VFW Magazine articles from August 2002

VFW Magazine archives from August 2002

A nation united: terrorist attacks revived unity of purpose among the American people over the past year like few other events could. (A Year of Renewal).(Veterans of Foreign Wars: services and goals, after the 9-11-01 terrorist attacks)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Last September brought into focus two critical issues facing VFW: the essential need to project a relevant purpose to the public and the related requirement to appeal to youthful concerns. In the former case, we certainly rose to the occasion....

`Page for members'. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... Mail Call is a wonderful page--it gives members a chance to be heard. Keep up the good work and thanks for keeping us abreast of the new laws and the history of which we veterans are a part. Henry G. Lizak Levittown, N.Y.

Meaning of Memorial Day distorted. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... Memorial Day is supposed to be a day to remember and honor the nation's war dead. Lately, however, it has become a convenient day also to remember most everyone else. The media has fostered this trend by calling on people to remember their...

May cover says it all. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... The photo on the front page of the May issue sums it all up. One can see the pain in the soldier's face after losing his friends. With men like these in uniform, we will never lose, bend or compromise. Roland Frech Ft. Worth, Texas

Recalling sacrifices in the Philippines. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... "`Shoulder-to-Shoulder': Combating Terrorists in the Philippines" (May) was a fine tribute. My daughter is stationed at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa and her boyfriend, Staff Sgt. Juan Ridout, was among the 10 American servicemen killed in the...

Law officer deaths rightly recognized. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... Thank you for the outstanding article "Memorializing America's `Domestic Soldiers'" (May) on police casualties. Having been both a civil police officer and a military policeman in Vietnam with the 716th MP Bn., I deeply appreciated the needed...

Korea's secret unit finally recognized. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... I was sincerely proud to read "`White Tigers' Prowled North Korea" (May) by Ben S. Malcom. As a Navy man attached to the 8240th A.U. in 1953, it was gratifying to see that the unit has finally been acknowledged for its valuable operations. ...

Attracting younger members. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... On the national level and through VFW magazine, the need to recruit and retain younger members is mentioned. But as a Persian Gulf vet, it seems to me that the Post level has not gotten the message. Local Posts, for instance, should welcome...

Hostilities in Moroland never-ending. (mail call).(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2002... Sincerest thanks for the 100th anniversary series on the Philippines War, concluding with "Battling at Bayan" and "`Like a Mad Tiger'" in May. I have learned much and my pride in belonging to an organization founded by veterans of that era has...

Hash marks and Hershey bars. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... Do believe I found a fashion faux pas in the May Washington Wire. Army "hash marks" are worn on the left sleeve and each mark denotes three years of service. "Hershey" or overseas bars are worn on the right sleeve; each represents six months...

Correction.
August 1, 2002... Correction: Please excuse the typo concerning the USS Hobson in the June/July Mail Call. It should have read April 26, 1952. incidentally a memorial obelisk to the 176 dead crewmen is located in the waterfront park of downtown Charleston, S.C.

Dutch harbor: rest of the story. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... Thanks for the excellent "Attack on America: Dutch Harbor 60 Years Later" (June). We treasure each heart-touching story like this. The first WWII casualty of our hometown was KIA at the harbor. Jack & Cynthia Manasco Cordova, Ala. ...

Old Baldy's missing units. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... Re: "Assaulting `Suicide Hill'" (June) by Gary Turbak. D Co., 1st Bn., 279th Inf., Regt., 45th Div., also spent several days on Old Baldy. It was under constant fire, with the half-covered bodies of the former defenders lying beneath us. ...

Helping homeless veterans. (mail call).
August 1, 2002... Re: "Seeking Refuge Benilde Hall" (June). In Polk County, Florida, VFW is leading the way in establishing a veterans home. If anyone can offer advice on financing such a project, please contact me at bmoonwrite@aol.com. Burton Mooney...

Student history scores 'abysmal'. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families).(includes notes on American history books)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... According to the 2001 U.S. History Report Card, 57% of senior high school students do not even have a "basic" knowledge of America's past. Questions covered the nation's settlement, as well as its wars. Sadly, some revisionist historians...

Sept. 11 victims tribute backed by VFW. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families).(Veterans of Foreign Wars's support of initiative Unity in the Spirit of America)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... VFW is a contributing partner of the Unity in the Spirit of America initiative, a volunteer program organized by the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network. For project ideas concerning remembering the victims of...

Majority of college students would refuse to fight in a foreign war. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Despite the supposed upsurge in patriotism in the past year, it apparently does not translate into serving in the military. A national survey by pollster Frank Luntz found that 37% of college students would attempt to evade a draft if...

Free Cancer screenings. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families).(National Prostate Cancer Coalition's campaign Protecting Our Protectors)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The National Prostate Cancer Coalition's Protecting Our Protectors campaign will be offering free screenings at VFW's national convention on Aug. 26-27 and then at VFW Posts in New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Iowa and California. For...

Bob Hope tribute in the works. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families).(monument to Bob Hope, on his 100th birthday)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... A $10 million Military Tribute to Bob Hope will be dedicated to "GI Bob"--America's only "honorary veteran"--on May 29, 2003, on his 100th birthday in the Port District of San Diego, Calif., along the bay. During 60 USO tours over five...

Senior Vice gauges progress of Southeast Asia POW/MIA accounting. (Security).(Ray Sisk; programme for accounting of prisoners of war, the missing in action in Southeast Asia)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... In pursuit of VFW's goal to fully account for all U.S. MIAs and POWs, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Ray Sisk traveled to Southeast Asia in April. His delegation, which included VFW Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Ed Banas, Washington Office...

