Non-combat Deaths of Three Camp Lejeune Marines Being Investigated

UPDATE

3 MARSOC Marines, dog die in Afghan blaze
By Andrew deGrandpre - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Aug 3, 2011 18:09:32 EDT
Three Marine Corps special operators died Sunday along with a military dog after their living quarters caught fire in western Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Patrick R. Dolphin, 29, Sgt. Dennis E. Kancler, 26, and Sgt. Christopher M. Wrinkle, 29, were killed in Herat province, according to a Defense Department news release issued late Wednesday. All three were assigned to Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command’s 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

MARSOC officials said only that the men died in a “non-combat” incident, and that the matter is being investigated by U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.

But other sources with knowledge of the mishap told Marine Corps Times that the men died in a house fire.

A fourth MARSOC Marine and an Army special operator sustained unspecified injures as a result of the incident, said Maj. Jeffrey Landis, a MARSOC spokesman. It’s unclear whether they were evacuated from Afghanistan, he said.

A military dog also died in the incident, Landis said. He declined to comment on whether a fire caused the deaths.
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3 MARSOC Marines, dog die in Afghan blaze


Details released about area Marine's death

BY KATIE SULLIVAN (STAFF WRITER)Published: August 4, 2011

The death of an area Marine and former Elmhurst Township resident is still under investigation after he died while serving in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Patrick R. Dolphin, 29, died July 31 while supporting combat operations in Herat province of Afghanistan, according to a press release from the Department of Defense.

Further details surrounding the incident are still unclear, said Major Jeff Landis, a spokesman for the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

Dolphin leaves behind a wife of more than two years, Lindsey, along with his parents Tom Dolphin and Jean Uffalussy, and a younger brother Tom Dolphin Jr., who all traveled to Dover, Del. to retrieve Sgt. Dolphin's remains Tuesday.

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Details released about area Marine death

Deaths of Three Camp Lejeune Marines Being Investigated
By WCTI Staff

ONSLOW COUNTY -- The Department of Defense announced Wednesday the deaths of three Marines who were based at Camp Lejeune.

Staff Sgt. Patrick R. Dolphin, 29, of Moscow, Pa., Sgt. Dennis E. Kancler, 26, of Brecksville, Ohio, and Sgt. Christopher M. Wrinkle, 29, of Dallastown, Pa., died July 31 as a result of a non-combat related incident in Herat province, Afghanistan.
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Deaths of Three Camp Lejeune Marines Being Investigated

Married Marines serve together in Afghanistan

Married Marines serve together in Afghanistan
Helicopter technicians say they don’t see each other much despite shared deploymen
BY GEOFF PURSINGER
The Times, Aug 4, 2011

Tigard native Branden McClintock doesn’t get to see his wife Krystal much these days.

As a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps serving in Afghanistan, that’s not too surprising.

What is surprising is that his wife is right there beside him.

McClintock is married to fellow avionics technician Sgt. Krystal Palace-McClintock from Kansas City, Mo. The couple met while serving in the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 and are currently serving their second tour together as helicopter technicians.

The McClintocks are one of three married couples currently deployed with the Camp Pendleton, Calif.,-based helicopter squadron in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.
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Married Marines serve together in Afghanistan

Marine Injured in Oceanside Motorcycle Crash

Marine Injured in Oceanside Motorcycle Crash
He attempted to split lanes in stopped traffic at a high rate of speed, the Highway Patrol reports.
By Tom Roebuck
August 3, 2011

A 22-year-old Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton was hospitalized with a compound fracture to his right leg Wednesday morning after the motorcycle he was driving hit a stopped car in Oceanside, according to the Highway Patrol.
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Marine Injured in Oceanside Motorcycle Crash

House doesn't care if you have a job or not

Wonder why the unemployment rate is going up? Look in one place for the answer. Hint, it's in Washington DC. The building is supposed to be housing people with one mission. That mission is supposed to take care of the people in this country. They called it "the people's house" for that reason.

The People's House is a colloquial term used to describe the institution of the United States House of Representatives.
The term comes from the populist characteristics of the House: smaller representative districts, shorter terms of office for its members and (perhaps most importantly) direct election by the people. The House of Representatives was the only branch of the Federal government to be directly elected by the people until ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1913, when the Senate was made a directly elected body.

