Before we get started this week I again want to extend my apologies to all of you and offer an explanation for what has happened as best I can. When we left Michigan for Florida in Nov last year, I ask Hughes Net to place my account in Michigan on vacation. They didn't do that. All of you who were sending me e-mails in Michigan and or my new e-mail address while in Florida, E-mails continued coming in to both accounts, plus somehow!, My old server, ACCN, continued forwarding e-mail to me. When I returned to Michigan a couple weeks ago I had two problems. My computer acted like I was an alien and I had 2800 plus e-mails in my account at Hughes Net. When I finally got my computer working, my attempts to download my e-mail resulted in my e-mail program only accepting 630 e-mal and then it stopped. It was impossible to download from hughes net into my computer, so, I finally logged onto Hughes.net and started the process of sorting and deleting e-mails at that level. Friends, hughes net is a fast operation but not when you are on your own computer and working on your files off their computer. I felt like I was using an old 236 computer and the most files you could work with at a time was 8. To make a long story short, I finally finished at hughes and downloaded 553 e-mails into my computer which added to the previous effort adds up to over 1100 emails. Now I will begin the processs of opening and sorting thru those e-mails which I kept. These are primarily e-mails of a historical significance and I will be putting these up on the weeking news in months to come. Thanks to everyone who contributes. Please continue sending articles of information in and I will integrate them together until we get caught up. I will have to modify the newsletter for awhile due to the time it takes to do everything and I'll will try to ensure this type of thing won't happen again but I won't be taking any odds that it won't. BB
6Jun44: D-Day, Operation Overlord, Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. Entire Division Cited.
18Mar69: Operation Atlas Wedge begins.
Bill, I'm still not receiving the newsletter, but one of my troopers sent me the history for "This Week in QuarterCav History." Again, Operation Atlas Wedge (18 Mar-3 Apr 1969) is left out. In fact it was far larger (3 divisions involved) and much more successful in terms of enemy killed, prisoners taken, material captured, and fewer friendly casualties than ANY preceding 1st Div planned operation. And, as the division's most powerful task force, Task Force 1-4 Cav played a critical role -- as acknowledged in the division's after action report. From 22 Mar to the end of Atlas Wedge we were the main division strike force, in fact the ONLY division strike force. AFTER DEFEATING A REGIMENTAL-SIZE ATTACK ON OUR FSB DOC ON 28 MAR, WE ATTACKED INTO THE MICHELIN ON 30 MAR AND FOUGHT THE LARGEST BATTLE EVER FOUGHT IN THE BLOODY MICHELIN. The earlier planned operations of 65 through early 68 got a lot of publicity, even when little to nothing happened as was the case in some of those operations. The troopers of mid-68 to the end of involvement in 70 have gotten virtually no notice. For the sake at least of Task Force 1-4 Cav troopers and other task force members of 1969, nineteen of whom were killed in the vicious fighting of Atlas Wedge, please add Operation Atlas Wedge and TF1-4 Cav's key role to the QuarterCav History. Thanks, Bill
3Apr69 Operation Atlas Wedge ends.
This week I will continue with the listing of our surviving DSC receipiants.BB
John Barton, A Troop - 65/66 has been diagnosed with Alzhimer Dieases.
It would seem this terrible dieases is affecting John faster than than it does most. If you
want to contact John and chat with him, please contact me for his telephone numbers. John
and his wife are now living in Florida.
I believe I can answer and provide documents for all but items 7, 8 and 9. I seem to recall a photo or two with the name Wooten on them. Anyone who can help with these two items, I'll be working on the rest. Thanks, BB
Letter to Web master:
Gentlemen,
I am trying to assist a Spouse of a former Trooper of A Trp ¼ Cav get some VA, and possibly PTSD and drug Care. The family will need to reconstruct the combat record of this veteran. His condition is deteriorating and really suffers from what appears to be PTSD. He has been disabled since age 31. He is presenting a growing threat to himself and his family. I have pledged to assist this family since we all came from the same high school in Texas.
Troopers’ name is: Sp4 Johnny Roy Wooten, MOS 11B20, SVC #RA 18 675 452, of Crockett, TX (now resides in Houston, TX). Request any of the following A Trp ¼ Cav Information (64-66):
According to his DD214, Wooten was an 11B20 Infantryman, honorably discharged on 4 June 1966. Served honorably with “A Trp ¼ Cav for (1 yr 8mos and 29days).” That should have put him in USARV between early 1964 to appox. May 1966.
Awards Include: Combat Infantryman Badge, Good conduct Medal (1st Awd), and Vietnam Svc Medal.
I want you all to know, it was Viet Nam Vets who served and trained me in 3/7 Cav. I was a 3/7 Cav Soldier on the East German Border (71 – 74), [orders were changed in basic from Viet Nam to Germany] (the Russians were bad news). As a platoon leader I had to learn fast. Best field soldiers I ever served with. I owe my 23 yr career to the Viet Nam Troopers and Soldiers throughout my career.
Your Web Site is very impressive especially with Bob Tower’s career in the Cav. Any assistance would be of great benefit. Thank you for your distinguished service to our contry.
Respectfully,
Luther W. Berry
********************
Good morning..and Merry Christmas!
I am a former C/16th trooper, and once somewhat active contributor to Fezz's Darkhorse site.... attended several reunions, and was Trustee of 16th Cav Association for a couple of years...got distracted by work and trips to Baghdad and Kabul... having been out of touch since departure for Iraq in 2005 was disappointed to see Fezz in the list of brothers now at peace...
Could you advise who maintains the Darkhorse web site, and how I might get reconnected?
Peter McHugh, DH-43 (71-72), E-mail: biappete@yahoo.com
********************
I served in B Trp 1 4 Cav 2nd Bde 1st ID from Feb 04 to Feb 05. Whenever I see veterans I thank them for their service to our country because it's important and someone was there to thank me when I came back. As I do this every once in a blue moon I get a Vietnam Veteran that has not been thanked since returning to the US and it's now 2009. Also I thank Korea war vets too, and state it was the Korean War not Korean Conflict as I was taught in history class in high school.
Well I just relocated to La Grange, KY from Ft. Riley. There's a retired vet down the street from me and I went over to thank him for serving our country. Turns out this man is SSG William (Bill) Smith who served in B Trp 1 4 Cav 2nd Bde 1st ID in Vietnam from 66-67or 67-68 I can't remember exactly. Well, he's also old enough to have done reconnaissance for Moses. He can't speak anymore because he's had a stroke and so I ask yes and no question. I don't know if you know anyone that's looking for him or what I could do to connect you to his spouse.
Please let me know if I can help,
Stephen J. Rager ********************
509 E. Buena Ventura St.
It will be ok to display any information. I was with C Troop 1/4 Cav. HQ platoon attached to any other platoon as needed. From April 1968 until October 1969. Started out in Phu-Loi to Di-An to Lai-Khe. Drove the napalm truck for about a month in 1968. The name of the APC was "We believe" ( C-1 ).
Thank you ********************
I am writing this for my ex, who doesn't use computers, but is sitting
next to me as I type. He has finally been added to the Agent Orange
Registry (after much harassment from me and others) and is going
through the psych evals for PTSD and needs to locate proof that he was
there and what action he saw. He has approved posting this to the
bulletin board, including address and phone number. The email account
is mine, so I'd rather it not be posted, but could be given out to any
legitimate responders or inquiries.
His name is Ralph Jesus Novoa, address: HC 67 Box 1800, Big Sur, CA
93920; phone 831-277-9301. He did two tours, but only the first was
with 1/4. That was from 1965-1966. He was with Headquarters and was an
expert on the 50 caliber, so was sent where needed. He remembers being
on Route 13 with the 148 cavalrymen of Troop A on the way to An Loc.
