Would like to find Sgt Cecil F. Skelton, I was with him in Pho-Loi Vet Nam in HHT 1/4 Cav. and at Ft. Campbell, Ky. 66 & 68. I do belive he live's in Tennnessee, some where. he was my Squad Leader in VN.
I was also in HHC, 63rd. Armor and pulled for HHT, 1/4 Cav. for Deployment to RVN. in 1965. I also seen Name's on the Deployment order's that I recognizance that will try later to locate some of them after I locate SSG. Skelton, Again thank's
Retired SSG. Norman t.w. Brown & Connie
******************************************************
Well Jason, I will work on an answer for you. It will take a bit
though.....................after all he was the "Top Sergeant" He was
obviously special.............I met him 41 years ago and haven't forgotten
him. What was he like as a soldier.........a damn good one. What was he
like in war............scared as Hell like the rest of us, but he did his
job and watched out for all of us. Frank was a good man and after 41 years
I can still hear him on the radio.........
I hope this helps Jason.
Dan Thompson
***************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Jason O [mailto:owenjb@peoplepc.com]
Hello,
I was on the site and I saw two picks of Frank Kather.
Frank is my Grandfather-in-law and I would like to more about him. I only
knew him much later in life. I have been married to his Granddaughter for
four years so I only had about two years of history before he passed away.
What was he like as a soldier? What was he like in war? What was he like as
a friend?
Thank you, **************************************
Mr. Baty,
I hope this email finds you well. I came across your website and would like to express thanks for providing this information. My grandfather was 1SG Frank Kather, A Troop. I'd like to submit a correction on his date of death included on the TAPS page. It is 13 Oct 2006 rather than 13 Feb 2006. If you are interested in a cause of death it was heart failure. He was at the hospital scheduled for a pacemaker installment the next morning. It is fascinating to see the names of those who served in the same division. My grandfather was quiet about his service, so reading about the Troop's time in war is especially fascinating to me. One of the most memorable moments with my Grandpa was during Thanksgiving 2005 when my husband pried some humorous stories about his service from him.
Thank you for your hard work,
we continue with Photos from the collection of Dan Slaughter, A Troop, 65-66. BB
I received this from Paul Rieckhoff. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't hear it mentioned on any of the News channels. BB
Dear Bill ,
I want to share an incredible true story that didn't make enough headlines this week.
As I'm sure you know, on Tuesday and Wednesday, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, the top US military and diplomatic representatives in Baghdad, gave their long-awaited testimony to Congress on the situation in Iraq. But with the media and the nation so focused on those tense hours in Washington, another story about American soldiers in Iraq went largely unnoticed.
On Tuesday, President Bush posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor - the highest military decoration awarded by the United States - to Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor. A Navy SEAL who served in Ramadi in 2006, Monsoor was killed when he threw himself on a grenade and saved the lives of the other members of his team.
Sometimes it's easy for us to forget the individual stories of exceptional courage behind these wars. But it's incredibly important that we take the time to remember them- not as a way to politicize the war, but as a reminder of the amazing sacrifices being made every day by our troops on the battlefield and their families back home.
Michael Monsoor was a true American hero we can all be proud of. Please forward his story to your friends and family and remind them of the brave men and women serving our country.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Paul Rieckhoff ******************************************************
This got to us a little to late but it's still good news. Thanks to Joe Birindelli for the forward.BB
Fort Riley welcome home ceremony slated for Monday (UNCLASSIFIED)
WELCOME HOME CEREMONY SLATED
FORT RILEY, Kan. – Approximately 275 Soldiers are expected to return from Iraq Monday and will be reunited with their Families in a ceremony at 3:30 p.m.* April 14 at Building 88312 on Custer Hill.
The Soldiers, who spent the last 15 months helping conduct stability and support operations in the Rashid Security District of Southern Baghdad, are from the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment; and Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
During their 15-month tour in Iraq, 4th IBCT Soldiers conducted combat operations that resulted in the capture more than 200 high-profile targets and reduced 20 enemy cells down to five. Soldiers also completed more than 200 civil projects, including repairing sewer, water, medical and education facilities and electrical projects. Working with the Iraqi government in Rashid, the 4th IBCT increased water accessibility by 90 percent.
Media interested in attending should contact the Fort Riley Public Affairs Office at (785) 240-1893 or by e-mail at alison.kohler1@us.army.mil before noon April 14.
*Please note: Ceremony times are tentative and subject to change without notice. Check the ceremonies link at www.riley.army.mil
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Public Affairs Office ******************************************************
Free Admission to Dinner Show ******************************************************
Military Retirement, Worth Millions ******************************************************
Getting Information from TRICARE
To learn more about TRICARE, visit (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) www.military.com/benefits/tricare.
******************************************************
TRICARE Providers on the Increase
To learn more about TRICARE, visit (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) www.military.com/benefits/tricare.
******************************************************
Emergency Relief for Soldiers ******************************************************
Non-resident Game Permits in Missouri ******************************************************
Pennsylvania Vets' Bonus ******************************************************
Moose Permits in Vermont ******************************************************
2008 Federal Employee Media Survey
This survey will take less than five minutes of your time. We value your input and sincerely hope that you will share your thoughts with us. Results are completely confidential. (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//vp-nri.com/take/%3Fi%3D127642%26h%3DEXAvIOs_9bj6ehy86afzzA&code=MR_041408_survey) Please start here.
******************************************************
Social Security Numbers Dropped from IDs ******************************************************
Welcome Home ******************************************************
Army Goes Phishing, E-mail Style
Dan Thompson sent the following in. Please note that while it is political it dosen't take sides or name any names. BB
Lee Iacocca Speaks Out
Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes? He has a new book, and here are some excerpts.
Lee Iacocca Says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course'
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq, the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the 'America' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis!
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense?
I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making
us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm. Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough?
Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope I believe in America. In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the 'Great Depression', 'World War II', the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination', the 'Vietnam War', the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to 'Action' for people who, like me, believe in America. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'
Make a 'real contribution' by sending this to everyone you know and
care about......our future is at stake!
******************************************************
Thanks to John Termini for this interesting world tour in photos.BB
The World In 7 Photos
Only in China
Only in Hawaii
Only in India
Only in Mexico
Only in Texas
Only In Thailand
And last, but not least
******************************************************
This came in from CPT Perfect, who flew Dustoff in the 66-67 period.BB
Telling It Like It Is - a Message from a Recon Marine in Afghanistan
It's (expletive) freezing here. I'm sitting on hard, cold dirt between rocks and shrubs at the base of the Hindu Kush mountains along the Dar 'yoi Pomir River watching a hole that leads to a tunnel that leads to a cave. Stake out, my friend, and no pizza delivery for thousands of miles. I also glance at the area around my ass every ten to fifteen seconds to avoid another scorpion sting. I've actually given up battling the chiggers and sand fleas, but them (expletive) scorpions give a jolt like a cattle prod. Hurts like a bastard. The antidote tastes like transmission fluid but God bless the Marine Corps for the five vials of it in my pack.
