By Military Connection Staff Writer Joe Silva.

It is estimated that there are currently 5.5 million individuals in the U.S. who provide full-time care to a wounded Veteran or service member. These military caregivers are almost always family members, usually spouses, parents or children. Military caregivers assist their wounded and disabled loved ones with the daily tasks of their lives. They bathe, dress, feed and assist with toilet functions for their loved ones.

Providing such care for another would prove tasking and stressful for anyone.  But military caregivers have to deal with so much more. On top of managing their Veteran’s care for their physical injuries, military caregivers also bear witness to the psychological  injuries suffered by their loved ones, especially due to their needing full-time care. Remember that these wounded men and women were once strong enough to complete basic and advanced military training.

The VA and many Federal and local government agencies recognize the plight of the wounded and disabled Veterans and provide services and benefits for them. But until recently, the military caregiver was often overlooked.

Caring for Military Families: the Elizabeth Dole Foundation has been instrumental in bringing awareness to the military caregiver. Family members who care for their wounded Veterans hold a special place for Senator Elizabeth Dole. Her husband, former presidential candidate Sen. Bob Dole, is a wounded Veteran.

Along with raising awareness about military caregivers, Caring for Families connects the caregivers to resources and programs that benefit them and their Veteran. Because military caregivers have a full load, Caring for Families wants to make it as easy as possible for these families to find and utilize the resources and benefits they need. That is why their site offers a Caregiver Resource Guide.

Caring for Families also conducts the Elizabeth Dole Fellows Program. The Fellows Program is designed to give military caregivers a voice regarding their concerns in every aspect of caring for their disabled Veteran. The Fellows Program is their opportunity to point out where strengths and deficiencies lie within the Veteran healthcare system and benefits disbursement. Fellows serve as ambassadors for all military caregivers and The Elizabeth Dole Foundation at events, in social media and at media functions. Fellows also contribute to the planning of the Foundation’s Month of the Military Caregiver, which is April 2014.

MilitaryConnection.com, the go to site for Military and Veterans, strives to connect military families with the help and resources they need. Caring for Families: the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a great organization that is truly bettering the lives of Veteran families in need. To find out more about the organization, please visit their website at www.elizabethdolefoundation.org . If you would like to make a donation to the foundation’s cause, please click here.

By Debbie Gregory.

Another tragedy has befallen soldiers on the U.S. Army base Fort Hood. For the second time in five years, an armed U.S. Army member in uniform opened fire on fellow soldiers on their home base.

On August 23rd of last year, Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan received the death penalty for his November 5, 2009, shooting spree, which resulted in the death of thirteen soldiers, and the wounding of 32 others. Hasan specifically targeting soldiers in uniform, passing on people in civilian attire.. A few weeks ago, building 42003, where most of the 2009 shootings occurred, was demolished.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, April 2, 2014, the soldiers of Fort Hood, the largest Army base in the U.S., were fired upon by one of their own. Using a .45 caliber hand gun, the shooter killed three people and wounded 16 others, before being confronted by base military police. When confronted, it is reported that the shooter branded his pistol and shot himself.

The shooter has been identified as Spc. Ivan Lopez. Lopez, 34, was originally from Puerto Rico. Lopez served nine years in the National Guard in Puerto Rico before enlisting for active duty in the Army in 2008. Lopez’s initial MOS was as an Infantryman, but he later became a truck driver. He was recently assigned to the 13^th Sustainment Command stationed at Fort Hood.

Lopez was deployed twice, including a four month deployment in Iraq in 2011. Lopez reportedly served as a truck driver on his deployments. It is reported that Lopez’s service record has no history of Lopez ever engaging in combat, or receiving any wounds.

However Lopez did “self-report” receiving a traumatic brain injury while he was deployed and was reportedly being treated for several conditions, including anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances. Lopez had been prescribed drugs, including Ambien.

