September 10, 2010

From: Matthew D. Heines: author, teacher and former member of the 82^nd Airborne Division (1982-86)

CEO: carol.blake@ourforgottenwarriors.org

Project manager: christian.boad@ourforgottenwarriors.org

John Ulstrom julstrom44444@yahoo.com

John Ulstrom’s Our Forgotten Warriors Walk to Barack 2010

Former Navy Chief Warrant Officer John Ulstrom (CWO3) (ret.) a Vietnam, Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom veteran, will begin his Our Forgotten Warriors Walk to Barack 2010 on September 16, from Desdemona Texas to the White House to raise donations for military veterans throughout the nation. Our Forgotten Warriors is a charitable organization that is raising public and private capital to assist returning veterans in their transition from military to civilian life, as well as those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

According to Chief Ulstrom, “My goal is to make the plight of the troops and Veterans suffering from PTSD better. I don’t believe they’re getting the care they need and deserve. The suicide rate among troops and Veterans is escalating again. This has been going on since Vietnam. Nothing much has been done to help the people who are suffering with PTSD. In March, a young soldier, not yet 21, from a town near me, committed suicide after having been diagnosed with PTSD. I had been trying to get lawmakers attention in Washington before that happened. When I found out about his death, I decided I had to do more than send e-mails to people in Washington who didn’t even have the courtesy to answer me. I saw on NBC News one night, a 12 year old boy was walking from Tampa, FL to Los Angeles to raise awareness for homeless children. I immediately said “Hey I could do that”. I decided to start training and set my leave date as September 16.”

Chief Ulstrom’s route will start in Desdemona Texas and continue through Stevenville, Texarkana, (Arkansas) Malvern, Pine Bluff, West Memphis, (Tennessee) Memphis, Atwood, Nashville, Monterey, Clarkrange, Deer Lodge, New River, Fairview, Cayville, Arthur, (Virginia) Harrogate, Clinchport, Dungannon, Abingdon, Wytheville, Pulaski, Dublin, Richmond, Fredricksburg, and finally to Washington DC.

Additional quote

“I have printed up business cards to hand out along the way asking people to call their representatives and demand a bill providing better care for out troops and Veterans. I hope those cards and pamphlets from OFW will get something done and donations to OFW. Most of the people who know I am doing this are a bit dubious that anything will come of it. I just say “I won’t know if I don’t try.” I do know 120,000 Vietnam Veterans have committed suicide thus far. That’s more than double the number of troops who died there in combat. We cannot allow that to happen again.”