I’d like to make two brief introductions. Introduction 1: My name is Mariana Grohowski. I am an Assistant Professor of English at Indiana University Southeast. Introduction 2: The second and more important introduction I seek to facilitate is to introduce the inaugural issue of the Journal of Veterans Studies (JVS). I founded JVS in November 2015 after three years of receiving journal article rejections based on the focus of my research on women veterans. Indeed, I noticed a lack of referred publication venues for interdisciplinary research and writing on and about the issues and experiences of military veterans. JVS is the only refereed, open access, interdisciplinary, online journal focused on veterans studies. I published the inaugural issue, thanks to the help of generous reviewers and an amazing editorial board, in July 2016. I hope many people will find the articles to be of interest. The inaugural issue contains eight original research articles and three reviews: two of books and one on a work of new media). The entire issue is available online (open access) by clicking here. Because I suspect many readers may be unfamiliar with the term "veterans studies,” please allow me to briefly explain my use of the term. Veterans studies scholars are interested in studying how society views and treats "the veteran" as well as how "the veteran" views him/herself. In short, veterans studies is an multi-faceted, scholarly investigation of military veterans and their families. Topics oftentimes include, but are not limited to: combat exposure, reintegration challenges, and the complex systems that shape the veteran experience. Veterans studies, by its very nature, may analyze experiences closely tied to military studies, but the emphasis of veterans studies is the “veteran experience,” i.e., what happens after the service member departs the armed forces. Scholars of veterans studies pursue their work in such fields as Rhetoric and Composition, Literature, History, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Student Affairs (among others). Likewise, the work of veterans studies occurs in and outside of formal education--by current members of the military, leaders of nonprofits, independent artists, grassroots activists, and students taking courses in veterans studies--indeed, "veterans studies" designated programs have been established at four public universities in the U.S. Questions that drive veterans studies scholars and are the sorts that the Journal of Veterans Studies seeks to promote may include: (1) Who is "the veteran in society?" (2) How do power structures like race, class, gender, and sexuality affect the veteran from claiming his/her "veteran-ness"? (3) Who “counts” as a veteran? In closing, there are two ways all readers can work in to promote and sustain JVS: (1) Spread the word about the journal your friends. Even those you think might be tangentially interested. Let them know the journal is live. Encourage your friends to subscribe and contribute. Share this convenient URL:
(2) Consider submitting an article, announcement, book or media reviews, interviews, and program or organizational profiles to the journal for publication. JVS will only succeed if people take time to send us their ideas. Full submission guidelines are available here. The American Legion’s official training program for officers, members, Legion College applicants and those who simply want to expand their knowledge of the nation’s largest veterans service organization is now available online.
The American Legion Extension Institute has been rewritten, updated, streamlined and enhanced with videos, digital photos, clickable links, a historical timeline and additional features. To register and take the course, visit www.legion.org/alei. (Due to high traffic volume, you may experience some delays. If you experience delays, please try again later.) The program should take less than two hours to complete. It is divided into six sections, with a quiz at the end of each one, followed by a final exam. The sections closely follow the Legion’s Four Pillars of service. They include:
The American Legion Extension Institute online training program replaces the series of printed booklets that had been printed and sold through National Headquarters.  Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:
Wednesday, September 7, 2016 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (PDT) Pyramid Alehouse 1201 1st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98134 View Map Click here to register.  Did you know that you may be able to receive free community-based counseling at one of 300 VA Vet Centers across the country—even if you are not enrolled in VA health care?
Vet Centers provide individual and group counseling, and outreach and referral services to Veterans and active duty Servicemembers who served in any combat zone, area of hostility, experienced a military sexual trauma, or served as part of a drone crew. Vet Centers are staffed primarily by Veterans, many of them combat Veterans. They can help you and your family with:
Watch this video to see how Vet Centers have changed the lives of other Veterans. Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in Washington state, and the 2nd leading cause of death amongst our youth. On Saturday, September 10, suicide prevention advocates, loss survivors, and attempt survivors will raise their voices together to bring healing and resources to this globally important issue.
