Stars and Stripes Veterans News

www.stripes.com February 23, 2022 | View in browser   Army, VA honor Black soldiers hanged in the aftermath of 1917 Houston Riots, pledge to review their courts-martial The Department of Veterans Affairs unveiled a sign at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio to acknowledge the 1917 race riots in Houston that led to courts-martial and death sentences for 19 Black soldiers. The Army this month announced it would review the trials. Read more > Senate passes bill extending health care to veterans suffering with illnesses caused by burn pits The Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act now goes to the House, where some lawmakers are pushing for more comprehensive legislation that would provide health care and disability compensation to veterans exposed to burn pits. Read more > Court orders Navy to review thousands of 'bad paper' discharges The Navy Discharge Review Board must reconsider thousands of cases where upgrades were denied, despite evidence that veterans were struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or military sexual trauma when they separated from the military. Read more >   Hunger crisis in Afghanistan spurs US veterans to reprise efforts to help save lives American veterans who put together makeshift efforts to evacuate people from Afghanistan last summer are shouldering a new humanitarian cause, sending food and supplies to Afghans beset by yet another unfolding crisis. Read more >   Black WWII veterans helped pave way for civil rights advances An annual Western Pennsylvania event honoring contributions and sacrifices of African Americans during this nation’s military conflicts will be held this week and can be watched online. Read more > Federal lawsuit alleges Chicago police didn’t help prevent military veteran’s suicide in custody While handcuffed in a holding cell, Irene Chavez repeatedly told officers that she was experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and needed to see a therapist. Forty-five minutes later, she was found dead. Read more >   Tuskegee Airman recognized for 1949 shooting competition Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. James H. Harvey, one the last surviving members of the historic fighter pilot regiment from World War II, last month picked up an award the airmen had won 73 years earlier. Read more >   ‘Nobody deserves to be forgotten’: Orangeburg, SC, WWII veteran rests in cemetery a world away A white marble cross marks the grave of Sgt. Verdun Durant Smith of Orangeburg, S.C., one of more than 5,000 Americans who died in World War II and are interred at a cemetery more than 4,000 miles away. Read more >   Sentence upheld for former Coast Guard officer tied to terror plot A federal appeals court Tuesday upheld a prison sentence of more than 13 years for a former Coast Guard officer accused of stockpiling weapons and plotting politically motivated killings inspired by a far-right mass murderer. Read more >   Woman indicted in 2021 slaying of US Army veteran who was fatally strangled with necktie Alexandria Nicole Davis is charged in the slaying of Army veteran Johnnie Will Anderson III during the course of committing a theft of his cell phone, car keys and a debit card. Read more >   WWII veteran soared high as chief communications officer on Air Force One E. E. “Van” Valkenberg, a veteran who had been chief communications officer aboard Air Force One, died at the age of 95 on Feb. 7. During his time aboard Air Force One, Valkenberg observed historic moments including Nixon’s first flight to China. Read more >   FOLLOW US STRIPES.COM | EUROPE | JAPAN | KOREA | OKINAWA | GUAM © 2022 Stars and Stripes · 633 3rd St. NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 20001-3050