Gunman kills three in deadly veterans home standoff

Former patient Albert Wong took several hostages before killing himself and three employees.



A former soldier and former patient of a veterans home in California took three employees hostage on Friday in a seven-hour standoff before authorities found him and three mental health professionals dead.

Gunman, 3 Hostages Dead At Veterans Home North Of San Francisco

Authorities say 36-year-old Albert Wong, armed with a rifle, burst into a morning gathering at the Veterans Home of California-Yountville, a treatment facility for elderly or disabled veterans. He took five hostages after exchanging gunfire with a Napa County sheriff's deputy. He later released two hostages.

When police stormed the facility hours later, they found Wong dead, along with three of home's employees, 42-year-old Clinical Director Jennifer Golick, 48-year-old Executive Director Christine Loeber, and 29-year-old Clinical Psychologist Jennifer Gonzalez -- all fatally shot.

Filipino veterans to receive Congressional Gold Medal

In recognition of their U.S. military service and sacrifices during World War II.



It's about damn time.

This week, Filipino veterans of World War II will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, after a lengthy battle for national recognition of their U.S. military service and sacrifices nearly 75 years ago.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. The award will be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol to honor the 260,000 Filipino soldiers who fought alongside American forces during the war and more than 57,000 Filipino troops who died.

More here: Fought and forgotten: Filipino World War II veterans honored with medal 75 years later

Filipino veterans to be awarded Congressional Gold Medal

President Obama signs the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act.



On Thursday, President Obama signed the "Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act," awarding a Congressional Gold Medal, our nation's highest civilian honor, to the thousands of Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II.

S. 1555, sponsored by Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Tulsi Gabbard, honors more than 260,000 Filipino and Filipino American soldiers who fought under U.S. command during the second world war. The bill unanimously passed in both chambers of Congress earlier this year.

"The Filipino veterans of World War II overcame many challenges in their fight for compensation, family reunification, and verification of wartime service," Senator Hirono said in a statement, calling the medal a long overdue but fitting tribute. "By signing our bill into law, President Obama recognized these veterans' courage and perseverance, both during the war and in the decades of battles for benefits that followed."

Congress passes bill to honor Filipino World War II veterans

House passes the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act.



On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S.1555, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, recognizing Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II with a Congressional Gold Medal, our nation's highest civilian honor.

S.1555, sponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), honors more than 260,000 Filipino and Filipino American soldiers who fought under U.s. command during the second world war. The Senate passed this bill unanimously over the summer, and it will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, applauded the passage of the bill and called the recognition of Filipino veterans "long overdue."

"During World War II, more than 200,000 Filipino soldiers served bravely alongside American forces and played a critical role in ultimately helping the United States to achieve victory in the Pacific," Chu said. "We in CAPAC have made it a top priority to ensure that these Filipino World War II veterans receive the benefits and recognition that they deserve, and the passage of today's bill is a tremendous victory for our veterans and the broader Filipino American community."

New policy allows Filipino veterans to reunite with families

USCIS announces implementation of Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program.



On Monday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the implementation of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program that will offer certain beneficiaries an opportunity to seek parole and come to the United States to be reunited with their family members.

Under the policy, USCIS will offer certain beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions an opportunity to request a discretionary grant of parole on a case-by-case basis so that they may come to the United States as they wait for their immigrant visa numbers to become available.

Among other things, the policy recognizes the extraordinary contributions and sacrifices of Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II. The policy also enhances the ability of such elderly veterans and their spouses to obtain care and support from their family members abroad.

Filipino WWII veterans can now reunite with their families

New policy will give families of Filipino veterans an easier path to immigration.



This week, the White House announced that family members of Filipino World War II veterans will be granted special permission to reunite with their parents and come live and work in the United States.

Filipino World War II Veterans Will Get Easier Path To Reunite With Family

Filipino American veterans, who have been waiting for years to bring family members to the United States, will soon be able to do so through the Obama administration's new policy, announced with a spate of other recommendations to modernize and streamline the legal immigration system.

This has been a long time coming. During World War II, the U.S. government promised Filipino soldiers citizenship in recognition of their service, but it took more than fifty years to make good on that promise. The new policy will help the thousands of these veterans, many who are elderly and in need of care, to reunite with their families. Under the current family immigration system, it can sometimes take decades to obtain a visa.

Help identify the Japanese American soldiers in this photo

Taken December 1944 at the Military Intelligence Service Language School in Minnesota.



