Veterans & Military Families Monthly News

November 2010 Vol. 1 No. 8

Good afternoon In This Issue
and thank you for reading. Various World War II posters from John Nagle, USAAF
Welcome to this month‘s Military Holiday Mailing
edition of the newsletter. I Veterans Benefits Assistance and SB 250
would like to thank every- And More...
one for helping us grow
this idea.
Remember the two MRP Veterans Day Tribute
online sources on which MRP TV Release :
you can read and comment A Tribute to Veterans to watch click here
about the current and older
editions of the newsletter.
It will be posted on Face-
book through the group
called “Veterans and Military Families Monthly News.”
Check it out and join the group. You can click here to
take you directly to the page. (Keep in mind you do need
a Facebook account to join; however, the documents can
be viewed through the docs link toward the bottom of the
page even without an account.)
The second source for the online version of the
newsletter is the website www.scribd.com. Please click
here for that link. This online source for the newsletter
works in the same fashion as the Facebook page.
Please let us know what you think, or if you have
any questions about the new online sources. For those of
you who enjoy just receiving the email each month, we
will continue to send it out. But we want to build the
online presence as a way to reach out to more people.
As always, thank you very much for reading. Our
hope is to continue to expand the newsletter. For that, we
need your input. So, again, if anyone has any article top-
ics or wants to write their own piece, we will gladly try
to work it in. We hope you enjoy, and please let us know
what you think. Thank you very much!

Michigan Republican Party Facebook Page

Along with building the newsletter‘s Facebook page, which can be found by the link above,
the Michigan Republican Party is building up their page. If you would like join, please click here.

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

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 Please Support ―Frontlines of Freedom‖ Military Talk Radio Hosted by Lt. Col. Denny Gillem
You can hear it every Saturday at 1pm on 1260 AM the Pledge (Zeeland, MI), or by visiting the
website at www.frontlinesoffreedom.com or for Facebook Click Here.

VFW Salutes U.S. Navy for When called upon by our nation, they have served
with remarkable courage and valor. Today, citizens have a
235 Years of Service newly discovered respect for those who serve in uniform,
who serve on America‘s front lines of freedom, those who
A Sailor’s willingness to serve is a are asked to serve in harm‘s way. There is no better truth
tribute to their selfless sense of duty. than to say never before have so many owed so much to
From: www.vfw.org October 13, 2010 so few.
A Sailor‘s willing- As Navy personnel celebrate their 235-year histo-
ness to serve is a tribute to ry of service to the nation, the 2.1 million members of the
their selfless sense of du- Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliaries want to say
ty. Because of them, our 'thank you.' We are proud of our Sailors and salute them
nation is free…and for that, for continuing to protect our freedoms and defend world
today and everyday Ameri- peace.
cans owe them a tremen-
dous debt of gratitude.
The record of ser-
vice of the Navy is a mile
long and twice as deep. The
U.S. Naval Forces have
served with distinction in every war proving to be the
most formidable force on the high seas. The resolve and
fortitude of the men and women of the Navy have helped
lead America to victory to maintain the values and princi-
ples of freedom for well over two centuries.

Air Force Bonus Changes

No COLA for Retirees - Again
From: www.military.com Week of October 18, 2010
Officials announced that the 2011 Cost of Living
Adjustment (COLA) for military retirees, disabled veter-
ans, and social security recipients will be zero for the
second year in a row.
Note: Retiree COLA differs from the Active Du-
ty Cost of Living Allowance which is paid based on the
cost of living in a given high-cost locality. This number
will be released in late December.
Learn more about the 2011 COLA.
From: www.military.com Week of October 18, 2010
Pentagon officials recently released the fiscal
2011 initial enlistment bonus program list. The complete
IEB list with all changes that went into effect October 1
is available on the Air Force website. Three Air Force
specialty codes had bonuses decrease, and no AFSCs
were added or increased for the new fiscal year. For more
information about the IEB program, visit the AFPC per-
sonnel services website, contact your local military per-
sonnel section, or call the Total Force Service Center at
800-525-0102.
To find complete information on current cash
enlistment incentives (signing bonuses) and reenlistment
bonuses offered by each of the Armed Forces, visit the
Military.com Bonus Center.

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
Veterans Radio is dedicated to all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces of the
United States of America. Our mission is to provide all veterans with a voice, to give them a forum where they are able to
discuss their issues…and tell their stories. You can listen to the show on: WDEO (990-AM Ann Arbor/Detroit), WMAX
(1440-AM, Saginaw), WDEO-FM (99.5 FM, Naples FL), KAGY (1510-AM Port Sulfur/New Orleans LA), KIXW (960-
AM, Apple Valley CA) and KMRC (1430-AM Morgan City, LA). Or, listen to our Webcast and archives at:

Veteran Legislation
Check Out the E-Newsletter From The
House Committee on Veteran Affairs:
http://veterans.house.gov/
enewsletter.shtml

Veterans Benefits Act 2010 Signed

From: www.military.com Week of October 25, 2010
President Obama recently signed H.R. 3219, the
Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010, into law. The new law
addresses the needs of veterans by enhancing employ-
ment opportunities, preventing and caring for homeless
veterans, ensuring the welfare of veterans and their fami-
lies by increasing insurance limits, protecting service- Virtual Aircraft Museum
members called to combat, honoring fallen servicemem- From: Eugene A. Simon Command Chief Master Ser-
bers and their families, strengthening education benefits, geant USAF (Retired)
addressing housing needs of disabled veterans, and in- You will be able pull up every aircraft
vesting in research for Gulf War veterans. that was built in every country in the world and every air
Visit the Military Advantage Blog to learn more craft company.
about this new law. For more information on VA bene- Want to
fits, visit the Military.com Benefits Channel. check out almost
any airplane ever
built in the
On the Legislative Front World? Old, new,
From: Sean M. Furr Specialist 4, US Army Veteran military, civilian?
Browse this site
S. Res. 670 A resolution designating the week beginning for a few minutes.
on Monday, November 8, 2010, as "National Veterans You will be amazed at what has been done in
History Project Week" on THOMAS: http://hdl.loc.gov/ airplane design. The amount of info available is unbe-
loc.uscongress/legislation.111sres670 lievable. Click here: http://www.aviastar.org/
index2.html
H.R.1177 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act on
THOMAS: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. 3

