U.S. Army Veteran acquitted of illegally displaying flags at LA Veterans Affairs facility
My News LA
POSTED BY DEBBIE L. SKLAR
APRIL 18, 2017
A 75-year-old military veteran was acquitted Tuesday of illegally hanging an American flag on the fence of a Veterans Affairs facility in West Los Angeles without permission.
The federal misdemeanor count against Robert Rosebrock stems from a VA statute that prohibits the posting of materials or “placards” on a VA property except when authorized by the head of the facility.
Rosebrock was cited on Memorial Day 2016 for allegedly displaying two napkin-sized American flags on a fence adjacent to the “Great Lawn Gate” entrance to the Veterans Park. He and fellow veterans have been assembling at the site nearly every Sunday and Memorial Day for the past nine years to protest what they believe is the VA’s failure to make full use of the expansive property for the benefit and care of veterans, particularly homeless veterans.
At the conclusion of a bench trial, U.S. Magistrate Judge Steve Kim found Rosebrock not guilty of the violation, which carries a maximum six-month prison sentence. The judge concluded that no evidence was presented showing Rosebrock lacked permission to post the flags or that Rosebrock had displayed them in the first place.
read more here
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Veteran-Amputees Inspire Boston Marathon Watchers--And Country
Man with prosthetic leg carries woman across Boston Marathon finish line
WCVB
Apr 18, 2017
BOSTON
In the closing moments of the Boston Marathon, a moment captured at the finish line is capturing the hearts of many.
At the end of the course, a man with a prosthetic leg was seen carrying his guide and the American flag across the finish line.
Earl Granville said 50 feet before crossing the line on Boylston Street, he looked to his guide, Andi Piscopo, and decided to have some fun with the finish. He picked her up and carried her across the line much to the delight of those gathered at the finish line and on social media.
A video WCVB posted to their Facebook page has been seen by millions, leaving Granville in disbelief. "Never had I thought just a spur-of-the-moment thing would blow up like this," he said.
WCVB
Apr 18, 2017
BOSTON
In the closing moments of the Boston Marathon, a moment captured at the finish line is capturing the hearts of many.
Earl Granville said 50 feet before crossing the line on Boylston Street, he looked to his guide, Andi Piscopo, and decided to have some fun with the finish. He picked her up and carried her across the line much to the delight of those gathered at the finish line and on social media.
A video WCVB posted to their Facebook page has been seen by millions, leaving Granville in disbelief. "Never had I thought just a spur-of-the-moment thing would blow up like this," he said.
Piscopo was feeling just fine and didn't need help to cross the finish line. As Granville's guide, it was her job to keep an eye on him medically and keep his pace count. The team has run in multiple endurance races together.
"To see him accomplish his goals, it makes me want to do more," Piscopo said. "He inspires me to be a better person."
Granville is a nine-year veteran under the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and lost part of his leg in the summer of 2008 when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.
"My downward spiral happened after that," Granville said. "A lot of hardships I faced, a lot of things I was doing, a lot of unhealthy choices I was making."
read more here
Marine who lost leg in Afghanistan ran Boston Marathon carrying American flag
The Dallas Morning News (Tribune News Service)
By ELINE DE BRUIJN
Published: April 18, 2017
A Marine who lost his leg in Afghanistan crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday the same way he had run most of the course -- with a U.S. flag in hand.
Jose Luis Sanchez, of San Antonio, carries the United States flag across the finish line in the 121st Boston Marathon on Monday, April 17, 2017, in Boston. ELISE AMENDOLA/AP"I was like I'm not gonna let this beat me, dude. I used that to fuel my drive," he said. "Never again am I going to feel sorry or feel these emotions. I'm not gonna feel weak anymore. At that point, I never looked back."
Sanchez's unit wrote him messages on the flag, which was flown at every location during their tour, he told WBZ-TV.
Sanchez was fighting post-traumatic stress disorder when he decided to open the flag and read it five years after the unit had given it to him, he said.
read more here
PTSD On Trial: Desert Storm Veteran
Written by Silver City Daily Press
April 18, 2017
A decorated Silver City veteran goes on trial today in U.S. District Court in Las Cruces for allegedly growing marijuana and having an unregistered firearm.
Trevor Lee Thayer, a 46-year-old father of three and decorated U.S. Army veteran with the 82nd Airborne, was charged in 2012 after a SWAT-style search of his residence by the DEA and ATF, according to a news release from his defense team at the Bowles Law Firm in Albuquerque. At that time, Thayer was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome and was in possession of a medical marijuana license, his attorneys said.
