A World War II veteran will be buried 69 years after his death on Monday, Nov. 3.
According to Military Times, the remains of Detroit native Robert McConachie were brought to the Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii in 1987. They were not able to be identified at the time, but advances in technology prompted the lab to re examine the case in 2010.
The source noted that the Marine was killed at Kunishi Ridge in Okinawa, Japan. The lab contacted the relatives of soldiers who fought in this area and whose bodies were never accounted for. By examining dental records and using DNA of McConachie's late brother, provided by living family members, scientists were able to determine that the remains belonged to the soldier, who was only 18 years old when he perished on June 14, 1945.
Military Times reported that the soldier was only 17 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. His family spent the years since his death remembering his bravery and keeping his memory alive through various mementos, such as the official declaration of his death, signed by President Truman.
McConachie's nephew, Col. Andy McConachie, helped accompany the remains as they returned to the late soldier's home state on Friday, Oct. 31. They will be laid to rest at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan, reported WWMT.
The Connecticut Veterans Parade, New England's largest veterans parade, drew thousands of observers as it marched through the streets of Hartford on Sunday, Nov. 3.
According to Military Times, 3,000 Connecticut veterans of all ages marched in the parade, including members of Legion and VFW posts and drum corps.
While the event is popular now, it did not always draw a crowd. The town hosted a lightly attended parade until 1990, when the celebration was canceled. In 2000, locals decided that the area needed a tribute to soldiers in their life after service and reinstated the event as the Metro Hartford Parade. Within a year, servicemembers throughout the entire state wanted the opportunity to participate, reported the Hartford Courant.
According to the Hartford Courant, this year's grand marshal was Adm. Melvin G. Williams Jr. Though he is now retired, he spent over 30 years serving in the Navy. The honorary grand marshals were Lt. Col. Lesbia Nieves, the first Latina to earn the title of lieutenant colonel in the Connecticut Army National Guard, former Army Lt. Mark R. Shenkman and Sgt. 1st Class Alex W. Seretny, who has served over 30 months overseas since 2006.
The parade totaled 1.3 miles and started with a ceremony that honored Connecticut's fallen veterans.
When Congress returns in November, the Senate will vote on whether or not to give the Veterans Affairs Department funding 12 months in advance. If the legislation passes, any government shutdowns or other budget obstacles would not be able to affect funding for VA services, reported Military Times.
The legislation is being called the Putting Veterans First Act, and closely resembles a plan awaiting decision in the House. These acts come after last year's government shutdown, during which many veterans were not able to receive necessary aid for their life after service.
"The result would be no disruptions in services for veterans in the event of any future government shutdown and no danger of cutting off veterans' checks. No one in their right mind wants a repeat of that dark period – and the Putting Veterans Funding First Act would prevent it," said Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, a supporter of the legislation, according to Roll Call.
Military Times reported that a vote in 2009 made it possible for the VA to receive about 85 percent of its budget ahead of time, but the remaining 25 percent is still a crucial amount dedicated to funding important services. The senate will vote on the act Nov. 12.
While serving in Iraq in 2004, Army Capt. Stephen Machuga experienced a number of supply drops that, while sent with the best intentions, did very little to stir up excitement among his fellow troops. According to Marine Corps Times, the soldiers often received tattered old library books that would be used for little more than target practice.
After venting about the issue to a friend in the video gaming industry, Machuga and his colleagues were greeted with what seemed like far too many copies of slightly dated but good-quality games. As soon as the soldiers started playing, however, it was clear that they would need more, reported Marine Corps Times.
Six years later, Machuga founded Operation Supply Drop, an organization committed to bringing fun to servicemembers stationed all over the world. The group takes requests from units and delivers to them in order of how severe their situation is. The more rural and dangerous a deployment is, the faster those servicemembers will receive a drop from Machuga and his team. Marine Corps Times noted that these soldiers are the ones who need a fun distraction the most, and are often the last to receive special packages because of their remote locations.
OSD also started offering the service to allied troops and quickly received requests from soldiers in the Australian, New Zealand and British armed forces.
Marine Corps Times noted that a typical package sent by OSD contains one gaming console, two to four controllers, a few headsets and a selection of around 15 games. The organization reported that so far it has helped distribute over $1 million worth of video games to troops located all around the world.
"It's hard to describe just how much of a difference one box of video games can make. It was essential," Air Force F-16 pilot Maj. Brian Gerwe told Marine Corps Times after receiving a drop from the organization.
The 437th Aircrew Flight Equipment fabrication shop is a unique organization. The operation, located in Charleston, South Carolina, is responsible for sewing all of the fabric pieces for Joint Base's 50 C-17 Globemasters.
According to Air Force Times, the shop, which employs 10 people, manufactures the pieces at a low cost to the military branch. By manufacturing the items this way, $40,000 is saved per aircraft, amounting to $1 million in yearly savings.
The head of the operation is Air Force veteran Bobby Pierce. He learned to sew in 1955 during his time crafting parachutes as a soldier and continued working in the field during his life after service, reported Air Force Times. At 80 years old, he has been a fixture in the shop for over 30 years and plans to continue working there for the foreseeable future.
