VFW Magazine articles from October 2001

VFW Magazine archives from October 2001

Innovative initiatives ahead: in his acceptance speech, the chief outlined his upcoming plans. They range from combating diabetes to aiding the search for MIAs. (`Doing What's Right').(VFW to continue its many services for veterans)
October 1, 2001... VFW's future is tied directly to today's armed forces. Whether they are active-duty troops or mobilized National Guardsmen and Reservists sent overseas, they are destined to fill VFW ranks. So it is imperative that the organization reach out...

Interesting and inspiring. (mail call).
October 1, 2001... Let me express my appreciation for the many interesting and inspiring stories that appear in each monthly edition of VFW magazine. I am grateful for its splendid contributions to all those who now serve or who served in the past. Arthur...

Forward-looking message. (mail call).
October 1, 2001... Re: "Charting a Creative Course" (Command Post, August). This piece should be read into the minutes of every local Post meeting and then tacked to the bulletin board. It surprised the heck out of me with its forward-looking message. Nothing I...

Praising the infantry--it's about time. (mail call).
October 1, 2001... "`Queen of Battle': In Praise of the Infantry" (August) by Albert Garland hit the nail right on the head. At last such an article was written! Three cheers for the infantrymen. Joe Pelland, Jr. Tucson, Ariz. This was an excellent...

An equally rare breed. (mail call).
October 1, 2001... John Davis' "A Rare Breed: Three-War Infantrymen" (August) about triple Combat Infantry Badge recipients was of great interest. The Marine Corps awards the Combat Action Ribbon with gold stars for subsequent wars or actions, but one not...

Igniting Korean War memories. (mail call).
October 1, 2001... "Battling on Bloody Ridge" (August) by Al Hemingway ignited memories that time has pushed from my mind. I was one of the 18 able-bodied men of Company A to come off Hill 983 in August 1951. Not long after, we jumped off on Heartbreak...

VFW National Home meeting Oct. 27. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).
October 1, 2001... The National Home's annual corporate meeting will be held in Eaton Rapids, Mich., on Oct. 27 at 9 a.m. Three trustees, one each from District 1 (Maine, N.H., Vt., Mass., Conn. and R.I.), District 2 (N.Y., N.J. and Europe) and District 7...

China viewed as no. 1 threat. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(ABC News poll: threat to world peace)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... According to an ABC News poll, 35% of Americans see Communist China as the greatest threat to world peace. It is followed by Iraq (13%) and Russia (10%). Apparently, 8% of Americans see their own country as the biggest threat!

Quarter million U.S. troops overseas. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(serving in 141 countries)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... At the beginning of 2001, the Pentagon counted more than 250,000 GIs serving in 141 countries. Here are the biggest concentrations ashore: Germany (70,126), Japan/ Okinawa (40,025), South Korea (36,171), Italy (11,348), Great Britain...

World War II mystery revealed. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(US ship sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Maine in April 1945)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... On April 23, 1945, the USS Eagle (PE-56) was sunk by a German torpedo off Portland, Maine, killing nearly 50 sailors. The official Navy record had claimed a boiler explosion sunk the sub chaser. But declassified information showed a German...

Europe: start pulling your own weight. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(many Europeans are critical of the Bush administration foreign policy )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... In August, a poll in Europe supposedly revealed that Europeans were shocked at U.S. foreign policy. The American media gleefully reported the results, calling it a "wake-up call." President Bush's greatest sin: He makes decisions based on...

Chronicling naval technology. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).('Warship' television production will deal with the development of naval technology)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Warship, a production of New York's Channel 13/WNET, tells the complete story of naval technology over the last 200 years. Yet the focus is on human achievement and courage. The four-part mini-series airs Nov. 7 and 14 on PBS (check your...

Physical fitness damages self-esteem? (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(female military officer objects to weekly runs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... When a female officer in the U.S. Southern Command complained that weekly runs were "demeaning," they were cancelled. Supposedly, jogging "subjects slow runners to ridicule from faster runners." Running also contributes to "a hostile...

Pearl Harbor conference scheduled. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(Arizona Memorial Museum Association will commemorate the 60th anniversary)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Japan's Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Hawaii, a conference will be held in the islands from Dec. 1-5. It is being sponsored by the Arizona Memorial Museum Association. For more information, contact: Sue...

