IN THE NEWS

DoD Rethinks Suicide Law
By Andrew Tilghman

Decriminalizing 'self-injury' could lead more to get help. Read more...

When Survivors Feel Slighted, Not Honored

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS​
Families of Those Killed Away From Combat Push Military for Same Awards as Those Given for Casualties in Enemy Conflict. Read more...

Contact your State Reps and ask them to support the Bill of Rights for Bereaved Military Families!Click on your State...

Were Army crime lab problems withheld from some defendants?

By Michael Doyle and Marisa Taylor | McClatchy NewspapersRead more...

Shaping DoD Policy by Giving a Voice to Bereaved Military Families

By Cilla McCain

The Department of Defense has approved a groundbreaking study examining the unique grieving process of survivors.  Read more...

Acquittal in deaths of guardsmen needs review
By Tracy Baxter/Times Herald Record
"...160 relatives of the victims from the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas descended on the Pentagon to demand that the incident that left 13 dead and 30 wounded be designated an act of terrorism rather than what the government has been calling it — a case of workplace violence." Read more…

Testimonials

Case Spotlight: Colonel Philip Shue, USAF

Click here to view the full 48 Hours episode of The Curious Case of Colonel Shue.

Colonel Philip Shue was planning his Air Force Retirement to begin September 2003. He had been selected for a prestigious Forensic Fellowship Program in Psychiatry at the University of Alabama. Instead, on 16 April 2003, he was kidnapped while en route to work at Lackland AFB and mercilessly tortured and mutilated before escaping his captors. Near death, his car was seen driving aimlessly along until it crashed into a cluster of trees. When emergency personnel arrived, Colonel Shue was pronounced dead at the scene. Amazingly, Texas officials labeled the death a suicide ignoring substantial evidence of murder. However, his widow, Tracy, refused to accept this finding and put together a team of forensic and legal experts and succeeded in disproving the suicide ruling. Shortly thereafter, a Texas Judge ordered Colonel Shue's  cause of death changed from "suicide" to "homicide" but citing jurisdictional issues, Texas authorities as well as Air Force officials have refused to comply. Tracy, however, refuses to stop her fight for justice.

Colonel Shue will be remembered for his significant contribution, sacrifice, and dedication to the United States Air Force and will serve as an example to all who defend their country and the core values of Integrity, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do. Click here to learn more...

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