Texas Labor Against the War

Under the Hood is pleased to announce that Eric Jasinski was released on April 24, 2010. On March 30, 2010, Spc. Eric Jasinski was sentenced to 30 days confinement in the Bell County Jail.  Jasinski, 23, who is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, went AWOL in 2009 to seek help for his PTSD.  According to his attorney, James Branum, “He was seeing a psychiatrist for his condition and prescribed Zoloft for depression and Trazadone to get to sleep, and they handed him his gun and told him to go back to Iraq.”  Branum went on to say, “We, as Americans, need to see how combat vets are treated today. Eric is in jail because he has PTSD and was denied the care he needed. His ‘desertion’ was an act of desperation, the act of a soldier who had no other options.”   Eric’s supporters held a vigil on the evening of March 30th outside of the East Gate.    Vigils were subsequently held every Saturday at the Bell County Jail Annex, 113 West Central Avenue, Belton, Texas until Eric was released.

We can’t support soldiers and veterans without YOUR support! Become a sustainer, sign up for a recurring donation today. Please consider a monthly donation of $10.00.   Two hundred supporters contributing $10 a month will help us ensure that we can continue to provide these important services.  It’s easy to become a sustainer through PayPal.  The first 100 supporters to sign up for a sustaining donation will receive their choice of a poster or 12 oz. bag of Under the Hood coffee!   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.

Under the Hood has recently received copies of the Fatigue Press. The Fatigue Press was published every other month in Killeen, Texas during the days of the Oleo Strut, predecessor of Under the Hood.

Karen Stansbery sent three 1970 issues of the Fatigue Press to Under the Hood with this message: “I found them the other day when cleaning out an old trunk. My husband was stationed at Fort Hood in the late sixties. The Oleo Strut was very important to us just like Under the Hood is to many G.I.s now. Thank you for all you do.”  Thanks to Karen Stansbery for sharing this piece of history!  Check out the issues here.

Under the Hood Cafe - House Party and Fundraiser, Saturday, 5/15

Hear the stories of active duty soldiers and veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and learn about the work being done to support them at Under the Hood Cafe near Fort Hood. In the spirit of the “Oleo Strut”, Under the Hood is a pro-soldier, anti-war gathering place for soldiers to relax and speak freely about the wars and the military. Support services for soldiers include referrals for counseling, legal advice and information on GI rights. Since its doors opened, the staff and volunteers with Under the Hood have supported a number of soldiers and veterans dealing with the devastating after effects of war.
Live music, food and drinks. Suggested donation $10.
Location: 211 W. Live Oak, Austin

On Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=105710566138521&index=1

On the Web:  http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/

We would like to invite everyone to join us April 10 and 17 @ 1pm to protest Eric Jasinski’s incarceration. We will be at 113 West Central Ave. Belton, TX 76513. Sorry it’s such short notice but we were hoping the brass would honor what they have been saying about not punishing soldiers with PTSD. As of yesterday (Fri., April 9) they had not even LOOKED at the clemency request!

Spc. Eric Jasinski, a soldier with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, turned himself in to the Army at Fort Hood last December.  He was court martialed and sentenced to 30 days in jail.  Spc. Jasinski went AWOL in late 2008 when stop lossed and faced with a 2nd deployment to Iraq.

“With a military health care system over-stretched by two ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, more soldiers are deciding to go absent without leave (AWOL) in order to find treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”  (Courage to Resist, 3/31/10.)     References below.

March 31 rally at Fort Hood east gate supporting Eric Jasinski (photo from Killeen Daily Herald, 3/31/10).

http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/news/nr20100331.

http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=40379

http://www.facebook.com/underthehoodcafe#!/underthehoodcafe?v=wall

Friday, May 7, 2010, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

at the home of Lee and Hardy Loe, 1844 Kipling Street, Houston

(View Map)

Hear the stories of active duty soldiers and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with Special Guest Cynthia Thomas, Military Wife and Manager of Under the Hood Café.

Snacks, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be served.

Suggested $10 donation at the door

“Under the Hood Café” items will be available for sale including the new “Under the Hood Café” poster and organic/fair trade “Under the Hood Café” coffee.

