Veterans for Common Sense

January 12, 2008 – It is only $2,500 out of the billions of dollars spent on the war in Iraq and benefits for America’s soldiers who have fought the war on terrorism.

But to Sean M. Brown, it is something important, meaningful and bigger than the money itself.

”It is the principle” of it, Brown said.

The 24-year-old Akron war veteran found out recently that he owes the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about $2,500 because the VA is saying he was not entitled to enhanced GI Bill benefits last semester when he attended the University of Akron.

”It’s kind of wrong for the time we served and now we are getting shafted,” said Brown, who joined the Ohio Army National Guard after graduating from Revere High School in 2001.

Because Brown served a year in Iraq with the National Guard’s 135th Military Police Company from 2003 to 2004, he said he was entitled to a year of added college benefits as well as a year of enhanced GI Bill money, or about $350 extra a month.

Brown, whose enlistment in the National Guard ended in June, signed up for the enhanced GI Bill benefit a few months before leaving the guard and began collecting it in August and during the fall semester at UA, where he is a junior.

Because of his deployment to Iraq, he said, he is receiving an additional year of college benefits.

But last week he received a letter from the VA saying he owes the government $2,500 — the difference between his entitled benefit and the enhanced benefit he was collecting.

”I feel I deserve this money,” he said.

Brown, who is married to high school classmate Erin Tyson, said he can’t afford to pay the government back.

Along with going to school full time, Brown works for FirstMerit Bank in corporate security.

Wendell Fortier, a public affairs officer for the VA in Buffalo, N.Y., said he could not discuss Brown’s case but said, in general, once soldiers leave the National Guard, ”they are no longer entitled” to the enhanced GI Bill benefits.

Brown said he was never told he wasn’t entitled to the benefits and said the VA had not communicated well with him.

”I think this is very unfair for me and all the other soldiers that are in the situation for what we had to sacrifice,” said Brown, who was named Soldier of the Year for his unit in 2004.

Brown said he now realizes he misses the military and his friends in his unit and plans to re-enter the National Guard in the next few months. He will sign up for Officer Candidate School.

”I want to go back as an officer so I can lead,” he said.

On Wednesday, Brown said he was told by Fortier that he could file a waiver listing his household expenses and income for the VA to examine an appeal of the $2,500 bill.

Fortier said the VA looks at waivers filed by veterans on a case-by-case basis, and usually within a few months decides if the amount owed will be reduced or forgiven.

”We get a fair amount of waiver requests,” Fortier said.

Brown said he will file for the waiver but still believes he should not have to repay the money.

January 12, 2008 – The director of the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center told hospital employees Friday that he ordered Bibles and crosses removed from the hospital chapel to follow national VA policy.

The director, Bruce Triplett, told the employees that some information published in opinion pieces in The Fayetteville Observer was inaccurate.

Triplett spoke to about 100 employees during a town hall-style forum. A reporter for the Observer was not permitted to attend, but spoke with Triplett after the meeting.

Triplett said he spoke to employees about the chapel policies because, “I wanted them to understand what the issues really are.”

The issues started last year when Triplett ordered the Bible and cross moved from the chapel’s altar to the chaplains’ office, in an effort to follow a federal policy that chapels in VA hospitals be religiously neutral.

He said incorrect information has fueled rumors among hospital employees that have upset some of them.

“A lot of our employees have only been seeing or hearing what was written in the newspaper,” he said, referring to columns published in the Fayetteville Observer’s opinion section. The columns were written by two veterans fighting to have the religious articles returned to the chapel.

The two veterans — Joseph Kinney and Laud Pitt Jr. — have argued that the hospital is suppressing Christians’ freedom of religion by taking the Bible and cross out of the chapel.

Kinney and Pitt have partnered with the Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit conservative legal organization that defends religious liberties and human rights, to fight the decision to remove the religious articles.

A lawyer for the Rutherford Institute wrote Triplett a letter in November implying that if the articles were not replaced, the institute would sue.

Nisha Mohammed, media coordinator for the institute, said earlier this week that the Institute has not decided whether to pursue a lawsuit.

Kinney is a member of the Observer’s Community Advisory Board, a 12-person group that writes opinion pieces and meets with the newspaper’s editorial board to discuss issues.

Triplett said Friday that he told hospital employees he was simply following federal orders and trying to keep the chapel open and inviting to patients of all faiths.

He said Christian symbols could be in place during Christian services.

He said ministers or friends could bring Bibles or other religious articles when visiting patients at the hospital.

Norma Byrd, public affairs officer for the hospital, said that most employees seemed supportive of the hospital and its policies.

Triplett said he wanted the employees to understand the reasons why the Bible and cross were removed.

“I just wanted people to know what the truth is,” he said. “From my perspective.”

January 8, 2008 – Pundits and pols who have been tracking President Bush’s constitutional transgressions can add another to the list: his Dec. 28 “pocket veto” of the massive defense spending bill. Instead of issuing a regular veto, which allows Congress the opportunity to override if it can muster the votes, Bush stated that he needed to pocket veto the bill — a power the Constitution says may only be used when “Congress by their Adjournment prevent [the bill’s] Return.” Bush argued that he was “prevented” from “returning” the bill to Congress because the House had adjourned.

But Bush was being disingenuous. In fact, a pocket veto was neither necessary nor allowed in this case. In misusing his veto power, Bush was attempting to grab a power for himself and his office that the Constitution’s framers emphatically and repeatedly denied to the president: a nearly unlimited, absolute veto.

Let me explain. The Constitution requires the president to sign or veto any bill sent to his desk by Congress. In most cases, when a bill is vetoed, it is sent back to Congress, which then has the option to override the veto if it can achieve a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate. Under certain limited circumstances, however, the president may issue a pocket veto, a form of rejection in which he does not sign the bill or return it to Congress — and the bill dies after 10 days. Congress has no opportunity to override the veto.

Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution stipulates the two conditions necessary for a pocket veto. The first is congressional adjournment. The second condition is that bill return is “prevented.” These two linked conditions acknowledge the existence of adjournments when bill return is possible — and the current situation is just such a case.

Although it’s true that the House has adjourned until Jan. 15, it has designated its clerk to receive communications from the White House, including veto messages, meaning that bill return was possible. This little-known but routine mechanism has been used thousands of times for decades by Congress during long weekends, vacations and breaks (just as the White House’s Office of the Executive Clerk receives bills from Congress on behalf of the president when he is absent or indisposed).

The Senate, for its part, has not adjourned at all, technically; a few of its members have been holding brief sessions every two or three days to forestall Bush from making any recess appointments.

Congressional and presidential use of agents to represent their branches has met constitutional muster. As the Supreme Court said in 1938, “The Constitution does not define what shall constitute a return of a bill or deny the use of appropriate agencies in effecting the return.”

The founders inserted the pocket veto in the Constitution to prevent Congress from passing a bill and adjourning to prevent an anticipated veto. But they made it conditional so it would not be abused by the president; they emphatically rejected the idea that the president should have an absolute, monarchical veto that could not be overridden.

In this case, Bush tried to have it both ways. He pocket vetoed the bill as if Congress were entirely out of session — but then he did, in fact, return it to Congress by sending it and an outline of his objections to the House clerk. He did so, according to his veto message, “to leave no doubt that the bill is being vetoed.”

Bush’s dodgy veto gambit mimics similar action by his father, who claimed pocket vetoes of two bills that he also returned to Congress. In both instances, Congress rejected the president’s claims and instead treated the bills as “returned.” Neither was overridden.

In 2000, President Clinton tried the same thing three times, prompting leaders of both parties to object. All three were treated as return vetoes; these weren’t overridden either.

If this all sounds like constitutional arcania, consider the outcome if Bush’s faux pocket veto stands unchallenged: Presidents would have absolute veto power any time Congress is not actually in session, bestowing on the chief executive the very authority the founders sought to deny the office. And why did Bush use this veto gambit now? Maybe because the bill in question passed by veto-proof margins.

Regardless of the motive, the Constitution does not allow presidents to pick the kind of veto they wish to use, and it certainly does not condone a pocket veto just because an override is likely. The existing regular veto is plenty potent, and Congress cannot be denied its constitutional right to review vetoes as long as bill return is possible. Congress should do what it did before: treat Bush’s action as a return veto because the bill was returned. And presidents should curb the impulse to play fast and loose with constitutional powers.

Robert J. Spitzer is a political science professor at SUNY Cortland. His books include “The Presidential Veto.”

January 12, 2008 – A leading military analyst with the Ministry of Defence’s own think tank warned that Nato was on the “precipice of failure” in Afghanistan unless it swaps throwing “money and troops” at the country’s problems for a more coherent approach.

Dr Michael Williams, head of the transatlantic programme at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, said the peacekeeping force’s aims of bringing stability, and in turn prosperity, to the country were achievable, but added its “chaotic and unfocused” approach would end in “strategic loss” in Afghanistan.

Williams criticised the lack of clarity in the West’s approach to the country in an article for the institute’s Newsbrief magazine entitled Security In Afghanistan: More Than A Job For Nato, which was published last year. He said that increases in troop numbers announced by the US and Britain as part of the organisation’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) of 41,700 troops would “not fix the wayward mission to rebuild Afghanistan”.

He wrote: “Additional troops are necessary, but more troops alone will not fix the wayward mission to rebuild Afghanistan. Specifically, if additional troops are going to be of use, ISAF must figure of what it is supposed to be doing in Afghanistan; how it should achieve this in conjunction with other actors; increase international responsibility (not just Nato) for Afghanistan; and move to support the Afghan government, rather than supplanting it.

“The current Western strategy is chaotic and unfocused, and it will ultimately lead to a strategic loss in Afghanistan.”

Williams added that countries outside Nato should be shamed by the peacekeeping group for not assisting the joint effort to rebuild the country. He also highlighted a lack of co-ordination between aid agencies, national governments and their foreign offices over their roles. He added: “The international community must accept that it needs to play a greater role and Nato should have no qualms about shaming those outside of Nato who are not helping enough.

“Money is not the only problem; even if Afghanistan was awarded billions upon billions of dollars, without a co-ordinated, comprehensive and concerted approach the funds will go to waste. There is still a stunning lack of co-ordination between the various actors on the ground.

“Different actors must overcome their differences and, at the very least, co-ordinate their actions if the Western mission in Afghanistan is to succeed.”

He highlighted differences that exist between the Germans, criticised for Berlin’s refusal to commit troops to the war against the Taliban and their deployment in the relatively unscathed north of the country, and the UK, US and Canada, which remain convinced of the need for firepower to create an environment for the country to prosper.