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
 Military Holiday Mailing
From: RAO Bulletin October 2010 (Lt. James ―EMO
Tichacek, USN (Ret)Associate Director, Retiree Assis-
tance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio
City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238
-1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines.
Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/
NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW VVA/CG33/DD890/
AD37 member)
The recommended mailing deadline for sending
economy-priced holiday packages to servicemembers in
Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the world is 12
NOV, officials at the U.S. Postal Service say. "Shipping
holiday packages early helps ensure that they arrive in
time for the holidays," Pranab
Shah, vice president and man-
aging director of global busi-
ness at the Postal Service,
said in a press release this
week. "They are a great mo-
rale boost for those men and
women serving their country
in places far from home."
Other deadlines for arrival by
25 DEC are 26 NOV for
space-available mail; 3 DEC
for parcel airlift mail; 10
DEC for priority mail and
first-class mail, letters and
cards; and 18 DEC for ex-
press mail military service. Holiday packages and mail
headed for Iraq and Afghanistan must be sent a week ear-
lier than the deadlines above, Postal officials say. Express
mail military service is not available to those destinations.
The Postal Service offers a discount on its largest priority
-mail flat-rate box -– a 12-inch by 12-inch by 5.5-inch
carton that can accommodate laptop computers, small
conventional ovens, and military care packages. 7
From The Sr. Vice Commander of American Legion Post 341
If anyone knows of a member of our military deployed in
a combat zone. Please let me know his name and
address by DEC 5th and we will make sure that he
receives a large package of goodies for Christmas.
This is our way of saying thank you for your ser-
vice and to let them know of the support that they
have back home.
Sincerely,
Robert P Goulet Sr. Vice Commander
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
Mail sent to overseas military addresses costs the
same as domestic mail and the usual price for the large
flat-rate box is $14.50. But for packages heading to APO/
FPO addresses, the Postal Service charges $12.50 or
$11.95 for those who print the priority-mail postage label
online. Priority-mail flat-rate boxes are available at any
Post Office at no charge and can be ordered online at
shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be
printed online at the Postal Service website. APO/FPO
addresses usually require customs forms, Postal officials
say, and each country has customs regulations that apply
to all mail, including U.S. military mail, coming into the
country. Mail addressed to military and diplomatic post
offices overseas is subject to restrictions in content, prep-
aration and handling. Each five-digit military and post
office ZIP code [APO/FPO]
has specific restrictions. For
specific restrictions and mail-
ing prices to an APO/FPO
address, visit the Postal Ser-
vice's online price calculator
or a local post office or call 1
-800-ASK-USPS. The fol-
lowing are prohibited in the
regions of Operation New
Dawn in Iraq and Operation
Enduring Freedom in Af-
ghanistan:
 Horror comics and ob-
scene articles like prints,
paintings, cards, films and videotapes;
 Anything depicting nude or seminude persons, porno-
graphic or sexual items, or unauthorized political ma-
terials;
 Bulk quantities of religious materials contrary to the
Islamic faith, though items for personal use are per-
mitted, and,
 Pork or pork by-products.
[Source: AFPS Cheryl Pellerin article 8 Oct 2010 ++]
American Legion Post 341 is having a Membership Drive
and the first 10 veterans that apply for a member-
ship will get the first years dues free, Post 341
meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at the
Oakland Boat Club in Sylvan Lake Michigan.
For more information please contact:
Sr. Vice Commander Robert Goulet
at (248)-626-9608
4
Pilot of aircraft #13 on the Doolittle
Raid-Part II
From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Master
Sergeant USAF (Retired)
There was a silent pause; you could have
heard a pin drop. Then Doolittle said that anyone of us
could withdraw now, and that no one would criticize us
for this decision. No one backed out! From the outset, all
volunteers worked from the early morning hours until
well after sunset. All excess weight was stripped from the
planes and extra gas tanks were added. The lower gun
turret was removed, the heavy liaison radio was removed,
and then the tail guns were taken out and more gas tanks
were put aboard. We extended the range of that plane
from 1000 miles out to 2500 miles.
Then I was assigned my crew. There was Richard
Knobloch the co-pilot, Clayton Campbell the navigator,
Robert Bourgeous the bombardier, Adam Williams the
flight engineer and gunner, and me, Mac McElroy the pi-
lot. Over the coming days, I came to respect them a lot.
They were a swell bunch of guys, just regular All-
American boys.
We got a few ideas from the training as to what
type of mission that we had signed on for. A Navy pilot
had joined our group to coach us at short takeoffs and
also in shipboard etiquette. We began our short takeoff
practice. Taking off with first a light load, then a normal
load, and finally overloaded up to 31,000 lbs. The shortest
possible take-off was obtained with flaps full down, stabi-
lizer set three-fourths, tail heavy, full power against the
brakes and
releasing the
brakes simulta-
neously as the
engine revved
up to max pow-
er. We pulled
back gradually
on the stick and
the airplane left
the ground with
the tail skid
about one foot from the runway. It was a very unnatural
and scary way to get airborne! I could hardly believe it
myself, the first time as I took off with a full gas load and
dummy bombs within just 700 feet of runway in a near
stall condition. We were, for all practical purposes, a
slow flying gasoline bomb!
In addition to take-off practice, we refined our
skills in day and night navigation, gunnery, bombing, and
low level flying. We made cross country flights at tree-top
level, night flights and navigational flights over the Gulf
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
of Mexico without the use of a radio. After we started that
short-field takeoff routine, we had some pretty fancy com-
petition between the crews. I think that one crew got it
down to about 300 feet on a hot day. We were told that
only the best crews would actually go on the mission, and
the rest would be held in reserve. One crew did stall on
takeoff, slipped back to the ground, busting up their land-
ing gear. They were eliminated from the mission. Doolit-
tle emphasized again and again the extreme danger of this
operation, and made it clear that anyone of us who so de-
sired could drop out with no questions asked. No one did.
On one of our cross country flights, we landed at
Barksdale Field in Shreveport , and I was able to catch a
bus over to Longview to see Aggie. We had a few hours
together, and then we had to say our goodbyes. I told her I
hoped to be back in time for the baby's birth, but I couldn't
tell her where I was going. As I walked away, I turned
and walked backwards for a ways, taking one last look at
my beautiful pregnant Aggie.
Within a few days of returning to our base in
Florida we were abruptly told to pack our things. After
just three weeks of practice, we were on our way. This
was it. It was time to go. It was the middle of March 1942,
and I was 30 years old. Our orders were to fly to McClel-
lan Air Base in Sacramento, California on our own, at the
lowest possible level. So here we went on our way west,
scraping the tree tops at 160 miles per hour, and skim-
ming along just 50 feet above plowed fields. We crossed
North Texas and then the panhandle, scaring the dickens
out of livestock, buzzing farm houses and a many a barn
along the way. Over the Rocky Mountains and across the
Mojave Desert dodging thunderstorms, we enjoyed the
flight immensely and although tempted, I didn't do too
much dare-devil stuff. We didn't know it at the time, but it
was good practice for what lay ahead of us. It proved to
be our last fling. Once we arrived in Sacramento, the me-
chanics went over our plane with a fine-toothed comb. Of
the twenty-two planes that made it, only those whose pi-
lots reported no mechanical problems were allowed to go
on. The others were shunted aside.
5
 After having our plane serviced, we flew on to
Alameda Naval Air Station in Oakland . As I came in for
final approach, we saw it! I excitedly called the rest of the
crew to take a look. There below us was a huge aircraft
carrier. It was the USS Hornet, and it looked so gigantic!
Man, I had never even seen a carrier until this moment.
There were already two B-25s parked on the flight deck.
Now we knew! My heart was racing, and I thought about
how puny my plane would look on board this mighty ship.
As soon as we landed and taxied off the runway, a jeep
pulled in front of me with a big "Follow Me" sign on the
back. We followed it straight up to the wharf, alongside
the towering Hornet. All five of us were looking up and
just in awe, scarcely believing the size of this thing. As
we left the plane, there was already a Navy work crew
swarming around attaching cables to the lifting rings on
top of the wings and the fuselage. As we walked towards
our quarters, I looked back and saw them lifting my plane
up into the air and swing it over the ship's deck. It looked
so small and lonely.
Later that afternoon, all crews met with Colonel
Doolittle and he gave last minute assignments. He told me
to go to the Presidio and pick up two hundred extra "C"
rations. I saluted, turned, and left, not having any idea
where the Presidio was, and not exactly sure what a "C"
ration was. I commandeered a Navy staff car and told the
driver to take me to the Presidio, and he did. On the way
over, I realized that I had no written signed orders and
that this might get a little sticky. So in I walked into the
Army supply depot and made my request, trying to look
poised and confident. The supply
officer asked "What is your authori-
zation for this request, sir?" I told
him that I could not give him one.
"And what is the destination?" he
asked. I answered, "The aircraft
carrier, Hornet, docked at Alame-
da." He said, "Can you tell me who
ordered the rations, sir?" And I re-
plied with a smile, "No, I cannot."
The supply officers huddled togeth-
er, talking and glanced back over
towards me. Then he walked back
over and assured me that the rations
would be delivered that afternoon.
Guess they figured that something
big was up. They were right. The
next morning we all boarded the
ship.
Trying to remember my
naval etiquette, I saluted the Officer
of the Deck and said "Lt. McElroy,
requesting permission to come
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
aboard." The officer returned the salute and said
"Permission granted." Then I turned aft and saluted the
flag. I made it, without messing up. It was April 2, and in
full sunlight, we left San Francisco Bay. The whole task
force of ships, two cruises, four destroyers, and a fleet
oiler, moved slowly with us under the Golden Gate
Bridge. Thousands of people looked on. Many stopped
their cars on the bridge, and waved to us as we passed
underneath. I thought to myself, I hope there aren't any
spies up there waving. Once at sea, Doolittle called us
together. "Only a few of you know our destination, and
you others have guessed about various targets. Gentle-
men, your target is Japan!" A sudden cheer exploded
among the men. "Specifically,
Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe,
Nagasaki, and Osaka. The Navy
task force will get us as close as
possible and we'll launch our planes.
We will hit our targets and proceed
to airfields in China." After the
cheering stopped, he asked again, if
any of us desired to back out, no
questions asked. Not one did, not
one. Then the ship's Captain went
over the intercom to the whole
ship's company. The loudspeaker
blared, "The destination is Tokyo!"
A tremendous cheer broke out from
everyone on board. I could hear
metal banging together and wild
screams from down below decks. It
was quite a rush! I felt relieved actu-
ally. We finally knew where we
were going. (To Be Cont…)
6
More options on the way for IRR soldiers
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
(www.militarytimes.com) Posted: Wednesday Oct 27,
2010
Army leadersBottom of Form want to give Indi-
vidual Ready Reserve members more options to stay in
the service. When their IRR commitment runs out, Army
Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz said he wants to pro-
vide these soldiers a new IRR status that would leave
them subject only to voluntary recalls.
Stultz said he spoke to Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, the
deputy chief of staff for human resources, about the pro-
posal earlier this month.
―There are a lot of soldiers who have valuable
skills for the Army, but once their commitment is up they
leave because they want to try something else. Many
want to stay but need another option. This could be it,‖
Stultz said Tuesday at the Association of the U.S. Army
conference in Washington.
When Stultz spoke to soldiers about why they left the
Army, many said they would consider staying in the IRR
if they had control over when they were recalled.
―This way they would be in control,‖ Stultz said.
———
For more coverage from the conference, click the link at
left to visit our AUSA blog, published in tandem with
sister publication Defense News.

