The Defense Department announced on Friday that it is pursuing the development of a nuclear bomb that is 24 times more powerful than one from World War II.
According to a Pentagon press release, the military working toward a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, called the B61-13, but the initiative is awaiting congressional authorization and appropriation.
“Today’s announcement is reflective of a changing security environment and growing threats from potential adversaries,” said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb. “The United States has a responsibility to continue to assess and field the capabilities we need to credibly deter and, if necessary, respond to strategic attacks, and assure our allies.”
The Pentagon said the B61-13 would be “deliverable by modern aircraft, strengthening deterrence of adversaries and assurance of allies and partners by providing the President with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets.”
The new bomb would replace some of the B61-7s that are currently in the United States’ nuclear stockpile.
The Pentagon’s fact sheet on the B61 variant development explains that the B61-13 will be similar to the B61-7, which has a load 24 times larger than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in World War II, Fox News reported.
“The B61-13 represents a reasonable step to manage the challenges of a highly dynamic security environment,” Plumb said. “While it provides us with additional flexibility, production of the B61-13 will not increase the overall number of weapons in our nuclear stockpile.”
The Defense Department noted that the initiative has been under review and consideration for “several months” and “is not in response to any specific current event.”
“[It] reflects an ongoing assessment of a changing security environment,” the department said.
In September, a Russian state television station threatened nuclear strikes against the United States in response to U.S. involvement in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Making an appearance on the Russia 1 channel, Igor Korotchenko, editor of the “National Defense” newspaper, suggested that unprecedented action could be taken by Russia against the United States.
“The most important message we should send to the Americans is that we will not wage war with you in Europe,” Korotchenko said in a translated video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Anton Gerashchenko, a Ukrainian internal affairs adviser.
Korotchenko also stated, “In response to your attacks on Russian military or civilian facilities, the first strike will be a preventative limited strike against targets on the territory of the United States of America.”
This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.
Chinese and Russian military officials at the 10th Beijing Xiangshan security forum have joined each other to criticize the United States for “stirring up trouble around the world” and engaging in “clique politics.”
The Chinese defense minister is absent from this year’s forum as Li Shangfu was removed from his post last week.
Vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission and the second highest military official in China, Col. Gen. Zhang Youxia, on Monday gave opening remarks in which he lashed out at “certain countries” that “deliberately create turbulence, meddle in regional affairs, interfere in other countries’ internal affairs and instigate color revolutions.”
“Wherever these countries go, there is no peace,” Zhang said.
In contrast, “China President Xi Jinping’s global security initiative shows the world the right direction for common security and lasting peace.”
“Countries should not build their own security at the expense of other countries’ security,” said the general, adding: “Countries should not deliberately provoke other countries on major and sensitive issues.”
Zhang Youxia reiterated Beijing’s stance that Taiwan “is the core of China’s core interests” and China’s armed forces will not be “soft-hearted” when it comes to the Taiwan issue.
The Beijing Xiangshan forum opens amid some renewed efforts to salvage the deteriorating U.S.-China bilateral relations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went to the U.S. last week for talks with U.S. officials, including on a possible summit between the two countries’ top leaders, but warned that the road to such a summit “will not be a smooth one.”
The annual Beijing Xiangshan forum hosted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Academy of Military Sciences and the Chinese Institute of International Strategic Studies (CIISS) kicked off on Sunday under the theme ‘Common Security, Lasting Peace.’
The Pentagon has sent a low-key delegation led by Xanthi Carras, the Country Director for China in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy from the Department of Defense, to attend the forum.
‘Exemplary model’
The Russian delegation is headed by the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, who is also in China on an official visit.
“The model of interstate relations between Moscow and Beijing, in fact, can be called ‘exemplary’,” said Shoigu in his speech on Monday.
The minister added that this model becomes “more attractive” for other countries to follow and that “the circle of our friends and like-minded countries,” who don’t wish to be drawn into the West’s confrontational agenda, is expanding.
“It clearly showed that more and more countries are in favor of a fair and sustainable multipolar world order,” Shoigu said.
Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart announced a “no limits” relationship between their countries. Putin has just been to Beijing to attend the 2023 Belt and Road Forum.
Shoigu accused the West of “seeking to spread the conflict potential to the Asia-Pacific region.”
NATO is covering up the buildup of military force in the Asia-Pacific region with an ostentatious desire for dialogue, imposing alliances and operational interaction on partners,” he said in a strongly worded speech.
Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted the minister as saying that “U.S. military biological activities are gaining momentum … a whole network of laboratories has been set up in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and the Republic of Korea,” referring to South Korea by its official name.
Shoigu warned of “a direct military clash between nuclear powers, which is fraught with catastrophic consequences.”
The minister argued that “there are no real military threats to the security” of the U.S. and other NATO countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Washington has accused Beijing of aggressive campaigns in the East China and South China seas, as well as in the Taiwan Strait, and vowed to defend its allies in the region.
“The United States and NATO continue to seriously hope that they will be able to undermine Russia’s security and deprive us of the will to resist.” Shoigu emphasized, saying that the situation in Ukraine shows “the futility of these plans.”
This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.
North Korea is ordering each household in an area near the border with China to pound nails in wooden boards that will be used along the border to prevent people from escaping the country, residents told Radio Free Asia.
Sources said each family in a border-adjacent city of Hyesan in Ryanggang province must make two nail boards by hammering several long nails into boards that will line the Chinese side of a recently installed border fence.
People have been able to climb over the fences and jump down to the other side, residents say. Now they will have to avoid the nail boards on their way down.
“A nail board task was assigned to each neighborhood-watch unit in Hyesan,” a resident of Ryanggang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons. “It is part of a border blocking project to prevent residents from escaping.”
The nail board assignment marks the latest type of unmanned deterrent along the 1,415-kilometer (880-mile) border with China. Others have included razor wire, electric fences, and even landmines.
The resident said his household was part of a neighborhood watch unit of 24 homes, and the unit was assigned to make 50 of the 2-meter boards.
Most of the border fence in Hyesan is lined with razor wire, so the nail boards will go in the most sparsely populated areas of the border, where escape is much easier, the resident said.
Private complaints
The citizens are complaining that the government is passing its work onto them, another Ryanggang resident told RFA, on condition of anonymity to speak freely.
“Our neighborhood-watch unit debated whether to make the ‘nail boards’ collectively or for each household to make them on their own, and decided to make them collectively, so each household has to pay 20,000 won (US$2.35).” she said.
The residents feel the additional cost is not fair, because they were tapped to pay for fence repairs over the summer.
“They are unhappy because they don’t have enough money to spend on food, kimchi, and firewood to prepare for the winter,” she said.
Additionally, few feel that nail boards are enough to stop people who dream of freedom, the resident said.
“No matter how sharp the nail board is, the people will still find ways to escape,” she said. “So many people cross the river even though there are security guards with guns and border barriers.”
Police are investigating an explosion at the Oregon State University campus on Monday that left one person hospitalized with “significant injuries.”
A press release from the Corvallis Police Department explained that police are investigating a reported explosion at McNary Field, which is a park located on the eastern side of Oregon State University’s campus in Corvallis.
“The explosion took place around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, October 30. CPD and medics from Corvallis Fire Department responded, and the Fire Department transported one person to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center with significant injuries,” the press release stated. “The victim was reported to be a 22-year-old man from Cottage Grove. Preliminary reports indicate that he was not a student at OSU.”
According to the Corvallis Police Department, the department worked with other agencies to deploy a bomb-detection dog and an aerial drone to ensure the safety of Oregon State University’s campus. While police noted that the cause of Monday’s explosion is “currently under investigation,” the department informed the community that there is currently no additional threat to the public as a result of the incident.
READ MORE: Pics: Media wrongly blames Israel for hospital explosion caused by Palestinian terrorists
The Corvallis Police Department will be investigating the explosion in conjunction with OSU Public Safety, Springfield Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and Corvallis Fire Department. While the investigation is being conducted, the Corvallis Police Department has asked the public to avoid McNary Field, adding that it is currently closed to the public.
