MOH Vietnam Veteran Major Charles Kettles passed away

Obituary: Charles Kettles: Vietnam veteran whose service medal was upgraded by President Obama 50 years on

The Independent

Emily Langer 
February 4, 2019 

The Song Tra Cau riverbed near Duc Pho, South Vietnam, was dubbed “Chump Valley”. Only a chump, American soldiers said, would venture there. 

Kettles receives his medal of honor from the president in 2016 ( Getty )

On Monday 15 May 1967 Major Charles Kettles did just that, braving punishing fire from the North Vietnamese to make four helicopter journeys delivering reinforcements to outnumbered members of the 101st Airborne Division – and evacuate the wounded and the dead.

Kettles was credited with saving the lives of 44 men and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the military’s second-highest award for valour, for his actions. Nearly half a century later, the award was upgraded to Medal of Honour.

President Barack Obama, bestowing the medal on Kettles in 2016, recalled a comrade who called Kettles “our John Wayne”.

Kettles, who died aged 89, retired from the army in 1978 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
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Will President Obama Pardon Incarcerated PTSD Veterans Too?

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.
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President Obama Feels Pulse of Orlando

I have never been more proud of this city. To see the way people have stepped up to help strangers for no other reason than love, to see businesses set aside profit because of heartache, folks show up standing in line to donate blood and hold a candle to light the darkness, that shows the pulse of this city is beating strong enough to prove that hate will not defeat love.

President Obama meeting with victims’ families, survivors in Orlando
WESH 2 News
UPDATED 3:45 PM EDT Jun 16, 2016

After leaving the Amway Center, President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden stopped at the memorial resurrected outside the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.

Orlando Mayor Buddy dyer shows President Obama a black "Orlando Pride" t shirt with a rainbow heart. AP IMAGE

3:30 p.m.

President Obama’s motorcade left the Amway Center shortly after 3:30 p.m. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden spent a little over two hours meeting with survivors and family members of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

2:30 p.m.
Hundreds of people have gathered outside the Amway Center as President Barack Obama meets with survivors and family members of the victims inside.

1:30 p.m.
President Obama's motorcade arrived at the Amway Center just before 1:30 p.m. He will be meeting with the families of victims and survivors.

Survivors of the mass shooting were brought to the Amway Center Thursday morning.

After meeting with the families and survivors. President Obama and Vice President Biden will be meeting with local law enforcement officials to thank them for their work in response to Sunday's mass shooting.
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President Obama, Still Clueless on Service Members and Veteran Suicides

As always, no one had to explain anything. No explanation on how suicides went up after all this "awareness" or the other, all too often avoided fact, that most of the veterans committing suicide are over the age of 50. Then add in the other avoided topic of all the awareness raisers repeat a non-existent number from a report they didn't bother to read. As if that wasn't bad enough, add in the news reports on this infamous group and you have a sham-grand-slam hit out of the park by our Commander-in-Chief.
Wounds don’t end service for US military members

"Some participants in the annual Wounded Warrior Ride who were welcomed at the White House on Thursday are working through less visible wounds, like post-traumatic stress disorder. The ride was established to raise awareness of U.S. service members who suffer the physical and psychological effects of combat."

As you can hear in the video, there are sirens from emergency responders but they were ignored by the President and the group. Seems most politicians have a hard time paying attention to any of the emergency sirens replaced by the anguished cried from families after they had to bury a veteran they loved.

Am I too harsh? Hardly harsh enough because every time I read about more suicides, the words of President Obama reverberate in my had like a bad dream. The words came in 2008 when he was still a Senator serving on the Veterans Affairs Committee.

On January 24, 2008 Senator Obama said this in Beaufort South Carolina.

“I will never forget that everyone who wears the uniform deserves the opportunities that my grandfather got – to have a Commander-in-Chief who is accountable, and to have a grateful nation that helps you live the American Dream that you have defended,”

On February 7, 2008 then Senator Obama, Chuck Hagel and Tom Harkin were answering a group of veterans about suicides when the Washington Post reported this.

Army statistics show that 121 soldiers committee suicide last year - a 20 percent increase from 2006. This is the highest rate of Army suicides recorded since the Army started collecting this data in 1980. The Post also reported that last year about 2,100 soldiers "injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002."

and Tom Harkin had this to add

"These startling statistics should serve as a wakeup call that suicide among soldiers and veterans is more than a problem, it is an epidemic. Thankfully, our push to provide America's veterans with a suicide prevention program was heard last year, when the President signed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act into law. But there is more work ahead - especially in serving our active duty military personnel. We can and must act quickly to save our soldiers who are so bravely fighting for our country."

But as we've seen, there hasn't been any accountability from anyone as more speeches were made.

Obama promises to repeat Montana's National Guard PTSD work nation wide
Obama Pledges Nationwide Use of PTSD Program
Eric Newhouse
Great Falls Tribune
Aug 28, 2008 - 
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama promised Wednesday to expand Montana's pilot program to assess the mental health of combat vets nationwide, if elected.The Montana National Guard has developed a program to check its soldiers and airmen for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder every six months for the first two years after returning from combat, then once a year thereafter. The program exceeds national standards set by the U.S. Department of Defense.The pilot program was created in response to the suicide of former Army Spc. Chris Dana of Helena, who shot himself on March 4, 2007, days after being given a less-than-honorable discharge because he could no longer handle attending drills following a tour in Iraq.
"He (Obama) told me he understood why we need to have additional screenings for PTSD," said Matt Kuntz, Dana's stepbrother, who was among a small group invited to meet with Obama on Wednesday in Billings. "And he told me when he is elected president, he will implement Montana's pilot program nationwide."Kuntz, who recently gave up his job as a lawyer in Helena to advocate for the mentally ill and their families, said he was invited to brief Obama on how Montana had become a national model for assessing the mental health of its combat vets.
click above for more
I've done a lot of posts on the Montana National Guards program.
http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/search?q=Montana+National+Guard 

As you can see, it isn't that Obama didn't know what was happening all along. He just hasn't taken much time to notice the change we got was more dead veterans and a lot more families grieving. The number of suicides went up but no one has done anything to hold anyone accountable for anything.


