FL Guard Soldiers home for Christmas, thanks to donations
WINK News
Dec 24, 2013
ARCADIA, Fla. -- Dozens of American heroes are back from deployment, and only WINK News was there as the Florida National Guardsmen and women in Arcadia hugged their families for the first time in months.
They're home just in time for Christmas.
The soldiers deployed in February. They were providing security at U.S. military installations in Qatar. They're with their families for a few days, thanks to a social media campaign started by Gov. Rick Scott, which raised more than $35,000 to bring them home.
read more here
From ABC News
Dec 24, 2013
Holiday Mission Complete: Florida National Guard troops return home for the holiday
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas to troops in Afghanistan
USO brings Christmas to Afghanistan.
Troops send messages home for Christmas
Troops send messages home for Christmas
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Iraq veterans find the war continues at home with red tape
The thing that breaks my heart more than anything else, other than been there and done that, is the fact when we were going through it, it was from 93 to 99. That is when my husband's claim was finally approved. It was only 50% but it was as if a dark cloud lifted off our heads. He had to fight for the other 50% but it meant a lot more than money. It meant the VA acknowledged that what he was going through was because he served in Vietnam.
What is like to watch as everything you worked for is threatened? Hell. Pure hell. You know the truth. Doctors know the truth. Proving it to VA claims processors is a different thing. Mess up one piece of paper and they turn down the claim. Have some paperwork that was done wrong and you can kiss your claim goodbye unless you can get it fixed.
Then there are the others discharged under "other than honorable" unable to even find hope that their claims will be approved. They have to prove the military knew they had PTSD but kicked them out anyway. That the excuse of a pre-existing condition like personality disorder didn't measure up considering that every recruit has to pass a mental health exam before they are trained to go to war.
All of this breaks my heart more than the fact they are suffering this much today because nothing was ever fixed all the way for all of them so long ago.
Congress would leave an estimated 150,000 troops at risk for serious brain damage, 2006
NPR:documents show VA did give orders to stop helping wounded 2008. "The document says Col. Becky Baker of the Army Surgeon General's office told the VA to discontinue counseling soldiers on the appropriateness of Defense Department ratings because "there exists a conflict of interest.""
And this too
Iraq veterans find the war continues at home with red tape
Los Angeles Times
By Alexandra Zavis
Published: December 24, 2013
SAN FRANCISCO — Glenda Flowers stood at the edge of a crowd of angry veterans at San Francisco's War Memorial building. They had been waiting months, even years, to hear whether they would receive disability benefits, and they were tired of excuses.
Flowers, a 31-year-old Iraq veteran and mother of two, had come to the meeting with a pair of Veterans Affairs officials because she wanted to be heard. But she was trying too hard to fight back tears to take the microphone.
The social worker who accompanied her couldn't let her be overlooked.
"Nobody brought up here that a lot of these young vets have children," said Marcy Orosco, who heads a Salvation Army transitional housing program in San Francisco.
"Because of this wait, she was living in her car with her children. ... What are you going to do about that?"
read more here
What is like to watch as everything you worked for is threatened? Hell. Pure hell. You know the truth. Doctors know the truth. Proving it to VA claims processors is a different thing. Mess up one piece of paper and they turn down the claim. Have some paperwork that was done wrong and you can kiss your claim goodbye unless you can get it fixed.
Then there are the others discharged under "other than honorable" unable to even find hope that their claims will be approved. They have to prove the military knew they had PTSD but kicked them out anyway. That the excuse of a pre-existing condition like personality disorder didn't measure up considering that every recruit has to pass a mental health exam before they are trained to go to war.
All of this breaks my heart more than the fact they are suffering this much today because nothing was ever fixed all the way for all of them so long ago.
Congress would leave an estimated 150,000 troops at risk for serious brain damage, 2006
NPR:documents show VA did give orders to stop helping wounded 2008. "The document says Col. Becky Baker of the Army Surgeon General's office told the VA to discontinue counseling soldiers on the appropriateness of Defense Department ratings because "there exists a conflict of interest.""
And this too
The fiscal 2009 IT budget request for the Veterans Benefits Administration is about 18 percent less than the fiscal 2008 proposal. The overall IT budget for the Veterans Affairs Department, VBA's parent agency, jumped 18 percent in President Bush's latest request.
