Is The Military Neglecting PTSD Troops?

Veterans' Advocates Say Ignoring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Is A Military-Wide Problem

(CBS)  Army Spc. Shawn Saunders was proud of his first two tours in Iraq. But midway through his third tour - he snapped.

"If I hear loud noises, I get, I'm real, real jumpy,” Saunders told CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier. “I get paranoid."

"Distraught, lost, confused..." is how Saunders’ father characterizes his behavior.

His parents say his breaking point was watching his best friend die while guarding a checkpoint.

"He kept saying, it should have been me, it should have been me," said his mother, Pam Wilson.

Texas medic Taylor Burke took Saunders’ turn, and the car blew up.

"When he passed, it was like a part of me that's left me, and I haven't been the same since," Saunders said.

During home leave from Iraq, Shawn talked of suicide.

At Fort Hood, his home base, he asked for help. Instead of treatment, he says he got bureaucracy.

"I was basically just trying to find out what was wrong with me, because I was thinking about hurting myself, thinking about hurting other people," he said.

His dad took action, flying him to a New York veteran’s hospital. Doctors there diagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The Army disagreed. Military police arrested him at the hospital, jailed him and kicked him out.

Veterans advocates say it’s a military-wide problem, where symptoms of PTSD - from substance-abuse to rage to suicidal depression - are misdiagnosed or blamed on the troops themselves.

These critics point to a 40 percent spike: 22,500 troops who’ve been expelled since 2003, for personality disorder. The military claims these are psychological problems the troops had before joining, that surfaced from combat.

Another 5,500 were expelled for “misconduct” like drug abuse - up to 20 percent. It’s an expedient way to replace an ailing soldier quickly.

Discharging for a personality disorder takes days, and costs the military nothing. A PTSD discharge can take up to nine months, and treatment can last a lifetime - in severe cases, costing up to $2 million each.

---

From Kimberly Dozier's Notebook: The War Over PTSD.
For resources on veterans mental health, click here.

---

The soldiers’ record, obtained by CBS News, show the man was first diagnosed with PTSD. But his commander said he “did not see anything really bad,” and ordered the diagnosis changed, to “personality disorder.” The soldier was immediately discharged, with no medical benefits.

Shawn Saunders is now fighting to get his PTSD recognized.

Dozier asked him: “You’ve got a lot of stuff to go through to get back to normal life, huh?”

“I’m gonna try,” Saunders said.

[okieed42-2009]

This report was also discussed on NPR today. Why haven''t the news people asked questions of the President or any of his "team" about this and other disgusting things that are happening with the U.S. Service personnel? This report shows the problems that the troops are having upon return home or even there at the front. The more I think of this the more I am sick to my stomach of the Government failing to help the service personnel that the President and Congress sent to war.

[xlib]

NO_at least at the Western New YOrk VA.

[tunnelrat4]

I also suffer from PTSD from combat in Viet Nam. I think that the goverment was not ready for the amount of men and women returning with PTSD. I think that we, as Americans, need to help out the V.A and their staffing problems. There are not enough well paid personnel (I have had multiple psychiatrists and multiple re-scheduled appointments) to deal with the needs of our Vets that have served and protected our country. PTSD has been known about for some time, and our protectors are being purposely misdiagnosed and are being denied their treatment and beneifts that they deserve.

[sabatino9]

I am a Vietnam Veteran (1967-1968)I filed for PTSD and Erectile dysfunction,in the latter part of 2004.I had a Disabling heart attack in April of 2004 under VA Medical Center''s doctors,who claim I was in perfect health just five months prior to my heart attack.Find out at VA Ann Arbor,after getting stented,I was diagnosed with-Hypertension,Hyperlipidema,Tobacco addiction,and all kinds of government bull!#*$.I have been going to VA doctors since the year 2000. I feel if I had the proper care from the VA, I would not have had a heart attack just five months after a supposedly complete physical.I recently had to go back in the hospital and have another diagnostic cardiac catherterization done. Had three more stents put in and one balloon angioplasty.How dose a person of good health have all these serious problems in just a short period of time????!!!!!... Oh!!!...By the way, I was denied my benifits. I appealed the VA''s decision in 2005. Still waiting. I feel so sorry for these guy''s now. Our government has abanded me, these Veterans coming home, and any and all Veterans of any war.