UPDATE:
Just got word some viewed this as a political statement.  In a way it is because after all these years, no politician has held anyone accountable for any of this. As with most things, this crossed over 2 administrations and will be carried over into the next one.  So no, not just about President Obama but he is in fact still Commander-in-Chief.

President Obama Takes Trip Down Memory Lane on New Speech for Veterans

The Veterans Community keeps hearing the same speeches from the people in charge. From President Obama all the way down to members of congress, and we can't say nothing has changed. 

For the most part, they're all doing more, spending more, promising more but veterans wait too long for good results.

How is it that the list of Presidents and other politicians making promises to veterans grows and nothing gets fixed?

Obama, VA secretary take part in veterans' roundtable
The Republic
Dan Nowicki
March 13, 2015

Obama said the group also discussed mental health and suicide prevention issues.

He stressed "the need to restore trust and confidence in the VA system. Trust is one of those things you can lose real quickly," he added, "and it takes a long time to restore. ... It's important that veterans know somebody's got their backs."

President Obama joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald, (left), and Former USAA CEO Josue Robles (right), came to discuss veterans issues at the Phoenix VA Medical Center on March 13, 2015.
(Photo: Nick Oza/The Republic)

President Barack Obama today met with administrators, politicians and veterans' groups at the Phoenix VA medical complex for a status report on reforms and to explore ways to improve customer service for the nation's wounded warriors.

Some lawmakers criticized the president the meeting, saying his administrator was not doing enough to implement congressional reforms passed last year. 

After the meetings, Obama made an unscheduled visit at 2:28 p.m. to the new home of wounded Army Ranger Cory Remsburg, who was partially paralyzed by an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2009. Remsburg received a custom-built home today in Gilbert, courtesy of veterans support groups.
read more here

Obama meets with injured veteran Cory Remsburg

Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg emerges from his van and into his new neighborhood. On Friday, he got a visit from President Barack Obama. (Photo: Jessie Wardarski /The Republic, Jessie Wardarski/The Republic)


President Obama talked about Cory during the DAV National Convention in Orlando
Aug 11, 2013
Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsburg enters Gilbert Town Hall while being honored by Operation Welcome Home by the town of Gilbert on May 23, 2013. The Army Ranger was injured in Afghanistan in 2009 on his 10th tour of duty.

President Obama Gets Credit For What President Bush Actually Did?

Reading an article on Breitbart about Rep. Ryan Zinke was stunning since it appears Edwin Mora decided to just follow along the rest of the crowd and give President Obama credit for something President Bush actually did.

The panel’s moderator asked Rep. Zinke, a former Navy SEAL Team Six commander, “You fought that war, would you have gone in knowing what we now know?”

“No,” candidly responded Zinke who led a force of over 3,500 Special Operations personnel in Iraq.

“I probably would not have gone, nor would I have left as soon as we did,” also said Zinke, later adding,“We left too soon and now we have to reengage.”

See, not only did President Bush start the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, he actually ended US operations in Iraq before being replaced by the newly elected President Obama.

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary
December 14, 2008

President Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Maliki Sign the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement Prime Minister's Palace Baghdad, Iraq

PRIME MINISTER MALIKI: (As translated.) I'd like to welcome the President of the United States, President George W. Bush. I would like to welcome you here as a guest. You have stood by Iraq and the Iraqi people for a very long time, starting with the -- getting rid of the dictatorship, helping the Iraqis to fight terrorism.

President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki shake hands following the signing of the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement at a joint news conference Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, at the Prime Minister's Palace in Baghdad. President Bush said, " The agreements represent a shared vision on the way forward in Iraq."

Your visit today to Iraq, Mr. President, comes after the signing of the agreement between the two countries, which represents -- (audio drop) -- foundation and draws a road map that will govern and guide the relationship between the two states.

I believe that Iraq, we have performed and have done great work in a cooperative and integrated way in fighting terror. We have succeeded in Iraq, and we hope that efforts also around the world will succeed in defeating terrorism. Today Iraq is moving forward in every field. Through the new Iraqi political system we are working very hard through this, as well as developing the Iraqi economy, and reconstruction of Iraq. We are doing all of this in order for Iraq to restore its rightful place among nations and among the world, and away from the previous reckless policies that focused on wars with the previous regime.

The various political institutions have taken a very strong leadership position and the agreement was ratified, was approved by our political system, our parliament, and various institutions of the Iraqi government. They have approved and ratified the SOFA agreement and the withdrawal of American forces. We believe that these efforts culminated the height of real understanding and cooperation and friendship between Iraq and the United States. Now remains the part of implementing such an agreement. Now we are in the process of forming the proper committees that will carry out all elements of the various two agreements that were signed -- and I'm referring to the various fields, military, scientific, educational, commerce, as well as economic fields.

