One more reason why we need to check the links to see what is true or not.
This story appears to be true,
Man killed in jewelry store heist described as a family man andprotector FOX 29 News by FOX San Antonio January 23rd 2017
SAN ANTONIO - The Good Samaritan killed in a jewelry store heist on Sunday afternoon has been identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner as Jonathan Murphy, 42.
Murphy never served in the military but came from a military family and respected the service and sacrifice. Amber is not sure if Jon knew the robbers had guns. But, regardless he would have done what he did. His family asks for the communities continued support as they try to heal from a senseless act. read more here
But the report that linked to it, added in a bit of their own news.
SAN ANTONIO (KABB/WOAI) - The good Samaritan who was killed trying to stop a jewelry store robbery in San Antonio, Texas on Sunday afternoon has been identified as Jonathan Murphy. A GoFundMe page, which has not yet been confirmed to be associated with Murphy's family, described him as a retired Marine and a manager at a car dealership. The fund organizer said Murphy was a "first rate protector" who was with his wife at the jewelry store to get their wedding bands cleaned. read more here
Special ops veteran risks life to recover pets from bases in war zone FoxNews.com By Cristina Corbin Published January 23, 2017
The recovery operation was costly and dangerous, requiring the special operations soldier to enter hostile territory in full body armor and make his way to a U.S. military base.
The purpose of his mission, however, did not include bringing back an American soldier. It was to pick up a 45-pound white Canaan dog named "Ghost" and reunite him with his human companion back home.
It's the kind of mission this soldier, who declined to give his name for security reasons, says he conducts in war zones around the world.
"It's the best feeling to reunite these pets with their soldiers," he told Fox News. "I was wounded in Iraq, myself, and I owe my life to my dog. There is a bond there that could never be broken."
For American soldiers serving abroad, pets are not considered military property – and are often left to die in the war zones where they bonded with their handlers. But this special operations soldier, with the help of a New York animal rescue group, has made it his mission to fly into countries in the Middle East and bring the pets back to the U.S. to live with their companions and their families. read more here
When a St. Paul cop and a homeless veteran met, grace followed Twin Cities Pioneer Press By MARA H. GOTTFRIED PUBLISHED: January 13, 2017
At first, it was just the man’s sign that caught Eric Reetz’s attention.
“Veteran 10 yrs Army,” William Tentis, 64, had written on a piece of cardboard. “God Bless.”
Reetz talks with Tentis before giving him a challenge coin with his badge number on it. He gives them only to people who’ve been a positive force in his life. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)
Reetz, who is a sergeant first class in the Minnesota National Guard and a St. Paul police officer, could not just walk by as he headed into the Xcel Energy Center to watch a Minnesota Wild game. They talked briefly and Reetz gave Tentis, who is homeless, a $20 bill.
“I didn’t think that we’d ever cross paths again,” said Reetz, 40. read more here
A friend of mine said that if they abolish the Electoral College, no Republican would ever be elected President again. That got me thinking. First, I doubted it was a fact using simple math and the fact votes are counted individually and equally, meaning the total "popular vote" should be the will of the American people. The next thought was if the claim made were true, then it would mean it was more a problem of the Republicans running for office than anything else. I decided to take a look back. In 1964 LBJ's election map is fascinating.
In 1968 Richard Nixon won the Popular vote as well as the Electoral votes. Richard Nixon's map is even more impressive for his second term. In 1972 he won both.
But the end was totally different.
Furthermore, the presidential term of 1973–1977 is notable for being the only one in American history in which both the original President and Vice President fail to complete the term. Vice President Spiro Agnew, who resigned less than a year after the election over allegations that he had accepted bribes as Governor of Maryland, was replaced by Gerald Ford under the terms of the 25th Amendment, while Nixon would resign due to the Watergate Scandal in August 1974.
As you just saw, when someone says something that does not make sense to you, look up the facts and discover the truth, because the way things have been going lately, we can't believe some of the news reports either.
