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September 2, 2010

Hero helps 'broken' troops

Thursday, September 2, 2010 02:59 AM
By Jeb Phillips
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

One of the most highly decorated Marines during the war in Iraq had to drink to fall asleep. He once tried to kill himself.

Continue reading "Hero helps 'broken' troops" »

August 30, 2010

U.S. hospital in Germany handles America's Afghan war wounded

After emergency surgery, a Marine is airlifted to the Landstuhl medical center on a special cargo plane. Since 2004, nearly 13,000 wounded U.S. service personnel have been evacuated there.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
August 30, 2010|5:24 p.m.

Reporting from Landstuhl, Germany —
Before Marine Cpl. Corey Griggs went on his last patrol in Afghanistan's restive Helmand province, he had a premonition of sorts.

Continue reading "U.S. hospital in Germany handles America's Afghan war wounded" »

Questions loom over drug given to sleepless vets

By MATTHEW PERRONE
AP Health Writer
Posted on Monday, 08.30.10

WASHINGTON -- Andrew White returned from a nine-month tour in Iraq beset with signs of post-traumatic stress disorder: insomnia, nightmares, constant restlessness. Doctors tried to ease his symptoms using three psychiatric drugs, including a potent anti-psychotic called Seroquel.

Continue reading "Questions loom over drug given to sleepless vets" »

August 27, 2010

One Marine’s Struggle To Return To The Battle Field.

By Julien Pearce
August 27, 2010

As President Obama prepares to address the nation next week about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the casualties continue to mount.

Continue reading "One Marine’s Struggle To Return To The Battle Field." »

August 26, 2010

Wounded Cadet Meets Graduation Requirements

LEXINGTON, Va., Aug. 26, 2010 – A Virginia Military Institute cadet wounded last month by an improvised explosive device while on active duty with the Marine Corps in Afghanistan is a cadet no more.

Continue reading "Wounded Cadet Meets Graduation Requirements" »

August 25, 2010

Marines sharply increase mental health care for troops, fight military's highest suicide rate

August 25, 2010
Julie Watson,Kevin Maurer, The Associated Press
The Canadian Press, 2010

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - They have been in harm's way for years in two countries, in a branch of the military where toughness and self-reliance have been especially prized for generations. Now the Marines are struggling against an enemy that has entrenched itself over nearly a decade of war: mental illness

Continue reading "Marines sharply increase mental health care for troops, fight military's highest suicide rate" »

August 23, 2010

Four Marines awarded Purple Heart for their sacrifice

8/23/2010
By Lance Cpl. Michelle S. Mattei,
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —
Four Marines were added to the Purple Heart’s list of heroes injured during battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Four Marines awarded Purple Heart for their sacrifice" »

August 21, 2010

A heartfelt home for a hero

Volunteers build addition to parents' house to aid recovery from wounds suffered in war

By Barbara O'Brien
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Published:August 21 2010

A year ago, Marine Staff Sgt. John Stanz was fighting for his life in a military hospital in Germany after a bomb hit his Humvee in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "A heartfelt home for a hero" »

August 20, 2010

Wounded Soldier Receives Special Gift

by WKBW Programming
August 20, 2010

HAMBURG, NY (WKBW) - Marine Staff Sergant John Stanz Jr. was nearly killed in Afghanistan when an enemy attack destroyed the humvee he was riding in.

Continue reading "Wounded Soldier Receives Special Gift" »

August 12, 2010

Critically wounded Marine shows improvement

Flag-raising, dedication set for tonight in Caledonia.

By Chris Green
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Aug 12, 2010 @ 11:31 PM

CALEDONIA — Less than two weeks after being moved out of Bethesda Naval Hospital’s intensive care unit in Maryland, U.S. Marine Cpl. John Peck returned.

Continue reading "Critically wounded Marine shows improvement" »

August 10, 2010

Afghanistan Bomb Blast Injures Whitfield Marine

A Whitfield County Marine family is praying and preparing this evening to fly to Bethesda, Maryland.

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August 8, 2010

Antioch event raises funds for badly wounded Marine

Some of Cpl. John Peck's best friends are people he has never met.

Continue reading "Antioch event raises funds for badly wounded Marine" »

Memories linger as Marine recuperates

CASPER — At 5:30 a.m. on July 1, Lance Cpl. Jake Henry and roughly 17 other Marines left for a normal patrol in southern Afghanistan. They crossed over a canal and into an old poppy field, died out from the season before.

Continue reading "Memories linger as Marine recuperates" »

August 3, 2010

Minto Marine injured in Afghanistan

Clayton Jarolimek’s injuries are serious, but not ‘life-threatening,’ mother says
A U.S. Marine from Minto, N.D., was injured Monday by an improvised explosive device, or IED, while on a foot patrol in Afghanistan.

A U.S. Marine from Minto, N.D., was injured Monday by an improvised explosive device, or IED, while on a foot patrol in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Minto Marine injured in Afghanistan" »

August 1, 2010

Family in Far Places

Although he was half a world away from home, DeAvila was quickly surrounded by family and friends, due to a strong military family and community.

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'Ajax' strikes chord with Marine veterans

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. • The reading of Sophocles' classic drama "Ajax" was polished and powerful.

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'Wounded Warrior’ Facility Helps Injured Marines Get Back to the Fight

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Frank Martin had only been in Afghanistan a few days when a 60-pound improvised explosive device detonated while he and his squad were on their first foot patrol in northern Marjah, hurling him into the air.

Continue reading "'Wounded Warrior’ Facility Helps Injured Marines Get Back to the Fight" »

July 29, 2010

East Texas Marine wounded by IED, family shares story

MOUNT PLEASANT, TX (KLTV) - Marine Lance Corporal Dustin Dryden, 21, of Mount Pleasant was on his second tour in Afghanistan when he was wounded by an IED late Tuesday.

Continue reading "East Texas Marine wounded by IED, family shares story" »

July 28, 2010

Long journey back for troops with brain trauma

By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Wednesday Jul 28, 2010 22:14:27 EDT

TAMPA, Fla. — Army Ranger Cory Remsburg was thrown like a rag doll into an Afghanistan canal Oct. 1 by the blast from a 500-pound roadside bomb, the right side of his head caved in by shrapnel.

Continue reading "Long journey back for troops with brain trauma" »

Long journey back for troops with brain trauma

By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Wednesday Jul 28, 2010 22:14:27 EDT

TAMPA, Fla. — Army Ranger Cory Remsburg was thrown like a rag doll into an Afghanistan canal Oct. 1 by the blast from a 500-pound roadside bomb, the right side of his head caved in by shrapnel.

Continue reading "Long journey back for troops with brain trauma" »

July 27, 2010

Fundraising concert to help injured Antioch Marine

As Marine Cpl. John Peck fights in his recovery from near-fatal injuries suffered in Afghanistan, the Antioch community is continuing its support by planning a fundraising concert.

Continue reading "Fundraising concert to help injured Antioch Marine" »

July 23, 2010

Wounded Warriors dive into Ocean Therapy Program

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Marines with Wounded Warrior Battalion West did not let their injuries slow them down as they took part in the Ocean Therapy Program hosted by a local foundation at Camp Del Mar’s beach, Camp Pendleton, July 20.

Continue reading "Wounded Warriors dive into Ocean Therapy Program" »

July 21, 2010

Casper soldier wounded in Afghanistan

Local effort started to help family

Lance Cpl. Jake Henry received a Purple Heart July 15 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The 21-year-old Casper Marine is recovering from injuries received in Taliban stronghold Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 1.

Continue reading "Casper soldier wounded in Afghanistan" »

July 20, 2010

Wounded Adams County marine fights back

He nearly lost his life to an improvised explosive device just last month in Afghanistan. Despite that, Lieutenant Nathan Jeffcoats is fighting to go back to war.