Conference features WWII. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to veterans and their families.).(annual World War II Conference to be held in Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Events hosting films, exhibits, a memorial ceremony, banquet and era entertainment will all be part of the fourth annual World War II Conference on Nov. 8-10 in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the WWII Veterans Committee, an educational...

NATO troops move into Macedonia. (Security).(Operation Essential Harvest)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Advance elements of a 3,500-strong NATO force arrived in Macedonia on Aug. 23. Called Operation Essential Harvest, the mission is designed to disarm ethnic Albanian rebels who have been fighting Macedonian government forces since February....

Memorials dedicated to terrorist victims. (Security).(Nairobi, Kenya; Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... One memorial opened in August and another will be dedicated this month to those killed in terrorist bombings. In Nairobi, Kenya, the August 7 Memorial Park honors the 207 Kenyans and 12 Americans who were killed when Islamic terrorists...

Oldest VA claims get first attention. (Service).(Department of Veterans Affairs; benefits claims)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... An initiative announced at VFW's 102nd National Convention by VA Secretary Anthony Principi will help expedite some of VA's longest-pending benefit claims. The effort will focus on claims pending longer than one year. The first group of...

More atomic vets may get benefits. (Service).(expansion of diseases that may have a radiation exposure source)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... VA announced in August that it is expanding a list of diseases presumed to have been caused by exposure to radiation. It also is adding more locations veterans served in that qualify as "radiation-risk activity" sites. The proposed...

Upward bound preps vets for college. (Service).(Veterans Upward Bound program offers college preparation)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Veterans interested in attending college might want to take some back-to-school training first. They also can do it free of charge. A federally funded program known as Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is open to all veterans who have served at...

Past VFW chiefs now VA liaisons. (Service).(Veterans of Foreign Wars; Department of Veterans Affairs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... VA has hired two past VFW commanders-in-chief to improve communications between the department and veterans groups. Paul Spera, VFW commander-in-chief in 1995-96, was selected as one of six VA regional liaisons, and John Smart, chief in...

Military retirees get `Tricare for Life'. (Service).(backup insurance, second to Medicare)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Beginning Oct. 1, Medicare-eligible military retirees age 65 and older can participate in Tricare for Life, the Pentagon's health care plan for eligible retirees. This expanded coverage, mandated by the 2001 National Defense Authorization...

VFW opens online legislative center. (Legislation).(online Legislative Action Center through the VFW site)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... VFW's Action Corps director announced in August that a new online service can help the organization's activists track and support pro-veteran legislation. The new Legislative Action Center can be accessed at the VFW Washington Office Web...

Senate `waters down' GI Bill. (Legislation).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Senate version of a new and improved Montgomery GI Bill does not please VFW. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee marked up S. 1088 on Aug. 1 and emerged with a bill that does not go far enough, according to VFW officials, in covering...

Cole crew memorialized, but case not closed: a year after the deadly terrorist attack on the USS Cole, the Navy honors 17 sailors; the FBI remains stymied. (Cover Story).
October 1, 2001... On its way to join the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf last Oct. 12, the USS Cole stopped in the Yemen port of Aden to refuel. More than 40 minutes into fueling, a small boat that had pulled alongside the destroyer exploded, tearing a...

`Last alarm': firefighters killed in the line of duty. (In Special Memory Of The 350 Firefighters Killed At The World Trade Center).(National Fallen Firefighter Weekend)
October 1, 2001... For more than a decade, VFW has honored firefighters for their feats of courage in lifesaving. Many have lost their lives throughout American history in the line of duty, easily attested to by recent headlines. The terrorist attack on the...

Bush draws spotlight on convention: VFW's national convention in Milwaukee, Aug. 18-24, emphasized the sacrifice of military service, the importance of backing the troops and the need to reform VA medical programs and claims processing. (VFW National Convention 2001).(President Bush, and other officials, speak at the national convention )
October 1, 2001... Voicing VFW's concern and empathy for America's active-duty troops, Commander-in-Chief John Gwizdak offered a special tribute at the opening of VFW's 102nd National Convention. By dedicating the convention to all uniformed Americans who have...

Bylaw. (Internal News).(Veterans of Foreign Wars: bylaws)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Bylaw amendment B-15 established a men's auxiliary. Each Post has the option, if approved by a two-thirds majority of members, to establish such an auxiliary.

Res. 204. (Internal News).(veterans who have received hostile fire or imminent danger exposure)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Res. 204--Petitioning Congress is the first step in creating eligibility for a new category of overseas veterans: members of the armed forces who have received hostile fire or imminent danger pay.

