Veterans of Foreign Wars-Service Office-UNOFFICIAL

11/02/2018

November 2, 2018

In This Issue:
1. VFW National Commander to Visit Army’s National Training Center
2. VFW Continues to Assist with GI Bill Payment Problems
3. Make Sure Your Voice is Heard on Nov. 6
4. VA Prioritizing Pending Appeals for Victims of Recent Natural Disasters
5. Number of Homeless Veterans Decreased in 2018
6. November is National Veterans and Military Families Month
7. November is National Family Caregivers Month
8. TRICARE Prime and Select Open Season
9. VA Video Appointments
10. MIA Update

1. VFW National Commander to Visit Army’s National Training Center: VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence will be visiting the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, Calif., on Tuesday and Wednesday next week to learn more about the live-fire training required of armored brigades before they deploy overseas. He is especially interested in troop training, readiness and morale. The NTC is the only U.S. military training facility that supports brigade-level, live-fire exercises. The more than 460-square-mile facility supports joint and combined team operations expending live munitions ranging from small arms to 2,000-pound aircraft-launched bombs. The NTC visit is part of a larger initiative that will have the VFW national commander meeting up with an armored brigade combat team in their deployed overseas location after the New Year. “Meeting the troops where they train, and especially where they deploy, is essential to maintaining the close relationships the VFW has nurtured with our armed forces for more than 119 years,” said Lawrence. “I look forward to meeting them, learning of their mission, and hearing of any concerns they might have, which will enable us to better advocate for them and their families on Capitol Hill.”

2. VFW Continues to Assist with GI Bill Payment Problems: The VFW staff is still continuing to assist student veterans who are facing a financial hardship due to non-payments of their GI Bill benefits. The VFW is greatly concerned with the high number of students who have gone without payments for the entire semester and could potentially face disenrollment from classes, eviction, or loss of childcare services. If this situation applies to you, there are steps you can take to remedy the payment problem. First contact 1-888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551) and ask VA to process your education benefit claim immediately due to a financial hardship. If VA does not resolve this issue quickly, then we encourage veterans to contact the VFW at [email protected], at which point the VFW’s casework team has the authority to intervene on their behalf with VA Education Service. We have called on Congress to hold oversight hearings in order to rectify the current problems so students in the future don’t face these same unnecessary hurdles while pursuing their educational goals.

3. Make Sure Your Voice is Heard on Nov. 6: The VFW encourages all its members and supporters to participate in the upcoming elections. With continued threat of sequestration, deficit reduction, and budget cuts that affect veterans, the military, and their families, it is important to support members of Congress who support us. In addition to voting on Nov. 6, it is also important to assist the elderly and disabled get to the voting booth. Here are some useful resources: voter registration information, voter assistance for military and families, VFW Priority Goals, and the VFW’s Veterans Vote brochure.

4. VA Prioritizing Pending Appeals for Victims of Recent Natural Disasters: VA announced this week that they are prioritizing pending appeals claims for benefits of veterans impacted by recent hurricanes Florence, Michael, Maria and Super Typhoon Yutu. VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals determined that the effects of these natural disasters were sufficient enough to advance the appeals for veterans who live in areas determined to be disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “Accelerating the decision process on pending appeals claims for those Veterans and their families affected by hurricanes Florence and Michael is the right thing to do,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. The advancement on docket (AOD) for these storms is expected to last for six months from the date of the events. Read more about AODs at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals or see the list of affected areas.

5. Number of Homeless Veterans Decreased in 2018: Yesterday, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie and the Department of House and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced a decrease of 5.4 percent in the number of homeless veterans in the past year. “We’ve made great strides in our efforts to end Veteran homelessness, but we still have a lot of work to do to ensure those who wore our nation’s uniform have access to stable housing,” said HUD Secretary Carson. The annual Point-in-Time report estimates that 37,878 veterans experienced, or will experience homelessness in 2018, compared to 40,020 in 2017. The number of women veterans experiencing homelessness declined by 10 percent over the same time period. The VFW encourages homeless or at-risk veterans who need assistance to call 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838). Learn more about VA Programs for Homeless Veterans. Read more about the Point-in-Time Count.

