The U.S.-Canadian 1st Special Service Force, known in World War II as the "Devil's Brigade," will receive the Congressional Gold Medal in a February ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Military Times reported that the unit, which served mainly in southern France and Italy, is often compared to the Green Berets. The group of 1,800 soldiers was brought together in 1942 in Helena, Montana. They fought during the 1944 landing at Anzio, the siege of Monte Cassino and the invasion of southern France. The unit contributed to the capture of 7,000 prisoners as well as 12,000 German soldier casualties.
Currently, 75 members of the brigade are still alive. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported that 46 of the remaining veterans are Americans, 29 are Canadians and one is Australian. While not all of them will be able to attend the ceremony, 90-year-old John Tedore is eager to make his way from Iowa to D.C. for the event.
"Absolutely, I'm going. It's a great deal for us guys, and it doesn't happen very often. I really appreciate it, I'll tell you that. I think about all those guys that were in that outfit," the veteran told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.
The former servicemember told the source that his unit rarely got recognized for its hard work because of its classified status. They approached combat with such ferocity, however, that Nazi troops began to refer to them as "the black devils." A movie about their heroic actions, named "The Devil's Brigade," was produced in 1968, cementing the unit's intimidating nickname.
The Congressional Gold Medal is considered the country's most prestigious award for distinguished achievement, reported Military Times. The group earned recognition from the Canadian government about three years ago, noted the source.
U.S. Army veteran Richard Rhodes passed away alone in his Winona, Minnesota, apartment just before Christmas at the age of 73. Rhodes, who served in Vietnam, led an isolated life and never drew up a will, reported Military Times. Although no relatives or friends could be located, when a local funeral home heard that the man was a former soldier, they wanted to make sure he received a proper burial.
Brittany Horton, director of the funeral home charged with interring Rhodes, arranged a standard service and got in touch with various veterans organizations. According to the Winona Daily News, Horton's efforts were not in vain. Over 100 people, including a full guard of honor, came to the cemetery to pay their respects to the man almost none of them knew. The source reported that one of Rhodes' old co-workers came to the service. Though he was shocked to learn of his friend's passing, he was touched by the overwhelming display of respect for the man who often kept to himself.
"He was a great guy … just awesome," Tom Hundt, Rhodes' former colleague, told the Winona Daily News.
The source noted that three volleys were fired and taps played, as is the custom for military funerals. Since no family was in attendance, a folded American flag was presented to the funeral home.
It is a commonly shared belief that you should help those who have assisted you in times of need. In response to all that veterans have done to serve their country, the Department of Veterans Affairs is giving grant money for certain beneficial programs, reported the Journal Times. Nonprofits in Wisconsin are currently receiving money from the government to expand their programs to help veterans in their life after service.
Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin
One of the grant's recipients is the Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin, which offers shelter and other necessities for those who have served. The DVA gave $5,000 to the program to provide furniture and bedding, as well as food and support services for homeless veterans, noted the Journal Times. Since January 2014, the group has assisted veterans in need of housing, and their mission is to "help veterans strive for normalcy in life," according to their Facebook page.
The group gathers donated items like furniture and purchases new items with monetary donations received. Those in the area who are interested in donating can either drop it off themselves or visit the website to complete a pick-up form. A volunteer from the program will come and gather your donated belongings, making it more convenient than ever to contribute.
Veterans Equine Assisted Therapy Program
According to the Journal Times, the DVA also gave $1,000 to Stepping Stone Farms School of Horsemanship Inc. to provide special animal-assisted therapy to veterans. The money will help out with the expenses of veterinarian costs, feed and utilities to support the animals. While dogs are typically the most popular type of therapy animal, horses are effective, gentle creatures that can improve a person's mental health. The animals are able to provide those with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder the opportunity to feel love and affection without judgment, as well as a safe, relaxed environment to ease back into a normal life after combat.
According to the program's website, the bond that is shared with the animals should eventually restore self-confidence and control, assertiveness and nonverbal communication, among other traits that can be compromised with a mental illness. By consistently visiting the horses and providing care for them, those who visit are able to get a better perspective on life and, in turn, themselves.
Veterans located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia often have to travel long distances for affordable health care. A new initiative spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, entitled the Veterans Choice Program, is hoping to be the solution to this issue.
According to Eastern Shore News, the program lets local qualified veterans get medical care from a variety of nearby doctors to save them a trip to Veterans Affairs facilities, which are all located a significant distance from the Eastern Shore. With Virginia's veteran population quickly growing, establishing updated health care standards was a top priority for state officials, reported the source. Much of the new initiative is being supported by The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which provides the VA with $10 million to spend on private health care for veterans between now and 2017.
In order to qualify for the VCP, former servicemembers must fall into at least one of a few guidelines established by the VA. They must have either been put on a wait list of 30 days or longer despite a medically significant date issued to them by their doctor or face a number of transportation and geographical obstacles. If veterans need to take a boat or plane to the nearest VA institution or live at least 40 miles away from the closest facility, they qualify for the program. Since the veterans of the Eastern Shore are located so far away from VA health care, they are automatically approved for the government-funded initiative.
