Saving Pvt. Hafterson

Posted at 12:04 PM on September 30, 2009 by Bob Collins (12 Comments)
Filed under: Crime and Justice, Health

Ronald Bradley is seeing first-hand the difficulties American soldiers are having getting treatment for the post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) they suffered as a result of their service in Iraq.

Bradley, an attorney and friend of the family, is trying to keep Marine Pvt. Travis Hafterson, 21, alive long enough to get him some treatment, but Hafterson has fallen into the hands of the military justice system, which he thinks may be more interested in punishing Hafterson than treating him.

By all accounts, Hafterson, a Circle Pines native with two tours of duty in Iraq, needs treatment in a hurry. A girlfriend says he slept with a gun under his pillow, and still has flashbacks of the cries of people he killed, and colleagues who died next to him.

He also has talked about committing suicide numerous times. Saying he doesn't want to live, doesn't deserve to live. He calls himself a murderer and speaks of countless innocent people he believes he killed, women and children included. He has talked about suicide countless times, but there are two times where I literally had to take his gun out of his hand because he felt it easier to shoot himself than to live with his conscience.

Hafterson's legal problems started during his second tour. "He was experiencing problems that are classically associated with PTSD, he was self-medicating with marijuana so he could sleep," according to Bradley. When he admitted marijuana use, he was court martialed and sent back to Camp LeJeune in North Carolina.

He was granted a leave in August but his orders changed at the last minute. "I think he had already started going away and instead of going back, he didn't go in right away," Bradley said. The Marines have a word for that: Desertion.

When Hafterson arrived in Minnesota last week, his mother called Bradley for help."We arranged to get him his psychiatric evaluation and he spent a good part of Saturday being interviewed. The doctor made his report and found and substantiated PTSD," Bradley said. Working through another lawyer, Hafterson contacted the combat stress officer -- a psychiatric nurse and highly regarded expert on PTSD -- at Fort Snelling and arranged for Hafterson to turn himself in on Monday.

He let the officer, Lt. Col. Cynthia Rasmussen, know they were coming in an e-mail:

I am the attorney for Private Travis Hafterson, USMC. My client has been evaluated and been diagnosed with PTSD by Dr. Peter E. Meyers. Private Hafterson is currently AWOL from the Corps, and is possibly classified as a deserter. His absence is just over 30 days from his Order to Report.

Private Travis Allyn Hafterson wishes to report and surrender to you at Ft. Snelling about 13:30-14:00 today at your office. He will be escorted by the following persons:

Ronald Robert Bradley, attorney
Dr. Peter E. Meyers, psychologist
Terri Lee Bradley, psychologist
Jamie Joyce Hafterson, mother

I understand that you will contact the front gate and let the guards know of our expected arrival. We will report to Bldg. 506, and I will call if there is any problem finding your office.

"The understanding was he was going to get the appropriate treatment, being referred to the VA (Veteran's Administration) or work with him for the Marines. We understood and he was told that he would suffer consequences for not returning to LeJeune right away," Bradley said. A military ombudsman was to meet him and escort him through the process, balancing treatment with the military justice system.

It didn't work out that way. A check at the gate revealed the federal warrant, Air Force security was called, and Hafterson was taken away. Bradley said the combat stress officer was apologetic and said it wasn't supposed to happen that way, but there was nothing she could do. The Marines had Hafterson and Bradley is worried they're more interested in punishing him than treating him first.

Hafterson is being held at the Ramsey County adult detention center.

"It seems like it's going to be exacerbating his problem because he doesn't have the therapy to work this through. I'm worried he's a danger to himself," he said.

He was on suicide watch on Monday, but was taken off it on Tuesday, against the wishes of the combat stress officer. The Marines are expected to return him to Camp Lejeune

"There seem to be kind of blinders on that they go forward with the criminal and ignore everything else," Bradley said. "The punishment will come at some point, but they have to recognize and triage and say, 'OK right now the most important thing is his well being, but first we gotta make sure the kid doesn't kill himself.'"

Bradley says he's been assured by some in the military that Hafterson will get treatment, but he's not convinced. "Because of the (marijuana) use, he was supposed to have chemical dependency treatment but when I talked to the chaplain's office at Camp Lejeune, he said, 'We do not have chemical dependency treatment for active-duty servicemen.' They recognize certain problems but they don't do anything about them."

Bradley has filed a petition in Ramsey County to get Hafterson immediate treatment. "The problem is at any given time the Corps could show up to take him away, and then we don't know what will happen," he said.

As of late Wedneday, Lt. Col. Rasmussen had not responded to a message for comment.

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Comments (12)

Just another story confirming the imperative need to "STOMP OUT STIGMA" for mental illness. Too many in our society believe strongly that mental illness equals weakness in character. If anything, those living independently and managing with mental illness are much stronger than the general population as they have had to overcome obstacles most of us never see.
Let the letters begin... where first? The Marines? Camp Lejuene? The VA?

Posted by minwhaler | September 30, 2009 4:29 PM

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It is time for the family to bring in some political force, all the way up to Obama, if needed.
PTSD is a health condition, that demands urgent medical and therapeutic intervention, not punishment or incarceration. Our servicemen and women deserve nothing less.