6. November is National Veterans and Military Families Month: This week, President Trump declared November 2018 the second annual National Veterans and Military Families Month to “salute the brave and dedicated patriots who have worn the uniform of the United States, and … celebrate the extraordinary military families whose selfless service and sacrifice make our military the finest in the world.” More than 300 national, regional, and local events are planned at VA hospitals, benefits offices, and cemeteries across the country. See the full list of VA’s national events for Veterans and Military Families Month.

7. November is National Family Caregivers Month: VA is honoring the estimated 5.5 million family members and friends who provide much-needed care for chronically ill, injured, or disabled veterans during National Family Caregivers Month. “Caregivers make tremendous sacrifices to address the daily needs of veterans who served our nation,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement. “These mothers, wives, fathers, husbands and other loved ones deserve our recognition and support for all they do to care for veterans.” The recent passage of the VFW-championed VA MISSION Act of 2018 will expand eligibility for VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers to veterans of all eras of service. The expansion will occur in two phases, starting with eligible veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty on or before May 7, 1975, with further expansion to follow.

8. TRICARE Prime and Select Open Season: Beginning on Nov. 12, TRICARE will kick off its first open season where Prime and Select beneficiaries can enroll in or change their health care coverage plan for 2019. The open season period will last until Dec. 10 and any changes made during this period will become effective on Jan. 1, 2019. If you are satisfied with your current plan then your coverage will continue automatically for 2019, as long as you remain eligible for coverage. Find out more about the open season and how to modify your existing health plan.

9. VA Video Appointments: Veterans who use VA can now book appointments with their providers to be seen on the VA Video Connect app in lieu of face-to-face appointments. The app provides a secure video connection through a camera phone, computer or tablet and gives direct, real-time access to health care teams. VA Video Connect has successfully allowed thousands of veterans to receive services while reducing their travel and wait times. Learn more.


10. MIA Update: This week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced four new identifications, and the burial date and location for 14 previously identified servicemen. Returning home with full military honors are:

-- Army Cpl. Edward M. Jones, 20, of Lake Charles, La., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 9 in his hometown. Jones was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, supporting Republic of Korea Army attacks against units of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near Hoengsong, South Korea. On Feb. 12, 1951, Jones was reported missing in action when he could not be accounted for by his unit.

-- Army Cpl. Albert E. Mills, 20, of Dallas, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 12 in his hometown. Mills was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, blocking the Korean People’s Army from advancing along a corridor linking the cities of Taejon and Taegu, South Korea. On July 23, 1950, enemy forces attacked his unit and Mills was reported missing in action on July 25, 1950.

-- Army Pfc. Mathis O. Ball, 20, of Collin County, Texas, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 18 in Bokchito, Okla. Ball was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In July 1950, his unit was engaged in combat operations against North Korean forces near Choch’iwon, South Korea. Ball could not be accounted for and was declared missing in action on July 12, 1950.

-- Army Pvt. Charles G. Kaniatobe, 21, of Idabel, Okla., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 17 in his hometown. Kaniatobe was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In July 1950, his unit was engaged in combat operations against the North Korean People’s Army near Chonui, South Korea. Kaniatobe could not be accounted for and was declared missing in action on July 10, 1950.

-- Army Sgt. Eugene G. McBride, 20, of Lincoln, Neb., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 14 in his hometown. McBride was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division. On Jan. 30, 1945, while engaged in an attack against enemy forces near Huppenbroich, Germany, McBride was killed by a blast from an enemy artillery shell. His remains were not identified by American forces after the battle.

-- Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Martin F. O’Callaghan, Jr., 22, of Memphis, Tenn., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 5 in his hometown. O’Callaghan was a pilot with the 96th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group. In February 1945, during a mission to strafe targets near Maribor, Yugoslavia, O’Callaghan’s P-38 Lightning aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire. As he was attempting to land, the aircraft inverted, crashed and burst into flames. Because Yugoslavia was an occupied territory at the time, no immediate search for his remains could be conducted

-- Navy Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Walter E. Mintus, 22, of Portage, Penn., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 10 in his hometown. Mintus was aboard a torpedo bomber from U.S. Navy Torpedo Squadron Fifty One on a mission targeting the Japanese base at Malakal Harbor. Witnesses observed an object, believed to be an aircraft, on fire in Malakal Harbor. All three servicemen on board, including Mintus, were reported missing in action and subsequently presumed dead on Feb. 4, 1946.

-- Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Joe Lukie, 19, of Harvey, W.Va., whose remains were previously identified, was buried Oct. 27, in Oak Hill, W.Va.. Lukie was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. On Nov. 20, 1943, Lukie’s unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll against stiff Japanese resistance. Lukie died on the first day of the battle, one of approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors killed in the intense fighting

-- Army Pfc. Morris R. Worrell, 20, of Lincoln, Neb., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 10 in his hometown. Worrell was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment. Worrell was among those reported captured after the surrender of Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942, and one of the thousands who were eventually moved to the Cabanatuan POW camp. More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the remaining years of the war.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Karl R. Loesche, 22, of Monroeville, N.J., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 17 in Elmer, N.J. Loesche was a member of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group. On Dec. 8, 1941, Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands and forced the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942. Loesche was among those reported captured, and one of the thousands who were eventually moved to the Cabanatuan POW camp. More than 2,500 POWs perished in this camp during the remaining years of the war.

-- Navy Carpenter’s Mate 3rd Class William L. Kvidera, 22, of Traer, Iowa, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 16 in his hometown. Kvidera was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Kvidera.

-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class Carl Nichols, 20, of Glen Alum, W.Va., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 14 in Bland County, Va. Nichols was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Nichols.

-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Gerald H. Pirtle, 19, of El Dorado, Kan., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 17 in Wichita, Kan. Pirtle was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Pirtle.

-- Navy Steward Mate 1st Class Ignacio C. Farfan, 21, of Agana, Guam, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 8 in the Guam Veterans Cemetery. Farfan was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Farfan.

-- Army Cpl. Frederick E. C***s was declared missing in action in the vicinity of Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, on July 29, 1950, when he couldn’t be accounted for after a unit withdrawal action to set up a roadblock against North Korean Forces. Interment services are pending.

-- Army Pvt. Robert J. Sipes, Jr. was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was killed in action on Nov. 30, 1950, during heavy fighting between the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF) and the 7th Cavalry Regiment near the village of Unsan, North Korea. Interment services are pending.

-- Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. William E. Brandenburg was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Brandenburg died on the third day of the battle, Nov. 22, 1943. Interment services are pending.

-- Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Fred E. Freet was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Freet died on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943, during the first waves of the assault. Interment services are pending.


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10/16/2018

VFW Action Corps Weekly
October 12, 2018

In This Issue:
1. Make Sure Your Voice is Heard on Nov. 6
2. Delayed Housing Payments Impacting up to 180,000 Student Veterans
3. 2019 COLA Increase Will Be Largest in 7 Years
4. Depression Screening Available Online
5. Hurricane Michael Closes Several VA Facilities
6. VFW Endorses Budget Reform Recommendations
7. DPAA Accounts for 203 Missing Personnel in FY 2018
8. Four New Law Judges Appointed to VA’s Board of Veterans Appeals
9. Breast Cancer Awareness Month
10. F-35 Fleet Grounded
11. MIA Update

1. Make Sure Your Voice is Heard on Nov. 6: The VFW encourages all its members and supporters to get involved with the upcoming elections. With continued threat of sequestration, deficit reduction, and budget cuts that affect veterans, the military, and their families, it is important to support members of Congress who support us. Ways to get involved may include: registering to vote and encouraging others to register; setting up or volunteering at voter registration drives; hosting or attending town hall meetings or candidate forums and bringing up VFW priorities; helping the elderly and disabled get to the voting booth on Election Day; and voting on Nov. 6. Here are some useful resources: voter registration information, voter assistance for military and families, VFW Priority Goals, and the VFW’s Veterans Vote brochure.

