PhillyDotCom - Officials seek ways to stem increasing military suicides

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110228_Officials_seek_ways_to_stem_increasing_military_suicides.html?nlid=3530828

Another relevant article about suicide in the military. We must continue to focus and collaborate on this subject. The result of not being diligent on the subject will be death for our comrades. Remember, PA Army National Guard Specialist Ivan Jose Lopez completed his suicide on January 28, 2011 nearlly two years after he returned from Afghanistan. Please read this and send me back your findings, thoughts, concerns and analysis.

"By Edward Colimore - Inquirer Staff Writer - When Army Sgt. Coleman Bean left Iraq to resume his civilian life in New Jersey, he was a changed man. No longer as outgoing, he appeared subdued and unfocused after two combat deployments. He also began drinking too much.
"I thought he just needed to unwind," said his mother, Linda Bean of East Brunswick. "I was just so grateful to have him home in one piece."
A few months after his 2008 homecoming, Bean couldn't deal with his feelings anymore. He wrecked his Jeep one night, was charged with DUI, and took a cab to his apartment in South River, Middlesex County, where he fatally shot himself." (end of clipped article text)


Sam

"Service and Sacrifice" book released February 17, 2011

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/2/prweb8151122.htm
www.serviceandsacrifice.net is the dedicated book web site.

From author Army National Guard Lieutenant Samuel J. Console comes a gripping story of men in combat. Made available through Xlibris, Service and Sacrifice will help Veteran’s families understand what their loved ones have faced overseas and how it affects them now.
The author – a platoon leader in Charlie Company, 103rd Engineers – and his men were mobilized in 2004 by the 28th Infantry Division and assigned as part of Task Force Dragoon, a battalion-size task force of close to eight hundred troops made up of infantry, armor, and engineer soldiers. In this bold and daring account, Console weaves his personal experiences, how his intrepid and brave group of combat engineers discovered, defused, and destroyed IEDs, saving countless lives of the US Armed Forces, Iraqi military, and civilians.
Filled with flashbacks and a lot of combat action, Service and Sacrifice also explains the inner strength among the men of the Charlie Company and their stories of personal triumph. Furthermore, it graphically explains the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that most soldiers have encountered.
“Service and Sacrifice defines the willingness of a people to volunteer during a time of need. Thousands have made the ultimate sacrifice. Many more were injured or changed forever. Writing about Iraq has been healing for me. I’m positive it will be healing for others,” the author remarks.
For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
Service and Sacrifice * by Sam Console, 1st Lieutenant
Memories of Operation Iraqi Freedom with a Veterans Mental Health and Resource Guide
Publication Date: February 17, 2011
Trade Paperback; $19.99; 312 pages; 978-1-4568-6812-3
Trade Hardback; $29.99; 312 pages; 978-1-4568-6813-0
eBook; $9.99; 978-1-4568-6814-7

For the Soldiers, the grief process continues, today's Memorial Service

Charlie Company, 55th BSTB memorialized Army National Guard Specialist Ivan Jose Lopez today, 02/13/2011. God Bless all of these fine Engineers. Lets help them heal by always supporting them. Lets come together to help prevent military suicide and fatalities if at all possible. Lets pray for the end of all wars... It is the right thing to do...
Sam

Memorial for PA National Guard Specialist Ivan Jose Lopez

Please visit my Facebook page for more information. It is very late and the death of this Soldier has drained me. God Bless the troops of C-Company, 55th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Engineers).

Ivan made the decision to go home. God rest his soul. For those experiencing grief, you are not alone. I have decided to tribute Ivan in my book chapter "Before It's Too Late". We must cast a wide net and watch for the signs of suicide. We must unite to prevent further events.

God Bless America and our Troops, wherever they are and especially if they are alone tonight.

Sam
Sam on Facebook

"Service and Sacrifice" book release pending and Rear-Jacket Text

To all my Comrades, friends and supporters,
I wanted to follow up my post from the Union League event Thursday night with some news from my publisher, Xlibris. The manuscript is due back to me from copy-editing by January 24th. I expect a quick turn around and I'll be sending it back for type setting. I'm hoping to have a release date in the first week of February. This is a very exciting time!