According to KGW8, Oregon State University experienced a bomb threat last week related to the university’s food delivery robots. An investigation of the incident revealed no evidence of explosives; however, one individual was arrested due to the threat.
Students at Oregon State University expressed concerns to KPTV regarding the occurrence of a bomb threat and an explosion within such a short period of time. “It is a little bit scary since we’ve had two bomb threats back-to-back,” Anabelle, a student at the university, said.
A Las Vegas man is currently facing federal charges after being arrested for allegedly threatening to “assault, kidnap, or murder” a Jewish United States senator.
According to the Department of Justice, a criminal complaint against 43-year-old John Anthony Miller claims that he left multiple voicemails between Oct. 11 and Oct. 19 threatening to harm a U.S. senator.
While the Department of Justice’s press release did not include the name of the senator targeted by Miller, Fox News confirmed that the antisemitic voicemail threats were sent to Jewish Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).
The Department of Justice noted that Miller made his first appearance in federal court on Oct. 27, following his arrest on Oct. 26.
“On October 17, 2023, Miller threatened to assault, kidnap, or murder the United States Senator with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the United States Senator while engaged in the performance of official duties, or with intent to retaliate against the United States Senator on account of the performance of official duties,” the Department of Justice stated.
According to The New York Post, the voicemail messages left for Rosen by Miller labeled the senator a “vermin” and included threats to “finish what Hitler started.”
“You done picked your side b-tch and you done chose evil,” Miller reportedly said in one voicemail message. “I don’t give a f–ck if you were born into it or not, bitch, you are f–cking evil, b-tch and we’re gonna exterminate you, f–ck,”
Just two days later, Miller reportedly left another message, saying, “Senator, I’m sorry to say, but ya know what, you’re a piece of sh–t and you’re gonna burn in f–cking hell for your f–cking crimes.”
In another voicemail message, Miller warned Rosen that she would see him soon.
According to the Department of Justice, Miller appeared at the Lloyd D. George Courthouse in Las Vegas on Oct. 18 and claimed that he “was going to see” the senator. Miller was denied entrance into the courthouse and refused to “fully cooperate” with a security officer. The complaint against Miller states that he “became agitated and started yelling and shouting profanities” after being denied entrance.
According to The New York Post, Miller then allegedly walked down Las Vegas Boulevard, shouting his desire to “kill every last Israeli terror-f–cking-rist.”
One last message allegedly was sent on Oct. 24 from an unknown number, threatening Rosen’s family; however, police were able to track the cell phone number associated with the previous calls to Miller’s T-Mobile account.
Miller has been charged with one count of “threatening a Federal official.” Miller’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13 with U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.
A spokesperson for Rosen released a statement obtained by Fox News, saying, “Threats against public officials should be taken seriously. Senator Rosen trusts the US Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement to handle this matter.”
According to The New York Post, Miller’s threats against Rosen came after a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators visited Israel to show support for America’s ally after Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel on Oct. 7, sparking a war between Israel and Hamas.
As Israel continues to fight back against the Hamas terrorists, antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed across the globe. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in the United States have increased by almost 400% compared to the same time span as last year.
The holidays are hectic enough without worrying about money, too. Amid high prices this holiday season, 87% of holiday shoppers plan to use at least one money-saving strategy, according to Bankrate.
Specifically, 42% of holiday shoppers plan to buy fewer items to save money; 41% plan to seek out more coupons, discounts or sales; 30% have started shopping earlier and 20% plan to buy cheaper brands.
Holiday shopping can be anxiety-inducing, but changing your spending habits during the holidays doesn’t have to be joyless. Making a budget, taking care of your needs and allowing yourself peace of mind can be the biggest gifts you give yourself during the holidays.
Key Bankrate holiday stress insights
You’re not alone: Nearly 1 in 4 people feel financially burdened by the holidays
Americans are no longer facing inflation as high as during the 2022 winter holidays, but they’re not expected to spend any less this holiday season.
American consumers will spend an average of $1,530 this season for gifts, travel and entertainment — 7% higher than in 2022, according to PWC’s 2023 Holiday Outlook. Households with an income of $120,000 or more are expected to spend an average of $3,000. Nearly 40% of consumers will spend more overall than in 2022.
