FW: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, March 13, 2015

Ya' know, every once in a while something comes along that is just perfect!!!

We are here on earth to do good unto others. What the others are here for, I have no idea. 

---

From: vva@vva2.talklist.com
To: krrisk@comcast.net
Subject: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, March 13, 2015
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:17:09 -0500

Ken Riskedahl
Tupelo, MS.

March 13, 2015 In This Issue: 1. VFW to Meet with President in Phoenix 2. Choice Card Survey 3. VFW meets with VA Research and Development Leadership 4. DoD Authorizes GWOT-EM for Freedom's Sentinel 5. Seven Korean War Soldiers Identified 1. VFW to Meet with President in Phoenix: President Obama is visiting the Phoenix VA Medical Center today and VFW National Inspector General Ray Thomas is expected to join him in a roundtable discussion on veterans' health care issues. In a newspaper interview, Thomas said most of the veterans he's talked with seem pleased that patient wait times have improved substantially, but that there is still an issue with specialists, especially cancer specialists. Last year, the VFW championed the passage of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act to help counter the nationwide crisis in care and confidence that Phoenix ignited—but now in hindsight could have been started at a different facility anywhere. The VA still has an uphill climb to fix what's broken, to hold employees accountable, and to restore the faith of veterans in their VA. 2. Choice Card Survey: The VFW has commissioned a second survey to poll members on their experiences accessing the Veterans Choice Program. Thank you to those who have taken the second survey. Your participation has allowed the VFW to continue to keep its finger on the pulse of this important program and evaluate progress as the Veterans Choice Program enters its fifth month. If you took our first survey, but have not taken the second survey, which went live on February 6, 2015, please help us track any changes in your experiences. If you are taking this survey for the first time, your input is critical to holding VA accountable for delivering timely non-VA care options to veterans. Take the survey here: https://www.research.net/s/VFWChoiceSurvey2. To learn more about the Veterans Choice Program or to share your stories with us, please visit: http://www.vfw.org/VAWatch/. 3. VFW meets with VA Research and Development Leadership: On Wednesday, the VFW hosted the VA's Research and Development team for a discussion on the status of their research programs. VA has many promising research projects, including: women's health, which will increase VA's knowledge on best ways to deliver care for women; health disparities and access needs in minority populations; and the on-going Million Veteran Program (MVP), a genetic data collection and research program that lead to a better understanding of the relationship between genetics and diseases and military-related illnesses. To learn more about VA Research and Development or how to participate in the MVP program click here: http://www.research.va.gov/. 4. DoD Authorizes GWOT-EM for Freedom's Sentinel: Operation Freedom's Sentinel is now a qualifying operation for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. The Defense Department said the award is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015. Service members deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Freedom's Sentinel continue to be awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Troops deployed abroad in support of Freedom's Sentinel, but stationed outside of the campaign medal's area of eligibility, are now eligible for award of the GWOT Expeditionary Medal. Also now authorized are service stars on medals or ribbons to reflect multiple deployments. The GWOT-EM, as well as the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, are VFW membership qualifiers. Read more about the Pentagon's policy change at: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128351&source=GovDelivery. 5. Seven Korean War Soldiers Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced the identification of remains belonging to seven Army soldiers who had been lost and unaccounted-for since the Korean War. Returned home for burial with full military honors are: Sgt. 1st Class Donald R. Strum, Company C, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, who was lost in North Korea on Nov. 4, 1950. Cpl. Robert Higgins, 21, of Bucks County, Penn. He was assigned to Battery C, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, when lost in battle in South Korea on Feb. 13, 1951. Sgt. Floyd J.R. Jackson, 20, of Warrensburg, Mo., died while a POW in North Korea on Feb. 13, 1951. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which made up part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team. Pfc. John R. Bowers, of Greenville, S.C. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, when lost in South Korea on Feb. 14, 1951. Sgt. Arnold V. Andring, 25, of Gary, Minn., died while a POW in North Korea after being captured on Feb 14, 1951. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 8th Army. Pfc. Lotchie J.R. Jones, 18, of Jasper, Tenn., died while a POW in North Korea on Feb. 28, 1951. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Cpl. Lindsey C. Lockett, 25, of Henrico, Va., died while a POW in North Korea on May 31, 1951. He was assigned to Medical Detachment, Headquarters Battery, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. 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.

FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, March 6, 2015

  

Ya' know, every once in a while something comes along that is just perfect!!!

We are here on earth to do good unto others. What the others are here for, I have no idea. 

---

Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, March 6, 2015
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2015 16:32:29 -0500

March 6, 2015 In This Issue: 1. Commander Testifies, VFW Meets One-on-One with Congress 2. VFW Discusses Sequestration with President 3. House Passes Two Important VA Bills 4. Student Vets Join VFW to Storm the Hill 5. VFW Participates in Toxic Exposures Roundtable 6. VFW Participates in Appeals Roundtable 7. Sanders Receives VFW Congressional Award 8. Carter Becomes New SECDEF 9. Army Airborne Hazards Study Looks for Participants 10. Eight WWII Airmen Identified 1. Commander Testifies, VFW Meets One-on-One with Congress: VFW members from across the country converged on Capitol Hill this week to set VFW's agenda for the year. Members from every department met with their state's congressional members and staff to outline the 2015 Priority Goals and provide more detailed solutions to pressing issues like ending budget sequestration, access to health care and timely claims processing. To view the 2015 VFW Priority Goals and Talking Points click here: http://www.vfw.org/VFW-in-DC/National-Legislative-Service/. VFW Commander-in-Chief John W. Stroud finished the Legislative Conference by presenting VFW's legislative agenda before a Joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees hearing. You can watch the hearing and read the Commander's full testimony here: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/legislative-presentation-of-veterans-of-foreign-wars03042015. 2. VFW Discusses Sequestration with President: VFW National Commander John Stroud met with President Obama Tuesday afternoon to discuss the looming restart of mandatory sequestration this fall, the disastrous impact it will have on military readiness, as well as the quality of life programs that serve the troops and their families, and its potential impact on the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies that serve veterans. Stroud also addressed his concerns regarding access to care issues at the VA, and the VFW's strong support to ensure the Veterans Choice Program—which is intended to be the solution to last year's nationwide crisis in VA care and confidence—does not fail. Prior to his White House meeting, Stroud met with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Walsh to discuss sequestration and the recommendations made by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, and he met with the interim leadership of the new Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 3. House Passes Two Important VA Bills: On Monday, the House of Representatives passed two bills designed to increase access and accountability in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The first, H.R. 280, authorizes the VA secretary to retroactively rescind bonuses from any employee who is later found to have manipulated data or otherwise defrauded the government during the time period for which the bonus was granted. The second, H.R. 294, the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act, would allow veterans under VA nursing home care to be transferred to a medical foster home, if they so choose. Medical foster homes are family-style settings which may be better options for some veterans than institutional nursing homes.  The two bills now move to the Senate for consideration. The VFW proudly endorsed both measures, and Deputy Legislative Director Aleks Morosky testified in their support before the House Veterans Affairs Committee on January 27, 2015. To read Morosky's testimony in its entirety, click here: http://veterans.house.gov/witness-testimony/mr-aleks-morosky. To watch his Fox and Friends interview on H.R. 280, click here: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4020179685001/union-condemns-va-reform-bill/?#sp=show-clips. Stay tuned to the Action Corps Weekly for updates on these bills as they move through the Senate.  4. Student Vets Join VFW to Storm the Hill: This week the VFW hosted 10 student veterans who stormed Capitol Hill for the inaugural VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship. The 10 fellows were selected in collaboration with Student Veterans of America based on an essay submission on a veterans' advocacy issue of their choosing. Throughout the week, the fellows were integrated into the VFW National Legislative Conference, advocating face-to-face on their issues with their congressional delegations. The fellows also had the opportunity to receive briefings from Department of Labor and VA officials on transition policies; from congressional staff members on effective ways to advocate; and from a prominent veteran's beat reporter on how to work with the media. The fellows also met with leadership from the VFW and SVA to discuss their experiences and potential sustainability of the program. During his testimony before the Joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees, VFW Commander-in-Chief John Stroud acknowledged the fellows' contributions throughout the week, and pledged to grow the program in coming years. To see photo highlights from the Legislative Conference, click here: https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&q=%23vfwhill2015. 