The one truth the Taliban cannot escape is that, believe it or not, they are human beings, which means they have to eat food and drink water. That requires couriers and that's where an old bounty hunter like me comes in handy. I track the couriers, locate the tunnel entrances and storage facilities, type the info into the handheld, shoot the coordinates up to the satellite link that tells the air commanders where to drop the hardware, we bash some heads for a while, then I track and record the new movement. It's all about intelligence. We haven't even brought in the snipers yet. These scurrying rats have no idea what they're in for. We are but days away from cutting off supply lines and allowing the eradication to begin. I dream of bin Laden waking up to find me standing over him with my boot on his throat as I spit a bloody ear into his face and plunge my nickel plated Bowie knife through his frontal lobe. But you know me. I'm a romantic.
I've said it before and Ill say it again: This country blows, man. It's not even a country. There are no roads, there's no infrastructure, there's no government. This is an inhospitable, rockpit (expletive) ruled by eleventh century warring tribes. There are no jobs here like we know jobs. Afghanistan offers two ways for a man to support his family: join the opium trade or join the army. That's it. Those are your options. Oh, I forgot, you can also live in a refugee camp and eat plum-sweetened, crushed beetle paste and squirt mud like a goose with stomach flu if that's your idea of a party. But the smell alone of those "tent cities of the walking dead" is enough to hurl you into the poppy fields to cheerfully scrape bulbs for eighteen hours a day. And let me tell you something else. I've been living with these Tajiks and Uzbeks and Turkmen and even a couple of Pushtins for over a month and a half now and this much I can say for sure: These guys, all of em, are Huns. Actual, living Huns. They LIVE to fight. Its what they do. Its ALL they do. They have no respect for anything, not for their families or for each other or for themselves. They claw at one another as a way of life. They play polo with dead calves and force their five-year-old sons into human cockfights to defend the family honor. Huns, roaming packs of savage, heartless beasts who feed on each other's barbarism.
(Expletive) cavemen with AK 47's. Then again, maybe I'm just cranky.
I'm freezing my (expletive) off on this stupid (expletive) hill because my lap warmer is running out of juice and I can't recharge it until the sun comes up in a few hours. Oh yeah! You like to write letters, right? Do me a favor, Bizarre. Write a letter to CNN and tell Judy and Bernie and that awful, sneering, pompous Aaron Brown to stop calling the Taliban "smart." They are not smart. I suggest CNN invest in a dictionary because the word they are looking for is "cunning." The Taliban are cunning, like jackals and hyenas and wolverines. They are sneaky and ruthless and, when confronted, cowardly. They are hateful, malevolent parasites who create nothing and destroy everything else. Smart. Pfft. Yeah, they're real smart. They've spent their entire lives reading only one book (and not a very good one, as books go) and consider hygiene and indoor plumbing to be products of the devil. They're still figuring out how to work a Bic lighter. Talking to a Taliban warrior about improving his quality of life is like trying to teach an ape how to hold a pen; eventually he just gets frustrated and sticks you in the eye with it. OK, enough. Snuffle will be up soon so I have to get back to my hole. Covering my tracks in the snow takes a lot of practice but I'm good at it. Please tell my fellow Americans to turn off their TV sets and move on with their lives.
The story line you are getting from CNN is utter (expletive) and designed not to deliver truth but rather to keep you glued to the screen through the commercials. We've got this one under control. The worst thing you guys can do right now is sit around analyzing what we're doing over here because you have no idea what we're doing and, really, you don't want to know. We are your military and we are doing what you sent us here to do. You wanna help? Buy some (expletive) stocks, America
******************************************************
Thanks to Jim Dempsey for this forward. BB
Tax Rebate
President George Bush said each one of us would. Get a $600.00 tax rebate. It was previously slated to be $800.00, but they dropped it to a $600.00
tax rebate. Because of various budget problems. Now, if we spend that money at Wal-Mart, All the money will go to China, if we spend it on Computers, most of the money will go to Korea or India. If we spend it on gasoline it will all go to the Arabs; .....and none of these scenarios will help the Americans. We need to keep that money here in America.
.....so the Only way to keep that money here at home is to drink beer, Gamble, or spend it on prostitution. Currently it seems These are the only businesses still strong left in the U.S.
******************************************************
I'm all for anything that will help us combat the rising gas prices. Glenn sent these suggestion in for us to ponder. BB
TIPS ON PUMPING GAS
I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon..
Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of
16,800,000 gallons.
Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.
A one-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.
When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has th ree
(3)stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an in ternal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.
Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.
WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON
Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor.
An inter esting thought is to boycott THEIR gas.
Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis.
Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends.
I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.
These companies import Middle Eastern oil:
Shell........................... 205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco...... ... 144,332,000 barrels
Exxon/Mobil............... 130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway... 117,740,000 barrels
Amoco............................62,231,000 barrels
Citgo gas is from South America, from a dictator who hates Americans. If you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION!
(oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel (105.00 today 3/06/08 - AMS)
Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:
Sunoco..................0 barrels
Conoco................. .0 barrels
Sinclair ..................0 barrels
BP/Phillips.............0 barrels
Hess......................0 barrels
ARC0.....................0 barrels
If you go to Sunoco.com
All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.
******************************************************
This is an good example of a tidbit of memory sent in by Rob Ferguson, that needs to be sent in by all of us. It dosen't have to be combat, it can be a general impression of your tour of Vietnam, most importantly it is told from the prespective of the individual trooper, and is something that will be meaningful someday to his decendents. So keep those cards, letters, e-mails and manuscripts coming. Each one is a piece of the big puzzle about how we spent "Our" time in Vietnam. Thanks, Bill Baty
40 years
Y'know 40 years ago I didn't even think I'd be alive long enough to have someone ask me where were you 40 years ago? much less have an answer for them...and most likely even the thought of such a question would have scared the crap out of me, even more than combat or an angry girlfriend did. Recently I was asked the question and while this time it didn't scare me :-) it did seem strange and it got me thinking.
40 years ago I was in the Nam and had just recently turned 21, ironically my Father turned 21 while in the Pacific Theater in WWII and just before his first major engagement, as was true in my case.
In my life there are several anniversary dates that coincide with each other some are very happy such as a birthday, some perhaps a bit sadder or offering a wide mix of emotions as I pause to remember them. So it is with this week in April 1968...this is the week A Troop said goodbye to Capt Shirley, unfortunately we said both hello and goodbye to Capt Serio and hello to Capt Conley, an unforgettable character there aren't you John? (Of course 40 years ago I'd have never said that :-)). As this week started 40 years ago I was rear gun on one of the A Troop HQ Plt ACAVS, don't remember which one, we left the water plant, moved to Phu Loi, resupplied and moved north to somewhere around claymore corners (I think) and setup an NDP, this was on April 16th, my Mom's birthday, so now for me that campaign, with it's heavy fighting etc the loss of Capt Serio and so forth are forever entwined. Strangely to me, is that I can tell from letters I sent home (thankfully they were saved), with all that was going on I remembered Ma's birthday. That same week I moved over to A66, when Cpt Conley took command and a couple of days later I moved to A (HQ63) 63 as driver, where I was privileged to serve with Jim Lehrdahl, Docs Heim and Mims, I stayed on 63 the rest of my tour, I know several of those on this mailing list were also there in other platoons. Despite the wartime experiences (which I wouldn't wish on anybody) this week in which I honor my Mom's birthday, also in a sense gave birth to some positive memories of bonds forged, horrors shared and also many laughs shared with guys who were by all accounts some of the dirtiest looking troopers but also some of the most effective warriors in the BRO at the time, bonds we all could count on.
