News

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- President Barack Obama has signed legislation that bestows one of the nation's highest civilian awards on veterans of the American World War II spy agency founded by a New Yorker. The OSS Congressional Gold Medal Act signed this week honors veterans of the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA and today's special operations forces. The Senate passed the measure earlier this year, with the House following last month. OSS veterans and members of the Virginia-based OSS Society had fought for years to get the special recognition for the spy agency, which ran intelligence networks and resistance operations behind enemy lines in Europe and Asia. The OSS was organized and led by Buffalo native Gen. William "Wild Bill" Donovan, a Medal of Honor recipient during World War I.

DENVER (AP) -- The Justice Department is considering whether to investigate allegations that Veterans Affairs Department executives lied to Congress to conceal massive cost overruns at a $1.7 billion VA hospital under construction outside Denver. The FBI's Washington field office is reviewing the allegations, the Justice Department said in a letter to Congress. The letter was dated Dec. 9 and made public Tuesday. The FBI is part of the Justice Department. Lawmakers accuse VA executives of lying when they testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee in 2013 and 2014 about the cost of the hospital in suburban Aurora. The current projected price tag is nearly triple the 2014 estimate. The VA declined to comment on the lawmakers' allegations. In a written statement, the department said it has already acknowledged mistakes on the project and made changes to its construction practices. A bipartisan group of 21 lawmakers on the Veterans Affairs Committee asked for an investigation in September. The request came after the VA's internal watchdog office said Glenn Haggstrom, formerly the department's top official in charge of construction projects, knew the hospital cost was soaring but didn't tell Congress. The lawmakers also asked the Justice Department to look into congressional testimony by Stella Fiotes, director of the VA's Office of Construction and Facilities Management. Neither Haggstrom nor Fiotes immediately return phone messages Tuesday. Haggstrom and Fiotes told the committee that no cost overruns were expected and that the project would be finished at or near its budget of about $604 million, according to transcribed excerpts from the committee. Haggstrom retired in 2015, one day after he was questioned by VA officials about what went wrong, department officials have said. Veterans Affairs Committee chairman Jeff Miller, R-Fla., said the Justice Department should investigate the two officials' testimony. "This case is a slam dunk, and it's imperative for Department of Justice officials to ensure justice is served," Miller said in a written statement. "It is an absolute fact that numerous VA officials repeatedly misled Congress regarding cost overruns," he said. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., a member of the committee, also said the FBI should investigate. "If they don't, and there are no consequences for federal officials of the executive branch to lie when they're under oath, then Congress simply cannot exercise its oversight," he said. Investigations into the hospital project have said mismanagement, delays and lax oversight by the VA added hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost and delayed it by years. Construction on the 184-bed facility is expected to be done in January 2018. It will replace an aging, overcrowded facility still in use in Denver. --- BY DAN ELLIOTTASSOCIATED PRESS

Newswise — Philadelphia, Pa. –  Only 20 percent of medically diagnosed child abuse and neglect cases in U.S. Army dependent children between 2004 and 2007 were found to have a substantiated report with the Army’s Family Advocacy Program (FAP) – the agency responsible for the investigation and treatment of child abuse – according to a new PolicyLab study. This rate is less than half of the rate (44 percent) of medically diagnosed child abuse cases substantiated by civilian Child Protective Services (CPS). Researchers say this contrast raises questions about the Army-reported rates of child abuse, and suggests under-reporting of abuse cases by medical providers and/or a breakdown in communication between civilian CPS and established military services. The study, published online Dec. 10 by Child Abuse & Neglect, also found that the number of medically diagnosed abuse cases with corresponding substantiated Army FAP reports was poorest for children cared for at civilian treatment facilities, 9.2 percent, but still low for children receiving care from military health care providers, 24.2 percent. PolicyLab partnered with U.S. Army FAP on this research. Following is a statement reacting to these new findings from senior author Dave Rubin, MD, MSCE, director of PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), pediatrician at CHOP and a presidential appointee to the federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse & Neglect