Smile, Mom!
It’s true—my mom is my biggest fan. When you walk into her kitchen she has an 8 X 11 sized photocopy of my VA business card taped to the refrigerator. On her desk, she has two (practically identical) graduation photos …
Tag Archives: Veteran
The Invisible War—A Look into Military Sexual Trauma
U.S. Air Force Veteran
As a combat zone Veteran with five deployments to the Middle East supporting the Persian Gulf War, I receive disability compensation and treatment at VA for PTSD and MST. Yes, MST is a real issue and needs to be treated, and yes, VA could be doing a better job, but will this documentary help?
Iraq: And so it Ends
Iraq War Veteran
With lots of press but little fanfare, the last remaining troops stationed in Iraq began packing up shop and heading home. I wanted to take a moment to thank my fellow Iraq Veterans for all of their dedicated service over the years.
Never Say “I am just an Airman or Reservist”
U.S. Air Force Veteran
I always say I have been in the Air Force for 50 years. I have been a dependent daughter, spouse, active duty and I am currently a participating Air Force Reservist. I was active duty from 1983 to 1992, and I have been a member of the Air Force Reserves since 1995.
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Blue Button for All Americans Contest Winner Announced–So What?
Special Assistant to the VA Chief Technology Officer
The Blue Button allows Veterans to access and download their information into a very simple text file (or an enhanced PDF) that can be read, printed, or saved on any computer.
The Quiet Warrior from Birdtown: Charles George
My HealtheVet Coordinator
Charles George, a full-blooded Cherokee and member of the Bird Clan, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions on November 30, 1952.
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The Definition of a Veteran
U.S. Navy Veteran
There are very few words that catch me quite like “Veteran.” It’s such a short word, but in today’s world, it means so much and identifies a person in just seven letters.
Active Duty Doesn’t Mean Inactive Student
Director of Military Initiatives at Southern New Hampshire University
When you ask a recent Veteran about their education plans, they often respond in the future tense. For a variety of reasons, many defer their education goals to some point in the future, when they can better balance the demands of family, career, and school, and take advantage of more generous benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Advanced Cardiac Procedure Performed at the Asheville VAMC
My HealtheVet Coordinator
Air Force Veteran Stanley Mitchell received unsettling news: his pacemaker battery to the chamber of his heart was no longer functioning properly. Fortunately for Mr. Mitchell he is a patient of the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC and had another option – Laser Lead Extraction.
Spirit of the Game: National Vets Wheelchair Games
U.S. Army Veteran and wheelchair athlete
The first time I attended the National Veterans Wheelchair Games was in 1995. I had been injured for three years and was having one heck of a pity party. I was encouraged to attend the Games in Atlanta by fellow Veteran, Joe Jackson. He will always have a special place in my heart for caring enough about me to get me to participate in this event.
