Tag Archives: The American Legion Magazine

When doing everything right isn’t enough: A Marine’s suicide shows that even the unlikeliest veteran can fall through the cracks.

By Ken Olsen (Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved)  Of all the questions raised by Clay Hunt’s suicide, perhaps the most perplexing is this: why did a 28-year-old former Marine who was receiving VA health care, taking medications for post-traumatic stress … Continue reading

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The War Within: The battle against post-traumatic stress

By Ken Olsen (Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved) Melissa Seligman started shaking when her husband described the aftermath of a suicide bombing he witnessed during his first deployment to Iraq. She had heard that same flat, detached tone from her father, when … Continue reading

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Brown Water Update: VA updates list of Vietnam Navy ships exposed to Agent Orange

By Ken Olsen (Copyright 2011/ All Rights Reserved)  The VA has finally posted an expanded list of U.S. Navy ships exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. The so-called Brown Water ships list comes a year after U.S. Sen. … Continue reading

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The War Within: Special Report on Post Traumatic Stress featured on WERE 1490 AM

More than 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans – nearly 20 percent of returning troops – have PTS or depression and the number is rising. Their experiences, and they way they  resonate with Vietnam veterans, are part of a special report … Continue reading

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Toxic Legacy: A brief history of Agent Orange in Vietnam

• 1961 to 1972: U.S. military sprays some 20 million gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides across Vietnam and some parts of Laos under Operation Ranch Hand. • 1968-69: U.S. Military uses Agent Orange in Korean DMZ, exposing an estimated 12,000 veterans. • Early 1970s: Veterans begin … Continue reading

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