In this week’s top news stories about veterans, the death toll rises on the Nevada air show crash.  The souped up historic WWII plane was flown by veteran Jimmy Leeward, 74.  The death toll has risen to ten, CNN reports, with almost 70 injured.  Investigation continues into the why’s of the crash.  Widely broadcast footage of the crash can be seen here.  It shows the plane nosediving into the grandstand.

 

Veterans continue to be on both sides of the debate over our wars.  A veteran’s speech about his personal disillusion with the war he fought in, has passed the million viewer mark.  Another veteran defends the U.S. intervention, continues to garner views — over 14 million — since it first aired during the previous presidential campaign.

 

A veteran gets sentenced to life for raping and killing his 10-month old stepdaughter, causing some to question the rise in the use of PTSD as a defense in criminal trials.

Feel Good

Veteran Tom Emmons opened the doors to his first Dickey’s Barbecue Pit as part of the Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.  Must be good BBQ!

Veteran Michael St. Clair, profiled in his local paper, talks about how his service in the Marines impacted the rest of his life.

Finally, 120 WW II veterans participate in a Flight of Honor while dogged, disabled veteran regains $150 million for the government while gaining $15 million (minus attorney fees) for himself after a decade of fighting to reveal Medicare fraud.