Imagine my surprise today when the phone rings and someone who turned out to be an Army recruiter from the North Bend office asked to speak to my oldest son. He was a bit coy before finally telling me he was a recruiter but went...
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This is an especially moving story for me. This young Army sargeant, Shannon Meehan, is suffering from severe PTSD and TBI and had a similar experience of taking the lives of Iraqi civilians, as my son did, is fighting through the fog to find some meaning in his life. His politics are unclear but I hope he makes it.
The US military has loosened regulations, issuing “moral waivers” allowing convicted criminal to join up just as they did during Vietnam. GIs suffering from PTSD and TBI are being called back into combat for third and fourth tours to make up for the 99% of the US that do not care to enlist.
As mentioned before a friend’s son has been wounded in Iraq and she has asked for prayers and good energy sent his way. Here is an update from Marlene Thank you to all for your prayers and good wishes…the light, energy,...
Read MoreOur year-end family ritual is to reflect upon the good things the year brought and we typically ring in the New Year with a grand toast, a series of toasts, in gratitude for blessings past. This year my family has so much to be...
Read MorePhotographer Jim Lommasson’s tribute and documentary photo essay to our returning veterans...
Read MoreThe superbly done photo essay, montage now showing at the New American Art Union in Portland, Exit Wounds: Combat Trauma and the trials of homecoming, is earning rave reviews. Jim Lommasson’s photographic work surrounded by photos taken from the veterans themselves tells a story that we will not see in mainstream media. Dahr Jamail who has reported from Iraq and is author of ‘Beyond the Green Zone’, writes for IPS News
Read MoreIn advance of the 2009 deployment of 3,400 Oregon National Guard to Iraq, Bay Area Hospital and the Oregon Medical Association Alliance held seminars last week on PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain...
Read MoreMy son, John, an Iraq combat veteran spoke to about 200 people attending a California colleges...
Read MoreTraumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder both characterized by severe physiological and irreparable damage to the brain are subject of a new study released by the RAND Corporation. “There is a major health...
Read MoreMy Marine son, John entered the inpatient treatment program for PTSD at the Roseburg VA Hospital last week and I visited with him yesterday. John was upbeat, looked healthy and is in a group with nine other veterans, five...
Read MoreActive duty GIs are committing suicide at alarming rates. Last year, about 2,100 soldiers injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002, according to the U.S. Army Medical Command Suicide Prevention...
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