Fast morphine treatment may prevent PTSD

This Associated Press article at MSNBC.com covers a study that shows that soldiers who receive morphine shortly after being injured are half as likely to develop PTSD as troops who did not receive the painkiller. 

The study was conducted by the U.S. Naval Health Research Center and included the cases of about 700 soldiers. 

The military isn’t sure why the morphine treatment seems to head off PTSD, but researchers speculate that either the quick pain relief provided by the drug or the way it effects the memory of the injury in the brain, changes the experience enough to prevent PTSD later. 

Another study mentioned in the article found that Army wives were more likely to develop depression or sleep problems, the longer their husbands were deployed in combat.   

Robert Howard, Decorated Serviceman, Dies at 70

Robert Howard was truly an impressive individual, an iconic American soldier and a Medal of Honor recipient.  He was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times.  In his five tours of duty in Vietnam, he received eight Purple Hearts, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross.  He served 27 years in the Army, retiring as a colonel.  He then worked as a counselor at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He made five trips to Iraq to speak to soldiers about his combat experience.   He died from pancreatic cancer.  He was 70 years old.  He is survived by his three children and four grandchildren.    

Platoon savors home after Afghan tour

This moving photo essay at USA Today shows the men of The U.S. Army's 2nd Platoon, Apache Company of the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment and their families, as they settle back into life back home after a year’s tour in Afghanistan.