By Brittany R. Ballenstedt
Despite some well-documented generational differences, baby boomers and millennials essentially need the same thing from their federal jobs: strong leadership and flexible pay.
To combat the retirement wave now cresting in agencies and retain a diverse workforce, the federal government needs to focus on leadership, pay and hiring reform, panelists said Tuesday at a breakfast sponsored by Government Executive.
Chris Myers Asch, one of the architects behind a proposal to create a public service academy, said agency human resource leaders should not consider the wants of generations X and Y unrealistic. "We treat the millennials and Gen-Xers as these alien breeds coming in," he said. "If [other generations] think about what they want now and what they wanted when they started working, it's the same kinds of things. The only difference is we have the technology now to do those things."
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39600&dcn=e_gvet
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Mixing It Up (SES Diversity)
In his quest for diversity, Rep. Danny Davis sets his sights on the senior executive ranks.
Full column: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/032608mm.htm
Full column: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/032608mm.htm
Analysts urge fine-tuning of performance measurement systems
By Alyssa Rosenberg
Performance measurement systems should incorporate the input of front-line federal employees and use innovative measures to accurately measure successes and failures, analysts said at a forum in Washington last week.
At the event, sponsored by the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and consulting firm Accenture, Paul Light, a professor of public service at New York University, noted that the Office of Management and Budget continues to press the issue of requiring agencies to report on the performance of federal programs through its traffic-light-style grading system. But, he asked, "Does Congress care? Does the public care? Does it matter if you're getting to green, or going to hell?"
Gary Parston, director of the Accenture Institute for Public Service Value, added another question to that list.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39557&dcn=e_wfw
Performance measurement systems should incorporate the input of front-line federal employees and use innovative measures to accurately measure successes and failures, analysts said at a forum in Washington last week.
At the event, sponsored by the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and consulting firm Accenture, Paul Light, a professor of public service at New York University, noted that the Office of Management and Budget continues to press the issue of requiring agencies to report on the performance of federal programs through its traffic-light-style grading system. But, he asked, "Does Congress care? Does the public care? Does it matter if you're getting to green, or going to hell?"
Gary Parston, director of the Accenture Institute for Public Service Value, added another question to that list.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39557&dcn=e_wfw
Groundhog Day: Mil-Civ Pay Comparability
By Alyssa Rosenberg arosenberg@govexec.com
March 20, 2008
It's starting all over again.
It's been just two and a half months since President Bush signed the 2008 omnibus spending package that gave civilian federal employees an average 3.5 percent raise. Then last month, Bush released his fiscal 2009 budget, calling for a 2.9 percent pay raise for civilian employees and a 3.4 percent raise for the military. Ever since, federal employee groups and lawmakers have beaten the drum steadily for pay parity between civilians and military members.
The drumbeat reached a crescendo last Thursday when the House passed a budget resolution requiring pay parity (the bill did not specify what the pay level would be). The day before, the American Federation of Government Employees said that the average raise should be 4.4 percent, following the National Treasury Employees Union's earlier demand for a 3.9 percent boost.
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/032008pb.htm
March 20, 2008
It's starting all over again.
It's been just two and a half months since President Bush signed the 2008 omnibus spending package that gave civilian federal employees an average 3.5 percent raise. Then last month, Bush released his fiscal 2009 budget, calling for a 2.9 percent pay raise for civilian employees and a 3.4 percent raise for the military. Ever since, federal employee groups and lawmakers have beaten the drum steadily for pay parity between civilians and military members.
The drumbeat reached a crescendo last Thursday when the House passed a budget resolution requiring pay parity (the bill did not specify what the pay level would be). The day before, the American Federation of Government Employees said that the average raise should be 4.4 percent, following the National Treasury Employees Union's earlier demand for a 3.9 percent boost.
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/032008pb.htm
Government faces shortage of IT project managers, council reports
BY GAUTHAM NAGESH
A shortage of information technology project managers remains one of the biggest challenges the federal government faces, according to a report released Thursday by the Chief Information Officers Council.
The number of employees who identify themselves as project managers has decreased by 3.4 percent since 2004, according to the council's Information Technology Workforce Capability Assessment report. Despite the drop, the CIO Council reported "no large gaps for personnel performing IT project management functions."
But the council did report that issues involving "significant competencies" in IT project management were of concern.
Full story: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20080314_6902.php?zone=ngtoday <http://gove-media.com/portal/wts/cgmcfOcz-qeci76dwtFqm7-Mkba>
A shortage of information technology project managers remains one of the biggest challenges the federal government faces, according to a report released Thursday by the Chief Information Officers Council.
