VA Offers Beds to Non-Veteran Nursing Home Residents Hit By Irma

VA to make beds available where possible to non-Veteran nursing home residents affected by Hurricane Irma
News Release

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David J. Shulkin announced that VA is making beds available where possible to non-Veteran nursing home residents affected by Hurricane Irma.

Secretary Shulkin has been working with Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Bill Nelson and their staffs on this issue beginning yesterday evening.

“We thank Governor Scott and Senator Nelson for involving VA, and are grateful we can help our fellow citizens where we can in this time of need,” Secretary Shulkin said. “All Americans are pulling together to help one another, and we must make a special effort for those most vulnerable to the conditions brought on by the storm.”

VA has the ability to make its facilities available to non-Veterans as part of its fourth mission to support national, state and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts, and also through a mission assignment under the Stafford Act.

Secretary Shulkin agreed, where practical, to make beds that are not being used by Veterans available to non-Veteran nursing home residents as needed, while ensuring VA continues its primary mission of providing health care to Veterans.

The VA is also working closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state and local partners on the overall response to Irma, in addition to this specific issue.

“We will continue to look for ways to relieve the hardship this powerful storm has caused,” Secretary Shulkin said. “Much of the heavy lifting to recover from the hurricane is still to come, and our leaders and staff are determined to find as many ways as we can for VA to help in coordination with federal, state and local agencies in the response.”

More information on the VA’s response to Hurricanes Irma and Harvey can be found at https://www.va.gov/.

Forget Slogan of "22" California Will Start to Track Veteran Suicides

California will now track suicide among veterans


San Diego Union Tribune
Jeanette Steele
September 12, 2017

At least 27 vets under age 45 died by suicide in San Diego County over 18 months. The San Diego Union-Tribune tracked down the families, friends and medical examiner records of these young veterans.

A new law will require California officials to compile statistics on how many military veterans are committing suicide in the state.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation Monday.

One of the law’s proponents said the new requirement makes California one of 22 states to accurately report veteran suicide.

Assembly Bill 242 was introduced by two Fresno assemblymen, Republican Jim Patterson and Democrat Joaquin Arambula.

Specifically, the legislation requires the California Department of Public Health to report the number of veteran suicides every year to the state Legislature and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

The data would come from county coroners.

“Not knowing how many of those heroes are making the decision to end their lives is not acceptable,” Patterson said in a released statement.

“Men and women returning home to California after serving their country deserve all the help we can give them.”

California is home to the nation’s largest population of veterans.
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Missing Veteran Alert--California Female Veteran

Police ask for help in search for missing Army veteran
LA Times
Debbi Baker
September 9, 2017

Police are asking for the public’s help to find a San Diego woman who has been missing since leaving her home a week ago.

Julia Jacobson, 37, was last seen at a 7-Eleven on Aero Drive about 6:30 a.m. Sept. 7, according to friends and San Diego police. She texted a friend about 9:30 p.m. saying she was in the Palm Springs area and hasn’t been heard from since.

read more here

Veteran Navy SEAL Missing in California

UPDATE

San Diego Police: Missing Navy SEAL veteran found

US Navy SEAL Veteran Reported Missing

NBC Los Angeles
Astrid Solorzano
September 12, 2017

For Becky McGinnis, the first two weeks of September have been a nightmare.

Her boyfriend, who served as a U.S. Navy SEAL for 18 years, has not contacted her since August 27. He was last seen near Chollas Lake Park, according to San Diego police. Officers found his car in La Jolla on Sunday, September 3.

"We just want to find him,” said McGinnis. “We have a little information on anything.”

John Surmont, 45, has struggled with trauma related to his military service, McGinnis told NBC 7 Monday.

San Diego Police confirmed they are actively looking for Surmont, a veteran of U.S. Navy SEAL Team 3 and a father of three. The VA is cooperating with the police department on their investigation. 

People who served in the SEALs with him confirmed the community is conducting private searches. 

Surmont’s ex-wife got a call from Surmont on August 31 saying he was in a "rough place" in Los Angeles, police said.

read more here

DUI Driver Killed Vietnam Veteran--Crowd Captures Driver

DUI Driver Strikes, Kills Vietnam Veteran in Tacony: Police
NBC 10 News
By David Chang and Denise Nakano

NBC10 obtained surveillance video of the suspect being surrounded by residents moments after the crash.

