Family Day for the Warrior Transition Battalion

Yesterday was the annual family day for Ft. Bragg's Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB). I was invited to set up a table and talk with the soldiers about the journaling class I teach there. I shared a table with Silouan, an inspirational former Marine fighter pilot, and PTSD victim, who frequently visits military installations to talk about PTSD. Check him out at boundforfreedom.com.

Others with a presence at the event included representatives of the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org/, The Red Cross, Gold Star Mothers, American Legion, the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) and others. It is humbling to spend an afternoon with these brave men and women.

I had the opportunity to talk with the Ft. Bragg Garrison Commander, COL Stephen J. Sicinski and his wife, Teresa. With responsibility for all of the physical and mobile facilities on Ft. Bragg, this has to be one of the most challenging, and important, jobs in the Army. I enjoyed meeting them both and we had a good conversation about my work with the wounded warriors. It was good to see the colonel attend this event and show support for the troops.

I also talked with one of the Gold Star Mothers who lost her son in 2007. It was amazing to hear her talk about how this organization has provided her with so much support and given her new purpose in her life. It's a tragedy to lose a child, but inspirational to see how these mothers manage to "soldier on" in the face of such a loss.

I'll be travelling to McDill AFB (headquarters of USSOCOM) next month to present the Therapeutic Journaling program to the Care Coalition, the military's wounded warrior program for the special ops community.

In the meantime, my son Jason has returned to Iraq - his ninth deployment since the beginning of the Global War on Terror. He's planning to leave the Army next year (after 10 years) and will attend grad school, beginning with a semester at Georgetown University for the spring semester.

More to come...

DOD Integrates Stress Coping Training

As reported in Stars and Stripes this week, the Department of Defense, beginning in October, will introduce stress coping techniques in basic training for all branches of the military.

The goal is to reduce the incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which by some estimates effects 20% of combat veterans. The current thinking is that mental toughness can be taught and, if true, such training can save lives.

In the meantime, combat stress clinics are being introduced in combat areas. These "restoration centers," as the military calls them, provide a place for service members to get a few days respite following an acute mental trauma. Having a chance to talk it through with medical staff can go a long way in minimizing the long term impact of such events.

Army medics are trained to look for signs of PTSD and mental health professionals conduct periodic psychological debriefings in the battle zone to help soldiers to deal with the combat stress they all face.

These proactive steps by the military are aimed at reducing PTSD, reducing suicides and reducing post deployment violence. I applaud these efforts.

VA to Soften Definition of PTSD

The Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed a change in its definition of qualifying stressors for a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Under current regulations PTSD is recognized for combat veterans and POWs. The new proposal, which was posted for comment in the Federal Register on August 24, 2009, suggests they may amend the definition to include situations where, "1.) The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others: 2.)The person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror."

Since the military first began to acknowledge PTSD as a service related disability after the Vietnam War, there have been questions about what causes it and why it strikes some and not others. We all deal with stress in different ways and the reality is that no one knows why it hits at all, much less why it effects people in seemingly random ways. So I for one am pleased to see the VA open the scope a bit to recognize that not only vets actually involved in combat can be impacted by PTSD.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

Update July 8, 2009

I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th holiday. I marinated a beef brisket and enjoyed it with a nice bottle of Chianti.

I'm going to Chicago in a couple of weeks and hope to meet up with some interesting characters. How can you not meet interesting people in Chicago? The Tangled Web is still doing well and I'm still working toward turning it into a film.

I've been invited to speak again at the November in Dallas conference of JFK researchers, hosted by JFK Lancer. I continue to support this group because they continue to search for the truth about the Kennedy assassination. Stay tuned.

Buy a book today - click on the Buy Now button to pay by credit card or with your Pay Pal account. Thanks for your support.

Sale Through the End of June

I'm pleased to announce The Tangled Web will be offered at a special sale price through the end of June. Originally published at $22.95 - through the end of June you can purchase an autographed copy of the hardcover edition for just $16.95 plus reduced shipping and handling of $3.95. Just click on the Buy Now button to the right to use PayPal or send me an email at michaeljcain@gmail.com All buyers will receive a bonus of the updates included in the paperback edition published in March 2009.

Act now for this exclusive opportunity to own an autographed copy of The Tangled Web.

The Tangled Web

After reading an advance copy, Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Gibson said of The Tangled Web, "This is one of the most important mob books ever written."

The stories about Richard Cain that have been rumored for years, talked about in police stations and saloons, are now told for the first time in print for all the world to share. He redefined the very concept of a corrupt cop, while he secretly plotted to take control of the mob.

All copies ordered here will be autographed by the author. If you would like your copy personalized, just leave a comment here.

Sheriff Richard B. Ogilvie

In 1962, former federal prosecutor Richard B. Ogilvie threw his hat in the ring for Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois. Ogilivie's primary claim to fame was an income tax evasion conviction against mob boss Anthony "Big Tuna" Accardo. His opponent was equally qualified with the added bonus of being a Democrat. The city of Chicago has a long and deep Democrat heritage, but suburban Cook County is historically Republican. Ogilvie had an uphill battle from the start. Dick Cain, who had been Ogilvie's investigator while building the Accardo case, approached Ogilvie with an incredible offer.

Cain told the candidate that he was mobbed up and because of that he was able to manipulate the vote in Chicago to ensure Ogilvie won the election. In return he wanted to be appointed chief of a new Special Investigations Unit. In this role, Cain would clean up vice in Cook County, not by closing it down, but by controlling it. In accepting the deal, Ogilvie and Cain redefined the concept of police corruption in a city where corruption was nothing new.

More later...

What's it All About?

The Tangled Web is a book about the life, and death, of Richard Cain. Richard was a Chicago cop and a made member of Sam Giancana's mafia. When he worked for Cook County Sheriff Richard Ogilvie, he was chief of the Special Investigations Unit. Possibly the highest police rank ever for a made member of the mob.

The book explores how he came to be the person he was and how his corruption impacted law enforcement in Chicago.

The Tangled Web

Thank for visiting the home of The Tangled Web. You may order a copy of the book by clicking on the Buy Now button to the right, or you can look around and learn about Richard Cain and the tangled web he wove in his lifetime.

I am the author of this book, and while it was released nearly two years ago, it has continued to be a strong seller, and I'm still hopeful that it will become a motion picture.

The life of Richard Cain has been the cause of much speculation over the years about who he really was, where his loyalties were, and what drove him to a life of crime when he could have had so much more with different choices.

Stop by often as I'll be posting regular updates with new information as it becomes available.

You may leave a comment for me by clicking on the comment form just below this text. You'll see that I have other interests beyond The Tangled Web, and that I have a passion for helping and supporting our military in any way that I can. Please try to do your part as well.

Heroes Helping Heroes

This is the place of heroes. Home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces. The more time I spend with these guys, the more I appreciate the sacrifices they've made for me and for you.

My volunteer work on Fr. Bragg mostly puts me with men and women who have been injured and are on the mend. Whether it's Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or shrapnel wounds, or bullets, or a non-combat injury, these guys have earned our respect and our gratitude. No matter how you feel about the war, don't ever forget the people who put their lives on the line for you every day. Some of them have paid a horrible price for that.

I've seen the Army struggle with how to handle the wounded warriors and I've seen some of the mistakes they've made, but rest assured they're working hard to do the right thing. It isn't just the Army, though, that's working hard. I'm amazed at the number of civilians who have stepped up to offer what help they can. The men and women of the Wounded Warriors Battalion are frequently invited to get away for a day or two by generous citizens who take them to sporting events, hunting and fishing trips or just a barbeque on post.

These events provide a break from the monotony of daily PT and medical care, but more than that they give the soldiers a day to put all the "baggage" on the shelf and relax. Participation by the soldiers is less than universal, but for those who do take advantage of the opportunities, a welcome respite awaits.

Makes me proud to be an American.

