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Friday, March 1, 2013
Senator Bernie Sanders talks about veterans
Every week Senator Bernie Sanders is on with Thom Hartmann. Senator Sanders is the new Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. No matter what side you are on, we all need to pay attention because it is the job of Congress to do for or to the veterans.
This is from the program that just ended.
Official: Fort Hood Soldiers, families affected by budget cuts
Official: Soldiers, families affected by budget cuts
Family programs, maintenance will see reductions
March 1, 2013
By Rose L. Thayer
Killeen Daily Herald
Now that the sequester has kicked in, Fort Hood and Central Texas may not see changes immediately, but if no action is taken, there will be changes, said local and Army officials.
“Bottom line, up front, sequestration will affect soldiers, families and our civilian workforce and the community businesses around installations,” said Brig. Gen. Curt Rauhut, director of resource management for Installation Management Command, during a discussion panel Wednesday.
Sequestration — which includes $12 billion in automatic cuts to the Army over the next seven months — combined with a continuing resolution and the emerging shortfall in war funding have created “a devastating environment to operate in,” said Maj. Gen. Karen E. Dyson, director for Army Budget.
Aside from the negative impact to soldiers’ readiness and training schedules, officials also foresee reductions to family programs and an inability for installations to modernize facilities and sustain routine maintenance.
All family programs are being looked at now, Rauhut said. No decisions have been made as to what will be cut, but a reduction in hours at child development centers and other youth programs, such as sports or recreation, are on the table.
read more here
Family programs, maintenance will see reductions
March 1, 2013
By Rose L. Thayer
Killeen Daily Herald
Now that the sequester has kicked in, Fort Hood and Central Texas may not see changes immediately, but if no action is taken, there will be changes, said local and Army officials.
“Bottom line, up front, sequestration will affect soldiers, families and our civilian workforce and the community businesses around installations,” said Brig. Gen. Curt Rauhut, director of resource management for Installation Management Command, during a discussion panel Wednesday.
Sequestration — which includes $12 billion in automatic cuts to the Army over the next seven months — combined with a continuing resolution and the emerging shortfall in war funding have created “a devastating environment to operate in,” said Maj. Gen. Karen E. Dyson, director for Army Budget.
Aside from the negative impact to soldiers’ readiness and training schedules, officials also foresee reductions to family programs and an inability for installations to modernize facilities and sustain routine maintenance.
All family programs are being looked at now, Rauhut said. No decisions have been made as to what will be cut, but a reduction in hours at child development centers and other youth programs, such as sports or recreation, are on the table.
read more here
Thousands of soldiers coming home to US from Europe
Thousands of soldiers to leave Europe
Staff report
Posted : Friday Mar 1, 2013
Ten thousand soldiers now stationed in Europe will be returned to the United States under new re-alignment plans announced by the Defense Department.
The realignment of the Europe-based 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team will begin later this year, including the transfer of some forces from Germany to Italy.
The moves are part of an ongoing strategy to reduce U.S. Army Europe from a force of 40,000 soldiers and one corps headquarters and four brigade combat teams to 30,000 soldiers and two brigade combat teams.
read more here
Staff report
Posted : Friday Mar 1, 2013
Ten thousand soldiers now stationed in Europe will be returned to the United States under new re-alignment plans announced by the Defense Department.
The realignment of the Europe-based 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team will begin later this year, including the transfer of some forces from Germany to Italy.
The moves are part of an ongoing strategy to reduce U.S. Army Europe from a force of 40,000 soldiers and one corps headquarters and four brigade combat teams to 30,000 soldiers and two brigade combat teams.
read more here
Dale Robertson, soldier-turned-onscreen cowboy, dies at 89
Dale Robertson, soldier-turned-onscreen cowboy, dies at 89
By Randee Dawn
TODAY contributor
Dale Robertson, who used his Okie background and love of the American range to craft a long career in TV and film westerns, died at 89 on Wednesday near his home in San Diego, Calif. according to the New York Times.
