Welcome to the Team

Who? LtCol Tim A. Maxwell 24 MEU S-3 (Opso)

What? Wounded Mortar attack

When? Oct 7, 2004

Where? Kalsu, Iraq

Why? I was taking a nap

We all make mistakesLet’s just do the best we can

HistoryGet to know them

Kalsu, Iraq Last picture before injury

Awake!

Kalsu, Iraq First picture after injury

CorpsmanSeriously wounded 1 month laterPhysical, PTSD

Shrapnel

Brain

Elbow

Bethesda

My Wife’s Experience- Fight Medical Retirement- VA Form - House- VA Form – Car- TSGLI- TAD- Dinner?- Choose new hospital

And this is just the beginning

My Experience

Richmond VA Hospital(McGuire)

My Wife’s Experience- TAD- Medical Issues

- Failed to check my vision- Changed my medicine- Etc..

- Kids- School

- Travel- Mon – Thurs: Home- Thurs – Sun: Richmond

- Choose new hospitalAnd this is just the beginning

My Experience

HomeJacksonville, NC

My ExperienceBad Neurologist

Fired

Bad Visual Doctor

Fired

5 Bad Elbow Doctors

Fired one at a time

Cannot Drive

My Wife’s ExperienceGet a new Neurologist

Fired

Get a new Visual Doctor

Fired

Get a new Elbow Doctors (5 times)

Fired one at a time

Get a Drive

In the End:Limited Duty

Brain Two Main Problems

At Night: OVER-ACTIVE MIND

Thoughts swirling

Day Time: Receptive/Expressive APHASIA

- Names and labels (Anomia)

- Speeches/Meetings

Physical Problems

Vision (The worst “physical” issue. Reading is brutal)

Right Ankle/Knee: Weakness (Foot drags, stumbling)

Right Arm: Lack of solid control

Left Arm: Slight pain

Bored!

What Can I Do?

Initially: Hang out with my unit

- Drink Coffee. Chat. Visit.- 3 Hours a day, 2-3 days a week.

Later: Visit Other Wounded Marines/CorpsmenSpread the word “You are not alone”Common Issues

Loneliness. Guiltiness. Sadness. Confusion. BORED!

Take Away Live Together?

Propose the Idea to the CG II MEF (LtGen Amos)Share the Barracks Approved

Interviews Hospital Visits

Open the Barracks

Unit was GrowingSpring 2005

Barracks – 6Others – 10%

Spring 2006Barracks - 64Others – 50%

Spring 2007Barracks – 110Others – 90%

What we were learning

Being together is very good

Paperwork is very confusing

Few Marines/corpsmen know either

MedevacWounded

Return to Duty (RTD)

Unit/Local BAS Field Hospital

31st Combat SupportHospital

Baghdad

LandshtulGermany

Return to Duty (RTD)

Return to Duty (RTD)

Return to Duty (RTD)

ApprovedFamily Members

Arrival

Calling?Tracking?Explaining?Funding?

National Naval Medical Center

8901 Rockville PikeBethesda, MD 20889-5600(301) 295-4611; toll-free 1-

800-526-7101www.bethesda.med.navy.

mil

Walter Reed

Army Medical Center6900 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20307http://www.wramc.amedd.ar

my.mil

Naval Medical Center San Diego

34800 Bob Wilson DriveSan Diego, CA 92134-5000

http://www-nmcsd.med.navy.mil

Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital

Brooke Army Medical Center

Location:3851 Roger Brook Dr.

FSH TX 78234 Contact Info:

(210)916-4141

Andrews AF Basewebmaster@andrews.af.mil

744th Communication SquadronNetwork Administration

(301) 981-9986 / 858-9986

Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital

Others

Local Support in most Military Hospitals

Marine LiaisonMarine for LifeVA InformationVisitorsOther Injured and their families

Calling?Tracking?Explaining?Funding?

All wounded can be tracked as long as the proper input is made.

National Naval Medical Center

Walter Reed

Army Medical Center

Naval Medical Center

San Diego

Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital Brooke Army

Medical Center

Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital

Others

TBI: Palo Alta VA

Hospital

Camp Lejeune/Pendleton

TBI: Tampa VA Hospital

TBI: Richland

VA Hospital

Other VA Hospital Specialties

Any Other Military Hospital

Other VA Hospital in Home Town

Home on ConLeave

between each Medical

appointment

Home awaiting Order

Limited Duty Marines/Sailors may be moved to many different places.

