posted July 19, 2006 12:15 PM              

War Veterans Feeling Stressed, Deserted
Men At One Base Say The Army Is Ignoring PTSD Cases
(CBS News) FORT CARSON, Colo. According to a recent report from the Veterans Administration, more than 50,000 vets from Iraq and Afghanistan are believed to be suffering from mental health problems — nearly half of them from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. It's well documented and, says the Pentagon, well treated both in the field and at home. But CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports that at least in one large military base in Colorado, soldiers are saying members of the Army Command are simply paying lip service, at best, to PTSD — hindering their treatment and upending their careers.

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team in Fort Carson, Colo., is training to go back to Iraq after experiencing some of the fiercest combat last year. The unit lost soldiers at double the rate of other Army posts around the country, including Pfc. Sam Lee, who committed suicide at a Ramadi Army barracks.

"As he was going outside, that's pretty much when I came in the room and saw him fire on himself," says Pvt. Tyler Jennings.

"The second round actually came by and just missed my head and hit my weapon," adds Pvt. Corey Davis. "So I had to use his weapon. And I mean I got it with his blood on it still."

Jennings and Davis say that surreal scene, among many others, led to nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety attacks — classic symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"I had panic attacks every time," says Jennings. "And I had it all set up, I was going to hang myself."

In a recent report, more than one-third of Iraqi war veterans sought help for mental health problems, including PTSD, within a year of returning home. A report from a congressional watchdog group detailed failures by the Department of Defense to identify and deal with anxiety issues like PTSD.

In the face of what some are calling an epidemic of PTSD in the military, nearly a dozen soldiers at Fort Carson told CBS News that their cries for mental health either went unanswered or they found themselves subject to unrelenting abuse and ridicule.

Kaye Baron is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Colorado Springs, Colo. Each week, she counsels up to 25 "emotionally broken" soldiers who are either unwilling or unable to face their problems while on base.

"I think it's a very big problem," says Baron. "They could potentially lose their promotion potential, or just feeling like they're not able to advance in their career. That it's kinda over for them."

Lt. Col. Eric Kruger, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team at Fort Carson, says he's concerned that soldiers aren't seeking help due to fears of fearing ridicule or reprisal.

"It's a tremendous concern," he says. "You don't want a soldier not to seek help for anything. They're our No. 1 asset. Leaders have to engage that every day — and in my experience here, we do.

Col. Kruger says the Army offers ample means to get help for PTSD without jeopardizing one's career — such as a comprehensive screening program in which soldiers are asked to answer questions about their mental state.

"You take this step; you fill out the boxes," says Keteyian.

"I did the right thing, 'cause I knew I needed help," Davis says.

"A cry for help, and nobody hears it?"

"No, there was no answer."

Today, Davis, like Jennings, has seen a once-promising career upended. Demoted to private for drug abuse — something experts say is a common coping mechanism for those suffering from the disorder — both face dishonorable discharges.

Both were forced to seek treatment off-base and have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Like many soldiers, they feel deserted by the Army they once so proudly served.

posted July 19, 2006 02:58 PM            

More likely deserted by the Jerk-off Anti-Americans in this country that are proud to tout every problem with the Military, tailor the news to make it look like we're losing over there or God forbid they see what the lying idiot lefties post on here.

posted July 19, 2006 05:41 PM            

WWI & II were pretty horrific. From what I can tell, more horrific than most other confrontations in the 20th Century except maybe Nam...

Yet when those boys came home, there wasn't even any knowledge of PTSD - they just had to deal. And they did. And they didn't need group therapy and meds and support groups. They held down jobs, had families, didn't go on rampages and kill their families or fellow soldiers...

Of course, the VA was better funded after WWII as well...

Although I guess they did go on to raise what seems to be one of the most whiney, entitlement-oriented generations since the late Roman empire.

posted July 19, 2006 05:55 PM              

They called it "shell-shocked" back in those days, but I'm not sure if there was any "help" for them...

I have an uncle who served in WWII (NOT shell-shocked, by the way), and he is 88 years old today....and not that it matters, but he is a full blood Native American Indian.

Once in awhile he'll talk about his buddy who was sitting next to him in the truck he was driving, who got his head shot off!

There was a ceremony here on the rez honoring our native veterans recently, and he was here for it....

He had tears in his eyes, and shaking his head, just said, "Nobody knows...nobody really knows...."

He has a lot of medals...

posted July 19, 2006 06:16 PM            

You're right Isis... now adays we raise a bunch of namsy pansy whiners... it's sad really.

