Fallen Soldier's Remains Return To Longwood Florida

Fallen Soldier's Remains Return To Fla.

Funeral Set For Next Wednesday

POSTED: 1:24 pm EST November 18, 2011


ORLANDO, Fla. -- The body of a local soldier who was killed in Afghanistan returned to Central Florida on Friday.

The Department of Defense said 25-year-old Army Pfc. Theodore B. Rushing died on Veterans Day in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

He suffered fatal wounds when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Rushing was going to follow his father's footsteps and become a police officer, but once he joined the army, he told his dad that he'd found a new career.

"He liked the fact that he was able to give back to his country that had given so much back to him. He liked the fact that he was a Calvary scout, out front paving the way for everybody else," said Rushing's father, Rick Rushing, on Friday.

Members of the Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Office escorted Rushing's remains to the funeral home.

The funeral is scheduled for next Wednesday. A viewing is set for Saturday at the Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home on Lake Ivanhoe.

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Iraq war veteran J.R. Martinez now 'Dancing' champ

Iraq war veteran J.R. Martinez now 'Dancing' champ
(AP) LOS ANGELES — J.R. Martinez started out as the least-known member of the "Dancing With the Stars" cast, but as the season went on, America fell in love with the 28-year-old soldier-turned-soap opera star.

"Dancing" draws 18 million viewers a week who got a firsthand look at the Iraq war veteran with the infectious positive attitude. They heard his story: How he was severely burned over more than 40 percent of his body when the Humvee he was driving for the U.S. Army struck a land mine, how he underwent numerous surgeries over years of recovery — then they saw him dancing like that had happened to somebody else. The 28-year-old actor and motivational speaker radiates joy.

"You've got such a sparkling personality, you just light up this room," ''Dancing" judge Len Goodman said.

Earlier this month, Martinez was chosen as grand marshal of the 123rd annual Tournament of Roses parade. He was on the cover of People magazine and named one of its "sexiest men" a few weeks later. And on Tuesday, he became the new "Dancing With the Stars" champion.

From Vietnam to Afghanistan, soldier still serving

Almost 60 and Still a Soldier
By Conor Powell
Published November 22, 2011
FoxNews.com


KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Most men at the age of 59 are planning for retirement, but Staff Sgt. Don Nicholas is no ordinary man. He wants to re-enlist in the U.S. Army and stay a soldier as long as he can.

A Vietnam veteran, Nicholas is the oldest soldier serving on the front lines in Afghanistan.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, Sgt. Nic, as he is affectingly called by younger soldiers, re-enlisted in the military.

“It was the right thing to do,” he says. “It’s as simple as that. I just didn’t want everyone else out there doing things I should be doing.”

A former Marine rifleman with two tours under his belt in Vietnam, including one at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon as enemy troops moved into the capital city, Nicholas thought he could faithfully rejoin their ranks.

But the Marines rejected his application. So he turned to the only other unit that offered him a chance to see combat – the U.S. Army.
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Fort Benning Soldier Claims He Was Predatory Lending Victim

Ga. Soldier Claims He Was Predatory Lending Victim

By RUSS BYNUM Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga. November 22, 2011 (AP)
Army Staff Sgt. Jason Cox says he borrowed $3,000 for an emergency trip to pick up his daughter. The loan ended up costing him more than $4,000 in interest, plus a sport utility vehicle the lender seized when he defaulted.

Now the Fort Benning soldier is suing the lender in federal court, contending the interest rate and other terms violated a 2007 law passed by Congress to protect military service members from predatory lending.

Cox's lawyer, former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, is trying to persuade a federal judge to grant class-action status because the lender, Atlanta-based Community Loans of America Inc., operates more than 900 stores in 22 U.S. states. Barnes believes numerous soldiers have taken out similar loans, likely without knowing the terms are illegal, though it's not clear how many.

"The rates are so lucrative for those that ignore the law," said Barnes, a Democrat who pushed a statewide crackdown on high-interest payday loans when he was governor from 1999 to 2002. Some in the military are too busy with moves between bases and overseas deployments to bring lawsuits or complain, Barnes said.
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Iraq veteran says ‘There Are Things Worth Paying For’

This is something I've been trying to point out for a very long time.

“I’m not going out there to talk about I’m a Democrat, I’m a Republican, or anything like that. I’m going out there to talk about issues,” he said.

