Big congrats to my friend Major David Rozelle on his very recent pairing with Canine Companions for Independence Service Dog Domi.

Dave is currently the Army ROTC commander at the University of Colorado main campus in Boulder - saying he’s a very well known guy in the wounded warrior / competitive athlete world is an understatement. (Not to mention just being an all-around stand-up guy.)

“New CU Army ROTC commander served three tours in Iraq“

Among other things, Dave was the first amputee to return to Iraq as a commander, an experience that was the subject of his 2005 book, Back In Action:

He’s also a bigtime Challenged Athletes Foundation – Operation Rebound competitor to include being a Kona Ironman.

Lots more I could write here, but I think the first line in his CAF bio pretty much sums it up: “Major David Rozelle, a below-knee amputee, is an icon, resource, and inspirational figure for American soldiers injured in recent conflicts abroad.”

And yet another person I’m proud to call a friend – couldn’t have a better addition to the family.

Congrats again, Dave and Domi!  (And, as an aside for you NHL fans, she was named after Tie Domi, but that’s a story for another time.)

It’s really very nice to be able to post about a great placement like this, and I wish I could say it represented the majority of what I see in the service dog world, especially where veterans are concerned, but I can’t.

Unfortunately, my opinion of things overall hasn’t changed since my last post almost three months ago in July. In fact, that train’s still rolling down the track and things are only getting worse, just as I suggested there and for the very reasons I mentioned.

And so you still likely won’t be seeing me post much here at all because of that. 

Four videos in honor of the holiday and those who’ve paid the price so we can all enjoy it. Three I’ve posted before, the last is a new one from Thursday.

All four are Canine Companions for Independence veteran graduates, I’m proud to say I know all of these men personally, and, in each case, their injuries were sustained in the line of duty.

In addition, today is Sam Cila’s Alive Day – he was injured in an IED attack on July 4, 2005.

“Calvin Smith and Chesney”

“Sam Cila and Gillian”

“Jason Morgan and Napal”

“Jay Huston and Timo”

I’ve written about Sam here before, and, as I’ve said, he’s a guy I (and a whole lotta other people) really look up to and I’m proud to call a friend. The most cursory Google search will give you lots to look at about Sam, but lemme give you the short version…

Deployed to Iraq with the New York Army National Guard in Oct 2004, was severly injured by an IED on July 4, 2005.  Went through 40 surgeries over three years in an attempt to save his left hand and forearm, finally said “Enough – take it.”, and moved forward in a big way with the help of A Step Ahead Prosthetics.  Became a bigtime competitive triathlete for Challenged Athletes Foundation – Operation Rebound in many events, capped off by finishing the first Kona Ironman he entered last October. Graduated from Canine Companions for Independence’s Northeast Regional Center with Service Dog Gillian in Feb 2010.

On top of all that, Sam is also one of the most straight-up guys you’d ever wanna meet, something I value more and more in life every day, and funny as can be, too.

And you know what else is funny (well, not really)? I just re-watched the video that was linked in that post above, and I forget – like I always do – how tough it was for Sam, Anna, and their family, and what they’ve come through, because I’ve never met a more focused, hard charging, always moving forward, positive couple in my life who are so much fun to be around.  Just in case you missed it there, I’m gonna embed it here as well.

You can read much more about Sam at his site, Multisport Soldier.

I’m looking forward to seeing Sam hammer the RAAM in June, just like he attacks and hammers everything else in life. Truly “the man”.

Ed is a retired US Army Major and combat veteran who lost his left leg above the knee as the result of an IED attack near Taji, Iraq on Aug 17, 2004, and who knows firsthand what it’s like to deal with both serious physical injuries as well as the mental trauma that goes with them. He’s been very candid about those issues, including that at one point he seriously considered suicide, and is on the road about 160 days a year discussing them at events like the recent Warrior Resilience Conference in DC.

Ed is currently the Senior Vice President of Development for the Folds of Honor Foundation, a wonderful organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of service members disabled or killed as a result of their military service.

Lots more I could say, but Ed does a much better job speaking for himself than I ever could.  Watch this very touching 6-minute video from the Real Warriors Campaign website and you’ll get an idea of what a tremendous guy and inspiration he is:

“Profile: Maj. Ed Pulido”

You can read another very moving profile here as well: “Major Ed Pulido (Ret.) Challenge, Triumph, and Change”

Ed epitomizes those I will continue to focus my efforts on, and who I believe we still have not done an effective job reaching out to about service dogs, as I’ve said many times before – veterans with serious physical injuries, almost all of whom (if not all) also deal with significant post-traumatic stress as well because of the very nature of those injuries.

Here’s the corresponding article:  “Wounded Marines compete for chance at ‘Warrior Games’”

Air Force had its training camp week before last in San Antonio and will announce its team soon: “Athletes Vie For Spot On Air Force Warrior Games Team”

I have a number of good AF friends who were at that camp and who I’m looking forward to seeing back here competing again this year. Unfortunately, my friend CCI grad Jason Morgan, who I’ve written so much about here, wasn’t able to go this year due to some serious health issues he’s recovering from.

Army just announced its team: “Army Announces 2011 Army Warrior Games Team”

And Navy just announced their team, too: “Wounded Warrior team selected”

As I’ve said many times, the inaugural Warrior Games last May were tremendous, and things are definitely shaping up for an even better and more competitive event here in Colorado Springs this year.

