Veterans lose one and gain one, maybe
Herald Tribune
By JERRY CHAUTIN
Published: Monday, December 30, 2013
It reads like a bad novel, but I can't put down.
I know who the heroes are, but I'm not sure if there is a villain. Furthermore, it appears that the heroes are becoming victims, and the outcome is uncertain.
The story begins on June 22, 2007, when the U.S. Small Business Administration launched its Patriot Express Pilot Initiative. With much hoopla, SBA said it would help finance small businesses for our heroes, the warriors returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The loan program also includes veterans, their spouses, widows, widowers and still enlisted military transitioning to civilian life. Any company that is at least 51 percent owned by the targeted groups can apply for up to $500,000 to start, expand or buy a small business.
Just like with all SBA-guaranteed loans, approved banks and non-bank lenders make the loans using their own money. In the event of default, the agency agrees to reimburse the guaranteed amount, as long as the bank follows the agency's rules.
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Monday, December 30, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
This is how you get Christmas cards to wounded war fighters
State Rep. Joe Dorman delivers Christmas cards for Wounded Warriors
The Express-Star
December 27, 2013
— Several thousand handmade Christmas cards for wounded warriors at Fort Sill were delivered recently by state Rep. Joe Dorman.
The holiday greetings were made primarily by children from various schools and churches, the Rush Springs Democrat related. In addition, adults making out their Christmas card lists were asked to remember a soldier unable to be home with his or her family this holiday season.
“We delivered the cards to the post chaplain on Thursday,” Representative Dorman said.
The cards will be handed out to soldiers recovering at Fort Sill’s Reynolds Army Hospital and the post’s Warrior Transition Unit.
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The Express-Star
December 27, 2013
— Several thousand handmade Christmas cards for wounded warriors at Fort Sill were delivered recently by state Rep. Joe Dorman.
The holiday greetings were made primarily by children from various schools and churches, the Rush Springs Democrat related. In addition, adults making out their Christmas card lists were asked to remember a soldier unable to be home with his or her family this holiday season.
“We delivered the cards to the post chaplain on Thursday,” Representative Dorman said.
The cards will be handed out to soldiers recovering at Fort Sill’s Reynolds Army Hospital and the post’s Warrior Transition Unit.
read more here
Combat veterans share their best shots for charity
At a gun range, combat veterans share their best shots for charity
Charity donors get to try heavy firepower and hear tales from elite combat veterans at Shooters World in Tampa, Fla.
By Ken Dilanian
December 28, 2013
Haley Koko shouldered an AK-47 and aimed uncertainly at the human silhouette on a paper target 25 yards away.
Standing next to her, Lt. Col. Chris Robishaw, an active-duty Green Beret, leaned in to offer a word of advice about handling the Russian-designed assault rifle, raising his voice to be heard over the rapid explosions of heavy weaponry in the shooting gallery. Brass shell casings littered the floor, and an acrid whiff of gun smoke sneaked past the air filtration system.
Koko, a 21-year-old bartender, fired off a few rounds — blam! blam! — and then swung around to look at her group with a broad smile.
"That big gun was absolutely insane," she said later.
Here at Shooters World, a Tampa-based temple of American gun culture, Koko and about 50 people took turns on a recent Saturday firing pistols, military assault weapons, an Uzi machine gun and a .50-caliber sniper rifle.
It was a charity event called Shooting With SOF, which stands for special operations forces. Organizers say they have raised $75,000 for military and veterans causes by allowing car dealers, insurance brokers, makeup artists and other ordinary folks to live out fantasies firing some of the world's deadliest guns while being tutored by 20 current and former commandos — seasoned, seen-it-all veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and places they can't talk about.
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Charity donors get to try heavy firepower and hear tales from elite combat veterans at Shooters World in Tampa, Fla.
By Ken Dilanian
December 28, 2013
Scott Neil, left, and Tyler Garner, both special forces combat veterans, share their knowledge with donors at Shooters World in Tampa, Fla. Participants also get to fire powerful weapons. Proceeds go to organizations that help veterans.
(Ken Dilanian / Los Angeles Times / November 17, 2013)
Haley Koko shouldered an AK-47 and aimed uncertainly at the human silhouette on a paper target 25 yards away.
