Veterans Day Chain Email is Partly Truth, Partly Fiction

A Fallen Airman and a Fly-by-Night Ending 

Why you can't believe everything you read in a patriotic chain email and why it matters--especially today, Veteran's Day.

When it comes to war and heroism, truth is usually stronger than fiction. Most made-up stories of what people do in risking their own lives--or their reputation-- to save another, usually don’t hold a candle to the real deal. So, why, I'd like to know, do people keep spreading stories-- stories that are either patently untrue, or are only partially true, in order to advance their cause of Truth, Justice and the American Way?  Because ultimately, no matter how good or true the cause, nothing good ever comes from a lie that's used to "flavor" or enhance it.

The Venue:  Chain email sent to thousands--perhaps millions of people today on Veteran's Day--to (allegedly) stir up feelings of patriotism and favorable feelings about Christianity.

The Story:  Resident in Albuquerque, NM writes in to a local newspaper to complain--in a highly sarcastic letter-- about fly-by of jets from a local Air Force base (Luke Air Force Base)  that were headed for a fallen serviceman's (Captain Jeremy Fresques) memorial service.

Fallen serviceman responds to said resident with moving and patriotic tribute to both his fallen serviceman and to the armed forces in general, ending the letter--allegedly--with the closing sentence: "Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you ... Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom."

The Problem: While most of the story is true, neither the real name of the Lt. Col. (Lt. Col. Scott Pleus) who wrote the response, or the evangelistic final closing sentences of the letter was. Somewhere along the line--I can only imagine it was the original sender of the chain version of the letter--added those sentences intended to make the Lt. Col a "God fearing man" when, in fact, he never indicated whether he was a man of faith or not. Also an important piece of information was conveniently left out:  the man who issued the complaint about the fly-by later issued a sincere letter of apology and, on top of that, was a veteran himself.

Service Dogs Trained to Combat PTSD in Veterans Getting Good Results

Pups with a Purpose : It Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog…But This Dog Can Help With Cryin' all the Time  

 (and other PTSD-related issues)

Fido Finds a Friend in the Pen

Service-dog programs like Puppies Behind Bars and and Canines for Combat Veterans are having "pawsative" effects on our wounded warriors—helping them to reintegrate into society with greater ease by supplying them with prisoner-trained pups that are wired to please.

Petco may be "where the pets go" but "real" dogs—those who cost a small fortune to train but perform a service above and beyond the call of wagging tails or licking faces—go behind bars.  "Bars" as in prisons, not drinking establishments.  Programs such as Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who’ve Served Us—a part of  the larger Puppies Behind Bars (PBB) service dog training program —are providing much needed companion canines to PTSD-identified veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Dog Tags" employs a rather unique training model: they use prisoners to raise puppies which then become service dogs for qualifying veterans. Puppies Behind Bars' first Dog Tag pup, Pax, was paired in February 2008 with Sergeant Bill Campbell, an Iraq War veteran who suffers from common symptoms of PTSD—including panic attacks, severe depression, memory loss, nightmares and fear of public places. Today, there are 81 PBB "incarcerated" puppies being trained inside six New York area prisons. 

"Dogs of War": Those Daring Dogs that Defy Danger Every Day

Combat PTSD in Canines: What To Do When Fido Freaks and Rover Just Can't "Get Over It."

"These dogs, they're willing to give their lives for you. They don't ask for anything, you know? Some food, some water, little bit of petting. And they're the most reliable person on the planet. You can't get that from anywhere else." - Master Sgt. Eric Haynes

Good doggy. Sniff those bombs. Attack that terrorist. And, if you happen to tremble, and shake and poop more than four doggy-bags full at the sound of a car backfiring, or a bag of popcorn popping years after you've left the battlefield then you, my MBF (Man's Best Friend), are probably suffering from PTSD. 

According to military veterinarians, even Spot can get spooked so bad as the result of his war time experiences—including being exposed to all kinds of ear-deafening explosions—that once back home he'll exhibit classic signs of PTSD, just like his human military counterparts.

Take Gina. A once happy 2-year-old German Shepherd, Gina went to Iraq a playful pup only to return a shivering, shaking, tail-between-the legs mess of a mutt.

Veterans and Volunteerism: New Report claims Possible Cure for "Inner" Demons of PTSD might be the "Outer" Cure of Helping Others

"Recognize our usefulness.  We are not charity cases. We are an American asset." - A veteran from Iraq and Afghanistan 

America’s “Sea of Goodwill” in the form of volunteerism still exists … but it’s missing its most valuable asset: veterans. So claims the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, in the foreword of a recent report: All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service.

It makes sense. After all, veterans are not only armed to the teeth with survival and other practical, battle-honed skills. They’re also used to laying down their lives for others. In fact, you could call them “The Ultimate Volunteer.”

That desire to serve, to give sacrificially for their country doesn’t go away when they’ve traded the battlefront for the home front. Far from it. In fact, studies show that most veterans, if given the opportunity, will happily don the uniform of civic service. After all, these boots are made for walking … not resting.

