VFW Magazine articles from December 2000

VFW Magazine archives from December 2000

Holiday remembrances: when tragedy strikes, Americans rally. But that same sense of support is required year-round for those defending the nation. (Remembering The Troops).(need to support servicemen and women)
December 1, 2000... The tragedy aboard the destroyer Cole was a wake-up call to us all that daily Americans are at risk overseas protecting our national interests. They do so most often behind the scenes and with little or no public recognition. It's unfortunate...

Providing the answers. (mail call).
December 1, 2000... Re: "Gore and Bush on Vet Issues" (October issue). I think a lot of people still had unanswered questions about where Gore and Bush stood on defense issues. VFW magazine was the only publication to provide real answers. Excellent. Thank you....

Shame on you for pro-Gore stance. (mail call).
December 1, 2000... I am totally upset with the article "Political Spotlight Shines on VFW" (October). It is so slanted toward Gore it is ridiculous. I have seen how hard it is on my son-in-law and daughter under Clinton-Gore. Quite frankly, I have lost a great...

Halo around Bush. (mail call).
December 1, 2000... I'm wondering if being a member is a benefit, especially if you are a Democrat? Gore is pictured in a green suit with brown shoes below "high-water" trousers. He also has the left-hand page in the spread. Perhaps the editor is not aware of...

Bias against third party candidates. (mail call).
December 1, 2000... You only listed the Republican and Democratic Party candidates' positions in the October issue. I once again felt cheated because VFW magazine is as anti-third party as the "mainstream" media. The Libertarian Party candidate is on the ballot...

PAC endorsements out of step. (mail call).
December 1, 2000... Based on "VFW-PAC Endorsements for 2000" (October), I am shocked at the dichotomy between the values of the rank-and-file as expressed in resolutions and those of the "leadership" as indicated by political endorsements and awards. The list...

Feeding at the government trough. (mail call).
December 1, 2000... Reading the October issue left me thinking about what it means to be a veteran. Going into the service during WWII meant, for me, giving and doing my best for my country. But attitudes seem to have changed to what my country can do for and give...

Keeping alive memories. (mail call).
December 1, 2000... I thoroughly enjoyed "Bats Out of Hell: The Rakkasans in Action at Sukchon" (October) by Matt Densmore. I flew a C-119 in that mission. This was my first troop drop--the first of many thereafter. The article brought back many memories. The...

Making an act of heroism known. (mail call).
December 1, 2000... A salute to Don Fortune for his excellent article, "Pioneer to the Rescue" (October). If not for Mr. Fortune, the tragedy of the Rohna--57 years later--would never be known except among only those involved. Great research and writers...

MOH to be awarded to pararescueman. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Medal of Honor: Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger was killed in action in Vietnam on April 11, 1966. Some 35 years later he will finally receive the nation's highest military honor in an upcoming ceremony. Wounded numerous times in the firefight, he...

Army Reserve Museum collecting items. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(U.S. Army Reserve Command Museum at Fort MacPherson, Georgia)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The U.S. Army Reserve Command Museum at Fort MacPherson, Ga., is seeking uniforms, equipment, photographs, artwork and memorabilia from the Spanish-American War in 1898 to the present. Unit newsletters, military magazines, journals, significant...

Korean War Service Medal in demand. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Randolph Air Force Base, the distribution point for Korean War Service Medals issued by the South Korean government, is receiving 1,000 applications every day. By November, the center had received 20,000 requests. Though 18,000 information...

Ballad of the black berets. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(all US Army personnel will be issued black berets, formerly worn only Rangers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Beginning June 14, 2001, all members of the U.S. Army will don black berets--currently worn only by Rangers. The Army chief of staff issued the mandate in October, claiming it will be a "symbol of excellence." Reactions were not...

Toasting North Korea's dictator. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(objections to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's visit to North Korea)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Even the liberal Washington Post was askance when Secretary of State Madeleine Albright hobnobbed with the Stalinist tyrant of North Korea during her October visit there. Editorialized the newspaper: "We were amazed that the secretary of...

Taxpayers foot terrorist bill? (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Under a new law, victims of terrorism are entitled to compensation. Until now, payments had been blocked by the Clinton Administration. Victims will be paid by the U.S. Treasury, which will supposedly later recoup the money from the terrorist...

High voter turnout among troops. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(presidential election votes by active-duty military personnel)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Some 65% of active-duty personnel voted in the 1992 presidential election. In 1996, 67% voted, compared to 50% of civilians.