MANGBANG
From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Master
Sergeant USAF (Retired) & Matthew X. Hauser
As you may have seen in past editions of the
newsletter, MANGBANG has been one of our sources.
We are thankful for the source and so we just wanted to
pass the information along for MANGBANG in case an-
yone is interested in joining the Michigan Air National
Guard Historical Association.
You can contact Lou Nigro if you are interest-
ed. We think it is a worthwhile investment-it supports
the history of the Michigan Air National Guard and his
Thomas Brown / Staff file photo monthly publications are very informative.
Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz For those who want to view it on our website
(www.selfridgeairmuseum.org, http://
www.selfridgeairmuseum.org ), Lt Col Lou Nigro, MI
Read more ANG (Ret) Executive Director, Selfridge Military Air
Visit our AUSA blog Museum Email: louis.nigro@ang.af.mil

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

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 Flu Shot Options are Many for
TRICARE For Life Beneficiaries
From: www.tricare.mil October 22, 2010 No. 10-85
FALLS CHURCH, VA – TRICARE For Life
(TFL) beneficiaries have a wealth of options when it
comes to staying protected during the fall and winter flu
season.
Influenza vaccines are covered by Medicare at no
cost to TFL beneficiaries as long as they are administered
by a Medicare provider who agrees to accept the Medi-
care-approved amount as full payment.
Flu shots are also covered by TRICARE if ob-
tained at participating TRICARE network pharmacies in
the U.S. Beneficiaries should call ahead to their pharmacy
to determine if it participates in the TRICARE program
and has vaccine available. To find a participating pharma-
cy, go www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE or call Ex-
press Scripts at 1-877-363-1303.
Many military clinics or hospitals also offer flu
shots to military retirees, often in conjunction with mili-
tary retiree appreciation days. Other options may include
local health departments and Veterans Administration
medical centers. Always check ahead for availability be-
fore making the trip.
TFL beneficiaries who live in U.S. territories
overseas may access either Medicare providers or TRI-
CARE retail pharmacies to get an influenza vaccination
within the territory. Medicare will not pay for care outside
the U.S. and its territories.
Those who live overseas outside of U.S. territo-
ries should make an appointment with a local provider.
National Commander's Message
The American Legion Magazine
Who We Celebrate on Veterans Day
By: National Commander Jimmie L.
Foster - November 1, 2010
Veterans Day provides the per-
fect opportunity to reflect on the diversi-
ty found in the armed forces and in our
organization.
On Nov. 11, our country will
honor its veterans, as it does every year,
with parades, ceremonies, speeches and
patriotic music. Schools will welcome
us into their classrooms and ask us to tell our stories, and
everywhere we go young and old alike will clasp our
hands and say, "Thank you for serving." We are blessed to
live in a grateful nation.
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Beneficiaries may have to pay the provider at the time of
service and file a claim for the office visit.
In the Philippines, TFL beneficiaries must see a
certified provider. A certified provider list is available at
www.tricare.mil/tma/pacific/
pacificCertifiedProviders.aspx.
This year‘s influenza vaccine provides protection
from three strains of influenza, including the 2009 H1N1
virus in one shot. TRICARE covers all age-appropriate
doses of vaccines recommended by the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention.
For more information about seasonal vaccines
and TRICARE visit the flu page at www.tricare.mil/flu
Sign up for TRICARE e-mail updates at
www.tricare.mil/subscriptions. Connect with TRICARE
on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/tricare
and www.twitter.com/tricare. The TRICARE Manage-
ment Activity administers the worldwide health care plan
for 9.6 million eligible beneficiaries of the uniformed ser-
vices, retirees and their families.
We also live in an incredibly diverse nation. Our
veteran population - just over 23 million and counting -
reflects that. As Americans seek out those in their commu-
nities who wore the uniform to recognize them this Veter-
ans Day, they'll find that women and minori-
ties are serving in the military in greater
numbers than ever before.
According to the National Center for
Veterans Analysis and Statistics, about
2,600,000 living U.S. veterans - 11 percent -
are black. Another 1,824,000 - 8 percent -
are women. Smaller percentages include His-
panics (5.8 percent), Asian/Pacific Islanders
(1.5 percent), American Indian/Alaska na-
tives (0.8 percent), and "other" (1.3 percent).
These numbers are always changing, but together, they're
about 29 percent of America's veterans, or about
6,700,000. We're no longer Sgt. Rock's army.
8
 Addressing The American Legion's 92nd Nation-
al Convention in Milwaukee, I expressed my desire to see
Veterans Benefits Assistance and SB 250
By: Phil Smith-Director/Chief Vietnam Veterans of
more of this diversity in our own ranks - not because our
America, Veterans Benefits and Rehabilitation, State
organization is a promoter of diversity for diversity's sa-
Council of MI
ke, but because from its inception, the Legion has always
Over the past year things have changed drastical-
maintained that a veteran is a veteran. From Frank Buck-
ly in the veterans arena, there an enormous amount of
les, the last living World War I veteran, to Dawn Halfak-
WWII, and Korea Veterans who are passing, right be-
er, who lost an arm in combat during Operation Iraqi
hind them are the Vietnam Veterans, especially those
Freedom and now serves on The American Legion Small
who were In-country of Vietnam exposed to Agent Or-
Business Task Force, we all share a common bond, re-
ange (Herbicide Dioxin) or those Naval personnel off the
gardless of our gender or race.
Coast or in the Riverine. Today we have more and more
of those Desert Storm Veterans and other veterans of
other Eras coming into apply for benefits from the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs. More and More of the cur-
rent War on Terrorism Veterans applying and a surge in
increase for educational benefits.
What is also changed and the cause of this situa-
tion was SB 250, to include the assistance of some out-
side elected officials to change the way grants were pro-
vided to the Veterans Organizations assisting those veter-
ans and family members. This Senate Bill incorporated
not only a grant process, but as well as dissolved some of
those Veterans Organizations assisting Veterans and
their Families for Benefits, let allowing the Counties to
get more involved as they should, and now more and
more attorneys are getting involved as they see where
they can make money off of the veterans.
This is not a new development. Women were
Since more and more veterans and families are
admitted into the Legion before they had the right to vote
applying there is less veterans organizations assisting due
in the United States. One of our founders, Hamilton Fish,
to the less people involved, Counties Veterans Organiza-
is probably best known as the commander of the first all-
tions are assisting but they do not have the strength as
black U.S. combat unit shipped overseas in World War I
well.
- the Harlem Hellfighters, who in 191 days of duty at the
The following Veterans Organizations were pro-
front didn't have any men captured or ground lost. Two of
vided grants under SB 250 in this last budget and no new
the country's most prominent civil-rights voices, Earl
ones can apply until March 2011. American Legion,
Dickerson and Corneal Davis, were among the first black
DAV, VFW, MCL, PVA and AMVETS, leaving Vi-
veterans to join the newly formed American Legion and
etnam Veterans of America out of the picture the largest
organize posts for black soldiers.
group of Veterans in this State. The following had to
If you honorably served our country during war-
stop assisting, Jewish War Veterans, Catholic and Polish
time, you have a home in the Legion, period. We know,
War Veterans. Thus leaving VVA out to assist veterans
and cherish, a camaraderie rarely found elsewhere in so-
and their families and surviving spouses out with no
ciety - a camaraderie that is colorblind and, increasingly,
budget along with the other three.
genderblind. The oath we swore was the same. The com-
What has our elected officials done, we all know
mitment we made. The discipline we endured. The joy
the economic picture, its hurting us all, SB 250 did not
and pride we felt serving something greater than our-
help the Veterans who assisted, it only hurt the Veterans
selves.
and their Families and Surviving Spouses. Allowing less
When speaking to Legionnaires, I often point out
people to assist. Now those in need may yet see another
that women and minorities together make up a third of
Veterans Organization close their doors assisting Veter-
our total forces. We're seeing many of these veterans put
ans with no funding, and only fundraising. Where does
on Legion caps, which is as it should be. But we must
the elected officials support there Veterans, have of them
reach out and welcome all of them into our family, which
more than likely do not even know what we do or how
won't be whole until every eligible veteran joins us in our
the process is on the Veterans Benefits side.
mission to keep on serving America. We are them, and
they are us.

