Duke Searles, the Vietnam veteran who runs the food pantry at the VA hospital in Montrose, reports that Carpenter’s Union Local 11 in Hawthorne recently donated $1,000 to the pantry, which will be used to buy canned goods, pasta and other staples to help keep the shelves filled.
Local members of Rolling Thunder, a veterans group that focuses on POW/MIA issues also ddonated $500.
The pantry gives out one or two weeks of groceries to between 100 and 200 needy veterans each month, although with times getting tough, Searles said the need is likely to grow.
On Saturday (Jan. 24) local members of the Harley Owners Group, also known as the HOGS, will be holding a food drive for the pantry at the Reggie Pink Harley-Davidson motorcycle showroom on Central Avenue in White Plains beginning at noon. Drop by with some groceries if you can.
If you can’t make to the food drive but still want to make a donation, call the food pantry at 914-737-400 ext. 2640.
A while back on this blog we posted a story from the Stars & Stripes about the Department of Defense considering a proposal to award the Purple Heart to combat troops diagnosed with post traumatic stress syndrome.
The “Stripes’’ reported yesterday that the military powers that be have decided against it. The paper quotes DoD spokeswoman Eileen Lainez, who explained he decision thusly:
“PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event; it is not a wound intentionally caused by the enemy from an ‘outside force or agent,’ but is a secondary effect caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event.”
No doubt, the debate will continue. I was never sure that the Purple Heart was the appropriate award for those who suffer from PTSD, but I do believe some sort of recognition would be a good think. More important, though, in my opinion, is that the military and the VA take care of those who have to live with the disorder every day.
Good news for at least some of the troops who will be spending Super Bowl Sunday in Iraq. The powers that be have announced that a few will be able to enjoy the big game and a cold one, or two, at the same time. Troops in Iraq are prohibited from consuming alcohol under General Order No. 1, but this year they’re making an exception for the Super Bowl, according to this story in the Stars&Stripes.
Being away from home is tough on GIs, and anything that brings home a little closer is a good thing.
MTV will explore issues surrounding post traumatic stress syndrome among returning Iraq and Afghanistan warriors tomorrow (Saturday) on “True Life: I have PTSD.”
It’s estimated that one in five Afghan and Iraq veterans report PTSD symptoms, which include depression, problems sleeping, the inability to trust, nightmares and fits of rage.
Saturday’s show, scheduled for 6 p.m., focuses on three young veterans struggling to get their lives back on track.
More than 100 volunteers from Larchmont and neighborhing communities will be at St. Augustine’s Church Sunday, accepting personal items and packing them up into care packages to ship to Iraq and Afghanistan in the annual “Support Our Troops’’ drive.
The effort began in 2006, when Jennie McFarland of New Rochelle and a few friends collected and shipped 120 boxes of magazines, snacks and toiletries while her husband was serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq. The drive has grown immensely and last year more than 700 care packages were shipped to the troops.
“We’re hoping for another great effort, especially since so many of our troops are on a third and fourth tour,’’ McFarland said of Sunday’s drive. “It’s important for our troops to know that we continue to support them, and for our military families at home to see the effort and know that they too are supported…”
The drive is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, located at 40 Cherry Ave. Volunteers are asking for donations of reading material, snacks, toiletries and other small items. Check out their website here for a complete list.
Donations to cover shipping costs are also needed. Checks payable to St. Augustine’s Church should be mailed to Support Our Troops, 40 Cherry Ave., New Rochelle, NY, 10801.
A little more than three years after charges were formally framed against Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez for the murders Capt. Phillip Esposito and 1st Lt. Louis Allen, the trial is finally coming to a close.
On Monday the defense will start its rebuttal statement, and if things go according to schedule closing arguments should start on Tuesday. The jury could go into deliberations soon after that we could have a verdict as soon as the end of the week.
Also, after many weeks of trying to get information from JAG attorneys, I finally got the answer I was looking for — the jury doesn’t need to be unanimous to reach a guilty verdict; it needs a 2/3rd majority. It needs a unanimous vote for the death penalty.
I’ll keep you posted about how the remainder of the trial goes. For a more detailed account, go to www.lohud.com.
Newsday reports that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has reassigned its New York regional director and five other top managers after discovering that hundreds of claims were misdated to make it appear that they were being processed on time.
“It was systematicaly enough of a problem that we removed the leadership,’’ the newspaper quotes VA spokeswoman Alison Aikele in a story you can read here.