Vietnam veteran Charles Liteky, who became a peace activist and famously gave up his Medal of Honor to protest US foreign policy in Central America, dies at age 85 By Associated Press and Jessica Chia For Dailymail.com 21 January 2017
Liteky grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was quarterback in high school He went to seminary school and became a Roman Catholic priest Liteky served in the Vietnam War, and rescued 20 wounded men in 1967 despite the fact that he had been hit with shrapnel in the neck and foot One man was too heavy, so he rolled on his back, placed the man on his chest and crawled back to the landing zone using his elbows and heels He volunteered for another tour in Vietnam, before renouncing faith He met former Catholic nun and peace activist Judy Balch; they married in 1983 Liteky became an activist as well, and gave up his Medal of Honor in protest He also went on a six-week hunger strike to protest US foreign policy in Central America, including the US-backed, right wing Nicaraguan contras In 2003, he traveled to Baghdad with other peace protesters to bear witness to the war and work with children in an orphanage and at hospitals
Charlie Liteky, a Vietnam veteran who courageously rescued more than 20 wounded men only to give up his Medal of Honor in protest after he became a peace activist, has died at the age of 85. Richard Olive, a longtime friend of Liteky's said he died on Friday night at the Veterans Administration Hospital in San Francisco, California. Liteky was a quarterback in high school who became a Roman Catholic priest before two tours in Vietnam eventually led him to renounce his religion and protest for peace in places like El Salvador and Iraq. Reflecting on his life in 2009, he told the Florida Times Union: 'I have tried to live life to the truth as I see it at the time. That's a very costly thing. I've lost a lot. I'm an ex-lot of things. But what have you got? Your integrity.' read more here
Florida is home to more than 515,000 Vietnam-era veterans, so it is very likely that one in three veterans you meet in the Sunshine State is a Vietnam veteran.
As for OEF and OIF veterans, read this,
More than 231,000 veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom claim the Sunshine State as their home of record. Many are enrolling in Florida’s colleges and universities using the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. Others are looking for employment, housing, health care and other earned services, benefits and support. Florida welcomes its returning veterans and their families.
Don't you think it is time to stop taking walks to raise awareness and start standing beside a veteran needing support? Don't you think it is time to stop doing push-ups and help them stand up instead?
Do you remember what it was like coming home and finding yourself with the war inside of you going on and no one around to help you fight it? Ok, so then what is your problem now?
I've seen so many of you show up for fundraisers and other veterans events. I've seen you open your wallets to donate to a veteran in need. You have joined veterans groups because of the brotherhood/sisterhood you still feel. Well, there are many veterans in need of your help. So why aren't you showing up to help them recover?
Florida veterans treatment court comes up short of mentors Stars and Stripes By JAMES A. JONES JR. January 20, 2017
The Manatee County Veterans Treatment Court held its first session in Bradenton, Fla. on Aug. 6, 2015, before Circuit Judge Andrew Owens Jr. as a way to help vets who enter the judicial system get treatment and assistance.
But one of the stumbling blocks for the program has been finding enough veterans to mentor those trying to find their way back into society.
“Mentors are what make the program a success,” Chris Landis, Veterans Treatment Court services coordinator for the 12th Judicial Circuit, said Thursday at the Manatee County Veterans Council meeting.
There are only six mentors now serving all of Manatee and Sarasota, and about 20 are needed, Landis said.
An estimated 500 veterans enter the criminal justice system annually in Bradenton-Sarasota, and the veterans court is intended to assist those facing lower level charges. read more here
Being a mentor isn't easy. It requires your time to help them go through the system designed to help them heal instead of being locked up like so many of your generation was. Most of the time, the charges they face are directly tied to what they carried back from combat and in the form of the demons we call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
They are coming home, much like you did, without a clue they are not struck as they are suffering today and can have a better quality of life. It takes you showing up to prove that to them by your example. Show them they really matter to you and SHOW UP AS MENTORS!
