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By Andy Ostroth, 30-year Navy Veteran and GCVF Volunteer I recently had the privilege of interviewing two of our cherished veterans, both residents of Leisure Village senior community in Camarillo. Jerry Spector, an Air Force veteran, took this photograph on June 7, 2017, of 104 veterans, all residents of Camarillo’s Leisure Village. The men and […]
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Author: Vince Gangi, U.S. Air Force veteran and GCVF volunteer. In 1999, Congress selected May as Military Appreciation Month. Each year, the president issues a proclamation for Americans to take time to participate in an event to honor the men, women and families of the armed services past and present. May was chosen because of the […]
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When I walked into the Ventura County Community Foundation’s nonprofit center in Camarillo, which houses many nonprofits, I was looking for volunteer work that would add purpose to my life. I proudly figured anyone would be and should be happy to have me. After all, I would do just about anything and was willing to work […]
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On Tuesday, Californians will vote in the primary election for presidential candidates and other federal, state and local races. California and 13 other states will also vote on Super Tuesday. California has the most delegates by far, so our registered voters could make a big difference for the Democratic candidates. In addition to making our […]
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With the New Year came changes in veteran benefits along with a push from some veteran advocacy groups for research into help for service-connected illnesses that are currently not covered or deemed by Veterans Affairs as “presumption of service-connected illness.” Here’s a short list of some of the changes. As always, it’s best to check […]
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“Man’s Best Friend” doesn’t tell the whole story. Our K-9 companions are also a Soldier’s Best Friend and a Veteran’s Best Friend. Dogs have served important roles in military operations for many years, saving countless lives on the battlefield and often decorated for their valor. “Sgt. Stubby” was a dog who was the official mascot of [...]
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In January, volunteers across America fan out and count all the homeless people they can find – sheltered people in temporary housing and soup kitchens and unsheltered people sleeping in parks, freeway underpasses, watersheds and in vehicles. The numbers from this past January were recently released, and it’s no surprise to those of us living […]
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I called retired Marine Sgt. Maj. John Canley last week to ask him if we could catch up on what he’s been doing since he was awarded the Medal of Honor in October by President Donald Trump for his exemplary service in Vietnam. He called me back from a naval base in San Diego, where […]
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Veterans and military service members face unique financial challenges, yet there are few dedicated resources to help these people who have sacrificed so much. The military life cycle of deployments and frequent moves presents distinct difficulties for spousal employment and for families attempting to balance work and home life, contributing to financial instability. Moreover, these […]
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Last week, I celebrated the 50th anniversary of a hand grenade blowing up a few feet behind me. That was normally 100 percent fatal. The blast lifted me off the ground and planted me face-first. I couldn’t move. I was near the Cambodian border, and my guys called in a medevac helicopter. They flew me to Saigon at […]
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