A moving 9/11 ceremony took place at the Capitol in Madison on Sunday. With state officials, members of the military, first responders and families of Wisconsinites who’ve lost their lives in the global war on terror all in attendance, Wisconsin paused to remember the events ten years ago. Major General Donald Dunbar, Adjutant General of the Wisconsin National Guard, was in the Pentagon in Washington when one of the hijacked airliners struck the building. “The terrorists miscalculated grossly,” said Dunbar. “They proved they could sucker punch us. But we’ve responded, and over the past ten years many evil men have been held to account.”
Helping troops cope with war
September 10, 2011 By
The head of the Wisconsin National Guard says they have worked hard to protect the mental health of the state’s troops over the last decade, after more than 14,000 guard members from the state have been deployed overseas to fight the war on terrorism. Major General Don Dunbar, the adjutant general of the Guard, says they are constantly working to make sure the stresses of those deployments are not following soldiers home. [Read more...]
National Guard stronger after 9-11
September 8, 2011 By
Prior to the September 11th attacks, Wisconsin National Guard members served more of a strategic role in the nation and state’s defense. Major General Don Dunbar, the commanding officer of Wisconsin’s troops, says the aftermath of the attacks has resulted in dramatic changes.
Over the last 10 years, Dunbar says the role of the Guard has changed to be more an operational army. He says the last decade has shown the state’s troops are ready to serve and their abilities have been proven many times. [Read more...]
National Guard members aid in storm cleanup
September 6, 2011 By
Efforts continue to repair damage and remove downed trees in several northern Wisconsin counties, after severe storms and strong winds in early July toppled trees over more than 130,000 acres across the region. Now, the Wisconsin Army National Guard is planning to lend a hand to help in the recovery.
Members of the 724th Engineer Battalion will be deploying to the region this coming weekend for a training mission that will last through the end of the month. Lieutenant Colonel Jackie Guthrie, a spokeswoman with the Guard, says about 64 soldiers are expected to be on the scene. [Read more...]
Scocos back on board at Veterans agency
August 25, 2011 By
A new Secretary was sworn in Thursday for the state Department of Veterans Affairs. Governor Scott Walker has picked John Scocos to be Secretary of the agency, a post he held before he was fired two years ago. He becomes Secretary again under a new state law which makes the post a cabinet position appointed by the governor. “I see some tremendous challenges for us,” said Scocos, referring to the need to find jobs for returning service personnel. “We need to work with our state partners, which makes this so important. Being a cabinet secretary, now you’re at the table. You have the governor’s support and you have the agency’s support, versus the board.” A veterans board controlled by appointees of then-Governor Jim Doyle fired Scocos as Secretary in November of 2009, shortly after he returned from a second tour of duty in Iraq. He promises to continue pursuing a lawsuit against that dismissal. “To this date I’ve never been told why they let me go,” he said. “We’re going to win that in court, and I’m looking forward to it.”
John Colbert, WIBA
