buckett and surfboard shaper Micah Shanahan have delivered boards to 31 veterans who’ve lost limbs in combat, suffered disabling injuries or struggle with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Another 14 boards are now in the finishing stages at Shanahan’s Addict Surfboards in Sorrento Valley.
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204,000 women are serving in the armed forces right now

Female service members find their identity through Ms. Veteran America
10TV CBS News
November 24, 2016

“When people look at my uniform, they see Major Boothe; they don’t see me as a wife, they don’t see me as a mother. We have to somehow erase a little bit of our identities as women in order to blend in and serve in the military.” Maj. Jas Boothe

More than 204,000 women are serving in the armed forces right now, making up nearly 16 percent of service members. When women retire from the military, they often don’t get the same treatment or access to services that men do. But an event featuring hundreds of active and retired military women is trying to change that.

Through poise, grace and service, the competition for Ms. Veteran America unites them all for a common mission, reports CBS News correspondent Dana Jacobson.

“When I was really struggling with PTSD and I just got out of the military, I felt a bit worthless,” Molly Mae Potter said.
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