Standing next to her, Lt. Col. Chris Robishaw, an active-duty Green Beret, leaned in to offer a word of advice about handling the Russian-designed assault rifle, raising his voice to be heard over the rapid explosions of heavy weaponry in the shooting gallery. Brass shell casings littered the floor, and an acrid whiff of gun smoke sneaked past the air filtration system.
Koko, a 21-year-old bartender, fired off a few rounds — blam! blam! — and then swung around to look at her group with a broad smile.
"That big gun was absolutely insane," she said later.
Here at Shooters World, a Tampa-based temple of American gun culture, Koko and about 50 people took turns on a recent Saturday firing pistols, military assault weapons, an Uzi machine gun and a .50-caliber sniper rifle.
It was a charity event called Shooting With SOF, which stands for special operations forces. Organizers say they have raised $75,000 for military and veterans causes by allowing car dealers, insurance brokers, makeup artists and other ordinary folks to live out fantasies firing some of the world's deadliest guns while being tutored by 20 current and former commandos — seasoned, seen-it-all veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and places they can't talk about.
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Vietnam Vet Marine shares courage to heal old wounds
Purple Heart donation to bar inspires help for others
Northwest Herald
Jeff Englehardt
Published: Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013
CRYSTAL LAKE – For the small fraternity of Purple Heart recipients, the award is often seen as a symbol of courage and pride.
But for Lakewood’s Pat Fimon, the medal was nothing more than a trinket in the bottom of a cardboard box in an attic. For decades he buried it as far as he could. His parents died without ever knowing he received the honor.
Fimon served as a machine gunner in the Marines during the Vietnam War on two tours. The last thing he wanted to do was to revisit the memories he had from 1967 to 1971.
“I hated the Marine Corps. It ruined my life,” Fimon said. “May 28. I didn’t go to work on that day for 30 years for a reason.”
But now Fimon is proud of the Marines and his medal. He donated it to Brink Street Restaurant and Bar, where it is displayed prominently behind the bar. It has helped bolster donations for the restaurant’s Toys for Tots drive and, more importantly to Fimon, brought awareness to the services that restored his life.
Three years ago, Fimon met people such as Ted Biever at the Woodstock Armory and counselors through Veterans Affairs who helped him realize there was a better way to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and receiving help was OK.
The services even saved his life after a doctor’s visit revealed he had cancer, which was attributed to Agent Orange exposure during the war. He will begin radiation treatment next year.
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Northwest Herald
Jeff Englehardt
Published: Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013
CRYSTAL LAKE – For the small fraternity of Purple Heart recipients, the award is often seen as a symbol of courage and pride.
But for Lakewood’s Pat Fimon, the medal was nothing more than a trinket in the bottom of a cardboard box in an attic. For decades he buried it as far as he could. His parents died without ever knowing he received the honor.
Fimon served as a machine gunner in the Marines during the Vietnam War on two tours. The last thing he wanted to do was to revisit the memories he had from 1967 to 1971.
“I hated the Marine Corps. It ruined my life,” Fimon said. “May 28. I didn’t go to work on that day for 30 years for a reason.”
But now Fimon is proud of the Marines and his medal. He donated it to Brink Street Restaurant and Bar, where it is displayed prominently behind the bar. It has helped bolster donations for the restaurant’s Toys for Tots drive and, more importantly to Fimon, brought awareness to the services that restored his life.
Three years ago, Fimon met people such as Ted Biever at the Woodstock Armory and counselors through Veterans Affairs who helped him realize there was a better way to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and receiving help was OK.
The services even saved his life after a doctor’s visit revealed he had cancer, which was attributed to Agent Orange exposure during the war. He will begin radiation treatment next year.
read more here
New Dad learning to walk on new legs
New legs, new goals for Olympia soldier
Bellingham Herald
BY ADAM ASHTON
December 29, 2013
In his earliest memory, Sgt. Luke Cifka recalls stumbling in front of his dad as a toddler figuring out how to put one foot in front of the other.
Last month, Cifka, 26, took his first steps with prosthetic limbs, walking without toes, calves or knees.
“All the muscles are different,” he said. “It takes a minute to get used to it, but it’s all incredible.”