In order to keep up the energy, I wanted to put the hook out there for you all to read in advance. Below is the approved Rear-Jacket Text. Every book that sells will generate money for charity! We are going to help Veterans suffering from PTS and MTBI and their families! Please forward this blog site to your friends and choose "Follow" so you'll receive updates. I'd love to hear your feedback on this text and if you have any charitable donation ideas.

Sam

            This is a gripping story of men in combat… Army National Guard Lieutenant Sam Console, a platoon leader in Charlie Company, 103^rd Engineers and his men were mobilized in 2004 by the 28^th Infantry Division. This intrepid and brave group of combat engineers discovered, defused (and) destroyed IEDs, saving countless lives of the US Armed Forces, Iraqi military and civilians… 1^st Lt. Console graphically explains the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (TBI and PTSD)… This story will explain the great inner strength among the men of this company that developed in the crucible of combat. MAJOR GENERAL WESLEY E. CRAIG JR. (Retired)

            My research leverages narrative approaches to foster healing and reconnection for Veterans. I met Sam through a presentation of my work titled “Wounded Warriors and the Healing Power of Stories.” “Service and Sacrifice” continues the tradition of healing through writing. This book will help Veteran’s families understand what they faced overseas and how it affects them now. I believe it is important for all civilians to read works such as Sam’s to better understand the experiences of combat. Veterans are our co-workers, family, friends, and neighbors. Sam’s resource guide will help our Veterans, their families, and caregivers begin the process of their own healing journey. Simply put, there is something in this fine book for everyone.  Gala True, PhD, Core Investigator, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), Philadelphia VA Medical Center

            Service and sacrifice defines the willingness of a people to volunteer during a time of need. Thousands have made the ultimate sacrifice.  Many more were injured or changed forever. Writing about Iraq has been healing for me. I’m positive it will be healing for others. Samuel J. Console, 1^st Lt., Combat Engineers, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

Two important updates related to Post-Traumatic Stress

Two important updates for this week.

First, I have the honor of being invited to attend a Post-Traumatic Stress seminar this Thursday night at the Philadelphia Union League sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers and the Armed Forces Council of the Union League.
"The Hidden Scars of Iraq and Afghanistan" with Presenters: Medal of Honor Recipient Paul Bucha & General Pete Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the US ARMY. These types of events are wonderful opportunities for the public to learn more about the depth of our veterans service and sacrifice. I will post follow-up information after attending this event as soon as possible. Here is a link to a local television news spot by Tracy Davidson about the evening:
January 13th NBC 10 News spot with General Chiarelli

Second, I have received information related to the signature wounds experienced by our nearly 2-million combat veterans. I highly recommend Veterans and their families take a look at this article:
"US Soldiers With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder More Likely to Feel Long-Term Psychological Effect"
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110103161323.htm
Quoted "ScienceDaily (Jan. 4, 2011) — Combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms appear to be associated with longer-term physical (headache, tinnitus), emotional (irritability) and cognitive (diminished concentration or memory) symptoms, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Conversely, concussion/mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI) do not appear to have long-term negative effects on troops.

Please to have lo forward this information to your peer and contact me if necessary. God Bless our troops and their families wherever they are in the world.

The VA has published a Returning-War-Zone Guide for Families at just the right time

I feel like someone is reading my mind. The Veterans Administration has launched a new page, just in time for inclusion in the Service and Sacrifice manuscript. I'll get the manuscript back from the publisher in the next four to five weeks. I will have had a chance to review the information at the new site (link below).

I highly recommend everyone who is following this project along to take a look at the new VA reintegration web site. I'd like your feedback as to how applicable this site is. Is this a duplication of effort from the Government One-Source pages? We won't know until we try. So take a look at it and get back to me.

VA Returning War-Zone-Guide for Families

Have a safe and Happy New Year. Please pray for our service members and their families during the holidays and throughout 2011. Lets hope all our troops come home as soon as possible.

Sam