I recently heard from a reader named Scott Kagawa, who found this photograph while he was cleaning out his late aunt and uncle's house. The photo was taken in December 1944 while his uncle, Wakamatsu "Fred" Nakagiri, was training at the Military Intelligence Service Language School in Minnesota.

Most of these Japanese American soldiers came out of the internment camps during World War II and went on to serve in the Pacific theater, all receiving the Congressional Gold Medal a few years ago.

Scott is hoping to put names to these faces, and is trying to get the word out to all the relatives out there in internetland who might have fathers, uncles and grandpas in this photo.

Veterans Affairs secretary Eric Shinseki resigns amid scandal

Apologizes for agency's "systemic, totally unacceptable lack of integrity."



Amid mounting criticism and calls for his ousting, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki has resigned, apologizing to veterans and lawmakers for the agency's mismanagement of the nation's veterans hospitals.

Shinseki resigns amid VA scandal over veterans' health care

Calls for Shinseki's resignation had intensified in the wake of an independent review by the inspector general outlining widespread misconduct by VA officials throughout the medical system. With rapidly dwindling support from across the political spectrum, including the White House, Shinseki's resignation seemed inevitable.

In a speech Friday morning to a veterans group, Shinseki apologized and accepted responsibility for his agency's "systemic, totally unacceptable lack of integrity." He then met with President Obama, who said he accepted the retired Army general's resignation "with regret."

Marine killed by suspected drunk driver

23-year-old Andrew Silva had just returned from service in Afghanistan



Tragic news out of the Bay Area, where a U.S. Marine who had just returned from service in Afghanistan was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver Tuesday morning while riding his motorcycle.

Marines, friends honor man killed in motorcycle accident

23-year-old Lance Cpl. Andrew Silva was riding in Fremont when he was hit by a Mini Cooper speeding in excess of 80 miles per hour, throwing him from his bike. He died at the scene. Silva, who was married with a young son, had just returned last month after serving a one-year tour in Helmand Province.

The driver, 23-year-old Alexander Yohn, was arrested and booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and hit-and-run causing death or injury.

Parminder Singh Shergill Was Shot Two Months Ago: Why Won't Police Tell Us What Really Happened?

By Kishwer Vikaas. Cross-posted from The Aerogram.



Shortly after 9 a.m. on January 25, Parminder Singh Shergill, a 43-year-old U.S. Army Gulf War veteran, was shot by two police officers in Lodi, California, a small town 40 miles south of Sacramento. According to officers, he charged at police with a folding knife. Testimony from neighbors says otherwise. Within a week after the shooting, the officers, Scott Bratton and Adame Lockie, were back on the streets.

Shergill bled to death on the curb -- seven houses from the one where he stayed with his mother. Much later, as his brother, Sarabjit, bathed his body for the memorial service per Sikh tradition, he counted 14 bullet holes. Fourteen. "It is like 14 shots going through my own heart," said Shergill's sister Kulbinder Sohota in an interview with The Sacramento Bee in a front-page story that ran this past Sunday.

Two months after the incident, the Lodi Police Department has said little about Shergill's death. According to the Bee they have released no autopsy information, witness interviews, or 911 call records.

President Obama meets Nisei World War II veterans

White House welcomes seven surviving Japanese American veterans



This week marks the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which enabled the U.S. government to forcibly remove and incarcerate 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry.

In spite of this monumental injustice, more than 33,000 second generation Japanese Americans volunteered to serve in the United States Army during World War II. The 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed almost entirely of soldiers of Japanese descent, became the most decorated unit in United States military history for its size and length of service.

In 2010, President Obama awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. On Tuesday, the president met with seven surviving Nisei veterans -- all in their 90s -- to thank them in person.

Here's some video from their meeting:

Tammy Duckworth is not taking your sh*t.

Do you want to know what congressional fury looks like? On Wednesday, Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a veteran of the Iraq War, verbally dropkicked the crap out of a federal contractor who used his military disability status -- based on a prep school sports injury -- to receive government contracts reserved for disabled vets: Tammy Duckworth Eviscerates Contractor Who Claimed Veterans Disability.

This is a veteran you do not want to mess with. Rep. Duckworth lost both her legs and use of her right arm during her service as a combat pilot in Iraq. But this fool Braulio Castillo, who broke his foot at the U.S. Military Preparatory School nearly 30 years ago, claimed the injury in his company's application for special status as a "service-disabled veteran-owned small business." Not cool.

Watch as Ms. Duckworth destroys Mr. Castillo. Make sure you watch the whole thing: