Veteran lost for two days rescued by veteran
A couple of you sent us this link to the story of Jason D. Cooper, a marine combat veteran who suffered from PTSD and fled the scene of a minor car accident into the snowy Oregon country side.
[OR State Police Officer Sgt. Dave Randall] and Senior Trooper Don Frerichs of the Fish and Wildlife Division returned to the crash scene and followed the tracks for more than five miles on snowmobiles.
When they came upon Cooper, obviously suffering from hypothermia, Randall addressed him as Staff Sgt. Cooper and asked him how he was doing.
“He asked me how I knew he was a Marine and I said, `Hey, a Marine always knows a fellow Marine.’ After that, we were fast friends.”
According to the report, Cooper will be fine after suffering from a bit of frostbite and hypothermia.
Now compare that PTSD to this case of former Granby Police Capt. David Bourque who was arrested for possessing thousands of child pr0n media;
In court papers filed Wednesday, Richard Brown, an attorney for Bourque, had argued for a lighter sentence based on an evaluation by a psychologist that concluded Bourque suffered PTSD, affecting his judgment. Brown said it did not excuse Bourque’s conduct, but could be taken into account by a judge when he is sentenced on Friday.
See the difference? In the first case, PTSD was the REASON SSG Cooper has a problem, in the second, PTSD was an EXCUSE for Bourque’s problem.
Category: Veterans Issues
It is also worth noting that the law enforcement response was reasoned and well done-just what we can expect for vets serving.
What Army Sergeant said.
Agree with Army Sergeant! Very well done OSP SGT. Randall & OFWD Senior Trooper Frerichs!
Well played by the law enforcement. Jason is being cared for and is recovering from the frostbite, despite a few setbacks he is a good man,.
Looks like this one will turn out OK – provided the guy “mans up” in court and offers his PTSD as mitigation, not as justification. If so, I hope the judge goes light on him, ’cause it sounds like he does truly have some headspace and timing issues.
In Michigan, he’d only be looking at a civil infraction ticket for leaving the scene of a PD accident. That’s payable at the District Court window, you don’t even see a judge.
See this guy is believeable, he didn’t hurt anyone, didn’t rob/shoot/rape/stab anyone or assault the police, or claim PTSD from hearing “stories” from combat veterans while spending 2 days in Afghanistan and turning into the biggest douche rocket the military community has ever known. he just ran away. It sounds like a fender bender, so hopefully everything turns out ok for SSgt Cooper.
This ex-Marine held his ex-wife and her husband at gunpoint after breaking into their home, knowing his 5 year old son was present in the home at the time. This happened in 2005, 6 months after his release from military service. He served 3 years in prison and still threatened to murder his ex-wife upon being released. Recently, he was arrested for theft, assault and strangulation in Medford, OR. His problems are from mental illness, not simply PTSD.
He grew up in Klamath Falls and Everett, WA and trained in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Marines. He is a mountain man through and through.
So, before you comment on stories, try doing a bit more fact finding first!