Most of us have heard about problems in trying to get a VA claim or appeal dealt with in a timely manner. If you’re a local veteran interested in sharing your experience for a future newspaper story, please e-mail me at rliebson@lohud.com or give me a call at 914-694-3534. Make sure to leave your name and contact info.
Looks like this is becoming an annual event. The Town of Ramapo in conjunction with the Jewish War veterans PFC Fred Hecht Post # 425 will be sponsoring the second annual “Salute To Veteran” concert on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Featured will be the renowned U.S. Military Academy Concert band. The event will take place at Suffern High School located at 47 Viola Road, Suffern, at 2 p.m. Free tickets are available till supplies last at Ramapo Town Hall.
The United States Military Acadaemy Band has quite a history, and is a descendant from the small band that first assembled in West Point in 1817. The original 20 piece military band has evolved to the current 48-member wind band. Over the years it has developed a reputation of being among the finest of its kind. So don’t don’t miss the opportunity!
Fourth- and fifth-graders from Ossining’s Claremont School will visit the Montrose VA hospital on Friday (Nov. 21) to visit with veterans, hand out candy and play some jazz.
The Claremont Jazz Band will jump and jive at the hospital from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Every year, I really look forward to our trip, as I know the students, the veterans and the staff at the hospital do as well,” said Claremont Teacher Ron Whitehead, who organizes the annual event. “It is a great thing to see, the mess hall staff smiling and waving, the veterans saying thank you and dancing by their lunch tables.”
The visits started nine years ago, when Whitehead, a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm, decided to invite the Jazz Band to join him on a trip to the hospital. The concerts started out small but soon moved to the dining hall in order to accommodate more of the veterans, who wanted to attend. The students also enjoy the personal interaction of meeting the veterans while handing out candy.
“Being a veteran makes these visits very personal and makes me think of the friendships I had when in the Army,” said Whitehead. “I think of the people serving our county overseas everyday. It is amazing to think that everyday, people sacrifice so much.”
Nami-Familya is calling all veterans or members of their families who fear that their loved ones are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, to attend a gathering on Wednesday. As we’ve heard and read too often, suicide and factorss that contribute to suicide such as depression, PTSD, and a rise in drug and alcohol abuse is increasing in veterans returning from war.
Several speakers experienced in veterans affairs will be speaking at the Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center Building F, Room 119, on Sanatorium Road in Pomona at 7:30 p.m. Jerry Donnellan, director of Rockland County’s Veteran’s Services Agency, Jim Murphy of Veteran’s For Peace, Stan Hyman of VCS Vets for Vets Program, and Jim Ievolella, also of VCS Vets for Vets Program will be speaking that night.
A flier distributed by Nami-Familya helps identify some of the signs of PTSD, including bad dreams, flashbacks, trouble sleeping, angry outbursts, scary thoughts that caan’t be controled, thoughts of hurting yourself or others.
If you feel that you, or a veteran you know may be suffering from PTSD, please take advantage and go to hear the people who know.
WASHINGTON (CNN)—An Army lieutenant general has become the first woman in U.S. military history to get four stars.
The military on Friday promoted Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, who has served in several command positions in her 33-year Army career.
She will command Army Material Command, responsible for equipping, arming and outfitting soldiers.
The story, which can be found here, notes that Dunwoody is a native New Yorker who graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1975 and planned to spend two years in the Army.
The defense opened its case in Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez’s fragging court-martial yesterday and its clear that it is trying to paint him as a dim-witted, profanity prone soldier who was none-the-less affable, and hardly the type who would plan the cold-blooded murder of two superior officers.
The problem with that picture is that the prosecution has brought forth enough witnesses who have testifying that they were personally aware about the ongoing feud between Martinez and his commander, Captain Phillip Esposito of Suffern, and that they heard him making threats to fragg Esposito. So far the prosecution has been able to make the case that Martinez is the only person who had the motive, the ability and the opportunity to carry out the murders.
Martinez was the supply sergeant of the 42nd Infantry Division’s headquarter support company in Tikrit, Iraq, in 2005, and has access to all kinds of ammunition and explosives. Esposito was his company commander. 1st Lt. Louis Allen of Milford, Pa, the new second-in-command, had just arrived in Iraq, and was in esposito’s room when a claymore mine exploded and killed them both. Martinez is charged with planting the mine.
