Veteran who lied about Purple Heart pleads guilty
Walter Eatman claimed to have PTSD, Purple Heart
WESH.com
By Melissa Catalanotto
Feb 28, 2014
ST. CLOUD, Fla. —A veteran from St. Cloud has pleaded guilty to making false statements to receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and stealing government funds.
According to court documents, Walter Clarence Eatman, 68, of St. Cloud, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, applied for and received VA benefits for five years. Court documents said he falsely claimed he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss and tinnitus.
Court documents also say he lied about serving in combat in Vietnam for two years and being awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Officials said Eatman never served in Vietnam, nor did he earn a Purple Heart or Bronze Star.
read more here
Friday, February 28, 2014
Orlando Veterans Events
Veterans Events from Cathy Haynes
MARCH 2014 - Upcoming military, veterans and patriotic events in Central Florida
If you wish to be removed from the email list, just let me know.
Please share these events with your friends and interested others and attend. Post where appropriate.
Welcome Home Celebration and Veteran Resource Fair – Sat. Mar 1 – for returned OEF/OIF/OND and ALL era veterans. Bring your family for a FREE day (9am – 2pm) at the Central Florida Zoo, 3755 NW Hwy 17-92, Sanford, 32773. Sponsored by the Orlando VA Med. Center. Info: 321-397-6116 vhaorlnewovamc@va.gov
Highlighted Interview on American Warrior Radio – Sat. Mar 1 – Fallujah veteran Marine Sgt. Marty Gonzalez discusses the incidents of nine years ago and today. He received three Purple Heart medals and two Bronze Stars in Iraq along with severe wounds – physical and mental. 11am-noon EDT on Saturdays, radio station WMEL - AM 1300 Nationwide broadcast: www.1300wmel.com AVET Project sponsors this broadcast.
Short Notice – Home At Last Welcome Reception – Sun Mar 2 – This will be the sixth Home at Last project honoring a combat-wounded veteran of the military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Marine Sgt. Stephen Tovet and his wife, Krystina, will receive a specially planned home from the West Orange Habitat for Humanity special project Home At Last. Sgt. Tovet was born in Orlando, FL and grew up in Apopka. Stephen and Krystina were Apopka High School sweethearts. An IED blast during his Afghanistan service in 2011 resulted in loss of his left leg, part of a hand and multiples surgeries to reconstruct the hand and his lower right leg. Fund raising efforts will continue thru the year. Checks or money orders should be made payable to West Orange Habitat for Humanity and mailed to: P.O. Box 38, Oakland, FL 34760. Please be sure to indicate your contribution is for "Home at Last 2014." Event reception: Tanner Hall, 29 W. Garden Ave., Winter Garden, POC: Bill Criswell - 407-876-2472 wccriswell@earthlink.net.
Veterans Court in Orange County - military veterans are needed to be mentors to other veterans who have had some “challenges with the law.” Offenses are currently primarily misdemeanors. Attempts will be made to match officers, enlisted, branches and functions. Pay it back or Pass it Forward by making a difference. Contact Diana at 407-603-6538 dsm@dianamierslaw.com
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
5th Annual CFNL Wounded Warrior Lone Sailor 5K/10K – Sat. Apr 5 – Central Florida Navy League sponsors this event at Baldwin Park, site of the former Navy Enlisted Training Base. More info to come. See www.cfnl5k.org and www.cfnavyleague.org
Stand Down in Seminole County – Sat. Apr 12 - Services and information for veterans, especially homeless ones. Volunteers, service providers and products will be needed. The date for Orange County will be in Sept. Contact Sean Gibbs of Homeless Services Network of Central FL, 407-893-0133 sean.gibbs@hsncfl.org
Operation Giveback Golf Tournament – Fri. Apr 25 - Champions Gate International Course, exit 58 on I-4. 8:30am Shotgun Start, lunch buffet, contests, raffles, auction;
All proceeds will benefit wounded warriors, their families, and the children of our fallen heroes. Sponsorships available. 1400 Masters Blvd, ChampionsGate, 33896 Contact: Jeff@operation-giveback.org or visit our website: operation-giveback.org
Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion – May 1 – 4 – The nations’ largest veterans’ reunion. Military displays, military vendors, POW-MIA ceremonies, Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. Wickham Park in Brevard Co, Melbourne. Take I-95 to Exit 191 or old Exit 73. Info: floridaveteransreunion.com 321-501-6896 or 321-427-2843
Medal of Honor Recipient Recognition – Fri. May 2 – Marine veteran Hershel Williams will be recognized in our community. This WW2 Marine with service on Iwo Jima that earned him the MOH – he is the last surviving recipient from the service on that island. In addition, he is one of only 2 WW2 MOH Marines living. The other noble Marine is in very frail health. Plans for the day include a Meet and Greet starting at 12 noon for about 1 hour at the Museum of Military History in Kissimmee. The evening highlights with a fundraising dinner. Proceeds will go to several organizations - including the Hershel "Woody" Williams Foundation that will build a monument in honor of Gold Star Families. (FYI - Before his enlistment, at age 15 Mr. Williams drove a taxi that also delivered telegrams from the War Department to casualty families. It left him touched with what happens on the porches of the home front.) Tables/sponsorships for the dinner will be available. Details will be provided soon.