[excoachken]

The only real friend a veteran has is another veteran. They will not even accept new applications from Vietnam era vets like myself, since V.A. Secretary Principi (following orders from the Cowardly Cowboy) froze them in 2003. Because of this action and the abusive exploitation of the troops via repeated re-deployment without proper rest and recovery time, we will have a difficult time maintaining a military in the future, and it can all be credited to the Texas Moron.

[itgranny]

I''ve an uncle who has nearly identical problems as Sabatino9. He fought the system for years with them telling him nothing was wrong.

I''ve got a son who did a tour in Iraq a year or so ago. He saw and experienced some bad stuff and had a hard time with it at first. He seems ok now, but who''s to say that this won''t come back to visit.

It''s so sad the pricks seem to just use and abuse without any thought of the human beings behind their little toy soldier games. You would think that if there was any good that came out of the korean and vietnam wars, it would have been the lessen that you shouldn''t get into wars unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. So far they haven''t learned their lessen and there doesn''t seem to be anyone in office fighting for safeguards against this from ever happening again. I guess we''re suckers for punishment.

[frankh42]

Often injured service members are denied benefits because some military services consistently underrate the severity of their disabling conditions. Vietnam Vets and their survivors are having trouble getting their benefits for exposure to;agent orange and psychologically traumatic events during their military service that resulted in (PTSD).
I am a 100% disabled Vietnam vet who applied for and received compensation for two years before receiving a letter from the government telling me that they had made a mistake in giving me that rating and that they were discontinuing all of my benefits, effective in sixty days from the date of that correspondence. In addition to having PTSD and being committed to the Waco Health Care facility twice, I have suffered: prostrate cancer, cancer of the larynx, type two diabetes, acute peripherals neuropathy and radical prostrate removal.
In a letter to Congressman Chet Edwards and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchins dated March 13, 2007 the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Texas Veterans Health Care System%u2019s residence of the PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program reported that %u201Cthere are presently 26 veterans in the program. Of the 26, 19 are Vietnam Veterans, 5 are Desert Shield/Desert Storm and 2 are Operation Iraqi Freedom. 8 Vietnam veterans and 3 Desert Shield/Desert Storm are homeless. Others in the program have lost jobs, careers, wives, families, and their hope and happiness from the ravages of this disorder.%u201D

[aheadofcrowd]

Psychiatrists admit that they cannot cure PTSD. So why are taxpayer dollars and insurance companies funding these quacks then? As a result of psychiatry''s inability to help those with PTSD, they instead "treat" PTSD with addictive and damaging drugs. Realize that most of the homeless on the street are previous war veterans who went through psychiatric "treatment" and "care."

HTTP://WWW.CCHR.ORG

HTTP://WWW.SSRISTORIES.COM

[frankh42]

Often injured service members are denied benefits because some military services consistently underrate the severity of their disabling conditions. Vietnam Vets and their survivors are having trouble getting their benefits for exposure to;agent orange and psychologically traumatic events during their military service that resulted in (PTSD).
I am a 100% disabled Vietnam vet who applied for and received compensation for two years before receiving a letter from the government telling me that they had made a mistake in giving me that rating and that they were discontinuing all of my benefits, effective in sixty days from the date of that correspondence. In addition to having PTSD and being committed to the Waco Health Care facility twice, I have suffered: prostrate cancer, cancer of the larynx, type two diabetes, acute peripherals neuropathy and radical prostrate removal.
In a letter to Congressman Chet Edwards and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchins dated March 13, 2007 the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Texas Veterans Health Care System%u2019s residence of the PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program reported that %u201Cthere are presently 26 veterans in the program. Of the 26, 19 are Vietnam Veterans, 5 are Desert Shield/Desert Storm and 2 are Operation Iraqi Freedom. 8 Vietnam veterans and 3 Desert Shield/Desert Storm are homeless. Others in the program have lost jobs, careers, wives, families, and their hope and happiness from the ravages of this disorder.%u201D