Continue reading "Wounded Adams County marine fights back" »

July 13, 2010

Back home, female vets fight for recognition

By Natalie Bailey - Medill News Service
Posted : Tuesday Jul 13, 2010 18:08:55 EDT

With her copper hair, pale skin and small stature, Army Reserve Sgt. Jennifer Hunt, 26, stands out in the Veterans Affairs Department hospital waiting room filled with Vietnam War-era veterans.

Continue reading "Back home, female vets fight for recognition" »

July 11, 2010

U.S. Marine from Clay: Being shot makes you grow up fast

On a perfect summer day, Kyle Francis sat in a rocking chair on his parents’ front porch in Clay and talked about the worst part of having visible war wounds: People asking him what happened.

Continue reading "U.S. Marine from Clay: Being shot makes you grow up fast" »

July 10, 2010

VA to loosen rules to get PTSD benefits

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jul 10, 2010 9:07:07 EDT

New rules could take effect as early as Monday to streamline the process for veterans of all eras with post-traumatic stress disorder to become eligible for disability benefits and treatment.

Continue reading "VA to loosen rules to get PTSD benefits" »

June 25, 2010

Injured Marine determined to adjust to new prosthetic feet

An area Marine is adjusting to new prosthetic feet while working to get the pieces of his life together.

Continue reading "Injured Marine determined to adjust to new prosthetic feet" »

June 24, 2010

Military opens brain injury center in Md.

BETHESDA, Md. — The U.S. military is opening a new medical center in suburban Washington dedicated to traumatic brain injury, sometimes called the signature wound of today's wars.

Continue reading "Military opens brain injury center in Md." »

June 6, 2010

New research could help explain the lasting effects of PTSD

The anger burns inside Niko Lorris.

Continue reading "New research could help explain the lasting effects of PTSD" »

May 31, 2010

Banding Together to Get Better

Banding Together to Get BetterAmputees at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Rely on Each Other For Inspiration to Push Themselves to Walk Again

(CBS) May was a cruel month. The number of servicemen and women who lost an arm or a leg since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began went over 1,000, many of them more than one. They come to the physical therapy room at Walter Reed, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

Continue reading "Banding Together to Get Better" »

May 21, 2010

Family Finance: War can lead to financial battle

NEW YORK - Maria Del Carmen Del Toro couldn't access her husband Israel's bank account for more than four months while he lay comatose after a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Family Finance: War can lead to financial battle" »

May 20, 2010

Study links weak immune systems, PTSD

By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 20, 2010 13:54:13 EDT

A study shows that there may be a reason that those with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder deal with more physical health issues as they age: Their immune system has been compromised.

Continue reading "Study links weak immune systems, PTSD" »

May 14, 2010

Army Chief Presents Medals at Warrior Games

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., - Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. made a surprise visit to the inaugural Warrior Games here, May 13, capping a pivotal night in medal game play.

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Hometown hero honored

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- People are calling Corporal Tyler Southern a hometown hero.

Continue reading "Hometown hero honored" »

Inaugural Warrior Games Set to Wrap Up

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The inaugural Warrior Games at the Olympic Training Center here will draw to a close this evening, leaving in their wake a few hundred happy, but very tired troops, family members and volunteers.

Continue reading "Inaugural Warrior Games Set to Wrap Up" »

May 13, 2010

Marines Earn Gold, Silver in Warrior Games Archery

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 13, 2010 – When retired Marine Corps 1st Sgt. John Fuller was asked how he thought the inaugural Warrior Games archery competition would turn out, his answer was complicated, yet simple. And it was right.

Continue reading "Marines Earn Gold, Silver in Warrior Games Archery" »

Husband, Wife Coach Marine Shooting Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 13, 2010 – The Marine Corps teams competing at the inaugural Warrior Games here have a wealth of coaching knowledge available to their athletes.

Continue reading "Husband, Wife Coach Marine Shooting Team" »

Warrior Games give injured vets kinship, strength

An Afghan insurgent's homemade bomb shattered Marc Esposito's lower legs, broke his back and knocked him cold for four days. But the Air Force staff sergeant says the worst part was being torn from his Special Operations teammates who stayed in the field after he was evacuated.

Continue reading "Warrior Games give injured vets kinship, strength" »

Company offers helicopter rides to raise money for injured Marine

Guidance Helicopters will offer helicopter rides to the public to raise money to help U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Michael Martinez, a 2008 graduate of Prescott High School, who lost his legs in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Company offers helicopter rides to raise money for injured Marine" »

May 12, 2010

Marines Dominate in Early Competition at Warrior Games

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 12, 2010 – The Marine Corps team is on top after yesterday’s first day of competition at the inaugural Warrior Games here, sweeping their opponents and finishing 4-0 in team play.

Continue reading "Marines Dominate in Early Competition at Warrior Games" »

May 8, 2010

'Moral injury' as a wound of war

Conference to examine consequence of battlefield transgressions, exposure to carnage

A group of mental health experts is giving a name to the guilt and remorse troops feel when they see or do bad things during war: moral injury.

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May 2, 2010

More wounded Marines eligible for special pays

The Corps is expanding special pay and allowance eligibility for Marines wounded or ill as a result of combat or hostile fire.

Continue reading "More wounded Marines eligible for special pays" »

April 30, 2010

Training Begins

FORT CARSON, Colo. – The All-Marine Warrior Games Team training camp kicked off with a dinner for athletes and staff April 27, at the Colorado Inn. The team, guests and staff celebrated the beginning of the training, as well as the mark of a new tradition when the games commence May 10 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Continue reading "Training Begins" »

April 29, 2010

A slow journey back for wounded Marine

Marine slowly getting his life back together after being shot in Afghanistan

Lewis Skerry is adjusting to a new, strangely diminished life.

Continue reading " A slow journey back for wounded Marine" »

April 27, 2010

More vets eligible for service dog benefits

Disabled veterans with sight, hearing and mobility limitations who might benefit from having a service dog at their side are being encouraged by a major veterans service organization to apply for government reimbursement of some dog-related expenses.

Continue reading "More vets eligible for service dog benefits" »

April 22, 2010

Better Prosthetics Coming for Wounded Warriors

FORT DETRICK, Md., - From developing a new microprocessor-controlled prosthetic leg to a non-chafing socket device, the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center here is making big strides in advancing prosthetic science to improve wounded warriors' quality of life.

Continue reading "Better Prosthetics Coming for Wounded Warriors" »

April 19, 2010

Deal reached on family caregiver benefits

People caring for severely disabled veterans would be eligible for a host of new benefits — including payment for some — under a compromise reached between key congressional committees, the Veterans Affairs Department and the White House.

Continue reading "Deal reached on family caregiver benefits" »

April 17, 2010

Cpl. first blind double-amputee to re-enlist

Three years ago, Cpl. Matt Bradford lost both legs and his vision after a bomb blast in Iraq. Despite these devastating injuries, Bradford had no interest in retreating to civilian life. He wanted to continue his Marine career

Continue reading "Cpl. first blind double-amputee to re-enlist" »

April 15, 2010

Sgt. Eddie Ryan training to roll in fall marathon

Retired Marine will help paralyzed vet achieve dream

ELLENVILLE — It began with an impossible wish, a wish to run. And though he's paralyzed from the waist down, nobody who knows Marine Sgt. Eddie Ryan, his friends and especially his family should ever have doubted that wish would come true.

Continue reading "Sgt. Eddie Ryan training to roll in fall marathon" »

April 13, 2010

Marine celebrates "Alive Day"

A local Marine who survived a devastating injury during a tour in Iraq marks a milestone with a new plan to complete a marathon. Lori Chung has more on how a fellow Marine is helping him to make his mission.

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. -- Marine Sergeant Eddie Ryan is used to defying the odds.

Continue reading "Marine celebrates "Alive Day"" »

April 12, 2010

Revolving door of multiple tours linked to PTSD

It wasn't his first tour in Iraq, but his second and third when Joe Callan began wondering how long his luck would last — how many more months he could swerve around bombs buried in the dirt and duck mortars raining from the skies.

