Posts Tagged ‘Operation Recovery’
Sunday, January 15th, 2012
Join us on Friday, January 27th at 7:00 p.m. at 5604 Manor for screening of 
the documentary “Hidden Battles.” “Hidden Battles”, a feature length documentary, is a dramatic and deeply personal film about the psychological impact of killing on the lives of five soldiers. (see trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDSQETnkIgk)
Representing a cross section of nationalities, gender, class and race, these soldiers reveal intimate memories about the central act of war, the killing of another human being. How do these
individuals make sense of what they have done? What happens when time challenges
their carefully constructed stories? Consciously apolitical but deeply psychological, Hidden Battles examines the strength and struggles of men and women who kill and how they create a life for themselves afterward.
Immediately following the film, volunteers with Under the Hood Cafe & Outreach Center will talk about their efforts to support IVAW’s (Iraq Veterans Against the War) Operation Recovery, an outreach program promoting traumatized soldiers’ right to heal.
$10 suggested donation at the door. All donations support the work of
Under the Hood Cafe & Outreach Center. http://underthehoodcafe.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/underthehoodcafe#!/underthehoodcafe
also see event announcement at https://www.facebook.com/events/217030288384556/
The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Cafe and Outreach Center, FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Tags: 2012, 5604 Manor, Austin, FHSN, Fort Hood Support Network, Hidden Battles, Iraq, Iraq Veterans Against the War, IVAW, January 27, Operation Recovery, traumatized soldiers, Under the Hood Cafe and Outreach Center, war
Posted in news | Comments Off
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
December 2011
Despite the recent “end” of the Iraq war, those of us at Under the Hood Cafe & Outreach Center know that the impact of ten years of war continues on the home front and is far from over. We are still
engaged in a ground war in Afghanistan despite the slow draw down of forces, and recently over 4,000 Ft. Hood soldiers shifted from Iraq to Kuwait. Deployments are not over.
By January, more than 8,000 soldiers will return to Ft. Hood. They are returning to a base with services already overwhelmed, and they will face many obstacles in accessing trauma care and overcoming the stigma that still surrounds trauma.
An active duty service member commits suicide every 36 hours. 18 veterans commit suicide every day. Every day at Under the Hood we continue to work to break the isolation that service members and
military family members experience by offering a space to relax, gather and speak freely about the wars and military life with their peers and to work together for change.
Under the Hood Cafe and Outreach Center is run almost entirely on the unpaid labor of our volunteers which consist primarily of veterans, active duty soldiers and military family members. We have only one paid staff person.
“I want my feelings to get out and be heard. And that is what Under the Hood is doing for me. We are getting stuff done, and we have got the potential to do so much more… Im feeling like I am accomplishing what I have been wanting to do ever since I came back from Iraq. I saw all kinds of nonsense in Iraq. I want to speak out. I guess you could call it the focal point, the head, this is
where all the energy is focused and we are accomplishing things. I feel like I am just reaching so many more people.”
-
Curtis Sirmans, Ft Hood soldier and Under the Hood volunteer
Here are some highlights of what Under the
Hood Cafe and Outreach Center has accomplished in the last six
months:
***We have had a 200% increase in visitors to the Under the Hood since July of this year.
***We renovated Under the Hood, painting the interior and building a coffee bar, a
designated childcare space, an art-making room and a stage area for hosting community events.
***We partnered with Iraq Veterans Against the War’s Operation Recovery, a campaign to defend service members and veterans right to heal and to stop the practice of deploying traumatized troops
experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In May we helped launch an outreach drive and have talked with over 350 active duty soldiers about their experience with these issues.
***On Veterans Day, we partnered with the Ft. Hood chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War to
participate in the
Killeen Veterans’ Day parade to raise awareness of the issues that Ft. Hood
soldiers face in accessing trauma care. We distributed over 400 leaflets to parade attendees about
Operation Recovery and Under the Hood and received very favorable
media coverage by a local television station. We are helping to shape the conversation about these issues by highlighting the direct experience of those who are most impacted and by demanding the changes that they identify as needed at Ft. Hood.