But people might not have the money readily available in their checking accounts to afford holiday expenses. One in four (25%) of holiday shoppers feel stressed over costs, according to Bankrate. Additionally, 23% say the holiday shopping season will place a strain on their budget and 13% feel pressured to spend more than they’re comfortable with.
“Inflation is squeezing consumers and putting them in a frugal holiday mood,” Bankrate Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman says. “Retailers seem to be acknowledging this, because Black Friday essentially starts in October now. Amazon, Target, Walmart and others rolled out deep discounts in early October and I expect the deals will remain strong through the holidays.”
Lower-income households (households making under $50,000 a year) may be facing more money-related stress this holiday season. More than one-fourth (27%) of lower-income holiday shoppers say the upcoming holiday season will place a strain on their budget and 29% say they’re stressed about the cost of holiday shopping. Additionally, 14% will feel pressured to spend more than they’re comfortable with:
We asked: Thinking about the upcoming holiday shopping season, which, if any, of the following do you expect to apply to you?Household incomeI’m stressed about the cost of holiday shoppingIt will place a strain on my budgetI will feel pressured to spend more than I am comfortable with
Under $50,000 a year
29%
27%
14%
$50,000-$79,999
24%
24%
11%
$80,000-$99,999
24%
21%
11%
$100,000 a year or more
21%
17%
13%
However, shoppers with a six-figure income may also feel pressure this year to “keep up with the Joneses,” because 13% said they feel pressured to spend more than they’re comfortable with this holiday season — a similar percentage to the lowest-income shoppers (14%).
How to manage your finances and destress during the upcoming holidays
Anyone, regardless of income, can feel financial stress during the holidays. Read on for ways to celebrate the holidays and spend time with your loved ones, without facing extra financial stress.
1. Discuss low-cost ways to celebrate with family and friends
“If the holidays give you financial stress and anxiety, talk with your loved ones about an alternative format to holiday spending and gift-giving this year that takes the pressure off of everyone,” says Ilian Georgiev, CEO and co-founder of Charlie, a personal finance app.
When discussing, Georgiev suggests mentioning the following ideas:
•Reduce spending by setting spending limits.
•Skip the gift exchange altogether and focus on celebrating with your loved ones.
While you may feel like a grinch suggesting these types of ideas, your loved ones will hopefully understand and may even empathize with you. Due to inflation and rising interest rates, your family and friends may also be looking to cut their budgets this holiday season.
“Always remember, you are absolutely not the only one who is having a difficult time with the holidays this year,” says Dr. Georgia Gaveras, chief psychiatrist and co-founder of Talkiatry, a New York-based mental health service provider. “Try managing your anxiety through transparency and planning. You may end up being a hero this holiday season if you propose limiting the number of gifts everyone buys.”
2. Get comfortable saying no to additional spending
Although the holidays encourage generosity, that doesn’t mean you should ignore your own needs. If you feel pressured to spend more on gifts or lavish parties than you feel comfortable with, give yourself permission to just tell people “No.”
Have an honest conversation with your loved ones ahead of the holidays. Explain that you will be setting a budget and are setting boundaries around how much you will be spending. And then stick to it — no one knows your budget better than you do, and you are your best advocate for yourself.
If you still find yourself becoming overwhelmed, see where you can cut back on what is less important to you in order to spend your resources on what is.
3. Establish a realistic holiday spending budget
Unexpected expenses can add up quickly during the holidays if you’re not sure how much you plan on spending. Making a budget can help you know how much you want to spend and how you want to spend it.
Sit down with your budget and consider how much money you want to allocate for the holidays. This will vary from person to person, and there’s no “right” amount that fits people across the board. Consider how much you spent on the holidays last year, based on your bank statement, and ask yourself if this year’s priorities are similar to last year’s budgeting priorities.
Choose your total budget amount based on the holiday savings or general discretionary funds that you have. Try to avoid using emergency savings for the holidays.
