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The Archive is a reference tool that will store all information that was contained on the regular pages but has been deleted as out-dated.
WINTER STAFF MEETING:
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK
WINTER STAFF MEETING
JAN 14 - JAN 15, 2011
Best Western Sovereign
1228 Western Ave.
Albany NY 12203
(518)489-2981 /or (888)963-7666
$75.00 a Night
Cutoff date of December 31...
(Includes Full Breakfast)
"OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS, DEVIL DOGS, AND FLEAS"
Friday 14th
1800- 2300 Hospitality Room
1500- Ships Store
Saturday 15th
0700- Breakfast
0800- 0930 Bd. of Trustees Meeting
0930-1030 Detachment Commandants Council
1045-1230 MODD Growl
1230-1330 Lunch
1330-1730 General Session
1800-Dinner
***Uniform of the Day
All Officers- Red Blazer, Wht Shirt, Blk Field Scarf, Blk Trousers.( No Ribbons or Metals)
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In a recent email, I shared Army Staff Sergeant Heriberto Vidro's story with you. War wounds took a heavy toll on his body and spirit. He was in constant pain, battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and his future seemed grim and uncertain.
Today’s heroes have carried a tremendous burden through 10 grueling years of war.
Lighten the load for those who come home wounded as you renew your membership now!
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But with help from loyal, caring people, like you, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) was able to provide him with cutting-edge rehabilitation, educational opportunities, and a vital community of peer-to-peer support that allowed him to heal and appreciate life.
That’s why it is so crucial for you to renew your WWP membership today if you have not already done so.
Like so many other heroes who fought and sacrificed to defend you and me, Heriberto’s wounds took a terrible toll on him.
But that is when WWP supporters like you came to the rescue!
Through WWP, he found a powerful mission in helping other wounded warriors, and he is confident of a brighter future.
Heriberto’s renewed optimism shows how you can bring heroes hope through your membership gift today ...... because for every inspiring story like his, there is another wounded warrior struggling to climb out of pain and despair.
And while we can never repay the terrible price heroes pay in combat, together we can give our wounded the chance to find healing so they can build full, meaningful lives after war.
As the long years of war draw on, you will be there for those who come home wounded as you renew your membership with a gift of $50 ... $75 ... even $100 now!
Continuing the fight for heroes!
Steven Nardizzi
Executive Director
Wounded Warrior Project® | |
~ NEWS RELEASE ~
RECOVERY TEAMS SEARCH FOR MISSING AMERICANS, PROVIDE MEDICAL AID
JPAC teams search for MIA Americans and participate in U.S./Cambodian health
event
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Feb. 3, 2011) – Two archeological teams
from the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) are scheduled to arrive in
the Kingdom of Cambodia in early February to search for Americans
unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War. Additionally, physicians and nurses from
across military commands in Hawaii will accompany the Joint Field Activity on a
Humanitarian Civic Assistance visit to participate in a joint U.S./Cambodian
health engagement mission.
As part of the recovery portion of this dual-purpose deployment, more than 40
JPAC recovery team members will excavate one burial site and one underwater
aircraft crash site in search of four missing Americans at sites in the Kampong
Cham and Kracheh provinces. The approximately 40-day deployment marks the 44th
Joint Field Activity in Cambodia.
Recovery teams will search for human remains, life support items, and other
material evidence (personal and military issued items) that may further the
identification of Americans missing from past U.S. conflicts.
In addition to recovery efforts, the U.S. and Cambodia will participate in a
medical engagement outreach event, treating between 4,000 to 8,000 people in
rural and highly underserved communities. The specialized 12-person team of
experts in varying specialties from Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), the 18th
Medical Command, and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command will provide basic
health, laboratory, and optometry examinations.
During the humanitarian civic assistance mission, two medical outreach events
will provide healthcare to underserved areas. Furthermore, U.S. and Cambodian
physicians will reinforce medical capabilities by participating in an
information exchange, benefitting both countries educationally and
socio-culturally.
“TAMC is sending physician residents from OB/GYN and family medicine to conduct
expert exchanges with local physicians, and will be invited to work alongside
the Khmer physicians and treat their patients,” said U.S. Army Capt. Drew Webb,
an Army Physician Assistant assigned to JPAC.
According to Webb, this will be the first time a TAMC resident program has
deployed to a foreign country on a humanitarian outreach mission.
“The big take away for all of this is that the TAMC residents will get training
and experience in such a unique environment,” added Webb.
Falling directly under the U.S. Pacific Command, JPAC is a jointly-manned
organization of more than 400 military and civilian specialists that has
investigated and recovered missing Americans since the 1970’s. To date, 1,702
Americans are still listed as Missing in Action from the Vietnam War.
The ultimate goal of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, and of the agencies
involved in returning America’s heroes home, is to achieve the fullest possible
accounting of Americans lost during the nation’s past conflicts.
"Until They Are Home"
Veterans Report is the most comprehensive newsletter available to help Veterans stay current on benefits changes, learn about important legislation, get great discounts, and use the benefits earned in service. Make sure that you and your colleagues subscribe for this free update publication. -------------------------------- 31 JANUARY 2011-------------------------------------------Final Rule on DMZ Agent Orange ExposureDeal of the Week: Valentine's Day DiscountReport Compares Military and Civilian PayVietnam War 50th AnniversaryCollege Credit for Military ExperienceFeatured Job: Your Next Opportunity NowMilitary Benefits BlogGive the Best Gift to Your ValentineVA: New Focus on Patient-Centered CareWhat's New for 2010 TaxesDoD Contractors Tax DeductionsLet Congress Know What You ThinkNevada Vets Writing ProjectIT Academy for Wounded WarriorsGender Linked to Mental Health DiagnosisNew DoD PTSD WebsiteNew VA Genetic Database ProjectThe American Legion Legacy RunPrint and Post This Week's Veterans ReportHeadline Military NewsFinal Rule on DMZ Agent Orange ExposureVA officials will now presume herbicide exposure for any veteran who served between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971, in a unit determined by VA and Department of Defense officials to have operated in an area in or near the Korean DMZ in which herbicides were applied. More Deal of the Week: Valentine's Day DiscountFind great savings and gift ideas for all things Valentine's Day at Military.com's Discount Center. More Report Compares Military and Civilian PayA report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office indicates that military personnel are paid more than most federal civilian employees. More Vietnam War 50th AnniversaryThe Department of Defense Department has begun a project to pay tribute to the nation's Vietnam War veterans. More College Credit for Military ExperienceMany schools and colleges award military students credit towards a degree based on training, coursework, and occupational specialty -- you can get up to 48 credit hours and eliminate close to 2 years of class room time. More Featured Job: Your Next Opportunity NowGet access to free career expos nationwide where you'll find military-friendly employers such as Northrop Grumman, USAA, Lockheed Martin, ManTech, and many more looking for someone with the skill set and discipline you developed in the military. More Military Benefits BlogBenefits are the reward for faithful service. Are you taking advantage of all the military benefits available to you? More Give the Best Gift to Your ValentineASMBA provides military personal and their loved ones, comprehensive and affordable life insurance coverage. More VA: New Focus on Patient-Centered CareA new office will develop personal, patient-centered models of care for veterans who receive health care services at more than 1,000 points of VA care across the nation. More What's New for 2010 TaxesThere at least four changes that could affect you tax filing for 2010. More DoD Contractors Tax DeductionsA new policy will enable and help civilian Army contractors in validating and obtaining tax deductions for the costs of installing certain energy-efficient systems in Army buildings. More Let Congress Know What You ThinkThe Fleet Reserve Association is conducting an online survey to determine which military benefits are most important to active duty and Reserve personnel, retirees, veterans, and their families. More Nevada Vets Writing ProjectTwenty combat veterans will be selected next month for the Veterans Writing Project, a six-week course aimed at developing skills for writing fiction stories, memoirs and poetry. More IT Academy for Wounded WarriorsJOFDAV is offering wounded warriors the opportunity to learn transferable marketable IT job skills. More Gender Linked to Mental Health DiagnosisA recent study has found that female Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were more likely to be diagnosed with depression than their male counterparts, who were more likely to be diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More New DoD PTSD WebsiteA new website will allow users to explore the causes and symptoms of post-traumatic stress in an anonymous setting on the Second Life virtual world platform. More New VA Genetic Database ProjectVeterans are providing blood samples and health information to help researchers uncover the connections between genetic variations and a wide range of health issues. More The American Legion Legacy RunRegistration forms are now available for the 2011 American Legion Legacy Run, which will begin in Indianapolis on August 21 and culminate August 25 in Minneapolis, the site of the 2011 American Legion National Convention. More
Mass Burial For Veterans Held On LI
AMERICA STILL CARES...
"A hard stretch of road is always made easier when traveling with brotherhood," a Marine Corps saying goes.
