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Andrew's story Aug 12, 2014

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How the lethal cocktail of anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, analgesic drugs killed my son brbr Stan White Father of Marine Corporal Andrew White brbr Stan White is a retired high school principal. He is the father of Marine Corporal Andrew White, who was a healthy 23-year-old, gung-ho Marine returning from a nine-month tour in Iraq, who, like so many of his brothers in arms, suffered from the seemingly normal stresses of war—insomnia, nightmares and restlessness. The young corporal turned to the military’s mental health system for help. Within a few short months, White became unrecognizable to his family. Eleven months after beginning his first cocktail of mind-altering drugs, he died in his sleep from what the medical examiner ruled an “accidental overdose of medication.” Since taking his first multi-drug cocktail to the date of his death, White had been prescribed no less than nineteen different drugs with many at ever-increasing dosages, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety, pain killers and antibiotics. The prescribed drugs Methadone, Oxycodone, Paxil and Seroquel were found in his system at the time of death. Stan and his wife, Shirley, blame the “lethal cocktail” of psychiatric drugs for the death of their son. “We don’t think they should be given to troops in the field,” Stan White said. “It’s worth asking whether they should be given to anybody anytime, civilian or military.” The Whites are advocating more alternatives for soldiers and have testified before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Veteran Info Past & Future Aug 05, 2014

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Veterans Museum and what we offer to the public and area Veterans. brbr Mayor John Masiarczyk: Veterans Museum and what we offer to the public and area Veterans. State Representative David Santiago District 27 Florida GI Bill, Education, Debt Collection Practices brbr 1st Guest: Mayor John Masiarczyk Mayor of Deltona Fla. & 2nd Guest State Representative David Santiago District 27 brbr For four decades, Mayor John has been a respected figure in Deltona public life. As a civic and business leader, as a mentor and benefactor, as their first mayor, as a museum founder and curator of Deltona’s history – growing up in Detroit and later moving to Florida with his parents as a teen. A couple of years later as the Vietnam War was escalating John sensed opportunity in the United States Navy and he enlisted. The Navy stationed him in Sanford, Florida, Mayor John has come far in life and in his service to Deltona. He wanted to return to the job of Mayor of the City of Deltona because he truly believes civic involvement is the responsibility of each of us and he knows the value of participation and knowledge gained through experience. State Representative David Santiago District 27 • Married 21 years to Emma, 3 children Kristina, Gabriela and David, and also a grand dad of Matthew. • Resident of District 27 since 1991 • Deltona City Commissioner (2003-2007) • Financial Manager specializing in helping our men and women of the military with their financial needs. • US Army Veteran • Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012 • Florida House of Representatives Majority Deputy Whip 2012-2014 He Supported the bill that made Florida the Welcome Home” state in the nation for veterans, military personnel and their families. He is also on the Veteran & Military Affairs Sub committee

Understanding the Difference - PTS, PTSD and TBI Jul 29, 2014

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Bart Billings, PH.D. Was a guest on HBO’s Vice News, ABC’s Night Line and US News And World Report. He has been in national & international documentaries, TV news shows and extensive radio shows discussing Combat Stress. He has given testimony to Congressional and at State Legislative Hearings on the need for better Mental Health Treatment Programs for military personnel and their families. brbr Bart P. Billings, Ph.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist PSY 7656 Licensed Marriage, Family Counselor MG 4888

Wounded Warriors Project : Call to Congress to Extend VA's TBI Assisted Living Pilot Program Jul 22, 2014

