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CBS News
02-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
Despite challenges, 95-year-old Minnesota Air Force veteran remains steadfast in faith
At 95, Luther Neil Wilson Jones knows the power of choice. "I had so many different encounters and moved to so many different directions," he said. It's how a rural farm boy from Tennessee ended up in the Air Force. "I wanted to be a mortician, so I figured that was a good way that I would go to finish that education," Jones said. Jones grew up in Sweetwater, Tennesee, where life on the farm was hard yet joyful. After graduation, he had a choice. "You had recruiters that would come by campus and paint the pretty picture to you how easy it was for you to finish your education with the GI Bill of Rights and, oh what a wonderful opportunity it would be for you," Jones said. He took the opportunity at 18 years old. But in the 1940s, he was in a segregated unit. "But it was a hidden thing. Even your insignia on your uniforms were different," Jones said. Beyond the U.S., his service took him to Guam and Japan, where his flight squad was in for a shake-up. "This is the graduation photograph of the last segregated Air Force Flight," Jones said, pointing to an old photograph. "That's the first time I was ever housed with White troops." It wouldn't be until he was stationed at Fort Snelling in St. Paul that another choice — to dine at the Book T. Cafe — would lead Jones to a wife and, later, four children. "Just like it happened yesterday that I went in and introduced myself," he said. "I said, 'I would like a Miller High Life and you along with me while I consume it.'" Now, there are only memories left of the Booker T. Cafe — just one of many businesses in St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood, the heart of the Black community knocked out in the late 1950s to make room for Interstate 94. It left many families like Jones' without a place to call home. "That's where history is, but whole side — that one side of the street — turned into the freeway. And then that's when we all had to go back to the east side, but we managed to come through it," he said. He's faced challenges and changes more than most, but throughout it all, Jones made the choice to remain steadfast in his faith. "I have been blessed. Could have changed many times, but I have no qualms. I'm perfectly all right," he said.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Moran, Blumenthal seek to expand GI Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KSNW) — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas and Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal have introduced legislation to expand the GI Bill of Rights to offer benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserves. The Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025 would allow, under certain conditions, for GI Bill benefits to be extended to National Guard members and Reservists when they are activated for federal service. 'The men and women of the National Guard and Reserves are being called on to serve our country more often than before and are performing the same service as active-duty servicemembers,' Moran said in a news release. 'The Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act would make certain our guardsmen and reservists have the same educational benefits and opportunities to pursue higher education when carrying out the same responsibilities.' McConnell won't seek reelection to Senate 'The brave men and women of our National Guard and Reserves who serve and sacrifice for the sake of our nation deserve comprehensive educational benefits,' Blumenthal said. 'The Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act ensures that Guard and Reserve servicemembers receive credit for every day spent in uniform, allowing these individuals to pursue their higher education and career goals. With this critical legislation, we honor the service of our nation's Guardsmen and Reservists and ensure they are eligible for the educational benefits they have rightfully earned.' The bill has support from organizations like the Military Officers Association of America, the National Guard Association of the United States, the VFW, and the American Legion. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the house by Democrat Mike Levin and Republican Trent Kelly of Mississippi. You can read the full text of the proposed bill below. NG-GI-Bill-Parity-2025_For-IntroDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