The Military Edge Inaugural "Armed Forces Day" Golf Tournament – Sat. May 17, Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Club, 9939 Universal Blvd. Orlando, FL 32819 Fundraising event to benefit scholarship program, job expos, youth programs, and veteran projects . Please contact Nik Patterson for additional details 513-898-9097 npatterson@themilitaryedge.com; www.themilitaryedge.com
4th Annual Pars & Stripes Forever Golf Tournament - Fri, May 30, at Orange County National. Camaraderie Foundation organizes this fund raising event to assist military personnel and their families with counseling needs and transition. Marriages, families and lives are saved. Sponsorships welcomed. www.camaraderiefoundation.com 407-841-0071.
American Legion, Dept of FL Annual Convention – June 12-15 at The Renaissance Orlando at Sea World. Info: members.floridalegion.org/convention Mary at 407-295-2631 x232
EXTRAS of Interest:
Attention veterans - The local Center for Personal Excellence (healthylivingorlando.com) is developing a national reality TV series focusing on veterans needs, issues and treatments. For veterans who would like to tell their story and get some help for effects of battle on their mental health. All ages and service eras are welcome, including regulars, reservists and guardsmen of all branches. The show will initially be filmed in the Orlando Metro area. Family participation is not required but their involvement may enhance production. If selected, your story may help others who experienced the same or similar stressors. Contact Dr. Linda Levine Silverman at cpeenterprisesllc@gmail.com so you can be contacted, screened, interviewed, etc. 321-945-1153
Items of Interest:
· American Warrior Radio Show from 11am-noon EDT on Saturdays, radio station WMEL - AM 1300 Nationwide broadcast: www.1300wmel.com
· WoundedTimes.blogspot.com - Veterans News Service covering news that matters to veterans and their families. Local, state and national news and events – especially with videos involving Central Florida military and veterans. Dedicated to defeating Combat PTS.
· Shades of Green Resort – Armed Forces Recreation Center on Disney property provides various packages for active duty, reservists, guardmen, 100% service connected disabled, and retired military personnel and their families. Go to www.shadesofgreen.org for information. Special discounts for rooms may be available based on occupancy levels, and special ticket rates. (407) 824-3400
· Vet Centers are available for combat zone veterans to help with personal and family readjustment counseling and outreach services. The nearest centers are located in Orlando, Melbourne, Clermont, and Daytona Beach. www.vetcenter.va.gov/
· The Navy Exchange (NEX) – Mgr. Nancy Devore was transferred to Guantanamo Bay. Jennifer McComas joins Orlando NEX as Mgr from Key West. Stop by and say “Hi!” NEX in Orlando is for all branches of active duty military, reservists, guardsmen, retirees, 100% service-connected disabled veterans and their dependents. It is located west of Orlando Int’l Airport, about 1 mile south of the Beachline Expy/528 on Tradeport Dr. Competitive pricing and programs. 7151 Earhart Dr., Orlando, 32827. www.mynavyexchange.com 407-857-3550
· Military OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) to active duty, Guard and Reserve service members, and their families with comprehensive information on every aspect of military life including deployment, relationships, economics, grief, education, parenting and child care, and much more. www.militaryonesource.mil
Caring and sharing,
Cathy Haynes
Member/supporter of numerous veteran and military organizations in Central Florida
407-239-8468
Operation Safety 91 tribute to military
Operation Safety 91 held their 6th tribute to first responders at the Rosen Hotel in Orlando today. This year members of the military took the spotlight. Ed and Mary Ganster did a fabulous job as always putting this together.