The defense seems have have had a shaky start. It was supposed to bring forth its witnessess on Tuesday, but asked for a delay because all its witnesses hadn’t arrived at Fort Bragg where the trial is being held. Defense witnesses started their testimony on Wednesday, but broke early today because some witnesses hadn’t arrived. The defense blamed the government for dragging its feet in bringing the witnesses, most of whom are posted overseas or are at locations across the country.
I’ve been following the trial from West Point, where a live video feed has been provided for family members and the media. Several of Allen’s relatives who live in the area come to watch the trial. Relatives of Esposito’s wife, Siobhan, also occasionally come.
Aboard the USS Intrepid yesterday for a Veterans Day ceremony, Gov. David Paterson signed an Executive Order establishing the New York State Council on Returning Veterans and Their Families. The Council will develop recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to address the multiple needs of returning veterans and their families in adjusting to post-service life through a collaboration of federal, state and local benefits.
The military judge presiding over the court-martial of Alberto Martinez delayed the defense case for a day after attorneys told him that they didn’t have witnesses ready to testify on the first day. They will bring witnesses to the stand tomorrow.
The prosecution presented its last witness yesterday. Staff Sgt. Amy Harlan testified that she gave Alberto Martinez three claymore mines, the weapon that investigators say he used to murder Capt. Phillip Esposito of Suffern and 1st Lt. Louis Allen of Milford, Penn. The two officers died after a series of explosions in Saddam Hussein’s Water Palace in Tikrit, Iraq, which served as Forward Operating Base Danger.
So far the prosecution has presented witnesses who have testified that they were aware Martinez hated Esposito and had publicly spoken about fragging him. Witnesses have also said they saw him close to the blast site in suspicious circumstances after the explosions. As the supply sergeant of his unit, Martinez had access to all kinds of ammunition. In short, the prosecution has made the case that no one but Martinez had the motive, the ability and the opportunity to kill the two men.
Now its the defense’ turn. Witnesses have been called from across the country and from overseas to testify in the first fragging trial since the war in Iraq began. I’ll be waiting to see what they have to offer.
It’s great to see so many local events planned for tomorrow as the nation observes Veterans Day. I hope most of you have the day off and can make it to whatever ceremony takes place in your town. If you have to work, at least spend a minute or two remembering your time in the military, whenever you might have served.
I remember that when I was discharged one of the sergeants handling my out processing told me that no matter what I did with the rest of my life, I should be proud that I answered our country’s call and did my bit for Uncle Sam. It sounded pretty corny at the time, but as the years of gone by I’ve thought about my days as a “cold warrior’’ more than I ever thought I would. I’ve kept in touch with a few old buddies and we laugh about our days in the Army’s “green machine.’’
When I first started working here, there were still a few World War I veterans around and I had the chance to do stories about them. In the 23 years since, I’ve met and written stories about hundreds of veterans and I can’t remember one that I didn’t enjoy. It’s great to swap stories about the military with men and women who actually understand what you’re talking about. What I’ve learned is that no matter when you served, or whether it was during war or peace, you share at least a small bond with everyone else who has ever sweated their way through basic training and worn a uniform.
"At Ease!" is a place for Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard veterans to share their experiences and voice their opinions. It doesn't matter if you served during war or peacetime, overseas or stateside, active duty or reserves, as a draftee or volunteer - if you served in uniform, this is the place for you.
We'll let you know about interesting military and veterans stories we find, issues that might affect you, and local veterans events you might want to attend.
If you're a member of a veterans organization in the Lower Hudson Valley, let us know about your events, charity efforts and other news. We may also ask for your help in finding sources to interview for veterans stories in The Journal News and LoHud.com.
Rich Liebson is a "military brat" who grew up on bases in the U.S. and Germany during his father's 23-year career as an Air Force enlisted man. Rich enlisted in the Army in 1976 and until his discharge in 1980 was assigned to the 78th Engineer Battalion in Ettlingen, Germany, as a public information specialist and translator. He's been a reporter at The Journal News and its forerunner, the Reporter Dispatch, for more than 20 years. During that time he's covered a variety of beats and has written frequently about veterans and veterans issues.
Hema Easley was born and raised in India, where she worked as a reporter for The Associated Press and United Press International. While in India she wrote about the insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir and covered the 1999 India-Pakistan conflict in the mountains of Kashmir. She joined The Journal News in 2002. She has covered municipal government in Westchester and now covers on social services in Rockland as well as military issues.
LoHud's "Return to Vietnam" blog chronicles the journey of Col. Andonios Neroulias (Ret.) and his daughter, reporter Nicole Neroulias, to the country he fought in 40 years ago.
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