On April 9, 1914, amid the chaos of Mexico’s revolutionary conflicts, nine U.S. Navy seamen had been detained by the dictatorship of Gen. Victoriano Huerta. Although they were released on April 21, the United States learned that the steamship Ypiranga had entered the port of Veracruz with a cargo of German weaponry. In response, the U.S. Navy confiscated Ypiranga and landed an occupation force in Vera Cruz. Although the Americans hoped to avoid bloodshed, the city’s commander, Gen. Gustavo Maass had orders to resist foreign occupation. Consequently, the parties that came ashore on April 21 found themselves in an escalating urban battle. One of the most dramatic events of that first day involved orders from the fleet commander, Rear Adm. Frank Friday Fletcher: “SEIZE CUSTOM HOUSE. DO NOT PERMIT WAR SUPPLIES TO BE DELIVERED TO HUERTA GOVERNMENT OR ANY OTHER PARTY.” When the Americans advanced on the building, they suddenly found themselves pinned down by what an officer on the scene, Ensign George Lowry, described as “murderous rifle and machine gun fire.” Not wishing to risk any more men than he had to, Fletcher called for a handful of volunteers. Five men from the battleship Florida — Harry C. Beasley, George Cregan, Joseph G. Harner and J. F. Schumacher and Joseph Sinnett — alongside Hospital Apprentice 1st Class William Zuiderveld, volunteered.Setting out, Lowry planned to flank the Custom House and attack from the side. Hopes of a surprise assault did not succeed as planned, however. A bullet clipped a button off Lowry’s cap and another creased his right legging. Beasley was slightly wounded and Schumacher was struck in the head. An Aug. 19 after-action report from Adm. Fletcher included a description of what followed:“After the five volunteers from the First Company, Florida Battalion, had advanced with me under heavy fire along the narrow alley between the customhouse and the open warehouse, and Schumacher was shot in the head, I called down the alley for the ambulance party. Zuiderveld, W., Hospital Apprentice First Class, responded quickly and advanced up the alley in a heavy fire to the position occupied by the five volunteers. There kneeling in an exposed position and unaided, he bandaged Schumacher’s head to stop the flow of blood, while a steady fire was being maintained against the Mexicans in the doorway of the Oriente Hotel.”Amid the shooting, one of the Custom House’s most spirited defenders was José Azueta Abad, a 19-year-old Mexican navy lieutenant manning a machine gun and inflicting casualties on the Americans, most likely Schumacher as well. Lowry’s volunteers had their own ace in the hole, however: Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Joseph Gabriel Harner who had a reputation as a crack marksman. Engaging Azueta, he severely wounded him at 300 yards. As the Americans closed in and fired into the customhouse, its garrison finally threw out their weapons and surrendered. After the exchange, the Americans found 12 bullet impacts in the vicinity. Sadly, in spite of Corpsman Zuiderveld’s efforts, Schumacher died of his head wound. Nonetheless, Zuiderveld was cited for having “showed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession.” The Americans occupied Veracruz until Nov. 23, when they withdrew. After hostilities abated, Adm. Fletcher, after learning of Azueta’s valor at the Custom House, sent a message asking to visit him and pay his respects. Azueta’s purported response was: “If the American enters my house, I will either kill him or myself.” Later, when Fletcher offered to put his own surgeon at his disposal, Azueta again declined, insisting on relying on a local surgeon, Dr. Rafael Cuervo Xicoy, who was handicapped by lacking the quality of equipment. Partly due to that, the young officer succumbed to his wounds on May 10. Promoted to captain by the President of the Republic before his death, Azueta has since been honored among Mexico’s heroes of Veracruz.He was not alone. On Jan. 6, 1915, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels came aboard USS Florida in the Brooklyn Navy Yard to award Medals of Honor to Lowry, Beasley, Cregan, Harner, Sinnett and Zuiderveld.Adm. Fletcher also received the Medal of Honor, as did his nephew, Lt. Frank Jack Fletcher. In the inter-war years, Lowry held four destroyer commands. He entered the Reserves in 1927, but in 1940 he returned to regular service and in 1941 he served as operations officer in the Western Sea Frontier, for which he received the Legion of Merit. Lowry retired as a rear admiral in October 1946. He died at Carmel by the Sea, California, on Feb. 5, 1978, aged 91, and was subsequently buried at sea.