The unclaimed remains of twenty veterans were buried Saturday at Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island in a show of pomp and respect they might not have seen in life.
The veterans, some who died as long ago as 2006, served in various branches of the military, and their service spanned decades and wars. The majority of the veterans were from the New York area, one source said.
Their burial is the first in a large-scale program by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to give the remains of unclaimed veterans a proper military burial.
Portions of the Long Island Expressway were closed to the cavalcade, which began in Queens. The twenty hearses were followed by a long stretch of cars and flanked by military personnel. Along the route, fire departments from Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties drove trucks to the overpasses, where they displayed flags and saluted the convoy.
This mass burial was sponsored, planned, and paid for by Dignity Memorial, a national funeral service. Casket companies donated the caskets and each veteran was saluted by an official military honor guard.
Members of veterans organizations from throughout the area were represented, including the American Legion, VFW, Marine Corps League, Catholic War Veterans, and Jewish War Veterans.
The burial was the largest mass burial of veterans since World War II, a person involved said.
A folded flag for each man was presented to members of Gold Star Mothers, a group of parents who lost their children in the military, as well as local politicians including County Executive Steve Levy, and Congressman Tim Bishop and Steve Israel. See Photo Gallery for pictures of the event.
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Happy 2011 to all of You!
Congress is back in session with its new members and House leadership --and bills that are very important to us have started to be filed (please see below).
There are also lots of changes going on (some surprising and some not). Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced an unexpected 1400 Marine surge to go to Afghanistan. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is stepping down. William Daley (of the Chicago Daley’s) is going to be the new White House Chief of Staff, while Acting Chief of Staff Pete Rouse will be made counselor to the President.
While that is going on we are still waiting for the stripped down version of the NDAA that was passed in the last minutes of the lame duck session to be signed by the President. The White House has announced that they will not present their proposed 2012 budget until February 14-so lots of work must still be going on. It is truly going to be an interesting year.
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1) Bills Introduced by New HASC Personnel Subcommittee Chairman- On the first day of the 112th session of Congress, Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC), the new Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Personnel Subcommittee, filed (which we call dropped in Washington) several proposed bills that are of great importance to TREA’s members. They are:
§ New House bill proposed to end retires pay/VA disability offset for Chapter 61/Medical retirees-HR186 would allow all former service members who retired under Chapter 61/Medical retirement to collect both their military retired pay and their veterans’ disability pay with no offset under the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) regardless of disability rating. In the last Congress this was the next step we were trying to get in completely ending the military retired pay/service connected disability offset. Our numerous attempts died when a similar provision was stripped from the House’s version of the NDAA. With this bill we start the push again.
§ New House bill to end the SBP/DIC offset is proposed-HR178. This bill would end the SBP/DIC offset for survivors. This has been our top survivor legislative (It replaces HR775 sponsored by former House member Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX).
§ New Bill proposed in H181 for members of the Guard and Reserve-This bill would expand the eligibility for early receipt of “non-regular service retired pay” (which means collecting NG &R retired pay before the age of 60) for those who were activated for active duty for at least 90 days since September 11, 2001. (This replaces a similar bill sponsored by Rep. Wilson in the 111th session of Congress.)
§ And HR179 also for retirees for the National Guard and Reserve-This bill eliminates the requirement that retirees of the reserve components be 60 years of age before being eligible for health care benefits. This would allow the NG & R retirees who were collecting their retired pay before the age of 60 (please see above) to start receiving their retiree medical benefits at the same time.
All four bills are extremely important to TREA members, their families and survivors. Please ask your members of the House to sign on to this legislation.
2) Defense Secretary Gates Rolls Out $178 Billion of “Efficiencies” Including Increases in TRICARE Premiums for Military Retirees-Yesterday, Secretary Gates, continuing to try and get ahead of the budget, announced decisions that he would save over $178 billion in the next 5 years. While these included terminating the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles production and reducing troop strength he also proposed non-specific TRICARE premium increases for military retirees. (We will probably need to wait to see the Administration’s budget before we know the exact proposal.)
The Department of Defense’s Press Release read in part: “Gates announced today that this effort – combined with a government-wide freeze on civilian salaries – has yielded approximately $54 billion in savings over the next five years. These savings include further reducing the contractor staff cadre, consolidating IT support, culling redundant intelligence organizations, eliminating unnecessary reports and studies, freezing civilian staff levels and pay, downgrading overseas commands, decreasing the number of generals, admirals and civilian executives, and modest increases in TRICARE premiums on military retirees.” This is the beginning of what we expected.
3) President Signs New Education Bill-On Tuesday, in Hawaii, President Obama signed into law the “Post 9-11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2010”. The bill expands the Post 9/11 GI Bill coverage by including licensing programs, vocational studies and even some on-the-job-training, along with the present college degree coverage. It also included some previously uncovered Guard and Reserve members who served on active duty since 9/11 and provides an annual $1000 book allowance for service members who are training while on active duty.
The bill S3447 was passed during the lame duck session of Congress that ended just before Congress adjourned. The bills original sponsor Chairman of the Senate VA Committee Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) said on the signing of the bill: “The young men and women in the Armed Forces provide an incredible service to our nation,” With the signing of this bill, young veterans will now have an easier time utilizing the education benefits they have earned. I applaud President Obama and my colleagues in Congress for enacting this important legislation.”
4) Positioning Over Debt Limit Increase Starts/Geithner Immediately Focuses on Military Retirement and Veterans Benefits-In the first week of the new Congress (even before) sides are taking positions on the upcoming vote to increase the federal debt limit. The present limit is expected to be reached no later than May of this year. Secretary of the Treasury Geithner wrote to every member of Congress saying that failing to raise the debt limit would have a disastrous impact on the U.S. economy and saying: “for the benefit of Members of Congress and the public, I want to make clear, for the record, what the implications of a default would be so there can be no misunderstanding when the issue is debated.”
Among other things, he said a default would “impose a substantial tax on all Americans by sharply increasing interest rates and borrowing costs for individuals, companies and governments; reduce the willingness of U.S. and foreign investors to invest in the United States; and halt or disrupt U.S. government payments, including Social Security and Medicare payments, military salaries and retirement benefits, veterans benefits and tax refunds.”
Congressional Republicans are saying that they will agree to an increase of the debt ceiling if it accompanied by an agreement to cut federal spending. The new Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) said: “The American people will not stand for such an increase unless it is accompanied by meaningful action by the President and Congress to cut spending and end the job-killing spending binge in Washington.
While America cannot default on its debt, we also cannot continue to borrow recklessly, dig ourselves deeper into this hole, and mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren.”
5) VA Holding Millions in Unclaimed Insurance Payouts-According to the Wall Street Journal, millions of dollars in veterans‘ benefits are sitting unused, waiting for veterans and their families to claim them.
The money is mainly from life insurance policy payouts or undelivered dividend checks and premium refunds that were mailed to policyholders. Undelivered payments are held indefinitely by the Department of Veterans Affairs says Thomas Lastowka, the VA's director for insurance.
To see if you or a family member has any unclaimed money, check on the Veterans Affairs website (https://insurance.va.gov/liability/ufsearch.htm). You'll need the veteran's full name, date of birth and date of death (if applicable). It is important to note that unclaimed funds search does not include SGLI and VGLI policies for those in service from 1965 to the present.
According to the VA’s website you should not use this search feature if you are a SGLI or VGLI policyholder or beneficiary.
To verify an identity, you also may need the veteran's VA insurance file number or service number, which can be found on enlistment or discharge documents. These documents are sometimes filed by veterans at county courthouses.
You also can claim money by calling 1-800-669-8477 or writing to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office and Insurance Center.
6) Military Saves Week (February 20-27, 2011)-Military Saves is urging all members of the military family to enroll online in its “financial readiness campaign”.
If you go to http://capwiz.com/trea/utr/1/IRMTODENXI/AXAAODEOJO/6310826281 you can sign up and receive regular electronic financial newsletters and “e-Wealth Coach” advice. All members of the Active duty, Guard and Reserve, DoD and Coast Guard civilian employees, military retirees, veterans, Defense contractors and tall their families are eligible to sign up.
The program started in 2007, is run by the non-profit Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and is part of 2 larger programs DoD’s Financial Readiness Campaign and the national “America Saves” campaign. While the program runs all year long there will be special events and publications from February 20-February 27 2011.
7) ![http://support.militaryfamily.org/site/PixelServer?j=AZrHhd7vFy-aQXJ96oItqQ..]() Military Spouses Scholarships Offered-Below please find a press release from the National Military Family Association (NMFA) announcing up to $1000 scholarships for military spouses that can be used to obtain professional training, 2 or 4 year college degrees or graduate degrees. The time to apply is short (only this month) and must be done on line. Spouses of retirees and survivors are eligible as are spouses of the active duty, and members of the NG and Reserve. NMFA is a good friend and colleague with TREA. If you are interested, don’t delay. Please click below. |
The Department of Defense identified today two units to deploy as part of upcoming rotations of forces operating in Afghanistan.