President Bush, you have played a very supportive role in achieving and concluding this agreement and prior to the actual date of starting to implement this agreement, in January 1, '09 we already start working through the United Nations Security Council we are in the process of drafting a resolution that will make it very clear that Iraq no longer represents a threat to world peace and security. And also a resolution that will set the basis for the protection of Iraqi financial capabilities and bring Iraq back to its rightful place among world communities.

Once again I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you, Mr. President. Once again I wish you a very joyful stay here in Baghdad and a safe trip back home.

We're also signing a Security Agreement, sometimes called a Status of Forces Agreement. The agreement provides American troops and Defense Department officials with authorizations and protections to continue supporting Iraq's democracy once the U.N. mandate expires at the end of this year. This agreement respects the sovereignty and the authority of Iraq's democracy. The agreement lays out a framework for the withdrawal of American forces in Iraq -- a withdrawal that is possible because of the success of the surge.
the link is still live and you can read the rest here

Whenever you read something be careful of what the article really says as much as what it doesn't say. A lot of smart people look really stupid when they believe something just because they want to.

Has President Obama Forgotten Promise and Spc. Chris Dana?

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 3, 2015

I was just reading a good article on Private moments in Obama's war education help shape his evolution on casualties and wondering what the point was. Why do it? It tells about how hard it has been on Obama as Commander-in-Chief. Wars are always hard on Presidents. It told the story of how in 2012 he visited mortuary affairs soldiers in Afghanistan and those 15 soldiers wondered why.

As I kept reading I began to wonder about something else that has been asked thousands of times ever since President Obama had made another detour away from the press way back in 2008. He was just a Senator back then and was on the Veterans Affairs Committee.

In 2007 when he announced his list of advisors on veterans issues.

Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Current Conflicts to Advise Obama Chicago, IL - The Obama campaign announced the launch of his National Veterans Advisory Committee today that will advise Senator Obama through the course of the campaign on issues related to the challenges facing troops and veterans. The group will also take the lead on building the grassroots network of support in the veteran's community in key primary states and in communities with large veteran's populations across the country.

"Senator Obama has been a leader for veterans in the Senate, and has laid out the most comprehensive plan to care for veterans among the 2008 candidates," said Major General Merrill "Tony" McPeak, a retired four-star Air Force general. "I am honored to work with him to care for our fighting men and women, both when they serve and when they return home. I firmly believe Barack Obama is the best candidate for our nation's veterans, and I would be proud to call him my commander in chief."

"Barack Obama has fought to improve veterans' care, to reduce homelessness among veterans, and ensure fair disability benefits," said Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who served as a United States Air Force intelligence officer. "As President, Barack Obama will continue his leadership for the rights and benefits of veterans. He will stand with veterans -- just as they have stood up for us."

"I'll be a President who ensures that America serves our men and women in uniform as well as they've served us, and that's why I'm proud to have the support of these veterans advising me on the issues facing our troops and veterans," Obama stated. "After seven years of an Administration that has stretched our military to the breaking point, ignored deplorable conditions at some VA hospitals, and neglected the planning and preparation necessary to care for our returning heroes, America's veterans deserve a President who will fight for them not just when it's easy or convenient, but every hour of every day for the next four years."

As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama is committed to helping the heroes who defend our nation today and the veterans who fought in years past. As a grandson of a World War II veteran who went to college on the G.I. Bill and a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Senator Obama has successfully reached out to Republicans and Democrats to pass laws to improve care for troops recovering from injuries, combat homelessness among veterans, and make the disability benefits process more equitable.

Obama has made it a priority to reach out to veterans as part of his presidential campaign. In August, he laid out a comprehensive plan to build a 21st-century Department of Veterans Affairs that upholds America's sacred trust with our veterans.

It was a big deal when he escaped the national press to meet with family of a National Guardsman, Chris Dana. Dana couldn't be there because Chris Dana committed suicide in March of 2007.

Obama promises to repeat Montana's National Guard PTSD work nation wide
Obama Pledges Nationwide Use of PTSD Program
Eric Newhouse

Great Falls Tribune
Aug 28, 2008 - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama promised Wednesday to expand Montana's pilot program to assess the mental health of combat vets nationwide, if elected.The Montana National Guard has developed a program to check its soldiers and airmen for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder every six months for the first two years after returning from combat, then once a year thereafter. The program exceeds national standards set by the U.S. Department of Defense.The pilot program was created in response to the suicide of former Army Spc. Chris Dana of Helena, who shot himself on March 4, 2007, days after being given a less-than-honorable discharge because he could no longer handle attending drills following a tour in Iraq.

"He (Obama) told me he understood why we need to have additional screenings for PTSD," said Matt Kuntz, Dana's stepbrother, who was among a small group invited to meet with Obama on Wednesday in Billings. "And he told me when he is elected president, he will implement Montana's pilot program nationwide."Kuntz, who recently gave up his job as a lawyer in Helena to advocate for the mentally ill and their families, said he was invited to brief Obama on how Montana had become a national model for assessing the mental health of its combat vets.

Like everyone else paying attention to all of this, there was a lot of hope back then for me. Over the years I've been wondering where that guy went. After all the years claimed more and more lives and more men and women were kicked out of the military instead of helped while it in. More veterans ended up surviving combat but their lives ended back home. I kept waiting. Waiting to see that same guy show up and know what he was talking about. The same guy who showed that their lives mattered.

When the Vice Joint Chiefs of Staff admitted to the Senate Armed Service Committee they were not doing post deployment screenings, no one said anything about it and they sure as hell didn't do anything about the claiming they just didn't have the money or manpower to do them.

When suicides went up after Congress had been writing bill after bill, he signed them but never once demanded any of them to account for the increased suffering.

