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Veterans
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FORT BENNING, Ga. – Adam Holguin of Lakeport graduated from one station unit training, or OSUT, on July 10 at Fort Benning.
Holguin, who attended school in Lakeport from kindergarten through 12th grade, is a 2013 graduate of Clear Lake High School.
He signed on with the U.S. Army in February and began his training in Georgia in mid-March.
He completed OSUT program – which lasts between 14 and 16 weeks – in which recruits remain with the same unit for both basic combat training and advanced individual training.
OSUT training is for those recruits whose military occupational specialty is infantry, cavalry or armor.
Recruits who successfully complete this training attend a special “turning blue” ceremony, where they receive their infantry blue cord signifying they have completed all requirements to join the rank of the U.S. Army.
During this special ceremony, which took place on July 9 at Fort Benning, Holguin asked his mother, Paula Tolle, to do the honor of assisting him with the pinning of his cord.
Immediately after graduation, Holguin left to report for duty at Fort Polk in Louisiana.
His family includes mother, Paula Tolle of Lakeport; father, Alex Holguin Jr. of San Jose; brothers, Alex Holguin of Lakeport and Trevor Holguin of Fairfield; sister, Melissa Schweitzer of Lakeport; nephews, Schad Schweitzer of Lakeport and Elias Holguin of Fairfield; and nieces, Bella, Sylvia and Mia Holguin, and Aubrey Schweitzer, all of Lakeport.
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FORT BENNING, Ga. – Private First Class Alexander Andrews graduates on Friday from the US Army's Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning.
Andrews, an infantryman, graduates as the Soldier of the Cycle and Honor Graduate, topping a class of more than 160 soldiers.
He now is waiting to be assigned to Airborne training.
Last August, Andrews graduated from Army basic combat training as a squad leader of Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 54th Infantry Regiment, also at Fort Benning.
He is a member of the Oregon National Guard.
Andrews attended elementary and high school in Lakeport, Calif., graduating from Clear Lake High School in 2013 before going on to Oregon State University, Corvallis in the fall of 2013.
Andrews is engaged to Ashley Bolling, and is the son of Tom Andrews, and Wendy Andrews and Darren Hoffeditz, all of Lakeport.
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COLUMBIA, SC – Army Pvt. Micah A. Sparks has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.
Sparks is the son of Brien A. Sparks and brother of Maurice E. Sparks of Lucerne, Calif.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake VA Clinic is resuming normal operations after having rescheduled appointments due to the Rocky fire, burning east of Clearlake.
The clinic will resume normal operations on Tuesday, Aug. 4, officials said.
If a veteran has been evacuated and needs a prescription refill, please contact the Clearlake VA Clinic at 707-995-7200.
If you are a Veteran having fire-related symptoms and are unable to travel to a VA Clinic, please call Telephone Linked Care at 800-733-0502.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s (CA-5) bipartisan legislation to help veterans and their families save for and afford health care passed the Senate on Thursday and will be signed into law by the president.
The bill, titled the Help Veterans Save for Health Care Act, passed as part of H.R. 3236, the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015.
Thompson’s bill will allow veterans who have supplemental health care coverage and also receive Veterans Administration (VA) care for a service-connected disability to enroll or participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA).
Currently, under IRS regulations, veterans and their families are prohibited from making and/or receiving contributions to a HSA for three months after receiving health care services through the Veterans VA for a service-connected disability.
The bill was co-authored by U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (TX-3).
“This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will help make sure veterans and their families aren’t left on the hook for health care expenses they’d otherwise be covered for just because they received care from the VA,” said Thompson. “Making sure veterans have the same rights as other taxpayers to pay for their health care costs is the right thing to do for those who served our country in uniform.”
A HSA is a tool to help individuals and families to save and pay for health care expenses. However under the IRS regulations veterans and their families are being unfairly excluded from an important health care savings tool.
For example, a veteran with a service-connected disability may be enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan with an HSA that provides health insurance coverage for their family.
Under current IRS regulations, the veteran would be barred from participating in his or her HSA for three months after receiving care at the VA for a service-connected disability – even if that HSA is used to cover out-of-pocket health care costs for non-VA care and for their spouse or children.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Joe Myers and Sue Tischbern have a working relationship that has come full circle.
They met when Tischbern was an instructor at the cosmetology school Myers attended.
Myers opened J. Myers Salon in Middletown in November 2012 and now they work together.
The salon offers a full range of hair services, waxing and sells handmade jewelry.
Tischbern fashions the jewelry and some pieces include antique and specialty beads.
