VFW Magazine articles from March 2000

VFW Magazine archives from March 2000

A home to be proud of: this month the National Home for Children celebrates its 75th anniversary. As members, we should all join in the celebrating. (Caring For Deserving Families).(Eaton Rapids, Mich.)(Company Profile)
March 1, 2000... Though we are in the midst of a presidential primary campaign season, it is important to take time out to remember the fundamental reasons why VFW was formed. One of the organization's four founding objectives states: "To assist the widows...

Howard E. Vander Clute, Jr.: in memoriam: former adjutant general and past chief served VFW for 47 years. (`Lifetime Commitment').(Obituary)
March 1, 2000... Howard E. Vander Clute, Jr., died Jan. 29 after a bout with cancer. He was 70. He was buried in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Kansas. Howard, a resident of Kansas City, Mo., had been associated with the organization for more than...

`Dover test' for troop commitments. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Dover Air Force Base mortuary)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Before U.S. troops are committed abroad, says Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Hugh Shelton, decision-makers must answer a vital question. "Is the American public prepared for the sight of our most precious resources coming home in...

Is U.N. usurping U.S. sovereignty? (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) caused quite a stir at the U.N. in January when he reprimanded that body: "A United Nations that seeks to impose its presumed authority on the American people without their consent begs for confrontation and, I want to...

Military morale low, says study. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... The Center for Strategic and International Studies released its report on American Military Culture in the 21st Century in early January. CSIS found that barely 25% of soldiers believe "we have high morale in this unit." A 99-question...

Haiti mission ends. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(US troops leave)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... An operation precisely of the type mentioned below formally ended--more than five years after it began--on Haiti. The last GIs of the 197-member U.S. Support Group departed Jan. 20. Promoting "democracy" there cost $20 million a year. All...

Homosexual `sensitivity' training. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(US military)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... The U.S. Army has mandated homosexual "sensitivity" training for all soldiers. And GIs are being surveyed for their attitudes through a four-page, 33-question survey. One question asks if a soldier heard jokes about homosexuals while off duty....

1st Cav vets of Korea, listen up. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(No Gun Ri incident)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... If you served with the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea in 1950 and have any information to offer regarding the No Gun Ri incident, please contact: Office of the Inspector General, Attn: SAIG-ID (No Gun Ri), Department of the Army, 1700 Army...

Blinded Vet Foundation Web site. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(www.bavf.org)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... If you would like to reach the Blinded American Veterans Foundation via the Internet, here is its Web site: http:// www.bavf.org Articles by "Sgt. Shaft" from the Washington Times are accessible. The BVF provides research, rehabilitation...

VFW to celebrate National Volunteer Week. (Service).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... VFW plans to honor its 53-year affiliation with VA's Voluntary Service during National Volunteer Week, April 9-15. VFW's Director of National Veterans Service Fred Juarbe said that in 1999, VFW volunteers provided some 1 million hours of...

Dementia could surface PTSD. (Service).(post-traumatic stress disorder )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... World War II and Korean War combat veterans could be at risk for an undiagnosed form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Those who suffer from dementia appear to be...

Proposed VA budget hits $46 billion. (Legislation).(2001)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... The Administration submitted a VA budget to Congress in February that would increase spending by $1.5 billion. The entire $46 billion fiscal year 2001 VA budget consists of two main spending categories: * $23.6 billion for mandatory...

Defense budget would increase $13 billion. (Security).(fiscal year 2001 )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... President Clinton asked Congress for more than $300 billion for defense in his fiscal year 2001 budget. It would include an increase of $13 billion over last year's budget. Though it calls for improvements in existing military health care...

VFW urges exit from Kosovo. (Security).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... In keeping with a Kosovo-related resolution, VFW is urging the Administration to remove U.S. troops from that area of the Balkans. "It is time to develop a plan for replacing all U.S. troops serving in KFOR [the Kosovo peacekeeping force]...

Guard unit makes history. (Security).(assumes Bosnia command dutiy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... A National Guard unit from Texas deploys on a historic mission this month. The 49th Armored (Lone Star) Division takes command of the U.S. sector in Bosnia on March 7. It marks the first time a Guard division has led regular Army combat units...

U.S. troops leave East Timor. (Security).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... U.S. military ground forces evacuated East Timor in January. It ended a four-month mission for GIs participating with other international forces in Operation Stabilise, which sought to restore order after violence erupted following September...

North Korea says more remains found. (Security).(Korean War - U.S. troops)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... North Korean delegates to the United Nations indicated in January that "several sets" of remains of U.S. troops killed in the Korean War had been found. The revelation occurred coincidentally as talks between North Korea and the United States...

Ties to Taiwan strengthened. (Security).(US - Taiwan Security Enhancement Act)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... In a 341 to 70 vote, the House approved the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act on Feb. 1. The bill calls for the U.S. to establish direct military links with Taipei, expand military training opportunities for Taiwanese officers and conduct an...

Web site offers certification information. (Employment).(Military and Veteran's Credentialing Network)(www.dol.gov/ dol/vets)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Veterans who want to know what type of credentials they'll need for civilian jobs can now access a Web site for answers. Developed by the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), the site also can help employers...

VFW energizes electoral arena: VFW is engaging presidential candidates, stimulating voter participation and bringing veterans issues to the forefront of the primaries. (Cover Story).
March 1, 2000... Never before has VFW been so involved in an election year. The organization's "unprecedented" effort, as one member termed it, to thrust veterans issues to the forefront of the 2000 presidential and congressional races has been carried out...

