On Sept. 21, construction began on a new veteran's home in Chicago. The facility will offer physical and mental health care to 200 Illinois veterans, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The building, which will be five stories and cost approximately $70.5 million, will be the fifth assisted living home for veterans in the state. The Chicago Sun-Times noted that this will be the first one in the Chicago area, which is home to 60 percent of Illinois' vet population.
The new facility will have over 40 beds dedicated to patients suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia in an effort to boost attention to mental health in life after service, reported the Tribune.
According to the Sun-Times, veterans who served in foreign conflicts and are Illinois natives, as well as peacetime veterans who served for a minimum of one year, are eligible to apply. They will pay for their rooms according to their income.
The home is set to open in 2016, noted the Tribune. It has been in the works since 2009, but due to federal support and other funding obstacles the start of the project was delayed.
The construction was kicked off with a ceremony, during which Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn made a speech, noted the Sun-Times.
"Abraham Lincoln, who came from our state, said during the Civil War that it's the duty of all of us on the homefront to take good care of those who have borne the battle," he said.
Chuck Searcy, a Vietnam veteran, has spent the past 19 years working to clean up leftover bombs in the southeast Asian country.
Searcy served doing military intelligence in the Vietnam War in the 1960s. He was stationed in the area currently known as Ho Chi Minh City, reported Military Times. After working government jobs for most of his life after service, Searcy felt moved to return to Vietnam in the 1990s. He joined a group that specialized in giving braces to children affected by bombs, and has devoted himself to assisting bomb victims ever since, noted the source.
According to Military Times, 15 million bombs were dropped on Vietnam during the war. Many of these are unexploded cluster bombs that release smaller explosives known as bomblets. These are small in size and often picked up by curious children. Project Renew's website noted that an estimated 10 percent of those bombs remain unexploded.
Project Renew reported that 100,000 deaths and injuries have been caused by these explosive remnants of war, or ERW, since the end of the Vietnam war in 1975. Most of these are located in the Quang Tri Provence. It is the area previously known as the Demilitarized Zone, and it is where Searcy focuses his work.
According to Project Renew, its initiative is divided into three components. Firstly, ERW survey and clearance. Next, it educates local people on what the explosives look like and what to do if they see any. It also offers assistance to victims.
Searcy returns to his home in Georgia once a year to raise money for the cause, according to Military Times. As of now, he still feels he has work left in Vietnam and has no plans to move home permanently.
Just about 70 years ago, an American B-25 Mitchell bomber plane named "Maybe" crashed into an Italian mountain after sustaining damage from an attack. The two pilots, who were killed in the accident, will be honored by the village of Ronzo di Chienis, according to Military Times.
The pilots, Earl Remmer and Leslie Speer, are being remembered as heroes for multiple reasons. The two men worked hard to steady the aircraft, allowing the five crew members aboard to parachute to safety, before losing their own lives in the crash, reported Military Times. The people of Ronzo di Chienis consider them heroes for not detonating the bombs on board the B-25 in an effort to lighten the plane – an act of mercy they believe saved the town.
According to Townhall Magazine, surviving family members of Remmer, along with relatives of crew member Isidore Ifshin, will attend the ceremony. Military Times reported that current servicemembers from the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade, who are based in Aviano, Italy, will also be in attendance.
Townhall noted that the event was set up by a local group that has written a book about "Maybe." A plaque with the pilots' names will be displayed near the area of the crash.
Sept. 18 marks the 67th birthday of the United States Air Force.
The armed forces branch was created in 1947 when President Harry S. Truman passed The National Security Act. According to Military.com, the Air Force has become about more than just flight – servicemembers also work in technical and support roles on the ground.
A celebration was held on Friday, Sept. 12, in Arlington, Virginia, reported CNBC. It featured performances by the U.S. Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team.
On the anniversary, current Air Force Secretary Deborah James reflected on past achievements and looked ahead to future obstacles. According to a piece she penned for The Denver Post, a strategic blueprint for the next 30 years was recently laid out, and a large focus will be placed on staying updated with cutting-edge technology.
James wrote in an op-ed for Air Force Times, "In the next three decades, we'll face declining defense budgets, changes in technology, nations and groups acquiring weapons, changing communications, and geopolitical instability. Our Airmen must prepare for a range of missions, and adapt ahead of the rapid pace of change."
Veteran unemployment rates, while improving, are still significantly higher than the national average, according to CBS News.
Veterans face many challenges in their life after service, including finding a steady job.
The mobile-app-based taxi alternative Uber is joining forces with the nonprofit organization Hiring Our Heroes to match 50,000 vets with driving jobs. According to CBS, Uber feels that the partnership will be mutually beneficial – in addition to lowering unemployment rates, the company will gain top-quality servicemembers with mission-oriented mind-sets and strong work ethics.
Politico Magazine published an article written by the CEO of Uber, Travis Kalanick, in partnership with former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. In it, they described how the leadership and attention to safety demonstrated by veterans makes them perfect candidates for driver positions.
CBS noted that because Uber drivers use their own vehicles and create their own schedules, it can be a good opportunity for veterans attending school or raising families.
According to Politico, the new hiring initiative will also seek to find jobs for current servicemembers and military spouses. Uber has established an advisory board known as UberMILITARY in order to gain perspective, support and expertise from armed forces professionals.
Today, President Obama will present Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins with the prestigious Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam. Normally these awards must be presented within three years of service, but Congress made an exception for Adkins, noted Military Times.
According to Military Times, Adkins spent 22 years as a servicemember and was deployed to Vietnam three times. He is being recognized for his heroic actions during his second deployment.
Adkins was working with the South Vietnamese Civil Irregular Defense Group at Camp A Shau on March 9, 1966, when Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces attacked, reported Army Times. Adkins sprung into action, taking down an estimated 135-175 enemy fighters. He was wounded 18 times himself, and still managed to fight back and help his wounded colleagues.