The emcee was Tony Mainolfi, WESH2 News Chief Meteorologist. Col. Danny McKnight, Black Hawk Down Ground Commander and Major Jeff Struecker gave really moving speeches about what happened.
Members of law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders were also honored.
Members of law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders were also honored.
What does "one too many" suicide slogan mean?
What does "one too many" suicide slogan mean?
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 28, 2014
The VA's War: Department Of Veterans Affairs And Congress Clash Over Suicide Charges is a headline that deserves many questions.
If you have been paying attention to suicides tied to military service, you must be tired of hearing, “even one suicide is one too many." It doesn't matter if the person saying those words represents the Department of Defense, the VA or service groups. No one ever explains what they mean by "too many."
Too many for what? To cause the Department of Defense to change what they did? For them to be honest with what the records prove? To explain why they stopped releasing the data necessary for researchers to study the demographics of troops committing suicide as well as attempting suicide? The last Suicide Event Report was released in 2012 regarding the number of military suicides for 2011.
The STARRS study finding agrees with this assessment. "Soldiers who have deployed at least once do have an elevated suicide rate compared with Soldiers who never deployed," Schoenbaum said.
Yet since then the DOD has been saying that "most had not been deployed."
The press ignored the STARRS report and simply repeated the report the DOD wanted them to focus on.
The other factor to all of this comes from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Yet the VA did not explain why there were so many after this report was released.
If they do not have to explain anything, nothing will change. So what do you think "one too many" really means to them?
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 28, 2014
The VA's War: Department Of Veterans Affairs And Congress Clash Over Suicide Charges is a headline that deserves many questions.
If you have been paying attention to suicides tied to military service, you must be tired of hearing, “even one suicide is one too many." It doesn't matter if the person saying those words represents the Department of Defense, the VA or service groups. No one ever explains what they mean by "too many."
Too many for what? To cause the Department of Defense to change what they did? For them to be honest with what the records prove? To explain why they stopped releasing the data necessary for researchers to study the demographics of troops committing suicide as well as attempting suicide? The last Suicide Event Report was released in 2012 regarding the number of military suicides for 2011.
The AFMES indicates that 301 Service Members died by suicide in 2011This report went on to say "Nearly one-half of suicide decedents had a history of OEF, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), or OND deployment (n = 134, 46.69%), and twenty-three of these (8.01%) had a history of multiple deployments. Suicide attempt DoDSERs reported more previous deployments than did suicide DoDSERs (n = 377, 40.32%). Direct combat experience was reported for 44 suicide decedents (15.33%) and 158 suicide attempts (16.90%)."
(Air Force = 50, Army = 167, Marine Corps = 32, Navy = 52).
This number includes deaths strongly suspected to be suicides that are pending final determination.
DoDSER Points of Contact (POCs) submitted reports for 100% of AFMES confirmed 2011 suicides
(Air Force = 46, Army = 159, Marine Corps = 31, Navy = 51)as of the data extraction date (26 April 2012).
A total of 915 Service Members attempted suicide in 2011
(Air Force = 241, Army = 432, Marine Corps = 156, Navy = 86)
DoDSERs were submitted for 935 suicide attempts
(Air Force = 251, Army = 440, Marine Corps = 157, Navy = 87)
Of the 915 Service Members who attempted suicide, 896 had one attempt, 18 had two attempts, and 1 had three attempts.
The STARRS study finding agrees with this assessment. "Soldiers who have deployed at least once do have an elevated suicide rate compared with Soldiers who never deployed," Schoenbaum said.
Yet since then the DOD has been saying that "most had not been deployed."
