BY FRED L. BORCH AND ROBERT F DORR
Born in New Jersey in 1928, Lewane entered the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1950. When he graduated in 1954 as an ROTC Distinguished Mili¬tary Graduate, he was commissioned as a Regular Army second lieutenant in the armored cavalry.
Lewane subsequently completed Airborne and Ranger training and served two combat tours in Korea as a tank platoon leader and company commander. From 1956 to 1958, he patrolled the West German-Czech border as the commander of armored cavalry companies in the 6th and 11th Armored Cavalry regiments. It was during his time in Korea and in Europe that Lewane learned about leadership. “I learned quickly that soldiers are always watching their commander and, while words can be important, what you do or don’t do is more important. That means you have got to take care of your soldiers and they’ll take care of you if you do. And that also means sharing the same dangers and hardships that they face."
Lewane returned to VMI in 1959, serving as an assistant professor of military science until 1962. After finishing Command and General Staff College in 1963, he served briefly at U.S. Strike Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
In November 1965, now LTC Lewane arrived in Saigon. Although he had been assigned to J-3 Operations and Plans at Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, he immediately volunteered to command the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, then a part of the 1st Infantry Division. On April 15, 1966, Lewane’s request was approved and he assumed command. Just a few months later, he and his troopers would repeatedly distinguish themselves in combat against numerically superior Viet Cong forces.
On June 8, 1966, Troop A of Lewane’s squadron moved north on Route 13, through an area held by the Viet Cong 9th Division, to reinforce the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division at An Loc. When the lead tank hit a command-detonated mine it signaled a massive attack by three VC battalions from both sides of the road. Lewane’s troop faced withering fire from recoilless rifles, mortars and automatic weapons. According to an account by General William E. DePuy, Troop A had run into the elite 272nd Regiment and was about to fight and win “an epic battle of the Vietnam war’ Despite being outnumbered 9-to-1. Troop A had 135 soldiers and the VC unit was 1,200 strong—the troopers “immediately closed with the insurgent forces in a fierce assault.”
For the next six hours of the bloody battle that followed, Lewane was in his OH-13 Sioux helicopter, coordinating with his commanders on the ground to bring in tactical airstrikes from Air Force F-4 Phantoms and F-100 Super Sabers. Despite the fragile nature of his helicopter, with its goldfish bowl, glassed-in cockpit, Lewane ignored the danger and twice directed his pilot, Captain Joel S. Spivack, to land inside the squadron’s defensive perimeter. Lewane wanted to ensure that his troopers had sufficient ammunition—and he wanted to inspire them. Consequently, Lewane walked from vehicle to vehicle, making his presence known in the heat of the battle and to show his troopers that he was really with them in this fight.
According to DePuy, then commanding the 1st Infantry Division, Lewane was a “striking commander” with his “close shaven head, open face, strong physique, flashing eyes, and energy oozing out of every pore.” DePuy continued: “Since the legendary Brevet Maj. Gen. Ranald S. Mackenzie who, as a colonel, led the regiment against the Apaches, Kiowas, Cornmanches, Arapahos and Cheyennes in the frontier wars, there had not been a more valiant and dashing leader of the 4th Cavalry—the best Regular Army cavalry regiment in the Indian campaigns.” Considering that generations of leaders had served in the 4th Cavalry in the years between Mackenzie and Lewane, this was high praise from Depuy.
At the end of the battle on June 8, Air Force bombs, napalm and cluster bomblets combined with the fire power from Troop A to rout the Viet Cong from their emplacements. A total of 105 VC were killed and a large cache of weapons was seized; making the Battle at Ap Tao 0 a phenomenal victory.
On June 30, Troops B, C and D (Air) of the squadron were executing a reconnais¬sance in force north of An Loc when they were struck by another Viet Cong regiment. Despite a tremendous volume of enemy mortar, recoilless rifle and automatic weapons fire, and repeated attempts to over¬run the squadron by use of hand grenades at close range with point-blank firing and fanatical assaults, the cavalrymen once again emerged victorious against superior numbers. There were several heroic acts during the ferocious combat, including that of Sergeant Donald R. Long, an African-American trooper who received the Medal of Honor. Long sacrificed his life by jumping on a grenade that otherwise would have killed four of his fellow soldiers. Long’s gallantry, Lewane firmly believes, “reflects the reality of combat—that race and ethnicity are irrelevant when soldiers are a band of brothers.”
On July 9, 1966, Troops B, C and D were deployed southwest of An Loc as bait to lure a reinforced VC regiment into launching an attack. When the attack finally started, the intensity of the mortar, small-arms, automatic weapons, grenades and .50-caliber machine gun fire equaled that of the two earlier engagements. Since the squadron was acting as a holding force, Lewane and his men had to withstand this attack by a superior force for more than two hours until four infantry battalions could arrive by helicopter. In what became known as the Battle of the Minh Thanh Road, Lewane was in command aboard a Huey He1icopter. He twice landed in the midst of the firefight to encourage his troopers to continue their fire and hold their position until infantrymen from the 1st Division arrived to support them. The Americans eventual1y broke the Viet Cong attack with the help of artillery and close air support from the Air Force.
For its extraordinary heroism as a unit during these three harrowing battles, the squadron was decorated with the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation in July 1967. This prestigious unit award requires a level of heroism equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross. As that decoration is second only to the Medal of Honor, it is a high honor, and only one Other unit in the 1st Infantry Division received it during the Vietnam War.
As for Lewane, his first Silver Star was for his gallantry on June 8. According to the official citation, when Lewane first learned of the Viet Cong attack he “directed his helicopter pilot to fly over the hostile emplacements” and “without regard for his own safety, flew at such low altitude that he was able to deliver suppressive fire at the Viet Cong with his automatic rifle.”