5. VFW Participates in Toxic Exposures Roundtable: On Tuesday, the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a roundtable to discuss toxic exposures in the military and how to improve the process for determining which health conditions are associated with military exposures. VFW Senior Legislative Associate Carlos Fuentes urged the Subcommittee, VA and DOD to ensure veterans who were exposed to toxins during military service are not forced to wait for the health care and benefits they deserve. To read more on military exposures, visit: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/index.asp. 6. VFW Participates in Appeals Roundtable: Brendon Gehrke, VFW Senior Legislative Associate, discussed the growing backlog in disability claims appeals with Rep. Ralph Abraham, the Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Dina Titus. While various conversations have taken place over the course of the past year, this roundtable brought more parties to the table in order to promote a discussion on ways that the veterans' appellate process can be simplified and improved. 7. Sanders Receives VFW Congressional Award: On Wednesday evening, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) received the VFW's 2015 Congressional Award, which since 1964 has been presented annually to one sitting member of the House or Senate for significant legislative contributions on behalf of those who have worn the uniform. "It is no understatement to say that Senator Sanders has taken care of wounded, ill and injured veterans and their surviving family members," said VFW National Commander John Stroud. "He has been a commanding voice against changing the COLA calculations for disabled veterans, for the proper care and treatment of women veterans, homeless veterans, for better employment opportunities and improved access to mental health programs, as well as increased congressional oversight of the VA claims processing transformation," he said. "And when the VA imploded last year, he was the lead negotiator for the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which the president signed into law last summer. The VA still has an uphill climb, but veterans everywhere should be proud and comforted to know that this United States senator has their back in Congress." 8. Carter Becomes New SECDEF: The VFW was in the Pentagon this afternoon to witness Ash Carter being sworn in as the new Secretary of Defense. Administering the oath of office was Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Elena Kagan. Carter was deputy secretary of defense from 2011 to 2013, and previously had overseen the buying of the military's newest weapons systems and technologies, as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. During the Clinton Administration, he was assistant secretary of defense for international security policy. 9. Army Airborne Hazards Study Looks for Participants: The Army's Study for Active Duty Military For Pulmonary Disease Related to Environmental Deployment Exposures (STAMPEDE) is looking for OIF/OEF/OND veterans, who developed chronic respiratory symptoms during or soon after deployment, can exercise on a treadmill, had no history of pre-existing lung disease before deployment, and can travel to San Antonio Military Medical Center or Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. STAMPEDE is a study conducted by the Army to evaluate if certain pulmonary health conditions are associated with exposure to particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and dioxins, and other harmful materials found in combat zone burn pits. To read more about this study, visit: http://www.army.mil/article/143161/Researchers_investigate_respiratory_health_of_deployed_personnel_during_operations/. 10. Eight WWII Airmen Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains of eight Army Air Forces airmen who had been missing in action since World War II. Returned home for burial with full military honors are 1st Lts. William D. Bernier of Augusta, Mont., Bryant E. Poulsen of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Herbert V. Young Jr. of Clarkdale, Ariz.; Technical Sgts. Charles L. Johnston of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Hugh F. Moore of Elkton, Md.; Staff Sgts. John E. Copeland of Dearing, Kan., and Charles J. Jones of Athens, Ga.; and Sgt. Charles A. Gardner of San Francisco, Calif. On April 10, 1944, the B-24D Liberator crewmembers took off from Nazdab Air Field in New Guinea on a mission to attack an anti-aircraft site at Hansa Bay. The aircraft was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire. Read more at http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=17160. 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.