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that military members’ risk of suicide was associated with the same factors as those in the civilian population: being male, and suffering from depression and alcohol or drug abuse.
The study by Cynthia A. LeardMann, M.P.H., of the Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, and colleagues, comes eight years after the military suicide rate began climbing as the military fought two wars.
The findings of the study — thought to be the first that in addition to tracking active-duty troops, followed servicemembers after they resumed civilian life — counter the conventional wisdom that combat stress, number of deployments and the operations tempo as the U.S. fought wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had caused more troops to take their own lives.
“In this sample of current and former military personnel … suicide risk was independently associated with male sex and mental disorders but not with military-specific variables,” the study, “Risk Factors Associated with Suicide in Current and Former U.S. Military Personnel,” said.
The press ignored the STARRS report and simply repeated the report the DOD wanted them to focus on.
The other factor to all of this comes from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
New suicide data released by the department on Thursday showed that the rate of veterans suicide remained largely unchanged over that three-year period, the latest for which statistics are available. About 22 veterans a day take their own life, according to department estimates.
But while older veterans saw a slight decrease in suicides, male veterans under 30 saw a 44 percent increase in the rate of suicides. That’s roughly two young veterans a day who take their own life, most just a few years after leaving the service.
“Their rates are astronomically high and climbing,” said Jan Kemp, VA’s National Mental Health Director for Suicide Prevention. “That’s concerning to us.”
Yet the VA did not explain why there were so many after this report was released.
VA efforts since 2007 have shown some results. The Veterans Crisis Line — a national phone line — has experienced a steady increase in the number of calls, texts and chat session visits from former soldiers struggling with suicidal thoughts. In 2007, its first year, 9,379 calls went to the crisis line. Each year the call volume has increased, reaching a high of 193,507 calls in 2012, totaling about 840,000 overall, according to the VA.
If they do not have to explain anything, nothing will change. So what do you think "one too many" really means to them?
Paralyzed Marine getting control in smart home
Wounded Marine getting a smart home
Gadsden Times
BY JOHN DAVIDSON
February 26, 2014
Retired Sgt. Ben Tomlinson of Jacksonville served in the Marines in the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and deployed twice to the Helmand Province, the center of the Taliban insurgency and opium trade in Afghanistan. He was shot in the back, leaving him paralyzed him from the chest down.
His home will be a "smart home," meaning nearly every facet of the house will be able to accommodate Tomlinson. The cabinets and counter tops raise and lower and the hallways are much wider to accommodate his wheelchair.
The air conditioning, heating and lighting also can be customized, and all of the adjustable functions can be controlled through an iPad or iPhone.
read more here
Gadsden Times
BY JOHN DAVIDSON
February 26, 2014
In this Feb. 25, 2014 photo, Jacksonville High School students attend the groundbreaking of a ìSmart Homeî for retired U.S. Marine Sgt. Ben Tomlinson, in Jacksonville, Ala. Tomlinson was shot in the back, leaving him paralyzed him from the chest down. The construction of the home is a joint project involving various charities.JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- The next steps toward helping a wounded U.S. Marine become independent happened as organizers from various charities broke ground at the site of his future home.
(AP Photo/The Gadsden Times, Eric T. Wright)
Retired Sgt. Ben Tomlinson of Jacksonville served in the Marines in the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and deployed twice to the Helmand Province, the center of the Taliban insurgency and opium trade in Afghanistan. He was shot in the back, leaving him paralyzed him from the chest down.
His home will be a "smart home," meaning nearly every facet of the house will be able to accommodate Tomlinson. The cabinets and counter tops raise and lower and the hallways are much wider to accommodate his wheelchair.
The air conditioning, heating and lighting also can be customized, and all of the adjustable functions can be controlled through an iPad or iPhone.
read more here
Did reporter use "race card" on Marine Rafael Peralta's story?
Fallen Marine Rafael Peralta’s family accuses reporter of playing ‘race card’
Supporters still press for Medal of Honor
Washington Times
Stephen Dinan
February 27, 2014
Ten years after a 2004 firefight in Iraq, Sgt. Rafael Peralta’s death continues to ignite controversy, with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last week refusing to reopen his nomination for the Medal of Honor and the Marine’s family accusing a newspaper of race-baiting in its reporting on the standoff.