***We held monthly woman’s nights and will increase our women’s programming in the new year to address the unique needs of women service and family members.
***We host weekly community organizing meetings.
***We expanded our referral capacity to an extended network of mental health providers.
***We developed a volunteer program and now have over 15 regular volunteers on the ground.
***We developed an arts based program to open a healing space, creating dialogue in the community that extends beyond the confines of words.
Yo(ur) Art Show,
Combat Paper Project and Warrior Writers Ft. Hood Community Arts Forum have been transformational experiences for us here.
***We offer in-house individual GI rights counseling in partnership with the San Diego Military Counseling Project, a member group of the GI Rights Hotline.
***We host weekly “Ribs and Rights”, a free BBQ and peer training on service members’ rights. In the spirit of peer support and empowerment, veterans, active duty soldiers and family members research and teach each other about service members’ rights and how to navigate through issues they face at Ft. Hood. An average of 10 participants come weekly but we know that the impact of these trainings
reaches far more people as participants are armed with knowledge that they can share with fellow soldiers back on base.
“The issues that Under the Hood addresses dont go away, regardless of the end of the Iraq war. I think in the next couple of months…couple of years, there is going to be a lot of soldiers in this area that will find themselves pretty confused, pretty lost with what’s going on and maybe this place can help with that.Under the Hood allows people of all different backgrounds, whether they are prior service, active duty, family member, or just a community member, it allows them an outlet to express themselves or plug into something that they might not be able to find in other parts of thiscommunity.”
–Chris May, Ft. Hood soldier and Under the Hood volunteer
Thank you to all who made it possible for us to expand our programs to continue meet 
the needs of the community in the Ft. Hood area. We depend primarily on individual donors to fund our work. In order to continue to be able to provide these vital programs we urge you to become a
sustaining donor to Under the Hood Cafe and Outreach Center today.
Sincerely,
Under the Hood staff and volunteers,
Lori, Kyle, Chris, Curtis, Amy, Sean, Alice, Heidi, Fran, Jim, Cindy and Naomi
The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Cafe and Outreach Center, FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Tags: afghanistan, December 2011, FHSN, Fort Hood Support Network, Ft. Hood, GI rights hotline, Iraq, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Killeen, Kuwait, mental health, military, Military Sexual Trauma, MST, Operation Recovery, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, service member, soldiers, suicide, TBI, Texas, trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury, Under the Hood, Under the Hood Cafe and Outreach Center, Update, veterans, Veterans Day, war, warrior writers
Posted in news | Comments Off
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
November 2011
Under the Hood Café and Button Field Press present:
Combat Paper Project Workshop: from uniform to pulp….battlefield to workshop….warrior to artist
Saturday, November 5, 12 noon-6 p.m.
The workshop will include paper making from unserviceable
uniforms for servicemembers and veterans to facilitate communication that transcends the barriers of verbal communication. Visit our website for more details.
Under the Hood Café & Operation Recovery present:
December 2-4, 2011
at Under the Hood Café
Warrior Writers invites you to join fellow soldiers,
veterans, military families, artists, and community members for a weekend of art-making and wellness workshops. The forum will feature writing and art-making workshops, opening a space for dialogue about the experiences of soldiers and the Fort Hood community. The forum will also include seminars exploring local support and resources for soldiers and veterans and a poetry performance and art gallery event showcasing soldiers’ and veterans’ work! The forum is free of charge for soldiers and veterans and sliding scale donation for community members. For more information, visit
www.warriorwriters.org.
Veterans Day – Killeen Poetry Slam: Military Experience
November 11, 8 p.m.
Join soldiers, Veterans and Fort Hood community members at Under the Hood Cafe on Veterans Day for a special
Killeen Poetry Slam. A creative platform for the Fort Hood community to express their military experience and the impact it has in their lives. Let’s truly honor the service of our Veterans, servicemembers and military famlies by
listening to each other and sharing about your military experience and it’s impact on you.
