Mother Against Drunk Driving helps Navy fight alcohol
April 30, 2008
During a recent trip to the Nofolk Naval Station, our crew met up with Kaye and Bob Walsh. Kaye and Bob are the Norfolk branch of the orgainization Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Navy has reached out to them to help deal with alcoholism.
The Stats
Officals at the Naval Saftey Center in Norfolk belive that the problem with alcohol in the navy is worse now than ever before.In 2006, 111 sailors and marines were killed in car crashes. The year before that 144 were killed. Alcohol was a factor in 61 of those crashes. The Pentagon has noticed this alarming trend and has asked the Navy to do something about it.
Navy Norfolk
In light of the Pentagons demands, the Norfolk Naval Station launched its own investigation into alcohol-related problems. What they found was no surprise. Nearly 30 percent of all traffic related and off duty incidents involved alcohol. Whats even more disturbing is that the sailors being killed are among the youngest in ranks. In 2003 sailors ages 20 to 22 accounted for more than half of the Navys alcohol-related deaths.
Kaye and Bob
To help curb this trend the Navy inlisted the help of MADD members Kay and Bob Walsh. Their job was to come on the ships and talk to the crew about the perils of drinking and driving. “The problem the military is having is the same problem the civilian community is having, young people who think they’re invincible and go out and drink and drive,” says Bob. Kaye and Bob have experienced first hand what happens when people drive drunk. Their daughter Robin was killed by a drunk driver. “No mother could ever describe the feeling of losing a child, there is nothing comparable,” says Kaye.
So Kaye and Bob come to the Naval base to share their story and their loss with the ships crew members in hope that it changes just one persons life. “We can’t change everybody overnight, but if you can get through to a couple of people at a time, that’s what it’s about,” says Bob.
What is your reaction to this video? Have you or do you know anyone who has dealt with alcohol problems while they have been in the Navy? Do you think this is even an issue. Feel free to leave any tributes to service men and women who have lost their lives because of alcohol-related accidents.
Entry Filed under: Brown, Dynan. Tags: Bob Walsh, Kaye Walsh, MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Navey, Norfolk, VCU.
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1.
Curtis | June 24, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Drinking and driving affects everyone, regardless of their job at a given time (yes, even if that means “national service”). Anyone who’s been to a military base knows that drinking happens. I’m not calling our troops drunks (FAR from it), I’m just noting that where there’s people + a few drinks, there’ll be one person who ends up driving with a couple drinks in ‘em).
2.
Julie | July 12, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I think that what Bob and Kaye are doing is incredible. They are putting energy into making sure other people do not have to experience such a horrible loss. When you make a decision to get into a vehicle and drive while intoxicated, you are playing with not only your life but everyone else’s around you. It can be so easliy prevented. Tell someone you can’t drive because you are too far gone and true friends will take it from there. You can start by going out one night and try “NOT DRINKING” at all…..you might even have a better time and better morning. We all respect our soldiers and know they deal with alot but alcohol should not be their outlet!