Messages Home: Feb. 23, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

For those of you who are interested: Google “Fasching” to learn more about (pre-lenten) Karneval ala’ Germany/Bavaria.

Vilseck where I stay is a small town…7000, population I would guess. Their Fasching parade which brought in folks from the neighboring towns “rocked”. There were probably 100 different groups who paraded the four blocks. There was no jewelry pitched but an endless supply of individually wrapped candy, and popcorn. And shots of spirits. Of course, since there is “no water” in Germany/Bavaria, it was a rare adult who walked in the parade without a containor of spirits–to sustain strength. So fun to be a part of. All ages, sizes; colors of costume and who knows the theme! Just fun! And this was a small parade!

Of course, Angelika’s (hotel owner) 23 y.o. son and friends were in and out the previous night and all day Sunday preparing for the parade. One of the male friends, a trumpet player in one of the parade bands, came to the hotel wearing a pink wig, black dress, make-up, and two of his little girl’s soft squeaky toys which he borrowed to complete his womanly look. In order to use the toys, he promised her a post-parade surprise.

Generators were anchored to either the large farm tractor (John Deere, of course, my brother!), or the hitch between the float and the tractor to amplify the sound system on each float. Please understand: this was NOTHING compared to the inaugural parade of several weeks ago. The parade in DC was quieter and more regal. Did I take photos? Of course! The small cluster of us who walked to the parade from the hotel had a great time.

Saturday was a 2-hour drive to Regensburg for exploration. Four of us went. Once again buildings dating at least to the 7th century of mammoth size and spectacular architecture. Of course, we had to test a few of the breads and ethnic menus.

I have discovered, with being in Germany, that it is best to first pay for a tour of the city to get a bird’s view and the historical explanation. Highlights for further visiting and exploring can then follow.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 21, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

The enormous flakes of wet snow has been falling each night for the past five days. Creates the urge to create a major angel in the snow in the parking lot as I leave the hotel for Rose Barracks base; or create a major snow structure. This past 24 hours the snow was steady. Military bases, in Germany/Bavaria for sure, have a color coded system for driving: green to yellow to amber to red to black(only military vehicles are permitted on the road). Angelica, the owner of the Hotel Villa, in her broken English, states that “the driving codes are only used on the base and not in ‘the economy’ (meaning, the non-military neighborhoods)…the crazy driving of the Americans”. We agreed about the crazy driving of the Americans.

The roads are clear and my four colleagues and I are driving to Regensburg today…about a 3 hour drive. For those who trek through Europe while here, this is a must: it contains one of the living castles, with a family still in residance, and tours to boot. There are other must sees as well: the Danube,…. Of course I am wearing my boots, and triple layers of clothing so the cold does not detract my treks.

For those of you unfamiliar (as I was) many countries have their own Mardi Gras. Germany celebrates Fasching. It was slowly launched a couple of months ago, but this past week there are parades, parties, costumes…. Tomorrow, there is a parade which begins in Vilseck at 2 p.. Bundle on the layers, Loretta! It will be a small parade since Vilseck is a small town. The party following, however, will not be small. Note: The expression in Germany is: there is no drinking water–only beer!

PS: The water from the tap in Vilseck is absolutely delicious! And cold! Yum!

In Prague, for instance, last weekend, there was a small band of four gentlemen playing New Orleans jazz in the open plaza in the midst of the intense cold. Of course, they had to stop and warm themselves with spirits from time-to-time.
The daily military newspaper, STARS AND STRIPES has been highlighting the European celebrations which I have pulled and will have available for your look-see upon my return. I also read and saw the photo of the look alike Abe Lincoln contest in Lincoln, KS. in one of the most recent issues.

Most noteworthy about S & S these days is reading the five part series re.: Homecoming (post deployment/re-integration). You might be able to access this on the web: stripes.com for the articles and photos. Series began: Thurs., 2/19, and ends Mon., 2/23. I am also pulling and hand carrying those articles with me. Most heart rending and informative. It is a tough task to break through the wall of survival and trauma in order to create the process of thriving for the soldier and the family members. Particularily when folks are deployed 4-5-6 times with less than a year’s lapse in between.