(He also notes he can't remember why he was sent to Troop A, but maybe
it was to take beer. He was one of the squadron's bartenders.) The
Command Sgt. Major Joseph Foglio (sp?) called him "Benny." He also was
present during either or both of the incidents on June 30, 1966 north
of An Loc on Route 13 and/or on Minh Thanh Rd. on July 9, 1966. He
remembers the US Air Force fighter aircraft and says there were so
many incidences, they began to blur together.
He also remembers being in Lai Khe during the mortar attacks -- a
"helluva mortar attack" but can't be more precise on date. possibly
the one on August 25, 1966. (We are referring to the history of the
1/4 in VN for our dates.) He was also at the "Sacred Mtn." at Tah Nyn
(he can't spell and I am guessing here) "Rained like hell and flooded
the rice paddies." He said. Also was told, "If you shoot a tree, you
will be fined $100."
Of course, there were many other incidences, and then there was a
second tour in 1968-1969, but not with the 1/4 Horse.
I hope this is helpful, ********************>
I stumbled across your site looking for some buddies. I was a member of
Darkhorse 1/4 Cavalry from 2001-late 2004. I was a OH-58DI Crewchief,
Fox's Aircraft Maintenance Platoon SGT (Line support troop), Darkhorse's
(Line) maintenance supervisor, floor supervisor... I was medically
retired in late 04. Loved the Troop and Unit although its tough serving
in a heavy Cav unit when your aviation.. most stuff revolves around Tanks
in Quarter Horse now. Also the Air part of 1/4 Cav has been disbanded and
our birds were dispersed in the States..
Hello everyone, ********************
Hey Bill,
Please don't forget me on the news letter, my new email address is zipporeb@gmail.com
Thanks, Charles (CJ) Jones
********************
Hello,
Thanks,
Military Separation Bonus Update 01:
The following are a few of the emails sent in by Colonel Haponski that were sent to my Michigan account. BB
Bill, for some reason I'm not getting the newsletters. I hope you're okay and still sending them.
Also, would you note somewhere near the top of my bio page on the website that One Hell of a Ride: Inside an Armored Cavalry Task Force in Vietnam is available at Amazon.com
Also, that my website, combatatantbooks.com is devoted to brief reviews of the best books on the Vietnam War, particularly those of most interest to veterans who served in or near 1st Division area of operations.
Thanks, Bill
*************************************
Bill, here is the review posted by Lieutenant General Frederick J. Brown, last QuarterCav commander in Vietnam who in the 80s was Commanding General, Fort Knox, then Commanding General, Fourth Army. Would you insert it in the next newsletter? The book is getting great reviews. Thanks, Bill
From Amazon.com, Customer Reviews of One Hell of a Ride:
The historical treatment, general research, NVA content, and ability to write well
make this absolutely the most comprehensive, best book on combat in RVN
I have read.
Read and understand mounted combat - bottom up -
as well the passion of command in combat
Former Chief of Armor and Cavalry US Army. Fellow Quarter Horse Commander in VietNam
*************************************
Guys,
I hope you have had a wonderfully happy, safe, and healthy holiday season and that the new year brings you many blessings.
To publish and assist in marketing my book, One Hell of a Ride: Inside an Armored Cavalry Task Force in Vietnam, I started a small press, registered in Florida as Combatant Books. An offshoot of this is a website, CombatantBooks.com. I invite you to go up on the website to view “Best Books on Vietnam.” The reviewers are volunteers, all Vietnam veterans, all well qualified to recommend books. The standards for listing are high in an attempt to present only the very best among the multitude of Vietnam books. In time, more books will be added. The recommended books can help interested veterans to a better understanding of what it was all about.
All the best, Bill
Jim Umphrey - A Troop - 65/66 recently became the latest receipant of the "Order of The Silver Rose" Award.
Jim an his wife would also like to thank everybody for their prayers for Jim for his recent surgury.
They want you to know that he is doing very well. BB
A great Memorial Day E-mail from John Conley. BB
Let us not forget those who gave all so we could have ours!
"It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag." unknown
"OH GOD OF POWER AND LOVE, MAKE ME A SOLDIER **************************************************************
Thanks to Bill Stanley for this article.BB
Forcing Chaplains to Submit
Religious Liberty in the Military
Many people still remember the story of the four U.S. Army chaplains who served on a troop ship during World War II. When the Dorchester was torpedoed, the four chaplains gave up their lifejackets, linked arms, and went down with the ship, praying and singing hymns.
We remember these army chaplains for their bravery and sacrifice. But unless something is done, today's military chaplains may have a different legacy: being smeared as bigots, and drummed out of military service.
Last month, over 30 retired Army, Navy, and Air Force chaplains sent a letter to President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and other political leaders.
With bills pending in Congress to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the chaplains write: "We are deeply concerned that these changes would threaten the religious liberty of chaplains and Service members. Put simply, if the government normalizes homosexual behavior in the armed forces, many (if not most) chaplains will confront a profoundly difficult moral choice: whether they are to obey God or to obey men."
Forcing chaplains to make this choice will have two consequences-both undesirable: First, knowing they risk discipline and damaging their careers if they don't embrace the normalization of homosexuality, chaplains will feel pressured to water down or even abandon key elements of their denomination's faith and practice. Second, as the former chaplains wrote, "chaplains might have their ability to freely share their religious beliefs challenged and torn away" in everyday situations.
For example, chaplains administer a marriage support program called Strong Bonds, helping couples endure the stresses of military life. Should homosexual conduct be normalized, same-sex couples may sign up for Strong Bonds. But, as the letter states clearly, the beliefs of many chaplains "would not allow them to support relationships that are both harmful and sinful."
So the chaplains will either deny their religious beliefs or face "the potentially career-ending consequences of a discrimination complaint when they deny the request."
Now, I was moved when I read the chaplains' letter. They cite the following words of the Manhattan Declaration: "Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not...bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it...
"We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar's. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God's." God bless them!
I urge you to add stand with our nation's military chaplains. First of all, go to ManhattanDeclaration.org and sign the Manhattan Declaration. If you've already done so, get all your friends to do so, get your family to sign, circulate it to all your friends on your email list. We are making a major push to get one million signatures. Second, contact President Obama and your members of congress and ask them to support the current policy regarding homosexuality.
It would be a tragic irony if those who risk their lives protecting our freedoms should be forced to sacrifice their own.
**************************************************************
I received this from several of you. BB
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release October 30, 2009
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
**************************************************************
Here's an e-mail from Pete Ramsey, forwarded by Colonel Haponski that
I'm sure you will enjoy. Go to www.google.com, click on "Maps", look for google Earth and enjoy.
If you have the room on your computer, you can download it, if not, down load it to a CD or DVD Rom. BB
From: Pete Ramsey
To: bhaponski@embarqmail.com
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:13 PM
Subject: Google earth and Vietnam
Hello Bill,
In response to your well wishes of Veteran's Day I thought I would share with you and others, if they so desire,how I spent part of the day. I downloaded Google Earth a few days ago[with trepidation] and began exploring it's capabilities. After a brief familiarization I thus began visiting various places on the globe and of course the two AO's I served in Vietnam, 1st Inf &199th LIB. Much to my surprise after traveling up Hwy 13 from Dian I was able to locate from a picture taken recently the area of the north gate of Lai Khe. The reason I remembered was that spot so well was because my first perimeter duty was there.Now of course it was a much different scene in July of 69, but that is my point. With a little effort I managed to resolve 40 years of curiosity about what had become of those spots all of us have poignant memories of. So there are ways of going back without going back. For myself it was just luck to hover the cursor over a small blue square and see the description Lai Khe popup out the aerial photo.Since then I journeyed up Thunder Rd to all the top named places of our day to take a look so to speak. The same applied for some areas of the 199th. So if some of the Troopers are interested, give it a try. My computer hasn't gone nuts and the only problem is coming to grips with the fact they[Vietnamese] have moved on. It shows in the fact of very little of our presence if any can be found. But I also want to say there was enough feed back in the aerials and associated photos to stem my curiosity and give a sense of release as well. A day well spent.
