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A Veteran’s Death, the Nation’s Shame

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
New York Times, April 14, 2012

Brad Manning hearing

Here's a window into a tragedy within the American military: For every soldier killed on the battlefield this year, about 25 veterans are dying by their own hands.


Bradley Manning Judge Warns Military Prosecutors in WikiLeaks Case

Judge refuses to dismiss most serious charge but tells prosecution it must prove private knew he was aiding the enemy


Stand with Bradley Manning during the
April 24-26 hearing

Brad Manning hearing

Events in the Washington DC area and internationally in solidarity with accused WikiLeaks whistle-blower


PAST BRADLEY MANNING NEWS

March and Demonstration At the Gate of Fort Meade, Maryland
For the second day of Bradley Manning's Preliminary Hearing

Bradley Manning makes court appearance in WikiLeaks case

Hearing opened Friday, Dec. 16


Coping with PTSD

The War Comes Home Conference

 

The War Comes Home: Trauma & Its Aftermath was held February 4, 2012 as a conference for service members, veterans, family members, and helping professionals.

View TV coverage

View video from the conference:

Part I

Part II

Part III


Decoding the BraiU.S. military Looks at Ways to Modify the Neurological Activity of Soldiers

Making them fiercer warriors?


Truth, Lies and Afghanistan

How military leaders have let us down

BY LT. COL. DANIEL L. DAVIS

Iraq oil fields


Another Recruit Dies Trying to Meet Weight Requirement

Danny Ruff, 22, from Tracy, CA ordered to lose 13 pounds in 16 days

Danny Ruff


S.I. dad says Marine son victim of hate,
just like Pvt. Danny Chen

"Somebody did this to him, " dad claims.

rally for Brad Manning


Mentally Stressed Iraq War Vet Kills Park Ranger and injures four others near Seattle on New Year's Day
Young Park Ranger, Margaret Anderson,
murdered at Mt. Ranier National Park

Benjamin Colton Barnes


Army Charges 8 in Wake of Death of a
Fellow G.I.
Pvt. Danny Chen was found shot to death in
Afghanistan on Oct. 3

rally for Brad Manning


America's Secret Empire of Drone Bases:

Its Full Extent Revealed for the First Time

Chen


Army Probes Events Behind Soldier Death

"Before he died he was harassed, and he was dragged out of the bed and actually beaten," Mr. Gee said. "The Army volunteered that information to the family."

Chen


Getting the Word Out to Atomic Veterans
Exposed to Radiation

With the clock ticking, R.J. Ritter is on a hunt for an estimated 195,000 veterans exposed to radiation when the United States conducted atmospheric nuclear bomb tests between 1945 and 1962.

Chen


Army Base On the Brink

"At an Army base near Seattle, soldiers are committing suicide, murdering their families - and in one case, waterboarding their own kids. Winston Ross reports from a base on the brink."

Army base on brink


Scientists Say “The Pentagon Is Falsely Claiming Its Research Shows That Airborne Dust In Iraq And Afghanistan Poses No Health Risk To U.S. Troops”

Were There People In The Military Trying To Cover Up And Get Away With Something?

Duststorms in the middleeast



Vermilion Mom: Army Recruiters Made Son Diet to Death

Wilsey's mother, Lora Bailey, said her son told her he was following recruiters' advice, including self-induced vomiting.

UPDATE

"Jury Still Out" on Army's Probe of Recruit's Death by Dieting

rally for Brad Manning


Forum in Va. Beach tries to link veterans to mental help

Roughly one in three soldiers returning from war reports psychological problems, the Department of Defense estimates.

rally for Brad Manning


PTSD image

U.S. Troops' Mental Health Continues to Erode

"Psychologically, it is hard to imagine that these elevated levels of combat are not taking a toll on Soldiers."


Veterans' Advocate Calls on V.A. to Research Potential Damage from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in Iraq & Afghan War Veterans

Citizen Soldier has written VA Administrator Shinsheki

brain injury


On Anniversary of Marjah Push

Escalation Strategy Still Failing

Marjah Push

 


Cable reveals US behind airstrike that killed 21 children in Yemen

A diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks shows that the US military covered up the killing of dozens of civilians during a cruise missile strike in south Yemen in December 2009.