Journaling For Heroes

I've mention before that I volunteer at Ft. Bragg but I thought I'd update you on some changes. Beginning a couple of months ago I changed the format from creative writing to therapeutic journaling. When I started this, I had a notion that some of these guys might want to tell their war stories - either to share with their families or to pursue publication in one form or another. There were a few that connected on that level, but after meeting with a number of them, I sensed a greater need for help in "talking" through their issues. It's very difficult for a soldier to open up with the medical professionals who try so hard to help them. It occurred to me that if they were taught how to express their feelings, fears and frustrations privately, it might actually help them to sort things out.

My students are all members of the Wounded Warriors Battalion at Ft. Bragg. Many have been wounded in combat, others are non-combat injuries, some injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, others have been injured prior to their deployments. There's really quite a wide ranging source of injuries, but the soldiers I want to focus on are the ones who were injured while on deployment, whether combat related or not. The goal is to get them to express themselves on paper, and hopefully through their writing to learn more about themselves and their feelings.

I go to great pains to emphasize that their journals are private, that only they can decide to share what they've written. If they begin to get into territory that makes them uncomfortable, I've told them it's perfectly OK to destroy what they've written, that the benefit is in the writing, not the saving.

The other change has to do with when and where this all takes place. When I first started teaching at Bragg, it was in the evening, at their barracks (actually an old hotel) and loosely categorized as recreational activity. When I changed the format I approached the command and requested that I be allowed to offer the class during "duty hours" so that we could emphasize that this was no longer considered recreation, and more along the lines of a tool to help the healing process.

Two months into the new format, there have been some breakthroughs with a number of students who really get the benefits of this approach. I can't begin to tell you how humbling it is to have these heroes thank me for my time, when I am so grateful for all the sacrifices they have made for us.

I plan to continue this course for as long as they'll have me and will post periodically about how it's going. If anyone has ideas that can help this program succeed, please leave a comment or drop me an email at michaeljcain@gmail.com

More later...

On Saturday, March 14, went to see a new documentary film called Brothers at War, by Jake Rademacher. Jake is a filmmaker whose two brothers, Isaac and Joe, are members of the U. S. Army. Jake wanted to understand what motivated them to serve, and what it was like to serve in a combat zone, so he made two trips to Iraq and embedded with four different units. He shot over three hundred hours of video which he condensed into this spectacular film that I hope gets wide distribution and much success.

The average Joe in America hasn't a clue what life in a war zone is like. I'm one of them, but I keep trying to learn. This movie premiered in Fayetteville, NC (Ft. Bragg) where I saw it, Columbus, GA (Ft. Benning), Jacksonville, NC(Camp LeJeune), Wahsington, D.C. and Chicago. This week it should roll out to 15 more cities. If you see it pop up in your town, go see it. Tell your friends about it.

While I was at the theater I had an opportunity to meet Gary Sinise, who is the executive producer of this film, which means he's signed on to help make it succeed. He's been very supportive of our troops and deserving of our thanks for all he's done.

I took advantage of the opportunity to give Gary a copy of The Tangled Web in hopes that he'll consider it for his next leading role.

Go see the movie!

The Tangled Web Released in Paperback

It's been almost two years since The Tangled Web was released and despite the best efforts of the naysayers, it's been a success. This coming Monday (March 2) it will be released in paperback a full week ahead of schedule.

I'm excited to begin this next phase, though it isn't likely to include as many appearances as the hardcover. The best thing about the paperback, besides the obvious opportunity to offer the book to a new group of readers, is that it includes new information about Richard Cain's deal with Sheriff Ogilivie to fix the election in return for Richard's appointment as chief of the Special Investigations Unit. There's also an interesting introduction by Jack Clarke, a famous Chicago area private investigator who was a contemporary of Richard's.

Meanwhile, I've made some changes to the course I'm teaching at Ft. Bragg. I started out focusing on creative writing, thinking that some of the soldiers might be interested in telling their war stories. As it turns out, what they really needed was an outlet to tell the stories not for publication, but for healing.