Lewane’s second Silver Star was for combat heroism in the Battle of Minh Thanh Road. According to the citation, Lewane “was constantly exposed to intense insurgent fire. He always appeared to be where the fighting was heaviest, inspiring his men by his calm demeanor and mastery of the situation.” The citation also highlights Lewane’s “expert battlefield strategy” and credits him with orchestrating the overwhelming defeat of the Viet Cong regiment. In fact, the Quarter Horse troopers achieved an incredible 30-to-l kill ratio.
After Vietnam, Lewane continued to serve with great distinction, commanding 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, and serving as chief of staff, U.S. Army, Berlin. His last assignment was at Fort Monroe, Va., where he directed the Training and Doctrine Command’s Combat Systems Directorate, working with Army Materiel Command in the development of the Ml Abrams Tank and the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Lewane retired as a colonel in 1976 and now teaches American history, including a course on the American experience in Viet¬nam, at Blue Ridge Community College.
Thank you,
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Is the world facing Thermobaric Terrorism?
http://actionsbyt.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/new-type-of-terrorism/
The not so distant threat could involve a new terrorist weapon: the Thermobaric bomb
Canadian defense scientists are leading an international effort to devise protection against new and more powerful terrorist explosives designed to flatten buildings and rupture people's internal organs. This kind is of weapon, developed during the Cold War in the former Soviet Union, is known highly lethal in confined surroundings, such as underground tube systems and rail carriages.
According to Tom Burky, a leading explosives expert: " Thermobaric bombs, which the U.S. military is striving to perfect, may also be emerging as a weapon of choice for terrorists".
Termed "thermobaric," the relatively new explosive belongs to a class of fuel-rich compositions that release energy over a longer period of time than standard explosives, thereby creating a long-duration pressure pulse when detonated in confined spaces.
Thermobaric explosives (TBXs) are mixtures of conventional explosives and specific additives, such as aluminum, that undergo combustion after the detonation reaction. This secondary combustion phenomenon leads to specific shape and propagation characteristics in the resulting highly lethal shock wave. The burning plasma clouds can penetrate even the smallest cracks, and when the slurry is completely consumed, the resulting vacuum causes a massive back-blast that crushes everything in the area.
There are already signs that terrorists are trying to create thermobaric weapons.
For instance, in 2002 a tanker truck was used in a suicide attack on a synagogue in Tunisia, thought to be the work of Al-Qaeda. Some experts believe the way the fuel tanks were rigged with explosives shows a knowledge of fuel-air explosive techniques.
Designs for a fuel-air device were also acquired by the CIA from three alleged IRA members on trial in Colombia. The three are said to have been developing the bomb in conjunction with the local guerrilla group. The bomb detonated by al-Qaeda operatives on the Indonesian island of Bali, used the same principles that are behind thermobaric explosives, say scientists with Defense Research and Development Canada. "We just learned about thermobaric explosives in the late '80s when the Soviet Union was disintegrating," said Stephen Murray, head of the threat assessment group at the defense agency's Suffield, Alta., laboratories. "Those weapons later started showing up on the open market."
The weapons he referred to apply to a wide range of thermobaric devices, which were used by Russia in the Chechnya campaign of 1999. A US Marine Corps study, based on interviews with Russian officers and Chechens, concluded that they were capable of killing troops in bunkers and destroying buildings that hadn't been reinforced. "Walls and surfaces do not necessarily shield victims," notes a US training manual.
Among the latest additions is the Russian thermobaric grenade–brought out on 23 July 2001 by the Bazalt Research and Production Center.
Western countries are developing similar weapons. The US created a bazooka with a thermobaric warhead called the SMAW-NE for the war in Iraq. China recently unveiled its own version, and the UK is also reported to be working on one - although the defense ministry insists that it is merely an "enhanced blast weapon". Such weapons are reported to have been used by US Special forces to rout out Taliban hiding in the Afghan Tora Bora mountain caves.
According to forensic experts, a Thermobaric explosive device is relatively easy to make. In fact, the materials to make a thermobaric bomb can be obtained without a license. And while an improvised bomb may differ from the military version, it can still have a devastating impact, said Burky.
Based on the knowledge published over the past years, in the so-called Terrorist Handbook, a notorious internet website, which depicts precise working instructions to bombmakers, it can be expected that in their search for more effective weapons in underground passages, tube and rail lines and other confined mass packed environments the terrorists will come up with more sophisticated measures.
Perhaps the most dangerous targets for Thermobaric terrorism are the big city underground networks, counter terrorist experts warn.
According to Alphus Hinds, head of secure risk at Interfleet "The underground rail system presents the terrorist with a composite choice of tactic and target permutations, from which a 'kill matrix' can be produced - that is an assessment of the likely number of casualties resulting from a particular combination of target and modus operandi".
Hinds, who specializes in the assessment of asymmetric and novel threats with particular emphasis on non conventional terrorism knows what he is talking about.
Between 1998 and 2004, there have been over 185 separate terrorist attacks on heavy rail, metro subway systems and light rail systems worldwide. Terrorists have targeted the full spectrum of the rail transport environment, including trains, ticket halls, passenger stations, train depots, railway bridges, tracks and signaling, resulting in around 700 deaths and over 4,000 injuries with an accompanying economic loss totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
On 15 March, 2004 British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Andy Trotter emphasized no specific threat to the London Underground or rail system had been received, "The Met's ongoing review of Tube security had been 'thrown into stark relief by those awful incidents in Madrid' he said, 'We are throwing everything we've got at this because it is the number one challenge for us'."
The two London Transport bombings only one year later clearly warned that it was not enough to impede terrorists from their gruesome task.
One area of concern, say counter insurgency experts, is the lack of adequate training available for first responders in how to identify and counter thermobaric weapons.
