Free Republic

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2008 – Operation Life Transformed honored six scholarship recipients, including the recipient of the 100th “Caregivers of War Wounded Training Scholarship,” during its “Celebrate 100” reception held here recently. Operation Life Transformed provides education and resources to wounded-warrior caregivers and military spouses through private and corporate entities. Its focus is to enable caregivers and military spouses to create a portable lifestyle. “Forty-three percent of our applicants are moms and dads that move across several states [and] give up their jobs so that they can sit bedside with the loved one,” said Tania Mercurio, chief executive officer...

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Oct. 9, 2008 – They stand everywhere the eye can see -- brave warriors, tall and proud. Never flinching, never surrendering, these protectors never take time off – the thought never even crosses their minds. T-walls protect servicemembers and civilians outside the Multinational Division Center headquarters at Camp Liberty, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josh LeCappelain  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Of course, not a lot crosses your mind when you are made of concrete. They are called T-walls, named after their unique, upside-down “T” shape. All over Iraq, wherever you see coalition forces...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2008 – Dozens of injured troops set out on a seven-day, 420-mile trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles on Sept. 28 to raise funds to support outdoor cycling programs and to let other wounded servicemembers know they can be active. Wounded troops and Road2Recovery volunteers get a little morale from Shell Beach Elementary students and teachers as they arrive in Pismo Beach, Calif., on one leg of their seven-day, 420-mile ride between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Oct. 1, 2008. The Road2Recovery California Challenge supports military and veterans outdoor cycling programs. Courtesy photo by Road2Recovery...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2008 – Wounded servicemembers and their families in San Diego will have a second “home away from home” during the recovery process when Naval Medical Center San Diego celebrates the grand opening of Fisher House II on Oct. 3. Fisher House II, the second Fisher House facility serving Naval Medical Center San Diego, stands ready for its Oct. 3, 2008, grand opening. Courtesy photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The Fisher Houses provide respite and accommodations for families of active and retired military patients who have been admitted for medical care. “This facility represents the...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2008 – Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have begun, thousands of American soldiers have been welcomed home with elaborate parades, gymnasiums packed with tearful spouses and children, and commanders proclaiming from podiums great deeds done in battle. Navy Rear Adm. Donna L. Crisp, who commands the JPAC, talks about emerging technologies that are boosting efforts to recover and identify missing servicemembers. Defense Dept. photo by Fred W. Baker III  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Still others have had more tragic homecomings, instead returning in flag-draped coffins to grieving spouses and families; their ceremonies...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2008 – President Bush visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center here today to pay respects to wounded soldiers and their families, and to the medical personnel who care for the injured. After his visit, Bush commented on the paradoxical human conditions produced by combat wounds. “On the one hand, you see the horrors of war; on the other hand, you see the courage of the people that have volunteered to serve,” he said. “I marvel when I come to Walter Reed. I marvel at the fact that people say to me, ‘Mr. President, I'd do it...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2008 – Based on the idea that with their grace, elegance and unconditional acceptance, horses may be just what many servicemembers and veterans need, a former Marine has formed an organization to introduce them to what he calls “the power of partnership with horses.” “Horses have an incredible way of teaching and healing humans,” said Brad Myers, president of Operation Silver Spurs. A third-generation veteran, Myers started the endeavor after consulting with a master therapeutic riding instructor. Operation Silver Spurs is open not only to all veterans, but also to active-duty personnel, reservists, Guardsmen and their...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2008 – More than 100 runners are expected to participate in a 99-mile run Aug. 23-24 hosted by a Greenville, N.C.-based care package group in honor of the 117 North Carolinians who have lost their lives serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Barbara Whitehead, director of the North Carolina branch of Give2theTroops, said the group’s run is scheduled to coincide with the last two days of the national “Run for the Fallen.” The national event will cover more than 4,000 miles, one mile for each servicemember killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, by the time it ends at...

Radarsite is fortunate to have made a lot of good friends in this small part of the blogosphere. Many of these friends and fellow bloggers are veterans. Some from the deadly jungles of Vietnam. And some from unheralded battles and wars that must still remain classified. These people are special. They all seem to share some common fundamental traits: a certain toughness of mind, coupled with a deep hard-won humility. And one common trait which I particularly value -- an absolute and uncompromising self-honesty, and a correspondingly low threshold for bulls**t. It's almost as though they've developed a sixth sense...

OMAHA, Neb., July 29, 2008 – Recently wounded combat troops are here getting advice and encouragement from those who understand best what they’re up against: other disabled veterans who have learned to live with their disabilities. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Felder, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident after returning from a Middle East deployment, said he finds inspiration among disabled veterans participating in the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Omaha, Neb. Defense Dept. photo by Donna Miles  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Veterans of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including five current patients at...