So, what started out as an evening course in the Wounded Warriors Battalion has evolved into a daytime course in therapeutic journal writing. Soldiers who have been injured in battle have to fight many emotions as they transition from healing back to active duty and it's always hard for them to talk about their experiences. Journaling gives them an outlet that can deliver the benefits of talking through their issues without the pain or the risk of actually telling someone what they've been through.

Regardless of whether their perception of the risk is real or not, it's undeniable that they have a difficult time in sharing. I've seen a wide range of emotions from these heroes; anger, survivor's guilt, and fear, to name a few. My goal is to show them that writing about those feelings, more than the events that caused them, is a valuable part of their healing process. It's been very productive for them and extremely rewarding for me.

Thoughts on a Do-nothing Congress

So, now that we have a new president, I feel compelled to share some thoughts about the process we’ve just witnessed. Much has been made of President George W. Bush’s approval ratings of 27%. There were certainly a good many reasons for it and I’m not here to suggest that is was unfair. The fact is, he made mistakes and the price he paid was declining approval, the price our soldiers have paid for his mistakes was far greater.

But I’m not going to dwell on that (yet), I want to explore the curious nature of polls and approvals. It seems that as much as we disapprove of the job George W. Bush has done, we are in far greater agreement about the job our congress has done. A July 8, 2008 Rasmussen poll concluded that the approval rating for congress was 9%, one-third of the president’s approval rating. Or said another way, Bush had three times as much approval as congress.

And yet, we just keep re-electing these people to go back to Washington and do nothing of note and spend our money without even asking how it’s being spent, as in the three hundred fifty billion we gave to the banks. With a 9% approval rating, we still sent 96% of them back to Washington to continue doing a lousy job. If we are so unhappy with the job our congressional representatives are doing, why did we re-elect them at a rate of nearly 96% in 2008. In fact, since 1964 the lowest re-election rate was 85% in 1970.

To me, several things are clear - they’re not doing their jobs; the American voters don’t seem to care that they’re not doing their jobs; and not much is going to change just because we have a new president. The sad reality is that the same people who didn’t do their jobs during the Bush administration are going to continue not doing their jobs during the Obama administration. They didn't decide to ignore their responsibilities because they didn't like Bush, they ignore their responsibilities because it's a way of life for them.

One of the reasons for this is that we have allowed congress to become populated by professional politicians who, once they get there, spend a tremendous amount of energy seeing to their re-election instead of looking after the needs of the people. Gone are the days when serving in congress was considered public service, we now have a congress whose purpose is heavily weighted towards protecting one another’s seat. Deals are made to solidify power without consideration of what’s best for the country. Votes are traded not to ensure anything more than support for one another. Secret deals are covered up by burying them in amendments that are not debated or disclosed until after they become law.

Longevity is an effective way to become a powerful force in congress, but the flip-side is that the more powerful a congressman or a senator becomes, the less likely they are to be defeated. The more powerful they become, the less likely they are to respond to the wishes of their constituents because they know they’re no longer being judged by how well they serve the public but by how many important committees they chair.

Along the way, feeling impervious to opposition at the polls, it seems that congress has lost its moral compass. Not all of them, to be sure, but certainly too many have decided their position entitles them to behave in ways that are simply unacceptable. Whether it’s stashing cash bribes in the freezer or accepting home renovations, these are acts of people who feel they’re entitled to something more than a good salary and a great medical plan.

Term limits would help the problem, but only congress can make that happen and what motivation do they have? The only way it can be fixed is through grass roots efforts on the part of the voters. If you work to fix it in your district, you will be a part of the solution. It’s not about finding fault with your congressman, it’s about recognizing that the longer a person serves, the less effective they become in representing your interests.

If you’re among the 91% of Americans who believe that congress is not doing its job, remember that your congressman and your senators are among the people not doing their jobs. It’s not just the other guys who are failing us, it’s the whole flippin’ lot of them. They’re not going to fix the problem, it’s up the voters, are you doing your part?