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The Rumsfeld Revolution in Military Affairs
Last year Ig Publishing approached me to write a book on the issue of combat PTSD in our returning OEF/OIF troops. I'd been blogging for a few years, but had never written a book before.As any writer I...
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Join Me for LIVE Firedoglake Blogging
Would love to catch up with everyone here, as well as invite you over (for just a very brief smidgen of an interlude :o) to Firedoglake.com at 5 pm ET.The second half of today's Sunday Book Salon...
View ArticleWhat Is It About Combat PTSD?
When I did my research last year for Moving a Nation to Care, one day it occurred to me that, depending upon the volume I had in my hands, what we call post-traumatic stress disorder never seemed to...
View ArticleMoving a Nation to Care: West Coast/SW Here I Come
Ever heard of a thing called Bookstore Tourism?I hadn't until today, and now I'm completely enamored of the idea:Bookstore Tourism is a type of "cultural tourism" that promotes independent bookstores...
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Moving a Nation to Care Tour: Midwest Leg Begins This Week
Back from San Diego after a hopeful week on the road.This time I visited the great Southwest, stopping at points along the West Coast on the second leg of my Moving a Nation to Care tour (first New...
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PTSD Combat News Roundup: July 2007
It's been waaaaay too long since I've posted over here! How's everyone doing?Busy on this end on my Moving a Nation to Care tour, as well as working on a number of things related to our project. I've...
View ArticleClass Action Lawsuit Brought Against VA
From AP:Frustrated by delays in health care, a coalition of injured Iraq war veterans is accusing VA Secretary Jim Nicholson of breaking the law by denying them disability pay and mental health...
View ArticleOEF/OIF Veteran Affairs Day: Hearings, Reports and Lawsuits
Today:10 am EST - House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing "PTSD and Personality Disorders: Challenges for the VA" [audio stream]11:15am EST - Dole-Shalala Presidential Commission on Care for America's...
View ArticleNew York Times Explores 'In the Valley of Elah'
An upcoming film that I shared news of last week offers today's NYT a chance to explore the more personal aspects of war. Such films allow us to reflect on their effect on society and warrior, as well...
View ArticleWhile Minnesota Proactive, Another Iraq Vet Commits Suicide
Last week, 2,600 of Minnesota's National Guard members returned from overseas duty. Following a 4-month extension, their brigade's 22-month deployment achieved something no other Guard unit has to...
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We're ALL Going to YKC2007
There we were in Las Vegas last year.Me and my new friend at the top of the Stratosphere. (And they say Chicago is the 'windy city'!)Actually, I hadn't seen this incredible photo of me and sidepocket's...
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Convention, Conference and Confluence
Unlike better online writers, I'm not an on-the-fly type who churns things out easily while on the road. From Chicago to Washington, D.C., I've been busy absorbing a lot of information and talking with...
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'In the Valley of Elah' and the Plight of Our Returning Troops
"The kind of great movie that rivets you as entertainment at the same time it carefully sets about saying something deeper about the present time...a brave risk." -- Gregory Kirschling, EW.comDefying...
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PTSD Combat News Roundup: Aug 2007
Happy Labor Day Weekend!My greatly-anticipated Atlanta Journal Constitution Decatur Book Festival stint is this weekend. Yeah!Tomorrow (Sept 1), at 3pm in Fellowship Hall at Decatur Presbyterian I have...
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Join 'IlonaMeagher Underwood' on Second Life Tomorrow, 9pm EST
Psssst. What are you doing tomorrow night at 9pm EST?If you're online, please join me as a new season of Second Life interviews (Howard Dean is slated, too, I hear) kicks into gear. From my sexy avatar...
View ArticlePTSD Combat News Roundup: October 2007
The latest from PTSD Combat:Blackwater Employee PTSD Care Questioned Action Item: Tell Congress to Approve Veterans' Budget Now Combat PTSD Stigma Fades Somewhat, Funding Fight and Political...
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LA Times Photog Offers Heartbreaking Update On Marlboro Marine
[Ammo Hauler touched upon this in a somewhat neglected diary earlier today, but I'd like to add my personal impressions to this important Veterans Day story in the LA Times.]At the end of April 2006, I...
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Dixon Elks Lodge Veteran's Dinner: Pictures and Remarks
This is such a local diary, I almost wasn't going to cross-post it.But, I wanted to send out a special thank you to llbear (aka Dick Pierce; that's us beaming below, top left) for arranging for me to...
View Article//ACTION// Help Amass PTSD Data for Congressional Record
This is an important call to everyone in the community. I need your help -- everyone's.For those who've been around for the past 2+ years, you've been right there with me as I started advocating for...
View ArticleA Thank You to the House Veterans Affairs Committee From a Concerned Citizen
[Thanks to 'KR' from CCN for putting this slideshow together for us.]Moving Congress to Care - Ilona testifies on PTSD (12.12.07)C-Span 2 is rebroadcasting the hearing in full at 8:00pm EST.
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