By Debbie Gregory. A bomb-sniffing combat dog who earned two Bronze Stars during two tours in Iraq in a Special Operations Forces unit was shot to death by a bicyclist who felt the hero canine was a threat. Now his owner, Army veteran Matthew Bessler, is asking for a burial with military honors for his […]
By Debbie Gregory. In an attempt to get veterans the treatment they have earned, a September 1st report calls for a complete overhaul of the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. The report, led by Mitre Corporation, included analysts from the Rand Corporation, McKinsey and Company, the Institute of Medicine, and Grant Thorton, Analysts concluded that the system […]
By Debbie Gregory. The deaths started a few months after the Marines returned from the war in Afghanistan. In 2008, the Second Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment deployed to Helmand Province. The battalion regularly ran low on water and ammunition, all the while under fire, almost daily. During eight months of combat, the unit killed hundreds […]
By Debbie Gregory. Almost 6 million American parents, spouses, children, other family members and friends care for military servicemembers and veterans who have been wounded, injured, or are ill. Many of these “hidden heroes” find that their role as a caregiver can impose a substantial physical, emotional and financial toll. Many caregivers have to set […]
By Debbie Gregory. In February of this year, the Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) issued the Veterans Independence Act, a report with a set of policy recommendations to overhaul the VA healthcare system. Although originally drawing public criticism and apathy from traditional veteran service organizations, AMVETS has now voiced its support. AMVETS, one of the […]
By Debbie Gregory. The Pentagon and VA are becoming more proactive in promoting mental health treatment to troops and veterans, but many still refuse to get care, concerned about stigma, their jobs and psychiatric medications Negative perceptions of mental health conditions and treatment continue to keep troops and veterans from seeking care, but the issue is […]
By Debbie Gregory. If you’re easily offended, Derek Weida probably isn’t your guy. Weida’s internet videos on bodybuilding and weight loss are chock full of profanity, burping, and beer consumption. But the amputee veteran has quite a following (millions of viewers), with tens of thousands of people having reached out to him for diet and […]
By Debbie Gregory. In this age of rapid communication, many of us have had a moment where we’ve sent a reply to an email or text message and the second it goes, we question if we sent to the right person. We second guess whether we remembered to attach that document referenced in the note. […]
By Debbie Gregory. As crazy as it sounds, swimming with the largest shark in the world is therapy for some Atlanta disabled veterans. The Atlanta VA Medical Center’s recreational therapy program recently partnered with the Georgia Aquarium allowing disabled Veterans the chance to participate in the “Journey with Gentle Giants” dive immersion program. Journey with […]
By Debbie Gregory. As the first anniversary of Jason Simcakoski’s passing approaches, an inspector general’s report faults a Wisconsin Veterans Affairs hospital for the accidental overdose of the Marine Corps veteran. The outrage of Simcakoski’s death has sparked legislation aimed at strengthening guidelines for prescribing painkillers. His parents, widow and daughter watched as a Senate […]
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