Captains/Registration Meeting will be held on September 17, 2010 from 6-8pm at Haddrell’s Point Tackle West.

Entry fee will be $35 Per. Angler, with payout for the top two fish for each category.

Eligible Species- Spottail Bass, Trout, Flounder, Sheephead, and King Mackrel.

Weigh-in September 18 at Charleston Harbor Hilton Marina from 3-5 PM with awards directly following.

For more information please contact – Todd Knight (843)412-9993 or check the website www.operationinshoreslam.com.

The Institute for Defense and Government Advancement will be holding the Combat Care: From Pre to Post Deployment Summit in their Battlefield Healthcare Series in SanDiego, CA on September 20-22, 2010.
This year’s Summit features an all new discussion format and speaker faculty from the Armed Services to the VA; with an ALL NEW Focus Day dedicated to TBI/PTSD.

Battlefield Series 7 Information Flyer

Battlefield Series 7 Email Registration Form

By the Numbers

This portion of the newsletter is designed to provide you with information about the problem of PTSD and suicide among veterans. Additionally, we will include some interesting tid-bits about Hidden Wounds operations.

• A recent study showed that between 20% and 30% of soldiers returning from Iraq between 2004 and 2007 showed symptoms of PTSD.
• In SC in 2009, there were 74 reported suicide attempts among veterans and 16 completions
• The Marine Corps reports that there have been 89 attempted suicides through May of this year with 21 completions. That puts them on track to see 210 attempts and 50 completions, a new record.
• During the first 6 months of operations, the Columbia Marine Corps League made the largest single contribution to Hidden Wounds.
• During our first 6 months of operations, 74% of the contributions made went toward missions and programs with 26% going toward administration. Our goal for the year is 66% and 33% respectively, given our start-up expenses.
• Last year, we lost more troops to suicide than we did on the battlefields.
• The Army lost a record 163 soldiers to suicide in 2009.
• Hidden Wounds was started after Lance Corporal. Mills Bigham took his own life after suffering from PTSD in October of last year. In his company of 55 men alone, a total of 8 have taken their own lives.
• During the first 6 months of operations, we had a total of 167 donors by check. The rest of the money came through sales of Hidden Wounds gear at various fundraising events or simple cash donations.
• Nearly 2,000,000 men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last 9 years. 40% have served at least 2 tours, while 300,000 have served up to 5 tours.
• During the first 6 months of operations, we spoke to 21 groups, were given 2 directed fundraisers, participated in 4 local annual events, attended 2 conferences, appeared on 4 TV channels, 2 radio stations, and had a front-page article done on us as we tried to get the word out about Hidden Wounds.

War Story

This section of our newsletter will describe an actual “case” that Hidden Wounds has handled to provide help to a veteran and/or their family. Because of HIPPA laws and other privacy issues, none of the names or places used in the story are actual, but the story will illustrate the good works done by Hidden Wounds.

The phone rang early one morning. On the other end was Mary, a friend of a veteran, Bob. She was frantic because she had just gotten a phone call from Bob. Bob had not been seen or heard from for about 36 hours. He was calling from an undisclosed location and told Mary that he had a gun and that if he did not talk to someone by 3 o’clock that afternoon, he was going to use it on himself.

Bob had previously been diagnosed with PTSD by his local VA facility after 3 tours of service in Iraq. His family knew he was not the same young man that had left them 3 years earlier. Bob exhibited all of the classic symptoms, depression, sleeplessness, fits of anger, and constant edginess. Unfortunately, all the local VA facility could do was prescribe medications while they worked through the backlog of veterans waiting for counseling services.

We first called one of our vet-peers who lived in the area to see if he could help. Once he agreed, Mary called Bob back to find out where he was and that Roger would come talk with him. Roger found him and they talked for while. One of the things we have found is that often the PTSD veteran doesn’t necessarily need to talk to a licensed counselor. They want to talk to another vet. As a veteran once put it, “I want to talk to someone who has been in my boots and carried a rifle”. After about 2 hours, Roger had talked Bob into going with him to the VA facility to see what they could do. Upon arrival, Mary, Roger, and Bob talked with the VA staff about what had happened and they admitted Bob to the hospital for observation. The VA may not be able to see a veteran on a counseling basis, but if you present as suicidal, you are seen right away. Bob was hospitalized for 2 days and released, with more medications, and told they would be in touch about counseling. Two weeks passed and Bob began to decline. Mary called Hidden Wounds again. This time we called one of our volunteer counselors in the area who agreed to see Bob the next day. 