The soldier from Olympia is almost seven months into his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. The Olympian first told his story in June, eight days after the May 31 blast that changed his life.
Lately, Cifka is feeling the momentum of reuniting his family and taking those steps.
“When I look back at how I was maybe just four months ago, I wasn’t able to feed myself, I was barely able to keep track of what was going on because I was under this blanket of painkillers and anesthesia,” he said. “It’s very humbling to take a measure of how far we’ve come.”
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Bellingham Herald
BY ADAM ASHTON
December 29, 2013
In his earliest memory, Sgt. Luke Cifka recalls stumbling in front of his dad as a toddler figuring out how to put one foot in front of the other.
Sgt. Luke Cifka spends time with his son Wyatt. After suffering critical injuries during a patrol in Afghanistan on May 31, he’s receiving care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.The memory came back to him this fall when he began learning to walk again. This time, he’s recovering from a blast in Afghanistan that claimed his legs above the knees.
COURTESY OF KAIT CIFKA
Last month, Cifka, 26, took his first steps with prosthetic limbs, walking without toes, calves or knees.
“All the muscles are different,” he said. “It takes a minute to get used to it, but it’s all incredible.”
The soldier from Olympia is almost seven months into his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. The Olympian first told his story in June, eight days after the May 31 blast that changed his life.
Lately, Cifka is feeling the momentum of reuniting his family and taking those steps.
“When I look back at how I was maybe just four months ago, I wasn’t able to feed myself, I was barely able to keep track of what was going on because I was under this blanket of painkillers and anesthesia,” he said. “It’s very humbling to take a measure of how far we’ve come.”
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Fort Carson Army Wife died before London trip to save her
Army wife dies before chance at experimental treatment in London
The Gazette
By Garrison Wells
December 28, 2013
When Melissa Klein died, she was holding her husband's hand.
John Klein was there at the beginning.
He was there at the end.
She died like she lived, fighting, wrestling, arguing with the rare genetic condition that threatened her daily.
Melissa died at about 10:30 p.m. Friday at Memorial Hospital from complications following surgery to remove a port in her chest that had become infected, John said.
The port was her lifeline, through which she received a mix of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
The Army wife's plight was described in a series of Gazette stories and blogs in recent weeks.
"Her heart stopped three times," John said. "She was resuscitated. She was asleep through all of it and it was just going to keep happening and the time between resuscitations was just getting shorter."
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The Gazette
By Garrison Wells
December 28, 2013
Melissa Klein, 21, rests on a couch Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, inside her Fort Carson home. Klein suffered from mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy, a rare genetic disorder with no known cure. She died from complications of the disease on Friday. Melissa received life-sustaining fats, carbohydrates and proteins through a port in her chest. The thought of dying "is terrifying", she had told The Gazette
When Melissa Klein died, she was holding her husband's hand.
John Klein was there at the beginning.
He was there at the end.
She died like she lived, fighting, wrestling, arguing with the rare genetic condition that threatened her daily.
Melissa died at about 10:30 p.m. Friday at Memorial Hospital from complications following surgery to remove a port in her chest that had become infected, John said.
The port was her lifeline, through which she received a mix of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
The Army wife's plight was described in a series of Gazette stories and blogs in recent weeks.
"Her heart stopped three times," John said. "She was resuscitated. She was asleep through all of it and it was just going to keep happening and the time between resuscitations was just getting shorter."
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Iraq War veteran Tomas Young decides to live for loving wife
Injured Veteran Keeps Up His Fight, Deciding To Live
NPR
by FRANK MORRIS
December 28, 2013
A spinal injury left Iraq War veteran Tomas Young paralyzed below the waist in 2004. Further medical complications a few years later made him quadriplegic.
Although Young had enlisted two days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he became an outspoken anti-war activist.
KCUR's Frank Morris spoke with him in April, after Young announced he would refuse medication and his feeding tube until he died.
"I decided that I was no longer going to watch myself deteriorate," Young said at the time.
NPR
by FRANK MORRIS
December 28, 2013
"If you're in life and you start to think things are a little too rough to handle," he says, "just think of me and what I go through, and you realize that hey, I don't have it so bad."
A spinal injury left Iraq War veteran Tomas Young paralyzed below the waist in 2004. Further medical complications a few years later made him quadriplegic.