Five VA bills approved in House. (Legislation).(Veterans)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... A package of five veterans- and VA-related bills--covering aspects from employment and compensation to homeland security--passed the House in May. At press time, four had been forwarded to the Senate's VA Committee for consideration, while one...

Congress supports concurrent receipt. (Legislation).(military retirees; Bush does not)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The House and Senate versions of the 2003 Defense Authorization Act contain options restoring full military retiree pay to veterans receiving VA disability compensation, also known as concurrent receipt. The House version (H.R. 4546) would...

VFW cautiously backs VA realignment. (Service).(Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) - Veterans Admin. hospitals)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... As VA plans a major overhaul of its health care facilities, VFW will help, up to a point. "VFW stands ready to work with VA, but we insist such things as veterans inpatient and acute care needs, as well as special services for traumatic...

Secret tests on veterans exposed. (Service).(Veterans Right-to-Know Act of 2002)(1963-69)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... A new bill could ultimately provide VA benefits to veterans unknowingly exposed to toxic substances during Cold War-era tests. The Veterans Right-to-Know Act of 2002--H.R. 5060--focuses on veterans involved in a series of tests between 1963-69....

Stigmatized by wounds of war: for tens of thousands of American servicemen severely wounded in WWII, the true test of personal strength began after the war ended. Here is how three of those men coped with being forever branded by combat.
August 1, 2002... On April 21, 1945, Lt. Daniel Inouye of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team led an assault against a German machine gun position in northern Italy. As he was about to lob a grenade, a German soldier suddenly appeared in front of him. "As I...

Pre-empting Terrorism in Yemen: U.S. Special Forces are in Osama bin Laden's home ground assisting local soldiers to hunt al Qaeda terrorists. (War On Terrorism).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Nearly two years after terrorists killed 17 American sailors aboard the USS Cole at port in Aden, Yemen, a contingent of Green Berets is in the country training Yemeni forces to. hunt down members of the al Qaeda terrorist network. That...

Tracking the `Red Wolves of Radfan': from 1964 through 1967, the British tried to tame the badlands of Aden, now Yemen. (War On Terrorism).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Tommies of the British army called it a "punishment station." And from the time it became a colony in 1839, Aden--located on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula--lived up to that reputation. When the country got caught up in the Cold...

At the tip of the anti-terrorism spear: though little known, the U. S. Marines maintain special anti-terrorism units. Some date back nearly 15 years, and their new brigade has been up and running for almost a year. (War On Terrorism).(4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade)
August 1, 2002... "It doesn't take much imagination to conjure up any number of potential threats to the continental United States," said Brig. Gen. Douglas O'Dell, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorist) commander. "We anticipate this to be a long...

Veterans share histories with Library of Congress: the Veterans History Project hopes to chronicle the experiences of American veterans into a searchable collection of oral histories, letters, diaries and photographs.
August 1, 2002... There are approximately 19 million living war veterans today, and VA estimates some 1,500 die every day. So Congress unanimously passed legislation in October 2000 to create the Veterans History Project. Created in the American Folklife Center...

`King' of the (Bunker) Hill: in August 1952, U.S. Marines fought a pitched battle with Chinese forces for the possession of Bunker Hill in the western sector of Korea. (Korean War).
August 1, 2002... In early spring 1952, the 1st Marine Division moved from eastern Korea to the western sector. Its new assignment was to defend 35 miles of the Jamestown Line, a section of the 8th Army's Main Line of Resistance (MLR). Part of Operation...

Forming partnerships in community service: during a two-days service conference, VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members learned the importance of partnering with other organizations.(National Community Service Conference)
August 1, 2002... In keeping with Commander-in-Chief Jim Goldsmith's theme, VFW members were encouraged to "reach out" to other service organizations during the third National Community Service Conference. Some 14 like-minded organizations joined VFW and...

Golden age games go Hollywood: competitors at this year's VA Golden Age Games in Los Angeles will get an eyeful. The VFW-sponsored, Olympic-style sporting event features an appearance by VA volunteer spokeswoman Bo Derek.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Hollywood may have seemed like an unlikely place last year for VA Secretary Anthony Principi to find someone to promote his department. But the person he chose, actress Bo Derek, says she has a deep respect and compassion for America's...

Nashville offers attractions for all: VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members will discover a mecca of culture and historic traditions in the "Country Music Capital of the World.".(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... VFW's 103rd National Convention is only a few weeks away. For those of you planning to head to Nashville, here's a glimpse at the variety of tourist sites awaiting your arrival. (Also, see the May and June/July issues of VFW for other exciting...

Promoting youth activities in the community: VFW Posts get involved with the young in a variety of ways. (VFW in action: VFW members and Posts demonstrating community service).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... As children across the country prepare to return to the classroom, VFW members should make plans to acquaint themselves with area schools. The possibilities for youth involvement are endless. Here are two Posts that take pride in their...

Nearly 2,000 CIBs awarded in Afghanistan. (membership).(Combat Infantryman Badges)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... Enterprising VFW recruiters are already signing up veterans of the Afghanistan War. In the absence of the inevitable campaign medal, recruiters are targeting those vets earning the CIB and CMB. Soldiers fighting in and around Afghanistan...

Jest a minute.(Humor)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... * A professional semi driver got caught under an overhead bridge. He got out, tipped his cap and scratched his head, trying to figure a way to get his truck out. A county mounty pulled up behind him, got out of his squad car, put on his...

Reunions & claims.(veterans' - reunions; info requests to verify wound-injury claims)(Directory)
August 1, 2002... REUNION COORDINATORS: To publicize your unit's reunion, fill out the form on page 40 of the February 2002 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...