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 A Note From Department Hospital don‘t have family or friends that are able to visit. Play a
game of cards or even work on a puzzle.
Chairwomen Merridy Lewis The veteran‘s can always use phone cards, bus tokens or
transportation ,vouchers, crossword puzzles, canteen
Hello Everyone,
books to purchase coffee or soda from the canteen and
I‘m sure you‘ve heard about budget cuts that are
reading materials.
affecting so many of us. Our Veteran Medical Centers are
How do I become a Veteran‘s Affair Voluntary
no exception. Have you thought about being a volunteer?
Service (VAVS) volunteer? Contact
There are so many ways volunteers
your nearest VA or local nursing
can help the Veteran‘s Homes, medi-
home or hospital. Ask to speak to a
cal Centers, clinics or even local
voluntary service specialist. They
Hospitals and nursing homes. As a
will set you up an appointment for
volunteer you help to ensure that our
an interview to see what interests
Veteran‘s are treated with care, af-
you have, and give you a scheduled
fection, respect and enthusiasm.
time to volunteer. You will also be
There are many opportuni-
given an orientation of hospital poli-
ties available that volunteers are
cy. Non members of the VFW &
needed for. A few ideas that come to
Ladies Auxiliary can be sponsored
mind would be ---- A greeter/
from each post. So, if you have a
ambassador, this position you would
friend that would like to help you when you volunteer
help Veteran‘s who may need assistance locating general
perhaps your Auxiliary would sponsor them. Children are
information of the hospital, giving directions, or even es-
welcomed to volunteer also.
cort them to an appointment. Perhaps, get a wheelchair
Do you have an Out-standing hospital volunteer?
for them.
Please submit an application to me for the Out Standing
Another idea would be to write letters, read a
hospital Volunteer of the year!
book or to sit and visit with them , as sometimes they

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

VETERANS ISSUES The new conditions will now have to

be budgeted for, and will cost billions of dol-
By: Phil Smith-Director/Chief Vietnam Veter-
lars, as there are so many veterans or surviving
ans of America, Veterans Benefits and Reha-
spouses who may be entitled.
bilitation, State Council of MI
Applying for the benefits can be easily
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs not
taken care of by a Veterans Organization Ser-
long ago issues three new medical issues to
vice Representative or Advocate, or going di-
those exposed to those Vietnam Veterans who
rectly to the Department of Veterans Affairs
were located on the ground in Vietnam and
Regional Office or applying on line at
Exposed to Agent Orange (Herbicide Dioxin)
www.va.gov.
this could include those who are called Blue Water Navy
as well, or those who are Brown Water Navy. Those new
medical issues included Ischemic Heart Disease
(Coronary Artery Disease), Parkinson's and Leukemia B-
Cell (Hairy Cell Carcinoma). These three new conditions
were added to the other presumptive conditions now al-
lowing 14 conditions associated with the exposure. There
are 18 medical issues total and maybe more, but only 14
have been thus far associated and granted by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs. These new conditions which were or
may have been denied before can now be granted if de-
nied. These conditions go as far back as 1985, so if there
are any veterans of Vietnam who remain alive, they can
reapply or their surviving spouses can no apply.

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Additional Benefits for Active Duty
Time Served: DD FORM 214-SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFIT
From: Social Security Administration (SSA)
Please share this with
anyone who's had active duty
service between January 1957
to December 31, 2001 and
planning for retirement.
In a nutshell it boils
down to this: You qualify for a
higher social security payment
because of Military service,
for active duty any time from
1957 through 2001 (the program was done away with 1
January 2002). Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit
credited at time of application - which can make a sub-
stantial difference in social security monthly payments
upon your retirement. You must bring your DD-214 to
the Social Security Office and you must ask for this ben-
efit to receive it!
Social Security website: http://www.ssa.gov/
retire2/military.htm This is something to put in your files
for when you apply for Social Security down the road...
It is NOT just for retirees, BUT anyone who has served
on active duty between January1957 to December 31,
2001. FYI - this benefit is not automatic, you must ask
for it!

From: Patricia Webb- Correction: It is automati- Old Warrior Camp

cally applied for duty from 1968 forward. Duty
prior to 1968 must be applied for.
To request a copy of a DD-214 visit
www.vetrec.archives.gov.
Freedom is never more than one generation
away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected,
and handed on for them to do the same.
~Ronald Reagan
We would like to express our appreciation to all of
the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
From: Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Retired, ANG
This Hunting Camp was built by a retired Ma-
rine First Sergeant with the primary purpose of facili-
tating the ―Wounded Warriors‖ as they begin their
Journey back to Civilian Life. The First Sergeant is the
Commander of the Disabled American Veteran
(Manistique Chapter 26) He is also 100% totally disa-
bled.
There is no cost to vets…Bring a Valid Michi-
gan Hunting License and your sleeping bag. Contact
Bob Blevins at (906)-477-0025 for dates and times
available.
Lest We Forget-A Clip from Hank Fuhs Lt.
Col., USAF, Ret, ANG
(Just Click the Link Below)
I Fought For You

