Homeless Veteran Escaped Fire But Has Nothing Left

Homeless vet in hospital after barely making it out of burning building
WTOL 11 News
December 13, 2017

“I got nowhere to go for emergency purposes. Nowhere. I just lost everything. All my clothes, everything. I got nothing more, nothing.”

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) 

A veteran is now homeless and in the hospital after barely making it out of a burning building in central Toledo Wednesday morning.

The fire occurred on Palmwood Avenue near Collingwood Avenue around 2:30 a.m.

Crews say they arrived to find the building totally engulfed, with flames shooting out of the windows and roof of the building.

Homeless veteran Rex Davis says he and about seven other people were squatting inside the building when the fire started.

Davis said the blaze started when an ember from the fireplace caught a mattress on fire.

“I opened up the fireplace and something popped out and landed on the mattress and burned it up. I crawled out from the basement. I couldn’t see,” he said.

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Marine Collecting Toys for Tots Bags Shoplifter

Marine Corps veteran stops Texas shoplifter

WTHR 13 News

December 13, 2017

PLANO, Texas (WTHR) - Marines collecting toys for children outside a north Texas Walmart did not hesitate to stop a shoplifter last weekend.

Even in his dress blues and slippery patent leather shoes, Nathan Hanson managed to chase down the suspect.

"I fell on my face when I got over there. And then I got up and I yelled at him, 'You're not getting away, I'm going to catch you!'" Hanson recalled.

In a photo snapped at the scene, Hanson had lost his hat, but got his man.

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The life you need to save this time is yours

A Battle You Earned the Right to Win
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
December 12, 2017


You trained hard to be ready for wherever you would have to go.

Readiness Reach Airman 1st Class Brian Piperato low-crawls through an obstacle during a readiness assessment at Camp Blanding, Fla., Dec. 7, 2017, aimed at preparing airmen for the Army Air Assault School curriculum. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Snider

You prepared to be able to do whatever it would take to do your job.

Rappel Readiness A Marine rappels down a cliff during the 3rd Marine Division Annual Squad Competition in Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 4, 2017. The squad competition determines which of four units is the fittest for combat. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Desmond Martin

You did your best to stay calm as well as courageous.

Blue Wings A member of the Air Force’s Wings of Blue Parachute Demonstration Team jumps out of an aircraft during the opening ceremony of Aviation Nation 2017 Nellis Air and Space Expo at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 10, 2017. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum 

But as you fought like hell to stay alive when you were deployed, 

Viewing the WallMarines enrolled in the Marine Corps University’s Sergeants Course view the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., Nov. 3, 2017, during a motivational run with Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell, the senior enlisted advisor to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro 

what made you think you should not fight hell to stay alive afterwards?

Was it something someone said or was it something you told yourself?

Did you tell yourself to forget the reason you joined the military in the first place? You know. The part where you decided life mattered so much to you that you were willing to die for someone else?

Did you think about going back home to your family and friends? Did you think that part of you had changed? Well, partly right. Change happens with everyday humans live. The thing is, who we are does not change with "how" we are.

You brought back a battle with you, only not the one you thought you'd ever have to fight. It is a battle of you against you.

In combat, you were not alone because no one wins a war alone. Same thing back home. No one wins when you decide to fight this one by yourself. 

Besides how many times did you say something and hear someone else say the same thing? Need help, then ask for it. Safe bet someone you know needs it too.

Give yourself a Christmas gift this year and take back your life. Stop giving PTSD the power it does not deserve. It did not defeat you when "it" hit you.

You already earned the right to win this battle!

Veteran Crisis Group Doing Work--Including Packing?

Move clouds future for North Las Vegas veteran-aid group
Las Vegas Review Journal
By Kailyn Brown
December 12, 2017

“(We moved to a living and work space) because we wanted to be accessible,” Kelisiha said. “Crisis doesn’t (happen during) banking hours, so normally when veterans have an issue, it is after hours.”

A 24-hour operation aimed at helping to prevent suicide among veterans via therapy and social activities may have to shut its doors after 2 1/2 years, during its busiest time of the year. 

The owners of Forgotten Not Gone, disabled Air Force veterans Peter and Kelishia Guidry, received notice in November to move out of their Clayton Park living and office space near Clayton Street and Gowan Road, where they say they have served 2,500 veterans this year. 

Arik Raiter, a part-owner and manager of Clayton Park, said he originally gave them until Dec. 22 to move but granted their request for a 30-day extension — required by law if someone being displaced is disabled.

Now the Guidrys are looking for a location where they can both live and work — preferably in North Las Vegas, where many of their clients reside.

The move is problematic for them because of their physical limitations, they said, as well as for the veterans they serve. Veterans have 24/7 access to the Forgotten Not Gone headquarters, where they can talk through issues with the Guidrys and go on weekend tricycle rides aimed at helping with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Michael Betts, who regularly visited Forgotten Not Gone for a few years before moving to Virginia, said the organization set itself apart.

