VFW Magazine articles from December 2002

VFW Magazine archives from December 2002

Opening a new era: membership reaches a crossroad as a new category of VFW eligibility is created. (Created post).
December 1, 2002... Get ready to welcome a new lot of deserving overseas veterans into VFW's ranks. Oct. 3, 2002, is likely to go down as a red-letter date in VFW history. The Senate approved House Resolution 3838 that day, amending our congressional charter to...

Coping with Combat. (mail call).
December 1, 2002... I read with great interest "Coping with the Emotional Numbing of Combat" (October) by Mark Van Ells, which discussed the effects of combat on individual soldiers. The author hit the nail on the head. After more than 50 years, I still wake up at...

Wounded on `The Hook'. (mail call).
December 1, 2002... "Hanging on the `Bloody Hook'" (October) by Al Hemingway was close to home for me. I was with a 4.2-inch mortar platoon that October 1952. Also, I was with forward observer Marine Lt. Sherrod Skinner up until minutes before he was killed. I was...

Night Stalkers earned respect. (mail call).
December 1, 2002... Re: "Shadow Warriors Stalk at Night" (October issue). Thank you so much for the story on the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. These brave soldiers are at the forefront of Operation Enduring Freedom as they have been before. ...

Mutual respect among veterans. (mail call).
December 1, 2002... In past issues of the magazine, I have seen letters indicating that Vietnam vets were hurt by the public's post-war treatment of them. As a Korean War veteran, I understand their feelings. I for one have the highest regard for them and their...

Proud teacher and American. (mail call).
December 1, 2002... The October Now Hear This item on the National Education Association (NEA) prompted me to write. The NEA does not speak for all teachers. As a teacher, I know full well who the enemy is. I suspect that many in the NEA wouldn't know evidence if...

Three cheers for reaching out. (mail call).
December 1, 2002... It was exciting to read Chief Sisk's Command Post for October about VFW attempting to partner with outside organizations like the NRA. I have often wondered why VFW has not done so before. As a Persian Gulf vet and life member of both...

Media disparages Gulf War Veterans without hesitation. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families).
December 1, 2002... "Gulf War Veteran," proclaimed the Oct. 25 Kansas City Star headline opener in reporting the capture of the Washington, D.C.-area sniper. The media, craving some link to an alleged deranged former military person, was predictable in its...

Terror attack claims 7 American lives. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families).
December 1, 2002... The Indonesian Islamist terrorist attack on the Sari Club on Kuta Beach on largely Hindu-populated Bali Island on Oct. 12 killed at least seven U.S. citizens, all civilians. Most of the 181 dead were Australians. That death count makes it one...

WWII, Korea, Vietnam remains found. (Security).
December 1, 2002... The remains of U.S. veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War were returned to the United States in October. In addition, the remains of a Korean War vet and a Vietnam War vet were positively identified after three years of...

GI Bill benefits increased in October. (Service).
December 1, 2002... The second increase in Montgomery Gl Bill benefits took effect Oct. 1, raising the monthly stipend from $800 to $900. The third and final increase will take effect Oct. 1, 2003, raising the stipend to $985. After next year's increase, the...

Electronic bugles to play taps. (Service).
December 1, 2002... Because of a shortage of qualified buglers and an overwhelming number of veterans funerals each year, the Pentagon began testing a new device in November that plays a prerecorded version of Taps. The device is implanted in a standard bugle so...

No vote on concurrent receipt. (Legislation).
December 1, 2002... Congress adjourned for its election break on Oct. 16 without voting on the 2003 Defense Authorization Bill. The legislation contains a provision allowing disabled military retirees to receive their entire retiree pay and disability...

Congress passes Jobs for Veterans Act. (Legislation).
December 1, 2002... Both houses of Congress approved a bill in October improving job-training programs for veterans. The Jobs for Veterans Act--H.R. 4015 (see June/July 2002 "Washington Wire") would give veterans priority of service in any job-training program...

VA to help after terrorist attacks. (Legislation).
December 1, 2002... Congress approved a bill on Oct. 16 that would give VA a larger role in the event of a terrorist attack. The National Medical Emergency Preparedness Act of 2001--H.R. 3253--would establish four centers at existing VA medical centers to study...

Law gives asylum to POW rescuers. (Legislation).
December 1, 2002... A new law, signed Oct. 29, would provide refugee status to citizens of Iraq or other Middle Eastern nations who return surviving U.S. POWs from the Persian Gulf War. P.L. 107-258--the Persian Gulf War POW/MIA Accountability Act of 2002-expands...