VFW asks: where do you stand? Five presidential candidates tackle veterans issues.(2000)(Panel Discussion)
March 1, 2000... So you know the views of major presidential candidates on vital veterans issues, VFW magazine compiled them in a concise format. To compare and contrast their stances on VA and defense, simply glance across the chart. This data is designed to...

Health Care Act `historic': the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act, signed into law on Nov. 29, offers an "unprecedented blueprint" for the new century. Now, however, comes the tedious task of trying to wed concept to reality.
March 1, 2000... House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Stump (R-Ariz.) calls the new omnibus health care package a "blueprint for the next century." Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.) believes "Congress has proudly supported a strong reaffirmation of our...

At 75, VFW's National Home for Children is still going strong: this haven for widows and orphans has evolved into a living memorial for all veterans.(Eaton Rapids, Mich)
March 1, 2000... For 75 years, VFW's National Home For Children in Eaton Rapids, Mich., has provided a safe haven for mothers, children and grandchildren of VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members in need. More than 1,611 children have resided in the home since its...

Freedoms Foundation hosts VOD winners: in June, the national VOD winners will travel to Valley Forge, near Philadelphia, for a youth conference. Here's a look back at their first-ever visit. (Voice of democracy: `the brightest young minds').
March 1, 2000... When VFW's Voice of Democracy Department winners united on the Freedoms Foundation campus at Valley Forge, Pa., last June, it was a meeting of the brightest young minds. Freedoms Foundation is designed to promote responsible citizenship and...

`Slippery slope' to Indonesia.(US troops, policy)
March 1, 2000... USA Today called Indonesia "a cauldron of disaffected ethnic groups," naming it among the three hot spots of the new millennium most likely to draw in U.S. armed forces. Indeed, this year there has witnessed fighting between Christian and...

`Tiger Hunt' in Korea: during the 1871 weekend war in Korea, fierce "Tiger Hunters" defended the Hermit Kingdom to the bitter end, earning the respect of hardened U.S. Marines and sailors. (America's Military Heritage).
March 1, 2000... As has so often been the case when East meets West, a collision in cultures results. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened 129 years ago in "Corea," a nation that is today one of America's staunchest allies. U.S. merchants in 1871...

Publishers preserve military history.(6 military book publishers)(Company Profile)(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2000... Six Leading Military Book Publishers Profiled Enhancing public understanding of what America's war veterans endured is possible in limited ways. While movies (only rarely) and museums can convey some of the experiences of war, only books...

Community giving is VFW's way of life: recycling and music programs are prime examples. (VFW in action: VFW members and Posts demonstrating community service.).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Posts searching for a community fundraising effort don't have to look too far. Recycling soda can tab tops can bring in a hefty sum. One pound of tap tops is worth approximately 20-30 cents. Post 2048 in Elmhurst, Ill., delivered 238 pounds...

More post commanders eligible for All-American status. (membership).(VFW)
March 1, 2000... Throughout the 2000 membership year, VFW commanders who wanted to attain All-American status have had a clear objective: recruit the required number of new members. This method--resurrected by VFW after being shelved for a few years--gives more...

Ensuring long-term care: not just protection--it's peace of mind. (member benefits).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... It's a fact--America is aging. It is estimated that over the next 30 years, more than 20% of the American population will be older than 65. (1) For those Americans aged 65 and over, two out of five are likely to need some type of long-term...

Correction to Congress page. (mail call).(http://veterans.house.gov )(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2000... "Contacting Congress on Veterans Affairs" (January) requires two corrections: Web site URL is http://veterans.house.gov and the House Committee majority number is (202) 225-3527. Dan Amon HVAC Press Secretary

Stamp depictions wrong. (mail call).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2000... Re: "New Stamps Commemorate War Service" (January). Will the Postal Service people who select the art for historical stamps ever get it right? The WWII stamp depicts men in WWI uniforms and helmets making a WWI-style bayonet charge! Also, I do...

Kosovo: the true story. (mail call).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2000... Re: "Kosovo: Touching Close to Home" (January) and "Dead in Kosovo Exaggerated" (Now Hear This). It was very heartening to see the accurate reporting on the Kosovo casualties and the role of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Most of us who...

`Blue Goose' incident. (mail call).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2000... The PBY "Catalina" flying boat know as "Blue Goose" was under civilian operation (Foshing Airlines) when it disappeared between Taipei, Taiwan and Matsu Island on Oct. 1, 1958. Three U.S. Army personnel--Maj. Robert C. Bloom, Capt. Wayne...

Missing museums in Britain. (mail call).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2000... "Britain: A Military History Tour" (January) was interesting. Americans planning trips to Britain should allow time to visit the country's historic military sites. Another stop on the itinerary should be the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon...

Jest a minute.(Humor)(Brief Article)(Column)
March 1, 2000... * A police lieutenant, in an attempt to find out which of the suspects in the line-up was the real bank robber, said, "I want each of you to repeat after me... `Put all your money in this bag or I'll shoot,'" when one of the group quickly...

Reunions & claims.(Directory)(Column)
March 1, 2000... REUNION COORDINATORS: To publicize your unit's reunion, fill out this form 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 523, Kansas City, MO 64111. Please note that...