Virginia

Virginia soldier who died as a Korean War POW accounted for

Published

3 hours ago

September 5, 2024

Virginia soldier who died as a Korean War POW accounted for

BLAND CO., Va. (WDBJ) – The Mountain Field Cemetery in Hollybrook has sweeping views of the Bland County countryside where Bobby Wright grew up. And there among the graves of his parents, grandparents and other family members is a marker honoring his life.

“We got it placed, had a little service here for him,” said Wright’s first cousin Elaine Havens. “The VFW was here. The American Legion was here. And he was well-honored that day.”

U.S. Army Private 1st Class Robert J. Wright Jr. was just 20 years old when he died during the Korean War. He was reported missing in action on November 30, 1950 and fellow prisoners of war later said he died in March 1951.

Havens didn’t know Wright. She was born after his death, but her brother talked about him frequently. And she said Wright’s mother never gave up hope that he would come home alive, despite reports that he had died in a prisoner of war camp.

“She didn’t think that that was right, that he would come home, that he was prisoner somewhere and he would eventually come home,” Havens told WDBJ7. “And she went to her grave still thinking that Bobby’s going to come home.”

A news release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Wright’s remains were part of a group of Korean War Unknowns buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Wright’s remains were disinterred in August 2019 and sent for analysis.

The release said scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as chest radiograph comparison. In addition, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Havens said the news that Wright’s remains have finally been identified will bring closure for family members who have never forgotten his life, service and sacrifice.

“It’s emotional. And I don’t want to cry on camera, but it is emotional to know that they didn’t give up. The military didn’t give up,” Havens said. “And even though to us, I had kind of given up hope that he would ever come back, but now it looks like he will.”

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First Republican steps up for 2025 Virginia governor race – Washington Examiner

Published

10 hours ago

September 5, 2024

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First Republican steps up for 2025 Virginia governor race – Washington Examiner

With Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R-VA) term limits preventing him from running for reelection, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA) has stepped up to run for governor of Virginia in the 2025 off-year election.

Earle-Sears filed her statement of organization with the Virginia Department of Elections on Sept. 4, which made her the first Republican to submit paperwork for the contest.

Earle-Sears became the second woman and the first woman of color to hold a statewide office. If she is successful in her 2025 campaign, Earle-Sears will become the first black woman to serve as governor in the United States.

Earle-Sears, Youngkin, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares were part of a mini-Republican revolution in Virginia two years ago.

Following a steady stream of Democratic wins in the once safe-red state, Youngkin and Earle-Sears won their 2022 contests with campaigns heavily focused on parental rights in education and fighting against critical race theory in public schools.

Prior to her role as lieutenant governor, Earle-Sears was a state delegate and served in the Marine Corps. She immigrated from Jamaica as a child.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

So far, only one Democratic candidate is running for Virginia governor. Last year, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) declared she would be running. If Spanberger and Earle-Sears are the nominees next November, it will be a historic matchup, as Virginia has never had a female governor.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Earle-Sears’s communication officer for a comment.

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White House Wants an Extra $2B for FY24 Virginia-class Subs, Attack Boats Pair Cost $11.3B

Published

17 hours ago

September 5, 2024

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White House Wants an Extra B for FY24 Virginia-class Subs, Attack Boats Pair Cost .3B

The White House is asking Congress for $1.95 billion to make up for a price gap for two submarines already funded as part of the congressional Fiscal Year 2024 budget, USNI News has learned. The request was included in a list of anomalies the White House asked Congress to support in the event the government is funded by a continuing resolution past the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. “Language is needed to appropriate $1.95 billion to the Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy account of the Department of Defense (DOD) for expenses necessary for procurement of two Virginia-class submarines.

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Virginia

Virginia Football: Players to Watch in UVA’s Road Matchup Against Wake Forest

Published

24 hours ago

September 4, 2024

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Virginia Football: Players to Watch in UVA’s Road Matchup Against Wake Forest

After a solid performance against Richmond, Virginia football drives down to Winston-Salem to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Here are our players to watch as the Cavaliers look to go 2-0:

#10 Anthony Colandrea – Quarterback, Virginia

In his first game of the season Colandrea played a near perfect game against Richmond throwing for 297 yards and two touchdowns with a 73.9 completion percentage in a game that was easily won. Against Wake Forest, Colandrea is going to need to be even sharper as the Wake defense will be a big step up in competition. The Demon Deacons return only five members of their secondary so it will be important for the Cavaliers to take advantage of that unit still discovering their chemistry. Watch to see if Colandrea throws the ball down the middle more as that was something the Cavaliers did not do much last week.

#15 Chico Bennett Jr. – DE, Virginia

The defensive line struggled last week against Richmond, only recording one sack. We’ve said it a bunch on this website that in 2022, Chico Bennett Jr. had seven sacks, which was momentous for the Virginia defense. The Wake Forest offensive line ranked 8th in the FBS last year and if the Cavaliers are going to win, Bennett Jr. and the other UVA pass rushers needs to disrupt the flow of the slow mesh offense.

#8 Malachi Fields – WR, Virginia

The senior from Charlottesville put on a show last Saturday night with five catches for 100 yards to achieve his first-ever 100-yard game in the blue and orange. If Colandrea and this offense want to continue to have success, Fields will need to assert himself early in this game to allow the Cavaliers to keep pace with a talented Wake Forest offense.

#9 Hank Bachmeier – Quarterback, Wake Forest

Bachmeier leads the charge for the Demon Deacons after playing a year at Louisiana Tech and four years at Boise State, a true product of the transfer portal. In his debut against North Carolina A&T, he went 18/28 for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Bachmeier is a pocket passer with an impressive arm and quick release which will be a step up from facing Kyle Wickersham last week against Richmond. To add, Wake Forest had the fourth highest rated offensive line in the power five last year according to Pro Football Focus and with three starters returning to that group Bachmeier should have plenty of time in the pocket.

#1 Demond Claiborne – Running Back, Wake Forest

Claiborne is once again the starting tailback for Wake Forest after leading the team with a career-high 620 rushing yards and five touchdowns. In the season opener, Claiborne further solidified his talent in the backfield with 135 rushing yards, one touchdown and a 48-yard rush. Claiborne also serves as a kick returner for the Demon Deacons and recorded one touchdown last year against Virginia Tech.

#2 Taylor Morin – Wide Receiver, Wake Forest

Pairing the explosive running back in Claiborne, Morin is a speedy wide receiver who recorded 41 catches for 617 yards and two receiving touchdowns last season. In his first game in 2024, Morin recorded six catches for 100 yards in addition to a 73 yard punt return touchdown.

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