Americans killed by al Qaeda in the Philippines and Kuwait: after nearly three months of relative calm, two more uniformed Americans were killed in October. (War On Terrorism).
December 1, 2002... The war on terrorism turned deadly again in October as a Green Beret and a Marine were killed within a week of each other on opposite sides of the world. On Oct. 2, a bomb exploded outside a restaurant frequented by Special Forces soldiers...

Marines recall Christmas on the terrorism front: Dec. 25, 2001, in Afghanistan wasn't pleasant, but U.S. troops celebrated in their own special way.
December 1, 2002... Americans fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan last Christmas received a welcome visit from Santa Claus when he came to Kandahar Air Base. He brought with him cards and gifts for the 2,000 Marines stationed in and around the base....

The rough road to readjustment: long-term separation from family and friends during WWII often left veterans lonely upon returning home.
December 1, 2002... When WWII ended in 1945, the vast majority of Americans in uniform had one thought in mind: When can I go home? After months and years of separation, GIs longed to see their civilian relatives, friends and neighbors again. Few veterans...

A guide to reservist rights: with the increasing role of reservists and members of the National Guard in the war on terrorism, more and more service members are being affected by call-ups to active duty. Here is a guide to the rights these men and women are entitled to when active duty calls.
December 1, 2002... Since the al Qaeda terrorist attacks of Sept. 11,2001, some 130,000 reserve forces have been called up to serve at one time or another. More than 75,000 are currently serving, and a possible attack on Iraq could increase that number by 100,000....

Covert test program made sailors `lab rats': after 40 years, the Pentagon acknowledges biological and chemical warfare testing on U.S. service personnel during the Cold War.
December 1, 2002... Following a 40-year cover up, the Pentagon has finally admitted to conducting chemical and biological warfare tests at sea during height of the Cold War. And the unwitting "test conductors" (the bureaucratic euphemism for what veterans call...

Korea: the carrier war: the aircraft carrier's role offshore Korea never garnered the attention of ground operations, but sailors aboard ship and crews in the air made a valuable contribution throughout the war. (Korean War).
December 1, 2002... When the Korean War began, naval aviation teetered on the brink of obsolescence. Jets, more difficult to land on a carrier, were replacing propeller-driven planes, and the atom bomb threatened to supersede tactical, non-nuclear sorties from...

An agenda for action. (Key National Issues).
December 1, 2002... Listed below are VFW's official positions on national veterans issues. They are based on national convention resolutions and rated as priorities by the respective committees. LEGISLATIVE VA BUDGET * Ensure needed funding is...

Serving veterans. (VFW 2002-2003 Committees).
December 1, 2002... Members of VFW's 12 national committees develop goals and complete plans for the upcoming year. These committees implement the policies made by delegates at the national convention. BUDDY POPPY Chairman: John G. Lowe Vice Chairmen:...

VFW Chief welcomed home to California: as is VFW tradition, the incoming Chief is feted in his home state. Ray Sisk was honored in Ontario, Calif., in September. On hand were long-time supporters of veterans.
December 1, 2002... At a banquet held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario, Calif., 400 VFW Department and national officers and guests paid tribute to Ray Sisk, the fourth Californian to hold this, high office. Among the distinguished guests were Secretary of...

Index 2002 subject guide to VFW magazine.
December 1, 2002... Major feature articles are cross-referenced by subject for easy access. Listings appear in chronological order. Page numbers are indicated immediately following the month of issue. CP= Command Post Afghanistan (historical) `Strike...

Post spreads Christmas cheer: Santa role playing is a way of life for this New York Post. (VFW in action).
December 1, 2002... In the past nine years, under-privileged children in the New York towns of Ancramdale and Copake have been witness to the joy of Santa Claus. Post 7955 in Copake (located in the lower Hudson River Valley) adopts five to 10 families each year,...

Two special pays expand VFW eligibility: VFW delegates voted an eligibility change at the 102nd National Convention. More than a year later, VFW has opened its ranks to a deserving group of overseas veterans. (membership).
December 1, 2002... VFW recruiters now have a new group of veterans to pursue: those who have earned hostile fire pay (HFP) or imminent danger pay (IDP). And with 44 countries currently designated by the Pentagon as HFP or IDP areas, the potential to sign up...

Benefits to fit your budget. (member benefits).
December 1, 2002... Are the costs of your prescriptions too high? Is your dental care out of reach? Putting off those new glasses because your budget won't allow them? VFW Member Benefits can help. Call 1-800821-2606, Option 4 for more information.

Jest a minute.
December 1, 2002... * Out in west Texas, an old rancher went to town to get some supplies. While in town, he decided to buy his wife a present. He told the clerk to wrap it beautifully because he did not often do this. On his way home he stopped and picked up...

Reunions & claims.
December 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...