That is what Hidden Wounds is all about. We provide that “safety net” for the veteran waiting to receive service from the VA. This was a best case scenario of how all of the pieces worked together to bring about good outcome. One of our vet-peers went into a crisis situation, diffused it, the VA took Bob in temporarily, and one of our counselors took over in the interim.

At last check, Bob was doing well and still seeing our counselor while the VA is looking for another facility in the Southeast that might be able to take Bob in for more extensive services. Thanks to your generous donations, this is what we can accomplish.

J Edwards Charity Birthday Bash 2010

J Edwards Charity Birthday Bash 2010

It’s hard to believe it has been six months since Hidden Wounds began operations. In that time, we have experienced many exciting situations, met some of the most incredible people in the world, and yes, even saved the lives of 3 veterans while assisting in getting help for another 9.

From the first speeches we gave to various Optimist Clubs, Sertoma Clubs, church groups, and other civic organizations, to hosting a pancake breakfast through Fatz Café, to partnering with the Dorn VA Suicide Prevention Unit, to participating in several annual local events with our friends at NAPA, to an invitation to visit Washington D.C., to a great fundraiser at The Loose Cockaboose,  we have truly been humbled by the kindness and generosity of the many good folks we’ve come in contact with along the way. These include a tremendous team of volunteers who helped us in all of our fundraisers. They are too numerous to mention, but their contribution of time and energy are greatly appreciated.

We’ve also seen veterans and their families and heard stories of how PTSD (used here as an all-inclusive term for all combat related psychological challenges) has adversely affected their lives. Most had sought help from the VA and had been unable to get anything more than prescriptions at that time due to an overcrowded system struggling to keep up. The good news is, the VA has broken ground on a new psychiatric unit at the Dorn VA. But until that facility comes on line in the next few years, Hidden Wounds will play an increasingly large role to provide that “safety net” in the interim to provide the counseling services veterans and their families may need right now.

To carry out this role, our network of counselors has grown tremendously in our first 6 months. As we write, we have accumulated 23 counselors that cover almost the entire state. We also have 9 volunteers in our Vet-Peer program. Between them all, Hidden Wounds is able to act and react to most any situation from crisis intervention to simple referral for our veterans. We are very grateful for their participation. And while we all hope we don’t have to call on them, the simple fact is, we will.

This point could not be proven out anymore than when we went to Washington to meet with various sub-committee personnel on military affairs and other senators and congressmen as arranged by our own congressman, Joe Wilson. Upon our return, we received inquiries from more than a dozen states asking when Hidden Wounds would be expanding into their areas because as we all know, PTSD and suicide among our veterans is not just a South Carolina problem, it is a national tragedy.

So looking forward to our next 6 months, we have several challenges ahead of us. One is continued survival. As you all know, the economy continues to struggle and is affecting everybody’s ability to give. Our particular situation is made a little more difficult by the fact that larger corporations with established “giving foundations” generally have policies that don’t allow them to contribute to charities less than one year old. So we have until January 1 of next year to get by on the continued generosity of mostly individuals and smaller organizations. Hopefully after the New Year, we can access some of the larger contributors. It is our goal to remain completely privately funded.

Secondly, we are a “start-up” business with all of the pains of growth associated with it. We have been operating out of our homes since the beginning, but we need to expand in either one of two ways. Ideally, we need some office space to give us a central point of operation. Meetings between ourselves,  prospective contributors, and others are pretty awkward at times at Starbucks. We also have amassed a pretty large inventory of fund raising saleable goods that it would be nice to have a central point we could all go to at a moment’s notice to gain access to. At the very least, we need a storage facility just to get inventory in one spot. So if you know of someone who has some office space in Columbia they would be able to be flexible on, please let us know.