Here’s a list of other upcoming events at Under the Hood:
Ribs & Rights
Thursday nights Under the Hood Cafe and the Operation Recovery Team will be hosting community BBQs and teach-ins on the rights of service members in the military. If you are a service member or a military family member and you want to know your rights or just hang out with a community that respects you, join us
Every 2nd and 4th Friday night, Under the Hood Cafe
hosts an Open Mic with the Killeen Poetry Slam, a nationally award winning slam. It’s a space for poets… but if you sing, rap, mime… whatever… it’s your mic.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for Hoodstock III. It was a great success!
In fact, it may have been our best Hoodstock so far. Throughout the night, we estimate that
more than 100 people showed up to hear great performers, including Barbara K & Richard Bowden, The Possum
Posse and the amazing Austin Lounge Lizards. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in
a silent auction. We sold beautiful items by great local artists including work by Alan Pogue, Jim McCullough Studio, Carlos Lowry, Just Seeds Art Collective, JoAnn Mulert, and Malachi Muncy. Those in attendance also had the opportunity to hear from a number of soldiers who currently benefit from the support Under the Hood
provides. It was a great evening of fun, music, friendship, and serious conversation.
Speaking of great art, we hope that you had the chance to attend the Yo(ur) Art
Show at Under the Hood, which opened on September 30
th and was open through the month of October. Many amazing local veteran, soldier and civilian artists showed their work at this event. You can view photos of the show
here.
So maybe you didn’t get to attend Hoodstock III, but you still want to show your support of Under the Hood. Well, it’s never too late! You can still show your support by making a contribution today. Whether you are making a one-time donation or want to sign up as a sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal.
Interested in sharing some of your time and talents with Under the Hood? We are always happy for support in any form. Along with monetary support to keep our doors open, we can always use other forms
of assistance. If you believe that you can provide support in some way, please feel free to
contact us. We’d be happy to put you to work!
Check out the ResiStore! Now 
you can purchase great items
and support Under the Hood at the same time. Check it out here.
Under the Hood is on Facebook. Become a friend! You can connect with other friends of Under the Hood. Visit our Facebook page by clicking
here.
Past issues of Under the Hood Update are now on the Under the Hood website! If you’ve missed any of our past issues, or if you just want to re-read past articles, please click
here.
UPDATE FROM SEPTEMBER:
Under the Hood welcomes LORI HURLEBAUS as the new director!
Kyle Wesolowski stepped in as manager earlier this year when Cindy Thomas moved to be closer to her family. Kyle managed Under the Hood during some exciting times as
Operation Recovery was ramping up and many other activities were taking off. Kyle’s leadership during this time has been critical to the success of Under the Hood.
Kyle is transitioning out of this role to pursue his education. Before stepping in as manager, Kyle spent a lot
of time at Under the Hood and is an important part of the UTH family. We appreciate everything that he has done and look forward to continuing to draw from his experience, insight, support and creativity. Thank you,
Kyle.
We’re excited to now have Lori Hurlebaus join the Under the Hood community as the new director. Lori joined us this summer as part of the Operation Recovery efforts in Killeen as a member of
Civilian Soldier Alliance. Lori has been working alongside veterans, service members and their families for the past seven years to amplify their
experiences, defend the rights of service members and support their leadership in building a sustainable movement to withdraw military support for the wars and occupations.
Her background in organizing and her experience as a chef
will be invaluable in our continued work to build Under the Hood’s programs and
community building efforts. If you haven’t met Lori yet, please join us at one
of our upcoming events, or just stop by and have a cup of coffee with her at
UTH.
The
Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach
Center. FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax
exempt status. Donations may be treated as
tax-deductible.
Tags: Button Field Press, Cafe, Civilian Soldier Alliance, Combat Paper Project Workshop, Fort Hood, Hoodstock III, Killeen, Killeen Poetry Slam, Kyle Wesolowski, Lori Hurlebaus, military, November 2011, occupations, Operation Recovery, soldiers, Under the Hood, Under the Hood Update, veteran, Veterans Day, warrior writers, wars
Posted in news | Comments Off
Sunday, September 18th, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 6 pm to 9 pm
Jovita’s Restaurant y Cantina
1619 South First Street
Austin, TX
Hoodstock III will feature the Austin Lounge Lizards! We will also have Barbara
& Richard Bowden, and the Possum Posse! It’s going to be a great night of music, and we really hope that you can join us.
