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Veterans
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- Written by: Editor
On April 22 the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced that Sims’ remains have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Pfc. Sims bravely gave his life in service to the state and nation, and the governor and first lady extended their deepest condolences to his family at this difficult time.
In memorial, Governor Brown ordered that flags be flown at half-staff over the State Capitol on Monday. Pfc. Sims’ family will receive a letter of condolence from the governor.
The DPMO reported that on April 24, 1943, Sims and four crew members aboard a C-87 Liberator Express departed from Yangkai, China, in support of “the Hump,” a dangerous mission to resupply Chinese nationalist forces and their U.S. air support after the Japanese invasion of Burma cut off the only land route.
Prior to takeoff, a ground crew determined the aircraft had sufficient fuel for the six-hour flight to the air base on the other side of the Himalayas in Chabua, India.
Once cleared for takeoff, there was no further communication between the aircrew and airfield operators.
Army officials launched a search effort when the plane did not arrive at the destination. No evidence of the aircraft was found and the five men were presumed killed in action.
In 2003, an American citizen in Burma reported to U.S. officials at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) that he had found aircraft wreckage he believed to be an American C-87 in the mountains 112 miles east of Chabua.
He was detained by Burmese officials when he attempted to leave the country with human remains and artifacts from the site. The remains and materials were handed over to officials at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon. Attempts to excavate the site are being negotiated with the Indian government.
Meanwhile, JPAC scientists continued the forensic process, analyzing the remains and physical evidence already in hand.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA, which matched that of Sims' sister, in the identification of his remains.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died.
At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans. Today, more than 72,000 are unaccounted for from the conflict.
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- Written by: Editor
The blood drive will be held at the American Legion Hall, Second Street and Gaddy Lane in Kelseyville, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released a draft request for proposal (RFP) aimed at forming an Open Source community around its ground-breaking VistA (Veterans Integrated System Technology Architecture) electronic health record (EHR) system.
When award is made under a planned RFP for a custodial agent, VA will commit to deploy the Open Source version of VistA to all of its facilities, and will contribute all non-security essential modifications to the product it makes or pays for directly to the Open Source custodian.
VA also will commit to participate in Open Source VistA with other public and private sector participants.
“VistA is an important asset for VA, and for the nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “As we work to ensure that we provide veterans with the best in health care, modernization of VistA is absolutely critical. This move towards Open Source welcomes private sector partners to work with us to improve VistA, and is an important part of our strategy to ensure that VA clinicians have the best tools possible, and that veterans receive the best health care possible.”
VA expects to begin conversion to an Open Source version of VistA by this summer.
A key step in this process will be the selection of a custodial agent to perform all aspects of operating the Open Source community. On Feb. 18, 2011, VA released a request for information (RFI) asking for information from stakeholders and potential offerors for a custodial agent. Concurrent to this announcement VA issued a draft RFP for custodial services.
The VistA system is widely viewed as the most extensively used electronic health record system in the Nation.
It is currently used in 153 major VA hospitals and more than 800 community based outpatient clinics across the U.S. It forms the basis of the Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS), the EHR system used by the Indian Health System, as well as the basis of installations in more than 50 hospitals globally. A vibrant community outside VA already uses VistA.
“Over the past year, we have followed a deliberative process to examine the implications of Open Source for VistA, and we are convinced that this is the best approach for VA, veterans and taxpayers,” said Roger Baker, VA assistant secretary for information and technology. “Our primary goal is to re-ignite the innovative processes that made VistA such a great EHR system. We also want to ensure that vendors of proprietary products can easily and confidently integrate their products with VistA to make them available for VA to purchase and use in our facilities.”
VA expects that other organizations may commit to VistA Open Source, and welcomes their participation in the development, use and governance of VistA.
VA Chief Technology Officer Peter Levin, who helped lead the Open Source initiative, said, “This is a terrific example of what the Administration means by Open Government: transparent, collaborative and truly participatory. This is a historic moment for health care informatics. By moving towards standards-based systems that incorporate health records and the best that industry and government can offer, VA will remain at the vanguard of electronic health care delivery.”
Hundreds of companies, organizations, government agencies, universities, congressional stakeholders, and individuals advised VA's path towards Open Source via published studies, RFI responses, meetings or individual comments.