Airman to receive Air Force Cross for valor in Afghanistan Fay Observer By Drew Brooks Military editor Jan 19, 2017
On April 6, 2013, Baradat's actions were credited with saving the lives of more than 150 allies, both American and Afghan.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher G. Baradat stood in an open Afghan courtyard as dirt kicked up by enemy bullets hitting the ground around him sprayed his uniform.
With members of the Special Forces team he was attached to shouting for him to take cover, Baradat instead zeroed in on the roughly 100 enemy fighters bearing down on his teammates with sniper fire, machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades.
Exposing himself to the hostile fire to better communicate with air crews overhead, Baradat orchestrated the supporting fire that would save the lives of his team and the allied forces they had been dispatched to rescue, synchronizing attacks from AC-130 and A-10 aircraft fighting back with their own barrage of fire, including 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm and 105 mm munitions and 500-pound bombs.
"I do not think that what I did that day was heroic; I was completely focused on coordinating close air support as I was trained to do in support of my team," Baradat said. "I witnessed many heroic acts from the Army Special Forces team, and I hope that they receive the recognition that they deserve. I also want to thank the A-10 and AC-130 aircrew that day. Without their support, the day would have turned out much worse." read more here
Local musician “honored” to perform at inauguration Dayton Daily News Randy Tucker Staff Writer Jan. 21, 2017
“This is something that should unite us. I’m not attending the march in any anti-American stance. This is just democracy. This is what I fought for. I’ve been to places where democracy doesn’t exist.” Donnie Reis,
Donnie Reis, left, performs with Lee Greenwood, right, at a pre-Inaugural “Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration” at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Donnie Reis, a national recording artist and producer from Tipp City and an Iraq War veteran, respects Civil Rights, women’s rights and the right to protest — but above all else, he respects the democratic process, which manifests itself every four years as the inauguration of the President of the United States.
Reis said he considered it an honor to perform Friday at President Donald Trump’s inauguration, where he sang and played violin with The Frontmen of Country band, led by country music singers Larry Stewart, Richie McDonald and Tim Rushlow.
The group was joined by fellow country artist, Lee Greenwood, to perform his iconic song “God Bless the U.S.A” for President Trump, his family and thousands of attendees on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall.
“That was the highlight for me,” said Reis during a phone interview Saturday from Washington. “Standing up on stage and looking out over a sea of people from all different walks of life, singing “God Bless the U.S.A,” and hearing them sing it back; It took everything I had not just to cry.” read more here
Will We Prove We Love Our Veterans? Combat PTSD Wounded Times Kathie Costos January 21, 2017 When I got into all of this, President Reagan had been in office a year. Then it was President Bush, followed by President Clinton, followed by President Bush, President Obama and now, President Trump. Every single one of them has promised to honor the devotion and dedication of all those who served in the military, and they failed, and now it seems as if President Trump is about to fail them again. With his desire to privatize their care, sending veterans away from the care they were promised. Instead of demanding Congress finally accepts the profound responsibility and do whatever it takes to fix what they have failed to do since 1946. As with most things, if you think something is suddenly wrong because you are suddenly paying attention to it, here is just an example.
After the passage of the Veterans Health Care Amendments Act of 1979, the VA set up a
network of Vet Centers across the country,
separate from other VA facilities. In response
to their special needs, the Vet Centers at first
were limited to Vietnam veterans.
This is from President Reagan's speech at the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
But -- But -- But beyond that, we remember today that all our gentle heroes of Vietnam have given us a lesson in something more: a lesson in living love. Yes, for all of them, those who came back and those who did not, their love for their families lives. Their love for their buddies on the battlefields and friends back home lives. Their love of their country lives.
This memorial has become a monument to that living love. The thousands who come to see the names testify to a love that endures. The messages and mementos they leave speak with a whispering voice that passes gently through the surrounding trees and to out across the breast of our peaceful nation: a childhood teddy bear, a photograph of the son or daughter born too late to know his or her father, a battle ribbon, a note -- there are so many of these, and all are testimony to our living love for them. And our nation itself is testimony to the love our veterans have had for it and for us. Our liberties, our values, all for which America stands is safe today because brave men and women have been ready to face the fire at freedom's front. And we thank God for them.