2. Delayed Housing Payments Impacting up to 180,000 Student Veterans: The VFW is urging tens of thousands of student veterans to immediately contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 888-GIBILL-1 (or 888-442-4551) if they are facing a financial hardship due to delayed VA housing payments. VA said earlier this week that as many as 180,000 student veterans housing payments were delayed this month in part due to computer updates to reflect benefit changes through the Forever GI Bill. Until the problem is fixed, VA is requiring benefits processors to work overtime and weekends, while many student veterans may be forced to raid their individual savings accounts or borrow money from their families to hopefully avoid late fees, ruined credit ratings or eviction. “The VA reports that education claims will be processed immediately, as will disbursements, but if student veterans do not achieve resolution within three business days, I urge them to contact the VFW through our [email protected] email address,” said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. “We will intervene directly with the VA to ensure your housing allowance is correct and paid. In the meantime, I would encourage all student veterans to contact their landlords and explain the VA’s computer processing problem, and for landlords to be patient and understanding, because they will be paid.”

3. 2019 COLA Increase Will Be Largest in 7 Years: Military and federal retirees, veterans receiving compensation from VA, and Social Security recipients will see a 2.8% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increase beginning in 2019. This is the largest COLA increase since 2011 when it was 3.6%, and a 0.8% increase from last year. Annual COLA increases are based on the Consumer Price Index, which measures the inflation during the 3rd quarter of each fiscal year (July, August, and September) and compares it to the previous 3rd quarter.

4. Depression Screening Available Online: Occasional feelings of sadness are part of normal life, but when the emotions continue for extended periods of time, or are associated with feelings of hopelessness and despair, it may be depression. For veterans who are concerned that they may have depression, VA now provides an online screening test through MyHealtheVet. The 10-question test does not require an account or for anyone to log in online. The test also provides pop-up information for individuals who take the test and are at high risk of su***de. Upon taking the test, the clinical results are available with directions to print them if desired. Take the test.

5. Hurricane Michael Closes Several VA Facilities: Hurricane Michael, which hit Florida and the southeastern coast this week, has affected several VA facilities causing some closures. Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson of Florida sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie urging him to ensure that veterans affected by the storm get the care they need. “As you begin to assess the damage sustained to Veterans Health System facilities in the Florida panhandle, we also urge the department to deploy VA Mobile Facilities to assist veterans in areas where clinics remained closed,” the letter said. The VFW is currently accepting donations to help veterans, service members, and military families impacted by Hurricane Michael. From hurricanes to raging wildfires, the VFW's Disaster Relief Fund provides the organization the opportunity to react quickly with immediate relief to those in the affected areas. Learn more about VA facility closures or support the VFW Disaster Relief Fund.

6. VFW Endorses Budget Reform Recommendations: For the past year, the VFW has worked with a diverse group of organizations whose constituents are directly impacted by the dysfunctional federal budget process. The Convergence Building a Better Budget Process Project focused on making recommendations to Congress on how to reform the budget process to avoid budget shutdowns and continuing resolutions which significantly impact programs and benefits for service members, veterans, and their families. While the VFW is glad DOD and VA have received full year funding for Fiscal Year 2019, the budget process must be reformed to make certain timely budgets for VA and DOD become the norm, not the exception. Read the report.

7. DPAA Accounts for 203 Missing Personnel in FY 2018: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) accounted for 203 formerly missing persons from past conflicts, the highest yearly total reached by the agency or its predecessor organizations. Also, the agency individually identified the remains of three additional personnel, who were previously accounted for as part of group burials, reaching another milestone of 206 individual identifications for the FY. Broken down by conflict, 10 were accounted for from the Vietnam War, 37 from the Korean War, and 156 were from World War II. “Science and technology have expanded exponentially in recent years, enabling identifications that even five years ago seemed impossible. We also attribute the increasing yearly trend to DPAA's expanded use of partnerships, a more precise management of disinterments, and improvements in our robust field operations,” said Rear Adm. Jon Kreitz, DPAA's Deputy Director for Operations. The agency is focused on the research, investigation, recovery and identification of approximately 34,000 (out of approximately 83,000 missing personnel) believed to be recoverable, who were lost in conflicts from World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

