Wounded Warrior Item #1 - How it Began Item #2 - Building the Team Item #3 - Learning Item #4 - Wounded Warrior Regiment Item #5 - How Can You Help?

Item #1 How it Began

Kalsu, Iraq Last picture before injury Video

Kalsu, Iraq First picture after injury

Shrapnel Brain Elbow

Received my Purple Heart National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland

At Night: OVER-ACTIVE MIND Day Time:Expressive and Receptive APHASIA Vision Limited Reading/Writing FatigueMental Exhaustion Right Leg: Lack of solid control Right Arm: Lack of solid control Medical Summary

Limited Duty

ITEM #2 Building the Team

1st: Hang out with my unit - Drink Coffee. Chat. Visit. - 3 Hours a day, 2-3 days a week. 2nd: Visit Lejeune Hospital Common Status Loneliness. Guiltiness. Sadness. Confusion. BORED! Take Away - Live Together? 3rd: Propose the Idea to the (then) CG II MEF Gen Jim Amos…..Approved

Unit was Growing Spring 2005 Barracks – 6 Others – 10% Spring 2006 Barracks - 64 Others – 50% Spring 2007 Barracks – 110 Others – 90% Glenn Beck – WEB Glenn Beck - Memory

Benefits of the Barracks Togetherness Events. Talking to each other. Purpose Part of a Marine Corps Team Problem Solving Individuals are supported Vehicle/Driver available Case Manager More Responsive Food Delivered Education Papers, requests, follow ups, second opinions

ITEM #3 Learning (also referred to as “Drowning”)

Education was not automatic The original plan was successful Togetherness is good. Some were against the idea, and I understand why. BUT We were not prepared for other issues It grew every day As we solved the problems for those in the Barracks, the question continued to raise… What about those who do NOT live in the Barracks?

What We Had Learned USMC Items Tracking Wounded, Command structure, CONOPS, PEB, VA. TSGLI, Extension, MFL Capabilities, CACO capability, RBE training, promotion, retention, re-enlistment, MOS options, Fitreps, Pro/Cons, options, Wounded Marine Medical decisions, etc… Family Items - Funding for trips to see sons/husbands (S/H) (ITO, Follow on trips, follow on trips so see kids) - Authorization to see S/H in Landstuhl (Orders, or options?) - Parents/Spouse Disagreements (Financial, passionate, etc)

What We Had Learned (Cont) Medical Items - Multiple Injuries Issues (Pills, attention to all injuries instead of the most important - 2nd Opinion (My elbow as an example) - Decisions (remove leg, connect nerve vains, etc..) - Hospital Options Location - (Home town, VA, current duty station, etc…) Specialty – Walter Reed, Bethesda, Tampa, Willmington, etc.. Public Items - Public Events (Golf, Xmas Event, etc…) - News (Newspapers, Radios, TV) - Donations (Everything!) - Visitors (Everyone is welcome at CL, but not all places)

Medevac Wounded Return to Duty (RTD) Unit/Local BASField Hospital 31st Combat Support Hospital Baghdad Landshtul Germany Return to Duty (RTD) Approved Family Members Arrival Calling? Tracking? Explaining? Funding?

National Naval Medical Center 8901 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD (301) ; toll-free mil mil Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC my.mil Naval Medical Center San Diego Bob Wilson Drive San Diego, CA nmcsd.med.navy.mil Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital Brooke Army Medical Center Location: 3851 Roger Brook Dr. FSH TX Contact Info: (210) Andrews AF Base 744th Communication Squadron Network Administration (301) / Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital Others Local Support in most Military Hospitals Marine Liaison Marine for Life VA Information Visitors Other Injured and their families Calling? Tracking? Explaining? Funding?

All wounded can be tracked as long as the proper input is made. National Naval Medical Center Walter Reed Army Medical Center Naval Medical Center San Diego Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital Brooke Army Medical Center Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital Others TBI: Palo Alta VA Hospital Civilian Hospital im Home Town TBI: Tampa VA Hospital TBI: Richland VA Hospital Other VA Hospital Specialties Any Other Military Hospital Other VA Hospital in Home Town Home on ConLeave between each Medical appointment Home awaiting Order Limited Duty Marines/Sailors may be moved to many different places. Often, they are moved more than once.