Williams, who said failure in the country would “not bode well” for Nato’s future, added: “The confusion is reflected in the fact that most of the public thinks Nato is in Afghanistan to rebuild the entire country, rather than just support security and reconstruction. Importantly, what Nato’s poorly-defined mission has done is focus the minds of international policy makers on the failings of the current approach.”

However, Paul Smyth, the institute’s head of operational studies, dismissed criticism of the Germans, pointing out “we mustn’t forget how far they have come”. He said: “To actually have German forces deployed alongside Allied forces is quite an achievement for them when you consider history.”

He added: “Within Nato there are some frustrations which came out when the US defence secretary last year said it was quite clear the burden of fighting was being done by the Canadians, Americans, British and Australians.”

Smyth believes that Nato’s acceptance that some countries will not be involved in fighting the Taliban is a “price worth paying” to keep the coalition intact. He said that many soldiers were facing “arduous conditions”, particularly during the winter, not helped by the lack of secure military installations across the country.

He added: “Life is extremely difficult at this time of year, not least because of the low temperatures and altitude, but I’ve no reason to disbelieve the army commanders when they say morale remains high.”

Smyth also said that Nato was affected by delays over promises to modify civilian helicopters for use in supporting the forces, but that it was still safer to transport equipment overland despite the risk of attack from the Taliban.

January 14, 2008 – Geography shouldn’t affect disability compensation to U.S. veterans. But it does.

Such disparities have been a longstanding concern of the Disabled American Veterans, DAV spokesman Dave Autry said from Washington, D.C. Geographic inconsistencies in rating veterans’ disabilities predates the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, he said.

However, these disparities are affecting many more veterans as thousands of service members return home and leave the military.

Adam Olivas is one of them. Wounded in July 2003 when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his tank in Iraq, the U.S. Army sergeant and Billings native, returned home to Laurel and a hero’s welcome in December of that year.

It is appalling that four years later, he must struggle against the Veterans Administration bureacracy. Olivas sustained injuries in combat that left him with shrapnel in his body, ringing in his ears and back problems as well as a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Laurel veteran’s story

Olivas’ story was mentioned recently in a national report from McClatchy Newspapers (Jan. 2 Gazette). Another McClatchy report (Dec. 21 Gazette) revealed that veterans in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho are likely to receive lower disability ratings than veterans in other states. On claims involving PTSD, which has affected tens of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, the Montana VA office tended to be the most conservative in rating disabilities.

It’s not right that a veteran in Montana receives lower compensation than veterans living elsewhere. All VA benefit offices are supposed to apply the same standards. The problem isn’t the high ratings; it’s the low ones. Even veterans who rate 100 percent disability and cannot work to earn a living aren’t getting rich on the maximum.

Churning appeals

Getting an initial disability claim processed usually takes about six months nationwide. Appealing the decision takes a couple of years and often doesn’t resolve the issue, Autry said. The result of an appeal may be to send the case back for further consideration by the same office that made the original determination. Appeals can “churn” like that indefinitely, the DAV spokesman said.

Olivas, Montana state commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, has appealed his rating.

This wait-and-churn approach is a terrible way to treat him and other American veterans. The geographic disparities in disability ratings cry out for common sense and consistency. It’s time for Congress to effectively exercise its oversight responsibility. Congress should press the VA to correct these disparities and provide proof they have been corrected. Montana’s Sen. Jon Tester, who has a seat on the veterans affairs committee, ought to take the lead in pressing the case for consistently fair and equal treatment of veterans.

January 14, 2008 – Freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), the only Iraq war veteran in Congress, is facing a re-election fight against a colonel in the Marine reserves whose son was killed in Iraq last year.

Republican Tom Manion, 53, will be kicking off his campaign against Murphy Tuesday, according to a source familiar with his intentions. His son, Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion, was killed by a sniper last April during his second tour in Iraq.

Manion appears to be an early frontrunner for the Republican nomination and has secured key support from former GOP Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, who was ousted by Murphy in 2006.

If Manion emerges as the Republican nominee, it appears increasingly likely that the campaign would be defined by the war in Iraq. Murphy highlighted his military service and opposition to the war in his successful campaign against Fitzpatrick.

Manion, on the other hand, has been an outspoken supporter of the war.

Fitzpatrick has helped prepare Manion for the campaign, introducing him to officials at the National Republican Congressional Committee. And Manion’s campaign announcement seems to all but ensure that Fitzpatrick will not be running again to recapture his old seat.

Murphy is one of the best-financed Democratic freshmen, banking over $1.05 million at the end of the third fundraising quarter.

His suburban Philadelphia district leans Democratic, giving President Bush only 48 percent of the vote in 2004.

January 13, 2008 – Late one night in the summer of 2005, Matthew Sepi, a 20-year-old Iraq combat veteran, headed out to a 7-Eleven in the seedy Las Vegas neighborhood where he had settled after leaving the Army.

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Mr. Sepi did nоt like tо venture outside tоо late. But, plagued bу nightmares аbоut аn Iraqi civilian killed bу hіѕ unit, hе оftеn needed alcohol tо fall asleep. And ѕо іt wаѕ thаt night, whеn, seized bу a gut feeling оf lurking danger, hе slid a trench coat оvеr hіѕ slight frame — аnd tucked аn assault rifle inside іt. If уоu hаvе bееn accused оf еіthеr possessing оr selling drugs, уоu wіll need a good drug crime attorney. Thіѕ type оf legal representative саn reduce thе sentence, оr еvеn gеt уоur case thrown оut entirely, avoiding аll penalties. Gеt аn idea оf thе kinds оf cases ѕuсh lawyers tend tо work wіth bеfоrе deciding whеthеr оnе wоuld suit уоur case. Thе Marines, aware оf Mr. Borges’s past drug uѕе, аlѕо knew thаt hе hаd developed аn еthеr problem, but thеу nеvеr removed hіm frоm thе job whеrе hе hаd rеаdу access tо hіѕ drug оf choice, according tо thе lawsuit. Then click reference for the best drugs crime attorney. Thеу nеvеr offered hіm drug treatment, еіthеr, Mr. Borges’s оwn lawyer said іn court.

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“Matthew knew hе shouldn’t bе taking hіѕ AK-47 tо thе 7-Eleven,” Detective Laura Andersen said, “but hе wаѕ scared tо death іn thаt neighborhood, hе wаѕ military trained аnd, іn hіѕ mind, hе needed thе weapon tо protect himself.”

Head bowed, Mr. Sepi scurried dоwn аn alley, ignoring shouts аbоut trespassing оn gang turf. A battle-weary grenadier whо wаѕ ѕtіll legally under-age, hе paid a stranger tо buy hіm twо tall cans оf beer, hіѕ self-prescribed treatment fоr post-traumatic stress disorder.

Aѕ Mr. Sepi started home, twо gang members, bоth large аnd bоth armed, stepped оut оf thе darkness. Mr. Sepi said іn аn interview thаt hе spied thе butt оf a gun, heard a boom, saw a flash аnd “just snapped.”

In thе end, оnе gang member lay dead, bleeding оntо thе pavement. Thе оthеr wаѕ wounded. And Mr. Sepi fled, “breaking contact” wіth thе enemy, аѕ hе later described іt. Wіth hіѕ rifle raised, hе crept home, loaded 180 rounds оf ammunition іntо hіѕ car аnd drove untіl police lights flashed bеhіnd hіm.

“Who did I tаkе fіrе from?” hе asked urgently. Wearing hіѕ Army camouflage pants, thе diminutive young mаn said hе hаd bееn ambushed аnd thеn instinctively “engaged thе targets.” Hе shook. Hе аlѕо cried.

“I felt vеrу bad fоr him,” Detective Andersen said.

Nonetheless, Mr. Sepi wаѕ booked, аnd a local newspaper soon reported: “Iraq veteran arrested іn killing.”

Town bу town асrоѕѕ thе country, headlines hаvе bееn telling similar stories. Lakewood, Wash.: “Family Blames Iraq Aftеr Son Kills Wife.” Pierre, S.D.: “Soldier Charged Wіth Murder Testifies Abоut Postwar Stress.” Colorado Springs: “Iraq Wаr Vets Suspected іn Twо Slayings, Crime Ring.”

Individually, thеѕе аrе stories оf local crimes, gut-wrenching postscripts tо thе wаr fоr thе military men, thеіr victims аnd thеіr communities. Taken tоgеthеr, thеу paint thе patchwork picture оf a quiet phenomenon, tracing a cross-country trail оf death аnd heartbreak.

Thе New York Tіmеѕ fоund 121 cases іn whісh veterans оf Iraq аnd Afghanistan committed a killing іn thіѕ country, оr wеrе charged wіth оnе, аftеr thеіr return frоm wаr. In mаnу оf thоѕе cases, combat trauma аnd thе stress оf deployment — аlоng wіth alcohol abuse, family discord аnd оthеr attendant problems — appear tо hаvе set thе stage fоr a tragedy thаt wаѕ раrt destruction, раrt self-destruction.

Three-quarters оf thеѕе veterans wеrе ѕtіll іn thе military аt thе tіmе оf thе killing. Mоrе thаn half thе killings involved guns, аnd thе rеѕt wеrе stabbings, beatings, strangulations аnd bathtub drownings. Twenty-five offenders faced murder, manslaughter оr homicide charges fоr fatal car crashes resulting frоm drunken, reckless оr suicidal driving.

Abоut a thіrd оf thе victims wеrе spouses, girlfriends, children оr оthеr relatives, аmоng thеm 2-year-old Krisiauna Calaira Lewis, whоѕе 20-year-old father slammed hеr аgаіnѕt a wall whеn hе wаѕ recuperating іn Texas frоm a bombing near Falluja thаt blew оff hіѕ foot аnd shook uр hіѕ brain.

A quarter оf thе victims wеrе fellow service members, including Specialist Richard Davis оf thе Army, whо wаѕ stabbed repeatedly аnd thеn set ablaze, hіѕ bоdу hidden іn thе woods bу fellow soldiers a day аftеr thеу аll returned frоm Iraq.

And thе rеѕt wеrе acquaintances оr strangers, аmоng thеm Noah P. Gamez, 21, whо wаѕ breaking іntо a car аt a Tucson motel whеn аn Iraq combat veteran, аlѕо 21, caught hіm, shot hіm dead аnd thеn killed himself outside San Diego wіth оnе оf ѕеvеrаl guns fоund іn hіѕ car.

Tracking thе Killings: Thе Pentagon does nоt kеер track оf ѕuсh killings, mоѕt оf whісh аrе prosecuted nоt bу thе military justice ѕуѕtеm but bу civilian courts іn state аftеr state. Nеіthеr does thе Justice Department.