He died of complications from lung cancer and pneumonia, his wife told the newspaper.
Robertson's career spanned the decades following WWII; he appeared in early television series including "The Iron Horse" and "Death Valley Days," and by the 1980s he had regular recurring roles on later shows like "Dallas" and Dynasty." He created and starred in the "Wells Fargo" series and served as the titular star in the 1987-88 series "J.J. Starbuck." Over the years, he racked up credits in over 60 films and 430 TV episodes.
read more here
By Randee Dawn
TODAY contributor
Dale Robertson, who used his Okie background and love of the American range to craft a long career in TV and film westerns, died at 89 on Wednesday near his home in San Diego, Calif. according to the New York Times.
He died of complications from lung cancer and pneumonia, his wife told the newspaper.
Robertson's career spanned the decades following WWII; he appeared in early television series including "The Iron Horse" and "Death Valley Days," and by the 1980s he had regular recurring roles on later shows like "Dallas" and Dynasty." He created and starred in the "Wells Fargo" series and served as the titular star in the 1987-88 series "J.J. Starbuck." Over the years, he racked up credits in over 60 films and 430 TV episodes.
read more here
Trauma Sets Female Veterans Adrift Back Home
Trauma Sets Female Veterans Adrift Back Home
New York Times
By PATRICIA LEIGH BROWN
Published: February 27, 2013
LOS ANGELES — In the caverns of her memory, Tiffany Jackson recalls the job she held, fleetingly, after leaving the military, when she still wore stylish flats and blouses with butterfly collars and worked in a high-rise with a million-dollar view.
Two years later, she had descended into anger and alcohol and left her job. She started hanging out with people who were using cocaine and became an addict herself, huddling against the wind on Skid Row here.
“You feel helpless to stop it,” she said of the cascade of events in which she went from having her own apartment to sleeping in seedy hotels and then, for a year, in the streets, where she joined the growing ranks of homeless female veterans.
Even as the Pentagon lifts the ban on women in combat roles, returning servicewomen are facing a battlefield of a different kind: they are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, an often-invisible group bouncing between sofa and air mattress, overnighting in public storage lockers, living in cars and learning to park inconspicuously on the outskirts of shopping centers to avoid the violence of the streets.
read more here Linked from Stars and Stripes
New York Times
By PATRICIA LEIGH BROWN
Published: February 27, 2013
LOS ANGELES — In the caverns of her memory, Tiffany Jackson recalls the job she held, fleetingly, after leaving the military, when she still wore stylish flats and blouses with butterfly collars and worked in a high-rise with a million-dollar view.
Two years later, she had descended into anger and alcohol and left her job. She started hanging out with people who were using cocaine and became an addict herself, huddling against the wind on Skid Row here.
“You feel helpless to stop it,” she said of the cascade of events in which she went from having her own apartment to sleeping in seedy hotels and then, for a year, in the streets, where she joined the growing ranks of homeless female veterans.
Even as the Pentagon lifts the ban on women in combat roles, returning servicewomen are facing a battlefield of a different kind: they are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, an often-invisible group bouncing between sofa and air mattress, overnighting in public storage lockers, living in cars and learning to park inconspicuously on the outskirts of shopping centers to avoid the violence of the streets.
read more here Linked from Stars and Stripes
You'd think North Carolina would treat veterans better
Why that title? Because while political sites love to point fingers, the truth is all states are not equal when it comes to taking care of their veterans. Ever wonder why one state does better than others? This is why.
North Carolina veterans waiting longer on Veterans Affairs claims
By John Ramsey
Staff writer
Mar 01, 2013
More than 7,000 veterans have been waiting at least a year for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Winston-Salem to rule on their disability claims, according to a recent memo from the office to veterans service organizations.
For more than 700 veterans, the wait has dragged on at least two years.