The scheduled rotation for these replacement forces will take place in early 2011. These units are scheduled to be deployed for approximately one year.
The announcement involves a headquarters element totaling 600 Marines and sailors, and a regimental combat team totaling 5,000 Marines and sailors.
Specific units:
Headquarters, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Regimental Combat Team-8, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved.
The Tower of Hope presents the 2nd Annual Spin For Veterans
Please join The Tower of Hope for a "Spin For Wounded Veterans" with our hosts, the beautiful New York Sports Clubs of Croton and Dobbs Ferry, to raise funds for Service Dogs for wounded Combat Veterans.
It costs approximately $25,000 to train and place a service dog. Please tell your friends about this exciting event! For complete details please click here.
ATTENTION ATTENTION
By order of Sonia Rymer, Department of NY President, the Mid-Winter Staff meeting of the Department of New York Marine Corps League Auxiliary scheduled for January 15, 2011 in Albany has been canceled.
OPERATION DIGNITY:
On January 8th 20 homeless veterans will be buried in a mass grave at
the U.S. National Cemetery, Calverton, L.I.
These veterans died, some in the street, some at hospitals. Their
remains are in various NYC morgues.
Missing Person Squad morgue Detectives printed and identified them,
but found no one to claim them. All have military records.
They were heading for Wards Island (Potter's Field) when the Campbell
funeral home ("SCI") stepped in. They received
permission to remove and inter the bodies at Calverton. Officials at
Calverton will provide a mass grave for all 20. Campbell has arranged
hearse transport for all.
The NYPD Police Commissioner has authorized a Hwy escort to the city
line and the NYPD Ceremonial Unit will render honors, with members from 2/25 USMC. NCPD & SCPD
will pick up the escorts at respective lines.
They are asking "ALL" veteran groups to participate so kindly pass the word
to other groups you deem appropriate. Car pools will be setup, weather could change plans so please watch local
reports.
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE MEMBERS:
UD= RED SATIN JACKETS, DRESS BLUE OR BLACK TROUSERS,BLACK SHOES, RED COVERS
(DRESS WARM) - BRING YOUR DETACHMENT COLORS...
OPERATION DIGNITY/CALVERTON COMMITTAL: ***AMENDED***
ALCON: QUEENS, NY TO CALVERTON CEMETERY, L.I. ESCORT DEPARTURE
POINT:
For those unfamiliar with the planned motorcade departure location,
destination U.S. National Cemetery, Calverton, NY (Suffolk County)
Saturday, 8 January, 0845
Designated staging area is Francis Lewis High School in the Fresh
Meadows section of Queens. Inquiry may show address as 58-20 Utopia
Parkway, but a more accurate address for GPS is the intersection of
Utopia Parkway & Booth Memorial Ave. -or 176-56 59th Ave. Fresh
Meadows, NY.
'Nam Knights Mcy. Club is the officially designated leaders/outriders/
escort.
Patriot Riders Mcy. Club is also a most welcome and appreciated group.
Please cooperate with police and escorts' direction. Police direction
supersedes all.
DIRECTIONS TO FRANCIS LEWIS H.S:
Broken down further- From eastern Long Island, leave the L.I. Expy.
(495) at exit 25: "UTOPIA PARKWAY- 164th ST.- ST. JOHN'S UNIV.".
Those traveling eastbound from connecting routes in Queens, enter,
then leave the L.I.E. (495 eastbound) at (right lane) exit 25, Utopia
Pkwy. 188th St.
Stay left (apx. 200'). Left again at signal light onto Utopia Pky.
Now proceed one or two blocks, then left again onto either 59th Ave.
or Booth Memorial Ave., legal parking should be available on either
street.
Francis Lewis H.S. is a 3 story building. The school & grounds take up
an entire city block.
Landmark: A Mobil gas stn. is situated on N/E cr. of Long Island
Expy. (495) westbound service rd. & Utopia Pky. The school is
situated one block north at N/W corner of Utopia Pky. & 59th Ave.
There is more than ample legal parking. Depending on motorcade
vehicle volume we may be requested to double or triple up in vehicles
to keep our "line of march" manageable. No doubt other groups along
the Long Island Expwy. will "piggy back our existing formation as it
passes respective Expwy. entrance ramps.
Please note further- Saturday, 8 January, staging at 0800, departure
at 0845.
Also- Be mindful of the responsibility of NYPD, NCPD & SCPD to
maintain an orderly line of travel.
WASHINGTON UPDATE:
We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a safe Happy New Year. As a surprise present we are sending you an early Update. You can rest assured that while you are making your final plans and travels for the holiday, Congress is still legislating like crazy. Today the NDAA was finally passed; yesterday a CR that lasts until March 4 was signed into law (please see below.) Last Friday President Obama signed the Bush era/unemployment tax bill.
Then over the weekend Congress passed the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law allowing gays and lesbians to serve opening in the U.S. Military and President Obama signed it today. Over the weekend the immigration “Dream Act.” died in the Senate 55-41, 5 votes short of the 60 needed for cloture. Now the Senate has taken up the START treaty once again. And more just keeps coming.
While all that was happening on the Hill, the National Census Bureau made public its first findings for the 2010 census. We are now a nation of 308,745,538 people. Texas will gain 4 new seats in the House of Representatives. Florida will get 2 new seats while Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington will each get one more seat.
This means that New York and Ohio will each lose 2 seats while Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will all lose one seat. This will have serious political repercussions in the future-though exactly what we really don’t know. Again, have a wonderful holiday. We will not be sending out an Update next week. Our next Update will be January 7, 2011!
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1) NDAA Passes Today-Today the Senate finally passed this year’s (FY11) Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), after amending the version the House had passed on Friday. The Senate removed a House provision that would have provided $100 million to pay for citizens of Guam who suffered under Japanese Occupation during World War II and sent it back to the House of Representatives where it passed by unanimous consent. It is now going to be sent to the President for his signature.
The NDAA is now a much slimmed down, really sparse bill. On Friday the House passed the bill (HR6523) by a vote of 341-48. It was passed after the “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” repeal and the overseas abortion provisions were removed and a restriction barring any Guantanamo Bay detainee from being transferred to the U.S. or any country where a detainee had previously been transferred and subsequently returned to the battlefield was added.
Unhappily we have just been told by Senate staff that the provision to grant some Chapter 61 Medical Retirees qualification for CRDP did not survive the months of wrangling.
The NDAA controls how DoD’s $725 billion is spent. The present bill authorizes a 1.4 percent across-the-board pay raise for the armed forces and about $19.4 billion worth of military construction projects.
Outgoing Chairman of the House Armed Services Representative Ike Skelton (D-MO) has been pushing for months to get a final NDAA passed. On Friday he said: “This is our duty. This bill is a must-pass piece of legislation. Don’t let anybody tell you different.”
Today after the final vote he said: “For 48 consecutive years, the Congress has carried out its duty to the men and women of the military by passing a defense authorization act. I am very proud that Congress continued the tradition by approving this defense authorization bill, which will help protect America and take care of our men and women in uniform and their families.”
The negotiations have gone on for months and have caused some hard feelings. The Incoming HASC Chairman Rep “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) was not included in the negotiations. But he agreed that it was crucial that the government not fail to pass an NDAA for the first time in 48 years
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2) Continuing Resolution (CR) Will Fund Government Until March 4-On Tuesday Congress passed a CR (HR3082) that will keep the federal government running until March 4. This occurred after the Democrats failed in their attempts to pass either a fiscal year long CR or an Appropriations Omnibus Bill. The present CR will fund most programs at 2010 levels, but a few programs will receive increases, including the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to avoid layoffs of recently hired claims adjusters.
Republicans wanted the shorter time so they can start dealing with this year’s budget once they return in the 112th Congress with a House majority. The CR does not include increased funding of $1 billion for Medicare and Medicaid operations that the Administration wanted to start the implementation of the civilian healthcare overhaul.
The second year of our declared Independence found General George Washington’s Continental Army encamped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. In the week before Christmas of 1777, more than 12,000 poorly-clothed, hungry, and near-frozen American Soldiers were huddled against a brutal winter, enduring the numbing cold as disease ravaged their ranks. As many as 2,000 of them did not survive Valley Forge.
General Washington wrote that, "unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place. . . this Army must inevitably. . . starve, dissolve, or disperse, in order to obtain subsistence in the best manner they can."
Despite these bleak conditions, the fighting men of the Continental Army lifted their own spirits, located much needed supplies, and took to training with determined vigor. They honed their basic fighting skills, learned new tactics, preserved their dwindling strength, and disciplined themselves for the difficult campaign that would follow. It was an act of sublime courage and determination. Six months later, the Continental Army marched out of Valley Forge fit and ready, stronger and more cohesive as a fighting force, and went on to seize American Independence.