Yes, gentle heroes and living love and our memories of a time when we faced great divisions here at home. And yet if this place recalls all this, both sweet and sad, it also reminds us of a great and profound truth about our nation: that from all our divisions we have always eventually emerged strengthened. Perhaps we are finding that new strength today, and if so, much of it comes from the forgiveness and healing love that our Vietnam veterans have shown.
"As a nation we say we love you." said President Reagan, but as a nation, we had not lived up to caring for those who carried the wounds of war on their backs and in their souls. "As a nation we say we love you" to our veterans and are eternally grateful for your service that should never end because it is just too hard to do. Secretary of Veterans Affairs was turned into a Cabinet Position by President Reagan.
President Reagan signed legislation in
1988 to elevate VA to Cabinet status and,
on March 15, 1989, the Veterans
Administration became the Department of
Veterans Affairs. Edward J. Derwinski,
VA administrator at the time, was
appointed the first Secretary of Veterans
Affairs.
We are pleased to be here today to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) progress in reducing veterans' waiting times for decisions on their disability compensation and pension claims. VA expects to provide about $25 billion in compensation and pension benefits in fiscal year 2002 to over 3 million veterans and their dependents and survivors. For years, the compensation and pension claims process has been the subject of concern and attention within VA and by the Congress and veterans service organizations. Many of their concerns have focused on the long waits for decisions and large claims backlogs, both of which have negatively affected the quality of service provided to veterans. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs has made improving compensation and pension claims processing performance one of VA's top management priorities. The Secretary's end of fiscal year 2003 goal is to complete accurate decisions on rating-related claims in an average of 100 days. To achieve this goal, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is focusing on increasing production of rating decisions and reducing the inventory of claims to about 250,000. As of the end of March 2002, VBA was completing claims in an average of 224 days and had an inventory of about 412,000 claims.
So, here we are all these Presidents later and President Trump is now about to send veterans into the private healthcare nightmare. I never thought I'd see a time in this country when our obligation to our veterans ended because it was easier for us to just forget they are not civilians and should be provided with the best care this NATION, can give them. Giving up was not an option for them in combat and it should never be an option because it is hard for politicians to deliver to them.
Will Trump's Bigger Army Mean More Suicides? Combat PTSD Wounded Times Kathie Costos January 21, 2017 I thought that reading Trump’s bigger Army could cost $12B by official’s math would be informative, however, it offered a lot more than math on the budget.
The Army hit a high of 566,000 active-duty troops in 2011 to sustain the American troop surge in Iraq along with the continuing war in Afghanistan. The number has steadily dropped since the U.S. pullout from Iraq in December 2011. The debate since then has been about the pace of a planned draw-down to 450,000 by the end of fiscal 2018. This year’s defense policy bill mandated that the Army not be reduced to fewer than 476,000.
When you read this about the numbers, consider the simple fact that when there are so many fewer serving, the actual outcomes of military suicides is even more frightening. This is from a report about 2015 Army suicides.
The number of suicides among troops was 145 in 2001 and began a steady increase until more than doubling to 321 in 2012, the worst year in recent history for servicemembers killing themselves.
The suicide rate for the Army that year was nearly 30 suicides per 100,000 soldiers, well above the national rate of 12.5 per 100,000 for 2012.
Military suicides dropped 20% the year after that, and then held roughly steady at numbers significantly higher than during the early 2000s. The 265 suicides last year compares with 273 in 2014 and 254 in 2013. By contrast, from 2001 through 2007, suicides never exceeded 197.
We don't know what the number was for 2016, because they have not released their data. We only know about the 1st and 2nd quarters.
In the first quarter of 2016, the military services reported the following: 58 deaths by suicide in the Active Component 18 deaths by suicide in the Reserves 34 deaths by suicide in the National Guard Please refer to Appendix A for a detailed breakdown of the number of deaths by suicide within each Service and Component.