Thayer, a Desert Storm veteran, had applied to renew his medical marijuana license and paid a renewal fee, but had apparently not yet received the card at the time of the search. According to his defense team of Bob Gorence and Jason Bowles, further investigation had revealed that the state had cashed Thayer’s check but the equipment for printing the cards in Santa Fe was broken and that delayed the mailing of his card. The charges allege that Thayer did not have a valid medical marijuana card at the time of the 2012 search.
read more here
Monday, April 17, 2017
Military Honors Funeral For Panhandle Veterans
Now maybe you'll understand why it is so important for families to learn all they can about PTSD and how to help their veterans heal.
"Research indicates that those who served in the late Vietnam and post-Vietnam era are at greatest risk of homelessness. War-related disabilities or disorders often contribute to veteran homelessness, including physical disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, depression and anxiety, and addiction. Their circumstances often create homelessness and isolation from family."
Lost Panhandle Veterans...To be given Military Honors
My High Plains
Posted: Apr 17, 2017
AMARILLO, TX - (PRESS RELEASE)On April 21, 2017 at 10 am, the cremains of 4 Panhandle Veterans from Potter and Carson counties will be laid to rest and given a full National Military Honors Funeral Ceremony and burial at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.The motorcade will be accompanied by the Patriot Guard motorcycle escort from Amarillo to San Antonio with stops along the way and local recognition at each stop in route to the National Cemetery.The silent and untold story, to this point, is that each of these honored veterans were homeless, forgotten and unclaimed. It is a disheartening reality of our society that to many of our soldiers suffer from a number of debilitating effects of war and service to our country and for whatever reason life has thrown them a curve ball and they find themselves living in shelters, on the streets, park benches and alleys of our cities and towns.A 2016 study indicates that 1.4 million veterans are at risk of homelessness. This may be due to poverty, overcrowding in government housing, and lack of support networks. Research indicates that those who served in the late Vietnam and post-Vietnam era are at greatest risk of homelessness. War-related disabilities or disorders often contribute to veteran homelessness, including physical disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, depression and anxiety, and addiction. Their circumstances often create homelessness and isolation from family.read more here
PTSD Army Veterans in Connecticut Sue Over Bad Discharges...And Treatment
Lawsuit: Army should factor PTSD in discharge decisions
Associated Press
April 17, 2017
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A federal lawsuit alleges the U.S. Army has issued less-than-honorable discharges for potentially thousands of service members without adequately considering the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions.
Two Army veterans from Connecticut who served in Iraq and Afghanistan say in the lawsuit filed Monday in New Haven that they were wrongly denied honorable discharges.
They say a review board set up to give veterans a second chance often doesn't do an adequate job in considering PTSD and related conditions. Acting Army Secretary Robert Speer is named as the defendant.
read more here
Associated Press
April 17, 2017
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A federal lawsuit alleges the U.S. Army has issued less-than-honorable discharges for potentially thousands of service members without adequately considering the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions.
Two Army veterans from Connecticut who served in Iraq and Afghanistan say in the lawsuit filed Monday in New Haven that they were wrongly denied honorable discharges.
They say a review board set up to give veterans a second chance often doesn't do an adequate job in considering PTSD and related conditions. Acting Army Secretary Robert Speer is named as the defendant.
read more here
Billionaire Pushes Veterans Court California Expansion With Own Funds
Billionaire’s transformation from real estate to criminal justice reform
San Francisco Chronicle
By Laurel Rosenhall
April 16, 2017
Redemption for prisoners who wind up behind bars because their own tortured childhoods led them to lives of crime. Redemption for veterans who bring home wartime scars that cause addiction and violence. And redemption, perhaps, even for himself — born into privilege, born again as a Christian, and determined to make a difference with his wealth.
“If you listen to the stories of the men and women who have been incarcerated, it’s horrible what they’ve been through,” B. Wayne Hughes Jr. said as he stood outside Brown’s office.
“And when you look at the amount of money we’re spending ... we’re getting horrible results. All we’re doing is making better criminals.”
Hughes, 58, was in Sacramento to lobby for a bill he’s backing to help veterans who have committed low-level crimes. It’s a noncontroversial bill with a small price tag, so his meetings in the state Capitol weren’t so much about making a hard sell. Instead, they marked one more step in Hughes’ transformation from Republican real estate magnate to Libertarian advocate for criminal justice reform.