OMAHA, Neb., July 29, 2008 – About 500 disabled veterans, including recently wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan, are entering their final day of competition here today at the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. William Kafka, a disabled veteran from El Paso, Texas, prepares to take a shot during nine-ball pool at the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Omaha, Neb. Department of Veterans Affairs photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The event is the world’s largest annual wheelchair sports competition. It brings together veterans with spinal cord injuries, amputations or other mobility or neurological conditions to compete...

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2008 – Servicemembers being treated at military medical facilities in the national capital region now can recuperate with their families thanks to one group’s ingenuity and the generosity of corporate donors. Christopher Payne Jr. enjoys his new home in the Operation Homefront Village serving Washington’s Water Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., July 15, 2008. The village offers transitioning wounded warriors rent-free housing while they recuperate at one of the medical facilities. Photo courtesy of Operation Homefront   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Operation Homefront welcomed wounded warriors...

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2008 – Wounded veterans and their families looking for help reentering civilian life can turn to an organization in Huntsville, Ala., that takes a holistic approach to that task. “Still Serving Veterans” enables and empowers wounded veterans and their families by helping them reintegrate into the work force and community via counseling, coaching, guiding, job transition, and assistance in obtaining all Veterans Affairs benefits to which they are entitled, Werner W. Baker, the organization’s executive director, said. This holistic approach begins with a case manager, who documents individual needs, desires, abilities and limitations of the veteran...

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2008 – More than 400 guests attended a dedication ceremony for the 39th Fisher House recently built on the grounds of Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Richmond, Va., one of the VA’s four Level 1 polytrauma centers. This artist’s rendering depicts the 16,000 square-foot, 21-suite Fisher House built on the grounds of Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, in Richmond, Va. The 39th Fisher House was dedicated in a ceremony July 10, 2008, at the house. Courtesy of Fisher House Foundation  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “It was an opportunity to be...

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2008 – An organization that focuses on helping severely injured veterans channels its efforts toward providing the kinds of assistance they don’t otherwise get. The Independence Fund provides “the tools, therapies and guidance that they are otherwise not receiving,” said Steve Danyluk, the organization’s president. The Independence Fund, he explained, is built upon three pillars of support. These pillars, according to the Independence Fund Web site, include providing specialized tools and therapies to troops and veterans, promoting the overall well-being of severely injured veterans through physical and leisure activity, and providing advocacy and guidance through veterans...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq, June 30, 2008 – Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers and Iraqi National Police officers share the stresses and successes of providing security and stability in Iraq as they work side by side every day to protect the people of Baghdad. Army Sgt. Brent Mann (far left), of Austin, Texas, and Army Spc. Octavio Torres, of New York, share water with a policeman from 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, near a checkpoint at a major intersection in eastern Baghdad. Mann and Torres are assigned to Multinational Division Baghdad in Company D, 2nd Battalion,...

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2008 – Mental Health practitioners nationwide are donating their time and services to provide free, confidential counseling to military people and their families. “Combat affects everyone in one way or another,” explained Dr. Barbara Romberg in an “ASY Live” interview on BlogTalkRadio. “Most people react when exposed to a situation where there are extreme or horrific events; it is a human reaction to abnormal situations.” ASY Live is part of the Defense Department’s America Supports You program, which connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad. Romberg, founder and president...

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2008 – The relationship between servicemembers and their coffee is so storied that the hot black liquid has a role in nearly every war movie ever made. With a desire to support the troops and an understanding of that relationship, the mother and daughter team of Tamra Gravitt and Crystal Espiritu started GI Java. The coffee shop serves its brew to each customer with honor, integrity and excellence above the call of duty, according to a news release from the coffee shop. The company, with five locations in Washington state, offers coffee in military-themed sizes: the...

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2008 – An offshoot of a nonprofit educational program founded in England during World War II to prepare young sailors to endure adversity at sea during wartime is helping U.S. war veterans today. Kyle Stozek climbs Turtle Rock near Buena Vista, Colo. He was one of several veterans participating in an Outward Bound veteran expedition. Courtesy photo by Michael Brands for Outward Bound  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “‘Outward Bound’ expeditions specifically designed for veterans and supported by the Sierra Club are an extension of this effort,” said Meg Ryan, project manager for the Colorado-based...

