The 24th Division was a unique outfit of mostly volunteers from California having a very high respect for the company commander Thomas Clifford who was killed in action on Mindanao. Living with the fear of being charged with murder for telling people about his experiences and what he was ordered to do, Sgt. lived with these memories his whole life. Sgt. Louis L. Castner told his son that with all things considered, he would volunteer again. Mr. James Castner is currently writing a book about his father called "Beyond Belief" the 24th first to fight last to leave Victory division. For more information on this amazing veteran you can contact Mr. James N Castner email shrek411@westriv.com .
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BILINGUAL VETERANS OUTREACH CENTER
281 Franklin Street Springfield, Ma 01104 Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm Phone: (413) 731-0194 Fax: (413) 736-2008
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09/03/2010 11:00 AM -0400
Date of last update
OUTREACH CENTER EVENTS
STAND DOWN 2010
The term "Stand
down" originated during the Vietnam War, when the troops were brought out from
the battlefield to the rear (for two or three days) to rest and recuperate,
while preparing to go back out again. During this rest and recuperation period,
they were given new equipment, new clothing, and great meals. They were also
able to get some long deserved sleep.
Now that you have
an idea of what "Stand down" is all about, we would like to ask you to join us
at our annual "Stand Down for
Homeless and Needy Veterans", which will be held on October 1st 2010
from 8:30am to 2:00pm at the Greek Cultural Center at 6 Plainfield Street,
Sp
ringfield.
Expecting over 300
veterans and families to show up this year will constitute our 13th
Annual Stand
Down and the 5th in the city of Springfield (all others have been held at Westover
AFB in Chicopee).
We are concentrating on networking all of our services within our community to ensure that our veterans are well served in their needs. Services on hand are and not limit to; VA health care, housing, employment, drug & alcohol council, legal services, registry of motor vehicles, eye care, VA/State veterans benefits just to mention a few. For more information or Pre-registration please contact our office at 413-731-0194 or click this link: 2010 STAND DOWN PRE-REGISTRATION
We hope to see you at this years Stand Down 2010!
RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR TRANSITIONAL HOME
The Western Mass Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center will present a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony” at The SFC Jorge Otero-Barreto Transitional Home for Homeless/Needy Veterans located at 52 Maple Court in Springfield, Ma. After months of working with the organization, “Rebuilding Together”, their volunteers and resources, the job has been completed and they would like the public to come and see the renovation that the house has gone through. Homeless/Needy veterans would be proud to reside in such a dwelling. The Ceremony will commence at 11:30 AM on September 17th 2010, (POW/MIA Day) at the grounds of 52 Maple Ct, Springfield MA 01105. Refreshments will be served. For more information please call the Center at 413-731-0194 or e-mail at sgtgomez@aol.com.
Inside The Center:
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Veterans Issues: PTSD (Click on the player to view video)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events that threatened or caused grave physical harm. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma. This stressor may involve someone's actual death, a threat to the patient's or someone else's life, serious physical injury, an unwanted sexual act, or a threat to physical or psychological integrity, overwhelming psychological defenses. For more information VA MEDICAL INFORMATION.
PTSD has effected veterans from All wars:
WWII Veteran Machine Gunner Louis L. Castner
SGT. Louis L Castner served in WW11 with the 19th Regiment, Company C 24th Division Battalion 1 as a 50 cal. machine gun platoon leader. As a Sgt. he trained at scolfield barracks with both the 87th airborne and the 11th airborne 97th division. Louis never talked about his service days until right before his death. His son James struggled to understand his father's nightmares as a child. Today after getting his father to talk he does. James woke his father one night at 3 am and said "Dad, don't let the truth not be told". Louis began to speak freely. Louis Castner spoke of medals earned but never received, all of the campaigns he was involved in, in the south pacific from New Guinea to Mindanao. On New Guinea he found 3700 POW's torched beyond belief in Japanese POW camps, he also witnessed Japanese soldiers jumping off cliffs and committing "Hari Kari". Sgt. Castner lost sight in his right eye but continued to fight anyways while being led through the jungles by Moro natives.