Blog Post

IAVA Daily News Brief 07.17.12
Posted by Gretchen Andersen on July 17 2012

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings that IAVA is tracking. Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking? Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom and click here to get the News Brief delivered to your inbox every morning.

MUST READS

1) Backlog of Benefits Claims for Texas Veterans Doubled in Two Years

The Austin-Statesman reports that Texas veterans are facing long wait times from the Department of Veterans Affairs. According to the article, pending claims in Texas this month are nearly at 90,000, compared to more than 46,000 in July 2010. Highlighted in the article is Waco Veterans Affairs Regional Office, which has the nation's second-highest number of pending claims.

2.) 11 Soldiers to Compete at London Olympics

There will be 11 U.S. Army soldiers participating in the 2012 London Olympics in competitions ranging from the fire pistol event to wrestling. The soldiers are members of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, which has seven training sites across the nation and is headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado. 

3) A Vietnam Vet’s Growing Database and Quest to Prevent ‘Stolen Valor’

For almost 15 years, Doug Sterner has been documenting military valor medals. According to the article, Sterner, a Vietnam Veteran, has documented nearly 105,000 of the approximately 350,000 medals above the Bronze Star and up to the Medal of Honor. Sterner types all the records himself and says his inspiration for recording all the medals is so people will not forget the servicemembers' sacrifices.

AFGHANISTAN

• A reality television program called “Maidan e Sabz,'' or ''Green Field,'' will allow Afghans to try out for a spot on one of the eight professional national football teams that will be formed in Afghanistan.
• Protesters lined a town near the Afghan border to oppose the reopening of NATO supply routes.
• Abdul Sabor, an Afghan soldier who killed four French soldiers, has been sentenced to death.
• Army Spc. Jonathan Batista, 22, was laid to rest as hundreds of people, many clutching small American flags, paid their respects.

IRAQ

• Two groups have joined forces to build a “smart house” for Joe Wilkinson, an Iraq veteran and former Air Force technical sergeant who uses a wheelchair for his degenerative nerve disease.
• Iraq's government encouraged all its citizens living in Syria to return home due to increasing violence.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

• According to an Indian Ambassador, a fisherman aboard the boat that was shot at by the U.S. Navy off Dubai’s coast said the crew received no warning before being fired upon. The account differs from that provided by the Navy, which said it resorted to lethal force only after issuing a series of warnings.
• The Camp Pendleton varsity boxing team was cut after an athlete was injured. The head coach posted on Facebook that the disbanding was “due to risk of the sport, difficulty in finding a qualified Level 3 coach, recent injuries on the All-Marine Boxing Team, recent injury on the Camp Pendleton Boxing team, and budget cutbacks.”

THE NEW GREATEST GENERATION

• Six hotel chains -- such as Marriott, Best Western and Wyndham -- are participating in the “Hotels For Heroes” program, where consumers can make donations with their hotel rewards or points to wounded veterans.
• A group of wounded warriors from Special Forces, with guides and volunteers, climbed Mt. Rainier as part of Camp Patriot, a veterans non-profit which promotes activities for wounded troops through outdoor “recreational therapy” adventures.
• Charlie Sheen will donate 1% of the profits of FX’s new Thursday night show, "Anger Management," to the USO, with a guaranteed minimum of $1 million.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

• A hearing set for the five men charged with the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has been postponed because it would conflict with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

A wide-range of views, positions, and publications are represented in these articles. These views, positions and publications are not endorsed by nor do they necessarily represent the views of IAVA.

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