Fatalities. “For many years, the U.S. Army has reported rates of child abuse well below that of the civilian population. This study calls those reports into question. Yet, the U.S. Army can only report cases they know about, and our findings suggest that they may not be aware of the majority of their cases. “When any health care provider suspects a child has been abused, they are required to report that case to a child welfare agency, or risk losing their license. The Department of Defense created an extra layer of support for children in military families – recognizing their unique needs related to the stress of deployment and frequent moves around the country – by establishing its own child and family services program in 1981, the Family Advocacy Program (FAP). With offices across each military branch, FAP is tasked with investigating child abuse cases and providing treatment and supportive services for affected military families. However, FAP can only provide these supports if both military and civilian health care providers either report cases directly to them or if Child Protective Services reports all cases they receive involving a military child back to FAP. “Unfortunately, what is implied by the low number of substantiated abuse cases by U.S. Army FAP compared to known substantiation rates in the civilian population is that some children are falling through the cracks of a broken system. Military children move across states more frequently, making it particularly important that FAP know about any maltreatment since they can monitor at-risk military children wherever they are. Although the numbers of abuse cases linked to substantiated reports were higher from military treatment facilities, where health care providers are required to report to FAP, still only one in four diagnoses were linked to a substantiated report, suggesting that under-reporting may be part of the problem at military treatment facilities. “Among civilian health care providers, the problems are even more complicated. Since they are located off-base, these providers may not be aware of the need to report to FAP and there is no mechanism to mandate they do so. They may well be reporting cases to civilian agencies – that are then assisting children in need – but for the most part, those cases are not communicated back to FAP, which is best positioned to intervene with military families. “What this study tells us is that we have an incomplete picture of what is happening to a large population of children in this country who might need our help. We must support further research that will detect how systematic true under-reporting and under-recognition is within the Army and other military branches and shed light on why under-reporting may be occurring. We must also hold Child Protective Services accountable for identifying the military family when they are reported to them, and for communicating their involvement back to FAP so the agency can provide consistent military-specific services to children and families in need. Finally, by knowing the true magnitude of this stress to the U.S. Army family, we can better identify the resources FAP needs to meet its obligations in serving military families.” “Our hope is that by bringing this problem to light, we can work together with our civilian partners and the Army to build a better approach to tracking child abuse cases in the military to ensure no child in danger nor at-risk family is neglected.” The other authors on the study are Joanne Wood, Heather Griffis, Christine Taylor, Doug Strane, Gerlinde Harb, Lanyu Mi, Lihai Song and Kevin Lynch. This work was sponsored by the Department of the Army (award number: W81XWH-11-2-0100). The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 was the awarding and administering acquisition office. The information in this manuscript does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government, and no official endorsement should be inferred. Limitations: The study period for this data is 2004-2007. Additionally, the data used didn’t include substantiated reports, so the analysis cannot determine what percentage of cases were reported to FAP, but not substantiated. The authors and their Army partners understand the need to reproduce this analysis on more recent and complete data to see if trends observed during this study have continued to present day. Citation: Wood, J. N., et al. Under-ascertainment from healthcare settings of child abuse events among children of soldiers by the U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program. Child Abuse & Neglect (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.11.007 ###