Although Young had enlisted two days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he became an outspoken anti-war activist.
KCUR's Frank Morris spoke with him in April, after Young announced he would refuse medication and his feeding tube until he died.
"I decided that I was no longer going to watch myself deteriorate," Young said at the time.
"I just came to the conclusion that I wanted some more time with my wife," he tells NPR's Arun Rath.
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Bad guy with gun stopped by Vietnam Vet Marine with a cane
Retired Marine foils robbery with cane
Miami Herald
BY MARIA PEREZ
December 28, 2013
When two men tried to rob Windell Haynes at gunpoint on the porch of his Liberty City home on Saturday, the 60-year-old Vietnam veteran fought back with a cane.
In the ensuing confusion, one of the attackers apparently shot the other, sending the wounded man to Jackson Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The second robber ran away.
The Haynes family and a neighbor were having lunch on the porch of his home in the 900 block of Northwest 47th Terrace in Liberty City when two men approached from the back yard and one of them pointed a gun at the Marine Corps veteran.
According to a woman who identified herself as Haynes’ sister, the other man tried to snatch a chain from around the veteran’s neck. Haynes responded by hitting the man with a cane.
That's when the man with the gun accidentally shot his accomplice in the stomach, according to Haynes’ sister .
Catherine Loud, Haynes’ neighbor could only see a man in a gray hoodie running away when he heard the gunshot and came to see what had happened. The injured man lay on the ground.
"He was shot. He didn’t move," said Loud, adding that the wounded man looked to be about 18 years old.
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Miami Herald
BY MARIA PEREZ
December 28, 2013
When two men tried to rob Windell Haynes at gunpoint on the porch of his Liberty City home on Saturday, the 60-year-old Vietnam veteran fought back with a cane.
In the ensuing confusion, one of the attackers apparently shot the other, sending the wounded man to Jackson Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The second robber ran away.
The Haynes family and a neighbor were having lunch on the porch of his home in the 900 block of Northwest 47th Terrace in Liberty City when two men approached from the back yard and one of them pointed a gun at the Marine Corps veteran.
According to a woman who identified herself as Haynes’ sister, the other man tried to snatch a chain from around the veteran’s neck. Haynes responded by hitting the man with a cane.
That's when the man with the gun accidentally shot his accomplice in the stomach, according to Haynes’ sister .
Catherine Loud, Haynes’ neighbor could only see a man in a gray hoodie running away when he heard the gunshot and came to see what had happened. The injured man lay on the ground.
"He was shot. He didn’t move," said Loud, adding that the wounded man looked to be about 18 years old.
read more here
Congress doesn't want to talk about veterans paying debts
Congress doesn't want to talk about veterans paying debts
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
December 29, 2013
The Defense Budget for 2001 before 9-11 was $329 billion. 2002 it was A $350.7 billion. 2003 $396.8 billion was requested. The money for two wars went up after that. No one thought to pay for any of it. No one thought about the men and women they would be sending to fight these wars or taking care of them when they became veterans. It was all borrowed money along with the lives borrowed to fight.
The VA budget has gone up but what Congress doesn't want us to think about is the simple fact. 22,328,000 veterans in the US as of 9-30-12. As of March of 2013 the VA had 8.76 million veterans in their Health Care System but were only compensating 3.61 disabled veterans.
What happened to the others? What happened to veterans serving this country but do not seek anything in return? Do they get sick? Do they deal with wounds no one can see like PTSD and TBI on their own refusing to go to the VA?
We don't want to talk about military/veteran families on food stamps when Congress cut the budget.
We don't want to talk about veterans being long term unemployed when Congress cut them off. In a report from May of 2013 the Bureau of Labor Statistics had 18-24 year old veterans at over 20% followed by 11% "Post 9/11 veterans" with many of the "long term" unemployed.
We don't want to talk about millions of veterans needing true affordable healthcare insurance when Congress was doing all in their power to kill the Act instead of doing all in their power to make sure it worked.
When members of Congress shut down the government over health insurance, some went to memorials to stage scenes of pretend outrage over them being closed. As we look at the facts of what the Congress does not want us to remember, it is clear the damage done belongs to them. Now they want to make it even worse.
