Free Republic

LAKE MILLS — David Groe of Lake Mills initially thought Friday’s ceremony recognizing his service during the Vietnam War would be a low-key affair. Instead, he and his family walked into the Lake Mills High School gym to see a crowd of students, veterans and other community members on hand to witness the ceremony. An old friend and neighbor of Groe’s — Terry Branstad, U.S. Ambassador to China and the former governor of Iowa — gave the main address. “It was pretty overwhelming,” Groe said. “I didn’t expect all of that.” Like many Vietnam veterans, Groe never got his medals....

At this very moment, a war rages on in Europe. Many Americans have forgotten or “moved on” from the idea of Russian aggression in Europe, but a very real and tactile conflict exists today that is contributing to a humanitarian crisis not seen in Europe since the Yugoslav civil wars of the 1990s. In the four years since the conflict began, territory in eastern Ukraine has been won, lost and won again, always at great cost. Current estimates number casualties at more than 10,000 with one-third of them being civilians, including 166 Ukrainian children. As a former light infantryman from...

STAFFORD, Texas (KTRK) -- Print out your resumes, because a two-day job fair is planned for this week. The "Hire 100 Veterans Job Fair" will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford. There is a focus on Veterans, but all job seekers are invited to meet the 100 companies who are hiring. The event is free to job seekers and open to the public. A list of companies who will be at the event is below. On Wednesday from 2-6 p.m., the job fair is open to veterans only, before it opens to the...

Why would VA refuse to place him on the long transplant list? Because he is just “one of these Veterans” whose kidneys are failing because his health was affected by serving for 4 years at Camp Lejune - a base found to have had contaminated drinking water. Or because his mother tongue is Ojibwe? In “We don´t have these on the reservation: VA Racism threatens Veteran´s Life," Benjamin Krause writes: ”The patient is average-risk for a transplant, perfectly capable of caring for himself(as his commitment to excruciating dialysis clearly shows),and definitely SC for this kidney failure. At this point, a...

Stumbled across this moving tribute from last year's Veterans' Day by President Trump. Thought it was so good, it deserved posting now - to uplift everybody's spirits. Realize it is not Veterans Day but every day is a day to celebrate and honor our wonderful service men and women from today and down through the years.

On 1 August, 2018, Governor Kasich of Ohio abstained from his last chance to veto SB 81.  SB 81 requires sheriffs in Ohio to accept application for concealed handgun licenses from current and former military members, without a fee.  From legiscan.com: To amend section 2923.125 of the Revised Code to waive the concealed carry license fee for active members of the armed forces and retired and honorably discharged veterans, to accept military experience with firearms as proof of competency with firearms regardless of when the applicant for a license acquired the experience, to permit a licensee to renew a...

On this day in 1782, General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit. This decoration, consisting of a simple, heart-shaped purple cloth, recognized soldiers who went above and beyond the call of duty in service to our new Nation. Since the Revolutionary War, the Badge of Military Merit has evolved into one of the most sacred, distinguished, and recognizable military medals—the Purple Heart. This award symbolizes the timeless and noble values of patriotism, honor, and courage, which are hallmarks of our Armed Forces. In every generation, the Purple Heart has been awarded to American service members in recognition of...

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - The phones rang early in the morning and late in the evening. They rang, always, in the middle of the night. They were ringing now, as Mary Hendricks sank into a swivel chair and settled in beside her co-workers for another day of answering them. The calls came from veterans who were about to be evicted. Veterans who couldn't get hold of their doctors. Veterans who needed to talk about what they saw in Afghanistan or Iraq or Vietnam. Mary pressed a button. Her headset clicked on. "This is the White House VA hotline," she said, introducing...

BEIJING (Reuters) - A senior Chinese officer appealed to military veterans on Tuesday not to take complaints about their treatment to the streets and to "rationally" lodge appeals for redress. At the annual meeting of parliament in March, China set up a Ministry of Veterans Affairs as part of a broader government reshuffle, aiming to better look after former soldiers whose complaints about poor treatment have flared into scattered protests in recent years. In February 2017, Chinese military veterans staged two days of demonstrations in central Beijing, demanding unpaid retirement benefits in a new wave of protests highlighting the difficulty...

