Under two previous Executive administrations and wars from, father and son. With son and conservative congresses leading the extremely quick abandoning of the missions and those sent to accomplish after 9/11:
ARLINGTON, Va. - March 26, 2013 - Many of us can remember the image of President Kennedy's casket being carried to Arlington National Cemetery on a horse-drawn caisson 50 years ago this year. What you may not know is a similar honor is given every day to a select few military veterans in one of the most moving ceremonies we've ever seen.
It is a scene that has been repeated nearly 1,500 times a year since 1948.
Seven highly trained horses carry the remains of American heroes to their final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery.
"Every day coming into the cemetery," said Staff Sgt. John Ford, "you pause and you take stock and you remember why we do this and the losses that we suffered. There's a lot of pageantry in what we do here in Arlington, but it's both historical and it's respectful."
Ford, 32, served one tour in Afghanistan and three in Iraq. His best friend was killed in Baghdad in 2006. Now he is a squad leader with the Caisson Platoon of the Old Guard. read more>>>
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel explains the importance of working together on this effort.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, visit MyDuty.mil or SAPR - Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.
There had been 4,804 coalition deaths 4,488 Americans
2 Australians, 1 Azerbaijani, 179 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, 1 Czech, 7 Danes, 2 Dutch, 2 Estonians, 1 Fijian, 5 Georgians, 1 Hungarian, 33 Italians, 1 Kazakh, 1 South Korean, 3 Latvian, 22 Poles, 3 Romanians, 5 Salvadoran, 4 Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, 2 Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of January 2, 2012, according to a CNN and iCasulties count.
Graphical breakdown of casualties. At least 32,230 U.S. troops had been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.
POW/MIA: Afghanistan & Iraq
One U.S. soldier is currently listed as captured or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown as of April 2 2013. The information below reflects the name as Prisoner of War or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown by the Pentagon.
Sgt Bowe R. Bergdahl 23 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Ketchum, Idaho Captured in Paktika province in Afghanistan, on June 30, 2009. The Pentagon declared him Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown on July 1 and his status was changed to Missing-Captured on July 3.
Memorial at the New JPED facility at Dover Air Force Base, Del..OEF: Afghanistan - Pakistan!!
There have been 3,274 coalition deaths -- 2,193 Americans, 39 Australians, 441 Britons, 1 Belgian, 158 Canadians, 5 Czech, 43 Denmark, 25 Netherlands, 9 Estonians, 2 Finn, 86 French, 53 Germans, 7 Hungarian, 47 Italians, 2 Jordan, 3 Latvian, 1 Lithuanian, 10 Norwegians, 36 Poles, 2 Portuguese, 19 Romanians, 1 South Korean, 34 Spaniards, 5 Swedes, 14 Turks, 11 New Zealand, 17 Georgian and 14 NATO/ISAF -- in the war on terror as of April 2, 2013, according to a CNN and iCasulties count. Below are the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. The troops died in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or were part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. At least 18,348 {18,299 up to March 1, 2013} U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. In addition to the military deaths, 11 U.S. intelligence operatives have died in Afghanistan.
Chief Warrant Officer Curtis S. Reagan 43 Summerville, South Carolina, USA 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Died from a non-combat related illness in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 29, 2013
Sgt.Michael C. Cable 26 Philpot, Kentucky, USA Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Died from injuries sustained when his unit was attacked by enemy forces in the Shinwar district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on March 27, 2013
Lance Cpl.Jamie Webb 24 Wilmslow, Cheshire, England Marne Barracks, Catterick Garrison Webb died at an ISAF hospital in Afghanistan on March 26, 2013, of wounds sustained during an insurgent attack on his patrol base in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 25.
Sgt.Tristan M. Wade 23 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 573rd Clearance Company, 2nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade Died when enemy forces attacked his unit with a roadside bomb in the Qara Bagh district of Ghazni province, Afghanistan, on March 22, 2013
Sgt.James Floyd Grissom 31 Hayward, California, USA Company A, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group Grissom died on March 21, 2013, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire while returning from a patrol on March 18 in Paktika province, Afghanistan.