If seeing bodies in mortuary affairs was supposed to be some kind of reflection of being touched by the price of war, then why hasn't the deaths of thousands a year touched him enough to act? Why hasn't a history of being on the Veterans Affairs Committee and all the hard questions he used to ask actually carry on to when he was given the power to actually change things? This isn't the change we were hoping for.

Why has he forgotten that day on the park bench making a promise to Chris Dana's family that he was going to do something to save their lives?

This is what they knew during the first year Obama went from Senator to President.

Only 15% US Military Approve of Commander-in-Chief Obama

It is great to read about what most talk about. The troops are very unhappy. When sequestration cut funding for the military after Congress caused the mess, President Obama didn't do much about it. That put a huge scar on all of them considering most wanted to make it to retire from the military instead of being laid off. Imagine what it did to morale when deployed Captains and Majors got their pink slips.

Then there is the issue of PTSD and suicides. Would be interesting to read results of a survey to see who troops blame for the lack of care and the way they were treated in the Warrior Transition Units.

All in all, as damning as this report is, for the troops, it only touches on what they have been talking about for years.

President Barack Obama address the group of soldiers at US Central Command (CentCom) at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., on Sept. 17, 2014. James Borchuck/AP

Obama’s mark on the military
A DEEPLY UNPOPULAR COMMANDER IN CHIEF IS FORCING PROFOUND CHANGE INSIDE THE RANKS
Military.com
By Stephen Losey
December 21, 2014

According to a Military Times survey of almost 2,300 active-duty service members, Obama's popularity — never high to begin with — has crumbled, falling from 35 percent in 2009 to just 15 percent this year, while his disapproval ratings have increased to 55 percent from 40 percent over that time.

In his first term, President Obama oversaw repeal of the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Then he broke with one of the military's most deeply rooted traditions and vowed to lift the ban on women serving in combat.

And the commander in chief has aggressively sought to change military culture by cracking down on sexual assault and sexual harassment, problems that for years were underreported or overlooked.

Obama is an unpopular president in the eyes of the men and women in uniform. Yet his two-term administration is etching a deep imprint on the culture inside the armed forces. As commander in chief, he will leave behind a legacy that will shape the Pentagon's personnel policies and the social customs of rank-and-file troops for decades to come.

For Obama's supporters, the cultural changes he's overseeing are on a level with President Truman's 1948 order that desegregated the military and put it at the forefront of the national push for racial equality.
read more here

Picture of Obama and Hagel Says It All

Some pictures are worth a thousand words. Here's one of them.

For Obama and the Pentagon, an uneasy relationship

President Barack Obama reaches out to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, following an announcement of Hagel's resignation at the White House on Nov. 24, 2014. The friction between the president and the Pentagon has been particularly pronounced during his six years in office, and seems to be affecting his ability to find a replacement for Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. SUSAN WALSH/AP

You don't have be inside their heads to hear what they are thinking. Hagel, the Vietnam Veteran Secretary of Defense saying good-bye as President Obama shows he wants to move him along faster. Good luck to the next Secretary,,,,,you're going to need it!

President Obama Dedicates American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial

Full Speech Video On October 5, 2014, President Obama delivered remarks at the dedication of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.

Obama didn't need to be briefed in 2008 because he was on the committee

New American slanted report on VA problems just goes to show when it comes to doing the right thing and political games, games win while veterans continue to lose.

First is that Obama knew about what was going on in the VA since he was on the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee

This is one of the first bills he introduced showing what kinds of problems he knew about.

S.692 -- VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007 (Introduced in Senate - IS)
S 692 IS
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 692
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2007
Mr. OBAMA introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to establish the Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative under title 38, United States Code, to ensure that quality measures data for hospitals administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs are readily available and accessible in order to--
(1) inform patients and consumers about health care quality in such hospitals;
(2) assist Veterans Affairs health care providers in identifying opportunities for quality improvement and cost containment; and
(3) enhance the understanding of policy makers and public officials of health care issues, raise public awareness of hospital quality issues, and to help constituents of such policy makers and officials identify quality health care options.

