VFW Magazine articles from April 2003

VFW Magazine archives from April 2003

Sacrificing for your community: the time is right for you to join with your fellow citizens in helping the nation. (command post).
April 1, 2003... In the last year or so, appeals to patriotism have been frequent. With the war on terrorism on everyone's mind, the need for individual participation in homeland security is easily understood. But how can one person make a difference? You...

Rising blood pressure over Korean War atrocities. (mail call).
April 1, 2003... I read "`You Are About to Die a Horrible Death'" (February) by James Van Zandt with sadness. North Korean and Soviet atrocities during the Korean War prove just how the Communists treated prisoners. Such brutality and heinous crimes have gone...

`Giving something to your fellow men'. (mail call).
April 1, 2003... Re: February's Command Post ("Ambassadors for VA Health Care") and "`Doing Something Important.'" Albert Schweitzer, speaking on volunteering, said: "You must give something to your fellow men--even if it's a little thing, do something for...

Broadening membership eligibility. (mail call).
April 1, 2003... I personally joined VFW because of the honor of serving in three combat areas. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal provides quite a broad brush for eligibility already. If we are going to dilute VFW, why not combine with the American Legion?...

NRA provokes emotional responses. (mail call).
April 1, 2003... "VFW and NRA Strive for Safety" (February) by John Robbins is offensive. The NRA (National Rifle Association) is one step away from being a terrorist organization. NRA's "Eddie Eagle" program uses the same tactics as drug dealers. Any of NRA's...

Landstuhl's VFW connection. (mail call).
April 1, 2003... A footnote to "A Beacon for Wounded Warriors" (February): Fisher House donated two facilities at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. More than 40 service members wounded or injured in Operation Enduring Freedom have had their families stay at a...

Vietnam coverage hits home. (mail call).
April 1, 2003... "Vietnam Vets Bring Their Experience to the Classroom" and "VFW on Scene at the Memorial's 20th" (February) were fantastic. Numerous veterans and educators called seeking information as a result of these stories. We truly appreciate the great...

Register now for San Antonio convention. (now hear this).
April 1, 2003... VFW's 104th National Convention in San Antonio will be here before you know it. VFW Meetings and Events Manager Vanessa Kane, CMP, reminds all Posts to support VFW programs by registering members early for $10. The registration fee entitles a...

Organizations of interest. (now hear this).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... American WWII Orphan Network 5745 Lee Road Indianapolis, IN 46216 Tel.: (540) 310-0750 E-Mail: awon@aol.com Web site: www.awon.org Founded in 1991, it strives to connect the surviving children among the 183,000 left fatherless...

Books of interest to veterans. (Book Corner).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... WAR & FILM Early, Emmett. The War Veteran in Film. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland Publishers, Spring 2003. A first comprehensive review. Evans, Alun. Brassey's Guide to War Films. Washington, D.C.: Brassey's, 2000. Alphabetical listing...

Special pay urged for Agent Orange. (Service).(disability compenstation for veterans)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The "special compensation" compromise on concurrent receipt (January Washington Wire) left hundreds of thousands of disabled military retirees still sacrificing portions of their retirement pay because of a 111-year-old law. Add to that list...

$250 VA enrollment fee proposed. (Service).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Two groups of veterans could be charged to enroll in VA's health care system next year if an Administration proposal is approved in VA's budget. Veterans in VA's categories 7 (those who do not have a service-connected injury) and 8 (those...

VA drug abuse funds withheld. (Service).(Department of Veterans Affairs)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Because VA failed to develop a "detailed financial plan" for its veterans substance abuse programs, more than three-quarters of its funds designated for those programs are in limbo. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has the...

VFW says VA budget still too small. (Legislation).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The $28 billion the Bush Administration proposed in February for VA health care in fiscal year 2004 is some $2 billion short, according to VFW. "With an aging veterans population in need of health care and with 200,000 veterans waiting six...

Kuwait black hawk crash kills four. (Security).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Four U.S. Army soldiers were killed Feb. 25 when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Kuwait. A Pentagon spokesman said there was no indication that hostile fire caused the crash. Killed were Chief Warrant...

U.S. might cut troops in Korea, Europe. (Security).(military forces may be reduced)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Two areas of the world that have hosted U.S. troops since the beginning of the Cold War may be saying goodbye to GIs in the future, based on comments by Administration officials to Congress in February. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld...

Budget increase for VETS. (Employment).(Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Bush Administration in February proposed a $9.6 million increase for the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) in its 2004 budget. The total amount budgeted for VETS is $220 million. The largest...

Action in Afghanistan: U.S. troops fought the largest force of al Qaeda and Taliban combatants in nearly a year. The January and February firefights could signal more to come. (War on Terrorism).
April 1, 2003... U.S. troops in Afghanistan faced some of their heaviest fighting in nearly a year during reconnaissance sweeps in late January and early February. A 12-hour firefight that began Jan. 27 left 18 enemy fighters dead. U.S. military spokesmen...