Beautiful artwork from local artisans and photographers will be featured in a silent auction.
Information about Under the Hood and Operation Recovery will be provided by members of Iraq Veterans Against the War and UTH staff.
$10 donation is suggested at the door. All proceeds benefit Under the Hood Cafe & Outreach Center. You can learn more about Under the Hood at www.underthehoodcafe.org.
Join us for a great evening of music, information, and a silent auction.
Tags: 2011, Austin, Austin Lounge Lizards, Barbara & Richard Bowden, Hoodstock III, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Jovita's Restaurant y Cantina, October, October 2, Operation Recovery, Possum Posse, Under the Hood, UTH
Posted in news | Comments Off
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
August 2011
Under the Hood and IVAW have joined forces with the Civilian Soldier Alliance to expand Operation Recovery efforts in Killeen!
Founded in 2007, the
Civilian Soldier Alliance is an organization of civilians working with veterans and active-duty service-members to build a GI resistance movement towards a just foreign policy. They work with and support service-members and veterans to withdraw military support from the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, supporting resistance within the military that empowers
service members to have a voice and develop as leaders organizing for change.
Check out Under the Hood’s new coffee bar!
Thanks to Malachi Muncy, UTH’s intern extraordinaire, Under the Hood now has a new coffee bar with UTH logo. Now when you visit Under the Hood, you’ll be greeted with a cup of organic fair trade coffee when you walk in the door. Please stop by and enjoy a cup with us.
Join us this Friday, August 19th at 5604 Manor (Austin) for a screening of the documentary “ Grounds for Resistance.”
A $5 suggested donation at the door will benefit Under the Hood.
Location:
5604 Manor, 5604 Manor Road, Austin, Texas 78723
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
This documentary tells the story of the
Coffee Strong coffee house located outside the
Fort Lewis, Washington army base. Aaron Hughes, an organizer with
Iraq Veterans Against the War will be on hand to answer questions and speak about IVAW’s Operation Recovery program. Staff and
volunteers from Under the Hood will also be available to answer questions about their work.
Under the Hood Upcoming Events:
Ribs n’ Rights
Every Thursday 7-9pm
Eat some ribs and learn more about your rights as a service member.
Free with enlisted ID.
Killeen Poetry Slam
Friday August 26, 7-11pm
Under the Hood is proud to host the Killeen Poetry Slam every other Friday kicking off on Friday
August 26!
Refreshments and snacks available.
[Note: This is recurring. Every other Friday, 8/26, 9/9, 9/23]
Women’s Night at Under the Hood
Friday September 16, 7-10pm
A woman’s only space to relax, speak freely and have fun together. More details tba.
Soldier and Veteran Art Showcase
Friday, September 30, 8pm-11pm
Under the Hood will be hosting a Soldier and Veteran’s Art Showcase, where soldiers can display artwork and see what other art is being done by soldiers and veterans in the community. Interested in
submitting artwork? More details to be announced soon.
Join us for Hoodstock III on Sunday, October 2nd at Jovita’s! (Austin)
Our annual Hoodstock show will feature local artists and musicians and all proceeds will benefit Under the Hood Cafe & Outreach Center. We are still recruiting local artists to perform at this year’s event. If you would like to donate your time and talent to this important annual event, please contact Jim Turpin at
[email protected].
Your continued support of Under the Hood allows us to continue our important work in Killeen. Whether you are making a
one-time donation or want to sign up as a
sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal.
The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center. FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Donations may be treated as
tax-deductible.
Interested in sharing some of your time and talents with Under the Hood?
We are always happy for support in any form. Along with monetary support to keep our doors open, we can always use other forms of assistance. If you believe that you can provide support in some way, please feel free to
contact us. We’d be happy to put you to work!
Check out the ResiStore! Now you can purchase great items and support Under the Hood at the
same time. Check it out
here.
Under the Hood Update is on Facebook. Become a fan! You can find archived issues and
connect with other fans of Under the Hood. Visit our Facebook page by clicking
here.