Sgt.Pawel Ordynski 29 Poland 2 Kompanii Piechoty Zmotoryzowanej, Zgrupowania Bojowego B, 12 Brygadzie Zmechanizowanej (2nd Motorized Infantry Company, Combat Group B, 12th Mechanized Brigade) Killed when a roadside bomb detonated underneath the MRAP armored vehicle he was driving during a reconnaissance patrol northwest of Ghazni in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, on March 20, 2013
Chief Warrant OfficerJames E. Groves III 37 Kettering, Ohio, USA 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Died when his OH-58 Kiowa helicopter crashed in the Daman district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on March 16, 2013
Staff Sgt.Rex Lloyd Schad 26 Edmond, Oklahoma, USA Company A, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division One of two U.S. soldiers killed when an Afghan soldier opened fire with a truck-mounted machine gun on a group of Afghan and U.S. soldiers after a meeting between coalition and Afghan forces at a military base in the Jalrez district of Wardak province, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2013
Capt.Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel 28 South Miami, Florida, USA Special Forces detachment commander assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group One of two U.S. soldiers killed when an Afghan soldier opened fire with a truck-mounted machine gun on a group of Afghan and U.S. soldiers after a meeting between coalition and Afghan forces at a military base in the Jalrez district of Wardak province, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2013
Capt.Sara M. Knutson 27 Eldersburg, Maryland, USA Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Knutson was one of five soldiers killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a rain storm in the Daman district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2013. There was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident, according to a statement by the International Security Assistance Force.
Staff Sgt.Marc A. Scialdo 31 Naples, Florida, USA 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Scialdo was one of five soldiers killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a rain storm in the Daman district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2013. There was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident, according to a statement by the International Security Assistance Force.
Spc.Zachary L. Shannon 21 Dunedin, Florida, USA 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Shannon was one of five soldiers killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a rain storm in the Daman district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2013. There was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident, according to a statement by the International Security Assistance Force.
Staff Sgt.Steven P. Blass 27 Estherville, Iowa, USA 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Blass was one of five soldiers killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a rain storm in the Daman district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2013. There was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident, according to a statement by the International Security Assistance Force.
Chief Warrant OfficerBryan J. Henderson 27 Franklin, Louisiana, USA 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Henderson was one of five soldiers killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a rain storm in the Daman district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2013. There was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident, according to a statement by the International Security Assistance Force.
Chief Petty OfficerChristian Michael Pike 31 Peoria, Arizona, USA Naval Special Warfare Support Activity One Pike died on March 13, 2013, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of combat-related injuries sustained while conducting operations in the Maiwand district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on March 10
Spc.Cody Suggs Dalton 22 West Alexandria, Ohio, USA 1487th Transportation Company, 112th Transportation Battalion, 371st Sustainment Brigade, Ohio Army National Guard Died as a result of a non-combat incident at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on March 7, 2013
Tech. Sgt.Larry D. Bunn 43 Bossier City, Louisiana, USA 307th Maintenance Squadron, 307th Maintenance Group, 307th Bomb Wing, Air Force Reserve Died as a result of a non-combat related illness at an undisclosed base in Southwest Asia on March 7, 2013
Spc.David T. Proctor 26 Greensboro, North Carolina, USA 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Proctor died on March 13, 2013, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, from injuries sustained during a non-combat incident in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on March 3
March 28, 2013 - America will pay respect April 5 to the spouses and families of fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
A resolution to designate Gold Star Wives Day was approved March 20 by the U.S. Senate in recognition of the sacrifices made by these spouses and family members.