Newswise — SCHAUMBURG, Ill. –  The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is extremely gratified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decision to reverse its proposal to replace the department’s physician anesthesiologists with nurses in VA health care facilities. If implemented, the proposal would have fundamentally changed the delivery of surgical anesthesia care for Veterans. The final rule was posted to the Federal Register today. In it, the VA will maintain its current physician-led, team-based model of care under which physician anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists work together to provide high-quality and safe anesthesia care.“This was the right decision for our nation’s Veterans and for safe patient care,” said ASA President Jeffrey Plagenhoef, M.D. “We’re thrilled with the VA’s decision to remove anesthesia from the new Advanced Practice Registered Nurses rule. We commend VA’s leadership for their recognition that the operating room is a unique care setting and that surgery and anesthesia are inherently dangerous requiring physician leadership. This is true for anyone, but especially for our nation’s Veterans, given many of them have multiple medical conditions that put them at greater risk for complications during and after surgery and anesthesia.” ASA commends the VA leadership for their evidence-based, decision-making process. VA’s own internal Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) study of this issue titled “Evidence Brief: The Quality of Care Provided by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses” raised significant questions about the safety of the “solo CRNA” or nurse-only model of anesthesia. After reviewing existing studies, even self-funded nursing advocacy studies, QUERI concluded the evidence did not prove it would be safe to implement nurse-only models of anesthesia for VA, specifically questioning “whether more complex surgeries can be safely managed by CRNAs.” The VA’s final rule assures the Department’s alignment with current laws in 46 states and the District of Columbia, which all require physician involvement for anesthesia care. Removing physician anesthesiologists would lower the standard of care and jeopardize lives. Initially, the VA had considered a policy that would remove physician anesthesiologists from the operating room as part of a proposal to abandon physician-led, team-based models of care in VA and permit so-called “full practice authority” or nurse-only models of care for all VA advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse anesthetists. The proposed rule, which was published in the Federal Register in May, attracted an unprecedented outpouring from the public, a record for VA-related issues as well as a record for the most comments posted in 2016. More than 104,000 comments were submitted in support of maintaining VA’s current physician-led, team-based anesthesia policy, of which some 11,000 were submitted by Veterans, and over 14,000 were submitted by family members of Veterans. ASA with the support of Veterans and Military Service Organizations like the Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) urged VA leadership to reject poorly-designed, advocacy studies self-funded by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists that claimed no differences between the care provided by physician anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists. No independent, methodologically sound studies exist that show nurses can ensure the same outcomes as physician anesthesiologists. “Nurse anesthetists are not the same as physician anesthesiologists - 8-9 years of postgraduate education and 14,000 to 16,000 hours of clinical training undertaken by physician anesthesiologists makes a difference for patients,” Dr. Plagenhoef said. “As we see in operating rooms throughout the country every day, when seconds count, physician anesthesiologists save lives.” We salute VA for preserving the proven anesthesia team-based care model where physicians and nurses work together to provide the best care possible for our nation’s Veterans. More information about the rule and physician anesthesiologists is available at safevacare.org.

VFW Commander-in-Chief Brian Duffy received a tour of the newly opened VA medical center in New Orleans on a recent trip. Damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the previous New Orleans VA hospital had to be rebuilt. Now located on Canal Street, the $1 billion facility features round-the-clock visiting hours, and specialized care sections such as an eye clinic and a dental center. Fernando Rivera, director of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, showed Duffy around the hospital, which officially opened in November. Though not fully operational, it currently accepts outpatients. The medical center’s other services will be rolled out over the course of the next couple of months, with the Patient Education Resource Center being the last accommodation to open on Feb. 20. Hospital officials will work closely with Tulane and Louisiana State universities on medical research. The 1.7 million square-foot facility is expected to employ 2,800 people, including more than 200 doctors. For more information on the facility, visit www.neworleans.va.gov.Story and photos by Kari Williams, editorial associate, VFW magazine