Photo Credit: MilitaryTimes.com (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Burgains/Released) Each June, Pride Month serves as a time to celebrate the history, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community. For generations, LGBTQIA+ Americans answered the call to serve, often doing so in silence during periods when military policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” forced many Service Members to hide an important part of who they were. Despite these challenges, countless individuals served honorably, helping pave the way for greater representation within the military community today. At Soldiers’ Angels, we believe every story of service matters. Pride Month offers an important opportunity to recognize the many ways identity and service intersect. This year, we are proud to highlight the experience and perspective of former intern, Calesta Ahola (Cal for short). Her time with us left a lasting impact, and her story reflects the power of embracing who you are. Cal joined our organization through the DoW Skillbridge Program, an opportunity for Service Members to gain work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. She arrived at our office in January of this year and worked in the Marketing and Communications department. During her time here, Cal’s friendly demeanor and creativity contributed greatly to our Social Media reach and communication strategy. She even DJ’d at our Open House party when we relocated to our new HQ in April. Click Here if you want to see the photos of that event. As an openly gay woman, she carried her authenticity through every chapter of her military service and beyond. In this blog, we interviewed her to learn about her experiences serving openly in the military and her perspective on identity, service, and community. Eight Years of Service, A Lifetime of Lessons For Cal, service has always been deeply connected to both family legacy and personal determination. She built an impressive military career, serving first as a medic and then finishing her time as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Sam Houston. Today, she continues working on her career in Marketing while also pursuing her passion as a professional DJ. Follow annalxg on her socials to book her for an event or to see her perform if you’re in the San Antonio area. “I’m from a big military family. My uncle retired as a Command Sergeant Major in 2018 and I admired the stability of his life. I was working full time as a DJ back then so I didn’t really have any plan B if something fell through. Not a lot of people believed I could do it, so it kind of fueled the desire to prove them wrong.”   Part of her inspiration to enlist came from the stability and success of relatives who served before her, particularly an uncle who retired as a Command Sergeant Major. At the time, she had been working full-time as a DJ but recognized the importance of creating multiple career paths. But the decision ultimately became more than stability, it became about proving to herself, and to those who doubted her, exactly what she was capable of achieving. When asked what lessons she learned during her time in the military, Cal’s response reflected the exact thing she wanted to prove: that people are capable of far more than they often believe. The experience strengthened both her mental and physical resilience, while shaping the confidence and relentless work ethic she carries today. Whether in her career or personal life, Cal credits her military service for instilling the mindset that success comes from staying disciplined and giving nothing less than 110%. “The most valuable lesson the Army taught me was that I can always push a little harder and hang on a little longer. I think civilian life is so focused on being comfortable that we forget what we are capable of. I gained a lot of faith in my own strength, both mentally and physically.” Why Representation Matters When asked about PRIDE month and what it means to her, Cal stated it is both a celebration and a reflection on the journey of a community that has fought for the ability to live openly. It’s an opportunity to recognize just how far the community has come in a relatively short period of history. Reflecting on the origins of Pride, Cal points to the events at the historic Stonewall Inn in 1969, reminding us that Pride began as resistance long before it became the celebration many know today. That history matters because it represents the generations of LGBTQIA+ individuals who fought for their freedoms. “To me, Pride Month is a time to celebrate the unique community that we have. It’s a time to reflect on how far we have come in such a short amount of time. Pride Month started as a riot back at the Stonewall Inn and I think that’s an important reminder that the LGBTQIA+ folks that came before us had to fight for the way we get to celebrate now in 2026.” Cal says her time in and out of uniform taught her lessons about acceptance, representation, and challenging misconceptions. As part of a small LGBTQ+ community in the military, she often had to navigate spaces that weren’t always welcoming, but those experiences reinforced the importance of kindness and living authentically. She also emphasized why representation matters, noting