The Senate resolution states the military service members and veterans "bear the burden of protecting the freedom of the people of the United States and … the sacrifices of the families of the fallen members and veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States should never be forgotten." read more>>>
24 March 2013 - But behind the glamour and the occasional – yet always controlled – goofiness, First Lady Michelle Obama has returned to the East Wing for her husband's second term with a sharp focus on the policy causes that she has championed over the past four years.
That means a continuation of her “Let’s Move!” campaign against childhood obesity and her work with military families through the “Joining Forces” initiative.
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Regardless of Michelle Obama’s media presence, perhaps the most revealing moments about the current first lady come not under the bright lights of a Vogue magazine photo shoot or on the sound stage of a scripted sitcom, but in her everyday interactions at the public (but usually little-covered events) for military families.
“This is one of the best things I do every single day, is work with our service members, our veterans and their tremendous families,” she told a group of female veterans at a ceremony at the White House this week. “Because none of you, I know, could do what you do without somebody having your back. And that’s usually a spouse, or a son, or a daughter, or someone else who has sacrificed tremendously so that you could serve”
“And,” she added wryly. “I know a little bit about that.” read more>>>
Mar 29, 2013 - Despite funding that has reached $5.8 billion annually and a slew of innovative community partnerships, the Obama administration is lagging in its goal to end homelessness among veterans – or, as federal veterans' leaders like to say, “drive to zero” – by the end of 2015.
If the current rate of progress is maintained, roughly 45,000 veterans would still be without homes when the deadline passes -- a big improvement since the drive was launched but also evidence of how difficult it is to eradicate the problem.
"I don’t truly think you can end homelessness,” said John Scott, who heads the Phoenix office of U.S. Vets, a national, nonprofit service provider to homeless and at-risk veterans that receives some federal funding. “Things happen that can precipitate homelessness for anyone, and it can happen quite rapidly. However, we can effect change in veterans who have been chronically homeless.” read more>>>
A video news magazine designed to inform veterans, their families and their communities about the services and benefits they have earned through their service to America.
27 March 2013 - The math is mean. Post-9/11 veterans lug a steep unemployment rate that's a point-plus taller than the civilian rate. Add to that the 34,000 troops who soon will return from Afghanistan. Bottom line: The existing bulge of ex-military job seekers threatens to further swell in a world where stripes carry no sway.
How to crack that cold equation? Just a little face time, says unemployed veteran Ruty Rutenberg, who believes that simply standing eye-to-eye with a hiring manager allows former service members to naturally radiate the ocean of intangibles that can only be absorbed in combat. read more>>>
February 21, 2013 - Did you serve on active duty at the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from January 1, 1957 through December 31, 1987? You may have been exposed to drinking water contaminated with industrial solvents, benzene, and other chemicals.
The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 provided VA authority to treat Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for not less than 30 days during the covered period. These Veterans are eligible for enrollment in Priority Group 6 or higher and cost-free care VA health care for any of the following illnesses or conditions: read more>>>
March 25, 2013 - It was ten years ago this month that U.S. combat forces invaded Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein. For many Americans, the war is fading into history. But not for those who fought it, including Marine Cpl. Tony Porta. His story is about tragedy and triumph.
Tony Porta was a 20-year-old Marine running convoys in Iraq in 2007, when his ordeal by fire began.
"I saw my body just burned," he recalled. "I saw my skin melting. It was like a hot candle."
A roadside bomb had just killed his two best friends, Charles Palmer and Kenneth Mack, and the fire was about to consume Porta.
