Military service does not guarantee U.S. citizenship, which has meant a group of veterans has wound up together just over the border in Tijuana, Mexico, at a refuge they’ve dubbed “The Bunker.”
Military
No clues from autopsy on pregnant Alaska Army National Guard soldier
On the autopsy report and death certificate, Michelle LaRose Clark’s cause of death is listed as “undetermined,” a rare outcome in autopsies of adults says one pathologist.
Family suspects Guard scandal at play in pregnant soldier’s death
Nothing is resolved for the family mourning Michelle LaRose Clark, a pregnant soldier who died in 2011 of unknown causes. A special state investigator said last summer the death deserves further review.
Alaska soldier earns prestigious medal for heroic fishing rescue
The Soldier’s Medal is a huge deal–and extremely rare. Since 2001 up through April of 2015, the military has awarded 732 Silver Stars. In the same period, just 172 Soldier’s Medals were awarded.
Veterans Say Trained Dogs Help With PTSD, But The VA Won’t Pay
Service dogs help veterans with physical disabilities, and there’s increased interest in using dogs for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, too. A study is underway to see whether that helps.
In Portland, A Boot Camp To Help Veterans Cook Healthier Food
The VA says many veterans who use its services are overweight, obese or suffer from diabetes. The agency’s Portland branch wants to help veterans manage health issues by offering cooking classes.
Privacy Violations Rising At Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities
Deceased veterans’ documents were sent to the wrong widows. VA workers snooped on patients who had committed suicide. And whistleblowers contend the VA violated their medical privacy.
National Guard works to revive rural Alaska presence
There when National Guard armories were manned by guardsmen from the community, but now they’re mostly vacant. A statewide effort is underway to strengthen the dwindling guard presence in rural Alaska villages.
Labyrinth of bureaucracy, paperwork leaves retired Marine feeling lost
Scott Harrison says he has spent an enormous amount of time trying to locate his record, and has never seen or held a copy of it. He’s not alone, and the scale of this problem in Alaska depends on who you talk to.
Federal grant to pay for veterans’ ferry travel
The grant allows veterans to travel free on the ferry when that travel is in conjunction with health care needs.