At 102, female WWII veteran keeps doing good deeds

By Ann M. Simmons, Los Angeles Times

April 30, 2012

It's all about "mitzvah," said Bea Abrams Cohen as she sought to explain one possible secret to her longevity. The meanings of the Hebrew word include an act of human kindness or a good deed. That's what Cohen, age 102, has spent a lifetime doing.

"Pay back. It works," said the chatty centenarian, who served her country during World War II and has worked for more than seven decades supporting the U.S. military and philanthropic organizations.

A resident of Westchester, Cohen is believed to be California's oldest female veteran, according to the California Department of Veterans Affairs. She was recently recognized at a state Capitol celebration during Women's Military History Week honoring the achievements of women in the armed forces.

"I don't want anyone to ever forget our veterans," Cohen said. "They are our heroes." Read more here…

Livermore man replaces war artifact stolen from Pearl Harbor survivor in San Leandro

By Chris De Benedetti
The Daily Review

4/26/2012

SAN LEANDRO -- An East Bay man's act of generosity Thursday replaced a cherished artifact that had been stolen from a Pearl Harbor survivor, providing a much-needed teaching aid for the historical lectures he delivers and restoring his sense of hope.

Michael "Mickey" Ganitch, a 92-year-old World War II veteran, lost a 1940s-era sextant -- a navigational device -- and other military memorabilia when they were stolen April 4 from his car outside a San Leandro restaurant.

No arrests have been made, and the items have not been recovered, police said.

Ganitch, a longtime San Leandro resident, was devastated. He was scheduled to give history speeches in Alamo and Danville the next day but was severely hamstrung by the missing sextant, as well as stolen military hats and pins, which he had used as teaching aids. Read more here…

Helping vets heal through surfing

April 26, 2012

San Jose Mercury News

 

Seven wounded military veterans spent the week in Santa Cruz as part of Operation Surf, a rehabilitation program that involves teaching the veterans to surf. This year’s group is based at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Texas.  See the photos here.....

Food Trucks Fundraiser - Santa Clara, CA - on Sat May 12 at Synaptics Parking Lot | SanJose.com

Food Trucks Fundraiser - Santa Clara, CA - on Sat May 12 at Synaptics Parking Lot | SanJose.com

Military Order of the Purple Heart Salutes California as the Nation’s First Purple Heart State

Military Order of the Purple Heart Salutes California as the Nation’s First Purple Heart State

Washington, DC

April 22, 2012

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is proud and honored to salute California as the first state in the nation to declare itself a “Purple Heart State.”  In recent years, in recognition of the service and sacrifice of each community’s sons and daughters in the war against terrorism, 21 separate cities and 5 counties across the country have proclaimed themselves as a “Purple Heart City” or County.  On April 12, 2012, following the lead of its 10 Cities and 2 Counties, the California legislature, passed a Concurrent Resolution establishing California as the first Purple Heart State in the nation, and on Monday, April 16th, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen signed the legislation into law. Read more here...

The VA's Palo Alto Health Care System welcomes Marines with open arms

By Dana Hull

San Jose Mercury News

April 21, 2012

When Marines leave the Corps, they are encouraged to enroll with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

But many don't. The VA and Department of Defense are two distinct, sprawling federal bureaucracies -- with their own staffs, cultures and record-keeping. No system exists to automatically enroll members of the military in the VA once they leave active duty, which means that scores of military veterans aren't accessing the services they need and are entitled to.

On Saturday, nearly 800 veteran Marines spent the day at the VA's Palo Alto Health Care System as part of an effort to welcome Marines with open arms -- and get them in the door. The daylong event, which featured health screenings, dozens of community organizations and a family-friendly barbecue, was organized for Marines who live within a 150-mile radius of the Palo Alto facility. The Marine Corps paid the Marines a day's wages -- about $210 -- for attending.

"A lot of Marines don't realize the benefits of the VA," said Lt. Col. Alex Waugh, who helped organize the event. "When guys are leaving active duty, the focus is on getting out and what are they going to do next. It's a real challenge to get them enrolled." Read more here...

Obama to designate Fort Ord as a new national monument

By Paul Rogers

San Jose Mercury News

April 20, 2012

Fort Ord, the sweeping former military base north of Monterey known for its oceanfront landscape and a history that dates back to cavalry soldiers in World War I, will become America's newest national monument.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to establish the new designation on Friday, making Fort Ord only the second national monument he has created since becoming president in 2009.

