For the first time, a woman is leading the largest command in the US Army
CNN
Andrea Diaz
October 16, 2018
(CNN)Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson has succeeded in breaking through a few glass ceilings in the US Army. Now she's set to break a new one.
Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson earned her pilot's license at age 16 and has flown to high rank in the Army.
For the first time in US Army Forces Command, or FORSCOM, history, a woman will be leading the largest command in the Army, representing 776,000 soldiers and 96,000 civilians.
This may be a first for the Army, but Richardson has had other firsts.
She has been with the US Army since 1986, and in 2012 she became the first female deputy commanding general for the 1st Cavalry Division, known as "America's First Team."
In 2017, she became second in command to Gen. Robert B. Abrams, when she was named the first female deputy commanding general of FORSCOM in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the US Army reported.
Now, Richardson will become the first female commanding general of the US Army FORSCOM as Abrams steps down from his post, reported CNN affiliate WTVD.
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Retired Marine dead after teen allegedly shot him by mistake
Military Times
J.D. Simkins
October 16, 2018
Joe Darius Black, Jr. was on the enlisted side before serving the rest of his 20-year career as an officer. The 48-year-old retired major was fatally struck by a round last week as he sat on his porch in South Carolina. (Index Journal)
A 17-year-old is under arrest and a retired Marine is dead after a round the teen allegedly fired from a handgun in the direction of a road sign struck the Marine in the chest as he sat on his porch on Oct. 10.
Eason Reid Gravley, of South Carolina, turned himself in to the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 13, The State newspaper reported, and has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a handgun.
Gravley was released on a $25,000 recognizance bond and placed on a curfew, the report said. Under South Carolina law, he can face up to five years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter charge.
The victim, 48-year-old retired Maj. Joe D. Black Jr., was struck in the chest after the round “passed through or by the road sign,” then traveled through a wooded area adjacent to the Marine’s house, investigators reported.
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Furious campaigners blast MoD amid fresh claims it is turning a ‘blind eye’ to veteran suicides
Portsmouth UK
Tom Cotterill
October 16, 2018
The dad-of-six, who overcame suicidal thoughts after his time in the army, said: ‘It’s a betrayal by this government to not keep track of people who lose their lives through the hidden wounds of war. ‘All of our allies do it – Germany does it, America does it, so do Australia and Canada. It’s an embarrassment that our government is failing to take action.
CAMPAIGNERS have accused bureaucrats at Whitehall of continuing to bury their hands in the sand and refusing to heed cries to do more to tackle veteran suicide rates. For the past few months, The News has been calling on the Ministry of Defence to up its game and do more for former troops traumatised by the horrors of war.
It comes after an investigation by this paper revealed no records were kept by the MoD of the number of veterans taking their lives – sparking claims the government was ‘turning a blind eye’ to the issue.But now, months after campaigners demanded changes to bring the UK in line with its allies like America and Canada – who do record veteran suicides – The News has learned the Ministry of Defence still hasn’t taken action.
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Marianna Clinic will offer Veteran care for N. Florida, S. Georgia veterans affected by Michael
October 15, 2018
A temporary clinic will be opening in Marianna to offer medical care and mental health services to veterans.
The clinic will open on Tuesday, October 16 at 4970 US 90, Marianna, Florida, 32446. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The temporary clinic will offer medical and mental health care for veterans. It will allow clinic staff, caregivers and social workers the ability to assess and assist veterans until the facility resumes full operations.
Additionally, a toll-free number, 1-800-507-4571, has been established for Veterans to get updated information on where to go for care, how to receive prescription drugs, or any other concerns they may have about their care. The phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Veterans in need of Pharmacy Customer Care may call 1-855-574-7288; the toll-free number is operational 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (EST) to assist Veterans with medication.
Veteran Patients and family members who would like to access services available may park at East Side Baptist Church at 4785 Highway 90, Marianna, FL 32446 ; shuttles will be run from the church to the temporary facilities daily until the primary facility is back on line.
Marine saves choking baby at Liberty Station
10 News
Cassie Carlisle
October 15, 2018
"I did what I was trained to do I don't think I'm a hero more than anyone else would be," Lewellen said. He was thinking of his own two children while saving the baby. He has a 3-year old and a 3-week-old.
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A Marine was honored Monday at Camp Pendleton for his bravery mid-September when he saved a choking baby.
Private First Class Jonathan Lewellen was on leave after graduating boot camp before starting combat training. He was upgrading his phone at the Liberty Station Verizon store when he heard a mother screaming her son's name.
"She wasn’t hysterical but she was panicked," Verizon Store Manager Cecil Silva said. "He [Lewellen] looked and his instincts just kicked in, like he literally jumped over a desk we had, jumped over the railing, ran through the bushes and just attended to the baby."
Lewellen asked the mother if he could help, then performed CPR, and scooped mucus out of the baby's throat.
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