Pete Ramsey **************************************************************
I like this from Tony Moscicki. BB
Received this from my brother and am passing it on since it is for all of us.
Dear Tony and Darren,
Somewhere in the world today, a man was imprisoned for disagreeing with his government...
I have never served, and so, I cannot offer you a salute -
Alan Benoit sends this in for your digesting. BB
How to hold a beer while riding a Harley...
**************************************************************
Ouch!!! Damn that hurts, a lesson from Joe Birindelli. BB
If this one doesn't make you smile, there is no hope for you.
Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business.
When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed to find a wife with whom to share his fortune.
One evening, at an investment meeting, he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away.
"I may look like just an ordinary guy," he said to her, "but in just a few years, my father will die and I will inherit $200 million."
Impressed, the woman asked for his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother!
Women are so much better at financial planning than men
**************************************************************
Heres one from Tom Heckman you'll all enjoy. BB
The teacher gave her fifth grade class an assignment:
The next day, the kids came back and, one by one, began to tell their stories.. There were all the regular types of stuff: spilled milk and pennies saved. Then the teacher realized only Ernie was left.
'Ernie, do you have a story to share?'
'Yes ma'am. My daddy told a story about my Aunt Sharon.
She was a pilot in Desert Storm, and her plane got hit. She had to bail out over enemy territory, and all she had was a flask of whiskey, a pistol, and a survival knife.
She drank the whiskey on the way down so the bottle wouldn't break, and then her parachute landed her right in the middle of 20 Muslim terrorists.
She shot 15 of them with the pistol, until she ran out of bullets, killed four more with the knife, till the blade broke, and then she killed the last terrorist with her bare hands.'
'Good Heavens,' said the horrified teacher. 'What did your daddy tell you was the moral to this horrible story?'
'Stay the hell away from Aunt Sharon when she's been drinking.'
**************************************************************
Here's one Sent in by Wayne Paddack. BB
To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity
1.. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.
2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice!
3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, ask If They Want Fries with that.
4. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks . Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.
5. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write ' For Marijuana.
6. Skip down the hall Rather Than Walk and see how many looks you get.
7. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.
8. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go'.
9. Sing Along At The Opera.
10. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You have a headache.
11. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream 'I Won! I Won!'
12. When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, Yelling 'Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!'
13. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, 'Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go.'
And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity
14. PICK UP A BOX OF CONDOMS AT THE PHARMACY, GO TO THE COUNTER AND ASK WHERE THE FITTING ROOM IS.
**************************************************************
Bill Bowker sent in a good one. BB
Sorry to tell you this, but....
Please note ..After March , I will no longer be sending
e-mails. Thanks to the Post Office I am now going back to
licking stamps.....
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Parkinson's Meds And Compulsive Behaviors: A Strong Link **************************************************************
Serious Side Effects from Swallowing Topical Benadryl Product **************************************************************
'Bad Ad Program' to Help Health Care Providers Detect, Report Misleading Drug Ads **************************************************************
Infectious Diseases Caused Two-Thirds of the Nearly 9 Million Child Deaths Globally In 2008 **************************************************************
New Center Unites Efforts To Dvelop Novel Vaccines **************************************************************
Walgreens Postpones Plans To Sell Personal Genetic Tests **************************************************************
Believe it or not
Irish sellers of "legal highs" face life in jail
You and your NMA must pay for travel expenses up front and then submit a claim for reimbursement. A separate claim must be submitted per trip, per qualified awardee or NMA. Only one individual can be reimbursed for each expense. All reimbursements are made through EFT. Claims should be submitted to the appropriate TRO via fax or mail. Email submissions will not be accepted. Completed and signed claims forms are available online on the Forms Management Program Web site at www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/formsprogram.htm . Each claim submission must include:
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Health Care Reform Update 32: **************************************************************
Military Discounts Update 02:
Restaurants
Personal Services
Products
Cell Phone Service Discount **************************************************************
Federal Tax Law Changes (2010):
Estate Tax Repealed - The federal estate tax is scheduled to be eliminated for estates of individuals who die in 2010. It is expected that Congress will act to keep the tax alive.
Roth IRA Conversions - Starting in 2010, individuals with more than $100,000 of modified Adjusted Gross Income are free to switch a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. For conversions in 2010, taxpayers can spread the tax due over two years. Half the tax will be due in 2011, and the remaining half will be payable in 2012. Removing the limit on conversions effectively eliminates the income limit on contributions to Roth IRAs. A taxpayer with income too high to use a Roth will be able to contribute to a traditional IRA (which does not have income limits for contributions) and immediately convert to a Roth.
Domestic Production Activities Deduction - In 2010, this deduction increases to nine percent of qualifying business net income. This deduction applies to businesses engaged in construction, engineering or architectural services, film production, or the lease, rental or sale of equipment you manufactured. However, the rate remains 6% for oil and gas companies.
State and Local Sales Tax Deduction - The opportunity for itemizers to choose to deduct their state sales tax payments instead of deducting their state and local income taxes ends after 2009, unless Congress acts to extend it.
Educators' Deduction - This deduction for up to $250 of classroom supplies purchased by educators lapses after 2009, unless Congress acts to extend it.
Nontaxable Combat Pay Allowed for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) - The election to include nontaxable combat pay in the calculation of earned income for the Earned Income Tax Credit is not available after 2009, unless Congress acts to extend it.
Tuition and Fees Deduction - The deduction for up to $4,000 of college tuition and fees expires after 2009, unless Congress acts to extend it.
Direct Donations of IRAs to Charity - Beginning in 2010, the opportunity for IRA owners age 70½ to directly donate part of their IRA balance to charity will disappear, unless Congress acts to extend it.
Additional Standard Deduction for Property Taxes - Starting in 2010, non-itemizers will no longer be allowed to increase their standard deduction by up to $1,000 of property taxes paid, unless Congress acts to extend this break.
Limits on Deducting Farm Losses - Beginning in 2010, the amount of farm losses you can enter to offset nonfarm income is capped at the greater of $300,000 or your net farm income over the past five years. But this limit will apply only if you get federal farm payments or Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) loans. You can take suspended losses in later years. The caps will also apply to partners and S firm owners.
Exemptions for the Alternative Minimum Tax - For 2010, the exemption levels drop to $45,000 for married filing jointly, $33,750 for singles and heads of household, and $22,500 for married couples filing separately. Congress is likely to act in 2009 to prevent this from happening. Otherwise, more than 20 million filers will be added to the AMT rolls.
Partial Exclusion for Unemployment Benefits - For 2010, the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits you receive is no longer tax-free.
Sales Tax Deduction for New Vehicles - Beginning in 2010, buyers of new vehicles no longer get a tax benefit for sales tax paid on new vehicles, unless they itemize and elect to deduct sales taxes instead of state income taxes.
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Congressional Pay/Benefits Update 05: **************************************************************
VA Geriatrics & Extended Care:
Adult Day Health Care: ADHC is a therapeutically oriented outpatient day program that provides health maintenance and rehabilitative services to frail elderly and functionally impaired veterans in a congregate setting. Individualized programs of care are delivered by an interdisciplinary team of health professionals and support staff with an emphasis on helping participants and their caregivers to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to manage care in the home.
Community Health Nurse Coordinator: CHNC provides clinical expertise in home and community coordination, provision of the continuity of care, and referral of patients to community agencies, VA programs, including skilled home health, home hospice, nursing home (community living centers), homemaker health aide, and adult day health care. They also function as a liaison to community agencies, as well as monitor their services. The CHNCs coordinate services for VA reimbursement (fee basis), as well as manage contracted programs for home and community care services.
Community Residential Care: CRC provides health care supervision to eligible veterans not in need of hospital or nursing home care but who, because of medical and/or psychosocial health conditions as determined through a statement of needed care, are not able to live independently and have no suitable family or significant others to provide the needed supervision and supportive care. The veteran must be capable of self-preservation with minimal assistance and exhibit socially acceptable behavior. The types of CRC settings may vary from a small family home to larger, more formal residential facilities. Care will consist of room, board, assistance with activities of daily living and supervision as determined on an individual basis. Case management will be provided by the local VA Facility. The cost of care is financed by the veteran's own resources. Placement is made in residential settings inspected and approved by the appropriate medical center but chosen by the veteran. The Medical Foster Home (MFH) program is a type of CRC. MFH's are generally distinguished from other CRC homes in that,
1) The home is owned or rented by the caregiver;
2) The MFH caregiver lives in the MFH and provides personal care and supervision;
3) There are no more than three residents receiving care in the MFH, including both Veterans and non-Veterans; and
4) MFH residents are enrolled in a VA interdisciplinary home care program.
Home Based Primary Care: HBPC is a home care program that provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary, primary care in the homes of veterans with complex medical, social, and behavioral conditions for whom routine clinic-based care is not effective. In contrast to other systems such as Medicare, home care targets Veterans with short-term remediable needs and provides episodic, time-limited and focused skilled services. HBPC targets patients with complex, chronic, progressive disabling disease and provides comprehensive longitudinal home care. The program is designed to serve the chronically ill through the months and years before death, providing primary care, palliative care, rehabilitation, disease management and coordination of care services. It is designed to meet the challenging needs and preferences of the Veteran, provide support for the family and caregiver. The HBPC Team is composed of a Medical Director, Program Manager, Nurse Practitioner, RN Case Manager, Social Worker, Pharmacologist, Psychologist, Registered Dietician, Rehabilitation Therapist (OT or PT), and Program Support Assistant.
The team goals are to promote the Veteran's maximum level of health and independence by maintaining the optimal physical, cognitive and psychosocial functioning. This will reduce the need for, and provide an acceptable alternative to, hospitalization, nursing home care, emergency room and outpatient clinic visits, through close monitoring and creating a therapeutic and safe environment in the home. They will assist in the transition from a health care facility to home by providing Veteran caregiver education, guiding rehabilitation and use of adaptive equipment in the home, assisting the Veteran and his caregiver in adapting the home as needed for a safe and therapeutic environment, and arranging and coordinating support services. This will enhance quality of life through symptom management and other palliative care measures. HBPC is designed to meet the challenging needs and preferences of the Veteran, provide support for the family and caregiver. This program does not provide hospice care because it cannot provide 24-hour care, volunteers, etc. We can provide home based palliative care for terminally ill Veterans.
Hospice and Palliative Care: HPC collectively represent comfort-oriented and supportive services provided in the home, community, outpatient, or inpatient settings for persons with advanced life-limiting disease. It is a program that incorporates the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of our Veterans. This program is designed to focus on the quality of life and comfort for a Veteran with an advanced disease that is life-limiting. Hospice and Palliative Care supports a balance of comfort measures, interventions and provides bereavement care to the Veteran's family. Hospice is a comfort based form of treatment often associated with specific characteristics of the Veteran receiving the care who has been diagnosed with a terminal condition with 6 months or less to live. Palliative care is a broader term that includes hospice care as well as other care that emphasizes symptom control, but does not necessarily require the presence of an imminently terminal condition or a time-limited prognosis. Palliative care may include a balance of comfort measures that vary across a wide spectrum. The goal of HPC is to achieve the best possible quality of life through the relief of suffering, control of symptoms, and restoration of functional capacity while remaining sensitive to personal, cultural, and religious values, beliefs, and practices.
Purchased Home Health Care: Formerly known as fee basis home care, this is a professional home care service that is purchased from private-sector providers at every VA medical center. The professional home care services cover mostly nursing services including medical, social services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, skilled nursing and speech and language pathology. Professional Skilled Home Care covers nursing services such as medical social services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, skilled nursing and speech-language pathology.
Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services Program: The VD-HCBS program provides veterans of all ages the opportunity to receive home and community based services in a consumer-directed fashion that enables them to avoid nursing home placement and continue to live in their homes and communities. Under the VD-HCBS program, the veteran and their family caregiver will: manage a flexible budget; decide for themselves what mix of services will best meet their personal care needs; hire their own personal care aides, including family or neighbors; and purchase items or services to live independently in the community. This program is offered as a special component to the Administration on Aging (AoA) Community Living Program (CLP). The AoA-VA joint partnership combines the expertise of AoA's national network of aging service providers with the resources of VA to provide veterans and their caregivers with more access, choices and control over their long-term care services. Currently, 7 states and 10 VA Medical Centers offer this program, which serves over 220 veterans, which includes some that are young and severely injured.
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Airline Carry-On Restrictions Update 01:
New York Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said that American, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and JetBlue Airways each have committed to him that they would not institute fees for carryon bags. He said he was hopeful other carriers would follow suit. Notably absent from the list was Continental Airlines, which is said to be in merger talks with United. It wasn't immediately clear how long the airlines had pledged not to charge for carryons.
Schumer said he planned to meet with Spirit Airlines leadership in the coming week. He will have an uphill battle changing Spirit's mind, however. Ben Baldanza, Spirit's president and CEO, told The Associated Press that his airline still plans to go forward with its carryon bag fee. "Our plan was never predicated on anyone matching us," Baldanza said. "The fact that other people are saying they won't has never changed our view that this is right." He said the decision by the five major carriers actually puts pressure on those airlines because Spirit has lowered its fares more than the price of the new fee. "We knew we took a risk with this strategy, but we believe on balance it's one that our customers will buy into," Baldanza said.
Schumer and five other Democratic senators -- Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey -- are supporting legislation that would tax airlines if they charged carryon bag fees. Schumer said the legislation would move forward until it becomes clear that no airline will institute the charges. **************************************************************
Mortgage Scams:
Some individuals see this as the perfect opportunity to solve all of their problems. Instead, they fall victim to mortgage rescue scams. Mortgage modification and rescue scams are still on the rise. Typically, these scams take place via emails and phone calls. They all promise the same thing: modifying mortgage rates, rescue from foreclosure, help in stopping bankruptcy or just help getting your home sold. Scammers claim they can do wonders for any mortgage problem but, of course, they charge a fee up front. They say they will talk to lenders for you as well. But once the fee is paid, everything changes. Some scammers have victims sign what they think are new loan papers. Instead, they are documents that sign over the ownership of the property. Others have you simply surrender your home in order to help sell it faster. Most, though, are simply after the money. As with most scams, there are dire consequences associated with falling for any type of mortgage scheme.
