St. Louis Veteran, Once a Bank Robber, Works to Find a New Life After Prison
ST. LOUIS — Kirk Hough enjoyed his first cup of Starbucks coffee in 16 years. The store on South Grand Boulevard was out of the dark roast he craved, so the barista gave him another coffee for free. He put $3 in the tip jar. Hough doesn’t have many vices. He doesn’t drink or smoke […]
On Memorial Day, I'm Remembering the Friend Who Saved My Life in Iraq
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. This Memorial Day, I, like most veterans of our recent conflicts, will spend time remembering and honoring my […]
Army Financial Counselor Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Gold Star Families of Death Gratuity, Life Insurance Money
A financial counselor for the Army’s Casualty Assistance Center in New Jersey pleaded guilty Monday to wire and securities fraud in a scheme that bilked Gold Star families out of the money awarded them after the death of their service member. Caz Craffy, who also went by Carz Craffey, was responsible for educating surviving family […]
The Incredible Life of the American Airman Who Created ‘King Kong’
Even if you’ve never seen the original “King Kong,” you probably know its climactic aerial assault scene. An escaped Kong has kidnapped Ann (actress Fay Wray) by reaching into her hotel room and carrying her to the top of the Empire State Building. There, he’s attacked by four Curtiss F8C Helldiver biplanes. Watching the scene, […]
A Complicated Legacy: Army Officer Who Exposed Iraq Abuse Was Under FBI Suspicion at the End of His Life
Three volleys of blank shot thundered across Section 71 on Tuesday morning, echoing over white headstones as Army Maj. Ian Fishback was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Fishback was a Special Forces veteran, whistleblower and philosopher who died nearly two years ago. During his military career, he reported 82nd Airborne Division abuses of […]
How the Army’s Retiring Top Enlisted Soldier Fought to Make Life Better for Troops by Being Open About Himself
“I just couldn’t imagine what those families were thinking.” Sgt. 1st Class Michael James Goble, a New Jersey native and Green Beret assigned to 7th Special Forces Group, was killed in combat in Afghanistan three weeks before what would have been his 34th birthday. His remains were returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware […]
Army Major Lost Gold Star Families’ Life Insurance Money While Enriching Himself, Feds Say
An Army Reserve officer was charged Thursday, facing allegations he defrauded Gold Star families by losing $3.4 million while making $1.4 million in commissions. Federal authorities on Friday said that Caz Craffy, who they described as currently a major in the Army Reserve, misappropriated money between 2018 and 2022 that he was supposed to be […]
‘You Can’t Let These Bastards Go’: WWII Army Sgt. Ben Ferencz’s Life Finding Justice
In the spring of 1947, former Army sergeant and now Nuremberg prosecutor Ben Ferencz pleaded with his boss to add one more case to the docket before the International Military Tribunals set up to try Nazi war crimes shut down. Army Brig. Gen. Telford Taylor, who had succeeded Associate Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson as […]