Past issues of Under the Hood Update are now on the Under the Hood website! If you’ve missed any of our past issues, or if you just want to re-read past articles, please click
here.
Tags: "Grounds for Resistance", 2011, 5604 Manor, afghanistan, army, art, august, Austin, c, Cafe and Outreach Center, Civilian Soldier Alliance, Coffee Strong, FHSN, Fort Hood, Fort Hood Support Network, Fort Lewis, G.I., Hoodstock, Iraq, Iraq Veterans Against the War, IVAW, Jovitas, Killeen, military, occupation, Operation Recovery, poetry slam, resistance, ResiStore, rights, service member, soldier, Texas, Under the Hood, Update, veteran, Washington
Posted in news | Comments Off
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
Operation Recovery Team (Under the Hood, May, 2011)
Friday, August 19, 7-9 pm
at 5604 Manor community center (5604manor.org)
Screening of film on GI coffee house at Fort Lewis, Washington
“Grounds for Resistance,” is a documentary about
the “Coffee Strong” coffee house located outside the Fort Lewis, WA, Army base.
Inspired by the Vietnam-era G.I. coffee house movement, Coffee Strong provides a
safe space where service members, military families, and veterans can gather and
discuss their experiences of war, deployment concerns, the hardships of life in
the military, and veteran benefits.
Aaron Hughes, an organizer with Iraq Vets Against
the War, http://www.ivaw.org/, will be on hand to answer questions and
speak about IVAW’s “Operation Recovery” program to assist active-duty and vets
with issues related to repeated deployments.
Staff and volunteers from the “Under the Hood”
coffee shop in Killeen near Ft. Hood will also be available to answer questions
about their work. http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/
The $5 suggested donation will benefit Under the
Hood.
Location: 5604 Manor, 5604 Manor Road,
Austin, 78723 – 5604manor.org
Tags: "Grounds for Resistance", 2011, 5604 Manor, Army base, August 19, Austin, Coffee Strong, Fort Lewis, Ft. Hood, GI coffee house, Iraq Vets Against the War, IVAW, military, Operation Recovery, Under the Hood, veterans, Vietnam, Washington
Posted in news | Comments Off
Sunday, July 17th, 2011
Friday, July 22 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
First Unitarian Church of Dallas
4015 Normandy Avenue
Instead of receiving the healthcare they
deserve, many of our service members suffering from post traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and military sexual trauma (MST)
are being redeployed.
Please join us for a
benefit concert and
speak-out/teach-in supporting
Presented by
Iraq Veterans Against the War
and sponsored by The
Dallas Peace Center, The First Unitarian Church of Dallas,
Code Pink Greater Dallas, and North Texas Veterans for Peace
Following a presentation and Q&A with members of IVAW about Operation Recovery,
NICKY BEE, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter and member of
Suggested donation,
$10 (no one will be turned away)
Light refreshments provided
Please join us for an evening of music & education for a great cause: helping
veterans heal!
Tags: 2011, Code Pink Greater Dallas, concert, Dallas Peace Center, First Unitarian Church of Dallas, Iraq Veterans Against the War, IVAW, July 22, military, MST, Nicky Bee, North Texas Veterans for Peace, Operation Recovery, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, service, TBI, veterans
Posted in news | Comments Off
Sunday, July 17th, 2011
July 2011
Under the Hood and IVAW work to give soldiers the freedom to heal and
recover.
While Independence Day is often viewed as a day ! of nationalistic pride and the
glorification of war, we see this day as a reminder that all people have the
right to be independent and free of suffering, pain and illness. To that end, the
Operation Recovery campaign continues to build
support in Killeen.