From that winter, American patriots in an unbroken line have found themselves on duty during the holiday season each year. Our freedom and security as a Nation has required it. So as Americans and their families gather to celebrate these holidays, let us remember the men and women, who sacrifice so much for our privileges, comforts, and well-being. They are away from their own families, standing watch for us on freedom’s distant frontiers. We salute their valor, past and present, and we pray for them and our Veterans, who have so selflessly given us the gifts we enjoy this holiday season, as we have every season since 1775.
I offer my warmest best wishes for a blessed and joyous Holiday to all our serving military, our Veterans, all of their families, the Survivors of the Fallen, and the members of our Veterans Affairs family, who are privileged to serve them. May God bless each and every one of you, and may God continue to bless this wonderful country of ours. Merry Christmas.
Responding to the rule the VA announced that they will stop issuing paper checks on that date and urged all beneficiaries to sign up for direct deposit. If beneficiaries do not have electronic payments for their federal benefits by that date they will receive their funds by a pre-paid debit card called a “Direct Express Card.”
The VA also announced that after May 1, 2011 anyone receiving either VA compensation or pensions, for the first time will receive it electronically.
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said: “Receiving VA benefits electronically will increase the security, convenience and reliability of these vital payments. VA encourages Veterans who are now receiving their benefits in paper checks to set up direct deposits before the deadline.”
Electronic payments are also a large money saver for the federal government. To learn more about direct deposit you can call 1-800-333-1795
5) Obama/GOP Tax Deal Signed Into Law-As most of you well know the negotiated tax deal (HR4853) is now law. It extends the Bush era tax cuts for all income tax brackets for the next two years and a 13 month extension of unemployment benefits for those long term unemployed who have reached 99 weeks of benefits. It also re-instated the estate tax at 35% for all estates over $5 million and gave workers a 2% year-long holiday for the payroll tax (Social Security.) The Senate passed the bill 81-19 on December 15 and the House passed it on December 17 with a vote of 277-148
6) Veterans Are Major U.S. Business Owners-Over 2.4 million firms in the United States are Veteran Owned firms. That is 9% of all the firms in the country. Approximately half a million firms employ 5.9 million people and have a combined annual payroll of $213,974,430,000 While 1.9 million businesses do not have additional paid employees (sole owners or with non paid family members). There are additionally over 1.2 million Veteran/Non Veteran Equal Ownership Businesses.
These are usually Small Businesses (defined as having less than 500 employees) which are owned by a husband and wife. So according to this just completed analysis of 2007 surveys, 13.5% of all businesses in the U.S. are owned or are significantly controlled by veterans. TREA’s Washington Office’s Executive Director Deirdre Parke Holleman heard this and much more useful information from representatives of the Census Bureau at last week’s SBA’s Veterans Business Data Roundtable. During these tough economic times TREA is focusing more and more on retirees/veterans businesses and employment opportunities.
DOD Identifies New York City Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Nicholas J. Aleman, 24, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Dec. 5 while supporting combat operations in Paktia province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the Deployment Processing Command-East, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the Marine Forces Reserve public affairs office at 504-678-4002.
Soldier Missing in Action from World War I Identified
MR. MAYOR,
JPAC ID'S A MISSING SERVICEMEMBER FROM WW 1...HOW ABOUT THAT!...THEY NEVER GAVE UP LIKE YOU DID...SOME DAY THIS WILL ALL COME BACK AND BITE YOU IN THE REAR FOR NOT LEADING THE MISSION TO RECOVER THE REMAINS OF THE MISSING FROM 9/11...
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War I, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Private Henry A. Weikel, 28, of Mt. Carmel, Pa., will be buried on Dec. 9 in Annville, Pa. On Sept. 16, 1918, as part of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, his unit encountered heavy enemy artillery barrage and machine gun fire near Jaulny, France, in a wooded area known as Bois de Bonvaux.
Weikel was killed during the battle and his remains were buried with two other soldiers in a wooded area between Bois de Bonvaux and Bois de Grand Fontaine. Attempts to locate his remains by U.S. Army Graves Registration personnel following the war were unsuccessful.
In September 2006, French nationals hunting for metal in the area found human remains and World War I artifacts. A Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team, operating near the location, was notified of the discovery and recovered human remains upon excavating the site.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the JPAC laboratory also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.
WASHINGTON UPDATE:
Congress is working at a quick, but confusing, pace to finish the lame duck session. And what the next session of Congress is going to look like is getting somewhat in focus (please see below).
Along with the tax cuts, unemployment insurance, the Doc Fix, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the START Treaty Fights, Washington has seen the lighting of both the White House and the Congressional Christmas Trees this week. And for the first time in 21 years and only the 8th time in history the Senate has impeached and removed a sitting Federal Judge:
1) How the 112th Session of Congress is Shaping Up
2) Year Long Medicare “Doc Fix” Passes Senate; Pending in House
3) Both Year Long CR and Omnibus Bill Pending
4) 69th Commemoration of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
5) Retroactive Stop/Loss Special Pay Deadline Extended Again
6) Proposed $250 One-Time Social Security and Veterans Payment Fails in Both the House and Senate
7) Senate Designates December 18 “Gold Star Wives Day”
8) Department of Defense is Requesting Nominees for “2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award”
1) How the 112th Session of Congress is Shaping Up-The Republicans made public on Wednesday on who their Committee Chairmen are going to be. Representative Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) will chair the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) while Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL) will be the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Both men have been long time members of their Committees.
The VA Committee is going to be very different next year. Presently the Committee is made up of 17 Democrats and 12 Republicans. Next year that proportion will switch. Additionally, of the 17 present Democratic members 1 retired and 12 lost their re-election bids so there will be a dramatic change in membership. These are the 2 Committees that we deal with most often.
Many of the other Committees also handle matters of great concern to military retirees, their families and survivors. The other new House Committee Chairs are:
Appropriation Committee – Rep. Hal Rogers (Kentucky)
Budget Committee- Rep. Paul Ryan (Wisconsin)
Education and Labor Committee- Rep. John Kline (Minnesota)
Energy and Commerce Committee- Rep. Fred Upton (Michigan)
Financial Services Committee-Rep. Spencer Bachus (Alabama)
Foreign Affairs- Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Florida)
Homeland Security Committee-Rep. Peter King (New York)
Natural Resources Committee-Rep. Doc Hastings (California)
Oversight and Government Reform Committee-Rep. Darrell Issa (California)
Transportation Committee-Rep. John Mica (Florida)
Ways and Means Committee- Rep. Dave Camp (Michigan)
We are still waiting for the selection of Subcommittee Chairs.
2) Year Long Medicare “Doc Fix” Passes Senate; Pending in House-This week the Senate passed by unanimous consent a bill that would pay for a 1 year extension of the present Medicare physician rates and sent it on to the House of Representatives for action. The bill as amended HR4994, contains an agreement reached by Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Services Committee Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) to pay for the bill by recouping more money from people who receive “excessive insurance subsidies from the new overhaul law.”
We are fast approaching (for the 5th time this year) a 25% cut in rates paid by doctors that see Medicare patients (Again, TRICARE follows the rates paid by Medicare so such a cut would eventually effect every TRICARE beneficiary.)
The extension would also extend other Medicare programs including a cap on therapy services, hospital geographic reclassifications, and the Transitional Medical Assistance program that allows low-income families to maintain Medicaid coverage as they start jobs and show increased earnings.
The reclassification program protects rural doctors and hospitals. The Congressional Budget Office late on December 7 scored the bill as full paid for with an estimate of $14.9 billion of 10 years for the “Doc Fix” and $4.6 billion over 10 years for the extension of the other Medicare programs.
It is expected to go quickly though the House but it is very difficult to predict what is going to happen in the remainder of this Lame Duck session.
3) Both Year Long CR and Omnibus Bill Pending-As of the writing of this Update Washington is waiting to see if Congress passes either an enormous fiscal year long Continuing Resolution or a possible Omnibus Bill. Either way something must be done quickly since the present CR expires on December 18.
The CR (HR3082) squeaked through the House of Representatives on Wednesday with a vote of 212-206. On the other side of the Hill the Democratic Senate Appropriators are trying to create a $1.108 trillion Omnibus fiscal bill that would include the 11 Appropriation bills-not a single one of those bills have been passed. The yearlong CR includes a similar $1.09 trillion.
A third plan called for by many Republican members would be a short CR that would allow them to take up the FY2011 budget in January. Clearly the Democrats want to determine spending for the end of the fiscal year that started on October 1 of this year.
4) 69th Commemoration of the Attack on Pearl Harbor-On Tuesday, 110 survivors of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, “A Day That Will Live In Infamy” met in Hawaii and attended the official dedication of the new $58 million Pearl Harbor Visitors Center at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. (This new museum replaces the former USS Arizona Memorial Visitors Center.)
