VA whistleblowers say Denver office did no work for a year FOX 31 Denver BY ROB LOW JULY 24, 2018
"Long lunches, I mean watching movies, reading books. I mean I was doing school work. I`m not going to lie I did not have any work assigned. I spent the majority of my time doing school work," said whistblower No. one, who happened to be a paid intern making $47,214 a year to help conduct information technology audits.
DENVER -- Imagine making close to $100,000 a year and having nothing to do at the office.
It's what Denver whistleblowers say was reality for employees at the local Office of the Inspector General for Veterans Affairs.
That's the very division in charge of wiping out waste, fraud and abuse for the medical system that serves the nation's veterans.
"These are your tax dollars that are paying the salaries of these individuals to sit in an office and do absolutely nothing all day," said one anonymous whistleblower to the Problem Solvers.
"After a while it became a joke," is how a second whistleblower described it.
"Come into work and pretty much staring at the wall all day kind of just hanging out every day pretty much with nothing to do."
Both whistleblowers filed complaints with the Office of Special Counsel in Washington, stating an office of 11 employees basically did no work from April 2017 to April 2018.
The combined salaries of those employees during that time frame totaled more than $1.2 million. read more here
PTSD Patrol Family Road Trip PTSD Patrol Kathie Costos July 29, 2018 Yesterday it was raining when I was getting ready to do the video for today. A song popped into my head and I could not get it to stop playing in my mind.
Melissa Manchester "Come In From The Rain" is about coming home from a journey and returning to someone who loves them. I used that song a long time ago because it is what it is like when you come back home to your family.
When you listen to the lyrics, you'll know what I mean. We do not know what you have packed in your memories. We just know you are still packing pain. We don't know if it is because you do not love us anymore, or we did something wrong, or anything else that caused what is going on with you. All we can do is guess unless you tell us. read more here
There are some stories that absolutely melt your heart. When Vietnam Veterans take an honor flight, sometimes there are no words needed to express the emotions. This is one of those times and you can clearly see it in the stunning pictures taken by Alexandra Wimley. As for the words, it is also clear that Devi Shastri, the reporter, took the time to know these veterans and tell their stories.
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Vietnam veterans reflect on an emotional Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight trip to Washington Oshkosh Northwestern Devi Shastri July 28, 2018
“It’s the camaraderie that we are united,” Rihm said. “We are together as a group (of Vietnam veterans) because we weren’t treated very well. When I was discharged from the Army, I did not leave the fort with my uniform on. I put on civilian clothes. I did not want anyone to know.”
OSHKOSH - Standing in front of the dark, reflective sheen of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Navy veteran Joel Walker knew exactly whose name he was looking for.
George D. MacDonald.
Veteran Al Morasch II becomes emotional and hugs board member Jim Campbell after finding a name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the Never Forgotten Honor Flight trip, May 21, 2018. "He was my best friend," he said. Alexandra Wimley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
MacDonald was a childhood friend of Walker; the two grew up together in Evanston, Illinois. MacDonald was a captain in the Air Force during the war.
A veteran looks for a name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., during Never Forgotten Honor Flight, May 21, 2018. Alexandra Wimley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Walker had been to the wall before — with the Veterans of Foreign Wars as a past state commander for Wisconsin. He also had a general idea of where MacDonald’s name was etched into the shiny black granite. But he couldn’t find it.
read more here and see more stunning pictures
Soldier amputees have more options for continued service Joint Base San Antonio U.S. Army Warrior Care and Transition By Whitney Delbridge Nichels July 26, 2018
FOB FRONTERAC, Afghanistan - Col. Todd R. Wood (right), commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, administers the oath of re-enlistment to Staff Sgt. Brian Beem (left), a cavalry scout assigned to the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, during a special ceremony at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Nov. 9. Beem is a single leg amputee who has continued to serve despite his injury. He lost his leg after an improvised explosive device detonated during his 2006 deployment to Iraq.
ARLINGTON, Virginia —
Thanks to advances in modern medicine and the availability of sturdier prosthetics, soldiers who are able to redeploy after amputation have a number of possible options for continued military service.
Army Staff Sgt. Brian Beem lost his leg in 2006 to an improvised explosive device in Iraq. "I thought my career was over," he said.
Beem credits his experiences at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, with helping him assess and eventually find options for returning to duty.
“It took me about a year to get up to speed with physical training, and I was feeling pretty confident,” he said. Within a short time, Beem was ready to deploy to Afghanistan with his unit. Although he was no longer on patrol as he was in previous deployments, he still played a vital role in battle staff operations.
“It was really gratifying to be able to deploy,” he said. “It’s possible, but it’s not easy. The process is there for those who have the perseverance.”
read more here
Man who pretended to be a decorated veteran sentenced WPTV Webteam Tory Dunnan Jul 27, 2018
"My actions, which I thought were for a good reason. To help my family overall," he said. "I've dishonored myself, my sons, my daughters, my family, my country, and veterans everywhere. For that, I am truly sorry," said Liroff who could barely get through a prepared statement.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. - ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. - A man in Port St. Lucie who pretended to be a veteran entered a no contest plea in court Friday.
For years, Edward Liroff told stories about his service saying he was shot twice in combat and that he pulled two soldiers out of a burning helicopter.
The ruse unraveled when tried to get a code enforcement job with the city and police say a document he used turned out to be falsified.
In court, a judge credited him with some of the time he has spent behind bars but he still must serve nine more months in jail.
Liroff apologized and said, "this wasn't his brightest moment."
Once he pays back all the money he received from veterans benefits, his one-year probation will be dropped. read more here