Last month we told you about
Putting the Fort Hood Commander on Watch,
Grill the General Barbecue held on Memorial Day,
and our interview on
Rag Radio. This month, we continued to reach out
to soldiers through a series of community building events. Events so far this
month include:
July 2 – 5PM FREE-DEM BBQ & Poetry for Independence Day weekend
July 7 – 7PM Thursday BBQ and GI Rights Teach-in
July 9 – 9PM DJ – Music at UTH
If you missed these events, it’s not too late to join us for one of our other
upcoming events. They include:
July 14 – 7PM Thursday BBQ and GI Rights Teach-in
Sergio & Malachi of the Ft. Hood Operation Recovery Team (IVAW)
One month in to IVAW’s Operation Recovery deployment in Killeen, this is what
Aaron Hughes had to say. Aaron is the Organizing Team Leader for Iraq Veterans Against the War where he has worked on such projects as Warrior Writers, Combat Paper, Drawing For Peace, Operation First Casualty, Winter Soldier, the Demilitarized University, the Field
Organizing Program, and
Operation Recovery.
Aaron, along with several other members of
Iraq Veterans Against the War, has committed to
spending time in Killeen to
reach out to soldiers at Fort Hood. Since their
recent arrival, they have met with more than 200 service members, listening to
what they have to say and working to connect them to a community that can help
them deal with the physical and emotional effects of war. Under the Hood is
glad to have the support of IVAW as we work to reach out to soldiers in Killeen,
and are pleased to be able to provide a space for
Operation Recovery.
Help send our intern to the IVAW convention and to see Coffee Strong!
Approximately $600 is needed for airfare. Any special donations sent to our P.O. Box
marked as “Intern Travel” will go directly to this special fund. Every dollar
you contribute will be matched by an anonymous donor … a great way to double
your gift! Donations should be made out to Fort Hood Support Network, and sent
to P.O. Box 16174, Austin, TX 78761-6174.
Hoodstock III is coming this Fall, 2011 – stay tuned for details!
Our annual Hoodstock show will feature local artists and musicians and all proceeds
will benefit Under the Hood Cafe & Outreach Center. If you would like to
donate your time and talent to this important annual event, please contact Jim
Turpin at
[email protected].
Your continued support of Under the Hood allows us to continue our important work in Killeen. Whether you are making a
one-time donation or
want to sign up as a
sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal.
The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center.
FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Interested in sharing some of your time and talents with Under the Hood? We are always happy for support in any form. Along with monetary support to keep our doors open, we can always use other forms of assistance. If you believe that you can provide support in
some way, please feel free to
contact us. We’d be happy to put you to work!
Check out the ResiStore! Now you can purchase great items
and support Under the Hood at the same time. Check it out
here.
Under the Hood Update is on Facebook. Become a fan! You can find archived issues and
connect with other fans of Under the Hood. Visit our Facebook page by clicking
here.
Past issues of Under the Hood Update are now on the Under the Hood website!
If you’ve missed any of our past issues, or if you just want to re-read past articles, please click
here.
Tags: Aaron Hughes, Cafe, Coffee Strong, FHSN, Fort Hood, Ft. Hood, heal, Hoodstock, Iraq Veterans Against the War, IVAW, Killeen, Operation Recovery, Outreach Center, recover, ResiStore, soldiers, Support Network, TXLAW, Under the Hood, Update, war
Posted in news | Comments Off
Friday, July 8th, 2011
“We are sitting on the porch at 11PM and a thunderstorm has just broken through the desert’s heat. ‘It’s a little crazy what we are doing here,’ Sergio reflects and then breaks into his loud boisterous laugh that is drowned out by the sounds of the first beating raindrops in over a month…” [Read more of this blog post.]
Sergio is part of the five member Operation Recovery Team who has been deployed for the past five weeks at Fort Hood, reaching out to service members and veterans about their right to heal.
What we are doing is not easy.
Killeen, Texas, home to Fort Hood is a lonely, desolate, and dry place, dominated by the military base.
We are a team of just five, former soldiers talking to current soldiers about war trauma — a taboo subject — on the largest U.S. military installation, home to approximately 50,000 troops and their families.
We could use your help. A donation today will support the Operation Recovery Team to continue outreach efforts at Fort Hood throughout the rest of the hot Texas summer. Right now, we don’t have the funds to continue past this month. Your financial support will pay for our modest stipends, outreach materials, and our living expenses as we continue the daunting and arduous work of organizing active duty troops at Fort Hood.