The speakers included Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Jonathan B. Jarvis the Director of the National Park Service.
5) Retroactive Stop/Loss Special Pay Deadline Extended Again-DOD has announced another short extension of the time that eligible service members can apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP). Service members can now apply for this benefit until December 18 when the present Continuing Resolution (CR) that is funding the federal government expires.
When RSLSP was first established in October 2009 it was estimated that 145,000 service members, veterans or their beneficiaries would be qualified for the $500 per month or part of a month compensation for those whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009. Go to HTTP://www.defense.gov/ for more information. Please remember at this time there is just ONE MORE WEEK to apply.
6) Proposed $250 One-Time Social Security and Veterans Payment Fails in Both the House and Senate-On Wednesday the Democrats in both the House and Senate failed to pass bills that would grant a onetime $250 payment to Social Security recipients and other federal beneficiaries (including veterans.)
For the second straight year the automatic method of calculating inflation was too low to provide a Cost-of-Living increase for Social Security and other federal beneficiaries. The Democratic Congressional leadership then proposed a onetime $250 payment to be paid directly from the U.S. Treasury.
The Democrats said we have a faulty calculator and that many of the costs for seniors are rising. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT) said: “We have a very flawed methodology in terms of how we determine COLAs for Social Security. While [the price of] laptop computers and iPads and other communications technology may, in fact, have gone down, lowering the cost of inflation, the needs of seniors, and what they spend money on, have not gone down.”
Opponents said that it would increase the National deficit and is not necessary. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) was opposed to the bill and said:”While many seniors are hurting, so too are American working families. Doing an end run around the current bipartisan COLA formula without even one hearing to examine whether it’s working or the many options for change our colleagues have offered is wrong.”
On Wednesday the House leadership brought it up, under suspension of the rules which requires a 2/3 vote. It failed 254-153. Then later in the evening the Senate vote to end debate was 53-45; failing to reach the required 60 votes.
7) Senate Designates December 18 Gold Star Wives Day-This week the Senate passed a resolution designating December 18 as a day to honor and recognize the contributions of the members of the Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.
The VSO, founded in World War II with approximately 10,000 members, provides service, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of military personnel who died on active duty or as the result of a service-connected cause.
GSW’s is a member of both The Military Coalition (TMC) and the National Military Veterans Alliance (NMVA). TREA works closely with them on a wide range of issues focused on military survivors. We wish to congratulate them on this well deserved recognition.
An inspiring story about two Marines:
On November 13, 2010 Lt General John Kelly, USMC, gave a speech to the Semper Fi Society of St. Louis, MO. This was 4 days after his son, Lt Robert Kelly, USMC was killed by an IED while on his 3rd Combat tour. During his speech, General Kelly spoke about the dedication and valor of the young men and women who step forward each and every day to protect us.
During the speech, he never mentioned the loss of his own son. He closed the speech with the moving account of the last 6 seconds in the lives of 2 young Marines who died with rifles blazing to protect their brother Marines.
"I will leave you with a story about the kind of people they are about the quality of the steel in their backs about the kind of dedication they bring to our country while they serve in uniform and forever after as veterans.
Two years ago when I was the Commander of all U.S. and Iraqi forces, in fact, the 22nd of April 2008, two Marine infantry battalions, 1/9 "The Walking Dead," and 2/8 were switching out in Ramadi. One battalion in the closing days of their deployment going home very soon, the other just starting its seven-month combat tour.
Two Marines, Corporal Jonathan Yale and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, 22 and 20 years old respectively, one from each battalion, were assuming the watch together at the entrance gate of an outpost that contained a makeshift barracks housing 50 Marines.
The same broken down ramshackle building was also home to 100 Iraqi police, also my men and our allies in the fight against the terrorists in Ramadi, a city until recently the most dangerous city on earth and owned by Al Qaeda.
Yale was a dirt poor mixed-race kid from Virginia with a wife and daughter, and a mother and sister who lived with him and he supported as well. He did this on a yearly salary of less than $23,000. Haerter, on the other hand, was a middle class white kid from Long Island. They were from two completely different worlds.
Had they not joined the Marines they would never have met each other, or understood that multiple America's exist simultaneously depending on one's race, education level, economic status, and where you might have been born. But they were Marines, combat Marines, forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same woman.
The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader I am sure went something like: "Okay you two clowns, stand this post and let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass." "You clear?" I am also sure Yale and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison something like:
"Yes Sergeant," with just enough attitude that made the point without saying the words, "No kidding sweetheart, we know what we're doing." They then relieved two other Marines on watch and took up their post at the entry control point of Joint Security Station Nasser, in the Sophia section of Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq.
A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alley way-perhaps 60-70 yards in length-and sped its way through the serpentine of concrete jersey walls. The truck stopped just short of where the two were posted and detonated, killing them both catastrophically. Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed.
A mosque 100 yards away collapsed. The truck's engine came to rest two hundred yards away knocking most of a house down before it stopped. Our explosive experts reckoned the blast was made of 2,000 pounds of explosives. Two died, and because these two young infantrymen didn't have it in their DNA to run from danger, they saved 150 of their Iraqi and American brothers-in-arms.
When I read the situation report about the incident a few hours after it happened I called the regimental commander for details as something about this struck me as different. Marines dying or being seriously wounded is commonplace in combat. We expect Marines regardless of rank or MOS to stand their ground and do their duty, and even die in the process, if that is what the mission takes. But this just seemed different.
The regimental commander had just returned from the site and he agreed, but reported that there were no American witnesses to the event-just Iraqi police. I figured if there was any chance of finding out what actually happened and then to decorate the two Marines to acknowledge their bravery, I'd have to do it as a combat award that requires two eye-witnesses and we figured the bureaucrats back in Washington would never buy Iraqi statements. If it had any chance at all, it had to come under the signature of a general officer.
I traveled to Ramadi the next day and spoke individually to a half-dozen Iraqi police all of whom told the same story. The blue truck turned down into the alley and immediately sped up as it made its way through the serpentine. They all said, "We knew immediately what was going on as soon as the two Marines began firing." The Iraqi police then related that some of them also fired, and then to a man, ran for safety just prior to the explosion.
All survived. Many were injured, some seriously. One of the Iraqis elaborated and with tears welling up said, "They'd run like any normal man would to save his life." "What he didn't know until then," he said, "and what he learned that very instant, was that Marines are not normal." Choking past the emotion he said, "Sir, in the name of God no sane man would have stood there and done what they did." "No sane man."
"They saved us all."
What we didn't know at the time, and only learned a couple of days later after I wrote a summary and submitted both Yale and Haerter for posthumous Navy Crosses, was that one of our security cameras, damaged initially in the blast, recorded some of the suicide attack. It happened exactly as the Iraqis had described it. It took exactly six seconds from when the truck entered the alley until it detonated. You can watch the last six seconds of their young lives.
Putting myself in their heads I supposed it took about a second for the two Marines to separately come to the same conclusion about what was going on once the truck came into their view at the far end of the alley. Exactly no time to talk it over, or call the sergeant to ask what they should do.
Only enough time to take half an instant and think about what the sergeant told them to do only a few minutes before: "Let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass." The two Marines had about five seconds left to live
.
It took maybe another two seconds for them to present their weapons, take aim, and open up. By this time the truck was half-way through the barriers and gaining speed the whole time. Here, the recording shows a number of Iraqi police, some of whom had fired their AKs, now scattering like the normal and rational men they were-some running right past the Marines.
They had three seconds left to live.
For about two seconds more, the recording shows the Marines' weapons firing non-stop, the truck's windshield exploding into shards of glass as their rounds take it apart and tore in to the body of the SOB who is trying to get past them to kill their brothers-American and Iraqi-bedded down in the barracks totally unaware of the fact that their lives at that moment depended entirely on two Marines standing their ground. If they had been aware, they would have known they were safe because two Marines stood between them and a crazed suicide bomber.
The recording shows the truck careening to a stop immediately in front of the two Marines. In all of the instantaneous violence Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all reports and by the recording, they never stepped back. They never even started to step aside. They never even shifted their weight. With their feet spread shoulder width apart, they leaned into the danger, firing as fast as they could work their weapons. They had only one second left to live.
The truck explodes. The camera goes blank. Two young men go to their God.
Six seconds. Not enough time to think about their families, their country, their flag, or about their lives or their deaths, but more than enough time for two very brave young men to do their duty into eternity. That is the kind of people who are on watch all over the world tonight-for you.
We Marines believe that God gave America the greatest gift he could bestow to man while he lived on this earth-freedom. We also believe he gave us another gift nearly as precious-our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines-to safeguard that gift and guarantee no force on this earth can every steal it away.
It has been my distinct honor to have been with you here today. Rest assured our America, this experiment in democracy started over two centuries ago, will forever remain the "land of the free and home of the brave" so long as we never run out of tough young Americans who are willing to look beyond their own self-interest and comfortable lives, and go into the darkest and most dangerous places on earth to hunt down, and kill, those who would do us harm.
