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Veterans News for Wednesday, March 30, 2011

1.    War widow blogs the next chapter of her life. 

2.    More powerful roadside bombs lead to increase in spinal injuries among troops. 

3.    General: Military taking precautions to protect troops from radiation.  

4.    Evacuating Japan? Here's what troops and families need to know. 

5.    Former VA secretary to lead SD natl. cemetery group. 

6.    W.Va. elevates veterans' office to Cabinet agency. 

7.    VA Patient Outcomes Data Motivate Change at Hospitals. 

8.    Open invitation for Bucks' veterans. 

9.    Veterans learn about benefits, meet Runyan. 

10.           Biden Speaks At Disabled Vets Clinic In Snowmass. 

11.           Gould Touts Clinic's Success. 

12.           Embattled Wisconsin Veterans Secretary Resigns. 

13.           State veterans affairs secretary resigns. 

14.           Secretary Had Complained About Impact Of Governor's Budget On Vets Programs. 

15.           Don't Raise Tricare Fees, American Legion Says. 

16.           Data Spur Changes In VA Care. 

17.           Nuclear Radiation. 

18.           Hotline Coaches Vets' Families On Mental Health. 

19.           Women's History Program The Focus Of VA Event. 

20.           Albany Veteran Complains About VA Medical Treatment. 

21.           Texas Vet Starting Peer Support Group. 

22.           VA Hospital To Host Job Fair On Thursday.  

23.           Disabled Vet Is Back On The Move On His New Scooter. 

24.           AFGE, VA Sign Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

25.           NJVVMF Hosts VA Health Care Benefits Seminar. 

26.           Veterans Forum Identifies Problems, Solutions. 

27.           Former Marine Walks Barefoot For PTSD Awareness. 

28.           Army Veteran Donates 100th Gallon Of Blood. 

29.           Veteran Food Pantry. 

30.           WWII Veteran From Xenia Receives Medals Earned In 1940s. 

31.           On the Hill for March 30, 2011:

32.           VA / VSO-MSO Hearings as March 30, 2011:

33.           Today in History:

1.    War widow blogs the next chapter of her life.  Late that night, after the notification officer had picked her up from her knees and carried her into the house, the young newlywed wrote on her blog what she couldn’t yet convince herself was true.

2.    More powerful roadside bombs lead to increase in spinal injuries among troops.  Stronger armored vehicles are preventing more servicemembers in Afghanistan from being killed by roadside bombs. But the bombs are still powerful enough to cause severe skeletal and spinal injuries, the worst of which are leaving some paralyzed, Army surgeons say.

3.    General: Military taking precautions to protect troops from radiation.   The U.S. military constantly is monitoring radiation levels in Sendai to ensure its troops are not receiving dangerous doses of radiation from the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the commander of the American military effort said.

4.    Evacuating Japan? Here's what troops and families need to know.  The following information was published in the Japan Relocation Allowance Guide at Misawa Air Base, Japan. According to the guide, each member’s allowances are treated separately based on individual circumstances. Personnel are urged to check with the financial services office for more information.

5.    Former VA secretary to lead SD natl. cemetery group.  San Diego Union Tribune  By Jeanette Steele The former head of the US Department of Veterans Affairs will lead the nonprofit foundation that supports two national cemeteries in San Diego. Anthony J. Principi, a Navy Vietnam veteran and a former San Diego attorney, ...

6.    W.Va. elevates veterans' office to Cabinet agency.  Daily Mail - Charleston  At least 28 states have department-level agencies for veterans, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill unanimously passed the state Senate, while 10 GOP delegates opposed it in the House. State Republican Party Chairman Mike ...

7.    VA Patient Outcomes Data Motivate Change at Hospitals.  Becker's ASC Review  By Sabrina Rodak | March 29, 2011 Public data on patient outcomes in Veterans Affairs hospitals has motivated hospitals with poor results to make changes, according to a Wall Street Journal report. In November the US Department of Veterans Affairs ...

8.    Open invitation for Bucks' veterans.  phillyBurbs.com  The Rev. Peter Hook, a Vietnam veteran from Langhorne, was diagnosed with Agent Orange effects about two years ago. Upon his diagnosis he reached out to veterans services. But before then, he wasn't involved with veterans affairs of any kind. ...

9.    Veterans learn about benefits, meet Runyan.  phillyBurbs.com  He said the goal of the expo was to provide veterans with the opportunity to speak with the men and women that run organizations such as the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in order to learn about the latest ...

10.                       Biden Speaks At Disabled Vets Clinic In Snowmass. Aspen (CO) Daily News "Soldiers are the most tested of all Americans, Vice President Joe Biden said during a surprise appearance at the opening ceremonies for the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village on Sunday. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the clinic aims to rehabilitate and enrich the lives of disabled veterans through adaptive skiing, as well as other adaptive sports that run the gamut from curling to rock climbing." 