"I said, 'It's all over,'" said Porta. read more>>>
The Blood of only a very few who Sacrifice, as do their families, in serving and defending. The Treasury, ignoring many issues the Veterans of have need not be paid for. Ordering the few into Wars with tax cuts that accompany the invasions, and no rubber stamped increases to the Veterans Affairs budget to cover the coming extra costs in taking care of those returning in many area's and issues, means the Country served is not only Not Sacrificing in paying for their wars but going further then just ignoring the long term issues with not even paying for what can't be ignored. The peoples responsibility to those who've served, the Veterans Administration, underfunded for decades and especially with the wars of those decades, causes the agency to stay well behind the technology advances of the country, dealing in 19th century practices and now finally moving into the 21st century while still grossly underfunded and with no sacrifice by those served nor demand too, especially in record keeping as it's many other charged responsibilities leave that well down the list of priorities and many who've been in charge of, during those decades, continue the same outdated practices even when Military personal are returning from those wars to join our Veterans community of. No demand from those served they should Sacrifice as those they hire to represent lay blame on the agency, even an agency administration trying finally to build what always should have been, and not the country served.
March 29, 2013 - The past is never dead, as William Faulkner might have written if he were analyzing the federal budget, it’s not even paid for. Did you realize that World War II still costs U.S. taxpayers $5 billion a year? Or that we haven’t closed the financial books on the Civil War yet?
snip In the 1960s, it often seemed that the Vietnam war would never end — and for government accountants, it hasn’t. They issue checks for $22 billion each year (nearly triple the annual cost of the Transportation Safety Administration) and have already paid $270 billion to vets and their families. And the Middle Eastern wars of the past two decades may prove to be the most costly of all.
Compensation to those veterans and their family members already costs $12 billion a year. Not only are they filing disability claims at what the AP calls “historic rates” — nearly half of the soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are asking for compensation — but the Veterans Administration has steadily expanded its definition of war-related ailments. Vietnam vets with diabetes and heart disease, for instance, can collect extra payments.
snip And, of course, the real bottom line is the dollars are only a marker for the incalculable physical and emotional costs of war: The boys (and, these days, girls) who don’t come home. The kids who grow up missing a parent, the parents who outlive their children. The scarred limbs and broken hearts. How do you write a check for those? Both our major parties seemed increasingly inclined to play cop in the endless, byzantine Mideast power struggles. They ought to take a look at the books first. read more>>>
Previous recent related posts on these issues can be found Here * * * Here * * * Here * * * and * * * Here.
Recording Casualties: Victims of Armed Conflict Worldwide
This programme draws on the principles of human security to develop and enhance the technical and institutional capacity, identify and consolidate the legal requirements, and build the political will to record details of every single victim of armed conflict worldwide. The programme incorporates research into emerging good practice and existing legal frameworks, the development and promotion of clearer legal and more effective regulatory instruments, and the creation and support of advocacy networks. visit site for updated reports
Every Casualty.org: New Org Website Launched On Casualty Recording The one-stop source for information on conflict's casualties worldwide and the organisations that record them
Exact Count of Civilian Casualties may never be known, as is the case in every conflict, especially an Invasion by another Country. For it is the Innocent Civilians and those Defending their Countries,of which All would be counted if this country, the U.S., were ever invaded, who suffer the most, during and long after!
The Rand Corporation Terrorism Report the press release here, you can get the full document here or a summary of the research brief here
Soldier Missing from World War II Identified
March 29, 2013 - The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman from World War II have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army 1st Lt. John E. Terpning, of Mount Prospect, Ill., will be buried on April 3, in Arlington National Cemetery. On May 7, 1944, Terpning was a pilot of a B-24D Liberator that departed Nadzab, New Guinea on a bombing mission. Due to mechanical troubles, the B-24D was delayed in departing the airbase and was unable to join the formation after takeoff. The aircraft, Terpning, nor the nine other crewmen aboard the plane were seen after takeoff. In 1946, the War Department declared all ten men to be presumed dead. read more>>>
HONORING THE FALLEN: US Military and Coalition Forces Killed in Action, Iraq & Afghanistan/Pakistan from 2001 to March 2013 - My Honor Rolls, and more, to Share
National World War II Memorial
National Korean War Memorial
National Vietnam Veterans Memorial - "The Wall"
The Vietnam Women’s Memorial
Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries
Arlington National Cemetery
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