VBA's pending compensation and claims backlog stood at 816,211 as of January 2008, up 188,781 since 2004, said Kerry Baker, associate legislative director of the Disabled Veterans of America, during a Wednesday hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
Christmas at an Afghan Forward Operating Base
Christmas at an Afghan Forward Operating Base
Stars and Stripes
By Cid Standifer
Published: December 24, 2013
FORWARD OPERATING BASE GAMBERI — On Christmas morning, Spc. Clarecea Smith’s three children will be tearing open presents with family by their side, including Smith’s husband, her parents and her little ones’ aunts and uncles. She said she can’t wait to see the look on her 5-year-old son’s face when he gets his brand new four-wheeler.
Of course, that will have to be over Skype, since she’s on this small forward operating base in Afghanistan serving with the 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery. By the time her family’s Christmas Day starts in South Carolina, it’ll be about 8 p.m. here, and Smith’s Christmas will almost be over.
Like many deployed soldiers, she’ll spend Christmas Eve at work. From 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., she’ll be acting as the noncommissioned officer in charge of flight operations.
But that won’t stop her from celebrating. Smith said she and the one other soldier working the flight terminal night shift will settle in and watch a few Christmas movies between flights.
read more here
Stars and Stripes
By Cid Standifer
Published: December 24, 2013
FORWARD OPERATING BASE GAMBERI — On Christmas morning, Spc. Clarecea Smith’s three children will be tearing open presents with family by their side, including Smith’s husband, her parents and her little ones’ aunts and uncles. She said she can’t wait to see the look on her 5-year-old son’s face when he gets his brand new four-wheeler.
Of course, that will have to be over Skype, since she’s on this small forward operating base in Afghanistan serving with the 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery. By the time her family’s Christmas Day starts in South Carolina, it’ll be about 8 p.m. here, and Smith’s Christmas will almost be over.
Like many deployed soldiers, she’ll spend Christmas Eve at work. From 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., she’ll be acting as the noncommissioned officer in charge of flight operations.
But that won’t stop her from celebrating. Smith said she and the one other soldier working the flight terminal night shift will settle in and watch a few Christmas movies between flights.
read more here
Marine gets adopted in Christmas Eve ceremony
Marine gets adopted in Christmas Eve ceremony
The Associated Press
By FRANK ELTMAN
Published: December 24, 2013
MINEOLA, N.Y. — Lance Cpl. Christopher Mohedano-Hernandez found special significance in being formally adopted during a Christmas Eve ceremony held in a suburban New York courtroom.
The deeply religious 19-year-old Roman Catholic drew parallels Tuesday from his adoption by a man who married his mother when Mohedano-Hernandez was a young boy and the Biblical story of Joseph and Jesus.
"They weren't related by blood, but to Joseph, he was his son," Mohedano-Hernandez said. "I feel the same way about my father; he knows that I'm his son and I feel the same exact way. Blood relation or not, I am his son."
The adoption ceremony at Nassau County Surrogate's Court on Long Island also included two other families adopting young babies, but Judge Edward McCarty, a retired U.S. Army colonel who served in Iraq and Kuwait, paid special attention to the Marine and his family.
Mohedano-Hernandez is the latest in what experts call a growing trend of adult adoptions; McCarty estimates he has performed at least 40 adult adoptions in recent years.
read more here
The Associated Press
By FRANK ELTMAN
Published: December 24, 2013
MINEOLA, N.Y. — Lance Cpl. Christopher Mohedano-Hernandez found special significance in being formally adopted during a Christmas Eve ceremony held in a suburban New York courtroom.
The deeply religious 19-year-old Roman Catholic drew parallels Tuesday from his adoption by a man who married his mother when Mohedano-Hernandez was a young boy and the Biblical story of Joseph and Jesus.
"They weren't related by blood, but to Joseph, he was his son," Mohedano-Hernandez said. "I feel the same way about my father; he knows that I'm his son and I feel the same exact way. Blood relation or not, I am his son."
The adoption ceremony at Nassau County Surrogate's Court on Long Island also included two other families adopting young babies, but Judge Edward McCarty, a retired U.S. Army colonel who served in Iraq and Kuwait, paid special attention to the Marine and his family.
