VFW Magazine articles from February 2002

VFW Magazine archives from February 2002

War, veterans & benefits: with America at war, every aspect of society is affected. That includes everyone from children to returning veterans. (Remaining Vigilant).
February 1, 2002... When President Bush launched his Lessons of Liberty initiative last Veterans Day, he emphasized the need for veterans to help children cope with the terrorism war by discussing their personal experiences. By learning from past conflicts,...

Cold War: forgotten already? (mail call).
February 1, 2002... "Victory Denied: America Won the Cold War" (December) by Arnold Beichman was excellent and right on target. We defeated a tough and sometimes elusive foe in Soviet communism in Europe. Recognition and honors are long overdue for veterans of...

Pearl Harbor portrayal flawed. (mail call).
February 1, 2002... Re: "'Pearl Harbor': Fact vs. Fiction" (December). This film wanted to establish some kind of ethical and relative parity by suggesting the U.S. also engaged in an act of infamy (i.e., the Doolittle Raid). That message was intended for...

Patriot Day proclaimed. (now hear this).
February 1, 2002... The President proclaimed a new national holiday on Dec. 19. The House resolution named Sept. 11 Patriot Day. Each year, the President will issue a proclamation and order flags lowered to half-staff in official observance.

Patriot trees to honor veterans. (now hear this).
February 1, 2002... If you would like to plant a tree as a living memorial to veterans, American Forests has just the opportunity for you. To receive a free Eisenhower Green Ash tree and the materials to assist in planning a local tree-planting ceremony this...

Heroes of Afghanistan not media stars. (now hear this).
February 1, 2002... You wouldn't know it from watching TV news, but the heroes of the war against terrorism are not talking-head reporters. In a Dec. 20 editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Persian Gulf War veteran John Hillen put current war reporting in proper...

Traitor's fate unclear. (now hear this).
February 1, 2002... Not unexpectedly, the media has been fawning over one John Walker Lindh, the self-professed Taliban fighter, Compare the publicity given him with that of CIA operative John M. Spann who was killed by Lindh's fellow Islamic warriors. The Dec. 17...

Comeback of blue star flags? (now hear this).
February 1, 2002... According to a story in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, the once-prominent Blue Star Flag that hung in windows in wartime may be making a comeback. The newspaper reported that a family in Spotsylvania, Va., had revived the tradition on...

VFW on the `hill'. (Washington wire).
February 1, 2002... "VFW played an essential role in securing Senate action on two of these bills [H.R. 2716]. Working together we can achieve much for veterans and active-duty troops." --Dennis Cullinan, Director VFW National Legislative Service

VA benefits expand. (Legislation).
February 1, 2002... Here are the highlights of major veterans-related legislation approved by the House in 2001. In some cases, the bills ave been signed into law by the President. In others, they're awaiting his signature or further Senate action. H.R....

VA lowers outpatient copayments. (Service).
February 1, 2002... Saying the cost was "too high compared to private health care," VA Secretary Anthony Principi lowered VA's outpatient copayments in December. He said the decrease, which includes no charge for some basic services, is part of an overall...

Concurrent receipt: symbolic gesture. (Service).
February 1, 2002... For the first time since 1891, Congress has taken a step toward paying military retirees their full retirement pay plus disability compensation. The concept, known as concurrent receipt, was approved as part of the 2002 Defense Authorization...

Shrinking U.S. Bosnia force. (Security).
February 1, 2002... Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld proposed at a NATO meeting in December that the alliance should reduce its troop levels in Bosnia by up to a third. If accepted, the reduction would shrink the NATO force from about 18,000 to 12,000 and the...

101st Airborne replaces marines in Afghanistan: while an international force keeps the peace in Kabul, GIs stay on call to conduct combat ops. (War On Terrorism).
February 1, 2002... U.S. and allied Afghan troops in early January were contending with Taliban diehards holed up near Baghran, as well as al Qaeda holdouts around Khowst. It was near there that Sgt. 1st Class Nathan R. Chapman became the first actual U.S. KIA on...

Hollywood gets Vietnam right this time: finally, after three decades, Vietnam veterans have a film they can be proud of. We Were Soldiers debuts March 1 and promises to convey the heroism of ordinary GIs under extraordinary circumstances.
February 1, 2002... Well, Hollywood many have gotten it right for once and, if so, it will be in no small measures because of those words in the prologue to the book retired general Hal Moore and I wrote a decade ago. Eight years ago, a hollywood writer named...

`Stiletto' strikes on `sleeper cells' in Somalia? Phase II of the war on terrorism is likely to target countries harboring al Qaeda cells. Somalia is a logical candidate for the next campaign. (War On Terrorism).
February 1, 2002... In mid-December, two separate teams of Americans mysteriously arrived in Baidoa, Somalia. Their specific missions remain secret, but the reasoning behind the visits is not difficult to discern. "Somalia has been a place that has harbored al...