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 Michigan’s Vietnam Generation to be
Recognized in Upcoming Documentary
From: www.ourvietnamgeneration.com
Director/Producer Keith Famie to direct the camera
lens on the oft-overlooked service of Vietnam veterans
WIXOM, Mich. — They fought on a battlefield
as brutal as any other and more deadly than most wars in
the history of the United States. The only difference: these
veterans fought at a time when the United States was
deeply divided on one of the
most opposed wars in history,
the Vietnam War. To give these
veterans a voice, Director/
Producer Keith Famie, of Vi-
sionalist Entertainment Produc-
tions, has announced he is film-
ing Our Vietnam Generation,
scheduled to debut in late 2010.
The documentary will
focus on struggles experienced by Michigan Vietnam vet-
erans who received a much different homecoming than
other generations, set to the backdrop of the culture at a
time marked by music, drugs, ideals of love and political
upheaval. Depicted will be some veterans who were able
to become successful business and community leaders and
others who still suffer from haunting memories or
wounds. Further, the documentary will shed light on the
families of these veterans, including those who still hold
yearly vigils in hopes the remains of missing POWs will
still be found.
―Ever since we began working on our documen-
tary, Detroit: Our Greatest Generation, which focused on
our World War II veterans, the most frequently posed
question was, ‗What about our Vietnam vets?‘‖ said Fa-
mie. ―These men and women, mostly now past 60 years
old, still have deeply rooted feelings about their Vietnam
experience, including how society viewed them when
they returned.‖
Featured in Our Vietnam Generation is a journey
back in time for veteran Marine Pfc. Mark Spooner and
his daughter Cpt. Jennifer Spooner, an Iraq veteran Ma-
rine, as they traveled to Vietnam. The father/daughter ex-
pedition retraced Mark‘s footsteps through his tour of du-
ty on Hills 41 and 37 during the TET offensive and count-
less firefights in the Vietnam countryside 40 years ago in
an emotional confrontation of an era most would like to
forget.
The next several months of production for Our
Vietnam Generation, Famie‘s eighth human interest docu-
mentary, will involve countless personal interviews and
events, such as the flight of two Huey Choppers from the
group Huey 369 over the Detroit River, which will serve
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
as the dramatic opening sequence of the film. Hundreds of
Vietnam veterans will be present for the event and photo-
graphed together for a commemorative piece acknowledg-
ing their services.
Several special bike rallies with Rolling Thunder
and Patriot Guard will be featured in the documentary, as
well. All will culminate in a special media celebration
premiere for the Vietnam veterans in December, followed
by the television premiere on WDIV-TV in Detroit.
The leading title sponsor for last year‘s successful
documentary, Detroit: Our
Greatest Generation, American
House founder Bob Gillette, has
committed to support Our Vi-
etnam Generation as one of the
title presenting sponsors.
―It was a different kind of battle
these people were fighting,‖ said
Gillette. ―The people fighting in
Vietnam were not given the
‗hero‘s welcome‘ when they returned home like our
World War II veterans. This film is our opportunity to do
now what we should have done then.‖
The Vietnam production was equally inspirational
as Mark and Jennifer visited Hanoi‘s Children‘s Village
to deliver Operation: Exchange of Hearts, a special book
of artwork created by the children of Detroit Medical
Center. In exchange, Mark and Jennifer picked up a book
of drawings from the Hanoi children to deliver back to the
DMC.
Part of the documentary is the one-on-one inter-
view with American Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael
Michalak, who happens to be from Rochester, Mich.
The documentary team also gained full access to
film at the Hoa Lo Prison ―Hanoi Hilton‖ POW camp
where Senator John McCain was once held.
One of the most emotional wrenching visits in-
volved the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command
(JPAC), a United States military branch that relentlessly
searches for missing soldiers, both from the United States
and from U.S. allies.
Supporting the film so far are Keith King, Nation-
al Public Affairs Chair of the Vietnam Veterans of Ameri-
ca, American House Senior Living Residences, Terry
Desmond of A.J. Desmond Funeral Homes, Joe Vicari of
Andiamo Restaurant Group Inc., DS Properties,
Lakeshore Engineering Services, WDIV-TV, News/Talk
WJR 760, HOUR Magazine, Digital Image Studios, Gal-
lagher-Kaiser, Vietnam Battlefield Tours, Knot Just A
Bar, The Medical Team, Advanced Care and Disabled
American Veterans.
For more information and updates on Our Vietnam
Generation, visit www.ourvietnamgeneration.com
12
 A follow up to the story that was in the July 2010 Newsletter.
We hope everyone can attend the premiere. It will be a great night!
If you would like more information about the film log onto www.ourvietnamgeneration.com
We would also like to thank all that served during the Vietnam Conflict.

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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
 "I Was A Sailor Once"
By: Capt. Bob Thomas. From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon-
Command Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired)
I liked standing on the bridge wing at sunrise with
salt spray in my face and clean ocean winds whipping in
from the four quarters of the globe - the ship beneath me
feeling like a living thing as her engines drove her through
the sea.
I liked the sounds of the Navy - the piercing trill
of the boatswain's pipe, the syncopated clangor of the
ship's bell on the quarterdeck, the harsh squawk of the
1MC, and the strong language and laughter of sailors at
work.
I liked Navy vessels -- nervous darting destroyers,
plodding fleet auxiliaries and amphibs, sleek submarines
and steady, solid, heavy cruisers, battleships and aircraft
carriers.
I liked the proud names of Navy ships: Midway,
Lexington, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Coral Sea, Antietam,
Valley Forge - - memorials of great battles won and tribu-
lations overcome.
I liked the lean angular names of Navy "tin-cans"
and escorts-Barney, Dahlgren, Mullinix, McCloy,
Damato, Leftwich, Mills, Stickell, Noa, Paul, Coontz,
T.C. Hart, Glover & Sullivan Brothers - - mementos of
heroes who went before us. And the others-San Jose, San
Diego, Los Angeles, St. Paul, Chicago - named for our
cities.
rough at times; the parting from loved ones painful, but
I liked the tempo of a Navy band blaring through
the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the "all for
the topside speakers as we pulled away from the oiler af-
one and one for all" philosophy of the sea was ever pre-
ter refueling at sea.
sent.
I liked Liberty Call and the spicy scents of foreign
I liked the serenity of the sea after a day of hard
ports.
ship's work, as flying fish flitted across the wave tops and
I even liked the never-ending paperwork and all-
sunset gave way to night.
hands working parties as my ship filled herself with the
I liked the feel of the Navy in darkness -- the
multitude of supplies, both critical and mundane in order
masthead and range lights, the red and green navigation
to cut ties to the land and carry out her mission anywhere
lights and stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of
on the globe there was water to float her.
radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk and joined with
I liked sailors, officers and enlisted men from all
the mirror of stars overhead. And I liked drifting off to
parts of the land, farms of the Midwest, small towns of
sleep lulled by the myriad noises large and small that told
New England, from the cities, the mountains and the prai-
me that my ship was alive and well, and that my ship-
ries, from all walks of life. I trusted and depended on
mates on watch would keep me safe.
them as they trusted and depended on me - for profession-
I liked quiet mid-watches with the aroma of
al competence, for comradeship, for strength and courage.
strong coffee -- the lifeblood of the Navy permeating eve-
In a word, they were "shipmates"; then and forever.
rywhere.
I liked the surge of adventure in my heart, when
I even miss the screaming winds of the North At-
the word was passed: "Now set the special sea and anchor
lantic machine-gunning sleet and frozen bow spray into
detail - all hands to quarters for leaving port," and I liked
my foul weather gear as I stood lookout watch on the star-
the infectious thrill of sighting home again, with the wav-
board wing.And I liked hectic watches when the exacting
ing hands of welcome from family and friends waiting
minuet of haze-gray shapes racing at flank speed kept all
pier side. The work was hard and dangerous; the going
hands on a razor edge of alertness.

