Latest news with #NavySEAL
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Former Navy SEAL enters race to replace US Sen. Tommy Tuberville in Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson on Wednesday launched a campaign to run for a U.S. Senate seat representing Alabama, promising to be 'a warrior for President Trump's America First Agenda' if he is elected. The written announcement came just a day after current Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced that he is running for governor of the state next year. In Hudson's written announcement, he identified as a Christian conservative and aligned himself with both President Donald Trump and Tuberville, the latter of whom entered politics after a successful career as a head football coach at Auburn University. 'Coach Tuberville has been a force in Washington because he's not a career politician. He's a political outsider and a straight shooter. So is Jared Hudson,' the announcement read. Hudson said he is a former Navy SEAL who now runs a nonprofit that fights human trafficking. Hudson previously ran for sheriff of Birmingham in 2022 but lost to the Democratic candidate, according to 'I've spent my life taking the fight to America's enemies. Now it's time to continue the mission in Washington,' said Hudson. Hudson's campaign website doesn't have specific policy positions, but states that he will 'secure the border, crush the woke agenda, and defend our Christian values.' He also said he would support cutting 'taxes to get our economy working for hardworking Alabamians.' Tuberville is expected to be a formidable entry in the race to succeed current Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, who cannot run again because of term limits. His announcement came after months of speculation .
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue Mantis' Josh Dinneen Honored with Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Kevin A. Houston Award
Tech Services Firm CEO and Veteran Recognized at the 2025 Patriot Week Gala for Exceptional Service to Veterans and Gold Star Families PORTSMOUTH, N.H., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Mantis, a leading provider of digital strategy and services specializing in managed services, cybersecurity and cloud solutions, today announced that its CEO, Josh Dinneen, has been honored as the recipient of the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Kevin A. Houston Award. This prestigious recognition is awarded annually by InnoVets and Massachusetts Fallen Heros and it commemorates veterans who exemplify extraordinary service and demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of military families. Dinneen, a former sergeant in the U. S. Marine Corps, received the award during the Patriot Week Gala, held at the Encore Boston Harbor Hotel Thursday, May 22. Patriot Week, established in 2016 by InnoVets, is a week-long event series dedicated to spreading awareness of military life and honoring Fallen Heroes. It brings together the veterans and military families for ceremonies, discussions, and celebrations, recognizing local leaders who make meaningful contributions to the Veteran and Gold Star communities. The award pays tribute to the legacy of Houston, a highly decorated Navy SEAL known for his exceptional courage and dedication to duty. Born in West Hyannis Port, Mass., Houston enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1995 and embarked on a distinguished career marked by valor and selflessness. His legacy continues to inspire those who serve and those who support military communities. 'I am incredibly honored to receive the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Kevin A. Houston Award,' said Dinneen. 'Patriot Week is a powerful reminder of the commitment we share to support our veterans and their families. As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, I am proud to contribute to InnoVet's mission and continue Chief Petty Officer Houston's legacy.' InnoVets, founded by Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, empowers veterans, transitioning service members, Gold Star Families, and military family members through career development, mentorship, and entrepreneurial opportunities. InnoVets offers programs like STRAC, a business accelerator; CodeX, a cybersecurity training program designed with the support of Blue Mantis; and Veteran's Edge, a career support initiative. Its mission is to bridge the gap between military service and business success, fostering a strong, united community. 'Josh Dinneen is a proven business leader, distinguished veteran and rather worthy recipient of the Kevin A. Houston Award and we congratulate him on this honor,' said Dan Magoon, Co-Founder and Executive Director, InnoVets. 'Blue Mantis has been a tremendous partner to InnoVets in providing invaluable cybersecurity and IT education, training, mentorship and job placement assistance for military veterans and we are grateful for the firm has done with Josh's guidance and support.' InnoVets further honored the fallen and their Gold Star Families at its Annual Memorial Rededication Ceremony on Saturday, May 24th, at 10 a.m., held at the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial. Learn more at About InnoVetsInnoVets and Massachusetts Fallen Heroes are dedicated to honoring the Massachusetts Veterans we have lost since 9/11 and supporting Veterans and Gold Star Families through various avenues of programming. About Blue MantisBlue Mantis is a security-first, IT solutions and services provider with a 30+ year history of successfully helping clients achieve business modernization by applying next-generation technologies including managed services, cybersecurity, cloud and collaboration. Headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the company provides digital technology services and strategic guidance to ensure clients quickly adapt and grow through automation and innovation. Blue Mantis partners with more than 1,500 leading mid-market and enterprise organizations in a multitude of vertical industries and is backed by leading private equity firm, Recognize. For more information about Blue Mantis and its services, please visit Contact Touchdown PR for Blue Mantis tdbm@ in to access your portfolio
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Tina Peters? Gold Star mother sentenced to prison amid election controversy
