Which 5,940 Deaths Over The Next 9 Months Is Acceptable?

Where do I even begin? There have been so many things that have crossed my mind to write about in the last few days, but I have been far too busy to even relax much LESS do any writing.  Ya know, you never really quite know what goes into a thing, until you're the one putting in the time.  There is more behind establishing a non-profit than one would ever think.  I swear I didn't go through THIS much hassle to sell drugs.  There are more hoops the government has in place for me to jump through to do something good in the community.

We are now standing at the crux of StopLoss22  getting off the ground.  Everything is starting to move into place, and there is even a senator's office showing interest. However, it's bizarre to me that people who claim to have such a passion for this cause, seem to take their own sweet time about getting things in place to move forward.  Let me point out a fact.....to establish a 501c3, the filing with the IRS is 28 pages long AND with all the addendum, can go as long as 50 pages. After that, you can wait up to 9 months before you're even THINKING about getting an answer.  270 days.  At an average loss off 22 veterans to suicide per day, that is 5,940 vets LOST, just so you can jump through government hoops and bureaucratic bullshit.

5,940 dead warriors

Dear lawmakers,
 YOU choose which 5,940 of our combat verans' lives aren't worth saving, so that you can make sure that all the lines are filled in properly.....

In the meantime, if any of you know of a non-profit that is already established, that is willing to act as fiscal sponsors to save lives, please, send me an email, or respond here.  Thanks.

Meanwhile, HUG a veteran. Let them know that you're there, that you care, that they're appreciated and loved. It might just save their life.

p.s. "Thank you for your service" is fine, "Welcome home" is more appropriate....but that's it. Don't ask stupid and insensitive questions. We don't want to answer them and wont....but more importantly, we shouldn't be being put in a position to HAVE to.

"I refuse to justify myself or my actions to people who sleep under the blanket of freedom that I provide"

Suicide Prevention Awareness, PTSD and the Combat Veteran Mind.....

So, for those of you who didn't already know, September was National Suicide Prevention Awareness month.  But here's something else you should know.  We are standing at a rate of 22 Veteran Suicides per month.  22!

These are the men and women who fought for this country, and on it's behalf. On YOUR behalf.  I'm a combat vet, and these are my brothers and sisters in arms.  They are my battle buddies.  So, suicide prevention awareness needs to be EVERY month.  22 vets we lose per day is far far FAR too many. What is the cause?  Well, in WWII they called it "Shell Shock". In Vietnam and Korea they called it "Battle Fatigue". Today it is known as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).  It's that final little "screw you" that war leaves behind on it's participants. The Army is who I will take to task here, because that is my experience.  I wasn't a Marine, Sailor or Airman, so I don't know as much about their training methods, but the Army's I know intimately.  You see, for an armored crewman, the training cycle (OSUT) is 16 weeks.  !6 weeks with the same peers, the same Drill Sergeants, the same barracks, the same training environment.  For 16 weeks, you are taken and broken. Every remnant of the uncivilized, disorganized, knucklehead of a civilian you once were "back on the block" is destroyed, decimated, and removed from your life, and in it's place is built an efficient killing machine. An armor-centric, egotistical, billy-badass who is more than ready to put steel on target

.....until the day he does it. Until the horrific reality of what an APDS, HEAT or HEP round does to another human being is openly displayed before our very eyes, along with the knowledge that that was a father/son/brother/uncle moments earlier, before you pulled your trigger. You see, when you volunteer to be part of a wartime army, you don't realize that it's a lifetime of memories you'll wish you didn't have, when it's all over.  

Not everyone is mentally or emotionally equipped to accept that.

 

Not everyone is mentally or emotionally equipped to live with that.  There are many of us that live with the memories, the nightmares, the inconsiderate civilians who ask insensitive questions like "did you kill anyone?". Some of us can't handle the hatred displayed by the peace-creeps, the lack of understanding from our loved ones when we come home. NO we aren't the same person you knew before we left. How COULD we be? How do you expect that we could live through all we have, seen the destruction, held our friends as they gasped their last breath, had others leave and never return and be at peace?.