8. Four New Law Judges Appointed to VA’s Board of Veterans Appeals: President Trump recently approved the appointment of four new Veterans Law Judges to VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Lauren Cryan, Evan Deichert, William Donnelly, and Cynthia Skow will assume their roles on Oct. 14, and will begin holding hearings and signing decisions for veterans and other appellants. In fiscal year 2018, the board issued a historic 85,288 decisions to veterans — 61.6 percent more than 2017. “Bringing on additional judges means the board will be better staffed to conduct hearings and decide appeals properly in a timely manner,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “Combined with procedural changes under the Appeals Modernization and Improvement Act of 2017 and the hiring of more than 200 additional Board attorneys, this translates into better and faster service for Veterans.” Learn more.

9. Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and VA is doing outreach to remind veterans, both women and men, of the importance of monthly self-checks as well as mammograms for early detection. While breast cancer typically affects women, there are cases of male breast cancer. This is particularly true for veterans who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune from the 1950s through the 1980s for more than 30 days. For individuals who were stationed in the Camp Lejeune area and were exposed to the water between Aug. 1, 1953 and Dec. 31, 1987, presumptive service connection for veterans who developed one or more of eight diseases, including breast cancer, is available. There are also options for family member reimbursements for relatives of veterans who resided at Camp Lejeune during this time. Learn about breast cancer early detection, water contamination at Camp Lejeune, or if you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune in 1987 or before, register to receive notifications regarding Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water.

10. F-35 Fleet Grounded: On Thursday, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis ordered the grounding of all F-35s operated by the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. Preliminary data suggests that the Sept. 28 F-35 crash in South Carolina may have been caused by a faulty fuel tube. In response, all U.S. military F-35s will be inspected as well as F-35s operated by U.S. allies. Currently, the Air Force has 156 F-35 aircraft in inventory, the Marine Corps has 61, and the Navy has 28. This grounding comes in the wake of guidance issued by the Pentagon to the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force last month to increase the overall mission capable rates of its fighter jets to over 80% by the end of next September.


11. MIA Update: This week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced two new identifications, and the burial date and location for a previously identified serviceman. Returning home with full military honors are:

-- Army Pvt. Delbert J. Holliday, 22, of Minneapolis, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Oct. 15 in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minn. Holliday was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 7th Cavalry Division, participating in combat actions against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces in the vicinity of North Pyongan Province, North Korea. Holliday was killed in action on Nov. 30, 1950, and was reportedly buried in the United Nations Military Cemetery in Pyongyang. As the United Nations’ situation with North Korea worsened, circumstances forced the cemetery in Pyongyang to close on Dec. 3, 1950, and buried remains could not be recovered.

-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Creighton H. Workman was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Workman. Interment services are pending.

-- Navy Chief Warrant Officer John A. Austin was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Austin. Interment services are pending.


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10/01/2018

VFW Action Corps Weekly
September 28, 2018

In This Issue:
1. VFW Receives Special U.S. Flag
2. Army Medic to Receive Medal of Honor
3. Health Net Federal Services to Cease Participation in Veterans Choice Program
4. Secretary of VA Wilkie Testifies before Senate
5. New Rule Changes How VA Calculates Income for Needs-based Benefits
6. VA Releases 2016 Veteran Su***de Data
7. Roundtable on Enewetak Atoll Cleanup
8. Congress Hosts Hearing on Veteran Su***de
9. TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Update
10. USAF Secretary Discusses Future Initiatives
11. Legislative Wrap-up
12. MIA Update

1. VFW Receives Special U.S. Flag: The director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) presented the VFW one of 55 U.S. flags that draped the 55 transfer cases of American remains when they were repatriated from North Korea to American soil Aug. 1. The flag presentation is a thank you for the VFW’s longstanding commitment to bring our fallen home, which included sending a letter to President Trump in advance of the June 12 Singapore Summit to urge him to include the return of American remains as a discussion point with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “We know for a fact that the reason President Trump brought it to Chairman Kim’s attention was because of a strong letter written by the VFW,” said DPAA Director Kelly McKeague yesterday, as he presented the flag and photos of the remains repatriation ceremony to VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace. DPAA lists 7,680 missing Americans from the Korean War, with some 5,300 believed to be in North Korea. McKeague said if it weren’t for the strong advocacy of the VFW, the MIA issue would not have been a discussion point in Singapore, and more important, the return of the 55 cases of remains would not have happened. Watch the Facebook Live video.