Then, consider categories. Not every category will be given equal weight. If your favorite part of the holidays is hosting dinner at your house, then consider prioritizing decorations, food and activities in your budget instead of spending more on gifts.
Avoid inflating your budget out of a sense of obligation. The holidays can be a great way to relax and reward yourself after a busy year, but it may feel less relaxing if you’re still paying it off months later.
Here’s an example of how a holiday budget may look:
A shopping list can help you keep track of your food shopping, gift shopping and more — while making sure you’re sticking to your budget.
To make your lists, write down everything where it can be viewed at a glance. For gift lists, you can break down your spending per person, what you plan to buy for each person, where you plan to buy from — either in person or online — and any discounts you find. For food shopping, consider if you need to buy an ingredient ahead of time, like a frozen turkey.
5. Download apps for rewards, discounts and/or cash back
You may know to take advantage of credit card rewards, but check out apps and browser extensions that also allow you to receive rewards and cashback. Cash-back sites can also allow you to check prices for the best deals on popular items.
“To save money, aim to stack discounts,” Rossman says. “As in, combine a store promotion with a rewards credit card (which you hopefully pay in full to avoid interest) and an online shopping portal such as Rakuten or Shop Through Chase. A lot of the big airlines have these, too. Also, take advantage of unused gift cards (about half of Americans have them and the average value is close to $200).”
Popular cash-back apps include:
•Rakuten, which offers both online and in-store deals at stores like Walmart and Nike, and has special savings for the holidays.
•Ibotta, which includes big deals on grocery items and lets you connect grocery loyalty accounts.
•Dosh, which allows you to book hotels and offers up to 40% cash back, among other deals.
6. Practice mindfulness when you’re feeling stressed
It’s a stressful time of year, and sometimes taking the time to pause and recognize just that can be helpful in and of itself.
If you’re worried about inflation and other financial pressures, be sure to give yourself some grace and take the time to understand your feelings so that you can deal with them, breathe, reset and reframe the situation.
“If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and practice mindfulness by bringing your attention to the present moment,” says Jolie Weingeroff, a clinical psychologist who sees clients in New York and Rhode Island.
Two techniques Weingeroff suggests include:
•Box breathing: Trace the outline of a rectangle — like a window — and inhale along one edge, exhale along the next, and repeat.
•See three things, hear three things, feel three things: Cycle through and identify things in your environment that you see, hear and can feel.
7. Find some joy and practice self-care
When feeling stressed out, it’s easy to forget about treating yourself — especially when the stress is financial and holiday related. But treating yourself doesn’t have to mean buying yourself a material item; it can also mean taking a walk or letting yourself take a break.
Take a step back from the chaos and do something that brings you joy. Maybe it’s coloring or taking a long, hot shower. Whatever it may be, don’t forget that you can and should treat yourself.
After all, the holidays are also meant to be a time for relaxing and recouping.
Learn more:
•11 ways to save money at the holidays
•Navigating the holidays if you took a financial hit this year
•7 ways to manage financial stress during trying times
Methodology
Bankrate.com commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct a survey on winter holiday shopping. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,415 adults, including 1,813 winter holiday shoppers. Fieldwork was undertaken between August 17–19, 2022. The survey was carried out online and meets rigorous quality standards. It employed a nonprobability-based sample using quotas upfront during collection and then a weighting scheme on the back end designed and proven to provide nationally representative results.
The U.S. Marine Corps has confirmed that Commandant Gen. Eric Smith was hospitalized Sunday evening after suffering a “medical emergency” that is believed to have been a heart attack, according to U.S. defense officials and medical professionals.
According to The Daily Mail, Smith, age 58, experienced a heart attack Sunday night while jogging near Marine Barracks Washington. A District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department spokesperson told The New York Times that witnesses watched Smith “stumble” before falling “face-first on the sidewalk.”
Two defense officials also told USNI News Monday that the commandant suffered a heart attack on Sunday evening.
In a Monday press release, the Marine Corps explained that Smith “experienced a medical emergency on the evening of Oct. 29, 2023, and has been hospitalized. The press release noted that “additional information” pertaining to Smith’s condition would be “released at a later time.”