SEC. 3. VA HOSPITAL QUALITY REPORT CARD INITIATIVE.
(a) In General- Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`Sec. 1730A. Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative
`(a) Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007, the Secretary shall establish and implement a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative (in this section referred to as the `Initiative') to report on health care quality in VA hospitals.
`(b) For purposes of this section, the term `VA hospital' means a hospital administered by the Secretary.
`(c)(1)(A) Not less than 2 times each year, the Secretary shall publish reports on VA hospital quality. Such reports shall include quality measures data that allow for an assessment of health care--
`(i) effectiveness;
`(ii) safety;
`(iii) timeliness;
`(iv) efficiency;
`(v) patient-centeredness; and
`(vi) equity.
`(B) In collecting and reporting data as provided for under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall include VA hospital information, as possible, relating to--
`(i) staffing levels of nurses and other health professionals, as appropriate;
`(ii) rates of nosocomial infections;
`(iii) the volume of various procedures performed;
`(iv) hospital sanctions and other violations;
`(v) the quality of care for various patient populations, including female, geriatric, disabled, rural, homeless, mentally ill, and racial and ethnic minority populations;
`(vi) the availability of emergency rooms, intensive care units, maternity care, and specialty services;
`(vii) the quality of care in various hospital settings, including inpatient, outpatient, emergency, maternity, and intensive care unit settings;
`(viii) ongoing patient safety initiatives; and
`(ix) other measures determined appropriate by the Secretary.
`(C)(i) In reporting data as provided for under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may risk adjust quality measures to account for differences relating to--
`(I) the characteristics of the reporting VA hospital, such as licensed bed size, geography, and teaching hospital status; and
`(II) patient characteristics, such as health status, severity of illness, and socioeconomic status. `(ii) If the Secretary reports data under subparagraph (A) using risk-adjusted quality measures, the Secretary shall establish procedures for making the unadjusted data available to the public in a manner determined appropriate by the Secretary.
`(D) Under the Initiative, the Secretary may verify data reported under this paragraph to ensure accuracy and validity.
`(E) The Secretary shall disclose the entire methodology for the reporting of data under this paragraph to all relevant organizations and VA hospitals that are the subject of any such information that is to be made available to the public prior to the public disclosure of such information.
`(F)(i) The Secretary shall submit each report to the appropriate committees of Congress.
`(ii) The Secretary shall ensure that reports are made available under this section in an electronic format, in an understandable manner with respect to various populations (including those with low functional health literacy), and in a manner that allows health care quality comparisons to be made with local hospitals or regional hospitals, as appropriate.
`(iii) The Secretary shall establish procedures for making report findings available to the public, upon request, in a non-electronic format, such as through a toll-free telephone number.
`(G) The analytic methodologies and limitations on data sources utilized by the Secretary to develop and disseminate the comparative data under this section shall be identified and acknowledged as part of the dissemination of such data, and include the appropriate and inappropriate uses of such data.
`(H) On at least an annual basis, the Secretary shall compare quality measures data submitted by each VA hospital with data submitted in the prior year or years by the same hospital in order to identify and report actions that would lead to false or artificial improvements in the hospital's quality measurements.
`(2)(A) The Secretary shall develop and implement effective safeguards to protect against the unauthorized use or disclosure of VA hospital data that is reported under this section.
`(B) The Secretary shall develop and implement effective safeguards to protect against the dissemination of inconsistent, incomplete, invalid, inaccurate, or subjective VA hospital data. `(C) The Secretary shall ensure that identifiable patient data shall not be released to the public.
`(d)(1) The Secretary shall evaluate and periodically submit a report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Initiative, including the effectiveness of the Initiative in meeting the purpose described in section 2 of the VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007. The Secretary shall make such reports available to the public.
`(2) The Secretary shall use the outcomes from the evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) to increase the usefulness of the Initiative.
`(e) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2016.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1730 the following new item:
`1730A. Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative.'.

Top that off with the fact that all the problems had existed before Obama took over and no one did much before to fix it. This is what veterans have been dealing with for decades. Presidents point their fingers at Congress and Congress points their fingers at Presidents and both parties fail.

You can look up what happened and when but when you think that you're getting the real story from anyone, think again and look it up! As for McCain, we all know what he's been doing and none of it has been good especially when it comes to veterans in his own home state while he not only ignored them, he denied they were having problems all along.

Obama Administration Had Been Briefed on VA Problems in 2008
New American
Written by Raven Clabough
21 July 2014

As if the Obama administration is not in enough hot water over the disastrous Department of Veterans' Affairs, reports now reveal that the administration had been warned about waiting times and fraud immediately after the president was first elected in 2008.

The Veterans Administration has been under harsh scrutiny after reports exposed that the Phoenix facility had been altering its scheduling books and that at least 40 veterans had died while awaiting care. Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican, said though the scandal began in his home state, it has since become a national crisis. "Altogether, similar reports of lengthy waiting lists and other issues have surfaced in at least 10 states," according to the Washington Times.

What's worse is that the Obama administration had been briefed on the weaknesses of the VA and did nothing to address them.
read more here

President made a surprise visit to Bagram Air Field

Full video from White House

May 25, 2014
Ahead of Memorial Day, the President made a surprise visit to Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, where he spoke to thousands of troops stationed there and thanked them for their service. May 25, 2014.

Who broke the VA? Veterans didn't but everyone else did!

Who Really Broke Veterans Affairs?
It stains the legacies of presidents as far back as John F. Kennedy.
National Journal
By Jordain Carney and Stacy Kaper
May 20, 2014

Congress
Miller's own branch of government, however, cannot claim clean hands.

The VA could be overhauled to better address the needs of modern veterans, including reforms to the way it processes claims, assesses the performance of its employees, and measures its overall performance. But putting many of those reforms in place would require an act of Congress—and thus far those haven't happened.

Instead, Congress has taken a more reactive approach. When incidents—such as the recent hospital deaths—capture public attention, lawmakers hold hearings where they berate agency officials with juicy sound bites they can later play back for their constituents. It's good political theater, but it's unclear that the payoff is anything other than political.

"Congress has been totally exasperated by the VA's inability to get on top of the problem for a long time," said Linda Bilmes, a senior lecturer in public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School. "But they haven't been willing to really contemplate anything other than throwing more money at the problem."

President George W. Bush

The Bush administration sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, but when those troops came home injured, the Defense Department failed to adequately communicate it to the agency tasked with helping them.

Early on, the department was publicly counting only about a third of the casualties stemming from the War on Terror. That was because the Department was only counting servicemen and women immediately targeted in the department's wounded-in-action statistics. That accounting method left out those who were not targeted but were wounded nonetheless, such as troops injured when they were riding two trucks back from one that was hit by a roadside bomb, or those hurt in training or transportation.(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The underreporting made it more difficult for the VA to prepare for the coming influx of requests for help. The poor sharing of information—including medical records—between the two agencies has long been a bone of contention, and it remains a challenge (albeit one that is improving) to this day.