Ever since January when this congress began session, it has not been about what the people in this country need. It has not been about our jobs or making this country a better place for all of her citizens. It has been all about focusing on the wealthy, protecting their tax discounts and cutting everything else so that the people in this country not interested in paying taxes won't have to. How unAmerican is that? It sounds good because no one wants to pay taxes but most of the people in this country fully understand that we have to pay to have this country succeed.

The military, funded by taxes, is not just about contractors making millions off every contract. It is also about the men and women serving this country, putting their physical lives on the line and their personal lives on hold. It's their families wondering how to make ends meet at the same time they are wondering if their loved one is in danger, hurt or if they will get the stranger in uniform at the door with sad news. It is about their retirement after they served their 20 years or more being able to collect military retirement and Social Security after paying into both systems. It is about knowing they will be able to take care of their families if they are wounded in action and if they will have their medical needs met.

You want to be able to fly with some assurance you will arrive safely? We're heading into the tenth year after this nation was attacked on that bright September morning. Four planes were taken over and since then security at airports across the country has been increased so that people will be safe to fly and no more plans will be used as weapons against civilians. We all understood this ten years ago but the people working for the TSA and the FAA don't do it for free. They have bills to pay just like everyone else. What did Congress do? They took off for vacations without funding the FAA. Now we have people out of work and money paid by passengers not collected for the country.

FAA
$200 million a week not being collected in taxes but paid by passengers. Fiscal responsibility? Nope. Then there are the employees out of jobs and in the unemployment line.


There are 4,000 of them in the unemployment line now along with 70,000 construction workers.

Then there are the weakest among us. The homeless. Since there are not enough jobs to go around even though some folks in congress kept the tax discounts for the rich going claiming they are the job creators instead of terminators, more people became homeless under their watch. Well, it looks like once we finally arrived at a time when there was a lot being done to help the homeless, we did a u-turn. Not only are they being left to fend for themselves more and more, now there are wonderful people out of work who used to take care of them.

Chicago

City Lays Off 24,

Owing to their homeless program's state funding being cut in half, the city's Department of Family and Support Services announced Tuesday that they have been forced to lay off 24 employees effective Sept. 1.

The majority of the workers being laid off staffed the overnight, midnight-to-8 a.m. shift, picking up homeless individuals and transporting them to shelters, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Now those individuals will likely go without the city's help during the evening, making an already bad system even worse, according to Julie Dworkin, director of policy for the Chicago Coalition of the Homeless.

"They tell you to go to a hospital or a police station and the van will come to take you to a shelter. But, people often have to wait hours for the van to come," Dworkin told the Sun-Times.

"From now on if you call in the middle of the night, you can add another eight hours to your wait."
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Cuts Overnight Emergency Homeless Services

In state after state public employees are losing their jobs, yet the same folks responsible for them walking the streets are the ones screaming about the unemployment rate pointing a twisted finger at the President as if they had nothing to do with any of this. Well, in a way they are right. They had nothing to do with putting people back to work but plenty to do with putting them out of work and as for the term "the People's House" they should put a sing up "Sold to the highest bidder."

One third of the homeless are veterans. Veteran lose their homes all the time because they cannot work and their claims are not approved fast enough leaving them with no income. National Guards and Reservist usually work in public service on their regular jobs, as police officers, firefighters, emergency responders and every other agency the rest of us depend on. Imagine being notified you will be deployed at the same time you get a layoff notice.

Now we may be able to appreciate the folks saying they don't want to pass on the debt to their kids but that is only if we don't look at them right now. What kind of country do we want them growing up in? One that takes care of the wealthy on the backs of the rest of the population or one that manages to do the right thing? Do we want them growing up worrying about their roads, bridges and tunnels being safe for us to take them for a ride? Safe to fly down to Disney for a vacation? Safe to take medicine, drink water, eat food without being made sick? Do we want to know that if they do get sick they can go to a doctor to get better?

Do we want them to grow up worried they will not learn enough in school because their classroom is overcrowded due to teacher layoffs? What kind of future will they have with a lousy education? Do we want them to know that they do matter and we fully accept the responsibility to make sure they have the best education possible no matter what income class their parents belong in?

There are folks in congress wanting to keep things plan and simple so that people will just think of their words instead of what their words mean. They want us to be deaf to the cries of our own neighbors, dumb enough to follow where they want us to go and blind to the fact they are being funded by the wealthy they owe their careers to.