Continue reading "Revolving door of multiple tours linked to PTSD" »

April 9, 2010

Marine with local ties injured in Afghanistan

FRANKLIN—Franklin’s Jeane Brown says her 25-year-old grandson, Bobby Brown, is her hero.

Continue reading "Marine with local ties injured in Afghanistan" »

April 8, 2010

Blind Marine re-enlists

After all he's been through, the only real regret Marine Cpl. Matthew Bradford says he has now is not being able to return to combat duty in Iraq.

Continue reading "Blind Marine re-enlists" »

Injured Marine continues recovery in Coos Bay

COOS BAY, Ore. -Three months ago, a local Marine, 1st Lt. Richard Rush was fighting a war in Afghanistan when he and seven others were hit by a roadside bomb.

Continue reading "Injured Marine continues recovery in Coos Bay" »

April 2, 2010

On Distant Battlefields, Survival Odds Rise Sharply

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan—Under a dusty hospital tent where doctors yell over the roar of jet engines, Dr. John York studied an electronic image of a blood vessel in the neck of a soldier wounded by an improvised bomb. It looked like a balloon ready to pop. Too delicate to operate on directly. Dr. York would have to try a procedure that had rarely been attempted so close to a battlefield.

Continue reading "On Distant Battlefields, Survival Odds Rise Sharply" »

Brain-injured Marines to test new treatment

Camp Pendleton troops will be first to undergo experimental technique

Dozens of brain-injured Camp Pendleton troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan soon will climb inside a pressurized chamber and breathe pure oxygen to see whether the treatment speeds their recovery.

Continue reading "Brain-injured Marines to test new treatment" »

March 31, 2010

Wounded find new freedom in scuba classes

BAMBERG, Germany — Spc. Joseph Pickering has found a way to let some of his painful memories of the Iraq war float away.

Continue reading "Wounded find new freedom in scuba classes" »

Hyperbaric chamber may treat TBI

The Defense Department hopes to find a better treatment for the 100,000 troops who have been diagnosed with mild Traumatic Brain Injury since 2003, and it’s looking at hyperbaric chambers — often used in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning — for the answer.

Continue reading "Hyperbaric chamber may treat TBI" »

March 25, 2010

Milton Marine loses leg in blast in Afghanistan

Central graduate stepped on IED in Afghanistan

About 5 a.m. Saturday, Becky Palmer, 25, got the phone call.

Continue reading "Milton Marine loses leg in blast in Afghanistan" »

March 24, 2010

Local Marine injured in Afghanistan

MILTON, Fla. (WALA) - A Milton Marine stepped right onto a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. His foot had to be amputated and he's being treated for injuries in Germany. His family is keeping in close contact with him and is thankful he's still alive.

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March 22, 2010

VA focuses on needs of more female vets

Medical providers stress that there's a commitment to serve all military personnel.

CHEYENNE -- Veteran health care is changing along with changing military demographics.

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March 16, 2010

New Protocol to Provide Early Brain Injury Detection

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Defense Department is rolling out a new set of guidelines for the treatment of mild traumatic brain injury among service members in combat areas.

Continue reading "New Protocol to Provide Early Brain Injury Detection" »

The shattered Marine

The shattered Marine Part 1
“I was killing myself without even knowing it,” said Pvt. Travis Westhoven, an inmate at the Camp Lejeune Brig.

Continue reading " The shattered Marine" »

March 14, 2010

Vail ski program gives boost to injured vets

VAIL, Colo. — Sgt. 1st Class Joe Kapacziewski’s 2005 injury in Iraq might have gotten the best of his right leg, but it certainly didn’t get the best of him.

Continue reading "Vail ski program gives boost to injured vets" »

March 2, 2010

New rules for troops hit by IED blasts

WASHINGTON — Troops caught near a roadside blast will be pulled out of combat for 24 hours and checked for a mild traumatic brain injury, even if they appear unhurt or say they are fine, according to a new treatment policy the Pentagon is planning to release.

Continue reading "New rules for troops hit by IED blasts" »

February 5, 2010

Study Measures Traumatic Brain Injury

WASHINGTON - Scientists at the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center and a professor at Columbia University are working on a collaborative study measuring brain damage on traumatic brain injury patients.

Continue reading "Study Measures Traumatic Brain Injury" »

December 27, 2009

Studies find breakthrough in PTSD treatment

Brain scans, blood tests may help predict condition

Two new studies seem to provide more evidence that post-traumatic stress disorder is a chemical change in the brain caused by trauma — and that it might be possible to diagnose, treat and predict which troops are most susceptible to it using brain scans or blood tests.

Continue reading "Studies find breakthrough in PTSD treatment" »

December 14, 2009

Back from combat, women struggle for acceptance

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nobody wants to buy them a beer.

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December 9, 2009

Injured troops find therapy on horseback

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Blair sits tall in a saddle that has been used by soldiers since before World War I. Today he is riding Bud, a jet-black horse whose usual job is leading caissons through the somber funeral ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery With his crew cut and his Marine Corps windbreaker, Sgt. Blair, 34, looks every bit the part of a soldier as he rides down the path at Arlington's Fort Myer. When he dismounts, though, he grabs a walking stick with a Marines logo on it and walks unevenly to the stables.

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November 24, 2009

Vice President Opens Home to Recovering Troops

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2009 – As Army Sgt. First Class John Wright lay in a hospital room after being wounded in Afghanistan this summer, he probably didn’t envision himself feeling especially thankful a few months later.

Continue reading "Vice President Opens Home to Recovering Troops" »

November 10, 2009

Marine Corps League honors wounded warriors

Marine Corps League Detachment 061 honored Purple Heart recipients representing three generations at a banquet Saturday that celebrated today as the 234th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Continue reading "Marine Corps League honors wounded warriors" »

October 31, 2009

A Combat Role, and Anguish, Too

From the series - Women at Arms

For Vivienne Pacquette, being a combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder means avoiding phone calls to her sons, dinner out with her husband and therapy sessions that make her talk about seeing the reds and whites of her friends’ insides after a mortar attack in 2004.

Continue reading "A Combat Role, and Anguish, Too" »

October 29, 2009

Evansville Marine, wounded in Afghanistan, receives electric vehicle

ARLINGTON, Va. - An Evansville Marine injured in Afghanistan was one of 25 soldiers awarded personal mobility vehicles at a ceremony in Arlington, Va., on Thursday.

Continue reading "Evansville Marine, wounded in Afghanistan, receives electric vehicle" »

San Luis Obispo High alumnus was in helicopter crash that killed four in Afghanistan on Monday

Man loses lower leg in Monday’s helicopter wreck; parents fly from the county to see him

A Marine captain and San Luis Obispo High School alumnus is recovering in a hospital in Germany after he lost one of his lower legs and suffered other serious injuries in a helicopter crash Monday in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "San Luis Obispo High alumnus was in helicopter crash that killed four in Afghanistan on Monday" »

October 20, 2009

Teams to raise cash for Wounded Warrior Project

NEW YORK — Maryland and South Carolina will wear uniforms with camouflage designs during their games Nov. 14 to honor military veterans and promote the Wounded Warrior Project.

Continue reading "Teams to raise cash for Wounded Warrior Project" »

October 15, 2009

Proposal could ease way for disability payments

WASHINGTON — Female soldiers and others serving in dangerous roles behind the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan have long complained it was hard to prove their combat experience when applying for disability for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Continue reading "Proposal could ease way for disability payments" »

October 1, 2009

Wounded Warriors prepare for next step

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — For the men and women who put themselves in harms way for our country and return injured, little can be done to fully repay them for their sacrifice.

Continue reading "Wounded Warriors prepare for next step" »

September 25, 2009

Marine Honored for Service, Sacrifice

Harrisburg, Pa. - A local Marine wounded in Afghanistan was honored for his service and his sacrifice on Thursday night.

