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Posted on 05/30/2014 1:32:49 PM PDT by tired&retired
I need help for my dear friend Joshua Eisenhauer
Here is a video summary: http://youtu.be/Pvr8SBu0dLg
Joshua Eisenhauer is a U.S. Army soldier who suffered severe and debilitating wounds while serving in Afghanistan. Joshua now suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a direct result of those injuries and his combat experiences in Afghanistan.
The PTSD has caused Joshua to have flashbacks on multiple occasions, including the night of January 13, 2012 when members of the Fayetteville, North Carolina Fire Department came to his apartment in response to a small fire in his apartment complex. When the firemen tried to forcibly enter the apartment, Joshua instinctively resisted, believing that he was under attack in Afghanistan. Although Joshua injured no one in that confrontation and was shot four times, the District Attorney in Fayetteville is prosecuting a criminal complaint against Joshua and has been holding him in jail since January 13, 2012.
At the time of that incident, Joshua was a member of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Bragg, where he was being treated for PTSD as part of his transition to civilian life. Therefore, Joshua’s family and attorney have urged the Army to take jurisdiction over Joshua’s case so that he continues to receive treatment while awaiting trial before a military tribunal.
The pre-trial process under the military judicial system takes far less time to complete than the process in the North Carolina courts. Additionally, a military tribunal will constitute a trial by Joshua’s peers. Unlike a civilian court, the judges and jurors of a military tribunal will be familiar with issues related to PTSD and other traumatic combat injuries. Further, under military jurisdiction, Josh will be able to receive both medical and mental health treatment he desperately needs. Currently, his medical care is negligent and mental health care is non-existent.
I don't know how they could possibly have reviewed Joshua's military record and come to their conclusion that he has no PTSD. He had already been diagnosed with it. In addition, they interviewed him while he was under extensive medication. That's like examining a person on pain killers and saying they have no pain, they need no treatment!!! It's absurd.
It has been over two years that he has been awaiting trial with no treatment for his PTSD. Please watch the video at the link above.
Joshua was in his third tour of duty as as a saw gunner when the insurgents truck bombed his base, killing several of his friends and exploding the building he was in.
That seems like a lot of story to be reduced to that short of a description, what really happened that night?
Call his Senator or House of Delegate ASAP...with all that is going on regarding the VA, I assume they would not let this just sit on a desk to be looked at later.
Like the Democrats say, “Never let a crisis go to waste”.....use it to his advantage right now.
Then call the Senators or Delegate office EVERY DAY until you get help for him. He needs someone to fight for him and that seems to be you.
Since I was once from New Jersey, let me say, don’t take no for an answer. Jersey women don’t stop till we get what we want.
Good luck, God Bless, thank you for trying to help and keep us posted please
Please take a few minutes and watch this video. It summarizes the entire situation in a few minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvr8SBu0dLg&feature=youtu.be
I would rather read the facts, what really happened that night?
Here are news stories on this incident:
July 2012
LA Times: Veteran with PTSD, jailed on attempted murder charges, sues D.A. By David Zucchino, Published: 1:19 P.M., Tues July 31, 2012
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-veteran-ptsd-20120731,0,6057019.story
Fayetteville Observer: Soldier in apartment standoff wants Army to take his trial. By Paul Woolverton, Published: 10:53 AM, Sat July 28, 2012
http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/07/27/1193443
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Family says accused soldier needs PTSD treatment, not punishment. By Chris Vaughn, Published: Sat July 14, 2012
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/07/13/4099139/family-says-accused-soldier-needs.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/07/13/4099139/family-says-accused-soldier-needs.html
June 2012
LA Times: Soldier accused in firefight with police is prisoner to PTSD. By David Zucchino, Published: 5:00 A.M., Sun June 24, 2012
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ptsd-shooting-20120624,0,7495398.story
This story was also run in Stars and Stripes and the Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-nn-veteran-ptsd-20120731,0,7671250.story
April 2012
Army Times: Army will not intervene in Bragg shooting case. By Joe Gould, Published: 09:53 AM, Mon Apr 30, 2012
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/04/army-will-not-take-jurisdiction-eisenhauer-shooting-043012/
Fayetteville Observer: The parents of Staff Sgt. Joshua Eisenhauer say their son thought he was shooting at Afghan insurgents when he fired on police and firefighters. By Greg Barnes, Published: 11:12 AM, Sat Apr 14, 2012
http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/04/14/1171072
January 2012
USA Today: Police get help with vets who are ticking bombs. By Kevin Johnson, Published: 01:49 PM, Tues Jan 24, 2012
Fayetteville Observer: Recordings offer more details of soldier’s apartment complex standoff with Fayetteville police. By James Halpin, Published: 09:34 AM, Thu Jan 19, 2012
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2012/01/19/1151436?sac=Local
Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville police IDs officers involved in soldier shooting at Austin Creek apartments. A staff report, Published: 07:10 AM, Wed Jan 18, 2012
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2012/01/17/1151033?sac=Crime
Fayetteville Observer: Fort Bragg soldier faces multiple charges after shootout with Fayetteville police. By Paul Woolverton, Published: 06:39 AM, Mon Jan 16, 2012
http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/01/14/1150491?sac=Local
Fayetteville Observer: Bragg soldier charged after standoff at Fayetteville apartment. Published: Mon Jan 16, 2012 Reporters: Stacy Davis, Beau Minnick
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/10600778/
During the 4 hr standoff, his buddies in the special forces unit begged the police to go in and talk him down. The police would not let them. Instead they launched 19 tear gas canisters into his small apartment and riddled the place with bullets.