Both Myers and Tischbern wanted to find a way to support military personnel and knew of Operation Tango Mike’s 12-year history of shipping care packages.
Thus, they decided to donate $3 of every salon service or purchase on every Wednesday to the local charity.
Myers has a history of military service in his family and Tischbern knows well the feeling of loss when someone does not return from deployment.
She tearfully explained that she and her daughter knew several young men who deployed in the Global War on Terror who were killed in action.
J. Myers Salon is located at 21136 Calistoga St. in Middletown, telephone 707-809-7020.
Operation Tango Mike holds packing parties to prepare care packages on the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St. in Lakeport.
The organization can be reached at 707-349-2838 or
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SACRAMENTO – The State of California’s Employment Training Panel today approved a contract through its veterans' program for $199,050 to train and place in jobs 75 unemployed veterans.
The program provides veterans with the skills needed to enter the workforce and improves opportunities for advancement in high wage, secure jobs.
Since its inception in 2008 as a pilot program, more than 650 veterans have received workforce training through the program.
Veterans who have served on active full-time duty in the Armed Forces and were honorably discharged or released from active duty due to a service-connected disability are eligible for training under this contract, as well as reservists who have served on active full-time duty and are still on reserve status.
"California employers recognize the talent and experience our veterans bring to the workforce," said Stewart Knox, the Employment Training Panel's Executive Director. "The Employment Training Panel is proud support this program which helps businesses with the demand to train veterans for high wage jobs."
Under the approved contract, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board will work with the Occupational Safety Councils of America to deliver vocational safety training to meet the demands of the manufacturing, petrochemical and construction industries.
The training curriculum involves the Occupational Safety Councils of America’s Premier Safety Attendant Program, which includes Refinery Safety Overview, Safety Technician and Attendant Training, CPR/First-Aid/AED, and refinery site-specific training.
OSHA 10/30, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard training will also be provided for certification, as well as advanced commercial skills to develop trainee skills on the job site.
The Employment Training Panel is the state’s premier program supporting job creation and retention through training.
On Friday, it approved more than $14.2 million to train more than 13,600 workers in regions throughout California.
In total, the panel approved 38 training contracts aimed at supporting job creation and retention while increasing opportunities for workers through the development of job skills and training.
For more information about the program, please visit www.etp.ca.gov or call 916-327-5368.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Monday met with the Travis Regional Armed Forces Committee, a community consortium that strives to build bridges between Travis Air Force Base, the local community and civic leaders.
Following his keynote address, Congressman Garamendi met with Travis Air Force Base commanders for an update on Travis base security.
Since May, the base has increased random vehicle searches and the visible presence of armed security forces, particularly in areas where large numbers of people congregate.
These deterrence procedures will help the base more quickly respond to and prevent a lone wolf terror attack.
Though no one has made specific threats to Travis, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have noted that military bases are a desired target for some ISIL-inspired jihadists.
“Base security is on everyone’s mind in Congress. I need to know what’s working and what we can do better to keep our bases as safe as possible from terrorists,” Congressman Garamendi said. “I think increasing the number and visibility of security forces is an appropriate response to the lone wolf threat, and I suspect many other Members of Congress agree.”
During his speech, Garamendi explained why he voted against the initial version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Garamendi currently is a member of the NDAA Conference Committee, comprised of key members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. He will determine how he will vote on the final NDAA when it clears the Conference Committee.
“We are in the first quarter of a trillion dollar nuclear arms race,” Garamendi said. “Before we embark on these incredibly expanded nuclear weapons programs, I want to know why. By voting down my amendments for more information on the costs and risks of our nuclear weapons strategy, a majority of my colleagues in Congress would prefer we just vote yes and wallow in ignorance. I don’t like ignorance.”
The conversation also focused on base security and the importance of Travis Air Force Base for Solano County’s economy.
During a question-and-answer session, Garamendi responded to questions related to the security risk of privately-owned drones, the importance of the nuclear weapons treaty with Iran, and the status of America’s GPS satellite capabilities.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Do you qualify for reimbursement from the Department of Veterans Affairs? What services are available to you from hospice?
Did you know that without a power of attorney for health care (or advanced healthcare directive) and unmarried partner cannot authorize any funeral arrangements? Did you know that the VA does not pay any monies in advance for funeral costs?
Join representatives from the Lake County Veterans Service Office and Hospice Services of Lake County on Thursday, July 23, to get answers to these questions and other valuable information to help you and your family make a plan for end-of-life needs.
The meeting will take place beginning at 1 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, Konocti Post 437, 14770 Austin Road, Clearlake.
For more information, please contact Allison at 707-391-7667 or