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FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, February 27, 2015

 Ya' know,  every once in a while something comes along that is just perfect!!!

We are here on earth to do good unto others. What the others are here for, I have no idea.

---

Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, February 27, 2015
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 17:17:06 -0500

February 27, 2015 In This Issue: 1. Ending Sequestration Tops VFW Legislative Agenda 2. VFW Testifies Before Senate VA Committee 3. VFW Meets with House Democratic Leaders at Roundtable 4. VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship Program 5. Senator Sanders to Receive Congressional Award 6. VFW Responds to Forbes Attack 7. Voice of Democracy Program Winners 1. Ending Sequestration Tops VFW Legislative Agenda: More than 500 VFW members are arriving in Washington this weekend to urge their members of Congress to end sequestration, which is set to restart Oct. 1. "America is still a nation at war, and the looming restart of mandatory sequestration will have a devastating impact on the ability of our military to respond when and where necessary, on homeland security, and on military quality-of-life and veterans' programs everywhere," said VFW National Commander John W. Stroud, who will present the VFW's legislative positions at 10 a.m., Wednesday, in testimony before a joint hearing of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. "Our members—all voting constituents—will use this face-to-face opportunity to demand that their Congress put an end to the sequester, to defeat continued attempts to force veterans, service members and their families to shoulder an unfair share of the nation's debt, to approve advance appropriations for all VA accounts, and to fight to preserve the safety and security of the United States and the continued viability of the All-Volunteer Military," he said.  Read about other VFW legislative conference highlights, as well as how to watch video of scheduled events, at: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2015-Articles/Ending-Sequestration-Again-Tops-VFW-Legislative-Agenda/. 2. VFW Testifies Before Senate VA Committee: On Wednesday, Ray Kelley, Director, National Legislative Service, presented a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of America's veterans. VA Secretary Bob McDonald, opened the hearing by laying out what VA's current budgetary need is and that the cost will continue to increase for years to come as Vietnam veterans age and more current conflict veterans enter the system with complex, multifaceted medical conditions -- noting that historically, VA sees the usage and cost for care peak for each generation of war fighters 40 years after the conflict ends. Read the full testimony and watch the hearing here: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/fiscal-year-2016-budget-for-veterans-programs-and-fiscal-year-2017-advance-appropriations-request. 3. VFW Meets with House Democratic Leaders at Roundtable: On Thursday, Ray Kelley, Director, National Legislative Service, participated in a roundtable with veterans service organizations and advocacy groups as part of the party leadership's ongoing efforts to discuss and address the critical issues facing our nation's service members and their families, as well as veterans.  More than a dozen Democratic Members attended the roundtable, facilitated by Congressman Tim Walz, including VA Committee Ranking Member Corinne Brown, many members of the VA Committee and other congressional leaders. Among all the topics that were discussed, Kelley took the time to voice support for the Veterans Choice program, but informed the panel that oversight moving forward will be critical to ensure veterans receive quality health care in a timely manner. 4. VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship Program: Joining this year's VFW Legislative Conference will also be 10 student veterans who were selected as Fellows who are currently enrolled in colleges or universities in Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. The partnership between the VFW and Student Veterans of America will pair each Fellow with a VFW mentor to accompany their respective VFW state delegations around Capitol Hill for in-person meetings with their members of Congress and their staffs. The student veterans will also receive briefings from the VA Department of Labor on ongoing policy initiatives, as well as briefings on ways to work constructively with the media when advocating for veterans' policy initiatives. Learn more at: http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/VFW_in_DC/SVALegislativeFellowship.pdf. 5. Senator Sanders to Receive Congressional Award: The VFW's 2015 Congressional Award will be presented next Wednesday to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who for eight years on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee—two of them as chairman—has been a commanding voice against changing the COLA calculations for disabled veterans, for the proper care and treatment of women veterans, homeless veterans, for better employment opportunities and improved access to mental health programs, as well as increased congressional oversight of the VA claims processing transformation.  "It is no understatement to say that Senator Sanders has taken care of wounded, ill and injured veterans and their surviving family members," said VFW National Commander John Stroud. "When the VA imploded last year, he was the lead negotiator for the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which the president signed into law last summer," he said. "The VA still has an uphill climb to fix what's broken, to hold employees appropriately accountable, and to restore the faith of veterans in their VA, but veterans everywhere should be proud and comforted to know that this United States senator has their back in Congress." 6. VFW Responds to Forbes Attack: In an editorial published yesterday, Forbes magazine columnist Avik Roy accused the VFW of being an obstructionist to changing the way the Department of Veterans Affairs takes care of veterans. Entitled "The Veterans Independence Act: Giving Vets A Way Out Of Socialized Medicine", the piece was meant more to publicize a new task force report that he co-chaired than to offer any substantive ideas. In a response, VFW National Commander John Stroud said there are no quick fixes to the challenges that continue to confront the VA, and that the VFW remains against privatizing veterans' health care because it is an inherent government responsibility, but that we have never been against augmenting VA care with civilian practitioners on an as-needed basis, or to help serve veterans who reside in rural America. "Everyone just needs to understand the limitations of the private sector, where there are too few medical providers with waiting lines of their own, and who limit the number of government-sponsored patients they accept because of low reimbursement rates," he wrote. "Civilian providers have a role in caring for veterans, but to supplement, not to replace, the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides a continuum and continuity of care to wounded, ill and injured veterans that is unmatched in the private sector." Read the Chief's response at: http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/VFW_in_DC/VFWCICForbesLetter.pdf. 7. Voice of Democracy Program Winners: The winner of this year's $30,000 Voice of Democracy scholarship will be announced Monday evening at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Va. This year's winner will be selected from 54 VFW state and department winners who were the best of almost 37,200 high school student entries. The winner will be joined onstage by Ethan Schroeder, a 13-year-old 7th Grader from New Kensington, Penn., who bested more than 125,000 middle school students to win a $5,000 scholarship in the VFW's annual Patriot's Pen contest. The VFW will stream live video of the 2015 Voice of Democracy Parade of Winners beginning at 6 p.m. (EST), Monday, at http://www.vfw.org/legislativeconference/, or use the "on-demand" feature to watch at any time. Veterans and supporters can also follow the VFW on the web at www.vfw.org, as well as on social media. Look for #VFWHill2015 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 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.