"Fort Ord's dramatic landscape lives in the memories of thousands of veterans as their first taste of Army life, as a final stop before deploying to war, or as a home base during their military career," Obama said in a statement late Thursday.

"This national monument will not only protect one of the crown jewels of California's coast, but will also honor the heroism and dedication of men and women who served our nation and fought in the major conflicts of the 20th century." Read more here...

‘Send Immediate Help’ to Oakland’s VA, Say Bay Area Reps

By Aaron Glantz

The Bay Citizen

April 19, 2012

Sixteen members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki Thursday, urging him to "send immediate help" to his agency's Oakland Regional Office, which handles all disability claims filed by veterans from Bakersfield to the Oregon border.

The letter came less than a week after The Bay Citizen revealed that the Department of Veterans Affairs' backlog of disability claims had exploded to 870,000 under the Obama administration.

The problem is particularly acute in the Bay Area, where veterans wait an average of 313 days for a decision on a disability claim. Nearly 35,000 Northern California veterans are currently waiting for the VA to issue a ruling on their disability claim. Eighty percent must wait at least 125 days.

"This is gross inefficiency and an unnecessary hardship on veterans and their families, some of whom may even become homeless while they wait for a claims decision from the Oakland office," the letter reads. Read more here…

Mick & The Big Dawg Patriots: Music helping our veterans

By Paul Freeman

For The Daily News

Twenty years ago, the musical artist known simply as Mick walked away from songwriting and performing. He had achieved a measure of success, fronting the band Bombardier, but had grown weary of the lifestyle.
Recently, Mick's creative juices began flowing again. He wrote a batch of songs that had friends bubbling with enthusiasm. But once he began recording, one question kept popping up. 

Mick, who grew up in Menlo Park and resides in San Jose, tells The Daily News, "Everyone was asking me, 'What are you going to do with this?' I have no illusions about going on tour, trying to become a rock star. It's not something I would want to do. It's not something that's even possible. 

"I thought this thing had fallen together so well that it obviously should be served well. That prompted me to use the completion of the album as a way to do something good." Read more here...

Palo Alto’s Varian Medical Systems prioritizes hiring veterans

By Arti Patel

Peninsula Press

April 16, 2012

Since the Obama administration pulled the plug on Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and called for nearly all American troops to return home by the end of 2011, veterans have rejoined the job market in droves. Silicon Valley companies are taking note.

Many employers are stepping up to employ veterans, even creating internal military support infrastructures designed specifically to discover and utilize the skill sets of returning servicemen and women.

Palo Alto-based Varian Medical Systems Inc. (NYSE: VAR), a medical device manufacturer of cancer radiation and therapy equipment, has made military recruitment a corporate priority. In 2010, G.I. Jobs Magazine identified the company in its annual list of the top 100 military-friendly employers. Read more here...

Michelle Obama Promotes Veterans, Jokes About Campaign On ‘The Colbert Report’

By Mary Bruce

With the general election fight now well underway, First Lady Michelle Obama jokingly offered her official endorsement tonight in a stop by Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”

“You are popular,” host Stephen Colbert noted to cheers from the audience. “Do you lord over the president the fact that you’re more popular than he is? Do you ever say, like, ‘hey, watch it or I might not campaign for you.’”

“I might try that when I get home,” Mrs. Obama quipped.

Asked if she was prepared to endorse his candidacy, the first lady eagerly offered her husband her full support.

“I am endorsing my husband Barack Obama. I think he will be a phenomenal president — he has been a phenomenal president,” she said.

“He’s my man,” she added with a wry smile.

The first lady’s appearance on Colbert, her first since the 2008 campaign, was intended to promote the one-year anniversary of her “Joining Forces” initiative, which honors and supports U.S. troops and their families. Read more here…

New resolution honors Iraq, Afghanistan veterans

By Melissa Freeman

SACRAMENTO, CA - Legislators, joined by veterans and the National Guard, announced Tuesday a resolution to honor veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Resolution SCR 82, co-authored by a bipartisan coalition of more than 50 legislators, will create a privately-funded memorial in Capitol Park to recognize Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

The resolution also encourages California cities and counties to honor homecoming Iraq veterans through parades, community events, resource fairs and other recognition events on Veterans Day 2012.

More than 205,000 California servicemen and women fought in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, including 600 who lost their lives.

"This resolution is about ensuring that our men and women in uniform know that their service is appreciated and valued and that their neighbors, friends and families are standing behind them as they integrate back into their communities," Sen. Sam Blakeslee said. Read more here…