Folks who are in the mix of returning/reintegrating/more than likely re-deploying are not ofttimes giving themselves the space to catch up with themselves emotionally. The physical damage is the obvious. The emotional trauma which either blunts or exacerbates the interactions with simple daily events is still translated by the soldier/family member with explicatives toward one another which are not associated with trauma.

JUST now, as I am completing from my 30-day assignment, I have two couples who are calling for assist. Soldiers have also called, set an appointment but did not follow through with the appointment. The honeymoon of four months is completing! I am creating a way to communicate with my successor to be in contact with various contingencies on post to encourage contact.

I trekked through a lane of modules which contains community health, occupational and physical therapy yesterday. I was getting acquainted with the community health nurse. To get to her office I walked through a lane of several open modules filled with multiple (20 at that time) soldiers tending to physical therapy. Military modules are connected with one another, sturdy with each being about 10′ x 20′ x 10′ in size.

There are at least two staff on post who tend to issues related to domestic violence and child abuse. And, of course, I have shared the escalated concern and action being taken re.: suicides.

Isabel, the communty health RN, is the spouse of a 24 yr. soldier. Spouse has been deployed to Iraq four times in the recent years for the 15-month stints. Prior to that spouse would be gone 1-2 months at a time. She shared wonderful stories of stellar service she received for her special needs child withing 2 weeks arriving at Ft. Leavenworth (KS), after experienced multiple frustrations of seeking service on the prior placement. YAY, KS.!!!!!!! She shared about connections she has made through her placements with women whose babies she delivered; ways women have helped her adapt to a given post; and how she continues to pass it on.

Mark, my on-post contact, is a retired veteran of 20+ years. He states that the life this current generation of soldiers is experiencing far exceeds anything he/family endured. Until Iraq, Mark was only gone from family a month at a time, although they would relocate, and he/spouse had the challenges of tending to childrens’ responses and adjustments to the move. Since Iraq, he was deployed 4 times. As a retiree and civil service employee he has oversight of tending to the needs of soldiers: mobilization/deployment/reintegration. He moved to Germany within the past six months from Ft. Sill, OK. Spouse moved her the same week I arrived.

I am well aware that there are many of you who are supporting my presence here as you read and pray. Thanks for that.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 19, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

The thermometer on the dash of my car read -13 C. on the dash. The washer fluid remains frozen since yesterday. The frost on the car windows is very minimal. No wind, though, so that makes the outdoors more pleasant.

My time with military folks on base involved the following:

a) the couple who participated in the Battlemind session which I referenced yesterday became aware of the effects of separation due to the soldier being “down range”, or in battle.

In the midst of the frontline soldiers tending to the ongoing presence of snipers and IED’s–comparable to, but more forceful than buried grenades–while down range for the 15 months; (s)he returns: 1) vigilant for any tiny change in the environment and becomes upset when that occurs (spouse may have moved clothing in the closet, or furniture in the course of a day or during the deployment); 2) drives very slowly as if looking for IED’s/snipers (driving on the high speed European highways creates a bit of a problem); 3) unable to sleep without noise, or through the night; 4) the barking of orders and language of the battlefield doesn’t fit in the home with or without children present; 5) the different structure of the home is not comfortable; 6) guilt when something is not right or perfect; 7) not comfy without having a gun nearby at all times; do not/unable to talk about what is going on at a given moment, and the 9) spouse “nags” for solution; on and on….

A large group of soldiers returned from Iraq four months ago. As you would suspect, it is at this time that the honeymoon of being back with family and into the day-to-day that results in shifts into increased distress, arguments, resuming/shifting roles in the household. It is difficult for the spouse to relinquish full role of the household while the soldier is home since it may be short term–6-9 months until the next deployment; or the soldier is sporadic in follow-through. I am not sure that folks are truly aware that post-traumatic stress doesn’t necessarily show itself soon after the trauma, but as the trauma itself lifts.

Staff who tend to these concerns on a daily basis continue to discover that multiple deployments create different effects; and each chapter of the deployment shifts effects. Since the need for soldiers continues, the recruiters are meeting the numbers and thus signing on folks with fewer social skills/support systems, etc. Another effect!

The csj Mission continues.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 18, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

Monday being a Federal Holiday–President’s Day on the Army post–I had an extended weekend. A colleague and I drove two hours to Neudstadt to peruse the crystal factory which houses the craftsman glass blower. The crystal of Bavaria, placed beside that of the Czech Republic, is distinct.