I wish people in this country had the same attitude when they voted. This blog is up for this same reason. Back in 2007 I was operating another blog, full of information but it also had my political views. Back then I was one of those people thinking "I know everything" and I was out to prove it. I opened an email from a Marine saying that he came into that blog for information and support but he didn't want to read my political rants. Well, still so full of myself, I replied defending what I wrote and why I wrote it. He responded with a very short email back with one question. "Are you doing this for us or for yourself?" I cried. He opened my eyes and I realized I had fallen into the political abyss. I replied by telling him that from that point on I would have a blog for them and keep my political views out of it. Most of the time I succeed and limit the "rants" to when a politician (from both sides) votes against the troops or veterans. I will admit that once in a while I do "pop my cork" and get carried away, but I'm getting better at controlling that.

Politicians say what they want, but it is what they do that really matters. When it comes to the troops and veterans, what really matters is they do it everyday and risk their lives for each other. I'll take those values any day over what has been happening in this country for far too long.

Candidate: ‘There Are Things Worth Paying For’

Chris Miller, a decorated Iraq War veteran who’s now running for Congress as a Democrat in Illinois, is watching budget wrangling in Washington with special knowledge about what Pentagon cuts mean.

President Obama has vowed to repeal any attempt to mitigate the cuts that isn’t part of a broader deficit deal.

On ABC’s “Top Line” today, Miller, D-Ill, said he’s not sure that’s the right strategy.

“We have to take a careful look at making any cuts, especially to the military,” said Miller, who served nine years in the Army and received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Iraq. “I don’t think that this world is gonna become a safer place or a place that we have to stop worrying about defending just because we’re having budgetary issues.”

“The problems that we have are not — they’re not simply going away, and we need to think about that and things in that context of there’s things that are worth paying for. And I believe that national security is one of them.”

Miller, who’s running for an open House seat in southern Illinois, said his message on the trail is “jobs, jobs, and jobs.”

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Reward offered in fatal shooting of Vietnam vet in Lauderdale

Reward offered in fatal shooting of Vietnam vet in Lauderdale

By Ihosvani Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel
5:24 p.m. EST, November 21, 2011

FORT LAUDERDALE—
Broward Crime Stoppers on Monday issued a $1,000 reward in the hopes of turning up leads in the killing of a man described as his neighborhood's "go to" guy.

Nelson Heck, 66, a Vietnam veteran and retired Florida Power & Light Co. worker, was found fatally shot on Nov. 15 inside his home along the 1100 block of Northwest 48th Street.

Fort Lauderdale police investigators hope the reward will generate more information in the case, said Detective Travis Mandell.
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Two Tour Iraq veteran Sgt. Shane Scott Pease found dead in creek

NEWS
Man found dead in Chapel Hill creek served in Iraq
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2011 (Updated 5:09 am)
By THE HERALD-SUN OF DURHAM
CHAPEL HILL — The man who was found dead in Bolin Creek Saturday morning was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division who served two tours of duty in Iraq.


The Chapel Hill Police Department was mum Monday on an investigation into the death of 24-year-old Sgt. Shane Scott Pease, who was found dead in the creek by a jogger, but in a press release from the 82nd Airborne, Pease was identified as an infantryman in Company A, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
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'Dream Come True.' Florida soldier becomes US citizen, HS graduate

'Dream Come True.' Florida soldier becomes US citizen, HS graduate

Story by Capt. Kyle Key

OCALA, Fla. -- Coming to America was easy, but the journey to stay here was paved with struggle for Pvt. Angel E. Chavez and his family.

Pvt. Chavez grew up in Panama in the city of La Chorrera and dreamed of coming to the United States some day.

“I would tell my friends in elementary school,” said Chavez. “They used to laugh at me. I would tell them, I am going there one day and I’m going to make it.”

In 2005, Chavez arrived in the United States with his parents and three siblings. They settled in Ocala, Fla., where his father started a business repairing and exporting vehicles to Panama and his mother found a job as a cosmetologist. He and his siblings were doing well in school and were adjusting to their new lives when a big problem arose: their visas expired and their entire family was subject to deportation.

The Chavez family tried every legal avenue to stay in the country. The dishonor of being illegal immigrants wore on the children. By 2008, his mother divorced and remarried a U.S. citizen and shocked the family by disappearing for two years with her new husband.
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Ocala Iraq veteran has new home for this Thanksgiving

Veteran Receives New Home

David Calhoun Ready To Celebrate Thanksgiving In New Home

POSTED: 2:42 pm EST November 21, 2011


OCALA, Fla. -- A veteran who was wounded and saved the life of a fellow soldier will be receiving a home for him and his family this Thanksgiving.

David Calhoun and his family were given a home as a gift from the Military Warriors Support Foundation and JPMorgan Chase.

"It's beautiful," said Calhoun. "I never thought I would have my own house."

Calhoun was told he was selected for the enormous gift on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, at halftime of a New York Jets game on NBC.