that even in her final year of service, she witnessed discrimination. While many LGBTQIA+ contributions throughout military history have been overlooked or erased, for Cal, visibility ensures those Service Members are recognized, and she hopes to challenge the misconception that identity defines strength. In her view, LGBTQ+ Service Members, like all others, chose to serve and sacrifice for something greater than themselves. Finding Strength Through Community and Staying Resilient When reflecting on her experience as an LGBTQ+ woman serving in the military, Cal says many of the challenges she faced were not necessarily tied to the demands of service itself, but rather to navigating the social dynamics that often come with military life. Building friendships and finding a sense of belonging was sometimes more complicated than expected. She recalls moments where military spouses felt uncomfortable with her forming friendships with their husbands, while at the same time feeling as though she did not always naturally fit into certain social circles among other women around her. Rather than allowing those experiences to isolate her, Cal focused on building a smaller circle of trusted friendships. For her, those connections became an important reminder that finding community does not always mean fitting into every space, but instead finding the people who genuinely value you for who you are. Many Service Members face difficult challenges during their time in the service, and resiliency is needed to persevere. For Cal, that meant maintaining connections outside of the military and intentionally engaging in communities that reflected the different parts of her identity and interests beyond the uniform, such as music, motorcycles, and more. She believes those outside connections were essential. Military life can become incredibly consuming, often making difficult moments feel overwhelming when service becomes your entire world. By maintaining outlets that reminded her of who she was beyond her role in the Army, Cal found balance, perspective, and the ability to push forward through the inevitable challenges that come with military service. This is fantastic advice for anyone considering joining the military or currently serving. Remembering that you are still an individual beyond your uniform is essential for your mental health. “Staying connected to the world outside the military was lifesaving. Every time I changed duty stations, I found friend groups related to other sides of my personality. I found LGBTQIA+ friends, motorcycle friends, music friends, etc. It’s so important to have those outlets because the military can be extremely consuming and when something goes wrong, it can feel like your whole world is falling apart.” A Legacy of Service, Representation, and Pride One of the most important messages Cal hopes to share with young LGBTQ+ individuals considering military or public service is simple: do not let fear or the opinions of others stop you from pursuing your goals. She believes representation matters in every space, especially for future generations who need to see that success is possible regardless of identity. She also hopes the military community continues growing in how it supports LGBTQ+ Service Members and Veterans, acknowledging that trust has been damaged for many in recent years. For Cal, true progress begins when every individual who chooses to serve feels respected, valued, and supported throughout their journey. Cal stated she is proud of the life she has built during and after her time in the Army. Today, she is focused on finishing her Degree in Marketing while building a thriving LGBTQIA+ community in San Antonio that brings people together. Becoming a part of the very thing she needed during her time in the service.When asked about her time at Soldiers’ Angels, she shared that transitioning out of the military can often leave Veterans feeling forgotten. To her, Soldiers’ Angels represents something invaluable: ensuring Service Members and Veterans feel appreciated, supported, and reminded that even after service ends, they are never alone. “One thing you hear a lot as you are transitioning out of the military is that as soon as you are out, they will replace you and you are useless to them. It can feel true until you find organizations like Soldiers’ Angels. The work that they do for the military and veteran community is so needed. They make some of the most vulnerable people feel appreciated and loved. To me, that’s irreplaceable.” Cal was an amazing intern to work with and brought a tremendous amount of energy to the office. As much as we were sad to see her go, we were happy to see her find a great job after her time with us. Cal still stays in touch regularly and is always welcomed when she visits the office. Here is some of Cal’s work that she did while interning with us at Soldiers’ Angels. Food Distribution ShortMarketing Idea Short Sock Collection Short About the Author Adrian Martinez is the Marketing and Communications Manager for Soldiers’ Angels. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years and graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2021. The post Military PRIDE: Honoring a LGBTQIA+ Service Member That Made An Impact appeared first on Soldiers' Angels.