“Under the Hood Café” (UtH) has been open since February 1, 2009 at 17 S. College Street in Killeen, Texas about one mile from Fort Hood, the largest military base in the U.S.

In the spirit of the “Oleo Strut”, UtH is a place for soldiers to gather, relax and speak freely about the wars and the military. Support services for soldiers include referrals for counseling, legal advice and information on GI rights. Since its doors opened, the staff and volunteers with UtH have supported a number of soldiers and veterans dealing with the devastating after effects of war.

The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates “Under the Hood Café” in Killeen, Texas. FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt. All proceeds benefit “Under the Hood Café”.

Join us and hear how “Under the Hood Café” is making a difference in the lives of these young men and women.

Sponsored by FHSN Jim Turpin Fundraising Committee UtH (512) 965-3726. The Loes: 713-524-2682 [email protected]

www.underthehoodcafe.org

Facebook page for this event:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111719738854964&ref=mf

Friday, January 15, 2010, 8:30 am – 6:00 pm

East Gate of Fort Hood, corner of fort hood st and veterans ave

We, the Soldiers and dependents of the military community are literally sick of fighting the wars of the past decade. Soldiers enter the Army ready and willing to fight for this country and come back plagued with nightmares, physical symptoms, PTSD, and TBI among other injuries. Instead of receiving adequate care from counselors and physicians, often Soldiers are over prescribed medications that conflict with each other and further debilitate rather than heal. Army counselors are over worked and not able to give the necessary treatment and the progressive treatment of the soldier reset clinic has yet to be branched out base wide despite the popularity and proven efficacy. Families of Soldiers are left emotionally separated by this maltreatment where oceans previously separated. Our Soldiers and families deserve better mental health and physical treatment beyond palliative care, but rather care that is progressive so that the we indeed can become “all that we can be” rather than the broken community that we currently are; plagued by suicides, alcoholism, domestic and child abuse, and joblessness following leaving the Army. COME STAND AT THE EAST GATE , CORNER OF RANCIER & FORT HOOD STREET, TO LET THE REST OF AMERICA KNOW THAT OUR SOLDIERS DESERVE BETTER TREATMENT!
0830-1800 COME AS YOU CAN
HOSTED BY UNDER THE HOOD CAFE

http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237445406725

Under The Hood
5-10 p.m., everyday
17 S. College Street
Killeen, Texas
(254) 449-8811, http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/

In the spirit of the Oleo Strut, Under The Hood is a place for soldiers to gather, relax and speak freely about the wars and the military. Support services for soldiers include referrals for counseling, legal advice and information on GI rights.

Under The Hood needs your donations and support!

Our community was deeply affected by the November 5th tragedy.

Antonia Juhasz, author of The Tyranny of Oil: the World’s Most Powerful Industry—And What We Must Do To Stop It will speak 3-4:30 p.m., Saturday, December 12, 2009 @ Under the Hood, 17 S. College St., Killeen, Texas. Free

Under The Hood
5-10 p.m., everyday
17 S. College Street
Killeen, Texas
(254) 449-8811

http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/

In the spirit of the Oleo Strut, Under The Hood is a place for soldiers to gather, relax and speak freely about the wars and the military. Support services for soldiers include referrals for counseling, legal advice and information on GI rights.

Warrior Writers

Veterans Day Veterans Speak
at Under the Hood Cafe
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 4-7 p.m.
GI and Veteran Writing Workshop

8-10 p.m., Open mic and fundraiser

Thursday, Nov. 12, 4-8 p.m., Extended writing workshop

Under the Hood, 17 S. College St., Killeen, TX,  254-449-8811

http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/index.html

Joint Statement from Under the Hood Café and the Fort Hood Chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War

August Benefit for Under the Hood
5-9 p.m., Sunday, August 30, Jovita’s, 1617 South First St., Austin, TX.  Details soon.

In the spirit of the Oleo Strut, Under The Hood is a place for Ft. Hood soldiers to meet and unwind.

Under The Hood needs your donations and support! Download pdf of fundraising appeal.

Under The Hood
17 S. College Street
Killeen, Texas
(254) 449-8811

www.underthehoodcafe.org