There are some federal agencies that have begun discussing thermobaric weapons related to terrorists, but the sensitive nature of the weapons has slowed the flow of information, warn counter terrorist officials.
Defending buildings against such an attack would be extremely difficult. The deadliest conventional car-bomb attacks have been those where the attacker succeeded in getting a vehicle packed with explosives very close to the target.
To prevent this, concrete barriers have been placed around many buildings regarded as potential targets. But the barriers would have to be much further away than at present to provide the same level of protection against fuel-air devices of a similar size.
Underground rail security and Emergency and law enforcement personnel should be instructed about safe standoff distances, how buildings might channel a thermobaric blast and how to defuse a bomb when they suspect its presence.
In simple but stark terms: The thermobaric bomb is just about the most vicious weapon you can imagine — igniting the air, sucking the oxygen out of an enclosed area, and creating a massive pressure wave crushing anything unfortunate enough to have lived through the conflagration.
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Dan Horn is always coming up with alternative solutions. I "REALLY" like this one. BB
Hi Pals,
I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife team has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college - it'll be there
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs
Invest in the market - capital drives growth
Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And, of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ('vote buy') economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG - liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.
Sure it's a crazy idea that can 'never work.'
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
We Deserve It Dividend more than do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .
And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
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Thanks to Rob Ferguson for sharing this "Heads Up" information for troopers living in or from the state of Connecticut. BB
Bill,
This is some information, the State of Connecticut just learned, which may affect some of our members.
Connecticut and 9 other States offer property tax relief to disabled veterans. Disability must be verified annually using VA Form 20-5455, which the VA has been sending out annually to the veterans. However, the VA just announced they have have made some changes to their payment control system, which effective immediately leaves them unable to send out the forms, go figure! So now the affected vets must contact the VA and request the form..My State just learned of this, because several Vets hadn't received the form (which is due in the property tax assessors office here, today, 10/1) and it required involvement of the CT Dept. of Veteran Affairs, to finally get the answer.
Gotta tell you, these days, sure seems like customer/client service at any level corporate or government, sure is an oxymoron!
rob ferguson
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Also received this very interesting story from Rob which I think you will also enjoy. BBB
Hi Bill,
A little item that I am a bit biased about, perhaps some of our members, who like military history, would be interested. The November issue of Aviation History Magazine has a feature article on the P-61 NightFighters, who flew and fought against the Japanese at Saipan, Iwo Jima and other places. These men are close to my heart as this is the unit (6th Night Fighters) my Father flew with and he was interviewed for the article, recounting his first kill of a Nip bomber, also in the article is a full page artist's rendition of my Dad's plane (the Virgin Widow- after this kill it was determined she was no longer a virgin:-) ), making that kill. As well as recounts of other dogfights squadron members took part in and so forth. These men flew alone, not as a squadron, at night, being vectored to a target by ground radar, until the short range units in their aircraft picked up on the enemy, many of their fights taking place within 700 feet + or -, of the enemy. Of interest in the story, that was a recent movie, starring Benjamin Bratt re: a Army raid to rescue POWs in the Phillipines, the plane that actually flew the diversion was a P-61.
Another note on this, the P-61 was an all weather, all visibility machine, in the ETO, by 11/1944 Gen. Eisenhower decided that we had such complete air supremacy, he stopped bringing in spare parts for the P-61, the result was that during the Battle of the Bulge, all but 2 of the available P-61s, were grounded due to lack of repairs, this is the one aircraft we had that could have provided decent air cover, ground support etc, during the several days of bad weather in that battle...such are the fortunes of war, eh?
I bring this up as in the coverage of WWII these men get very little, if any coverage and they do deserve it. A P-61 is finally on display at the Smithsonian and it is amazing how many tourists , little ones stop by the exhibit, when my Dad or some of his fellow flyers stop by their to answer questions...as my Dad told me I never talked about it before because I thought no one was interested....I sure know that feeling.
Rob Ferguson
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Here is a well deserved "Thank you" to all of you who donated your pocket change or more to the Silver Rose effort. Thanks to efforts like yours it remains possible for the Order of the Silver Rose to be awarded to Agent Orange Victums to recognize their sacrifice to provide advice and assistance to all Veterans who are seeking help from the Veterans Administration. BB
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Family Assistance Program Goes off Base **************************************
More Compensation for TBI and Burn Vets **************************************
Fort Lee Recalls Ground Beef **************************************
Saving the Tomb of the Unknowns **************************************
Parents Track Grades Online **************************************
Combating Childhood Obesity **************************************
Protecting Yourself from Foreclosure **************************************
Army-Navy Game Ticket Sweepstakes **************************************
Dry Pet Food Recalled **************************************
Flu Season is Coming, Get Prepared **************************************
Vets Health Care Reform Bill Introduced **************************************
Free YMCA Memberships for Guard, Reserve **************************************
Keeping Your Child Safe Online
A dog is truly a man's best friend. If you don't believe it, just try This little experiment:
Put your dog and your wife in the trunk of your car for an hour.
When you open the trunk, see who is really happy to see you!
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Now that Tony has made his wife mad at him, he needs to find a way to get back into her good graces.
Found in a Montana History Book
If you were around there in 1919
I mean seriously, Would you quit drinking?
(I think you may be in a lot of trouble Tony!!)
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Wayne Paddack continues with is "Ageing" lessons.
Three old guys are out walking. ****************************
A man was telling his neighbor, 'I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art. It's perfect.' **************************************
I received this one from about 5 of you. Great brains think alike!
Happy Halloween!!
One rule to this game....
We do not stop playing because we grow old;
Never Be The First To Get Old!!!!!
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Speaking of Halloween, heres one sent in by Wilbur Meyer.