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WASHINGTON-The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun ousting dozens of brain-damaged veterans from special therapeutic group homes, setting off a scramble for housing and care. brbr Hannah Fairman Health Policy Analyst on WWP's Policy Team brbr Congressional Inaction Threatens Program for Brain-Damaged Vets VA Begins Ousting Vets from Special Therapeutic Group Homes July 11, 2014 10:26 a.m. ET WASHINGTON-The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun ousting dozens of brain-damaged veterans from special therapeutic group homes, setting off a scramble for housing and care. In recent weeks, VA case workers have warned 53 veterans they'll have to leave the privately run homes by Sept. 15, according to the agency. Ten have already been discharged from the care facilities and sent to nursing homes, state veterans homes or to live with family members. Dozens of other veterans are now in a state of limbo about whether they'll be able to remain in the rehab facilities for more than a few months. The VA says it has no choice but to discharge the residents. Despite pressure from veterans, their families and service organizations, Congress hasn't extended the legal authority for the rehabilitation program, which expires Oct. 6. The failure to extend this successful pilot [program] would close a door to recently injured individuals who need these services and risk having to transfer wounded veterans to more costly and inappropriate environments of care, the Wounded Warrior Project, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and 11 other veterans groups wrote to lawmakers in a joint letter this month. Lawmakers from both parties say they support renewing the program. The five-year pilot was designed to test whether veterans with traumatic brain injuries-the kinds of wound that became a signature of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts-improve faster with intensive therapy in a community-based home than at a hospital or rest home.

Disabled Veterans National Foundation Jul 15, 2014

Show notes

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) was founded in 2007 by six women veterans, each with years of experience as State Women Veterans Coordinators in various states around the country brbr Joseph VanFonda CEO brbr Joseph VanFonda served in the United States Marine Corps for more than 27 years. He retired out of Quantico, VA in 2013 as the Regimental SgtMaj for the Wounded Warrior Regiment. In this role, he was responsible for the coordination of non - medical care for combat and non -combat wounded, ill, and injured Marines, as well as Sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to the veteran status. Joseph is a combat veteran who has a deep understanding of the Veterans Integrated System Network of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Knowing the many levels of care within the VA, Joseph has begun to implement a new core concept of operations of DVNF, known as Benefits and Resource Navigation (BaRN). This new and exciting concept of operations will help with the direct needs of our disabled veterans while providing additional resources that each disabled veteran earned while serving this great nation. Joseph is very familiar with working with nonprofit organizations. As the Wounded Warrior Regimental SgtMaj he served as one of the main points of contact and clearinghouse for persons or charitable organizations seeking to support wounded warriors through charitable gifts and special events. Asked why did you accept the Executive Director position? “I have served our wonderful nation for 27 years. I believe in DVN F’s mission, which allows me to continue serving our American heroes our disabled veterans in need, and we will do this with a relationship, not a process approach” Joseph VanFonda's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal with two gold star (3rd award) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars (4th award) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four gold stars (5th award) Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (8th award) Humanitarian Service Medal with one star (2award) National Defense Service Medal with one star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) Global War on Terrorism (GWOTM) Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal Southwest Asia Service Meda

VSCOA PAWS Service & Companion Dog Training Program Jul 08, 2014

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Two of the biggest problems in the service dog training business are the scam of registering your dog as a service dog and passing a dog off as a service dog. There are scam companies that will register your dog for a price, and scam people who claim their dogs are service dogs brbr Jerry Black Co-Founder & General Manager Veteran Support Centers of America and VSCOAPaws brbr VSCOA PAWS Service & Companion Dog Training Program is fundamentally transforming how we serve our disabled veterans and Wounded Warriors who have become homeless at Camp Royal Oak. Veterans who come to Camp Royal Oak are now offered several opportunities that can result in them receiving pre-vocational skills, a career path and or a way to serve their fellow brother and sister veterans. In addition all dogs in our programs are rescue dogs. VSCOA PAWS Service & Companion Dog Training Program offers two very different Service Dog Training programs that a veteran can get involved with while staying at Camp Royal Oak. “Train a Trainer” or “TAT” is a Therapeutic Vocational Education & Training Program that the VSCOA PAWS Program offers to the disabled veterans and Wounded Warriors we serve at Camp Royal Oak. This unique first of its kind program offers qualified veterans staying at Camp Royal Oak the opportunity to obtain pre-vocational skills that could help lead a veteran to become a fully certified Companion- Service Dog Trainer or more. Veterans that enroll for the “TAT” program are taught to train Companion- Service Dogs for disabled heroes such as Combat Veterans and First Responders that suffer with PTSD and or Traumatic Brain Injuries known as TBI’s.