Peralta’s mother, Rosa, said in a letter this week that a reporter for The Washington Post seemed intent on trying to get her to say her son was denied the Medal of Honor because he was Hispanic.
Some Marines who were on duty with Peralta on Nov. 15, 2004, the day he and his squad were clearing houses in Fallujah, were stunned that their comrades were now saying the story that Peralta scooped a grenade to himself, saving a number of Marines’ lives, was a concocted lie.
“If you’re trying to smear the legacy of a Marine who’s a hero, who saved my life, then you’re barking up the wrong … tree,” said Nicholas Jones, one of the Marines in the room when insurgents tossed the grenade toward the troops.
Peralta received the Navy Cross for his actions, but his supporters — including Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican who also served as a Marine officer in Fallujah during the Iraq War — say he deserves the Medal of Honor.
read more here
Supporters still press for Medal of Honor
Washington Times
Stephen Dinan
February 27, 2014
Ten years after a 2004 firefight in Iraq, Sgt. Rafael Peralta’s death continues to ignite controversy, with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last week refusing to reopen his nomination for the Medal of Honor and the Marine’s family accusing a newspaper of race-baiting in its reporting on the standoff.
Peralta’s mother, Rosa, said in a letter this week that a reporter for The Washington Post seemed intent on trying to get her to say her son was denied the Medal of Honor because he was Hispanic.
Some Marines who were on duty with Peralta on Nov. 15, 2004, the day he and his squad were clearing houses in Fallujah, were stunned that their comrades were now saying the story that Peralta scooped a grenade to himself, saving a number of Marines’ lives, was a concocted lie.
“If you’re trying to smear the legacy of a Marine who’s a hero, who saved my life, then you’re barking up the wrong … tree,” said Nicholas Jones, one of the Marines in the room when insurgents tossed the grenade toward the troops.
Peralta received the Navy Cross for his actions, but his supporters — including Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican who also served as a Marine officer in Fallujah during the Iraq War — say he deserves the Medal of Honor.
read more here
If you believe the DOD then ask yourself one question on this. Why would they have given him the Navy Cross for "falling" on a grenade or having it land near him?
Iraq veteran battles for fallen Marine to be honored
Comrades say Marine heroism tale of Iraq veteran was untrue
Sgt. Rafael Peralta will not receive Medal of Honor for saving lives
Did Sgt. Rafael Peralta's actions deserve MOH or not?
Video of Sgt. Rafael Peralta pulling grenade under his body being reviewed for Medal of Honor
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Standoffs with veterans should not happen
UPDATE Add this to the rest
Standoffs with veterans should not happen
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 27, 2014
In South Carolina a police officer shot a Vietnam veteran after a traffic stop. Why? He was reaching for his cane. He's disabled. In San Diego another Vietnam veteran, reportedly suicidal, was shot and killed. In Pennsylvania a SWAT standoff with another veteran ended differently. The veteran was taken into custody.
What makes all of these stories worse is they all happened this week.
Earlier in February in San Diego: A retired Navy petty officer who was shot by a San Diego policeman after raising a military assault rifle in his direction was sentenced Tuesday to probation and ordered to continue counseling and treatment for mental health issues, including a form of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. A report about a Marine in Chicago, a veteran had his "final firefight was on his suburban street 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Chicago, and the enemy was local police. When it ended, he'd traded 17 years in uniform for 16 years behind bars."
Last month a Gulf War veteran was taken into custody in Corpus Christi. In December a Kentucky National Guardsman was arrested and charged in January.
As police increasingly face off with veterans from many different wars, it is clear that these situations should have never happened.
Police officers face split second decisions facing off with veterans in crisis. While some do end peacefully the outcome is never cut and dry. In one state, the veteran is taken to the VA for help but in other states they are put on trial, if they are not killed during the standoff.
Last week I was speaking to a police officer asking him some questions about what they do in situations like the above. He told me they are trained and retrained to know when to call in Crisis Teams. They are training on new tactical weapons that will not kill the veteran.
