The first public hearing of the @AfghanWarComm is about to go live. afghanistanwarcommission.org…

Join us on Friday as the @AfghanWarComm holds its first public hearing. We’ll be listening to a variety of witnesses to examine the roots of the Afghanistan War. Thank you @VFW_OfficeDC for hosting!

It was my honor to place a call today to wish a happy 103rd birthday to Harry Chandler, a @USNavy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor. A member of the greatest generation, Harry is still going strong as can be seen in this recent video: palmbeachpost.com/videos/new…

House and Senate Vet Affairs committees this month will hear from 23 different veterans groups over three (just three!) hearings about their priorities and goals for the upcoming year. That's a lot of advocacy jammed into a short time.

Great afternoon at the Capitol with @MaddRafferty, many VSO/MSO friends and @SVACDems Chairman Tester calling on Congress to pass the #StarAct to help medically-retired combat-injured veterans. @BlueStarFamily is proud to join this effort.

Packed room this morning for the VSO presentations before House and Senate Vet Affairs committees. @vfw is up first, eight more after them. I may have to sit up with the lawmakers.

Si Spiegel, who died at 99 on Jan. 21 at home in Manhattan, was among the last surviving American B-17 pilots of WW II. But Mr. Spiegel, a machinist by training, has another legacy: He was considered a pioneer of the mass-produced artificial X-mas tree. nytimes.com/2024/02/08/us/si…

Great day with team @AfghanWarComm !

Welcome back to my friend and a tireless champion for veterans, @JonStewart

“Integration of women into combat units has been the subject of lengthy debate in Israel, one of the few armies that draft women for mandatory service. There is no point continuing such arguments because their action and fighting speaks louder than words.” nytimes.com/2024/01/19/world…

“The senators’ letter lists two pages of concerns about the long-term effects of blasts on brain health. It orders @DeptofDefense to report back by the end of February on efforts to address the problem.” nytimes.com/2024/01/19/us/se…

“When the airfield was finally taken, only 130 soldiers remained of the 2,600 who had crossed into Burma in 1944 with Merrill’s Marauders, a fabled unit that was one of the forerunners of the @USArmy’s Special Operations elite, the 75th Ranger Regiment.” nytimes.com/2024/01/12/us/ru…

Welcome to the @AfghanWarComm team!

The @DeptofDefense really needs to stop trying to hide these risks and simply find ways to protect and support those who are serving. This article is @usairforce specific but the same thing happens across all branches. Thank you @TaraCopp for covering. apnews.com/article/missile-c…

“On certain rare occasions, ordinary people in the midst of an average day have changed history…Maureen Flavin, a postal clerk on a remote stretch of the northwest Irish coast, in 1944, on her 21st bday, helped determine the outcome of WWII.” nytimes.com/2024/01/02/world…

USCG Air Station Astoria started off 2024 with the rescue of Leo the dog that fell from a 300-ft cliff in Ecola State Park, near Cannon Beach, OR. Happily, it was a successful rescue with Leo reunited with his owners! #USCG #CoastGuard #dogrescue #helicopter #dog #rescue

Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A contract embarked security team on the MAERSK HANZGHOU returned fire. U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment.

“When we got back, they didn’t know whether to court-martial me or pin a medal on my chest.” Bob Pardo, @usairforce pilot in Daring Vietnam War Rescue, Dies at 89. He helped a fellow pilot whose plane had become compromised until they could be rescued. nytimes.com/2023/12/21/us/bo…

Incredibly honored to be joining the staff of the Afghanistan War Commission. afghanistanwarcommission.org…

“He joined the ⁦@USNavy⁩ during the Korean War and served in Hawaii and California.” nytimes.com/2023/11/17/arts/…