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FW: VVA: Fwd: Remember The Fallen -- February

 Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2015 02:52:50 -0500
Subject: VVA: Fwd: Remember The Fallen -- February
From: vva@vva2.talklist.com
To: vva@vva2.talklist.com

via Gerry Ney

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Noonie Fortin <nooniefortin@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 2:22 PM
Subject: Remember The Fallen -- February

This month please remember these women who died during February while serving our country in or during war times:

1 Feb 1968:           CIVILIAN Ruth Thompson, missionary, VIETNAM

1 Feb 1968:           CIVILIAN Carolyn Griswald, missionary, VIETNAM

1 Feb 1968:           CIVILIAN Ruth Wilting, missionary, VIETNAM

3 Feb 2005:           CIVILIAN Carmen Christina Urdaneta, 32, humanitarian, AFGHANISTAN

3 Feb 2005:           CIVILIAN Cristin "Cristi" Gadue, 26, humanitarian, AFGHANISTAN

3 Feb 2005:           CIVILIAN Amy Lynn (Niebling) Meeks, 29, humanitarian, AFGHANISTAN

4 Feb 1997:           USN AW3 Wendy L Potter, airplane crash, off coast of Israel

7 Feb 1944:           USA ANC LT Marjorie Morrow, WW II

7 Feb 1944:           CIVILIAN ARC Esther Richards, died at Anzio, WW II

7 Feb 1944:           USA ANC 1LT Carrie Sheetz, WW II

7 Feb 1944:           USA ANC LT Blanche Sigman, WW II

7 Feb 2007:           USMC CPT Jennifer Harris, 27, IRAQ

7 Feb 2007:           USMC CPL Jennifer Parcell, 20, IRAQ

9 Feb 1944:           USA ANC LT LaVerne Farquar, WW II

9 Feb 1944:           USA ANC LT Gertrude Spelboug, WW II

9 Feb 1971:           CIVILIAN Lucinda J. Richter, American Red Cross, VIETNAM

9 Feb 2005:           ILARNG SGT Jessica M. Housby, 23, IRAQ

10 Feb 2010:        USA PFC Adriana Alvarez, 20, gunshot wound, IRAQ

12 Feb 2007:        USN MA2 Laquita (Pate) James, 33, natural causes aboard USS Bataan, AFGHANISTAN

12 Feb 2009:        USN IT3 Caitlin Trask, 21, died of gunshot wound by her former boyfriend in Newport News, VA

12 Feb 2009:        USAF T/SGT Jessica Sweet, 30, leukemia, Walter Reed

14 Feb 2008:        USA SGT Julianna Gehant, 32, murdered in Northern Illinois University

14 Feb 2013:        USA SPC Kimberly Walker, 28, murdered by boyfriend, Colorado Springs, CO

15 Feb 2010:        USAF MG Jeanne Holm, died from double pneumonia

16 Feb 1944:        USA ANC Ellen Ainsworth, 24, WW II

16 Feb 2004:        USAR PFC Nichole M. Frye, 19, IRAQ

16 Feb 2005:        USA SPC Katrina Lani (Johnson) Bell, 32, IRAQ

16 Feb 2014:        USMC GySgt Monica Plank, 34, hit & run driver, OH

17 Feb 2006:        USAF SrAirman Alecia S Good, 23, plane crash near Africa

18 Feb 1944:        WASP Marian Toevs, WW II

18 Feb 1966:        USA ANC 2LT Carol Ann Drazba, 22, VIETNAM

18 Feb 1966:        USA ANC 2LT Elizabeth Ann Jones, 22, VIETNAM