Spc. Lopez was fully examined last month by a psychiatrist. He was never diagnosed with PTSD, and officials say that Lopez’s doctors found no sign that he was likely to commit violence or harm to himself or others. It is also worth mentioning that Lopez had a clean military record, with no behavioral or disciplinary incidents.

Lopez’s motives and intentions remain a mystery, and the Army community at Fort Hood is once again picking up the broken pieces of another attack from within. The question remains, how do we prevent another senseless attack on our men and women in uniform at another installation? Is it a question of policy, security or mental health treatment?

Please remember that FOUR soldiers died at Fort Hood on Wednesday, not just three and a shooter. How could these deaths have been prevented? What can we do differently going forward?

By Military Connection Staff Writer Joe Silva.

Sailors, like all military personnel, have stood watch hundreds of times, without anything of consequence occurring. One of the most tedious watches in the Navy is standing a quarter deck watch on your ship, when you are on base in your home port. Sailors spend countless hours being told to stay vigilant in case the worst should happen- having to use your weapon to defend yourself, your shipmates, and your ship. For most sailors, the worst never does happen. But when it does, all sailors  hope that we will respond as dutifully as Master at Arms Petty Officer Second Class (MA2) Mark Mayo– or pray that our shipmates will.

The USS Mahan (DDG-72) was moored at Pier One, in her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, VA. For reasons that have not yet been discovered, using methods that have not yet been disclosed to the media, truck driver Jeffrey Savage attempted to illegally board the Mahan.

The quarter deck is the only access point on and off the ship. Watches are posted to ensure that only authorized personnel are given access to the ship. Quarter deck watches typically consists of an Officer of the Deck (E-6 – O2), a Messenger of the Watch (E1- E-4) and an armed Petty Officer of the Watch (E-4 – E-6). Ships also have one or more armed Roving Watches (or Ship’s Rover), patrolling the interior and exterior of the ship. These are not necessarily the watch standers and pay grades that were standing watch on the Mahan, but a general summation. Watches and watch stander eligibilities vary from ship to ship.

Initial reports are that the Mahan’s quarter deck watch standers on duty followed proper protocol. They observed Savage attempting to gain access to the ship, and they challenged him. A struggle ensued and somehow, Savage was able to obtain possession of the Petty Officer of the Watch’s pistol.

MA2 Mayo, who was standing Chief of the Guard, a command and control watch stander who oversees the security of the ship, observed the struggle and made his way to the quarter deck to assist. According to reports, by the time that MA2 Mayo reached the quarter deck, the Petty Officer of the Watch had already been disarmed and she had fallen to the deck. Savage had the gun pointed at her.

Mayo selflessly placed himself between the shooter and the downed petty officer. Jeffery Savage shot MA2 Mayo, killing him. Shortly afterwards, one of the armed roving watch standers shot and killed Savage. There were no other injuries reported.

MA2 Mayo’s sacrifice saved the life of the petty officer, but without knowing what Savage’s intentions and motives were, the number of lives that Petty Officer Mayo and the Mahan’s watch team saved were immeasurable.

No service member signs up to die for their country. You join to serve and succeed for your country, no matter what the cost. MA2 Mayo’s mission was to ensure the safety of his ship and his ship mates. MA2 Mayo successfully completed his mission. But in doing so, he paid the ultimate cost. He died a hero, and will forever be remembered as one.

MA2 Mark Mayo was a native of Hagerstown, MD. His awards include the Good Conduct Award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Navy Marine Corps Overseas Ribbon.

Fair winds and following seas.

If you have been using a CA Veteran Resource book that is a year or more old, you will see great improvements in the 2014 version. The new and improved book is much more user friendly, and is divided into chapters, each dealing with a specific topic of interest to Veterans. Hopefully, this new system will make it easier to navigate. Additionally, you can visit the CalVet website at www.calvet.ca.gov for assistance.

Click here to View or Download the 2014 Veterans Resource Book.