I received the following email from Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW). I have chosen to pass this message along because I know what it's like to have the military jack you over, especially in the health department. This soldier went AWOL to take care of his health. Read the email, research the story, tell me what you think.
The first step to healing is taking your own health in your own hands.
Monique Finley
Writer/Activist/Healer
Dream: What else do you have to live for?
(Note: As usual, I have disabled the donation links. If you ever desire donating to any of the activist sites I mention, you should go directly to their websites.)
THE EMAIL
Dear Monique,
IVAW is defending the rights of veterans and service members this Veterans Day
(We are always doing this, but today is a day that more people listen.)
As I write this, Field Organizer, Chantelle Bateman, member, Zach Choate, and civilian supporter, Ryan Harvey, are traveling with AWOL soldier, Jeff Hanks, who refused to re-deploy to Afghanistan after the Army denied him medical care. They've been driving for hours through the Deep South, headed to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where Jeff will hold a press conference, then turn himself in to the Army medical center on base.
Jeff has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was due to receive medical evaluation and treatment during a leave from his tour in Afghanistan, when his military commanders effectively cancelled his doctor appointments to send him back to combat. Jeff made the difficult decision to go AWOL to get the care he needed. IVAW's Operation Recovery Campaign has helped Jeff to get the civilian medical care he so desperately needs, and identify a lawyer to defend his right to heal.
Your past support has been critical to our work on Operation Recovery, and we are just getting started. Would you consider making a special Veterans Day donation to sustain our efforts?
Make a special Veterans Day gift now by clicking here.
We are taking action across the country today
Here are some highlights of the work we are doing today to honor Veterans and promote Operation Recovery:
* Members at University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana are tabling on their campus, then doing an art installation about the issue of veteran and soldier suicide.
* Savannah members are holding a teach-in and then are flyering GI hang outs near Fort Stewart, GA.
* San Francisco members are holding a teach-in and education forum on the issue of military and war trauma.
* In Manhattan, Kansas, members are flyering at the annual Veterans Day parade and doing outreach to GIs at Fort Riley.
* Our Chicago chapter has organized an art exhibition, Intrusive Thoughts, part of a month-long series of programs at the National Veterans Art Museum.
And this is just to name a few.
We could not do this work without your moral and financial support.
Help us continue our work with a special Veterans Day donation today.
IVAW files Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on traumatized soldiers in the U.S. Army
Today, we requested information from our government that will expose the scope of the problem of troops serving with un-treated trauma, including the number of troops that have reported or sought treatment for PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, or Military Sexual Trauma. We specifically want to know about the 101st Airborne Division, the 1st Infantry Division, the 2nd Infantry Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the 10th Mountain Division. These troops are the most heavily deployed and are dealing with extremely high rates of suicide and depression. The U.S. Army has this information, but has not made it public.
Your financial support now will help us continue to expose what the military is so eager to suppress - the systemic problem of war trauma ravaging our military.
Thank you for making a special Veterans Day donation today. Click here to give.
In Solidarity,
Aaron Hughes
Field Organizing Team Leader
(Note: As usual, I have disabled the donation links. If you ever desire donating to any of the activist sites I mention, you should go directly to their websites.)
THE EMAIL
Dear Monique,
IVAW is defending the rights of veterans and service members this Veterans Day
(We are always doing this, but today is a day that more people listen.)
As I write this, Field Organizer, Chantelle Bateman, member, Zach Choate, and civilian supporter, Ryan Harvey, are traveling with AWOL soldier, Jeff Hanks, who refused to re-deploy to Afghanistan after the Army denied him medical care. They've been driving for hours through the Deep South, headed to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where Jeff will hold a press conference, then turn himself in to the Army medical center on base.
Jeff has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was due to receive medical evaluation and treatment during a leave from his tour in Afghanistan, when his military commanders effectively cancelled his doctor appointments to send him back to combat. Jeff made the difficult decision to go AWOL to get the care he needed. IVAW's Operation Recovery Campaign has helped Jeff to get the civilian medical care he so desperately needs, and identify a lawyer to defend his right to heal.
Your past support has been critical to our work on Operation Recovery, and we are just getting started. Would you consider making a special Veterans Day donation to sustain our efforts?
Make a special Veterans Day gift now by clicking here.
We are taking action across the country today
Here are some highlights of the work we are doing today to honor Veterans and promote Operation Recovery:
* Members at University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana are tabling on their campus, then doing an art installation about the issue of veteran and soldier suicide.
* Savannah members are holding a teach-in and then are flyering GI hang outs near Fort Stewart, GA.
* San Francisco members are holding a teach-in and education forum on the issue of military and war trauma.
* In Manhattan, Kansas, members are flyering at the annual Veterans Day parade and doing outreach to GIs at Fort Riley.
* Our Chicago chapter has organized an art exhibition, Intrusive Thoughts, part of a month-long series of programs at the National Veterans Art Museum.
And this is just to name a few.
We could not do this work without your moral and financial support.
Help us continue our work with a special Veterans Day donation today.
IVAW files Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on traumatized soldiers in the U.S. Army
Today, we requested information from our government that will expose the scope of the problem of troops serving with un-treated trauma, including the number of troops that have reported or sought treatment for PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, or Military Sexual Trauma. We specifically want to know about the 101st Airborne Division, the 1st Infantry Division, the 2nd Infantry Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the 10th Mountain Division. These troops are the most heavily deployed and are dealing with extremely high rates of suicide and depression. The U.S. Army has this information, but has not made it public.
Your financial support now will help us continue to expose what the military is so eager to suppress - the systemic problem of war trauma ravaging our military.
Thank you for making a special Veterans Day donation today. Click here to give.
In Solidarity,
Aaron Hughes
Field Organizing Team Leader
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