home - Freeze Frame 4 Vets

An Autistic Artist Dedicates A Valentine

2010-01-10T19:49:34Z

Alex Martin is a young man with autism who has created a mixed-media artwork dedicated to his first cousin, 1st Lt. Thomas Martin (U.S. Army, West Point '05), who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in early October, 2009. Alex and his family are selling a Valentine's Day card created from this artwork and dedicating it to all active duty military and their families. You can see Alex's work called "Remembering Tom" on his website, "Alex's Art Loft."

The meaning of the colors and objects on the card are as follows: The outside of the red heart is lined with blue colored crape paper. The snowflake inside represents those who have fallen. The borders of the card are lined with blue and gold felt stars.

In addition, Tom left a journal about himself that is honest, forthright, and loving at http://www.tommym1080.com/. His last entry was on July 10, 2006. He was deployed to Iraq with the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska that October. A codicile written by his parents lists his official DoD reports his death on October 14, 2009. He was 27. (www.tommy1080.com/iraq.htm).

Presentation for Post Traumatic Stess Disorder

2009-12-01T02:05:58Z

Hero of War by Rise Against

A Harrowing look at the history of PTSD.

The Marlboro Marine's Continuing Story

2009-11-18T14:32:31Z

Los Angeles Times photojournalist Luis Sinco documented the marines assault on Fallouja in November, 2004. While capturing the ferocity of the conflict, he made a photograph of Marine Lance Corporal James Blake Miller.

Miller, weary from the battle, lit a cigarette, and Sinco's photograph of that moment became an icon of the Iraq War. But the connection between Sinco and Miller runs deeper. After returning from Iraq, Miller tried to return to his previous life but found his nights haunted by images of war and his life fractured by depression

Standing tall in harm's way

2009-11-11T05:00:00Z

In the aftermath of the Fort Hood shootings, some commentaries have examined the damage to the U.S. Army from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A few have spoken about the alleged shooter, Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, as an extreme version of what can happen with an overstressed force.

This picture of a traumatized military is misleading. Certainly, the Army and the other services are stressed by the demands of combat. But what's striking to me this Veterans Day is how healthy the military is, given all the weight it has been carrying for the country these past eight years.

Note From The Webmaster

2009-11-08T20:23:15Z

I want to personally thank the Farscape fans who took time out of their schedules to meet with Jonas McCord, Galit McCord, and Ben Browder to tell their stories about PTSD. Thank you:

Demeter58
UCSBdad (Don Vorleone)
SylvreWolfe (who helped plan and arrange the meeting)
Domino
Terri
Mark (who organized the meeting and helped facilitate)
Sprite Lady

It is difficult to share something so personal as the diagnosis and treatment of a mental health issue. Your bravery astounds me. And I'm honored to know each of you.

Thank you also to Jonas, Galit, and Ben for taking time out of your hecktic weekend to come to the LAX Marriott to meet with these veterans and discuss the current treatment of active duty and veteran soldiers.

What did it to me -- A Review Of The Video "Confessions Of An Iraq War Vet"

2009-10-24T20:09:23Z

I was knocked out when I saw the short scenes of Freeze Frame with Ben Browder, I knew that he played a vet who had to deal with PTSD, but even knowing that, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw and I have kept thinking of it every day since I watched it.

Stress Beyond Belief

2009-11-08T20:13:09Z

The authorities will deal with Nidal Malik Hasan, the Army psychiatrist who is accused of bringing the nightmare of mass murder into the sanctuary of a military base on American soil. But the rest of us need to look very closely at the stress beyond belief that is being endured by so many other men and women in the armed forces — men and women who are serving gallantly and with dignity, who have not taken out their frustrations on one another, and who deserve better from the broader society.

Simply stated, we cannot continue sending service members into combat for three tours, four tours, five tours and more without paying a horrendous price in terms of the psychological well-being of the troops and their families, and the overall readiness of the armed forces to protect the nation.

Working In The Trenches

2009-09-27T22:45:27Z

Note: I asked Sarah Chandler (demeter58), a Vietnam War veteran, to tell of her experiences working with veterans as both a non-commissioned officer and civilian social worker with the VA.

I am a Vietnam-era vet, Sergeant, honorably discharged, served 1970-1973 stateside at 1100th Airborne Wing, Bolling AFB, Washington DC, a satellite base of Headquarters USAF, Andrews AFB.

The Power Of Compounding

2009-09-08T20:00:05Z

Take a penny.

Double it for thirty days and you get 536,870,912 pennies. One cent... then two... then four... then eight... then sixteen... then thirty two... And before you know it... in thirty days to be exact, you've accumulated Five Million, three hundred and sixty eight thousand, seven hundred and nine dollars and twelve cents.

Wall Of Honor

2009-04-06T22:04:29Z

These are the names of soldiers who served as soldiers in foreign and domestic conflicts. Thank you to all those who pledged or donated to Freeze Frame 4 Vets and dedicated your payment to a fallen warrior.

Note that if you donate $25 or more you can dedicate your donation in memory of a veteran. If you don't have the name of a vet, click here to search the database compiled from the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. and select a name. We will be posting more lists of veterans for your selection to hopefully honor the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who have served.

Leave A Footprint In The Sand

2009-07-13T19:40:33Z

You are here because you are curious about Freeze Frame or want to learn more about the mental health issues of recent veterans. Go on, leave a message of comfort or a comment on one of the blogs or articles here. Let's build a chain of concern …leave our footprints in the sand… If each person who visits brings back two friends, think of the army of concern we can build

Freeze Frame Script: A Teaser

2009-05-26T23:11:38Z

BREAKING NEWS: Send us the email of an active-duty soldier, and we'll mail them a copy of the script -- Anywhere in the world.

We present here a small sample of the final script for the movie "Freeze Frame," directed by Galit McCord and written and produced by Jonas McCord; so far starring Ben Browder with more noted actor names to come. After reading the teaser, think about the purpose of the film and how important it is to educate people about the true human cost of ignoring the pain of Post-Traumatic Shock Disability (PTSD).

What Is "Freeze Frame?"

2008-12-15T03:19:53Z

"Freeze Frame" is the title of a feature film starring Ben Browder (Farscape, Stargate) that will begin shooting later this year.

Note that Ben Browder is the first of several well-known stars to sign on for FREEZE FRAME---more to come.

A Unique Grass-Roots Approach To Fundraising

2008-12-15T03:20:16Z

We have a film called Freeze Frame that deals with the fact that more Vietnam Vets committed suicide since coming home then were killed in action.

Unfortunately, those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it, and thus we are learning that over the seven years since the fall of Saddam Hussein, more Iraq vets are coming home with serious mental health problems that might ultimately lead them to take their own lives.

Why Make Freeze Frame

2009-03-31T00:00:00Z

Our's isn't to wonder why... or ponder what ifs.

The real path of the artist is to hold up a mirror to mankind to see who they really are. We are the chroniclers of our time. All the films you have seen and the public has rejected have nothing to do with the number one positive thing that comes out of war.