WASHINGTON, March 16 (UPI) -- A Colorado-based Army Special Forces soldier back from Iraq shot himself in the head in his front yard Sunday night, according to police -- at least the seventh soldier who has committed suicide after serving there.
William Howell, 36, shot himself after following his wife around the yard with a handgun, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. Howell served with the 10th Special Forces group in Iraq and returned to Fort Carson last month, according to the Army.
Another soldier who was attached to that unit in Iraq, Staff Sgt. Georg-Andreas Pogany, has claimed that the 10th Special Forces Group ignored him when he sought help with mental problems there, and then charged him with cowardice instead. Pogany, 32, also says the Army is ignoring the side effects of an anti-malaria drug called Lariam he took with the Special Forces, which has been linked to mental problems, aggression and suicides.
The Army's Special Operations Command did not respond to a question Tuesday about whether Howell had taken the drug or had sought help for mental health concerns.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Department got a phone call just before 9:30 Sunday night from Howell's wife about a "physical disturbance" at their home in Monument. She said her husband had gone to get a gun. Police said the line then went dead. When they called back, Howell said there was no problem.
When police arrived, Howell was following his wife around the yard with a handgun and talking to her. "He was ordered to drop his weapon by one of the officers, but instead placed the weapon to his head and pulled the trigger," the sheriff's office said in a statement. One officer fired at Howell, not realizing whom Howell was shooting at, and hit Howell in the arm. The El Paso County Coroner said Howell died from his own shot.
Howell's wife was treated for a minor head injury. A 13-year-old and two infants were in the house, unharmed.
Police said they have no records of previous domestic disputes involving Howell or his address.
Pogany, the soldier who was charged with cowardice, has said he suffered a debilitating panic attack in Iraq last fall after seeing the body of a mangled Iraqi while with 10th Special Forces. He says he sought help, but was rebuffed, and eventually charged with cowardice, which is punishable by death. The Army has since withdrawn those charges but he continues to fight the Army on others.
In Iraq, the Special Forces had just given Pogany his third Lariam pill when he suffered the attack. The Food and Drug Administration warns that Lariam can cause panic attacks, thoughts of suicide, depression, anxiety, paranoia, delusions and psychosis that can occur long after taking the drug.
A leading veterans' advocate two months ago warned Congress that soldiers who experience mental problems during or after deployments> need help and not punishment.
"Nowhere is this apparent disregard for psychological injuries more apparent than in the case of Sgt. Georg-Andreas Pogany, who was charged with cowardice," Steve Robinson, Executive Director of the National Gulf War Resource Center, told a House Armed Services Committee panel on Jan. 21.
Robinson, a former Army Ranger, told UPI that some soldiers have heard about the Pogany case and are afraid of seeking help because of what happened to him. "This Pogany case has had a chilling effect on soldiers coming forward. I have talked to soldiers who have said it," he said.
Robinson also asked Congress to look into Lariam. "This drug needs to be investigated to determine if it is harming and in some cases killing our own soldiers," Robinson told that panel.
It is not clear whether Howell ever asked for help when he returned from Iraq, but Pogany's attorney, Rich Travis, said the Special Forces have created an "atmosphere" that makes soldiers afraid to seek help. "I think it is the Special Forces that does create an atmosphere where you can not approach your commander and ask for help," Travis said. "I don't think it is a leap of logic to think (Howell) knew how Georg was treated by the chain of command. I think it was pretty well known."
Travis also said the Army, which invented Lariam, is now ignoring its side effects.
Three special operations soldiers who served in Afghanistan and had apparently taken Lariam allegedly killed their wives at Fort Bragg in the summer of 2002. Those three soldiers also committed suicide.
In the investigation into the Fort Bragg killings, the Army said that Lariam could not have triggered a cluster of five apparent murders and three suicides from that summer because some suspects did not take Lariam.
Suicides in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom have become an issue after an unusual spike occurred last summer in Iraq. The Pentagon says 21 Army suicides have been confirmed in Iraq and Kuwait -- reflecting a suicide rate within the normal range. A report on mental health problems in Iraq was ordered last August by the Army surgeon general but has not been released.
According to the Army, six soldiers have killed themselves after returning from Iraq, not counting Howell. UPI reported that one soldier back from Iraq died last July, and another this January, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. A Fort Campbell soldier who had been in Iraq killed himself in January.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING BIT OF INFORMATION
Since America is typically represented by an eagle, Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages. The following verse is from the Koran (the Islamic Bible):
Verse 9 : 11
For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair, still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace.