Continue reading "Marine Honored for Service, Sacrifice" »

September 20, 2009

Wounded warriors get new best friend

KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii — Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s latest recruit breaks the mold with his laid-back attitude and nonregulation hairstyle. But he’s highly trained and devoted to his unit.

Continue reading "Wounded warriors get new best friend" »

September 8, 2009

Dozens gather for Marine's homecoming

DENVER - It's been one month since Staff Sergeant Jesse Cottle was seriously injured in Afghanistan. In that time he has had six surgeries and lost both of his legs.

Continue reading "Dozens gather for Marine's homecoming" »

September 6, 2009

Change would streamline PTSD claims for vets

The Department of Veterans Affairs is moving closer to simplifying the process for many veterans to link post-traumatic stress disorder to their military service, whether in a war zone or not, which opens the door for disability benefits.

Continue reading "Change would streamline PTSD claims for vets" »

August 31, 2009

Homecoming For Local Wounded Soldier

FAIRBORN, Ohio -- It was a homecoming in Fairborn for a disabled Marine who got a hero’s welcome from thousands of people.

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Missouri veteran injured by vaccine ineligible for benefit

WASHINGTON | It wasn’t a bullet or roadside bomb that felled Lance Cpl. Josef Lopez three years ago, after just nine days in Iraq.

Continue reading "Missouri veteran injured by vaccine ineligible for benefit" »

August 28, 2009

Local Marine loses both legs, not his spirit

FAIRBORN — Marine Lance Cpl. Larry Draughn Jr. credits his remarkable recovery after losing both legs in Afghanistan on May 31 to his stubbornness and something he learned from his late father.

Continue reading "Local Marine loses both legs, not his spirit" »

August 24, 2009

Crestron Eagles Program Donates Theater to Marines

BETHESDA, MD,— Crestron hosted the third Eagles Program dedication ceremony yesterday for the Wounded Warriors Battalion – East at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, unveiling the new home theater donated to provide comfort and entertainment for America’s heroes recovering from injuries sustained during combat overseas. The Crestron Eagles Program was conceived by Crestron
President George Feldstein to honor the service and sacrifice of our wounded warriors returning home from battle.

Continue reading "Crestron Eagles Program Donates Theater to Marines" »

August 5, 2009

Feeding a need

Densfords seek assistance with meals program that supports military families as they visit injured or ill servicemen at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda

Military service is a family tradition for Peggy and Joe Densford's family. Two of their three children are Marines — Capt. Nathan Densford, 30, is currently serving his third tour in Iraq as an air operations officer. Sgt. Seth Densford, 25, a veteran of Afghanistan, is currently serving at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Nathan is a 1997 graduate of Great Mills High School. Seth is a 2002 graduate of St. Mary's Ryken

Continue reading "Feeding a need" »

July 19, 2009

Effort To Give Every Injured Marine A Letter Showing America Cares.

ST. LOUIS MO ( KTVI-FOX2Now.com ) - There is an effort underway by moms of St. Louis area Marines to make sure no injured Marine is left without a letter showing them America cares.

Continue reading "Effort To Give Every Injured Marine A Letter Showing America Cares." »

July 16, 2009

Big homecoming for recovering Marine

DENVER - In a place where crowds are a given and homecomings happen every day, a couple of hundred people, most perfect strangers, gathered to surprise one man in a way that doesn't happen every day.

Continue reading "Big homecoming for recovering Marine" »

Wounded Iraq War veteran receives hero's welcome at DIA

DENVER - Lance Corporal John T. Doody is finally back home in Colorado. But it wasn't an easy trip.

Continue reading "Wounded Iraq War veteran receives hero's welcome at DIA" »

Stricken Marine spurs senator’s amendment

WASHINGTON — Marine Lance Cpl. Josef Lopez of Springfield has spent the last three years recovering from a smallpox vaccination that left him paralyzed and nearly took his life.

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CO Soldier Receives Hero's Welcome

DENVER (CBS4) ― A wounded war veteran received a hero's welcome at Denver International Airport on Wednesday.

Continue reading "CO Soldier Receives Hero's Welcome" »

June 28, 2009

Dogs more actively integrated into rehab

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Army Spc. Cameron Briggs washes down a cocktail of prescription drugs every day for post-traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury he suffered when four roadside bombs rocked his Humvee in Iraq.

Continue reading "Dogs more actively integrated into rehab" »

June 27, 2009

Free retreat offered for TBI vets, families

The deadline is July 27 for troops with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, and their families, to register for a free getaway near Big Bear Lake in California’s San Bernardino Mountains.

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June 25, 2009

Marine behind Wounded Warrior barracks to retire

The Marine officer who devised centralized barracks for wounded warriors is leaving the Corps.

Continue reading "Marine behind Wounded Warrior barracks to retire" »

June 19, 2009

Chance Phelps Foundation Donates $10,000 to ‘Hope for the Warriors’

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2009 – A foundation formed by the family of a fallen Marine whose story was told in the HBO movie “Taking Chance” has donated $10,000 to a group that works to help wounded veterans and their families.

Continue reading "Chance Phelps Foundation Donates $10,000 to ‘Hope for the Warriors’" »

May 7, 2009

Lejeune maps out new Wounded Warrior barracks

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Marines recovering at Camp Lejeune, N.C., from wounds sustained in Afghanistan and Iraq are getting new digs conveniently located next to the base naval hospital.

Continue reading "Lejeune maps out new Wounded Warrior barracks" »

Conference brings vets, caregivers together

When an improvised explosive device blew up in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004, Derek McGinnis, a former Navy corpsman, lost the bottom half of his leg.

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May 3, 2009

Injured Marine shares story to inspire others

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Lance Cpl. Matthew Bradford was nervous.

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Hyperbarics under study as a treatment for traumatic brain injury

Researchers are not sure whether the treatment will have any positive impact

Brain injuries are fast becoming one of the signature injuries of the wars in Iraq and Afghantistan. Now, some San Antonio researchers are trying a cutting edge way to treat these wounded warriors. It involves oxygen

Continue reading "Hyperbarics under study as a treatment for traumatic brain injury" »

April 20, 2009

TBI screens need to get specific, report says

Inexact post-deployment questions about service members’ health are leading to incorrect diagnoses of mild traumatic brain injury, resulting in troops sometimes receiving the wrong medications and inappropriate treatment while other maladies go untreated, two leading Army TBI researchers conclude in a paper published April 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Continue reading "TBI screens need to get specific, report says" »

April 8, 2009

Military studies shed light on brain injuries

ARLINGTON, Va. — Military scientists are learning how roadside bombs — the most common weapon used against U.S. troops in on the battlefield — harm the brain even when there is no other physical damage, according to research results released by the project’s lead scientist.

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February 1, 2009

New home built for paralyzed Marine

MIDDLEVILLE, Mich. — Former Marine Cpl. Joshua Hoffman was paralyzed from the chest down two years ago by a sniper’s bullet in Iraq. He uses a wheelchair and has been in and out of hospitals with infections.

Continue reading "New home built for paralyzed Marine" »

January 26, 2009

How to help when smoking, alcohol complicate PTSD

Reaching for a cigarette to cope with a flashback is all too common among sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder. The nicotine hit may feel good but scientists say its brain action probably makes their PTSD worse in the long run.

Continue reading "How to help when smoking, alcohol complicate PTSD" »

How to help when smoking, alcohol complicate PTSD

Reaching for a cigarette to cope with a flashback is all too common among sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder. The nicotine hit may feel good but scientists say its brain action probably makes their PTSD worse in the long run.

Continue reading "How to help when smoking, alcohol complicate PTSD" »

Local group carves honors for wounded vets

It took an explosion on the streets of Iraq to put in a kink in Sergeant Andrew Simmons stride back in 2006 as he made his way home to East Tennessee.