All wounded can be tracked as long as the proper input is made. National Naval Medical Center Walter Reed Army Medical Center Naval Medical Center San Diego Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital Brooke Army Medical Center Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital Others TBI: Palo Alta VA Hospital Civilian Hospital im Home Town TBI: Tampa VA Hospital TBI: Richland VA Hospital Other VA Hospital Specialties Any Other Military Hospital Other VA Hospital in Home Town Home on ConLeave between each Medical appointment Home awaiting Order Limited Duty Marines/Sailors may be moved to many different places. Often, they are moved more than once. Tracking Wounded Funding Families Trips Multiple Injuries Issues Public Events (Golf, Xmas Event, etc…)

National Naval Medical Center Walter Reed Army Medical Center Naval Medical Center San Diego Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital Brooke Army Medical Center Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital Others TBI: Palo Alta VA Hospital Civilian Hospital TBI: Tampa VA Hospital TBI: Richland VA Hospital Other VA Hospital Specialties Any Other Military Hospital Other VA Hospital in Home Town Home on ConLeave between each Medical appointment Home awaiting Order Tracking Wounded Funding Families Trips Multiple Injuries Issues Public Events (Golf, Xmas Event, etc…)

Fitreps? Awards? Pro/Cons? Promotions? BAH issues (Brook vs. Pendleton)? Medical Decisions (e.g.-Have leg removed)? PEB? TSGLI? VA? Approved ConLeave? Funded family in medical trip? Funded trip to follow on Med appt? Re-enlistment? New MOS? When Can I re-join my unit? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Not in the Barracks??

Item #4 Wounded Warrior Regiment (“Help us!”)

Wounded Warrior Regiment Colonel Greg Boyle Commanding Officer Wounded Warrior Regiment

The Wounded Warrior Regiment will provide and facilitate assistance to wounded / ill / injured Marines, Sailors attached to or in support of Marine units, and their family members, throughout the phases of recovery. Mission Statement

Barracks Staff

WWR Organization Wounded Warrior Regimental Headquarters, Quantico, VA (WWR) Mississippi River Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Headquarters Marine Corps Quantico, VA (DC M&RA) Wounded Warrior Battalion-West Camp Pendleton, CA (WWBN-W) Wounded Warrior Battalion-East Camp Lejeune, NC (WWBN-E)

WWR Staff CO S-3 Strategic Comm GS/ S - 4 S-1 Medical Advisor XO Public Affairs Legal Charitable Orgs Current Ops Reserve Medical Bureau of Medicine Rep Tiger Tm Assessment Cell Future Ops TSGLl DISCs Tracking/ Accountability Admin SgtMaj Legislative Job Transition Cell WW Operations Center WW Call Center Marine For Life

WWBN-W Balboa NHCP WWC Hawaii NHTP VA PRC Palo Alto I/Is West Tripler Guam Okinawa Camp Pendleton, CA LtCol Charles Johnson Wounded Warrior Battalion - West

WWBN-E BAMCNNMC NH Portsmouth NHCL WRAMC Andrews AFB VA PRC Richmond VA PRC Tampa VA PRC Minn Landstuhl I/Is East Camp Lejeune, NC LtCol Tom Siebenthal Wounded Warrior Battalion - East *** I-Is are our PAT teams

Guam Hawaii Okinawa Landstuhl Camp Lejeune Camp Pendleton Quantico WWR services the Total Force – Active Duty / Reserve / Retired / Former Marines Level of Effort Current (Mil / Civ): 212 Contractor Support: 24 Future Total: 361 WW Regiment WW Battalions Patient Affairs Team (PAT)/VA Liaisons District Injured Support Cells (DISC) WW Company 120 Hometown Links (not shown) * Know that a Regimental Marine is in your area Help is out there Call Center (877)

Item #5 How Can You Help?

Know about the Wounded Warrior Call Center They can solve any issue, or they know who can. To reach the Wounded Warrior Call Center, call (877) 4USMCWW ((877) ). For more information on the Wounded Warrior Regiment, visit

Guam Hawaii Okinawa Landstuhl Camp Lejeune Camp Pendleton Quantico WWR services the Total Force – Active Duty / Reserve / Retired / Former Marines Level of Effort Current (Mil / Civ): 212 Contractor Support: 24 Future Total: 361 WW Regiment WW Battalions Patient Affairs Team (PAT)/VA Liaisons District Injured Support Cells (DISC) WW Company 120 Hometown Links (not shown) * Know that a Regimental Marine is in your area Help is out there Call Center (877)

Know that you can and should talk to Wounded Warriors Were you injured? (Do you mind telling me) What Happened? How are you doing? –Their response….”I’m Fine” You should disagree “I could never handle that” etc… Did you loose a friend? –If so, it is the worst thing that happened. Say nothing negative –Especiappy “anti-war” Thank you, etc… What unit were you in? –Best unit in the Army. –If a Marine, it is important. But not as much.

Spread the word Call Center My Web Site – –Money is not involved in any way –Sharing stories is important. The concept of the Barracks Internet Stories –Find a story of this Warrior, and tell him/her about it. Donations are amazing – They contact other organizations if at all possible Smart

Spread information Remember, they are people Visit. Talk. Help. Try to provide HOPE.

Questions?