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Quil Lawrence Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide.
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Quil Lawrence

Army Maj. D.J. Skelton Wants You To Look Him In The Eye

Army Maj. D.J. Skelton in his garage at home in Monterey, Calif. In November 2004, insurgents ambushed Skelton's platoon during the second battle of Fallujah in Iraq. Two rocket propelled grenades hit the concrete next to him. What really should have killed him was a fragment that entered his right cheek, destroyed the roof of his mouth and exited his left eye. Jason LeCras for NPR hide caption

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Jason LeCras for NPR

National Security

Army Maj. D.J. Skelton Wants You To Look Him In The Eye

Army Maj. D.J. Skelton was grievously wounded in Iraq, yet managed to return to active duty and command a platoon in Afghanistan. He taught the Pentagon the continuing worth of wounded troops.

Army Maj. D.J. Skelton Wants You To Look Him In The Eye

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Health Care

VA Will Try Again To Make Its Health Records Compatible With Pentagon's

The VA is now set to spend $10 billion over the next 10 years adopting the Pentagon's system for electronic health records, but it's not clear who is in charge of the effort.

VA Will Try Again To Make Its Health Records Compatible With Pentagon's

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National

Murder Trial Of Blackwater Guard Ends In Mistrial

Eleven years after Blackwater security guards killed more than a dozen civilians in Iraq, the retrial of one of the defendants ended in a mistrial. A court decides Friday whether he will be retried.

Murder Trial Of Blackwater Guard Ends In Mistrial

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A Vet's Suicide Pushes The VA To Do Better

David Toombs holds a photo of his son, John, at his home in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Former Sgt. John Toombs developed a drug problem after he left the Army and was in a residential treatment program at the Murfreesboro Veterans Affairs center. In 2016, he killed himself on the VA campus. Kristina Krug for NPR hide caption

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Kristina Krug for NPR

National Security

A Vet's Suicide Pushes The VA To Do Better

Former Army Sgt. John Toombs was thrown out of the residential drug treatment program at a Veterans Affairs center and then killed himself.

A Vet's Suicide Pushes The VA To Do Better

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National

VA Hospital Aims To Do Better After Veteran's Suicide

Every day in this country about 20 military veterans die by suicide. The majority of those were not getting treatment from the VA, which suggests the VA needs to get more veterans in the door.

VA Hospital Aims To Do Better After Veteran's Suicide

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National Security

Why The Number Of U.S. Visas Being Granted To Afghan And Iraqi Allies Are Down

During the many years U.S. troops have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, locals have served as interpreters and other capacities at considerable risk to themselves and their families. Many have been allowed to immigrate to the U.S., but the Trump administration has greatly reduced those numbers.

Why The Number Of U.S. Visas Being Granted To Afghan And Iraqi Allies Are Down

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An Iraq Veteran, Heroin Addict, Bank Robber And Debut Novelist

Nico Walker wrote his semi-autobiographical novel Cherry while in federal prison for armed bank robbery. Courtesy of Nico Walker hide caption

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Courtesy of Nico Walker

The Impact of War

An Iraq Veteran, Heroin Addict, Bank Robber And Debut Novelist

Nico Walker is currently in federal prison for bank robbery. That's given him plenty of time to write his semi-autobiographical novel Cherry, which has received glowing advance reviews.

An Iraq Veteran, Heroin Addict, Bank Robber And Debut Novelist

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Politics

Robert Wilkie Sworn In As Secretary Of Veterans Affairs

President Trump swore in the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie. The VA has been without a chief executive for four months since the president fired Secretary David Shulkin.

Robert Wilkie Sworn In As Secretary Of Veterans Affairs

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National

North Korea Turns Over 55 Boxes Of Possible Remains Of U.S. Serviceman

North Korea turned over 55 boxes containing, in the words of the Pentagon, "possible remains of missing DoD personnel" from the Korean War. The remains will arrive in Hawaii next week for forensic analysis.

North Korea Turns Over 55 Boxes Of Possible Remains Of U.S. Serviceman

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Senate Confirms Pentagon Official To Head Veterans Affairs Department

Robert Wilkie testifies during a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee nominations hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 27, 2018. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

National

Senate Confirms Pentagon Official To Head Veterans Affairs Department

Robert Wilkie inherits a VA that is undertaking ambitious changes in the next year. The department has been in turmoil since Trump sacked his first VA secretary in March.

Senate Confirms Pentagon Official To Head Veterans Affairs Department

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Trump's Uncontroversial VA Pick Sails Through Confirmation Hearing

Veterans Affairs secretary nominee Robert Wilkie (right) speaks with Marion Polk, national commander of AMVETS, before testifying at a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee nominations hearing Wednesday. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

National

Trump's Uncontroversial VA Pick Sails Through Confirmation Hearing

President Trump fired his first VA secretary, and his first nominee withdrew. His next pick, Robert Wilkie, is a veteran and a seasoned Washington official.

Trump's Uncontroversial VA Pick Sails Through Confirmation Hearing

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Politics

Robert Wilkie, Trump's Nominee To Lead VA, Has Relatively Smooth Confirmation Hearing

Robert Wilkie, President Trump's nominee to be secretary of Veterans Affairs, appears before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on Wednesday for his confirmation hearing.

Robert Wilkie, Trump's Nominee To Lead VA, Has Relatively Smooth Confirmation Hearing

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National

What To Know About Trump's VA Secretary Nominee Robert Wilkie

Pentagon official Robert Wilkie has his confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. He's President Trump's pick to lead the VA.

What To Know About Trump's VA Secretary Nominee Robert Wilkie

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Politics

News Brief: Primaries Roundup, VA Secretary Hearing, War In Syria

National progressives scored a major coup over the Democratic establishment on Tuesday night in one of several primaries. Also, Liz Sly of The Washington Post discusses the war in Syria.

News Brief: Primaries Roundup, VA Secretary Hearing, War In Syria

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