Thanks for listening dudes!
rob f
Uh-O, Here we go with the blond jokes. Dan Horn, Your on your own buddy...
Amy, a blonde city girl, marries a North Dakota rancher. One morning, on his way out to check on the cows, the rancher says to Amy,
"The insemination man is coming over to impregnate one of our cows today.
I drove a nail into the 2 by 4 just above the cow's stall in the barn. You show him where the cow is when he gets here, OK?"
So then the rancher leaves for the fields.
After a while, the artificial insemination man arrives and knocks on the front door.
Amy takes him down to the barn. They walk along the row of cows and when she sees the nail, she tells him, 'This is the one right here.'
Terribly impressed by what he seemed to think just might be another ditzy blonde, the man asks, 'Tell me lady, how did you know this is the cow to be bred?'
'That's simple. By the nail over its stall,' Amy explains very confidently.
Then the man asks, 'What's the nail for?'
She turns and walks away, and with complete confidence, says,
'I guess it's to hang your pants on.'
********************************************************
Here's one from Wayne Paddack.
The other day in Portsmouth, a man out walking noticed an old lady sitting on her front step. He walked up to her and said 'I couldn't help noticing how happy you look! What's your secret?'
'I smoke ten cigars a day,' she said. 'Before I go to bed, I smoke a nice
big joint. Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every week,
and eat only junk food. On week-ends, I pop pills, get laid, and do no other
exercise at all.'
'That is absolutely amazing! How old are you?'
'Twenty-four,' she replied.
********************************************************
Another Blond Lady joke. This one from Tony Moscicki
A man entered the bus with both of his front pockets full of golf balls and sat down next to a beautiful (you guessed it) blonde. The puzzled blonde kept looking at him and his bulging pockets.
Finally, after many such glances from her, he said, 'Its golf balls'.
After several minutes, not being able to contain her curiosity any longer, she asked;
'Does it hurt as much as tennis elbow?
********************************************************
Rob Ferguson sends this one in.
I wonder if they are giving these out as product promos
to all the Doctor's offices.
********************************************************
Heres Dave Snavly's submission for the week.
IF WOMEN CONTROLLED THE WORLD
Nose Spray Anthrax Vaccine Effective in Early Tests
Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that forms seed-like structures called spores capable of reproducing the organism despite tremendous punishment. In recent years, anthrax has become a top choice as a biological warfare agent, according to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), because its spores can easily become airborne. It can be spread by mailed packages, missiles or crop-dusting planes. It can travel downwind for hundreds of miles and stay lodged in soil for decades. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, terrorists mailed letters coated with anthrax spores to 22 U.S. men and women, five of whom died. Saddam Hussein developed anthrax spore-filled weapons, and Boris Yeltsin said the former Soviet Union had a biological weapons program that dwarfed that of pre-war Iraq.
The U.S. military requires personnel in high-risk areas to be vaccinated with the only FDA-licensed human anthrax vaccine, BioThraxTM, produced by BioPort Corporation/Emergent Defense Operations. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998, and about 1.8 million U.S. personnel have been vaccinated since then, according the Department of Defense. Those vaccinated are intended to receive a series of six shots, and then an annual booster shot. While 1.8 million have been vaccinated since 1998, just seven million doses have been handed out.
********************************************************
Diabetes Drug May Hold Potential As Treatment For Epilepsy, Using Same Mechanism As Ketogenic Diet
Now, in a presentation at Experimental Biology 2008 in San Diego,* Dr. Avtar Roopra describes a next step in this research that may mean a drug already widely used by people with diabetes could also be an effective and safe therapy for epilepsy, especially for that one third of patients who have recurrent seizures despite therapy with the best available antiepileptic drugs.
Although the earlier work by Dr. Roopra and his colleagues marked the first time a compound had been used for metabolic regulation of neuronal genes, epilepsy patients had been attempting to achieve the same goal - fewer seizures - for centuries through severe dietary restriction, in some cases with near starvation, more often with a high-fat, high-protein diet completely free of starches and sugars. Half of all drug-resistant people with epilepsy experience seizure control with this kind of severe ketogenic diet (although even a mild lapse can sometimes result in seizures).
********************************************************
Pepper Compound Could Aid Millions With Vitiligo
Oregon Health & Science University has licensed a family of compounds derived from black pepper extract - on which it owns the patents - to AdPharma, Inc. for potential pharmaceutical development. The compounds have shown potential in animal studies to be effective in treating vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder.
Vitiligo, which afflicts an estimated 100 million people worldwide, is characterized by the loss of pigment in affected areas of skin. It is the disease pop star Michael Jackson has publicly disclosed that he has. It is neither life-threatening nor contagious. But the sometimes unsightly white patches it causes produce emotional distress for many and often lead to social ostracism because of a widespread misperception that the condition is infectious.
An estimated 1 percent to 2 percent of the world's population suffers from the malady. Current treatments, which rely on immunosuppression or ultraviolet radiation to stimulate repigmentation, are only partially effective, often producing a mottled appearance. Excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation also poses the risk of skin cancer.
********************************************************
JAMA Article Looks at Data-Sharing in Clinical Trials for Heart Disease - Discussion of When and How to Share Data, and When to Suspend a Study
Treatment decisions are based on findings from scientific studies called clinical trials that can sometimes involve many thousands of patients. Several of these studies - such as those involving the drugs Avandia, Vytorin and, earlier, Vioxx - have been the subject of recent controversies in the media.
Increasingly, clinical trials are monitored by independent, external groups called Data and Safety Monitoring Committees (DSMCs), charged with protecting the safety of trial participants and preserving trial integrity and credibility. These committees are the only groups that can know results of blinded trials (trials in which participants and investigators are not aware of treatment assignments) while the trials are ongoing. The proper function of DSMCs is subject to discussion and debate. The JAMA article addresses one aspect of this debate.
********************************************************
Landmark Study Shows Combination Therapy Of No Benefit to Heart Patients and Should Be Avoided
The findings were announced today by Australian researchers from The George Institute for International Health and the Baker Heart Research Institute at the American Congress of Cardiology in Chicago, coinciding with publication in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The landmark study compared the effectiveness of two types of anti-hypertensive drug treatments: the ACE-inhibitor (angiotensin-coverting enzyme inhibitor) ramipril, and the ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker), telmisartan. The study had two aims, to determine whether telmisartan was equivalent to ramipril, and that the combined treatment was superior to ramipril alone, in the prevention of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalisation for heart failure in people at high-risk of cardiovascular disease on the basis of being aged over 55 years and having a history of heart attack, angina, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes with complications.
