Humvees plummet to ground in Hohenfels parachute drop fiasco
Stars and Stripes
April 21, 2016
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — A training mission gone awry resulted in the loss of three Army Humvees during a heavy equipment drop mission last week in Hohenfels.
A video circulating on social media shows the vehicles falling out of the back of passing C-130s during a routine training exercise for the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade on April 11. Connected to parachutes, most of the Humvees simply float gently to the ground. But during a second C-130 pass, one of the Humvees disconnects from its chute and is sent hurtling to the ground.
A minute later, a second one breaks free from its chute. Then, a third.
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Thursday, April 21, 2016
Afghanistan Veteran Takes On Challenge With Tenacity and Titanium
Soldier who lost both legs and his eyesight in while serving Afghanistan takes on huge challenge for charity
Wales Online
BY ABBIE WIGHTWICK
21 APR 2016
A soldier who was blinded and lost both legs and his reproductive organs when he was blown up in Afghanistan is asking people to join him on a fundraising walk in Wales.
Fusilier Shaun Stocker was 19 when he suffered life-threatening injuries stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Helmand serving with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, the Royal Welsh in Afghanistan.
Six years since the blast Shaun, 25, from Wrexham is on the way to completing a 100km walk in stages – a feat he never thought possible.
On May 14 he aims to walk 27km from Llanberis to Llyn Padarn and along local footpaths, and is asking people to join him and donate for his fundraising for Blind Veterans UK.
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Wales Online
BY ABBIE WIGHTWICK
21 APR 2016
In 2014 the former Ysgol Clywedog pupil flew to Australia for pioneering surgery. In an operation called osseointegration, titanium rods were implanted into his stumps.
Fusilier Shaun Stocker was 19 when he suffered life-threatening injuries stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Helmand serving with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, the Royal Welsh in Afghanistan.
Six years since the blast Shaun, 25, from Wrexham is on the way to completing a 100km walk in stages – a feat he never thought possible.
On May 14 he aims to walk 27km from Llanberis to Llyn Padarn and along local footpaths, and is asking people to join him and donate for his fundraising for Blind Veterans UK.
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Disgraceful Neglect of Fort Hood Survivors
Neglecting Fort Hood Survivors Is a National Disgrace
TIME
Kathy Platoni
April 19, 2016
Too many survivors don't have access to the benefits they need
Nearly seven years after the national tragedy of the Fort Hood massacre, little has changed. Despite the unveiling of the magnificent memorial in Killeen, Texas, on March 11 to pay tribute to the wounded and the fallen, this catastrophic event and its victims have been largely forgotten. Thirteen innocents lost their lives and more than 30 were wounded that day, gunned down by a self-proclaimed radical jihadist who advocated for the burnings and beheadings of his fellow soldiers.
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Army's largest base reeling from four apparent suicides in one weekend 2010
TIME
Kathy Platoni
April 19, 2016
Too many survivors don't have access to the benefits they need
Nearly seven years after the national tragedy of the Fort Hood massacre, little has changed. Despite the unveiling of the magnificent memorial in Killeen, Texas, on March 11 to pay tribute to the wounded and the fallen, this catastrophic event and its victims have been largely forgotten. Thirteen innocents lost their lives and more than 30 were wounded that day, gunned down by a self-proclaimed radical jihadist who advocated for the burnings and beheadings of his fellow soldiers.
Some of the wounded have been obtaining medical treatment on their own dime, desperately trying to restore themselves to health and to find their way back to any degree of normalcy. And then there are the psychological wounds, which often remain unspoken and are often unlikely to ever heal. Joshua Berry, a survivor of the massacre, suffered from post-traumatic stress and committed suicide in 2013. The Army should have done more to help him and others like him.
Kathy Platoni is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army and a survivor of the Fort Hood massacre.
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Army's largest base reeling from four apparent suicides in one weekend 2010
Louisiana Lawmaker Wants PTSD Service Dog Registry to Stop Frauds
Louisiana lawmaker files bill to create service dog regulations
KPLC 7 News
Liz Koh
Wednesday, April 20th 2016
LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC)
Service dogs are often used to help disabled individuals or those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Senator Jonathan Perry of Kaplan has filed a bill that aims to crack down on service dog fraud.
