Tag: 2013

Cody Hooks, US Air Force, Murdered his Wife Kaylla Rihn & Then Killed Himself in San Antonio, Texas (2013)

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Suicide, USAFLeave a comment
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Kaylla Brooke Rihn and SrA Cody Hooks, US Air Force

Senior Airman Cody Hooks and Kaylla Brooke Rihn were found dead in their apartment from an apparent murder-suicide on October 17, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas. Their friends reported this was two days after they heard them having a late night argument. Although family were not aware of any previous issues with the couple. Senior Airman Cody Hooks, 21, was considered a suspect and Kaylla Brooke Rihn, 22, was listed as a homicide victim in the shooting. They found Rihn dead with a bullet wound to one eye and Hooks with a .40-caliber wound to his temple. A Beretta handgun was found near his body. SrA Hooks was a member of the 802nd Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio. Hooks and Rihn were married only two weeks before the murder-suicide yet family didn’t learn she was married until after she was found dead. This was SrA Hooks first tour of duty with the Air Force and it is unknown if he deployed in support of the war efforts.

“Suicides have plagued the armed forces for years, with self-inflicted deaths rising after the U.S. went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. A record was set last year (2012), with the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps logging 514 suicides.” -My SA

Related Links:
Murder-suicide suspected in pair’s deaths

Fallen Marine’s mother fought for Swenson’s Medal of Honor

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USMCFallen Marine’s mother fought for Swenson’s Medal of Honor

Susan Price says her world was upended when she found out her son was killed.

But the pain of losing a child to war would be compounded as she learned that the mission he was on was poorly planned and poorly executed, with a lack of support from aircraft and artillery that might have made a life-saving difference. It was further compounded by the fact that unlike Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, who received a Medal of Honor two years ago for risking his life to help recover the bodies of Kenefick and others killed that day, Swenson, who criticized the chain of command during the investigation into what went wrong in Ganjgal, had to wait.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/news/us/fallen-marine-s-mother-fought-for-swenson-s-medal-of-honor-1.247235

David Chesser: A Man Changed Forever By PTSD

On By AdministratorIn PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, SuicideLeave a comment

PTSD Invisible WoundsDavid Chesser: A Man Changed Forever By PTSD

Three hours before David Chesser, wife Jenifer Chesser was on the phone with her husband.
David had said he was going for a walk. When he called her, it was clear he’d been drinking heavily. Actually, he’d been sober for a month but in the past couple of days he began to unravel again, she said.

Back from the war, Chesser was unable to find regular work and unable to keep it when he did. He was drowning in back rent payments, and their landlord called to say they were out of chances. “It’s hopeless,” he told her over the phone. “If I was dead, at least you and the kids would be taken care of.”  Then he hung up.

Read more: http://lakewood-jblm.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/xyxyxyx

The Need for Out of the Box Solutions in Mental Health Treatment

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental IllnessLeave a comment

US ArmyThe Need for Out of the Box Solutions in Mental Health Treatment

A recent Army Times piece explained that a mental health program aimed at reducing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be expanded despite their own researchers finding no proven gains since 2009. This revelation is a vivid illustration of the need for out of the box solutions in mental health treatment and the delivery of healthcare at large. Continuing to expand a $50 million dollar per year program (now costing $75 million dollars annually) doesn’t make much sense when there are other viable alternatives that have not been adequately explored.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcus-bright/the-need-for-out-of-the-b_2_b_4093413.html

Court-martial begins Tuesday in Dyess child neglect case

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Child Abuse, Military Policy, USAFLeave a comment

USAF SealCourt-martial begins Tuesday in Dyess child neglect case

A court-martial begins Tuesday for a Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, senior airman accused of failing to report the neglect of a toddler who died last year at her family’s base home.

Senior Airman Christopher Perez is charged with dereliction of duty, child endangerment and adultery. Perez was living at the home of Tiffany Klapheke and her husband, Senior Airman Thomas Klapheke, when the toddler died in August 2012.

Read more: http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20131014/NEWS06/310140011/Court-martial-begins-Tuesday-Dyess-child-neglect-case

Nellis major faces trial Tuesday on sex abuse charges

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

USAF SealNellis major faces trial Tuesday on sex abuse charges

Nellis Air Force Base officers will proceed Tuesday with prosecuting and defending one of their own for alleged sex abuse. The case of Maj. Charles Cox comes as military leaders are cracking down sexual offenses in the wake of a surge of such cases reported by the Pentagon earlier this year.

Cox, a nurse assigned to the 99th Medical Operations Squadron at Nellis is charged with abusive sexual contact on an unconscious person, assault by battery and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. The Air Force has made little public about the case, which was reported through the base’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.

Read more: http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nellis-major-faces-trial-tuesday-sex-abuse-charges

Ashley Ard, US Army, Left Newborn Baby in Park to Die (2013)

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Child Abuse, Felony CrimeLeave a comment

Ashley Ard, Army

*Outcome of case is unknown at this time.

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PTSD – Safe, Natural, and Effective Treatments

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CannabisPTSD – Safe, Natural, and Effective Treatments

In the times of our ancestors, the fight or flight nervous system was very important for helping us avoid predators.  Our digestions stops so blood can go to our muscles, our reactions become very abrupt and emotional so we don’t think too long before deciding to run away from the tiger, we become hyper-aware of our environment, which makes it hard to concentrate on one thing… you get the picture.

People who suffer from posttraumatic stress get stuck in that branch of the nervous system.  It’s as if the trauma gets stuck in their bodies, and until they release the trauma the nervous system continues to operate in fight or flight mode.  Remaining in this state for too long can lead to a number of mental and physical problems, ranging from poor digestive health, to pain, to anxiety.  It can also predispose people to re-traumatization because they are seeing the world through the eyes of “something terrible is going to happen.”

Read more: http://integr8health.com/ptsd-safe-natural-and-effective-treatments/

Command Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Navy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

US NavyCommand Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

Congress didn’t waste any time weighing in on the case either. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., served notice that she will cite the Naval Academy sexual assault case in her efforts to legislate a major overhaul of the Uniform Code of Military Justice to take away commanders’ authority to refer charges and overrule decisions in courts-martial.

“It is time to move the sole decision-making power over whether serious crimes go to trial from the chain of command into the hands of non-biased, professionally trained military prosecutors — where it belongs,” Gillibrand said.

Read more: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/10/14/command-influence-to-figure-in-navy-rape-case.html?comp=700001075741&rank=1

Gillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

On By AdministratorIn Felony Crime, Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Kirsten GillibrandGillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

Gillibrand hasn’t yielded, recruiting flag officers and members of the judge advocate general corps to her side. She now has 46 senators, including Sen. Charles E. Schumer, the chamber’s No. 3 Democrat, publicly endorsing the amendment to the Defense Authorization Act containing the reforms. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a 1958 Annapolis graduate, is not among seven Republicans supporting Gillibrand.

Don’t call it a women’s bill. It reaches to the very heart and soul of our armed forces, to their sense of decency, obedience and honor – to our war fighters’ ability to win conflicts.

Read more: http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/douglas-turner/gillibrand-wont-quit-on-sexual-assault-bill-20131014