How can you not?? Theirs is truly one of the most amazing stories that I know, I’m lucky to have met them, and it’s great that they are right out here “in the neighborhood” in Colorado.

Well, the saga continues and gets more amazing all the time.

I followed along from a distance as this was happening, and there’s even more to the story than this very touching Denver 9NEWS video from yesterday tells you, but just watch it. You can even catch a coupla glimpses of Matt’s CCI service dog Gus (including one funny part goofing around at their house). Oh, yeah – standard Kleenex alert applies. (Did I really have to tell you that?)

“

“A Little Faith – A paralyzed Iraq veteran’s journey to fatherhood”

]]> http://www.albrittain.com/veterans/when-i-was-shot-that-day-and-i-didnt-die-i-looked-at-myself-and-said-im-not-done-on-this-earth/feed/ 0 http://www.albrittain.com/veterans/veteran-with-pit-bull-service-dog-lied-about-serving-in-iraq/ http://www.albrittain.com/veterans/veteran-with-pit-bull-service-dog-lied-about-serving-in-iraq/#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:03:09 +0000 Al http://www.albrittain.com/?p=9217 I didn’t write about this story before because it’s just not the kinda story I normally write about, and there are plenty of others who do every time one of these stories comes up (the “enraged masses” as I call them). Turns out they took the hook BIGTIME on this one, too. Let’s review:

• Veteran with a pit bull has that dog confiscated by the city of Fort Worth after a man said it bit him
• Veteran claims the dog is a service dog that helps him with PTSD he deals with after serving in OIF
• Crusading media jumps on the bandwagon that the veteran is being mistreated by the city
• 4400 people sign an online petition to allow him to keep the dog
• $17,000 is donated for the dog’s care

Only one BIG problem – THE GUY NEVER SERVED IN IRAQ (or anywhere else overseas, for that matter). Let’s go to the videotape:

“Army denies Fort Worth man was injured in Iraq”

Well, whaddya know?  You mean the guy was lying?  “I’m shocked – shocked! – to find that gambling is going on in here!”

Now I’m not suggesting most, or even any, of the other veterans telling similar stories are lying. Sadly, though, we’ve seen so much of this stuff now, chances are that some of them are, but, either way, it still casts a shadow over all of us veterans who aren’t lying about our service records.

And, hey, it hasn’t helped one bit that we’ve had several federal judges rule that the Stolen Valor Act is invalid and lying about your military service record is free speech protected by the First Amendment. Don’t even get me started on that one – one of the most absurd things I’ve ever heard.

It’s gotten to the point that you need to ask any of us for a copy of our DD214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty” – you can even see glimpses of this guy’s in that video. There’s a long and short version of that form, even then it could be altered, and you need to know how to read it, but I’d bet that would stop 99% of this nonsense right off. But, ultimately, you have to do what the TV station did here, and get somebody to send you an official verified copy – note that that took a release from the veteran, though.  Bottom line is the burden of proof is on the veteran.

Just keep this story in mind next time you see one like it – and you will. Don’t you be the one getting hooked.

Never heard of them before – they’re not ADI-accredited or even members that I can tell, and I have no experience with their dogs or any idea how good they are, which is ultimately what counts.

So I can’t recommend them, BUT I do know they got one key concept right:  they have veterans with post-traumatic stress helping train dogs for OTHER veterans with physical injuries, as opposed to training service dogs for those veterans with PTS themselves.

I’ve mentioned this idea before, in particular what’s probably the most well-known program, Paws for Purple Hearts.  No question there are still important considerations, particularly the involvement and supervision of the professional trainers in the program.  But, as I’ve said, programs like this benefit everybody without so many of the issues I am so concerned about, like using the dogs to prevent physical contact with others to maintain their human partner’s “personal space”.

Read the article closely and watch this short video.  Note that most, if not all, of the benefits that Steve Fox, the veteran who’s helping train the dogs and is in both pieces, mentions are the same ones that are brought up all the time for those with PTS – reduced amounts of medication, getting out in public for extended periods of time, and so on.

A lot more places could take a hint here and adopt this type of program rather than continually forcing the issue of full-up service dogs for those veterans living with post-traumatic stress – we’d all be a lot better off.

Classic example of why you have to check things out BEFORE you post them.  Although this one’s pretty tame in comparison to many I’ve seen, and there were questions raised about it by some milbloggers when it was first publicized.

I’ve even had friends post things that I’ve told them privately weren’t real, they’ve acknowledged that, but then have made no public correction or comment.  And in the case of one hoax where I did publicly comment on it and say it was a hoax, follow-on commenters continued to thank the person who posted it for doing so!

Look, there’s already enough real nonsense floating around out there, not to mention all the made-up stuff from people who don’t check before they post it – why add to it?

So, I was more than a little pleased to see the official announcement yesterday that they are coming back again next May: “Officials Announce Warrior Games 2011“.  I’d definitely suggest watching the video – it’s 30 minutes, but gives you a really good feel for how things were this year plus the plan for next year.

BTW, Stacy Pearsall, who is in both the article and video, took the great picture of Jason Morgan and Napal in this post.

I’ve seen a lotta people who weren’t here for this year’s Games already talking about coming to them next year – all I can say is, if you’re even thinking about it, do it.  Granted, there’s only ever one “first”, but if it’s anything like that (and based on that video, no reason it shouldn’t be – could very well be even better), you definitely wanna be here.