Donald McPherson, a World War II veteran and the last surviving American “ace” pilot, has passed away at 103. He served in the Pacific theater, earning multiple honors for downing five enemy planes. Despite his wartime achievements, McPherson’s legacy focused on his faith, family, and community service. He returned home to Nebraska after the war and devoted himself to the local youth through sports, scouting, and veterans’ organizations.
Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan allies who had assisted US forces now face the threat of deportation under the current political climate. In response, US military veterans have formed “Battle Buddies” to support Afghan refugees at immigration hearings, acting as a show of solidarity. These veterans aim to protect their former allies from deportation, recognizing the moral and legal obligation to those who aided the US military. The group now has over 900 volunteers across the country who hope to deter the actions of federal agents. This is due to the termination of programs that once protected these individuals and a growing fear of returning to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
At a White House ceremony honoring Purple Heart recipients, former President Donald Trump accepted medals from several veterans and, while acknowledging their sacrifices, remarked that his own experience with a failed assassination attempt was “not easy” either. The former president mentioned the three veterans by name and recounted how they gifted him their Purple Hearts, referencing his own minor injury sustained during the incident. This remark was met with criticism given Trump’s draft-dodging history. This marks another instance of Trump receiving medals without demonstrating any service, including recently being given a set of Olympic medals during a White House event.
The Trump administration denies plans to privatize the Department of Veterans Affairs, despite actions that suggest otherwise. While requesting a record-breaking budget, the VA plans to eliminate nearly 3,000 jobs and is losing healthcare staff, contradicting claims of unaffected services. Simultaneously, billions are being directed towards private sector care, potentially eroding the VA’s direct care system while the Veterans’ ACCESS Act moves forward in the House, expanding veterans’ options to seek care outside the VA system. VA staff shortages are increasing, leading to concerns that this shift in resources will leave veterans with limited access to quality care as well as other key veteran programs.
D-Day veteran Jake “Papa Jake” Larson, who gained a massive following on TikTok for sharing his World War II experiences, has passed away at the age of 102. Larson, a Minnesota native, enlisted in the National Guard at 15 and served as an operations sergeant, participating in the D-Day invasion and surviving the Battle of the Bulge. He earned a Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honor. In his later years, Larson became a beloved figure, attending D-Day commemorations and sharing poignant stories, often reminding people to “make peace not war,” leaving behind a legacy of humor, remembrance, and inspiration.
George Retes, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran, was detained by federal immigration agents during a raid on a marijuana farm where he worked. Detained for three days without explanation, he missed his daughter’s third birthday celebration. Retes was injured during the raid and denied medical care. While in custody, he was not allowed to contact his family. After his release, Retes was not charged with any crime.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, under the direction of Russell Vought, has been quietly reversing settled enforcement actions, benefiting large corporations at the expense of consumers. Navy Federal Credit Union was released from an $80 million refund agreement regarding illegal fees, while other companies like Toyota Motor Credit and Wise received reduced penalties or had pending cases dismissed. The Trump administration has also undermined consumer protections by halting routine exams of financial entities and overturning rules designed to save Americans money. This pattern of dismantling consumer protections has led to a largely inoperable CFPB, with numerous complaints flooding the agency, leaving consumers vulnerable to financial harm.
The Associated Press, established in 1846, functions as a global, independent news organization committed to factual reporting. AP is recognized as a highly trusted source for timely, accurate, and unbiased news across all formats, essential to the news industry. This organization provides vital technology and services to the news business. Moreover, AP’s journalism reaches over half the world’s population daily.
Military communities are grappling with the implications of deploying the armed forces domestically, a situation that has broken constitutional norms and sparked internal concerns. Veterans like Brittany Ramos DeBarros see this as a catalyst for organizing, as service members and their families seek support and grapple with difficult moral choices. The legal complexities surrounding unlawful orders are also a significant issue, with service members facing the potential for court-martial and imprisonment for defiance, or moral injury for compliance. Ultimately, the situation places military personnel in a challenging position, forcing them to navigate a complex landscape of legal and ethical considerations.
In Louisiana, a woman breastfeeding her child while waiting for immigration paperwork was arrested, and her baby was torn from her arms, highlighting the severity of the Trump administration’s mass deportation program. This program targets veterans, their families, and even those who served alongside them, reversing prior U.S. policies that offered protections. Examples include a Purple Heart recipient who was deported and an Afghan interpreter who supported U.S. troops being fast-tracked for deportation, despite his asylum case being unresolved. The article argues that these actions represent a deliberate attack on service members and their families, undermining the values the country claims to stand for.
John Q. Hosedrinker