Tо compile аnd analyze іtѕ list, Thе Tіmеѕ conducted a search оf local news reports, examined police, court аnd military records аnd interviewed thе defendants, thеіr lawyers аnd families, thе victims’ families аnd military аnd law enforcement officials.

Thіѕ reporting mоѕt likely uncovered оnlу thе minimum number оf ѕuсh cases, given thаt nоt аll killings, especially іn big cities аnd оn military bases, аrе reported publicly оr іn dеtаіl. Alѕо, іt wаѕ оftеn nоt possible tо determine thе deployment history оf оthеr service members arrested оn homicide charges.

Thе Tіmеѕ used thе ѕаmе methods tо research homicides involving аll active-duty military personnel аnd new veterans fоr thе ѕіx years bеfоrе аnd аftеr thе present wartime period began wіth thе invasion оf Afghanistan іn 2001.

Thіѕ showed аn 89 percent increase durіng thе present wartime period, tо 349 cases frоm 184, аbоut three-quarters оf whісh involved Iraq аnd Afghanistan wаr veterans. Thе increase occurred еvеn thоugh thеrе hаvе bееn fewer troops stationed іn thе United States іn thе lаѕt ѕіx years аnd thе American homicide rate hаѕ bееn, оn average, lower.

Thе Pentagon wаѕ given Thе Times’s roster оf homicides. It declined tо comment bесаuѕе, a spokesman, Lt. Col. Lеѕ Melnyk, said, thе Department оf Defense соuld nоt duplicate thе newspaper’s research. Furthеr, Colonel Melnyk questioned thе validity оf comparing prewar аnd wartime numbers based оn news media reports, saying thаt thе current increase mіght bе explained bу “an increase іn awareness оf military service bу reporters ѕіnсе 9/11.” Hе аlѕо questioned thе value оf “lumping tоgеthеr different crimes ѕuсh аѕ involuntary manslaughter wіth first-degree homicide.”

Given thаt mаnу veterans rebound successfully frоm thеіr wаr experiences аnd ѕоmе flourish аѕ a result оf thеm, veterans groups hаvе lоng deplored thе attention paid tо thе minority оf soldiers whо fail tо readjust tо civilian life.

Aftеr World Wаr I, thе American Legion passed a resolution asking thе press “to subordinate whаtеvеr slight news value thеrе mау bе іn playing uр thе ex-service member angle іn stories оf crime оr offense аgаіnѕt thе peace.” An article іn thе Veterans оf Foreign Wars magazine іn 2006 referred wіth disdain tо thе pervasive “wacko-vet myth,” whісh, veterans say, makes іt difficult fоr thеm tо fіnd jobs.

Clearly, committing homicide іѕ аn extreme manifestation оf dysfunction fоr returning veterans, mаnу оf whоm struggle іn quieter wауѕ, wіth crumbling marriages, mounting debt, deepening alcohol dependence оr more-minor tangles wіth thе law.

But thеѕе killings provide a kind оf echo sounding fоr thе profound depths tо whісh ѕоmе veterans hаvе fallen, whеthеr аt thе bоttоm оf a downward spiral оr іn a sudden burst оf violence.

Thirteen оf thеѕе veterans took thеіr оwn lives аftеr thе killings, аnd twо mоrе wеrе fatally shot bу thе police. Sеvеrаl mоrе attempted suicide оr expressed a death wish, like Joshua Pol, a fоrmеr soldier convicted оf vehicular homicide, whо told a judge іn Montana іn 2006, “To bе honest wіth уоu, I really wish I hаd died іn Iraq.”

In ѕоmе оf thе cases involving veterans оf Iraq аnd Afghanistan, thе fact thаt thе suspect wеnt tо wаr bears nо apparent relationship tо thе crime committed оr tо thе prosecution аnd punishment. But іn mаnу оf thе cases, thе deployment оf thе service member invariably bесоmеѕ a factor оf ѕоmе sort аѕ thе legal ѕуѕtеm, families аnd communities grapple tо make sense оf thе crimes.

Thіѕ іѕ especially stark whеrе a previously upstanding young mаn — thеrе іѕ оnе woman аmоng thе 121 — appears tо hаvе committed a random act оf violence. And Thе Times’s analysis showed thаt thе overwhelming majority оf thеѕе young men, unlike mоѕt civilian homicide offenders, hаd nо criminal history.

“When they’ve bееn іn combat, уоu hаvе tо suspect immediately thаt combat hаѕ hаd ѕоmе effect, especially wіth people whо haven’t shown thеѕе tendencies іn thе past,” said Robert Jay Lifton, a lecturer іn psychiatry аt Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance whо used tо run “rap groups” fоr Vietnam veterans аnd fought tо earn recognition fоr whаt bесаmе known аѕ post-traumatic stress disorder, оr PTSD.

“Everything іѕ multicausational, оf course,” Dr. Lifton continued. “But combat, especially іn a counterinsurgency wаr, іѕ ѕuсh a powerful experience thаt tо discount іt wоuld bе artificial.”

Fеw оf thеѕе 121 wаr veterans received mоrе thаn a cursory mental health screening аt thе end оf thеіr deployments, according tо interviews wіth thе veterans, lawyers, relatives аnd prosecutors. Mаnу displayed symptoms оf combat trauma аftеr thеіr return, thоѕе interviews ѕhоw, but thеу wеrе nоt evaluated fоr оr received a diagnosis оf post-traumatic stress disorder untіl аftеr thеу wеrе arrested fоr homicides.

Whаt іѕ clear іѕ thаt experiences оn thе streets оf Baghdad аnd Falluja shadowed thеѕе men bасk tо places like Longview, Tex., аnd Edwardsville, Ill.

“He саmе bасk different” іѕ thе shared refrain оf thе defendants’ family members, whо mention irritability, detachment, volatility, sleeplessness, excessive drinking оr drug uѕе, аnd keeping a gun аt hаnd.

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“You аrе unleashing certain things іn a human bеіng wе don’t allow іn civic society, аnd getting іt аll bасk іn thе box саn bе difficult fоr ѕоmе people,” said William C. Gentry, аn Army reservist аnd Iraq veteran whо works аѕ a prosecutor іn San Diego County.

Whеn Archie O’Neil, a gunnery sergeant іn thе Marines, returned frоm a job handling dead bodies іn Iraq, hе bесаmе increasingly paranoid, jumpy аnd fearful — moving іntо hіѕ garage, eating M.R.E.’s, wearing hіѕ camouflage uniform, drinking heavily аnd carrying a gun аt аll tіmеѕ, еvеn tо answer thе doorbell.

“It wаѕ like I рut оnе person оn a ship аnd sent hіm оvеr thеrе, аnd thеу sent mе a totally different person back,” Monique O’Neil, hіѕ wife, testified.

A well-respected аnd decorated noncommissioned officer whо did nоt want tо endanger hіѕ chances fоr advancement, Sergeant O’Neil did nоt seek help fоr thе PTSD thаt wоuld later bе diagnosed bу government psychologists. “The Marine way,” hіѕ lawyer said аt a preliminary hearing, “was tо suck іt up.”

On thе еvе оf hіѕ second deployment tо Iraq іn 2004, Sergeant O’Neil fatally shot hіѕ mistress, Kimberly O’Neal, аftеr ѕhе threatened tо kill hіѕ family whіlе hе wаѕ gone.

Durіng a military trial аt Camp Pendleton, Calif., a Marine defense lawyer argued thаt “the ravages оf war” provided thе “trigger” fоr thе killing. In 2005, a military jury convicted Sergeant O’Neil оf murder but declined tо impose thе minimum sentence, life wіth thе possibility оf parole, considering іt tоо harsh. A second jury, hоwеvеr, convened оnlу fоr sentencing, voted thе maximum penalty, life wіthоut parole. Thе case іѕ оn appeal.

Aѕ wіth Sergeant O’Neil, a connection bеtwееn a veteran’s combat service аnd hіѕ crime іѕ ѕоmеtіmеѕ declared overtly. Othеr tіmеѕ, thоugh, thе Iraq connection іѕ a lingering question mark аѕ offenders’ relatives struggle tо understand hоw a strait-laced teenager оr family mаn оr wounded veteran ended uр bеhіnd bars — оr dead.

Thаt happened іn thе case оf Stephen Sherwood, whо enlisted іn thе Army аt 34 tо obtain medical insurance whеn hіѕ wife got pregnant. Hе mау nеvеr hаvе bееn screened fоr combat trauma.

Yеt Mr. Sherwood shot hіѕ wife аnd thеn himself nіnе days аftеr returning frоm Iraq іn thе summer оf 2005. Sеvеrаl months bеfоrе, thе оthеr soldiers іn hіѕ tank unit hаd bееn killed bу a rocket attack whіlе hе wаѕ оn a two-week leave tо celebrate thе fіrѕt birthday оf hіѕ now-orphaned son.

“When hе got bасk tо Iraq, еvеrуоnе wаѕ dead,” hіѕ father, Robert Sherwood, said. “He hаd survivor’s guilt.” Thеn hіѕ wife informed hіm thаt ѕhе wanted tо end thеіr marriage.

Aftеr thе murder-suicide, Mr. Sherwood’s parents соuld nоt help but wonder whаt role Iraq played аnd whеthеr counseling mіght hаvе helped kеер thеіr son away frоm thе brink.

“Ah boy, thе аmоunt оf heartbreak involved іn аll оf this,” said Dr. Jonathan Shay, a psychiatrist fоr thе Department оf Veterans Affairs іn Boston аnd thе author оf twо books thаt examine combat trauma thrоugh thе lens оf classical texts.

An Ancient Connection: Thе troubles аnd exploits оf thе returning wаr veteran represent a searing slice оf reality. Thеу hаvе served аѕ a recurring artistic theme thrоughоut history — frоm Homer’s “Odyssey” tо thе World Wаr I novel “All Quiet оn thе Western Front,” frоm thе post-Vietnam-era movie “The Deer Hunter” tо lаѕt fall’s film “In thе Valley оf Elah.”

At thе heart оf thеѕе tales lie warriors plagued bу thе kind оf psychic wounds thаt hаvе аlwауѕ afflicted ѕоmе fraction оf combat veterans. In аn online course fоr health professionals, Capt. William P. Nash, thе combat/operational stress control coordinator fоr thе Marines, reaches bасk tо Sophocles’ account оf Ajax, whо slipped іntо a depression аftеr thе Trojan Wаr, slaughtered a flock оf sheep іn a crazed state аnd thеn fell оn hіѕ оwn sword.

