By Paul Kruze

Photo:  Congresswoman Susan Davis addresses audience at veterans’ town hall in El Cajon.

Listen to veterans’ town hall with Congresswoman Davis:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/otg5ea4rh7x1i8p/SusanDavisVeterans_Final.mp3

August 7, 2017 (El Cajon) -- With the United States involved in war campaigns in the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia over the past century, there are U.S. soldiers who have returned home visibly unscathed by the hell of war. But there are those soldiers who have returned home healthy on the outside, yet everyday continue to deal with the ravages of war on the inside, enduring post-traumatic stress disorder and other challenges.

AB 386 creates legal aid fund for veterans seeking to return to United States

East County News Service

March 14, 2017 (San Diego) — When immigrants signed up to serve in America’s armed forced, they were promised that they would be given expedited citizenship. But now President Trump has begun deporting these veterans.  Now, California’s Assembly Judiciary has approved a bill to establish a legal aid fund to help deported veterans.

By Miriam Raftery

“Bring body armor, gas masks, earplugs (we may be facing a sound cannon) but no drugs, alcohol or weapons…if we don’t stop it, who will?”—Wesley Clark Jr., a veteran and son of retired four-star U.S. Army General Wesley Clark Sr., former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe

November 23, 2016 (Cannonball, North Dakota) – Nearly 1,000 U.S. military veterans have signed to join  Veterans for Standing Rock December 4-7 to support Native American tribes standing up to protect clean water and halt the Dakota Access oil pipeline that they fear will burst and contaminate the Missouri River.  The pipeline also desecrates sacred Standing Rock Sioux sites.

The water protector activists have faced brutality at the hands of a militarized police force in recent days, including spraying a water cannon in below-freezing temperatures.  Three hundred people have been injured and 26 hospitalized, including a 21-year-old girl hit by a concussion grenade whose bone was shattered and now faces possible amputation of her arm.

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2016 (San Diego) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for the deportation of all undocumented immigrants, with no exceptions.

But now a San Diego based coalition is calling for protection to stop deportations of hundreds, or potentially thousands of U.S. military veterans who served our country with honor.

Southern California servicemen join Warriors to Summits team to overcome personal barriers and traverse the Wind River Range in WY this summer

East County News Service

May 31, 2016 (San Diego) - Local residents Christopher Laha, a Marine Corps veteran and Johnny Walker, an Army veteran, will join 11 other servicemen and women with various disabilities for a challenging week-long trek across the Wind River Range in Wyoming this June 11 – 17.

East County News Service

May 29, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – This weekend, we honor the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to serve our country in the U.S. armed forces.

More than 1.1 million American soldiers have been killed in wars since our nation began, from the Revolutionary War to today. The U.S. currently has about 14 million living veterans from War World II to the present military conflicts.

Here in San Diego County:

East County News Service

March 6, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — The San Diego Association of Realtors, Senator Joel Anderson, American Legion 731 and the Virtual Counselor Network will host a Military Housing Resource Workshop for all current and former military members.  The free workshop will be held Saturday, March 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the American Legion  (7245 Linda Vista Road) in San Diego

Source: Cuyamaca College

November 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--About 30 military veterans, now students at Cuyamaca College, enjoyed a barbecue and received school supplies at a Veterans Week commemoration hosted on campus Wednesday by the El Cajon Elks Lodge. The event, which also included a raffle for prizes including T-shirts, gift certificates from merchants and a pair of tickets to a Chargers’ football game, marked the second year that Elks Lodge 1812 joined the college in honoring student veterans.

By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2014 (San Diego)—A growing number of veterans who served at Ft. McClellan in Alabama, where chemical and biological weapons testing and training was done, are now suffering health problems including cancer, autoimmune diseases and birth defects in children that may be linked to exposures to these toxins. Radioactive materials were also used. Sixty Minutes has called it one of the most toxic sites in America.

Now those who served at Ft. McClellan are taking their case to Congress.  House Resolution 411, introduced by Rep. Paul Tonko D-NY] and cosponsored by several other members including Rep. Duncan Hunter [R-El Cajon]  would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at Fort McClellan. (Read the Bill).

March 19, 2014 (El Cajon) –  A half-day seminar at Cuyamaca College Friday opened many eyes to the experiences facing today’s military veterans as they pack away their service uniforms to join the civilian world, often coming to community colleges to begin a new chapter in their lives.

By Jamie Reno

Jan. 16, 2014  (San Diego) -- It’s been a pretty positive week in Washington for our troops and veterans. As you've probably heard, Congressional negotiators have shockingly agreed on a $1.1 trillion spending package that almost everyone says is a pretty good deal. Go figure! And one of the real positives of this whopping budget agreement is that it gives active-duty military a one percent pay raise. 

But wait, there's been even more surprising action from this historically do-nothing Congress.  Read more at the Reno Dispatch.

November 6, 2013 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon invites the public to join in the Centennial Farewell festivities on Tuesday, November 12 at the Centennial Plaza, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Centennial Plaza is located at 200 Civic Center Way. This Farewell Celebration will also include a special tribute to veterans, as well as honoring those who have volunteered more than 100 hours in the El Cajon Community, through the 100 Hours, Honoring 100 Years Centennial Volunteer program.

September 30, 2013 (San Diego) – With the government on the brink of shutting down for who knows how long, America's veterans are trying to make sense of the conflicting and confusing information spewing from inside the Beltway. And the national media isn't helping much.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been sending out painfully mixed messages. Last week, the department announced that under its contingency plan, 95 percent of VA employees would be either fully funded or required to perform excepted functions during a government shutdown.

By Sholeh Sisson 

May 17 2013 (San Diego)-- On May 15, the San Diego Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance waiving building permit and plan review fees for disabled veterans who need home modifications to accommodate their disabilities.

"We are always looking for ways to improve the lives of those who risk their lives to protect our country," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who introduced the measure along with Supervisor Bill Horn.

March 17, 2013 (San Diego) – Thomas Jefferson School of Law will open a Veterans Self-Help Legal Clinic on March 20 to help former military service members with their legal needs. The veterans will be assisted by volunteer lawyers from the community working side-by-side with TJSL law students.

The clinic will be appointment-only and will operate the third Wednesday of every month from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at 495 Eleventh Avenue. The clinic is now taking appointments.