According to data pulled from the Internet Complaint Search and Investigation System (ICSIS), there were 241 mortgage-related complaints from 1 JN 09 to 26 FEB 2010. Of those 241 complaints, 114 involved actual monetary losses. A closer examination of those complaints showed one case that generated 18 complaints and losses totaling $93,075. Another one triggered 21 complaints and losses totaling nearly $58,000. Further investigation could reveal an even greater number of complaints and much higher monetary losses. For information on avoiding scams, go to www.ic3.gov and click on Internet Crime Prevention Tips or Internet Crime. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the person who believes they were defrauded or from a third party to the complainant at www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx. We can best process your complaint if we receive accurate and complete information from you. They request that you provide the following information when filing a complaint:
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Back Pain Update 01: **************************************************************
VA Phone Scam: **************************************************************
Social Security Reduced Benefits Update 01:
The earliest a widow or widower can start receiving Social Security survivors benefits based on age will remain at age 60. If you are not entitled to a higher amount on your own record, the amount you will get is a percentage of the deceased spouse's basic Social Security benefit. The percentage depends on your age. If you are FRA or older, you will receive 100% of the deceased spouse's basic Social Security benefit. If you are insured on your own record and the benefit on the deceased spouse's record is higher, you also will receive the difference between your benefit and the deceased spouse's benefit. A widow or widower can receive full benefits at age 65 or older (if born before January 2, 1940) or reduced benefits as early as age 60. The age for receiving full benefits is increasing for widows and widowers born after 1939 until it reaches age 67 for people born in 1962 and later. If you decide to delay your benefits until after age 65, you should still apply for Medicare benefits within three months of your 65th birthday. If you wait longer, your Medicare medical insurance (Part B) and prescription drug coverage (Part D) may cost you more money. **************************************************************
Create a Shortcut to Clear Memory (Vista)
Windows Vista Memory Management is excellent. But if you are an
intensive user that notices your computer running a little slow
after using it for a while, you usually have to reboot to clear the
problem up.
Instead, you can create a shortcut on your desktop that will allow
you to reduce resource usage and or remove idle processes when
clicked. Here's how:
1. Right-click on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.
2. Copy/paste the following into the box:
%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks
3. Click Next, name it 'Clear Memory', and click Finish. Give it a
suitable icon so it looks nice.
Now you shouldn't have to reboot so often. Cool beans! (does anyone
even say that anymore?)
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Live With Grace
May we discover through pain and torment,
the strength to live with grace and humor.
May we discover through doubt and anguish,
the strength to live with dignity and holiness.
May we discover through suffering and fear,
the strength to move toward healing.
May it come to pass that we be restored to health and to vigor.
May Life grant us wellness of body, spirit, and mind.
And if this cannot be so, may we find in this transformation and passage
moments of meaning, opportunities for love
and the deep and gracious calm that comes
when we allow ourselves to move on.
Amen
Thats all the news for this week. Check back next Saturday. Thanks, Ole' Bill
8Jun66: Battle of Ap Tau O, aka: Benchmark 69. A Troop. Read about it at: Click Here
9Jun18: Montdidier-Noyon Defense.
11Jun66: Battle of Loc Ninh Plantation/Hill 150-Hill 177.
13Jun44: BRO Liberates Caumont, France.
The following was sent in by Colonel Haponski and is about a Vietnam battle that isn't listed by the BRO. Thanks to COL Haponski for
sending this in for the Weekly News. Now is a good time to encourage all of you to sit down and write you narrative about your Vietnam experiences, both battle and non-battle, and send them in. This is our primary goal to record our history for present and future generations. Please don't hesitate to write your story because you don't think your a profession writer. Very few of us are. Just record in your own words what happened and the part you played. Each tid-bit we receive will be added to the event or battle and like a puzzle will someday provide a picture from all angles of what ever happened. Thanks, Bill Baty.
B Troop, 1/4th US Cavalry
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross
to Jeffery J. Henry (US55826450), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the
Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry
Division. On 24 February 1966, Private First Class Henry was serving as scout observer for an
armored personnel carrier. At 0300 hours, the brigade perimeter at Tan Binh, Republic of Vietnam,
was attacked by three Viet Cong battalions heavily armed with mortars, anti-tank weapons, and
small arms. When the insurgents maneuvered to encircle an infantry patrol some distance to the
front of the perimeter, Private Henry's armored personnel carrier and one tank immediately went
to the rescue. Three rounds of recoilless rifle fire disabled his vehicle, wounding the armored
personnel carrier commander and driver, thereby halting the progress of the vehicle. With
complete disregard for his own personal safety, Private Henry removed the machine gun from the
pedestal mount of the armored personnel carrier and engaged the hostile recoilless rifle crew from
an exposed position. Despite intense small arms and hand grenade fire, Private Henry continued to
engage the hostile forces placing deadly and accurate suppressive fire on the insurgents until he
was ordered to evacuate the vehicle. Private Henry is credited with saving the life of the wounded
tank commander by pulling him to the ground when he heard a recoilless rifle crew preparing to fire
their weapons. Because of his instantaneous action, both he and the commander were only slightly
wounded even though the recoilless rifle struck four feet from them. Private First Class Henry's
extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the
military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, US Army, Pacific, General Orders No. 181 (August 2, 1966)
1st Squadron 4th Cavalry USARV
1. Combat action(s), dates, and severity of enemy contact (64-66).
2. Map of AO.
3. Personnel Roster of A Trp ¼ Cav (64-66) [like I saw of the 67 unit].
4. Names of: Battalion Cdr, CSM, A Trp Cdr., and 1SG, Platoon Sgt.
5. Has there been any known A Trp Vets with confirmed “agent orange” exposure in that area?
6. Any known list of A Trp or ¼ Cav KIAs (64-66).
7. Anybody that remembers Wooten?
8. Any Troop Photos?
9. Other …..
LTC, Armor USA (Retired)
Director JROTC Programs Fort Worth, TX
Luther.berry@fwisd.org
(817) 871-3495
Reqest news letter be sent to me at scottron@yahoo.com I was with the HQ trp 1/4th cav from Jun 66-67 as rear operations sgt call sign was Dragoon Zullo. Thanks Ronald Scott, (SFC) Ret.
Hello,
Former SSG, US ARMY Cav Scout
Scouts Out!
E-mail: srager78@yahoo.com
Colorado Springs, CO. 80907
(719)573-7039
Email: Logo369@aol.com
I am looking for the names of the operations we did during those times. Also, any reunions there may be in the future.
Louis Gonzalez
Kate Novoa for Ralph J. Novoa
E-mail: kwnovoa@gmail.com
Just to let you know that in two days from today, 01-13-2010, our phone number will be changing. Please make a note of this number.
816-587-7772. ATT will not forward the old number to this new number. The fax will be the same as the phone number.
Hope that this is not a problem. Please keep this number in your directory. We can still be reached by email and cell phone.
Jorge 816-564-5560
kcidds@sbcglobal.net
Ellen 816-564-5568
flyealtwa@sbcglobal.net
I have just switched my email address from r.lazzari@comcast.net to r.lazzari@verizon.net. Please use this new address for all future emails and instant messages.
Bob Lazzari
The Pentagon announced 20 APR that recoupment of several bonuses paid out as part of the post-Cold War personnel drawdown, suspended nearly a year ago pending a policy and legal review, will resume in AUG 2010. These separation payments and others, such as severance pay, were offered to active-duty servicemembers to reduce manpower in certain career fields, primarily during the 1990s. Federal law prohibits service members from receiving separation payments — such as Voluntary Separation Incentive, Special Separation Benefit and other benefits — and military retired pay for the same period of service. The recoupments affect those who received separation bonuses and subsequently joined the Ready Reserve or returned to active duty and earned retiree status, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) says. The monthly recoupment also could affect former spouses who receive Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act payments from affected retirees, DFAS said. The resumption of all separation pay recoupment currently affects about 2,800 people; DFAS expects to handle about 50 new cases per month, spokeswoman Jan Wittry said. Wittry said she couldn’t provide a meaningful average repayment across all programs because the amounts vary widely depending on a given retiree’s circumstances. Congress has amended Sections 1174(h) and 1175(e) of Title 10, United States Code, to help limit the financial strain on military retirees as they repay their outstanding balances. The new statutes allow DFAS more flexibility to accommodate for financial hardship and modify payment plans. As a result, DFAS has reduced the maximum recoupment rate from 90% to 40%. DFAS also will consider more lenient repayment plans for retirees who are experiencing financial hardship. Affected retirees will receive notification letters at least 90 days before the recoupments resume. If they feel the rate of recoupment will create a financial hardship, they may request a more lenient repayment plan by providing financial information on the Financial Statement of Debtor form enclosed with the notification letter. [Source: MarineCorpsTimes William H. McMichael article 20 Apr 2010 ++]
Pictured above are L-R, Jim Umphrey and presenter Bob Corbin.
