Outcry erupts over 1% pay raise proposed for military
USA Today
Gregg Zoroya
Apr. 24, 2013
Military families and their advocates are battling an Obama administration proposal to limit troops’ pay raises to 1 percent in 2014, the lowest increase in half a century.
The raise comes at a time when forces will still be fighting in Afghanistan.
“We’re sending the wrong message to the ones who have worked the hardest in our country by the multiple deployments and family separations,” says Michael Hayden, deputy director of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America.
White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden, no relation to Michael Hayden, said Obama is committed to “a sacred trust” with military members, but needed to reduce the pay raise, partly to offset congressional refusal to cut spending on “outdated weapons system.”
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Thursday, April 25, 2013
Florida Veteran's story inspires outpouring of support
Veteran's story inspires outpouring of support
By Ben Wolford
Sun Sentinel
April 25, 2013
For one struggling Iraq War veteran, the generosity of South Florida has restored the young man's faith in the people he fought for, after what had been a brutal homecoming.
Since the story of 30-year-old Adam Peters was published, people have been calling, emailing and sending letters, offering everything from cash to a motorcycle that would replace the one thieves stole from him.
Peters returned to Boca Raton last month with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, inflamed by tragedies in the news and the stolen bike. He says the outpouring has been cathartic.
"I didn't know it was going to be like this," he said.
The article detailed Peters' difficulty re-adjusting to civilian life. He served in Baghdad from 2006 to 2007, and his new perspective, molded by combat horrors, clashed with the suburban landscape. Like perhaps a third of the 231,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in Florida, Peters deals with insomnia, irritability, anxiety and other afflictions — the hallmarks of PTSD or traumatic brain injury.
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By Ben Wolford
Sun Sentinel
April 25, 2013
For one struggling Iraq War veteran, the generosity of South Florida has restored the young man's faith in the people he fought for, after what had been a brutal homecoming.
Since the story of 30-year-old Adam Peters was published, people have been calling, emailing and sending letters, offering everything from cash to a motorcycle that would replace the one thieves stole from him.
Peters returned to Boca Raton last month with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, inflamed by tragedies in the news and the stolen bike. He says the outpouring has been cathartic.
"I didn't know it was going to be like this," he said.
The article detailed Peters' difficulty re-adjusting to civilian life. He served in Baghdad from 2006 to 2007, and his new perspective, molded by combat horrors, clashed with the suburban landscape. Like perhaps a third of the 231,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in Florida, Peters deals with insomnia, irritability, anxiety and other afflictions — the hallmarks of PTSD or traumatic brain injury.
read more here
Family of Sgt. Manuel Loggins may get justice after all
Orange County Supes Agree To Settle Camp Pendleton Marine Lawsuit
KPBS News
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
By Beth Ford Roth
The Orange County Board of Supervisors has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Camp Pendleton Marine Sgt. Manuel Loggins, according to the San Clemente Times.
Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Sandberg shot Loggins to death on February 7, 2012 in the parking lot of San Clemente High School. Loggins, 31, was standing near his vehicle when he was fatally shot, while his two young daughters watched from the backseat.
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KPBS News
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
By Beth Ford Roth
The Orange County Board of Supervisors has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Camp Pendleton Marine Sgt. Manuel Loggins, according to the San Clemente Times.
Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Sandberg shot Loggins to death on February 7, 2012 in the parking lot of San Clemente High School. Loggins, 31, was standing near his vehicle when he was fatally shot, while his two young daughters watched from the backseat.
read more here
Granger Smith marches for unsung heroes
Texas country western singer Granger Smith marches for unsung heroes
DVIDS
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Sgt. John Healy
FORT HOOD, Texas - Since 2001, country-western artists have been more than vocal in their support of the American soldier. Songs about soldiers have topped the charts for nearly 13 years, yet how many artists can say that they went the extra mile?
Austin-based country singer Granger Smith not only went the extra mile, he went the extra 100 miles.
Smith began his walk in South Austin on Sunday, April 7. Over the span of five days, he marched, feet clad in a dusty pair of combat boots.