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 I liked the sudden electric-
ity of "General quarters, general
quarters, all hands man your battle
stations," followed by the hurried
clamor of running feet on ladders
and the resounding thump of wa-
tertight doors as the ship trans-
formed herself in a few brief se-
conds from a peaceful workplace to a weapon of war --
ready for anything. And I liked the sight of space-age
equipment manned by youngsters clad in dungarees and
sound-powered phones that their grandfathers would still
recognize.
I liked the traditions of the Navy and the men
and women who made them.
I liked the proud names of Navy heroes: Halsey,
Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, John Paul Jones and Burke. A
sailor could find much in the Navy: comrades-in-arms,
pride in self and country, mastery of the seaman's trade.
An adolescent could find adulthood. In years to come,
when sailors are home from the sea, they will still re-
member with fondness and respect the ocean in all its
moods - the impossible shimmering mirror calm and the
storm-tossed green water surging over the bow. And
then there will come again a faint whiff of stack gas, a
faint echo of engine and rudder orders, a vision of the
bright bunting of signal flags snapping at the yardarm, a
refrain of hearty laughter in the wardroom and chief's
quarters and mess decks.
Gone ashore for good they will grow wistful
about their Navy days, when the seas belonged to them
and a new port of call was ever over the horizon.
Remembering this, they will stand taller and say,
"I WAS A SAILOR ONCE AND I WOULD DO IT
AGAIN."
We would like to express our appreciation to all of
the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
VA Disability Evaluation System
From: RAO Bulletin November 2010 (Lt. James ―EMO
Tichacek, USN (Ret)Associate Director, Retiree Assis-
tance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio
City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951)
238-1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philip-
pines. Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/
FRA/NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW VVA/CG33/
DD890/AD37 member)
The Department of Veterans Affairs' Advisory
Committee on Disability Compensation met this week in
Washington and heard from the VA's Executive Director
of the VA-DoD Collaboration Service, Mr. John Medve,
who announced that the Disability Evaluation System
(DES) pilot program will be expanded worldwide to re-
place the existing DoD legacy program over the next
twelve months. The pilot program came about as a result
of the Walter Reed scandal in 2007 that uncovered
wounded and disabled service members were receiving
"low-balled" ratings as a result of the DES process. Sev-
eral commissions that investigated Walter Reed and the
DES process recommended eliminating dual VA and
DoD disability evaluations, but using one medical exam
and having DoD use the VA disability ratings in evalua-
tions by the Services' Physical Evaluation Boards. The
pilot, which has proven to improve the speed, effective-
ness, and transparency of the DES review process, will
expand from the current 27 sites to an additional 28 sites
during this year's first phase. The system will be expand-
ed to cover all remaining sites in additional three phases,
with a target completion of October 2011.
LTG James Terry Scott (USA-Ret.), Chairman of
the VA Advisory Committee, also announced that the
committee plans to delve deeper into VA philosophy in
assessing individual unemployability and the methodolo-
gy behind presumptions. Scott made the announcement at
the two-day meeting where the committee received pro-
gress reports on the VA Schedule of Rating Disability re-
write project and VA's roll-out of on-line Disability Ben-
efits Questionnaires. The DoD efforts are being led by
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness John R. Campbell, a Vietnam-era veteran and
Purple Heart recipient recently appointed to this position
after leading organizational change at several fortune 500
companies. [Source: MOAA Legislative Update 29 Oct
2010 ++]
15
 Patriot Guard Riders
From: RAO Bulletin November 2010 (Lt. James ―EMO
Tichacek, USN (Ret)Associate Director, Retiree Assis-
tance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio
City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238
-1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines.
Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/
NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW VVA/CG33/DD890/
AD37 member)
As the U.S. Supreme Court con-
templates whether protestors at military
funerals are protected under First Amend-
ment free-speech rights, a motorcycle
group that travels the country attending
those funerals as a show of support and
respect rides on, undeterred by the political
fray. About 200,000 members of the Patri-
ot Guard Riders attend military funerals to
honor those who died for or served their country and to
support their grieving families. They also escort the bod-
ies of fallen servicemembers as they arrive from Dover
Air Force Base, Del., for burial in their hometowns across
America. The riders take part in these events only at the
family's request and regardless of whether protestors are
expected says Bill Richart, national president of the
group's board of 11 directors. "What we do is never about
the protestors," he said. "We are not a counter protest
group. We don't go anywhere because of them, and we
don't not go anywhere because they are not there. ... It's
about being there for the families, recognizing their loss
and ensuring they know that people care."
Some Useful Links
Air Force Times
http://www.airforcetimes.com/
Navy Times
http://www.navytimes.com/
Marine Corps Times
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/
Army Times
http://www.armytimes.com/
Military Times
http://www.militarytimes.com/
TRICARE
http://www.tricare.mil/
American Legion
http://www.legion.org/
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
Richart emphasized that the riders have no politi-
cal agenda and take no official position on the pending
Supreme Court decision. In that case, Albert Snyder, fa-
ther of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who
was killed in Iraq in 2006, sued the Westboro Baptist
Church of Topeka, Kan., for emotional distress after
church members demonstrated and carried offensive signs
at his son's funeral in Westminster, Md. A lower court
ruled in Snyder's favor. However, the church appealed the
decision, arguing to the Supreme Court
earlier this month that the protests are pro-
tected speech under the First Amendment.
As the issue plays out in the courts, the
Patriot Guard Riders continue their mis-
sions around the country. Richart, an Air
Force veteran who deployed to Dharan,
Saudi Arabia, during Operation Desert
Storm, said he and his fellow riders feel a
special connection to the grieving families
they support. "If you go out there and you give a couple
hours of your time and show families that people care and
share their loss, it's very touching to them and to us," he
said. For additional information on this organization refer
to http://www.patriotguard.org.
[Source: AFPS Donna Miles article
28 Oct 2010 ++]
We would also like to Thank
the Michigan Chapter of the Patriot
Guard Riders for their work, more
information about them can be found
at http://www.pgrmichigan.org/
Tribute to the Patriot Guard Riders
Veterans of Foreign Wars
http://www.vfw.org/
AMVETS
http://www.amvets.org/
If anyone has a site they would like to have added to this
growing list please let us know!
16
A Funny thing Happened as the Military
Downsized in 1994, or how USERRA
Screws the Veterans
By: Claude McManus, CMC (SW) USN Ret.
Ever wondered how a law
is passed? You probably learned in
your civics class about the classic
way, someone writes a bill pro-
posal, a committee takes it up, if it
makes it out of committee, it goes
to the floor for vote, it passes, then
goes to the other house, and then to
the President right? Well, how
about if a law is proposed and it is
―posted‖ for comment from the
public and is then passed. Only in
this case the law is written by fed-
eral bearucrats and the ―public‖ is
big business and big government.
The target of this law is veterans.
So now we have a law that is writ-
ten, ―to protect‖ veterans from dis-
crimination, that in fact, often does
the opposite. Thanks to the inter-
pretation of the law by activist
judges and the decisions that have
been handed down since 1994.
What is USERRA? Did
you know that all employers are required to post
USERRA posters in the common work areas? In fact, the
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Department of
Labor (DOL), and the Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve (ESGR) attempt to meet the Federal Law require-
ment to notify employees of their rights under USERRA,
by displaying the notice. USERRA stands for Uniformed
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
Rather than repeat the Act in its entirety here, I
will summarize. From the USERRA poster: You have the
right to be reemployed in your civilian job if you leave
that job to perform service in the uniformed service. If
you are eligible to be reemployed, you must be restored to
the job and benefits you would have attained if you had
not been absent due to military service, or in some cases, a
comparable job.
You have the right to be free from discrimination
and retaliation. If you are a past or present member of the
uniformed service, an employer may not deny initial em-
ployment, reemployment, retention in employment, pro-
motion, or any benefit of employment because of this sta-
tus. This includes the federal and state governments.
You have the right to continue your Health Insur-
ance protection from your existing employer based health
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
plan coverage for you and your dependents for up to 24
months while in the military. You also have the right to be
re-instated in your employer‘s health plan without any
waiting periods or pre-existing conditions (except those
for service-connected illness of injuries).
The U.S. DOL, Veterans Employ-
ment and Training Service (VETS)
is authorized to investigate and
resolve complaints of USERRA
violations.
Sounds good right? Well, if you
speak to any veteran that has run
into these issues and used VETS,
or the DOL, the failure of the Act
is extreme. Talk to you elected rep-
resentative, that is even worse.
