Fort Hood gunman Ivan Lopez sought mental health treatment

[DCPatriot]

Fort Hood gunman Ivan Lopez sought mental health treatment

FORT HOOD, Texas - An Iraq War veteran being treated for mental illness was the gunman who opened fire at Fort Hood, killing three people and wounding 16 others before committing suicide, in an attack on the same Texas military base where more than a dozen people were slain in 2009, authorities said.

Within hours of the Wednesday attack, investigators started looking into whether the man's combat experience had caused lingering psychological trauma. Fort Hood's senior officer, Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, said the gunman had sought help for depression, anxiety and other problems.

Among the possibilities investigators planned to explore was whether a fight or argument on the base triggered the attack.


more at:   http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/fort-hood-gunman-ivan-lopez-sought-mental-health-treatment-1.7593413

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[DCPatriot]

It has been reported that he tried to apply for a disability entitlement for a "self-reported" brain injury.




.....I lived up the street from a New York State transplant (based upon the license plates on his Mercedes and fully tricked-out truck....and Harley Davidson).

He set up his two car garage as a gym...and invited his buddies to work out.  He could bench 400 lbs.

When he came over to shoot some 9-ball one day, he told me he was on permanent disability for the Army....some sort of PTS or something.


Two plus two still equals four.....doesn't it?   

[alicewonders]

I read somewhere else on the internet this morning that the shooter only served four months in Iraq and that he was a truck driver, and not in actual "combat". 

[Dexter]

I read somewhere else on the internet this morning that the shooter only served four months in Iraq and that he was a truck driver, and not in actual "combat".

There are no front lines in Iraq/Afghanistan; they use hit and run tactics that put all combat personnel at risk. Truck driving is one of the highest risk jobs in a combat zone.

[DCPatriot]

I read somewhere else on the internet this morning that the shooter only served four months in Iraq and that he was a truck driver, and not in actual "combat".

Yep.....same as my oldest son, who drove fuel trucks during the 1st Gulf War in 1990-91.

I think the lousy economy finds many people trying to scam the system in order to 'get by'. 

[mystery-ak]

There are no front lines in Iraq/Afghanistan; they use hit and run tactics that put all combat personnel at risk. Truck driving is one of the highest risk jobs in a combat zone.

Exactly...there is no *safe zone* in Iraq or Afghanistan.

[DCPatriot]

Exactly...there is no *safe zone* in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Correct.   

My son carried fuel for tanks and other military vehicles during the invasion.

While he wasn't in combat "man to man", he was considered a high-value target by the enemy.

[alicewonders]

There are no front lines in Iraq/Afghanistan; they use hit and run tactics that put all combat personnel at risk. Truck driving is one of the highest risk jobs in a combat zone.

Thanks for the info, I didn't realize that - but it makes sense.  Still, four months doesn't seem very long to serve there - I wonder if he was injured or something. 

[Dexter]

Correct.   

My son carried fuel for tanks and other military vehicles during the invasion.

While he wasn't in combat "man to man", he was considered a high-value target by the enemy.

The fuel trucks are especially high-value because they are pretty easy targets. A lot of those trucks have little or no armor.

[Dexter]

Thanks for the info, I didn't realize that - but it makes sense.  Still, four months doesn't seem very long to serve there - I wonder if he was injured or something.

Possibly, or maybe it has something to do with the mental health issues he was having.

[happyg]

Too many people are admitted to the military with pre existing problems. Being in combat zones exacerbates them.

My son wasn't in combat, but he told me about a rocket whizzing by him, and he spent a lot of nights in bunkers, and saw death on both sides. He said it was an awful experience for anyone.

[rustynail]

 The HIPAA Privacy Rule does not apply to the military?

[NavyCanDo]

There are no front lines in Iraq/Afghanistan; they use hit and run tactics that put all combat personnel at risk. Truck driving is one of the highest risk jobs in a combat zone.

Not arguing your point that truck driving in combat zones is high risk, but let’s not to be too eager to give him that distinction.      Another more recent story says this about his one tour of duty – “ had served one tour in Iraq in 2011 but did he did not have any recorded combat experience”.     

[happyg]

His mental problems might not have anything to do with experiences in the military. I is most likely personal, and led to his mental defect.

[mystery-ak]

His mental problems might not have anything to do with experiences in the military. I is most likely personal, and led to his mental defect.

Exactly...plus the fact he was having problems sleeping and taking Ambein....

[Oceander]

His mental problems might not have anything to do with experiences in the military. I is most likely personal, and led to his mental defect.

almost certainly.  at most his experience would have been a catalyst that brought out the underlying disease.

[musiclady]

According to one Fox report, he was distressed over his mother's death.

[EC]

Correct.   

My son carried fuel for tanks and other military vehicles during the invasion.

While he wasn't in combat "man to man", he was considered a high-value target by the enemy.

Your son gets my complete and total respect. Anyone brave enough to drive a bowser there has balls of steel, to say the least. At least with the other supply lorries there is the high chance that they'll want to keep it intact for the cargo. You have a chance against bullets. It's small but it's there. Fuel bowsers though - instant roadblocks when they go boom and they blow up rather easily.

[Bigun]

Once again we see that when seconds count the police are only minutes away!

Even if they refuse to allow CFL holders to carry there is no reason on earth why they cannot require that at least the O.D, C. Q., 1st Sgt. and Company Training Officer on duty should not be armed in every company sized unit on every post in the land!

[DCPatriot]

Your son gets my complete and total respect. Anyone brave enough to drive a bowser there has balls of steel, to say the least. At least with the other supply lorries there is the high chance that they'll want to keep it intact for the cargo. You have a chance against bullets. It's small but it's there. Fuel bowsers though - instant roadblocks when they go boom and they blow up rather easily.

Thanks, EC.