Will you support us with a donation today? Any amount will help. Click here to give
- Sergio and Malachi of the Operation Recovery team
What we are learning
After five weeks of talking to soldiers, we are learning just how widespread the war trauma at Fort Hood is.
Everyone has a story of someone they know who has attempted suicide.
Many soldiers are on psychotropic medications to cope with the depression, stress, anxiety, and insomnia that is rampant at Fort Hood.
You can read more about conditions at Fort Hood in our latest blog post.
As expected, soldiers also are reporting that commanders are spreading rumors about Operation Recovery, that we can’t be trusted. Soldiers are being threatened and intimidated by their commanders for talking to us. That is just how desperate they are to keep a lid on things.
But we are here to pry that lid open.
What’s next
Throughout July, we will continue outreach and home visits with the hope of deepening our relationships with these service members. People are like walking silos down here, going through their own emotional pain – alone. Our next step is to connect those we’ve been talking to with each other, to start building a new community of shared experience and the desire to heal from war.
But in order to get to that point, we must continue the outreach, the one-on-one conversations, and the home visits that are the bread and butter of our organizing efforts here.
Your financial support will make all the difference in our work.
Make a donation today.
In Solidarity,
The Fort Hood Operation Recovery Team
Aaron, Kyle, Malachi, Scott, and Sergio
Tags: anxiety, depression, Fort Hood, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Killeen, military, Operation Recovery, psychotropic medication, soldiers, suicide, Texas, troops, war trauma
Posted in news | Comments Off
Sunday, June 19th, 2011
Under the Hood welcomes Kyle Wesolowski as the new manager. After several years of devoted service to Under the Hood,
Cindy Thomas recently stepped down as manager so
that she could be closer to her family. Cindy remains an important part of the UTH family and the soldiers, veterans, volunteers, and board members will never be able to thank her enough for everything that she has done. Jim Turpin, a longtime volunteer with UTH had this to say when he heard the news: “Cindy has made such a difference in so many people’s lives, there are really too many of them to count. Some of these young men and women are alive, happy, and healthy today because of her selfless work.”
With
Kyle Wesolowski’s recent release from the military, this is a great opportunity for him to provide some of the same kind of support to soldiers that he received when working to be acknowledged as a Conscientious Objector. With Kyle as the new manager, Malachi Muncy working on a 12 week internship, and support from IVAW staff working in Killeen on Operation Recovery, this is an exciting time for Under the Hood.
Check out some of the things that have been going on this month at UTH.
Operation Recovery campaign requests a meeting with the new General at Fort Hood: In late April, Lt. General Donald Campbell, Jr. took command of the Army’s Third Corps and Fort Hood, the largest and most deployed military installation in the United States. On General Campbell’s first week at work, IVAW, in coordination with Under the Hood staff, sent him a
letter requesting he meet with representatives of the Operation Recovery Campaign about the ongoing mental health epidemic raging at Fort Hood. Since then, Operation Recovery members have gotten no response from the General’s office.
Fort Hood Commander is put on watch: After receiving no response from the new Commander, Operation Recovery members attempted to meet with him on base on May 25th. After being escorted off of the base, members built a
watchtower as a symbolic act to let the General know that his actions in reference to the health and well-being of soldiers at Fort Hood are on watch.
Grill the General Barbecue and fundraiser held on Memorial Day: A fundraiser and barbecue was held at Under the Hood on Monday, May 31st. Soldiers, veterans, and civilians all came together to discuss work being done in Killeen and enjoyed a great meal together. Funds raised at the barbecue will go to support the continued work being done to support soldiers in need.
Under the Hood and IVAW members talk about Operation Recovery on Rag Radio: On June 10th, Thorne Dreyer interviewed Aaron Hughes, Malachi Muncy, Scott Kimball and Sergio K about Operation Recovery, their personal experiences, and their work to stop the abuse of traumatized soldiers. Listen to the podcast
here.
Here is a way that YOU can help a soldier in need. PFC Ryan Reed recently received a 10 month sentence at a court-martial at Fort Hood, Texas.
