Remains of Major Troy Gilbert Returned from Iraq After 10 Years

Remains of Phoenix-area fighter pilot killed in Iraq returned 10 years later
The Republic
Jerod MacDonald-Evoy
October 12, 2016

A U.S. Air Force team carries the remains of Maj. Troy Gilbert at Dover Air Force Base.

(Photo: Senior Airman Aaron J. Jenne/U.S. Air Force)

The remains of an F-16 pilot from Litchfield Park who was killed in Iraq in 2006 have finally been returned, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Maj. Troy Gilbert crashed while leading two other jets in a strafing run against enemy forces that had shot down a helicopter near the town of Taji, Iraq, on Nov. 27, 2006, according to Mike Martin, secretary of Air Force Public Affairs.

Gilbert opted to use a 20-mm gun on his F-16 to help avoid civilian casualties and destroyed one of the trucks that was threatening coalition forces on the ground, according to Martin. On his second approach, he flew even lower and hit the ground, killing him instantly.
read more here

Death of Fort Hood Solider Under Investigation

Fort Hood officials ID soldier found dead in Cove
Killeen Daily Herald
David Bryant
October 12, 2016

FORT HOOD — Fort Hood officials have released the name of a soldier found dead in his Copperas Cove residence on Friday.

Spc. Bradley Michael Acker, 25, whose home of record is listed as Canandaigua, N.Y., joined the Army in October 2010 as a Multiple Launch Rocket System crewmember and later reclassified as an aircraft power plant repairer.
read more here

Amputee Marine Rides Harley Again With Help From Friends

Modified Harley allows Marine who lost leg to ride
Monroe News
Ray Kisonas
October 11, 2016

On Saturday, with a little help from his friends, Mr. Smith achieved his latest accomplishment by riding his 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster without fear of his prosthetic foot striking the pavement.

MILAN — When the mortar blast took his leg below the knee during the war in Iraq in 2006, Corey Smith, a Marine from Luna Pier, refused to feel sorry for himself.

In fact he actually tried to return to his unit after being fitted with a prosthetic only to be told his combat days were over.

Undeterred, Mr. Smith came back home, earned a college degree, got married and now works at the federal prison in Milan.

On Saturday, with a little help from his friends, Mr. Smith achieved his latest accomplishment by riding his 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster without fear of his prosthetic foot striking the pavement.

“It was so much better; I was very comfortable,” Mr. Smith, 29, said among 170 other bikers who rumbled into Milan to support veterans. “I didn’t have to worry about my foot dragging.”
read more here

Navy Suicide Data Shows Higher Rate Than When They Did Nothing

In a few days the Navy Turns 241 but there are a lot of Sailors who will not see their next birthday.

As of October 6, 2016 there have been 38 Active Duty Sailors and 7 Reservists who committed suicide this year. 

Think about that for a second. Think about all the years of prevention training and talking that has been done, then add in the billions that have been spent to address the fact that they are killing themselves. 

Pissed off yet? Ok then, factor in something else. The percentage is more than it was before all this was done. As the chart shows in 2006 the rate was 9.1 and by the end of 2015 the rate was 13.1. The highest rate was in 2012 with 18.1.

Navy Suicide Data 2006 to 2015

This is for the Reservists

In 2006 it was 13 and in 2015 it was 14 with the highest number of 15 in 2014.

Driver of Fatal Crash That Killed 5 Sought Help From Hospital

Suspect in fatal Vermont wrong-way crash suffered from PTSD, documents say
WCVB ABC 5 News
Oct 11, 2016

Steven Bourgoin, 36, visited hospital three times before fatal crash

BURLINGTON, Vt. —Court documents are providing new information about the man police said caused a head-on crash that killed five teens.

The documents were filed Monday in Chittenden County Superior Court, according to WPTZ.

Prosecutors charged Steven Bourgoin, 36, of Williston, with reckless or grossly negligent operation of a vehicle and aggravated operating a vehicle without the owner's consent.

Detective Sgt. Benjamin Katz filed an affidavit detailing parts of the investigation. Investigators said Bourgoin was driving northbound in the southbound lanes just before midnight Saturday when he hit a car carrying five teenagers.

Bourgoin then stole an officer's cruiser, police said, and fled southbound -- only to turn around and return to the scene where he hit the victims' car a second time.

Williston Officer Eric Shepherd was the first officer on the scene. He told investigators Bourgoin was driving at nearly 100 mph when he caused the second crash.

The five teens were pronounced dead at the scene. Seven other cars were also hit, injuring five additional victims who received treatment at UVM Medical Center.
read more here