Citizen corps is calling on you: a volunteer endeavor initiated by the White House seeks individuals who want to participate in homeland security.(USA Freedom Corps)
April 1, 2003... Following the terrorist attacks on America, people banded together in an unexpected way. The surge of patriotism, which received much media play, was only one example. In his 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush called on all...

Studying the health consequences of war: in what is being hailed as "a new era of caring for combat veterans," often persists long after the shooting stops.
April 1, 2003... What are the health consequences of combat? Two new VA medical facilities aim to find out. These facilities--each known as the War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC)--are closely examining what warfare does to the health of...

Disabled vets on the silver screen: beginning as far back as 1897 with Civil War wounded, disabled war veterans have been portrayed on film. Public perception of them has changed with the times.
April 1, 2003... Few of us would question the idea that movies have contributed strongly to the public's perception of veterans. In some cases--particularly the portrayals of vets suffering from PTSD--the images are among Hollywood's most egregious and hateful...

Besting the back 9 Golf after 50: keep the game in perspective--at this stage golf should be a social outing, not a sporting competition.
April 1, 2003... You're over 50 now--maybe way over--and nothing is as easy as it used to be. Especially golf. Frustrating enough at age 35, golf can become real torture for folks in their second half-century of life. But it doesn't have to be. With a...

Staying Healthy While travelling: whether you're destined for an exotic overseas vacation or a quick trip stateside, these commonsense tips will make your travel more pleasurable.
April 1, 2003... Ah vacations! Sandy beaches, crisp mountain air, the leisurely pace of foreign cultures, exotic food and travelers diarrhea. Travelers diarrhea? You bet. It's but one of a number of souvenirs that travelers pick up on their vacations....

Watching your investments: regular investment portfolio reviews lead to healthier returns. Investing wisely can reduce volatility in your portfolio.
April 1, 2003... Quarterly reviews of stock and other investment performance are abundant these days. Business newspapers such as The New York Times and Wall Street Journal run quarterly rankings of performance. Business Week chips in with a look at the...

Nation's military history told through firearms.(National Firearms Museum: firearms from 1607-1991)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The National Firearms Museum, based in Virginia and sponsored by the National Rifle Association, displays 2,000 firearms in 85 exhibits in 14 galleries. The 15,000-square-foot museum is divided into interests and eras. Of particular interest to...

Combat on `the chop': as truce talks at Panmunjom dragged on "with all the speed of a stiff concrete mix" in April 1953, two 7th Infantry Division regiments waged a vicious struggle to hold, and then retake, a 255-yard hill in west-central Korea. After 45 hours and brutal losses, GIs finally declared victory. (Korean War).(battle of Pork Chop Hill, Korean War )
April 1, 2003... By mid-April 1953, the Korean War had been reduced to a series of sporadic, fiercely violent fights for non-descript hills near the 38th Parallel. Strategy was aimed at grabbing land to bolster negotiating positions during armistice talks at...

At the 'grass roots': The Salvation Army: as part of a national outreach effort with five community-service organizations, VFW's partnership with The Salvation Army gives VFW members new volunteering opportunities.
April 1, 2003... In an effort to reach out to like-minded organizations, VFW has joined forces with The Salvation' Army, one of the most successful charities in the country. Its work in such areas as the military, youth activities and disaster relief makes it...

Stabilizing membership this year's top goal: senior vice commanders met to learn the ropes for their upcoming roles as department leaders.(VFW: membership and other issues)
April 1, 2003... The 2003-2004 Department commanders must push membership retention and meet quotas of new and reinstated (N/R) members within their Departments, according to the membership plan announced at the Sr. Vice Meeting held Feb. 2-6, 2003 in Las...

Post fosters patriotism in its community. (VFW in action).(post in Belle Fourche, South Dakota)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Each year, one of VFW's 9,102 Posts is recognized for its Outstanding Post Special Project. The 2003 recipient is Post 3312 and its Ladies Auxiliary in Belle Fourche, S.D. For more than six years, members of the Post have had a successful...

Korea duty recognized with new medal: all veterans who have served in or offshore Korea since 1954 are eligible for the soon-to-be-produced Korean Defense Service Medal. (membership).(Korea Defense Service Medal being designed)
April 1, 2003... Since 1995, all members of the U.S. armed forces who've served in Korea have been eligible for VFW. Veterans of the Korean War, of course, have long been eligible, as have those who earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service there...

Huge savings on internet service. (member benefits).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Internet is an indispensable tool in our business and personal lives. Because of its value, VFW offers its members discount opportunities. For more information, call VFW Member Benefits at 1-800-821-2606, option 4.

Reunions & claims.
April 1, 2003... REUNION COORDINATORS: TO publicize your unit's reunion, fill out the form on page 47 of the February 2003 VFW magazine or print out a form from VFW's website: http://www.vfw.org/magazine/51.shtml. Send to VFW magazine, 406 W. 34th St., Suite...