Briefings

Briefings

AROUND THE NATION

Adrian Cronauer, ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ D.J., dies at 79

July 19, 2018 — Adrian Cronauer, the disc jockey whose story provided the rough outline for the character played by Robin Williams in the 1987 movie “Good Morning, Vietnam,” died on Wednesday in Troutville, Va. He was 79.

His death was announced by the Oakey’s funeral service. The notice did not give a cause.

Cronauer was in the Air Force in 1965 when he was sent to Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). His first job was as news director for Armed Forces Radio there, but when the morning host’s slot became vacant shortly after his arrival, he settled in behind the microphone. The show was called “Dawn Buster,” and he began it with the drawn-out greeting immortalized in the movie’s title.

He had actually developed the sign-on thousands of miles away, while stationed on the island of Crete, where he had also had a radio show.

Robert Wilkie sworn in as Trump’s Veterans Affairs secretary

July 30, 2018 — Robert Wilkie has been sworn in as the next secretary of Veterans Affairs. President Donald Trump said Monday during an Oval Office ceremony that Wilkie will work day and night “to protect those who protect us.” He also told Wilkie that hundreds of thousands of people are counting on him.

The former Pentagon official was selected to replace Secretary David Shulkin, who was fired amid ethics charges and internal rebellion at the department over the role of private care for veterans.

Wilkie was confirmed by an 86-9 vote in the Senate last week. He secured the backing of many Democrats after insisting he would not privatize the government’s second-largest department.

‘Our boys are coming home’; Pence welcomes Korean War dead

Aug. 1, 2018 — In an emotional and solemn ceremony, the remains of dozens of presumed casualties from the Korean War were escorted by military honor guards onto U.S. soil, 65 years after an armistice ended the conflict and weeks after President Donald Trump received a commitment from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for their return.

The U.S. military believes the bones are those of U.S. servicemen and potentially servicemen from other United Nations member countries who fought alongside the U.S. on behalf of South Korea during the war. What is expected to be an exhaustive analysis and identification process will soon begin.

Advocates start work on what — and where — the Global War on Terror Memorial will be

U.S. troops stand in formation during a ceremony on Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan on Aug 28, 2018. Officials working on the Global War on Terror Memorial are planning surveys of veterans and military families to determine what the site should look like.

Sept. 24, 2018 — Michael Rodriguez doesn’t know what the national Global War on Terror memorial will look like, but he’s confident about where it should be.

“I believe it needs to be on the National Mall,” said Rodriguez, president of the memorial’s foundation. “In a lot of ways, this has already become a forgotten war. We need that national reminder.”

The Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation is about to launch a multi-month outreach project discussing the size, scope and meaning behind the planned tribute, authorized by Congress in 2017.

That will include surveys of troops, veterans, military family members and even individuals with no direct link to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to collect their thoughts on what the memorial should include. Foundation officials announced that Winstanley Architects & Planners will serve as the architect for project and will lead that effort.

CLOSE TO HOME

More than 80 Washington and Oregon Korean War vets receive medals

June 8, 2018 — It was a special day for Korean War veterans living in Washington and Oregon. The Consul General of the Republic of Korea awarded more than 80 veterans with an Ambassador for Peace medal. The medal is a token of appreciation from the Korean government.

“In this day in age where patriotism is kind of on the wane, it’s really great that these folks are recognized and it’s great to wave the red, white and blue because that’s what America is all about,” said Daryl Schreiner, Korean War veteran.

Veterans Legacy program transforms former forest work camp

June 21, 2018 — Directors of a new veterans treatment program in Lane County are looking at early fall to open the doors. It’s the Veterans Legacy program near Alma, where the vision is taking shape in a pastoral scene in the coast range southwest of Eugene.

It doesn’t look different from the outside, but the former inmate work camp is transforming into a place of new hope for Oregon veterans.

You can’t see it well from the entrance, but change is coming to the former Lane County Sheriff ’s forest work camp as a new sign announces the future program at Camp Alma.

“It feels like coming home, it really does,” says newly retired Captain Dan Buckwald from the Lane County Sheriff ’s Office. He’s returning to his roots, returning to the camp where he served for 13 years - this time to help veterans, especially those caught up in the criminal justice system.