The number of employees who identify themselves as project managers has decreased by 3.4 percent since 2004, according to the council's Information Technology Workforce Capability Assessment report. Despite the drop, the CIO Council reported "no large gaps for personnel performing IT project management functions."
But the council did report that issues involving "significant competencies" in IT project management were of concern.
Full story: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20080314_6902.php?zone=ngtoday <http://gove-media.com/portal/wts/cgmcfOcz-qeci76dwtFqm7-Mkba>
Veterans Affairs closer to deploying comprehensive e-Benefits portal
BY BOB BREWIN
The Veterans Affairs Department has started inching toward deployment of an online comprehensive health care and benefits portal recommended by the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors in an August 2007 report. VA expects to have a bare-bones site operating in the next few weeks on Army Knowledge On-Line (AKO), the Army's enterprise Web portal.
The Wounded Warriors Commission recommended that VA and the Defense Department develop within a year a Web-based portal to provide patients with health care and benefits information from the two departments. On March 11, top VA and Defense officials told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that they intend to develop Web portals that integrate veterans' heath records on a comprehensive Web site, which also provides information on follow-up services.
Retired Air Force Col. Peter Bunce, father of Justin Bunce, a medically retired Marine Corporal severely wounded in Iraq, said in an interview that a Web portal was only as good as the information it contained. He urged that Web-based systems established by Defense and VA contain information on a range of clinical resources, including care available outside the VA and Defense health systems. Bunce said he found health care and specialists for his son Justin, who also suffers from traumatic brain injury, without VA's help.
Full story: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20080314_9029.php?zone=ngtoday <http://gove-media.com/portal/wts/cgmcfOcz-qeci76dwtF6m7-Mkba>
The Veterans Affairs Department has started inching toward deployment of an online comprehensive health care and benefits portal recommended by the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors in an August 2007 report. VA expects to have a bare-bones site operating in the next few weeks on Army Knowledge On-Line (AKO), the Army's enterprise Web portal.
The Wounded Warriors Commission recommended that VA and the Defense Department develop within a year a Web-based portal to provide patients with health care and benefits information from the two departments. On March 11, top VA and Defense officials told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that they intend to develop Web portals that integrate veterans' heath records on a comprehensive Web site, which also provides information on follow-up services.
Retired Air Force Col. Peter Bunce, father of Justin Bunce, a medically retired Marine Corporal severely wounded in Iraq, said in an interview that a Web portal was only as good as the information it contained. He urged that Web-based systems established by Defense and VA contain information on a range of clinical resources, including care available outside the VA and Defense health systems. Bunce said he found health care and specialists for his son Justin, who also suffers from traumatic brain injury, without VA's help.
Full story: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20080314_9029.php?zone=ngtoday <http://gove-media.com/portal/wts/cgmcfOcz-qeci76dwtF6m7-Mkba>
Contractors are doing core acquisition jobs, Defense official says
By Robert Brodsky
Defense contractors are performing fundamental government functions that should be confined exclusively to federal employees, the Pentagon's top procurement policy official testified on Tuesday.
Roughly 5 percent of the Defense Department's acquisition workforce consists of contractors, a number of whom provide administrative support, Shay Assad, director of Defense procurement and acquisition policy told the House Armed Service Subcommittee on Readiness.
On occasion, he said, these contractors appear to be performing "inherently governmental" tasks such as helping to determine an acquisition approach and business strategy, selecting who will perform the work, and negotiating the cost and terms of a contract.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39511&dcn=e_ndw
Defense contractors are performing fundamental government functions that should be confined exclusively to federal employees, the Pentagon's top procurement policy official testified on Tuesday.
Roughly 5 percent of the Defense Department's acquisition workforce consists of contractors, a number of whom provide administrative support, Shay Assad, director of Defense procurement and acquisition policy told the House Armed Service Subcommittee on Readiness.
On occasion, he said, these contractors appear to be performing "inherently governmental" tasks such as helping to determine an acquisition approach and business strategy, selecting who will perform the work, and negotiating the cost and terms of a contract.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39511&dcn=e_ndw
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Improve pay for best performers, study urges
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 12, 2008 15:25:32 EDT
The Pentagon should overhaul its pay system to attract and reward the best performers and broaden bonuses for those in critical skills, a far-reaching review of military pay released today concludes.
