Howdy Y’all I’m back and telling you to Buckle up for this week’s News 6 update! 

Trading Redneck Yachts for Pinks and Greens

Country Star Craig Morgan, who has crooned to songs such as “What I Love about Sundays” and “International Harvester”, has decided to finish what he started, and just in the nick of time.

The 59 year old served 17 years in the army and the army reserves back in the 80s and 90s, leaving as an E6 with just three years to go from retirement. He will be coming back in as a warrant officer in army reserves.

With the mandatory military retirement age of 62, he’s decided to finish his time of service. He retook his oath in front of a sold out crowd at the legendary grand Ole Opry. Morgan shared in a statement to Fox News Digital:

“I’m excited to once again serve my country and be all I can be in hopes of encouraging others to be a part of something greater than ourselves, I love being an artist but I consider it a true privilege and honor to work with what I believe are the greatest of Americans, my fellow soldiers. God Bless America. Go Army.”

“Every Soldier who enters the Army has the opportunity to become the best version of themselves, and Staff Sgt. Morgan is no exception. I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes and how he impacts other Soldiers around the Army,” General Andrew Poppas, who officiated the ceremony, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Morgan, who has spent the past decades being a vocal proponent of the military and a huge supporter of the USO, will continue to tour and release music. 

Guess You can’t teach an old dog new tricks but you can re- enlist him! Congrats Craig Morgan! Find out more at foxnews.com

Military Spouse Fights For Her Rights in Texas With the DOJ on Her Side

The Department of Justice sided with Air Force spouse Hannah Magee Portée after the state of Texas refused to accept her Missouri and Ohio education licenses despite a new federal law requiring states to do so.

This new federal law, which passed in early January, requires states to accept out of state certifications in occupations such as education, real estate and health care if they belong to military spouses. 

“For the Justice Department to step in and be willing to make a statement on my behalf shows they really do care about their military spouses, and that they’re actually willing to take the step to advocate for us,” she said in an interview with Military Times.

“I hope this case helps all states, and not just Texas, understand the significance of these new rights under the SCRA for both service members and their spouses,” said Portée

Her certificates were originally denied because it was argued that she hadn’t worked in the field for two years, so the new law did not apply to her. She has been licensed for less than two years and has been a counselor for one.

To this the DOJ responded:

“By requiring that the license have been ‘actively used,’ Congress undoubtedly intended to grant portability to spouses and service members who had actually used their license at some point in the past two years and not throughout the entire time period. by imposing narrow and seemingly arbitrary restrictions on the ability of service members and their spouses to port their professional licenses.”

The judge’s order granting the preliminary injunction “is significant to military spouses everywhere because there is now a court order that can be used for support in other disputes that construes the SCRA in a manner favorable to military spouses as Congress intended,” said Portée’s attorney, Brandon J. Grable.

The fight isn’t over yet, however.

“While the court granting a preliminary injunction is a substantial win as it allows Hannah to continue her career as a licensed counselor in Texas without interference, this matter is still in litigation,” Grable said.

“We have not heard from the Texas defendants, so until we do, we intend to drive ahead until a final judgment is reached in Hannah’s favor.”

If she does not receive a Texas State certification, it could take her two to four years to earn one. And schools are hesitant to even hold a position for her until she is state certified.

“Even though there’s a national shortage of school counselors, the shortage varies from state to state,” Portée said. “Depending on where we’re stationed next, school counseling jobs can be very competitive. And it typically comes down to who has the most experience, so being denied the opportunity to work this school year denies me the experience that I might need to secure future employment.”

 We’re rooting for you Hannah! You have justice, (a whole department of it), on your side! Find out more at militarytimes.com

Naval Ship to Honor Tribal Leader

A future Naval Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ship will be named the Billy Frank Jr after a marine corps veteran and Native American rights activist.

Billy Frank Jr served in the Korean War as an MP in the marine corps. After he got out he spent the 60s and 70s leading a grassroots campaign to save his tribe’s right to fish the native salmon populations.

The native Americans were originally blamed for the decrease in fish instead of the true cause which was an increase in fishing tourism and commercialized fishing.

“Escalating arrests and raids led to protests at the state capitol and ‘fish-ins’ arranged by Frank and others,” the Navy said last week. “Over the course of these demonstrations, Frank was arrested over 50 times and became the face of the movement.”

Finally in 1974 a judge ruled that the Nisqually Tribe had a right to fish where and when they always have. He died in 2014.

“I am honored for the opportunity to name a naval ship after Billy Frank Jr., a man who was a proponent and leader for Native American rights,” said Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro.

“Billy Frank Jr. spent his life serving others and his namesake ship will do the same as it travels around the world enabling humanitarian assistance and the maintenance of freedom.”

The Navajo Class of Naval ships are all named after prominent native Americans and are made to salvage and rescue. 

May the Billy Frank Jr have the same spirit and drive as its namesake! Find out more at washingtonpost.com

News 6 Presents This Day in History 

On August 7 in 1782 George Washington created the Order of the Purple Heart. It was one of the first medals that the “common” soldier could receive in not just the American army, but in any army. They were usually only given to great military leaders, nobles, and aristocrats.

It was originally called the Badge of Military Merit and consisted of a Purple Heart and ribbon and was given to three of his enlisted sargeants.

150 years went by and the medal was almost forgotten until it resurfaced during the 1930s.

During WW1 the only medal one could earn was the Medal of Honor. So the government started to come up with more medals of merit that did not require the Herculean levels that the Medal of Honor did. 

One of these was the old  Badge of Military Merit, renamed the Purple Heart.  

Gen. MacArthur declared that requirements for the medal was “A wound, which necessitates treatment by a medical officer, and which is received in action with an enemy of the United States, or as a result of an act of such enemy, may…be construed as resulting from a singularly meritorious act of essential service.”

Veterans who had been wounded in WW1 and even the civil war were given the medal, even if they were already deceased.

As it was established by George Washington, the Army chief of staff, it was originally only given to US soldiers until WW2, where it opened up to all branches after President Roosevelt demanded it be given to all those who died at Pearl Harbor. 

The Military Order of the Purple Heart states their mission on their website:

The mission of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families. Our members are Combat Wounded Veterans who are dedicated to our country and our veteran community. We endeavor to do better for each other and by each other always. Chartered by Congress for combat wounded Veterans. The Purple Heart is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat or by an act of international terrorism. Although our membership is restricted to the combat wounded, we support all veterans and their families with a myriad of nation-wide programs by Chapters and National Service Officers.

To learn more about the fascinating history of the Order please visit PurpleHeart.org. Happy birthday to the Purple Heart, let us be reminded that while all give some, some give all.

That’s it for me! I’m Emma Tighe with News 6, signing out. 

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