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January 15, 2009

New DoD center offers help for PTSD

The Defense Department has created a new outreach center for troops and family members who need help understanding post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, as well as to help them get the resources they need.

Continue reading "New DoD center offers help for PTSD" »

January 7, 2009

University of Michigan Depression Center receives Welcome Back Veterans award for returning veterans and families

ANN ARBOR, Mich – The McCormick Foundation in Chicago has awarded $350,000 to the University of Michigan Depression Center and Department of Psychiatry to help address the “invisible brain injuries” among returning Iraqi and Afghanistan veterans and their families. These include sleep, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and associated problems. The gift is part of a larger fundraising initiative called Welcome Back Veterans created by New York Mets Chairman and CEO Fred Wilpon to provide returning veterans the quality evaluations, treatment, support systems, and long-term employment assistance they deserve to restart their lives and care for their families.

Continue reading "University of Michigan Depression Center receives Welcome Back Veterans award for returning veterans and families" »

January 5, 2009

War Vets With Headaches Could Have Brain Problems

Reduced sense of smell might also signal need for testing, expert says

MONDAY, Jan. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Headache frequency and severity caused by traumatic brain injury might signal cognitive deficits, suggests a new study of Iraq war veterans.

Continue reading "War Vets With Headaches Could Have Brain Problems" »

December 15, 2008

Van gives disabled vet freedom

TAMPA - Lance Corporal J.T. Doody has a newfound freedom. He's in a wheelchair, but now he can go where he wants.

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December 10, 2008

For troops and the military system trying to help them, traumatic brain injury is new territory

FRANKLINTON, N.C. — The first thing that 1st Lt. Mike McMichael felt when he regained consciousness was a stinging sensation.

Continue reading "For troops and the military system trying to help them, traumatic brain injury is new territory" »

December 5, 2008

Veterans' long-term problems linked to traumatic brain injuries

An Institute of Medicine report says even mild brain injuries seem associated with problems such as seizures, aggression and dementia reminiscent of Alzheimer's disease.

Traumatic brain injuries, one of the signature injuries of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, can be linked to such long-term problems as seizures, aggression and dementia reminiscent of Alzheimer's disease, according to an Institute of Medicine report released Thursday.

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December 4, 2008

Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance benefits expanded

ARLINGTON, Va. – Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance benefits have been expanded to include new injuries.

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November 26, 2008

Staying Power: Marine Corps’ Call Center Contacts, Assists Wounded Warriors

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2008 – Wounded warriors who call into the Marine Wounded Warrior Call Center near Quantico, Va., find truth in the motto, “once a Marine, always a Marine.”

Continue reading "Staying Power: Marine Corps’ Call Center Contacts, Assists Wounded Warriors" »

November 12, 2008

Face of Defense: Double Amputee Marine Wants to Stay in to Help Others

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2008 – Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew Ryan Bradford was part of a patrol to clear an area near Haditha, Iraq, of roadside bombs with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, on Jan. 18, 2007.

Continue reading "Face of Defense: Double Amputee Marine Wants to Stay in to Help Others" »

Troop Support Group Launches New Web Site

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2008 – A troop-support group that provides education on the brain’s and body’s natural responses to stress launched its redesigned Web site yesterday.
“Our Web site is completely redesigned to power our mission of providing the best education, training and resources for supporting strength and resilience in all areas of military life,” said Elizabeth Hawkins, executive director of “One Freedom.”

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November 3, 2008

Warrior Care: Compensation, Benefits Handbook Consolidates Warrior Care Information

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2008 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said a new handbook is another step in improving the care and support wounded, ill or injured troops and their families deserve. The handbook compiles the myriad information they need in one succinct, easy-to-read publication.

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October 31, 2008

Face of Defense: Marine Amputee Who Returned to Iraq Earns Fellowship

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq, Oct. 31, 2008 – A noncommissioned officer who returned to Iraq nine months ago after his left leg was amputated above the knee soon will represent the Marine Corps in the halls of Congress.

Continue reading "Face of Defense: Marine Amputee Who Returned to Iraq Earns Fellowship" »

October 30, 2008

Combat to College

KEVIN BLANCHARD’S freshman year at George Washington University was unlike anybody else’s on campus.

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October 29, 2008

Wounded troops’ pay overhauled

ARLINGTON, Va. — Wounded servicemembers whose combat-related injuries are diagnosed after they return home can keep their special pays while hospitalized, Defense officials said Tuesday.

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October 6, 2008

VA rule change may mean higher TBI payouts

In the first of what could become many revisions in its disability ratings, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced Sept. 23 that it is changing how it evaluates traumatic brain injuries, a move that could increase disability compensation for thousands of veterans who have been injured by roadside bombs or other explosions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Continue reading "VA rule change may mean higher TBI payouts" »

October 4, 2008

Second house for families of wounded troops opens in San Diego

The 12-bedroom facility allows them to stay close to loved ones being treated at the Naval Medical Center, many for traumatic brain injuries.

SAN DIEGO -- When Nicci McClearn of Chicago learned in July that her Marine son had been severely wounded in Afghanistan, she knew where she was headed: Fisher House, adjacent to Naval Medical Center San Diego.

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October 2, 2008

Military Families Get New Home Away From Home

Free Lodging Puts Them Close to Hospital

SAN DIEGO -- More family members visiting badly injured sailors and Marines can now literally stay next door to their loved ones at Naval Medical Center in Balboa Park.

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September 26, 2008

Benefit planned for injured Orland marine

Family, friend to come together for Corporal Kaspar

Sometimes, some good can result from a grim situation. Such is the case trusted for by the Kaspar family in the "Coming Together for Corporal Kaspar Foundation," to financially help U.S.M.C. Corporal Sean Kaspar of Orland Park and his family with the many months of therapy and rehabilitation he faces from injuries suffered in active duty.

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September 23, 2008

VA to increase benefits for mild brain trauma

WASHINGTON — The government plans to substantially increase disability benefits for veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries, acknowledging for the first time that veterans suffering from this less severe version of the Iraq war's signature wound will struggle to make a living.

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September 16, 2008

Kiernan comes home -- on two (new) legs

Petaluma Marine wounded in Iraq greeted by well-wishers upon return to hometown

A young hero came home Monday -- true to plan -- on his own two feet.

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September 14, 2008

‘Wiener dog’ helps Iraq War veteran adjust

Scott MacKenzie is sleeping better these days.

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September 1, 2008

Fort Lewis Soldiers Get Help Readjusting To Home

FORT LEWIS, Wash. -- Home for at least two months, soldiers with a combat brigade still are in the fight.

Continue reading "Fort Lewis Soldiers Get Help Readjusting To Home" »

August 28, 2008

Beyond the Call of Duty

How One Team Roping Marine Made A Difference

Cody Hill was like most late-teen roping bums you know. Coming off a 300-mother cow operation in Ada, Okla., he gravitated toward the arena and was a natural.

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August 20, 2008

Afflicted Soldier Exemplifies ‘America’s Heroes at Work’

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2008 – After being medically retired from the Army last year as a result of mental wounds he suffered in Iraq, Michael Bradley faced a daunting challenge that would later prove pivotal in his recovery: holding down a job in the civilian world.

Continue reading "Afflicted Soldier Exemplifies ‘America’s Heroes at Work’" »

August 19, 2008

Supporters break ground on home for West Michigan Marine

MIDDLEVILLE, Mich. (WZZM) - Supporters of a local Marine paralyzed by a sniper's bullet in Iraq broke ground today on a new home for him in Middleville.

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Super Bowl QB McMahon announces local benefit for wounded vets, others

Former Chicago Bears Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jim McMahon will host a star-studded, two-day celebrity extravaganza before the game at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. It begins Jan. 29 with an evening under the stars at The Lake Club clubhouse, followed Jan. 30 by a 36-team celebrity golf tournament.