The delays have worsened for veterans in North Carolina, who are waiting longer for claims decisions than they were six months ago even as the VA works to eliminate its growing backlog by 2015.
It takes an average of 341 days to process claims at the Veterans Benefits Administration's claims office in Winston-Salem, up from 329 days in September. The office, which handles most North Carolina cases including Fayetteville and the Cape Fear region, has the second-longest wait time in the agency's southeastern region behind Roanoke, Va.
In the past six months, the number of pending claims in Winston-Salem grew by about 570 veterans a month, from 33,606 to 37,051.
read more here
Navy veteran writes names of 2,200 killed servicemembers from memory
Navy veteran writes names of 2,200 killed servicemembers from memory
by TODD UNGER
WFAA
Posted on February 28, 2013
FORT WORTH -- Close to 7,000 words and more than 2,200 names later, Ron White finally did it.
The U.S. Navy veteran recorded the names of the military fallen from Afghanistan on a makeshift wall in downtown Fort Worth on Thursday. And he did it all from memory.
"I have pictures in my mind for each name," said White, who served one tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2007.
read more here
by TODD UNGER
WFAA
Posted on February 28, 2013
FORT WORTH -- Close to 7,000 words and more than 2,200 names later, Ron White finally did it.
The U.S. Navy veteran recorded the names of the military fallen from Afghanistan on a makeshift wall in downtown Fort Worth on Thursday. And he did it all from memory.
"I have pictures in my mind for each name," said White, who served one tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2007.
read more here
Former Marine who was expelled from SMU seeks justice
Former Marine who was expelled from SMU in 2011 as “security concern” sues university in federal court
Dallas Morning News
By Robert Wilonsky
February 28, 2013
Two years ago in the pages of the student newspaper, SMU police called Daniel Hux a “safety concern” who needed to be removed from campus before he hurt someone. Today, in a lawsuit filed in Dallas federal court, Daniel Hux claims he was the victim, and that his explusion in March 2011 was nothing short of a violation of his constitutional rights.
Hux, a former U.S. Marine, also alleges wrongful arrest, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and myriad other violations of his rights.
According to the 33-page complaint filed this afternoon, Hux enrolled at SMU in 2010, and was the recipient of an academic scholarship. At the same time he applied for a job as a resident assistant, which he claims he needed “to be able to afford to attend SMU.” He was placed in Hawk Hall, which is located behind the Perkins School of Theology.
read more here
Dallas Morning News
By Robert Wilonsky
February 28, 2013
Two years ago in the pages of the student newspaper, SMU police called Daniel Hux a “safety concern” who needed to be removed from campus before he hurt someone. Today, in a lawsuit filed in Dallas federal court, Daniel Hux claims he was the victim, and that his explusion in March 2011 was nothing short of a violation of his constitutional rights.
Hux, a former U.S. Marine, also alleges wrongful arrest, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and myriad other violations of his rights.
According to the 33-page complaint filed this afternoon, Hux enrolled at SMU in 2010, and was the recipient of an academic scholarship. At the same time he applied for a job as a resident assistant, which he claims he needed “to be able to afford to attend SMU.” He was placed in Hawk Hall, which is located behind the Perkins School of Theology.
read more here
Why does the National Review pretend to care about troops now?
Why does the National Review pretend to care about troops now?
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
March 1, 2013
Once again the disinformation sucks the truth out of our country like the sinkholes in Florida.
This is yet one more load of political BS! First, Congress is responsible for funding and coming up with Bills for the troops and veterans among everything else. Obama as with all Presidents, sets out what he wants done but in the end, it falls under the control of Congress. Much like when President Bush sent troops into two wars but there were less doctors and nurses working for the VA than there were during the Gulf War. Amazing isn't it? It was not Bush's fault no one planned for the wounded two wars would create but it was in fact Congress that dropped the ball. Of course no one talked about it because that would have looked bad especially when it was Republicans doing the damage much like no one wanted to talk about how every defense of this nation failed on the one day they were all needed, or talked about the failure of sending troops into combat in Iraq.