19 Feb 2009:        HIARNG PFC Cwislyn K Walter, 19, non-combat vehicle accident

19 Feb 2010:        USA SGT Winter Plummer, 27, murdered by husband at Ft Lewis, WA

21 Feb 2010:        TNARNG CWO2 Billie J Grinder, 25, helicopter accident, IRAQ

22 Feb 2008:        USA SPC Keisha M Morgan, 25, non-combat overdose, IRAQ

22 Feb 2010:        USA PFC Autumn M Shannon, 32, murdered by mother, Ft Bragg, NC

22 Feb 2012:        CIVILIAN Journalist Marie Colvin, 56, killed in crossfire, Syria

24 Feb 1944:        ANC 2LT Elizabeth J Howren, plane crash near Gela-Vittoria, Sicily

25 Feb 1944:        WASP Trainee Betty Pauline Stine, WW II

25 Feb 1991:        USAR SPC Christine Mayes, 22, barracks building in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, DESERT STORM

25 Feb 1991:        USAR SPC Beverly S Clark, 23, barracks building in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, DESERT STORM

25 Feb 1991:        USAR SPC Adrienne L Mitchell, 20, barracks building in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, DESERT STORM

26 Feb 2007:        MDARNG PVT May Yuen, 22, Basic Training suicide?

27 Feb 1991:        USA SGT Cheryl (LaBeau) O'Brien, 24, DESERT STORM

27 Feb 2007:        CIVILIAN Geraldine Marques, 31, suicide bomber, AFGHANISTAN

28 Feb 1991:        CTARNG SPC Cindy Marie Beaudoin, 19, Kuwait, DESERT STORM

28 Feb 2003:        USAF SSG Shelby Dawn Orelup, 22, murdered at Sheppard AFB, TX

28 Feb 2009:        USMC Carri Leigh Goodwin, 20, suicide due to rape

You can learn a little more about these women as well as those who died in The Pentagon on 9/11/01 and in the Oklahoma City bombing by going to my webpages honoring them at:

www.nooniefortin.com/iraq.htm

www.nooniefortin.com/afghanistan.htm

www.nooniefortin.com/otherareas.htm

www.nooniefortin.com/thepentagon.htm

www.nooniefortin.com/okc.htm

www.nooniefortin.com/desertstorm.htm

www.nooniefortin.com/vietnam.htm

www.nooniefortin.com/earlierwars.htm

If I have left anyone off--kindly let me know. I am still trying to find exact dates for those who died in earlier wars--those women will be listed each January if I can't find any other dates.

Noonie Fortin
1SG, USAR (Ret)
Author and Speaker
Researcher and Consultant
www.nooniefortin.com
www.colonelmaggie.com
www.talesandwhalespublishing.com
www.facebook.com/noonie.fortin

A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, National Guard or Reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The People of the United States of America", for any amount "up to and including my life". ~ Author unknown.

FW: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, February 6, 2015

 From: vva@vva2.talklist.com
To: krrisk@comcast.net
Subject: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, February 6, 2015
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2015 07:22:42 -0600

Ken Riskedahl
Tupelo, MS.

