When a Soldier Losses a Friend in Battle it can Cause PTSD

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Military news…

US approves sale of $120 million in warship parts to Taiwan, irking China

The sale comes as tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan simmer.

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US Army officer who witnessed horrific German train derailment recalls helping at ‘scariest scene’ of his life

Army Col. Charles Bergman happened upon one of Germany’s worst train crashes in years on Friday. He and others stopped traffic, called rescuers, helped people out of the creek, checked airways and wounds, laid injured people near the side of the road and tried to calm hysterical victims.

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Sailor rescues pregnant soldier from flooded Okinawa underpass
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Tottingham had just finished his last watch and had two days left in the Navy, but intuition told him to check the tunnel for flooding, he said.

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North Korea slams Seoul’s part in massive US-led RIMPAC naval exercise

North Korea frequently criticizes the joint military exercises between the U.S. and the South and claims they are a rehearsal for the invasion.

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Austin calls out China for increasingly aggressive policy toward Taiwan

America’s policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, but China’s relations toward that island have grown ever more aggressive and coercive.

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Seoul: North Korea fires suspected artillery pieces into sea

The suspected artillery launches were the latest in a spate of weapons tests by North Korea this year.

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Russia likely to seize control of eastern Ukrainian region within weeks, US official says

The Ukrainian cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, in Luhansk, are increasingly under duress and could fall to Russian forces within a week, the official said.

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I going to share a partial interview for my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life. This interview is with Staff Sergeant Michael Thorten. He was an Afghanistan veteran.

I have a lengthy interview with him, and this is just one segment of it.

What was the worst thing you had to face?

I was the head NCO for a unit that protected the convoys as they moved from one spot to another.

We were traveling alongside a convoy, when suddenly the vehicle ahead of me caught on fire. It was fully ingulfed by the time I jumped out and ran to it. Two of my soldiers were inside and couldn’t get out. They burned to death in front of our eyes.

I have relived that scene many times in my life. It doesn’t go away.

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This lead to PTSD for Michael. He has now recovered, and living a good life with his family.

This is just a partial interview with Michael. There is much more in the book. Keep coming back to see more interviews and stories. Better yet…go to the top of this page an click on subscribe. When you do all future posts will go directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you fighting back memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 15,0105 Veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

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If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Many Veterans Coming Home From Deployment Have a Difficult Time in Civilian Life

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

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Military news…

US, South Korea fire 8 missiles in response to North Korea’s unprecedented volley

A separate news release from U.S. Forces Korea on Monday said seven South Korean and one U.S. Army missile were fired “to demonstrate the ability of the combined [U.S.-South Korean] force to respond quickly to crisis events.”

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Lawmakers urge VA to provide more information about accessibility to its websites for individuals with disabilities

Ten lawmakers wrote a letter Monday to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough urging the agency to improve its websites to make them more accessible to people with disabilities.

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Another Russian general reported killed in action; Britain pledges rocket systems to Ukraine

Maj. Gen. Roman Kutuzov was killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine, where Russia is trying to gain control in some of the toughest battles seen in the war.

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Marine earns ‘lifesaving medal’ for rescuing overturned sailors off Okinawa
A Marine first lieutenant was decorated for helping save a man from drowning after a sailing mishap off the Okinawa shore.

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RIMPAC returning to full steam with navies from 26 nations set to join massive drills

Navies from 26 nations will participate in the massive Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise that kicks off later this month in Hawaii.

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Allied fighter formations show resolve in wake of North Korean missile tests

U.S. and South Korean fighter jets flew together Tuesday in a display of force that included four F-16 Fighting Falcons from the U.S. Air Force

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US diplomat promises ‘swift and forceful’ response to a North Korean nuclear test

North Korea would face unified action by several countries should it detonate a nuclear device in violation of existing U.N. Security Council resolutions, a U.S. official said.

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I haven’t done this for a while. I am sharing another excerpt from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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What Are They Thinking?

On one of my off days in Korea, I was invited to ride with a courier to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone.)

I thought that would be very interesting so I accepted the invite. We had to go through several villages, and of course the people didn’t seem to like us. They were shouting things at us I probably didn’t want to hear.

