Wednesday, March 14, 2012

** Illinois politician sponsors bill to aid returning combat medics in finding work as civilian EMTs

** US Army sentences soldier in death of Pennsylvania combat medic

UNITED STATES NEWS

** An Illinois politician is sponsoring a bill to allow returning combat medics to find work as civilian EMTs. That is the word from WJBC (Stephanie Pawlowski/March 9) which said Adam Kinzinger (R-Manteno) is attempting to stem recent stats that peg veteran unemployment at nine percent. According to the news site, Kinzinger’s bill (H.R. 4124) has support from both sides of the House. It is co-sponsored by US Rep Aaron Schock (R-Peoria).

** A US soldier has been given nine months in the clink, a bad-conduct discharge and a demotion to private for the fatal July 2010 stabbing of Pennsylvania combat medic Spc. Morganne McBeth in Iraq. The Free-Lance Star (Rusty Dennen/March 12) said Spc. Nicholas Bailey was sentenced Friday. According to the news article, Bailey pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges. He was initially tagged with negligent homicide, conspiracy to obstruct justice and giving false statements to investigators. Although preliminary accounts claimed McBeth stabbed herself, later stories said she was accidentally knifed by a fellow soldier. In court martial testimony last April Spc. Tyler Cain, 22, said McBeth’s death occurred after the three engaged in a knife throwing game against a wall. When Bailey began to wildly stab at a poster, McBeth was fatally injured after walking up from behind him. Cain was given 45 days confinement and a bust in rank for his role in the death and subsequent cover-up.