Often, they are moved more than once.

Questions/Issues

USMC Items Tracking WoundedPEBVATSGLIExtensionMFL CapabilitiesCACO capabilityRBE training, promotion, retention, re-enlistment, MOS options, Fitreps, Pro/Cons, options, Wounded Marine Medical decisions, etc…

Family Items - Funding for trips to see sons/husbands (S/H) (ITO, Follow on trips, follow on trips so see kids)- Authorization to see S/H in Landstuhl (Orders, or options?) - Parents/Spouse Disagreements (Financial, passionate, etc)

Questions/IssuesMedical Items

- Multiple Injuries

Pills, attention to all injuries instead of the most important- 2nd Opinion (My elbow as an example)- Decisions (remove leg, connect nerve vains, etc..)- Hospital Options

Location - (Home town, VA, current duty station, etc…)Specialty – Walter Reed, Bethesda, Tampa,

Willmington, etc..

Public Items News (Newspapers, Radios, TV)Donations (Everything!)Public Events (Golf, Xmas Event, Speeches, etc…)

Visitors (Everyone is welcome at CL, but not all places)

All wounded can be tracked as long as the proper input is made.

National Naval Medical Center

Walter Reed Army Medical

Center

Naval Medical Center

San Diego

Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital Brooke Army

Medical Center

Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital

Others

TBI: Palo Alta VA

Hospital

Camp Lejeune/Pendleton

TBI: Tampa VA Hospital

TBI: Richland

VA Hospital

Other VA Hospital Specialties

Any Other Military Hospital

Other VA Hospital in Home Town

Home on ConLeave

between each Medical

appointment

Home awaiting Order

After being moved for more than 30 days, the Command is shifted to the local unit.Command commonly changes, as personnel are commonly moved more than once.

Original Unitor

W (Wounded) Co

Henderson Hall

Local I&I

Local I&I

Local I&I

Local I&I

Local I&I Local I&I

Local I&I

Local I&I

Henderson Hall

Original Unitor

W (Wounded) Co

??

??

Local I&I

Fitreps? Awards?

Pro/Cons?Promotions?

BAH issues (Brook vs. Pendleton)?

Medical Decisions (e.g.-Have leg

removed)?

PEB?

TSGLI?

VA?

Approved ConLeave?

Funded family in medical trip?

Funded trip to follow on Med appt?

Re-enlistment?

New MOS?

When Can I re-join my unit?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Our KNOWN list of issues

Benefits of the Barracks

TogethernessEvents. Talking to each other.

PurposePart of a Marine Corps Unit

Problem SolvingIndividuals are supported

What about those who do NOT live in the barracks?

Phase IV:

Wounded Warrior Regiment

USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment

Commanders Every Wounded Marine/Sailor has support

Overall CommandQuantico, VA

East CoastCamp Lejeune

West CoastCamp Pendleton

What will I do?Spread information.

www.SemperMax.com

Visit. Talk. Help.

Try to provide HOPE.

Cpl J KTBI

Wounded Fall 2005

1st Deployment to Iraq

Takes Shrapnel in his back

Dies

Brain shuts down

Lives

Multiple problems

Physical - Left side

Mental – Fatigue, words, …

Cpl J CHip FracturedWounded Spring 2006

Shattered HipJust denied PH.

Medivaced to Navy Hospital1 month (?)

Sent home to Local Navy Hospital

Returned to full dutyDuring training it hurt a lot Hip re-

shatteredSurgery

Different Hospital conducts itMetal Pin placed in both hip (OK) and

knee (What?)

6 Months LaterHip still hurtsStill NO explanation for pin in knee

Second Opinion…..An Option?

Cpl M STBI

Wounded Unknown

Two deployments in Iraq

Two Purple Hearts

Preparing for 3rd Deployment

Brain shuts down

Memory problems

Cpl C FBullet

Wounded Winter 2006

Shot down his face/through is nose

Re-joined his unit within 2 months

His plan…Be a squad Leader

Re-joined WWB ~9 months later

Nose infectedMorale low (not a SL)

LCpl J RTBI

Wounded Spring 2005

Shot in the footNo big deal

Medevaced……Sent home to be with wife

Brain shuts downRelated to his injury?Current status…NoNo TSGLI

Sent to civilian Hospital

Wife quits jobCannot walk, cannot shower

Sent to Home Town (Ohio)

Joined the Barracks early 2006