Aug 15, 2012 - CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — On the last day of a three-day campaign trip across Iowa, President Obama started his day with breakfast at Cedar Rapids’ Riley’s Café.The President had breakfast with three U.S. military veterans: One each from the Navy, Army and Marines. The four talked about post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We discussed what it was like having, dealing with PTSD coming back ... what it feels like to be a veteran facing that stigma that’s attached,” said Jake Krapfl, who served two deployments in Iraq, from September 2003 to March 2004 and again from December 2004 to March 2005.
Kfrapfl shared with President Obama how he learned to keep his suffering, and his pain, to himself. “We’re taught to fly under the radar, how to conceal ourselves,” he said. “We’re experts at it.”
All three veterans shared the need to focus on all servicemembers, including women.
Terry Philips joined the Navy in 1965 when he was 17 and served for three years during the Vietnam War. While it has been a long time since he served, he wanted to focus on future goals for Veterans Affairs. He talked with the President about sexual assaults.
“He mentioned zero tolerance for sexual improprieties or whatever. That’s a big goal to have,” said Philips. “(It’s) going to take a while to get there.”
Amanda Irish grew up in Cedar Rapids and joined the Marine Corps in 2002. She also discussed sexual assaults with the president. read more>>>
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