Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 12, 2011.  The Army released suicide data today for the month of July.  Among active-duty soldiers, there were 22 potential suicides:  three have been confirmed as suicide and 19 remain under investigation.  For June 2011, the Army reported nine potential suicides among active-duty soldiers.  Since the release of[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 11, 2011.  The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  Cpl. Nicholas S. Ott, 23, of Manchester, N.J., died Aug. 10 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–August 11, 2011.  Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a joint letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki expressing their concern about the placement of homeless female veterans in unsecure housing in Chicago, which jeopardized[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 11, 2011.  The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of 30 servicemembers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  They died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. The following sailors assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit[Read More…]

SPRINGFIELD–(ENEWSPF)–August 11, 2011.  Since the conflicts in the Middle East began nearly 10 years ago, thousands of veterans have returned to Illinois. Many of these men and women—plus others who will be returning in the coming months and years—suffer hidden injuries like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 9, 2011.  The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Alessandro L. Plutino, 28, of Pitman, N.J., died Aug. 8 in Paktia province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.  He was[Read More…]

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–August 9, 2011.  The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) is hosting a free Helping Our Hometown Heroes benefits fair for veterans on Friday, August 19th in Woodstock at the Woodstock Opera House (121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock, 60098). The fair will bring federal, state and local agencies and[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–Aug. 9, 2011 – President Barack Obama and military leaders paid their respects today at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware during the dignified transfer of remains of service members killed in an Aug. 6 helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Two Air Force C-17 transport aircraft carrying the remains arrived at[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 9, 2011.  The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Aug. 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  The Marines were assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force,[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 8, 2011. The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Daniel J. Patron, 26, of Canton, Ohio, died Aug. 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine[Read More…]