The Brotherhood of the Red Nile Jul 01, 2014

Show notes

Author and master storyteller Dan Perkins presents the second book in his trilogy about terrorism against the United States. brbr Dan Perkins: Author brbr Walking into a creative writing class at the BIG Arts Center on Sanibel Island in November 2011, Dan Perkins had no idea how dramatic of a turn his life would take after the four week class. The instructor, Nancy Daversa, started by telling the students they would know within the first two weeks if they could write. Dan smiled to himself thinking he would only miss a couple of rounds of golf. But the writing bug bit Dan Perkins and he found, not only can he write, but he can write fast and with a vengeance. His first story blossomed into a full length novel that he completed in 90 days. The Brotherhood of the Red Nile, A Terrorist Perspective, would go on to be the fourth book by one of Nancy Daversa’s students in as many sessions of teaching. Dan’s first book was published in December, 2012, barely a year after taking the course. One reviewer said, “This book is as current as today’s headlines, but scarier than tomorrow’s.” Filled with twists and turns, it offers a surprise at every intersection as readers will no doubt wonder “Where did that come from?”

VeteranTrek Jun 24, 2014

Show notes

Veterans that are bringing awareness to PTSD, TBI, veteran homelessness and veteran suicides. brbr Anthony Anderson Served in the WI National Guard 2002-2008. Volunteered for 2 deployments to Iraq Served as an Infantryman Left the military in 2008. Studied and received his degree from UWM with a BS in Secondary Education-English Co-Founder Veterans Trek brbr Tom Voss Served 3 years active duty with 25ID out of Ft. Lewis, WA. Served as an infantryman assigned to a scout sniper platoon doing recon. Deployed to Iraq. Left the military in 2006. Studied Social Work at University of Wi Milwaukee. Co-Founder of Veterans Trek

National Service Programs for All Veterans Jun 17, 2014

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The National Service Programs operates a nation-wide network of 77 service offices from Guam to Puerto Rico. Over 73,000 veterans and dependents receive expert assistance in obtaining well deserved benefits and you don’t have to be an MOPH member to receive the help you need. brbr Lt Col James G. Richards (US Army Ret) National Service Director - Military Order of the Purple Heart brbr Patriot James G. Richards (Jim) is a native of Western Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.... Lieutenant Colonel Richards entered the Army in 1969 thru the ROTC program at IUP and culminated at Fort Meade Maryland in 1989 as the Chief Aviation Resource Management Director that evaluated aviation programs for reserve and National Guard units from Virginia to Maine. His assignments included: Air Cavalry pilot in Vietnam, helicopter instructor pilot at Fort Rucker Alabama, Armor Company commander Germany, Air Cavalry Troop commander at Fort Campbell Kentucky, Army Aviation Staff Officer at the Pentagon and Aviation Officer at Fort Meade Maryland.... His military decorations include: Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal w/3 OLC, the Air Medal (22nd award) two with V devise for heroism and the Army Commendation Medal. He also has the Master Army Aviator Badge and the Army General Staff Badge.

Combat Helicopter Pilot to Mercy Flights Jun 10, 2014

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He flew 650 combat helicopter missions in Vietnam, where he was shot down and received the Air Medal for Heroism for saving his crew . By Paul Fattig Mail Tribune If Medford resident Steve Deaton didn't have the papers and photographs to document his tales, they would raise more than a few eyebrows. My military experience was all out of the norm — not the standard track, he acknowledged. But everything, except going to Vietnam, was voluntary. Consider this: He was born on Veterans Day — Nov. 11, 1950 — in the U.S. Naval Hospital on the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton, Calif. And his official military discharge as a chief warrant officer 4 from the Oregon Army National Guard inactive reserve is effective today — Nov. 11, 2010 — at age 60. He flew 650 combat helicopter missions in Vietnam, where he was shot down and received the Air Medal for Heroism for saving his crew. He also earned the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart in Vietnam. That was before he flew fixed-wing surveillance between South and North Korea, and piloted a newfangled airplane — he learned to fly it en route — from Northern Ireland to the Middle East just in time for Desert Storm in 1991. Small wonder his wife, Susan, fondly refers to him as Forrest Gump when it comes to his military experience.

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