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Hey Everybody, Smokey must be feeling better!! Welcome back Smokey!
I have good news and bad news.
First, the bad news:
"We're being invaded by Martians.
And now, the good news:
They eat politicians and pee gasoline.
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George Villinova sent this one in.
This is a true story, proving how fascinating the mind of a six year old is.
A teacher was reading the story of the Three Little Pigs to her class. She
Came to the part of the story where first pig was trying to gather the building
Materials for his home. She read . 'and so the pig went up to the man with the
Wheelbarrow full of straw and said: 'Pardon me sir, but may I have some of that
Straw to build my house?'
The teacher paused then asked the class: 'And what do you think the man said?'
One little boy raised his hand and said very matter-of-factly ...'I think the
Man would have said - 'Well, I'll be darned!! A talking pig!'
The teacher had to leave the room
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How about this one from Dan Thompson.
Two Mexican businessmen in Tijuana were sitting down for a break in their soon-to-be new store. As yet, the store wasn't ready, with only a few shelves set up.
One said to the other, 'I bet any minute now some idiot tourist is going to walk by, put his face to the window, and ask what we're selling'.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth when, sure enough, a curious Japanese tourist walked to the window, had a peek, and in a thick Japanese accent asked
'What you sell?'
One of the men replied sarcastically,
'We're selling ass-holes.'
Without skipping a beat, the Japanese man said,
'You doing velly well, only two left!
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Here is Dan Horn's entree for this week.
Three mischievous old Grandmas were sitting on a bench outside a nursing home
when an old Grandpa walked by.
And one of the old Grandmas yelled out saying, 'We bet we can tell exactly how old you are.'
The old man said, 'There is no way you can guess it, you old fools.'
One of the old Grandmas said, 'Sure we can! Just drop your pants and under shorts and we can tell your exact age.'
Embarrassed just a little, but anxious to prove they couldn't do it, he dropped his drawers.
The Grandmas asked him to first turn around a couple of times and to jump up and down several times.
Then they all piped up and said, 'You're 87 years old!'
Standing with his pants down ! around his ankles, the old gent asked,'How in the world did you guess?'
Slapping their knees and grinning from ear to ear, the three old ladies happily yelled in unison - - 'We were at your birthday party yesterday!'
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Rob Ferguson has a good one to share with us.
A drunk was proudly showing off his new apartment to a couple of his friends late one night. He led the way to his bedroom where there was a big brass gong and a mallet. 'What's with that big brass gong?' one of the guests asked. 'It's not a gong. It's a talking clock,' the drunk replied. 'A talking clock? Seriously?' asked his astonished friend. 'Yup,' replied the drunk. 'How's it work?' the friend asked, squinting at it. 'Watch,' the drunk replied. He picked up the mallet, gave the gong an ear-shattering pound, and stepped back. The three stood there looking at one another for a moment. Suddenly, someone on the other side of the wall screamed, 'You asshole.....it's three-fifteen in the morning!'
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Charles Murawksi has found it!
This is the essence of cruelty!
How to be cruel to old guys:
AARP Eye Chart
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Existing Anti-obesity Drugs May Be Effective Against Flu, Hepatitis And HIV
Metabolism refers to all the reactions by which living things break down nutrients to produce energy, along with those by which they rebuild broken-down nutrients into complex molecules (e.g. DNA). A significant example is the breakdown of blood sugar (e.g. glucose) and its conversation via chain reactions into adenosine triphosphate, the energy-storing currency of cellular life. As an important offshoot of that process, glucose can also be converted into fatty acids, the lipid building blocks of human hormones and cell membranes. Many viruses, including influenza, HIV and hepatitis, use those same fatty acids to build instead their viral envelopes, outer coatings that help them penetrate human cells. Going into the study, little was known about the mechanisms through which viruses hijack metabolic building blocks from their cellular hosts, with older techniques providing a limited picture.
In the current study, a team of researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center and Princeton University created a new technique to clarify these mechanisms, and found that the technique could identify anti-viral therapeutic targets. Researchers combined drug discovery technologies to capture for the first time the exact concentrations and turnover, in other words, the fluxes, of interchangeable molecules within the metabolic chain reactions that convert sugars into fatty acids. The fields of metabolomics and fluxomics have emerged to measure these patterns, and to provide insight into diseases with a metabolic component, from diabetes to infectious diseases to cancer.
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New Approach To Gene Therapy May Shrink Brain Tumors, Prevent Their Spread
"We had hypothesized that genetically engineering normal tissue surrounding a tumor could create a zone of resistance - a microenvironment that prevents the growth or spread of the tumor," says Miguel Sena-Esteves, PhD, of the MGH Neuroscience Center, the study's senior author. "This proof of principle study shows that this could be a highly effective approach, although there are many additional questions that need to be investigated."
Glioblastoma is the most common and deadly form of brain tumor. Human clinical trials of other gene therapies have not significantly reduced tumor progression. One problem has been that patients' immune systems target the viral vectors used to deliver cancer-eliminating genes. Another issue has been inefficient gene delivery, due in part to the inherent cellular diversity found within an individual patient's tumor as well as among tumors from different patients. In addition, if tumor cells are successfully induced to express an anticancer protein, production of that protein will drop as the tumor dies, allowing any cells that did not receive the gene to resume growing. In the current study the MGH team examined whether expression of a therapeutic gene in normal brain cells could form a stable and effective anti-tumor reservoir.
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Coming Soon: Self-Guided, Computer-Based Depression Treatment
Scientists with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are developing an interactive, multi-media program that will assist astronauts in recognizing and effectively managing depression and other psychosocial problems, which can pose a substantial threat to crew safety and mission operations during long-duration spaceflights.
