Donald Branscum

I was a sergeant assigned to USAF, 1st TFW/71st AMU, Langley, AFB, VA deployed to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. 1st Tactical Fighter Wing was the first military unit into Saidi Arabia.

First In, First Aerial Kill and First Out. Aug 7, 1990 to March 24, 1991. Perfect setting for being the first fighter wing in USAF history. The 71st AMU nickname is Ironmen and we had to be battling 115 degree heat wearing nearly full chemical gear for the first couple of weeks in country, performing real life integrated combat turns, maintaining constant aerial combat missions with F-15C model aircraft and thankful no scud missiles fell down on us.

– Donald Branscum
Norco, Calif.

 

VA Redesigns Burn Pit Research Registry to Improve Veteran Health Care

The VA has redesigned the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, Burn Pit Research Registry, to better understand, research, and improve treatment for health issues affecting Veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits during their service. This registry...

The Keeper: A Journey of a Veteran Hiker on the Appalachian Trail, in Theaters Nationwide on Memorial Day

"The Keeper," an upcoming movie hitting theaters nationwide on Memorial Day, portrays the harrowing yet inspiring journey of Army Veteran George Eshleman, played by Angus Benfield. The film, based on true events, follows Eshleman as he embarks on a mission to hike the...

House Lawmakers Demand Accountability Over McKinsey and Company’s Role in VA Opioid Prescriptions

House lawmakers are pressing the VA for explanations regarding the involvement of consulting firm McKinsey and Company in the department's decisions to prescribe opioids to Veterans. This occurrence happened while McKinsey and Company was simultaneously advising...

Women’s History Month: Honoring the Contributions and Sacrifices of Women in U.S. Military History

March is celebrated as Women's History Month. Women have made significant contributions across various fields, including the military. Throughout U.S. history, women have played vital roles in the Armed Forces, often without receiving due recognition. Nevertheless,...

All VA-Enrolled Veterans Can Receive Regular Toxic Exposure Screenings

  The Department of Veterans Affairs is actively working to screen all Veterans enrolled in VA health care for potential toxic exposure, a mandate set forth by the PACT Act signed into law in 2022. The screenings involve both initial and follow-up assessments for...

Veterans and Supporters Advocate for the Addition of Blood Cancers to Service-Connected Conditions Under the PACT Act

  Veterans and supporters are pushing for the addition of certain blood cancers to the list of service-connected conditions under the PACT Act, a move that could grant expedited healthcare and benefits to Gulf War and Post-9/11 Veterans. The VA is conducting a...

Happy 76th Birthday, U.S. Air Force

September 18, 1947 marks the day the United States Air Force was officially established. However, its roots trace back to the early 20th century, when military aviation first took flight. Pioneering the Skies: The 20th Century In 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps took...

VA Health Care Special Enrollment Period for PACT Act Benefits Set to End Sept. 30

  The next major PACT Act deadline for some Veterans is slated for Sept. 30, 2023.  A special enrollment period will allow eligible Veterans to bypass the normal application process for VA benefits and enroll directly in VA health care. To be eligible, the...

Letter to the Editor: No Purple Heart for a Wounded Vietnam Veteran

Good morning, Christian I am a member of Post 0291 Newport. I want to ask you a question on the criteria of a Purple Heart. Today if a Soldier gets hurt by an IED he is awarded a Purple Heart; yet I was blown out of my truck in Vietnam after hitting a land mine and...

Purple Heart Day: Honoring Our Fallen and the Wounded Veterans Who Endeavor Beyond Their Service

  962,403 — 137,023 — 200,740 — 615 — 36,412 — 22,499: the estimated number of fallen and wounded Service Members in each major U.S. conflict since World War II to have been awarded at least one Purple Heart, based on casualty research conducted by both the...
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