A veteran in that much of a crisis situation should never happen but as there seem to be more and more, there needs to be a country wide approach to help the police officers take care of the veterans as well as protect other officers and the public until this country does what they need to do to take care of all veterans!
Iraq War vet suffering from PTSD arrested in Troutdale shooting, police say
The Oregonian
By Lynne Terry
February 28, 2014
Troutdale police have arrested an Iraq War vet who shot himself in the foot early Friday.
They said the incident happened about 6:20 a.m. at a residence in the 1400 block of Southeast Chapman Street. They said Derick Morgan, 30, a vet suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, whipped out a gun in front of his wife and pointed it at his head, threatening to shoot himself.
read more here
Standoffs with veterans should not happen
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 27, 2014
In South Carolina a police officer shot a Vietnam veteran after a traffic stop. Why? He was reaching for his cane. He's disabled. In San Diego another Vietnam veteran, reportedly suicidal, was shot and killed. In Pennsylvania a SWAT standoff with another veteran ended differently. The veteran was taken into custody.
What makes all of these stories worse is they all happened this week.
Earlier in February in San Diego: A retired Navy petty officer who was shot by a San Diego policeman after raising a military assault rifle in his direction was sentenced Tuesday to probation and ordered to continue counseling and treatment for mental health issues, including a form of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. A report about a Marine in Chicago, a veteran had his "final firefight was on his suburban street 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Chicago, and the enemy was local police. When it ended, he'd traded 17 years in uniform for 16 years behind bars."
Last month a Gulf War veteran was taken into custody in Corpus Christi. In December a Kentucky National Guardsman was arrested and charged in January.
As police increasingly face off with veterans from many different wars, it is clear that these situations should have never happened.
Police officers face split second decisions facing off with veterans in crisis. While some do end peacefully the outcome is never cut and dry. In one state, the veteran is taken to the VA for help but in other states they are put on trial, if they are not killed during the standoff.
Last week I was speaking to a police officer asking him some questions about what they do in situations like the above. He told me they are trained and retrained to know when to call in Crisis Teams. They are training on new tactical weapons that will not kill the veteran.
A veteran in that much of a crisis situation should never happen but as there seem to be more and more, there needs to be a country wide approach to help the police officers take care of the veterans as well as protect other officers and the public until this country does what they need to do to take care of all veterans!
Vietnam Veterans of America: Coast Guard wrongfully discharged hundreds
Veterans group: Coast Guard wrongly discharged members
The Associated Press
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN
Published: February 27, 2014
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The U.S. Coast Guard routinely violates its procedures and regulations intended to protect service members from erroneous discharges for personality or adjustment disorders, a veterans group and Yale Law School students alleged Thursday.
Vietnam Veterans of America released a report based on an analysis by the students who looked at a random sample of 265 discharges for the disorders over a 12-year period ending Sept. 30, 2012. Of those, the students found 255 failed to comply with Coast Guard regulations in some way.
The violations can lead to veterans being denied benefits and stigma in finding work, the report says.
"We are disappointed to see that so many members of our Coast Guard have been illegally discharged and denied their rights," said Tom Berger, executive director of VVA's Veterans Health Council. "We are hopeful that this report will spark action to correct this injustice."
Jordan St. John, deputy chief of public affairs for the Coast Guard, said the Coast Guard hadn't seen the report and couldn't comment.
read more here
The Associated Press
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN
Published: February 27, 2014
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The U.S. Coast Guard routinely violates its procedures and regulations intended to protect service members from erroneous discharges for personality or adjustment disorders, a veterans group and Yale Law School students alleged Thursday.
Vietnam Veterans of America released a report based on an analysis by the students who looked at a random sample of 265 discharges for the disorders over a 12-year period ending Sept. 30, 2012. Of those, the students found 255 failed to comply with Coast Guard regulations in some way.
The violations can lead to veterans being denied benefits and stigma in finding work, the report says.
"We are disappointed to see that so many members of our Coast Guard have been illegally discharged and denied their rights," said Tom Berger, executive director of VVA's Veterans Health Council. "We are hopeful that this report will spark action to correct this injustice."
