Salem-News.com Wwii articles

Hero Who Served in Four Wars Laid to Rest in Washington

It was an honor to be there and to learn a little more about one of our great heroes who fought in and survived the conflicts of our nation's recent history.

(WASHOUGAL, Wash.) - I was fortunate this week to attend a ceremony in Washougal, Washington to help honor one of our heroes from the greatest generation.

I had no idea who this person was upon arriving there, and barely even remembered his name, but that changed when I learned a little more, just by looking at a display in the gathering area of the church.

`A Tribute to Veterans: A Musical Journey from the Revolutionary War On...`

Remembering America's Heroes presents a special event in Portland tonight.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A special event tonight at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, offers a chance to travel through time with some the most popular songs of every war era, starting with the Revolutionary War right up through the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Organizers say those attending the performance will learn the historical significance of these period pieces, while enjoying the talents of some of Portland's best local entertainers.

Veterans-for-Change Calls Legislators to Action

Veterans advocacy group demands veterans processing to stop being swept under the rug by legislators.

(GARDEN GROVE, Calif.) - Countless veterans and widows of the almost one million claims dating back to WWII are being placed on hold so that Afghanistan and Iraq veteran’s claims can be processed more quickly.

While Veterans-for-Change relates to the difficulties, physical complaints and difficulties endured by the War on Terror Veterans, we believe it is crucial that VA Benefits claims should be processed in order of receipt regardless of when the actual service occurred...

Military Drug Abuse: It Can`t Function Without It

If the troops are not getting enough sleep and rest that they must use these stimulants, there is something glaringly wrong with the guys who wear stars on their shoulders.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - The Oregonian reported this on Sept. 7, 2009. This should surprise nobody. Recruits historically are TRAINED to use alcohol and tobacco from their first weeks in boot camp, at least in the Army. If it wasn’t for the beer tranquilizer in the PX the rookies probably couldn’t survive psychologically the crap which is shoveled on them. There’s gotta be some psychological escape if even for a few hours. On hourly(?) breaks, “smokum if you gottum” is almost biblical. Ok, do they still do that same crap now?

I’m not even writing about that stuff but the army does run on booze. More about that later.

Coast Guardsman Honored for Saving Marines During WWII (PHOTOS)

Douglas Munro took heroic actions by putting himself in between 500 Marines and an advancing Japanese force, for his actions he became the only Coast Guardsmen to receive the Medal of Honor.

(SEATTLE) - The Coast Guard Enlisted Association Emerald City branch held a memorial service for the only Coast Guard Medal of Honor recipient in Cle Elum, Washington, Friday.

Members of Coast Guard Station Seattle, Aids to Navigation Team Puget Sound, Integrated Support Command Seattle, and the 13th Coast Guard District staff along with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1373, Cle Elum, gathered at the grave site of Signalmen 1st Class Douglas Munro today to mark the 67th anniversary of Munro's ultimate sacrifice.

Veteran`s Resource Meeting in Salem on Friday

Currently ten percent of Oregon's population are military veterans, yet Oregon is one of only three states without a major military installation.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Salem Area Veteran Resource monthly meeting will be held Friday, 18 September at 12:15 p.m. in the Winema building on Chemeketa Community College campus 4001 Winema Place, room 102.

Anyone who provides any kind of service to veterans is invited to attend. Special guest speaker will be SFC Phil Maas from the Oregon Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program.

An American Hero Reprises His Role for the Last Time

The people of Wiltz have never forgotten their beloved American St. Nick and celebrated the arrival of an American Saint Nicholas each year thereafter.

(WILTZ, Luxembourg) - In 1944, Cpl. Richard Brookins was in the right place at the right time to help a city heal after years of Nazi occupation.

2009 marks the 65th anniversary of that event, and Brookins will return one last time to reprise his role as the American St. Nick.

President Obama Signs Bill Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Women Airforce Service Pilots (PHOTOS)

First women to fly American military aircraft served courageously, blazed trails during WWII.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - President Obama today signed into law S. 614, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). WASP was established during World War II with the primary mission of flying non-combat military missions in the United States thus freeing their male counterparts for combat missions.

Its pilots were the first women ever to fly American military aircraft and flew almost every type of aircraft operated by the United States Army Air Force during World War II on a wide range of missions.

Deny, Deny, Until They Die: The Case of Garry Lee Price and the Veterans Administration

How many more Garry Price type tragedies have to happen before the VA serves the needs of those heroes who have guaranteed our freedom with their blood?

(LOS ANGELES) - Garry Lee Price is dying of cancer in a hospice in Sacramento while the Veterans Administration stalls on his service-related disability claim. His doctors give him two weeks to live. When he dies, the claim dies. And that’s the point.

The Veterans Administration, the health services side of the organization, has already determined that the cancer was caused by Garry’s exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam.

PTSD, Depression, Anti-Depressants and Alcoholic Death

My emails from PTSD Vets and others indicate these drugs cause all kinds of adverse effects including nightmares and suicides.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The first report of what we now call PTSD was reported by a physician in an Egyptian Pharaohs Army. That must have been about 4000 years ago. PTSD has plagued those in psychologic traumatic endeavors ever since.

American and British Army doctors trivialized it at least starting with America’s Civil War when it was said to be “they miss their mothers”, “home sickness”, or “soldiers heart”. The British called it “lack of moral fiber”. Who seeks sudden horrible death?