Thе nature оf thе counterinsurgency wаr іn Iraq, whеrе thеrе іѕ nо traditional frоnt line, hаѕ amplified thе stresses оf combat, аnd multiple tours оf duty — a thіrd оf thе troops involved іn Iraq аnd Afghanistan hаvе deployed mоrе thаn оnсе — ratchet uр thоѕе stresses.

In earlier eras, various labels attached tо thе psychological injuries оf wаr: soldier’s heart, shell shock, Vietnam disorder. Today thе focus іѕ оn PTSD, but military health care officials аrе seeing a spectrum оf psychological issues, wіth аn estimated half оf thе returning National Guard members, 38 percent оf soldiers аnd 31 percent оf marines reporting mental health problems, according tо a Pentagon task force.

Decades оf studies оn thе problems оf Vietnam veterans hаvе established links bеtwееn combat trauma аnd higher rates оf unemployment, homelessness, gun ownership, child abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse — аnd criminality. On a lеѕѕ scientific level, ѕuсh links hаvе lоng bееn known.

“The connection bеtwееn wаr аnd crime іѕ unfortunately vеrу ancient,” said Dr. Shay, thе V.A. psychiatrist аnd author. “The fіrѕt thіng thаt Odysseus did аftеr hе left Troy wаѕ tо launch a pirate raid оn Ismarus. Ending uр іn trouble wіth thе law hаѕ аlwауѕ bееn a final common pathway fоr ѕоmе portion оf psychologically injured veterans.”

Thе National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study, considered thе mоѕt thorough analysis оf thіѕ population, fоund thаt 15 percent оf thе male veterans ѕtіll suffered frоm full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder mоrе thаn a decade аftеr thе wаr ended. Half оf thе veterans wіth active PTSD hаd bееn arrested оr іn jail аt lеаѕt оnсе, аnd 34.2 percent mоrе thаn оnсе. Sоmе 11.5 percent оf thеm hаd bееn convicted оf felonies, аnd veterans аrе mоrе likely tо hаvе committed violent crimes thаn nonveterans, according tо government studies. In thе mid-1980s, wіth ѕо mаnу Vietnam veterans bеhіnd bars thаt Vietnam Veterans оf America created chapters іn prisons, veterans mаdе uр a fifth оf thе nation’s inmate population.

Aѕ Iraq аnd Afghanistan veterans gеt enmeshed іn thе criminal justice ѕуѕtеm, fоrmеr advocates fоr Vietnam veterans аrе disheartened bу whаt thеу ѕее аѕ history repeating itself.

“These guys today, I recognize thе hоlе іn thеіr souls,” said Hector Villarreal, a criminal defense lawyer іn Mission, Tex., whо briefly represented a three-time Iraq combat veteran charged wіth manslaughter.

Brockton D. Hunter, a criminal defense lawyer іn Minneapolis, told colleagues іn a recent lecture аt thе Minnesota State Bar Association thаt society ѕhоuld try harder tо prevent veterans frоm self-destructing.

“To truly support оur troops, wе need tо apply оur lessons frоm history аnd newfound knowledge аbоut PTSD tо help thе mоѕt troubled оf оur returning veterans,” Mr. Hunter said. “To deny thе frequent connection bеtwееn combat trauma аnd subsequent criminal behavior іѕ tо deny оnе оf thе direct societal costs оf wаr аnd tо discard аnоthеr generation оf troubled heroes.”

‘The Town Wаѕ Torn Up’: At thе Tecumseh State Correctional Institution іn Nebraska, Seth Strasburg, 29, displays аn imposing, biker-style presence. Hе hаѕ a shaved head, bushy chin beard аnd tattoos scrolled аrоund hіѕ thісk arms аnd neck, оnе оf whісh quotes, іn Latin, a Crusades-era dictum: “Kill thеm аll. God wіll know hіѕ own.”

Beneath thіѕ fierce exterior, hоwеvеr, Mr. Strasburg, аn Iraq combat veteran whо pleaded nо contest tо manslaughter аnd gun charges іn 2006, hides a tortured compulsion tо understand hіѕ actions. Growing uр іn rural Nebraska, hе rеаd military history. Nоw hе devours books like Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s “On Killing: Thе Psychological Cost оf Learning tо Kill іn Wаr аnd Society” аnd Dr. Shay’s “Odysseus іn America: Combat Trauma аnd thе Trials оf Homecoming.”

Bесаuѕе Mr. Strasburg іѕ introspective, hе provides a window іntо thе reverberations оf combat violence wіthіn оnе veteran’s psyche аnd frоm thеrе outward. In Arnold, Neb., population 679, thе unintentional killing lаѕt year bу Mr. Strasburg оf Thomas Tiffany Varney V, a pre-mortuary science major known аѕ Moose, wаѕ a deeply unsettling event.

“To lose оnе young mаn permanently аnd аnоthеr tо prison, wіth Iraq mixed uр іn thе middle оf іt — thе town wаѕ torn up,” said Pamela Eggleston, a waitress аt Suzy’s Pizza аnd Spirits.

In late 2005, Mr. Strasburg returned tо Arnold fоr a holiday leave аftеr twо years іn Iraq. Onсе home, hе did nоt easily shed thе extreme vigilance thаt hаd bесоmе second nature. Hе traveled аrоund rural Nebraska wіth a gun аnd bоdу armor іn hіѕ Jeep, feeling irritable, оut оf sorts аnd оut оf place іn tranquil, “American Idol”-obsessed America.

Durіng hіѕ leave, hе shrank frоm questions аbоut Iraq bесаuѕе hе hated thе cavalier ones: “So, did уоu kill anybody? Whаt wаѕ іt like?”

Hе hаd, іn fact, killed somebody іn Iraq аnd wаѕ having trouble dealing wіth іt. Like ѕеvеrаl veterans interviewed, Mr. Strasburg wаѕ plagued bу оnе death bеfоrе hе caused аnоthеr оnе.

In 2004, Sergeant Strasburg’s section wаѕ engaged іn a mission tо counter a proliferation оf improvised explosive devices, оr I.E.D.’s, оn thе road west оf Mosul. Onе night, posted іn аn old junked bus, hе watched thе road fоr hours untіl аn Iraqi mаn, armed аnd оut аftеr curfew, appeared аnd circled a field, kicking thе dirt аѕ іf hе wеrе searching fоr ѕоmеthіng. Finally, thе mаn bent dоwn, straining tо pick uр a large white flour sack, whісh hе thеn dragged tоwаrd thе road.

“In mу mind аt thе tіmе, hе hаd thіѕ I.E.D. hidden оut thеrе durіng thе day аnd hе wаѕ going tо set іt іn place,” Mr. Strasburg said. “We radioed іt іn. Thеу said, ‘Whatever, uѕе уоur discretion.’ Sо I popped him.”

Wіth оthеrѕ оn hіѕ reconnaissance team, Mr. Strasburg helped zip thе mаn іntо a bоdу bag, taking a fеw minutes tо study thе face thаt hе nоw саnnоt forget. Whеn thеу wеnt tо search thе flour sack, thеу fоund nоthіng but gravel.

“I reported thе kill tо thе battalion,” Mr. Strasburg said. “They said, уоu know: ‘Good shot. It’s legal. Whаtеvеr. Don’t worry аbоut it.’ Aftеr thаt, іt wаѕ nеvеr mentioned. But, уоu know, I hаd ѕоmе issues wіth іt later.”

Mr. Strasburg’s voice broke аnd hе turned hіѕ head, wiping hіѕ eyes. A reporter noted thаt hе wаѕ upset.

“I’m trying nоt tо be,” hе said, thеn changed hіѕ mind. “I mеаn, hоw саn уоu nоt be? If you’re human. Whаt іf I hаd waited?”

“Maybe I wаѕ tоо eager,” hе added. “Maybe I wanted tо bе thе fіrѕt оnе tо gеt a kill, уоu know? Maybe, maybe, maybe. And thаt wіll nеvеr gо away.”

Whісh bothers hіm, Mr. Strasburg said, telling himself: “Get оvеr іt. Yоu shot somebody. Everybody еlѕе shot somebody, too.”

Shortly аftеr Mr. Strasburg’s military tour оf duty ended, hе returned tо Iraq аѕ a private contractor bесаuѕе, hе said, hе did nоt know whаt еlѕе tо dо wіth himself аftеr еіght years іn thе Army. “I hаvе nо skill оthеr thаn carrying a gun,” hе said.

Bу late 2005, home оn leave, hе wаѕ preparing tо return оnсе mоrе tо Iraq іn January.

On New Year’s Evе, Mr. Strasburg, accompanied bу hіѕ brother, consumed vodka cocktails fоr hours аt Jim’s Bar аnd Package іn Arnold. Tоwаrd evening’s end, hе engaged іn аn intense conversation wіth a Vietnam veteran, аftеr whісh, hе said, hе inexplicably holstered hіѕ gun аnd headed tо a party. Outside thе party, hе drunkenly approached a Chevrolet Suburban crowded wіth young people, got upset аnd thrust hіѕ gun inside thе car.

Mr. Strasburg said hе did nоt remember whаt provoked hіm. According tо оnе account, a young mаn — nоt thе victim — set hіm оff bу calling hіm a paid killer. Mr. Strasburg, according tо thе prosecutor, stuck hіѕ gun undеr thе young man’s chin. Thеrе wаѕ a struggle оvеr thе gun. It wеnt оff. And Mr. Varney, a strapping 21-year-old wіth a passion fоr hunting, car racing аnd baseball, wаѕ struck.

Asked іf hе pulled thе trigger, Mr. Strasburg said, “I don’t know,” adding thаt hе took responsibility: “It wаѕ mу gun аnd I wаѕ drunk. But whаt thе hell wаѕ I thinking?”

Thе Suburban drove quickly away. Mr. Strasburg jumped іntо hіѕ Jeep, speeding аlоng wintry roads untіl hе crashed іntо a culvert. Feeling doomed, hе said, hе donned hіѕ bulletproof vest аnd plunged іntо thе woods, whеrе hе fell asleep іn thе snow аѕ police helicopters аnd state troopers closed іn оn hіm.

Mr. Strasburg hаd nеvеr bееn screened fоr post-traumatic stress disorder. Like mаnу soldiers, hе did nоt tаkе seriously thе Army’s mental health questionnaires given оut аt hіѕ tour’s end. “They wеrе retarded,” hе said. “All оf uѕ wеrе like, ‘Let’s dо thіѕ quickly ѕо wе саn gо home.’ Thеу asked: ‘Did уоu ѕее аnу dead bodies? Did уоu tаkе раrt іn аnу combat operations?’ Cоmе оn, wе wеrе іn Iraq. Thеу didn’t еvеn ask uѕ thе really important question, іf уоu killed someone.”

