Free Republic

Navy Veteran John Arnold of Priest River, Idaho, received a letter from the VA informing him that he is no longer allowed to purchase or own guns, When the Department of Veterans Affairs determines a veteran unable to take care of his financial affairs, it reports the assessment to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Once NICS gets the report, it labels the veteran “incapacitated,” which means that he along with his family members who live in the same household are barred by law from buying or owning firearms. On July 30, 2015, Navy Veteran John Arnold...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealander who was the last surviving pilot from the specialized World War II "Dambuster" mission targeting German infrastructure died Tuesday. Les Munro was 96...

One of the limits to the legal use of deadly force was illustrated by a recent incident in Detroit, Michigan.  A disabled veteran caught a robbery suspect, and attempted to hold him for police.  After about five minutes, the suspect ran away.  The vet shot in the air in an attempt to stop the suspect, but it did not work.  From clickondetroit.com(with video): "The criminal hit me with something in the back of my head," the veteran said. He did not want to be named in this story. The robber was trying to steal the man's gold chain. He...

ROCK HILL After five combat tours, including Iraq and Afghanistan, Marine Corps veteran Gary Pittman of Rock Hill believes he has earned the right to honor the nation he fought for by raising and lowering the American flag every day. He wants to fly the stars and stripes prominently – from a flagpole in his front yard. He also wants to fly the Marine Corps flag underneath the American flag on the same flagpole. Pittman has applied for a permit from the Norwood Ridge Homeowners Association, but he has not yet been given an answer. Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/andrew-dys/article28406581.html#storylink=cpy

Not manhandled by security, I should note, but manhandled by two fellow vets. And I’m not exaggerating in using that word: They’re shockingly rough with a guy who looks to be in his mid-70s. A broken hip will learn the old-timer not to go mouthing off about Benghazi, I guess. Kind of surprised to find two Obama fans this ardent at a VFW gathering, to be honest. Perhaps reflecting mixed feelings about the president among veterans, Obama often drew tepid applause, especially for comments about his nuclear deal with Iran. He did, however, receive a rousing ovation after calling for...

A Marine veteran standing guard outside an Armed Forces Recruiting Center has been told he is no longer welcome and ordered off the property. Matthew Benack took up a sentry post outside the Center in Jacksonville, Fla., in response to the deadly attack on five members of the U.S. military last week in Chattanooga, Tenn., WNCT reported. Police said the vet was within his constitutional rights to have a loaded weapon outside the center as long as the unidentified property owner gave permission.

An Iraq war service member wounded in combat was fired by Roto Rooter in Plymouth rather than kept on and accommodated for his battle-related injuries upon his return to the United States, according to a federal agreement that requires the company to pay $100,000 to the veteran. In a conciliation agreement signed Friday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Roto Rooter Services, of Plymouth, the company must pay $100,000 to settle disability discrimination charges for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “Firing a war veteran for his disabilities incurred serving his country is just plain wrong...

July 11, 2015 Democrat County Chairman Punches Blind Veteran At Polling Place (video) By Thomas Lifson Leroy Jones is Chairman of the Essex County Democratic Committee, the third most populous county in New Jersey, whose county seat is Newark. According to LiveLeak: Video was released purportedly showing Leroy Jones punching 75-year-old Bill Graves, who was volunteering as a poll worker during the incident on primary day, June 2. “I hear this rumbling, ‘Where the blank is Bill Graves? I’m gonna kick his butt!’” Mr. Graves told a local ABC affiliate. “You can see on the tape it was intentional.” The...

San Diego, CA – Authorities on Wednesday circulated surveillance camera images of a youth sought for beating up a 52-year-old man at a La Mesa transit depot. The victim had just exited a trolley about 8 p.m. June 13 when the assailant jumped him, punching him until he fell to the ground and then kicking him in the head, according to police. A surveillance camera captured images of the aggressor, described as a black teenager with braided hair, wearing blue jeans, a white sweat shirt, red tennis shoes and a black baseball cap.

