February 4, 2012

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Vietnam veterans receive Purple Hearts in Greenwood (AUDIO)

January 31, 2012 By

Livingston was one of those honored in Greenwood ceremony

The time and place have been etched indelibly in the mind of veteran Sergeant James Henderson, Jr. of Ninety-Six, South Carolina. That was the time Henderson suffered the wounds of combat. Henderson contacted 3rd District Congressman Jeff Duncan’s office several months ago to request assistance in obtaining medals that he never received during his military career. After working with the Defense Department, it was confirmed that Sergeant Henderson rightfully earned a Purple Heart and several other medals. On Monday, Congressman Duncan officially awarded Henderson with a Purple Heart in a ceremony Monday afternoon at steps of the old Greenwood County Library. Henderson says while he is honored, the memories are painful.

AUDIO: Henderson was moved (:12)

During the ceremony attended by local veterans, State Rep. Mike Pitts presented a Purple Heart to another Vietnam veteran Robert J. Livingston.

Duncan told WLMA’s Anne Eller it is a scar on the nation that the returning Vietnam veterans were not treated the way they deserved to be treated. He says ceremonies like the one in Greenwood Monday is an effort to right a wrong. Duncan says honoring soldiers that have been wounded in battle is always for him a humbling experience.

AUDIO: Duncan says we all should do more to honor veterans (:32)

Anne Eller, WLMA Greenwood covered this story.

Filed Under: Human Interest, Military, News

New C-17 arrives at Joint Base Charleston

January 27, 2012 By

Joint base Charleston is welcoming its 56th C-17 to the Lowcountry tarmac. The new Boeing-made Globemaster III arrived Thursday afternoon at the Charleston air base.

Local aircrew members from the 315th Airlift Wing manned the craft during its flight from Long beach, California to North Charleston.

Major General Robert Kane was also on the flight. He is the director of global reach programs and is responsible for air force acquisitions for aircraft.

The C-17 Globemaster III is a cargo aircraft, capable of transporting troops and supplies. It can perform tactical and aeromedical missions.

Filed Under: Military, News

“Job well done:” S.C veterans respond to end of Iraq War (AUDIO)

December 14, 2011 By

Rob Miller

As the United States prepares to withdraw all forces from Iraq by the end of the month, a number of South Carolina veterans who have made their mark as Democrats in the political arena commented on the end of the war in a media call Wednesday sponsored by the Truman National Security Project.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Rob Miller served two tours in Iraq. Miller said President Obama kept his pledge to end U.S. troop involvement in Iraq once the country was prepared to defend itself. While it was the Bush Administration that set the December 31 deadline, that original plan had sought a small number of contingency troops to remain behind.

Miller says he is proud of the U.S. military’s successful mission in Iraq.

AUDIO: Miller says the U.S. accomplished its mission in Iraq

Miller says he thinks about the nearly 4500 soldiers who have died and the thousands that have been wounded during the war. While running as a Democrat, Miller lost to incumbent Republican Joe Wilson in the race for the 2nd Congressional seat in 2010.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Military, News

Charleston VA hospital opens $5M expansion

December 6, 2011 By

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston has opened its latest expansion–the Veterans Enrichment Center to serve the 13,000 mental health patients at the hospital.

VA spokesperson Tonya Lobbestael–

“It is a 7,000 square-foot addition onto the front of the VA that is going to house mental health services–especially for veterans who are living long-term with mental illness,” says Lobbestael.

Lobbestael says they began the project about 18 months ago.

“We partnered with the Army Corps of Engineers to design and build, and we are just thrilled because this really is one of the hallmark moves for the expansion and the aggressive stance that we have taken in the VA to make sure our veterans are getting timely access to mental health care,” says Lobbestael.

In 2006, the Charleston VA had about 13 percent of all patients who needed mental health services. That number has increased significantly.

“We’ve really done a lot more than just build a building. We have more than doubled the size of our mental health staff in the past five years, and we have seen those veterans who are currently our patients, we serve over 55,000 here at the VA, with about 25 percent of them now receiving mental health services. That is up 12 percent over five years ago,” says Lobbestael.

Lobbestael says the new Enrichment Center is an addition in the front of the VA, to serve multiple purposes.

“It is full of wonderful glass-fronted classroom settings where they’ll be doing psychosocial rehabilitation, staff offices, group meeting rooms, a lovely courtyard where they can have some outdoor activities–which is very, very nice,” says Lobbestael.

Lobbestael says the structure of the building was designed to allow room for more growth on the top of the new Veterans Enrichment Center. The mental health service portion of the Charleston VA has increased its staff from 71 to 190 in the past five years due to the increase in mental health service demands.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Military, News

Senate approves Graham’s National Guard amendment

November 29, 2011 By

Senator Lindsey Graham

The U.S. Senate agreed with Senator Lindsey Graham that the National Guard should be part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Senator Lindsey Graham says the Senate’s approval on his amendment to give the National Guard a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff was long overdue. Graham says the amendment is recognition and a fitting tribute for our citizen-soldiers and the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our nation.” Graham says guardsmen and reservists are citizen-soldiers and they deserve and have earned a seat at the table. Graham’s amendment was added by a voice vote to the Defense Authorization Bill. The Senate will continue debating the measure and final approval is expected later this week.

Graham says The Guard and Reserve “is indispensable to fighting the War on Terror and protecting the homeland.” His legislation was endorsed by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Convention Association, the National Guard Association of the United States, the Adjutants General Association of the United States, and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

Filed Under: Military, News, Politics & Government
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