Doug Karr

In a plot that seems more fitting in a movie thriller, the United States Marshals caught up to the fugitive after a cross-country chase, accused of siphoning millions of dollars in donations from a phony United States Navy Veterans charity.

Though the accused con artist is not giving up his real name, “Bobby Thompson” is accused of raising $100 million in donations from his bogus Navy veteran charity, U.S. Navy Veterans Association. According to the Associated Press, “[l]ittle, if any, of the money collected by the charity was use to benefit veterans.”

Tags: Navy, US Navy Veteran Scam, US Navy Veterans, Veterans

Besides the staggering number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with psychological trauma stemming from their wartime experience, one of the biggest news stories about veterans continues to be the incredibly high unemployment rate.

Unfortunately, the rate of unemployment among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is higher than the national average and is the leading cause for the rampant homelessness – among other economic issues – in this population.

Tags: Afghanistan, Hiring Our Heroes, Iraq, Veterans

For some Americans, this may have been a long time in the making, but recently Maine demonstrated how valuable their veterans are to their state by mandating the establishment of a specialized court for veterans.

This court is entirely different than what we all may think of “traditional” courts. In fact, these courts offer veterans a second chance after committing a crime.

Tags: Afghanistan, Iraq, Veteran Health, Veteran Treatment Courts, Veterans

Since March is Women's History Month it is important to take some time to honor the courage, contributions and memories of women in the military.

From the birth of our nation, women have fought alongside men, often without public recognition or inclusion in history books.

Days before President Barack Obama and the First Lady host a White House dinner in honor of Iraq War veterans, top veterans' organization officials are instead calling for a more public celebrations.

According to Paul Rieckhoff, Founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the White House dinner is “a wonderful gesture from the First Family and an incredible honor for the few invited to attend.”

Tags: Afghanistan, IAVA, Iraq, President Barack Obama, VA, veteran health

President Barack Obama's Federal Budget proposal pleases 4 of the nation's largest veterans organizations, even as these organizations agree there is a lot more room to improve.

American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) push the Obama Administration and Congress to extend the proposed Federal budget to $68 billion for Veterans Health Care and Benefits.

Tags: AMVETS, Barack Obama, budget, veteran health, veterans, VFW

It is everyone's favorite time of year: tax time. In an effort to relieve some of the stress associated with April 15, we've put together some useful and timely information for employers of veterans and active duty service members. Some of the following information is new for this tax season.

Employers of Veterans

As of today, the IRS published additional information for employers who have hired veterans in 2011. There is a tax credit available for such employers. Depending on the business structure, the credit is worth up to $9,600 per veteran employee (for-profit businesses) and $6,240 per veteran employee (non-profit organizations and other tax-exempt businesses).

Tags: tax season, veteran health, veterans

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) offers grants to qualified veterans to help defer costs associated with mortgages, rents and utilities. These individual, “emergency” grants offer assistance up to $1,000 for veterans who are struggling to make the ends meet, especially during the winter season when heating, gas and electric bills are at the highest.

According to the DVNF, the overriding concern is not necessarily paying monthly bills, but preventing homelessness. Since DVNF's inception, combating homelessness among veterans is the organization's top priorities.

As the Iowa Caucuses come to a close, the question remaining for many American veterans is that why are not there more Presidential candidates veterans of the Armed Forces?

Only two of the sixteen top contenders for the Oval Office have military experience – Representative Ron Paul and Texas Governor Rick Perry. Rep. Paul served in the United States Air Force as a Flight Surgeon in the 1960s. Governor Perry also served in the US Air Force, flying C-130s and was honorably discharged as a Captain in 1977.