Army ended Navy's 14-game winning streak during their annual football game Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Army fans will long remember that the Black Knights did it the hard way, mounting a 12-play, 80-yard, fourth-quarter scoring drive to claim a 21-17 victory in the 117th edition of one of the most respected rivalries in sports. "To come from behind was fantastic," said Army coach Jeff Monken. "It was just a very fitting end to the game. (Navy) gained some momentum in the second half but momentum is just an attitude. Our guys bared down and were determined to win; we didn't let them take the game over. We just kept battling. "It was a big deal to put that (14-game losing) streak to an end. I try not to put pressure on our own team to worry about the past 14 teams. They're not responsible for those teams, they're responsible for the 2016 team and that game was today. This team right here is 1-0 against Navy and will never play in this game together again." Down 17-14 after giving up 17 straight points, Army took possession on its own 20 after losing the lead. Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw wasted no time responding to falling behind; he found wide receiver Edgar Poe with a 29-yard pass in the right flat. It was the first completion of the day for Bradshaw, who struggled much of the game, finishing with two completions for 35 yards and one interception on just four attempts while adding 51 yards rushing on nine carries. The reception by Poe seemed to unite the Black Knights, who had started the second half with four ineffective drives of five plays or less. Seven straight runs by Andy Davidson, Darnell Woolfolk, Kell Walker (who finished with a game-high 94 yards on 16 carries) and Jordan Asberry moved the ball to the Navy 24. On the next play, with Navy linebackers closing in, Bradshaw pushed a shovel pass to Joe Walker, who gained another six yards. Two more rushes by Davidson, who finished with 87 yards on 28 carries, brought Army to the Navy 9. The next snap saw Bradshaw cut right, found a hole off right tackle and charged the final nine yards into the end zone. "I told the guys to just be prepared — they may try to makes us do something foolish to draw a (penalty) flag," Bradshaw said of the final scoring drive. "I told them to keep their composure and protect the ball and focus on ourselves. It was a great feeling to score the TD (touchdown). I can't describe it; it felt amazing. Our team worked really hard for it to happen." On the ensuing possession, the cadets capitalized on the inexperience of Navy quarterback Zach Abey — a sophomore who was thrust into his first starting role after senior signal caller Will Worth sustained a season-ending injury in a loss last week to Temple — as Army's Jeremy Timpf and Alex Aukerman broke through for a sack and a six-yard loss. Abey followed with an 11-yard completion to Shaun White, but when White could run for only a yard on the next play, Navy was looking at a fourth-and-four situation from its own 39. After a punt, Army gained two first downs and ran out the clock to seal the win and set off a celebration among the crowd of 71,600 that saw Army fans storm the field, jumping and hollering with happiness over having finally beaten Navy for the first time since 2001. For the entire Army team, the joyous occasion was something unknown. To put it in perspective, most of the seniors on the Army team were 6 years old the last time the Black Knights had beaten their rivals to the south. "It was exciting for me," said freshman Kell Walker, who was just 3 years old when Army claimed the 2001 victory. "I had the opportunity to step up as a freshman. I couldn't be scared; I just had to step up. I appreciate the coaches for giving me the opportunity and for my teammates for trusting me with the ball. We had a lot of emotions going into the game. A lot of the team was feeling that we had to go out in a good way. It was a nice a little spark for the younger guys." "It's surreal," senior Edgar Poe said. "It still doesn't feel like it's real. We're starting our own (winning) streak now." Even in the loss, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo was proud of his team’s effort. "I'm still proud of them," Niumatalolo said. "We knew we lost four starters on offense last week. The guys fought against a real good (Army) team. Monken has done a real good job. Our kids battled to the end. We'll just keep pressing forward." While the Navy winning streak in the series is over, the 2016 season is not over for either team. Army faces North Texas on Dec. 27 in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl at the Cotton Bowl. Navy faces Louisiana Tech on Dec. 23 in the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter Stadium in Ft. Worth, Texas.   By John Chuhran