What happened was a massive backlog of claims they were also not talking about.
I wrote this when Congressman Miller decided to finally talk about all of this.
Did the Republican "trusted" sources report on any of this? Hell no. This was and is horrible for the troops and veterans because at the same time sites like National Review were pretending to be patriotic, they were playing politics when wounded veterans were suffering from neglect. Telling the truth and paying attention is our responsibility so the general public knows what is going on. They will not take a stand for the troops or veterans if they believe lies like this one.
The rest of us know how much Michelle Obama cares about the troops, veterans and their families. If Republicans feel like idiots, they have their own media to blame.
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
March 1, 2013
Once again the disinformation sucks the truth out of our country like the sinkholes in Florida.
This is yet one more load of political BS! First, Congress is responsible for funding and coming up with Bills for the troops and veterans among everything else. Obama as with all Presidents, sets out what he wants done but in the end, it falls under the control of Congress. Much like when President Bush sent troops into two wars but there were less doctors and nurses working for the VA than there were during the Gulf War. Amazing isn't it? It was not Bush's fault no one planned for the wounded two wars would create but it was in fact Congress that dropped the ball. Of course no one talked about it because that would have looked bad especially when it was Republicans doing the damage much like no one wanted to talk about how every defense of this nation failed on the one day they were all needed, or talked about the failure of sending troops into combat in Iraq.
What happened was a massive backlog of claims they were also not talking about.
I wrote this when Congressman Miller decided to finally talk about all of this.
In 2007 we had to deal with this. Neglect? The VA's current backlog is 800,000 cases And then by December of 2007, there were these reports.
The agency’s new plan to hire at least 150 new appeals judges to whittle down the backlog, which has soared to 755,000 from 311,000 in 2000, will require $100 million more than the president requested this year and still more in the future. The plan has been delayed by the standoff between Congress and the White House over domestic appropriations.
148,000 Vietnam Vets sought help in last 18 months
Followed by this one.
VBA's pending compensation and claims backlog stood at 816,211 as of January 2008
Followed by this one
VA reported 879,291 claims were in backlog
And ending 2008 with this one.
806,000 Veterans backlog claims listed
And then this
VA Claim backlog hit 915,000 on May 4, 2009
As you can see, none of this is new. While it would have been easy to just deal with the backlog of cases and ignore the veterans left behind from Vietnam, the rules were changed to try to do the right thing even though it meant the challenge would be greater especially when Congress did not do their job and make sure the funding and staffing were all in place. The backlog has been exacerbated by the administration’s 2010 decision to accept 260,000 previously denied and new claims associated with Agent Orange exposure.
Did the Republican "trusted" sources report on any of this? Hell no. This was and is horrible for the troops and veterans because at the same time sites like National Review were pretending to be patriotic, they were playing politics when wounded veterans were suffering from neglect. Telling the truth and paying attention is our responsibility so the general public knows what is going on. They will not take a stand for the troops or veterans if they believe lies like this one.
The rest of us know how much Michelle Obama cares about the troops, veterans and their families. If Republicans feel like idiots, they have their own media to blame.
Just Props: The Obama Administration Fails Veterans
National Review
By Pete Hegseth
February 28, 2013
What are we to make of Michelle Obama’s satellite appearance at Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony, in which she announced the “Best Picture” Oscar while surrounded by a phalanx of uniformed military personnel?
Almost immediately, questions were raised as to the appropriateness of using service members as “props” in a commercial entertainment broadcast. I tend to agree it was inappropriate, especially since the first lady made no mention of the troops decorating her appearance. Even so, it was a relatively minor offense.
But perhaps we should be grateful to the White House for making it crystal clear otherwise that, when it comes to our military personnel and veterans, this administration’s priorities are definitely “just for show.” The fact is, the Obama administration’s support for post-9/11 veterans has been anything but awards-worthy.