The changes would help address the need to recruit the "best and the brightest" despite wartime demands on the force, a shrinking pool of military-eligible recruits and competition from the private sector.
The 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation said these convergent factors demand that the military be given more pay flexibility — what the report’s authors call "competitive compensation."
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_10thqrmc_pay_031208w/
Read The 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (5.6 MB PDF)
See also
A briefing on the report from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Microsoft PowerPoint presentation)
DoD Press release at http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11747
Posted : Wednesday Mar 12, 2008 15:25:32 EDT
The Pentagon should overhaul its pay system to attract and reward the best performers and broaden bonuses for those in critical skills, a far-reaching review of military pay released today concludes.
The changes would help address the need to recruit the "best and the brightest" despite wartime demands on the force, a shrinking pool of military-eligible recruits and competition from the private sector.
The 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation said these convergent factors demand that the military be given more pay flexibility — what the report’s authors call "competitive compensation."
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_10thqrmc_pay_031208w/
Read The 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (5.6 MB PDF)
See also
A briefing on the report from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Microsoft PowerPoint presentation)
DoD Press release at http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11747
Have recruit incentives reached their limit?
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 11, 2008 5:53:02 EDT
The military is spending a ton of money on recruiting enough troops to maintain the overall force as well as grow the Army and Marines. Yet it’s doing so in a field that is increasingly difficult to plow — fewer eligible recruits, fewer parents willing to back a military career and a falling propensity to serve.
And some think throwing more money at the problem can go only so far.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_recruiting_030808w/
Posted : Tuesday Mar 11, 2008 5:53:02 EDT
The military is spending a ton of money on recruiting enough troops to maintain the overall force as well as grow the Army and Marines. Yet it’s doing so in a field that is increasingly difficult to plow — fewer eligible recruits, fewer parents willing to back a military career and a falling propensity to serve.
And some think throwing more money at the problem can go only so far.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_recruiting_030808w/
Defense, VA lay out plans to improve health care for wounded soldiers
By Bob Brewin bbrewin@govexec.com
March 11, 2008
Top officials from the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense said on Tuesday that they plan to improve the health care for troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan by providing them with "a life map for recovery" that integrates all their heath records into one package and lays out a listing of follow-up services.
In a joint statement submitted to a hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Dr. Lynda Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Military Personnel Policy, and Kristin Day, chief consultant for care management and social work at VA, said Defense and VA partnered in October to establish the Joint VA/Defense Federal Recovery Coordinator Program.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39502&dcn=todaysnews
March 11, 2008
Top officials from the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense said on Tuesday that they plan to improve the health care for troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan by providing them with "a life map for recovery" that integrates all their heath records into one package and lays out a listing of follow-up services.
In a joint statement submitted to a hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Dr. Lynda Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Military Personnel Policy, and Kristin Day, chief consultant for care management and social work at VA, said Defense and VA partnered in October to establish the Joint VA/Defense Federal Recovery Coordinator Program.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39502&dcn=todaysnews
Orthopedic research looks to war zone
By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 12:57:42 EDT
When thousands of orthopedic surgeons gathered in San Francisco the week of March 3 for their annual meeting, one topic popped up again and again: blast injuries.
On the battlefield, doctors push the limits of orthopedic medicine every time they fight infection, fit an Iraqi soldier with a prosthetic hand, or piece together broken bones using bits of metal.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_iraqorthopedic_030808w/
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 12:57:42 EDT
When thousands of orthopedic surgeons gathered in San Francisco the week of March 3 for their annual meeting, one topic popped up again and again: blast injuries.
On the battlefield, doctors push the limits of orthopedic medicine every time they fight infection, fit an Iraqi soldier with a prosthetic hand, or piece together broken bones using bits of metal.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_iraqorthopedic_030808w/
Caucus has big plans for military women
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 7:22:35 EDT
The Congressional Women’s Caucus — which lists the laying of a Memorial Day wreath for female veterans at Arlington National Cemetery among its major accomplishments for military women during the 109th Congress — plans to be far more aggressive this year.
An ambitious agenda, aided by a well-placed member of the caucus, increases the likelihood that the caucus could drive some major changes in the lives of women in uniform.
Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., who co-chairs the caucus task force on women in the military, said the caucus wants to make sure sex-related crimes against women are prosecuted aggressively, and that programs are in place to help women suffering from sexual harassment and trauma, and from combat-related stress.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_women_030708w/
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 7:22:35 EDT
The Congressional Women’s Caucus — which lists the laying of a Memorial Day wreath for female veterans at Arlington National Cemetery among its major accomplishments for military women during the 109th Congress — plans to be far more aggressive this year.