The Jeff Foxworthy of PTSD: "You Might Have Combat PTSD If..."

Meet Mike. The Jeff Foxworthy of PTSD.

Okay, so combat PTSD is no laughing matter but as the Good Book says, "A cheerful heart is like a medicine."  Let's just say laughter is a much healthier prescription than the smorgasbord of substances designed to either numb a soldier to everything–the good, the bad and the ugly–or make him (or her) suddenly want to go to San Francisco wearing flowers in his hair.

Besides, not taking oneself too seriously is always a good thing–especially for those who have seen some pretty serious stuff.

So, in the spirit of trying to bring a little humor to an otherwise humorless subject, here is your self-diagnostic quiz for PTSD––courtesy of Mike, a self-avowed PTSD sufferer himself in case you think we're tossing insensitivity out the window here. (Mike lives over at http://bornethebattle.blogspot.com/)

You Might Have Combat PTSD If...

• If you think the term "The Great Depression" refers to the month you spent in the psych ward at the VA, you might have combat PTSD.

• If before you mow your lawn, you sift through it w/ a stick searching for land mines and booby traps, you might have combat PTSD.

• If your local police department refers to your house as "Fort Wack," you might have combat PTSD.

• If your neighbors politely suggest you replace the barbed wire and sandbags with a fence, you might have combat PTSD.

• If your significant other morphs into an enemy troop in the middle of the night, you might have combat PTSD. 
  
  
• If your neighbor has asked you numerous times why you pace the perimeter of your yard at 3 in the morning, you might have combat PTSD.

• If every time you walk in a room, you "slice up the pie" looking for every exit point and find a chair w/the back to the wall, you might have combat PTSD. (contributed partly by AMyracle).  ©2009 bornethebattleblog

• If your knowledge of psychotropic medications surpasses that of your psychiatrist, you might have combat PTSD.

         Courtesy of: http://bornethebattle.blogspot.com/

When Hollywood Had Heroes: What Got Jimmy Stewart Through 20 Combat Missions

Jimmy, my main squeeze

 The Golden Era: A Time When Hollywood Was Patriotic and Actors—Gasp!—Read the Bible

The oft-quoted maxim, “They don’t make them like the used to,” surely must apply to my man Jimmy, who was–and is–my favorite actor in the whole wide world. As someone else once said, “He was a prince of a man.”

In fact, I’d always vowed that when Jimmy Stewart died, I’d wear black for a week. I was completely serious. Unfortunately, I was on an outdoor adventure travel writing assignment in Washington state when Jimmy Stewart slipped the surly bonds of this earth, and I doubt my then-editor would have taken too kindly to my sending photos of myself dressed in black hiking gear. 

But I digress. My point here is that Jimmy Stewart was far more than a consummate actor, dedicated family man and all-around standup guy. He was also a rarity among today’s celebs—a decorated war veteran who served his country with great distinction.

Just as important, he loved God–without embarrassment. Brig. Gen James Maitland Stewart acknowledged his dependence upon his Supreme Commander during his time in the trenches (more like the air ways since he was, after all, an Air Force man) and, as such, he found particular comfort in the famous “Soldier’s Psalm”: Psalm 91.

Read the following letter Jimmy’s dad wrote him—a letter that he found so emotional, he was apparently unable to read it to his son aloud.

My dear Jim-Boy,

Soon after you read this letter, you will be on your way to the worst sort of danger. Jim, I am banking on the enclosed copy of the 91st Psalm. The thing that takes the place of fear and worry is the promise of these words. I am staking my faith in these words. I feel sure that God will lead you through this mad experience. I can say no more. I only continue to pray. Goodbye, my dear. God continue to bless and keep you. I love you more than I can tell you. – Dad

Left Behind. A military wife shares the heartache–and the honor–of being married to a soldier.

It was a typical Saturday night, when single young girls everywhere gather together at karaoke hangouts to let loose after a long, arduous work week. Unlike many of her party-lovin’ peers, 24-year-old Katie Martin* was not particularly “on the prowl” … she just enjoyed belting out a good tune. That was until she happened to glance over at the “tall drink of water” with broad shoulders and a wink in his eye. It was a furtive glance that caused her to remark to her friend: “Wow … he’s cute!”

So cute that two and a half years later, Katie and Cody Larson* were hitched. Unfortunately, just one day after they tied the knot, her husband booked it to Baghdad—more accurately, he headed for pre-Baghdad training. It was his second deployment. 

 Since then, like most military wives, Katie has struggled with depression, loneliness and a host of other emotions that test her resolve to “remain strong” for her husband. In that regard, she fares better than most. Partly because she always knew she’d marry a military man. But also because she was raised in a family—and a state (Nebraska)—that understands the concept of sacrifice, something that many of her peers have had little training in.

Not to be left out of the equation, however, is Katie’s strong faith in God.