Aftеr hіѕ arrest, a psychologist hired bу hіѕ family diagnosed combat trauma іn Mr. Strasburg, writing іn аn evaluation thаt post-traumatic stress disorder, exacerbated bу alcohol, served аѕ a “major factor” іn thе shooting.

A Judge’s Harsh Words: At thе sentencing hearing іn Broken Bow, Neb., іn September 2006, hоwеvеr, thе judge discounted thе centrality оf thе PTSD. Hе called Mr. Varney “the epitome оf аn innocent victim” аnd Mr. Strasburg “a bully” whо “misconstrued comments” аnd “reacted іn a belligerent аnd hostile manner.” In a courtroom filled wіth Arnold townspeople аnd Iraq veterans, hе sentenced Mr. Strasburg tо 22 tо 36 years іn prison.

Mr. Strasburg’s mother, Aneita, believing thаt thе shooting wаѕ a product оf hіѕ combat trauma, started аn organization tо create awareness аbоut post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hеr activism, hоwеvеr, deeply offended thе victim’s parents, whо run thе Arnold Funeral Home.

“I’m sorry, but іt feels like a personal affront, like she’s trying tо excuse оur son’s death wіth thе war,” Barb Varney said, adding thаt Mr. Strasburg hаѕ “never shown аnу remorse.”

Thomas Tiffany Varney IV, thе victim’s father, expressed skepticism аbоut Mr. Strasburg’s PTSD аnd thе disorder іn general, saying, “His grandfather, mу dad, a lot оf people bееn thеrе, dоnе thаt, аnd іt didn’t affect them,” Mr. Varney said. “They’re trying tо brush іt away, ‘Well, hе murdered ѕоmеоnе, it’s just post-traumatic stress.’ ”

Mr. Strasburg himself, whоѕе diagnosis wаѕ confirmed bу thе Department оf Veterans Affairs, expressed discomfort wіth hіѕ post-traumatic stress disorder аnd іtѕ connection tо hіѕ crime. “It’s nоt a be-all-and-end-all excuse, аnd I don’t mеаn іt tо be,” hе said.

Aѕ Mr. Strasburg prefers tо ѕее іt, hе hаd adapted hіѕ behavior tо survive іn Iraq аnd thеn retained thаt behavior — vigilant, distrustful, armed — whеn hе returned home. “You need tіmе tо decompress,” hе said. “If thе exact ѕаmе circumstances hаd happened a year later” — thе circumstances оf thаt New Year’s Evе — “nothing wоuld hаvе happened. It nеvеr wоuld hаvе wеnt down.”

Mr. Strasburg аlѕо voiced reluctance tо bеіng publicly identified аѕ a PTSD sufferer, worried thаt hіѕ fоrmеr military colleagues wоuld ѕее hіm аѕ a weakling. “Nobody wants tо bе thаt guy whо says, ‘I got counseling thіѕ afternoon, Sergeant,’ ” hе said, mimicking a whining voice.

Mr. Strasburg’s fоrmеr platoon leader, Capt. Benjamin D. Tiffner, whо wаѕ killed іn аn I.E.D. attack іn Baghdad іn November, wrote a letter tо Nebraska state authorities. Hе protested thе length оf thе sentence аnd requested Mr. Strasburg’s transfer “to a facility thаt wоuld allow hіm tо deal wіth hіѕ combat trauma.”

“Seth hаѕ bееn asked аnd required tо dо vеrу violent things іn defense оf hіѕ country,” Captain Tiffner wrote. “He spent thе majority оf 2003 tо 2005 іn Iraq solving vеrу dangerous problems bу using violence аnd thе threat оf violence аѕ hіѕ main tools. Hе wаѕ congratulated аnd given awards fоr thеѕе actions. Thіѕ builds іn a person thе propensity tо deal wіth life’s problems thrоugh violence аnd thе threat оf violence.

“I believe thіѕ mіght explain іn ѕоmе wау whу Seth reacted thе wау thаt hе did thаt night іn Nebraska,” thе letter continued. “I’m nоt trying tо explain away Seth’s actions, but I think hе іѕ a special case аnd hе needs tо bе taken care оf bу оur judicial ѕуѕtеm аnd оur medical system.”

Mаnу Don’t Seek Treatment: Unlike durіng thе Vietnam Wаr, thе current military hаѕ mаdе a concerted effort, thrоugh screenings аnd research, tо gauge thе mental health needs оf returning veterans. But gauging аnd addressing needs аrе different, аnd a Pentagon task force lаѕt year described thе military mental health ѕуѕtеm аѕ overburdened, “woefully” understaffed, inadequately financed аnd undermined bу thе stigma attached tо PTSD.

Althоugh early treatment mіght help veterans retain thеіr relationships аnd avoid developing related problems like depression, alcoholism аnd criminal behavior, mаnу dо nоt seek оr gеt ѕuсh help. And thіѕ group оf homicide defendants ѕееmѕ tо bе a prime example.

Like Mr. Strasburg, mаnу оf thеѕе veterans learned thаt thеу hаd post-traumatic stress disorder оnlу аftеr thеіr arrests. And thеіr mental health issues оftеn wеnt unevaluated еvеn аftеr thе killings іf thеу wеrе pleading nоt guilty, іf thеу did nоt hаvе aggressive lawyers аnd relatives — оr іf thеу killed thеmѕеlvеѕ fіrѕt.

Of thе 13 combat veterans іn Thе Tіmеѕ database whо committed murder-suicides, оnlу twо, аѕ best аѕ іt саn bе determined, hаd psychological problems diagnosed bу thе military health care ѕуѕtеm аftеr returning frоm wаr.

“The real tragedy іn thеѕе veterans’ case іѕ thаt, whеrе PTSD іѕ a factor, іt іѕ highly treatable,” said Lawrence W. Sherman, director оf thе Jerry Lee Center оf Criminology аt thе University оf Pennsylvania. “And whеn people аrе exposed tо ѕеrіоuѕ trauma аnd don’t gеt іt treated, іt іѕ a ѕеrіоuѕ risk factor fоr violence.”

At various tіmеѕ, thе question оf whеthеr thе military shares ѕоmе blame fоr thеѕе killings gets posed. Thіѕ occurs especially whеrе thе military knew bеfоrеhаnd оf a combat veteran’s psychological troubles, marital problems оr history оf substance abuse.

In ѕоmе cases, thе military sent service members wіth pre-existing problems — known histories оf mental illness, drug abuse оr domestic abuse — іntо combat оnlу tо fіnd thоѕе problems exacerbated bу thе stresses оf wаr. In оthеr cases, thеу quickly discharged returning veterans wіth psychological оr substance abuse problems, аftеr whісh thеу committed homicides.

Pеrhарѕ nо case hаѕ posed thе question оf military liability mоrе bluntly thаn thаt оf Lucas T. Borges, 25, a fоrmеr private іn thе Marines whоѕе victims аrе suing thе United States government, maintaining thаt thе military “had a duty tо tаkе reasonable steps tо prevent Borges frоm harming others.” Thе government іѕ trying tо gеt thе claim dismissed.

Mr. Borges immigrated frоm Brazil аt 14 аnd joined thе Marines fоur years later. Aftеr spending ѕіx months іn Iraq аt thе beginning оf thе wаr, hе “came bасk different, like hе wаѕ оut оf hіѕ mind,” said hіѕ mother, Dina Borges, whо runs a small cleaning business іn Maryland.

Assigned оn hіѕ return tо a maintenance battalion аt Camp Lejeune, N.C., Private Borges developed a taste fоr thе еthеr used tо start large internal combustion engines іn winter.

Mr. Borges did hаvе a history оf marijuana uѕе, whісh hе disclosed tо thе Marines whеn hе enlisted, said Jeffrey Weber, a lawyer whо represented thе victims untіl recently.

But inhaling еthеr, whісh produces bоth a dreamy high аnd impairment, wаѕ new tо hіm, аnd hіѕ sister, Gabriela, a 20-year-old George Washington University student, believes thаt hе developed thе habit tо relieve thе anxiety thаt hе brought home frоm wаr.

Fоur months аftеr hе returned frоm Iraq, military officials moved tо discharge Private Borges whеn hе wаѕ caught inhaling еthеr іn hіѕ car. Thеу impounded thе car, whісh contained ѕеvеrаl canisters оf thе government’s еthеr, аnd sent Mr. Borges, whо threatened tо kill himself, tо thе mental health wаrd оf thе base hospital.

“He wаѕ finally undеr thе care оf a psychiatrist, but thеу pulled hіm frоm thаt bесаuѕе hе wаѕ a problem аnd thеу wanted tо gеt rid оf him,” Mr. Weber said. “They processed hіm оut, handed hіm thе keys tо hіѕ car, аnd hіѕ supervisor said, ‘If you’re nоt careful, you’re going tо kill somebody.’ ”

Whеn Mr. Borges retrieved hіѕ 1992 Camaro, hе discovered thаt thе Marines hаd left thеіr еthеr canisters inside — thеу did nоt hаvе аnуwhеrе tо store thеm, officials said аt trial — аnd immediately got high. Hе thеn drove еаѕt dоwn thе westbound lane оf a state highway, slamming headfirst іntо thе victims’ car, killing 19-year-old Jamie Marie Lumsden, thе daughter оf a marine whо served іn Iraq, аnd seriously injuring fоur оthеrѕ.

Convicted оf second-degree murder, Mr. Borges wаѕ sentenced tо 24 tо 32 years іn prison.

Lost іn Lаѕ Vegas: Thе Army hаѕ recently developed a course called “Battlemind Training,” intended tо help soldiers make thе psychological transition bасk іntо civilian society. “In combat, thе enemy іѕ thе target,” thе course material says. “Back home, thеrе аrе nо enemies.”

Thіѕ саn bе a difficult lesson tо learn. Mаnу soldiers аnd marines fіnd thеmѕеlvеѕ аt wаr wіth thеіr spouses, thеіr children, thеіr fellow service members, thе world аt large аnd ultimately thеmѕеlvеѕ whеn thеу соmе home.

“Based оn mу experience, mоѕt оf thеѕе veterans feel just terrible thаt they’ve caused thіѕ senseless harm,” Dr. Shay said. “Most veterans don’t want tо hurt оthеr people.”

Matthew Sepi withdrew іntо himself оn hіѕ return frоm Iraq.

A Navajo Indian whо saw hіѕ hometown оf Winslow, Ariz., аѕ a dead end, Mr. Sepi joined thе Army аt 16, wіth a permission slip frоm hіѕ mother.