You probably never signed up for this part. You did not research your surgeon, read his reviews, or ask a single follow-up question. Nobody ever asked your opinion. One day you had wisdom teeth, and the next day the United States military snatched them from your face like they’re the secret component of a doomsday weapon.It might come in basic training. It might come during your first months at your first duty station. But sooner rather than later, your wisdom teeth are more than likely coming out before you take off the uniform.Also Read: How extremely cold weather can destroy the military’s best-laid plansHere’s something to think about while drooling onto your shirt: the military did not take your wisdom teeth for laughs, or to toughen you up, or because some dentist had a quota to hit before COB. It took them because a tooth is a liability, and the military hates a liability it cannot control.Somewhere down the road, there will be a war, or a ship, or a mountain valley where the nearest dentist is a helicopter ride and a long distance of pain and complaints. Your third molars were eventually coming out; the only questions the military settled for you were where, when, and here are some Percocets. The actual hardest working career in the U.S. military. (U.S. Air Force/Airman Paden Henry) “Voluntold” Basic training sets aside days for this kind of thing. The military lines you up, looks in your mouth, and makes a decision about your immediate future that you will not be invited to weigh in on. It feels arbitrary because, from the chair, it looks arbitrary. It is not.Honestly, not everyone will lose them; but there’s no need for extra anxiety. A Navy dentist who said he works at a Marine recruit depot once laid it out plainly: only wisdom teeth that meet certain criteria come out, and not every recruit who needs one removed gets all four taken out.If your molars are sitting pretty and behaving themselves, you might just make it through basic training together. If they are impacted, crowded, or look like gold to an oral surgeon, they are forfeited. And every so often, somebody reads the fine print. One sailor, who was told in Navy boot camp that his wisdom teeth were coming out, asked whether anything was actually wrong with them. Informed that there was not, he declined, and he kept them.A wisdom tooth does not respect anything. It can’t. It sits there, quiet, impacted, and indignant, for years, and then pick the single worst week to flood your jaw with infection. The military has an equally cold name for the category of misery this falls under: disease and non-battle injury, the inglorious attrition that pulls more troops off the line over a long deployment than the enemy does.And there’s no pain quite like tooth pain.Researchers tracking third-molar cases across Iraq and Afghanistan found that more than half of the troops who showed up in genuine pain felt nothing at all beforehand. The tooth gave no warning. It simply waited for the worst possible time to pop off. And of the personnel who needed to travel for treatment, roughly 70% were transported by helicopter. A helicopter, a pilot, a crew, and a chunk of someone’s tactical day scrambled; all for a throbbing tooth.Consider it a cautionary tale that the entire system exists to prevent. MarineParents.com tells the story of a Marine named Derrick, whose wisdom teeth came out not in boot camp but later, while his unit was training in Japan.Almost immediately after, the call came down that they were headed to Iraq. He flew into a combat zone with bloody rags smooshed into his mouth, spending his first days in theater healing instead of fighting alongside his friends. The military would much rather that happen on a quiet morning at the dental clinic than on a transport plane bound for a war zone. The Wisdom in Wisdom Teeth Our military, being our military, designed a tier list specifically for this situation; your records will be stamped one of four classes. Class 1 means your mouth is squared away and you are good to go anywhere. Class 2 means you need minor work, but you can still deploy.Class 3 means you have something likely to explode in your mouth within a year, and until it is fixed, you are not going anywhere. Class 4 means you skipped your exam, and the system assumes the worst and grounds you too.A bothersome wisdom tooth is more than enough to land you in Class 3 and place your career on hold. The risk behind the rule