VFW Magazine articles from May 2001

VFW Magazine archives from May 2001

Ensuring veterans rights: at the joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees, the Chief outlined VFW's future objectives. (Testimony Highlights).(Veterans of Foreign Wars)
May 1, 2001... Early every year, VFW representatives descend on Capitol Hill during the Legislative Conference to support the Chief's presentation to key decision-makers in the area of veterans affairs. This year, nearly a dozen key issues were highlight...

Gurkhas have the stuff. (mail call).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2001... "Gurkhas: Perfect Peacekeepers" (March) was excellent. These professionals deserve the recognition. As a WWII vet of India, I served with them. They did a fine security job for U.S. ordnance units in Calcutta, and GIs were most appreciative....

Vietnam war author: fans & foes. (mail call).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2001... "Author Seeks to Help Complete Vietnam Puzzle" (March) by Al Hemingway about Keith Nolan could not be more accurate. I can highly recommend his books. I participated in Operation Buffalo and can attest to the accuracy of his account. Nolan has...

Put famous vet series into a booklet. (mail call).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2001... Have you considered compiling the "Famous War Veterans" series into a separate booklet? The series is so well done and informative. It could be used--as I am doing in its installment form--as a great aid in teaching American history. Hope this...

Military tragedies & public apathy. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(accidental deaths among U.S. military personnel go relatively unnoticed)
May 1, 2001... The recent rash of accidental deaths among U.S. military personnel has once again underscored the lack of connection between the armed forces and the public it protects. While an entire nation mourned the death of a prominent race car...

Memorial Day Concert/ Korean War Special. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... PBS will air two programs of interest to veterans on May 27. This year, the National Memorial Day Concert (8-9:30 p.m. EDT) pays special tribute to Persian Gulf and Pearl Harbor vets, as well as former POWs of Korea. Distinguished guests host...

Battle over the black beret. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Army changes black beret worn by Rangers to tan)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... In a compromise to avert further crises, the Army agreed to allow the Rangers a tan beret instead of the traditional black. Calling the Army's decision in this matter "loopy," the Chicago Tribune published an editorial (March 24) reflecting...

No Greater Love quietly honors the dead. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(organization coomeorated military anniversaries)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... A little-known organization called No Greater Love (NGL), created by Carmella LaSpada and committed to remembrance, dedicated nearly a dozen memorials in Arlington National Cemetery from 1983-1996. Anniversaries are commemorated, too. They...

D-Day Memorial to be dedicated in Virginia. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).
May 1, 2001... The National D-Day Memorial will be dedicated in Bedford, Va., on June 6. For details, contact: National D-Day Memorial Foundation, 202 E. Main St., Bedford, VA 24523. 800-351-DDAY. www.dday.org

Last U.N. Charter delegate Stassen dies. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Harold E. Stassen)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Harold E. Stassen, one of VFW's most prominent members (Post 295, S. St. Paul, Minn.), died March 4 at 93. A three-time governor of Minnesota, he was one of eight U.S. delegates appointed to the U.N. Charter Commission in 1945 in San Francisco,...

MIA team lost in Vietnam. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(helicopter crash kills missing in action mission members)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Tragedy struck Joint Task Force-Full Accounting on April 7, when a helicopter carrying seven Americans and nine Vietnamese crashed in Quang Binh Province, killing all aboard. This was the first time any U.S. servicemen have been killed on...

Senate approves concurrent receipt. (Service).(bill to allow disabled military retirees to receive full retirement pay and VA disability compensation without offset)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The Senate approved a budget amendment on April 5 that represents a major victory for disabled military retirees. If it were approved in the final version of the FY2002 budget, it would allow disabled military retirees to receive their full...

Helpline answers Agent Orange questions. (Service).(Veterans Administration helpline)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... VA has established a new toll-flee helpline for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Vets can speak directly to VA representatives at 1-800-749-8387 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. They also can access a 24-hour automated...

Award named for former VFW DSO. (Service).(David Huntley Award of Excellence)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... A former VFW Department service officer is the namesake for an award honoring exceptional VA researchers. The David Huntley Award of Excellence was created by the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research at the Portland (Ore.) VA...

Depleted uranium not at fault. (Service).(cause of cancer reported by some NATO troops)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... A European Commission panel has found that depleted uranium (DU) ammunition fired by U.S. aircraft in the Balkans in 1999 is not the cause of cancer reported by some NATO troops (March 2001 Washington Wire). Further, the panel suggested no...

House OKs VA hospital repair act. (Legislation).(Veterans Hospital Emergency Repair Act)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The House unanimously approved a bill on March 29 providing more than half a billion dollars to repair aging and at-risk VA hospitals. The Veterans Hospital Emergency Repair Act-H.R. 811--was introduced by House VA Chairman Christopher Smith...

House bill targets those `most in need'. (Legislation).(Veterans Opportunities Act to assist active-duty GIs about to leave military, disabled veterans and vets' surviving spouses)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The House unanimously passed a bill March 29 that would assist active-duty GIs about to leave the military, disabled veterans and vets' surviving spouses. VA Chairman Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), who sponsored the bill, said it "targets......

Diabetes could be service connected. (Legislation).(bill introduced to establish presumption of service-connection for Vietnam veterans with Type II diabetes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... A bill introduced in March would establish a presumption of service-connection for veterans with Type II diabetes who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. H.R. 862 was introduced by Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.) Evans encourages any...

