Church Group Looking to Protest Military Funerals

Posted on Author WKVI

While our citizens here mourn the deaths of the four National Guardsmen who were killed in Afghanistan January 5th, there is a church group headquartered in Topeka, Kansas that uses military funerals as a way to espouse its hatred of homosexuals, and by extension, our fallen heroes. The congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church has included on its web site the names of Spc. Robert Tauteris Jr., and Spc Brian Leonhardt. They have urged their followers to demonstrate at the funerals of both men.

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Funeral Services Set for Hamlet Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert “Bobby” Tauteris Jr.

Funeral Services will be held Sunday at the Braman and Bailey Funeral Home in North Judson for Robert “Bobby” Tauteris, Jr., 44, who was killed when the vehicle he was riding in struck a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.  The funeral will be held Sunday, January 15th, at 1:00 p.m. CT.  Visitation will be held after 10:00 a.m. Sunday.

Tauteris was one of four soldiers killed in the explosion.

Flags to be Flown at Half Staff for Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

Posted on Author WKVI

Although many flags are already being flown at half staff in honor of the servicemen from Indiana who lost their lives last Thursday in Afghanistan, the official mourning period begins at 8:00 a.m. this morning.

Starke County Service Officer Gordon Richie made the announcement yesterday. Richie was asked how long the period will last.

“Until the funeral day,” he said. “After the funeral, at the closing of the businesses and Courthouse, they will then take the flags down from half staff.”

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Starke County Soldier Killed in Afghanistan IED Attack

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert “Bobby” Tauteris Jr.

A Starke County soldier is one of four from the Hoosier state who were killed in Afghanistan this week. Robert “Bobby” Tauteris Jr., whose home address was listed in a release as being from Hamlet, was apparently killed by an IED explosion while on patrol.

Tauteris was a 1986 graduate of North Judson-San Pierre High School and is survived by his children Robert and Matthew. He is the son of Robert Tauteris, Sr. His mother Marge preceded him in death.

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Retired Military Animal to Receive Purple Hearts Saturday in Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI
Maya is pictured here with Neil Berg from the Hamlet American Legion

The Hamlet American Legion is holding a chili supper benefit for Retired Military Animals on Saturday, May 28th from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at the facility. Maya, a retired military dog who was rescued by Don Thomas of the Grovertown area, will receive three purple hearts during the benefit Saturday.

Maya, a 12-year-old veteran, served in the Army as well as the Marines. During her six years of service, she saved countless lives in Afghanistan and Iraq using her bomb detecting abilities. She was rescued by Don Thomas a few years ago and was able to do so by an amendment signed by then-President Bill Clinton that allows retired military canines to have owners found for them instead of being euthanized. Saturday’s benefit will help interested individuals to take things one step further and help with the expense of housing these animals, medical expenses and the cost of food.

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Congressman Donnelly Assesses the United States’ Position in Afghanistan, Pakistan

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Cracks are beginning to form in President Obama’s formerly solid support among Republicans for the war in Afghanistan. Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said last week that Congress is coming to a critical juncture.

Republicans, who in the past have been strong on defense, now find themselves looking at the huge expenditure of keeping forces fighting in Afghanistan. Only 25% of Tea Party supporters said the U.S. should maintain current troop levels, and another 27% said the U.S. should pull out completely.

Congressman Joe Donnelly gives his assessment of where we are in Afghanistan.

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Andy Howes’ Remains Positively Identified

Posted on Author WKVI
Andy Howes

We are learning more details about a story WKVI broke on Saturday. Several bones that were returned to the Army in 1988 have been positively identified as belonging to Andy Howes, the young soldier from Knox who was MIA for over four decades after the helicopter he was in went down in Vietnam.

We now know there were six bones recovered (a right upper arm, a left lower arm, a right upper leg, one rib, and two other bones). All of the bones are partial and degraded, but positively match the DNA profile provided by Rob (Andy’s brother) and his late sister, Valarie.

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