Mohedano-Hernandez is the latest in what experts call a growing trend of adult adoptions; McCarty estimates he has performed at least 40 adult adoptions in recent years.
read more here
Central Florida 2013 Veterans Events covered by Wounded Times
These are the events covered by Wounded Times for 2013
SFC. Josh Burnette Green Beret
Only You SFC Josh Burnette highlight
Spc. Brenden Salazar Dedication
OS91 Orlando Tribute
Ride on 95 in pack
Veterans Reunion, Melbourne FL
You can heal
Florida Congressman Webster thinks outside the box
UCF Operation Give Back
Cypress Grove Memorial Day
Orlando Scottish Rite Flag Retirement
Orlando DAV New Officers
DAV NATIONAL CONVENTION
veterans outreach foundation
RACK Up A Victory National Anthem
RACK Up A Victory trick shot
RACK Up A Victory obstacles
VFW Post 4287 Cancer Fundraiser
VFW 4287 Part Two
When he's 64
Amazing Grace of Veterans
Nam Knights Biketoberfest
Orlando 27th Pow Wow
One Nation
Maitland Civic Center Veterans Day
Veterans Day Duck Salute
Lake Nona VA Memorial
Veterans Day Memorial at Lake Nona
Rockets Drummers
Military Appreciation Day
Rejoice In Sign Language
Gary Sinise tribute Vietnam Veterans
Military History Cannon Fire
Wreaths Across America Orlando
Semper Fidelis America Brothers in Bras
Bingo Game Busted Brothers in Bras
SFC. Josh Burnette Green Beret
Only You SFC Josh Burnette highlight
Spc. Brenden Salazar Dedication
OS91 Orlando Tribute
Ride on 95 in pack
Veterans Reunion, Melbourne FL
You can heal
Florida Congressman Webster thinks outside the box
UCF Operation Give Back
Cypress Grove Memorial Day
Orlando Scottish Rite Flag Retirement
Orlando DAV New Officers
DAV NATIONAL CONVENTION
Michelle Obama at DAV ConventionBo Reichenbach Semper Fidelis Fundraiser
President Obama VA Backlog
President Obama Military Suicides
President Obama on Homeless Veterans
President Obama on our veterans
President Obama on VA Healthcare
President Obama on Jobs and Eduction for veterans
President Obama on Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsburg
President Obama on New Veterans
President Obama on the sequester
Lt. Dan Band at DAV
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Teenage Wasteland
Life Is a Highway
God Bless the USA
Disabled Veterans Memorial
veterans outreach foundation
RACK Up A Victory National Anthem
RACK Up A Victory trick shot
RACK Up A Victory obstacles
VFW Post 4287 Cancer Fundraiser
VFW 4287 Part Two
When he's 64
Amazing Grace of Veterans
Nam Knights Biketoberfest
Orlando 27th Pow Wow
One Nation
Maitland Civic Center Veterans Day
Veterans Day Duck Salute
Lake Nona VA Memorial
Veterans Day Memorial at Lake Nona
Rockets Drummers
Military Appreciation Day
Rejoice In Sign Language
Gary Sinise tribute Vietnam Veterans
Military History Cannon Fire
Wreaths Across America Orlando
Semper Fidelis America Brothers in Bras
Bingo Game Busted Brothers in Bras
Army and National Guard cross swords over troop cuts
Pay really close attention to this
"The Army swelled its ranks to about 570,000 to accommodate demand for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."
As you can see, there are 30,000 less in the Army now, so that means the drop in suicides has less to do with what they are doing and more to do with less in the Army itself.
Army suicides by the numbers
For 2012, there have been 182 potential active-duty suicides 96 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve. 310 KIA all branches, 325 Army suicides.
As of October, (the last Army suicide release) For CY 2013, there have been 126 potential active-duty suicides, 82 Army National Guard and 43 Army Reserve. 125 all branches KIA 251 Army suicides.
"The Army swelled its ranks to about 570,000 to accommodate demand for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Army and National Guard cross swords over troop cuts
USA TODAY
Tom Vanden Brook
December 24, 2013
National Guard officials argue Army troop levels can be cut more
WASHINGTON -- The National Guard hopes to gain from pending cuts to the regular Army's ranks, arguing that part-time soldiers are more cost-effective than their active-duty peers and could save $13 billion annually.
The Guard's gambit, revealed in interviews and documents obtained by USA TODAY, exposes a widening rift among and between the services as the fight over funding intensifies in the era of Pentagon austerity. Guard leaders maintain that the Army could be cut to as few as 420,000 soldiers if the Guard is allowed to expand. Army leaders say a force that small cannot defend the nation. The Army has about 540,000 soldiers now and is scheduled to reduce its ranks to 490,000 by 2017. Dipping below 450,000 soldiers could prevent the Army from winning a war, according to documents.
read more here
As you can see, there are 30,000 less in the Army now, so that means the drop in suicides has less to do with what they are doing and more to do with less in the Army itself.