WORTHY OF THE GREAT CAUSE IN WHICH I FIGHT.
GIVE ME STRENGTH WHEN THE GOING IS HARD. GIVE ME COURAGE WHEN DANGER IS NEAR.
LEAD ME THROUGH THE PERILS OF THIS WAR TO THE PEACE OF THAT
BETTER WORLD TO WHICH WE HAVE DEDICATED OUR LIVES.
BUT IF THIS SERVICE TO YOU AND TO MY COUNTRY CALLS FOR THE SACRIFICE OF MY LIFE,
I ASK ONLY THAT YOU BE WITH ME IN THAT HOUR,
CONFIDENT THAT YOUR PEACE AWAITS ME IN ETERNITY".
Chuck Colson
VETERANS DAY, 2009
We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform
of the United States of America. From the Minutemen who stood
watch over Lexington and Concord to the service members who
served in Iraq and Afghanistan, American veterans deserve our
deepest appreciation and respect. Our Nation's servicemen
and women are our best and brightest, enlisting in times of
peace and war, serving with honor under the most difficult
circumstances, and making sacrifices that many of us cannot
begin to imagine. Today, we reflect upon the invaluable
contributions of our country's veterans and reaffirm our
commitment to provide them and their families with the
essential support they were promised and have earned.
Caring for our veterans is more than a way of thanking
them for their service. It is an obligation to our fellow
citizens who have risked their lives to defend our freedom.
This selflessness binds our fates with theirs, and recognizing
those who were willing to give their last full measure of
devotion for us is a debt of honor for every American.
We also pay tribute to all who have worn the uniform and
continue to serve their country as civilians. Many veterans
act as coaches, teachers, and mentors in their communities,
selflessly volunteering their time and expertise. They visit
schools to tell our Nation's students of their experiences and
help counsel our troops returning from the theater of war.
These men and women possess an unwavering belief in the idea
of America: no matter where you come from, what you look
like, or who your parents are, this is a place where anything
is possible. Our veterans continue to stand up for those
timeless American ideals of liberty, self-determination, and
equal opportunity.
On Veterans Day, we honor the heroes we have lost, and
we rededicate ourselves to the next generation of veterans by
supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast
Guardsmen as they return home from duty. Our grateful Nation
must keep our solemn promises to these brave men and women and
their families. They have given their unwavering devotion to
the American people, and we must keep our covenant with them.
more With respect for and in recognition of the contributions
our servicemen and women have made to the cause of peace
and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided
(5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be
set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's
veterans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11,
2009, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize
the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate
public ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal,
State, and local officials to display the flag of the
United States and to participate in patriotic activities in
their communities. I call on all Americans, including civic
and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, and
communities to support this day with commemorative expressions
and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
Bravo Mike Sixkilo 69-70
Tony
I'm sorry this comes to you so late on this important day.
Last night, when I went to bed, I was free.
When I awoke today, I was still free - and while this was neither an accident, nor a coincidence,
It was no less a miracle.
This miracle was not, perhaps, the direct result of Divine Will, but through the service and sacrifice of men and women,
just like you, who left behind the comfort and convenience of home and family and put themselves in harm's way
to keep the rest of us free.
But I was not that man
A woman was beaten for being out in public with her hair uncovered,
but she was not my wife:
A child was taken from his village, and forced to become a "boy soldier"
but he was not my child.
Why?
Not because of our Laws, nor our Governors, nor our Senators.
Because of you- and your comrades - who have stood in the most remote and hostile corners of the world to endure the
unthinkable, and accomplish the impossible, to demonstrate to all the world your resolve to keep your home and country free.
I have not earned the right,
Nor is it within my purvue to authorize more than the parades and honors already in place.
I can only offer my most sincere gratitude, as a free American,
Who knows whose courage and sacrifice has so dearly bought that freedom.
Thank you, and God Bless You!
Please share this with your brothers-in-arms, as you see fit.
Marty
Get their parents to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it.
Mayo-led Research Team Develop Agents That Keep Insulin Working Longer
More than half a century after researchers identified a promising way to treat diabetes based on blocking the breakdown of insulin in the body, a research team led by a scientist at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have developed potent molecules that can do just that.
The researchers say their findings, published in the May issue of PLoS ONE, could lay the foundation for a new class of drugs for treating diabetes. The tiny molecules they developed work by inhibiting a powerful molecular machine known as insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) from chewing up the insulin hormone. That keeps insulin in the body longer to help remove glucose (simple food sugar) from the blood.
The discovery may lead to drugs that diabetics can use to help insulin work better and longer, says the study's lead researcher, Malcolm Leissring, Ph.D., from Mayo Clinic's Department of Neuroscience. Diabetes affects over 200 million people worldwide, and the incidence is growing at an alarming rate, so new treatments are greatly needed, he says.
Here's a perplexing medical irony: For Parkinson's disease patients, initiating certain voluntary movements such as walking and rising from a chair can be difficult. But the medications that help ease the challenging motor symptoms of Parkinson's seem to make it harder for some patients to halt certain behaviors that can be rewarding or pleasurable - gambling, buying, eating, sexual stimulation.
While physicians have known about the link between Parkinson's medication and compulsive gambling since about 2005, little was known about how many patients are affected this way, whether the compulsive behavior went beyond gambling for some, and whether this is clearly a medication-induced problem. A study in the Archives of Neurology released Monday answers those questions.
Some 13.6% of Parkinson's Disease patients taking levodopa or one of the dopamine-agonist medications widely used for the movement disorder show clear signs of some impulse-control disorder. That rate was between 2 and 3.3 times higher among Parkinson's patients being treated with these medications than among patients who did not take them. About a quarter of those patients suffered from more than one type of compulsive behavior.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about potentially serious side effects from mistakenly swallowing Benadryl Extra Strength Itch Stopping Gel, an over-the-counter (OTC) product that should only be used on the skin.
The FDA has received reports of serious side effects in people who have mistakenly swallowed the product. Some OTC Benadryl products are intended to be swallowed. However, Benadryl Extra Strength Itch Stopping Gel is only safe and effective when used, as directed, on the skin. People swallowing the gel can ingest a dangerous amount of the active ingredient, diphenhydramine. Large doses of diphenhydramine can result in serious side effects such as unconsciousness, hallucinations, and confusion.
"Consumer confusion and incorrect product use are serious public health issues," said Carol Holquist, R.Ph., director of FDA's Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis. "FDA is advising consumers and pharmacies to store products for the skin separately from products that should be swallowed."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched a program designed to educate health care providers about their role in ensuring that prescription drug advertising and promotion is truthful, and not misleading.
The Bad Ad Program is an FDA-sponsored educational outreach effort administered by the agency's Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications (DDMAC), in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
"The Bad Ad Program will help health care providers recognize misleading prescription drug promotion and provide them with an easy way to report this activity to the agency," said Thomas Abrams, director of DDMAC.
Preventable infectious diseases cause two-thirds of child deaths, according to a new study published today by The Lancet. Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF's Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG) assessed data from 193 countries to produce estimates by country, region and the world. While the number of deaths has declined globally over the last decade, the analysis reveals how millions of children under five die every year from preventable causes.