They will acknowledge the law is
flawed but there is not the interest
in changing it. How could this be?
Here is the ugly truth I my opinion.
First has to do with simple num-
bers, after World War Two, there
were some 18 million members in
uniform with a population of the
US at approximately 150 million.
Twelve percent of the population
was a veteran of some fashion.
Everyone knew someone who had
served or given their all for the
country. Today, that generation
dying. The military has downsized to dramatic lower lev-
els than just 16 years ago. Today Wal-Mart employs more
people than the US Military.
To give you an idea of how small the
numbers are consider this. There are currently just over
one million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The population
of the US is above 300 million. That is .03% of the popu-
lation that has served in Central Asia. If you look at all
veterans, Korea, Vietnam, and all the little side shows
(Panama, Libya, Uganda, Iran, The College Student War),
and the Cold War; the number of veterans has declined
significantly. It is estimated that the population of veter-
ans is under 10% of the US population and that number is
going down. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
recently reported that the US census has the number of all
veterans at 20.3 million. If you add in dependents, the
number is larger but still declining. There are always ex-
ceptions, areas that have high veteran populations such as
Virginia or how California used to be. Here in Michigan,
it was estimated that there are 1.3 million veterans and
dependents in 2007. That number is going down simply
because veterans are dying and new veterans are not being
made.
17
 Why does this matter? It matters because as the
politics of veteran issues shrinks, the less likely our elect-
ed officials are to care about us. Congress is not made up
of veterans and we elect Presidents who have never
served. There is less and less money in veteran‘s causes
to put it bluntly. And if that does not make you mad, it
should.
Consider this; there is a Senator who considers
anyone who cannot make it in high school as good for the
Army, ostensibly Iraq. We had a Senator who considered
Marines to be murderers. We have a President who wants
us out of Afghanistan on a timetable regardless of the
advice of the generals on the ground. We have a Senate
leader who considers the war lost and publicly said so. It
is okay to slander the uniform services but not our ene-
my. It is okay to protest a service member‘s funeral and
carry signs that say‖ Thank God for dead soldiers‖.
Nevertheless, USERRA protects us right? Well
here is the rub, the actual beauracrats that are supposed to
investigate and resolve the violations are just that, federal
bearucrats. Here in Michigan dozens of veterans have
been told by VETS that the role of VETS is to follow the
law, not support veterans. In addition, the law requires an
investigation to be conducted into allegations of discrimi-
nation against veterans. Often times there is no investiga-
tion and the reason is offered that there are no facts to
support an investigation. There are dozens if not hun-
dreds more, perhaps thousands, of violations that are not
reported.
I have personally been involved as an advocate
with many cases. I know others who have also advocated
for veterans under USERRA. And to be fair, there are
hundreds and thousand of veterans who get a fair shake
from the employers and do not need help under the law.
The Act was not written as a guideline, it is the law of the
land. So what happens to the veterans that do not get
help? Unfortunately, nothing is there to help them despite
the Act.
In my next installment, I am going to dive into
veteran‘s preference. And how this has been perverted
and turned around on veterans. I am sure George Wash-
ington and Abe Lincoln are turning over in their graves
how we as a nation treat veterans.
From one veteran to another,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!
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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
Update From Article A Funny thing Happened as the
Military Downsized in 1994,
or how USERRA Screws the Veterans
Supreme Court Hears Case of Fired
Reservist
From: www.Military.com
By: Bryant Jordan. November 3, 2010
The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard the case of
an Army reservist who alleges he was fired from his job
in 2004 because he was deployed by the military. The
case is the first that the high court has considered involv-
ing the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemploy-
ment Rights Act.
Army Reserve Sgt. Vincent Staub of Illinois
claims two supervisors, resentful that his military duties
called him away from work, set him up to be fired for
poor performance. Staub made his claim under
USERRA, which was enacted by Congress to make sure
employers don't fire reservists just because they are
called to serve.
At the heart of the case is whether Staub's em-
ployer, Proctor Hospital of Peoria, Ill., can be held liable
for a firing prompted by managers but carried out by a
proxy.
Roy Davis, the attorney for Proctor, argued that
unless Staub was able to show that his department head,
Michael Korenchuck, and his deputy, Janice Mulally,
exerted a major influence over the woman who did the
firing, there was no violation of USERRA because no
one is claiming the supervisor held anti-military views.
The supervisor, Linda Buck, would have had to be "the
Cat's Paw" -- an unwitting tool used by another -- for
Staub to make his case, Davis argued.
"But he has to demonstrate that the person who
possessed animus exercised so much control over [Buck]
that that person became the true decision maker," Davis
said.
Chief Justice John Roberts told Davis he was
having trouble following what he termed the "domination
-motivating factor."
Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Buck
would not have been acting in a vacuum.
"She's acting on information that has been sup-
plied to her by people who are authorized to supply that
to her in the employment context," Sotomayor said.
The Justice Department weighed in on Staub's
side. "An employer is liable under USERRA when a su-
pervisor acting with a discriminatory motive uses a dele-
gated authority to cause an adverse employment action,"
attorney Eric Miller told the court. Under USERRA, he
said, military status has only to be "a motivating factor"
in the decision by the employer in the firing.
18
 Staub's attorney Eric Schnapper argued that Proc-
tor was liable because of the employees' actions, including
Buck, even if she did not have the anti-military biases of
the others. Buck fired Staub based on reports supplied by
supervisors with a demonstrated hostility to his service
obligations, Schnapper argued.
Here the Justices took issue with Schnapper over
the termination cause, with Associate Justice Samuel
Alito commenting on Proctor Hospital's claim that Staub
was fired based on a his-
tory of other issues.
"Let's say an em-
ployer calls in an em-
ployee and says … we
have to decide who to lay
off and we have looked
at your record over the
last 10 years … and
based on all of that,
we've decide that you are
going to be the person to
be laid off," Alito said.
"Now if it turns out that
one of those evaluations
was rendered by some-
one who had an anti-
military bias, would that
make a … case against
the employer?"
Schnapper said it would, prompting Justice An-
thony Kennedy to remark: "Well, that's a sweeping rule."
Staub was an angiography technologist at Proctor
when he was called up for a three-month active-duty tour
in 2003. In January 2004, he told the hospital he had or-
ders to report for processing in anticipation of another call
-up. According to court documents, Korenchuck and Mu-
lally referred to Staub's service obligations as "bulls-t."
Testimony in the original trial in Illinois revealed
Korenchuck described Staub's duty weekends as "a bunch
of smoking and joking and a waste of taxpayer's money."
Mulally later took over employee scheduling and assigned
Staub extra shifts without notice, saying they were to "pay
back the department for everyone else having to bend over
backwards to cover his schedule for the Reserves," ac-
cording to the high court's outline of the case.
In some cases, Mulally called Staub's unit to try
and switch his duty weekends so he could work at the
hospital, and even swore at and hung up on a unit admin-
istrator when he would not make the switch.
After informing the supervisors that he might be
called up for duty again, Staub was given a written warn-
ing saying he was in violation of hospital policy requiring
angiography techs to assist in more general diagnostic
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
imaging duties when they weren't working with angi-
ography patients. Though he had never heard of the policy
and denied violating it, Staub still did the extra duty, ac-
cording to the court outline. On one occasion when he
was free of his usual duties but not able to reach supervi-
sor Korenchuck, Staub left a message and took a late
lunch in the hospital cafeteria.
When Staub returned, Korenchuck took him to
the office of Linda Buck, where she handed Staub a termi-
nation notice.
Staub claims
Buck never investigated
the biased comments
made against him. Buck
said she fired him not
only for the lunch inci-
dent but also because of
complaints in his person-
nel file from former em-
ployees who quit be-
cause of his abrupt man-
ner.
When Staub's
case went to district
court in Illinois, the jury
found in favor of him.
But the federal appeals
court overturned the de-
cision, deciding that the
lower court made a mistake in letting the jury consider the
anti-military remarks made by Korenchuck and Mulally
because there was no evidence to show that either one
exerted influence over Buck, who actually fired Staub.
Matthew Tully -- a partner in the Washington law
firm Tully Rinckey and an expert on USERRA law -- said
he believes the Supreme Court probably will come down
on the side of Staub, notwithstanding its history of siding
with employers.
"I think they'll find the 'Cat's Paw' theory not rele-
vant to USERRA and still hold to Staub," he said. He said
the court probably will give the servicemember "the bene-
fit of the doubt" by coming to the conclusion that if Staub
had not been in the Reserves he probably would not have
been fired.
"The underlying issue here is if you have this cul-
ture that is anti-military, is it no wonder you're going to