 And last, but not least, we need you to help us find resources. Basically, there are only three of us working to keep Hidden Wounds viable and in the forefront of public awareness. But we can’t be everywhere or see everyone across the state. If you know of someone or some business that would like to contribute, please encourage them on our behalf. If you know of some veteran that needs our help, please encourage them to get in touch with us. If there is a group that would like for us to come and speak, encourage them to call us to set up a date. Anything you can do along these lines will be greatly appreciated.

It is our goal to solidify our operations here in South Carolina during the last six months of this year and expand to at least one other state in the first half of 2011. With your help and prayers, we can make Hidden Wounds everything we all want it to be. If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to call us.

God Speed,

Hidden Wounds Executive Team

Anna Bigham, Chief Executive Officer  

Chris Younts, Chief Operations Officer 

Dan Ramsey, Executive Director of Strategic Outreach

Chris Younts, Chief Operations Officer 

Dan Ramsey, Executive Director of Strategic Outreach

Oak Hills Golf Course

Tuesday June 15th 2010 10:30 A.M.

Hidden Wounds

Registration from 9-10 am.

Four-man Captain’s Choice with Shotgun start

$75 Per Person or $300 Per Team

$100 Hole Sponsors

$375 Hole Sponsorships and 4-man team

Entry fee covers refreshments on the course followed by

Award Ceremony and Beaufort Stew at The Loose Cockaboose.

Please turn in your completed entry form to:

Oak Hills, Kelly’s, Or The Loose Cockaboose

No later than June 14th 2010

Please call Kelly at 803-240-2166 or Dallas at 843-267-7637

Player 1 name and telephone #____________________________________________

Player 2 name and telephone #____________________________________________

Player 3 name and telephone #_____________________________________________

Player 4 name and telephone #_____________________________________________

Join the Hidden Wounds Fire Team to help raise PTSD awareness!

Tentative Schedule of Events

Friday, May 28

• Golf Tournament – 8:00 a.m. Shotgun, Whispering Pines Golf Course

• Welcome Address – 5:00 p.m., Mayor John Rhodes, Grand Park Stage
• Giant Flag on Display – Beginning at 5:00 p.m.
• Parents Night Out for Military Families – 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Pepper Geddings Recreation Center
• Festive Brass Band – 7:30 p.m., Grand Park Stage

Saturday, May 29

• Buzz Aldrin Recognition Ceremony – 9:00 a.m., Ocean Boulevard, between Eighth and Ninth Avenue North.
• 5K Run/Walk – 8:00 a.m., Crabtree Gym (wheelchair race starts at 7:45 a.m.) 

Click for the route map and additional details and the registration form.  Enjoy this morning run/walk around The Market Common and Grand Park!  The event starts at Crabtree Memorial Gymnasium.  It’s free for active duty, reserves and veterans and just $20 for civilians.

• Golf Tournament – 8:00 a.m. Shotgun, Whispering Pines Golf Course
• Kids Fishing Tournament – 9:00 a.m., Grand Park Lake
• Ocean Boulevard Parade – 10:30 a.m., 27th Ave. North to Ninth Ave. North

Colonel Buzz Aldrin, Grand Marshal

25-plus parade floats, eight giant helium balloons and 10 inflatables

Marching bands, military bands, celebrities, queens and dignitaries

• Military, Veterans and Family Resource Center – open at 12:00 p.m., corner of Reed Street and Moser Avenue, near Piggly Wiggly
• Military Games Family Competition – 12:30 p.m.
• Kids Zone Activities – open at 12:30 p.m., Grand Park
• Recruiter Expo – open at 12:30 p.m., Grand Park
• Military Exhibits Area – open at 12:30 p.m., Grand Park
• Fort Jackson Brass Quintet Family Picnic – 12:45 p.m., Grand Park
• Disney Concerts and Meet-and-Greet Events – Beginning at 2:00 p.m., Ocean Boulevard, between Eighth and Ninth Avenue North, and Plyler Park

Meet Drake Bell (Josh and Drake), Savannah Outen and Tiffany Thornton (Hannah Montana), Debby Ryan (Suite Life) and Nathan Kress (iCarly) – 2:00 p.m.

