VFW Magazine articles from October 2002

VFW Magazine archives from October 2002

Engaged at home and abroad: in his acceptance speech, the Chief outlined some of the issues facing veterans today. (command post).
October 1, 2002... America is now in the second year of its war against al Qaeda, the international, radical Islamic terrorist network responsible for the three attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. A global conflict like none other waged in U.S. history, it requires...

Wheelchair-bound vets of war overlooked. (mail call).
October 1, 2002... "Stigmatized by Wounds of War" (August) by Mark Van Ells was an excellent article dealing with an emotional subject. But it omitted wheelchair-bound veterans. Others like myself (I have been paralyzed for 34 years) from Vietnam have managed...

Casualties on Bunker Hill. (mail call).
October 1, 2002... "King of the (Bunker) Hill" (August) by Al Hemingway failed to mention that the 1st Marine Division was moved to western Korea by the 504th Trans. Truck Co., 70th Trans. Truck Bn., 351st Trans. Highway Transport Group. Like other companies, the...

Two of a kind: `honorary vets'. (mail call).
October 1, 2002... Re: Honorary Veterans. In 1999, Public Law 106-161 conferred "honorary veteran" status on philanthropist Zachary Fisher, founder of the Intrepid Sea-AirSpace Museum and the Fisher House program, making him the second individual (Bob Hope being...

Encouraging patriotism. (mail call).
October 1, 2002... Your member Gary Morgan receives VFW magazine, and I have been reading it. Since I was 8 years old, I have been thinking about going into the Army or Navy when I finish high school. Reading VFW has helped me decide what I want to do. ...

Refusing to serve. (mail call).
October 1, 2002... Re: Now Hear This (August). That 37% of college students would evade a draft should not come as a surprise. After all, President Jimmy Carter granted a blanket pardon to all Vietnam draft dodgers in 1977. This rewarded criminal acts. ...

Homeless Veteran demographics. (mail call).
October 1, 2002... According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, baseline statistics are derived from 1996 and 1999 reports. Some of their findings are: * 33% of homeless vets served in a war zone vs. 66% who did not. * Less than half served...

Educators don't know who the enemy is. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest teacher's union, informed its members that the most important thing to remember in recalling the radical Islamic terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 is to not "suggest that any group is...

Price tag for the ultimate sacrifice. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... As readers have pointed out, there is quite a discrepancy in the death benefits paid to the various uniformed services of surviving family members as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks: * Firefighters/Ambulance Attendants:...

National Home meeting Oct. 26. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... The National Home's annual corporate meeting will be held in Eaton Rapids, Mich., on Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. Two trustees, one each from District 5 (Va., N.C., S.C., Fla., Ga., Ala. and Panama Canal) and District 8 (Ill., Ind.) will be elected. ...

A day to volunteer. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... Make A Difference Day--America's largest national day of volunteering--is Oct. 26. It's a grand opportunity to serve your community. For more information, contact: Make A Difference Day hotline: 800-416-3824; 800-VOLUNTEER; or visit its Web...

Recognizing the teaching profession. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... VFW's 2002 National Citizenship Education Teacher Award winners were: * Linda W. Tyree, Morgantown Elementary School, Ky. (Post/Auxiliary 5837) * Sheila G. Hansen, Spearfish Middle School, S.D. (Post/Auxiliary 5860) * Lindy G....

A name for the day of infamy. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... A recent USA Today commentary by Samuel G. Freedman, associate dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism, contained some astute observations on Sept. 11, 2001: "Our ubiquitous name for the mass murder, `9/11,' is devoid of both...

2,800 vets ID'd in bio/chem tests. (Service).
October 1, 2002... The Pentagon verified in August the names of some 2,800 veterans who participated in Cold War-era chemical and biological tests. In addition, it identified and posted on a Web site the names of 109 tests conducted between 1963 and 1970. The Web...

Jesse Brown dies. (Service).
October 1, 2002... Former VA Secretary Jesse Brown died Aug. 15 of lower motor neuron syndrome. He was 58. "Jesse Brown was an icon among veterans," said VFW Commander-in-Chief James Goldsmith. "Although he often visited the White House as a member of the...

Congress considers medicare reimbursement. (Legislation).
October 1, 2002... A bill pending in the House would fulfill a long-standing VFW goal: require Medicare to pay for a veteran's health care at VA hospitals. The Veterans Medicare Reimbursement Act of 2002--H.R. 4890--was introduced in June and was being considered...

VA backlog reduction derailed. (Legislation).
October 1, 2002... President Bush declined in August to spend $5.1 billion in emergency funds earmarked by Congress for the military, domestic security and several other initiatives. It included $275 million for reducing backlogs at VA medical centers. ...

Special ops plane crash kills 10. (Security).
October 1, 2002... Ten airmen were killed Aug. 7 when their special operations aircraft crashed 20 miles south of San Juan, Puerto Rico, during a nighttime training mission. At press time, seven of the bodies had been recovered but none publicly identified. ...

Senior vice visits troops in Balkans. (Security).
October 1, 2002... Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Ed Banas traveled to Bosnia and Kosovo in August to meet with U.S. troops. He distributed 600 Operation Uplink phone cards and recruited 10 new VFW members. Banas said the troops' quality-of-life was...

Korean War remains returned. (Security).
October 1, 2002... The remains of what are believed to be seven U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War were repatriated in August. The Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii is now trying to identify them. U.S. search teams recovered six sets of...