[frankh42]

Often injured service members are denied benefits because some military services consistently underrate the severity of their disabling conditions. Vietnam Vets and their survivors are having trouble getting their benefits for exposure to;agent orange and psychologically traumatic events during their military service that resulted in (PTSD).
I am a 100% disabled Vietnam vet who applied for and received compensation for two years before receiving a letter from the government telling me that they had made a mistake in giving me that rating and that they were discontinuing all of my benefits, effective in sixty days from the date of that correspondence. In addition to having PTSD and being committed to the Waco Health Care facility twice, I have suffered: prostrate cancer, cancer of the larynx, type two diabetes, acute peripherals neuropathy and radical prostrate removal.
In a letter to Congressman Chet Edwards and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchins dated March 13, 2007 the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Texas Veterans Health Care System%u2019s residence of the PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program reported that %u201Cthere are presently 26 veterans in the program. Of the 26, 19 are Vietnam Veterans, 5 are Desert Shield/Desert Storm and 2 are Operation Iraqi Freedom. 8 Vietnam veterans and 3 Desert Shield/Desert Storm are homeless. Others in the program have lost jobs, careers, wives, families, and their hope and happiness from the ravages of this disorder.%u201D

[aheadofcrowd]

Psychiatrists admit that they cannot cure PTSD. So why are taxpayer dollars and insurance companies funding these quacks then? As a result of psychiatry''''s inability to help those with PTSD, they instead "treat" PTSD with addictive and damaging drugs. Realize that most of the homeless on the street are previous war veterans who went through psychiatric "treatment" and "care."

HTTP://WWW.CCHR.ORG

HTTP://WWW.SSRISTORIES.COM

[pammywilson]

My family and i would like to thank Kimberly Dozier, Katie Couric and the staff at CBS Evening News for reporting this story. My family and i are eternally grateful for all the support you have given us during a very difficult time in Saunders "Shawn" Alston life.

Respectfully yours,
His mother.... Pamela Alston-Wilson

[cyberus-2009]

The answer is a very definitive "YES".

To pay attention to the needs of our soldiers after they have been used up would escalate the financial costs of Bush''''s illegal war of agression, and they just don''''t want that! So, to whatever extent they can get away with it, they pretend there is no problem.

Anyone thinking about "serving their country" through military service should think about this this BEFORE signing up!

Posted by GladImNotOJ at 10:18 PM : Dec 20, 2007
******************

The *extent* that they are denying it goes as far as to discharge them for bad behavior using the loose *personality disorder* label ... something they had before going to Iraq but nobody ever noticed .. yeaaahhh riiiiight.

[andor3]

"Psychiatrists admit that they cannot cure PTSD. "

You are taking that out of context. PTSD is not a mental disorder, it is a normal reaction to severe and unrelenting stress. So you can''t "cure" it. In fact, it is probably wrong to call it a disorder. Soldiers who have PTS symptoms are not insane, but they do need help and support and can benefit from professional help. And veterans should have access to that help.

Truthfully, if a soldier has been through a combat theater and does NOT suffer from some PTS symptoms--then that may indicate something seriously wrong.

[tiredofthebs]

Our IDIOT President at work !!!!! Send troops over to fight your personal vendetta, then abandon them and deny them gov''t. assistance when they need it. Thanks to the idiot who bought the presidency, you can expect dramatic decreases in military recruiting.I hope you idiots that voted for that moron GEORGE BUSH are happy.


-IMPEACH BUSH

[micma-2009]

Support the troops? I would love to see the bumper-sticker patriots line up in outrage over how they''re being treated when they come home and need care.

[samthetvcat]

"My family and i would like to thank Kimberly Dozier, Katie Couric and the staff at CBS Evening News for reporting this story. My family and i are eternally grateful for all the support you have given us during a very difficult time in Saunders "Shawn" Alston life.