"With less than five years to reach the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 4-to reduce child deaths by two-thirds from 1990 levels-it is vital for governments, public health organizations, and donors to have accurate country-level estimates so they can target their efforts effectively," said lead author Dr. Robert Black, the Edgar Berman Professor and Chair of the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
"These findings have important implications for national programs," said UNICEF Chief of Health, Dr. Mickey Chopra. "The persistence of diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria, all of which are easily preventable and curable but which nonetheless remain the leading single causes of death worldwide, should spur us to do more to control these diseases."
Vaccine science at Vanderbilt has taken a major step forward with the recent formation of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center.
The center, directed by James Crowe Jr., M.D., professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology, was created from a core of existing programs to allow for development of vaccines from the "ground up."
The center's grant requests have built a portfolio of about $20 million. Recent hiring has strengthened support staff to allow for continuous application of grants and to staff labs.
Disciplines across campus are collaborating to streamline work in areas of basic science research, including microbiology, chemistry and immunology, in the pursuit of developing candidate vaccines.
Walgreens has postponed its plans to sell personal genetic test kits after the Food and Drug Administration intervened.
Genetic kits from Pathway Genomics, a San Diego, California-based company were to be sold at the nationwide drug stores starting Friday. But the announcement prompted criticism from genetics experts and the FDA, which warned consumers to be skeptical about the unapproved product.
After the agency contacted the genetic testing company, Walgreens announced that it would hold off on the sale of the kits.
"We've elected not to move forward with offering the Pathway product to our customers until we have further clarity on this matter," a Walgreens statement said.
Ireland's government approved tough new legislation Tuesday to crack down on "legal highs" available at so-called 'head shops' by threatening operators of the popular stores with life imprisonment. Under the new legislation, the sale or supply of substances that do not specifically fall under existing drugs legislation, but which have "psychoactive effects" will land users with up to 7 years in prison and suppliers with a maximum life sentence.
Head shops, which sell a variety of drugs paraphernalia, have thrived in recession-hit Ireland by selling substances often dubbed "legal" or "herbal" highs.
With some other countries are mulling legalizing certain drugs, critics of the new Irish legislation said it could drive users to try and get "legal high" drugs via the Internet or on the black market.
"That is a matter for the police," Prime Minister Brian Cowen told reporters after announcing the new measures.
Such drugs are common in Amsterdam's 'smart shops', as are marijuana and hash in the Dutch city's 'coffee shops' while other countries in Europe have sought to ban "legal highs."
Others are questioning how the group of substances with "psychoactive effects" would be defined.
"The righteous fuming over these products is never applied in the same way to the products sold in the local pub which are just as lethal and dangerous when misused and abused," Irish Times journalist Jim Carroll said on the newspaper's blog, referring to the consumption of alcohol in bars.
If you are a retiree and your Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) Board has awarded you CRSC, you may be entitled to the CRSC travel benefit. Tricare Prime enrollees, including those enrolled in the US Family Health Plan, are also eligible for the Tricare Prime Travel Benefit. This benefit provides reimbursement for travel-related expenses when you must travel more than 100 miles from your referring provider’s location to obtain medically necessary, nonemergency specialty care for a combat-related disability. Only reasonable, actual-cost travel expenses (e.g., lodging, fuel [rather than mileage], meals, parking, tolls) associated with receiving specialty care can be reimbursed. You are expected to use the least costly mode of transportation. Government rates will be used to estimate the reasonable costs for allowable expenses. To review the rates, visit www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/pdrates.html. Please contact your Tricare Regional Office (TRO) for more information about reimbursable expenses and authorization requirements. To qualify, you must meet all of the following criteria:
• Be receiving retired, retired retainer, or equivalent pay; and
• Have been awarded a Combat-Related Special Compensation determination letter from your service’s CRSC Board identifying the combat-related disability or disabilities; and
• Reside stateside and be covered under Tricare Standard or Tricare For Life; and
• Have been referred by your provider for specialty care that is more than 100 miles from your referring provider to obtain care for the combat-related disability
• One non-medical attendant (NMA) may also be entitled to reimbursement of travel-related expenses. Your referring provider must verify in writing that an NMA is medically necessary and appropriate to travel with you. The NMA can be a parent, spouse, or other adult family member (age 21 or older) or a legal guardian. If the NMA is an active duty service member or a U.S. government employee, he or she may be entitled to temporary duty allowances (per diem and mileage) if on travel duty per their organization. Although travel orders are not required, you must submit a travel request via fax or mail in advance to your TRO with the following documentation:
• Copy of your CRSC determination letter identifying the combat-related disabilities.
• Your home address and referring provider’s address.
• Referral for specialty care to treat the specified combat related disability.
• Statement (may be included in the referral) from the referring provider indicating that an NMA is medically necessary and appropriate, if applicable.
• Completed electronic funds transfer (EFT) authorization form for yourself and your NMA; form must be accompanied by a voided/canceled check or a copy of your savings account statement
The Tricare Affirmation Act (H.R.4887), aimed at protecting people in the military health care program from being penalized for not having private insurance, was signed into law 26 APR by President Obama. The new law provides a specific exemption for Tricare beneficiaries and for nonappropriated-fund civilian employees of the Defense Department from a requirement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that will require people without minimal health cover to either buy private insurance or face a $750 penalty. Tricare health insurance is specifically defined by the law signed Monday as minimal essential coverage, which provides an exemption from the penalty. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), the House Armed Services Committee chairman who opposed the national health care reform law but was a key sponsor of the Tricare Affirmation Act, said he hopes this resolves questions by active-duty family members, retirees and their families about how national health reform might affect them. Signing the new law “reinforces that military health care coverage will not be adversely affected by the health care reform law,” Skelton said. Skelton’s committee will consider legislation in May that would extend to Tricare beneficiaries one of the provisions of the new health reform law that allows unmarried children to remain covered by a parent’s insurance until age 26. That legislation is expected to be included in the 2011 defense authorization bill. [Source: AirForceTimes Rick Maze article 27 Apr 2010 ++]
All these businesses offer military discounts; all you have to do is ask:
• Arby's • A&W • Back Yard Burgers • Burger King • Captain D's • Chick-Fil-A • Cotton Patch
• Denny's • Dunkin' Donuts • Farmers Boy • IHOP (20 percent discount with military identification)
• Java Café • KFC • Long John Silver • Pancho's Mexican Buffet • Pizza Hut • Quizno's • Sizzler
• Sonic • Taco Bell • Whataburger
• AT&T • California Cryobank • Geico • Jiffy Lube • Meineke • Sears Portrait Studio
Travel and Leisure
• Blockbuster • Movie theaters • Ripley's attractions and museums • Professional Sports teams
• Apple Computers • AutoZone • Barnhill's • Bass Pro Shop • Bath and Body Works
• Big 10 Tires • The Buckle • Champs Sports • Copeland's Sports • Dell
• The Discovery Channel Store • Dress Barn • The Finish Line • Foot Action • Footlocker
• Gadzooks • GNC • Goody's • Great Party• Happy Harry's •Home Depot • Hot Topic
• Jockey • Lerner •Lowe’s • Michael's • NAPA Auto Parts • New York & Company • Pac Sun
• Payless Shoes • Play It Again Sports • Pure Beauty • Sally Beauty Supply • Spencer's Gifts
• Suncoast • Timberland Outlets • Wilson's Leather
All Federal employees are able to get a 15% discount on their personal cell phones by calling their carrier
and mentioning the "Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 - Discount to Federal Employees Past and
Present." You will need to know the military member's supervisor's name, phone number, and full address, so that
his/her military status can be verified. Use the following contact numbers:
• Cingular - 800-319-6393
• Sprint - 877-812-1223
• T-Mobile - 866-646-4688
• Nextel - 800-639-6111
• Verizon - 800-865-1825
[Source: VA Frederick Service Office Maryland VSO msg. 26 Apr 2010 ++]
Many of the tax breaks in recent tax-relief bills were designed to be phased in over a number of years, or are indexed to inflation. To help you determine how these tax laws affect your long-term plans, the following explains the changes scheduled to come into effect in 2010 through 2017.
