Better Lives For Soldiers

That would be AMAZING!!!

In honor Indigenous Peoples's Day, Arlingtion National Cemetery would like to highlight U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Ira Hayes. Ira Hayes, an Akimel O’odham (Pim...a) American Indian and decorated World War II veteran, was born in 1923 on the Gila River Reservation near Sacaton, Arizona. He was the oldest of six children. Hayes’ father was a veteran of World War I. Prior to following in his father’s footsteps and joining the Marine Corps in 1942, Hayes worked as a carpenter and served in the Civilian Conservation Corps which managed projects that improved parks, forests and other public lands. After completing basic training in San Diego, Hayes trained as a Marine paratrooper. He earned his silver wings and was given the nickname Chief Falling Cloud. He then joined Company B, 3rd Parachute Battalion, Divisional Special Troops, 3rd Marine Division at Camp Elliot, California. During World War II, Hayes served for 11 months in the Pacific Theater, fighting in the Battles of Bougainville and Vella Lavella during the Solomon Islands campaign of 1943. When Hayes returned to California in February 1944, Marine parachute units were disbanded, and Hayes transferred to 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton. In January 1945, Hayes and his unit sailed to the Pacific island of Iwo Jima. The Battle of Iwo Jima (February 19 to March 26, 1945) was one of the bloodiest battles on the Pacific front, with more than 26,000 U.S. service members killed, wounded or missing. On February 23, 1945, Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured Hayes and five other Marines raising the United States flag on Mount Suribachi, the highest point on the island. The image became one of the most famous U.S. military photos from World War II. It later inspired the United States Marine Corps War Memorial, located just outside Arlington National Cemetery. The widely published photograph also transformed Hayes into an iconic yet reluctant public figure. For his service to the United States, Hayes received numerous decorations, including the Commendation Ribbon with V combat device, the Presidential Unit Citation with one star, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. On November 10, 1954, the United States Marine Corps War Memorial was unveiled at a special dedication ceremony in which President Dwight D. Eisenhower praised Hayes as a national war hero. Yet Hayes struggled to reconcile his combat experiences with the public admiration he encountered. He returned to the Gila River Reservation and continued to suffer from what might now be described as survivor’s guilt and post-traumatic stress. At just 32 years old, Hayes was found dead on January 24, 1955one month before the 10-year anniversary of the Iwo Jima flag-raising and just a few weeks after the unveiling of the USMC War Memorial. #HonorThem #IndigeonsPeoplesDay2021 Image Credit: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Records Management Center.

VA has expanded the Veterans Legacy Memorial site to include individual pages for nearly 500,000 Veterans interred in 93 state, territorial and tribal Veterans ...cemeteries. VLM offers family and friends a way to share lasting memories of a Veteran by uploading written tributes, photos, biographies, documents and other information to Veterans’ pages. https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5723 See more

The last Sunday of September is recognized as Gold Star Families Day. Gold star families are comprised of spouses, children, parents, siblings or others whose ...loved one died in service to our nation. They play a vital part of our country’s military community and history. Although, gold star families have experienced a great loss, their ties to the military community remain strong. Their military networks which consist of their chain of command, fellow soldiers, and family are dedicated to supporting them. We thank all service members and their families for their service. #usarmybands #dontstopthemusic #songsofcomfort #armymusic #goldstarfamilies

Trying to figure out your housing allowance if you can’t go to school full-time? Maybe this can help you! More answers to frequently asked questions can be foun...d at https://bddy.me/2WaTVbg #GIBill #InTheKnow

Don’t forget! AZ Gives Day is coming up.

The CalVet Minority Veterans Division has partnered with Training Occupational Development Educating Communities (TODEC) Legal Center and Immigrant Defenders Law Center to provide free legal assistance to veterans seeking citizenship and/or naturalization services. Additionally, veterans will have the opportunity to learn about state and federal benefits they have earned.

Inspirational. Such strength and courage.

Well, this is what you get with privatized housing. Not surprising they were a no show!

Hopefully this will prevent Veterans from being targeted by predatory, low ranking colleges. https://www.militarytimes.com//gi-bill-vets-may-be-less-a/

Orange County Veterans who use the OC Veterans Service Office-- monthly clinics are still available! Clinics are virtual for now. Free legal aid via telephone a...nd zoom conferencing. Next clinic is December 9th. Contact the VSO to schedule an appointment date and time. If you can't wait, please apply online at www.vetslegal.org. Be sure to let us know in the application that you heard about us through the OCVSO. #veterans #FreeLegalAid See more

This is fantastic news. If passed into law, the mandate would require Veterans Affairs officials to begin granting fast-track disability status for about 200,000 veterans suffering from hypertension, bladder cancer, Parkinsonism or hypothyroidism. It would also represent a major victory for veterans advocates who have pushed for the change for years.

You get a tree! AND You get a tree! OPERATION: CHRISTMAS JOY is under way! San Bernardino Vet Center and The Home Depot will be giving away Christmas trees (c...at not included ) to veterans. WHEN: Dec. 4, 2020 at 3 p.m. PRE-REGISTER: Maximiliano Hernandez at 909-801-5762 or [email protected]. You must be a verifiable veteran, active duty, or Reserves/ National Guard. (One Christmas tree per household and while supplies last) #Veterans #MyCalVet #Christmas #VeteranHeroes #HolidaySeason #SeasonOfGiving