In the best traditions of Open Source, the combined wisdom of this community has ensured establishment of a much better path than any single institutional stakeholder could possibly have achieved on its own.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The community is invited to participate in a welcome home reception for SGT Keith Fricker, U.S. Army, and SGT Luis Rivas, USMC.
Both men are returning from tours of duty in Afghanistan.
The event will take place on Saturday, April 2.
Well wishers are asked to gather at the Lakeport Yacht Club, near the Fifth Street boat ramp, no later than 2:45 p.m.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The young soldier, who turned 18 in boot camp, has returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.
Plans have been under way for weeks to surprise the young man with a welcome home reception.
According to Dunia's parents, the soldier had no idea what was waiting for him until the family vehicle approached the driveway at Kit's Corner, where quite a crowd had gathered.
Well wishers, family, friends and supporters of Operation Tango Mike waved flags, held signs and banners and applauded as the Dunia family arrived.
Justin's best friend, Kyle Beck, sprinted toward the soldier and the two shared a reunion embrace as many wept tears of joy.
A long line formed as friends and strangers alike waited to greet the soldier. The crowd then formed a caravan and moved to Riviera Hills Restaurant, escorted by the Lake County Sheriff's Office and Kelseyville Fire Department.
Along the route, flags lined the roadway and residents waved and cheered.
Patriot Guard Riders formed a flag line and saluted Dunia as he entered the restaurant.
Dunia addressed the crowd, expressing his thanks. His voice began to crack with emotion and he invited everyone to join him in sharing a meal. Those in attendance enjoyed a buffet, cake and visiting with the returning soldier.
Dunia will enjoy his time with family before returning to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
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- Written by: Editor
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A welcome home event for a local soldier will be held on Friday, March 25.
The group will gather by 5:15 p.m. at Kit’s Corner, 7990 Highway 29, Kelseyville.
Please park away from the building, leaving the parking for their customers.
Bring American flags if you have them.
Join the group for a meet and greet reception and light appetizers following the soldier’s arrival.
Patriot Guard Riders will escort him and the group will follow to Riviera Hills Restaurant, 10200 Fairway Drive, Kelseyville.
For more information call Ginny Craven, 707-349-2838.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
The soldier, assigned to Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD), has served three deployments and will leave for his fourth in a few weeks.
His mother, Suzi DeFrancisci, was in on the secret and shared in the tears when the soldier caught Ginny Craven and many others by surprise.
Cossette, a former Operation Tango Mike care package recipient, shared with everyone how important the care packages and support from home are to those serving far from home.
Those who attended the open house enjoyed pizza and watched a video that chronicled the early years of Operation Tango Mike.
A beautiful cake was presented to Operation Tango Mike as a gift from the United Veterans Council of Lake County.
The packing party was a great success, being well-attended and preparing 90 care packages for deployed troops.
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SAN ANTONIO – Air Force Airman Daniel R. Silva graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is the son of Tammi Silva of Lakeport, Calif.
Silva graduated in 2009 from Clear Lake High School, Lakeport.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will collaborate with the Australian Department of Veterans Affairs on a new research effort focused on investigating the impact of recent conflicts on the health of returning service members.
"The health and welfare of those who have served our nation, and their families, remains the highest priority for VA," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Joint research between the United States and Australia will shed light on similarities and differences with respect to the health effects of recent military deployments we have in common, such as Afghanistan."
The program will be conducted in three phases involving short, medium and longer-term comparative research. In the first phase, scheduled for completion in six months, researchers will review previous studies on this topic which will help inform the final stages of the research collaboration.
Although both countries conduct their own extensive research on veterans' health, this joint effort will allow both nations to take advantage of larger data sets and comparative analyses to learn best practices and treatments that can help returning Veterans manage post-deployment health effects.
"While the Australian and U.S. military experience has differed, with both countries serving in different locations and frontlines, we can collaborate on reaching a common understanding of the impact of war on our service personnel," said Warren Snowdon, Australia's Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Defence Science and Personnel, and Indigenous Health.
This joint effort will complement the extensive work VA continues to support in both leading research, advancing treatment, and supporting evidence-based treatments for our veterans.
More information about VA's research can be found at www.research.va.gov.