Sgt. Phillip Cornejo
Army Infantry/Navy corps, Veteran/Retired
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Mental Health Services and PTSD
I can’t tell you the date anymore; most likely it was the second day
of our attack and push into Iraq. I can’t remember the time of the day,
all I remember is the smoke and the gray clouds that covered the sky.
This day of the attack our track had just shut down from engine trouble,
if I remember right it was just after we rolled through an anti-personnel
mine field, maybe that had something to do with it, maybe not, but we were
all shook up after that. They hitched our Bradley fighting vehicle to another
Bradley and we, the dismounted infantry, all piled in the back to be pulled
around during the fighting. It was scary, surreal, like a dream. Then it
happened – enemy contact to our 10 O’clock, Iraqi tank. Orders were given
and the sound of the TOW missile leaving its carriage with a loud swoosh and
the loud pop and explosion.
The explosions are not like on the movies, they are more like a big bang
with smoke and the turrets sometimes would pop-up off the tanks......
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Veteran's Administration's Agent Orange Program
In her six part series story on Vietnam and
Agent Orange, Connie Schultz writes,
“Between 1962 and 1971, at airports and American operations centers
throughout South Vietnam, the U.S. military stored, mixed, handled and
loaded onto airplanes more than 20 million gallons of herbicide.
Early on, U.S. planes dropped pamphlets written in Vietnamese, assuring
farmers that the chemicals were harmless to humans and animals.
Today, more than 2 million acres in Vietnam remain barren. Numerous
studies have shown that "hot spots" on the perimeter of former
U.S. bases in the south still leach dioxin into the soil, contaminating water,
vegetation, wildlife -- and people” (2011).
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The legacy of the Vietnam War is still felt today by our veterans
and even more so by our silent Native Warriors.....
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Get Out and MOVE With the New Year!
Jim Abbott once stated, “It's not the disability that defines you,
it’s how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with.
We have an obligation to the abilities we DO have, not the disability.”
Jim Abbott was born September 19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan, without a right hand.
He was an All-America hurler. He played for the California Angels, the New York Yankees,
the Chicago White Sox, and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1989 to 1999. In the spirit of
Jim Abbott, it’s the New Year and time for resolutions to get healthier and more active....
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HOMELESSNESS AND VETERANS
Dustin Hoffman once stated, “I mean, I don't think I'm alone when I
look at the homeless person or the bum or the psychotic or the drunk
or the drug addict or the criminal and see their baby pictures in
my mind's eye. You don't think they were cute like every other baby?”
On a personal note, I also wonder – could that person be a veteran?
Unfortunately, most Americans do not give any thought about the homeless
situation as deeply as Mr. Hoffman or me. In fact, December and the holidays
are times when many people need a home more than ever. However,
the harsh reality is that many homeless vets will not sleep in a bed
on Christmas night. This month, I would like to take time to recognize
that there are many homeless veterans who need help during December
and the incoming year of 2012....
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Members,
Mohandas Gandhi believed that all “cultured people” have a duty to read and
understand the many religions and cultures around the world. The Federal
Government agrees with this principle and has worked hard to establish cultural
safety programs such as diversity and equal opportunity. Within the military
community Federal managerial directives commanded diversity training programs
be established to highlight the many contributions Native Americans have
brought with their service. Generally, equal opportunity representatives
coordinate and conduct diversity training within each command. One individual
stands out in my opinion is Rex Jones. Currently Rex Jones is the director of
equal opportunity (EO) for Peterson Air force Base, a loving husband, father,
and Grandfather.....
The following is an article written by Rex Jones that celebrates Native American
Diversity and brings to view the services all Native Americans have shown to
this country since it’s inception....
(To the Lipan Apache Tribe's Military Service Page)
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