Respectfully yours,
His mother.... Pamela Alston-Wilson"

Posted by pammywilson

Mrs. Alston and Shawn, thank you for sharing your story to raise awareness of this stunning problem. I can''t get over the injustice - it''s outrageous!

You guys just hang in there - we''re all going to do our part and make sure a Democrat takes office next November and ALL the troops get the care they deserve! Democrats support the troops!

micma wrote:

"Support the troops? I would love to see the bumper-sticker patriots line up in outrage over how they''''re being treated when they come home and need care."

I absolutely agree.

Supporting our troops should not stop after they come home.

It''s time the Government - Republicans and Democrats - and the Armed Services realized this.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Is The Military Neglecting PTSD Troops?"

Ask the vets of WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and the middle east, it has been an institutionalized military policy and a neocon/nazi/fascist mantra to "support the troops", until they get killed, wounded, or emotionally damaged, then throw them away, like used condoms.

This articles belongs in the "opinion" section, as it certainly is not news.

[watcher269-2009]

-IMPEACH BUSH

Posted by TiredoftheBS
-------------------------------

Screew impeachment - it is time to try these guys for Treason and everyone that supported/funded or played any part of the travisty that these guys played in.

Convict Bush/Cheney for Treason!

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

President George W. Bush will more than likely be known as one of the worst presidents, if not THE worst, U.S. president, ever.

The present Bush administration is the most unfriendly and toward active service members and veterans, at least in modern history.

President Bush is the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. armed forces, and the bad treatment of active duty service members and our veterans is happening on HIS watch...

The U.S. Army is draconian and punitive in the handling of disability claims by our men and women service members.

The Veterans Administration is part of that ugly picture too, in the way that VA claims have been bogging down, with many veterans being denied disability claims.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray recently had her legislation pass that would put a stop to all of this, but it remains to be seen if Bush will sign it. By signing that legislation, he would be admitting that his administration is FUBAR %u2013 (fouled up beyond any recognition), and in need of correction.

Mean spirited, despicable, scandalous, corrupt, are just a few words to describe the mess.

Yes, it is time for the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) to grow a spine and start legal action against the administration. They can start with George W. Bush and %u201CShotgun ***%u201D Cheney, and the others who have been participating in this shameful treatment of U.S. Citizens, soldiers and veterans...

[vet_sk]

How about some care for the troops because there really isn''t any unless you are in reach of a military hospital. But since this administration wanted war on the cheap, used Nat''l Guard - whose homes are often no where near bases with hospitals, there is no support for returning Nat''l Guard soldiers. None!

People ask me if the military is a good way to start life, I just tell them that it is a good place to learn to cuss and pray.

How about military personnel being offered the same health care federal employees can get. Oh, you say that would cost too much. ...Support the troops is a just a mantra - nothing else.

[woodjd42]

Back when the majority of the people supported the bush/cheney war and everyone had flags and bumper stickers on their cars, I said that the soldiers would be dropped in the grease just like we vietnam vets. I''m not against war, but when you send our youth to fight a war there needs to be a good reason and this country needs to learn to really support the troops. Nothing has changed and I don''t see anything ever changing. This country will keep feeding the youth the same BS to get them to enlist, then drop them in the grease when they''re no longer needed. PTSD is very REAL folks.

[bb19631]

Consistency,perserverance is what needs to be done. Keep at it. The gouvernment was not prepared for the ramifucations of war or after the tours were done. And as far as the comment from Vet- SK, my husband is Natl. Guard spent 18 months in that hell hole Iraq. We are close to an Army base, he is still getting care long after his deployment ended. He uses services off post- in the private sector. The military pays for everything. We have a VA. worker who keeps in contact with my husband. We have never had a problem with any of the red tape.

[woodjd42]

all the screening in the world is BS. I don''t care what any one says, each and every soldier that serves in combat has some degree of PSTD. I don''t care if they were non-combat or right in the middle of the action, they have some problems. Some may handle it better than others but believe me, they have a problem. Some times it may take years to surface, some times days. You can''t just send these kids into combat and expect them to come home and forget where they had been and the sights they had seen and even just the smell of war.