The rancher, whose father founded the Public Storage company, gave nearly $1.3 million to Proposition 47, the 2014 ballot measure that turned nonviolent property and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, allowing some prisoners to be released. He also helps fund a prison ministry and runs a ranch near Paso Robles that provides faith-based mental health treatment for veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress.
San Francisco Chronicle
By Laurel Rosenhall
April 16, 2017
Almost half the counties in California have veterans courts. Hughes wants to see them expand statewide and has offered to pay $100,000 to cover half the cost of the study.A cattle-ranching billionaire headed into Gov. Jerry Brown’s office the other day with redemption on his mind.
Redemption for prisoners who wind up behind bars because their own tortured childhoods led them to lives of crime. Redemption for veterans who bring home wartime scars that cause addiction and violence. And redemption, perhaps, even for himself — born into privilege, born again as a Christian, and determined to make a difference with his wealth.
“If you listen to the stories of the men and women who have been incarcerated, it’s horrible what they’ve been through,” B. Wayne Hughes Jr. said as he stood outside Brown’s office.
“And when you look at the amount of money we’re spending ... we’re getting horrible results. All we’re doing is making better criminals.”
Hughes, 58, was in Sacramento to lobby for a bill he’s backing to help veterans who have committed low-level crimes. It’s a noncontroversial bill with a small price tag, so his meetings in the state Capitol weren’t so much about making a hard sell. Instead, they marked one more step in Hughes’ transformation from Republican real estate magnate to Libertarian advocate for criminal justice reform.
The rancher, whose father founded the Public Storage company, gave nearly $1.3 million to Proposition 47, the 2014 ballot measure that turned nonviolent property and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, allowing some prisoners to be released. He also helps fund a prison ministry and runs a ranch near Paso Robles that provides faith-based mental health treatment for veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress.
Hughes’ interest in helping the downtrodden began when he came to Christianity about 20 years ago and evolved when he met Chuck Colson, the former Nixon administration official who pleaded guilty to Watergate crimes.
read more here
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Nebraska National Guard Soldiers Deploy Again
Nebraska National Guard soldier prepares to leave wife and kids as he deploys
KETV 7 ABC News
James Wilcox
April 16, 2017
OMAHA, Neb.
Amid the crowd at Alfonzo W. Davis Middle School, there are soldiers ready to serve their country. There's also a father preparing to leave his family.
"I've been to Iraq twice, and that's actually where Sherri and I met," said Staff Sergeant Gale Maberry, with the Nebraska National Guard.
He met his wife while deployed overseas. Both were serving with the Nebraska National Guard.
Sherri Maberry said, "We were friends throughout the deployment. We started dating when we got back. Over ten years and two little ones later now."
Their kids are three-year-old Brianna and 10-month-old Matthew.
"The first steps, the first teeth. All these things I'm going to miss with these kids," said Staff Sgt. Maberry.
He'll miss both their birthdays while he's deployed to Cuba. It's his third deployment, but his first since they've been born.
"I worry about my wife. She's going to be home with these two little ones by herself, trying to take care of them," he said.
He's one of 50 Nebraska National Guard soldier's with the Omaha-based 402nd Military Police Battalion that'll spend nearly a year at Guantanamo Bay.
read more here
KETV 7 ABC News
James Wilcox
April 16, 2017
OMAHA, Neb.
Amid the crowd at Alfonzo W. Davis Middle School, there are soldiers ready to serve their country. There's also a father preparing to leave his family.
He met his wife while deployed overseas. Both were serving with the Nebraska National Guard.
Sherri Maberry said, "We were friends throughout the deployment. We started dating when we got back. Over ten years and two little ones later now."
Their kids are three-year-old Brianna and 10-month-old Matthew.
"The first steps, the first teeth. All these things I'm going to miss with these kids," said Staff Sgt. Maberry.
He'll miss both their birthdays while he's deployed to Cuba. It's his third deployment, but his first since they've been born.
"I worry about my wife. She's going to be home with these two little ones by herself, trying to take care of them," he said.
He's one of 50 Nebraska National Guard soldier's with the Omaha-based 402nd Military Police Battalion that'll spend nearly a year at Guantanamo Bay.
read more here
Deported Veterans May Come Back to US After Pardon
CA governor's pardon could help 3 deported veterans return to US
CNN
By Nicole Chavez
April 16, 2017
(CNN)Hector Barajas is constantly dreaming about the day he'll return to the United States legally.
