Navy SEAL Receiving Medal of Honor Was a Corpsman

SEAL Who Rescued Doctor in Afghanistan to Receive Medal Of Honor
Military.com
by Hope Hodge Seck
Feb 02, 2016

Byers, a native of Toledo, Ohio, began his 17-year Navy career as a hospital corpsman, serving with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

A Navy SEAL who was part of a courageous hostage rescue in Afghanistan in 2012 will receive the military's top award for heroism later this month, the White House announced today.

Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers will be awarded the Medal of Honor on Feb. 29. He will be the 11th living service member to receive the award for actions in Afghanistan.

Byers, 36, was a member of the team that conducted a heroic raid Dec. 8 and 9, 2012 to rescue Dr. Dilip Joseph, an American who had been kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban days before. Joseph was in the country as the medical director for Morning Star Development, a nonprofit organization training Afghan healthcare workers.

While Dilip was recovered safely from his captors, the operation proved costly. Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas Checque, 28, a member of the Navy's elite SEAL Team 6, was shot and killed during the raid.
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Washington Rep. Graham Hunt Resigned After Military Record Questioned

Washington state lawmaker resigns over questions about military record
The Associated Press
February 2, 2016

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Rep. Graham Hunt of Orting announced his resignation from the Legislature on Tuesday after recent questions that he exaggerated his service in the military.

Hunt has faced increasing scrutiny over his military record since The Seattle Times reported last month that records did not verify his claims of being a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. He also claimed three medals the military has no record of him receiving.

In a statement on his website, Hunt wrote there are inconsistencies in the record of his military service. He said his constituents "deserve a full-time representative who can zealously advocate for their objectives without distraction."

Most recently, Washington state's Libertarian Party Chairman Steven Nielson said Hunt's statements last week saying he only suffered post-traumatic stress disorder is contrary to claims the lawmaker made in 2014 about being stabbed, according to The News Tribune.

"I was stabbed in Afghanistan and I was shot in Iraq so before you start talking about your thoughts and feelings on veterans realize first of all that I'm sorry that you've lost a loved one but I've lost brothers," Nielson claims Hunt wrote in a social media message in June 2014.
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Florida Robber Picked Wrong Store, Army Veteran Fought Back

Video shows store clerk fighting back against would-be robber
Investigators searching for man between the ages of 19 and 22 years old
WESH News
By Chris Hush
Published 11:30 PM EST Feb 02, 2016

MIMS, Fla. —A Brevard County store clerk, who is also an Army veteran, came face to face with the barrel of a gun and fought back.

"Over a couple dollars. He wanted to ruin someone's life and I'm not going to lie, that makes me mad," said David Dick, the store clerk who was attacked.

It happened a week ago. Video shows the would-be robber storming into the Sugar Creek gas station and store in Mims, demanding cash. Little did the crook know that he picked the wrong person to mess with.

"Pulling the oven open to pull out the pastries for that night. Put it over here. As soon as I turned around, he was already standing here, coming at me," Dick said.

The man, caught on surveillance video, came in armed with an airsoft gun, looking for cash. But Dick, who was working that night, was ready to fight back.
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Wounded Times Disabled Veterans Report

There is no better day than Groundhog Day to kick off a new site for veterans. After all, the problems veterans and families have been forced to endure go back decades. History keeps getting repeated by politicians providing paltry results after lofty speeches.

This all came about after yet another conversation when someone asked "Why isn't all this out there?" after nearly making his head explode by news he never heard before. I told him it was but he was just looking in the wrong places.

Now I'm pointing the way that is easier to find. Wounded Times Disabled Veterans Report is live.

Laskarina Bouboulina (Greek: Λασκαρίνα Μπουμπουλίνα, pronounced [laskaˈrina bubuˈlina]), 11 May 1771 – 22 May 1825) was a Greek naval commander, heroine of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, and an Admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy.

Wounded Times is not changing! After over 25,000 posts and more than 2.5 million hits, it was time to expand to provide disabled veterans with the news and information you should have about what is going on all over the country.

Every month you'll see links to all the reports from Wounded Times that are about you! No politics, no hype, no nonsense about raising awareness and no ads.

You will get facts! Real information on combat related PTSD and yes, sadly, suicides. The only awareness you really need raised is that you are not stuck suffering the way you are, why you have it, what you can do to heal and what your families need to know to help you do it!

After over 30 years researching and living with PTSD and my Vietnam veteran husband, I can assure you that none of this has to be the way it is!

The truth is we're obligated to help each other the same way it was done when you were in the military. No one fights those battles alone and no one should have to fight to have wounds taken care of alone either.

History has proven this has all gone on for generations. You'd think that since Congress has had since 1946 to make sure veterans received what they needed they would have fixed it all long ago, but we just heard more promises when they wanted votes and to pick our pockets.

This is what they control, write bills for and are supposed to be making sure works properly for veterans.

Legislation Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Veterans' measures generally.
Pensions of all the wars of the U.S., general and special.
Life insurance issued by the government on account of service in the Armed Forces.
Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education of veterans.
Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of veterans.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief.
Readjustment of servicemen to civilian life.
National Cemeteries.

Yet you'll never hear them explain why they haven't done it or even apologize for not living up to their end of the deal. 

I work a full time job and then do this as much as I can because when it comes to veterans, this is my vocation and you are not a project but my passion. In other words, I do this work for free!

Starting as soon as I can, I'll put up the links from January to make it all easier for you to actually figure out what is going on across the country.  As this is an election year, one thing to keep in mind is, we can elect anyone but the truth is, nothing will change unless the folks we put in charge are held accountable.  We can't do that unless you know the truth about what they didn't do.

It is almost as if they decided it was time to act more like pirates than patriots.

You can also find videos I filmed and created on my YouTube page.

Green Beret Records Challenged After Volunteering Award

Red Cross volunteer's story challenged by Vietnam Veterans groups, individuals
Tulsa World
By Rita Sherrow
World Scene Writer
February 2, 2016

Vietnam War veteran John Smith, leaning next to the Disaster Relief vehicle he staffed during one of the California wildfires, pays it forward as a volunteer with the Tulsa chapter of the American Red Cross. After being lost in a Vietnam jungle for almost three months, it was the Red Cross that helped him let his family know he was alive.
JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

A Tulsa World story that profiled a Red Cross volunteer in October brought numerous questions and protests from Vietnam veteran military groups.

John Smith, a Red Cross volunteer who was nominated for an award with the Tulsa Area United Way, identified himself as a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran who served more than 20 years in military service.

The veterans group Green Beret Posers Exposed and others immediately challenged Smith’s story.

The Tulsa World has tried repeatedly since October to talk to Smith, advising him the story was being challenged and to verify his military record. He claimed health issues and other reasons for not answering repeated requests for another interview.

Green Beret Posers Exposed has supplied the Tulsa World with military documents, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, that indicate Smith was never in Special Forces and only served in the military for a limited time (U.S. Army 1970-1972 and U.S. Navy 1974-1975). Additionally, records show Smith receiving medals for serving in Vietnam, although he was never a Green Beret or member of the Special Forces.
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Vietnam War veteran gives back to Red Cross that helped him in his time of need