Lunch in the town of Neustadt was simple. The Coca Cola was more than the price of the supersized gyros–2-Euros. Interesting, huh! Why a gyros, you say…that is Greek. Yes, but we wanted to eat at a table inside rather than purchase our lunch item from the counter and take it with us.

Of course the countryside is always so beautiful…much like the Flint Hills with the tall pole pines in intermittant spots.
The folks with whom I have been meeting as a consultant include the following:

a) A couple reunited on base after four months return from his second deployment to Iraq. There are many arguments among them at this point. He lacks empathy and emotion other than anger and frustration. She is upset because he is without feeling and she cannot rely on him to assist with the household.

This morning they are (hopefully) following my encouragement to participate in a two hour workshop for couples entitled Battlemind. The intent? To provide the soldier and spouse with the shifts which take place between deployment and return from battle for both the soldier and spouse.

I will meet with them again in a couple of days to move them along a bit more.

The soldier (a staff sargeant) said to me during the session: “Do you think this might be a good thing for folks I am responsible for?” Blunted and shielded while in order to sustain the battlefield, and have difficulty knowing that life at home does not require the same mindset, and do not know how to make the shift.

b) A woman, newly married in August, trained and educated as a music teacher in the USA moved with spouse within the past week. She is trying to find her place on post and as a spouse in the military. She also came to Germany with medical concerns which she opted to wait until she arrived here in order to move her plane travels along a bit more. She would need to stay in the USA six months post surgery due to the effect of flying on her surgery. I stumbled upon her yesterday totally frustrated about navigating through the hoops of the Army as a spouse. Me? I pointed her to buildings, resources, means for self care, ways to create healthy meals using a microwave, support options.

c) Sometimes I merely listen with individual staff as they continue to tend to the challenges of post-deployment, human loss, keeping up with the arising needs within the position/household.

d) One staff/mother rents a bed and breakfast in her locale for a week each time her son returns from deployment “on block leave–for a month” to the USA. She invites all friends and family of her son to drop in overnight, for days to join in time with her son. Requirement? fun, bring your food and linens, or rent them. This mother is in a position to have her son share all of the details of his time on the battlefield as a medic, which prevents overload for him. She herself has a way to process the issues and concerns he shares.

THIS IS NOT OVER. My role here? To hopefully be about a bit of heart mending for a few folks. I am not on a stop the war mission–not my role, nor do I share my opinions about the war–not my role, or why I am here.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 16, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

Sat/Sun: 2/14-15 — Three of us drove to Prague for an overnight…three hours by car.

We were expecting to: tend to border crossings with passport and all, according to housemates who went before us; high prices; and pickpockets. We did need to purchase a sticker for our car when crossing the border in order to prevent a fine, if we were noticed without it. The prices we paid for meals; hotel and purchases were more than reasonable and safety merits anyone’s walk and driving anywhere–no harm or losses to us.

Our drive to Prague through the open European snow-covered countryside was pleasing and so lovely. Lady GPS took us right into the center of Prague as we wanted, but we literally drove in circles within 5 minutes of our hotel because we were unable to move beyond the pedestrian streets, which the GPS was targeting as our drive to the hotel. Since the city is so compact, with limited rhyme or reason to the routing of the streets, many locals were either unable to assist due to language limitation, or unfamiliarity to our hotel.

Needless to say: an wonderful adventure! I drove and followed the lead and hunches of the two who were in the car. Jewel managed the GPS, and Bob kept asking for directions. 1.5 hours later we landed in our hotel. Wallah!

Within 20 minutes of check-in we were in a tour bus which provided us with a 3.5 hour ride/walk through Prague by a historically savvy guide. THE best way to get a thumbnail sketch of this massive city loaded with many stories. Courtyards of castles; guard changing; cobblestone streets; charming homes and vast buildings; and overview of the city from one of the many hillsides, etc.

Of course no trip is complete without eating ethnic food. The Czech dumplings and strudel are different than those of Bavaria. Lighter, with fewer sauces and sugar(perhaps).

The plazas and courtyards hosted a fair of vendors: lots of marionettes which are Czech noted. Shops were filled with the Bohemian crystal–some being of touristy varieties; some authentic as you might guess.