Army MOS could lead to civilian job. (Employment).
October 1, 2002... A new Army Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) could give discharged soldiers a chance to enter the private sector quickly as paramedics. Fully qualified Army health care specialists (MOS: 91W, created in 2001) are required to obtain and...

Vietnam vet tackles terror as head of FBI: Robert Mueller has a daunting task ahead, but his combat experience as a Marine promises to make him an effective leader.
October 1, 2002... When the North Vietnamese infantry company opened fire with automatic weapons and grenade launchers, 2nd Lt. Bob Mueller instantly took command. "Let's go, squad leaders! Defensive perimeter! Bring up that M-60, on the double. Come on,...

A campaign `that knows no boundaries': Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is aggressively looking for new ways to fight the war on terrorism, and special operations will play a major part. (War On Terrorism).
October 1, 2002... U.S. special operations forces may be taking on a new role in the war on terrorism. Reportedly frustrated by the plateau of military operations and failure to eliminate al Qaeda, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld issued a classified directive...

Coping with the emotional numbing of combat; perhaps as few as 1 million men, or 6% of all who served, actually participated in sustained combat during World War II. But for that select minority, the war would never really end.
October 1, 2002... Mortal combat is one of the most emotionally charged experiences a human being can have. And more Americans fought in WWII than in any other conflict in the 20th century. Precisely how many American men participated in actual combat during...

Shadow warriors stalk at night: since its creation in 1981, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment has operated around the globe. Thriving in the cover of darkness, the "Night Stalkers" pride themselves on striking anywhere undetected. (War On Terrorism).
October 1, 2002... For U.S. special operations troops, staying alive often depends on how fast they can get into and, more important, out of incredibly dangerous situations. The men they rely on to "pull their bacon out of the fire" are members of the 160th...

Adapting to the `new realities': strengthening the organization requires a commitment in one's personal life as well as to the veterans movement. And pride is often the primary motivating factor, believes Commander-in-Chief Ray Sisk.
October 1, 2002... The South China Sea was a dangerous place in the late `50s and early `60s. It was the height of the Cold War and Communist China was flexing its military muscle in Southeast Asia. To stem the tide of Beijing's influence, the U.S. 7th Fleet was...

Leading the organization.
October 1, 2002... 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...

Hanging on the `bloody hook': for 36 hours on Oct. 26-27, 1952, Marines clashed in a bloody struggle with the Chinese over a piece of real estate known as "The Hook." (Korean War).
October 1, 2002... Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, commandant of the Marine Corps, peered intently through a telescope at the shell-pocked landscape in front of him. Shepherd had made a special visit to Korea's front lines to see firsthand what his Marines were up...

Indoctrination or education in Islam? (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... When the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill made reading of a book on the Koran mandatory, it caused a firestorm. The book was part of a student summer reading program. Opposition was based on the content of the book--which...

Saudi Arabia: friend or foe? (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... In a July 10 briefing to the Defense Policy Board, Rand Corp. told attending advisers, "The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners to financiers, from cadre to foot soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader." ...

Will it pay to prepay your mortgage? Here's a problem we all should have: your house is mortgaged, but you have enough cash available to pay off the loan and own your home free and clear. But should you do it?
October 1, 2002... Many veterans find themselves in this enviable position. A lifetime of hard work has allowed them to sock away an appreciable amount of money. Or perhaps they've inherited a tidy sum. Or maybe they're lottery winners. Whatever the source,...

VFW Political Action Committee endorsements for 2002.
October 1, 2002... The following incumbents and non-incumbents have received the VFW-PAC endorsement for the Senate and House of Representatives as indicated. These individuals are serving on key committees and sub-committees who have a direct influence over...

VFW instills values in youth: from flag presentations to visits to the classroom, members strive to better the nation's youth. (VFW in action).
October 1, 2002... VFW members care about America's future leaders--today's youth. Through various programs and classroom visits, they work to instill a sense of pride based on the nation's founding principles. In Pell Lake, Wis., Post 5830 presented large...

In recognition. (membership).
October 1, 2002... 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...

Rebate or low rate: VFW credit union can held. (member benefits).
October 1, 2002... Rebate or low-rate financing? Car buyers. often face this dilemma, and the decision isn't obvious. You can use a factory rebate two ways: (1) as a down payment toward your purchase, lowering the financed amount, or (2) in the form of a...

Now an "Afghanistan syndrome"? (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... Some media outlets were quick to jump on the wife-shooting deaths at Fort Bragg, N.C., in August, searching for a link to war service. Yet of the four killers, only two had served in combat in Afghanistan. One anthropologist called nearby...

Reports conflict on military recruiting. (Now hear this: brief news items of interest to Veterans and their families).
October 1, 2002... According to a story in the Aug. 20 USA Today, all service branches easily met their 2002 manpower needs. This is due, at least in part, to the supposed "allure of fighting terrorism." This new "surge in patriotism" and sense of purpose,...

Jest a minute.
October 1, 2002... * A man in a department store had just bought a cigar and was about to light it when a sales clerk informed him that smoking was not permitted in the store. "What?" he exploded. "You sell cigars in here. How can you prohibit smoking?" ...

Claims. (reunions & claims).
October 1, 2002... Readers are urged to help these veterans seeking claim substantiation statements. Respond directly to the person listed at the end of the claim assistance request. If you have need of assistance in preparing a claim, contact your local VFW...