Posted on 05/23/2010 6:33:38 PM PDT by Brugmansian
Standing on the stage with Blumenthal last week at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in West Hartford was another vet who has been caught up in accusations that he claims medals he did not earn . . .
“If I claimed to have a Bronze Star, you can lock me up right now, because it’s called ‘stolen valor,’” referring to a federal law passed in 2006 . . .
A group called the POW Network has posted a photo of Trumpower wearing the ribbon, but Trumpower said he wore it once, in honor of his late Uncle Jimmy at a veterans event in 2002.
“Everyone knew it and there was a lot of people wearing father’s things that day, their uncle’s things,” Trumpower said.
“If I did wrong, I didn’t know so at the time … there’s laws that have been passed since then. That was not mine and people knew it.”
Trumpower said the couple that runs the POW Network, Charles and Mary Schantag of St. Louis, “only go after people who are 100 percent post-traumatic stress disorder. The reason is they say we’re taking money from the government.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nhregister.com ...
This fellow is ill-advised to get on the wrong side of the Schantags, relentless investigators who support their charges with verifiable evidence.
Hope they see what he said.
I suspect Trumpy is a little defensive about PTSD. He went on disability for it when he returned from Nam and is on it now. I don't know the rules or the full story about the syndrome but Trumpower gets around. His wife is a teacher. They take off in their RV and go coast to coast pitching his book. He speaks to groups about vets and PTSD.
BlumenDodd will spend far more time defending the indefensible than he will be afforded time to speak about the issues. He will be forced to debate as it will be the only opportunity he will have to speak about the issues. That creates a predicament for him since he is a lousy debater. Merrick Alpert cleaned BlumenDodd’s clock in their one RAT debate.
Read about that! Amazing. The Grand Inquisitor can’t stand up to questioning himself.
Just commented at the Register that the media is not asking the obvious question: “What else has Blumenthal lied about?” He’s the top cop. He lied about Nam to boost his image, has he lied about any of those he went after in court to boost his image?
I wasnt aware you could wear your relatives ribbons to honor them, is that really the case?
PTSD is nothing more than a weak excuse for the weak minded!
War is hell, for sure ‘but’ this PTSD crap is a liberal invention that allows for an easy excuse for any unacceptable, illegal or bizarre behavior!
I used to think it was a liberal catch-all diagnosis for people who are generally screwed up—until an elderly relative had two heart caths in one morning. First one a clot developed and they had to do another via her arm. She wasn’t put fully under. She was paralyzed but conscious. Didn’t know she developed PTSD but when a doctor diagnosed it and I looked up the symptoms...wow...she had 9 of 10. For instance,just walking into to see her would cause her to give out a yell and jump. Still does, 6 years later. The nightmares continue as well. She is cold and people are ignoring her and cutting into her groin and arm.
However if Trumpy had it has she does, he would not be touring the country in an RV giving lectures and standing on stage with a big grin on his face next to Blumenthal.
You are 100% correct. It’s a phony liberal excuse they use to blame the military for their failures in life.
PTSD is a real thing. It’s been around by different names since we’ve had wars. Mostly it is the result of people trying to put their arms around the killing of others and how one can justify it in one’s own mind and heart. MOST people have a very hard time ending someone else’s life deliberately. Even in war time when it’s either you or him, it’s VERY difficult to look back at it with any sort of equilibrium. There are times when you realize just what a horror you are averting by killing someone, such as would happen if you were to kill a mass murderer before he could kill his next victim; that would likely help you overcome the trauma of the actual killing, but that’s rare, especially in the military.
Suffering from it is NOT a pleasant thing, as it encompasses a whole host of symptoms that can wreak havoc with someone’s life. A LOT of the time without him even knowing WHY he’s so screwed up. BUT it is NOT, IMNSHO, something that could properly be used to excuse crimes and/or other bad behaviors.
The rage one feels is mostly self-directed (at least it is in my case) and can affect relationships and family and friends most negatively. However, when that rage turns outward, it’s time to put the brakes on and get the sufferer some help before he harms someone else. Family can do that; so can friends who notice the (pending) changes in him. I was told years ago by someone that I worked with that she felt I could “lose it” any time, and though I didn’t think so, I did start seeking help so that would NOT happen.
Some years after that, with a then-wife that was an alcoholic and a “hitter,” I was told by the VA to get some psychiatric help to curb my rages before the VA counselor could help me. So it’s real, it’s damaging, but there are signs that can lead someone to get help BEFORE committing a crime and/or hurting someone else.
I used to think as you seem to, but reality bit me hard in the ass before I realized just HOW wrong I was. (By the way, in all the rage, one thing I am proud of is that I NEVER raised my hand to strike a woman, ever. Even in self-defense all I really had to do was keep her at arms’ length in order to stop her attacks. Which was good, because the last time, she had tried to set a trap for me, but the cops she called just prior to trying to incite me wound up taking HER to jail for assault with a deadly weapon, some caustic chemical she sprayed in my face.)
I’m sorry .. I’m not buying it!
It’s not uncommon among those growing up in very abusive households as well... Ignore all those who say otherwise — we know the truth. I hope they never get the “pleasure” of finding out how wrong they are...
Two people have mentioned Trumpower wearing medals he did not receive on Amazon in reviews of his book. But he still has four and a half stars (10 old reviews which lavish praise on him). No one, yet, has mentioned his support of Blumenthal...perhaps some freepers would care to add a review? Trumpower's book at Amazon
Yep, you’re right about why some people don’t recognize PTSD as a genuine medical condition. As for the fakers - no doubt there are many... There will always be people who will take advantage of things like that for whatever reason - excuses, or “perks” (disability checks, for instance). It’s really unfortunate because it makes it that much harder for those with real problems to get the help they need.
The response of some on this thread is indicative of why many people don’t seek help for their problems (PTSD being just one of these types of conditions). It makes me angry because there are some members of our FR family who we have lost over the years due to mental illnesses. No doubt the responses like we’ve seen on this thread may have contributed to their ultimate decision to end their pain permanently instead of getting help...
Anyway, this guy Trumpower is a first-class jerk (that’s being kind). I hope that those researching this can nail him. It really wouldn’t surprise me that someone who lies about honors received in military service wouldn’t also lie about having PTSD, and that just makes it all that much worse... Like I said, first-class jerk is being WAY too kind in describing this guy if what is alleged is true.
Ok, you don’t have to. If you ever have to go to war you may live to learn for yourself.
I gather that you haven't looked at my profile page?
I noted that you or someone was a doggie but nothing there to indicate who or if someone had been to war.
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