In a video message from the Marine Corps on Monday night, Sergeant Major Carlos A. Ruiz said Smith was “currently receiving care at a local hospital.”
Addressing service members in the Marine Corps, Ruiz said, “I, just like you, have great professional respect and admiration for our commandant, and so I hope you’ll join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.”
In addition to addressing Smith’s “medical emergency,” Ruiz assured Marine Corps members that leadership of the esteemed military branch would remain “in good hands.” He explained that Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, as the “most senior officer” in the Marine Corps headquarters, would be performing Smith’s duties while the commandant recovers due to the current assistant commandant vacancy.
“I know that all Marines will join me in wishing General Smith a swift recovery so he can return to duty. I also know that Marines across our Corps are professional warfighters who will remain focused on the important work each of you are doing every day,” Ruiz continued. “Since taking our seats, the commandant and I have emphasized discipline, professionalism, and conduct, and that doesn’t change today or what we do tomorrow.”
Ruiz concluded his video message to U.S. service members by highlighting how the Marine Corps is “a family” and reminding Marine Corps members that he is “proud” to serve alongside each member. “We remain ‘Semper Fidelis,’” he said.
READ MORE: Marine rapid response force moving to coast of Israel
According to USNI News, prior to Smith’s heart attack, the commandant was last publicly spotted welcoming Marine Corps Marathon runners at the finish line of the race in Arlington, Virginia, on Sunday afternoon.
Heckl, who will be temporarily fulfilling Smith’s duties, is the deputy commandant for combat development and integration. The Marine Corps assistant vacancy is due to the lack of a Senate confirmation for Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, who has been nominated for the position.
First Lt. Edward T. McGuire, a graduate of the Mount Carmel class of 1939, died Aug. 1, 1943, at the age of 22 when his B-24 Liberator bomber went down near Ploiesti, Romania, during Operation Tidal Wave in World War II. While his death was presumed when he did not make it back to the Allied base following the operation, his remains were recovered in 2017, which began a multiyear identification process.
On Saturday, 80 years after his death, McGuire and his family were treated to a massive military funeral in Evergreen Park. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense, police and fire departments, hundreds of community members and dozens of veterans came to pay their respects.
“What the Department of Defense has put on here is a testament to how great our country is,” said McGuire’s great nephew Mike McAuliffe of St. Louis, who also attended Mount Carmel. “It has finally put closure to our family.”
Operation Tidal Wave was a flyover mission which sought to use U.S. and British bombers, including the one piloted by McGuire, to take out German oil refineries in Romania. But several mistakes were made in the planning, according to historian Roger Miller, who documented the attack for the Air Force Historical Support Division.
The most glaring error was the order for the bombers to fly low over the targets which is the antithesis of bombing policy, which prefers to keep bombers high and out of reach from the enemy’s defenses, according to the historical division and Miller.
“The U.S. Army Air Forces never again attempted a low level mission against German air defenses,” Miller writes.
The Allied casualties from the battle stand at 310 airmen killed, 108 captured, and 78 interned in Turkey, he said.
McGuire, born April 11, 1921, was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is one of 58 Mount Carmel alumni who died while serving in the Second World War, according to a plaque at the school.
“We can’t afford to ever forget what all the Men of Carmel did for us, the living, and for their country so long ago,” wrote Terence Stadler, a Mount Carmel alumnus who has collected information on alumni who served. In 2020, he wrote a book about the alumni who served in the Vietnam War.
McGuire was carried Saturday in a black Cadillac hearse in a funeral procession that included service members, veterans, a shotgun salute, a police escort and hundreds of firefighters and community members lining the path.
“As I looked at those people lining the streets, waving those flags … I thought ‘I bet a lot of their grandparents served in World War II,’” said MaryLynn McGuire Clarke of Florida, one of Lt. McGuire’s nieces. “I think that it brought back the effect (of) that Greatest Generation.”
Scientists from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used dental, anthropological analysis, circumstantial evidence, DNA and chromosome analysis to confirm McGuire’s remains.
The memorial Mass was held at Most Holy Redeemer Church in Evergreen Park with burial at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum near Chicago Ridge.