Even though the depression treatment is under development for NASA, project leader Dr. James Cartreine said it could be spun off for use on Earth.
"This project has great potential as a self-guided treatment for many people," said Cartreine, a member of NSBRI's Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors Team. "Depression is the number one cause of disability days in the United States, but it's not only about days lost. Depression also results in presenteeism - showing up for work but not really working."
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Whole Brain Radiation Increases Risk of Learning and Memory Problems in Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases
Cancer patients who receive stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors have more than twice the risk of developing learning and memory problems than those treated with SRS alone, according to new research from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The findings of the phase III randomized trial were presented at today's 50th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.
Led by Eric L. Chang, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at M. D. Anderson, the study offers greater context to the ongoing debate among oncologists about how best to manage the treatment of cancer patients with one to three brain metastases.
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Obesity Surgery Performed Through Vagina, U.S. First
"More than 15 million people in the United States suffer from severe obesity," said Santiago Horgan, M.D., director of the UC San Diego Center for the Future of Surgery and Center for the Treatment of Obesity. "The Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego is developing and testing innovative techniques that will offer patients globally more and better treatment options."
The sleeve gastrectomy is a weight loss surgery in which 80 percent of the stomach is removed, leaving a slender moon-shaped stomach. The procedure works by dramatically reducing the size of the stomach so that the patient feels full after eating less, takes in fewer calories, and loses weight. This is the first time the minimally invasive procedure has been performed in the U.S. through one of the body's natural openings.
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Elderly Sleep Apnea Sufferers May Live Longer
Led by Prof. Peretz Lavie of the Faculty of Medicine, the study was conducted over a 4.5-year period, with researchers comparing mortality rates among elderly subjects diagnosed with sleep apnea to those of the elderly in the general population. Results were divided by to age, sex, and ethnic origin.
When mortality rates of 611 elderly patients with "light or no" sleep apnea, "moderate" sleep apnea, and "severe" sleep apnea were compared with the general population, those suffering from moderate sleep apnea had a mortality rate one-third of that of the general population. And mortality rates for the elderly with no sleep apnea, light sleep apnea and severe sleep apnea were on par with those of the general populace.
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Caffeine Experts At Johns Hopkins Call For Warning Labels For Energy Drinks
Johns Hopkins scientists who have spent decades researching the effects of caffeine report that a slew of caffeinated energy drinks now on the market should carry prominent labels that note caffeine doses and warn of potential health risks for consumers.
"The caffeine content of energy drinks varies over a 10-fold range, with some containing the equivalent of 14 cans of Coca-Cola, yet the caffeine amounts are often unlabeled and few include warnings about the potential health risks of caffeine intoxication," says Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., one of the authors of the article that appears in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence this month.
The market for these drinks stands at an estimated $5.4 billion in the United States and is expanding at a rate of 55 percent annually. Advertising campaigns, which principally target teens and young adults, promote the performance-enhancing and stimulant effects of energy drinks and appear to glorify drug use.
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Believe it or not
Mama's milk ice cream cone, anyone?
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking the ice cream maker to begin using breast milk in its products instead of cow's milk, saying it would reduce the suffering of cows and calves and give ice cream lovers a healthier product.
The idea got a cool reception Thursday from Ben & Jerry's officials, the company's customers and even La Leche League International, the world's oldest breast-feeding support organization, which promotes the practice - for babies, anyway.
PETA wrote a letter to company founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield on Tuesday, telling them cow's milk is hazardous and that milking them is cruel.
"If Ben and Jerry's replaced the cow's milk in its ice cream with breast milk, your customers - and cows - would reap the benefits," wrote Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of the animal rights advocacy group. She said dairy products have been linked to juvenile diabetes, allergies and obesity.
Ashley Byrne, a campaign coordinator for PETA, acknowledged the implausibility of substituting breast milk for cow's milk, but said it's no stranger than humans consuming the milk of another species.
It takes about 12 pounds - or 1 1/2 gallons of milk - to make a gallon of ice cream. Ben & Jerry's, which gets its milk exclusively from Vermont cows, won't say how much milk it uses or how much ice cream it sells.
As a standardized product under federal regulations, ice cream must be made with milk from healthy cows. Ice cream made from goat's milk, for example, would have to be labeled as such.
Presumably, so would mother's milk ice cream.
To Ben & Jerry's, the idea is udderly ridiculous.
This in-country tour from April 24-May 7, 2009,will visit Hanoi, Saigon, Chu Lai, Cu Chi, Hue, the DMZ, Hoi An, Marble Mountain and China Beach.
Airfare, accommodations and meals are included. Don’t miss this chance to revisit battle sites and to share your experiences with fellow Vietnam vets.
Entries must be received prior to the drawing on Jan. 15, 2009. Winners will be notified by mail or e-mail in late January. To claim their trip, winners must send a copy of their Purple Heart documentation to VFW National Headquarters by Feb. 15, 2009, and their passport by March 1, 2009. (If you do not have a passport, please apply immediately.)
Note: Previous VFW-sponsored trip-winners to various events are not eligible. **********************************************************
Vets' Benefits Bill Gaining Speed **********************************************************
More Compensation for TBI and Burn Vets **********************************************************
Grant for Wisconsin Cemetery **********************************************************
Congress Examines Current Suicide Prevention **********************************************************
Featured Job: Police Officer **********************************************************
Newest National VA Cemetery Dedicated **********************************************************
Vets Health Care Reform Bill Introduced **********************************************************
Award for Maine State Cemetery **********************************************************
Award for Nebraska State Cemetery **********************************************************
CB Exposures Website Launched **********************************************************
Grant for Hawaii Cemetery **********************************************************
Grant for Nevada Cemetery **********************************************************
Award for New Hampshire Cemetery **********************************************************
Prayer for Those Who Mourn
Bless those who mourn, eternal God,
with the comfort of your love
that they may face each new day with hope
and the certainty that nothing can destroy
the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful,
their days enriched with friendship,
and their lives encircled by your love.