********************************************************
Anti-Cancer Compounds: The Good And The Bad Side
In a pair of recent papers, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center investigators provide a potential mechanism by which HDAC inhibitors specifically damage cancer cells and offer clues about possible adverse effects of these compounds - findings with important implications for their clinical use as cancer therapies.
Scott Hiebert, Ph.D., professor of Biochemistry and Medicine, and colleagues initially set out to study how chromosomal translocations - which happen when chromosomes break and rejoin, creating new genes at the breakpoints - cause acute leukemias.
********************************************************
Breast Cancer Vaccine Works Against Deadlier Form of Disease
This type of breast cancer, representing about one-quarter of all cases, tends to be deadlier than other forms of the disease. In this group, the vaccine reduced mortality by 50 percent.
Even better, however, the vaccine lowered mortality by 100 percent in women with breast cancer and low or intermediate expression of HER2/neu. Currently, these women have no therapies other than conventional cancer treatments such as surgery and chemo.
"We now have something we think works in the majority of women with breast cancer who are currently underserved," said Dr. George Peoples, senior author of the study, which is expected to be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, in San Diego. "It's also very, very well-tolerated, like a flu shot."
********************************************************
Believe it or not
Firefighter saves Claws the cat with CPR
Thanks to firefighter Jared Brister, Claws the cat has an extra life. The firefighter used cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 5 minutes after the cat passed out due to smoke inhalation.
Barbara Simmons had already lost one cat, Booger, during the Monday morning house fire and thought for sure Claws was a goner.
"He was not breathing," Brister said.
But Brister used the regulator from his air tank to feed the cat oxygen and started doing chest compressions with fellow firefighter Donnie Hodges assisting.
After a stay at the animal hospital, Claws, still smelling of smoke, was returned to Simmons on Tuesday.
"I can't thank him enough," Simmons said of Brister. "It's one thing to lose your possessions, but my animals are like a member of my family."
Hoosier Women Veterans Conference ********************************************************************
Construction Bill Introduced ********************************************************************
NC Phone Referral Goes 24/7 ********************************************************************
United Female Veterans of America ********************************************************************
Military Retirement, Worth Millions ********************************************************************
The Call for a Stronger VA Budget ********************************************************************
New Cemetery for Jacksonville ********************************************************************
Bill Requires VA Partnerships ********************************************************************
Subcommittee Holds PTSD Hearings ********************************************************************
MILITARY FUNERAL DISORDERLY CONDUCT UPDATE Westboro Baptist members regularly picket funerals of members of the U.S. armed forces, contending the deaths are God's punishment for the country's support of homosexuals. One of Snyder's attorneys, Sean Summers, of York PA said that based on financial information supplied during a hearing on the case, paying the $5 million penalty likely would force the church and the three named officials of the church to file for bankruptcy. However, even bankruptcy wouldn't let them out from under the $2.1 million punitive damages part of the judge's order. They would still be obligated for that amount under federal bankruptcy rules. A jury awarded Snyder compensatory damage of $2.9 million and punitive damage of $8 million. But the judge on 4 FEB reduced the punitive damage to $2.1 million, for a total judgment of $5 million. In addition, the judge required Shirley Phelps-Roper to post a $125,000 bond and Rebekah Phelps-Davis to post a $100,000 bond by 5 MAY or he will rescind a stay ordered by the court to prevent confiscation of their property. Phelps-Roper, an attorney, called that meaningless. She said the only property she and Phelps-Davis own are their homes and courts are forbidden from confiscating a person's home. "I have nothing at risk," she said.
In February, Bennett ordered Phelps-Roper, Phelps-Davis and their father, Pastor Fred W. Phelps Sr., to provide detailed financial information about their interests. The records showed the church property to be worth $442,800 and the law office building to be worth $233,000. Summers said the lien could be placed on the law office building because it is owned by Phelps Sr. "He (the judge) looked at my tax returns and saw that we give money to the church, and he didn't like that," Phelps-Roper said. She said there has been a lot of misinformation about the church and the Phelps family being wealthy. She said there was even a rumor that her father owned a "summer home." She said that came from a humorous answering machine message that said, "This is the Phelps family summer home - some are home and some are not." [Source: The Capital-Journal Mike Hall article 4 Apr 08 ++]
********************************************************************
MILITARY AWARD/SERVICE MISREPRESENTATION UPDATE
********************************************************************
MILITARY AWARD/SERVICE MISREPRESENTATION UPDATE #2 ********************************************************************
VA LAWSUIT (LACK OF CARE) UPDATE
At a House Veterans Affairs health subcommittee hearing 1 APR, Ira Katz, VA's deputy chief patient care services officer for mental health, said 60,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have received a preliminary diagnosis of PTSD. In the past two and a half years, he said, VA has hired 3,800 new mental health workers. In February, VA announced plans to open 23 new vet centers and establish mental health counseling by phone. However, several service members have slipped through the cracks, often tragically. In one case, former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Bailey killed himself while in VA's residential substance abuse program. His father, Tony Bailey, testified that his son didn't see a psychiatrist while he was in the program, even though he had been diagnosed with PTSD. Another veteran, former Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Schulze, tried to check himself into mental health care because he said he was suicidal, but VA representatives told him they'd have to put him on a waiting list. He also killed himself. The waiting lists themselves have gained notoriety. Though Peake has said waiting times have been shortened, he said at a hearing in February that VA still needs to work that issue. Peake told the House Veterans' Affairs Committee at a 7 FEB hearing, "In April 2006, there were over 250,000 unique patients waiting more than 30 days for their desired appointment date for health-care services; that's not acceptable. As of 1 JAN 08, we had reduced the waiting list to just over 69,000. Our budget request for 2009 provides the resources necessary ... to virtually eliminate the waiting list by the end of next year." [Source: Air Force Times Kelly Kennedy article 3 Apr 08 ++]
********************************************************************
VET CEMETERY FLORIDA UPDATE 06: Jacksonville VA National Cemetery will be the name of the 569-acre burial site to be built north of Jacksonville International Airport and about five miles from Interstate 295. The first 50-acre phase of the cemetery, which will eventually hold 189,000 veterans from the northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia area, will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Initial construction will prepare a small burial area to ensure that veteran burials can take place before all phase one facilities are completed. In addition to burial areas, the $1.25 million phase one will consist of approximately 50 acres, including roadways, an entrance area, an administration and public information center, a maintenance complex with buildings, a maintenance yard and parking, a flag assembly area, a memorial walkway and committal service shelters. Other infrastructure improvements will include grading, drainage, fencing, planting, an irrigation system and utilities. Interment areas will include traditional full-casket gravesites, pre-placed crypts, in-ground cremated burial sites and a columbarium for cremated remains. Veterans whose discharges are other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children may be buried in a national cemetery, regardless of where they live. No advance reservations are made. Other burial benefits for eligible veterans include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker, even if they are not buried in a national cemetery. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from a VA Web site at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1 (800) 827-1000. Information about the Jacksonville VA National Cemetery is available by calling the cemetery director at (904) 358-3510. [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal 1 Apr 08 ++]
VET CEMETERY ALABAMA UPDATE
VA has two other national cemeteries in Alabama for which records of internment can be viewed at http://www.interment.net/data/us/al/russell/ftmitnat/index.htm:
Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses, and dependent children are eligible for burial in a national cemetery. Other burial benefits for eligible veterans include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker - even if they are not buried in a national cemetery. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices at 1-800-827-1000. Information about the new national cemetery is available by calling the cemetery at (205) 665-9039 or 1(866) 547-5078. [Source: VA News Release 31 Mar 08 ++]
********************************************************************
VIETNAM CENSUS STATS: Some interesting Census Stats and "Been There" Wanabees:
~ 1,713,823 of those who served in Vietnam were still alive as of AUG 95 census figures.