Continue reading "Super Bowl QB McMahon announces local benefit for wounded vets, others" »

August 17, 2008

Local marine receives hero's welcome home

A local marine who was severely injured in Afghanistan is back home tonight with his family. But not after an amazing show of generosity from strangers and friends alike.

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August 11, 2008

Easton Marine recovering from Afghanistan attack

EASTON -
A 21-year-old Marine from Easton is recovering at a veterans hospital in Virginia after being seriously injured last month in an attack while serving in Afghanistan.

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August 10, 2008

Memory loss haunts injured Iraq War veteran

Scott MacKenzie recalls little of his past. His parents remember every detail.

Continue reading "Memory loss haunts injured Iraq War veteran" »

August 7, 2008

Group brings veterans to Montana to fish

ENNIS, Mont. — Alroy Billiman, 28, stood at the front of a drift boat floating in the upper Madison River.

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July 30, 2008

Michael and Terry Ward Donate $1 Million to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 30, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a non-profit organization that honors and empowers wounded warriors, today announced that Michael Ward, chairman and chief executive officer of CSX Corporation, and his wife Terry have personally contributed $1 million toward education and rehabilitation.


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July 1, 2008

Wounded Warrior job fair offers opportunities

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Cpl. Mark Marcoux set his sights on college long before he was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

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May 28, 2008

The Venetian Honors Wounded Service Members

40 of America's most recently wounded service members were given a hero's welcome at The Venetian Thursday night.

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May 26, 2008

Marine recovering after being shot in head

Lance Cpl. Sam Hansen was on a Mother’s Day vehicle patrol in Taliban-heavy Garmser, Afghanistan, when insurgents opened fire.

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May 25, 2008

Ferguson

A colleague dropped by on a recent day to tell me that it was the third anniversary of her son’s coming home from Iraq. That stopped me. It’s been 40 years since I stepped off the battlefield, and I’m not home yet. I can still feel the muck of rice paddies pulling on my boots, still hear the jungle hiss and snap in the dark. Even after the night dreams and day drifts have stopped and the loud noises no longer startle, you still press your chin against your shoulder and look back.

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May 19, 2008

MILITARY: Treating the wounded in the Middle East

Navy docs staff medical facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan

TAQADDUM AIR BASE, IRAQ ---- It wasn’t a roadside bomb or small-arms fire that put Marine Lance Cpl. Douglas Cox in a hospital bed here last week.

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May 9, 2008

Brain Injury Clinic To Open At Camp Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Any day now, a new medical facility designed specifically for troops with traumatic brain injuries will open at Camp Pendleton, 10News reported.

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May 6, 2008

A Breath of Hope

Walter Reed Tries Yoga to Counter PTSD

Derrick Farley, a 29-year-old Army sergeant stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., has seen many people die. He served in Iraq for three year-long tours of duty with only six-month breaks between them. He remembers driving trucks along the dirt roads of Tikrit, ever alert for telltale signs of a sniper or the sudden blast of a hidden roadside bomb. His vehicle, he said, was hit 13 times.

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April 16, 2008

Wounded Marines Running Their Way to Recovery at Fourth Annual Pat's Run

- Challenged Athlete Foundation Members Participating Courtesy of TriWest -

PHOENIX, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- After sacrificing their limbs while
fighting to protect America's freedoms in Iraq and Afghanistan, Marines Chris
Chandler and Brandon Mendez refused to let their injuries diminish their
spirits. Both received prosthetic limbs, returned to active duty and are
participating in Pat's Run courtesy of TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

Continue reading "Wounded Marines Running Their Way to Recovery at Fourth Annual Pat's Run" »

April 10, 2008

Marine who lost leg returns to combat in Iraq

Sniper’s bullet destroyed gunnery sergeant’s knee, but not his will to serve

If you’ve ever wondered what the Marines have in mind when they advertise for “a few good men,” look no further than Gunnery Sgt. William “Spanky” Gibson.

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April 3, 2008

Wounded Marines Praise Medical Care, Relate Iraq Experiences

BETHESDA, Md., April 3, 2008 – Two Marines who were injured in Iraq praised the medical care they’ve received at the National Naval Medical Center here during interviews yesterday in conjunction with a grand re-opening ceremony for their newly renovated outpatient quarters.

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April 2, 2008

Marine Corps Offers Yoga, Massages to Marriages Strained by War

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Fighting in Iraq took a heavy toll on Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Patrick, damaging his hand, injuring his brain and causing him to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Continue reading "Marine Corps Offers Yoga, Massages to Marriages Strained by War" »

Shepherd Center and Humana Military Healthcare Services Launch SHARE Initiative

Shepherd Center and Humana Military Healthcare Services have partnered with Home Depot co-founder and philanthropist Bernie Marcus to help wounded U.S. military service members and their families obtain additional care to promote their recovery from combat-related injuries.

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March 25, 2008

Hundreds greet wounded Marine

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich (WOOD) -- When word went out that Joshua Hoffman was coming home, his family asked the injured Marine corporal if he wanted a public homecoming.

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Paralyzed Marine Joshua Hoffman returns home to well-wishers

"Can I give you a kiss?"

Continue reading "Paralyzed Marine Joshua Hoffman returns home to well-wishers" »

March 13, 2008

Wounded Soldiers See the Pentagon In Private Parade

Little-Known Event Is Emotional Salute;
Cpl. Lyon Pays a Visit

WASHINGTON -- Cpl. Kenny Lyon's mother pushed his wheelchair down a narrow Pentagon hallway, crying as she listened to the applause.

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March 8, 2008

Wounded Warrior Regiment sponsors job fair

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —
The Wounded Warrior Regiment sponsored a job fair Monday at The Clubs at Quantico for four hours, where representatives from dozens of companies were waiting to receive resumes from and maybe even hire wounded and retired Marines.

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March 4, 2008

Marines debut new running suit

BETHESDA, Md. (March 4, 2008) -- The Marine Corps officially unveiled its new running suit to Marines assigned to the Wounded Warrior Regiment at the National Naval Medical Center here Feb. 29.

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February 29, 2008

Iraq War Marine With Amputated Leg Back on Active Duty

Spanky Gibson was shot by a sniper in May of 2006 while on foot patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. When the firefight was over, his left leg was gone.

But Gunnery Sgt. William Gibson, a decorated Marine, didn't stop serving his country, even after his leg was amputated above the knee. He didn't settle for a desk job stateside, either. He's back in Iraq — his second tour — on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps.

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February 14, 2008

Forum for wounded troops today

The Pentagon’s top doctor is calling on wounded service members and their families to share their concerns and recommendations in a live online discussion Thursday at http://www.health.mil — and e-mails and text messages are being accepted ahead of time.

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January 31, 2008

Wounded Warriors Pay Visit to USS Nimitz

Fifteen wounded Marine and Army personnel were welcomed by an enthusiastic round of applause as they exited their plane on the flight deck aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Jan. 25.

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January 26, 2008

Homes for Our Troops begins house in Alabama

IRVINGTON, Ala. — Two Black Hawk helicopters hovered and tipped rotors Friday in honor of Marine Sgt. Greg Edwards at a ceremony to start building a specially adapted home for the Edwards family.

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January 11, 2008

Don't call it a comeback: Marine goes from wounded warrior to silent warrior

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 11, 2008) -- The greatest leaders, it seems, don’t think of themselves as great.

Continue reading "Don't call it a comeback: Marine goes from wounded warrior to silent warrior" »

December 27, 2007

Colin Smith a beacon of strength and hope for all who face adversity

Strength. Strength to survive. Strength to overcome long odds. Strength to cope with overwhelming adversity. Strength to hope for a better future. And strength to work hard at making that future happen.

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December 25, 2007

Always smiling

Colin Smith always has a smile on his face. His sincerity and charm shine through it, making it impossible to not smile back. His smile radiates energy that can be felt by those around him.