Local nonprofit honored at Texas ball in D.C. Killeen Daily Herald
By David A. Bryant
Herald staff write
Posted: Friday, January 20, 2017
What the Copperas Cove resident and former Army warrant officer didn’t know, however, was her organization was in for a treat. Toyota of Texas had a surprise in store for her — a brand-new custom Toyota Tundra pickup truck to help haul much-needed donations and provide rides for poor and homeless veterans to appointments at the Temple Veterans Affairs hospital.
Photo courtesy of Jack Barcroft
U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (R-Austin) introduces Joann Courtland, director of Operation Stand Down-Central Texas, during the Texas State Society Black Tie and Boots ball Thursday in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit was presented a brand new Toyota Tacoma pickup truck by Toyota of Texas to honor the nonprofit's work in helping homeless veterans.
WASHINGTON — When Joann Courtland, director of the Copperas Cove-based Operation Stand Down-Central Texas, was told to pack her bags Wednesday for a trip to the nation’s capital, she wasn’t quite sure what was going on.
She was told that U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, was flying her out to attend the Texas State Society Black Tie and Boots ball to bring attention to the work the nonprofit does to help homeless veterans and bring them back into society. So she packed her bags, hopped on a plane Thursday morning and flew to Washington, D.C.
“I just thought he would talk about our organization in front of fellow Texans and allow for people who wanted to sponsor or donate to do so,” Courtland said. “It was full of 10,000-plus folks from all over the state.” read more here
Man shot by local officer jailed after release from hospital KWTX News
January 20, 2017
Meyers spent a little more than six years in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of sergeant, according to records obtained by KWTX.
He joined the Army in April 2001 and served at Fort Hood from October 2003 to June 2007, when he left the service.
He deployed to Iraq from September 2003 to September 2004, and received a Purple Heart medal, the records show.
Thomas Eugene Meyers. (Jail photo)
KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) A man whom a Killeen police officer shot after responding to a disturbance call was in the Bell County Jail Friday facing a list of charges after his release from the hospital.
Thomas Eugene Meyers, 35, of Killeen, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and assault with bodily injury on a family member.v
read more here
Ladies and Gentlemen, we probably have the idiotic report of the week. Then again, the week isn't over yet. "Mindset of charged Iraqi War vets questioned" By Jim Holt on the Santa Clarita Valley January 20, 2017,
"The actual condition, however, has yet to receive the attention it demands from the Veterans Administration where psychologically wounded soldiers – as Andersen is convinced applies to Ditch – go for help."
I know it is very hard for some younger folks to comprehend the simple fact that something isn't all about them, but involves far too many other waiting even longer for what they claim they lack, but that is bull. Bull at least for this generation considering Vietnam veterans are the ones who came home and pushed for all the funding and research. This is part from the Department of Veterans Affairs History of PTSD.
"In 1980, APA added PTSD to DSM-III, which stemmed from research involving returning Vietnam War Veterans, Holocaust survivors, sexual trauma victims, and others. Links between the trauma of war and post-military civilian life were established."
And this is how long researchers have been trying to understand it.
Early attempts at a medical diagnosis Accounts of psychological symptoms following military trauma date back to ancient times. The American Civil War (1861-1865) and the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) mark the start of formal medical attempts to address the problems of military Veterans exposed to combat. European descriptions of the psychological impact of railroad accidents also added to early understanding of trauma-related conditions.
The subject of the report are two veterans. The report added this.
In a letter dated July 10, 2013, addressed to Ditch from the Department of Veterans Affairs, a copy of which was obtained by The Signal, shows Ditch being compensated as of February 2011. The claim, according to Andersen, was for injuries Ditch suffered which include PTSD and traumatic brain injury, TBI. According to Andersen, he and Ditch – age 20 and 22 – when they were deployed to Iraq with the 27th Infantry, were not the same people that returned to America.“Ditch had a buddy that was shot right next to him in a tower,” Andersen said. “He also saw lot of other friends shot and killed; some blown up.“He was a good kid,” he said. “There are hundreds of guys, including high-ranking guys, ready to support him.”