Amen.
Thats all the news for this week. Check back next Saturday. Thanks, Ole' Bill
“Vietnam Magazine” October 2008
Mike O'Neil
please note the above story Mike.
Thank you for your reply. You have my full permission to post my name
and/or send me emails. Do you have originals or access to the two
pictures that were posted on the site? I would gladly pay for a copy.
I could print them from the web page, but I would love to try and get
a better quality picture. After talking to my father, I guess LT.
Lyons was not actually on my fathers tank. I had him confused with the
lead tank commander who perished next to my father that day during the
initial moments of the battle. My father was the main gun loader in
the lead M48 (the tank that initiated the battle with canister). You
also have my permission to post my dad's contact info. He does not
have email though. Any emails can be sent to me. His phone number is
617-323-4172 and he currently lives in Boston, MA. I am sure he would
love to reconnect with other veterans he served with. Let me know
about the pictures and please let me know if anyone else has pictures
of this day. I will very gladly pay for any shipping or photo
processing fees.
Thanks,
Mike O.
By David Eshel - Defense Analyst
,,
The Armed Services Mutual Benefit Association (ASMBA) provides comprehensive, affordable life insurance coverage to military personnel and their families. For example, you can get an extra $100,000 worth of coverage for only $19 a month. It's an inexpensive way to have half a million dollars worth of coverage. There are no dues or assessments beyond the life insurance premiums. To request free, no-obligation information (http://web50.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//finance.military.com/insurance/asmba/?ESRC=mr.nl&code=mr_092908_asmba) click here.
The Joint Family Support Assistance Program -- which helps families with financial and material support, coordinates counseling, and provides other key services -- has expanded from its pilot program to a nationwide network for families in select parts of the country that are geographically isolated from installations. Services will now be available to active-duty and reserve-component families in all 50 states and American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The program connects families with one another and with supportive military and community resources, and aims to enhance families' ability to cope with deployment, reintegration, family separation and other issues related to a military lifestyle.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced changes in the way VA will evaluate traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and burn scars for purposes of determining the appropriate level of compensation veterans receive for these injuries. VA revised the Disability Rating Schedule in light of current scientific and medical knowledge in order to provide VA employees with more detailed and up-to-date criteria for evaluating and compensating veterans with these injuries. (http://www.military.com/news/article/more-compensation-for-tbi-and-burn-vets.html) Read the full article on Military.com.
The Fort Lee Local Commissary voluntarily recalled 81 percent Ground Beef with a pack date of Sept., 17 2008 and sell by date of Sept.,18 2008. If you purchased this product, please return it to the Fort Lee Commissary for a full refund. This recall applies to the local Fort Lee Commissary only. No other commissaries are affected.
U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, responded to a (http://veterans.senate.gov/public/media/unknown_soldier_letter.pdf) joint report from the Departments of the Army and Veterans Affairs on alternatives to replacing the Tomb Monument at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Among other findings, the report outlines several possible means of repairing and preserving, rather than replacing, the now-weathered monument at the tomb. Senator Akaka's full statement from the Congressional Record is available by clicking (http://www.veterans.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?pageid=30&release_id=11785) here. The Tomb of the Unknowns, located at Arlington National Cemetery, is a monument to honor those servicemembers who do not return from battle. Over time, the Tomb Monument has begun to show signs of natural wear, including developing a number of cracks.
Stars and Stripes reports that a new software program has been introduced by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) that should allow parents to keep track of their children's progress in grades four through 12 at schools throughout the system. GradeSpeed lets parents with Internet access check their children's attendance and grades, view individual assignments and communicate with teachers. Parents can set up a GradeSpeed account online at the DoDEA's (http://dodea.gradespeed.net/) Gradespeed.net website -- click on "parent" and follow the instructions.
Several government agencies are working to raise awareness about childhood obesity among military families, and wants encourage the military kids to take the pledge during National Children's Health Month in October. During October, anyone can visit the (http://www.tricare.mil/) TRICARE website, the (http://www.commissaries.com/) Commissaries.com website, the (http://www.militaryonesource.com/) Military OneSource website, the (http://www.aafes.com/) Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) website, and the (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/childhood/) Center for Disease Control website for articles, advice columns, blogs and more about childhood obesity. "Take the pledge" to help prevent childhood obesity and secure a healthy future for America's children at the (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/pledges/index.html) Office of the Surgeon General website.
Legal professionals say you should not avoid creditors, refuse to accept their mail or calls, refuse to respond to them, or make promises that cannot be kept if you face foreclosure. Servicemembers who (http://www.military.com/Finance/content/0,15356,170507,00.html) face foreclosure should seek immediate legal assistance, even if a creditor seems to be cooperative. There are many federal and state laws that protect debtors in general, and there are often enhanced protections for servicemembers. There are also new federal laws that may make it easier for servicemembers to refinance their mortgages in order to establish an affordable monthly payment. Federal bankruptcy laws may also allow a servicemember to stop a foreclosure sale. For more information, contact your base's legal service office. Also, many states have organizations of private attorneys willing to provide free legal consultations to servicemembers.
Authorized exchange customers atBXs and PXs worldwide from now through Oct.9, 2008 could win tickets to the 2008 Army/Navy game, and possibly $100,000, as the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and Dr. Pepper team up to sponsor the Army/Navy Sweepstakes. No purchase is necessary to enter the AAFES/Dr. Pepper Army/Navy Sweepstakes, and the winner need not be present to win. In addition to entering "in-store," shoppers in remote locations can download at the AAFES website at (http://www.aafes.com/) www.aafes.com an entry form that can be sent through regular mail. The Army/Navy Sweepstakes drawing will take place on or about Nov. 7, 2008.