$53 billion approved for VA budget. (Legislation).(Department of Veterans Affairs FY2002 budget)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The House Budget Committee approved in March a 12% increase in VA's FY2002 budget. That represents $5.6 billion more than last year and $1 billion more than the Bush Administration had proposed. VA's budget will be some $53 billion next year....

Construction halted on WWII Memorial. (Security).(National World War II Memorial)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Just when it appeared that construction would begin on the National World War II Memorial, opposition halted the project once again. A federal judge on March 8 temporarily blocked workers from pruning trees near the proposed construction site,...

What's new in benefits? Here are some valuable facts and figures for veterans interested in burial benefits and elegibility requirements. (VA's Cemetery System).(veterans benefits)
May 1, 2001... As America's veterans grow older, more of them ponder a final resting place. A resurgence of WWII-related movies and anticipation of the soon-to-be-built National World War II Memorial have many older vets thinking about selecting an...

War memorials: symbolizing sacrifice: with their ever-changing cultural interpretations, war memorials today are often the center of debate and controversy. (Cover Story).
May 1, 2001... From time immemorial, permanent reminders of warriors' sacrifices on the battlefield have been deemed essential by various cultures. Just read the words of this proverb from the Apocrypha of the Holy Bible, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Chapter 44,...

Meaning of Memorial Day.
May 1, 2001... --Abraham Lincoln, Gettyburg Address It's a sacred day to all war veterans. None need to be reminded of the reason why Memorial Day must be commemorated. But what about the general public, and more importantly, future generations? Do most...

`Memorial man' on personal quest: Vietnam vet and VFW member Brian Rooney has dedicated his life to honoring veterans of war and teaching people the importance of patriotism. So far he has documented 8,000 war memorials nationwide.
May 1, 2001... At a medivac helipad in 1970 in Vietnam, a young American medic named Brian Rooney leaned over a wounded GI. The man's body was terribly mutilated, and Rooney knew he wasn't going to make it. Suddenly, the soldier's eyes popped open. He...

Making a difference: new VA secretary is determined: VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi has set firm and measurable goals for himself, and the buck for results stops at his office. (An exclusive VFW interview).(Veterans Administration)(Interview)
May 1, 2001... Tony Principi is an affable yet determined man. He takes his job very seriously. You can see it in his face. He is not filling this Cabinet post for the mere prestige. He has publicly pledged to fulfill his mission or else. In every VA...

Taking a strong message to Capitol Hill: VFW members converged on the nation's capital this year eager to work with a new Administration. They quickly realized, though, that with a closely divided Congress, VFW's political activism is now more important than ever.(Veterans of Foreign Wars)
May 1, 2001... VFW Commander-in-Chief John Gwizdak wanted to send a strong message to both VFW members and lawmakers at this year's Legislative Conference. So by invoking the imagery of an 18-wheeler barreling down the road, he stressed to members the...

May massacre on the Soyang: in the spring of 1951, Chinese forces were once again poised to strike their old nemesis--the 2nd infantry division.(Korean War)
May 1, 2001... Annihilate the 2nd Infantry Division! These were the orders passed down from the Chinese High Command to its units ready to begin their Spring Offensive in May 1951. It was an ambitious plan. The enemy was determined to breach the...

`Great war' vets: shaped decades to come. (Famous War Veterans).(World War I veterans)(Biography)
May 1, 2001... World War I (1917-18) produced some of America's most prestigious leaders from among the 2 million doughboys who served overseas. Every facet of society benefited from their contributions. HARRY S TRUMAN (1884-1972) b. Lamar, Mo. 33rd...

Repeat Performance: Milwaukee II: Milwaukee still has much to offer Veterans and families in town for VFW's 102nd National Convention..
May 1, 2001... Twice is nice, at least in regard to VFW's 102nd National Convention. This Aug. 18-24, the convention will once again be held in Milwaukee, Wis., marking the second year in a row veterans have convened in this Genuine American City. And though...

Reviving a forgotten battle: a St. Louis Post has a special mission to keep alive the memory of the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Missouri. (VFW in action: VFW members and Posts demonstrating community service.).(Veterans of Foreign Wars)
May 1, 2001... On May 26, 1780, British Gen. Frederick Haldim and Emmanuel Hesse led some 1,200 men in a charge on Fort San Carlos in what is now St. Louis, Mo. Their mission was to wipe out the post and further British expansion westward. But under the...

MAP benefits are a `great tool' for VFW recruiters: from emergency financial assistance for active-duty GIs to the largest job bank for veterans, MAP is an excellent method for convincing potential members to join. (memberships).(Veterans of Foreign Wars Military Assistance Program)
May 1, 2001... VFW recruiters have a new weapon in their member-benefits arsenal. VFW's Military Assistance Program (MAP)--along with an affiliation with an online job placement company--can help recruiters "sell" the benefits of becoming a VFW member. ...

Past Commander-in-Chief Frank Hilton dies. (taps).(Veterans of Foreign Wars)(Obituary)
May 1, 2001... VFW National Headquarters was saddened by the death of past Commander-in-Chief (1951-52) Frank C. Hilton, 92, on March 20, 2001, at Meadville Medical Center in Meadville, Pa., from complications of pneumonia. Private family services were...

Arrange your funeral in advance. (member benefits).(advice for veterans)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Prearranging funerals is a way people express care and concern for their loved ones. By planning ahead, an individual can select funeral arrangements and save loved ones from having to make multiple decisions during a difficult and stressful...

Reunions & claims.(Veterans of Foreign Wars)
May 1, 2001... REUNION COORDINATORS: To publicize your unit's reunion, fill out the form on page 51 of the January 2001 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...