"It's not surprising, really, that the VA ended up being poorly prepared for what happened, given the way that they were planning," said Harvard Kennedy School's Bilmes. "There was absolutely a lack of planning, a lack of capacity for planning. ... They didn't know what hit them. They were completely overwhelmed."

Additionally, the VA's claims-processing time skyrocketed early in the Bush years. In 2002, it took the VA an average of 224 days to complete claims, as compared with 166 days in 1999.
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The answer is, everyone did. Presidents, a long list of them going back generations. Congress did and again, a long list of who was who when what was going on. But overall truth is all of us did because we wave flags when we send them off and if the war goes on too long, we don't want to pay for anything we don't have to pay attention to. So here are a few reminders.
Stolen Data Includes Details on 2.2 Million Troops Initial VA Report Asserted Only Veterans Affected by Burglary

SEN. PATTY MURRAY CALLS FOR HEARING ON VA MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES -- Murray cites VA's Dr. Frances Murphy who says waiting lists make VA mental health care "virtually inaccessible."

You'll love this one from 2005

The Budget Resolution passed by both houses of Congress will result in staff reductions in every VA Medical Center at a most inauspicious time—as veterans return from the war in Iraq and as increasing numbers of veterans need care from the system, said Thomas H. Corey, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). The impact will be significant among those returning troops who suffer from mental health issues such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), those who have sustained loss of limbs, and other serious injuries.

This one puts it in a nutshell.....

VA Secretary Is Ending a Trying Tenure
By Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

R. James Nicholson, the secretary of veterans affairs, resigned yesterday and said he would leave his post by Oct. 1, ending a tenure marked by the largest data breach in the federal government's history and sharp criticism of the care given to injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In an interview, Nicholson said he first considered leaving his position at the government's second-largest department in February and recently made the decision final, in part because he will turn 70 next year and wants to get back into the private sector. He does not have a job lined up, he said.

"My yearn to get back into the business world is strong," said Nicholson, adding that he was not asked to step down. "It is a good time -- if there ever is a good time -- to leave the VA. There were no frustrations causing me to think about resigning. . . . This job is so big and our mission is so multifaceted that there are always frustrations, so that was not a factor."

Senior managers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and officials of veterans groups said the resignation came as a complete surprise. A few employees who saw the video conference in which Nicholson made his announcement said he became emotional.

The agency has faced considerable criticism for its treatment of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans as they move from the military health-care system to VA's, and for its chronically slow processing of disability claims by injured or sick veterans from all eras. Critics complain about lost paperwork, a shortage of VA caseworkers, a caseload of 400,000 pending disability claims and long waits for initial appointments in the VA health-care system.

The criticism grew louder this year when The Washington Post revealed decrepit conditions and poor outpatient treatment of wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, though that facility is run by the Pentagon, not VA.

"I was surprised at the number of people, even the number of members of Congress, that thought Walter Reed was a VA hospital," Nicholson said. "So it did have an impact on us." President Bush chose Nicholson to lead a Cabinet-level task force that studied how to improve the care of returning veterans.

VA leaders came under fire again two months ago for awarding $3.8 million in bonuses to top executives in fiscal 2006 -- a time when the department was struggling to clear its backlog of disability claims and expand care as the number of newly injured veterans returning from overseas spiked.

Other trials included the theft last summer of a VA laptop computer and external hard drive containing personal information of 26.5 million veterans, and a $1 billion budget shortfall in 2005 that prompted Nicholson to go to Capitol Hill to ask for more money.

Sorrow and support, lives missed and honored at Fort Hood

'Consoler in Chief' Returns to Mourning Fort Hood
NBC News

April 9, 2014

Returning for another time in Fort Hood, Texas, to mourn and offer solace to a community shaken by the second deadly shooting in less than five years, President Obama urged the nation to honor lost lives with a renewed commitment to keep troops safe — not just in battles, but on the home front as well.

"Part of what makes this so painful is that we've been here before,” Obama said. "We must honor their lives not in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrived Wednesday at Fort Hood, where flags were lowered to half-staff at the sweeping central Texas Army base. The president met with victims' relatives before imparting his public condolences.

The president eulogized the three men killed in last week's rampage, in which a gunman fired almost three dozen shots in just eight minutes before ending his own life.

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Ferguson, 39, threw his body against the entryway of a door and became a human shield during the shooting. Sgt. Timothy Owens, 37, and Staff Sgt. Carlos Lazaney-Rodriguez, 38, were also killed in the violent incident.

"They were taken from us much too soon,” Obama said. "Their passing shakes our soul.”
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Marine Embassy Security Guard Bad Behavior

Witnesses: Marine flashed security badge on Obama trip, bragged of being ‘bullet catcher’
Washington Post
By Carol D. Leonnig, Michael Birnbaum and David Nakamura
Published: March 29, 2014

Military officials said they are investigating the conduct of a U.S. Marine who was on assignment for President Obama’s trip to the Netherlands last week, after witnesses said he was talking in detail about his job and passing around his government security badge during a night of drinking at a bar.

The Marine, Korey Nathan Pritchett, was first identified by a Dutch newspaper based on witness accounts and smartphone photos taken during the partying, which happened two nights before Obama arrived at The Hague for a nuclear security summit. The Washington Post confirmed and expanded on that reporting through interviews, social media postings and public records.

The Marine Corps began investigating the alleged behavior after The Post inquired about Pritchett. The Marines did not confirm whether he is the person in the photos.