2. Army Medic to Receive Medal of Honor: The White House announced that former Army medic Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II will be presented the Medal of Honor on Oct. 1 for fighting his way through an enemy ambush to render aid to wounded Special Forces soldiers and Afghan commandos. On April 6, 2008, his team was navigating its way through Shok Valley in northeastern Afghanistan when a firefight forced his unit into a defensive fighting position. According to an Army press release, Shurer heard that their forward assault element was also pinned down at another location with multiple casualties. He moved through a hail of bullets to reach the pinned-down element, stopped to treat a wounded teammate's neck wound, then spent the next hour fighting across several hundred meters, before finally arriving at the forward location, where he immediately rendered aid to four critically wounded U.S. soldiers and 10 injured commandos. Soon after, Shurer and his team sergeant were shot at the same time. Despite a gunshot wound to his arm, the medic ran 15 meters through a barrage of gunfire to pull his teammate to cover and rendered care. Moments later, Shurer moved back through heavy fire to help another teammate who had suffered a traumatic amputation to his right leg. Shurer saved the lives of all casualties under his care, to include lowering three critically wounded, non-ambulatory, teammates down a near-vertical 60-foot cliff, while avoiding rounds of enemy gunfire and falling debris caused by numerous air strikes. He was initially awarded the Silver Star, the third-highest award for valor.

3. Health Net Federal Services to Cease Participation in Veterans Choice Program: VA and Health Net Federal Services (HNFS) have elected to end their Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) and Veterans Choice Program (VCP) contracts effective Sept. 30, 2018. In anticipation of this change, VA medical facilities have already ceased sending new community care authorizations to HNFS. Authorizations already approved by HNFS remain valid and HNFS will continue to assist veterans who need to reschedule appointments for authorized care as long as the new appointment is with the same provider and occurs on or before Sept. 30, 2018. Veterans who wish to change providers or need appointments after Sept. 30 must coordinate appointments through their local VA medical facilities. Click here to find your nearest VA medical facility. For assistance during this transition, contact the VFW by calling 1-800-VFW-1899 or emailing [email protected].

4. VA Secretary Wilkie Testifies before Senate Committee: On Wednesday, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to discuss the progress he has made in his first 60 days. He spoke at length about a variety of topics including implementation of the VFW-supported VA MISSION Act of 2018, Blue Water Navy, accountability of wrongdoers, and the department’s efforts to modernize its electronic health record. Secretary Wilkie said at the hearing, “the state of VA is better” when describing the department’s recent progress. Committee members and Chairman Isakson discussed the need to pass the VFW-supported H.R. 299, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018. Watch the hearing, which begins at the 14:00-minute.

5. New Rule Changes How VA Calculates Income for Needs-based Benefits: Last week, VA published a final rule in the Federal Register that will establish a three year look-back period when determining eligibility for income-based benefits, including pension with aid and attendance. The new rule goes into effect on Oct. 18, 2018. It makes several changes, such as increasing the amount of net worth a veteran can have to qualify for pension, and expanding the definition of custodial care to allow veterans to deduct medical expenses for dementia care and third-party care providers. The three year look-back rule is intended to limit asset transfers done solely to qualify for governmental assistance. Such transfers may bar the veteran from receiving pension benefits, until the assets are used for their living expenses. There are some protections in place for veterans to transfer funds without a penalty, such as special needs trusts for the benefit of helpless children and helpless adult children, and trusts where the veteran retains control over the funds. Veterans can also reverse the transfer or buy back the asset in order to avoid the penalty. For questions about VA benefits and assistance with filing a claim, contact a professional, accredited and highly trained VFW Service Officer near you.