We got to the DMZ. What a depressing place! It was a very small outpost with guards watching the North Koreans on the other side of the DMZ. They let me look through one of their binoculars, and I could see a North Korean soldier looking through his binoculars back at me. It was a very odd feeling. He was just another guy like me, but he would probably shoot me if he could.

There is still strife between the two countries. There is still the DMZ zone. There are soldiers still looking at each other with binoculars. Nothing much has changed, except the lives of those who had to serve in Korea.

They came home and then they had to try to cope in the private sector. They had/have to adjust, and survive. I feel for them, because I was there with them. I know the frustrations. I know the disappointment. I know the feeling that no one cares.

I can say that it is hard to block out the negative aspects of our military service. It is hard to change thoughts into a different world in the private sector. It took me a while to clear my mind and concentrate on the future. I had to realize that I needed to move on and start a new adventure. I needed to think about the next day of my life.

I never have regretted serving my country. I would do it again if I was able. I have learned that I just need to be thankful that I have another day on this earth, and should seek what I can do to better my live and those around me that I love. 

IWILL

Some of the soldiers, in the private sector, have some issues still lingering with them from their time in in the service. I understand this. I have had to re-group myself. The key is to do something about it. Don’t hide your feelings. Get the right help to get you back on track in life. There are many resources in the back of this book to help you on your way down your new path of life.

There is always help for you 24/7 at: 1-800-273-8255

Think about this

Isn’t it funny that so much of what we fear is only the fear of the unknown?

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Come back often to see more excerpts. Better yet.. go to the top of this page and click on subscribe. When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you fighting back memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 15,0050 Veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

______________________________________________________________

Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you fighting back memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 15,0050 Veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

_______________________________________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

It is Very Hard to Exist After Losing a Buddy During Your Time in The Military

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

________________________________________________________________

Military news…

VA Offers $3 Million Prize for Ideas to Stop Veteran Suicides

The goal is to get thousands of new ideas on how to better help and support veterans over the next six weeks and award cash prizes for the best 40 ideas in the coming months.

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Senators From Rural States Trying to Stop Wave of VA Hospital Closures Before They Start

The medical centers slated for closure include areas where the veteran population is expected to decline, while new facilities would be built in regions where veterans are relocating, largely in the South and West.

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US Marines Train for a Possible Future Chinese Invasion of Taiwan As the war of words ramps up between the Biden administration and Chinese government over the status of Taiwan, U.S. forces in Japan are gearing up for a possible conflict.

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Marine Corps Considers Abandoning Parris Island Amid Rising Extreme Weather Threats

A string of recent reports has predicted that Parris Island will face increasingly frequent and ferocious hurricanes, floods, and extreme heat. Those escalating temperatures are already a growing risk to trainees on the island.

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5 missiles hit Iraqi base hosting US troops; no casualties

Iraqi security officials said the missiles hit only a few yards from where U.S. forces are stationed.

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Ukraine war volunteers are coming home, reckoning with difficult fight

Foreign fighters from the United States and elsewhere have described glaring disparities between what they expected the war in Ukraine to be like and what they experienced. 

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Ukraine suffers on battlefield while pleading for US arms

Gloominess descends on Ukraine as the war tide turns. “They’re just raining down metal on us,” said a soldier fresh from the front line where Russia is advancing.

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I can’t help but think back to Memorial Day. While in the service I lost two buddies. The first one was a high school buddy that signed up with me the same day. We went through basic training together. I have a funny story about him from basic training in my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

We also were also sent to Korea together. He was sent to another camp. I heard the horrible news about six months later that he had died. Not in combat, but from a rare disease he caught. I was devastated.

The second buddy I lost was also in Korea. Again this was not in combat. He liked going to the near village a lot and have parties. One night he partied too much and on the way back to our camp, he fell into a honey bucket and suffocated. (A honey bucket is what the Koreans used to put all of their human waste, for fertilizer from their rice fields.) It was a horrible way to die.

Have you lost a buddy? I know you anger and hurt feeling. I interviewed many veterans who lost buddies. All of the interviews are in my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for The Military: IN and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling from losing a buddy?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,968 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

_______________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

_______________________________________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.