is documented: a Class 2 service member is about twice as likely to have a dental emergency as a Class 1 service member, and a Class 3 service member is roughly seven to eight times as likely. So the dentist peering into your mouth in week three of training is not being “icky.” They are doing what good leaders do and looking for anything about your head hole that might affect you and your mates when it truly matters. It may not look like it, but they’re doing him a favor. (U.S. Air Force/Daniel Martinez The Numbers If that still sounds like “a tad too much” for a few teeth, look to your experts, sweet summer children.Studies of deployed troops have clocked dental emergency rates somewhere between roughly 137 and 230 per thousand per year, which means that in any given year, a real slice of everyone downrange ends up needing a dentist they cannot conveniently reach.One accounting of U.S. Army dental emergencies across 2009 and 2010 tallied 11,642, an estimated 24 lost duty hours per unit per week, and a price tag running into the tens of millions of dollars. Every single one of those numbers is a person who is not doing their job because their teef staged a mutiny. Spit, Rinse, and Get Back to Work Finally, as your swelling wanes on day three and turns you into a somewhat sympathetic figure, you move on to the phase of mashed potatoes, applesauce, lukewarm soup, and a strict, anxious avoidance of straws, because those dreaded words whispered by every survivor of extraction, “dry socket,” float ominously in your brain, as it awaits those who get too confident in their suckling.Veterans trade the same stories as civilians, bonding over shared trauma, then offering sage advice to assist future sufferers. One buddy will be sent back to formation still leaking from his face holes, swelling photos will be posted on Instagram, and all will find out that the military’s answer to losing four teeth is the same as its answer to being blown up, which is ibuprofen, water, and possibly a cushy 18-hour work day at Battalion until you’re ready to join your unit.There is one small mercy buried in the ordeal. In boot camp, getting your wisdom teeth out can buy you a day of bed rest and a temporary reprieve from your drill instructor. In that particular universe, a quiet afternoon horizontal with a bag of ice counts as a luxury vacation.You handed over four teeth and a weekend of pudding in exchange for the assurance that your own mouth would never be the thing that pulled you out of a fight. Perhaps one night, when you are sipping a cold beverage with zero discomfort, you’ll come to see this as one of the very few deals the military ever offered that came out in your favor. Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty • A 100-plus year history of iconic US military helmets• How to get the VA to pay for civilian hospital visits• Everything you need to know about military ranks and what they mean Join the Military Space Force The complete guide to Space Force ranks By Stephen Ruiz Base Guides The complete guide to West Point By Jessica Evans Resources Everything you need to know about military ranks and what they mean By Jessica Evans Humor The 7 best enlisted military jobs to get after being drafted for World War III By Randall Stevens Base Guides The complete guide to Navy ranks and insignia By Jessica Evans The post Why the US military wants to take your wisdom teeth so fast appeared first on We Are The Mighty.

One is a self-aware genre-defying comedy-slash-horror.  The other is true horror—and truly creepy—but made through unconventional means by a 20-something YouTuber. And they’re both absolutely killing. Pun intended.Also Read: The real-life military experiment that inspired ‘Stranger Things’I’m gonna keep this as spoiler free as possible, but I really do recommend viewing both. They are getting buzz (and hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office) for good reason. Both are exceptionally well made, original projects that will absolutely become a blueprint in Hollywood for the near future. Let’s get into why.  