6. VA Releases 2016 Veteran Su***de Data: The newest and most recent data for veteran su***de was released by VA on Wednesday, which includes su***de data up to 2016. While there were no statistically significant differences in veteran su***de from 2015 to 2016, there were some varying trends when comparing 2014, 2015 and 2016. Overall, the average number of deaths by su***de is still roughly 20 veterans per day. This recent release also clarifies that the 20 deaths are not strictly for veterans –– it is inclusive of veterans, active-duty service members and members of the Guard or Reserve who were never activated. As the number of nonveteran su***de deaths continues to increase within the United States, veteran su***des have remained relatively steady and actually decreased by 202 from 2015 to 2016. The report found a slight increase in death by su***de in veterans ages 18-34. The study’s data also maintains that veterans who do not use VA health care are at increased risk of su***de. Learn more or read the VA National Su***de Data Report 2005-2016.

7. Roundtable on Enewetak Atoll Cleanup: VFW National Legislative Service Director Carlos Fuentes represented the VFW at a House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs roundtable discussion on the health effects experienced by veterans who were exposed to atomic radiation during the Enewetak Atoll Cleanup project. The VFW supports H.R. 632, the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act, which would expand VA health care and benefits to Enewetak Atoll Cleanup veterans. Subcommittee members and other supporters of H.R. 632 discussed the way forward with DOD and VA officials.

8. Congress Hosts Hearing on Veteran Su***de: The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held its last full committee hearing for the 115th Congress on Thursday. The hearing focused on maximizing effective methods of prevention for veteran su***de and raising awareness for the epidemic. Members of the committee mostly focused their questions on the extensive amount of efforts both within VA and outside the government to eradicate the su***de epidemic, trying to determine which efforts are the most effective. Other topics of conversation included veterans with increased risk of su***de, such as women, survivors of sexual trauma and individuals struggling with dependency or addiction to opioids and benzodiazepines. Read the VFW’s testimony or watch the hearing.

9. TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Update: The current TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) will end Dec. 31, 2018, and will be replaced by the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) dental coverage options. Vision plans will also be available to eligible TRICARE beneficiaries through FEDVIP. The first opportunity to enroll in FEDVIP is during the 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season, which runs from Nov. 12, 2018, through Dec. 10, 2018 (EST). Coverage begins on Jan. 1, 2019. In general, retired uniformed service members and their families who were eligible for TRDP in 2018 are eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage, and if enrolled in a TRICARE health plan, FEDVIP vision coverage, beginning in 2019. Family members of active-duty uniformed service members who are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan are eligible for FEDVIP vision coverage. Click here for more information.

10. USAF Secretary Discusses Future Initiatives: The VFW was at the National Press Club Wednesday to hear Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson discuss plans to expand the Air Force to counter growing military challenges from Russia and China. Wilson, an Air Force Academy graduate and former National Security Council staffer and congresswoman from New Mexico, commended Congress for being on track to pass a budget that will help her department improve readiness, add 74 new squadrons to the 312 existing ones, and build air power cooperation with allies. She conceded that the Air Force, which has not known peace in the 27 years since Desert Storm ended, is facing a challenge to retain aircrew, especially pilots, during a time of high demand in the civilian sector. Efforts to counter the exodus include improving career choices and reducing overseas deployments. She said she hopes to have 1,400 pilots trained annually under the 2020 budget, up by 300 from two years ago. When asked about the need for a separate branch of the service dedicated to space, Wilson said the U.S. is good at six of the seven arenas concerning space — from global navigation to weather to intelligence. The seventh arena, space superiority, is a problem, she said, and our ability to defend space assets is being challenged. Read more here.

11. Legislative Wrap-up: Congress passed several important bills this week, including H.R. 6157, which will provide full year funding for the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services and includes VFW-supported provisions to ensure DPAA has the resources it needs to fully identify American remains that were recently recovered from North Korea and authority to pay death gratuities during a government shutdown. S. 3479, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018, which will ensure the continuation of important veterans programs that were set to expire Sept. 30. H.R. 6157 and S. 3479 head to the president’s desk. The House also passed H.R. 6398, the Department of Energy Veterans’ Health Initiative Act, which authorizes the Department of Energy to assist VA in genomic research as part of the Million Veterans Program.