In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day 2016, Forefront will host a free, 2-hour community training at the UW Seattle School of Social Work. This training will help you learn how to recognize when a friend, family member, or co-worker is at risk for suicide, and what you can say and do to help. This workshop is open to all. Here in Washington state, help us build a united front for suicide prevention by bringing your family, friends, and colleagues to learn important tools for assessing and intervening with suicide risk. The training will provide you with skills in recognizing and responding to suicide risk. There will be opportunities to ask questions, practice some skills, and gain confidence in helping others. Come be part of a worldwide effort to build awareness, break stigma, and learn tools that can help prevent suicide. WHERE: University of Washington School of Social Work Building Room 305 A/B http://socialwork.uw.edu/about/visit-us 4101 15TH AVE NE, Seattle, WA 98105 WHEN: World Suicide Prevention Day Saturday, September 10th, 2016 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Light snacks and refreshments will be offered. There is no cost to attend, however space is limited and registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. REGISTER HERE TODAY There is a place for everyone in suicide prevention. Join us to learn tools that can help you take yours! Caitlin KB LaVine, MSW Forefront: Innovations in Suicide Prevention Program Specialist 206.543.1016 www.intheforefront.org World War I forever changed the world: politically, socially, technologically, and even economically. Nearly every aspect of modern life around the world was affected by the conflict in some way: Many current political tensions in the Middle East stem from the Sykes-Picot Agreement; processed foods developed to feed scores of hungry troops became a part of everyday life and revolutionized agriculture and industry; weapons technology such as tanks, flamethrowers and airplanes forever changed how wars are fought; and America vaulted onto the global stage as a world power. It all began with the First World War. Click here for more information about WWI.  The US World War I Centennial Commission was created by an Act of Congress in 2013. The Commission's mission is to plan, develop, and execute programs, projects and activities to commemorate the Centennial of World War I (WWI). 
 In 1942, the United States needed pilots for its war planes lots of war planes; lots of pilots. Lt. Louis Curdes was one. When he was 22 years old, he graduated flight training school and was shipped off to the Mediterranean to fight Nazis in the air over Southern Europe. Lt. Louis Courdes arrived at his 82nd Fighter Group, 95th Fighter Squadron in April 1943 and was assigned a P-38 Lightning. Ten days later he shot down three German Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighters. A few weeks later, he downed two more German Bf -109's. In less than a month of combat, Louis was an Ace. During the next three months, Louis shot down an Italian Mc.202 fighter and two more Messerschmitts before his luck ran out. A German fighter shot down his plane on August 27, 1943 over Salerno, Italy. Captured by the Italians, he was sent to a POW camp near Rome. No doubt this is where he thought he would spend the remaining years of the war. It wasn't to be. A few days later, the Italians surrendered. Louis and a few other pilots escaped before the Nazis could take control of the camp. One might think that such harrowing experiences would have taken the fight out of Louis, yet he volunteered for another combat tour. This time, Uncle Sam sent him to the Philippines where he flew P-51 Mustangs. Soon after arriving in the Pacific Theater, Louis downed a Mitsubishi reconnaissance plane near Formosa. Now he was one of only three Americans to have kills against all three Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan. Up until this point, young Lt. Curdes' combat career had been stellar. His story was about to take a twist so bizarre that it seems like the fictional creation of a Hollywood screenwriter. While attacking the Japanese-held island of Bataan, one of Louis wingmen was shot down. The pilot ditched in the ocean. Circling overhead, Louis could see that his wingman had survived, so he stayed in the area to guide a rescue plane and protect the downed pilot. It wasn't long before he noticed another, larger airplane, wheels down, preparing to land at the Japanese-held airfield on Bataan. He moved in to investigate. Much to his surprise the approaching plane was a Douglas C-47 transport with American markings. He tried to make radio contact, but without success. He maneuvered his Mustang in front of the big transport several times trying to wave it off. The C-47 kept head to its landing target. Apparently the C-47 crew didn’t realize they were about to land on a Japanese held island, and soon would be captives. Lt. Curdes read the daily newspaper accounts of the war, including the viciousness of the Japanese soldiers toward their captives. He knew that whoever was in that American C-47 would be, upon landing, either dead or wish they were. But what could he do? Audaciously, he lined up his P-51 directly behind the transport, carefully sighted one of his .50 caliber machine guns and knocked out one of its two engines. Still the C-47 continued on toward the Bataan airfield. Curdes shifted his aim slightly and knocked out the remaining engine, leaving the baffled pilot no choice but to ditch in the ocean. The big plane came down to it wings in one piece about 50 yards from his bobbing wingman. At this point, nightfall and low fuel forced Louis to return to base. The next morning, Louis flew cover for a rescuing PBY that picked up the downed Mustang pilot and 12 passengers and crew, including two female nurses, from the C-47. All survived, and later, Lt. Curdes would end up marrying one of these nurses. For shooting down an unarmed American transport plane, Lt. Louis Curdes was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Thereafter, on the fuselage of his P-51 "Bad Angel", he proudly displayed the symbols of his kills: seven German, one Italian, one Japanese, and one American flag.  See the exhibit at the Pima Air and Space Museum.
Thanks to Lou Pirone for this interesting article. Join members of American Legion Post 234 for an Active Shooter presentation by former FBI agent and current Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness at Edmonds Community College, Daniel Guerrero, MA. Date: Monday, 7/11 Time: 7:00 - 7:30pm Location: 22909 56th Avenue W, Mountlake Terrace This special event is open to the public at no charge.  Media Announcements:
Homeland Security Active Shooter Preparation Fact Sheet |