Widows Bay “The mayor of a New England town resolves to turn it into the next tourist hot spot, despite local warnings that it’s cursed.” Kind of like if the shark from “Jaws” could kill tourists on land, too. “Widow’s Bay” could have gone full “Castle Rock” and given us things that go bump in the night, but creator Katie Dippold cleverly transcended the genre and delivered bumbling protagonists and some of the best throw-away jokes ever written instead. While there are definitely creepy moments, “Widow’s Bay” is simply too amusing to be too scary, not that I recommend watching it alone with the lights out.In fact, horror king Guillermo del Toro posted that it “may very well be the best streaming series in a long time… and hands down one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in horror.” Let’s circle back to Dippold for a second. She originally wrote the pilot 20 years ago as a spec script that landed her a job on the writing staff of “Parks and Recreation”—yes, a sitcom. Her roots are in comedy and wow did she deliver in this breakout hit. “Widow’s Bay” pays beautiful homage to Dippold’s time on “Parks and Rec” in that there’s a workplace comedy vibe going on with the team in the office of Mayor Tom Loftis, played by the probably-soon-to-be-Emmy-contender Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”).You’ve got town pariah Patricia, played by Kate O’Flynn (“Bridget Jones’s Baby”). This will be her star-making role; trust me, episode 4 is going to be pop culture zeitgeist henceforth. There’s the delightfully wry Rosemary played by Dale Dickey (“True Blood”, “Dutton Ranch”), whose meme-worthy quotes are already flooding the internet. The town sheriff is played by Kevin Carroll (“Blindspotting”). And there’s Stephen Root (“Barry”, “Office Space”) gives a great performance as Wyck, the crazy guy in town who tried to warn you. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t shout out Betty Gilpin’s delivery as a woman of “four and ten” who is past her prime in the year 1702 (it’s not a spoiler o inform you that there’s a flashback episode). You’ll cringe. You’ll shriek. You’ll laugh. “Widow’s Bay” delivers the emotional thrills of spooks and relief and it is truly not one to be missed. The season one finale just aired on Apple TV+ so you can binge the entire show in a day, just like I did. Enjoy.  “Obsession” “After breaking the mysterious ‘One Wish Willow’ to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.““Obsession” is the current box office talking point. It’s a feature film from YouTuber Curry Barker, who wrote, directed, and edited the supernatural horror. With absolutely unnerving performances from Inde Navarrette (“Superman & Lois”) and Michael Johnston (“Teen Wolf”) and a horrifying premise, you can be certain of butthole clenching scares. Barker attributes YouTube to his success. It gave him an audience (1.4 million subscribers, for starters) and it gave him the analytics to study, allowing him to gain an understanding of when attention drops off. With “Obsession” he truly put that to the test, holding moments of tension with the confidence and sophistication of a much more experienced filmmaker. He encourages other filmmakers to do the same. “If I was giving advice… I would say make a horror short and put it on YouTube. Because horror shorts go viral online. It’s harder to get a comedy short to go viral online. You wouldn’t get a romance short to go viral… Horror is just an easier way in,” reported The Sydney Morning Herald. And he’s not the only one who has gained success from the internet. 20 year-old Kane Parsons (also known as Kane Pixels) has just released his own feature debut, the sci-fi horror “Backrooms” which he adapted from an online short he released on his channel years ago.  With the 2025 success of films like “Weapons” and “Sinners” and these new projects firing up 2026, it’s clear that clever horror is having a moment.  Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty • Why the US military always loses in a fight against zombies• 5 Military solutions to horror movie villains• 4 more military solutions to horror film villains Entertainment Entertainment ‘Widow’s Bay’ & ‘Obsession’—the horror genre is having a moment By Shannon Corbeil Gaming World of Warships’ America 250 update is a love letter to US Navy history By Blake Stilwell Entertainment How Mel Brooks kept his sense of humor while serving in World War II By Stephen Ruiz Movies Everything we know about the new ‘Lord of the Rings’ film ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ By Shannon Corbeil Movies Hollywood can bridge the divide between civilians and the military. It doesn’t. By Erik Sabiston The post ‘Widow’s Bay’ & ‘Obsession’—the horror genre is having a moment appeared first on We Are The Mighty.