[woodjd42]

When I returned from Vietnam there was one preson I really hated. That person was Jane fonda. I still hate her and nothing she acts in is allowed on my TV. Now I add two more names to that list. Two names that are as big of a Traitor as she. Those names? bush and chaney.

[neenga]

dakotaclark: Well stated. It''s sinful enough that this administration has cost so many Americans their lives and limbs in this whatever-it-is that''s going on in Iraq. Then to deny these victims their rights when they return is beyond evil. Govt can''t afford it? I say raise taxes because the average American should be taught through his/her wallet that "support the troups" means a lot more than waving a flag. We can whine about taxes all we want, but in this case, I''ll gladly pay more to help these Americans who so bravely followed the directives of their draft-dodging "leaders." Why does Congress have no guts? This administration is criminal. Clinton gets impeached? But these guys swagger around D.C. like they deserve to be there?

[woodjd42]

neoconism
I hold no ill feeling to the war protesters against Vietnam. I agree with most of what you say. However if you go back and look at the facts, Jane fonda was directly responsible for American soldiers death and beatings. In my opinion she was not protestong against the war on the merits of the war but to benifit her personaly. To me fonda, bush and chaney are all the same. They kill Americans.

[talex6]

If you were to do research on the history of PTSD and the military you would find that PTSD has been ignored or seen as a sign of weakness since the beginning of time. It is just in very recent history that PTSD has been recognized as a real ailment. It is not the fault of this administration that PTSD is treated as it is, it is the fault of society''s view of mental illness. Until we press for a change of attitude in society and the military, those with PTSD will continue to be treated the same.

[woodjd42]

There need to be a few things done for the people of this country to show support for the troops. First you indict the criminals that put us in this war. Next you take away these huge salaries these congressmen get, take away thier great retirement and then increase the pay of the soldiers so they earn a decent wage equal to the sacrifices they and thier famalies make. then you take away these great health benifits these congressmen have and you provide health care for every serviceman and his family for life. (only 11% of Americans have serviced so were not talking about breaking the bank)

[neenga]

I''d like for these dopes in D.C. to spend a couple of days with a friend who''s a Vietnam vet. He sleeps fitfully with two pistols and an AK-47 in the bed with him. He takes many meds just to keep his mind semi-quiet, without much success. Can he get help from the VA? His wife keeps at it because he can''t deal with much, but she feels she is beating her head against a brick wall called the Veterans Administration.

[woodjd42]

neenga
I hear you.
I doubt that the majority don''t even know what PTSD is. The sleepless night, the sweats, the jumping out of the skin at the least noise, the look of fear in your wife''s eye in the middle of the night, the crying (but not in front of anyone), the sounds, the smells that bring back memories 30 years later. I also bet that the majority don''t even care. They never have so why should they start now.

[texas468]

My husband was in the Kuwait Liberation (Operation desert Storm/Former President Bush Sr.''s term) and The First Battle of Mogadishu (Former Pres. Clinton''s term). He is STILL battling demons from those wars. This IS NOT JUST A BUSH/CHENEY ISSUE!!! This is an ONGOING issue with all Presidents, Congress, House and Senate, past and present. Don''t boil this down to just two men. Line ALL the past presidents up and bit#$-slap them ALL!!!! I know they s%*k, but this is not all their doing. The VA hospitals suck, the Doctors, from what I understand do as well. Not their fault, the government doesn''t care enough to pay them enough to care. My husband has tried to seek care in the VA, but all they do is try to give him drugs he doesn''t want. Psychiatrists that don''t help. These Soldiers need HELP, UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT when they come home. They are NOT okay. They have seen things we couldn''t fathom. They dive deep into depression during key remembrances of certain dates, and you have to stand by them and help. It''s you duty as a civilian to help them. I help my husband daily - yes, daily - and sometimes it''s a struggle. But, since I wasn''t doing battle, I feel it''s my obligation, and I do it lovingly. My mother did it for my father when he came home from Vietnam, and my grandmother for my grandfather when he was in WWII. Get a grip, give these soldiers what the DESERVE!!!!! Bless all of them, and thank you.....