God Bless America, and... SEMPER FIDELIS!"
Marines Return to Amphibious Roots
After nearly a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marine Corps has been inappropriately branded as a second land army. In response to this misconception, the Corps returned to its amphibious roots Dec. 11 with exercise Bold Alligator 2011, an operation with the Navy's U.S. 2nd Fleet, which re-establishes Marines in their traditional role as "fighters from the sea."
Initiated by Navy and Marine Corps leadership, Bold Alligator 2011 is a two-part exercise leadership designed to reacquaint brigade- and group-level commands with their amphibious doctrine, tactical skill sets and logistical requirements.
"Though we have focused [at this level] almost exclusively on land warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan for the last decade, amphibious operations continue to be the mainstay of our Corps' mission," explained Marine Corps Col. Scott D. Aiken, operations officer for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
"We have been working toward this for more than two years now, and it's one of the first of many steps in the direction to revitalize our core competency."
During these two years, planners from the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Staff Training Program in Quantico, Va., have been busy engineering scenario-based environments to test the Navy/Marine Corps team on their amphibious competence and the dozens of different missions that fall under amphibious operations.
"Amphibious operations are much more than just assaults," said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Bowen Richwine, lead action officer for the expeditionary force's part in the exercise.
In fact, since 1990, the Navy/Marine Corps team has conducted more than 110 amphibious operations throughout the world, including noncombatant evacuations, disaster relief or similar crisis-response operations conducted in austere and uncertain environments.
"While assault is one reason for maintaining amphibious capabilities, the utility in conducting raids, demonstrations and amphibious support to noncombatant operations is immense," Richwine explained. "Amphibious forces also have enormous deterrent value against potential adversaries."
Bold Alligator 2011 is the first installment in what will be regularly scheduled large-scale amphibious exercises involving the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group 2.
Marines and sailors are conducting the exercise from two Navy landing helicopter assault amphibious ships, the USS Iwo Jima and USS Bataan, and multiple simulation centers that will provide in-depth analysis of landing timetables, weather conditions and fires effects. The next scheduled event for the training cycle is a live exercise scheduled for February.
The scenario for the exercise includes the conduct of a forcible entry operation to enable a noncombatant evacuation in the midst of a violent sectarian conflict. This complex, but realistic, mission requires the ability to respond rapidly, project a credible security force ashore, and organize the evacuation of thousands of noncombatants.
In many cases, these capabilities can be provided only by amphibious forces. Bold Alligator 2011 is designed not only to retain proficiency in amphibious operations for the Navy/Marine team, but also to update concepts, procedures and techniques, and to incorporate the new enablers developed since the units last focused on amphibious operations at the this level in 2001, officials said.
"We need to continuously refine our thinking and our training with amphibious capability," Richwine said. "We have the opportunity to develop new skill sets across the entire range of military operations - from humanitarian assistance to contested beach assaults, and everything in between."
Heroes of the Vietnam Generation
By James Webb
This is a terrific article which should be of special interest to all who served in Viet Nam . Former Secretary of the Navy, now Senator from Virginia, James Webb writes an outstanding article about the facts surrounding the Vietnam war. He articulates how the media elite have chosen to ignore (and slight) the role of real American patriots during the Vietnam years.
The rapidly disappearing cohort of Americans that endured the Great Depression and then fought World War II is receiving quite a send-off from the leading lights of the so-called 60's generation. Tom Brokaw has published two oral histories of "The Greatest Generation" that feature ordinary people doing their duty and suggest that such conduct was historically unique.
Chris Matthews of "Hardball" is fond of writing columns praising the Navy service of his father while castigating his own baby boomer generation for its alleged softness and lack of struggle. William Bennett gave a startling condescending speech at the Naval Academy a few years ago comparing the heroism of the "D-Day Generation" to the drugs-and-sex nihilism of the "Woodstock Generation." And Steven Spielberg, in promoting his film "Saving Private Ryan," was careful to justify his portrayals of soldiers in action based on the supposedly unique nature of World War II.
An irony is at work here. Lest we forget, the World War II generation now being lionized also brought us the Vietnam War, a conflict which today's most conspicuous voices by and large opposed, and in which few of them served. The "best and brightest" of the Vietnam age group once made headlines by castigating their parents for bringing about the war in which they would not fight, which has become the war they refuse to remember.
Pundits back then invented a term for this animus: the "generation gap." Long, plaintive articles and even books were written examining its manifestations. Campus leaders, who claimed precocious wisdom through the magical process of reading a few controversial books, urged fellow baby boomers not to trust anyone over 30. Their elders who had survived the Depression and fought the largest war in history were looked down upon as shallow, materialistic, and out of touch.
Those of us who grew up, on the other side of the picket line from that era's counter-culture can't help but feel a little leery of this sudden gush of appreciation for our elders from the leading lights of the old counter-culture. Then and now, the national conversation has proceeded from the dubious assumption that those who came of age during Vietnam are a unified generation in the same sense as their parents were, and thus are capable of being spoken for through these fickle elites.
In truth, the " Vietnam generation" is a misnomer. Those who came of age during that war are permanently divided by different reactions to a whole range of counter-cultural agendas, and nothing divides them more deeply than the personal ramifications of the war itself. The sizable portion of the Vietnam age group who declined to support the counter-cultural agenda, and especially the men and women who opted to serve in the military during the Vietnam War, are quite different from their peers who for decades have claimed to speak for them.
In fact, they are much like the World War II generation itself. For them, Woodstock was a side show, college protestors were spoiled brats who would have benefited from having to work a few jobs in order to pay their tuition, and Vietnam represented not an intellectual exercise in draft avoidance, or protest marches but a battlefield that was just as brutal as those their fathers faced in World War II and Korea.
Few who served during Vietnam ever complained of a generation gap. The men who fought World War II were their heroes and role models. They honored their father's service by emulating it, and largely agreed with their father's wisdom in attempting to stop Communism's reach in Southeast Asia .
The most accurate poll of their attitudes (Harris, 1980) showed that 91 percent were glad they'd served their country, 74 percent enjoyed their time in the service, and 89 percent agreed with the statement that "our troops were asked to fight in a war which our political leaders in Washington would not let them win." And most importantly, the castigation they received upon returning home was not from the World War II generation, but from the very elites in their age group who supposedly spoke for them.
Nine million men served in the military during Vietnam War, three million of whom went to the Vietnam Theater. Contrary to popular mythology, two-thirds of these were volunteers, and 73 percent of those who died were volunteers. While some attention has been paid recently to the plight of our prisoners of war, most of whom were pilots; there has been little recognition of how brutal the war was for those who fought it on the ground.
Dropped onto the enemy's terrain 12,000 miles away from home, America 's citizen-soldiers performed with a tenacity and quality that may never be truly understood. Those who believe the war was fought incompletely on a tactical level should consider Hanoi's recent admission that 1.4 million of its soldiers died on the battlefield, compared to 58,000 total U.S. dead.
*** Those who believe that it was a "dirty little war" where the bombs did all the work might contemplate that is was the most costly war the U.S. Marine Corps has ever fought - five times as many dead as World War I, three times as many dead as in Korea, and more total killed and wounded than in all of World War II. ***
Significantly, these sacrifices were being made at a time the United States was deeply divided over our effort in Vietnam . The baby-boom generation had cracked apart along class lines as America 's young men were making difficult, life-or-death choices about serving. The better academic institutions became focal points for vitriolic protest against the war, with few of their graduates going into the military.
Harvard College , which had lost 691 alumni in World War II, lost a total of 12 men in Vietnam from the classes of 1962 through 1972 combined. Those classes at Princeton lost six, at MIT two. The media turned ever more hostile. And frequently the reward for a young man's having gone through the trauma of combat was to be greeted by his peers with studied indifference of outright hostility.
What is a hero? My heroes are the young men who faced the issues of war and possible death, and then weighed those concerns against obligations to their country. Citizen-soldiers who interrupted their personal and professional lives at their most formative stage, in the timeless phrase of the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery , "not for fame of reward, not for place or for rank, but in simple obedience to duty, as they understood it." Who suffered loneliness, disease, and wounds with an often-contagious elan. And who deserve a far better place in history than that now offered them by the so-called spokesman of our so-called generation.
Mr. Brokaw, Mr. Matthews, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Spielberg, meet my Marines. 1969 was an odd year to be in Vietnam . Second only to 1968 in terms of American casualties, it was the year made famous by Hamburger Hill, as well as the gut-wrenching Life cover story showing pictures of 242 Americans who had been killed in one average week of fighting. Back home, it was the year of Woodstock , and of numerous anti-war rallies that culminated in the Moratorium March on Washington . The My Lai massacre hit the papers and was seized upon by the anti-war movement as the emblematic moment of the war. Lyndon Johnson left Washington in utter humiliation.