Just look at the dismal situation at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where a persistent backlog of benefits claims has left hundreds of thousands of veterans in limbo.
According to a report published in the military newspapere Stars and Stripes just this week, the claims backlog has actually grown by 7 percent from a year ago, in spite of VA secretary Eric Shinseki’s promises of speedier service.
read more here
Fort Jackson Wife Nominated Spouse of the Year
I received an email from Pamela Larson about this nomination. She is a soldier's wife but she was a soldier as well. She was wounded in Iraq. Pamela is Mom, but has also taken on another labor of love, helping soldiers and spouses with PTSD.
Read Pam's story and if you learn nothing about what is asked of military families, then you've already been paying attention. The trouble is too many have no clue.
If her name sounds familiar to you it is because Pamela and her husband were also the subjects of many posts here. Her husband, Sgt. Robert Larson was having a hard time with PTSD and for a while was missing. This was followed up by Fort Jackson, Missing Soldier Suffers from PTSD, Long Untreated TBI Pamela was frantic but when the Military search for Sgt. Rob Larson ended this Wife turned to Facebook to find missing husband. On October 22, the news came out that Sgt. Larson returned home.
Read Pam's story and if you learn nothing about what is asked of military families, then you've already been paying attention. The trouble is too many have no clue.
If her name sounds familiar to you it is because Pamela and her husband were also the subjects of many posts here. Her husband, Sgt. Robert Larson was having a hard time with PTSD and for a while was missing. This was followed up by Fort Jackson, Missing Soldier Suffers from PTSD, Long Untreated TBI Pamela was frantic but when the Military search for Sgt. Rob Larson ended this Wife turned to Facebook to find missing husband. On October 22, the news came out that Sgt. Larson returned home.
On February 21st, 2013 Pamela Larson was named a finalist for Military Spouse of the Year. Pamela Larson is Fort Jackson’s Spouse of the Year and is one of three Army spouses who are eligible for this impressive honor. For Pam, this campaign is not about gaining a title, it is about saving her husband's life and healing her family from the wounds of war. Her fight is not for her soldier, but more so for the man underneath the uniform.
In the painful journey of PTSD and TBI which their lives have become, Pam now recognizes that she is not alone in this fight. She strives to be a resource and lifeline to other soldiers, veterans, and their loved ones to help them cope and treat these silent war-inflicted wounds.
Pamela Larson is more than just a Military Spouse, she is a purple heart veteran, a mother of two, a college student, a small business owner, and an activist for soldiers battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries. But first and foremost, she is a military spouse and mom.
Pam’s heroic story did not start that October day in 2006 when she was shot on her last 36 hours of duty in Iraq; this story began the day that her wounded husband went missing from their South Carolina home after a PCS move to Fort Jackson. Against all odds, Pamela used social media to gain resources to lead a nationwide search. Without the active help of military resources, she and the connections she sought out, tracked her soldier to a remote camp in Minnesota after an 8-day search, where he was found in a delusional state.
Since her husband’s return, Pamela is now utilizing her resources to find the help her husband needs and to assist all active military members, their spouses, and the veterans who struggle daily fighting this silent epidemic of PTSD and TBI. Through her PTSD support pages, Pam is also working daily to help spouses and loved ones get the help they need to assist in their soldier’s recovery.
Along with being an activist, Pamela has been a strong support to Military families through the creation of her in-home business, Teddys from the Troops. Teddys from the Troops was started as a way to help Military families to cope when a loved one is deployed. The bears are made out of used ACUs to provide a level of comfort while the soldier is away. Pamela also donates one bear a month to a family member of a wounded warrior.
Voting for Military Spouse of the Year will take place on March 5th and absolutely anyone can vote. This voting will determine both Military-wide Spouse of the Year as well as Branch-wide Spouse of the Year. Military Spouse of the Year will be announced on May 9th at a luncheon in Washington DC.
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