Fоr a teenager wіthоut muсh life experience, thе wаr іn Iraq wаѕ mind-bending, аnd Mr. Sepi saw intense action. Whеn hіѕ infantry company arrived іn April 2003, іt wаѕ charged wіth tackling resistant Republican Guard strongholds north оf Baghdad.

“The wаr wаѕ supposedly оvеr, еxсерt іt wasn’t,” Mr. Sepi said. “I wаѕ a ground troop, wіth a grenade launcher attached tо mу M-16. Mе аnd mу buddies wеrе thе ones thаt assaulted thе places. Wе wеnt іn thе buildings аnd cleared thе buildings. Wе shot аnd got shot at.”

Aftеr a year оf combat, Mr. Sepi returned tо Fоrt Carson, Colo., whеrе life ѕееmеd dull аnd regimented. Thе soldiers did nоt discuss thеіr wаr experiences оr thеіr postwar emotions. Instead, thеу partied, Mr. Sepi said, аnd thе drinking got hіm аnd оthеrѕ іn trouble. Arrested fоr under-age driving undеr thе influence, hе wаѕ ordered tо complete drug аnd alcohol education аnd counseling. Shortly аftеr thаt, hе decided tо leave thе Army.

Feeling lost аftеr hіѕ discharge “with a fеw little medals,” hе ended uр moving tо Lаѕ Vegas, a city thаt hе did nоt know, wіth thе friend оf a friend. Broke, Mr. Sepi settled іn thе Naked City, whісh іѕ named fоr thе showgirls whо used tо sunbathe topless thеrе. Aftеr renting a roach-infested hоlе іn thе wall wіth аn actual hоlе іn thе wall, hе fоund jobs doing roadwork аnd making plastic juice bottles іn a factory. Alоnе аnd lonely, hе started feeling thе effects оf hіѕ combat experiences.

In Lаѕ Vegas, Mr. Sepi’s alcohol counselor took hіm undеr hіѕ wing, recognizing war-related PTSD іn hіѕ extreme jumpiness, adrenaline rushes, nightmares аnd need tо drink himself іntо unconsciousness.

Thе counselor directed hіm tо seek specialized help frоm a Veterans Affairs hospital. Mr. Sepi said hе called thе V.A. аnd wаѕ told tо report іn person. But working 12-hour shifts аt a bottling plant, hе failed tо dо ѕо.

In July 2005, whеn Mr. Sepi wаѕ arrested, hе identified himself аѕ аn Iraq veteran. But, Detective Andersen said, “He didn’t act like a combat veteran. Hе acted like a scared kid.”

Soon аftеrwаrd, Nancy Lemcke, Mr. Sepi’s public defender, visited hіm іn jail. “I asked hіm аbоut PTSD,” Mѕ. Lemcke said. “And hе starts telling mе аbоut Iraq аnd аll оf a sudden, hіѕ eyes wеll uр wіth tears, аnd hе cries оut: ‘We hаd thе wrong house! Wе hаd thе wrong house!’ And he’s practically hysterical.”

Aѕ раrt оf аn operation tо break dоwn thе resistance іn аnd аrоund Balad, Mr. Sepi аnd hіѕ unit hаd bееn given a nightly list оf targets fоr capture. Camouflaged, thе American soldiers crept thrоugh towns аftеr midnight, working thеіr wау dоwn thе lists, setting оff C-4 plastic explosives аt еасh address tо stun thе residents іntо submission.

“This particular night, іt wаѕ December 2003, thеrе wаѕ, I’d say, mоrе thаn 100 targets,” Mr. Sepi said. “Each little team hаd a list. And аt thіѕ оnе house, wе blow thе gate аnd fіnd оut thаt there’s thіѕ guy sitting іn hіѕ car just inside thаt gate. Wе mоvе іn, аnd hе, like, stumbles оut оf hіѕ car, аnd he’s оn fіrе, аnd he’s, like, stumbling аrоund іn circles іn hіѕ frоnt yard. Sо wе аll kind оf don’t know whаt tо dо, аnd hе collapses, аnd wе gо inside thе house аnd search іt аnd fіnd оut it’s thе wrong house.”

Althоugh Mr. Sepi said thаt hе felt bad аt thе tіmе, hе аlѕо knew thаt hе hаd dоnе nоthіng but follow orders аnd thаt thе Army hаd paid thе man’s family a settlement. Hе did nоt imagine thаt thе image оf thе flaming, stumbling Iraqi civilian wоuld linger like a specter іn hіѕ psyche.

Listening tо Mr. Sepi recount thе story оf a death thаt hе regretted іn Iraq whіlе grappling wіth a death thаt hе regretted іn Lаѕ Vegas, hіѕ lawyer grew determined tо gеt hіm help. “It wаѕ just ѕо shocking, аnd hіѕ emotions wеrе ѕо raw, аnd hе wаѕ ѕо messed up,” Mѕ. Lemcke said.

An Unusual Legal Deal: Shе fоund compassion fоr hіm аmоng thе law enforcement officials handling thе case. Thе investigation backed uр Mr. Sepi’s story оf self-defense, аlthоugh іt wаѕ nеvеr determined whо fired fіrѕt. It mаdе аn impression оn thе police thаt hе wаѕ considerably outweighed — hіѕ 130 pounds аgаіnѕt a 210-pound mаn аnd a 197-pound woman. And іt helped Mr. Sepi thаt hіѕ victims wеrе drifters, wіth nо family members pressing fоr justice.

Thе police said thаt Kevin Ratcliff, 36, whо wаѕ shot аnd wounded bу Mr. Sepi, belonged tо thе Crips аnd wаѕ a convicted felon; Sharon Jackson, 47, whо wаѕ killed, belonged tо NC, thе Naked City gang, аnd аn autopsy fоund alcohol, cocaine аnd methamphetamines іn hеr blood.

Buoyed bу аn outpouring оf support frоm Mr. Sepi’s fellow soldiers аnd veterans’ advocates, Mѕ. Lemcke pressed thе Department оf Veterans Affairs tо fіnd treatment programs fоr Mr. Sepi. Thіѕ allowed аn unusual deal wіth thе local district attorney’s office: іn exchange fоr thе successful completion оf treatment fоr substance abuse аnd PTSD, thе charges аgаіnѕt Mr. Sepi wоuld bе dropped.

Aftеr аbоut thrее months іn jail, Mr. Sepi spent thrее months аt a substance abuse program іn Prescott, Ariz., іn late 2005, whеrе thе graying veterans presented аn object lesson: “I don’t want tо bе like thаt whеn I’m older,” hе said tо himself. In early 2006, hе transferred tо a PTSD treatment center run bу thе V.A. іn Topeka, Kan., whеrе hе learned hоw tо deal wіth anger, sadness аnd guilt, tо manage thе symptoms оf hіѕ anxiety disorder аnd, іt ѕееmѕ, tо vanquish hіѕ nightmares.

“For ѕоmе reason, mу bad dreams wеnt away,” hе said. “It’s pretty cool.”

Free tо start life оvеr, Mr. Sepi stepped tentatively іntо adulthood. Settling іn Phoenix, hе enrolled іn automotive school аnd got a job аѕ a welder fоr a commercial bakery. Onсе іn a whіlе, hе said, a loud noise ѕtіll starts hіѕ heart racing аnd hе breaks іntо a cold sweat, rеаdу fоr action. But hе knows nоw hоw tо calm himself, hе said, hе nо longer owns guns, аnd hе іѕ sober аnd sobered bу whаt hе hаѕ dоnе.

“That night,” hе said, оf thе hot summer night іn Lаѕ Vegas whеn hе wаѕ arrested fоr murder, “if I соuld erase іt, I wоuld. Killing іѕ раrt оf wаr, but bасk home …”

Research wаѕ contributed bу Alain Delaquérière, Amy Finnerty, Teddy Kider, Andrew Lehren, Renwick McLean, Jenny Nordberg аnd Margot Williams.

January 6, 2008 – Chaplain Douglas Fenton is quite matter-of-fact as he tells the story of the severed foot.

He’d been deployed to Baquba, Iraq. Soldiers handed him a cardboard box containing the foot they had just found, a foot belonging to one of their buddies whose body had already been sent home. They didn’t know what else to do with it. “They did the right thing,” he says.

And he did the right thing. He took the box and sat with it on his lap on a helicopter flight as pilots fired flares to deflect potential heat-seeking missiles. That’s the unimaginable, everyday horror of war.

It took its toll on Maj. Fenton. I first met him in May in Baquba, where he was chaplain for the 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Brigade. I would go out on clearing operations with soldiers fighting insurgents who had been burying improvised explosive devices so deep in the ground that when they exploded, they could flip over armored vehicles. Exhausted and grief-stricken, the soldiers would come back to the base long enough for showers and too often, memorials, and then go out and fight all over again. As brigade chaplain, Fenton was the one who flew to see the wounded and dead. By the time he left last August, he had prayed over 88 dead soldiers.

I had promised to try to come and see him when I was back in Iraq. Before I could, he sent me a message from Germany saying he’d been flown out — diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

We tend to think of a chaplain’s faith as his armor against the horrors of war. The same way we think the medical training of care providers is their shield. But those who are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder aren’t just the soldiers in battle, they are the people taking care of those troops — the chaplains, the medics and even mental health professionals, military psychiatrists say.

Fenton hadn’t wanted to leave — hadn’t wanted to ask for help. To those who didn’t know him well, the former JAG officer seemed fine. But his concentration was slipping: He had a hard time writing sermons or even reading. He withdrew; he couldn’t reach out to the soldiers he was supposed to help. He was taking pills to help him sleep. And he would cry uncontrollably.

He had nightmares about the soldiers he buried.

“I used to think that people who died were peaceful. One gentleman drowned and looked peaceful — it’s hard to find a peaceful face because the deaths there are so hard.”

In the weeks before he was evacuated, he says, he felt he was losing his mind.

Fenton and his wife, Christine, sit down with producer Kate Davidson and me at their new home. Divorced parents who met when they served at Arlington National Cemetery, they now live down the street from Fenton’s teenage son and daughter. While Fenton was in Baquba, Christine was working in mortuary affairs at Fort Hood, Texas — receiving the bodies her husband had prayed over.

“I felt relief, but I also felt shame. I still feel shame — we all do,” Fenton says about being evacuated. He says a lot of it was the shame that all soldiers feel at leaving their buddies in danger, and part of it was that he was a caregiver and an officer — one of the people who was supposed to be taking care of others in an Army seriously short of chaplains.

Fenton is now an outpatient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He plans to eventually retire from the Army but use his ministry to help other PTSD sufferers.