An ambitious agenda, aided by a well-placed member of the caucus, increases the likelihood that the caucus could drive some major changes in the lives of women in uniform.
Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., who co-chairs the caucus task force on women in the military, said the caucus wants to make sure sex-related crimes against women are prosecuted aggressively, and that programs are in place to help women suffering from sexual harassment and trauma, and from combat-related stress.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_women_030708w/
Providers needed for mental health care
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 7:17:58 EDT
A nationwide shortage of mental health professionals is hurting — but not preventing — the military’s expansion of counseling and treatment programs for service members and their families, officials say.
Army Col. Loree Sutton, director of the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, said Tricare has added more than 3,000 new mental health providers to its networks in the past few months and is also trying to find non-network providers willing to take on new patients — part of a move to expand treatment options for members of the National Guard and reserve.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_mentalhealth_030708w/
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 7:17:58 EDT
A nationwide shortage of mental health professionals is hurting — but not preventing — the military’s expansion of counseling and treatment programs for service members and their families, officials say.
Army Col. Loree Sutton, director of the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, said Tricare has added more than 3,000 new mental health providers to its networks in the past few months and is also trying to find non-network providers willing to take on new patients — part of a move to expand treatment options for members of the National Guard and reserve.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_mentalhealth_030708w/
Report calls for roles and missions debate
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 7:17:36 EDT
Mention "roles and missions" around the Pentagon, and brows furrow as the battle cry goes out: Protect the turf!
A new report from a House panel on the topic hopes to jump-start the arduous process of breaking down those sorts of walls — not only within the Pentagon, still operating largely under a Cold War construct that is grappling with new concepts such as cyber-warfare, but in an intelligence community that is dealing with the complexities of tracking shadowy terrorists around the world, and a State Department that is shifting gears from "genteel diplomacy" to demanding volunteers for provincial reconstruction teams.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_rolesandmissions_030708w/
HASC Press release at http://armedservices.house.gov/apps/list/press/armedsvc_dem/RMrelease030708.shtml
Report at http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/Reports/HASCRolesandMissionsPanelReport.pdf
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 7:17:36 EDT
Mention "roles and missions" around the Pentagon, and brows furrow as the battle cry goes out: Protect the turf!
A new report from a House panel on the topic hopes to jump-start the arduous process of breaking down those sorts of walls — not only within the Pentagon, still operating largely under a Cold War construct that is grappling with new concepts such as cyber-warfare, but in an intelligence community that is dealing with the complexities of tracking shadowy terrorists around the world, and a State Department that is shifting gears from "genteel diplomacy" to demanding volunteers for provincial reconstruction teams.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_rolesandmissions_030708w/
HASC Press release at http://armedservices.house.gov/apps/list/press/armedsvc_dem/RMrelease030708.shtml
Report at http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/Reports/HASCRolesandMissionsPanelReport.pdf
Panel on Roles and Missions: Request for proposals
By U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper
In an effort to be provocative, the panel’s initial report is comprised of a number of short articles written to focus readers’ attention on key topics. No consensus was reached or even attempted, only an agreement to plant numerous seeds to see which ones germinate. Each panel member wrote at least one article, and other voices, from soldiers’ to academics’, are included. Readers of Armed Forces Journal can have a substantial role in determining which, if any, of these approaches take root.
America’s greatest strength is our resiliency, our ability to recover from mistakes and win. As the world’s only superpower, the U.S. is challenged by virtually everyone, friend and foe alike. Continuing the process of keeping our security establishment No. 1 is the most important task our nation faces. We will succeed best if we are able to do it in an open, respectful and rigorous fashion that allows the best ideas to rise to the top. That is what the panel on Roles and Missions is committed to doing. Please join the effort by commenting on the panel’s initial report.
http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2008/03/3410040
In an effort to be provocative, the panel’s initial report is comprised of a number of short articles written to focus readers’ attention on key topics. No consensus was reached or even attempted, only an agreement to plant numerous seeds to see which ones germinate. Each panel member wrote at least one article, and other voices, from soldiers’ to academics’, are included. Readers of Armed Forces Journal can have a substantial role in determining which, if any, of these approaches take root.
