Thursday, April 1, 2010

Events to honor 3-star killed on 9/11


Jacqueline Roggenbrodt / The Associated Press Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Regiment soldiers carry the casket of Army Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Maude during his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery on Oct. 6, 2001. Maude, 53, a three-star general and the Army's deputy chief of staff of personnel, was the highest-ranking casualty of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.


Events to honor 3-star killed on 9/11

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Apr 1, 2010 16:10:28 EDT

Two coming events will honor the memory and legacy of Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Maude, the former Army personnel chief who was the highest-ranking service member killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

On April 30, the Potomac Chapter of the Adjutant General Corps Regimental Association will host the ninth annual Maude Foundation Golf Tournament at The Courses, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

The popular tournament raises funds for cadets enrolled in the Green to Gold Reserve Officer Training Corps program, and the Maude Leadership Lecture Series at the Soldier Support Center, Fort Jackson, S.C.

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Events to honor 3-star killed on 9 11

Those who served and fell on hard times honored with dignity

Those who served and fell on hard times honored with dignity

by Brian New / KENS 5

Posted on March 31, 2010 at 6:20 PM

Updated today at 6:24 AM



They are military veterans who have fallen on hard time. Yet, on Wednesday, they were given the dignity they deserve.

Roy McNeair served to protect all we have and died with nothing of his own. The 52-year-old Brooklyn native joined the Air Force in 1980 and was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base.

In the years after his service, McNeair lost his wife, lost touch of his son, and lost his way. McNeair's struggles with alcohol kept him on the streets of San Antonio.

His pride kept him away from his siblings. McNeair hadn’t talked with his brother or sister in more than five years.

Only when he died did his family find out he was homeless.
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Those who served and fell on hard times honored with dignity

Officials Take Over A Year To Lay WWII Veteran To Rest

Officials Take Over A Year To Lay Veteran To Rest

SANTA FE, N.M. -- County and State governments took more than a year to bury an indigent veteran.

When Vietnam veteran Jesse Anzures got a call that a fellow veteran died and no one claimed his remains, he stepped up.

Anzures got the call in the summer of 2009. The state medical examiner told him that they had the remains of a man with the same last name as his and that the man was a World War II veteran.
read more here
http://www.koat.com/news/23020644/detail.html

Sean Hannity and Ollie North accused of scamming Veterans

Let me make this clear for new readers. I am no fan of Hannity or North. The reason is simple. While both have made it their common claim of "supporting the troops" neither of them spoke up when it could have helped the troops and our veterans about the wait time for a claim to be approved, for their wounds to be taken care of or anything else, up to and including when the reports came out about Walter Reed, they seemed more angry over the reporters instead of what the reporters exposed. That's the biggest problem of all. When anyone claims to support the troops and our veterans, they need to speak out when they are not being taken care of properly no matter who is in charge. It should never, ever, matter if they voted for them or not. People expected so much more out of the people over at FOX cable news.

That said, Hannity is not a stupid man. He's a man with an agenda, that's for sure but he isn't stupid and I do believe he cares about the troops. Is he hyping the amount of money given to the families of the fallen? Perhaps, but let's wait and see what happens as evidence comes out instead of jumping to conclusions.



Sean Hannity and Ollie North accused of scamming Veterans
March 31, 2010 by Robert L. Hanafin

In line with our article on those non-profit organizations that do provide a service to our Veterans and ‘Support Our Troops’ as was covered in my previous article Do All Non-Profits really Support Veterans, Troops, and Military Families?

We will be exposing reports of fraudulent efforts and causes that scam our Veterans and Troops. We are also working on getting the latest ratings of organizations that provide services or support to our Veterans and Troops from the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) that has reportedly just released its latest ratings for April-May 2010.

Joe Conason at Salon reports that Sean Hannity and Ollie North say they collect millions of dollars for veterans’ kids. But where did the money go?

Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired, Veterans Today News
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Sean Hannity and Ollie North accused of scamming Veterans

Maine Troop Greeters welcomed one million servicemen and women home

Maine airport holds ceremony for troop greeters

The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Mar 31, 2010 18:46:24 EDT

BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor International Airport unveiled a new sign for the Maine Troop Greeters as the organization was honored for meeting its 1 millionth service member.
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Maine airport holds ceremony for troop greeters

Female veterans still lack privacy at VA

Female veterans still lack privacy at VA

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 31, 2010 15:04:55 EDT

Veterans Affairs Department officials are promising to improve privacy for female veterans who use its medical facilities after a new report discovered that some old problems have not been fixed.

A March 31 report from the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, found women using VA hospitals and clinics continue to face:

• Examination rooms set up so that passersby can see patients disrobed when the door is opened.

• Restrooms that lack sanitary napkin or tampon dispensers.

• A lack of privacy at appointment and reception desks, so that others can overhear discussion of medical problems.