The city is OPEN and very active, even in the off-season: meaning the buildings are colorful; folks tend to be more reserved than in Bavaria, but nonetheless engaged and enterprising. The shops, churches, galleries and museums are all open on Sunday; whereas in Bavaria the shops are closed–with the exception of eateries and some gas stations–on Sunday; and the galleries and such are closed on Monday. The (iron) curtain is absent. It is lovely to see that there are not too, too many electronic marquis (yet) filling the air. Time may tell.

Imagine trekking through original buildings construced in the 12th and 13th century! And artwork from those same eras. One certainly gets the messaage that artwork was the mode of communicating history. That is Prague. In Frankfort and Munich many buildings were destroyed in WWII, and have since been re-built to replicate the original structure. A difference.

Today begins the second half of my month in Europe. Since today, Monday, President’s Day, and a federal holiday celebrated by USA posts, we consultants are able to trek through the country. There is a crystal factory a couple hours’ drive which we will peruse today. Stay tuned.

Loretta

Messages Home: Feb. 13, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

The past two days have provided me with an increased level of inside the Hearts and Homes of the soldiers, spouses and family members. Lots of broken-ness, injury and untended physical and emotional pain. I have been available to staff, spouses, parents, chaplains, and housemates in my “hotel” who are all involved in deployment, re-integration and re-deployment. The matter-of-course in the day to day definitely takes its toll on the Heart and Home of each person in some way…to the extent that I wonder how staff who have deployed spouses, or about to be deployed spouses are able to be attentive to the persons who cross the thresholds of the day-to-day on post. I’m guessing my hunch is on target: not always too well/effectively.

Come tomorrow, Sat. 2/14-15, three of us are driving to Prague–three hours from Vilseck. Since my rental car is a “mere” Ford, compared with the Volvo and BMW’s of my colleagues we are able drive into Prague with the Ford. Why? A Ford tends not to be stolen or damaged because it is a “mere” sort of car. Because the car insurance, (covered by my employer, along with the rental) is in my name, I will be driving.
Thanks for GPS’s and my buddies who will be my co-pilots.

As I drive among my work sites among the towns as I do, I do take one hand from the steering wheel long enough to pinch myself intermittantly to remind myself that I am actually in Bavaria, Germany. Of course, since I am driving a standard shift, I do make sure to have at least one hand on the steering wheel at a time.

The daily snows which welcome each morning these past four days are lovely: soft and very fluffy. No ice underlayment. What a treasure.

More later and post-Prague.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 11, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

Yesterday–my Tues., 2/10–was a day for introducing myself to the spouses of the Wounded Soldiers:physical and emotional damaged soldiers. There is one battalion just for the wounded soldiers in Vilseck. The intent is to re-train, re-assign or transition to release from the Army. A new department for these folks has just been started for the brain injured. Spouses are tending to the household concerns at times with the soldier at home because of the loss of memory and varying levels of impairment. On and on…

I also stopped into another school to offer services for the teachers, parents and students. It is a skiddish kind of happening for any of the above to reach out for assistance because of fear of repercussions w. military status of the soldier. That is the benefit of how me as a subcontractor comes in. We do no documentation; our contact is short-term and action directed. We do have to route a person for assistance if there is suicidal ideation, threat to self and/or other.

It is not uncommon for this generation of soldier/spouse to come into the army already having been in the mental health/legal system…so the level of trust is rather low.

We have a lovely layer of snow these couple of days. The wind last eve. made itself known in sound as well.
Blessings to each.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 7, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

My partner arrived from New York State Fri. afternoon. His primary site will be the Graf installation.

Prior to his arrival, I wanted to make sure I am just a teensy familiar to Bob’s side of the rotation (Graf post) so spent Fri. a.m. traipsing through various buildings, introducing our program/myself to various officers and program heads. The receptivity is stellar and the needs are many. I am not concerned that we will be lacking for “moving us along a little more” (a term we learned, those of us who were in New Orleans with re-building for the week over a year ago) during this rotation.

Getting onto the Graf post was a bit of a challenge for me, given the roadway system beyond the checkpoint. An officer informed me that I was off post and not far from the artillery range. OOOPS! Folks are wonderful and warm in providing (re)direct. Many persons: military, civil service, civilians are consistently rotating in/out of both posts on a regular basis.

