Live Veteran News · A Wounded Warriors Initiative

988 · Press 1

Live Wire

← January 2026

Edition · Issue 2026-01-25

January 25, 2026

4 stories curated for veterans on this date.

SERVICE
After Venezuela operation, Space Force activates SOUTHCOM element

The U.S. Space Force officially stood up a new element focused on Latin America this past week, nearly three weeks after Guardians were taking part in a major combat operation in South America.

Task & Purpose·Jan 25
HEALTH
Improving access to care

Bringing care home Rural Veterans who need a new brace or prosthesis are aware of the barriers to care. It can mean planning for a long drive to your local VA, hoping traffic isn’t too bad, and...

VA News·Jan 25
SERVICE
Air Force helicopter landed too close to crowd in death of school teacher, report finds

A 60-year-old elementary school teacher died from severe head injuries after rotor wash from an Air Force helicopter slammed her to the ground during an ill-fated demonstration flight last April...

Task & Purpose·Jan 25
ADVOCACY
The impact of creative advocacy: Thomas Mercado’s journey

A colorful approach to raising awareness for important causes Thomas Mercado, a Veteran and nurse with the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System (EOVAHCS), is deeply involved in advocacy and...

VA News·Jan 25

Advocacy T VA News

Updated August 24, 2026

More stories from our newsroom

Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.

The weird engineering that links old ships of the line and the SR-71 Blackbird

One is the fastest jet ever produced, capable of outrunning anti-air missiles while capturing reconnaissance in some of the most hostile airspace on Earth.

We Are The MightyAug 21service

Need a personal record from VA? Here’s the FOIA page that gets you there.

Finding the right VA office for your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records request just got easier. VA has redesigned the page Veterans use to request records .

VA NewsAug 20health

Gamblers have made $8 million betting on military operations

A small number of gamblers have made $8 million placing military and defense-related bets on the Polymarket prediction site, most placed by about 150 accounts that almost always bet correctly.

Task & PurposeAug 20service

A National Guard unit saw the most combat during World War II

Think about the World War II shows and films that stuck with you, like “Band of Brothers,” “The Pacific,” or “Saving Private Ryan.

We Are The MightyAug 20service

US destroyed a lost Predator drone after hard landing in Middle East

The crew of a malfunctioning MQ-9A drone worked for more than 7 minutes last August to keep their stricken aircraft aloft, but a damaged wire in the fuel system had irreversibly killed its newly...

Task & PurposeAug 20service

How VA Health Chat helps one Veteran manage care from home

VA Health Chat app connects Veterans to VA health care For Army Veteran Evan Burnside, a visit to the nearest VA facility means a three-hour trip: an hour’s drive each way, plus time for parking and...

VA NewsAug 20health

Keep faith with veterans

Every veteran knows the cost of service and the promise that comes with it. If we’re changed in service, our nation will be there for us when we come home.

DAVAug 20community

Remembering Gold Star Mother Ann Sherman Wolcott, my friend and my hero

I met Ann Sherman Wolcott many years ago, shortly after my husband passed away. It was at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund event. Ann was a Gold Star Mother and I was a Gold Star Wife.

VA NewsAug 20family

Meet the employers setting the standard for veteran hiring in 2026

DAV’s employment program helps veterans, transitioning service members, Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses navigate the job market with confidence.

DAVAug 20community

Keeping rides rolling: Transportation Network vehicle ordering window approaches

This past year, dedicated DAV volunteers across the country gave over 230,000 rides to veterans for their Department of Veterans Affairs medical appointments.

DAVAug 20community

Why 11.5 is the best AR barrel length for most shooters

Let me start by saying that shooting 55gr .223 out of a 20-inch pencil barrel with a rifle-length gas system, as Eugene Stoner, Bob Fremont, and Jim Sullivan intended, is a very enjoyable firearms...

We Are The MightyAug 20service

Leading from the Front

Joining DAV is only the beginning. Every member has the opportunity to continue serving by leading, mentoring and strengthening the organization that has fought for veterans and the benefits they...

DAVAug 20community

Need a personal record from VA? Here’s the page that gets you there.

Finding the right VA office for your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records request just got easier. VA has redesigned the page Veterans use to request records.

VA NewsAug 20health

He Earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. Why Did It Take Decades To Receive It?

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. James Capers, Jr. receives the Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 18, 2026.

The War HorseAug 20legacy

Air Force security teams want to train with Chinese-made drones at nuclear base

Security teams at an Air Force nuclear base may soon be training with Chinese-made drones, which are now so widely used in war zones that one expert called them ‘the new AK-47.

Task & PurposeAug 19service

The Civil War started and ended at the same guy’s house

The name Wilmer McLean may not be found in most history books, but if it isn’t in the Guinness Book, it should be. The man moved his family during the Civil War, and if real estate is all about...

We Are The MightyAug 19legacy

Advancing homeownership opportunities for Veterans

VA recognizes that homeownership is about far more than buying a house – it is about stability, opportunity, and building a strong future.

VA NewsAug 19benefits

A summary of everything on Marvel’s pre-‘Doomsday’ watch cheat sheet

This past weekend, Disney held its annual D23 celebration, which means there’s major announcements, trailers, and updates from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to catch up on—and some homework for those...

We Are The MightyAug 19service

Sailor’s lawsuit leads to expanded healthcare for Reserve, Guard troops

More Reserve and National Guard troops who serve long stints on active duty orders may get access to healthcare after a sailor’s class action lawsuit. A new Pentagon policy released Aug.

Task & PurposeAug 19service

US to end major military exercise in South Korea after just 5 days

A major joint exercise between U.S. and South Korean troops will end a week earlier than originally planned after President Donald Trump directed that it be scaled back , a Pentagon official...

Task & PurposeAug 19service

From the streets to a home of his own: One Veteran’s road to recovery

How VA programs helped a Louisiana Veteran reclaim his life and support recovery After completing the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program, an initiative that helped him find discipline...

VA NewsAug 19health

5 battles the side with all the numbers still lost—against all odds

When defending any position, the second-to-last thing a military unit wants to know is that they’re outnumbered. The very last thing the defenders want to know is that they’re massively outnumbered.

We Are The MightyAug 19legacy

Fighting the ‘dependa’ stereotype

“Gross. Another military wife voicing an opinion that doesn’t matter.” “Maybe keep your yap shut so he can keep his job.” These were the social media comments left after one of my recent articles was...

Military Families MagazineAug 19service

With Federal EHR, no more ‘last-four’ check in at VA Medical Centers

For Veterans, superior care begins the moment they check in at a VA medical facility. For years, they’ve had to provide their “last-four,” or the last four digits of their Social Security number...

VA NewsAug 19health