VFW Action Corps Weekly
May 9, 2014
In This Issue:
1. What's Your VA Healthcare Story?
2. Senate Armed Services Reviews Military Compensation Proposals
3. Possible New VA Undersecretary Announced
4. VA Committee Discusses Student Vet Education Goals
5. D-Day 70th Anniversary Planning
6. D-Day Anniversary Plan B
7. Four MIAs Identified
1. What's Your VA Healthcare Story? The VFW wants VA-enrolled veterans to call the toll-free 1-800-VFW-1899 telephone line and tell us if your VA medical facility is properly serving you. According to VFW National Commander Bill Thien, recent allegations about improper care in Arizona, Colorado, Texas and elsewhere has made it difficult to separate truth from conjecture. "Veterans die every day, but veterans dying due to wrong diagnoses, unsterilized equipment or while awaiting treatment is a failure of leadership and management both in Washington and out in the field," he said. "We need to hear real life stories, good or bad, not hearsay. Only then can we hold VA officials properly accountable for their actions or inactions." The toll-free number was rolled out in 1996 as the VA was transforming from primarily a hospital-based system into an integrated healthcare system that now includes 820 outpatient clinics that serve veterans closer to where they actually reside. Call 1-800-VFW-1899 to voice your VA healthcare experiences.
2. Senate Armed Services Reviews Military Compensation Proposals: On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee heard from the Chairman and the six members of Joint Chiefs of Staff, regarding military compensation proposals within the FY 2015 budget. General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told committee members that there has to be a rebalancing of the force which requires support from Congress. He also spoke at length about DOD's year-long examination of pay and compensation options for all service members. The VFW attended the hearing and has stated for the record that Congress should not consider changes to military compensation until after the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission releases its report. Other witnesses included MOAA, AFA, AUSN and AUSA who added their concerns about proposals that greatly impact military personnel and their families.
To view the hearing which is recorded, visit the SASC website at: http://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/14-05-06-military-compensation
3. Possible New VA Undersecretary Announced: The White House this week announced the president's intent to nominate Dr. Jeffrey A. Murawsky as the new VA Undersecretary of Health. If confirmed by the Senate, he will replace Dr. Robert Prezel, who has served as undersecretary for four years, and who announced his intention to retire last September. Murawsky is currently the VISN 12, VA Great Lakes Healthcare System director, a position he has held since 2009. Read more of the announcement and others at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/01/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts.
4. VA Committee Discusses Student Vet Education Goals: This week, the House VA Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing on defining and improving success for student veterans across campuses. The witnesses were asked to discuss the implementation of new consumer resources for student veterans, like the VA's new GI Bill comparison tool and complaint system, as well as the VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program, and the Million Records Project -- a partnership between VA, Student Veterans of America (SVA) and the National Student Clearinghouse to report on student veteran outcomes. Past SVA Executive Director, Michael Dakduk, commented that while working with VA he gained an appreciation for details captured in reports and the gaps in research on student veteran outcomes. It was also noted that results from the Million Records Project shows that student veterans are succeeding at levels comparable, if not greater that their peers. VFW has led the charge to improve consumer resources for college-bound veterans, and continues to work with VA and Congress to ensure resources for student veterans remain relevant and easily accessible. To view the recorded webcast of the hearing and complete testimony, click here: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/defining-and-improving-success-for-student-veterans
5. D-Day 70th Anniversary Planning: According to the U.S. Embassy in Paris, the Government of France is offering to provide D-Day veterans and a guest with roundtrip transportation from Paris to Normandy, and lodging, meals and transportation while in Normandy for the 70th anniversary of Operation Overlord this June 6. Travel to/from Paris from the United States or elsewhere is an individual responsibility. Paris-based VFW Benjamin Franklin Post 605 is assisting by collecting the names of VFW and other D-Day veterans planning to attend. Please e-mail the following information as soon as possible to Chuck Steiner at VFW Post 605 at cjsteiner@aol.com.
* Full name, age and home address of veteran (include home/cell phone and e-mail, too).
* Indicate if a D-Day veteran, Normandy campaign, or WWII veteran.
* Escort or guest's name (if more than one, so indicate).
* Special needs (e.g., wheelchair).
* Dates of planned attendance (arrival to and departure from France).
If unable to send by e-mail, address regular mail to: Chuck Steiner, VFW Benjamin Franklin Post 605, 4 rue du General Leclere, 92130, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Other WWII veterans who plan to attend should forward this information, too, as the French Government may also extend similar support to them. Be advised, however, that the in-country support is subject to revision.
6. D-Day Anniversary Plan B: Can't make it to France? Then consider a trip to the Nation's Capital, where the Friends of the National World War II Memorial will host a D-Day 70th Anniversary Commemoration at 11 am., June 6, at the Memorial. Read more at http://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/.
7. Four MIAs Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to three soldiers killed during the Korean War and an airmen killed during the Vietnam War. Returned are:
* Army Sgt. Richard John Archambeault, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was lost on Nov. 2, 1950, in North Korea. He was accounted for on April 29 and will be buried with full military honors.
* Army Cpl. Richard Isbell, Company H, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, was lost on April 25, 1951, in South Korea. He was accounted for on April 17, 2014. He will be buried with full military honors.
* Army Cpl. William N. Bonner, Medical Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was lost on May 31, 1951, in North Korea. He was accounted for on April 22 and will be buried with full military honors in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
* Air Force Capt. Douglas D. Ferguson, 24, of Tacoma, Wash., was buried May 2 in Lakewood, Wash. On Dec. 30, 1969, Ferguson was on an armed reconnaissance mission when his F-4D Phantom II aircraft crashed in Houaphan Province, Laos.
To sign up new veterans' advocates, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm
As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org.