********************************************************************
VIETNAM COMMON MYTHS:
Myth: The media have reported that suicides among Vietnam veterans range from 50,000 to 100,000 - 6 to 11 times the non-Vietnam veteran population.
Myth: Common belief is that a disproportionate number of blacks were killed in the Vietnam War.
Myth: Common belief is that the war was fought largely by the poor and uneducated.
Myth: The Common belief in the U.S. is that the domino theory was proved false.
Myth: The common belief is that the fighting in Vietnam was not as intense as in World War II.
Myth: Kim Phuc, the little nine year old Vietnamese girl running naked from the napalm strike near Trang Bang on 8 June 1972 was burned by Americans bombing Trang Bang.
Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam. ********************************************************************
MIGRAINES
Migraines occur less frequently if you can identify and avoid triggers. Common triggers include bright lights; loud noise; physical or emotional stress; lack of sleep; skipping meals; caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine; and hormonal changes. Some foods are triggers, including fermented foods such as soy sauce, aged cheese, and red wine; nitrate-containing foods such as bacon, corned beef, hot dogs, and salami; foods containing MSG; and other foods, including chocolate and nuts. Going to a quiet, dimly lit room during a migraine can help. Drinking fluids is important to keep from being dehydrated. Biofeedback is often a useful tool in treating migraines, and some patients find self-hypnosis valuable.
********************************************************************
These Twelve Promises of God
on which we can rely . . .
God’s Presence– “Never will I leave you; never
will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
God’s Protection– “Do not be afraid...I am your
shield, your very great reward’” (Genesis 15:1).
God’s Power– “I will strengthen you...” (Isaiah 41:10).
God’s Provision– “I will...help you; I will uphold you...” (Isaiah 41:10).
God’s Leading– “When he has brought out all his
own, he goes on ahead of them” (John 10:4).
God’s Purposes– “For I know the plans I have for
you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
God’s Rest – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
God’s Cleansing – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us
from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
God’s Goodness– “No good thing does he withhold from
those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11).
God’s Faithfulness – “The Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own”
(1 Samuel 12:22).
God’s Guidance – “He guides the humble in what is
right and teaches them his way” (Psalm 25:9).
God’s Wise Plan – “All things God works for the good
of those who love him, who have been called according
to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). If you are an obedient
and faithful child of God, then you can be certain He
will keep all His promises (see 2 Peter 3:9)! There is
assurance for your life and hope for whatever situation
you may be facing in the promises of His Word!
Thats all the news for this week. Check back next Saturday. Thanks, Ole' Bill
Apr 30, 1945: 1st Division reaches Czechoslovakian border.
Requests for help
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 11:57 AM
To: DragoonA26T@pcwi.net
Subject: Question about 1SG Frank Kather
Jason Owen
Montgomery, Alabama
Celia Kather Owen
TROOPER PHOTOS
ACTIVE DUTY NEWS
Iraq Veteran
Executive Director
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Alison Kohler, Media Relations (785) 240-1893
Release Number 017-04-08
Today's Date 04-10-08
1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley
Fort Riley, Kan.
Telephone (785) 239-3410/240-1893
FAX (785) 239-2592
After hours (785) 239-2222
www.riley.army.mil or http://www.riley.army.mil/
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
The popular dinner show, Pirates Dinner Adventure, located in Orlando, Fla., announced free admission for all active-duty military throughout the month of May 2008. Reservations are required and can be booked through the on-base Information Tickets and Reservations (ITR) and Information Tickets and Tours (ITT) offices located on most CONUS installations. The ITR and ITT Offices have everyday discounts so that in addition to the free admission for the active-duty servicemember, accompanying family members or other bona fide guests will save $26.97 per adult and $16.67 per child's admission compared to the non-discounted box office price.
A military retirement can be worth millions of dollars over the course of a lifetime. The (https://staynavytools.bol.navy.mil/PCC/?B3=Launch+Calculator) Navy's Pay and Compensation Calculator shows active-duty servicemembers and reservists their current pay as well as the future retired pay. For example, an 18-year-old Sailor in boot camp today, who makes the Navy a career and advances to chief petty officer, can retire after 20 years at age 38. Under the current retirement plan, a Sailor is projected to earn approximately $5 million in retirement pay by the age of 80. To learn more about military retirement and other benefits of staying-in or joining again, speak to your command career advisor or (https://secure.military.com/Recruiting/request-info/prior-service/page1.do) contact a recruiter.
TRICARE has many resources available for beneficiaries to access information about their benefits. Beneficiaries should first contact their region or area offices toll-free at Health Net Federal Services, LLC (North Region), (877) 874?2273; Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. (South Region), (800) 444?5445; TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region), (888) 874?9378; and TRICARE Overseas (Europe, Pacific, Latin America and Canada), (888) 777?8343 (toll-free from the U.S. and its territories). Beneficiaries can find their nearest TRICARE Service Center by visiting the (http://www.tricare.mil/contactus/) TRICARE contacts webpage. To find a nearby Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator (BCAC), visit the (http://www.tricare.mil/bcacdcao/) BCAC Directory. Watch a video on (http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/featurestory-02-07-2008.aspx) TRICARE Service Centers.
There's good news for TRICARE Standard beneficiaries. More civilian providers are accepting new patients, according to a recently released survey. The findings, part of the Department of Defense Survey of Civilian Physician Acceptance of TRICARE Standard, show that in fiscal 2007, almost 93 percent of responding physicians in 53 hospital service areas were aware of the TRICARE program, with 84 percent of physicians in those 53 HSAs accepting new TRICARE Standard patients. (http://www.military.com/news/article/air-force-news/more-providers-accept-tricare-standard.html?col=1186032369229) Read the full story at Military.com.
The Army Emergency Relief (AER) program's Command Referral Program allows company/battery commanders and first sergeants to authorize $1,000 in interest-free loans to their Soldiers for car repairs, emergency travel, rent or other needs. AER also provides grants to wounded warriors and need-based scholarships to retired Soldiers and family members of active-duty Soldiers. For more information, and to find an Army Emergency Relief office, visit the (http://www.aerhq.org/) Army Emergency Relief website.