Tea Party elected put military pay and veterans programs in line for cuts

Is this what the people who voted for these Tea Party folks really wanted? Did they even pay attention to what they were up to before they voted for them? It has been clear from the start that anything to do with the government was not worth anything and now they just proved it.

Under debt deal, military pay, veterans programs in play for cuts
By Bob Brewinbbrewin@govexec.com
August 3, 2011
Military pay raises, funding for veterans health care and the Post-9/11 GI Bill could be sacrificed to new fiscal realities as the result of the deal signed by President Obama on Tuesday to raise the federal debt ceiling, according to the Military Officers Association and veterans groups. The law requires the federal budget be cut $2.1 trillion over 10 years.

The White House said it plans to cut $350 billion from the Defense Department budget (excluding war funding) over the next decade. Retired Air Force Col. Michael Hayden, the association's deputy director for government relations, said this means "everything is on the table," including military pay.

While Congress historically has been reluctant to freeze military pay, the 2011 Budget Control Act signed by Obama on Tuesday makes it clear upfront that military pay is no longer off-limits in budget discussions. If the administration and Congress fail to make the required reductions then across-the-board cuts in discretionary funding will be triggered through a procedure known as sequestration. The law gives the president "authority to exempt any [military] personnel account from sequestration" but only if "savings are achieved through across-the-board reductions in the remainder of the Department of Defense budget," states a House Rules Committee analysis of the bill.
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Under debt deal, military pay, veterans programs in play for cuts

Wasn't it bad enough with all the fighting over protecting tax cuts for the wealthy ended up making them worried about being deployed and not getting paid? What happened to the jobs these people said they wanted to create? Any bills done on getting people back to work? What happened to honoring the men and women serving this country? Any idea who the hell is supposed to process claims and take care of the wounded if employees get cut? There are not enough of them now!

Decorated Vietnam veteran's valor is saluted

Vietnam veteran's valor is saluted

by Phil Keren & Ellin Walsh
FALLS NEWS-PRESS EDITOR, REPORTER

Cuyahoga Falls officials on July 22 recognized a decorated Vietnam veteran by renaming a portion of Front Street in his honor.

Bernard V Slider Jr., "J.R." to his friends, died Oct. 7, 2003, after a battle with cancer. He was 53.

About 20 people -- including Mr. Slider's brothers Don and Ken, and his father, Bernard V. Slider Sr. -- attended a brief ceremony in sweltering heat at the corner of Front Street and Grant Avenue across from American Legion Post 281.

Mayor Don Robart designated the day (July 22) as "Sgt. J.R. Slider Day" in Cuyahoga Falls. Donald and Ken Slider then unveiled the sign at Front Street and Grant Avenue which bears the name "Sgt. J.R. Slider Silver Memorial Way."

"It's beautiful," said Ken Slider moments after the ceremony concluded. A catalyst in getting the city to designate the stretch of street in his brother's honor, Don Slider says J.R. "was the most highly decorated Vietnam veteran in Summit County." The idea of honoring J.R. this way has been in the works for three years. "His dedication to our country set him apart," Ken Slider says, adding, "if your life had to be in somebody else's hands, you'd want it to be J.R.'s."

Sgt. Slider served in the U.S. Army -- Company E, 2nd Battalion (Airborne) 502nd Infantry as a radio-telephone operator during Vietnam. He received two Purple Heart medals, the Silver Star for gallantry in action, eight air medals, the Brave Eagle coin for valor and two Bronze Stars.
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Vietnam veteran valor is saluted

Vietnam MIA comes home to Knox

Vietnam veteran, missing for decades, comes home to Knox
By Terry Turner Post-Tribune correspondent

Updated: August 3, 2011 1:59AM

KNOX — Andy Howes, missing in action since 1970 and Starke County’s final casualty of the Vietnam War, came home Monday evening to a tremendous turnout of veterans, classmates and the Knox and Starke County community.

The emotional goodbye for the 1968 graduate of Knox High School, who was just 19 when the Huey he was co-piloting was lost as he and his fellow crew members were returning from a mission, continued Tuesday evening, in what family members termed “a homecoming.”

Howes’ casket was carried a block-and-a-half by fellow Vietnam veterans from the M.C. Smith Funeral Home to the Knox Community Center. A long line of flag-carrying Indiana Patriot Guards on both sides of the street stood at attention as the casket went by.