Congress increases benefits, VA budget. (Legislation).(Department of Veterans Affairs)
December 1, 2000... Here's a list of veterans-related bills approved in the second session of the 106th Congress. They range from educational assistance for younger vets to bringing home POWs and MIAs. At press time, all but one of these bills (S. Con. Res. 158)...

Improving benefits. (Legislation).(Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... One of the most important bills is a five-year, $1.3 billion initiative to ease vets transition to civilian lift. S. 1402--the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000--is a comprehensive package of education, health and...

VA budget boosted by 6%. (Legislation).(Department of Veterans Affairs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... On Oct. 27, President Clinton signed P.L. 106-377--the 2001 VA/HUD Budget. It provides $47 billion for VA for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2000. It represents an increase of nearly $2.7 billion from last year. The total includes...

Vets get help to file VA claims. (Legislation).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... H.R. 4864--the Veterans Claires Assistance Act of 2000--reinstates VA's duty to help veterans develop their claims for VA benefits. It eliminates the requirement that vets must submit a "well-grounded" claim before VA can assist them. ...

COLA increased. (Legislation).(disabled veterans: cost-of-living adjustment)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... H.R. 4850--the Veterans Benefits Act of 2000--increases the compensation disabled, service-connected vets get each month, as well as their survivors. As of Dec. 1, 2000, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increased 3.5%, which matches the...

Senate backs WWII slave labor claims. (Legislation).(American prisoners of war who were reportedly forced to work in a slave labor situation for Japanese companies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Senate unanimously approved S. Con. Res. 158 in October. The bill supports the settlement of claims made by former World War Il U.S. POWs against Japanese companies. The former GIs, the bill states, were transported to Japan "where they...

Bringing home POWs/MIAs. (Legislation).(Bring Them Home Alive Act)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Another bill offers a new method for repatriating live U.S. POWs and MIAs. S. 484--the Bring Them Home Alive Act--would grant refugee status to foreign nationals who personally deliver a living American POW/MIA from either the Vietnam War or...

VA links Agent Orange and diabetes. (Service).(Vietnam veterans: disability compensation)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... VA announced Nov. 9 that Vietnam veterans with Type Il diabetes are eligible for disability compensation based on their presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The decision comes after the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report in October...

Korean War MIA recovery sets record. (Security).(remains of 65 individuals found in North Korea)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Joint U.S.-North Korean MIA search teams recovered 65 sets of remains in 2000, the most ever in one year. All five searches this year were conducted in the North Korean counties of Unsan and Kujang, about 60 miles north of Pyongyang....

Tragedy of USS Cole unites nation: the terrorist bombing of the USS Cole on Oct. 12 snuffed out the lives of 17 young American sailors. Refueling at Aden, Yemen, the destroyer was part of the maritime effort to intercept threatening Iraqi ships in the Persian Gulf region.
December 1, 2000... Once again, America was shocked by the human price of overseas military commitments. Serving in perhaps the most perilous zone in the world today, the Cole's crew was the latest victim of international terrorism. The scene, unfortunately has...

Troops overseas count on VFW support: VFW is known for its dedication to supporting troops on foreign shores. (Cover Story).(crew of the USS Cole, and others)
December 1, 2000... FW members have a special connection with the men and women in uniform serving overseas. They know what it's like to eat and sleep on foreign soil under often hostile conditions. And they know what it's like to feel pangs of longing for loved...

Spreading Christmas cheer.(Christmas activities by the VFW)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... In Waubeka, Wis., patients at the Clement Zablocki VA Medical Center were able to share their Christmas spirit thanks to the efforts of Post 7037. It donated Christmas cards and stamps to the patients. Back East, the Department of Delaware...

Pearl Harbor set to hit the silver screen: Disney uses the USS Lexington as a Japanese aircraft carrier to re-create a sneak attack on the United States.(the movie 'Pearl Harbor')
December 1, 2000... The start of Dec. 7, 1941, should have been like any other Sunday morning--but it was not. It was the day the Japanese attacked America by bombing the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor and the Army's air base at Hickam Field in Honolulu, Hawaii....

WWII Memorial: one step closer to reality: last month's groundbreaking for the National WWII Memorial means the war's vets are now 2 1/2 years from seeing their sacrifices recognized. Nevertheless, philosophical differences over design still divide pundits and veterans alike.
December 1, 2000... Take your pick. The nation's future WWII memorial will be either a "Nazi-inspired eyesore" that ruins the view on the National Mall or a "timeless symbol of freedom to future generations" located in precisely the appropriate spot. Whatever...