Throughout the walk Smith conducted daily radio interviews, talking about remembering to thank the men and women in the armed forces.
During every interview, Smith spent time encouraging listeners to donate to the Boot Campaign, a Texas-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of the issues faced by soldiers returning home and easing their reintegration to civilian culture.
“I really wanted to do something other than just doing a benefit concert or a celebrity golf tournament,” said Smith. “I wanted to do something that was a little more memorable, something that means a little bit more.”
read more here
DVIDS
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Sgt. John Healy
FORT HOOD, Texas - Since 2001, country-western artists have been more than vocal in their support of the American soldier. Songs about soldiers have topped the charts for nearly 13 years, yet how many artists can say that they went the extra mile?
Austin-based country singer Granger Smith not only went the extra mile, he went the extra 100 miles.
Smith began his walk in South Austin on Sunday, April 7. Over the span of five days, he marched, feet clad in a dusty pair of combat boots.
Throughout the walk Smith conducted daily radio interviews, talking about remembering to thank the men and women in the armed forces.
During every interview, Smith spent time encouraging listeners to donate to the Boot Campaign, a Texas-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of the issues faced by soldiers returning home and easing their reintegration to civilian culture.
“I really wanted to do something other than just doing a benefit concert or a celebrity golf tournament,” said Smith. “I wanted to do something that was a little more memorable, something that means a little bit more.”
read more here
Woman runs Army Marathon in memory of two brothers
With Family, for Family
By Daniel Cernero
Fort Hood Sentinel Sports Editor
APRIL 25, 2013
SPORTS
TEMPLE - For years now, Monica Velez has turned to running the Marine Corps Marathon as a way to deal with the emotional toll of losing her two brothers, Cpl. Jose “Freddy” Velez and Spc. Andrew Velez.
On Sunday, in the inaugural Army Marathon, Monica set out on yet another marathon, this one on the same ground she’d run with Freddy years ago.
“It’s just a lot of emotions,” said Monica, running with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors team, before the start of the race. “I lived here with my brother Freddy for quite some time, with him and his wife Nickie. As young adults, this was our first place away from home. We were together and kind of experiencing life.”
That was in 2003, when Freddy, a 1st Cavalry Division Soldier was stationed at Fort Hood before a deployment to Iraq. In 2004, on Veterans Days, Freddy was killed in Fallujah. Two years later, Andrew took his own life while deployed in Afghanistan.
Running, something Monica had always down with her Family, became her outlet.
“It brings back good memories, and I can sit and get lost within those memories and just enjoy myself,” she said. “I’ll cry and I’ll run and I’ll cry. This is the only place that I can scream out loud and everybody gets it; they’ll even scream with you.”
read more here
By Daniel Cernero
Fort Hood Sentinel Sports Editor
APRIL 25, 2013
SPORTS
TEMPLE - For years now, Monica Velez has turned to running the Marine Corps Marathon as a way to deal with the emotional toll of losing her two brothers, Cpl. Jose “Freddy” Velez and Spc. Andrew Velez.
On Sunday, in the inaugural Army Marathon, Monica set out on yet another marathon, this one on the same ground she’d run with Freddy years ago.
“It’s just a lot of emotions,” said Monica, running with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors team, before the start of the race. “I lived here with my brother Freddy for quite some time, with him and his wife Nickie. As young adults, this was our first place away from home. We were together and kind of experiencing life.”
That was in 2003, when Freddy, a 1st Cavalry Division Soldier was stationed at Fort Hood before a deployment to Iraq. In 2004, on Veterans Days, Freddy was killed in Fallujah. Two years later, Andrew took his own life while deployed in Afghanistan.
Running, something Monica had always down with her Family, became her outlet.
“It brings back good memories, and I can sit and get lost within those memories and just enjoy myself,” she said. “I’ll cry and I’ll run and I’ll cry. This is the only place that I can scream out loud and everybody gets it; they’ll even scream with you.”
read more here
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