Howes will be buried in his final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug 5.
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Vietnam veteran, missing for decades, comes home to Knox

VA Kicks Off National Caregiver Support Conference

VA Kicks Off National Caregiver Support Conference

Caring for Those Who Care for Our Veterans



WASHINGTON (Aug. 3, 2011) - Dr. Robert Petzel, Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health, gave the keynote address Aug. 2 kicking off the 2011 National Caregiver Support Conference, "Caring for Those Who Care for Our Veterans."



The training conference, August 2-4 in Washington highlights VA's support of caregivers of all eras, with plenary sessions featuring national experts in care giving.



The conference follows the implementation of landmark legislation by VA that provides a direct benefit for the first time to designated, approved family caregivers of eligible Post 9/11 Veterans, which includes monthly stipends and health insurance.



"Family caregivers are full partners with VA who help to ensure that Veterans receive the top-quality care they have earned," said Dr. Petzel. "Expanded services will support family caregivers, improve their self-care, provide training and help them connect with each other
for support and encouragement."



Veterans and Servicemembers undergoing medical discharge may be eligible for the family caregiver program if they incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty on or after 9/11/2001, are in need of personal care services, and meet defined eligibility criteria.



The conference is part of the comprehensive program of caregiver support that VA is implementing.



"Staff from VA medical centers across the country are attending to share best practices and gain new understanding of the unique challenges faced by family caregivers of Veterans from all eras," said Deborah Amdur, chief consultant, Care Management and Social Work Service.



The department began accepting applications for caregiver stipend and benefits payments by mail, telephone and online May 9. As of July 26, there have been 1,644 total applications received and in process. To date, 567 stipends have been approved with a monthly average of $1,600.



In addition, caregiver support includes the new caregiver website that was launched May 31. The website -- www.caregiver.va.gov -- is now averaging more than 1,481 hits per day, 4.5 pages viewed per visit, for a total of at least 6,649 pages viewed daily.



As one of the primary outreach tools to reach caregivers and Veterans of all eras, the website includes a zip code search feature to locate the nearest VA medical center-based caregiver support coordinator, links to existing VA social media, and information on future caregiver-specific social media features.



In collaboration with Easter Seals, the VA core caregiver training continues to be conducted through home study as well as traditional classrooms. Classroom training was conducted June 9-10 in Silver Spring, Md.; July 7-8 in Reno, Nev.; and July 21-22 in Augusta, Ga. An additional 13 classroom training sessions are scheduled nationwide in the next 90 days. More classes will be scheduled as requested. Online training will be available Aug. 5.



VA's Caregiver Support Line (1-855-260-3274), located at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in New York has responded to more than 12,132 calls since its inception Feb. 1. Clinical social workers respond to calls, provide information and referral to VA and community resources, and
offer supportive counseling to callers from across the country. Since May 21, the Caregiver Support Line has been staffed 24/7.



Congress created the new benefits for family caregivers of eligible Post 9/11 Veterans in legislation known as the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (PL 111-163), which was signed by the President in May 2010.

Ineligible contractors getting $500M a year from VA

Ineligible contractors getting $500M a year from VA, OIG says
Federal auditors found programs for vet-owned and disabled-vet-owned companies rife with problems

By Alice Lipowicz
Aug 02, 2011
Federal auditors took a hard look at procurement practices at the Veterans Affairs Department in two new reports, finding that VA is likely to be awarding about $500 million a year to ineligible contractors.

In a July 25 audit, investigators evaluated the veteran-owned small business (VOSB) and the service-disabled veteran-owned small business programs (SDVOSB), which together generated about $3.5 billion in procurements in fiscal 2010, or about 23 percent of total VA procurements.

The inspector general’s office reviewed 42 “statistically-selected” contracts in those two programs with a total value of $46.5 million that had been awarded to businesses alleged to be eligible for those programs. The review found that 32 of the businesses were ineligible to participate in the programs or were ineligible for the specific contracts they were awarded.

Based on that analysis, the inspector general’s office forecasted the total impact of contracts in those programs awarded to businesses that are ineligible for those programs.
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Ineligible contractors getting $500M a year from VA

Saginaw VA evacuated after bomb threat

UPDATE: Patients, workers return to VA hospital after evacuation
Published: Wednesday, August 03, 2011
By Justin L. Engel
The Saginaw News
SAGINAW — State police have given workers and patients the OK to return to Lutz Veterans Affairs Medical Center after someone called in a bomb threat this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.
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Patients, workers return to VA hospital after evacuation