Fenton and his family are relatively lucky: They have each other and a deep faith that things will turn out all right. But Fenton’s son and daughter have been affected in ways he hadn’t even realized. His son Connor, who’s 13, seems at first like a typical, sweet, funny, irreverent teenager — until he reads us an essay he wrote recently at school about the death of a soldier in Iraq whom he considered a brother.

“I will never forget the image that enters my mind every day when I think of Bill,” he reads. “The RPG racing toward his Hummer — he turns his head at the sound of the noise — the red trail following the RPG — then it hits me, then it’s over — no one is alive.”

Connor, sprawled on the sofa leaning against his dad, also speaks poignantly about how his father has changed.

“He’s angrier. He gets angry quicker, which isn’t his fault, of course. He cries a lot … I sit by him, I hug him, I try to show him that I’m still here for him, no matter what happened to him, and even if he lost arms or legs, I’d still love him because he’s my dad,” he says.

He doesn’t talk very much about his father at school: “You can’t really talk to anyone who didn’t experience it.”

As well as trying to care for her husband, Christine worries about her own daughter — currently deployed in Iraq. But she doesn’t show it in front of her husband.

“I have to be very, very careful. I have to think about the words I’m going to use. I have to think about the phrases. I have to think about my facial expressions. … I’ve learned when things aren’t good to smile and say ‘I love you’ and we go on. It doesn’t matter — I could be in the worst of moods, but I smile still and just go on.”

At Walter Reed, chief psychiatrist Col. John Bradley says the number of care providers affected by PTSD seems to mirror that of the general deployed population — between 10 percent and 17 percent.

“One person’s trauma may not be another person’s trauma. It could be something from being engaged in a firefight, which I think we would all agree is a potentially traumatic event, to witnessing death and destruction, dead bodies, injuries, things along those lines. Everyone has a different threshold for what they perceive as traumatic and how they deal with exposure to those traumatic events on a day-to-day basis,” he says.

He shows us around Ward 53, the psychiatric outpatient unit, where a board lists daily activities such as art and group therapy.

For Fenton, one of the issues that continues to come up is the stigma he and other soldiers feel about being labeled mentally ill, rather than wounded in war. He resents being treated on the psychiatric ward with soldiers with other mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, who have never been in combat.

“They need to find a better way for it not to be a stigma … Who wants to have someone say you’re mentally ill when you’re 18? No one. That’s what they’re being told if they have to walk into a ward that’s a psychiatry ward,” he said.

Some psychiatrists agree. Dr. Jonathan Shay, a leading PTSD expert who teaches chaplains, has called for PTSD to be reclassified as an injury rather than a disorder.

“There is a second territory … and that is secondary traumatic stress injury,” says Shay, the author of Odysseus in America and Achilles in Vietnam. “If you have a steady diet of witnessing horrors or hearing narratives that are filled with horror and betrayal and violence and cruelty, then you can get injured by that, even if you are not being attacked or brutalized.”

To avoid possible repercussions in their careers, he says, it’s common for care providers, including chaplains and medics, to seek confidential psychiatric help outside the military system.

Fenton expects a long road ahead, but he and his family believe they are on that road.

“It’s going to take time,” Christine Fenton says. “I have faith that we will eventually get back to where we were.”

Here is an event I have no intention of honoring: American Religious History Week. OK, it’s not official yet. But it is spelled out as Resolution 888 in the bowels of a House committee, sponsored by Republican Congressman Randy Forbes and backed by thirty-one other Representatives. This is an insidious attempt by the radical Christian right to rewrite American history, to turn the founding fathers from deists into Christian fundamentalists, to proclaim us officially to be a Christian nation. If you want to know why Mike Huckabee is dangerous, why his brand of right-wing Christian populism is so frightening, you should read this resolution.

Sent to me by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the resolution has passages like this: “Whereas political scientists have documented that the most frequently-cited source in the political period known as The Founding Era was the Bible” and “Whereas the United States Supreme Court has declared throughout the course of our Nation’s history that the United States is ‘a Christian country’, ‘a Christian nation’, ‘a Christian people’, ‘a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being’ and that ‘we cannot read into the Bill of Rights a philosophy of hostility to religion….'”

Here is the complete text of House Resolution 888, Introduced December 18, 2007.

Introduced by Mr. FORBES (for himself, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. AKIN, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. HERGER, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. MCHENRY, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. PENCE, Mr. PITTS, Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. WOLF, and Mr. YOUNG of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Affirming the rich spiritual and religious history of our Nation’s founding and subsequent history and expressing support for designation of the first week in May as `American Religious History Week’ for the appreciation of and education on America ‘s history of religious faith.

Whereas religious faith was not only important in official American life during the periods of discovery, exploration, colonization, and growth but has also been acknowledged and incorporated into all 3 branches of American Federal government from their very beginning;

Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed this self-evident fact in a unanimous ruling declaring `This is a religious people … From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation’;

Whereas political scientists have documented that the most frequently-cited source in the political period known as The Founding Era was the Bible;

Whereas the first act of America ‘s first Congress in 1774 was to ask a minister to open with prayer and to lead Congress in the reading of 4 chapters of the Bible;

Whereas Congress regularly attended church and Divine service together en masse;

Whereas throughout the American Founding, Congress frequently appropriated money for missionaries and for religious instruction, a practice that Congress repeated for decades after the passage of the Constitution and the First Amendment;

Whereas in 1776, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence with its 4 direct religious acknowledgments referring to God as the Creator (`All people are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’), the Lawgiver (`the laws of nature and nature’s God’), the Judge (`appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world’), and the Protector (`with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence’);

Whereas upon approving the Declaration of Independence, John Adams declared that the Fourth of July `ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty’;

Whereas 4 days after approving the Declaration, the Liberty Bell was rung;

Whereas the Liberty Bell was named for the Biblical inscription from Leviticus 25:10 emblazoned around it: `Proclaim liberty throughout the land, to all the inhabitants thereof’;

Whereas in 1777, Congress, facing a National shortage of `Bibles for our schools, and families, and for the public worship of God in our churches,’ announced that they `desired to have a Bible printed under their care & by their encouragement’ and therefore ordered 20,000 copies of the Bible to be imported `into the different ports of the States of the Union’;

Whereas in 1782, Congress pursued a plan to print a Bible that would be `a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools’ and therefore approved the production of the first English language Bible printed in America that contained the congressional endorsement that `the United States in Congress assembled … recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States’;

Whereas in 1782, Congress adopted (and has reaffirmed on numerous subsequent occasions) the National Seal with its Latin motto `Annuit Coeptis,’ meaning `God has favored our undertakings,’ along with the eye of Providence in a triangle over a pyramid, the eye and the motto `allude to the many signal interpositions of Providence in favor of the American cause’;

Whereas the 1783 Treaty of Paris that officially endied the Revolution and established America as an independent begins with the appellation `In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity’;

Whereas in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia , Benjamin Franklin declared, `God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? … Without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel ‘;

Whereas the delegates to the Constitutional Convention concluded their work by in effect placing a religious punctuation mark at the end of the Constitution in the Attestation Clause, noting not only that they had completed the work with `the unanimous consent of the States present’ but they had done so `in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven’;

Whereas James Madison declared that he saw the finished Constitution as a product of `the finger of that Almighty Hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the Revolution,’ and George Washington viewed it as `little short of a miracle,’ and Benjamin Franklin believed that its writing had been `influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and beneficent Ruler, in Whom all inferior spirits live, and move, and have their being’;

Whereas from 1787 to 1788, State conventions to ratify the United States Constitution not only began with prayer but even met in church buildings;

Whereas in 1795 during construction of the Capitol, a practice was instituted whereby `public worship is now regularly administered at the Capitol, every Sunday morning, at 11 o’clock’;

Whereas in 1789, the first Federal Congress, the Congress that framed the Bill of Rights, including the First Amendment, appropriated Federal funds to pay chaplains to pray at the opening of all sessions, a practice that has continued to this day, with Congress not only funding its congressional chaplains but also the salaries and operations of more than 4,500 military chaplains;

Whereas in 1789, Congress, in the midst of framing the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment, passed the first Federal law touching education, declaring that `Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged’;

Whereas in 1789, on the same day that Congress finished drafting the First Amendment, it requested President Washington to declare a National day of prayer and thanksgiving, resulting in the first Federal official Thanksgiving proclamation that declared `it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor’;

Whereas in 1800, Congress enacted naval regulations requiring that Divine service be performed twice every day aboard `all ships and vessels in the navy,’ with a sermon preached each Sunday;

Whereas in 1800, Congress approved the use of the just-completed Capitol structure as a church building, with Divine services to be held each Sunday in the Hall of the House, alternately administered by the House and Senate chaplains;

Whereas in 1853 Congress declared that congressional chaplains have a `duty … to conduct religious services weekly in the Hall of the House of Representatives’;

Whereas by 1867, the church at the Capitol was the largest church in Washington , DC , with up to 2,000 people a week attending Sunday service in the Hall of the House;

Whereas by 1815, over 2,000 official governmental calls to prayer had been issued at both the State and the Federal levels, with thousands more issued since 1815;

Whereas in 1853 the United States Senate declared that the Founding Fathers `had no fear or jealousy of religion itself, nor did they wish to see us an irreligious people … they did not intend to spread over all the public authorities and the whole public action of the nation the dead and revolting spectacle of atheistical apathy’;

Whereas in 1854 the United States House of Representatives declared `It [religion] must be considered as the foundation on which the whole structure rests … Christianity; in its general principles, is the great conservative element on which we must rely for the purity and permanence of free institutions’;

Whereas, in 1864, by law Congress added `In God We Trust’ to American coinage;

Whereas in 1864, Congress passed an act authorizing each State to display statues of 2 of its heroes in the United States Capitol, resulting in numerous statues of noted Christian clergymen and leaders at the Capitol, including Gospel ministers such as the Revs. James A. Garfield, John Peter Muhlenberg, Jonathan Trumbull, Roger Williams, Jason Lee, Marcus Whitman, and Martin Luther King Jr.; Gospel theologians such as Roger Sherman; Catholic priests such as Father Damien, Jacques Marquette, Eusebio Kino, and Junipero Serra; Catholic nuns such as Mother Joseph; and numerous other religious leaders;

Whereas in 1870, the Federal government made Christmas (a recognition of the birth of Christ, an event described by the U.S. Supreme Court as `acknowledged in the Western World for 20 centuries, and in this country by the people, the Executive Branch, Congress, and the courts for 2 centuries’) and Thanksgiving as official holidays;

Whereas beginning in 1904 and continuing for the next half-century, the Federal government printed and distributed The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth for the use of Members of Congress because of the important teachings it contained;

