Less Than Honorably Treated Oregon Veteran Wins VA Claim

Local veteran wins VA battle in Portland
Tillamook Headlight Herald
By Brad Mosher
Updated 18 hrs ago

Vietnam-era veteran Bill Minnix talks to Sen. Ron Wyden during the Oregon senator's recent town hall in Tillamook. Minnix credits Wyden's office for helping his case with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Headlight Herald photo / Brad Mosher

Bill Minnix got some good news Tuesday.

He was told that a Department of Veterans Affairs hearing in Portland recently had decided his service from February to July in 1973 in the U.S. Air Force is considered honorable for VA purposes.

The hearing was focused on the character of Minnix’ discharge from the military in 1973, when he was given a less than honorable discharge.

The decision doesn’t change the discharge, but it opens the door to Minnix receiving full veterans benefits.

It also is considered to be a ground-breaking decision which could impact other veterans who were victims of sexual assault while in the service.

“I am quite excited. I talked to Tiffany Kelley, the attorney for the National Veterans Legal Services Program, and she said this is huge because they have had these veterans just waiting. She said that this was a huge precedent,” Minnix said.

“Monetary-wise, that is not the thing. What I am getting out of this and I feel really good about is all the people this (decision) is going to help from here on out.

“They are many other ‘other than honorable’ discharges. Some are called undesirable. Some are called personality disorder discharges,” he added.
read more here

Iraq Veteran Saved Life With Dedication Above and Beyond

Iraq War veteran loses 25 pounds to be liver donor for ailing coworker
WTOP News
By ABC Radio
February 26, 2016

(NEW YORK) — When Brian Burkett found out he needed a liver transplant, he thought it might take some time to find a donor. But after sending out an email to his coworkers, he found he received a response almost immediately from Mike Snyder.

“He called me within five minutes,” Burkett recalled. “You’re just like ‘What? Thank you!'”

Burkett had been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver years earlier and suffered from chronic fatigue before the operation.

“It was awful,” Burkett told ABC News. “Sometimes you’re so tired you can’t sleep. I couldn’t even do simple activities.”

He said when he learned his coworker needed help, he had no doubts about signing up to be a living donor, meaning a portion of his liver would be used to replace Burkett’s liver.
read more here

Danish Soldiers Focus on Oscar Nominated "A War"

‘A War’: Oscar nominee turns on battle in Afghanistan Danish film captures moral dilemma, human drama
Washington Times
By Emery A. Popoloski
February 26, 2016
Author’s note: This review of the Oscar-nominated movie “A War” includes spoilers.

Recently, I had the chance to watch and review an Oscar nominated film titled “A War” written and directed by Tobias Lindholm. What really intrigued me about this film is that it is about Danish soldiers fighting in the current war in Afghanistan. Although the soldiers were not American, many of the issues faced by the Danish soldiers were similar to those faced by American soldiers. Lindholm also included veterans and Afghan refugees in the film as extended cast members.

The film centers on the company commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk) and his men who are in Afghanistan. At home Pedersen’s wife, Maria (Tuva Novotny) is managing three young children, who are also affected by their father’s deployment and acting out. Pedersen and his men are ambushed, which leads Pedersen to make a split second decision, who gets to live and who dies. A moral dilemma faced by many combat veterans regardless of their nationality.

Throughout the film Lindholm successfully weaves the story of not only what Pedersen is going through, but also the stories of his family back home, the soldiers, and innocent Afghanistan civilians. Lindholm thankfully does not make any charged political statements in the film. Instead, he explores the lines between what is morally acceptable and what needs to be done to survive when in war, including the unintended consequences.
read more here

New Implant Helps Amputees at Salt Lake VA Hospital

Two veterans take their first steps on revolutionary prosthetic legs
Deseret News
By Jed Boal
Published: Friday, Feb. 26 2016
Updated: 12 hours ago

If the trial proves successful, both veterans hope the new artificial legs will improve the lives of other veteran and civilian amputees.

Bryant Jacobs of Herriman, who is learning to walk for the third time: first, as an infant; second, with his socket prosthetic; and now, with his percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses, or POP implant. He is part of a 10-year study to see if this prosthetic will improve the lives of other veteran and civilian amputees. In Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. Mark Wetzel, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — Two Iraq War veterans are taking their first steps on revolutionary prosthetic legs at the Salt Lake VA Hospital.

This is literally the next step for the veterans since undergoing surgeries for their percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses, or POP implant, in December.

The veterans can now walk on their residual limbs.

"It's all about baby steps right now," said Bryant Jacobs of Herriman, who is learning to walk for the third time: first, as an infant; second, with his socket prosthetic; and now, with his POP implant.

A roadside bomb explosion damaged his leg in Iraq 11 years ago. After nearly a decade of trying to rehabilitate the limb, he decided to have it amputated two years ago.

"We are not setting expectations, we're not doing any of that," Jacobs said. "We're just progressing."
read more here

Iraq Veteran, Victim of Home Invasion Seeks Justice

Veteran shot in a home invasion speaks out about his ordeal
ABC Action News
Clifton French
8:20 PM, Feb 26, 2016

Today, the veteran is out of work while trying to find a way to pay his extensive medical bills. But, his priority is to help sheriff's deputies find the men who almost killed him before they attack someone else.

TOWN N' COUNTRY, Fla. - He survived a war, twice, only to be shot in the chest in his own home by strangers.

The masked men who attacked Grant Langenburg of Hillsborough County are still on the run, while the 34-year-old Iraq War veteran recovers and tries to find a way to pay a $170,000 medical bill.

"I've done two combat tours in Iraq, it's not what you expect." Langenburg said of his recently shooting. "You don't expect to get shot in your own house."

Langenburg spent eight days in the hospital. He has three broken ribs, a hole in his lung, and a bullet still lodged in his chest.

The bullet "went through my rib, hit my lung and ended up stopping on my ribcage right behind my heart," Langenburg said.
read more here