[woodjd42]

irishbitch11
My prayers are with your son. Tears stream down my face every time I see or hear of these brave kids.

[texas468]

woodjd42 - I don''t know these things, but I''ve witnessed them with my husband. He has the sleepless nights as well. Vivid nightmares. He hears a helicopter, and instantly ducks and puts his had on his head to keep his imaginary "lid" from flying off. won''t even put BlackHawk Down on the television. I''ve seen the pictures of his Humvee that was totally demolished, with all his buddies killed except him. He doesn''t understand why he was spared, and feels he should be dead too. He cries with me. Breaks down. It''s heartbreaking. I hurt for him, and wish I could take his pain away, but i know I can''t. There are people in this world who do care, and we do what we can for the ones we love that serve and served our country......I hope in time, you and all involved can recover the best way you can. I know you never truly will, but hopefully will find some semblance of peace...you deserve this.....

[clestes-2009]

Why should ANYONE believe they aren''t!!

This fiasco was started with not enough men or money. It has dragged on 5 years longer than expected and cost, at last count, $450 BILLION more than expected.

To try and find enough money to keep creating death and destruction shrub has cut vital domestic programs PLUS cut military spending. Spending that is NOT directly spent for weapons and battle.

Look, Iraq was never expected to have 25,000 wounded soldiers. The easiest wounded soldier to drop are the mentally wounded. They don''t have visible wounds, so it is easy to say, well they are REALLY hurt, they are just faking it.

AND this war is particularly prone to PTSA because of constant threat of being killed. Men who see buddies blown apart or children or pregnant women going into mental shock. Some can cope and others can''t.

It is another CRIME on the Bush admin record for his poor treatment of the men he so highly praises. Of course having SHIRKED active duty during Vietnam, he has NO IDEA of what it means to be fired at.

He was too busy doing drugs and drinking, playing at being a "flyboy". So much more fun than actually being one, ya know!

[texas468]

irishbitch11 - my prayers are also with you and your son. I''m sorry you have to go through this!!! There are those that care, hang in there and stay tough!!!!!

[woodjd42]

Texas468

You''re right. It''s just easier to put it on bush/chaney because of their arragance.
You are a great lady and both you and your husband have my prayers as does every combat vet.

[karilynn4]

I think its sad we expect these men and women to go in to combat and give there lives for this country and we repay them by not giving them the help they need and kicking them out of the armed forces with nothing. So to those out there serving your country thank you and I hope things will change

[texas468]

Thanks woodjd42 for your service as well as your prayers for my husband and all vets. It''s nice when there are nice, level-headed people on these posts every now and then!!!!

[woodjd42]

parrot2

I am sorry for the use of the word "majority". It just seems that way to me sometimes. There are so many that say they support the troops but nothing ever gets done. I think that the majority maybe care and feel pitty but never enough to demand change and get things changed. The ones like Texas468 that deal with it every hour of every day are the ones that realy care. For the rest they feel bad at the stories and such but not bad enough to call or write these "on the take goverment people" and demand change.

[Bobbyblues]

As a member of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association, I have found that not just PTSD benefits differ, also where you were stationed has a lot to do with benefits.
I served on a ship off shore. At times our ship came under fire and men lost their lives, but the VA doesn''t consider us eligible for PTSD because were not in a combat area, "boots on the ground".
I have Prostate Cancer, a disease related to exposure to Agent Orange. We took on water to distill for drinking, cooking, and bathing. In that water, was storm water runoff with AO in it. Blue Water Navy Veterans are 10 times more likely to come down with AO related diseases than the solders that served with boots on the ground.
After passing the AO act in 1992, they payed all Vietnam vets who suffered from the diseases related to AO. In 2002, when the Iraq War was in the planning stages, the VA realized that it would be short funded. It started looking for ways to cut cost. One of the ways it found was to deny any vet who did not put boots on the ground, for any claim related to AO. After paying 1000%u2019s of BWN Vets for exposure, they took away their disability pay.
In 2007, The Blue Water Navy Vets won a Court Decision in the "Haas" case that said they were to get the same benefits as other Vietnam Vets that were exposed. The VA appealed that decision and is trying to rewrite the rules. They want to rescind M21-1 in the Federal Register so if they loose in appeal, they can still deny Blue Water Navy Vets.

