Memorial Day: Honoring all our Veterans, who have paid the ultimate price........... Topic: Opinions & Commentaries
Today, Memorial Day 2008, as our Nation honors those who have paid the ultimate price for their service and sacrifice to our Country, I am reminded that in a place far away from my current home, a new American flag was placed on my Father’s grave. I am writing this to honor him and all the other Veterans who have died as a result of their service to Country.
It is all very sad to be reminded of those who have paid the ultimate price yet to honor their lives and sacrifice we all must keep them in our hearts and minds, and be reminded of them each and every day...and not just one day a year. These are not just the fallen heroes of past and current wars, but they are ones whose lives were changed because of their time in service. I’m referring to those who may have survived wars, but came home battling the lasting effects. Those who because of; nuclear exposure, Agent Orange, asbestos, foreign soil bacteria’s, or the emotional tribulations of PTSD, were overtaken by their illnesses. These are the ones whose names are not decorated on the walls of our Nation’s monuments and no Purple Hearts were ever awarded. So on this day that we honor our fallen heroes I ask that you not forget these men and women. I know I will not, as one of these men is in my heart forever…..
Capt. Stephen Reed Moore, USAF (deceased)
1941 July 7th Entered Service during WWII, as an Enlisted Pvt.
1956 Dec 25th admitted Walter Reed Army hospital, Died Jan 1st 1957 as a Capt USAF.
75 Senators Stand With Veterans: GI Bill Passes in a Landslide Topic: Announcements
This proves both sides of the Senate can play nice together and do what's right for our veterans! Well done for a change.................
May 22nd it was announced that, three-quarters of the Senate voted to support a new GI Bill for the troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Following the 256-166 victory in the House last week, the GI Bill has achieved almost unparalleled momentum. A number of Senators actually changed their NO votes to AYE, as it became clear that this vote was going to be a landslide: 75-22.
Read more here on Huffinton Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-rieckhoff/75-senators-stand-with-ve_b_103155.html
Although I’m outraged I’m not shocked, sadly these personal stories are all too common to me now.
The “signature injury” as called in the press, has been understandably called the “invisible injury” by brain injury organizations for years and those who are evaluating and rating our TBI wounded can not physically see what has happened to them.
Life long impairments that devastate ones life are not only difficult to see, they are difficult to diagnose and nearly impossible to make someone else understand. Even with Bob Woodruff's massive coverage of the personal stories, only those of us who live with the results grasp the full scope.
What makes me so outraged about this story is that these disability “ratings” represent the mentality of the system as a whole. A broken system comprised of the DoD and VA that just don’t seem to totally understand how devastating an impact it leaves on a person’s life. Although, there are some individuals who work in that system that are trying to make a change, it is way too little, and way too late.
I’m so proud of each of these service members and rival at their remarkable recoveries, yet I wish someone would understand that it’s almost impossible for our veterans to rebuild their lives, when the bricks and mortar that are supplied to them is faulty, and the foundation they are standing on..... continues to crumble.
May 11th 2008 Senate hearings...........Again Topic: Opinions & Commentaries
I find the following story is very interesting and yet I’m not surprised. Hearings, commissions, reports, and personal testimonies, have been an ongoing thing for years, yet I think we all need to ask; what is REALLY being done?Yesterday’s testimonies provided by; Peter J. Bunce, Colonel USAF (Retired), Robert Verbeke, and Jackie McMichael, could be a carbon copy of hundreds of stories told before and probably the same stories we’ll hear in the future. Specific details may be different, but over all the stories are the same; Families doing the job that the DoD and VA should be doing.
Top officials from the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense said on Tuesday that they plan to improve the health care for troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan by providing them with "a life map for recovery" that integrates all their heath records into one package and lays out a listing of follow-up services. (Clipped)
BUT... Here is the key factor of the whole article; “VA did not return calls or e-mails asking when it planned to have the eBenefits portal in operation.” Another words, we (The VA and DoD) all know how screwed up the system is, and we’ve provided the “plans” for what we “plan” to do, but we have no idea how or when we’ll be able to do it!
The VA and DoD have been “in the process” of merging health care records/systems for years now, but control issues, software incompatibilities and arrogance (about which system is better) have lead to nothing being done.
Personally, I doubt they are capable of mapping anyone’s life for recovery, for now (and for years to come) the care and support for our wounded will continue to be handled by the families.
A brain injury is not is not always diagnosed or immediately apparent. Topic: FYI
There are many cases where a person who has sustained a brain injury appears fine, but family members, friends, and fellow soldiers see symptoms* and know that something is seriously wrong with them. This person may have sustained a brain injury that was not diagnosed or is labeled “mild”. It is considered mild because the person may appear normal on the outside. Know that the term “mild brain injury” is a misnomer because the consequences of the “mild brain injury” may be devastating for that individual and their family. These are very difficult situations for the brain injured person because they often know their behavior is abnormal but can’t control it. Yet, others may attribute their behavior to wanton disregard for authority, a flawed character, or in the case of soldiers, may think the person is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). * Symptoms of Brain Injury; Altered State of Consciousness, Loss of Consciousness, Memory Loss - either short or long term memory loss, Headaches, Dizziness, Vomiting, Blurred Vision, Loss / partial loss Sense of Smell, Loss / partial loss Sense of Taste, Loss / partial loss Vision or Hearing, Sexual dysfunction, Speech Problems, Confusion, Fatigue, Sleep Disturbances - inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, or nightmares, Irritability, Depression, Mood Swings, Loss of Anger Control, Anxiety, Inability to Concentrate, Inability to make decisions, Increased sensitivity to light, Increased sensitivity to noise, Increased sensitivity to movement,Decreased intellectual ability, Math abilities affected, Lack of interest or desire to participate in life.
Currently the number one cause of brain injuries in the U.S. Military is IED explosions Topic: FYI
With all the conflicting reports in regards to the number of wounded from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) it seems impossible to get an accurate account of how many of our service members have suffered brain injuries in these conflicts. From earlier stated statistics 73% of all wounded are from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), of that number 68% suffer brain injuries, of which 10% are considered “severe” resulting in coma* and needing, long term hospitalization, continued treatments, and in-patient rehabilitation. Utilizing the currently reported DOD statistics** and these percentages, the number of Active Duty Military suffering brain injuries are now reported as being in the tens of thousands.
Increasing numbers of Veterans requiring treatment for non combat related brain injuries. Topic: FYI
The numbers of disabled veterans with brain injuries may soon be facing epidemic proportions, not only from the wounded in combat but also from post combat injuries. Undiagnosed brain injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have a way of causing emotional difficulties and an inability to cope with everyday pressures. The inability to cope commonly leads to risky behavior, which can include alcohol / drug abuse resulting in alcohol related brain damage and involvement in activities while impaired. The psychological high that combat can create presents it’s own problems; returning soldiers have reported having a need to replace the adrenaline rush, and many have increased involvement in extreme sports and fast motor vehicles*. *The leading causes of brain injuries in United States; Automobile accidents, Firearm use, Falls and Sporting accidents.