He was heavily medicated from recent back surgery and asleep when the fireman were smashing down his door in the middle of the night. He awoke thinking he was back in combat.
He was in the Warrior Transition Unit for PTSD treatment when the incident happened.
Am going to agree with Blueyon, Tired&Retired. Your bringing this to the attention of those on this forum is appreciated. Please continue this fight by following Blueyon’s advice. I agree an injustice is being done. If you would like my help in writing letters I will volunteer. The fire looks very suspicious.
With very few exceptions, very few, most turned out to be normal productive people.
Most of these people experienced prolonged combat during 1966-1968 period. Army and Marine yet came back, adjusted, after blowing off some steam, and are some ones Grandfather.
Does he have documentation to show he was diagnosed with PTSD and TBI at the time this incident happened?
He needs an attorney that understands military issues, this is a mess now that the military is saying he does not have PTSD. His issues are legal at this point, not a matter of trying to get the VA to change his diagnosis or treat him or get the Army to assume jurisdiction, that is not going to happen at this point. He needs a top attorney, this is beyond help with the VA determination and as far as I know there is no way to force the military to handle this, they choose which incidents to keep jurisdiction over and which to allow civilian jurisdiction to take over. They chose to allow civilian system to have jurisdiction.
How is the Army trying to “boot him out...without benefits”..was he still active duty when this happened? If he was and the Army is trying to Chapter him out he has the right to fight that; possibly get Court Martial because if he has enough time in service to qualify for benefits I don’t think the Army can deny him benefits without giving him a dishonorable discharge. Though if he gets convicted and sentenced for felony in some cases he can lose benefits for that.
This is a major legal issue- both the charges for the incident with firefighters and the Army “trying to boot him out” he absolutely needs competent legal help for both, nothing else is going to help him at this point.
Try to see that even terrible auto accidents have people who are killed, others critical and some walk away fine.
Combat affects different people in different ways, and that depends on their unique combat situation and state of mind at the time. Extreme hunger, cold, and emotional state at the time of the attack or incident will have some influence.
I had three Uncles and my own Dad who were in WWII, three came back okay, one uncle was diagnosed with ‘shell shock’(now known as PTSD)...he managed for twenty years by isolating himself on a farm with the help of one of the other Uncles. They told my grandmother he would never be a threat to family or others, but he would be a threat to himself. He would hit the ground when an airplane or helicopter went overhead. A radio or tv was disturbing, and eventually he did shoot himself in the middle of the night.
So just because you or your friends did not experience PTSD doesn’t mean that our soldiers aren’t suffering....some in silence, undiagnosed. Doctors have done better at informing families that PTSD can affect anyone... it isn’t about their being less of a soldier than anyone else.
My doctor told me that most severe car accident victims experience some form of PTSD for at least six months in various levels. And although you and your friends claim you didn’t suffer from it in combat, the real test is what your spouses and family say....low levels come out in stress, new anger, and a change in personality.
It isn’t always violence, it can be depression, isolation, and the inability to do the things, or a lack of interest in things they once liked....avoiding parties, or family gatherings. Not always an overt action...sometimes it’s hidden by the soldier from family....and that is more dangerous because help will not be forthcoming. Denial kills. A person who loved to laugh is now a constant complainer, sad, or unhappy...different levels of change.
I knew two Vietnam Vets who were severely PTSD damaged. I had a neighbor who threw himself on a grenade to save his unit, he died....Vietnam stole a generation of men, either through death, PTSD, unforgettable memories, or injury.
So you and your friends were blessed, thank God every day!
Yes, He was not only diagnosed PTSD & TBI, but he was in the Warrior Transition Unit waiting for PTSD treatment. He had back surgery for a combat wound and they delayed PTSD treatment waiting for him to heal and get off all the pain meds when the event happened.
The current administration has changed all the rules.
Thank you for sharing.
You are welcome, it’s good for all of us to share from time to time.
Oh, I fully agree. If what is written is true the only way to get the from the military and civilian authorities is via a Congressional inquiry. His state’s (federal level) Congressman’s staff will vet the complaint. If it’s found to be credible they will pursue the issues with both military and civil authorities. At that point the military doctors will most likely back off flipping their diagnosis of no PTSD.
I assisted several ‘Congressionals’ when I was in the Army. They are taken very seriously and all parties usually fess up. They’re looking at UCMJ and possibly USC if they don’t.
“I assisted several ‘Congressionals’ when I was in the Army. They are taken very seriously and all parties usually fess up. They’re looking at UCMJ and possibly USC if they don’t.”
The military probably still takes them seriously, but they now have numerous examples form this administration of not doing so, of, in fact, blowing off Congressional inquiries.
Eric Holder on Fast and Furious gunrunning to Mexico.
The IRS scandals.
The Benghazi scandals.
I suppose that's one way to spin shooting at firefighters and cops.
Although Joshua injured no one
Now, that isn't exactly true, is it? Reports at the time indicate one officer was taken to the hospital, and was was treated at the site.
Given that, I've concluded that you have no credibility as to this story. I will concede that the army did not deal with him properly after he was found to be a threat to himself and to others - he should have been secured at that point until cured, rather than turned loose on the community.
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