"Individuals on the Eastern Shore have to travel quite a distance to receive their care, either up to the north or over to the south, to Hampton, and as you all know, there can be long waits – and we found that inexcusable," Northam stated at a kick-off discussion for the much-anticipated program.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently announced that big revisions will occur concerning military benefits and pay.
A report by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission is set to be released Feb. 1, and is expected to fuel the debate surrounding speculated cuts. The committee behind the report was created in 2013 by Congress and charged with the responsibility of examining what changes could be made to military retirement, health care, benefits and overall pay, reported Military.com. The group has been researching ways to adjust compensation for the past two years, and the results are expected to be somewhat controversial.
Military Times noted that the report, which will be made public, is expected to contain recommendations to revise the military's long-standing 20-year cliff-vesting retirement pension. Notably, Hagel told sailors in San Diego that people with existing military contracts would most likely be "grandfathered in" to the system, so the updated standard would begin with new recruits.
The source explained that the anticipated cuts are mostly due to the current military budget, which is essentially flat, compared to the cost of supporting troops on the current pay scale, which is constantly rising. If changes are not made in the realm of salary and benefits, corners would most likely be cut for new weapons and technological research.
Hagel noted that although the cuts are likely to happen, keeping the troops appropriately supported is still a top priority.
"In the end, as advanced as our technologies are, as good as they will become, even better, without quality people, it won't matter. … We are going to continue to keep and must prioritize a cycle of bringing good people, the best people, into this business," he told sailors aboard the assault ship America.
The U.S. is planning to deploy 400 troops to help train the Syrian opposition that is fighting Islamic extremists.
Military Times reported that the soldiers will most likely be sent to Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, where they will help instruct moderate Syrian rebels. Reuters explained that the mission, which will begin in the spring, is a crucial part of the U.S. response to the religious militants, in addition to subjecting them to airstrikes. The $500 million initiative is expected to help train 5,000 people over the next year. Experts at the Pentagon believe that in order to fully reclaim the portion of eastern Syria currently controlled by the jihadists, roughly 15,000 soldiers will need to be trained.
In addition to the 400 training servicemembers, the U.S. will send 3,000 troops to Iraq, just across the border from Syria. These soldiers will be advising and training Kurdish and Iraqi recruits, explained Military Times. They will join the 2,100 American troops currently stationed in Iraq.
"This is going to be hard. We have to recruit the guys, we have to assume that there are a lot of guys who are recruitable, there's got to be some vetting. This is not going to be an easy enterprise here," an unidentified senior defense official told Defense One.
For those who have never served in combat, it can be difficult to tap into the mind of a veteran and truly understand the challenges he or she faces during life after service. An intense film, "American Sniper," recently hit theaters and attempts to do just that. It provides a personal account of a famous sniper who had an undying love for his country and held a passion for stopping enemies in their tracks. The fame of the movie can help spread awareness of what it is truly like to be a soldier and return home after multiple deployments.
About the movie
Directed by Clint Eastwood, the movie is based on a true story and details the life of veteran Chris Kyle, who was named the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. According to The Seattle Times, Kyle was deployed in four tours and was credited with 160 kills. Although he was a fierce soldier, his loved ones described him as being a loving family man who was changed over the course of his deployments.
"The way the film was directed coupled with outstanding performances by Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller and the rest of the cast made for a heart wrenching and deeply accurate portrayal of the external and internal battles our service men and women face," writer and former Navy SEAL Brent Gleeson reported in Forbes magazine. "Not to mention the even greater sacrifices made by the families and loved ones back home."
The movie's accuracy can be attributed to the research that the actors and writers performed, as well as the story from which it was pulled. The film is an adaptation of Kyle's book, "American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in American History," which not only describes his experience in combat, but also his family life. Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, who play Chris and Taya Kyle, spent a great deal of time perfecting their characters in preparation for their roles.
"Taya provided Sienna every email and letter the two exchanged during his four deployments giving her a solid framework for the deep love and connection they had, as well as the struggles associated with that level of service," Gleeson wrote in Forbes.
Stars and Stripes reported that Cooper spent time learning how to operate some of the guns that Kyle often used throughout his career. He was a part of the United Service Organizations for several years and periodically visited Iraq and Afghanistan. His relentless preparation for the film paid off. Multiple reviews by writers and family members who knew Kyle personally all reported how amazed they were at Cooper's ability to morph into the role.
"There were a lot of people after Chris was killed who said, 'I only spent one day with your husband and I felt like he was my best friend.' And I think that is sort of a cool thing people can get out of this movie, too," Taya Kyle told the news source.
