Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News – April 04, 2013

Veterans! Here’s your Top 10 News stories of the day compiled from the latest sources

We encourage you to browse our list so that you can take what you want and keep what you need

 
1.Korean War vet reunited with woman he helped nearly 60 years ago.  Retired U.S. airman Richard Cadwallader finally got to hug the woman who earned his lifelong admiration for the way she bravely dealt with severe burns almost 60 years ago.
2.Ind. surgeon answers call of duty in Afghanistan.  Sometimes you run across a small thing that leads you to a huge life change. That happened with Dr. Roger Shinnerl, 46, a general and vascular surgeon. For him, the “small thing” was an advertisement in a medical publication: The U.S. military was in dire need of surgeons to treat wounded soldiers overseas.
3.VA promises results of probe into $42 million in awards.  U.S. lawmakers await the results of a Department of Veterans Affairs probe into why an agency employee processed more than 1,500 awards just under a monetary threshold that would require public disclosure of the contracts.
 
4.   Vietnam veterans honor wartime veterans.   Hyperlink to Story  The Standard-Times:  Saluting the sacrifices faced by veterans in wartime, the city’s Vietnam Veterans of America chapter honored veterans from World War II to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at a ceremony Saturday. The occasion was Vietnam Veterans’ Recognition Day held at Fort Taber, which celebrated the 38th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
5.   The veterans benefits backlog.  Hyperlink to Story  Los Angeles Times:  The backlog has been repeatedly and publicly bemoaned in recent weeks, and officials of the VA have been appropriately contrite. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki vowed publicly this month that by 2015, no one would have to wait more than 125 days.
6.   Weekends With Alex Witt.   Hyperlink to Story  MSNBC (Video): In this 5:11 minute video, Alex Witt interviews Ret. U.S. Army Col. Jack Jacobs and New York State Senator Greg Ball on the Department of Veterans Affairs funding increase in order to end the Backlog and incentives to hire Veterans.
7.   Reporter explains ‘complete dysfunctionality’ of Veterans Affairs disability backlog.  Hyperlink to Story  RawStory.com: During an appearance on MSNBC, Aaron Glantz of the Center for Investigative Reporting explained why the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was failing to process so many disability benefits claims.

8.   VA offers PTSD educational seminar for clergy.  Hyperlink to Story  The Tuscaloosa News: The Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center is offering a free educational seminar this week for pastors, ministers, priests and other church leaders in the community to educate them on some of the difficulties that veterans may face when they come home from war and what church leaders can do to help.
 
9.   Editorial: Heads Up – Assault reports test commanders’ worth.   Hyperlink to Story Fayetteville Observer:  Women in the military who are victims of sexual assault are nine times as likely as other female troops to develop PTSD symptoms – and why wouldn’t they? Assault is assault. Thousands of troops who have endured less have the same symptoms.
 
10.  It takes a soldier to understand one.  Hyperlink to Story  The News Tribune: Tassin had just finished an eight-year stint in the Army, was pursuing a degree in psychology, and no one could figure why he’d want his first job out of the military to be with … well … a thrift store… “I was a retention specialist,” he said. “I worked on helping keep our employees on the job when they had issues. We’re often a transitional employer, and our employees move on when they find better jobs.

Have You Heard?

Disabled veterans can now move through airport security checkpoints without having to remove shoes, light jackets or hats, according to a new policy announced March 27, 2013, by the Transportation Security Administration.  The new policy is part of TSA’s Wounded Warrior Screening program, which was established in 2005 in an effort to ease the screening process for wounded service members. These individuals will be escorted through the security checkpoint and will be eligible for expedited screening through TSA Pre-Check. They also will not be required to remove their shoes, light outwear jackets or hats when passing through security checkpoints.   To be eligible for the service, a wounded warrior or traveling companion must contact the Military Severely Injured Joint Services Operations Center at [email protected], or 1-888-262-2396, in advance of their travel to provide itinerary information. Those traveling with injured troops or veterans must receive standard screening.
According to TSA, the number of wounded service members using the Wounded Warrior Screening Program is steadily increasing, with approximately 4,252 in 2011, 5,914 in 2012, and 3,315 since the start of 2013.  TSA also offers expedited screening for service members including reservist and National Guard members at several airports across the country. The agency also supports the Honor Flight Network, which transports U.S. veterans and their escorts to Washington, D.C. area airports in order to visit the war memorials build and dedicated to honor their service.