Newswise — Military Times magazine selected Lewis University as the top private college and university in Illinois that is on its 2017 national rankings list, Best for Vets. The rankings are based on the results of Military Times’ annual survey of veteran and military student services as well as ratings of academic achievement. The Military Times’ Best for Vets distinction recognizes Lewis University for its commitment to educating and providing opportunities to America's veterans, service members and families. Lewis University was evaluated as a university that demonstrates the factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. “When a veteran steps onto campus, he or she is welcomed and supported through many services,” stated Roman Ortega, Jr., director of Lewis University Veterans Affairs and Recruitment, and ROTC Administrative Director. Comprehensive support is provided by the Lewis University Office of Veterans Affairs and Recruitment, which mentors and advises students as they navigate college. Lewis University is a partner in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, which allows qualified Post-9/11 veterans to enroll in more than 100 approved education programs at Lewis University, tuition free. Incoming veteran students are encouraged to participate in the Veteran Introduction to the College Experience course. The group of veterans meet weekly to discuss issues surrounding their transition from military to civilian life and any struggles associated with their experience on campus. An active chapter of the Student Veterans of America keeps Lewis University students engaged in the community and provides support in networking, academics and other professional opportunities. For the full Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings, go to: www.militarytimes.com/bestforvets-colleges2017. Lewis University is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to 6,700 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States today helped Wreathes Across America to reach its 2016 goal of placing Christmas and holiday wreathes at 245,000 veteran grave sites at Arlington by donating $15,000 to ensure the purchase of 1,000 wreathes. "Everyday is Veterans Day inside the VFW," said VFW National Commander Brian Duffy, "and to be able to help a great grassroots organization to honor our fallen was a very easy decision."Founded in 2007 by the Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, the nonprofit Wreathes Across America, operates under the motto “Remember, honor, teach,” and has expanded from just Arlington National Cemetery into approximately 1,000 American veterans cemeteries worldwide."Thousands of local VFW members and their families help to lay the donated wreathes every holiday season," said Duffy. "We do so to honor someone who might not have any surviving family visitors anymore, but we also do so out of remembrance of our own times serving 'over there,' and missing umpteen holidays and birthdays and anniversaries," he said. "The VFW is all about recognition and remembrance, and for us to help another worthwhile nonprofit to reach its goal is a very good thing."The theme to this year’s wreath project is “Say their names as you lay a wreath.” For those interested in donating to the project or volunteering, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. 

On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise air attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After just two hours of bombing, more than 2,400 Americans were dead, 21 ships* had either been sunk or damaged, and more than 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed. The attack at Pearl Harbor so outraged Americans that the U.S. abandoned its policy of isolationism and declared war on Japan the following day -- officially bringing the United States into World War II. Why Attack? The Japanese were tired of negotiations with the United States. They wanted to continue their expansion within Asia but the United States had placed an extremely restrictive embargo on Japan in the hopes of curbing Japan's aggression. Negotiations to solve their differences had not been going well. Rather than giving in to U.S. demands, the Japanese decided to launch a surprise attack against the United States in an attempt to destroy the United States' naval power even before an official announcement of war was given. The Japanese Prepare for Attack The Japanese practiced and prepared carefully for their attack on Pearl Harbor. They knew their plan was extremely risky. The probability of success depended heavily on complete surprise. On November 26, 1941, the Japanese attack force, led by Vice AdmiralChuichi Nagumo, left Etorofu Island in the Kurils (located northeast of Japan) and began its 3,000-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. Sneaking six aircraft carriers, nine destroyers, two battleships, two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and three submarines across the Pacific Oceanwas not an easy task. Worried that they might be spotted by another ship, the Japanese attack force continually zig-zagged and avoided major shipping lines. After a week and a half at sea, the attack force made it safely to its destination, about 230 miles north of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The Attack On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. At 6:00 a.m., the Japanese aircraft carriers began launching their planes amid rough sea. In total, 183 Japanese aircraft took to the air as part of the first wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor. At 7:15 a.m., the Japanese aircraft carriers, plagued by even rougher seas, launched 167 additional planes to participate in the second wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The first wave of Japanese planes reached the U.S. Naval Station at Pearl Harbor (located on the south