They decided that aside from the cuts they have already done, it was necessary to go after one more. Military Retirement.
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
December 29, 2013
The Defense Budget for 2001 before 9-11 was $329 billion. 2002 it was A $350.7 billion. 2003 $396.8 billion was requested. The money for two wars went up after that. No one thought to pay for any of it. No one thought about the men and women they would be sending to fight these wars or taking care of them when they became veterans. It was all borrowed money along with the lives borrowed to fight.
The VA budget has gone up but what Congress doesn't want us to think about is the simple fact. 22,328,000 veterans in the US as of 9-30-12. As of March of 2013 the VA had 8.76 million veterans in their Health Care System but were only compensating 3.61 disabled veterans.
What happened to the others? What happened to veterans serving this country but do not seek anything in return? Do they get sick? Do they deal with wounds no one can see like PTSD and TBI on their own refusing to go to the VA?
We don't want to talk about military/veteran families on food stamps when Congress cut the budget.
About 900,000 veterans and 5,000 active duty troops face cuts in their food stamp benefits beginning Thursday as $5 billion is automatically trimmed from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program for low-income families.
"The coming benefit cut will reduce SNAP benefits, which are already modest, for all households by 7 percent on average, or about $10 per person per month," according to an analysis by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.
We don't want to talk about veterans being long term unemployed when Congress cut them off. In a report from May of 2013 the Bureau of Labor Statistics had 18-24 year old veterans at over 20% followed by 11% "Post 9/11 veterans" with many of the "long term" unemployed.
We don't want to talk about millions of veterans needing true affordable healthcare insurance when Congress was doing all in their power to kill the Act instead of doing all in their power to make sure it worked.
When members of Congress shut down the government over health insurance, some went to memorials to stage scenes of pretend outrage over them being closed. As we look at the facts of what the Congress does not want us to remember, it is clear the damage done belongs to them. Now they want to make it even worse.
They decided that aside from the cuts they have already done, it was necessary to go after one more. Military Retirement.
That item would produce some $6 billion in savings by shaving a percentage point off annual cost-of-living adjustments, and it would apply only to military pensions. Not all military pensions — just the retirement paid to veterans younger than 62.First they sent troops into Afghanistan and then into Iraq but didn't fund the wars. Now they don't want to fund what these men and women thought was part of the deal. Why did congress do it? Because the debt was so high and someone had to pay for it. So yet again, it is the citizens of this country stepping up to fight the battles and veterans paying the price for doing it.
One veteran on a mission helped 500 South Florida veterans
One veteran's mission to honor other veterans
Sun Sentinel
By Attiyya Anthony
December 27, 2013
Long retired from war, Tom Kaiser's current battle is to get every veteran the honors they've earned.
Kaiser, 86, a Delray Beach resident and World War II veteran, has helped more than 500 South Florida veterans receive government awards and medals for their military service.
"My goal is to get to every veteran an honor as long as I breathe," he said.
Kaiser honors veterans from World War II to those who have served in Afghanistan at the Boynton Beach Civic Center or Veteran's Park in Boynton Beach.
Many of the World War II veterans are pushing 100 and some have age-related illnesses, like Alzheimer's and dementia. Still, Kaiser won't give up.
Leuchter is a Holocaust survivor, who made it out by joining a French resistance group before moving to America to serve in the Korean War. Leuchter thanks Kaiser for helping him get the award.
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Sun Sentinel
By Attiyya Anthony
December 27, 2013
Long retired from war, Tom Kaiser's current battle is to get every veteran the honors they've earned.
Kaiser, 86, a Delray Beach resident and World War II veteran, has helped more than 500 South Florida veterans receive government awards and medals for their military service.
"My goal is to get to every veteran an honor as long as I breathe," he said.
Kaiser honors veterans from World War II to those who have served in Afghanistan at the Boynton Beach Civic Center or Veteran's Park in Boynton Beach.
Many of the World War II veterans are pushing 100 and some have age-related illnesses, like Alzheimer's and dementia. Still, Kaiser won't give up.
Leuchter is a Holocaust survivor, who made it out by joining a French resistance group before moving to America to serve in the Korean War. Leuchter thanks Kaiser for helping him get the award.
read more here
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