Joshua Mercer is an Army veteran who suffers from PTSD. He got his service dog Chloe about a year ago.
"I don't know what I'd do without her," said Mercer.
Chloe earned her service dog patch of honor by going through extensive training.
"She went through about three rounds of testing and that includes over 100 hours of public access training using various situations that I would encounter in my day-to-day life and she rocked it," he explained.
Those who take advantage of the system skip training altogether. Currently, there is no way to officially identify service dogs. Since there are no regulations for the industry, it's as easy as buying a service vest and then claiming your pet as a service dog.
"Having been in the military, it's very prideful. It's hard to admit when you have a disability or an issue and (it's) very humbling," said Mercer. "I think it's a horrible thing to take advantage of that and to pretend that you're somebody that you're not. It's sad."
If it passes, Perry's bill will require the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs to create a service dog registry.
The proposal also states service dog owners should be required to obtain a doctor's note and carry identification.
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KPLC 7 News
Liz Koh
Wednesday, April 20th 2016
LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC)
Service dogs are often used to help disabled individuals or those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Like anything else, there are those looking to take advantage of the animals even if they don't need them.(Source: Liz Koh/KPLC)
Senator Jonathan Perry of Kaplan has filed a bill that aims to crack down on service dog fraud.
Joshua Mercer is an Army veteran who suffers from PTSD. He got his service dog Chloe about a year ago.
"I don't know what I'd do without her," said Mercer.
Chloe earned her service dog patch of honor by going through extensive training.
"She went through about three rounds of testing and that includes over 100 hours of public access training using various situations that I would encounter in my day-to-day life and she rocked it," he explained.
Those who take advantage of the system skip training altogether. Currently, there is no way to officially identify service dogs. Since there are no regulations for the industry, it's as easy as buying a service vest and then claiming your pet as a service dog.
"Having been in the military, it's very prideful. It's hard to admit when you have a disability or an issue and (it's) very humbling," said Mercer. "I think it's a horrible thing to take advantage of that and to pretend that you're somebody that you're not. It's sad."
If it passes, Perry's bill will require the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs to create a service dog registry.
The proposal also states service dog owners should be required to obtain a doctor's note and carry identification.
read more here
Deported Veterans Served US But Cannot Come Back Home
Rep. Gallego: Deported veterans served their country but they can't come home
The Republic
Daniel González
April 21, 2016
Hector Barajas, 39, folds an American flag to be placed with the remains of a deported veteran who died in Mexico. The remains were allowed to be returned to the U.S. for burial. The flag presentation before Cesar Medrano (right)took Spc. Chaides' remains back to U.S. soil. (Photo: Photo courtesy of Cesar Medrano and Hector Barajas)
Legislation proposed to help some of the hundreds of soldiers convicted of crimes to return to this country
Sometimes, the only way a deported military veteran can get back into the United States is in a casket.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said these former soldiers, often convicted of crimes related to their service, are stripped of all their military benefits, except one: the right to be buried in a U.S. veterans cemetery.
He and other Democratic members of Congress are trying to change that for some deported vets.
Gallego introduced a bill Wednesday that asks the Department of Homeland Security to set up a process that would allow deported veterans who have not been convicted of felonies or serious misdemeanors to apply to return to the U.S. The legislation also would protect veterans not convicted of serious crimes from being deported in the future.
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The Republic
Daniel González
April 21, 2016
"These men and women who served our country, sacrificed time, sweat and blood for our country are told don’t come back until you are dead," said Gallego, an Iraq War veteran. "That is something we just cannot allow to happen."
Legislation proposed to help some of the hundreds of soldiers convicted of crimes to return to this country
Sometimes, the only way a deported military veteran can get back into the United States is in a casket.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said these former soldiers, often convicted of crimes related to their service, are stripped of all their military benefits, except one: the right to be buried in a U.S. veterans cemetery.
He and other Democratic members of Congress are trying to change that for some deported vets.
Gallego introduced a bill Wednesday that asks the Department of Homeland Security to set up a process that would allow deported veterans who have not been convicted of felonies or serious misdemeanors to apply to return to the U.S. The legislation also would protect veterans not convicted of serious crimes from being deported in the future.
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