A recent decision by the Missouri Conservation Commission extended small-game hunting and fishing permit exemptions to all qualifying disabled veterans and former prisoners of war, regardless of where they live. The change is not an exemption from all permit requirements. They still must purchase Missouri deer and turkey hunting, migratory bird hunting and trapping permits if they want to engage in those activities. Exempt veterans must carry a certified statement of eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) when purchasing permits or exercising permit privileges. For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or visit the (http://mdc.mo.gov/) MDC Online website.
Applications for the State of Pennsylvania's Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans' Benefit Program are now available. The veteran must have served with the U.S. Armed Forces, a reserve component or the Pennsylvania National Guard; served on active duty in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the period from Aug. 2, 1990 to Aug. 31, 1991, and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal; and been a legal resident of Pennsylvania at the time of active service. Certain surviving relatives are also eligible. The deadline for applying for benefits under this program is Aug. 31, 2015. For detailed instructions on how to apply, visit the (http://www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us/) Pennsylvania Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Vermont Gov. James Douglas signed into law a special moose permit lottery for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, five of Vermont's 1,260 moose-hunting permits will be set aside for returning veterans and they will be allowed to apply for the regular, statewide lottery, as well as the special one for them. If you're a Veteran and possess, or are eligible to receive, a campaign ribbon for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, and a Vermont resident, check box 4 on the 2008 Vermont Moose Permit Application to be included in a special priority drawing. For more information, visit the (http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunttrap_lottery.cfm) Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's website.
The goal of this survey to better understand the role that active duty servicemen and women play in the approval and acquisition of products and services for government, as well as preferred media habits.
The Defense Department will no longer issue identification cards with full Social Security numbers. Plans are to remove the Social Security numbers from identification cards issued to military family members by the end of this year. Between 2009 and 2010, all department-issued identification cards will feature only the last four digits of a holder's Social Security number. New identification cards will be issued as they reach their expiration dates. TRICARE already removed Social Security numbers from its members' identification cards.
On Saturday, May 17, 2007, the St. Louis VA Medical Center will sponsor a Welcome Home Celebration for returning combat service personnel and their families from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. This Welcome Home Celebration aims to reach out to veterans and active duty soldiers who have recently returned from action in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). All OEF and OIF Veterans and their families from St. Louis and the surrounding area are welcomed to join us for music, food, fun, informational booths, giveaways and games for the kids. There will be valuable information, education and support for OIF/OEF veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. A commemorative coin will be available for all military veterans and a commemorative medallion will be available for OIF/OEF Veterans in an award and medallion presentation ceremony. Interested veterans can download the (http://www.stlouis.va.gov/news/Welcome_Home_registration.pdf) Welcome Home registration form. For additional information, call (314) 652-4100 ext. 57633.
More than 10,000 Soldiers, civilians and Family members with military e-mail addresses received an e-mail promising free tickets to area theme parks, with a link to a website that appeared to belong to the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (FMWRC). The "phishing" expedition was developed by the Army Computer Emergency Response Team (ACERT) in a Global Computer Network Defense exercise to test the defensive posture of the Army LandWarNet and the response of all parties involved including the FMWRC. ACERT officials sent a follow-up e-mail to the recipients describing the exercise and apologizing for any inconvenience or false hopes raised by the e-mail. Anyone with questions or comments in the conduct of the exercise should contact the ACERT at 703-706-1113.
Only In America
Nevertheless, the blonde continued to look at him for a very long time, deeply thinking about what he had said.
..
..
..
..
..
Early studies show that a new mucosal vaccine against anthrax has the potential to provide military personnel with more effective and efficient protection against a "popular" bioweapon, according to a study published today in the journal Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (CVI). With the new vaccine, researchers sought to take two steps at once, fine-tuning its ingredients and delivering it by nose spray instead of injection.
Two years ago, University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists reported they had suppressed epileptic seizures in rats by giving them a glycolytic-inhibitor, inhibiting the brain's ability to turn sugar into excess energy and blocking the expression of seizure-related genes. The discovery was greeted with excitement and hope for a new class of drugs for epilepsy, which afflicts more than 50 million people worldwide.
Oregon Health & Science University announced collaboration to develop promising topical agent for vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder that afflicts as many as a 100 million people worldwide
How and when to share clinical trial data for heart studies - including when to suspend a study - is vitally important to physician-scientists and regulators as an increasing number of clinical trials evaluate new treatments. This issue is explored in the April 9 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in a commentary article authored by Dr. Jeffrey S. Borer of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Drs. David J. Gordon and Nancy L. Geller - both of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Results from the ONTARGET study, the world's largest cardiovascular study in high risk patients, has shown that combination treatment with commonly used blood-pressure lowering drugs, ARBs and ACE-inhibitors, does not provide extra protective benefit for patients at high risk heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. In fact, the treatment increases the risks of dizziness, blackouts and kidney problems.
Compounds known as "HDAC inhibitors" exhibit cancer-killing activities in cultured cells. While they are currently being tested as anti-cancer agents in clinical trials, just how they execute their effects is unclear.
A breast cancer vaccine significantly reduced the risk of recurrence for patients who have a high expression of the protein HER2-neu.
Indiana is hosting the second annual Hoosier Women Veterans Conference, to be held May 10, 2008, at the Indiana War Memorial. The free event includes a catered lunch. This year the key note speakers will be Brig Gen Margaret Washburn, Indiana National Guard; Brig Gen Wilma L. Vaught - President of Women In Military Service for America Memorial (WIMSA) Washington DC. The event will also feature speakers from the Veterans Home in West Lafayette Indiana, and the VA Regional Office. (http://www.in.gov/dva/files/2008_HWV_Conference_Registration_Form.pdf) Download the registration form online and follow the instructions to take part in the conference. Visit the (http://www.in.gov/dva/2919.htm) Indiana Veterans Administration website to learn more.
U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation at the request of the administration which would authorize $1.9 billion for the construction and repair of various Department of Veterans Affairs' medical facilities across the country. Two of the main projects contained in the bill are polytrauma centers -- a new one in San Antonio, Texas; and upgrades to the Palo Alto, Calif., facility. The legislation also increases the total authorization for the new VA hospital in Denver and authorizes $60 million in leases for community-based outpatient clinics in 11 states and territories. The (http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=12&release_id=11552) Majority Committee Member's Views and Estimates letter is available.
North Carolina's telephone referral service for counseling and support for servicemembers and veterans will now be available around-the-clock service. The CARE-LINE service, operated by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, aims to connect people with counseling and other services provided by government agencies and nonprofits. The CARE-Line receives more than 200,000 calls a year. To reach CARE-LINE 24 hours a day, seven days a week, telephone (800) 662-7030 (English or Spanish) or (877) 452-2514 (TTY). For more information, visit the NCcareLink website at (http://www.nccarelink.gov) http://www.nccarelink.gov.
The United Female Veterans of America is hosting their First Annual National Summer Meeting in St Louis, Missouri at the St Louis Marriott West June 26-29, 2008. They are asking all women veterans to join them to learn how to help others and themselves. For information on the National Summer Meeting visit the (http://www.ufva.us/) UFVA website. Interested female veterans may also call 410-272-5040 or email (mailto:OkieGirlMD@aol.com) OkieGirlMD@aol.com for more information.