Richard Nixon entered the scene, destined for an even worse fate. In the An Hoa Basin southwest of Danang, the Fifth Marine Regiment was in its third year of continuous combat operations. Combat is an unpredictable and inexact environment, but we were well led.
As a rifle platoon and company commander, I served under a succession of three regimental commanders who had cut their teeth in World War II, and four different battalion commanders, three of whom had seen combat in Korea.
The company commanders were typically captains on their second combat tour in Vietnam , or young first lieutenants like myself who were given companies after many months of "bush time" as platoon commanders in the Basin's tough and unforgiving environs.
The Basin was one of the most heavily contested areas in Vietnam , its torn, cratered earth offering every sort of wartime possibility. In the mountains just to the west, not far from the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the North Vietnamese Army operated an infantry division from an area called Base Area 112. In the valleys of the Basin, main-force Viet Cong battalions whose ranks were 80 percent North Vietnamese Army regulars moved against the Americans every day. Local Viet Cong units sniped and harassed.
Ridgelines and paddy dikes were laced with sophisticated booby traps of every size, from a hand grenade to a 250-pound bomb. The villages sat in the rice paddies and tree lines like individual fortresses, crisscrossed with the trenches and spider holes, their homes sporting bunkers capable of surviving direct hits from large-caliber artillery shells.
The Viet Cong infrastructure was intricate and permeating. Except for the old and the very young, villagers who did not side with the Communists had either been killed or driven out to the government controlled enclaves near Danang.
In the rifle companies, we spent the endless months patrolling ridgelines and villages and mountains, far away from any notion of tents, barbed wire, hot food, or electricity. Luxuries were limited to what would fit inside one's pack, which after a few "humps" usually boiled down to letter -writing material, towel, soap, toothbrush, poncho liner, and a small transistor radio.
We moved through the boiling heat with 60 pounds of weapons and gear, causing a typical Marine to drop 20 percent of his body weight while in the bush. When we stopped we dug chest-deep fighting holes and slit trenches for toilets. We slept on the ground under makeshift poncho hootches, and when it rained we usually took our hootches down because wet ponchos shined under illumination flares, making great targets.
Sleep itself was fitful, never more than an hour or two at a stretch for months at a time as we mixed daytime patrolling with night-time ambushes, listening posts, foxhole duty, and radio watches. Ringworm, hookworm, malaria, and dysentery were common, as was trench foot when the monsoons came.
Respite was rotating back to the mud-filled regimental combat base at An Hoa for four or five days, where rocket and mortar attacks were frequent and our troops manned defensive bunkers at night. Which makes it kind of hard to get excited about tales of Woodstock , or camping at the Vineyard during summer break.
We had been told while training that Marine officers in the rifle companies had an 85 percent probability of being killed or wounded, and the experience of "Dying Delta," as our company was known, bore that out. Of the officers in the bush when I arrived, our company commander was wounded, the weapons platoon commander wounded, the first platoon commander was killed, the second platoon commander was wounded twice, and I, commanding the third platoons fared no better.
Two of my original three-squad leaders were killed, and the third shot in the stomach. My platoon sergeant was severely wounded, as was my right guide. By the time I left, my platoon I had gone through six radio operators, five of them casualties.
These figures were hardly unique; in fact, they were typical. Many other units; for instance, those who fought the hill battles around Khe Sanh, or were with the famed Walking Dead of the Ninth Marine Regiment, or were in the battle of Hue City or at Dai Do, had it far worse.
When I remember those days and the very young men who spent them with me, I am continually amazed, for these were mostly recent civilians barely out of high school, called up from the cities and the farms to do their year in hell and then return.
Visions haunt me every day, not of the nightmares of war but of the steady consistency with which my Marines faced their responsibilities, and of how uncomplaining most of them were in the face of constant danger. The salty, battle-hardened 20-year-olds teaching green 19-year-olds the intricate lessons of the hostile battlefield.
The unerring skill of the young squad leaders as we moved through unfamiliar villages and weed-choked trails in the black of night. The quick certainty when a fellow Marine was wounded and needed help. Their willingness to risk their lives to save other Marines in peril. To this day it stuns me that their own countrymen have so completely missed the story of their service, lost in the bitter confusion of the war itself.
Like every military unit throughout history we had occasional laggards, cowards, and complainers. But in the aggregate, these Marines were the finest people I have ever been around. It has been my privilege to keep up with many of them over the years since we all came home.
One finds in them very little bitterness about the war in which they fought. The most common regret, almost to a man, is that they were not able to do more for each other and for the people they came to help.
It would be redundant to say that I would trust my life to these men. Because I already have, in more ways than I can ever recount. I am alive today because of their quiet, unaffected heroism. Such valor epitomizes the conduct of Americans at war from the first days of our existence.
That the boomer elites can canonize this sort of conduct in our fathers' generation while ignoring it in our own is more than simple oversight. It is a conscious, continuing travesty.
Former Secretary of the Navy James Webb was awarded the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star medals for heroism as a Marine in Vietnam.
WASHINGTON UPDATE:
As we march closer to Christmas matters are finally being agreed to in Congress. Late last night or early this morning the Tax Bill was passed by the House of Representatives and is now being sent on to the President for his signature. The $1.1+ trillion Omnibus spending sank and Congress is today working on a short term Continuing Resolution (CR). And it looks like we may very well get a NDAA after all. (Stripped down to be sure but still a National Defense Authorization Act.)
But that is for next week’s report:
1) Bill to Improve Post 9/11 GI Education Bill passes Congress-Yesterday the House of Representatives passed S3447 the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010.
This bill, originally sponsored by Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) had passed the Senate on Monday so is now going to the White House for President Obama’s signature.
It improves the present GI Bill by allowing it to be used for non-degree granting institutions. Now it will be able to be used for licensing and certification programs, apprenticeships, on the job training, flight training and other non-college programs.
The bill also provides a housing stipend for students enrolled in long distance learning and improves the program for qualified students from the National Guard and Reserves. (A separate section of the bill extends the time a caregiver for a wounded warrior has to use his or her education benefit.)
2) Wreaths Across America-A moment of silence was observed Saturday morning at 550 veterans’ cemeteries across the country during Wreaths Across America, an annual ceremony where wreaths are laid at veterans’ graves.
Wreaths Across America began as a informal gathering sponsored by a wreath company at Arlington National Cemetery to display a wreath at the tombstones of veterans.
All ceremonies observed a minute of silence in honor of fallen veterans in unison at 12 p.m. EST.
"All the people resting in the cemetery are among us participating in this ceremony," retired Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Gainey told the Killeen Herald. CSM Gainey (Ret.) who served with III Corps at Fort Hood, was a guest speaker at the event
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Soldiers and veterans laid wreaths in honor of all of the branches of the armed forces, including the Merchant Marines and Coast Guard, as well as a wreath for POW/MIA.
Over 20,000 wreaths were laid at Arlington National Cemetery.
3) Congress Assumes Greater Supervision Over Arlington National Cemetery’s Operations-Congress also passed a bill (S3860 original sponsor Senator Clair McCaskill-D-MO) that requires Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) to provide a report to Congress 1 year from the bill’s enactment on its management including gravesite discrepancies, the management of contracts and the implementation of recent Army directives.
This action was triggered by the recent scandals at Arlington and the hearings held by the Senate concerning the cemetery’s management. (TREA submitted testimony concerning the need for additional supervision.)
In supporting the bill VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) said on the House floor: “Arlington National Cemetery is our most hallowed ground, the final resting place of many of our heroes. Every year, nearly 4 million people visit the cemetery.
Because of the importance of Arlington to our national memory the American people expect Arlington to be run reverently and meticulously, but as we all know, this has not been the case. The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has worked closely with our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to get answers and find a way forward.
We will continue to work closely with our colleagues on Armed Services, with the Administration, and with our Senate colleagues in the months ahead to fix what is wrong at Arlington and to ensure that the operation of this national shrine honors the men and women who lie at rest there.”
4) U.S. Mint Rolls Out Designs For 2011 Army Commemorative Coins- Last Saturday the U.S. Mint rolled out their designs for next year’s Army Commemorative Coins at the 111th Army-Navy Game. Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey and AHF Executive Director BG Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., USA-Ret. unveiled the designs to over 60,000 people in between the third and fourth quarters in the Army's end zone.
There will be a $5 gold coin, a silver dollar and a clad half dollar. Prices will be announced on January 31, 2011 and will go on sale in February and be available through 2011. Surcharges collected from coin sales—$35 dollars for each gold coin, $10 for each silver coin, and $5 for each clad coin will go to the Army Historical Foundation to help finance the National Museum of the United States Army which will be built at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
THIS IS NEWS AND NOT AN OPINION OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE...NOR THE EDITOR OF THE EMPIRE MARINE MAGAZINE.