Rainbow what does Native American have to do with being traumatized by the war? I don't think it mattered what race they were in WWII it was horrific - I had 6 uncles and my grandfather serve in that war- 4 came back.

Oh wait.. you're an expert because you knew TWO people.

posted July 19, 2006 06:41 PM              

quote:

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Rainbow what does Native American have to do with being traumatized by the war? I don't think it mattered what race they were in WWII it was horrific - I had 6 uncles and my grandfather serve in that war- 4 came back.
Oh wait.. you're an expert because you knew TWO people

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Pid if you did your homework you'd note that I said it did NOT matter that he was Native American, but I just happened to want to mention it....same as you like to mention YOUR Indian blood....Okay?

quote:

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Oh wait.. you're an expert because you knew TWO people

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Ah where did I say I knew two people in that war? You are seeing things....

I had two uncles in WWII...my mother's brother who was a Marine and my father's brother who was in the Army....My mother's brother was wounded...

My mother had a cousin...killed....and so did my dad.....My dad also had a cousin who was wounded....all in WWII...I REMEMBER THEM ALL!

It's so childish to try and "outdo" me with numbers...*sigh*

posted July 19, 2006 06:45 PM            

Then again- most anything you say would have some kind of anti-military content. LMAO...

Knowing a person or two and having a second cousin die doesn't make you an expert- just like my father being in Vietnam doesn't make me an expert. What makes me more intelligent is that I take the time to read, gather facts and then put something in writing...

posted July 19, 2006 09:02 PM            

Again, I'm not saying that these people don't go through traumatic, devestating experiences while serving, it just seems that their reaction to it and they way deal with it nowadays is very different from the older generations.

posted July 19, 2006 09:53 PM              

quote:

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Knowing a person or two and having a second cousin die doesn't make you an expert-

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Where in hell did you see any place in that post that I said I was an "expert?" Are you crazy, woman?

I never claimed to be an expert....why do you continue to put words in my mouth.

Don't you know you're just showing your stupidity.

Isis spoke of World War Two, and it brought back unhappy memories of when I was a child, and fearful for my uncles in that war.

I spoke of my uncle Joe...who happens to still be alive....

....and I was alive when that war was going on...

I cried when he went into the Army to fight, and I didn't know if I'd ever see him again.

I was a merely a child, but I cried and prayed every night that he'd not be killed or wounded, and was the happiest little kid in the world when he came home safe, when that awful war was over.

....and Pid I would say we have another given, here....wouldn't you?

Of course, this experience does NOT make me an "expert" on WWII, (where the hell you came up with that, I have no idea),

....but it does make me "expert" on how a little girl felt during that war, knowing her uncles were fighting in it could be wounded or killed in it....

*******

....then our dear delusional pid goes on to say....

quote:

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What makes me more intelligent is that I take the time to read, gather facts and then put something in writing...

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OMG....I can't believe you really said that....

....if that doesn't sound like a 'bushism," I never heard one....

If what you said there is the case, then you really ought to "write something" that makes sense....

posted July 19, 2006 10:15 PM              

quote:

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Oh I'm not saying WWII Vets didn't experience any ill effects. I'm familiar w/ what shell shock is. My point is that they didn't form support groups and play violins for themselves and disparage their govt for years afterwards (as has been the case since Vietnam).

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Isis, I didn't know if you were familiar with the term "shell shocked" or not. I remember hearing it when I was a child.

I recall seeing one man who had been in the Army, and he was kinda jerking and shaking.....and someone explained to me that he had been "shell shocked" in the war...I didn't know what it meant, but I thought it couldn't be too good...

....then I remember seeing another man who they referred to as "shell shocked" from the war, and he was just staring off into space, not relating to anything or anyone...

I don't remember where I saw those men (I was very young), but I think it was when my parents were visiting some friends and took me along...

....and no I guess they did not form support groups....but maybe they should have....I think all our vets from all the wars, Nam included deserve help if they need it, from the goverment they risked their lives for.

Just my opinion....

Isis continues...

quote:

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Again, I'm not saying that these people don't go through traumatic, devestating experiences while serving, it just seems that their reaction to it and they way deal with it nowadays is very different from the older generations.
ie; nowadays we seem to be a bit pussified

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Yes, I think the reactions nowadays is different from the older generations...

....but I wouldn't go so far as to call them pussified....

Anybody who goes into the service, fights, risks their lives, are wounded and traumatized.....deserve every bit of help we can give them, when they come back here, legless, armless, mindless, etc...

Again....just my opinion...