On the eve of Easter, California Gov. Jerry Brown granted Barajas and two other veterans full pardons for crimes they committed before being deported to Mexico.
Brown granted a total of 72 pardons and seven commutations Saturday.
A pardon is usually granted to individuals who have demonstrated "exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction," the governor's office said in a statement.
The pardons could open a pathway for the men to come back to the United States, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of California.
A veteran without US citizenship can be deported if convicted of various crimes. When the men's public records are cleared, an immigration judge could revisit their cases and halt their deportations, allowing them to return as lawful permanent residents, also known as green card holders.
"Oh my God, this is huge. The process will be easier for me to go home to my family," Barajas said in a Facebook live video.
read more here
CNN
By Nicole Chavez
April 16, 2017
(CNN)Hector Barajas is constantly dreaming about the day he'll return to the United States legally.
Brown granted a total of 72 pardons and seven commutations Saturday.
A pardon is usually granted to individuals who have demonstrated "exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction," the governor's office said in a statement.
The pardons could open a pathway for the men to come back to the United States, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of California.
A veteran without US citizenship can be deported if convicted of various crimes. When the men's public records are cleared, an immigration judge could revisit their cases and halt their deportations, allowing them to return as lawful permanent residents, also known as green card holders.
"Oh my God, this is huge. The process will be easier for me to go home to my family," Barajas said in a Facebook live video.
read more here
Solider's Mom Wants to Make Sure Other Families Don't Have to Wait
Mother tries to change military protocol after son's death at Fort Hood
Indy Star
Kara Berg
April 15, 2017
When Patrice Wise's son was found dead, she didn’t know how to move on.
The Arlington, Indiana, woman remembers the sleepless nights her and her fiancé spent searching for her son, Dakota Stump, who was a soldier on an Army base in Fort Hood when he disappeared. When his body was found in a wooded area, around 100 yards from the road at the base, the days and nights dragged on.
“I’ve tried so many things to keep myself busy and not constantly be reminded of what happened,” Wise said. “It helps, but I don’t think a mother ever gets over losing a child.
“I feel like every day that goes by, it almost gets worse."
Stump's body was discovered next to his flipped-over vehicle by soldiers conducting land-navigation training. He was only 32 pounds when he was found after a month, Wise said. Investigators believe the vehicle left the road, entered the wooded area and rolled over multiple times. The terrain hid the vehicle from the road.
read more here
Indy Star
Kara Berg
April 15, 2017
Right now, when a soldier goes missing, the army conducts an inquiry to see where they may be, notifies the provost marshal within 24 hours, reports the soldier absent within 48 hours and notifies the next of kin if the soldier is still missing after 10 days.
The Arlington, Indiana, woman remembers the sleepless nights her and her fiancé spent searching for her son, Dakota Stump, who was a soldier on an Army base in Fort Hood when he disappeared. When his body was found in a wooded area, around 100 yards from the road at the base, the days and nights dragged on.
“I’ve tried so many things to keep myself busy and not constantly be reminded of what happened,” Wise said. “It helps, but I don’t think a mother ever gets over losing a child.
“I feel like every day that goes by, it almost gets worse."
Stump's body was discovered next to his flipped-over vehicle by soldiers conducting land-navigation training. He was only 32 pounds when he was found after a month, Wise said. Investigators believe the vehicle left the road, entered the wooded area and rolled over multiple times. The terrain hid the vehicle from the road.
read more here
Search Continues for Missing Marine Tyler Wechsler
UPDATE
Missing Person: Tyler Wechsler
KHON News
By Web Staff
Published: April 14, 2017
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Tyler Wechsler who was last seen on Friday, April 7, 2017.
Wechsler is a U.S. Marine who was last seen in the Waikiki area at around 3:00 p.m.
Authorities say Wechsler may be emotionally distraught and driving a white colored 2003 Jeep Liberty bearing Hawaii State license number JYY-547.
His family and friends are concerned for his safety and well-being.
Wechsler’s father is now on island joining the search, and said the search is following several leads.
read more here
Body of missing Marine recovered from Kaau Crater Trail
Missing Person: Tyler Wechsler
KHON News
By Web Staff
Published: April 14, 2017
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Tyler Wechsler who was last seen on Friday, April 7, 2017.
Authorities say Wechsler may be emotionally distraught and driving a white colored 2003 Jeep Liberty bearing Hawaii State license number JYY-547.
His family and friends are concerned for his safety and well-being.
Wechsler’s father is now on island joining the search, and said the search is following several leads.
read more here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)