Note the verse number.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS 100%
For those of you who have never served your country or have forgotten how it works. Let me enlighten you. Remember, "Shit rolls downhill!" Our men and women who are involved in these conflicts around the word are there, because they have been given orders by their commander in chief; whether they agree or disagree with the war they have to follow their orders. You may not agree with the war on Iraq but, don't take your disappointment of our government out on our troops who are just following their orders! Support those men and women, how would you feel if you were overseas in the middle of a desert not knowing if you were going to war or not, or even if you will be coming home alive, and all you hear about is how America is protesting your presents there on behalf of America. How would your morale be? As a veteran of the Persian Gulf War I know what it feels like to sit and wait, I am familiar with the unknown. I do not know what it feels like to not be supported by the American people for what I was ordered to do. For that answer we have to ask or Vietnam brethren. We all remember the hell they went through for following orders, is that what we want our son's and daughter's to go through? Don't stand around and hold up sign's protesting the war, hold up sign's to support your country’s children and what they are fighting for, Freedom from fear o The terrorists have tried to break apart our country and they failed, lets not allow this conflict to do what the terrorists failed at. Remember, United we stand, divided we fall
February 1, 2003
Our Hearts and prayers go out the 7 member crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia and their families on this day.
"I know it's hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the faint-hearted. It belongs to the brave."Ronald Reagan Jan. 28, 1986"
Space shuttle Columbia commander Rick Husband, right, pilot William McCool, left, (second row) mission specialists Kalpana Chawla and Laurel Clark, (third row) Israeli astronaut payload specialist Ilan Ramon and mission specialists Michael Anderson and David Brown, as they walked to the pad for the Jan. 16 launch.
The National Veterans Center
The American Veterans Association, under VVW, has an official office now! The National Veterans Center, located in Republic, WA, which services Ferry, Stevens, and Okanogan counties directly, and the nation indirectly, was donated by General Electric and obtained thru Congressman Nethercutt. Without the support of Congressman George R. Nethercutt Jr., Representative of Washington’s 5th District, the procurement of the office would not have been very easy. Congressman Nethercutt has been an extremely strong ally in the support of VVW and disabled veterans. Vietnam Veterans Wives would like to personally thank George R. Nethercutt Jr. for his unrelenting support of our cause.
(Link to Artical)
Institute of Medicine / National Academy of Sciences
The committee to review the health effects in Vietnam Veterans of exposure to Herbicides(Fourth Biennial Update)
Project Scope:
The committee will conduct a review of scientific evidence regarding statistical associations between diseases and exposure to dioxin and other chemical compounds in herbicides used in Vietnam. This review will build upon the information developed by the IOM committees responsible for Veterans and Agent Orange(1994), Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 1996, Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 1998, and Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2000. But will focus on the scientific studies and other information developed since the release of those reports. The committee will also conduct an extensive dissemination effort intended to help inform the Department of Veterans Affairs and other interested stakeholders, including the U.S. Congress.
(Link to Artical)
Press Release October 18, 2001
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION VIETNAM WAR BIOLOGICAL TESTS
WASHINGTON, D.C.---Vietnam Veterans of America national president Thomas H. Corey expressed the organization’s deep concern upon learning that the U.S. government used live biological agents on Vietnam War veterans in a series of experiments designed to test the military's ability to deal with such agents, according to a Pentagon fact sheet provided to VVA. (Link to Entire Press Release)
Information Request
This is extremely important, I am asking all veterans, wives, widows or family members to please contact Danna Hughes dhughes@vietnamveteranwives.com regarding Vietnam Veterans that have died from brain tumors… If you are, or know of a veteran that has been diagnosed with Glioblastoma Brain Tumor, we want to hear from you right away
Poetry Corner
Veterans the Poetry Corner is now open to you, but be sure and give permission for others to use if you submit to the Corner, for others will want to copy and send to others… thanks. Current works on display are the articulated wonderful poems by Don Laura Yates from her book "For Memories" She was encouraged to write For Memories after her husband T/SGT. Donald L. Yates had passed away from cancer related to the exposure of Agent Orange. If you would like to add to our collection of poems, Please see link under Hot Topics for further information on how to submit poetry.
Veteran Bird House Builders
Send us your pictures so we can get them on the web-site….. Let others know you have them available. Mail boxes are welcomed as well.
Entertainers
Veterans who sing and have music Tapes or CDs available, or just want to post your Bio for others to access let use hear from you.... You may become the next star..
Women who want to make a difference in our Military service click here
But For The Love Of God
| But For The Love Of God
A Quote from the President
How often we take our life as ongoing, which will never end. we test the waters to see if we can run the gamut of trials, only to be brought to our knees, only to look up to see the answer. i want to give thanks to all the veterans that have helped to get our new web-site up. especially to richard campbell who made this possible and available for all to see and be a part of.
six years ago vvw started with a telephone booth as its office, and thousands of veterans without hope for tomorrow. today we have purchased land for our national veteran center began our desert storm division and american veteran's union. veterans have received help in times of trial with disability claims, food, clothing and counseling. these all happened because veteran's wives and husbands cared about one another and have reached out to touch the hearts of others with prayers and love.
as for me, i want to give full credit to our lord, and for the love of god that touched my heart during the trials of brain surgery on my husband and ongoing treatments of radiation and chemotherapy. it is because of that "love" that my husband lives and because fellow veterans touched his heart while he lay at deaths door. because of you my husband lives. "thank you" ...danna hughes
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