Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Witnesses take action after WWII veteran was beaten and robbed

World War II veteran beaten, robbed during his weekly walk after buying lottery tickets
By Rosemary R. Sobol and Mitch Smith
Chicago Tribune reporters
8:51 p.m. CDT, July 31, 2012

Porter B. Cross lost his dentures, wallet and hearing aid when three young attackers knocked him to the ground and beat and robbed him in broad daylight Monday, but the proud World War II veteran hung on to the lottery tickets he had just bought and stuffed into a pocket.

The 87-year-old retired postal worker was returning from his weekly walk to a neighborhood store to buy $25 worth of Pick 4 and Mega Millions lottery tickets when he was assaulted from behind.

"I don't know what happened," Cross, struggling to speak without the dentures that were broken during the robbery, said Tuesday from his bed in his West Englewood residence on the South Side.

"I know they broke my teeth and they hit me here," he said as he pointed to his still-hurting chest. "They hit me and they kicked me."

Two meat delivery drivers, Dennis Weekly and Aiman Samad, said they witnessed the midafternoon attack and followed the attackers at a safe distance before flagging down passing patrol officers.

"I saw the man lying on the ground and three males standing over him, going through his pockets," Weekly said. "I followed them about four blocks until police got there. I kept my distance so they wouldn't know."
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Congress passes bill for Marine families hurt by tainted water

Congress passes bill for Marine families hurt by tainted water
By Franco OrdoƱez
Washington Correspondent
Posted: Wednesday, Aug. 01, 2012

This photo provided by Jerry Ensminger shows his daughter Janey, in an undated photo. Janey died of leukemia at age 9 not long after this photo was taken. Her father, former Marine master sergeant Jerry Ensminger said he believes she died due to exposure to contaminated water, while he was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.


WASHINGTON The day after Janey Ensminger would have celebrated her 36th birthday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a historic bill in her honor that would help thousands of sick Marine veterans and their families who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

Legislation that has languished for years could soon be on the president’s desk after the House followed in the Senate’s footsteps and passed the measure under suspension of the rules by a voice vote.

Janey was just 9 when she died of a rare form of leukemia. Her family struggled for years to understand how, or why, she fell prey to the mysterious illness.

It was her father, Jerry Ensminger, who helped uncover that his daughter was one of as many as 1 million people who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at the Marine base near Jacksonville.
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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Fort Benning Sergeant defends Olympic gold in men’s skeet

Sergeant defends gold in men’s skeet
By Gary Mihoces
USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Jul 31, 2012

LONDON – Army Sgt. Vince Hancock became the first American man to defend an Olympic gold medal in skeet shooting by winning the event Tuesday afternoon at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Hancock, of Eatonton, Ga., shot a 148 to hold a two-clay advantage over silver medalist Anders Golding of Denmark. Nasser Al-Attiya of Qatar won the bronze with a 144 after winning a shoot off over Russia’s Valeriy Shomin.

With Hancock's result Tuesday and Kim Rhode’s on Monday, the United States swept the skeet gold medals.
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Vietnam veteran and Mom in hospital after attack

Elderly Woman, Vietnam Vet Son Beaten In Cobbs Creek Invasion
July 31, 2012
By Nicole Brewer

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — An open heart led an elderly woman to open her door, which in turn opened her up to a brutal attack.

“Shocking, very shocking. Couldn’t understand it, don’t understand it,” said neighbor Robert Rivers.

To make matter worse, police say 87-year-old Yvonne Gaines knew the suspect, possibly an old next door neighbor, who neighbors believe asked to use her bathroom, around 3:30 Tuesday morning.

“This is a neighborhood, people trust each other. They help each other,” explained State Representative James Roebuck.
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Battlefield Home

Nadia McCaffrey sent me the link to this film. I am very glad she did. The second title of this blog is Battle Stations Home because if you read this blog, you know the battles are too often much harder back here than there.


Battlefield Home
The Backstory....

Battlefield: Home is a feature-length documentary about the transition home by our troops and families after combat is over.

Each personal story unfolds the challenges that warriors, families and survivors often face in their attempt to "return to normal," amidst the systemic breakdowns faced by each service member. Whether faced by the challenge of medical, judicial or economics, "Battlefield: Home" shares their stories of survival when the war is over.

With a skeleton crew, and the desire to help, we traveled across the United States to hear these stories and give our Veteran and their families a voice.

Our warriors and families recognize that the war is not always the one fought overseas, sometimes the war is at home.

We are now looking for assistance in completing this most important story. Talented friends have contributed their time and skills to assist, but we are still lacking some essentials.

The film will be released on-line so that it will reach those who can help. The focus and goal of this film is to increase awareness, and help support those who have supported us a nation.

This is a film of strength, courage, honesty, heartbreak, and hope...it is the story of us.

'One percent of our population serves in the military, one percent defends this nation, is it too much to ask that we take care of that one percent?'

Thank you.

Anita Holsapple, MS - Director/Producer/Creator (USMC BRAT) read more here