Air Force Reservists "were exposed" to Agent Orange

Agent Orange-Contaminated Planes Could Have Sickened Vets After The War: Federal Report
Huffington Post
Lynne Peeples
Posted: 01/09/2015

Retired Maj. Wes Carter, who served aboard C-123s after Vietnam, has been leading the effort on behalf of this group of post-war veterans for the past few years. He said there were "hugs all around" with the release of the findings on Friday.

"This is a big deal," he said. "This is a giant step closer to justice."

U.S. Air Force Reserve Fairchild C-123K Provider crew members stand in front of their aircraft during opening ceremonies for exercise "Volant Rodeo '79" at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, on June 3, 1979.
(Sgt. Rozalyn Dorsey, USAF) | Sgt. Rozalyn Dorsey, USAF

Lingering amounts of the herbicide Agent Orange aboard repurposed airplanes after the Vietnam War could have sickened military veterans, according to a new federal report.

In findings released Friday, an Institute of Medicine committee "emphatically" refutes a recurrent argument made by the U.S. Air Force and Department of Veteran Affairs that any carcinogenic dioxin or other components of Agent Orange contaminating its fleet of C-123 cargo planes would have been "dried residues" and therefore unlikely to pose any meaningful exposure risks to the 1,500 to 2,100 Air Force Reserve personnel who served aboard the planes between 1972 and 1982.

That contention has been the basis for the VA's denial of benefits to sick veterans, and remains reflected on the agency's website today. But in the new report, the committee states "with confidence" that these dried residues in fact could have posed dangers: the Air Force Reservists "were exposed," write the Institute of Medicine authors.

"That website should be taken down immediately," said Jeanne Stellman, an Agent Orange expert at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, who was not involved in the new report.

"I can't imagine a harder slap in the face to the VA than what this committee delivered," she added.

"This is justice, delayed. The VA Secretary will have to change the policy now. The veterans have won."
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Fort Bragg Soldier Shot by Wife After Breakfast Surprise Attempt

FAYETTEVILLE WOMAN ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS HUSBAND
ABC News 11
By Nicole Carr
Friday, January 09, 2015

FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- A Fort Bragg soldier was shot in the chest Friday morning after his wife thought he was a home intruder.

"She was doing what she felt was right and to defend herself at that time," said Detective Antoine Kincade, a spokesman with the Fayetteville Police Department.

The shooting happened around 10:15 a.m. in the 1100 block of Christina Street.

Fayetteville Police say Zia Segule, 28, left for work. His wife, 27-year-old Tiffany Segule, set the home alarm system. Zia Segule returned to the home unannounced to surprise his wife with breakfast.

The alarm sounded and Tiffany Segule, who had gotten back in the bed, shot her husband in the chest through their closed bedroom door. Police said her husband had entered through the front door, but it's unclear whether he ever announced himself or tried to turn off the alarm.

Zia Segule was able to walk and talk following the shooting, said police. He has been released from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He declined to speak in detail with media when he returned home early Friday afternoon, but said "I'm good."
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Orlando Rocks for Wounded Marine

Orlando Starts Rocking for Wounded Marine
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
January 11, 2015

I have an occupation, the job I do for money because everyone has bills to pay. Then I have my vocation, the job I do for a lot more than money. What I get back is priceless! I get to spend time with veterans. The Orlando Nam Knights and the Orlando DAV Chapter 16 have my heart but so do all the other groups I'm associated with.

The VFW Post 4287 and Semper Fidelis America are just too more of the groups I absolutely get inspired by everyday. No matter what they're doing, it is always a joy to go out and cover their events.

So many people go through their lives never knowing what it is like to be among people living their lives like everyone else most of the time but then going above and beyond in fellowship for unselfish reasons. If you ever want your faith in pure compassion restored, spend some time with veterans groups and then you'll see more people in it for others than in it for themselves.

On Saturday, January 17, 2015 Orlando will see this love in action!

3rd Annual Orlando Rocks Benefit - 2015 is next weekend at the VFW Post 4287 in Orlando. Semper Fidelis America, the VFW and a lot of other folks teamed up for a wounded Marine this year and Saturday it should be fabulous. The first year it was for a Green Beret. Last year it was for a Navy Seal.

✩ Orlando has been calling for more and we are putting on a Fundraiser entitled "ORLANDO ROCKS" and it is our 3rd Annual benefit hosted by VFW Post 4287 and Semper Fidelis America, Inc. to help Cpl. Adam Devine below by building a specialized home for him and his family, give his children the best a Daddy has to offer - given the circumstances. As you meet Adam, you too will see that he does not feel sorry for himself and will not allow others to either. He truly lives up to the motto of "Once a Marine, always a Marine". His story is not totally complete as he is still undergoing surgery - almost 3 years later. Yes folks, he is still receiving surgery for his injuries from almost 3 years ago. So please click on photo below to enter Gofundme site to make a donation, once on donation page scroll down to read his entire life story. God Bless America and all Veterans that help protect this great country!

Navy Mom Mary decided to do something more than just feel bad for the wounded coming home and she is the driving force behind all of these fundraisers. Mary was in the Army, her husband was in the Navy and her son is currently in the Navy.

Thank you to ALL who came and joined with us today for the FUN-RUN for Cpl. Adam Devine. When big hearts come together, it is proven that big things can happen.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday at the Wing House in Altamonte Springs FL on 436.