side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu) at 7:55 a.m. on December 7, 1941. Just before the first bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, leader of the air attack, called out, "Tora! Tora! Tora!" ("Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!"), a coded message which told the entire Japanese navy that they had caught the Americans totally by surprise. Surprised at Pearl Harbor Sunday mornings were a time of leisure for many U.S. military personnel at Pearl Harbor. Many were either still asleep, in mess halls eating breakfast, or getting ready for church on the morning of December 7, 1941. They were completely unaware that an attack was imminent. Then the explosions started. The loud booms, pillars of smoke, and low-flying enemy aircraft shocked many into the realization that this was not a training exercise; Pearl Harbor was really under attack. Despite the surprise, many acted quickly. Within five minutes of the beginning of the attack, several gunners had reached their anti-aircraft guns and were trying to shoot down the Japanese planes. At 8:00 a.m., Admiral Husband Kimmel, in charge of Pearl Harbor, sent out a hurried dispatch to all in the U.S. naval fleet, "AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL." The Attack on Battleship Row The Japanese had been hoping to catch U.S. aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor, but the aircraft carriers were out to sea that day. The next major important naval target was the battleships. On the morning of December 7, 1941, there were eight U.S. battleships at Pearl Harbor, seven of which were lined up at what was called Battleship Row, and one (the Pennsylvania) was in dry dock for repairs. (The Colorado, the only other battleship of the U.S.'s Pacific fleet, was not at Pearl Harbor that day.) Since the Japanese attack was a total surprise, many of the first torpedoes and bombs dropped on the unsuspecting ships hit their targets. The damage done was severe. Although the crews on board each battleship worked feverishly to keep their ship afloat, some were destined to sink. The Seven U.S. battleships on Battleship Row: Nevada - Just over a half hour after the Nevada was hit by one torpedo, theNevada got underway and left its berth in Battleship Row to head toward the harbor entrance. The moving ship made an attractive target to the Japanese bombers, who caused enough damage to the Nevada that it was forced to beach itself. Arizona - The Arizona was struck a number of times by bombs. One of these bombs, thought to have hit the forward magazine, caused a massive explosion, which quickly sank the ship. Approximately 1,100 of her crew were killed. A memorial has since been placed over the Arizona'swreckage. Tennessee - The Tennessee was hit by two bombs and was damaged by oil fires after the nearby Arizona exploded. However, it stayed afloat. West Virginia - The West Virginia was hit by up to nine torpedoes and quickly sank. Maryland - The Maryland was hit by two bombs but was not heavily damaged. Oklahoma - The Oklahoma was hit by up to nine torpedoes and then listed so severely that she turned nearly upside down. A large number of her crew remained trapped on board; rescue efforts were only able to save 32 of her crew. California - The California was struck by two torpedoes and hit by a bomb. The flooding grew out of control and the California sank three days later. Midget Subs In addition to the air assault on Battleship Row, the Japanese had launched five midget submarines. These midget subs, which were approximately 78 1/2 feet long and 6 feet wide and held only a two-man crew, were to sneak into Pearl Harbor and aid in the attack against the battleships. However, all five of these midget subs were sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Attack on the Airfields Attacking the U.S. aircraft on Oahu was an essential component of the Japanese attack plan. If the Japanese were successful in destroying a large portion of the U.S. airplanes, then they could proceed unhindered in the skies above Pearl Harbor. Plus, a counter-attack against the Japanese attack force would be much more unlikely. Thus, a portion of the first wave of Japanese planes were ordered to target the airfields that surrounded Pearl Harbor. As the Japanese planes reached the airfields, they found many of the American fighter planes lined up along the airstrips, wingtip to wingtip, making easy targets. The Japanese strafed and bombed the planes, hangers, and other buildings located near the airfields, including dormitories and mess halls. By the time the U.S. military personnel at the airfields realized what was happening, there was little they could do. The Japanese were extremely successful at destroying most of the U.S. aircraft. A few individuals picked up guns and shot at the invading planes. A handful of U.S. fighter pilots were able to get their planes off the ground, only to find themselves vastly outnumbered in the air. Still, they were able to shoot down a few Japanese planes. The Attack on Pearl Harbor Is Over By 9:45 a.m., just under two hours after the attack had begun, the Japanese planes left Pearl Harbor and headed back to their aircraft