[Source: Military.com Taxes Jan 2010 ++]
On 23 APR the U.S. Senate passed legislation by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI.) to cancel the automatic pay raise for members of Congress next year. Congress already enacted legislation ensuring there would be no raise in 2010 and Feingold’s effort will do the same for 2011. Feingold does not accept pay raises during his term in office, following through on a pledge he made when he first ran for U.S. Senate. Feingold returns pay above the level he received after he was last elected and returns it to the U.S. Treasury. “Members of Congress have a lot of perks, but the one that stands out is their ability to raise their own pay,” Feingold said. “Not many Americans have the power to give themselves a raise whenever they want, no matter how they are performing. Yet Congress has set up a system whereby every year members automatically get a pay increase without having to lift a finger. I refuse to be a part of that system, and I will continue to work to permanently end it. But in the meantime, Congress should at least give up its raise for next year. With so many Americans looking for jobs, and trying to figure out how to pay their bills, now is no time to give ourselves a taxpayer-funded pay raise.” Feingold has regularly introduced legislation to end the automatic pay raise system. Last year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) ushered legislation through the Senate based on Senator Feingold’s historic efforts to end the automatic pay raises for members of Congress. But the House of Representatives has not yet taken up the bill. A provision of Senator Feingold’s Control Spending Now Act, legislation to slash the deficit by about one half trillion dollars over the next decade, would end the automatic pay raise system and save taxpayers $80 million over the next ten years.
[Source: TREA Washington Update 23 Apr 2010 ++]
The VA's Home and Community Based Care (HCBC), formerly known as Hospital Based Home Care, began in 1970 and provides long-term primary medical care to chronically ill Veterans in their own homes under the coordinated care of an interdisciplinary treatment team. It is composed of a the following vet care programs:
[Source: http://www1.va.gov/geriatrics/HCBC Apr 2010 ++]
In a remarkable gesture to fee-weary air travelers, five major U.S. airlines are committing to actually not charge a fee for something -- the sacred carryon bag. The announcement 18 APR comes despite the fact that some of those same airlines are expected to report first-quarter losses next week amid significantly higher fuel prices and the beating they took from the heavy February snowstorms. Add-on fees for things like checked bags, pillows and food are a key revenue stream for them. For 26 large U.S. airlines, so-called ancillary fee revenue accounted for 6.9% of their total operating revenue in the third quarter of 2009, up from 4.1% a year earlier, the most recently available government data shows. But major carriers risk alienating customers if they follow Spirit Airlines' lead and impose a fee on carryon bags. The small Florida airline in August will begin charging customers up to $45 to place a bag in an overhead bin. Other fees haven't stopped people from flying, but many of those fees can be avoided. It would be hard for many travelers to avoid a carryon bag fee.
[Source: Salon Newsletter Harry R. Weber article 19 Feb 2010 ++]
If it’s Too Good to Be True, It Is! The VA issued the following warning from the Office of Security and Law Enforcement’s National White Collar crime Center the about a new mortgage rescue (fraud) scam that is appearing all over the country. “You’re having trouble paying your mortgage bill. The possibility of foreclosure is weighing heavily on your mind. Sitting at your computer, you think all hope is lost until you come across an email that reads: ‘Get the professional help you need to keep your home and have peace of mind. What if I told you that we have plenty of lenders who can lower your rate so drastically that when all is said and done, you wind up paying only 1/3 of what you’re used to paying!’” What do you do?
• Victims will be asked to give personal and tax information which provides scammers with the ammunition they need to commit identity theft.
• If the scammers do talk to lenders, they will most likely misrepresent the victim, causing more harm than good.
• Some victims will be led to believe that everything is going smoothly until they start receiving default notices in the mail for missing their required monthly payments. Communication stops and scammers suddenly become inaccessible.
• Last but not least, victims will ask scammers for refunds but all they’ll get is the run-around.
• Your name, mailing address, and telephone number.
• The name, address, telephone number, and Web address, if available, of the individual or organization you believe defrauded you.
• Specific details on how, why, and when you believe you were defrauded.
• Any other relevant information you believe is necessary to support your complaint.
[Source: TREA Washington Update 2 Apr 2010 ++]
Most people have experienced back pain and many hope that massage will relieve it. But not all forms of massage have been scientifically proven to help against low back pain. That is what the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) pointed out in information published on their website. Back pain often affects the lower back and can be a big physical and psychological burden. "The cause of back pain is not always immediately clear,” explains Professor Peter Sawicki, the Institute's Director. "But low back pain usually gets better on its own within a few weeks.” Back pain is only rarely caused by a more serious health problem. If low back pain does not get better on its own, massage therapy could be a worthwhile option. "Research suggests that classic massage, Thai massage and acupressure can relieve low back pain that has lasted longer than several weeks,” says the Institute's Director. In classic (Swedish) massage the affected area of skin and muscles are massaged, in Thai massage the limbs are pulled and stretched, and acupressure involves applying pressure to certain points on the body. "But relying on massage alone does not appear to be the best approach when it comes to back pain”, adds Sawicki. Research indicates that people could benefit more if they combine massages with exercises and stretching. In some trials this combination of approaches led to better pain relief and mobility compared to massage alone. "Not all forms of massage have been scientifically proven to help against chronic back pain though,” concludes Sawicki. "So it is worth finding out about the different techniques before deciding to have a certain type of massage.” An overview of the most common forms of massage is now available on the Institute's website www.informedhealthonline.org . It provides the public with easy-to-understand information about current medical developments and research on important health issues. [Source: IQWIG Press Release 23 Mar 2010 ++]
The Department of Veterans Affairs is warning veterans not to give credit card numbers, bank routing information or any personal and financial information over the phone to callers claiming to update, confirm, or verify VA-related information. VA does not call veterans and ask them to disclose personal financial information over the phone. A veteran targeted by scammers alerted VA, saying that someone called claiming to be with the VA pharmacy and asking a lot of questions. The caller ID indicated that the incoming call was from (888) 555-1234. There are a number of scams associated with this number, and it's been reported that the callers will call repeatedly and become aggressive. They will claim to be a VA employee and say a medical card has expired and that the veteran must send a check for a certain dollar amount for a renewal. In other versions, the caller says that a bank account is listed on a public computer, and in order to get it removed, the caller needs to verify the veteran's bank information. Be leery of any calls originating from this number. VA has not changed its process for dispensing prescriptions or for enrollment. Veterans with questions about VA services should call (877) 222-8387 or the nearest VA medical center.
[Source: AL Online Updates 14 Apr 2010 ++]
As a general rule, early retirement will give you about the same total Social Security benefits as full retirement over your anticipated remaining lifetime, but in smaller amounts to take into account the longer period you will receive them. If your full retirement age (FRA) is older than 65 (that is, you were born after 1937), you still will be able to take your retirement benefits at age 62, but the reduction in your benefit amount will be greater than it is for people retiring now. A table at www.ssa.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm shows in dollars the reduced monthly benefit in two month increments you can expect to receive in if you retire earlier than age 67. You must be at least 62 for the entire month to receive benefits. The maximum benefit for a spouse is 50% of the benefit the worker would receive at FRA. The percentage reduction for a spouse should be applied after the automatic 50% reduction. If your FRA is 67, the reduction for starting your benefits at the end of the month after your birth date would be at age:
• 62 is about 30 percent;
• 63 is about 25 percent;
• 64 is about 20 percent;
• 65 is about 13 and 1/3 percent; and
• 66 is about 6 and 2/3 percent.
[Source: http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=U8dQpMYj Apr 2010 ++]
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