Yesterday, the Senate voted to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
When that bill reaches my desk, I will sign it, and this discriminatory law will be repealed.
Gay and lesbian service members -- brave Americans who enable our freedoms -- will no longer have to hide who they are.
The fight for civil rights, a struggle that continues, will no longer include this one.
This victory belongs to you. Without your commitment, the promise I made as a candidate would have remained just that.
Instead, you helped prove again that no one should underestimate this movement. Every phone call to a senator on the fence, every letter to the editor in a local paper, and every message in a congressional inbox makes it clear to those who would stand in the way of justice: We will not quit.
This victory also belongs to Senator Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and our many allies in Congress who refused to let politics get in the way of what was right.
Like you, they never gave up, and I want them to know how grateful we are for that commitment.
Will you join me in thanking them by adding your name to Organizing for America's letter?
I will make sure these messages are delivered -- you can also add a comment about what the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" means to you.
As Commander in Chief, I fought to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because it weakens our national security and military readiness. It violates the fundamental American principles of equality and fairness.
But this victory is also personal.
I will never know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of my sexual orientation.
But I know my story would not be possible without the sacrifice and struggle of those who came before me -- many I will never meet, and can never thank.
I know this repeal is a crucial step for civil rights, and that it strengthens our military and national security. I know it is the right thing to do.
But the rightness of our cause does not guarantee success, and today, celebration of this historic step forward is tempered by the defeat of another -- the DREAM Act. I am incredibly disappointed that a minority of senators refused to move forward on this important, commonsense reform that most Americans understand is the right thing for our country. On this issue, our work must continue.
Today, I'm proud that we took these fights on.
Please join me in thanking those in Congress who helped make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal possible:
http://my.barackobama.com/Repealed
Thank you...
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WELCOME HOME!
This is very moving, very emotional. Reminds me of how proud I am of all of you that will FOREVER, live in our hearts and minds. WE are ALL brothers that did our duty and served our country proudly, by "protecting & defending the Constitution!". Thank GOD we the living can honor our comrades and memorialize their sacrifice.
This is a video made by and for Michigan Vietnam Veterans, but I believe everyone that has served should appreciate this.
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| General Mattis | A couple of months ago, when I told General Krulak, the former Commandant of the Marine Corps, now the chair of the Naval Academy Board of Visitors, that we were having General Mattis speak this evening, he said, “Let me tell you a Jim Mattis story.” General Krulak said, when he was Commandant of the Marine Corps, every year, starting about a week before Christmas, he and his wife would bake hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of Christmas cookies. They would package them in small bundles. Then on Christmas day, he would load his vehicle. At about 4 a.m., General Krulak would drive himself to every Marine guard post in the Washington-Annapolis-Baltimore area and deliver a small package of Christmas cookies to whatever Marines were pulling guard duty that day. He said that one year, he had gone down to Quantico as one of his stops to deliver Christmas cookies to the Marines on guard duty. He went to the command center and gave a package to the lance corporal who was on duty. He asked, “Who’s the officer of the day?” The lance corporal said, “Sir, it’s Brigadier General Mattis.” And General Krulak said, “No, no, no. I know who General Mattis is. I mean, who’s the officer of the day today, Christmas day?” The lance corporal, feeling a little anxious, said, “Sir, it is Brigadier General Mattis.” General Krulak said that, about that time, he spotted in the back room a cot, or a daybed. He said, “No, Lance Corporal. Who slept in that bed last night?” The lance corporal said, “Sir, it was Brigadier General Mattis.” About that time, General Krulak said that General Mattis came in, in a duty uniform with a sword, and General Krulak said, “Jim, what are you doing here on Christmas day? Why do you have duty?” General Mattis told him that the young officer who was scheduled to have duty on Christmas day had a family, and General Mattis decided it was better for the young officer to spend Christmas Day with his family, and so he chose to have duty on Christmas Day. General Krulak said, “That’s the kind of officer that Jim Mattis is.” |
Pentagon Health Plan Won't Cover Brain-Damage Therapy for Troops
This comes as a follow-up to the alarming story, "Pentagon Health Plan Won't Cover Brain-Damage Therapy for Troops" - (NPR/Pro Publica) -- December 20, 2010. You can find the complete NPR "All Things Considered" coverage from this page, and I truly encourage you to please invest a few minutes and listen to the story:
"Pentagon Plan Won't Cover Brain-Damage Therapy"
T. Christian Miller and Daniel Zwerdling - (13 minutes)
Also below find links to illuminating documents for matters discussed here. Those who examine these documents may conclude, as have I, that how we resolve this matter (or not) is surely as important to current and future generations as was the original passage of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related federal civil rights laws and will set the future standard for how our Nation regards, values and treats our veterans, and all people with disabilities.
At the least, it will certainly impact the lives of many tens of thousands injured while serving in our military services, and their families and entire communities.
Please consider how *you* might take action on this, and please also share this information with others you know who are or should also be interested. Thank you.
How Our FOIA Request Was Blocked, and Why We're Still Pursuing It
A version of this story was co-published with NPR. For more coverage, listen to NPR's All Things Considered and check out Stars and Stripes.
In May 2009, the Pentagon asked a nonprofit company to study cognitive rehabilitation therapy, a painstaking and often expensive treatment program to help soldiers with brain injuries relearn tasks of daily living.
The $21,000 study, conducted by Pennsylvania-based ECRI Institute, found limited evidence that the therapy is effective. That tiny contract had a profound impact on tens of thousands of people who have suffered brain damage while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Tricare, the health plan for troops and many veterans, relied on its findings to deny coverage for the therapy.
Leading experts brain injuries sharply criticized Tricare's decision, arguing that cognitive rehabilitation was a well-proven technique whose efficacy had been established by numerous scientific studies. They noted that expert committees convened by the Pentagon and the National Institutes of Health had unanimously agreed on the value of cognitive rehabilitation as a treatment.
To examine the basis of Tricare's decision, ProPublica and NPR filed a Freedom of Information Act in March 2010 requesting a copy of the ECRI study and "all external and internal" reviews of its validity. We also asked for a copy of the contract between Tricare and the institute.
In response, officials at ECRI and Tricare have given us contradictory denials and explanations. For instance, seven months later, Tricare provided a copy of the study but said in a written letter that "no written internal review ... exists." Tricare acknowledged the existence of "external reviews" but said they would not provide them since "they were submitted voluntarily, were not contracted by" the Department of Defense "and the content is not owned by" the Department of Defense.
At the same time, a Tricare FOIA officer told ProPublica and NPR that a copy of the contract had been sent to ECRI for review. Private firms are allowed to review government contracts prior to public release to make sure that they do not contain confidential business information.
We are appealing that denial. Here's why.
ProPublica and NPR have learned that five brain rehabilitation experts conducted reviews of the Tricare study. Those reviews, according to people who have seen them, criticized the ECRI study.
Two of those reviews were called for in ECRI's contract with the Pentagon. According to ECRI officials, both were critical of the study's findings and methodology. ECRI said it stood by its report, and called the criticism part of normal scientific debate.
ECRI officials said they were willing to provide copies of those reviews to ProPublica and NPR, but that Tricare told the company that it could not do so because the reviews were owned by Tricare -- a direct contradiction of Tricare's statement to us.
"ECRI Institute declined requests to provide copies of the external reviews because, as required deliverables under ECRI Institute's contract with Tricare, they are the property of Tricare," wrote Vivian Coates, an ECRI vice president.
In addition, ECRI spokesman Laurie Menyo said that ECRI had never been asked to review a copy of the contract -- contradicting the Pentagon's statement that its release was being delayed while the company examined it.
"Our legal counsel has no record of being contacted by FOIA regarding any documentation," Menyo said in an e-mailed statement.
ProPublica and NPR has learned that Tricare asked for three additional peer reviews after it received the ECRI study. In an interview, Capt. Robert DeMartino, who directs Tricare's behavioral health department, acknowledged that these reviews were "of concern." He said Tricare planned to conduct further studies of cognitive rehabilitation.
Although Tricare did not release these reviews, ProPublica and NPR obtained copies of them. All three attacked the Tricare study in strong terms, calling it "deeply flawed," "unacceptable" and "dismaying."
One top scientist termed the ECRI study a "misuse" of science designed to deny treatment for service members. "Reviewing this report brings to mind the stance taken by the tobacco companies many years ago with regard to the relationship between cigarette smoking and various types of cancer," wrote Wayne Gordon, director of rehabilitation psychology and neuropsychology services at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York. "They chose to turn their back on the existing evidence."
A Pentagon spokeswoman declined comment on Tricare's decision not to release the reviews, or their apparent failure to send a copy of the contract for review, citing the pending appeal.
"It is inappropriate for us to make any comments concerning the appeal or the processing of the initial FOIA request by Tricare," wrote Cynthia Smith, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
ProPublica and NPR will post the results of the decision when they are available.
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