The soon to retire chaplain offered to show me persons to meet among the batallions at Graf. The military clerk in the one section made sure we met as many folks as possible to connect and make our program known.

Sat., 2/7, while on an excursion to Amburg, the clerk was in one of the stores w. his spouse and 6-month old. He was only too eager to introduce me. An indication of friendliness.

Also in Amburg, our little cluster of three on the excursion sat beside a German couple who knows someone in Joplin, MO., who served in Vilseck a couple of years ago. The spouse was a civilian working on base at the time with the military spouse.

The world is very small, with many ways to connect.

Today, I am on my way to the chapel service on base; then to orient my partner to his base via an initial drive through.
It is cloudy,and balmy…a bit cooler than is the Midwest at this moment.

Continuing blessings…appreciating our mutual zeal across the ocean.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 5, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

Voila! I finally have access to the post without my POC (Point of Contact) signing me in (a.m.) and out (p.m.). We were able to solve the mystery a whole 24 hours earlier than anticipated, but four days later than most. The actual event of getting my temporary Installation Pass this afternoon was a four-day, ten-minute walk to/from my office to the correct building and then the ten minute process: photo, finger print and a couple of signatures.

Many of the buildings which involve me at this point at the Vilseck post are close together. The brisk, wintery air is a great perker as I walk from place to place. Nice! Also gives me a flavor of the folks who are sharing the sidewalks with me. Friendly and open with the greetings as we pass.

What was the scramble all about? It began in Dec/January when my predecessors and POC (new to this base at this time) were tending to Installation passes at a time when folks recently returned to this base from Iraq went on leave. Since many of the employees on base are spouses, temporary staff filled in during Dec./Jan., and entangled the process. The regular person was on site today. Yippee!!!!!!!!!! Mystery solved!

As a result, come tomorrow I now have access to Graf, the companion base 20 minutes from Vilseck. Since my partner in service provision is arriving tomorrow afternoon, I believe it best to have some sense of the layout of Graf, since I get to show him around the posts and the notebooks which are passed on from consultant to consultant. Oh well.

My housemates, a group which compares in ages to my older nephews/nieces, are a delight to be a part of in the eve….a wonderful normalizer to start and finish the day.

Loretta Jasper

Messages Home: Feb. 4, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is spending a month working at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

It is truly amazing to see the vast number of contracted service providers on the base: civil service and civilian. The gamut includes behavioral health, building construction, repair of radio and vehicles returned from combat; aka,down range, since it is less expensive to transport them to Germany, since the parts, and such are on hand.

I am staying in Hotel Villa, which is a 13-room, three story home-like setting, which has full size family-style breakfast prepared; foods available to pack and hand-carry a noon lunch; and a family style eve. meal served at such time the guests in the house return from work. Angelika, the owner, makes it a point to provide a home away from home, since some of her guests return multiple times for several months at a time. These oftimes are married folks with spouses and pre-adult children in the States. Currently, one of the guests (John) and myself are the only persons working with the behavioral health componant. John lives in San Diego. Of the remaining guests, there is one other woman and the rest are males: vehicular repair, radio repair, electronic update–skill sets which are precise. This current group comes from Alabama, Washington State and Texas.

I was made aware this a.m. that Vilseck where I am assigned is increasing in size by the days and months as troops return, re-integrate and return to the USA, or are redeployed. Needs for staffing, housing and various services re.: integration are keeping folks on their toes. Months 4-6 months of return from Iraq/Afghanistan seem to be post-honeymoon re.: marital relationships, individual tending to the traumas of loss, separation, role shifts, etc. are a concern for staff. This a.m. one of my resources used the term de-laminate: unable to shield oneself from the traumas…emotionally break down.

Today I tended to many initial contacts with existing services within Vilseck and Graf (Grafenhofer): chaplains, school principals in post based schools, director of the addictions program, etc., etc. Since our work involves rotational staff, I have taken my leads from my predecessor who returned to Glendale, CA. yesterday, in anticipation of my partner in service provision arriving on the weekend. As we stated while working with Katrina issues in New Orleans: our job is to move needs “along to” solution vs. closure. The intent is to provide as much collaboration and seamlessness as possible.

Once again, each of you is in my pocket. I am not alone.
Loretta Jasper

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