Update 2 on Iraq Vet who closed down 101 fwy overpass

[Hekate]

Here's the latest from my VFP friend Lane, who gave me permission to post his email in its entirety.

Hekate

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On Nov 12, 2008, at 4:48 PM, Lane Anderson wrote:

Some of you have followed the Kyle Van Tassel case....the Iraq Veteran on the overpass?
http://www.keyt. com/home/ ticker/33821489. html
http://m.venturacountystar.com/ news/2008/ nov/03/no- headline- --nxxfcclosure04 /

At the continued arraignment today there was a lot of drama. Turns out the prosecutor is a drama queen. His name is Darryl Perlin. His efforts today seemed to be toward provoking the defendant, the defense lawyer and the judge. He succeeded in provoking the judge, which probably wasn't the most clever thing to do.

Perlin referred repeatedly to Van Tassel's "So called Iraq experience" in a dismissive tone. He portrayed Kyle as someone masquerading as a veteran with PTSD so that he could impress his girlfriend, who had broken off the relationship weeks before the incident on the overpass. Somehow he figured that the girlfriend would be impressed by the protest? Ignoring the fact that many if not most vets with PTSD have relationship problems when they become symptomatic (that is often what brings them to treatment), he stated incredibly that Kyle did not have PTSD, he had relationship problems! Then he went on to seal his reputation as uninformed about PTSD by asserting that Van Tassel experimented with drugs and was depressed, as opposed to having PTSD. Then, as if he had read my mail, he insisted that, since Kyle had been given an honorable discharge as opposed to a medical discharge, that he did not have PTSD. Of course this is what the DAV, VFP and VFW are working with congresswoman Capps on! The military gives them honorable discharges instead of medical ones to save money by shifting care to the DVA instead of DOD. The veteran takes it because the medical discharge takes about six months and they want out. I still have not seen the discharge summary so don't know what the reason for an early discharge was.
Following the prosecutor's display of ignorance, Perlin introduced a young woman who stated that she did not think Kyle Van Tassel had PTSD because he had donned his uniform, held a gun and because he seemed to meditate during the entire lengthy hearing. She claims that veterans with PTSD hate the military and guns and would not put on a uniform. She further claimed that they are hyper and would not be able to sit still and meditate. I would point out that many Vietnam vets I know with PTSD are gun nuts who love uniforms and insignia. Most of the PTSD treatment programs use meditation and Thich Nhat Hanh uses only meditation to treat PTSD at Plum Village. (holding his hands in a wai, Kyle looks a lot like Thay!)

Then the defense had Dr. Forrest testify that he had examined the records of Walter Reed, where Kyle had been for many months and that he had a diagnosis of PTSD from Walter Reed Army Hospital. This speaks loads because the army has a more conservative definition for PTSD than the VA and so the VA certainly would concur. We need a look at his DD214 and discharge summary to find out more about the reasons for his early release/discharge.

We need a real expert on PTSD in the courtroom. The PhD in psychology that was used referred to post traumatic stress syndrome, revealing to me that he did not have a lot of background. (it is a disorder, not a syndrome) The psychologist was testifying pro bono, though, so thanks to Dr. Forrest. An expert on VA ratings and the military medical system would help as well!

In the end, the judge showed exceptional wisdom and refused the defense request for release without bail and set a new bail at fifty thousand with a mandate that Kyle Van Tassel has to go to the VA's treatment program in West Los Angeles if he or his family posts bail. I think it was wise because, although I do not think him a flight risk, I think he will not go unless required to go and if his family puts up the family home as bail, Kyle will go and show for court. The judge was exceptionally tolerant of an unusually rude and headstrong prosecutor and wise as a judge should be!

In solidarity, R. Lane Anderson, Adjutant,
Disabled American Veterans Chapter 37
Lifetime Member of VFW Post 1649 and VFP Chapter 54

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[Hekate]

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[Hekate]

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