February 6, 2015 In This Issue: 1. VFW Conducts Second VA Choice Card Survey 2. Defense Releases FY 2016 Budget Request 3. Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Bill Clears Congress 4. Prescription Tracking 5. New TRICARE Prescription Copays in Effect 6. Pentagon Launches Call to Continued Service Campaign 7. Three MIAs Identified 1. VFW Conducts Second VA Choice Card Survey: In December the VFW commissioned a survey to poll members on their experiences accessing the Veterans Choice Program. Thanks to you, we learned that veterans still faced significant problems in accessing their non-VA care options. Now, we are evaluating progress as the Veterans Choice Program enters its third month. If you took our survey the first time, please take this survey again so we can track any changes in your experiences. If you are taking this survey for the first time, your input is critical to holding VA accountable for delivering timely non-VA care options to veterans. Take the survey here:  https://www.research.net/s/VFWChoiceSurvey2. To learn more about the Veterans Choice Program or to share your stories with us, please visit: http://www.vfw.org/VAWatch/.  2. Defense Releases FY 2016 Budget Request: The Pentagon on Monday released its $585.3 billion fiscal 2016 budget request with recommendations to continue slowing the growth in military pay and compensation. Most notably, the Defense Department recommends: A 1.3% military pay raise, which is slightly better than the past two consecutive 1% requests but still less than the expected CPI increase. To cut housing allowances by 4% over the next few years, which continues the Pentagon's push to lower BAH from the current 99% of average costs to 95%. To reduce appropriated funding to commissaries by $300 million, which again continues a push to reduce the current $1.4 billion in annual subsidies to $400 million. This could force some commissaries to reduce their hours and days of operation. A new fee to penalize active duty families who are perceived to be abusing or misusing military emergency rooms. At minimum, to more than double copays for pharmaceuticals purchased commercially. To create new TRICARE-for-Life enrollment fees, but grandfather existing users. The proposed TFL fee begins at a half-percent of gross retired pay in FY 2016, and increases to 2% by FY 2019. To consolidate TRICARE Prime, Standard and Extra into one plan, and by FY 2020, raise the average retiree's out-of-pocket health costs to 10%. VFW National Commander John Stroud called the defense budget request a good starting point, but said the best request would be for Congress to first end sequestration, which begins again on Oct. 1, and forces the Pentagon to cut almost $1 trillion from its budget over 10 years. That could eliminate quality of life programs for military personnel and their families, and tremendously impact readiness and modernization programs, to the point of jeopardizing the military's ability to respond when and where needed. Regarding the budget, Stroud said "The VFW looks to continuing this most important conversation with Congress and the American people about what it means to properly take care of veterans, service members and their families, but all is for naught as long as sequestration remains the law of the land. Congress must end it or replace it, so that the rest of America can begin moving forward." 3. Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Bill Clears Congress: On Monday, the Senate passed H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, a bill that the VFW strongly supported, by a vote of 99-0.  Having already cleared the House, the bill now heads to the President for his signature. This critical legislation begins to address the crisis of veterans' suicide by allowing VA to hire more psychiatrists, collaborate with local non-profit mental health organizations, and expand its successful peer support networks. Still, the VFW feels that more needs to be done. Dropped provisions from the final bill would have improved mental health partnerships between VA and the Reserve Components, and required DOD to review less-than-honorable discharges that may have been associated with undiagnosed PTSD. The VFW  will continue to work with Congress on these critically important issues. To read the VFW press release on the SAV Act, click here: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2015-Articles/SAV-Act-Clears-Senate/. 4. Prescription Tracking: VA recently implemented a new online tool that allows veterans to track the delivery of their VA prescriptions through My HealtheVet, 24/7. VA reports that more than 57,000 veterans currently use the prescription tracker every day.  Read more at: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2676.  5. New TRICARE Prescription Copays in Effect: The FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act required the military's TRICARE health program to increase most pharmacy copayments by $3. The increase went into effect Feb. 1, and copays vary depending on the class of drug and where beneficiaries choose to fill their prescriptions. Using military pharmacies to fill prescriptions continues to be free to beneficiaries, as well as generic formulary medications received through TRICARE's Pharmacy Home Delivery program. Read more at: http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/BenefitUpdates/Archives/02_02_15_RxCopayIncrease.aspx.   6. Pentagon Launches Call to Continued Service Campaign: The Joint Chiefs of Staff signed a 32-star letter Tuesday to urge service members to continue serving their nation and communities after they separate or retire from the military. The Call to Continued Service Campaign expands the successful Marine For Life and Soldier For Life programs so that all are now encouraged to become military and veteran advocates out in their communities, and to help ease transitioning issues for future veterans and their families—which is exactly what the VFW is all about. 7. Three MIAs Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging to one airman and two soldiers who had been missing and unaccounted for since World War II and Korea. Returned are: U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. James F. Gatlin, 25, of Jacksonville, Fla. On Dec. 23, 1944, Gatlin was copiloting a B-26C Marauder that was shot down while on a bombing mission near Ahrweiler, Germany. Gatlin and four other crew members were reported killed in action. He was assigned to the 575th Bombardment Squadron, 391st Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, and was buried with full military honors Jan. 30 in Bushnell, Fla. Army Sgt. Gilberto L. Sanchez, 19, of New Braunfels, Texas. Sanchez was assigned to Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 31st Regimental Combat Team. His unit was deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea when it was attacked by overwhelming numbers of Chinese forces. On Dec. 1, 1950, remnants of the 31st RCT, known historically as Task Force Faith, began a fighting withdrawal to more defensible positions south of the reservoir. Sanchez was reported as missing in action on Dec. 2. He was buried Jan. 23 with full military honors in San Antonio. Army Cpl. C.G. Bolden, 24, of Van Buren, Ark. Bolden was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.  He was captured by enemy forces on Jan. 5, 1951, and reportedly died in a North Korean POW Camp on April 30, 1951. He was buried Jan. 27 with full military honors in Clinton, Ark. 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.

FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, January 9, 2015

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

Don't talk about me until you have talked to me.

Don't underestimate me until you challenge me.

Don't judge me until you know me

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, January 9, 2015
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2015 15:21:41 -0500

January 9, 2015 In This Issue: 1. The 114th Congress Begins 2. SAV Act Reintroduced in House and Senate 3. Military Infrastructure Changes 4. Three MIAs Recovered 1. The 114th Congress Begins: On January 6, the 114th Congress was sworn into office. Committee leadership positions have been selected and hearings have been scheduled. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has new leadership in both parties. Senator Johnny Isakson is now the Chairman of the committee and Senator Richard Blumenthal is the Ranking Member. In the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Congressman Jeff Miller remains the Chairman and Congresswoman Corrine Brown has been promoted to Ranking Member. See who else is on the Committees by clicking here: Senate Committee http://innovation.cq.com/pub/table/index.php?id=247; House Committee http://innovation.cq.com/pub/table/index.php?id=255. The House VA Committee has already scheduled three hearings. One will address legislation, including a reintroduction of the suicide prevention bill (SAV Act) that failed to pass at the end of the year. The other two hearings will address major construction projects and the growing appeals backlog. The VFW will testify at each of these hearings. We will provide an update as the dates draw closer. 2. SAV Act Reintroduced in House and Senate: The Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, a bill that the VFW strongly supported last Congress, has been reintroduced in both the House and the Senate.  This critical legislation would begin to address the crisis of veterans' suicide by allowing VA to hire more psychiatrists, collaborate with local non-profit mental health organizations, and expand successful peer support networks.  Taken up late last year, the SAV Act failed to pass due to Senate procedural difficulties, despite broad bipartisan support.  The VFW will work closely with the bill's sponsors, Representative Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to ensure that the SAV Act remains a top priority for the 114th Congress.  Check back for updates and be on the lookout for Action Alerts as this important bill moves through the legislative process.  To watch Senator Blumenthal's Press conference on the SAV Act, click here: http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Veterans-Support-New-Push-to-Reduce-Suicides-287716211.html. 3. Military Infrastructure Changes: The Pentagon this week announced a decision to return 15 European sites and installations to their host countries, as well as the transfer of some existing operations elsewhere within the theater. Most notable will be the transfer of American operations from three Royal Air Force bases; the closure of six commissaries in Germany with only one new replacement; in Italy, to convert the Vicenza Health Center to an outpatient, specialty-care only facility; and in the Azores, to reduce active duty, civilian personnel and contractors by two-thirds. Congress must approve any stateside base realignment or closure actions, but the Defense Department has the authority to make such unilateral decisions overseas. The Pentagon is expected to request a stateside Base Realignment and Closure Commission as part of their FY 2016 budget submission next month.  Read more at: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=17097. 4. Three MIAs Recovered: The Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains belonging to three American servicemen who had been missing in action from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Recovered are: Army Air Forces Maj. Peyton S. Mathis Jr., 28, of Montgomery, Ala. On June 5, 1944, Mathis was piloting a P-38J Lightning when the aircraft lost power while attempting to land at Kukum Air Field on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands. A rescue team located the crash site but was unable to recover Mathis because the aircraft was submerged in a dense jungle swamp. He will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be determined. Army Cpl. Francis D. Knobel, 20, of La Crosse, Wis., was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, when he was lost Dec. 12, 1950, in North Korea. He will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be determined. Air Force Col. William E. Cooper, 45, of Albany, Ga., was assigned to the 469th Tactical Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, when his F-105D Thunderchief was shot down while on a strike mission on a highway-railroad bridge north of Hanoi, North Vietnam, on April 24, 1966. He will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be determined. 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.

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