Number of Army Suicides Already
Surpasses 2009 Total

New Army data suggest that the service's suicide
epidemic shows little sign of improvement.


Jacob W.

Air Base Expansion Plans Reflect
Long-term Investment in Afghanistan

Three $100 million air base expansions in southern and northern Afghanistan illustrate Pentagon plans extending well into the future.


Jacob W.Combat Veteran PFC Jacob Wade from Cortland, NY, with PTSD Diagnosis Surrenders at Ft. Hood, TX.

A Test of Pentagon's New Policy of "Compassion and Caring" for Combat Vets


AWOL Fort Hood soldier turns himself in
By Chie Saito


Citizen Soldier co-sponsors a National Conference on PTSD

"The War Comes Home: Soldiers and Veterans in Crisis"

PTSD Conference

Vet panelists confer: John Waltz, Navy Commander Mark Russell (Ret), and former Marine Captain Anu Bhagwati, head, Servicewoman's Defense Network

View highlights of the conference on YouTube or purchase a copy of a
2-disc DVD for $6 by sending a check or money order to:

Citizen Soldier
267 Fifth Ave., #901
New York N Y 10016
212-679-2250

PTSD conference CD

Military suicides increase as U.S. soldiers struggle with torment of war

Army Sgt. Coleman Bean

His death is part of an accelerating trend that has sent tremors throughout the U.S. military.


Fun Times at Fort Drum: My Story

Philadelphia Army Center demo

After is all said and done, its a damn shame how this all turned out. You bleed for your country and try to do your best and you just get fucked in the end.


Iraq, Afghanistan wars coordinated from afar

droneTAMPA, Florida (AFP) – The target may be in Iraq or Afghanistan, but if a US air attack risks killing civilians the decision to strike is taken by leaders at this military base in sunny Tampa, Florida.


tevor hogueFifteen Months After Bloodbath in Iraq, Young Veteran Commits Suicide

"I saw things today that I think will mess me up for life," Army Spc. Trevor Hogue wrote to his mother from Baghdad in 2007.

The Brave, Living and Dead

That has to stop. We must treat the living as respectfully as we do the dead.

Secrecy a factor in the rise of military suicides

The Department of the Army has finally gone public and acknowledged the alarming rate of suicide among its ranks.


The Life and Lonely Death of Noah Pierce

Noah PierceA small-town soldier returns from Iraq broken. He is not alone. He thinks he is.

Kucinich targets Army's video war game exhibit used for recruiting

virtual army

Rep. Dennis Kucinich wants to kill federal funding for an immense traveling video game exhibit that acts as an Army recruiting tool by letting kids as young as 13 play soldier in modified Humvees armed with realistic weapons.

josh barberArmy suicides rise as time spent in combat increases

"He went to Fort Lewis to kill himself to prove a point," Kelly Barber says. " 'Here I am. I was a soldier. You guys didn't help me.' "


A Focus on Violence by Returning G.I.’s

...the number of servicemen implicated in violent crimes has raised alarm...


andre shepherdU.S. soldier seeks asylum in Germany

"We went to war basically for nothing," said Shepherd, of Cleveland. "There's no way I would go back for a second tour with the information that I have since received."

Germany should grant him asylum, Shepherd said, because of its strong opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.


AWOL Afghan War Vet Trevor Loope from Ft Drum Surrendered at Different Drummer December 4:

He Left in Search of Mental Health Care

View his statement to the Ithaca Common Council, requesting active support as he returns to base and potentially faces criminal charges


Network of GI Support Grows:
Two New Coffeehouses for Soldiers to Open

iraq gis from ft drum

Coffeehouse/Counselling centers for Soldiers will open near Ft. Lewis, WA and Ft. Hood, TX in the next two weeks.

