Veterans

Seattle's veterans treatment court sees its first 2 grads

Ashley Gross — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:59:47 +0000

Two Vietnam veterans are celebrating a milestone in Seattle today: They’re the first graduates of a special treatment court set up for veterans.

U.S. gov't still paying families of Civil War vets

The Associated Press — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:31:46 +0000

If history is any judge, the U.S. government will be paying for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for the next century as service members and their families grapple with the sacrifices of combat.

An Associated Press analysis of federal payment records found that the government is still making monthly payments to relatives of Civil War veterans — 148 years after the conflict ended.

Sun Valley becomes hub for healing vets through sports

Tom Banse — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:35:10 +0000

KETCHUM, Idaho - A ceremony in Sochi, Russia a few days ago started the one year countdown to the 2014 Winter Games. Here in the Northwest, the Sun Valley, Idaho ski team has set a goal to get at least six of its skiers or snowboarders on Team USA in Sochi.

The Paralympic Games for physically disabled athletes follow right after the Olympics. That U.S. team will also likely have lots of Northwest ties.

The journey from soldier, to double-amputee, to pro athlete

Tom Banse — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:30:43 +0000

KETCHUM, Idaho - A winter's worth of racing and training for the best disabled skiers and shooters culminates later this month at the Paralympic Nordic World Championships in Sweden. For the first time, the U.S. team headed to the competition is made up entirely of disabled veterans.

Advocates: Veterans with PTSD should get purple hearts, benefits

Monica Spain — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:41:18 +0000

Advocates for the mentally ill say the federal government isn’t going far enough to help veterans who return from war with psychological wounds. They’re in Seattle this week, demanding a change in military culture and better mental health care for veterans.

In sweat lodge, vets find healing 'down to the core'

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:41:37 +0000

Substance abuse. Violence. Even thoughts of suicide. These are some of the problems that many veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are struggling with.

Today it's called post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, but it has affected veterans going back much farther.

Seattle honors the fallen on Memorial Day

Ashley Gross — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:51:32 +0000

Eric Ward. Jeffrey Starr. Jeremy Burris.

Those are just a few of the 141 soldiers from Washington state who have lost their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan. That’s according to the Washington Post, which compiles casualty statistics. Memorial Day offers a chance to reflect on their sacrifice.

Seattle Central reaches out to military veterans

Gabriel Spitzer — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:34:59 +0000

Seattle Central Community College may be well known for Occupy Seattle protests and antiwar activism. But school officials are trying to make the campus more friendly to returning members of the military.

'Band of Brothers' soldier dies at 90 in Washington

The Associated Press — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:18:06 +0000

BURLINGTON, Wash. — A veteran whose World War II exploits were depicted in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers," has died, his family said.

Lynn D. "Buck" Compton died Saturday in Burlington, Wash., after having a heart attack last month, the family told the Los Angeles Times.

Lewis-McChord combat vet loses GI Bill for pot and spice

Austin Jenkins — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:02:20 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-967243.mp3

Here's a soldier's tale. Bill Surwillo deploys to Afghanistan. Nearly a quarter of his platoon is killed. He comes home with PTSD. He turns to marijuana and spice – a synthetic version of the drug – to relax. The Army kicks him out and takes away his GI Bill. Is this fair?

This Morning's Headlines

Gary Davis — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:14:23 +0000

State's Alcohol Energy Drink Ban May Move Feds

Washington is now the third state to ban the potent alcohol and caffeine beverages, including brands such as Four Loko. The so-called 'energy' cocktails have come under fire after numerous incidents involving young adults treated for alcohol poisoning.