“I felt obligated to be here because my dad was actually a bombardier in World War II but he made it back,” said Evergreen Ridge resident Paul Serritella, 77. “The least I could do is come here and pay my respects.”
Community members attending were of all ages, including several dozen neighborhood children.
“He was only 22,” said 13-year-old Mickey McManus, who was told about the funeral by one of his teachers, a great nephew of McGuire.
Maureen McGuire Farnell of Darien and McGuire Clarke remarked about their uncle’s bravery. He volunteered not only for the war but also for the last mission he flew, McGuire Clarke said.
A salute to soldiers – and a salute to their dogs.
That’s the mission behind this weekend’s Salute to Soldiers, to be held at the Polish Club of Agawam on Oct. 28.
All funds raised will benefit America’s VetDogs, an organization based out of Smithtown, New York, that pairs veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with service dogs. From World War II to current conflicts, veterans and first responders assisted by the organization come from all different types of backgrounds.
According to press materials, “VetDogs trains and places guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; hearing dogs for those who have lost their hearing later in life; service dogs for those with other physical disabilities; facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals, and PTSD service dogs to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Dogs assist veterans with a range of mobility and other tasks to achieve one goal: independent living.
It costs over $50,000 for America’s VetDogs to breed, raise, train and place one service dog, but veterans are not charged. America’s VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge.
This year is especially noteworthy, as the organization is marking its 20th anniversary. Since its founding in 2003, America’s VetDogs has paired 1,000 service dogs with veterans and first responders in need, according to the organization’s website.
The fifth annual Salute to Soldiers will begin at 5 p.m., with dinner to be served at 6 p.m. The event will include a barbecue buffet, raffles, live music and more. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online. All funds raised benefit America’s VetDogs services. For more information, call 413-726-8883.
A second fundraising event – a walk-through “basket auction” – will be held on Nov. 18 in Coram, New York.
For more information on the organization, visit America’s VetDogs’ website.
At least 9,000 Army National Guard soldiers have been left waiting for the bonuses promised upon their enlistment, a service component source recently disclosed.
The alarming situation underscores the challenges facing the National Guard’s administrative systems, directly impacting soldiers and their families, some of whom have been waiting for these payments for years, according to Military.com.
The enlistment bonuses form a critical part of the Army National Guard’s recruitment strategy, offering up to $20,000 for part-time service and occasional deployment. The financial incentive is designed not only to attract recruits but also to ease their transition into military life.
However, the delay in disbursal has caused significant distress. “I was really relying on this money to help with moving into a new place with my wife,” one soldier, whose first half of the enlistment bonus was already a year overdue, told Military.com.
Soldiers are supposed to receive the first installment of their bonus following the completion of initial service training. However, the 30-day target for the enlistment payments is not an official policy, leaving soldiers with few options when faced with delays.
Col. Danielle MacDonnell, division chief of Army National Guard G1 operations, told Military.com, “While nearly 94% of our Soldiers eligible to receive an enlistment bonus have received it, we are working very hard to reconcile the remaining 6% because we hold ourselves to higher standards and believe one overdue payment to an otherwise eligible Soldier is one too many.”
READ MORE: Air Force, Space Force raise enlistment age limit to over 40
According to Military.com, one of the key issues identified with enlistment payments is the inadequacy of the Army National Guard Incentive Management System (GIMS), which has faced significant outages, rendering it inoperable for extended periods since its introduction in 2012. The repeated system failures have forced staff to process payments manually at times, leading to backlogs and further delays.
In response to the issues, the National Guard Bureau has initiated incentive oversight teams to address state-level problems. However, full resolution is expected to take years, given the complexity and scale of the challenge. Military.com noted that the situation is further compounded by the part-time nature of most National Guard soldiers, who often lack easy access to staff for resolving bonus issues.
The current bonus delay issue is not the first time the National Guard has struggled to distribute enlistment bonuses. During the height of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the California National Guard faced a scandal involving the recoupment of $195 million in wrongly issued bonuses, which led to legislative interventions and eventually the development of GIMS, according to Military.com.
This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.