11.                       Gould Touts Clinic's Success. American Forces Press Service  Deputy Secretary Gould "called on more than 350 disabled veterans...to strive for new heights as they participate" in this week's clinic. Speaking "alongside...Biden and Disabled American Veterans National Commander Wally Tyson, Gould praised the success of what has grown to become the world's largest disabled winter sports event. 'Those of you who have been here before know why,' he told this year's participants, many of whom have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. 'Those of you who are new to the clinic will soon know. There is something here for everyone.'" 

12.                       Embattled Wisconsin Veterans Secretary Resigns.  AP  Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Secretary Ken Black, "who has faced allegations of discrimination in the department, announced his resignation Monday." Although he "did not give a reason" for the resignation, "said in a statement that he was honored to have led the agency for the past 17 months and his resignation was effective Friday."

13.                       State veterans affairs secretary resigns .  WSAU  Deputy Secretary Donna Williams, a combat veteran who retired from the US Army as a colonel after 29 years of service, will become acting secretary. Black was a deputy veterans' affairs secretary when he moved into the top job in late 2009 after John … 

14.                       Secretary Had Complained About Impact Of Governor's Budget On Vets Programs.  Sauk Prairie (WI) Eagle "Earlier this month, Black issued a scathing statement about the budget proposed by Gov. Scott Walker, warning it 'endangers the existence of essential veterans programs in this biennium and in future years.'"  

15.                       Don't Raise Tricare Fees, American Legion Says.  Army Times "The nation's largest veterans group, the American legion, opposes any increase in out-of-pocket health care fees for military retirees." The group's national commander, Jimmie Foster, "said, 'We are well aware'" that the Department of Defense "'needs to reduce its budget, but they need to look elsewhere and leave Tricare alone.'"

16.                       Data Spur Changes In VA Care. Wall Street Journal  Veterans Affairs hospitals are quickly attempting to improve care now that the US VA is posting online information about how likely patients are to survive a visit without complications. Secretary Eric Shinseki urged the posting of such information, which compares patient outcomes at all of the nation's 152 VA hospitals. 

17.                       Nuclear Radiation. Army Times "Veterans advocates are...worried" about the threat nuclear meltdown threat to US service members and their families in Japan. Veterans for Common Sense Executive Director Paul Sullivan "feared the risk may be far higher than military officials have said.

18.                       Hotline Coaches Vets' Families On Mental Health.  Stars And Stripes "The Department of Veterans Affairs is encouraging family members who are concerned about the mental health of a military veteran to call a toll-free number for coaching on how to convince the veteran to seek help. After a yearlong pilot program, Families at Ease is taking calls at (888) 823-7458, on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time. The coaching service," which is "provided by VA psychologists and social workers, is in addition to...VA's separate Veterans Crisis Line, (800) 273-8255."

19.                       Women's History Program The Focus Of VA Event. Prescott (AZ) Daily Courier The "public is invited to attend a women's history program presentation, 'She Served, Our History is Our Strength,' at 11:30 a.m. Thursday" at the Bob Stump Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The program's "presenter, Ame Callahan, is a retired 24-year Air Force veteran currently serving as manager, voluntary service and public affairs officer for the Bob Stump VAMC.

20.                       Albany Veteran Complains About VA Medical Treatment. WALB-TV  Vietnam vet Willie Ross, who was "just released from the hospital one week ago, worries that government red tape from the Veterans Administration will put him back in the hospital." Ross "says medicine doctors told him to take for congestive heart failure ran out Friday. The Albany VA Clinic told him it's on the way, but four days later, Ross wonders if it will come in time."

21.                       Texas Vet Starting Peer Support Group. KJTV-TV "Thousands of combat veterans returning home to Texas are in need of emotional guidance," which is why Vietnam vet Don Higgins, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is "starting a peer support group for veterans, hoping they won't wait like he did to seek help."

22.                       VA Hospital To Host Job Fair On Thursday. WVTM-TV On Thursday, the Veterans Affairs hospital in Tuscaloosa is hosting a job fair that will feature "more than two dozen businesses." The fair will be held "from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., in the sports atrium" of the hospital's Building 137.

23.                       Disabled Vet Is Back On The Move On His New Scooter. WHAM-TV "Ed Tellier says he is so grateful" to Veterans Affairs for getting him a new scooter to replace one he had that was stolen. Tellier "says people who want to help should consider donating to the VA or their local VFW to help other veterans."

24.                       AFGE, VA Sign Collective Bargaining Agreement. Federal Times

25.                       NJVVMF Hosts VA Health Care Benefits Seminar. Cherry Hill (NJ) Courier Post

26.                       Veterans Forum Identifies Problems, Solutions. Bay Net

27.                       Former Marine Walks Barefoot For PTSD Awareness. KSAZ-TV

28.                       Army Veteran Donates 100th Gallon Of Blood. WTEV-TV

29.                       Veteran Food Pantry. WTMJ-TV

30.                       WWII Veteran From Xenia Receives Medals Earned In 1940s. AP