carriers. The attack on Pearl Harbor was over. All Japanese planes had returned to their aircraft carriers by 12:14 p.m. and just an hour later, the Japanese attack force began their long journey homeward. The Damage Done In just under two hours, the Japanese had sunk four U.S. battleships (Arizona, California, Oklahoma, and West Virginia). The Nevada was beached and the other three battleships at Pearl Harbor received considerable damage. Also damaged were three light cruisers, four destroyers, one minelayer, one target ship, and four auxiliaries. Of the U.S. aircraft, the Japanese managed to destroy 188 and damage an additional 159. The death toll among Americans was quite high. A total of 2,335 servicemen were killed and 1,143 were wounded. Sixty-eight civilians were also killed and 35 were wounded. Nearly half of the servicemen that were killed were on board the Arizona when it exploded. All this damage was done by the Japanese, who suffered very few losses themselves -- just 29 aircraft and five midget subs. The United States Enters World War II The news of the attack on Pearl Harbor quickly spread throughout the United States. The public was shocked and outraged. They wanted to strike back. It was time to join World War II. At 12:30 p.m. on the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave an address to Congress in which he declared that December 7, 1941 was "a date that will live in infamy." At the end of the speech, Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. With only one dissenting vote (by Representative Jeannette Rankin from Montana), Congress declared war, officially bringing the United States into World War II. * The 21 ships that were either sunk or damaged include: all eight battleships (Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee), three light cruisers (Helena, Honolulu, and Raleigh), three destroyers (Cassin, Downes, and Shaw), one target ship (Utah), and four auxiliaries (Curtiss, Sotoyoma, Vestal, and Floating Drydock Number 2). The destroyer Helm, which was damaged but remained operational, is also included in this count. By Jennifer Rosenberg

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Luis Carlos Montalvan, a decorated Iraq war veteran who became a strong critic of the war and wrote a best-selling book about it, has died in El Paso. He was 43. Montalvan was found in a hotel room in downtown El Paso late Friday, El Paso police Sgt. Enrique Carrillo said Monday. The medical examiner's office has not completed a preliminary autopsy report. Montalvan served 17 years in the Army, doing two tours in Iraq. He received two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. His service dog, Tuesday, was the subject of Montalvan's book, which became a New York Times best seller. Some Army colleagues said Montalvan, who retired from the Army as a captain in 2007, embellished his account of the incident that led to his Purple Heart. Tuesday is now being cared for by a loving family in the Northeast, according to a statement from Montalvan's family. "He was an extremely dedicated activist nationwide for multiple causes, including rights and benefits of veterans and the disabled, as well as the promotion of service dogs," the statement reads. "His spirit lives on through his family and friends, Tuesday, his writings, and all the people he touched during his years of service to his country and his humanitarian work." Montalvan's book, " UNTIL TUESDAY: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him," was praised by Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, made him a leading advocate for wounded veterans and even led to an interview on David Letterman's show. But several men who served with him told The Associated Press in 2011 that he had exaggerated or fabricated key events from his service abroad. The AP also obtained documents that contradicted Montalvan's statements about the extent and severity of his injuries. Montalvan, who earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland - College Park and a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, declined to speak with the AP at the time, but issued a statement through his lawyer that his book "is a reflection of my experiences in the United States Army (and after) during one of the most controversial military actions since the Vietnam War. Some of the events described in 'Until Tuesday' resulted in wounds to myself - both visible and invisible." Hachette Book Group, which published his first book and will publish his second, "TUESDAY'S PROMISE: One Veteran, One Dog, and Their Bold Quest to Change Lives," said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened" at Montalvan's death. "With his beloved service dog Tuesday at his side, Luis spent the past decade educating the public about trauma and advocating for veterans and people with disabilities," the statement reads. "He will be missed greatly and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time." The organization that united Montalvan with Tuesday has set up a webpage in his honor. Donations can be made at www.ecad1.org/Luis . --- AP reporter Hillel Italie contributed to this report. BY BETSY BLANEYASSOCIATED PRESS