Mars Petcare US has announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility. The dry dog and cat food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella. This recall only affects the United States. Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit the Mars Petcare Recall website (http://www.petcare.mars.com/) www.petcare.mars.com. A listing of the recalled pet foods is available on the (http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/marspetcare09_08.html) U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.
Flu season is just around the corner, and vaccines are now available around the country. A record number of flu vaccine doses (more than 140 million) have been created for use in the U.S. in the 2008-2009 season with the Department of Defense (DoD) having more than 3.5 million doses. DoD requires all servicemembers to receive flu vaccinations. Immunization is also mandatory for all civilian and contract personnel who provide direct patient care at military treatment facilities. (http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/jsp/Medical/IsItCovered.do?kw=Flu+Shots&x=6&y=7) TRICARE covers flu shots for beneficiaries that are administered in a doctor's office. For more information about flu vaccines, visit the (http://www.vaccines.mil/default.aspx) MILVAX Website and the (http://www.health.mil/include/exitwarning.aspx?link=http://www.cdc.gov/flu/) CDC's flu page.
The House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman recently introduced H.R. 6939, The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform Act, which would ensure that VA health care funding is sufficient, timely and predictable. An identical bill was also introduced in the Senate. (http://capwiz.com/military/issues/bills/?bill=11986881) H.R. 6939 would authorize Congress to approve VA medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. In addition, the VA would have up to a year's worth of advance appropriations, which would allow them to investigate how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions. The bill would also require the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report to Congress for the next three years on VA's budget forecasting model and estimates. (http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,174129,00.html) Read the full article on Military.com.
The Defense Department signed a new contract with the National YMCA that will provide free family YMCA memberships to families of National Guard or reserve members at the more than 2,000 participating centers in local communities. Beginning in October 2008, free family memberships will be available for 18 months -- while the servicemember-spouse is deployed -- and for three months before and after the deployment. YMCAs offer fitness centers with free child-watch while the parent works out, as well as family and youth programs, swim lessons, personal development classes and more. Detailed information is available at the (http://www.militaryonesource.com/) Military OneSource website.
Here are some tips that can help you protect your child online: (1) become computer literate and learn how to block objectionable material; (2) keep the computer in a common area, not in individual bedrooms, where you can watch and monitor your child; (3) share an e-mail account with your child so you can monitor messages; (4) bookmark your child's favorite sites for easy access; (5) spend time online together to teach your child appropriate online behavior; (6) forbid your child from entering private chat rooms -- block them with safety features; (7) monitor your credit card and phone bills for unfamiliar account charges; (8) take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange; and (11) call the (http://www.missingkids.com/) National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678 if you are aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography online.
(just before prohibition started)
The following poster was published.....
First one says, 'Windy, isn't it?'
Second one says, 'No, it's Thursday!'
Third one says, 'So am I. Let's go get a beer.'
'Really,' answered the neighbor . 'What kind is it?'
'Twelve thirty.'
You've been Mooned!!
You can NOT get someone who has already gotten you!
Now...
go out there and get as many people as you can,
before they get you!
I got you first! and you can't get me back!
Nanee - Nanee - Nanee!
(hehe)
we grow old because we stop playing.
They think so logically.
Viruses dramatically increase cellular metabolism, and existing anti-obesity drugs may represent a new way to block these metabolic changes and inhibit viral infection, according to a study just published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers are investigating a new approach to gene therapy for brain tumors - delivering a cancer-fighting gene to normal brain tissue around the tumor to keep it from spreading. An animal study published in the journal Molecular Therapy, the first to test the feasibility of such an approach, found that inducing mouse brain cells to secrete human interferon-beta suppressed and eliminated growth of human glioblastoma cells implanted nearby.
Self-guided treatment for depression could soon be only a mouse click away.
Nearly half of patients experience impaired neurocognitive function, prompts possible change to standard practice
On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, the UC San Diego Center for the Future of Surgery performed the nation's first gastrectomy, a partial removal of the stomach, through the vagina. This new "natural orifice" technique may be an attractive alternative for the 200,000 U.S. patients who undergo surgery for the treatment of obesity each year.
New research results suggest that sleep apnea - which has often been linked to increased rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality - may actually contribute to higher survival rates in the elderly. The findings by Technion-Israel Institute of Technology researchers were presented last week in Glasgow, Scotland, at the 19th Annual Congress of the European Sleep Research Society.
Caffeinated energy drinks may present health risks
Mooove over, Holsteins. PETA wants world-famous Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream to tap nursing moms, rather than cows, for the milk used in its ice cream.
If you received a Purple Heart for being wounded in Vietnam, you could be one of 9 lucky vets to win VFW’s “Return to Vietnam” trip.
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4763
U.S. Senate bill S. 3023, the (http://military.capwiz.com/military/issues/bills/?bill=11552556) Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, recently passed the Senate by unanimous consent. S. 3023 contains six titles and 34 provisions that are designed to enhance compensation, housing, labor and education, and insurance benefits for veterans. A full explanation of the bill is available in the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs' report at Senate Report 110-449. Among its provisions, the bill enhances (http://military.capwiz.com/military/issues/alert/?alertid=11978431&type=CO) home loan refinancing options for veterans and updates veterans' rights to return to work.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced changes in the way VA will evaluate traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and burn scars for purposes of determining the appropriate level of compensation veterans receive for these injuries. VA revised the Disability Rating Schedule in light of current scientific and medical knowledge in order to provide VA employees with more detailed and up-to-date criteria for evaluating and compensating veterans with these injuries. (http://www.military.com/news/article/more-compensation-for-tbi-and-burn-vets.html) Read the full article on Military.com.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a $1.3 million grant to increase the capacity of the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove,Wis. The grant will fund a second 1,792-niche columbarium for cremated remains and infrastructure such as landscaping and irrigation. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the (http://www.cem.va.gov/) VA Burial and Memorials webpage or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about Wisconsin's state veterans cemeteries is available by calling the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs at (800) 947-8387 or by visiting the (http://dva.state.wi.us/Cemeteries.asp) Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs website.
