Tuesday January 7, 2025
SNc Channels:

Search
About Salem-News.com

 

May-13-2009 07:25printcomments

PTSD Vet Hits the Wall: Goes Berserk and Kills Five

The system which put him in this miserable, tragic state must be corrected.

Flag draped coffins
Salem-News.com

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - When I first heard this my response was somewhere between a scream and a shudder. The TV news etcetra has been full of PTSD Vet murders and suicides.

If ever there was a broken system or at worst no system at all for preventing or taking care of PTSD Vets. This event should once more be a wake-up call but I don’t think it will happen. It never has!

The story seems to be that he was a sergeant on his third tour, anybody who can read or think KNOWS this is a recipe for disaster. Why did it have to happen to five people, three of whom were there for treatment.

The sergeant was good or he wouldn’t have the stripes. He was obviously pushed beyond his limit. He had been disarmed in his company but they kept him there. He had been turned away from the clinics for care.

I recently wrote for Salem-News.com PTSD is a Psychosis?).

Does ANYBODY disagree with my diagnosis? I have written several articles about PTSD: From the viewpoint of a Combat Infantryman, from the viewpoint of a scientist in the front lines and from the viewpoint of a physician taking medical care of about 400 PTSD Vets. (also see: PTSD and Psychosis Among Army Psychiatrists)

I have harped on the facts that the PTSD caretakers have no more consideration of PTSD than the average man on the street which is about nothing. I saw the Lady Light Colonel who was running the clinic, whether she was a Psychiatrist wasn’t shown.

We do know that most therapists are psychologists, which is a dreadful pity. There is no way they can have the knowledge and/or judgment to take care of these near-psychotic OR psychotic patients. If you don’t believe so read my article again!

Tim King, a former Marine, has posted several articles from personal experience as a reporter in Iraq and Afghanistan. This latest killing by a berserk PTSD Vet is only part of this overall tragedy.

Its been going on and will continue to go on ‘til those who are supposed to be in charge have some idea that we are over-stretching these 3 and 4 time tour victims, that whatever is being done OR not done is resulting in an unacceptable level of suicides, murders, alcoholism, broken families and any other horrendous factor that I can’t even express.

I weep for the five persons who were killed and their families. I weep more for the sergeant who was forced by an uncaring and uncomprehending system which forced him to take the tragic action he did.

YES THIS SERGEANT WAS IN A PSYCHOSIS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.

The system which put him in this miserable, tragic state must be corrected. Otherwise if it requires this sort of action to get attention this may be the canary in the coal mine or the tip of the iceberg. I can feel it.

Many articles have warned of this type of tragedy. I am just one of those who has been there, done that and seen that. Now is the time for corrective action. Will we get it or more horrendous news. I don’t want to think about it!

**********************************************************

Do you have a a question, comment, or story to share with Dr. Leveque?
Email him:
Ask Dr. Leveque

More information on the history of Dr. Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of WWII about his own experiences "from a foxhole".
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier

If you are a World War II history buff, you don't want to miss it.

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King and Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:
Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

=========================================================




Comments Leave a comment on this story.
Name:

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.



Bob O'Dowd May 17, 2009 7:45 am (Pacific time)

This man was on his third tour. We are breaking our military. Army and Marine grunts (infantry) bear the brunt of combat. There’s no draft so the same forces can expect to see multiple tours of duty. What a tragedy! I feel for the families of the innocent dead who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and for the sergeant who is trapped in this PTSD psychosis. Until our forces are withdrawn from this insane crusade, I'm afraid we have not seen the last of this. General MacArthur warned years ago to never get involved in a land war in Asia. His warning was ignored in Vietnam and continues to be ignored by our “policy makers” in Washington. We are not engaged with conventional forces, but that can easily change overnight. As it is, the unconventional forces we have engaged have tied down thousands of forces with no end in sight. Our policy makers have avoided the protests of the Vietnam War by using volunteer forces. Keep these men and women in your prayers.


Anonymous May 15, 2009 7:28 am (Pacific time)

May I suggest that the Disabled American Veterans organization has a superb record in helping veterans secure disability benefits, especially if you have been harmed in any way while serving in he military. There are many people and small groups who claim they know what they're doing, but verify their track record before you give them your power of attorney. It was the DAV who took on the current administration who suggested the VA bill the veterans insurance company (if they even had a private carrier!) for service-connected injuries/disabilities. Unbelievable.


Jim Davis, Veterans-For-Change May 14, 2009 12:29 pm (Pacific time)

Dr. Phil Leveque I believe the problem is three fold. 1) Since President Clinton and Bush Sr. and Congress all chose to close down so many military bases and the reduction in personnel, this was cause number one. We did not and still do not have the military capabilities we once had and would have prevented the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th tours of duty in a combat zone. 2) The military should have required all those returning soldiers to be thoroughly tested for PTSD on each return to determine if they were still combat ready and capable. 3) The VA has an unwritten, unspoken policy of “Deny, deny, until they die!” So countless claims are being delayed or denied more now than they have been in the past. Case in point, 600,000 returning Iraq soldiers filed PTSD claims, 500,000 were denied! These brave men and women all chose to do a job most, if not all Americans don’t want to do or simply refuse to do. They laid down their lives to protect and defend our country, our way of life and our land. The cost of freedom is NOT free! Its paid daily by those who wear the uniform, answered the President and members of Congress’s call to duty. They serve proudly, without question, hesitation or pause! Sad to say, but extremely true, and ask a veteran if you don’t believe me. They go off to war for our Country, and come home and still have to battle every single day of their life for the rest of their lives. The must do battle with the Veterans Affairs who governs, manages and is to provide benefits, medical care, facilities, and medical staff. Some file a claim for PTSD, war wounds, what ever doesn’t really matter what they file for, generally they’re denied. If they appeal, and are denied again, most veterans just simply give up, walk away and this is precisely what the VA wants our veterans to do, give up so they don’t have to pay out a dime for their care. Traditional Veteran Service Organizations rarely if ever do the right thing and assist those who protected us in time of need. Therefore it’s left up to the veteran to continue doing battle, battle with the Veterans Affairs and Congress. Veteran need to speak out, make their voices heard, unite as one, and not rely solely on the Service Organizations to meet their needs. I founded such a group to give veterans and their spouses an outlet to speak their needs loud and clear to all 535 members of Congress. All they need to do is volunteer 30-60 minutes of their time per month and you don’t even have to leave your computer to do it. Those who are interested in helping fight the VA and Congress and forcing them to reckon with veterans I encourage you to drop me a line at: JDAVIS90813@hotmail.com and I will tell you about the group, of if assistance is needed on a claim we will do what we can to help!

[Return to Top]
©2025 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.


Articles for May 12, 2009 | Articles for May 13, 2009 | Articles for May 14, 2009
Support
Salem-News.com:

Annual Hemp Festival & Event Calendar

Click here for all of William's articles and letters.


The NAACP of the Willamette Valley