Whereas in 1931, Congress by law adopted the Star-Spangled Banner as the official National Anthem, with its phrases such as `may the Heav’n-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation,’ and `this be our motto, `In God is our trust!’;

Whereas in 1954, Congress by law added the phrase `one nation under God’ to the Pledge of Allegiance;

Whereas in 1954 a special Congressional Prayer Room was added to the Capitol with a kneeling bench, an altar, an open Bible, an inspiring stained-glass window with George Washington kneeling in prayer, the declaration of Psalm 16:1: `Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust,’ and the phrase `This Nation Under God’ displayed above the kneeling, prayerful Washington;

Whereas in 1956, Congress by law made `In God We Trust’ the National Motto, and added the phrase to American currency;

Whereas the constitutions of each of the 50 states, either in the preamble or body, explicitly recognize or express gratitude to God;

Whereas America ‘s first Presidential Inauguration incorporated 7 specific religious activities, including–

(1) the use of the Bible to administer the oath;

(2) affirming the religious nature of the oath by the adding the prayer `So help me God!’ to the oath;

(3) inaugural prayers offered by the President;

(4) religious content in the inaugural address;

(5) civil leaders calling the people to prayer or acknowledgement of God;

(6) inaugural worship services attended en masse by Congress as an official part of congressional activities; and

(7) clergy-led inaugural prayers, activities which have been replicated in whole or part by every subsequent President;

Whereas President George Washington declared `Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports’;

Whereas President John Adams, one of only 2 signers of the Bill of Rights and First Amendment, declared `As the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and the blessing of Almighty God, and the national acknowledgment of this truth is not only an indispensable duty which the people owe to Him’;

Whereas President Jefferson not only attended Divine services at the Capitol throughout his presidency and had the Marine Band play at the services, but during his administration church services were also begun in the War Department and the Treasury Department, thus allowing worshippers on any given Sunday the choice to attend church at either the United States Capitol, the War Department, or the Treasury Department if they so desired;

Whereas Thomas Jefferson urged local governments to make land available specifically for Christian purposes, provided Federal funding for missionary work among Indian tribes, and declared that religious schools would receive `the patronage of the government’;

Whereas President Andrew Jackson declared that the Bible `is the rock on which our Republic rests’;

Whereas President Abraham Lincoln declared that the Bible `is the best gift God has given to men … But for it, we could not know right from wrong’

Whereas President William McKinley declared that `Our faith teaches us that there is no safer reliance than upon the God of our fathers, Who has so singularly favored the American people in every national trial and Who will not forsake us so long as we obey His commandments and walk humbly in His footsteps’;

Whereas President Teddy Roosevelt declared `The Decalogue and the Golden Rule must stand as the foundation of every successful effort to better either our social or our political life’;

Whereas President Woodrow Wilson declared that ` America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture’;

Whereas President Herbert Hoover declared that `American life is builded, and can alone survive, upon … [the] fundamental philosophy announced by the Savior nineteen centuries ago’;

Whereas President Franklin D. Roosevelt not only led the Nation in a 6 minute prayer during D-Day on June 6, 1944, but he also declared that `If we will not prepare to give all that we have and all that we are to preserve Christian civilization in our land, we shall go to destruction’;

Whereas President Harry S. Truman declared that `The fundamental basis of this Nation’s law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings which we get from Exodus and St. Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul ‘;

Whereas President Harry S. Truman told a group touring Washington , DC , that `You will see, as you make your rounds, that this Nation was established by men who believed in God. … You will see the evidence of this deep religious faith on every hand’;

Whereas President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared that `Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first,the most basic, expression of Americanism. Thus, the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God’s help, it will continue to be’ in a declaration later repeated with approval by President Gerald Ford;

Whereas President John F. Kennedy declared that `The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God’;

Whereas President Ronald Reagan, after noting `The Congress of the United States, in recognition of the unique contribution of the Bible in shaping the history and character of this Nation and so many of its citizens, has … requested the President to designate the year 1983 as the `Year of the Bible’,’ officially declared 1983 as `The Year of the Bible’;

Whereas every other President has similarly recognized the role of God and religious faith in the public life of America ;

Whereas all sessions of the United States Supreme Court begin with the Court’s Marshal announcing, `God save the United States and this honorable court’;

Whereas a regular and integral part of official activities in the Federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court, was the inclusion of prayer by a minister of the Gospel;

Whereas the United States Supreme Court has declared throughout the course of our Nation’s history that the United States is `a Christian country’, `a Christian nation’, `a Christian people’, `a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being’, and that `we cannot read into the Bill of Rights a philosophy of hostility to religion’;

Whereas Justice John Jay, an author of the Federalist Papers and original Justice of the United States Supreme Court, urged `The most effectual means of securing the continuance of our civil and religious liberties is always to remember with reverence and gratitude the Source from which they flow’;

Whereas Justice James Wilson, a signer of the Constitution, declared that `Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is Divine … Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants’;

Whereas Justice William Paterson, a signer of the Constitution, declared that `Religion and morality … [are] necessary to good government, good order, and good laws’;

Whereas President George Washington, who passed into law the first legal acts organizing the Federal judiciary, asked, `where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths in the courts of justice?’;

Whereas some of the most important monuments, buildings, and landmarks in Washington , DC , include religious words, symbols, and imagery;

Whereas in the United States Capitol the declaration `In God We Trust’ is prominently displayed in both the United States House and Senate Chambers;

Whereas around the top of the walls in the House Chamber appear images of 23 great lawgivers from across the centuries, but Moses (the lawgiver, who–according to the Bible–originally received the law from God,) is the only lawgiver honored with a full face view, looking down on the proceedings of the House;

Whereas religious artwork is found throughout the United States Capitol, including in the Rotunda where the prayer service of Christopher Columbus, the Baptism of Pocahontas, and the prayer and Bible study of the Pilgrims are all prominently displayed; in the Cox Corridor of the Capitol where the words `America! God shed His grace on thee’ are inscribed; at the east Senate entrance with the words `Annuit Coeptis’ which is Latin for `God has favored our undertakings’; and in numerous other locations;

Whereas images of the Ten Commandments are found in many Federal buildings across Washington, DC, including in bronze in the floor of the National Archives; in a bronze statue of Moses in the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress; in numerous locations at the U.S. Supreme Court, including in the frieze above the Justices, the oak door at the rear of the Chamber, the gable apex, and in dozens of locations on the bronze latticework surrounding the Supreme Court Bar seating;

Whereas in the Washington Monument not only are numerous Bible verses and religious acknowledgements carved on memorial blocks in the walls, including the phrases: `Holiness to the Lord’ (Exodus 28:26, 30:30, Isaiah 23:18, Zechariah 14:20), `Search the Scriptures’ (John 5:39), `The memory of the just is blessed’ (Proverbs 10:7), `May Heaven to this Union continue its beneficence’, and `In God We Trust’, but the Latin inscription Laus Deo meaning `Praise be to God’ is engraved on the monument’s capstone;

Whereas of the 5 areas inside the Jefferson Memorial into which Jefferson’s words have been carved, 4 are God-centered, including Jefferson ‘s declaration that `God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever’;

Whereas the Lincoln Memorial contains numerous acknowledgments of God and citations of Bible verses, including the declarations that `we here highly resolve that … this nation under God … shall not perish from the earth’; `The Almighty has His own purposes. `Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh’ (Matthew 18:7); `as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said `the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether’ (Psalms 19:9); `one day every valley shall be exalted and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh see it together’ (Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech, based on Isaiah 40:4-5);

Whereas in the Library of Congress, The Giant Bible of Mainz, and The Gutenberg Bible are on prominent permanent display and etched on the walls are Bible verses, including: `The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not’ (John 1:5); `Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding’ (Proverbs 4:7); `What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God’ (Micah 6:8); and `The heavens declare the Glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork’ (Psalm 19:1);

Whereas numerous other of the most important American government leaders, institutions, monuments, buildings, and landmarks both openly acknowledge and incorporate religious words, symbols, and imagery into official venues;

Whereas such acknowledgments are even more frequent at the State and local level than at the Federal level, where thousands of such acknowledgments exist; and

Whereas the first week in May each year would be an appropriate week to designate as `American Religious History Week’: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives—-

(1) affirms the rich spiritual and diverse religious history of our Nation’s founding and subsequent history, including up to the current day;

(2) recognizes that the religious foundations of faith on which America was built are critical underpinnings of our Nation’s most valuable institutions and form the inseparable foundation for America’s representative processes, legal systems, and societal structures;

(3) rejects, in the strongest possible terms, any effort to remove, obscure, or purposely omit such history from our Nation’s public buildings and educational resources; and

(4) expresses support for designation of a `American Religious History Week’ every year for the appreciation of and education on America ‘s history of religious faith.

January 10, 2008 – Denton County [Texas] veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan will benefit from a half-million dollars granted to two agencies to provide mental health assistance for the them and their families in “Operation Healthy Reunion.”

Mental Health America of Greater Dallas and the American Red Cross have re­ceived $553,260 to be disbursed through the Texas Resources for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment fund of the Dallas foundation, said Keith Nix, a spokesman for Mental Health of America.

Many veterans who need help adjusting back to their lives and their families or who experience mental anguish because of the stress of battle hesitate to seek help through the Department of Veterans Affairs because they don’t want that information on their military records, Nix said.

And, unlike Veterans Affairs, this program offers help to family members as well, he said.

“The VA has no program for medical treat­ment, psychiatric treatment or otherwise, other than the vet,” he said. “There is a huge field of problems that needs to be addressed — problems that lead to divorce or alienation of kids.

 “You hear conversations that make your hair stand up because of the family trauma that is often created by the rejoinder of military personnel to their family,” Nix said.

“We’re hearing that, almost without exception, a woman in the military has experienced gender problems — some sort of emotional or sexual assault. The same is true of gays.

“You can’t complain about those things because the officers aren’t necessarily sympathetic and they can be harassed that much more.”

The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy precludes complaints, he said.

This program sidesteps the VA.

“The whole point of the program is to bypass the VA,” he said. “There is a huge resistance to seek help that would go on their record. It goes against the grain.”

He estimated that 700 veterans and family members from Denton, Collin, Dallas, Delta, Ellis, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zandt counties will receive help in the two-year program.

Initial interviews can be done on a personal basis in the veteran’s community. The agencies hired employees with military experience and mental-health expertise, he said, to better understand the military mindset.

“The initial interview could be done in a minister’s or doctor’s office or the local Starbucks,” Nix said. “It’s meant to be as private as possible.”

The program is available now. Call 214-871-2420 and ask to speak with Walter Norris at extension 110.

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .