Here are some recent articles of interest that I found this week for U.S. Veterans. Enjoy!
Healthcare for History Makers: Lawmakers reach tentative deal on plan to improve health care for veterans
The chairmen of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees have reached a tentative agreement on a plan to fix a veterans’ health program scandalized by long patient wait times and falsified records covering up delays.
Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., scheduled a news conference Monday to talk about a compromise plan to improve veterans’ care.
Miller chairs the House veterans panel, while Sanders chairs the Senate panel.
A spokesman for Sanders said Sunday the men have reached a tentative agreement. The deal requires a vote by a conference committee of House and Senate negotiators, and votes in the full House and Senate.
Read more here…
Image: Dallas Cowboy’s coach Tom Landry served in the 8th as a B-17 pilot. He flew for 30 combat missions in Europe. View image here…
History Maker: ‘Dutch’ Van Kirk, navigator of Enola Gay, dies
Last crewman of U.S. plane that dropped A-bomb on Hiroshima dies at 93. Nearly 69 years ago, Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk navigated a U.S. B-29 Superfortress called the Enola Gay over Hiroshima, Japan, on a sunny August day. Once over its target, the Enola Gay unloaded the first atomic bomb dropped in war.
A single bomb blast killed some 140,000 people and helped end World War II — and pushed the world suddenly into the nuclear era.
On Monday, Van Kirk died of natural causes at the Park Springs retirement community in Stone Mountain, Georgia, according to his eldest daughter Vicki Triplett. He was 93.
Read more here…
Finding History: WWII Sherman Tank Lifted From the Bottom of the Barents Sea
Another tank was lifted from the bottom of the Barents Sea – “Sherman” M4A2(76)W with a weapon, M1А2. The vehicle was lifted from the bulk carrier “Thomas Donaldson” lying 55 meters deep near Kildin Island. Divers say it’s not the only tank there, two more are waiting for their turn.
Read more here…
History Maker: Sgt. Rudy Raymond of Bay Isles Estates fought in WW2 Battle of Okinawa
Sgt. Rudy Raymond of Bay Lake Estates mobile home park in Nokomis, Fla. arrived just in time to take part in the biggest battle in the Pacific Theatre during World War II–Okinawa. He was a member of the Second Marine Wing, Air Squadron 8.
This was a special unit comprised of radio and radar operators called an Air Warning Squadron.
Read more here…
Thank you for reading (and sharing). Stay tuned for next week’s weekly review for U.S. Veterans.