[lvdragonlady-2009]

The military ignored PTSD in Vietnam vets and they are doing it again. So what is the surprise. They want people to serve but they get NO help when they return. So much for the greatest nation on Earth, we treat our military no better then some third world countries. Shame on your America for letting it happen.

[krazyarm]

Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. Machiavelli was a political philosopher and diplomat during the Renaissance, and is most famous for his political treatise, The Prince (1513), that has become a cornerstone of modern political philosophy. In the book Prince he writes: ( Any Country that put its veterans as secound class citezens is DOOMED to lose their soverinty ) Pay heed to this advise AMERICA the Uninted States of America is NOT treating her Veterans right and will pay a price for this neglect.

[liberalvet]

What a disgrace our VA is. While I firmly believe GWB has made it worse I know for a fact it has always been bad. I applied for PTSD after service in Somalia and was denied, luckily I had a loving and understanding family that helped me learn to live with it. I did get a 10% disability for a skin disease I contracted from there, but after 1 year they denied it stating it was not service related. I just gave up the appeals as they were going no where. The VA needs a complete overhaul.

[woodjd42]

krazyarm
( Any Country that put its veterans as secound class citezens is DOOMED to lose their soverinty )
Although I agree with this I would like to add something.
Niccolo Machiavelli was misrepresentated and condemned by Pope Clement VIII because of his writing "The Prince". The main theme of this short book was that all means may be resorted to for the establishment and preservation of authority. (The end justifies the means) The worst and most treacherous acts of the ruler are justified by the wickedness and treachery of the governed. However this was not Machiavelli''s real philosophy. To read his real philosophy read "Discourses on Livy"
He was great however.

[pammywilson]

My family and i would like to thank Kimberly Dozier, Katie Couric and the staff at CBS Evening News for reporting this story. My family and i are eternally grateful for all the support you have given us during a very difficult time in Saunders "Shawn" Alston life.

Respectfully yours,
His mother.... Pamela Alston-Wilson

[coolprophet]

MORE TROOPS AND VETERANS SUPPORT RON PAUL
On Veteran''s Day, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul today addressed a crowd of over 5,000 enthusiastic veterans and supporters in Philadelphia. The Veteran''s Day weekend rally took place at Independence Mall. Thousands of veterans and their friends and families heard country music superstar Rockie Lynne open the event for the Texas congressman. John Holland, the founder of a leading advocacy organization for troops, veterans, and POW/MIAs, delivered an enthusiastic endorsement of Congressman Paul, before the congressman addressed the crowd. The rally coincided with the launch of the Veterans for Paul Coalition, a group composed entirely of American war veterans. "Dr. Paul''s support among veterans is extremely high," said Paul campaign spokesman Joe Seehusen. "These great patriots who have fought for our country know that only Dr. Paul''s foreign policy of peace and secure borders can guarantee true national security, and they want him fighting for our country''s freedom." Congressman Paul was himself a Captain in the Air Force who served as a flight surgeon during the "totally unnecessary and illegal" Vietnam war. He receives more campaign contributions from former and active military and military affiliates than any other 2008 presidential candidate. youtube.com/watch?v=KzlqKoON3EM

[aheadofcrowd]

Psychiatrists admit that they cannot cure PTSD. So why are taxpayer dollars and insurance companies funding these quacks then? As a result of psychiatry''''''''s inability to help those with PTSD, they instead "treat" PTSD with addictive and damaging drugs. Realize that most of the homeless on the street are previous war veterans who went through psychiatric "treatment" and "care."

HTTP://WWW.CCHR.ORG

HTTP://WWW.SSRISTORIES.COM

[chris_d3]

Although I believe PTSD needs to be taken more seriously by the military, I don''t believe the man in this story has PTSD. It sounds like what he''s suffering from is guilt. He says he watched his friend die and he said it should have been him(self). That, along with the other things he''s said, point to a guilty conscience.