Posted on 12/01/2006 3:40:11 PM PST by MissEdie
(Columbia) December 1, 2006 - Sergeant Dean Locke suffered brain damage in battle and now has trouble controlling his anger. He says the VA won't help.
Since we first brought you the story, Sgt. Locke is no longer in the state. The Department of Social Services visited Mrs. Locke and we also talked with the VA.
Sgt. Dean Locke says he could snap on a moment's notice, "You can sit here right now talk to me quite clearly, just like you are and be really nice just like you are and I could just get to where I hate you, and it would take about three pounds of pressure for me to break your neck and kill you and is there something that would stop me? No, because if I wish to kill you - you would be dead."
So why is he out in public in the Columbia airport on his way to Florida?
His problem stems from a Humvee accident. Three years ago Sgt. Locke received a brain injury during his second tour in Iraq.
According to the Veteran's Affairs report, his injury left him with moderately severe dementia; irritability, including temper tantrums; angry outbursts and poor memory. It says he didn't even know his address during his exam.
Physically, his right arm doesn't function properly. And he walks with a limp.
WIS previously reported how Locke lost it when he hit his six-year-old son. Mrs. Locke called the police and had them take her husband to the VA.
Mrs. Locke says she was hoping they'd put him in the psyche ward like they did twice before, but this time Mrs. Locke says the VA told her husband that he was okay to go home. But she was scared of him.
Locke told WIS' Kara Gormley, "It's like every member of my family. I could kill them all easily without any problems and that was something I said to the military, asking them if they could give me something or help me someway to get rid of this aggression."
Confidentiality agreements bar the VA from speaking about Locke's case. But the director of mental health did agree to talk about brain injuries, saying she would commit someone if they made statements like this one from Locke, "It's like I could kill every member of my family. I could kill them all easily without any problems."
Rachel Rossman says, "If somebody was feeling that way, if they stated that they were going to hurt somebody and could not control their behavior, that would be enough to commit them."
On the flip side, according to the VA, "If somebody has hurt somebody in their family or somebody in their community, a lot of it depends on the length of time that occurred. If a period of time has occurred that they've demonstrated good control and they feel in control at the time they are seen that they wouldn't necessarily be committed."
While the VA said it was okay for Locke to stay with his family, after seeing our story Wednesday, Mrs. Locke says the Department of Social Services did not, "DSS came to the house. They were very concerned about the children, which is understandable. Somebody had complained after seeing the tape you aired and they were very nice but worried about the children and as a safety measure they would have liked either myself and kids left the house or Dean left the house."
That's when on a minute's notice, Mrs. Locke sent her husband of 23 years away to stay with family in Florida, out in public even though she thinks he could lose it if he becomes angry.
She says it's what she needed to do, "Right now I want my children to be happy and not scared and of course I don't want my husband to kill us."
A viewer called and suggested Kara get the Locke's in touch with the Disabled American Veterans Organization. She did. An advocate there has been working on his case.
He says that Sgt. Locke will return to Columbia next week. The advocate is lining up a meeting with Locke and another organization to assess Locke's independent living needs.
Mrs. Locke has rented her husband an apartment to stay in until they meet.
Hmmmm... My e-wife wasn't in Iraq and didn't get brain damage from war yet this describes her perfectly. I wonder if she's inquired with the VA about her issues?
Hmmmm... My e-wife wasn't in Iraq and didn't get brain damage from war yet this describes her perfectly. I wonder if she's inquired with the VA about her issues?
/johnny
is an "e-wife" one you get from a web site? :)
Three years ago Sgt. Locke received a brain injury during his second tour in Iraq.
unlsee=unless
It sounds like this sargeant may have acute stress disorder, he should be on meds. Especially with the brain injury, there's a lot that can be done-- he just needs to find a team to help him.
His wife and son need to be in counseling
Since he is about 40 years old there is a good chance that he was.
If this story is accurate, I pray this soldier gets all the help we taxpayers can provide.
I do worry we are sending people over there who have "problems" that existed before they volunteered, and that "serving" will only exacerbate these, bringing them to the surface...
This guy is more than likely a career soldier.
Well, he's been married for 23 years according to the article, so realistically that would put him around or just north of 40...his first tour could've been during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
}:-)4
there's plenty of vets with PTSD and/or depression.
Depression in males is typified by unexplained anger.He needs help either way.
I would like to say that it would just be easy for this man to get the help that he needs from the va, but the sad fact being that it is going to take years of fighting & lots of other things to happen for this guy to get the help that he really needs. It took over 6 years to get my va benifits going the right way, that does include a year and a half of being homeless [with a wife & 2 small kids (& one of them with a disabality {Down Syndrome}) as well as 3 stays in the in patient facality due to my anger & rage! I had recieved my head injury as a result of an motorcycle accident with an illigal alien in Yuma, AZ. Anyway the va kept telling me, I have to go back to work, or and by the way take these pills too, they will help you out. I now am no longer allowed to work due to my headinjury and my wife has to stay at home now to supervise me [just like I was a kid again] I am no longer allowed to drive anywhere by my self & oh and by the way my brain is now turning into mush. I still have intense anger & rage, but no where to turn to. I can recommend that this guy turn to a local Dr. who deals with head injuries only. This may help him deal with the head aches, and all of the other problems and maybe find a support group who can help him feel as if he is not by himself. Those of us who have to deal with this have to stand together, because we can not count on anybody else to stand with us.
Yes-- the cut-off time for PTSD diagnosis is 6 months, until then it is usually considered 'reversible acute stress syndrome'... I don't tend to agree with that, but I think that early intervention with the soldier and family is the best way for everyone to be on the same page.
I just had a corporal come to me saying he came home to his girlfriend (sadly, she's a liberal in Portland, OR) denouncing him as a "baby killer" but he let it go because he loved her-- thats bound to make someone want to snap.
Probably true.
I will die on the damn street in front of a VA hospital before I accept a moments treatment from the bunch of low-life P'sOS, again.
I've been the VA route.
I know of what I speak.
They do not give a rat's patootie about a service member, only the protection of their jobs and ensuring they continue the charade of treatment, so that the tax-money keeps coming in.
To hell with them.
Thanks for your time,,,RA '71-'79
This is common in people who suffer brain injuries.I doubt it has anything to do with something from his past.
I remember feeling similar to this guy when I was taking large doses of prednizone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.