Pritchett is a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Monte­negro and reports to the State Department, according to department and military officials. He was on temporary assignment for the Netherlands summit, officials said.
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Florida Vietnam War Sgt. 1st Class Melvin Morris to receive Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor for 24 forgotten heroes Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as Commander of a Strike Force drawn from Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, during combat operations against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Chi Lang, Republic of Vietnam on September 17, 1969.

MoH candidate thrilled at honor for Vietnam actions
Army Times
Joe Gould
Staff Writer
Feb. 22, 2014

Former Sgt. 1st Class Melvin Morris, one of the three living Medal of Honor candidates who will soon receive the award, is getting the honor for taking out enemy bunkers with grenades and rescuing wounded teammates, despite his own injuries, in Vietnam.

For that, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1969.

Morris said he was thrilled to receive a call from President Obama last May to tell him his award would be upgraded.

“I dropped to my knees,” said Morris, who volunteered for two tours in Vietnam. “He told me he was calling to tell me I was receiving the Medal of Honor, and he wanted to apologize to me for not getting it years ago.”

He is one of 24 people who will receive the Medal of Honor, the White House announced Feb. 21.

Of those, 21 have died.
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Medal of Honor for 24 forgotten heroes

From World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War

6 minutes ago

Obama to award 24 Medals of Honor

Some recipients had previously been discriminated against

Medal of Honor
EVELYN CHAVEZ/U.S. AIR FORCE

Stars and Stripes
By Patrick Dickson
Published: February 21, 2014

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans for conspicuous gallantry, correcting what was in some cases decades of discrimination.

These veterans will be honored for their valor during major combat operations in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, the White House announced late Friday.

Among the recipients will be 19 Hispanic, Jewish and African-American veterans overlooked previously because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds.

They will be honored in a ceremony at the White House on March 18.

The recipients

President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to these living veterans during a ceremony next month:
Spec. 4 Santiago J. Erevia will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as radio telephone operator in Company C, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) during search and clear mission near Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam.

Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as Commander of a Strike Force drawn from Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, during combat operations against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Chi Lang, Republic of Vietnam on September 17, 1969.

Sgt. 1st Class Jose Rodela will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as the company commander, Detachment B-36, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam on September 1, 1969.

The president will award the Medal of Honor posthumously to these individuals who served during the Vietnam war:

Sgt. Candelario Garcia will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an acting Team Leader for Company B, 1st Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Brigade,1st Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Lai Khe, Republic of Vietnam on December 8, 1968.

Spec. 4 Leonard L. Alvarado will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Rifleman with Company D, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam on August 12, 1969.

Staff Sgt. Felix M. Conde-Falcon will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an acting Platoon Leader in Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Ap Tan Hoa, Republic of Vietnam on April 4, 1969.

Spec. 4 Ardie R. Copas will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Machinegunner in Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy near Ph Romeas Hek, Cambodia on May 12, 1970.

Spec. 4 Jesus S. Duran will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an acting M-60 machinegunner in Company E, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on April 10, 1969.

The following individuals who served during the Korean war will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously:

Cpl. Joe R. Baldonado will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an acting machine gunner in 3d Squad, 2d Platoon, Company B, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kangdong, Korea on November 25, 1950.

Cpl. Victor H. Espinoza will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an Acting Rifleman in Company A, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Chorwon, Korea on August 1, 1952.

Sgt. Eduardo C. Gomez will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Tabu-dong, Korea on September 3, 1950.

Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an assistant machinegunner with Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Yangpyong, Korea on March 6 and 7, 1951.

Master Sgt. Juan E. Negron will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a member of Company L, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kalma-Eri, Korea on April 28, 1951.

Master Sgt. Mike C. Pena will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a member of Company F, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Waegwan, Korea, on September 4, 1950.

Pvt. Demensio Rivera will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with 2d Platoon, Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Changyong-ni, Korea on May 23, 1951.

Pvt. Miguel A. Vera will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division in Chorwon, Korea, on September 21, 1952.

Segt. Jack Weinstein will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while leading 1st Platoon, Company G, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division in Kumsong, Korea on October 19, 1951.

The president will award the Medal of Honor posthumously to the following individuals who served during World War II:

Pvt. Pedro Cano will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company C, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Schevenhutte, Germany on December 3, 1944.

Pvt. Joe Gandara will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Amfreville, France on June 9, 1944.

Pfc. Salvador J. Lara will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as the Squad Leader of a rifle squad with 2d Platoon, Company L, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Aprilia, Italy on May 27 and 28, 1944.

Sgt. William F. Leonard will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Squad Leader in Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy near St. Die, France on November 7, 1944.

Staff Sgt. Manuel V. Mendoza will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company B, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy on Mt. Battaglia, Italy on October 4, 1944.

Sgt. Alfred B. Nietzel will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as a section leader for Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Heistern, Germany on November 18, 1944.

First Lt. Donald K. Schwab will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as the Commander of Company E, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy near Lure, France on September 17, 1944 read more here

Obama Signs Bill Restoring Retiree Benefits

Obama Signs Bill Restoring Retiree Benefits
Associated Press
by Darlene Superville
Feb 17, 2014

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- President Barack Obama on Saturday signed separate measures into law to lift the federal debt limit and restore benefits that had been cut for younger military retirees.

Obama signed the bills during a weekend golf vacation in Southern California.

The debt limit measure allows the government to borrow money to pay its bills, such as Social Security benefits and federal salaries. Failure to pass the measure, which the Senate passed 67-31 earlier this week and sent to Obama for his signature, most likely would have sent the stock market into a nosedive.

The Treasury Department is now free to borrow regularly through March 15, 2015, meaning lawmakers won't have to revisit the issue until a new Congress is sworn in after the November elections.