Friends and family are mourning a grandfather and Vietnam War veteran who was struck and killed by an alleged DUI driver only a few blocks away from his home in the Tacony section of Philadelphia.

Norm Ewing, 73, was standing on the 6500 block of Torresdale Avenue at 4:23 p.m. Sunday when he was struck by a van that dragged him for more than two blocks. The van also struck six cars and plowed through several intersections on Torresdale Avenue.
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With Wings and a Prayer, National Guard Couple Wedding Inspires Floridaians Facing Irma

I couldn't post about this when I heard it on the radio the other day, but wow, it did us a world of good to hear this! It wasn't enough this Air National Guard couple were ready to risk their lives for us, but they decided to share their lives by starting their future here and gave us hope!

Hurricane Irma: Air National Guard couple gets married in fatigues

Fox News 
Published September 10, 2017 

Two senior airmen with the Air National Guard deployed to help out with Hurricane Irma efforts were supposed to get married later in September -- so with the storm on Orlando's doorstep, they raced to tie the knot early on Sunday. Lauren Durham, 24, and her fiance, 26-year-old Michael Davis, both wore fatigues for the ceremony.

Lauren Durham, left, and Michael Davis, both members of the Air National Guard, married on Sunday in their fatigues. (AP Photo/Claire Galofaro)

The bride and groom, who had planned a beach wedding, said they were deployed indefinitely and told their out-of-town guests that they’d likely miss their own nuptials. 

 They were eating breakfast with some friends Sunday morning, and one asked the couple why didn’t they get married in the middle of the storm. “It started out as a joke, and it just kind of unfolded,” Davis said. “And it turned out to be really great.” read more here

We Got The Power!

Irma Left and Rainbow Came
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
September 12, 2017

For over a week, we feared what Hurricane Irma could do to Florida. The monster was bigger than the entire state. We knew no one would go untouched by this. Having been through four hurricanes since we moved to Florida, this one was the one I feared the most. 

Food and water ran out. Long lines for gas, if they had any at all. And then we did the best we could to prepare. We boarded up the house, like every time before. We left my husband's sandals on the deck, like every time before because as powerful as Hurricane Charlie was, they did not move. This time we added mine.

We left the rest in God's hands since there was nothing more we could do.

Before Irma

This is where I waited during the beginning of it not knowing what to expect and feeling some fear. This was our 5th hurricane since moving to Florida.

But after it passed, this is what was saw in the sky!

Tree branches down and neighbor lost his fence.

But the rainbow got brighter and grew.

And spread out over my whole area!

And then it started to fade away like the storm itself.

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

Maybe if all of us think of troubles coming into our lives like Hurricane's doing their damage and moving on, leaving us behind as survivors, we'd be a happier with what we have.

Last night was rough without air conditioning or getting any hope of the power restored, but then I thought about all the people here before we even had all the modern conveniences we have now. No internet service to find out what was going on, they had to listen the radio, much like we did for a couple of days. They had no way of keeping food stocked and safe to eat. Much like we did when we just had to throw away everything in the refrigerator.

Still, while we had the hope of power coming back on and life getting back to normal, they didn't even know what any of this was, yet they managed to survive.

This morning I wanted to jump out of the car and hug Duke Energy workers on the main street near our house as we took a chance on finding something to eat. I felt joy when I saw MacDonald's open and didn't mind waiting in a long line at all. I almost kissed the coffee cup! I felt more joy as we walked down the water isle of Publix and saw they had a couple of cases of water and gallon jugs. Yet, when I saw the traffic signals working again near our house, I flipped out! Hope took over and then as we approached our house, the street was quiet. No generators running and I screamed, "We got the power" and sure enough, it was back on.

All of us have the power to get through whatever is blown our way. Ask for help along the way and be there the next time someone asks you for help. No storm in our lives ever came with an order to go it alone!