Jordan St. John, deputy chief of public affairs for the Coast Guard, said the Coast Guard hadn't seen the report and couldn't comment.
read more here
Vets bill fails in Senate, victim of election-year gridlock
03:09 PM ET
7 minutes ago
Vets bill fails in Senate, victim of election-year gridlock
Posted by
Senior Congressional Producer Ted Barrett
Washington (CNN) - A Democratic bill designed to make numerous improvements to services for veterans failed in the Senate Thursday, a victim of the partisan gridlock and election-year acrimony that dominates the chamber.
On a largely party-line vote, 56 to 41, the measure didn’t the 60 votes it needed to clear a procedural hurdle.
Republicans cited numerous policy reasons for opposing the bill and were further miffed when Democrats blocked them from offering amendments to try to change it.
“Unfortunately, it’s become standard practice around here for the majority to pursue partisan legislation in a take-it-or-leave-it manner, so it’s unsurprising that nobody other than the Majority Leader and Committee Chairman has been allowed the opportunity to amend this bill,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Democrats accused Republicans of trying to spike the bill by insisting one of their amendments deal with imposing new sanctions on Iran, something the White House has urged lawmakers not to do while sensitive diplomatic talks are underway with Iran over its nuclear program.
read more here
7 minutes ago
Vets bill fails in Senate, victim of election-year gridlock
Posted by
Senior Congressional Producer Ted Barrett
Washington (CNN) - A Democratic bill designed to make numerous improvements to services for veterans failed in the Senate Thursday, a victim of the partisan gridlock and election-year acrimony that dominates the chamber.
On a largely party-line vote, 56 to 41, the measure didn’t the 60 votes it needed to clear a procedural hurdle.
Republicans cited numerous policy reasons for opposing the bill and were further miffed when Democrats blocked them from offering amendments to try to change it.
“Unfortunately, it’s become standard practice around here for the majority to pursue partisan legislation in a take-it-or-leave-it manner, so it’s unsurprising that nobody other than the Majority Leader and Committee Chairman has been allowed the opportunity to amend this bill,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Democrats accused Republicans of trying to spike the bill by insisting one of their amendments deal with imposing new sanctions on Iran, something the White House has urged lawmakers not to do while sensitive diplomatic talks are underway with Iran over its nuclear program.
read more here
Fort Bragg Command Sergeant Major relieved of duties
Fort Bragg soldier relieved of duties amid misconduct investigation
Fayetteville Observer
By Drew Brooks Staff writer
Feb 27, 2014.
A senior noncommissioned officer has been relieved of his duties after allegations of misconduct were leveled against him.
The soldier, whose name was not released, is a command sergeant major within the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade at Fort Bragg, according to a spokesman from U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade has its headquarters and five subordinate battalions stationed at Fort Bragg. Each would have a command sergeant major.
The unit's civil affairs soldiers are part of the special operations community and work with civilian agencies to coordinate efforts between the U.S. government and local populations.
Lt. Col. Dave Connolly, USASOC spokesman, said the senior leader has been "temporarily suspended of his duties pending the outcome of an investigation with respect to alleged misconduct" and declined to offer more details on the incident that led to the allegations or the investigation itself.
More information will be released if criminal charges are filed, he said.
The allegation of misconduct is the latest in a string of accusations against leaders in the Army.
read more here
Fayetteville Observer
By Drew Brooks Staff writer
Feb 27, 2014.
A senior noncommissioned officer has been relieved of his duties after allegations of misconduct were leveled against him.
The soldier, whose name was not released, is a command sergeant major within the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade at Fort Bragg, according to a spokesman from U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade has its headquarters and five subordinate battalions stationed at Fort Bragg. Each would have a command sergeant major.
The unit's civil affairs soldiers are part of the special operations community and work with civilian agencies to coordinate efforts between the U.S. government and local populations.
Lt. Col. Dave Connolly, USASOC spokesman, said the senior leader has been "temporarily suspended of his duties pending the outcome of an investigation with respect to alleged misconduct" and declined to offer more details on the incident that led to the allegations or the investigation itself.
More information will be released if criminal charges are filed, he said.
The allegation of misconduct is the latest in a string of accusations against leaders in the Army.
read more here
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