America’s greatest strength is our resiliency, our ability to recover from mistakes and win. As the world’s only superpower, the U.S. is challenged by virtually everyone, friend and foe alike. Continuing the process of keeping our security establishment No. 1 is the most important task our nation faces. We will succeed best if we are able to do it in an open, respectful and rigorous fashion that allows the best ideas to rise to the top. That is what the panel on Roles and Missions is committed to doing. Please join the effort by commenting on the panel’s initial report.
http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2008/03/3410040
U.S. unprepared for ongoing cyberwar, say top military and intelligence officials
By Bob Brewin bbrewin@govexec.com
March 6, 2008
The United States is in the midst of a cyberwar and is not prepared to deal with it, top Defense Department and intelligence officials acknowledged this week.
"Cyberwarfare is already here.... It's one of our major challenges," said Defense Deputy Secretary Gordon England on Monday at the annual National Community Service and Legislative Conference of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
"I think cyberattacks are probably analogous to the first time, way back when people had bows and arrows and spears," he said. "And somebody showed up with gunpowder and everybody said, 'Wow. What was that?'"
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/030608bb1.htm
March 6, 2008
The United States is in the midst of a cyberwar and is not prepared to deal with it, top Defense Department and intelligence officials acknowledged this week.
"Cyberwarfare is already here.... It's one of our major challenges," said Defense Deputy Secretary Gordon England on Monday at the annual National Community Service and Legislative Conference of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
"I think cyberattacks are probably analogous to the first time, way back when people had bows and arrows and spears," he said. "And somebody showed up with gunpowder and everybody said, 'Wow. What was that?'"
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/030608bb1.htm
Nonprofit launches leadership institute for federal managers
By Brittany Ballenstedt bballenstedt@govexec.com
March 6, 2008
A nonprofit group announced on Wednesday the start of a leadership training program designed to help the federal government tackle the nation's most pressing challenges.
At a reception at Georgetown University, the Partnership for Public Service launched the Annenberg Leadership Institute -- a training laboratory designed to boost the skills of mid-level managers in government and the effectiveness of their agencies.
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/030608b1.htm
March 6, 2008
A nonprofit group announced on Wednesday the start of a leadership training program designed to help the federal government tackle the nation's most pressing challenges.
At a reception at Georgetown University, the Partnership for Public Service launched the Annenberg Leadership Institute -- a training laboratory designed to boost the skills of mid-level managers in government and the effectiveness of their agencies.
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/030608b1.htm
Mids can apply for summer duty overseas
By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 5, 2008 8:57:26 EST
Starting this year, Naval Academy midshipmen will be able to volunteer to spend four weeks each summer working at American embassies and for nongovernmental organizations in developing nations.
"We are looking at opportunities anywhere overseas that is less like the United States," academy superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler told the academy’s Board of Visitors on Monday. "We are not looking for them to go to Paris. We are looking to go to [places like] Senegal, to Africa."
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_mids_embassies_030408w/
Posted : Wednesday Mar 5, 2008 8:57:26 EST
Starting this year, Naval Academy midshipmen will be able to volunteer to spend four weeks each summer working at American embassies and for nongovernmental organizations in developing nations.
"We are looking at opportunities anywhere overseas that is less like the United States," academy superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler told the academy’s Board of Visitors on Monday. "We are not looking for them to go to Paris. We are looking to go to [places like] Senegal, to Africa."
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_mids_embassies_030408w/
President Bush Attends Medal of Honor Ceremony for Woodrow Wilson Keeble
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 3, 2008
It's taken nearly 60 years for Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble to be awarded the medal he earned on the battlefield in Korea. His nominating paperwork was lost, and then it was resubmitted, and then it was lost again.
Then the deadline passed, and Woody and his family were told it was too late. Some blamed the bureaucracy for a shameful blunder. Others suspected racism: Woody was a full-blooded Sioux Indian. Whatever the reason, the first Sioux to ever receive the Medal of Honor died without knowing it was his.
A terrible injustice was done to a good man, to his family, and to history. And today we're going to try to set things right.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080303-3.html
Office of the Press Secretary
March 3, 2008
It's taken nearly 60 years for Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble to be awarded the medal he earned on the battlefield in Korea. His nominating paperwork was lost, and then it was resubmitted, and then it was lost again.
Then the deadline passed, and Woody and his family were told it was too late. Some blamed the bureaucracy for a shameful blunder. Others suspected racism: Woody was a full-blooded Sioux Indian. Whatever the reason, the first Sioux to ever receive the Medal of Honor died without knowing it was his.
A terrible injustice was done to a good man, to his family, and to history. And today we're going to try to set things right.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080303-3.html
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)