Honoring a fallen hero

Pennsylvania has produced some of the greatest examples of courage, fortitude, and bravery in the history of mankind. Among those examples, one stands out. On the afternoon of December 4, 2006, Specialist Ross A. McGinnis was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in Northeast Baghdad, Iraq.

While Specialist McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber machine gun on his vehicle, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled "grenade," allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast. Rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, Specialist McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Specialist McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

A couple weeks ago, the U.S. Postal Service facility in Knox, Clarion County was officially renamed the "Specialist Ross A. McGinnis Memorial Post Office" - the result of bipartisan legislation that I introduced with Senator Bob Casey earlier this year. I was glad a member of my Erie staff was able to attend the renaming ceremony on my behalf. I will continue to look for opportunities to honor the sacrifice of Specialist McGinnis - a sacrifice Abraham Lincoln rightly called the "last full measure of devotion." You can read about the renaming ceremony here.

Many Pennsylvanians were outraged to learn of rampant mismanagement at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that included excessive wait times, substandard care, dishonest reporting, and cutting corners that probably cost veterans' lives. A couple months ago, President Obama said that the VA had "fired a whole bunch of people who are in charge of these facilities." The facts say otherwise. The Washington Post fact checked this statement and rated it "Four Pinocchios."

I recently sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald asking him to detail how many agency executives and supervisors have been fired or disciplined for manipulating wait times for veterans seeking medical care.

The men and women who served in uniform should be first in line for the best quality medical care in the world. I supported bipartisan legislation to hold VA employees accountable but it appears that neither the spirit nor the intent of that law has been implemented. Very few of the people who directed the outrageous waitlist scheme have been held accountable, and the VA has not put the correct systems and protections in place to prevent this type of fraudulent activity from happening again.

You can read more about my demand for accountability here.

There are many Korean War veterans in the Commonwealth that bravely served this country. For more than half a century, many of these veterans have been unsung heroes. This is why I am honored to work with the Korean Consul General to help these veterans and their families finally get the credit and gratitude they are due.

To receive the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal, an eligible veteran must have served in country during the Korean War from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953 or have participated in U.N. peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955. Members of the U.S. Navy are also eligible if they had served aboard a naval vessel that was assigned to Korean waters during the 1950 to 1953 timeframe. It may also be awarded posthumously.

So far, I have helped more than 275 Korean War veterans or their families receive the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal. My office works tirelessly to assists our veterans living in Pennsylvania in any way possible and this is another great way to honor those who fought for our country. Pictured above is Colonel Bob DeSousa, my state director, presenting medals in Carlisle. Below you can see more photos of Korean War veterans receiving medals in Carlisle and York.

This past Sunday was the 2^nd Annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade. This year the event included an Outreach Fair for Veteran Services. My Philadelphia team was on hand to provide information to veterans on how to get help with federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security, or IRS.

I have dedicated staff members that are trained to help Pennsylvanians navigate the federal agencies and cut through red tape. If you or anyone you know needs help with a federal agency, please call my Allentown office at (610) 434-1444. It is a privilege to serve Pennsylvania's veterans and ensure they receive the benefits they have earned.