Pierce manages a number of other veterans, many of whom started working at the shop as a way to stay involved with the Air Force, an organization they all love. According to Joint Base Charleston, the shop's employees have a combined 300 years of experience in the field.
The shop also crafts pieces for international sale, and has received orders from the United Arab Emirates, India, Canada, Australia and Kuwait, who appreciate the high-quality, hand-crafted work made by the small yet committed group of workers.
The Moving Wall, a traveling memorial exhibit, continues to make its way around the U.S. with the goal of honoring Vietnam veterans.
Currently, the tribute is on display in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the memorial is a miniature version of the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., measuring in at about half the size. It was constructed by a Vietnam vet in 1982 who wanted to bring the experience of viewing the display to those who could not travel to the U.S. capital. It contains the names of all 58,300 servicemembers who died fighting in the war.
The exhibit, which travels from April to November, is open for viewing 24 hours a day and remains in each location for a few days. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, it draws a diverse crowd at all hours of the day, but Vietnam veterans are always present in large numbers.
"For us Vietnam veterans, it's not only a time for remembering, it's a time for healing. You move on with your life, but you can never forget what you went through," veteran Lloyd Johnson told the source.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring our Heroes program recently released a list naming the top cities for veterans to settle down in during their life after service.
According to a press release, the factors used to determine the top cities were job growth, health resources, population growth, military skills jobs, unemployment rate, number of colleges and universities and their relationships with veterans, certification/license transfers and G.I. Bill enrollment.
Forbes magazine reported that the top spot went to Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania city boasts a number of companies with special veteran hiring initiatives, including Heinz and FedEx. With a population of 2.4 million, a relatively low cost of living and a number of reputable colleges, it fits the criteria for a veteran-friendly city. No. 2 on the list was Austin, Texas, where the city government has a veteran hiring program and the unemployment rate falls well below the national average at 4.6 percent.
Other cities included in the roundup were Oklahoma City, whose low unemployment rates and inexpensive home prices make it a smart choice for money-conscious veterans. Minneapolis came in at No. 10, with a bustling metropolitan area of 3.3 million people and various schools and companies known for strong veteran relationships.
President Obama will issue a posthumous Civil War Medal of Honor on Nov. 6.
Alonzo H. Cushing, commanding officer of Battery A, 4th United States Artillery, Artillery Brigade, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac, will be recognized for his actions during the Battle of Gettysburg over 150 years ago, according to Military Times. Typically, the award – which is the highest recognition of battlefield valor in the nation – must be awarded within three years of the heroic act, but Congress made an exception for Cushing's exemplary sacrifice.
At age 22, the Wisconsin native was in command of 110 soldiers and six cannons at Cemetery Ridge, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, when 13,000 Confederate servicemembers, known as Pickett's Charge, advanced toward him and his men. Even after being severely wounded by enemy actions, Cushing remained fighting on the front lines, where he died in combat on July 3, 1863, noted Military Times.
Cushing's cousins, Frederic Steven Sater and Frederic Cushing Stevens III, will attend the awards ceremony at the White House, where they will accept the award from the president on behalf of their deceased ancestor. Military Times noted that the Cushing name remains significant in southern Wisconsin, where there is a monument to Alonzo and his brothers in Cushing Memorial Park.
After using their post-9/11 GI bills to fund their educations at two of the nation's top schools, veterans Augusto Giacoman and Tim Hsia wanted to help others do the same.
According to Forbes magazine, Giacoman used the government-funded education benefits to pay for his business degree from New York University, while Hsia did the same to cover the expense of his business and law program at Stanford University.
The veterans, who first met at West Point in 2001, served in Iraq together and share a passion for education. When their military friends returned home from war looking to start graduate school in their life after service, the two became a known resource for application help and advice. After helping a few of their colleagues successfully navigate the process of enrolling in top higher education programs, using their GI Bill to pay for tuition, they decided to officially begin their nonprofit initiative, Service to School, reported Forbes.
The organization works with soldiers through all steps of the process to ensure that they submit a solid application. They offer advice on test preparation, resume construction, essays, interviews and networking. It is open to former servicemembers looking to pursue both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Ricardo Butler, a veteran who lives in Pittsburgh, has struggled with his home's upkeep since he became disabled seven years ago.
According to CBS Pittsburgh, the former Marine experienced a stroke while riding his motorcycle in 2007. The accident caused him to lose an arm, making it difficult for him to work. Prior to the incident, Butler worked in the region's steel industry as a welder, carpenter and equipment operator during his life after service, noted a press release.
Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, a local volunteer organization, decided to reach out to Butler as part of their 2014 Season of Service. According to the release, he is the 25th veteran the group has been able to help, and they look forward to assisting many more.
The group provides free home repairs and upgrades to those in need. For Butler, they installed grab bars and hand rails for increased accessibility. They even installed an American flag in the veteran's front yard, reported CBS.
"Veterans projects really are my favorite. Making sure that those who have served our country are being taken care of by not only nonprofit organizations that serve veterans but their communities themselves," volunteer Hilary Bundy told CBS.