With this documentary, photo exhibit and book our aim is to raise funding for and awareness of the men and women warriors that have given so much to protect our freedoms. Freedom is not free. www.freedomisnotfree.com

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2008 – Walter Reed Army Medical Center rolled out a sophisticated new vehicle today that will make wounded soldiers’ ride to the Army hospital safer and smoother. Army Maj. Gen. Carla G. Hawley-Bowland, commander of North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, left, and Army Col. Patricia Horoho, commander of the Walter Reed Health Care System, center, give Army Secretary Pete Geren a tour of a Patient Evacuation Vehicle. Unveiled June 5, 2008, during a ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the PEV is a semi-trailer-sized hospital on...

6/3/2008 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- The Air Force vice chief of staff traveled to the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base May 29 to visit wounded warriors and accompany them on a flight back to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Representing Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Gen. Duncan J. McNabb carried a message of appreciation and respect for the dedication and sacrifice of injured military personnel serving in the war on terrorism. "I don't have the words to express my deep...

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2008 – The University of Kansas national champion men's basketball team began their victory lap in the nation’s capital yesterday by visiting wounded warriors and signing autographs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. The University of Kansas national champion men's basketball team poses for a picture with injured soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. The team and coaching staff kicked off their two-day tour of the nation's capital by visiting wounded warriors June 2, 2008. Defense Department photo by John J. Kruzel  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Towering players in...

YOU ARE A GENUINE HERO ! To all wheel chair user U.S. Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars who live in the region serviced by Salt Lake City VA Hospital. The Square Foot Gardening Foundation, would like to recognize your service to our country and present you - a genuine Hero - with one of our sit-down or stand-up Square Foot Gardens that is elevated on legs. We are certain that despite your wounds, this garden gift will bring you the inspiration and knowledge that anyone and everyone can garden despite all obstacles. Please visit our website often to...

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, May 30, 2008 – When Marine Sgt. Aaron N. Cepeda Sr. lost his life in combat in Iraq on May 7, 2005, his family also lost a son, husband and father. In honor of the sacrifice they were not asked to make, but had to make, Cepeda’s children received a Gold Medal of Remembrance at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery here during a Memorial Day ceremony May 26. The Cepedas were among five families to be honored with the medal, which is presented to children of fallen servicemembers from operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi...

KIRKUK, Iraq, May 29, 2008 – On opposite sides of the globe, two groups of people in very different environments worked together to raise money for individuals suffering from brain injuries. U.S. Army soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team and U.S. Air Force personnel and civilian contractors begin a two-mile charity Memorial Day run on Forward Operating Base Warrior in northeastern Iraq's Kirkuk region. The deployed Americans joined the 21st annual Amy Thompson Run to Daylight to help those suffering from brain injuries. U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Jason Jordan  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image...

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2008 – Neither rainy May skies nor unseasonably cool temperatures stopped cyclists from beginning the 480-mile “Road 2 Recovery” ride from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., today. Army 1st Lt. Ferris Butler takes a lap around the traffic circle just inside Walter Reed Army Medical Center's 16th Street gate before heading for Charlotte, N.C., on May 20, 2008. Butler, who lost half of his right foot and his left leg below the knee in a bomb blast, was one of several wounded warriors who embarked on the 480-mile...

LAUREL, Md., May 20, 2008 – A group of wounded U.S. military veterans gathered at a Maryland ice rink for some fun, camaraderie and exercise May 17. Marine Cpl. Ray Hennagir goes after the puck at the wounded warrior ice hockey clinic at Gardens Ice House, in Laurel, Md., May 17, 2008. Hennagir lost both his legs and four fingers on his left hand on June 16, 2007, near Fallujah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated. Defense Department photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Armed Forces Day is an ideal time to start...

Today's column is for those of us who grew up, unlike Michelle Obama, proud of being American. Some of us have stood at the gentle slopes overlooking Arlington National Cemetery and smelled the freshly cut lawn of summer, felt the blustery wind chill of autumn, and the quiet white of winter's blanket; each season nourishing the stone soldiers. No other place on Earth will make you as proud to be an American patriot. Listen carefully in quiet solitude and you can hear the ping and clack of spent brass ammunition falling on metal and wood. You can hear in the...

BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas, May 14, 2008 – Starting your own business can be a daunting venture, even under the best of circumstances. But add to that the challenges of being a service-disabled veteran, and the experience can be overwhelming. Professor Mike Morris addresses members of the first Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University in July 2007. Morris is the Witting Chair in Entrepreneurship at Whitman. Photo courtesy of Syracuse University  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. That scenario troubled Mike Haynie, a former Air Force major. A few months after beginning his...