A military retirement can be worth millions of dollars over the course of a lifetime. The (https://staynavytools.bol.navy.mil/PCC/?B3=Launch+Calculator) Navy's Pay and Compensation Calculator shows active-duty servicemembers and reservists their current pay as well as the future retired pay. For example, an 18-year-old Sailor in boot camp today, who makes the Navy a career and advances to chief petty officer, can retire after 20 years at age 38. Under the current retirement plan, a Sailor is projected to earn approximately $5 million in retirement pay by the age of 80. To learn more about military retirement and other benefits of staying-in or joining again, speak to your command career advisor or (https://secure.military.com/Recruiting/request-info/prior-service/page1.do) contact a recruiter.
Hearings were held on the legislative priorities of the following veterans and military organizations: AMVETS, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Gold Star Wives of America, Fleet Reserve Association, The Retired Enlisted Officers Association, Military Officers Association of America, and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs. While the witnesses testified on matters of interest to each of their organizations, a strongly unifying theme was the need for a stronger VA budget. (http://veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=16&release_id=11580&sub_release_id=11623&view=all) The Chairman's opening statement is available online.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) named the national cemetery to be constructed in Jacksonville, Fla., as the "Jacksonville VA National Cemetery." VA anticipates the first phase of construction to begin this summer. Interment areas will include traditional full-casket gravesites, pre-placed crypts, in-ground cremated burial sites and a columbarium for cremated remains. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, (http://www.cem.va.gov) from the Internet or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about the Jacksonville VA National Cemetery is available by calling the cemetery director at (904) 358-3510.
U.S. Senator (http://capwiz.com/military/bio/?id=202&lvl=C&chamber=S) Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced a Senate bill (S. 2796) to establish partnerships between the Department of Veterans Affairs and community organizations to connect with underserved veterans. When selecting community organizations to partner with VA, priority will be given to those groups that reach out to rural veterans, minority veterans, and other underserved populations.
The House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee recently conducted a hearing to examine the current programs for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Subcommittee also addressed current research programs focusing on PTSD. Of the 300,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom who have accessed VA health care, more than 120,000 or 40.1 percent have a mental disorder. Of those who have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, 59,838 have been diagnosed with PTSD. The opening statements of all the witnesses and the web cast of the hearing are available on the (http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=188) Committee website.
A federal judge in Maryland on 3 APR ordered liens on the Westboro Baptist Church building and the Phelps-Chartered Law office. If the case presided over by U.S. District Court Judge Richard D. Bennett is upheld by an appeals court, the church, at 3701 S.W. 12th, and the office building, at 1414 S.W. Topeka Blvd., could be obtained by the court and sold, with the proceeds being applied toward $5 million in damages Bennett imposed on church members for picketing a military funeral. A lien is a legal hold on property, making it collateral against money owed to a person or entity. It can keep the owner from selling the property or transferring title to the property. The $5 million penalty is the result of a lawsuit filed against three of the church's principals by Albert Snyder, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, whose funeral was picketed by church members. The senior Snyder contended the picketing caused emotional distress and invasion of privacy.
1.) Federal officials arrested a Gulfport man 1 APR for allegedly making false claims about serving in Vietnam and receiving a Purple Heart. Frank Thayer, 59, is the third area man in a week to be arrested and charged with lying about military service and honors. In an affidavit, Thayer admitted to Veterans Affairs special investigators that in spite of owning a Purple Heart medal with ribbon, a Bronze Star with ribbon, an Army ring, commander's pilot wings, seemingly official documents and clothing bearing Purple Heart patches, he had never served in the military nor received any medals. He said he bought the medals at a military surplus store. Thayer admitted creating a motivational DVD celebrating his service that he sold to civic organizations. He told a former girlfriend all his military papers were destroyed by Katrina. Thayer was released on $25,000 unsecured bond. He faces multiple charges, and could receive up to 6 months in prison and fines of $5,000 per violation, said Morgan.
2.) A man who went to prison for impersonating an Army captain after the 2002 Interstate 40 bridge collapse is heading back to prison. A federal jury in Muskogee found that William James Clark violated the terms of his probation by calling the Russian Embassy and claiming to be part of a covert military operation to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. U.S. District Judge James Payne sentenced Clark last week to 21 more months in prison. In MAY 02, Clark spent nearly three days pretending to be an Army captain in charge of the recovery effort after the I-40 bridge collapse at Webbers Falls, Okla. He was sentenced to nearly six years in prison and was released from a halfway house last September.
[Source: Sun Herald Megha Satyanarayana article 2 Apr 08 ++]
A Vietnam veteran who acknowledged wearing military medals he never earned has been sentenced to 100 hours of community service. Louis McGuinn told a Manhattan judge 2 APR that he now realizes what he did was wrong. McGuinn said the result has been "tremendous hardship" for him and his family and friends. McGuinn admitted in December he wore a Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross, among other medals he didn't deserve. He also claimed to be a retired lieutenant colonel, though he was discharged from the Army as a private in 1968. The Queens man was prosecuted under the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 (S.1998), which took effect in January 2007. The Act applies to fraudulent claims surrounding the receipt of the Medal of Honor, the distinguished-service cross, the Navy cross, the Air Force cross, the Purple Heart, and other decorations and medals awarded by the President or the Armed Forces of the United States that such claims will damage the reputation and meaning of such decorations and medals. It says that whoever falsely represents himself or herself, verbally or in writing, to have been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces of the United States, any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration, or medal, or any colorable imitation of such item shall under title 18 United States Code be fined, imprisoned not more than six months, or both. In the case of the distinguished-service cross, Navy cross, Air Force cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart or any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law, imprisonment shall not be more than one year. [Source: ArmyTimes AP article 3 Apr 08 & http://thomas.loc.gov ++]
Veterans for Common Sense is suing the Department of Veterans Affairs because, the group says, VA is so thoroughly bogged down with a backlog of 600,000 benefits claims that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder are not receiving the care they need. The trial begins 21 APR in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit, which names VA Secretary Dr. James Peake as defendant, - is a class action filed by a large group of veterans who allege "a system-wide breakdown" in the way the government treats veterans with PTSD. They say several suicidal veterans have unsuccessfully sought VA mental health care. Representatives from veterans service organizations, VA and mental health experts are expected to testify. According to Gordon Erspamer, an attorney representing the veterans pro bono, the lawsuit challenges a backlog in handling claims, "appellate delays of five to 10 years" for disability ratings, waiting lists and the "inadequacy of VA care for PTSD." The suit asks for immediate medical help, as well as screening for suicidal thoughts, for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has named the national cemetery to be built near Birmingham the "Alabama VA National Cemetery." The new national cemetery will be located in the town of Montevallo , approximately five miles west of Interstate 65 and adjacent to American Village, a museum that teaches history and citizenship through re-creation of colonial life. The cemetery will be built on land acquired from private owners and will serve approximately 200,000 veterans in the region who are not currently provided burial space by a nearby national or state veterans cemetery. VA expects to begin construction of the first phase of the cemetery this summer. In SEP 07, the Department awarded a $1.3 million contract to Civil Consultants Inc. of Birmingham to design the cemetery. When complete, the first phase will consist of approximately 45 acres, and facilities needed to provide burials for approximately 10 years. The first-phase interment areas will provide 9,100 full-casket gravesites, 3,100 in-ground cremation sites and approximately 2,700 columbarium niches for cremation remains. The cemetery will also include an administrative and public information center, an electronic gravesite locator and public restrooms, a maintenance facility, an entrance area, a flag assembly area, a memorial walkway and two committal shelters for funeral services. Infrastructure will include roadways, landscaping, utilities and irrigation.