Adkins spent a total of 38 hours in battle and 48 hours escaping from the North Vietnamese forces, according to CNN. He even experienced a brief encounter with a tiger when it cornered both American and North Vietnamese troops, but was able to escape.
Eventually, Adkins and his surviving peers were rescued by a helicopter, according to Army Times. He went on to have a very successful life after service, receiving a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees. He taught college classes and owned his own accounting service. He is 80 years old and lives with his wife in Opelika, Alabama.
According to Army Times, four of the soldiers Adkins served with in Vietnam will be in attendance at the ceremony, which will take place at the White House.
Adkins told Army Times that he is honored to receive the award.
"Basically, it's a very humbling experience to be recommended for the Medal of Honor. What I attribute this to is not my actions but the actions of the other 16 Americans with us in the battle at Camp A Shau and especially the five Americans that paid the ultimate price."
Texas Rangers bench coach Bobby Jones was officially awarded the Bronze Star Medal he earned while serving in Vietnam at the team's home game Thursday, Sept. 11.
According to the Star-Telegram, the former Army corporal earned the medal upon his return from combat in 1971, but was never given a proper ceremony due to the lack of popularity concerning the U.S.'s involvement in the war. Thursday night, however, Jones finally received his award and its citation when it was presented to him by Col. R.J. Muraski, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division.
The veteran spent over a year in Vietnam and sustained hearing loss from loud weapons, for which he now wears hearing aids, noted CBS DFW. His life after service centered around a successful baseball career – he was drafted while playing minor league ball for the Ranger's organization. Upon his return, he remained with the team, stepping up to the major leagues. After retiring, he continued to work for the Rangers, first as a manager and then as a coach, according to the source.
Jones told the Star-Telegram, "I didn't expect any of this, but it's pretty cool that they're doing it. It's unbelievable. This honor is awesome. I really appreciate what everyone is doing."
In an effort to lower veteran unemployment rates, 50 U.S. schools are taking part in Veteran's Upward Bound, a program run by the U.S. Department of Education. The program aims to help veterans receive a degree to improve life after service. According to the DOE, the Upward Bound curriculum encompasses everything from laboratory sciences, to foreign languages, to refresher courses for vets who need remedial assistance with the goal of having more veterans be college graduates with applicable skills for today's competitive job market.
The program makes a point to target low-income students who would otherwise be at risk for never receiving a degree. In fact, the DOE has mandated that two-thirds of participants in Veteran's Upward Bound are described as low-income and first-generation postsecondary students.
The DOE noted that vets enrolled in the program will gain instruction on how to apply for and take advantage of services through Veteran Affairs. Military Times noted that Upward Bound also helps vets with interview techniques and resume building to put them on the fast track to a stable career.
Upward Bound in action
According to Military Times, a shining example of Upward Bound's mission can be seen in the program at Western Kentucky University. Currently, 128 veterans are enrolled, up from 99 in the 2008-2009 school year. Kentucky is home to over 2,000 young veterans, and WKU hopes to help them prepare for the future through this innovative organization.
Bob Wilson is a chairman of the Southcentral Kentucky Community Blueprint Program, a group that gives support to veterans. He told Military Times that Upward Bound has been helpful in giving Kentucky veterans a guide for adapting to civilian life – something that was missing. Wilson told Military Times about how the program offered direction to former Marine and Afghanistan veteran David Jones. Jones left the service without even a basic resume, but through the help of Veteran's Upward Bound he is studying to be a trauma nurse.
According to Military Times, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans has been in a constant state of fluctuation this year. Numbers rose to 9.2 percent in February, only to dip significantly in the following months: March and April saw a steady 7 percent, while May's numbers dropped as low as 5.6 percent.
The summer, however, saw an increase in unemployment. By July, rates were back to 9.2 percent. Recently percentages fell over a point, landing current statistics at 8.1 percent, noted Military Times. Post-9/11 vets' unemployment rates remain higher than the national unemployment average, which is at around 6.2 percent, as well as the national unemployment rate encompassing all veterans, which is at 5.6 percent.
While these numbers may seem high, they have been dropping in recent history. According to Military Times, last year's numbers averaged around 9 percent. The downward trend in these statistics is expected to continue as the country looks to increase jobs and help veterans find better opportunities in life after service.
According to The Huffington Post, this gap continues to close for post-9/11 vets with the help of online resources, such as the Veteran Virtual Career Fair, an Internet-based meeting of businesses looking to hire veterans. The fair takes place on Sept. 11 and hopes to connect vets with suitable careers. The Huffington Post noted that over 50 businesses will be represented and that in the past three years the fair has been responsible for helping 81,000 veterans successfully find employment.
Seth Moulton is new to the world of politics, but that did not stop the former Marine from beating U.S. Rep. John Tierney in Sept. 9's Democratic primary elections for Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District. Moulton's defeat of Tierney marks the first time since 1992 that a sitting congressman has been defeated in a primary election, according to Military Times.
A native of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Moulton graduated from Harvard University in 2001. According to Harvard Magazine, Moulton decided to become a Marine during his senior year of college. He joined following the attacks of Sept. 11 and served in Iraq. In his life after service, he returned to Harvard, receiving a joint Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy in 2008. The Washington Post noted that although he remains proud of his service, he openly opposed the war in Iraq and maintains an anti-war platform.
Moulton will face off against Republican nominee Richard Tisei for the spot. The Washington Post speculated that Democrats have a better chance at victory with the 35-year-old newcomer, since Tierney's personal life and low-energy campaign would have been easy targets for Republicans. Nonetheless, the race is expected to be fierce, since Tisei has already gained attention and financial support from conservative organizations, stated Military Times.