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December 22, 2007

Marine Cpl. Eric Morante fights to find purpose in rehab grind

Last of two parts
Part one may be found here:
http://www.marine-corps-news.com/2007/12/blasted_off_an_iraqi_bridge_cp.htm

SAN ANTONIO – Marine Cpl. Eric Morante's face darkens with effort, his mouth compressed in a tight line as he struggles for balance while doing abdominal crunches on a big blue exercise ball.

Continue reading "Marine Cpl. Eric Morante fights to find purpose in rehab grind" »

December 15, 2007

Blasted off an Iraqi bridge, Cpl. Eric Morante fights back; He won't rest until his Marines make it home

First in a two-part series
Part two may be found here:
http://www.marine-corps-news.com/2007/12/marine_cpl_eric_morante_fights.htm

It's sometime after noon on a Friday, the end of a four-day rotation on Bridge 286.

Continue reading "Blasted off an Iraqi bridge, Cpl. Eric Morante fights back; He won't rest until his Marines make it home" »

December 9, 2007

SBISD graduates recovering from suicide truck bombing in Iraq

There’s happy and lucky to be alive, and then there’s the suicide bombing story that Marines Eric Morante and Steven May, both Spring Branch ISD graduates, will tell for years to come after serving in Iraq.

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A Marine's long road home; After an Iraq bomb left him in a coma with Traumatic Brain Injury, a Saginaw man struggles to be normal

BAY CITY -- A Purple Heart hangs on the wall over his pillow. Photos from Iraq are taped above the desk. A Marine Corps flag is pinned above the bed.

Continue reading "A Marine's long road home; After an Iraq bomb left him in a coma with Traumatic Brain Injury, a Saginaw man struggles to be normal" »

November 22, 2007

Marine didn't recognize signs of brain injury

Marine Lance Cpl. Gene Landrus was hurt in a roadside bomb attack outside Abu Ghraib, Iraq, on May 15, 2006, and faces medical separation from the Corps. He's also up for a Purple Heart.


Continue reading "Marine didn't recognize signs of brain injury" »

November 20, 2007

Two lives blurred together by a photo

The young marine lighted a cigarette and let it dangle. White smoke wafted around his helmet. His face was smeared with war paint. Blood trickled from his right ear and the bridge of his nose.

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November 12, 2007

Rescue operation aims to save a wounded warrior

Despite concerns of overstepping, Times photographer Luis Sinco feels compelled to help the Iraq vet he made famous.

James Blake Miller was in a world of pain, and I figured I should be by his side.

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November 9, 2007

Bush Visits Injured Veterans in Texas

SAN ANTONIO -- President Bush paid an emotional visit Thursday to soldiers maimed or badly burned in combat and said his administration is determined to mend the nation's system of caring for veterans.

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October 27, 2007

Soldiers who threw out first pitch bound together before game

DENVER – During a television commercial break, those at Coors Field for Game 3 saw two men come to the mound to throw out the first pitch.

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October 14, 2007

Sunshine Run sets fast pace for generosity; Annual race tallies a record $40,000 for various charities as runners aim for best.

They ran for different reasons.

Continue reading "Sunshine Run sets fast pace for generosity; Annual race tallies a record $40,000 for various charities as runners aim for best." »

October 13, 2007

New San Diego facility cares for war's worst wounded; The Naval Medical Center upgrade includes expanded therapy for amputees.

SAN DIEGO — Marine Sgt. Jordan Pierson, who lost his left leg to a roadside bomb in Ramadi, Iraq, had a request for the therapists at the Naval Medical Center here. He wanted a prosthetic leg that would let him play golf like he did before his injury.

Continue reading "New San Diego facility cares for war's worst wounded; The Naval Medical Center upgrade includes expanded therapy for amputees." »

Marine keeps faith in spite of near paralysis; Physical therapy helps Lopez rebuild strength.

Surrounded by about 2,000 others on foot at today's Sunshine Run, Lance Cpl. Joe Lopez will get by with arm-power — and a set of wheels.

Continue reading "Marine keeps faith in spite of near paralysis; Physical therapy helps Lopez rebuild strength." »

October 4, 2007

Injured Marines, Gold Star Family Team Up to Conquer the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28

Marines Raising Funds to Support Marines Injured in Iraq or Afghanistan

Washington, D.C. (October 04, 2007) – LCpl. Josef Lopez and Cpl. Neil Schalk didn’t know each other while serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq, but the invisible bonds of brotherhood that tie Marines together made it an easy decision for them to support each other through their next challenge: the Marine Corps Marathon. Those same bonds also made it an easy decision for a Gold Star family to support their cause.

Continue reading "Injured Marines, Gold Star Family Team Up to Conquer the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28" »

October 2, 2007

Group Helps Troops, Families Cope

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2007 – The stress of deployments, especially during war time, can take a toll on servicemembers and their families. A group of licensed mental health professionals in Southern California is helping to minimize that impact, however.

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September 29, 2007

Wounded Vets Also Suffer Financial Woes

TEMECULA, Calif. - He was one of America's first defenders on Sept. 11, 2001, a Marine who pulled burned bodies from the ruins of the Pentagon. He saw more horrors in Kuwait and Iraq.

Continue reading "Wounded Vets Also Suffer Financial Woes" »

September 20, 2007

New San Antonio Center for Wounded Warriors to Replace Current Facility

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Sept. 20, 2007 – A new Warrior and Family Support Center being built here will be 10 times the size of the current facility.

Continue reading "New San Antonio Center for Wounded Warriors to Replace Current Facility" »

Health officials chip away at PTSD stigma

The concept of getting rid of a stigma can be a little nebulous, but experts on a post-traumatic stress disorder panel offered up some concrete changes that could help people overcome years of stereotypes.

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September 19, 2007

Rules unclear for wounded troops back on duty

Not since the Civil War have so many wounded service members returned to duty.

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September 14, 2007

New Center Makes Good on Military’s Commitment to Wounded Warriors

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2007 – The new Military Advanced Training Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here represents “an evolution in how we embrace, treat and honor,” wounded warriors, the Army vice chief of staff said at yesterday’s opening ceremony.

Continue reading "New Center Makes Good on Military’s Commitment to Wounded Warriors" »

September 13, 2007

New Amputee Care Center Opens at Walter Reed

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2007 – Army National Guard Spc. Marco Robledo wants to go home to Arkansas in November standing on his own two feet. A roadside bomb claimed the combat engineer’s left leg and arm in Iraq in May. Since then, he has been recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.

Continue reading "New Amputee Care Center Opens at Walter Reed" »

August 25, 2007

To war and back: Injured soldiers find healing in the wilderness

LINCOLN CREEK VALLEY -- When Bryon Chambers stopped on a ledge halfway through the climb to catch his breath and plan his next move, everyone watching was unsure if he would continue.

Continue reading "To war and back: Injured soldiers find healing in the wilderness" »

August 24, 2007

Outward Bound program helps veterans heal their emotional scars

THE nine men who climbed to the summit of the Colorado mountain were combat veterans who had fought in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam.

Continue reading "Outward Bound program helps veterans heal their emotional scars" »

August 20, 2007

Fun in the mud to support Wounded Warriors

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. 2007) – (Aug. 20, 2007) -- How do you create a world class event to increase awareness and raise support for the injured Marines, Sailors and families of the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East? Simple: Start with equal parts dirt and water. Mix vigorously. Then add 14 obstacles and invite hundreds of people who thrive on challenge.

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July 15, 2007

Military burn unit filled with pain, hope, humor

SAN ANTONIO – The five badly burned soldiers arrived around 11 p.m., sedated and swathed in bandages from head to foot – the screech of the plane's wheels on the tarmac and waiting ambulances marking the end of a 7,500-mile journey.

