Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News – July 23, 2013

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

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Shinseki returns to VFW convention, having had some successes.  When Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki spoke before the Veterans of Foreign Wars annual convention last summer, he closed his remarks with a series of one-year promises and the statement “I intend to be here to update you again next summer.” So far, it’s a mixed report card.
 
At VFW convention, Hagel vows continued support of veterans.  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday promised continued focus by Pentagon officials on improving veterans’ lives even as his department struggles with fiscal headaches and strategic soul-searching in years to come.
 
Strain on military families affects young children, report says. At a time when the U.S. military has the highest number of parents among its active-duty service members and is engaged in the longest sustained military conflict in history, in Iraq and Afghanistan, new research is showing that the strain on military families is being felt acutely by even its youngest members, children under the age of 6.
 
Valor Games Return for Third Annual Midwest Competition Aug. 12-14.  Chicago Tribune  The U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Paralympics and the Chicago Park District will support this year’s event. The games begin at Soldier Field with an opening ceremony, followed by the cycling competition. The second day features the field events …
 
Md veterans chief: Korean War veterans will ‘never be forgotten’.  The Herald-Mail  Chow said, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 37,388 “distinguished, honorable Korean War vets” still live in Maryland. Lt. Col. Kang Moon Ho, assistant defense attache at the Republic of Korea’s embassy, said the Korean people …
 
Detained veteran goes on hunger strike to fight deportation.  azcentral.com  Ferron was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1977 and collected the benefits he earned for 30 years, until the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determined he had served under a false name. But that’s not the only reason he could be deported.


Bitter Pills: The Painkiller Epidemic – Where do we go from here? Hyperlink to Above Story Fayetteville Observer: Attempts to monitor the drugs have been largely ineffective here because prescribers in Cumberland County have the lowest participation rate in the state’s prescription-tracking computer system and because prescriptions written at the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center and on Fort Bragg do not go into the state system.
Drug court aims to help struggling veterans.  Hyperlink to Story Fairmont Sentinel:  Since March, the Veterans Drug Court was opened up to the other counties in the Fifth Judicial District: Martin, Faribault, Jackson, Nicollet and Brown counties. The only other Veterans Drug Court is in Hennepin County.
Event connects veterans to benefits, lawmakers.  Hyperlink to Story  Longview News-Journal:  Volunteers and lawmakers united here for a few hours Saturday to help former soldiers, Marines and sailors connect with benefits they’ve already earned… “With so many, not all, but so many in the VA (Veterans Administration) thinking suspiciously of anybody they deal with, then they don’t always volunteer all the information and help that could be available to somebody,” Gohmert said.
Army begins global search for Iraq, Afghanistan war field records to help secure benefits.  Hyperlink to Story  Providence Journal: Veterans Journal:  Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced on July 11 the award of $3 million in homeless-prevention grants to the State of Rhode Island and neighboring counties in Southern New England to aid veterans and their families associated with the community nonprofit agencies Operation Stand Down Rhode Island and the Massachusetts-based Veterans Inc.