There is only so much the VA can do. Consider the fact there are now over 400,000 veterans charities set up across the country to "support" and help veterans. Countless folks are doing pushups and taking walks so they raise awareness about the problems veterans have, without doing anything about the "problem" itself. They get away with all of it because the press never holds any of them accountable. Are they afraid to actually go after a feel good story they jumped to share more than they are afraid of the outcomes they did nothing to change? They have made the VA an enemy instead of covering what they have gotten right, plus all the different things they are doing to treat PTSD. The VA saved more veterans than you will ever hear about but the veteran has a responsibility in all of this too. They need to do the work to heal and take advantage of what had been in place for them since the 80's.
PTSD Suicide Survivor New Year's Message of Hope
Palm Harbor veteran, puppies take care of one another WTSP Bobby Lewis January 18, 2017
Will Blanchard whipped out a pet carrier and a smile and chuckle.
“This is my new army,” he said with a group of adorable puppies yapping in the background.
The Palm Harbor transplant, by way of Chicago, is happy to have a purpose again. It took a while to find it, but his volunteer role at the Suncoast Animal League has become his calling.
“His work ethic has not changed,” said SAL executive director Rick Chaboudy. “He’s one of the hardest working.”
It’s Blanchard's nature.
His great-grandfather served in WWI. Both of his grandfathers fought in the Korean War. When he graduated from Palm Harbor University High in 2003 he, naturally, entered the military, too.
It just didn’t end well.
“I was in the Army and over in Iraq from November ‘06 to January ’08,” he recalled. “I lost a lot of buddies. Saw the terrors of war and it messed with me quite a bit.”
Since becoming retired from the military, Blanchard searched for activities to fill his day and keep his mind off his service experiences. His body is a living memorial to the friends he’s lost - his back is covered with tattooed names of 11 friends who died alongside him in service.
He needed a distraction and found it in four-legged friends. read more here
Temple: Vietnam veteran shares words of encouragement KWTX 10 News By Kristen Victorin Jan 18, 2017
Bill Wedekind. (Photo by Kristen Victorin)
TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) An injured Vietnam veteran shared his story Wednesday at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System’s Domiciliary in Temple.
Bill Wedekind lost both his hands and eyes at age 18 from an IED accident in Vietnam.
In 1969 and 1973 he underwent two Krukenberg amputations, in which the distal ends of his forearms were used to create a forklike stump between the radius and the ulna.
When Wedekind returned, his grandmother suggested he follow in her footsteps as a ceramicist.
Almost 50 years later, he still enjoys throwing pottery and hopes to inspire others in the process. read more here
Veteran says VA saved his life Leavenworth Times By MARK ROUNTREE January 18, 2017
"We are all kind of our own special society. You don't have to give your whole story to explain it (to other veterans)." James Trumble
James Trumble sits on a bench outside of the domicillary at the Eisenhower VA Medical Center, reflecting on his military experiences and how the V has helped him deal with post traumatic stress disorder
Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, James Trumble said he always wanted to join the Army. He remembers playing Army as a youngster.
"What little kid didn't play Army?" he said.
Trumble enlisted in the Army at the age of 24. In 2007, he was deployed near Baghdad, Iraq. It didn't take long before he was in the fight.
On his first mission, Trumble earned his combat infantryman badge as a result of a firefight.
"That kind of started PTSD for me," he said.
He said that in his first five months in Iraq, he was engaged in more than 20 firefights. He said those experiences and more led to his developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Combat is so unexpected," he said. "I don't know what is normal or what isn't. It was enough to affect me."