The U.S. House will consider legislation this week that would give medically retired veterans both full military retirement pay and Veterans Affairs disability compensation, as well as allow surviving spouses to retain military benefits if they remarry before age 55.Both provisions are among the 62 consolidated in the Take Care of America’s Veterans bill proposed June 10 by the Republican chairmen of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees to address several top priorities.The legislation includes the Maj. Richard Star Act, which would give 54,000 wounded veterans who are eligible for combat-related special compensation their military retirement pay and VA compensation without offsets, and the Love Lives On Act, which would let surviving spouses keep VA and Defense Department benefits if they remarry.Sponsors Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said they worked with veterans and advocates to find a “path forward” to pass the legislation — particularly the Major Richard Star Act, which, despite having broad bipartisan support, has been blocked by members over cost concerns.“Over the past few months, we have heard from the thousands veteran voices who want to see Congress pass the Major Richard Star Act to grant thousands of disabled veterans the benefits they are eligible for,” Bost said in a statement while introducing the bill.“It takes hard work and consensus building to pass legislation that meets the needs of veterans and has the ability to become law. This is not just like a symbolic thing that we are ‘with our veterans.’ it’s how do we make something that matters so greatly to them [into] actual law,” Moran said June 9 in remarks on the Senate floor.Paying for itThe Star Act has the support of 336 House members and 79 senators. But since the bill did not include proposals for covering the estimated $11 billion cost over the next decade, it has been blocked by lawmakers who said it must have a mechanism for paying for it.To address that issue, the Take Care of America’s Veterans bill would accelerate updates proposed in 2022 to the VA’s ratings schedule to update sleep apnea and tinnitus standards. Under the bill, veterans with asymptomatic sleep apnea or a mild case controlled by treatment would receive a 0% to 10% disability rating.Similarly, tinnitus, which currently receives a 10% disability rating, would be treated as a symptom of another condition, such as hearing loss or a traumatic brain injury, and would no longer get a standalone rating.While the changes would affect only veterans who apply for disability compensation for these conditions moving forward, the approach has rankled several veterans service organizations and lawmakers.Disabled American Veterans National Commander Coleman Lee noted that the change could affect 1.5 million veterans and reduce disability compensation over the next 10 years by $57 billion.“While we appreciate all good faith efforts to develop and enact a package of positive veterans legislation, we reject the premise that the only way to fulfill the promises made to the men and women who served in the past is by cutting benefits for veterans in the future,” Lee said in a June 10 statement.“The VFW strongly opposes the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act as currently drafted because it asks future disabled veterans to bear the cost of expanding benefits through changing the VA rating schedule for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea which are common conditions associated with combat poly trauma,” VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore said June 11. “We have long maintained that veterans’ benefits are an earned obligation of the nation, a promise made through the military service contract, and should not be financed through offsets, fee increases or reductions that place additional burdens on veterans, military families and survivors,” Whitmore added.Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, has called on Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act unanimously, because, Blumenthal said, the Defense Department could cover its cost by using funds from the $1.7 trillion Military Retirement Fund.The method of payment proposed in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act is “wrong and must be stopped,” Blumenthal said in a statement.“Correcting this injustice for combat-injured veterans should be done without depriving other veterans of benefits they need and deserve which this Republican package would do,” Blumenthal said.Roughly 1.3 million veterans receive disability compensation for sleep apnea while more than 1.5 million veterans currently receive disability benefits for tinnitus. A ‘pragmatic path’Some major veterans organizations said the proposal is needed to move forward on the widely supported legislation that will help thousands of veterans.“Critics may focus on trade-offs, but the alternative is continued gridlock on major reforms in an increasingly challenging budgetary and political environment. Legislative success requires a pragmatic path forward, not just good intentions,” American Legion National Commander Dan Wiley said in a statement.In May, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he supported the Richard Star Act but did not make any recommendations on covering the cost.Other provisions in the 554-page bill include: the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, which would raise disability compensation for families of veterans with catastrophic injuries by $10,000 a year and increase payments to survivors by 1%; increases in VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for the survivors of veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; authorization for the VA to send traveling physicians to U.S. territories and Pacific Island nations to treat veterans; and grants for mental health professionals to provide treatment to veterans.The bill also would require several studies, including an annual VA report on the causes of death among veterans; a study on access to rural care to veterans; a Government Accountability Office review of hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment for traumatic brain injuries; and an Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry on health conditions affecting the descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances.The House is expected to consider the legislation, H.R. 9237, this week. The Senate has not yet placed the bill on its calendar.