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2008 – Two former Marines have set out to provide wounded veterans with a week’s worth of rest and relaxation in luxury homes. Dennis Cline, a wounded veteran, enjoyed a week’s vacation through Vacations for Veterans. The organization works to match Purple Heart recipients from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with available vacation homes. Homeowners donate at least a week’s worth of free lodging to the veterans and their families through Vacation for Veterans. Courtesy photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “Our mission is to pair up recently wounded veterans who are the recipients of...

Recently, there were a number of media stories about how the U.S. Army has been recruiting more men with criminal records. When pressed about this, the army released a report showing that recruits let in via "moral waivers" made better combat soldiers. That is, they got promoted faster, re-enlisted at a higher rate, got more awards for valor and were noted for superior combat performance. They were also better educated, and more likely to talk back. A slightly higher percentage of them got punished for that. All this is nothing new. It was noted as far back as World War...

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, May 8, 2008 – Wilford Hall Medical Center here has launched a new program emphasizing the importance of literacy to parents and children alike. Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit organization, uses several methods to promote early literacy as part of routine pediatric care, including having volunteers reading aloud in pediatric waiting rooms. Its main approach, though, is to promote literacy during well-baby or well-child visits for children from ages 6 months through 4 years. Pediatric providers trained in the Reach Out and Read model offer age-appropriate tips to emphasize to parents and...

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2008 – Thanks to great strides in medical care, today’s U.S. warriors have a 50 percent greater chance of survival if they’re wounded on the battlefield than their Vietnam War counterparts did. State-of-the-art prosthetics help troops who have lost a limb resume many, and in some cases all, of their pre-injury activities. The Defense Department is hoping to find new and even better ways to help the nation’s warriors as it researches a field called regenerative medicine that would enable people to generate new skin and even grow new limbs, Army Col. (Dr.) Robert Vandre told...

PORT O'CONNOR, Texas (Army News Service, May 5, 2008) - More than 125 wounded Soldiers and their Families were able to forget about hospitals, doctors and physical therapy during a day of fishing, relaxation and old-fashioned Texas barbeque Saturday. About 135 local fishermen volunteered their time and boats during the second annual Warrior's Weekend to take wounded warriors from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in D.C., Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Bragg, N.C., out on the Gulf of Mexico while cheering town residents greeted the six buses of troops with flags, signs, hugs...

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2008 – A group of wounded warriors got a presidential send off at the White House today as they launched a three-day bicycle ride to show the world and themselves what they’re still capable of accomplishing. President Bush joined Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England, and the secretaries of State and Veterans Affairs on the South Lawn, heralding the wounded warriors for their service, sacrifice and inspiration. The riders set out on the “White House to Light House Challenge” that will take them from the White...

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, April 22, 2008 – Wounded warrior care is becoming increasingly effective at helping servicemembers through their transition, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday. Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright toured wounded warrior barracks here and met with troops at Tripler Army Medical Center during a visit to U.S. Pacific Command. During his visit, Cartwright said he immediately noticed the low number of people. “The first thing you notice is there’s only about 10 people here, which is a good thing,” the general said. “The population is down significantly. Hopefully it...

Got this in my e-mail.

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2008 – The Defense Department today launched a five-year, Army-led cooperative effort to leverage cutting-edge medical technology to develop new ways to assist servicemembers who’ve suffered severe, disfiguring wounds during their wartime service. U.S. Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker explains, during an April 17, 2008 Pentagon press conference, how researchers are growing a new ear for a badly burned Marine using stem cells from his own body. This is one area of advanced treatment being explored by the new Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine. Defense Dept. photo by R. D. Ward   (Click photo...

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2008 – The military services continue working to provide the best medical care possible to servicemembers and their families, promoting best clinical practices while also addressing concerns about rising costs, the top military doctors told Congress yesterday. The Army, Navy and Air Force surgeons general told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee that the Defense Department’s medical programs are improving the care provided to the force as they conduct a broad range of operational missions. Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, Army surgeon general, said a focus on quality and best value for caregivers’ efforts -- not simply...

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2008 – Wounded veterans who once enjoyed sports and being outdoors have the opportunity once again, courtesy of a program in Alabama. “Lakeshore Foundation’s ‘Lima Foxtrot Programs for Injured Military’ help servicemen and women adapt sports and recreation activities so they may get back to living healthy, active, independent lives,” said Susan Katz, the foundation’s communications coordinator. “These programs are open to military personnel who have sustained severe service-related injuries in recent warfare in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations in the world.” For more than 20 years, the Lakeshore Foundation has worked to enable people with...