Sheriff in Florida Issues Warning to Stop Shooting at Hurricane Irma

It is really tense right here in Central Florida, especially when most of us know folks in the areas about to be hit hard by storm surges. Here are some things that I hope make some of us laugh at this nightmare.

Florida sheriff's office warns people not to shoot at Hurricane Irma

Yep, that's Florida! That was on USA Today. Here are a few more

In other news, boat owners ride out hurricane in boats, because "they float."

WENY NewsFort Myers, Florida -- It's generally considered dangerous to attempt to ride out a major storm in a boat. But a look around the Fort Myers Yacht Basin Saturday evening revealed several boat owners remaining on board. 

We even talked to one man who plans to stay aboard throughout Hurricane Irma. 

We asked the brave mariner how he plans to deal with a potential 10-foot storm surge. "My boat floats...I'm going to be on top of it."

Hurricane Party 
South Beach

Shouts of “F— you, Irma!” rose from a group of some 20 surfers as they drank beer, white wine and champagne on the beach. 

“Block party, baby!” artist Jona Cerwinske, announced.

They’d reluctantly left off surfing by late afternoon, after the Atlantic Ocean began to churn.

“It’s like a washing machine out there,” noted George Granizo, 51, as he abandoned the water.

The surfers said they’d gathered on the beach to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of one of their friends, who’d died while surfing.

In defiance of Irma, Fort Pierce's infamous Archie's Seabreeze parties

Everyone at the bar had more to say about it than just liking the hot wings and cold beer — though owner Patty McGee said Budweiser has awarded her 21 years in a row for selling the most Budweiser in a four-county area.

"Thank God for Patty," said Frances Pollari, an island resident and Archie's regular. "Look at us, we're all happy. If we were isolated in our homes, we wouldn't be happy. God bless her."

Pollari and Feeney touched on why Archie's Seabreeze has thrived   for 70 years. It's more than just hosting the best hurricane party on the Treasure Coast, it's perhaps its close and raunchy family.

Besides being open 365 days a year, Archie's is  known for staying open close to a hurricane. They even made t-shirts for Hurricane Irma.  

A Hundred Vietnam Veterans Return from Honor Flight to Honors

Vietnam vets have emotional homecoming after Honor Flight trip

KXAN StaffPublished: September 9, 2017

AUSTIN (KXAN) – About 100 Vietnam War veterans returned home to Central Texas Saturday evening, after visiting our nation’s capital on behalf of Honor Flight.

It’s an experience they said was special for them, and the reception they received upon arrival back at Austin Bergstrom International Airport brought out an emotional response.

“It was my first time in D.C. I really enjoyed it, and I wish everybody could do it,” said Alerse Martinez, Vietnam veteran. “This, I think, is great. I wish we would have had this 50 years ago. It would have been different.”

They were met upstairs in the airport terminal’s west ticketing area with a welcome home greeting from a big crowd.

read more here

Vietnam Veteran Gone Fishing as Final Wish

Final mission: Vietnam veteran makes fishing trip near his Point Marion home

Herald Standard

Alyssa Choiniere

September 10, 2017

Vietnam veteran Robert Lincoln gazed out at the scenery during a fishing trip on the Monongahela River in Point Marion Wednesday. Local veteran groups organized the trip, a fullment of his final wish. Alyssa Choiniere Herald Standard

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Robert Lincoln gave a thumbs up to his men, several many years his junior, their arms straining for a final shove as they launched the vessel for his final mission.

His last tour in Vietnam was cut short in 1970. Three months into his deployment in northern Vietnam, an explosion rocked his platoon and injured Lincoln. Nearly 50 years later, he had only one mission left — to set out onto the Monongahela River near his childhood home in Point Marion for a fishing trip.

“He said before he departs this world, he’d like to go fishing one more time in the Mon River,” said Darryl Smith of Veterans for Veterans of Western Pennsylvania, who organized the trip. “I said, ‘Buddy, we’ll get you down there if we have to carry you down.”

Lincoln set off in a power wheelchair, strapped to the back of a pontoon. His deteriorating health almost thwarted his goal. It took several months and an organized effort between several local veteran groups to fulfill. His health problems began with the explosion and compounded with age. He had lost both his legs to diabetes and much of his vision and hearing.

read more here