`Who dares wins': Britain's SAS in action: Britain's super-secret Special Air Service (SAS) has joined America in the battle against the terrorist stronghold in Afghanistan. For an inside look at this invaluable ally, read on. (War On Terrorism).
February 1, 2002... The `special relationship' between Britain and America was forged in the 20th century. From WWI to the Gulf, servicemen from both countries fought alongside each other. THey took on powerful and ruthless conventional foes. At the beginning...

`Strike swiftly and deeply': in the Second Afghan War (1878-1881), the British had an overriding objective--to administer retribution. America would do well to emulate their campaign. (War On Terrorism).
February 1, 2002... The small garrison of 25 Guides cavalry troopers and 52 Guides infantrymen was in a desperate position: They could either fight and die or they could surrender and face the uncertain mercy of the Afghan rebels who had occupied Kabul. ...

Securing your health: a primer on long-term care coverage: laid out in easy-to-understand terms, here are the fundamentals of selecting long-term care insurance--from choices to costs.
February 1, 2002... If you're like most people, you probably don't lie awake nights worrying about someday spending time in a nursing home. After all, only other people ever need help with daily living--right? And only really old folks--right? And they aren't...

VFW service officers make the difference: Michigan is a shining example of VFW's nationwide Department service officer network. (Fulfilling VFW's Pledge To Veterans).
February 1, 2002... When Dan Crocker turns on his computer each morning, he has at least 20 e-mails from veterans around the country. Each is a call for help in cutting through bureaucratic red tape. Crocker, a VFW Department service officer (DSO) in Michigan...

Is your sight in danger? How technology and sensible habits can save your vision.
February 1, 2002... Most eye problems are easy to cure--or prevent. But a wait-and-see (no pun intended) attitude can be disastrous. Each year, retinal breaks or other eye injuries affect the vision of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Even more lose acuity to...

`Angels of the battlefield': nurses in Korea: nurses of all the services contributed mightily to the war effort in Korea by saving lives. They are fondly remembered by the wounded, but too often forgotten in history. (Korean War).
February 1, 2002... In November 1950, the first nurse replacements since the war began (the first Army nurses landed at Pusan July 6, 1950), arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea. On the plane ride over, they kept their fear to themselves. They especially didn't want...

Four World War II campaign medals qualify vets for VFW. (membership).
February 1, 2002... Beginning with this issue, VFW magazine will publish (quarterly) a membership application and background on VFW-eligible campaign medals, starting with WWII. Any member of the U.S. armed forces who received the European-African-Middle...

Ohio VFW member wins 2002 Chevrolet Impala. (member benefits).
February 1, 2002... Harold Burcaw, of VFW Post 892 in Salem, Ohio, was the winner of the VFW car giveaway drawing held on Veterans Day. Burcaw responded to an advertised drawing in the October issue of VFW magazine for a 2002 Chevrolet Impala. When notified...

From New England to the Midwest, posts continue supporting Sept. 11 victims: it's been nearly five months since America was attacked, and reports of helpful Posts around the country continue to pour in. (VFW in action).
February 1, 2002... A charity auction sponsored by Post 2394 in Melrose, Mass., brought in $27,000 to honor the memory of two individuals killed Sept. 11. The Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to memorialize 29-year-old Ray Rocha, who was on the 105th...

Jest a minute.
February 1, 2002... * A man said to his girlfriend, "If we get married, will you be able to live on my wages?" The girlfriend said, "Yes, but what will you live on?" Garfield Anderson, Truth or Consequences, N.M. * A little girl was sitting on her...

Reunions & claims.
February 1, 2002... REUNION COORDINATORS: TO publicize your unit's reunion, fill out the form on page 48 of the February 2002 VFW magazine or print out a from VFW's website: http://www.vfw.org/magazine/51.shtml. Send to VFW magazine, 406 W. 34th St., Suite 523,...

Brits in Korea: top-notch. (mail call).
February 1, 2002... "Commonwealth Combats Communism in Korea" (December) by Al Hemingway was most welcome. As Americans, we should be proud and glad that the Black Watch Regiment and the British Commonwealth in general have been our closest friend and staunchest...

Origins of christmas trees in America. (mail call).
February 1, 2002... Re: "Celebrating Christmas Traditions" (December). In December 1776, Hessian mercenaries on Long Island, N.Y., created the first Christmas tree in the colonies. They cut off the tops of white pines; cut the top branches out and then put them...

Changes in veterans employment due. (mail call).
February 1, 2002... In reference to the GAO report on VETS in Washington Wire (December), I have suggestions. Either VETS should be taken out from under the Department of Labor and placed under VA, or assistant VETS directors should directly supervise...

ANWR drilling debate continues. (mail call).
February 1, 2002... Re: VFW Support for H.R. 4 (Washington Wire, December). It is satisfying to be a member of an organization that realizes the need to lessen dependence on Middle East oil. We must abandon the politics of environmental McCarthyism and tap...

Freedoms at risk by government. (mail call).
February 1, 2002... A couple dozen civilians, all of whom were killed, attacked the U.S., and the President initiated an undeclared war on a country that did not attack us. At home, we are beginning to resemble a police state. Our freedoms and privacy are...