Knowing VA terminology: understanding the official definitions of VA benefits is crucial to obtaining those you are entitled to. (Familiarize Yourself With The `Lingo').(Department of Veterans Affairs)
December 1, 2000... Veteran: Any person who was drafted or enlisted on or before Sept. 7, 1980, who served on active military duty and received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions; OR any person who enlisted after Sept. 7,...

Concurrent receipt defeated again: proposed legislation that would have granted military retirees full payment of their pensions and VA disability compensation is defeated after negotiations. (Disabled Military Retirees).(proposed legislation: disabled military retirees)
December 1, 2000... Once again, it seems Congress has dropped the ball on disabled military retirees. Sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the "concurrent receipt" proposal was killed during talks in the House of Representatives. Attached to the Senate's...

Some military retirees assured lifetime care: after years of controversy, former career military personnel over 65 will finally receive the health care entitlements they were promised. (Congress Makes It Mandatory).(those who entered armed forces prior to June 7, 1956)
December 1, 2000... Prior to June 7, 1956, those who entered the armed forces were often promised free health care for life if they retired after at least 20 years of service. Yet today these same men and women have to purchase supplemental insurance to afford...

Military Associations abound on Capitol Hill: some 34 armed forces-related and veterans groups in two federations fight for the rights of former and current servicemen and women in the nation's capital. Here they are.(Directory)(Illustration)
December 1, 2000... MILITARY COALITION Air Force Assn. (AFA) 1501 Lee Highway Arlington, VA 22209-1198 (703) 247-5800, (800) 727-3337 www.afa.org Air Force Sergeants Assn. (AFSA) P.O. Box 50 Temple Hills, MD 20757-0050, (301) 899-3500,...

VA study targets shingles: volunteers can help solve the riddle of this painful nerve-related virus. (800,000 Americans A Year Are Infected).(Department of Veterans Affairs)
December 1, 2000... A physician for more than 30 years, Dr. Wilbur Springer saw many people suffering from shingles. "I'd get about two cases a month, year in and year out," says the Vietnam-era veteran. "I had patients who were utterly miserable." When he...

Chosin Reservoir: `saga of epic heroism': between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, 1950, the 1st Marine and 7th Infantry divisions took on 100,000 Chinese (25,000 of whom died) during a 70-mile fighting withdrawal in bitterly cold North Korea. (Korean War).(Battle of Chosin Reservoir)
December 1, 2000... Thanksgiving Day, 1950, began relatively well for Marine Cpl. Harley Trueblood. Cooks were dishing out roast turkey with all the trimmings--the first food except cold C rations that he and the other leathernecks in Co. B, 1st Tank Bn. of Col....

An agenda for action: listed below are VFW's priority goals for 2000-2001. They are the organization's official positions on issues deemed most critical. (VFW Priority Goals).(Veterans of Foreign Wars)
December 1, 2000... LEGISLATIVE HEALTH CARE & VA BENEFITS * Ensure funding is continually authorized and appropriated for VA operations and enhancement. * Increase VBA funding to expand/improve the claims process. * Provide obstetrics,...

Serving veterans. (VFW 2000-2001 Committees).(Veterans of Foreign Wars: goals)
December 1, 2000... Members of VFW's 11 national committees met this fall to develop goals and complete plans for the upcoming year. These committees implement the policies made by delegates at the national convention. BUDDY POPPY Chairman: Bernard...

Georgia celebrates the Chief: John Gwizdak is feted off the coast of the "Empire State of the South".(VFW convention)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... More than 600 well-wishers filled the Jekyll Island Convention Center to welcome home VFW Commander-in-Chief John Gwizdak of Stockbridge, Ga. The evening's keynote speaker, Kenneth W. Birdsong, a member of the Georgia House of...

Marine vets of Kosovo now eligible for Combat Action Ribbon: Secretary of Navy changes criteria of CAR, saying that the `nature of warfare' now includes peacekeeping. (membership).
December 1, 2000... With a nod to the changing face of warfare in the world, the Marine Corps has modified the qualifications for one of its most prestigious awards: the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR). Previously, the CAR could only go to Marines who engaged the enemy...

Stretch the value of your dollars. (member benefits).(Consumer Price Index: decreasing buying power)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the buying power of $100 today would be equal to the buying power of $207.89 in 1980. Since last year, $5.99 of that same $100 has been lost. No wonder Americans' budgets don't seem to go as far...

Reunions & claims.
December 1, 2000... REUNION COORDINATORS: To publicize your unit's reunion, fill out the form in the February 2000 issue or print out a form from VFW's Web site: http://www.vfw.org/magazine/51.shtml. Send to VFW Magazine, 406 W. 34th St., Suite 523, Kansas City MO...