The "Coffee Strong" cafe next to Ft. Lewis will provide educational programs, entertainment and GI rights counselling as well as links to psychological and legal support for Ft. Lewis personnel and their families. Coffee Strong also makes a mean cup of coffee! (Also see GI Coffee House Coming Soon next to Ft. Lewis; Tod Ensign to speak)

The "Under the Hood" project, adjacent to Ft. Hood TX will also offer social programs, counselling and legal referral to servicemembers from Ft Hood--the Army's largest base. (Also see Under The Hood: An Anti-War GI Coffeehouse in Texas)

These projects aid activists who're seeking to launch similar operations at other military bases during 2009.

More info: Tod Ensign, Ft Drum, N Y (212) 679-2250
Seth Manzel, Ft Lewis, WA (253) 228-8912
Alice Embree, Ft Hood, TX (512) 740-4819

Coming to Killeen: A GI coffeehouse in the grand tradition

The Oleo Strut Coffeehouse
And The G.I. Antiwar Movement


THE NEW GULF WAR SYNDROME

US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are being exposed to toxic chemicals that pose serious health risks


Revealed: Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control


Post-War Suicides May Exceed Combat Deaths,
U.S. Says


blizzard

Ft Drum Commander Tramples Soldiers' Due Process Rights


10th Mountain Soldier Files for Army Court of Inquiry to Probe Treatment of Wounded;
Brian C. was Ordered to Iraq Despite Medical Profile Barring Deployment

dave kline


Different Drummer Cafe Convenes
Public Forum on
Mental Health Care at Ft Drum
:

View the Symposium

Soldier calls PTSD an "ugly demon"

Fort Drum asking civilian employees
to deploy to Iraq


gaskinsBrad Gaskins:

View Channel 9 Report on Brad Gaskins

AWOL Soldier Seeking Treatment Arrested (Associated Press)

Sergeant Fled Army, but Not the War in His Head ( New York Times)


Thousands of GIs Cope With Brain Damage


eugenecherryFormer Army medic Eugene Cherry discharged;
Army drops AWOL Charges after Cherry argued he received inadequate mental health services


Marine's death
came after he
served in Iraq

Told to wait,
a Marine dies

soldier

UPDATE:
Spec. Trevor Loope is Free!
Army Drops Court Martial

Specialist Trevor Loope, 24, of Austin, TX who faced a year in prison and a Bad Conduct discharge at Special Court Martial for AWOL was discharged administratively by order of Ft Drum's Commander, Gen. Michael Oates on Friday, July 10th.

trevor loope


Brains scans of symptomatic
Gulf War veterans show differences


gi's on plane

More Soldiers Lose Faith in Iraq War


CITIZEN SOLDIER
REPORTS
2012

end of year report
[download pdf ]


BOOKS 

When Johnny and Jane book jacket

When Johnny and Jane Come Marching Home: How All of Us Can Help Veterans.

You

You Know When the Men Are Gone
Reviewed by Ellen Nessuno

On Killing

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society


EDITORIALS


LISTEN TO LIVE BROADCAST OF THE WINTER SOLDIER 2008 HEARINGS


FREE
DOWNLOADS

Enlistment guide

The Military Enlistment
Contract and You
The Facts; Your Rights


THEIR VOICES JOIN THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT
AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ

"Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated"
PAT TILLMAN'S BROTHER BREAKS HIS SILENCE

"Let's stop this war before more are killed."
Father of Lance Cpl. Edward "Augie" Schroeder II Laments His Son's Senseless Death

Pable Paredes

Pablo Paredes:
“…if there's anything I could be guilty of, it is my beliefs. I am guilty of believing this war is illegal. I'm guilty of believing war in all forms is immoral and useless, and I am guilty of believing that as a service member I have a duty to refuse to participate in this war.

Captain Ian Fishback:
"Despite my efforts, I have been unable to get clear, consistent answers from my leadership about what constitutes lawful and humane treatment of detainees"

because it is illegal."

GI Coffeehouses

Antiwar support at
Different Drummer Café

Vets organize GI coffeehouse outside
military base

Different Drummer Cafe

FT. DRUM
SPRING FESTIVAL

"Residents seemed eager to
embrace the marchers' dual message:
bring our soldiers back and provide them with
quality health care when they get home."

An Antiwar March Through Towns Unused to One
By Michelle York, The New York Times

North Country Walk to Ft Drum Festival A Success
By Tod Ensign