Trumble served for a little more than three years in the Army. He was deployed to Iraq in 2007-08 as part of the 101st Airborne, 1st 502nd infantry. read more here
Vietnam group asks Obama to pardon veterans The Hill BY KRISTINA WONG 01/18/17
"We hope that President Obama, in the final hours of his Presidency, will do right by his troops by helping bad-paper vets with PTSD," Rowan said. "We cannot wait another four or eight years for an outgoing President to take action to help the most vulnerable veterans in the country."
A veterans service organization is asking President Obama to pardon veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder who received a less-than-honorable discharge after the president commuted the prison sentence for former Army soldier Chelsea Manning.
"As pardons are being issued to people who have been convicted of serious felonies, veterans who served their country in combat wait to be offered the same clemency," said John Rowan, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America.
With four days left in office, the Obama administration announced Tuesday that it was commuting Manning's sentence, in addition to 208 others, and pardoning 64 individuals. read more here
Meet the Army Veteran Who’s Never Missed an Inauguration Day Since Nixon NBC News by ERIK ORTIZ January 18, 2017
It doesn't matter whether he voted for that person or not, Davis said, he goes to each ceremony out of a "sense of duty — an obligation I feel in my soul."
"I didn't die for my country," he said, "but I'm living for it."
On each Inauguration Day, decorated Vietnam veteran Sammy Lee Davis is furnished with a front-row seat to history.
Davis, a Medal of Honor recipient, has been an eyewitness to every American president taking the oath of office since Richard Nixon's first swearing-in on a cold January afternoon in 1969. Davis is returning to Washington this week and says he is eager to watch Donald Trump become the next president of the United States — marking his 14th ceremony he will get to experience first-hand.
"How unique it is to have that privilege," said Davis, 70, who calls everyone "sir" or "ma'am" and lives outside a tiny Indiana community called Freedom, where he keeps framed programs from each inauguration he's attended.
While a particular president might inspire a trek to the nation's capital for such a revered event — President Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009 beckoned an estimated 1.8 million spectators — the desire to go is different for Davis. read more here
Florida lawmakers working to get veterans access to alternative treatments such as acupuncture Action News Jax by: Michael Yoshida Jan 17, 2017
There’s a push to make it easier for Florida veterans to get access to “alternative treatments” for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and other injuries.
The treatments include things like acupuncture, equine therapy, music therapy and meditation.
They're included in two bills introduced by Florida lawmakers.There’s a push to make it easier for Florida veterans to get access to “alternative treatments” for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and other injuries.
The treatments include things like acupuncture, equine therapy, music therapy and meditation.
Action News Jax spoke with veterans who are already benefiting from this form of treatment.
“You know it took me years to even talk about my problems,” said Army veteran Chad Childers.
Childers, an Army Ranger, was medically discharged after deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“I tried to cope with my issues by drinking and ended up out on the streets,” Childers said.
Childers eventually found his way to the Five Star Veterans Center.
“When they first brought up doing art therapy, I’m like 'uh, what’s this cheeseball stuff? I’m not, you know, in elementary school anymore,' but I went to it and I actually had a great time,” Childers said. read more here
VA by the numbers: Has the department made progress? Military Times By: Leo Shane III January 16, 2017
If Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin is confirmed as the next VA Secretary, he’ll take on a broader profile than just the medical aspects of the department.
Here’s a look at some key facts and figures on where the department stands today, based on current officials’ own statistics and assessments of operations since current VA Secretary Bob McDonald took office in August 2014.
** The VA budget totals $176.9 billion for fiscal 2017, almost twice the budget total when Obama took office in fiscal 2009 ($93.7 billion) and almost four times the total when the war in Afghanistan began in fiscal 2001 ($48.7 billion).
Of the 2017 total, roughly $77.4 billion is set aside for discretionary programs, and the rest for disability, medical and education benefits, along with other mandatory spending.
On the list, 2009 7.8 million veterans in VA system. 2016 9 million veterans in the VA system.
2009 277,000 VA employees. 2016 365,000 VA employees.
2009 265,000 100% Disabled veterans. 2016 542,000 100% Disabled veterans. read more here