$100,000 was restored to the National Disaster Relief Fund. (Internal News).(Texas received $30,000 for heavy flooding)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * $100,000 was restored to the National Disaster Relief Fund. $30,000 was dispensed to Texas alone during heavy flooding last year.

Some $200,000 will be distributed to three charitable causes. (Internal News).(VFW)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * Some $200,000 will be distributed to three charitable causes, including diabetes research (four grants) and Fisher House, a temporary shelter for families of military personnel or veterans receiving care at a major military or VA medical...

VA's Golden Age Games. (Internal News).(contribution by the VFW)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * VA's Golden Age Games: VFW will contribute $150,000.

VFW's Political Action Committee. (Internal News).(economic surplus )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * VFW's Political Action Committee has a surplus of $181,540 left over from the 2000 election campaign.

The Departments of California and Minnesota. (Internal News).(VFW sale of Buddy Poppies: more than one million sold per state)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * The Departments of California and Minnesota were recognized for each distributing more than 1 million Buddy Poppies last year.

The Military Order of the Cooties. (Internal News).(hospital volunteers and VFW recruiting)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * The Military Order of the Cooties provided $11 million in volunteer hours at hospitals and recruited 11,780 VFW members last year.

Convention competition winners: posts, districts and departments gave their all during competitions and contests in Milwaukee.
October 1, 2001... PATRIOTIC RALLY Best Appearing Senior Men's VFW Color Guard Madison, Wis. VFW Post 7591 Best Appeering Senior Ladies VFW Auxiliary Color Guard St. Paul, Minn., RITUALISTIC COMPETITION First Place District 11...

All-American Commanders.
October 1, 2001... The following All-American commanders have distinguished themselves during the 2000-01 year. DEPARTMENT Alabama Jim L. Manley Alaska William Timmons Arizona Vincent A. Rigo California Arthur Harris Colorado James L. Mitchell...

`Reaching out to America's veterans': coming up through the ranks was a learning experience for the commander-in-chief. It's one he feels will better enable him to relate to members across the spectrum of generations.(new head of the VFW, Jim Goldsmith)(Interview)
October 1, 2001... Nineteen sixty-six and 1967 were the years of the big battles in Vietnam. Still firmly on the offensive, the U.S. Army launched major offensives with names like Attleboro, Cedar Falls and Junction City. Every GI "in-country" at the time...

Leading the organization.(officers of the VFW)
October 1, 2001... AT EACH NATIONAL CONVENTION, chair officers are elected and other leaders appointed for the forthcoming year. The chair officers are selected from various conferences so each region has a turn at being represented in the ranks of the national...

`Black Tuesday' over Namsi. (Korean War).(largest air battle of the Korean War )
October 1, 2001... On Oct. 23, 1951, the largest single air battle of the Korean War was fought over Namsi in "MiG Alley." That fateful 15-minute engagement changed the way the U.S. conducted bombing raids for the remainder of the war. It also revealed the...

Saga of a volunteer regiment: the 28th in the Philippines. (Philippines War 1899-1902).(28th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiment)
October 1, 2001... The 28th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiment was typical of the special units recruited to fight the colonial war in the Philippines. And it had a direct link to what became the Veterans of Foreign Wars. On Aug. 14, 1899, the Penn Avenue...

VFW Posts come to the rescue: posts prove community commitment by donating equipment and emergency vehicles. (VFW in action: VFW members and Posts demonstrating community service.).(VFW and community service)
October 1, 2001... When the audiology unit at a community hospital needs updated equipment, but the funding isn't available, where does it turn? Or what about the folks of a small town volunteer emergency team that need a new ambulance? In many cases, VFW...

In recognition. (membership).
October 1, 2001... Member recruitment is the lifeblood of the organization. And those who lead the membership drives in the Departments should be acknowledged. To accord them the recognition they deserve, VFW magazine is publishing the photos of Department...

Objective: 160,000 new and reinstated members: VFW's new commander-in-chief is determined to bolster the organization's membership base. As incentives, he's introduced contests to spur energy and interest. (membership).(Commander-in-Chief Jim Goldsmith)
October 1, 2001... VFW recruiters should be prepared to "reach out for membership" in the next year. Commander-in-Chief Jim Goldsmith's theme--"Reach Out"--is incorporated into his membership plan, which features several contests aimed at boosting VFW's...

Reunions & claims.
October 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...