Man shot by police a Iraq three tour veteran

Man shot by police a veteran
The father of a 26-year-old Lake Stevens man who was fatally shot by police on Sunday, says his son returned from three deployments in Iraq an angry man.

By Christine Clarridge

Seattle Times staff reporter

When John LaBossiere returned from his third tour in Iraq this summer, he was an angry man, according to his father.

"I'm not saying that all of his issues were war-related," Phil LaBossiere said on Tuesday. "But it seems to me that the service just used him and spit him out."

John LaBossiere, 26, was fatally shot by a Lake Stevens police officer on Sunday after he reportedly forced his way into a home where his wife and three children were staying with friends. Investigators found one handgun near him and another on his body, according to Sgt. Robert Goetz, a spokesman for the Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team (SMART), which is investigating the shooting.

According to Goetz, officers were called to a "domestic disturbance" that involved a weapon at about 8 p.m. in the 10400 block of 25th Street Southeast near Lake Stevens in unincorporated Snohomish County. Two Lake Stevens officers arrived and almost immediately got into an "altercation" with LaBossiere that ended in LaBossiere's death, Goetz said.

Phil LaBossiere, however, confirmed his son's death.

He said he believes his son was "confused and upset" by his return to the civilian world and a deteriorating marriage.

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Man shot by police a veteran

United States Marine Corps met a wild stray dog

'Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle'
by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts)
Nov 3rd 2009 6:00PM
When Maj. Brian Dennis of the United States Marine Corps met a wild stray dog with shorn ears while serving in Iraq, he had no idea of the bond they would form, leading to seismic changes in both their lives. "The general theme of the story of Nubs is that if you're kind to someone, they'll never forget you -- whether it be person or animal," Dennis tells Paw Nation.

In October 2007, Dennis and his team of 11 men were in Iraq patrolling the Syrian border. One day, as his team arrived at a border fort, they encountered a pack of stray dogs -- not uncommon in the barren, rocky desert that was home to wolves and wild dogs.

"We all got out of the Humvee and I started working when this dog came running up," recalls Dennis. "I said, 'Hey buddy' and bent down to pet him." Dennis noticed the dog's ears had been cut. "I said, 'You got little nubs for ears.'" The name stuck. The dog whose ears had been shorn off as a puppy by an Iraqi soldier (to make the dog "look tougher," Dennis says) became known as Nubs.

Dennis' experience with Nubs led to a children's picture book, called "Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle," published by Little, Brown for Young Readers. They have appeared on the Today Show and will be appearing on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on Monday.
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The True Story of a Mutt a Marine and a miracle

Obama declares November Military Family Month

Obama declares Military Family Month

By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 3, 2009 14:09:03 EST

For 14 years, the Armed Forces YMCA and others have celebrated November as Military Family Month. Now, President Barack Obama has made it official throughout the country — at least for this November.

“I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our nation,” Obama stated in his proclamation, signed Oct. 30, designating November 2009 as Military Family Month.

Obama included the parents of service members in his message, as well as spouses and children.

“As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage,” he wrote. “They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our nation in their own right.”
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/military_familymonth_110309w/

Afghan policeman kills 5 British soldiers

Afghan policeman kills 5 British soldiers

By Elena Becatoros - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 4, 2009 10:25:53 EST

KABUL — An Afghan policeman opened fire on British soldiers in the volatile southern province of Helmand, killing five before fleeing, British and Afghan authorities said Wednesday, raising concerns about discipline within the Afghan forces and possible infiltration by insurgents.

The attack Tuesday afternoon came a month after an Afghan policeman on patrol with U.S. soldiers fired on the Americans, killing two. Training and operating jointly with Afghan police and soldiers is key to NATO's strategy of dealing with the spreading Taliban-led insurgency and, ultimately, allowing international forces to leave Afghanistan.

Attacks such as these will heighten concern about the effectiveness of the Afghan forces.

Lt. Col. David Wakefield, spokesman for the British forces, told Sky News that the soldiers had been mentoring Afghan national police and had been working and living in the police checkpoint in Helmand's Nad-e-Ali district.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_british_soldiers_killed_110409/

Craigslist Founder Joins VA Innovation Search Panel

Craigslist Founder Joins VA Innovation Search Panel

Craig Newmark to Help Pick Winners of National Competition

WASHINGTON (November 4, 2009) -- Craig Newmark, the founder of
"craigslist" and a well-known technology visionary, has agreed to serve
on the blue-ribbon panel of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that
will review and evaluate ideas to improve disability claims processing
times and provide greater transparency to Veterans.

"Transforming VA into an organization that is Veteran-centric,
results-oriented and forward-looking is my top priority," said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Leveraging the talent, innovation
and creativity of stakeholders, like Craig Newmark, is just one of the
many ways VA can think outside of the box to help deliver tangible
results to our nation's Veterans."

The innovation competition solicited ideas from VA employees and members
of Veterans Service Organizations who are on the front lines every day,
working with Veterans to help deliver benefits they deserve and need.
VA officials from each of the 57 regional offices across the country
have submitted promising ideas, which will be reviewed by Newmark and
other panel members. The panel will be chaired by Patrick W. Dunne, the
VA Under Secretary for Benefits.

"I look forward to working with VA's leadership team to bring tangible
results to our Veterans," said Craig Newmark. "I am very encouraged by
the fact that VA is embracing new ways to look at old problems."

In 1995, Newmark launched the first community site on the Internet for
people to share information about housing, jobs and other needs. By
April 2009, craigslist received more than 22 billion page-views per
month, with more than 50 million members worldwide.

Newmark is a vocal proponent of using the Internet and technology to
support government innovation and maximize the utilization of human
capital. Additionally, Newmark is a passionate supporter of Veterans
causes.

VA has received and reviewed over 3,000 suggestions since Sept. 8th. The
panel will review the top 17 submissions and chose 5 projects that will
receive full funding for project development and execution at the
Regional Office that submitted the idea.