“They are truly there 24/7 and they have never closed their doors on me, whether it’s been two, three or four in the morning. They’re truly here. … Their sole purpose for doing this is to get veterans out of the house,” he said.
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If Suicide Prevention or Awareness Worked, This Wouldn't Have Happen

Want to do something that matters?
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
December 11, 2017 

If you are a veteran, or member of the military, your awareness is requested to change the outcome. Ready to put up a fight for life instead of pushing how many you think took their own lives today?

The trend is repulsive because of all the wasted years and lost lives. 

What we have seen proves that for all the "work" being done to prevent service members and veterans from committing suicide, it does not work.


Military Suicide Prevention
Does this work? 

Since 2009, the Penn Resilience Program has been widely used by the United States Army as part of their Master Resilience Training program for Soldiers, family members of Soldiers, and Department of the Army civilians. In this train-the-trainer program, we have helped train more than 40,000 U.S. Army Soldiers how to teach the resilience skills to hundreds of thousands of Soldiers. This program is run by the Army's Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness program under the Army Resilience Directorate

The results 
2012 Military Suicides
Active 319 Reserves 73 National Guard 130

2013 Military Suicides (same report)
Active 259 Reserves 87 National Guard 133

2014 Military Suicides
Active 268 Reserves 79 National Guard 87

2015 Military Suicides
Active 266 Reserves 88 National Guard 121

2016 Military Suicides
Active 275 Reserves 80 National Guard 123

2017 Military Suicides (First Six Months)
Active 130 Reserves 48 National Guard 68

Veteran Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Does this work?

President Bush Signs H.R. 327 and H.R. 1284 into Law2007White House NewsOn Monday, November 5, 2007, the President signed into law:

H.R. 327, the "Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act," which requires VA to develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans; and

H.R. 1284, the "Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007," which provides a cost-of-living increase for the beneficiaries of veterans' disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation.

The Clay Hunt Act: What the President Just Signed
BY JENNA BRAYTON
FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Today, President Obama signed the Clay Hunt Act into law in the East Room of the White House.

The new suicide prevention law is named in honor of Clay Hunt, an extraordinary young Texan and decorated Marine who served with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like too many of our veterans, Clay struggled with depression and post-traumatic stress after he came home. Sadly, Clay’s life ended much too soon when he tragically committed suicide in 2011 at the age of only 28.

The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act is a testament to the type of man that Clay Hunt was — even after his death, his legacy of helping veterans lives on.

In America, our veterans and troops are still struggling. As a country, we must do more to help our veterans deal with injuries like post-traumatic stress and depression.

The results
Hell NO!

Stop raising awareness without learning first!

Exactly when do reporters do the research to stop feeding the frenzy of awareness?

Fight back and hit the hacks with facts!

Missouri Veterans Project For PTSD Veterans in Prison

Missouri prison program recognized for veteran rehab

Associated Press

Monday, December 11, 2017

The heart of the program is pair programming, in which veterans can teach other veterans, said Rusty Ratliff, a correctional case manager who oversees the ward.

MOBERLY, Mo. -- A new veterans ward in a Missouri prison is earning recognition for veteran rehabilitation.

The Columbia Missourian reported the Missouri Veterans Project began at the Moberly Correctional Center six months ago. Its success has led to similar programs at prisons in Jefferson City, Potosi and Boonville.

The pilot program began with a post-traumatic stress disorder program. The ward now offers staff-led training and classes for mental-health assistance. Fifty one of 66 available beds in the program now are filled.
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Veterans Court Got PTSD Veteran Help He Needed

Aurora man says new vet court connected him ‘with the right people’

Chicago Sun Times

Jon Seidel

December 10, 2017

One of the many times Juan Morales fought in Afghanistan, he carried a wounded soldier to safety amid an enemy ambush.

Juan Morales, left, a graduate from the Veterans Treatment Court, receives a certificate from Joe Butler of the John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center and Clinic. | Provided photo

“It was a pretty big attack,” the 33-year-old Aurora man said. But it was just one of many. He said he found himself in battle nearly every day for four months while a member of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

Morales became a team leader before returning home with the “knee of a 70-year-old” and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Then his troubles were nearly compounded when, while receiving treatment at Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital, he said he was caught on the grounds of the federal facility last spring with a knife he forgot to leave at home.

That oversight helped land him in front of a federal judge — a daunting moment for anyone. But months later, Morales became one of the first six graduates of the Northern District of Illinois’ Veterans Treatment Court, which aims to help veterans charged with federal misdemeanors get the help they need.

“They got me in touch with the right people,” Morales said.

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Nevada Honors 13 Veterans With Proper Burial

Military funeral honors men who served during World War II, Korea, Vietnam

Nevada Appeal

Steve Ranson

December 8, 2017

FERNLEY — Each veteran could have been someone's brother, son or husband, yet for some reason beyond their control, they became forgotten after they died.

The Patriot Guard marches toward the ceremonial area with U.S. flags Steve Ranson

With their custom-made urns lined up like soldiers in formation, a folded flag leaned against the middle urns, symbolic of their service to their country during one of three wars: World War II, Korea or Vietnam.