Police are circulating this footage after an unsuspecting 52 year-old Navy veteran was knocked to the ground by a street thug and then beaten unconscious. The Navy veteran NEVER saw it coming. The suspect is described as a black teenager with braided hair, wearing blue jeans, a white sweat shirt, red tennis shoes and a black baseball cap. The victim had just exited a trolley on June 13th. Don’t expect this to make many headlines. It doesn’t fit the liberal media narrative.

A legal team investigating the Obama administration’s order that certain American military veterans deemed “incompetent” give up their weapons says the problem is worse than expected. People who live with veterans now are being ordered not to possess a gun, and some veterans are told they can “buy back” their Second Amendment rights by giving up their veterans’ benefits. “This is simply unbelievable, On the one hand the [Veterans Administration] and the FBI have found veterans to be mentally ill and too dangerous to be allowed to own firearms, while on the other hand allowing these allegedly dangerous people to...

A World War II veteran walked across the stage at Stanford’s graduation ceremony on Sunday, more than 60 years after receiving his degree. With his granddaughter by his side, Bonnie "Chuck" Gould, recipient of the bronze Medal for Bravery during his WWII service, finally got the sash and the public recognition he earned decades ago. Gould, a retired teacher, coach, principal and superintendent of the Redwood City School District, graduated from Stanford with a master’s in education in 1954. But he didn’t walk in the ceremony. He called it a mistake, but not one made intentionally. “We had six kids...

An Army soldier attending Artsfest on Memorial Day thought something was fishy with the Marine uniform worn by 75-year-old Robert Ford, who was strolling along Front Street. Ford's hat bore some wrinkles, according to the soldier's assessment, and his belt buckle looked too ornate for his rank. The soldier enlisted the help of a Harrisburg police officer working at the event, who was a Marine, and together, they accused Ford of being a fraud. "He's not a real Marine!" the officer shouted to the crowd gathered for the PennLive/Patriot-News Artsfest of Greater Harrisburg. "Stolen valor!" "I was humiliated," said Ford,...

A 99-year-old World War II veteran who wants to move from a Minnesota veterans' home to one in California is frustrated by a state law that requires six months of residency first. George Vandersluis grew up in Minneapolis and eventually settled in Fresno, California, where he raised his sons after the war. He returned to Minnesota after suffering a heart attack eight years ago to live in a Veterans Affairs facility in Hastings. KSTP first introduced you to Vandersluis, who is one of the last Pearl Harbor survivors, on Memorial Day.

I sat down Monday evening and pondered connecting the dots on something I consider a national security issue: the growing list of military officers being prosecuted for questionable reasons. When I’m out traveling, many folks ask me if there is a targeted “purging” of military leaders. I’m never one to join in on conspiracy theories, but there have been some recent instances that we should pay attention to — and perhaps there are more, of which you our astute readers are aware. Perhaps the most recent is Army LTC Jason Amerine. LTC Amerine, who is according to CNN, “a Special...

In an exclusive interview with Campus Reform, the former active-duty Marine who served two combat tours in Iraq said his suspension came after he requested to meet with a different counselor in the school’s Office of Counseling and Disability Services. Rawls, who is diagnosed with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was originally paired with a female counselor who wore traditional Muslim dress during his initial visit to the office. -snip According to Rawls, his attempts to meet with staff members to discuss the school’s policy about changing counselors were repeatedly ignored and it wasn’t until a recent meeting with administrators that...

I am new, however, have been monitering this site and others regarding WACO. None of the pressers, blogs, news sites that I have found discuss the status of the arrested MotorCyclists. Are they all still in WACO? Have they attorneys? Have family access to them? Who are the LE's interviewing them, etc. Is it the local LEs or BATFE, FBI, or another federal agency, including military.

The Seattle Veterans Affairs hospital is apologizing for leaving an Army veteran stranded outside its emergency room with a broken foot. Donald Siefken, 64, told The Seattle Times that hospital staff refused to help him move 10 feet through the emergency room doors. Siefken was told to call 911 for help instead. Siefken told the Times he fell while getting ready to drive his wife to Sea-Tac Airport in February. He said his foot started to swell and hurt during the drive. After dropping off his wife, Siefken drove to the VA hospital in Seattle. He said he was in too...

Another of the remaining survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis has died...

Link only due to copyright. WWII vet flies Spitefire for first time in 70 years