Separate legislation passed in December would have held annual cost-of-living increases for veterans age 62 and younger to 1 percentage point below the rate of inflation, beginning in 2015. The measure was designed to hold the line on the soaring cost of government benefit programs, which have largely escaped trillions of dollars in deficit cuts over the past three years.
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Endangering Veterans and Victimizing Its Workforce

When you read this, notice the dates. Some happened during the Bush Administration and some happened in the Obama Administration. These cases are one more reason why I am an Independent. The GOP and the Dems failed our veterans. Time to wake up and notice that when it comes to our veterans, the only side we should take is on the side of veterans, not politicians.

Veterans Affairs: Endangering Veterans and Victimizing Its Workforce
OpEdNews
By Ward Jordan
2/1/2014

With a workforce of more than 300,000 civilian employees, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the second largest department in the U.S. Government. The VA operates the nation's largest integrated health care system and purports to maintain a "customer service" organization. But, some employees and veteran groups unwaveringly challenge that notion.

VA's mantra "I CARE," an acronym meant to reflect its core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy , Respect, and Excellence draws fire from America's veterans in need of timely care and benefits. "The VA uses the disingenuous "I Care" catchphrase to veil the truth," says Chauncey L. Robinson, a disabled veteran who served in the Persian Gulf War. "If you ask me, the term best explains how the VA callously treats wounded veterans by -- Ignoring, Concealing, Altering, Rejecting and Expelling their medical and benefit claims," says Robinson.

According to Robinson, VA officials destroyed his original benefits claim in 1995 and altered his medical records in 2012. He says, the VA has been processing his claim for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a heart condition for twenty-one (21) years. In June 2012, Robinson joined the Kendall, et. al. v Shinseki, class action lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses VA officials of intentionally depriving veterans of their rights (Case No.: 12-330-CV LMB, filed June 26, 2012, U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho).

Veterans are not alone in their frustration with the VA. Present and former VA employees tell of an intolerable workplace of reprisal where civil servants suffer when exposing wrong-doing by management officials. From fiscal year 2008 thru fiscal year 2013, VA employees filed over twelve thousand EEO employment claims against VA based on its "No FEAR" report data, as required by the Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002. Employees commonly and markedly alleged "retaliation" as a basis for filing employment discrimination complaints against the VA.

In 2008, Jamie Fox and Oliver Mitchell learned quickly of VA's "culture of reprisal." Both veterans blew the "whistle" while employed by the VA. They did so at a time when VA was feverishly struggling to meet President-Elect Barack Obama's "aggressive goal to transform VA into a modern 21st century organization that would effectively and efficiently care for Veterans" (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs FY 2014-2020 Draft Strategic Plan (p8).
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The rest of the story of Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsburg

UPDATE, The video on the DAV speech given by President Obama went viral since last night.

I was on a temp job yesterday and had to leave work a little early to go to a memorial service. The service was attended by mostly veterans gathered together to remember the son of one of the veterans. I was not able to watch the whole State of the Union speech President Obama gave. I won't be able to find out what else he said until much later today.

What I did see was the end. That was when President Obama talked about the troops and our disabled veterans.

Obama pointed out one of the guests, Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsburg. It was not the first time I heard him talk about this Army Ranger. His story was told to thousands at the DAV convention in August.

Aug 11, 2013
Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsburg  The Army Ranger was injured in Afghanistan in 2009 on his 10th tour of duty.

I filmed President Obama at the DAV convention and you can hear the entire 45 minutes of his speech broken up by subject.

Rightly so, Cory was given a standing ovation.

Cory Remsburg's Heartwrenching Story Draws Standing Ovation At The State Of The Union Address
The Huffington Post
By Paige Lavender
Posted: 01/28/2014

Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Cory Remsburg received a standing ovation after President Barack Obama told his story during his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Remsburg, who sat next to First Lady Michelle Obama during the speech, was injured by a roadside bomb during his 10th deployment. Remsburg was in a coma for three months and partially paralyzed. Obama noted in his speech the soldier is still blind in one eye and "struggles on his left side."

"[S]lowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad Craig, and the community around him, Cory has grown stronger. Day by day, he’s learned to speak again and stand again and walk again – and he’s working toward the day when he can serve his country again," Obama said. "'My recovery has not been easy,' he says. 'Nothing in life that’s worth anything is easy.'"

"Cory is here tonight. And like the Army he loves, like the America he serves, Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg never gives up, and he does not quit," Obama continued.
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During President Obama's speech at the DAV he saved Cory's story for last part of his speech. There was the same reaction to Cory there as well. Michelle Obama talked about a Marine, Cpl. Perez and how so many risked their lives to get him to the help he needed with a live RPG in his leg.

Aug 10, 2013 First Lady Obama spoke at the DAV convention in Orlando today and told about the men and women she has met in the military and how they inspire her. She also talked about Marine Cpl. Winder Perez wounded with a live RPG in his leg. Of the Marines risking their lives to save his, of the helicopter crew risking their's and the bomb tech risking her life.

I believe they do care about the troops and our veterans. Michelle has been very active for them and their families. President Obama vowed to do whatever he could to reduce suicides. That is the most depressing thing in all of this because as more has been done for them, what is happening to them has not been met with solutions that work and no one has been held accountable. Suicides among the troops and veterans has gone up during a time when there has never been more to help them heal.

As I listened to the rest of President Obama's speech, I was waiting to hear that things were going to change for them but the speech ended and so did the lives of at least 22 veterans yesterday.