Army suicides by the numbers
For 2012, there have been 182 potential active-duty suicides 96 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve. 310 KIA all branches, 325 Army suicides.
As of October, (the last Army suicide release) For CY 2013, there have been 126 potential active-duty suicides, 82 Army National Guard and 43 Army Reserve. 125 all branches KIA 251 Army suicides.
Last week proved the twisted reality families like mine live in
Rant coming. Have to get it out of my system before Christmas.
I always just assumed the American people supported the troops and valued veterans. After all, my Dad was a Korean vet and my uncles were WWII veterans. There was always a party at the DAV, VFW or American Legion, ceremonies for Memorial Day and parades. My Dad was 100% and the VA took good care of him and us. I never really thought about them being forsaken, ignored or no longer worth the price of us at least paying attention to them. It was not until I met my husband, a veteran of Vietnam, that I understood how little we really do matter. Our reception was at an American Legion Post.
I want to go back to the innocent days when I simply assumed the talk of supporting the troops and honoring veterans was real from the majority of the American public. Running Wounded Times and tracking reports across the country has left me living in two totally different worlds. Groups do show up to build homes for the wounded, help the homeless veterans, reach out to families of the fallen and line the streets as their bodies are laid to rest. The rest of the country moves on as if nothing else mattered but their own lives.
People wonder why I don't post on my personal Facebook page anymore. I put up about 60 videos since last year. The events were well attended but the rest of the people I know had no clue they were happening. What made it worse is, they didn't care. They didn't watch the videos and they don't read the reports on Wounded Times. It hurts. I wrote two books but few of my "friends" read them.
Last week proved the twisted reality families like mine live in.
Duck Dynasty rant by Phil Robertson has been consuming the time of reporters and shows no sign of ending. While I think what he said was hurtful, he has the right to say it. The right to use his free speech does not entitle him to silence anyone that does not agree with him. Robertson didn't try to but the media has taken sides and seem to believe that opposing views are trying to silence someone else.
Why? Why would they keep so much focus on this? Because it is causing anger on both sides and the press lives off turmoil. "If it bleeds it leads" so they make sure people get all hot under the collar.
On Facebook a friend shared this picture from No Lapdog Media and friends on both sides agree with this more that what the press wants us focused on.
I have straight friends who believe the same way Robertson does. I have friends who believe it is not up to us to judge anyone and they value how others treat someone else. Then I have friends dealing with being hated for being gay. Then I think of all the LGB members of the military putting their lives on the line everyday. The same people the press shove out of the way as soon as a celebrity opens their mouth.
It is never all or nothing in life. It should never be all or nothing in a news report unless they are just trying to make their own thoughts be known in a sneaky way.
On December 18, Wounded Times reported that for in Afghanistan. two years in a row, Army suicides topped all combat deaths In 2012 there were 310 KIA but 325 Army suicides. In 2013, up to December 18, there were 125 KIA but 251 Army suicides only up until October. The press has just been parroting that suicides this year are down instead of reporting the simple fact there are also less deployed and less serving than there were last year.
Gunnery Sgt. Brandon McGraw home on his 3rd tour was given a trip by Ellen Degeneres to Australia to go skydiving. He died on the trip in an accident.
There was a standoff with a veteran suffering from PTSD military being screwed by budget deal a Marine Dad pleading for help for his son with PTSD on trial six soldiers killed in a crash a Fort Bragg soldier was donating stem cells to save a child with Leukemia, Home Depot employees donated their times to rebuild a home for veterans and the list of others stories go on and on that the major news sources didn't have time for because they made sure Duck Dynasty story kept going.
That is the way it is so no matter what you think about what Robertson said last week, he is right about what he said regarding the attention it has gotten.
I always just assumed the American people supported the troops and valued veterans. After all, my Dad was a Korean vet and my uncles were WWII veterans. There was always a party at the DAV, VFW or American Legion, ceremonies for Memorial Day and parades. My Dad was 100% and the VA took good care of him and us. I never really thought about them being forsaken, ignored or no longer worth the price of us at least paying attention to them. It was not until I met my husband, a veteran of Vietnam, that I understood how little we really do matter. Our reception was at an American Legion Post.