On Memorial Day 2025, posts on X trended demanding the release of Tina Peters, a 70-year-old Gold Star mother and former Mesa County, Colorado, Clerk and Recorder, sentenced to nine years in prison. Convicted in 2024 for her role in a 2021 election security breach involving voting machine tampering, Peters has become a polarising figure. Supporters, including prominent voices on X, view her as a patriot exposing election fraud, while critics argue she undermined democracy. Her case, now under U.S. Department of Justice review, continues to spark heated debate. — liz_churchill10 (@liz_churchill10) Tina Peter's background and role as Mesa County clerk Tina Peters served as Mesa County Clerk and Recorder from 2019 to 2023. As a Gold Star mother, having lost her Navy SEAL son, she garnered sympathy from some quarters. Her tenure was marked by controversy when she became embroiled in efforts to challenge the 2020 U.S. presidential election results, aligning with claims of widespread voter fraud. Peters, a Republican, gained attention for her actions in 2021, which led to criminal charges. Her supporters argue she acted to protect election integrity, while detractors say her actions were illegal and dangerous. Public reaction and calls for release The case has divided public opinion. On X, supporters, including figures like Kari Lake, have called Peters a 'patriotic hero' unfairly targeted for exposing alleged election irregularities. Posts trending on Memorial Day 2025 highlighted her as a Gold Star mother, framing her imprisonment as politically motivated 'lawfare.' Conversely, critics, including Colorado officials, argue her actions justified the sentence, accusing her of endangering democracy. Some Republican leaders have even urged President Trump to withhold federal funding from Colorado to pressure for her release, a move opposed by state authorities. The 2021 election security breach In 2021, Peters was accused of orchestrating a data breach by allowing unauthorised access to voting machines in Mesa County. She allegedly facilitated the copying of sensitive election data, which was later leaked online. Prosecutors claimed this was part of an effort to support unproven election fraud theories. Peters was convicted on charges including attempting to influence a public servant and conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation. Her actions were condemned by election officials, who argued they eroded public trust in the electoral process, leading to her nine-year sentence in October 2024. Legal proceedings and sentencing Peters' trial in Grand Junction, Colorado, drew significant attention. In August 2024, she was found guilty on multiple felony counts. On October 3, 2024, a judge sentenced her to nine years, criticising her for 'crimes and lies' that compromised election security. Peters has since been transferred to a state prison, with reports of solitary confinement sparking outrage among her supporters. She is currently awaiting a response from the Courts of Appeals on her request for release, while the U.S. Department of Justice reviews her case for potential abuses of the justice system. Trump's involvement and DOJ review In early 2025, former President Donald Trump publicly supported Peters, posting on Truth Social to urge the Department of Justice to secure her release. The DOJ, under Republican leadership, began reviewing her case in March 2025, citing concerns over potential prosecutorial overreach. This move has faced resistance from Colorado's deputy attorney general, who called it an unprecedented federal intervention in a state conviction. The review has fuelled speculation about a possible pardon, with Peters herself expressing hope for negotiations with Trump, whom she met in 2022. Ongoing controversy and implications Peters' case remains a flashpoint in debates over election integrity and judicial fairness. Her supporters view her as a martyr for questioning the 2020 election, while opponents see her conviction as a necessary deterrent against election interference. The DOJ's involvement and calls for her release underscore broader tensions between state and federal authorities. As her appeal progresses, the outcome could set precedents for how election-related crimes are handled, particularly in politically charged contexts. For now, Peters remains a symbol of division, with her fate uncertain as public and political pressures mount.
CBS News
26-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Navy veteran's dog tags found on Nantucket, family hoping to get them back
A food and wine festival worker on Nantucket stumbled upon the dog tags of a decorated Navy veteran who passed away in 1982. Now his family is hoping to get them back. Ernest Gentile Sr. was part of the first Navy SEAL frogmen demolition team in American history. His family says he was at Pearl Harbor, and also earned the Navy Cross for cutting submarine netting in French Morocco. For the most part, he kept his war stories from his family, but the ones that he did tell are now retold by his children and grandchildren. "He would go underwater. One of the medals he received, from what I understand, is him and a buddy were cutting some of the mines underneath, clearing the way for some of the ships to go through while they were under enemy fire," said his granddaughter, Anne Gardner. Dog tag for Ernest Gentile Sr. found on Nantucket. CBS Boston "I recall a story being told where he was a sailor off of one of the ships in the Sea of Japan. He went into the water as the frogmen underwater demolition team to help clear the area for the chain being pulled across the channel to keep the Japanese ships out," said his daughter Jacqueline Gardner. "We had pictures of him in his hard hat suit, and we wondered how he could even walk around, but he said, 'You're in the water,'" remembered his daughter Frances Downs. "He would teach us how to swim and to hold your breath underwater. It was a big treat to reach a certain spot." Location of dog tags now a mystery Anne says her grandfather, lovingly known as "Pamper," battled cancer as a result of shrapnel in his body. He died in 1982, but recently his dog tags were discovered in Nantucket. "No clue how. We used to live on Nantucket at one point," said Downs. "Maybe it came off while he was swimming, and finally eventually washed up on the beach," suggested Gardner. A worker at a food and wine festival on the island took a photo of the tags. The worker says the tag was being passed around at the festival for people to see, but he is unsure who is in possession of the tag now. We are working to see if the festival knows its whereabouts, but we have yet to hear back. "It would be awesome. We could make some kind of a display," said Downs, thinking about the return of the tags after all of these years.
Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey': Watch It Today
PG-13 | 1h 15m | War, Faith, Documentary | 2025 Today, Memorial Day, I recommend watching the new documentary, 'Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey.' Actor Chris Pratt has played many Navy SEAL characters during his career, following his stint on 'Parks & Recreation,' as well as the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise. Most notable among these is the character of ex-SEAL James Reece in the TV series 'The Terminal List'). Pratt has executive produced this fine documentary for Paulist Productions. It's about the military chaplains who wear the uniform but don't bear arms into battle. Nothing sums up a military chaplain's job better than the John Gospel: 'No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends' (John 15:13). "The March to Valley Forge," by William B. T. Trego, a painting of President Washington and his troops receiving a benediction from a military chaplain, in 'Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey.' Paulist Productions The film chronicles the journey of former military chaplain Justin Roberts. Suffering from PTSD after years tending to soldiers in battle, he learns that the remains of Father Emil Kapaun, a renowned Korean War chaplain and POW, have been discovered after 70 years. Roberts makes a pilgrimage to Father Kapaun's funeral in Kansas, with the intent to divest himself of his own pain and hopefully find renewal. Chaplain Tales 'Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey' proceeds to relate stories of other chaplains, both men and women, from all faiths, who currently serve, as well as those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Related Stories 3/28/2025 4/11/2025 As mentioned, combat chaplains are not there to kill the enemy and therefore bear no arms. Among the many talking head interviews, one interviewee in the film states, 'You have to be fearless to do that.' It's a calling, not a job, and a chaplain's weapon against fear is faith. They believe there is no other life choice for them, but to go into battle to help soldiers carry their heavy load, ease their pain, and make clear the path that will lead the fallen back to the Almighty, regardless of which faith. U.S. military veterans marching in a parade, in 'Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey.' Paulist Productions Father Struecker In 1993, Jeff Struecker served as a U.S. Army Major in the infamous Somalian 'Battle of Mogadishu,' recounted in the movie 'Black Hawk Down.' Struecker was in charge of a three-vehicle convoy tasked with the mission to rescue a stranded and wounded Army Ranger, under heavy fire. Struecker says, of the experience, 'I remembered what my faith really means. It means I can go home to my family in Georgia, or I can go home to my Father in heaven. I have nothing to fear.' Upon completion of his service, Struecker went to seminary, and then returned to the military as a chaplain in what American fighting forces call 'The Sandbox': Iraq and Afghanistan. He now sees his mission as helping soldiers prepare for battle and also to prepare for heaven, should their paths lead to the beyond. Promotional poster for "Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey." Paulist Productions The Four Chaplains The most powerful story is about a group of World War II chaplains, known as The Four Chaplains. Similar to the final hours of the Titanic tragedy, they ministered to soldiers aboard the torpedoed and rapidly sinking transport ship, the Dorchester. These four surpassingly heroic men—two Protestant ministers, a Catholic priest, and a Jewish rabbi—helped soldiers board lifeboats, gave their own life jackets away, laid down their lives for their fellow men, and stoically went down with the ship. Four medals were designed for them posthumously. The Takeaway The world is currently awash in selfishness. Where does the resolve, the incredible generosity, and the absolute selflessness come from, to do something like the Four Chaplains did? One of the battles combat chaplains continually face is ministering to U.S. military personnel considering suicide. Suicide rates are up globally. It's a faith pandemic. The world needs military chaplains more than ever. Today, we're lucky to be able to honor this Memorial Day by watching those heroic U.S. military combat chaplains. 'Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey' was released in theaters Nov. 8, 2024. You can watch it today with your family here: Promotional poster for "Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey." Paulist Productions 'Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey' Director: Richard Hull, Justin Roberts Documentary MPAA rating: PG-13 Running Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes Re-release Date: May 23, 2025 Rating: 4 and 1/2 stars out of 5 Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at
