What follows, dear reader, is absolutely the last chapter of my military “career.” I promise! Active reserve duty consisted of more than meeting once a month. What lay ahead was summer camp. Summer camp in the military did not conjure up visions of splashing in a swimming pool, playing volleyball,...
Receiving mail from your hometown while on active military duty is a welcomed surprise. For those stationed away from home during the holiday season, that surprise is even more special. The City of Aurora’s annual Gifts from Home program honors active military personnel from Aurora by providing them with a...
By Jim Garamone So long, Fort Bragg. Hello, Fort Liberty. The Naming Commission process is over and the names of bases, posts, ships, streets and more named after Confederate soldiers will change. William A. LaPlante, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, directed all DOD (Department of Defense) organizations...
Earnings for active duty military service or active duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957. If you served in the military before 1957, you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, you receive special credit for some of your service. You can get both Social Security (SSAN) benefits and...
Continuing the adventures of PFC Chas (and you thought you had seen the last of these thrilling adventures, dear reader – silly you!) The Third Armored Medical Company, a.k.a. the “Third Herd,” was well-equipped to administer first-aid in a combat zone. The Third Herd was not well-equipped, however, to administer...
You do not need to be a member of the Navy League, or have a reservation, to attend the in-person meeting. The general public is welcome. The Aurora Navy League Council 247 will hold its Tuesday, Jan. 18 dinner meeting at the private room of the Riverview Diner, IL-25 and...
Receiving mail from your hometown while on active military duty is a welcomed surprise. For those stationed away from home during the holiday season, that surprise is even more special. The city government of Aurora’s annual Gifts from Home program honors active military personnel from Aurora by providing them with...
The Aurora Navy League Council 247 will hold its Tuesday, Nov. 16 dinner meeting at its new, permanent location, the private room of the Riverview Diner, IL-25 and Mill Street, Montgomery. It is a large private room and can be entered from the north door or through the restaurant. There...
The city of Aurora government will honor Aurora heroes who paid the ultimate price in war with honorary street dedications this weekend. Crowning events of Aurora’s month-long ‘Aurora Avanzando’ Hispanic Heritage Month initiatives, the three separate ceremonies to be held on Sunday, Oct. 10 are in tribute to the young...
I began writing this piece because I was appalled by what Donald Trump had said about our veterans, calling them “losers” and “suckers.” In the back of my mind I had an inkling it might be old news by the time it made it into print, because another Trump scandal...
One in a continuing series Concerning the further adventures of PFC Chas: The Third Armored Medical Company, a.k.a. the “Third Herd,” in the land of door handles (Germany) was logistically a MASH (mobile army surgical hospital) unit, but we never performed similar to a MASH unit. We were too busy...
Because it’s still close to Memorial Day, as close as I can get because I didn’t have anything in last Thursday’s edition and The Voice isn’t published Monday, I’d like to write about something military-related. The only military-related experience I have to draw on is my own two-year stretch, but...
By John Montesano May, marked officially as Military Appreciation Month, is a special month for both those in and out of the military. Not only do we pause on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, but the month holds several other military anniversaries...
Olivia Guzman Villalon reflects Wednesday, Jan. 29, at a memorial ceremony at East Aurora High School for her son, Army Specialist Miguel Villalon, who died January 11 serving in Afghanistan.
Saturday, Jan. 11 the Aurora community mourned the heartbreaking death of Miguel Villalon, 21. He was one of two U.S. service members who passed away while serving in Afghanistan. Their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kandahar Province. A proud graduate of East Aurora High School, Miguel was...
America seems to have an abundance of angry individuals these days. I’m not one of them, except when my cable cuts out during The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. But, I’ve noticed infusions of anger when it comes to politics or driving. It would be nice if it stayed in...
The city government of Aurora’s annual Gifts from Home program offers our hardworking active members of the military a reminder from their hometown during the holidays. Gifts from Home thanks Aurora residents who are actively serving in the military, at home or abroad, with a gift box that includes mixed...
Oswego’s Little White School Museum invites all Oswego area residents to visit its annual “Remembering our Veterans” special exhibit at the museum, 72 Polk Street (Jackson at Polk), just two blocks from downtown Oswego. For the first time in the exhibit’s 14-year history, it will be held for a full...
When last we saw PFC (private first class) Chas, he was boarding an ocean liner bound for the wonderments of Germany. A new and exciting adventure awaited him. I confess that I have exaggerated a wee bit when I used the expression “ocean liner.” True, the ship sailed the ocean...