Spreading veteran awareness
After retiring from service in 2009, Chris Kyle spent a lot of his time reaching out to veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and publicly spreading awareness for the importance of veteran support. Kyle was killed in 2013 allegedly by another veteran that he was trying to help, reported Forbes. His service to his country and willingness to help those in need is portrayed in the movie, and shows a very personal, touching account of why it is so important to help those who dedicate their lives to protecting the people of their country.
"American Sniper" is nominated for Best Picture and Leading Actor at the 2015 Oscars, and is now playing in theaters.
Some of the best artwork doesn't necessarily start out with the intention of being placed in a museum for all to see. However, many of the popular paintings from the 1940s that were used to promote war support efforts are becoming historical pieces of art. The Fairfield Citizen reported that the Fairfield Museum is opening an exhibit to display these impactful pieces that began as advertisements.
Mobilizing the homefront
According to the news source, Norman Rockwell, Jean Carlu, H. Price and Victor Keppler are just some of the well-known artists of the time whose drawings are on display in the new exhibit. Titled "Mobilizing the Homefront: Posters from World War II," the opening of the gallery is a timely event that celebrates the 70-year anniversary of the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany. It features many of the most famous posters used to drive participation and support for the war.
Jean Carlu's "Give 'em Both Barrels" poster is a famous illustration of a soldier holding a gun and a factory worker carrying a tool used to make war supplies. They stand together, symbolizing that participation on the homefront was crucial to America's victory. Americans could invest in war bonds, plant victory gardens and participate in other activities to show their support and help their country.
The importance of teaching
These posters give viewers an interesting look at what it was like to live during World War II. Perhaps even more important is what they can teach the future generations. They show viewers that supporting the troops is crucial when a country is at war, and it takes the assistance of an entire community to successfully return home. It can be challenging for veterans to readjust to life after service, and coming home to a crowd that supports them is invaluable.
In fact, Veterans Coming Home, an organization that honors those who serve, reports on all of the different ways communities welcome their veterans back home. Throughout the nation, media outlets are working with the organization to highlight local stories and bring awareness to the importance of supporting the troops. Radio shows like "StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative" and "Breaking Ground: Military Children" give personal accounts of how military life doesn't just affect those who serve. It impacts the children, spouses, neighbors and colleagues of those in the armed forces.
Many soldiers who have served may want to return to combat, but are held back because of injuries experienced while deployed. However, Fox News recently reported that the number these instances may begin to decrease, thanks to surgeries in place to treat veterans and restore their strength. These procedures may help them more comfortably return to active duty or just better enjoy life after service.
Knee replacement surgery
According to the news source, knee pain is one of the most common injuries soldiers can experience during combat. The constant wear and tear can break down the joint and make it difficult to function, which can mean the end of a career for some. With the requirements changing for injuries experienced while deployed, necessary knee replacement surgeries are becoming more easily accessible to those who need them.
"The military has changed the requirement for a disability board and possible medical discharge for a well functioning total joint replacement," Tad Gerlinger, Ph.D, orthopedic surgeon at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, told Fox News. "Service members receiving a total joint arthroplasty are now assumed fit for duty with minor modifications to their activity."
This means that more soldiers who are eager to return to duty will not be held back by an injury that can be resolved with modern medicine. The procedure requires implanting a metal device to cap the ends of the bones that make up the knee, and patients are often able to walk on it the same day. Many veterans who receive the surgery return to war and complete their entire tour.
Advancements in arthroplasty
Arthroplasty, the replacement of a joint, is a field that is constantly improving. The most common replacement surgeries are for the knees and hips, and the materials used for these surgeries are becoming increasingly more effective. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the manufacturing process has improved a great deal over the last 10 years. The plastics and metals used for the new joints have a longer lifespan and are less likely to cause issues where bones deteriorate.
Revision surgery has also improved, noted the Cleveland Clinic. Since many of these surgeries require follow-ups when bone loss is present, revision surgeries are often more complicated. New materials are used in these follow-ups that promote a secure bond and reduce the need for further treatments.
As the war in Afghanistan comes to a close and more American soldiers are being taken out of the region, the Army plans to send 3,000 troops to Europe.
According to RT, the government plans to send these servicemembers, in addition to 150 tanks, to join the existing 67,000 U.S. troops already stationed in Europe. Currently, permanent American troops stationed in the continent include the 173rd Airborne Brigade bases in Vicenza, Italy, and the 2nd Stryker Brigade in Vilseck, Germany.
Many of the new military personnel are expected to be sent to Germany, though other nations will also see an increased U.S. Army presence. The Hill reported that this shift is partially in response to Russian tanks that have been placed on Ukraine's eastern border. The U.S. hopes to assure European allies that they will be available to help in the event of a conflict.
The 1st Brigade of 3rd Division is expected to completely transition to its new European location by the end of March, explained RT. The servicemembers will be followed by the equipment, tanks and other military vehicles. The U.S. is expecting to receive official direction on specific locations from the European Command at the end of this month.