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"

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

US Soldier May Be Imprisoned for Allegedly Leaking Video of Army War Crimes in Iraq

PFC Bradley Manning, 22, of Potomac, MD is currently being held in pre-trial confinement at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait while the Army conducts an investigation

Open Letter to Major General James Terry from Citizen Soldier

I am writing you again now because we have learned of two more recent deaths of Ft Drum soldiers, which may be determined to be suicides.

US Military Suicides
Reach New High

The number of serving American military personnel who took their lives in 2009 has already exceeded last year's record. The US Army, the largest branch of the military, suffered the most dramatic increase.

Base Mental Health Practices Should be Investigated

Open Letter to Major General James Terry, Commander, 10th Mountain Div., Ft Drum Asking Him to Convene an Official Investigation of Base Mental Health Practices for War Veterans Considered at Risk for Suicide or Homicide

Iraq War Veteran at Ft Drum Accused of Stabbing two other Ft Drum Soldiers to Death

Suspect Joshua Hunter (right) had served a 15 month combat tour in Iraq, returning home in August.

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

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

Fun Times at Fort Drum: My Story

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.

Army Experience Center
shut down

Philadelphia--Around 70 protesters from dozens of groups on the East Coast took on the Army Experience Center at the Franklin Mills Mall on Sept. 12, with determination to shut it down.

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.

Above: Trevor Loope.

Iraq, Afghanistan wars coordinated from afar

TAMPA, 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.

Fifteen 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

A 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

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.

Army 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...

U.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

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

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

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

Brad 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

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