The Nevada Veterans Coalition conducted its sixth Missing in Nevada funeral at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery with military honors Friday to remember 13 men who never received the proper burial after they died. Some of remains sat on a shelf — covered with thick dust — for decades until testing determined the identity of each veteran. Of the 13 men, 11 served during World War II and one each from Korea and Vietnam, while the oldest veteran was 87 years old when he died.

WWII — Thomas Anderson (1920-1977), U.S. Army 1940–1945.

WWII —James Betancourt (1926-1993), U.S. Navy 1944–1944.

WWII— John Bohm (1925-1979), U.S. Navy 1942– 1946.

WWII —James Brady (1915-1972), U.S. Army 1942–1946.

WWII— Joe Brown (1905-1987), U.S. Army 1942–1944.

Vietnam — Dale Carrigan (1950-1986), U.S. Army 1968 – 1970.

WWII — George Carson (1917-2004), U.S. Army 1944 –1946.

Korean —Paul Cole (1937-1997), U.S. Air Force 1954–1962.

WWII —Willie Crumpler (1902-1977) served in the U.S. Army 1942–1943.

WWII — Howard Davis (1909-1990), U.S. Army 1944–1946.

WWII —Edgar Erickson (1920-1992), U.S. Army 1940–1945.

WWII — Sherwood Jerome (1926-1992), U.S. Army 1944–1954.

WWII — Clyde Matthews (1906-1990), U.S. Navy/US ARNG 1926-1936/1940-1943.

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BS on Military Sexual Assaults When Congress Made Payouts for Their Own

Members of Congress need to be removed if they approved of coverup!
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
December 10, 2017

The Department of Defense reported there were 3,000 women sexually assaulted in 2006. By 2008, Senator Bob Casey said that harassment and assault of military women, especially in combat ones, is a "scourge" that needs to be eliminated. No one said when they actually planned on treating this as a crime.

Given the fact recent reports of payouts happening when members of Congress have regarded assaulting women as something ok with them, no need to wonder why nothing has been done to protect women from other service members.

(CNN)Two things have become painfully clear on Capitol Hill this week: Lawmakers and staffers say sexual harassment is "rampant" -- but even members of Congress have no idea just how widespread the problem is.

On Thursday, the Office of Compliance released additional information indicating that it has paid victims more than $17 million since its creation in the 1990s. That includes all settlements, not just related to sexual harassment, but also discrimination and other cases. 

By 2008, the GAO reported that 52% of service members who had been assaulted, had not reported it. They did the research from just 14 installations.

Women at War: When the enemy is one of your own was a followup to the video I did back in 2006.  
There are more, but you get the idea.

Now, take a look at what was just reported about Fort Bragg.

Fort Bragg leaders say recent Pentagon data ranking the installation among the highest for reports of sexual assaults reflect in part their efforts to combat the crimes for which they have zero tolerance. 

Still, advocates for veterans and sexual assault victims believe the military needs to do more to address the problem, including how cases are handled at installations and the reluctance of some victims to report assaults. 

Fort Bragg, as the nation’s largest military installation, has been at the forefront of the Department of Defense’s efforts to prevent sexual assault for years, officials said. Now, comprehensive sexual assault data from all installations, released for the first time, is bringing the issue into focus. 

Even as many local troops have been deployed around the world to help fight the nation’s enemies, the data shows the on-going fight against sexual assault in the military that is taking place on the home front. 

And for the first time, it reveals installation-specific data. In past years, the Pentagon had instead released aggregated numbers for each branch of service. 

The latest data shows four years worth of reports across more than 200 installations, both large and small, from 2013 to 2016.At Fort Bragg and Pope Field, the Pentagon says 156 sexual assault reports were made in last year. The number of reports for the installation has risen each of the past four years.

The title of the news report is 

"Fort Bragg leaders respond to sexual assault data"

What should the headline be when members of Congress are forced to explain why this was all ok to them while they were telling the public a totally different story? 


UPDATE

Current and former cadets speak out on sexual assault at Air Force Academy

UPDATE

Fifty-six female Democratic lawmakers ask House to investigate Trump sexual misconduct claims

Former Air Force Academy official alleges sexual assault cover-ups

Steelers Army Veteran Alejandro Villanueva Talks About PTSD

Steelers LT Alejandro Villanueva revealed why he served three tours in Afghanistan

Atlanta Journal Constitution
Stephen Knox
December 9, 2017

Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva has one of the most interesting stories in the NFL.

Villanueva graduated from West Point, and while there he walked onto the Army football team. Before beginning his career with the Eagles in 2014, he served three tours of duty in Afghanistan. He is a decorated Army Ranger, winning a National Service Medal and a bronze star.

However, he revealed that a big reason why he served the final two tours in Afghanistan was due to the struggles he had once he returned home.

“Now I started developing a fear of flying. I started developing even a fear of bacon because it can give you cancer,” Villanueva said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette. “So you start developing all these things because you’re like ‘Holy smokes, I’m a healthy 20-year-old now back in normal society, I have a life expectancy. I don’t have to die tomorrow.’ It’s a very tough thing to reconcile in your mind. It causes a lot of stress. I think that’s one of the main reason for PTSD is that I was ready to die and now I don’t have to die.
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