. The Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, 553 Highway 165, Seale, AL 36875 Tel: (334) 855-4731 This cemetery of 279.8 acres officially opened in 1987 and presently has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains. In late 1980s, the old post cemetery at Fort Mitchell was officially identified as the location for a national cemetery in Federal Region IV, to serve veterans residing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.
. The Mobile National Cemetery, 1202 Virginia Street, Mobile, AL 36604 located within the grounds of Magnolia Cemetery encompasses 5.2 acres. For information contact: Barrancas National Cemetery (850) 453-4108. This cemetery presently buries only eligible family members and cremated remains.
~ In the AUG 95 census 9,492,958 Americans falsely claimed to have served in-country.
~ As of the August, 2000 Census, the surviving U.S. Vietnam Veteran population estimate is: 1,002,511. If this loss of 711,000 between '95 and '00 is accurate it equates to 390 deaths per day.
~ During this Census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to have served in-country is: 13,853,027. By this census, four out of five who claim to be Vietnam vets are not.
~ The Department of Defense Vietnam War Service Index officially provided by The War Library originally reported with errors that 2,709,918 U.S. military personnel as having served in-country. Corrections and confirmations to this errored index resulted in the addition of 358 U.S. military personnel confirmed to have served in Vietnam but not originally listed by the Department of Defense. (All names are currently on file and accessible 24/7/365).
~ Atrocities: Americans who deliberately killed civilians received prison sentences while Communists who did so received commendations. From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. The death squads focused on leaders at the village level and on anyone who improved the lives of the peasants such as medical personnel, social workers, and school teachers per the Nixon Presidential Papers.
[Source: NM e-Veterans News 9 Jan 06 - Research accredited to Capt. Marshal Hanson, U.S.N.R (Ret.) & Statistical Source Capt. Scott Beaton]
Myth: Common Belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted.
Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the men who served in WW II were drafted. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers.
Fact: Mortality studies show that 9,000 is a better estimate. The CDC Vietnam Experience Study Mortality Assessment showed that during the first 5 years after discharge, deaths from suicide were 1.7 times more likely among Vietnam veterans than non-Vietnam veterans. After that initial post-service period the rate of suicides is less.
Fact: 86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were black, 1.2% were other races. Black fatality figures were proportional to the number of blacks in the U.S. population at the time and slightly lower than the proportion of blacks in the Army at the close of the war.
Fact: Servicemen who went to Vietnam from well-to-do areas had a slightly elevated risk of dying because they were more likely to be pilots or infantry officers. Vietnam Veterans were the best educated forces our nation had ever sent into combat. 79% had a high school education or better.
Fact: The domino theory was accurate. The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand stayed free of Communism because of the U.S. commitment to Vietnam. The Indonesians threw the Soviets out in 1966 because of America's commitment in Vietnam. Without that commitment, Communism would have swept all the way to the Malacca Straits that is south of Singapore and of great strategic importance to the free world. The Vietnam War was the turning point for Communism.
Fact: The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. 58,148 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7 million who served. Although the percent that died is similar to other wars, amputations or crippling wounds were 300% higher than in World War II ....75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely disabled. MEDEVAC helicopters flew nearly 500,000 missions. Over 900,000 patients were airlifted (nearly half were American). The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. As a result, less than one percent of all Americans wounded, who survived the first 24 hours, died.
Fact: No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc. The planes doing the bombing near the village were VNAF (Vietnam Air Force) and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. The Vietnamese pilot who dropped the napalm in error is currently living in the United States. Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture, was Vietnamese. The incident in the photo took place on the second day of a three day battle between the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) who occupied the village of Trang Bang and the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) who were trying to force the NVA out of the village. Reports in the news media that an American commander ordered the air strike are incorrect. There were no Americans involved in any capacity. The Commanding General of TRAC at that time said Americans had nothing to do with controlling VNAF.
Fact: The American military was not defeated in Vietnam. The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. From a military standpoint, it was almost an unprecedented performance. General Westmoreland said the war was a major military defeat for the VC and NVA. The United States did not lose the war in Vietnam, the South Vietnamese did.
[Source: NM e-Veterans News 9 Jan 06 - Research accredited to Capt. Marshal Hanson, U.S.N.R (Ret.) & Statistical Source Capt. Scott Beaton]
Perhaps the most troublesome headaches are migraines. About one in 10 people (more women than men) has had a migraine headache. Most people have their first migraine between 15 and 45 years of age, and most migraine sufferers have a close relative who also has them. Migraine headaches are caused by changes in blood vessels in the brain. The vessels can dilate and put pressure on nerves, which causes pounding pain. Although very debilitating when they occur, migraine headaches generally do not signify a more serious medical problem. Perhaps one-fifth of migraine sufferers have "classic" migraines with a warning sign, or aura, that precedes the headache. Auras might be caused by a temporary constriction of a blood vessel in the brain. Common auras include seeing stars or zigzag lines, tunnel vision, or a blind spot, and can typically last 20 minutes to an hour or until the headache begins. About 75% of migraines are "common" migraines, which don't have an aura and usually are characterized by a pounding, severe, one-sided headache. Nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light can occur with a migraine. There might be numbness or tingling in the face, neck, or upper extremities. The headache can last a few hours to a day or two. The day after the headache ends a migraine sufferer still can feel fatigued, tired, and mentally exhausted. There also can be residual neck pain.
If you have migraines as often as once a week, preventive medication, taken daily, may be prescribed. If your migraine headaches are less frequent, medication can be taken at the first sign of a headache (or aura). The medication can be injected (by the patient) or taken in the form of a nasal spray, rectal suppository, or fast-acting oral preparation. The goal is to provide treatment as soon as possible and to ward off a more serious headache. Migraine medications have various side effects, especially for patients with heart disease or other health problems. Some medications affect the vascular system, while others are strong painkillers (which can become habit-forming if taken too frequently). Always work closely with the physician prescribing your medication. For more information, visit www.headaches.org [Source: MOAA Magazine Ask the Doctor Nov 05]
Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.
Amen
Return to 1/4th Cav Weekly Newsletter - WEEK 1
Return to 1/4th Cav Weekly Newsletter - WEEK 2
Return to 1/4th Cav Weekly Newsletter - WEEK 3
Return to 1/4th Cav Weekly Newsletter - WEEK 5