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DoD studies social media’s impact on deployment

DoD studies social media’s impact on deployment
By Mike Chalmers - The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal
Posted : Tuesday Nov 22, 2011 10:28:28 EST
In previous deployments to Iraq and South America, Master Sgt. Clifford Snyder relied on letters and brief phone calls to keep in touch with his wife and three children back in Camden, Del.

“The kids grew so much during those times,” Snyder said. “You felt when you first got home like a visitor in the house.”

But during his most recent six-month deployment to Iraq in 2009 and 2010, he checked in with them on Facebook and video-chatted with them on Skype almost daily.

“I got to see the kids, and they were able to give me updates on how school was going and stuff,” Snyder said. “I felt like I was there for the whole time.”

That nearly constant connection made his deployment with with Delaware Air National Guard more bearable and eased his homecoming transition, Snyder said. It’s having the same effect for thousands of service members and their families around the world.
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Former military leaders bash GOP candidates

Former military leaders bash GOP candidates
By Henry C. Jackson - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Nov 21, 2011 18:55:07 EST
WASHINGTON — Three former top military officials slammed the Republican presidential field ahead of Tuesday night’s GOP debate on foreign policy. The Democratic-leaning former officials said the entire Republican field has been all over the map but focused on GOP front-runner Mitt Romney.

“My concern would be that he might not be credibly decisive,” Richard Danzig, who served as Navy secretary under President Bill Clinton, said of Romney on Monday. “There’s too much of a track record here of moving between positions.”

Danzig said President Barack Obama has shown the required decisiveness throughout his presidency.
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Marine back from Afghanistan sets fire to Vietnam Vet Marine's flag

Marine Accused of Torching Fellow Marine's Flag
By Mike Valerio / Reporter

UPDATED: 10:59 am EST November 22, 2011
JACKSONVILLE -- A Camp Lejeune Marine is accused of setting a retired Marine's American flag on fire Friday, during a party celebrating the suspect's return from Afghanistan.

Vernon Johnson, 24, was charged Saturday with first degree arson by the Jacksonville Police Department. According to neighbors, Johnson was with friends next door to Purple Heart recipient Robert Grafton, 71. Witnesses said Johnson was intoxicated, and torched Grafton's American flag hanging from his porch flagpole.
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Expert: Post-traumatic stress misunderstood

Expert: Post-traumatic stress misunderstood
By Doug Harlow dharlow@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON -- A former chief judge and chairman of the U.S. Board of Veterans Appeals said Monday that after decades of war, Americans still do not understand post-traumatic stress disorder.

Charles Cragin, of Raymond, who in 2009 was appointed chairman of a study commission on Gulf War I veterans, commented Monday following the shooting death Saturday morning of former U.S. Army Ranger Justin Crowley-Smilek.

"No one outside of the military and Department of Veterans Affairs is trained to deal with these sorts of issues because America has just become so disconnected from its military," Cragin said. "There are stories behind these young men and women who are coming home."

Crowley-Smilek, 28, who served in Afghanistan, was shot by Farmington police Officer Ryan Rosie outside the Farmington municipal building on U.S Route 2. Crowley-Smilek had called the police dispatch center from a telephone in front of the building. When Rosie came outside, Crowley-Smilek came at him in a threatening manner with a knife and was shot, police said.

Crowley-Smilek's father, Michael Smilek, said his son had come home from the war with severe combat stress. He suffered from bouts of substance use and had frequent problems with police as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, his father said.

Autopsy results released Monday by the Office State Medical Examiner's show Crowley-Smilek died Saturday from multiple gun shot wounds. Brenda Kielty, spokeswoman for the Office of Attorney General, which is investigating the shooting, said the investigation into the shooting has not been completed.
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Proposal to help dying vets slow to pass

Proposal to help dying vets slow to pass


by SUSANNAH FRAME / KING 5 News

Posted on November 21, 2011
LAKE STEVENS, Wash. -- Last year at this time Rich Knapton of Lake Stevens was jogging six miles, four times a week. But his running days are over. Now he struggles to make it a few feet down his hallway with the aid of a walker.

"All the things that I love to do I can no longer do. It was just taken from me. All the plans I had were taken from me. (It’s a) tremendous loss; just tremendous loss," said Rich.

In September Rich was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, which is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It’s a progressive, untreatable, and fatal disease that destroys the nerve cells that control muscle function. Eventually a patient can't walk, talk or breathe, while the mind stays sharp.

The news was devastating.

"I cried. I cried a lot. Eventually you can't cry. You run out (of tears) and I realized this is how I'm going to die," said Rich. “And it won't affect my mind. I'll be trapped in a body that won't work, but a mind that is still working."
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