I want to go back to the innocent days when I simply assumed the talk of supporting the troops and honoring veterans was real from the majority of the American public. Running Wounded Times and tracking reports across the country has left me living in two totally different worlds. Groups do show up to build homes for the wounded, help the homeless veterans, reach out to families of the fallen and line the streets as their bodies are laid to rest. The rest of the country moves on as if nothing else mattered but their own lives.
People wonder why I don't post on my personal Facebook page anymore. I put up about 60 videos since last year. The events were well attended but the rest of the people I know had no clue they were happening. What made it worse is, they didn't care. They didn't watch the videos and they don't read the reports on Wounded Times. It hurts. I wrote two books but few of my "friends" read them.
Last week proved the twisted reality families like mine live in.
Duck Dynasty rant by Phil Robertson has been consuming the time of reporters and shows no sign of ending. While I think what he said was hurtful, he has the right to say it. The right to use his free speech does not entitle him to silence anyone that does not agree with him. Robertson didn't try to but the media has taken sides and seem to believe that opposing views are trying to silence someone else.
Why? Why would they keep so much focus on this? Because it is causing anger on both sides and the press lives off turmoil. "If it bleeds it leads" so they make sure people get all hot under the collar.
On Facebook a friend shared this picture from No Lapdog Media and friends on both sides agree with this more that what the press wants us focused on.
I have straight friends who believe the same way Robertson does. I have friends who believe it is not up to us to judge anyone and they value how others treat someone else. Then I have friends dealing with being hated for being gay. Then I think of all the LGB members of the military putting their lives on the line everyday. The same people the press shove out of the way as soon as a celebrity opens their mouth.
It is never all or nothing in life. It should never be all or nothing in a news report unless they are just trying to make their own thoughts be known in a sneaky way.
On December 18, Wounded Times reported that for in Afghanistan. two years in a row, Army suicides topped all combat deaths In 2012 there were 310 KIA but 325 Army suicides. In 2013, up to December 18, there were 125 KIA but 251 Army suicides only up until October. The press has just been parroting that suicides this year are down instead of reporting the simple fact there are also less deployed and less serving than there were last year.
Gunnery Sgt. Brandon McGraw home on his 3rd tour was given a trip by Ellen Degeneres to Australia to go skydiving. He died on the trip in an accident.
There was a standoff with a veteran suffering from PTSD military being screwed by budget deal a Marine Dad pleading for help for his son with PTSD on trial six soldiers killed in a crash a Fort Bragg soldier was donating stem cells to save a child with Leukemia, Home Depot employees donated their times to rebuild a home for veterans and the list of others stories go on and on that the major news sources didn't have time for because they made sure Duck Dynasty story kept going.
That is the way it is so no matter what you think about what Robertson said last week, he is right about what he said regarding the attention it has gotten.
Marine from Massachusetts killed in Afghanistan
Marine from Abington dies in Afghanistan
WCVB Channel 5
By Staff
Posted Dec 24, 2013
ABINGTON
The second Massachusetts Marine in two weeks has been killed in action in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Daniel Vasselian, 27, of Abington, was killed Monday, his family said. He was ambushed, two days before Christmas, as he was getting off a Humvee, they said.
Vasselian's death came on the same day Lance Cpl. Matthew Rodriguez, of Fairhaven, was buried.
Family members said this was Vallelian's third combat tour of duty. He had served both in Iraq and Afghanistan after his enlistment in 2006.
read more here
WCVB Channel 5
By Staff
Posted Dec 24, 2013
The second Massachusetts Marine in two weeks has been killed in action in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Daniel Vasselian, 27, of Abington, was killed Monday, his family said. He was ambushed, two days before Christmas, as he was getting off a Humvee, they said.
Vasselian's death came on the same day Lance Cpl. Matthew Rodriguez, of Fairhaven, was buried.
Family members said this was Vallelian's third combat tour of duty. He had served both in Iraq and Afghanistan after his enlistment in 2006.
read more here
Soldier found unresponsive at Fort Hood identified
DVIDS
Fort Hood Public Affairs Office
December 24, 2013
FORT HOOD, Texas - Fort Hood officials have released the name of a soldier who found unresponsive Dec. 21 in his barracks on Fort Hood, Texas.
Spc. Ryan Jeffrey McDermot, 26, whose home of record is listed as Newington, N.H., entered active duty service in July 2010 as a UH-60 Helicopter repairer. He was assigned to the 2nd Batalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Combat Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, since March 2012.
Read more
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