Investigators reviewed nine medical centers and 10 outpatient clinics; none fully complied with VA policy on privacy, the report says.
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Female veterans still lack privacy at VA

Three Marine recruits dead after 7-car pile-up

3 Trumbull County Marine recruits dead after 7-car pile-up in Warren

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

alcorn@vindy.com

LEAVITTSBURG

Three Trumbull County Marine Corps recruits on their way to Cleveland to take a military entrance exam were killed in a seven-car pile-up Wednesday afternoon on state Routes 5 and 82 at Burnett Road in Warren Township.

Killed were Zachery A. Nolen of Newton Falls, 19; Joshua A. Sherbourne of Southington, 21, and Michael T. Theodore Jr. of Warren, 19.

The Warren Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash occurred when a 2008 Pontiac G6, driven by Marine Sgt. Charles Keene, was hit from behind by a 2005 International tractor-trailer rig just as the car, carrying the Marine recruits, was about to proceed through the intersection.
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Marine recruits dead after 7 car pile-up

Palm City Marine killed in Afghanistan laid to rest


Sarah Grile/The Palm Beach Post
Justin Wilson's parents, Fran and Lance Wilson (left), and widow Hannah grieve after they were presented with flags during the burial service Wednesday.

Memorial service held this morning for Palm City Marine killed in Afghanistan
By Andrew Marra and Daphne Duret

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 9:09 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2010
PALM CITY — A horse and buggy carried the body of 24-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Wilson to his funeral this morning as hundreds of family members, friends and other supporters gathered to pay their final respects.

Wilson, of Palm City, died March 22 when a roadside bomb exploded during one of his foot patrols in the Helmand region of Afghanistan.

Wilson's body arrived back in the Treasure Coast on Sunday, and this morning's funeral came after a two-day wake in his honor.
read more here
Palm City Marine killed in Afghanistan

Victim of fatal Dallas crash was decorated Marine preparing for fourth deployment


Victim of fatal Dallas crash was decorated Marine preparing for fourth deployment

12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, April 1, 2010
By STEVE STOLER WFAA-TV (Channel 8) sstoler@dallasnews.com

A Dallas man who died Tuesday when he drove his pickup into the back of an 18-wheeler was a highly decorated Marine Corps veteran who was preparing for deployment to his fourth tour of overseas duty.

Joseph Rodriguez, 38, was killed when his Ford F-150 ended up underneath the tractor-trailer.

His parents recalled their son as a man who loved to serve his country. Rodriguez joined the Marines right after graduating from W.T. White High School. He fought in Operation Desert Storm.

After serving with the Marines four years, he came back home and joined the Texas National Guard, with which he completed two tours in Iraq.

Rodriguez was getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan when he was killed in Tuesday's crash.
read more here
Victim of fatal Dallas crash was decorated Marine

Veterans for Common Sense wants to hear from Gulf War Vets

Feeling as if your war was forgotten about? Feeling as if your suffering because of what you were exposed to just doesn't matter to anyone? Take heart and know you have someone fighting very hard for you. Veterans for Common Sense has been fighting for all veterans to make sure all of you receive the "gratefulness" of this nation when you have been wounded or made ill because of your willingness to risk your life. You served this nation, doing what was expected of you and this nation has an obligation to you. This is not a "handout" but a debt the government accepted the responsibility of the day they sent you to war.



April 1, 2010 - Veterans for Common Sense asks you for your opinion about VA's new proposed policies for Gulf War veterans.


Yesterday, VA formally announced a huge, new effort VA hopes will address the needs of our 210,000 Gulf War veterans who suffer from illnesses nearly 20 years after widespread exposures to many poisons and toxins in Southwest Asia.

Here is background information about this important issue.

In August 2009, VCS wrote new VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and asked him to reform how VA had mishandled healthcare, research, and benefits for Gulf War veterans.

In response, VA set up a Gulf War Task Force chaired by VA Chief of Staff John Gingrich, a Gulf War veteran.

Last week, VA announced the agency would begin providing benefits for 9 diseases suffered by Gulf War veterans, a positive move supported by VCS.

A few days ago, Gulf War veterans Anthony Hardie and Paul Sullivan wrote an op-ed published by TruthOut praising VA's new policy as steps in the right direction. The veterans are still advocating for additional pragmatic solutions for veterans who urgently need healthcare -- vital healthcare denied for nearly 20 years because VA often blocked research, treatment, and benefits.

Yesterday, VA announced the release of the highly-anticipated Gulf War Task Force report. You have an excellent opportunity to tell VA how to fix the problems facing Gulf War veterans.

Today, VCS wants your response -- especially from Gulf War veterans and families -- about VA's Task Force report. All of our VCS comments are due by April 30, 2010, so send your response soon.


Your voice is important and urgently needed. Please send your thoughts to contact@veteransforcommonsense.org.


Your comments will allow VCS to present a robust response to VA from the perspective of veterans, family members, and supporters of veterans.

Our goal is to work with VA to get it right for our Gulf War veterans who have waited too long for answers, healthcare, and benefits.

While VA has made several positive first steps for veterans in the past 14 months, our advocacy will make sure VA keeps going in the right direction.

Please send your comments to
contact@veteransforcommonsense.org

Thank you, Veterans for Common Sense