Meet Jasmine Richards (Camp Rock) – 3:00 p.m.

Musical Performances by Envision, Drake Bell, Savannah Outen, Jasmine Richards, and Mitchell Musso – 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Jordin Sparks, American Idol Winner, Performs – 8:00 p.m.

Fireworks! – 9:00 p.m., Downtown

• US Army Special Forces Parachute Jump Team – 5:00 p.m., Grand Park
• Blue Aces Air Force Band – 7:30 p.m., Grand Park Stage

Sunday, May 30

• Military, Veterans and Family Resource Center – open at 12:00 p.m., corner of Reed Street and Moser Avenue, near Piggly Wiggly
• Kids Zone Activities – open at 12:30 p.m., Grand Park
• Recruiter Expo – open at 12:30 p.m., Grand Park
• Military Exhibits Area – open at 12:30 p.m., Grand Park
• Blue Aces Air Force Band – 12:45 p.m., Grand Park
• Battle of the Gospel Choirs – 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Grand Park Stage

Competing Choirs:  Cedar Branch Choir, Trueway Love Fellowship Choir, Voices of Praise Choir, Faith Temple Choir, Coastal Gospel Choir

Competing Quartets/Groups:  Iris and Made of Men, New Directions, Unity, Maurice and the Fellas, Mickeal Boykins, Lil Rickey and the Mighty Golden Stars, Pat Crawford and 1 Spirit, Truetones

• Regional Gospel Acts – 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Grand Park Stage

Darrell McFadden and the Disciples, McDonald Sisters, Gospel Pearls

Monday, May 31

• Memorial Day Ceremonies – 11:00 a.m., Plaza, Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Grand Strand Patriotic Alliance and the City of Myrtle Beach
• Military, Veterans and Family Resource Center – open at 12:00 p.m., corner of Reed Street and Moser Avenue, near Piggly Wiggly
• Nose Art Display Ribbon Cutting – 1:00 p.m., Warbird Park, Farrow Parkway
• Museum Ribbon Cutting – 2:30 p.m., Base Recreation Center, Gabreski Ln.  
• Memorial Day Program – 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Valor Memorial Garden

Music Festive – Brass

Parachute Jump – 82nd Airborne All-American Freefall Team

Opening Remarks

Presentation of Colors – Joint ROTC Color Guard:  St. James, Socastee, Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach High Schools

National Anthem – Tangena Church, The Carolina Opry

Invocation – Chaplain Loran Bulla, US Army Retired

Pledge of Allegiance – Socastee High School Air Force Junior ROTC

Missing Man Table – Rolling Thunder, SC Chapter 3

Welcome – Mayor John Rhodes

Street Name Honorees – Lt Col Colin Clarke, Lt William Hook and CMSgt William Forbus

Remarks – Colonel Quincy Collins, USAF Retired (Vietnam POW)

PGBA, LLC Sponsor Thank You

Music – Festive Brass

Mercy Care Hospice Veterans’ Pinning Ceremony – Chaplain Loran Bulla, Bereavement Coordinator

Wounded Warriors and Disabled American Veterans Recognition

POW and MIA Recognition

Missing Man Table Closing

Rifle Salute – Grand Strand Patriotic Alliance

Taps – Skip Hogan, VFW Post 10420

Music – Festive Brass

• Kids Zone Activities – 3:00 p.m., Grand Park
• Evening Concert Series at Grand Park Stage

6:00 p.m. – Fort Jackson Brass Quintet

7:00 p.m. – Andrew Thielen Big Band Concert   

• Fireworks – 9:00 p.m.

http://www.militaryappreciationdays.com/

For more information about the Hidden Wounds PTSD awareness campaign at Military Appreciation Days contact dan@hiddenwounds.org or call 803-403-8460.

HIDDEN WOUNDS WOUNDS

May 13, 2010

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