4/9/2008 - TAMPA, Fla. (AFPN) -- The deputy director of the Joint Staff's Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate at the Pentagon went on a mission April 7 to raise the morale of patients at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa and brought along cheerleaders from the 2008 Women's Final Four teams and an Air Force Band. Brig. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson led the band members and cheerleaders through the halls of the hospital to lift the spirits of wounded American servicemembers. General Johnson is the most decorated female athlete in U.S. Air Force Academy history. She was selected...

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2008 – Wounded veterans recovering in some California Veterans Affairs facilities hear some of their visitors long before they see them. Blue Star Riders is a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who visit with veterans recovering at the Palo Alto, Livermore, Martinez and San Francisco Veterans Affairs facilities at least once a month, said Richard Hamilton, the group’s founder and president. “(Blue Star Riders) are dedicated to supporting our troops and veterans, as well as honoring all wounded troops and fallen heroes,” said Hamilton, a former Marine and Vietnam veteran. Members of the group visit with as...

GETTYSBURG, Pa.—Seamus Garrahy (center right), former Marine, cooks steaks for Marines who visit his home in Gettysburg, Pa. Garrahy continually opens his home to Marines who visit Gettysburg. (Photo courtesy of www.gunghosauce.com). (RELEASED) LIBERTY MOUNTAIN, Pa. (March 21, 2008) -- Marines with Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, II Marine Expeditionary Force, gave back to the military community here Feb. 29 - March 2. Marines assisted wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital and had a helping hand from another patriotic citizen working behind the scenes. “They assisted the wounded warriors. I assisted them with steaks and beverages,� said...

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2008 – Wounded warriors in need in San Antonio now have a place to call home as they transition from military to civilian life. The new facility is Operation Homefront’s first of four planned transitional housing facilities across the United States. Jody Brothers from the PGA Tour and representatives from local Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores were on hand to cut the ribbons on the apartments the Wal-Mart Foundation sponsored. “Thanks to these and other sponsors, wounded warriors and their families can live at Operation Homefront Village rent-free so they can rebuild their financial foundation as...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2008 – It was a Valentine’s Day lunch, and there was a lot of love in the air for wounded warriors at the Marine Barracks here yesterday. Retired Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his wife, Lynne, continued a tradition they started during his service as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Paces hosted picnics at their quarters for wounded warriors and their families, and hosted this at historic Crawford Hall – a beautifully restored section of the Marine Barracks founded in 1801. The Marine Band’s “Free Country Quartet” – down to a trio due to...

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 5, 2008) -- Despite the rain and cool temperatures, approximately 25 people dressed in cammies, flight suits and even ghillie suits, carrying machine guns, assault rifles and pistols competed in an airsoft tournament at Sportsman’s Lodge here Jan. 26. A few of the participants were Camp Lejeune Marines with the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East, Wounded Warrior Regiment, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. “For the wounded warriors who can play, it's great physical therapy,” said Lance Cpl. Brian Densmore, a wounded warrior and enlisted advisor with the Science and Technology Department, II Marine Expeditionary Force. “It really motivates us to...

Free Tickets to Super Bowl XLII Given to Injured War VetsSaturday, February 02, 2008 The University of Phoenix scored a touchdown with Iraq war veterans, giving eight coveted tickets to Sunday's Super Bowl XLII to a group of wounded service members, MyFOXPhoenix.com reports. "Being part of it — it’ll be nice," veteran Brent Bretz told MyFOXPhoenix.com. Bretz has undergone 57 surgeries, and his recovery from his war wounds is still not complete. He returned from Iraq in 2005, as did Robert Bartlett, another ticket recipient, who said he was "pretty surprised" by the gift. "It’s the chance of a lifetime,"...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2008 – Army Col. (Dr.) Loree Sutton is a woman on a mission. Army Col. (Dr.) Loree Sutton, chief of the newly created Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, sits in her temporary Rosslyn, Va., office suite. The Defense Department created the center in its effort to step up the quality of care for wounded warriors and their families. Photo by Fred W. Baker III  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The military psychiatrist has, for the last month, ricocheted across the Capital Beltway landscape and beyond, setting up a Defense...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2008 – Servicemembers returning from deployment and their families can find help readjusting to their lives at home through traditional and holistic therapies offered by a long-established Colorado group. For more than 30 years, Lost and Found Inc. has specialized in providing intervention and rehabilitation treatment for families that have run out of options, said Linda Olson, the organization’s development manager. Recently, however, the organization developed a program geared toward military families. “(We) launched a holistic mental health outreach to active military (personnel) and their families in fall 2007,” she said. The program focuses primarily on...