 We've smelled burning flesh, watched the aftermath of this war we never asked for

.....and we can't return to you the same as we once were!  Some of us just want the visions, fear, nightmares, to end.  

Suicide Prevention Awareness month is not only about veterans and veteran  suicides....but that is the part of it that effects me the most, and I am most passionate about.  I have been one that wanted it all to go away, and in fact, I still am most days.  I just wont choose that permanent solution. At least not today.

Love your veterans, hug your soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Let us know that you're there for us, even if you can't necessarily UNDERSTAND what we feel, that you WANT to, and love us regardless 

To ANY and ALL of my Battles, no matter your service, before you make that ultimate decision, call me. I'm here, I've been there, and i'll listen while you talk, yell, scream, cry...I'm here. I love you unconditionally and I share your pain.  Anytime, day or night, I'll be here for you

574-849-4494

SSG Wade C. "Lion" Lindwedel

19X3PB4

USA (Ret)

Here, Let Me Quarterback This....

Hang on, kids. This COULD jump around a bit, because there are several things on my mind, and well, this is where I get to voice it all. Let's get started, shall we?

First and foremost, while I'm occasionally guilty of using it, I would love to see the elimination of the words "Old School".  It indicates retirement.  The fact is, there are rappers who actually HAVE retired their mics, and they STILL know more about true Hip-Hop, than most of these kids today.  DJs who actually spun VINYL, producers that actually made original BEATS.  Managers that know what it means to shop your act for a deal, shop your act for a gig, shop your act for an endorsement.  It's funny to me when I see idiots say that older emcees should just retire and be quiet.  Ummmm, WHO do the networks hire to do color commentary, announcing, pregame shows, player interviews, etc.? Who? Former quarterbacks, linemen, coaches.  Your ass runs to the TV Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and if you like college ball, even Saturday, to listen to the people who know the game best, the veterans, to break down each and every part of the game. Analysis, commentary, all the above, all brought to you by none other than those OLD SCHOOL CATS. Sit your young asses down, shut up and pay attention to what's being said and you MIGHT learn a thing or two.  All of my life, I have been the kind of person who could sit at the feet of my elders for hours and hours, just listening.  They have seen so much and have so many experiences to share, and I would never THINK about telling them they're too old to learn from.

"WE NEED STRICTER GUN CONTROL LAWS!"
Shut up, seriously. You sound stupid, for real.  Listen, criminals do not give a shit about laws, changes in laws, or stricter laws.  The simple fact is, if you outlaw guns, you will turn hundreds of thousands of honest, law abiding citizens into criminals, because they aren't going to give theirs up. Nope. Not happening.  99% of lawful gun owners don't commit mass murder.  Oddly, we wont see any news today about the millions of us that did NOT kill anyone.  It's better to sensationalize the insane morons who actually DID.  Well, you'll not be taking my weapons any time soon. And if you DID, guess what.....the army made sure that I'm just as deadly with my hands.  Are you going to take those too? Stop making yourself sound so ignorant.

Lastly for tonight anyhow, is loyalty.  Do you have any idea what that means? It means that you stand by him, her, it, whatever it may be.  I have no time for game players, nay-sayers or any OTHER kind of "ayers". Either you're on my team or you're not. No half-way, no fence-riding. In or bloody out.  My resume, track record and clientele/associate list has spoken for itself for 17 years now.  So, that being said, my tree has some branches that aren't producing fruit.  Time to lop those branches off, so fresh healthy ones can grow in their place.  This doesn't mean I dislike you, it means that we aren't meshing well. Some flavors fit together, but one doesn't put salt on their cornflakes. You don't put mayonnaise on your grits.  Those things aren't BAD, they just don't work well TOGETHER.

Enough for tonight.

Peace