EL PASO, Texas — The Texas National Guard has sent a 36-member team to El Paso to assist morgues in the border region with the number of dead as a result of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
Statewide, the Texas health department on Saturday reported a one-day high of 12,597 new virus cases, nearly 20,500 dead and more than 8,200 virus hospitalizations.
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The White House authorized the missions to continue until Dec. 31 after governors asked for more help.
“The Texas military will provide us with the critical personnel to carry out our fatality management plan and we are very grateful to them for their ongoing support,” El Paso Mayor Dee Margo said in late Friday when the deployment was announced.
The pandemic is blamed for more 300 deaths in El Paso County since October, 853 total since the pandemic began.
Jail inmates are being paid to move bodies and county leaders are offering $27 an hour for morgue workers.
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The 67 volunteer soldiers will be assisting officers at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge with duties such as distributing mail and meals.
County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, in a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott asking for support for a 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew in the county, said mortuaries are being overwhelmed.
“As of (Friday), our Medical Examiner’s Office is reporting that 234 fatalities are being held at our main morgue and at our nine mobile morgues,” Samaniego wrote.
Up to 40,000 Army National Guard soldiers haven't yet gotten the mandated COVID-19 vaccine.
Democrats rejected proposals to reinstate troops already kicked out and dismiss the Defense Secretary for requiring the shots.
Emergency powers given to VA leaders amid the coronavirus pandemic expired earlier this month.
A spike in Covid-19 cases at the start of the year delayed some efforts to get more veterans into homes.
Public attendance at ceremonies had been limited the last two years by the coronavirus pandemic.
Russia said it withdrew its forces from the island as a “goodwill gesture.” Ukraine said the Russians fled following a barrage of artillery and missiles.
Relatives say Lois “Bunny” Drueke spoke to her son Alexander Drueke, one of two Alabama veterans captured earlier this month in Ukraine, via telephone.
The move established a new baseline for European presence, defense officials said Wednesday.
Four wives of fighter pilots dish the details you don’t see in the Hollywood films on this episode of The Spouse Angle.
Providing savings to service members is of particular concern right now due to the inflation in food prices.
The FBI confirmed to Army Times that they'd raided a fifth location of the alleged cult church.
The Supreme Court allowed a former state trooper to sue Texas over his claim that he was forced out of his job when he returned from Army service in Iraq.
Marine veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams famously destroyed enemy positions with a flamethrower on Iwo Jima.
The VA currently does not offer the procedure or counseling to patients seeking to get an abortion.
Biden announced the permanent basing of a U.S. military garrison in Poland. He also said the U.S. is sending two additional F-35 fighter jet squadrons to the U.K. and more air defense and other capabilities to Germany and Italy.
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