Posted by Lily | September 30, 2009 8:17 PM

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I agree with Lily - From our local elected officials up to President Obama should be aware of how the military treats the men and women serving our country. With the suicide rate so high within our military I can only hope and pray Travis does not end up as another statistic but is given the help he requires and deserves. The astrocities our service men and women have had to endure should make them all heros whether injured physically or mentally. My thoughts and prayers are with Travis and his family.

Posted by Lori | October 1, 2009 9:43 AM

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thank you for your support, my son" travis " would thank you too.
this battle is almost won, but the hafterson family has a war ahead of us . making sure they keep treating him in camp lejeune.
he is also looking at 1-5 years in the brig. i do need a political force. i havent had progress with that at all.
please help us

Posted by jamie hafterson | October 1, 2009 10:42 AM

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Private Hafterson needs help and not punishment. It is a sad commentary on our society when a young man protects his countrymen and puts himself in harms way but cannot get the help that he needs.

How many of us could do the jobs that our young men and women in the armed forces do? How many of us could walk in their shoes and come back completely unchanged?

Posted by Whitney Slagerman | October 1, 2009 11:09 PM

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I have known Pvt. Hafterson for eight years and have spoken directly with him numerous times in regards to his two tours in Iraq. The details he shared of events that occurred are things that you and I could never imagine.
Had he gotten the help from the Marines that he needed for the PTSD before going AWOL, this would all be mute. -

Yes, he is a Marine and ‘signed up’ for it – but do any of our young enlisted soldiers know what they are getting into? Killing fathers while children watch? Sure, I may be a namby-pamby civilian, but if I put my own children in his shoes – or myself for that matter – I wouldn’t be able to cope half as well as he has. Step up to the plate, Marines, and take care of your own. Step up to the plate, America, and take care of your own.

Posted by Christine Risberg | October 2, 2009 8:48 AM

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I really appreciate this young man's service and think what is happening to him is a travesty.

Our TWO senators need to be contacted immediately and step in before something tragic happens.

As a survivor of PTSD, I speak from experience.

Posted by Stu West | October 2, 2009 10:08 AM

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I have known Pvt. Hafterson for eight years and have spoken directly with him numerous times in regards to his two tours in Iraq. The details he shared of events that occurred are things that you and I could never imagine.
Had he gotten the help from the Marines that he needed for the PTSD before going AWOL, this would all be mute.

Yes, he is a Marine and ‘signed up’ for it – but do any of our young enlisted soldiers know what they are getting into? Killing fathers while children watch? Sure, I may be a namby-pamby civilian, but if I put my own children in his shoes – or myself for that matter – I wouldn’t be able to cope half as well as he has. Step up to the plate, Marines, and take care of your own. Step up to the plate, America, and take care of your own.

Posted by Christine Risberg | October 2, 2009 12:13 PM

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Unfortunately, nobody has given you the truth. It is ugly: Here goes: The Corps will get their pound of flesh. The brig; probably a bad discharge. The Dept of Veterans Affairs will be glad to over-medicate what's left of the kid after that.
Between that impending brig time and the Dept of Veteran Affairs he doesn't have much of a future. The DVA continues to downplay the problems our returning service-members are having with PTSD. I am wrestling with my own suicidal ideation on a continual basis and have been since 1973.
Good luck folks. God bless. What a mess.

Posted by Fred Manwalking | October 5, 2009 8:38 AM

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I think that what they are doing to Travis Hafterson is wrong. They have no idea what he has gone through in Iraq and all of sudden because he wants to smoke some marijuana so he can sleep and get those thoughts out of his head they are going to put him away? This is wrong. We need to stand up for our soldiers.STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING.

Posted by Miranda Risberg | October 6, 2009 9:09 PM

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OMG! I can NOT believe this young Marine is being treated this way. A VETERAN... for the love of God and Country!!!

What can we do to help?? Send letters? Call someone? Sign a Petition--demanding treatment with honor, respect and care? Let us know, please???

Marine Pvt. Travis Hafterson is in need of IMMEDIATE HELP. SOMEONE needs to step up and stand right with him in support--he's suffering from PTSD--that in itself will cause someone to make poor decisions.

PLEASE contact me at LUVMITCH247@YAHOO.COM

I am ready and willing to do whatever I can to help this young man...A HERO!

Linda Michaud-Wehunt

Posted by Linda Michaud-Wehunt | October 18, 2009 8:25 PM

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I totally understand your emotions. I still continue to fight the same battle with the military as my son went UA to get help upon returning from Iraq. His story sidelines with your son's. From the plea for help , the chasers being called as he turned himself in to a hospital, the brig, the unaccountability with the Marine Corps.
My son opted to get out . He was stripped of his rank, all benefitsand his GI BILL. Now the VA cannot help with his PTSD or TBI. We have to fight to have his discharge changed to Honorable in order to get help.
I am emotionally drained from this, and I feel your pain. My son still has flashbacks and other issues.
WE have to UNITE for what our sons fought for. I admire you for going public with his story. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
I would love to share with you on your fight for your son's justice. Please contact me at my email address. sheilapcmt@yahoo.com .

Posted by Sheila Petermann | November 21, 2009 2:36 PM

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