The House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee recently conducted an oversight hearing to examine the effectiveness of the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline. In July 2007, the VA collaborated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to launch the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline, a toll-free number (1-800-273-TALK) that is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The opening statements of all the witnesses and an (http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=300) audio recording of the hearing is available on the Committee website.
We are seeking qualified individuals interested in becoming a (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//jobsearch.military.monster.com/getjob.asp%3FJobID%3D75631887%0D%0A&code=vr_092908_job) Police Officer. We offer benefits under the Federal Employee Health Benefits/Retirement System; paid training, uniforms and equipment provided; paid leave, thrift savings plan, and competitive promotional opportunities.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has dedicated its newest national cemetery in Jacksonville, Fla. The cemetery, currently being constructed, is expected to begin burials in January 2009. The initial phase of construction will consist of a 20-acre burial area with temporary facilities. When the second stage of construction is completed, the 52-acre development will provide 8,145 full-casket gravesites, including 7,300 pre-placed crypts, 5,100 in-ground cremation sites and 4,992 columbarium niches for cremated remains. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from (http://www.cem.va.gov/) VA's Burial and Memorials webpage or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at (800) 827-1000. For information on the Jacksonville National Cemetery, call the cemetery office at (904) 358-3510. To make burial arrangements at the time of need, call the national cemetery scheduling office at (800) 535-1117.
The House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman recently introduced H.R. 6939, The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform Act, which would ensure that VA health care funding is sufficient, timely and predictable. An identical bill was also introduced in the Senate. (http://capwiz.com/military/issues/bills/?bill=11986881) H.R. 6939 would authorize Congress to approve VA medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. In addition, the VA would have up to a year's worth of advance appropriations, which would allow them to investigate how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions. The bill would also require the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report to Congress for the next three years on VA's budget forecasting model and estimates. (http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,174129,00.html) Read the full article on Military.com.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a $4.2 million grant to establish the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Springvale, Maine. The 95-acre cemetery will be developed in phases, each designed to provide 10 years of burials. The first phase includes an initial 12-acre development that will provide 3,196 full-casket burial sites and 1,298 in-ground cremation burial sites. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA website at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about Maine's state veterans' cemeteries is available by calling the Maine Department of Veterans Affairs at (207) 287-3481 or visiting the (http://www.maine.gov/dvem/bvs/cemeteries.htm) Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System website.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a $2.9 million grant to establish the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery in Alliance, Neb. The 21-acre cemetery will be developed in phases, each designed to accommodate 10 years of burials and serve 6,000 veterans and eligible dependents in western Nebraska. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the (http://www.cem.va.gov/) VA website or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about Nebraska's state veterans' cemeteries is available by calling the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs at (402) 471-2458 or visiting the (http://www.nebraskaveteran.com/) Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs website.
The Department of Defense (DoD) Force Health Protection and Readiness Directorate (FHP&R) has launched the Chemical-Biological (CB) Warfare Exposures website to provide servicemembers, veterans, their families and the public with information on the testing of chemical and biological warfare agents from 1942 to 1975. Veterans who believe that they may have been exposed or who would like more information can call DoD's contact managers at (800) 497-6261, Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Veterans can also write to DoD at: Force Health Protection and Readiness, ATTN: CB Exposure Manager, 5113 Leesburg Pike, Suite 901, Falls Church, VA 22041. The (http://fhp.osd.mil/CBexposures) Chemical-Biological Warfare Exposures website is available.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a $2.7 million grant to expand the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kona, Hawaii. The 62-acre cemetery provides service for 7,000 veterans on Hawaii. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the (http://www.cem.va.gov/) VA website or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about Hawaii's state veterans' cemeteries is available by calling the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services at (808) 433-0420 or visiting the (http://www.dod.state.hi.us/doddod/ovs/) Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services website.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a $2.3 million grant to improve the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nev., which will fund construction of a new maintenance facility and a service yard on three acres. It will also pay for design and construction administration and associated infrastructure such as roads, utilities, landscaping and irrigation. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the (http://www.cem.va.gov/) VA website or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about Nevada's state veterans' cemeteries is available by calling the Nevada Office of Veterans Services at (775) 688-1653 or at the (http://www.veterans.nv.gov/Cemeteries/Cemetery.html) Nevada Office of Veterans' Services Cemeteries webpage.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a $937,000 grant to increase the capacity of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH for cremation burial. The grant funds construction of a 1,600-niche columbarium and infrastructure such as roads, utilities, landscaping and irrigation. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the (http://www.cem.va.gov/) VA website or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about New Hampshire's state veterans' cemeteries is available by calling the New Hampshire State Veterans Council at (603) 624-9230 or visit the (http://www.nhsvc.com/front.php) New Hampshire State Veterans' Cemetery website
God Is Our Refuge
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, and
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the seas;
Though the waters thereof roar and foam, though the mountains
shake at the swelling thereof. Selah
There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of
God, the holiest dwelling-place of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall
help her, at the approach of morning.
Nations were in tumult, kingdoms were moved; He uttered His
voice, the earth melted.
HaShem of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high tower.
Selah
Come, behold the works of HaShem, who hath made desolations
in the earth.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh
the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the
chariots in the fire.
'Let be, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'
- Psalms 46: 2-11
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