"veterans"

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.”

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.

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.

The Obama administration, in June 2014, challenged local governments to find a home for all veterans who want one by the end of this month. At least nine states and 850 municipalities tried to meet the goal, but Virginia and 15 municipalities were the only ones that succeeded.

Combating homelessness isn’t just about shelter. Lately, some affordable housing projects are getting decidedly upscale — to help residents heal, adjust and build bonds with their new neighbors.

The U.S. military exposed tens of thousands of troops to chemical and biological agents before 1975. Today, those vets are seeking health care and details on what substances they were given.

In 2009, then-Veterans Affairs head Eric Shinseki declared that all homeless veterans would have housing by 2015. New Orleans has made big strides, but in Los Angeles, the problem persists.

Five decades after the Vietnam War began—and four decades after it ended— veterans exposed to the chemical brew dubbed Agent Orange are still fighting for compensation and benefits for themselves and their children.

“When I was in Vietnam, I told myself if I ever make it out of here, I’m going back home and I’m staying there until the day I die,” says Victor Bean.

NPR Researcher Barbara Van Woerkom used documents and public databases to find 1,200 vets who participated in World War II secret chemical experiments. The Department of Veterans Affairs found 610.