Category Archives: Veterans for Common Sense News

Standoff Veteran’s Family Mourns Loss in Virginia – SWAT Team Kills Vietnam Veteran with PTSD

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Team VCS

March 1, 2009, Portsmouth, VA – Before police officers surrounded the home of Marshall Franklin and a SWAT team moved in, all Franklin’s family could do was watch. The standoff ended with two officers shot and Franklin dead, a scenario, … Continue reading →

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Mom: Deployment Leaves No One to Care for Kids

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Team VCS

March 1, 2009, Davidson, NC – When Lisa Pagan reports for duty Sunday, four long years after she was honorably discharged from the Army, she’ll arrive with more than her old uniform. She’s bringing her kids, too. “I have to … Continue reading →

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Why the Dark Secrets of the First Gulf War are Still Haunting Us

Posted on February 28, 2009 by Team VCS

February 27, 2009 – With rare exceptions, American politicians seem incapable of opposing an American war without befriending another in a different place or time. Barack Obama, an early and ardent enemy of the Iraq War, quickly declared his affinity … Continue reading →

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Helena Man Testifies About PTSD in DC

Posted on February 28, 2009 by Team VCS

February 28, 2009 – A Helena veteran who has become a national leader in the fight for better mental health care for veterans has testified on Capitol Hill before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Matthew Kuntz’ step-brother, Chris Dana, who … Continue reading →

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Congress Finds Consensus on Iraq Plan

Posted on February 28, 2009 by Team VCS

February 28, 2009 – After years of bitterly debating whether to set a timetable for troop withdrawals in Iraq, Congress has agreed to one. The general consensus came Friday in the form of statements endorsing President Barack Obama’s plan to … Continue reading →

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Feb 27, VCS in the News: President Obama Proposes Bigger VA Budget as Pentagon Grapples with Widespread Suicides

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Team VCS

Paul Sullivan, the Executive Director of Veterans for Common Sense, said he is “pleased” with Obama’s proposed budget for the agency as it provides much needed funding to “pay for the healthcare and disability benefits of more than 5.5 million deserving … Continue reading →

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Review Board May Disappoint Disabled Vets

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Team VCS

February 28, 2009 – Complaints from veterans and from a high-profile commission that the services routinely were “low-balling” disability ratings for military members spurred Congress to take action last year. Among other things it ordered the Department of Defense to … Continue reading →

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Editorial Column: Battling to End Military Stigma

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Team VCS

February 27, 2009 – The rising and frightening number of suicides and suicide attempts by U.S. combat veterans is a shameful legacy of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. For years, the military was reluctant to admit the existence of the … Continue reading →

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Feb 27: President Obama Promises to End Iraq War by August 2010

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Team VCS

Obama announces end of Iraq combat mission; President says ‘highest priority’ will be security of troops and civilians February 27, 2009, Camp LeJeune, NC – President Barack Obama on Friday declared that the United States would end its bloody and … Continue reading →

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Senate Will Advance Torture Commission

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Team VCS

February 24, 2009 – The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to move forward with a commission to investigate torture during the Bush administration. Committee Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., told Salon Tuesday that his panel would soon announce a hearing to study … Continue reading →

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