12. MIA Update: This week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 10 new identifications, and the burial date and location for six previously identified servicemen. Returning home with full military honors are:

-- Marine Corps Capt. John A. House, II, 28, of Pelham, N.Y., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Sept. 27, 2018 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. On June 30, 1967, House was the pilot of a CH-46A Sea Knight helicopter, who with three other crew members, was attempting to insert eight members of Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, into hostile territory in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it was struck by enemy fire from the surrounding tree line, causing the aircraft to crash, killing House.

-- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John D. Killen, III, 18, of Davenport, Iowa, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Sept. 27, 2018 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. On June 30, 1967, Killen was aboard a CH-46A Sea Knight helicopter that was struck by enemy fire attempting to insert eight members of Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, into hostile territory in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it was struck by enemy fire from the surrounding tree line, causing the aircraft crash, killing Killen.

-- Marine Corps Cpl. Glyn L. Runnels, Jr., 21, of Birmingham, Ala., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Sept. 27, 2018 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. On June 30, 1967, Runnels was aboard a CH-46A Sea Knight helicopter that was struck by enemy fire attempting to insert eight members of Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, into hostile territory in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it was struck by enemy fire from the surrounding tree line, causing the aircraft crash, killing Runnels.

-- U.S. Air Force Reserve Col. Fredric M. Mellor, 30, of Cranston, R.I., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Sept. 28, in Exeter, R.I. Mellor was assigned to the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, and on temporary duty with the 15th Reconnaissance Task Force. On Aug. 13, 1965, Mellor was flying the lead RF-101C aircraft in a flight of two on a mission to conduct photo and visual reconnaissance over North Vietnam when his aircraft was shot down. North Vietnamese witnesses claimed they saw or participated in the shoot-down of an American aircraft and the capture and death of its pilot on Aug. 13, 1965.

-- Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Merton R. Riser, 19, of Sanborn, Iowa, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Sept. 28 in his hometown. Riser was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Riser died on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943.

-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Robert V. Young, 23, of Bushnell, Ill., whose remains were previously identified, September 29 in Bardolph, Ill. Young was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Young.

-- Army Cpl. Edward M. Jones was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, supporting Republic of Korea Army attacks against units of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near Hoengsong, South Korea. On Feb. 12, 1951 Jones was reported missing in action when he could not be accounted for by his unit. Interment services are pending.

-- Army Pfc. John W. Martin was a member of Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. In late November 1950, his unit was assembled with South Korean soldiers in the 31st Regimental Combat Team on the east side of the Chosin River, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by Chinese forces. Martin was among more than 1,000 members of the RCT killed or captured in enemy territory and was declared missing Dec. 2, 1950. Interment services are pending.

-- Naval Reserve Seaman 2nd Class Deward W. Duncan, Jr. was assigned to Aviation, Construction, Ordnance, Repair, Navy Fourteen, Standard Landing Craft Unit 4, when a Japanese air raid on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, dropped a bomb near his tent. Duncan was killed January 12, 1944 and was reportedly buried the same day in Cemetery #33. Interment services are pending.

-- Army Pfc. Lewis E. Price was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, which moved into the Hürtgen Forest in Germany, to relieve U.S. forces who had been fighting for weeks. The fighting in and around the forest was frequently chaotic, and while details surrounding his loss are sparse, he was reported missing in action as of Nov. 6, 1944 when his reconnaissance patrol failed to return from a mission. Interment services are pending.

-- Navy Seaman 1st Class Millard Burk was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Burk. Interment services are pending.

-- Navy Seaman 2nd Class David B. Edmonston was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Edmonston. Interment services are pending.

-- Navy Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Merle A. Smith was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Smith. Interment services are pending.

-- Navy Fireman 1st Class Claude O. Gowey was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Gowey. Interment services are pending.

-- Navy Storekeeper 2nd Class Gerald L. Clayton was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Clayton. Interment services are pending.

-- Navy Musician 2nd Class Francis E. Dick was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Dick. Interment services are pending.



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