Continue reading "Military burn unit filled with pain, hope, humor" »

July 13, 2007

Marines combat PTSD

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII (July 13, 2007) -- Combat related stress has again become an issue for service members who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Marine Corps recognizes this problem, and has been putting forth their best effort to help treat and cure Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

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July 3, 2007

Hometown Hero: Huffman petty officer now in battle for life

After surviving a suicide bomb attack in Iraq, ANTHONY THOMPSON and his family find victories in the small stuff
Pregnant wife waits by bedside, prays for recovery

Continue reading "Hometown Hero: Huffman petty officer now in battle for life" »

July 1, 2007

A Fighting Chance

(CBS) This segment was originally broadcast on Oct. 29, 2006. It was updated on June 28, 2007.


Twenty-first century science and old fashioned guts are revolutionizing combat medicine for our troops. In Iraq, the medical units made famous by "MASH" have been retired in favor of new combat hospitals set up in the midst of the action.

Continue reading "A Fighting Chance" »

By the Grace of God, Still a Marine

My son, Marine Lance Corporal John McClellan is living proof that prayer really does work and that God is still in the miracle working business.

Continue reading "By the Grace of God, Still a Marine" »

June 19, 2007

Summer Sports rehabilitation program, to teach lifelong sports skills

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The nation's best and bravest, those severely wounded in the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will participate this summer in sport
rehabilitation offered by Disabled Sports USA, its chapters and
Wounded Warrior Project. This year's summer activities for the Wounded
Warrior Disabled Sports Project will include a series of more than 30
"learn-to" clinics in cycling, golf, outrigger canoeing, kayaking, scuba, rock climbing, camping, water skiing, wake boarding, track and field, and other sports.

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June 7, 2007

Purple Heart winner: 'We are in awe of him'

Marine Lance Cpl. Scott MacKenzie of Cherokee County wanted to make his mother proud after receiving a Purple Heart for injuries in Iraq.

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June 4, 2007

SBISD graduates recovering from suicide truck bombing in Iraq

There’s happy and lucky to be alive, and then there’s the suicide bombing story that Marines Eric Morante and Steven May, both Spring Branch ISD graduates, will tell for years to come after serving in Iraq.

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May 25, 2007

Wounded warrior leads formation run to Ground Zero

NEW YORK (May 25, 2007) -- New York police and firefighters joined forces with the Marine Corps on Thursday for a two-mile motivational run through the lower east side of Manhattan led by a “wounded warrior.”

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May 6, 2007

Better brain-injury tests planned for troops

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon must use computers to screen troops before and after they go to Iraq or Afghanistan to better determine whether they suffered traumatic brain damage in combat, according to a plan by a congressional brain-injury task force.

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April 11, 2007

Treating war's 'silent injury'. They may have no visible wounds, but Marines with brain trauma face many hurdles.

ENCINITAS, Calif. — At a community hospital here, doctors and therapists are working to help Marines overcome what is often called the signature injury of the Iraq war: brain trauma with no visible wounds.

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April 10, 2007

The battle back home

ELLENVILLE - Sgt. Eddie Ryan says he has the determination of pit bull and has a tattoo to prove it.

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Piketon, Ohio, Marine awarded Purple Heart for wounds received in Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (April 10, 2007) -- The Purple Heart medal has been awarded to service members and civilians since 1932 for wounds received in action against enemies of the United States and its allies.

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April 6, 2007

Marine Corps families around the nation to gather for combat deployment support conference

St. Louis, MO – April 6, 2007 - United States Marine Corps family members from around the country will gather in St. Louis at the MarineParents.com conference to learn about the Marine Corps, combat deployment, recovery from combat, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and ways to encourage awareness for Troop Support in their own communities. Attendance will range from new Marine families, families experiencing first, second or third combat deployments, and families who have experienced casualties of combat.

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April 4, 2007

New Regiment Focuses on Wounded Marines, Sailors

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2007 – The U.S. Marine Corps has created a new regiment focused on tracking and assisting wounded Marines and sailors across the nation, the regiment’s first commander announced at a Pentagon news conference today.

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April 2, 2007

Warrior gets his wish

Despite life-changing injuries and some 40 surgeries, nothing was going to keep 2nd Lt. Andrew Kinard from greeting his fellow Marines who return home today after seven months in Iraq.

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March 24, 2007

Purple Heart Family Support ™ Bring Lunch to National Naval Medical Center

BETHESDA, MD, March 24, 2007 - Purple Heart Family Support ™ announced the start of new program bringing support to families of injured Marines at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda, MD. Purple Heart Family Support ™, a subsidiary of the non-profit MarineParents.com, will bring a monthly free meal to families and patients at the hospital, providing a much needed service as the hospital cafeteria is closed on the weekends.

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March 13, 2007

Delta Marine injured in Iraq makes progress

DELTA — Marine Lance Cpl. Bryan Chambers is making steady progress after being seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq, said his father, Craig Chambers, who is with his son at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

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March 12, 2007

For War’s Gravely Injured, Challenge to Find Care

When Staff Sgt. Jarod Behee was asked to select a paint color for the customized wheelchair that was going to be his future, his young wife seethed. The government, Marissa Behee believed, was giving up on her husband just five months after he took a sniper’s bullet to the head during his second tour of duty in Iraq.

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Purple Heart bittersweet for four Marines

Reactions were mixed among four Marines who received purple hearts at the Wounded Warrior Barracks recently.

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March 10, 2007

Dinwiddie man continues to recover from war wounds

DINWIDDIE — Lance Cpl. Matthew Bradford, 20, is still in the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., after being wounded in combat in Iraq Jan. 18.

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At medical center, healing is Marines' only duty. The recently opened Wounded Warrior Center puts the individual patient at the center of attention, but there's no coddling.

CAMP PENDLETON — If Building 18 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center represents the nadir of outpatient care for wounded military personnel, the Marine Corps is hoping that a former maternity ward here represents the opposite.

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March 6, 2007

BETHESDA, Md. - The first round blew through Maj. K.C. Schuring's helmet, creased the top of his head and popped out through his goggles.

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March 4, 2007

Blown up in Iraq

Jason Bingham, like many 22-year-olds, isn't sure what he wants to do with his life.

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February 26, 2007

Wounded but still fighting

BETHESDA, Md. - The first round blew through Maj. K.C. Schuring's helmet, creased the top of his head and popped out through his goggles.

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February 25, 2007

Lives Entwined by War Enter a Long, Arduous Chapter: Recovery

Petty Officer Third Class Dustin E. Kirby, a Navy corpsman whose efforts to save a wounded marine in Iraq and his own wounding by a sniper on Christmas were covered by The New York Times, has returned home to Georgia and expects a nearly full recovery, he and his family said.

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February 9, 2007

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gives wounded warrior a lift home

2/9/2007 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An injured Marine received an unexpected upgrade in his flight home from Iraq here Feb. 8.

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February 5, 2007

Wounded Soldiers Treated To Super Bowl XLI

(CBS4) MIAMI Several injured marines are part of the thousands of fans at Dolphin Stadium watching Super Bowl XLI thanks to the generosity of an NFL team owner.

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February 3, 2007

Surprise ceremony honors Marine at home. Purple Heart recognizes Iraq war wounds

MT. JULIET — Gene Leigh McCollum stepped out the door Friday morning to run errands, pay some bills and have a fairly normal day. Less than five minutes later, he was a decorated war veteran.

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February 2, 2007

Wounded Marine remembers fallen comrade

CALEDONIA -- He lost a kidney, his spleen and almost his life.

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January 30, 2007

Dinwiddie resident severly injured in Iraq , A county resident was severely injured while fighting in Iraq Jan. 18.

Matthew Bradford, 20, was serving in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines in Haditha, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device exploded.

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A new beginning, Money from 600,000 Americans builds center meant to help severely wounded troops rebuild lives

SAN ANTONIO -- Some limped gingerly, some rode in wheelchairs as they made their way into the tent. They had missing arms and legs, faces with no ears or with rebuilt noses, bones rebuilt with steel, shrapnel still visible in places.


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January 25, 2007

W.Va. Marine fighting back after losing legs in IED blast

Cpl. Chris Santiago spent last week in the Cayman Islands.

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