Our country rightly paused last week to honor the service of America’s Korean War veterans and to note our continuing interest in helping protect a democratic South Korea. Fighting in the Korean War came to a halt 65 years ago, when negotiations finally yielded an armistice that halted hostilities, created the Demilitarized Zone and separated the Korean Peninsula into a north-south division. The conflict, which included some of the American military’s most desperate battles and most inspiring demonstrations of heroism, took the lives of 36,000 Americans. Among the dead was Marine Pfc. Edward “Babe” Gomez of Omaha, a graduate of...

So powerful to watch POWs returning home. History...

Veterans Affairs once represented everything wrong with big government. Its inefficiency and incompetence didn’t just waste taxpayer dollars, it cost the lives of many brave men and women who served our great country.That’s why Donald Trump promised to change the VA to ensure our veterans receive the care and respect they deserve -- and change he is delivering. As a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, I’m proud to finally see our veterans receiving the care they deserve.Where career politicians failed, President Trump succeeded in keeping his promise made to those who have served our country. “We will...

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea is expected to hand over the remains of a number of U.S. service members who were killed during the Korean War on Friday, the 65th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting, according to reports in South Korean media. If the exchange happens, it would mean that one part of the agreement reached between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12 had been partially fulfilled - albeit at a slower time frame than many had anticipated. Yonhap News agency reported on Thursday that North Korea...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — President Donald Trump's speech in Kansas City on Tuesday brought praise from many veterans who spoke to 41 Action News following the event. The president spoke in front of around 4,000 people during a speech inside Municipal Auditorium at the 119th VFW National Convention. President Trump touted his administration's plans to improve the VA health system and invest in military equipment. "We have secured $700 billion for defense this year and $716 billion next year approved," he told the crowd. "My administration is committed to ensuring that our warfighters have the tools, the resources, the firepower...

What a wonderful, heart-warming moment at today’s VFW Convention in Kansas City at the end of President Trump’s Speech! Trump did what virtually no other politician would ever do – call someone up on stage unscripted, not knowing what they will say. Trump does it all the time. Trump called a 94 year-old World War II Veteran, Alan Jones, up on stage and gave him the microphone! He said he had some things he wanted to say, and he asked President Trump if he could bring his family to the Oval Office! Trump was happy to oblige. . . .

LYNNWOOD — Wallace “Wally” Armstrong received a multicolored sash on his 87th birthday. It was placed around his neck, as recognition for the sacrifices he made while fighting in the Korean War more than 65 years ago. A circular, gold pendant hangs from the ribbon. The Monroe man and about 60 other veterans were given the Ambassador for Peace Medals on Monday in Lynnwood. They were presented by Consul General Hyung-jong Lee from the South Korean Consulate in Seattle. The goal is to get the medal to as many people who fought in Korea as possible, said Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos,...

President Donald Trump spoke to the VFW Convention today in Kansas City, Missouri. During his speech invited 94-year-old veteran Allen Jones on stage to share a few words. Allen stole the show. The World War II veteran told the story of losing his brother in World War II fighting. Then Allen turned to President Trump and made a request. Allen asked the US president if he could bring his family to the Oval Office next April when he turns 95. President Trump said yes and gave Allen a hug. This was an amazing American moment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LacxeCjaLdE&feature=youtu.be

The President at his best! 46:40 min in...my favorite part of the convention, check out Sgt Alan Jones

Robert Wilkie has been confirmed as the next secretary to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, becoming the first nominee for the job to face any opposing votes in the Senate. This is the first time in the 30-year history of the post that senators have voted against a president's nominee. Wilkie, 55, has vowed to “shake up complacency” at the government's second-largest agency, whose veterans have faced long wait times for medical care. Wilkie was nominated to replace the former secretary, David Shulkin, who was fired by Trump following infighting at the agency and ethics questions.

A federal panel on Thursday cleared the way for a memorial to be built along the National Mall honoring the American service members who fought in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Pending final approvals, the National Desert Storm War Memorial would be built at 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue, not far from Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial, Military Times reported. “These men and women who went to Desert Shield, Desert Storm put their lives on the line for this country, and they deserve to be placed next to my brothers and sisters...