His crime? – He put his family first.
PFC Reed tried to get help from his chain of command when his wife suffered from serious health issues after the birth of their first child, but his requests were repeatedly denied. In fact he was told by some of his NCOs that he should give up his child to either his parents (or the state), so that he could legally abandon his family and deploy with his unit.
PFC Reed left the unit for six months. Upon return he was told that his family would still get no help (he was even forbidden to talk to the chaplain about his problems) and that he must deploy. This time he fled again, taking his family to Canada where he believed he would be safe from prosecution and his wife could get the care that she needed.
In October 2010, PFC Reed made the difficult decision to voluntarily return to the United States. Upon return he was arrested and then escorted back to Fort Hood, Texas.
At trial PFC Reed plead guilty to one count of AWOL and one count of desertion. He then presented a strong case showing (1) his serious family hardship, (2) his old unit’s failure to help him, (3) his positive service history upon return to military control, (4) his high rehabilitation potential, and (5) the difficulty his family will experience if he is given jail time. PFC Reed asked the judge to give him a BCD (bad conduct discharge) in lieu of jail time, but he was instead given a 10 month sentence (coupled with the BCD, loss of pay and loss of rank).
The good news is that this fight is not over. PFC Reed has a right under MCM 1105 to submit written matters in mitigation to the convening authority (Lt. General Donald Campbell, Jr., CG of Fort Hood). We are asking members of the public to write letters of support asking the general to suspend part or all of the 10 month sentence.
Details will be posted soon on what these letters should say and how they can be submitted. In the meantime, please “like” our page on Facebook (
Free PFC Ryan Reed campaign) to show your support for PFC Reed.
This Memorial Day, we remember three fearless activists for peace.
Nick Travis III, 55, passed away suddenly early Monday morning, May 24, 2010 in Austin. Nick, a long-time peace activist, was known to show up at Under the Hood with his guitar and infectious smile. People couldn’t help but be a little happier with Nick around.
Lisa Morris, 28, passed away unexpectedly the next day, May 25, 2010, in Copperas Cove. Lisa, a regular at Under the Hood, always made sure to stand in protest with fellow soldiers, veterans and family members at the gates of Fort Hood. She left behind many friends.
Then on January 30, 2011, Nel LeBar passed away, surrounded by her family after losing a battle with cancer. In the words of Nel’s granddaughter: ”Nel lived a life of grace and love. Her absence will leave no small hole for those who called her friend, which includes her family. Those who knew her were changed by her, and those who met her were inspired. Her legacy will live on in the memories and hearts that carry her spirit always. She didn’t waste one moment here on Earth and demonstrated love in everything that she did. Her gentle soul that longed for peace has finally found it.”
Although we miss Nick, Lisa and Nel more than words can say, we continue to work for peace in their memory.
Your continued support of Under the Hood allows us to continue our important work in Killeen. Whether you are making a
one-time donation or want to sign up as a
sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal.
The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center. FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Donations may be treated as tax-deductible.
Interested in sharing some of your time and talents with Under the Hood? We are always happy for support in any form. Along with monetary support to keep our doors open, we can always use other forms of assistance. If you believe that you can provide support in some way, please feel free to
contact us. We’d be happy to put you to work!
Check out the ResiStore! Now you can purchase great items and support Under the Hood at the same time. Check it out
here.
Under the Hood Update is on Facebook. Become a fan! You can find archived issues and connect with other fans of Under the Hood. Visit our Facebook page by clicking
here.
Past issues of Under the Hood Update are now on the Under the Hood website! If you’ve missed any of our past issues, or if you just want to re-read past articles, please click
here.
Tags: 2011, bad conduct discharge, BCD, Cindy Thomas, conscientious objector, deploy, Fort Hood, Fort Hood Support Network, IVAW, Jr., June, Killeen, Kyle Wesolowski, Lisa Morris, Lt. General Donald Campbell, Memorial Day, military, Nel LeBar, Nick Travis III, Operation Recovery, PFC Ryan Reed, Rag Radio, ResiStore, soldiers, Under the Hood, Update, veterans
Posted in news | Comments Off