Orlando Nam Knights

Semper Fidelis America

VFW Post 4287

Navy Mom Mary

Wing House

Who is all this for?

Lance Corporal Adam Devine works out in physical therapy with daughter Amya on his back. A machine-gunner with the 3-7 Marines in Sangin, he stepped on a 7-10 pound pressure plate, causing an IED explosion. His battlefield comrades saved his life until he got to a hospital, where they completed that work. He lost both his legs.

Video interview with Lance Cpl. Adam Devine on his health via Skype
Sauk Valley News
Uploaded on Feb 29, 2012

Adam was wounded in action Dec. 28 by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on duty in the Sangin district in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. He lost both of his legs from above the knee.

He updates us on his health status and spirit, via Skype, from his hospital room at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Here are a couple of the videos from the last two events.
Green Beret Josh Burnette

Published on Jan 14, 2013 On Saturday Semper Fidelis held a fundraiser for a Green Beret, double amputee at the VFW Post 4287 in Orlando. Mary Ingrassia arranged the event and all of her hard work paid off. Everyone had a great time and over $10,000 was raised for Josh's recovery. 

Published on Jan 19, 2014
Last night proved beyond a doubt that when people come together for a common cause, mountains are moved out of the way!
Last year, Mary Ingrassia heard about a Green Beret double amputee Josh Burnette and decided to do something to help him. Semper Fidelis America President John Murphy has always been about team work. Just ask any of the veterans groups in Central Florida and they will tell you how active he and his wife Teresa are. Doug Pattelena, Commander VFW Post 4287 also knows this. Because they worked together, Josh knew how much he was loved with a fabulous night of appreciation, fun and over $10,000 in donations for his future.
Durning the event Mary heard about another young combat wounded hero, Bo Reichenbach. Bo, a Navy SEAL, lost both of his legs in 2012 while serving in Afghanistan. It was his time to be star of the show at the VFW.
Even Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer sent a proclamation declaring Bo Reichenbach Day!

Military Tattoos Evolution of Tributes

Military tattoos evolve into tributes in South Jersey 
Courier-Post
Carol Comegno
January 10, 2015

"The pain of getting those next tattoos was nothing compared to the pain of losing comrades in the fighting or the pain their families went through," concluded the Marine, a Westampton police officer who is still in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Marine Sgt. Andrew Einstein of Mount Laurel, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, displays his tattoo memorial for his friends who lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan, located on his torso. 01.06.15
(Photo: Chris LaChall/Courier-Post)

Andrew Einstein did what a lot of leathernecks do immediately after surviving Marine boot camp.

He got a tattoo.

It would not be the only one.

After tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Mount Laurel resident got several other symbols of his military service, including one emblazoned on his left rib cage to memorialize the death of two fellow Marines.

Army veteran Bruce Coleman of Marlton got one of his tattoos for the same reason — to remember fallen comrades in Iraq, where he served.

Younger veterans' tattoos are different than those worn by their World War II and Korean War counterparts — today, they are often larger, more colorful and artistic, relating more personal, intimate stories of their military service.

The 26-year-old Einstein disliked the feel of tattoo needles piercing his skin when he got that first Marine Corps emblem and vowed never to get another tattoo, but his attitude changed after considerable time spent in combat zones.

A second tattoo on his left shoulder and upper back signifies the stress of returning home.

"Now, I love tattoos. They tell my story," he freely admits.

"I had my battles adjusting to a lifestyle outside of war and dealing with the loss of those guys, so I got more tattoos and decided on a full rib cage tribute piece in honor of those we unfortunately lost.
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Agents treated disabled veteran like drug smuggler?

Did agents go too far by setting up sham fishing trip, posing as rehab therapist to catch accused fraudster?
The Oregonian/OregonLive
By Bryan Denson
January 10, 2015

A federal judge in Portland chided government agents Friday for running a series of elaborate ruses to catch a U.S. mail carrier they accuse of fraudulently obtaining workers' compensation benefits.

Agents went so far as to set up a phony business to lure their target – 41-year-old Brian W. Hendricks – into a 7 ½ -hour deep-sea fishing expedition. They also duped him into an interview with an undercover agent posing as a vocational rehabilitation specialist.

Throughout the investigation, agents of the U.S. Postal Service's Office of Inspector General secretly videotaped Hendricks, a former Marine sergeant who served in the Middle East. Much of that surveillance came from a camera mounted on a utility pole outside his Vancouver home.

Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones, hearing arguments over the constitutionality of the government's evidence gathering, said the amount of electronic eavesdropping devoted to Hendricks was more befitting a large-scale drug ring than a suspected workers' compensation fraud.

Hendricks' lawyer, Assistant Federal Public Defender C. Renee Manes, contends in a court filing that the government greatly exaggerated her client's activity during the deep-sea excursion.

"The reality is that Mr. Hendricks' participation in the fishing trip was far from 'able bodied,'" Manes wrote. In fact, she noted, a deckhand interviewed by the defense team confirmed that Hendricks spent most of the excursion in the cabin complaining of back pains and spasms so severe he threw up. Hendricks caught one fish.

Jones pointed out in court that the fish, a cod weighing no more than 5 pounds, scarcely offered the fight of a large salmon.
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