fire him?" Tully said. "So I'm of the position that if you've
got that hostile work environment; if you've got that anti-
military atmosphere, you don't need to establish that the
direct supervisor had an anti-military bearing, because so
many other factors that would have … prevented him be-
ing fired if he was a normal civilian."
19
VA Expands Support for Families of
Low-Income Veterans
From: www.va.gov November 9, 2010
Communities and Non-Profits Will Play Critical Out-
reach Role
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Vet-
erans Affairs (VA) announced today an important pro-
gram designed to provide enhanced services to low-
income Veterans and their families who are at risk of
being homeless. Under the Supportive Services for Vet-
eran Families Program, VA will provide grants to private
non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that
will help break the cycle of homelessness among Ameri-
ca‘s Veterans at risk.
The program will deliver grants to community
agencies for vocational and rehabilitation counseling,
employment and training service, educational assistance;
and health care services.
Agencies will also provide direct financial assistance for
daily living, transportation, child care, rent and utilities
and other expenses. Agencies may also propose funding
for additional services in their supportive services grant
application based on the specific needs of their commu-
nities and local Veterans.
―Ending homelessness for Veterans and their families
will require all segments of our communities to work
together,‖ said First Lady Michelle Obama. ―I am
pleased this new program will help more local organiza-
tions support them when they need it most.‖
―This new program will provide valuable new
tools in our campaign to end homelessness among Veter-
ans and their families,‖ said Veterans Affairs Secretary
Eric K. Shinseki. ―Partnering with homeless agencies
across this country, we will attack the problems that un-
derlie homelessness and, for the first time, fund services
for the spouses and children of homeless Veterans.‖
By mid-December, VA officials will provide local agen-
cies with the instructions necessary to apply for grants
under the program.
Eligible Veteran families include those who are
residing in permanent housing, are homeless and sched-
uled to become residents of permanent housing within a
specified time period, or who have left permanent hous-
ing and are seeking other housing that is responsive to
such very low-income Veteran family‘s needs and pref-
erences.
The program is available for public viewing at
http://www.ofr.gov/.
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
VA Policy Change
Helps Female
Vets with PTSD
By: Cathryn Creno - The Ari-
zona Republic, Tuesday Nov
9, 2010 From:
www.militarytimes.com
PHOENIX — Brittany
Hodge and Sabrina O'Connell are both Army veterans
traumatized while serving overseas.
After discharge, they suffered from nightmares,
migraines, insomnia, fear of crowds and panic attacks —
typical symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
But while Hodge, 24, holds down a job, enjoys going out
with friends and has plans for college and a career,
O'Connell, 41, remains crippled by anxiety.
The difference in the their lives is least in part
because of the way military doctors and the Department
of Veterans Affairs have traditionally diagnosed and
treated war-traumatized soldiers — and female soldiers in
particular.
Because Hodge could point to a key traumatic
incident — an arson fire she helped fight in a military-
housing unit — she was diagnosed with PTSD and is get-
ting ongoing treatment. O'Connell endured the ongoing
stresses of a combat zone but could not point to a specific
traumatic incident and could not receive a PTSD diagno-
sis.
In July, President Barack Obama announced a
new process that could open the door to treatment for
O'Connell and tens of thousands of other veterans whose
medical and disability claims have been rejected.
Previously, the Department of Veterans Affairs
required veterans filing disability claims or seeking treat-
ment for post-traumatic stress disorder to document what
caused their stress. If a veteran couldn't document the
specific event or events, PTSD benefits were denied.
Now, any veterans who ask for a PTSD screening
will receive one. If they have PTSD symptoms, the VA
says it will assume those symptoms were caused by stress
during their service and give them treatment.
The new policy is expected to benefit women in
particular because they typically play support roles in war
instead of being directly involved in battles.
"People always think about the guys," O'Connell
said. "They think women are just in the back. But even
though I was a supply clerk, I was at war, right up there
handling things with the guys. We all had our M16s and
our chemical masks with us at all times."
20
 But besides being unable to pinpoint a specific
incident that caused her stress, she had another roadblock:
a stack of letters from the VA saying she did not qualify
for PTSD treatment because her service records were lost.
Such reports frustrate public officials. "There has
been a heavy burden put on the soldiers to prove where
they were and exactly what happened when the trauma
occurred," said Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., chairman of
the House Veterans' Affairs Committee's Subcommittee
on Oversight and Investigations. "The idea of the new
system is to loosen that up."
It is not clear how many veterans nation-
ally will take advantage of the new opportunity, said Pau-
la Pedene, public-affairs officer for the Phoenix VA
Health Care System. By some estimates, the new guide-
lines for PTSD diagnosis could cost the national VA as
much as $42 billion in medical and disability payments
over the next decade.
Last year, about 319,000 veterans nation-
ally received PTSD treatment, including counseling and
medication, according to VA statistics.
An estimated 20 percent of all women and 8 per-
cent of all men develop PTSD at some point during mili-
tary service, the VA says. Women constitute about 15
percent of today's armed forces. Pedene said the VA pri-
Staff
Coordinator- Matthew X. Hauser (mhauser@migop.org)
Writers-Larry Harr Msgt USAF Retired
Denny Gillem Lt. Col., US Army, Retired
Claude McManus Command Master Chief
(Surface Warfare), USN, Retired
Sean M. Furr Specialist 4, US Army Veteran
Sherry Swann-Secretary of Fort Custer Advisory
Committee and Event Coordinator
Sam Cottle-Michigan State Captain Patriot
Guard Riders
Sandra Eggers-Family Service Counselor Oak-
land Hills Memorial Park
Gary Lillie, MCB3, Chu Lai, RVN '66
Phil Smith-Director/Chief Vietnam Veterans of
America, Veterans Benefits and
Rehabilitation, State Council of MI
Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Mas-
ter Sergeant USAF (Retired)
John Arend, SGT, USMC
John Nagle, USAAF
Maureen VanHooser, Navy (SeaBee) Veteran
Mom and wife.
Don Alsbro, COL, US Army (ret), President of
Lest We Forget
Publisher- Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Ret, ANG
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
marily is anticipating an increase in veterans who qualify
for disability payments under the new policy. But she
maintains that the VA should never have barred any pa-
tient with PTSD from counseling or medical treatment.
Mental-health experts aren't certain why a higher
percentage of women than men develop PTSD symptoms.
But Duane Knutson, a former Vietnam Army medic who
runs a Chandler, Ariz.-based nonprofit called the United
States War Veteran's PTSD Foundation, has some theo-
ries.
"Women perform in a support capacity when
serving in a combat zone," he said. "They usually don't
develop the camaraderie that the combat troops develop.
This cohesiveness among the fighting troops creates a
certain comfort and trust in the soldier standing next to
you. When serving in a support capacity, this cohesive-
ness never develops and stress levels increase."
Also, Knutson said, most of the female veterans who con-
tact his office to talk about their experiences or get refer-
rals to non-VA doctors for PTSD treatment were sexually
assaulted during their time in the military.
"This is the worst trauma to deal with," he said.
"When the veteran leaves a combat zone and comes
home, he or she leaves the enemy behind. When a woman
comes home after being assaulted by another veteran, the
threat is still there."
Karen Kattar, a psychologist at the Phoenix VA, said a
key symptom of PTSD is a tendency to avoid anything
that reminds the veteran of the trauma suffered. Some
don't seek psychiatric care or counseling without prod-
ding.
"Probably 98 percent of my patients have PTSD,"
said Judith Orosz, a social worker who runs a program at
the Phoenix VA called post-traumatic growth for survi-
vors of sexual trauma.
"Often when someone is raped, they are told they
will be killed if they tell anyone."
Up Coming 2011 Events
The Navy will be coming to Michigan and Indiana in a
big way this summer. We have secured agreements with
the Blue Angels to perform June 11, 12 in Evansville IN,
July 2, 3 in Muskegon, July 23, 24 in Detroit and again in
Indianapolis dates TBD.
A special thanks to Claude for the tip and more infor-
mation to come soon!
We would like to express our appreciation to all of
the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
21
Stand Up For Veterans-They Stood Up For US
-The DAV

New Support Group

From: Maureen VanHooser, Navy (SeaBee) Veteran,
Mom and wife.
There is a new exciting group forming - for the
support of families of our loved
ones serving the US military. Our
mission statement and a short bit
of information is supplied for you.
Please come and join us!
Mission Statement: Fami-
lies of American Military is a fam-
ily support group for those who
have family members who have
previously served or are currently
serving in the Armed Forces. This
group also includes those who
have served or are serving our nation. We stand tall to
make sure everyone who has served and their families are
not forgotten.
INFORMATION: We are a support group newly
formed for the each and every family member of a US
military member. Fathers, mothers, siblings, aunts, un-
cles, significant others, spouses, if your life is touched by
a service member please come and join us!
We plan to host speakers
to help us through the daily tor-
ment each of us face, the questions
that grind at us, how to package,
what to package, how to
cope. You will be met by others
that have gone through what you
are going through. We strive to
support you with love, education,
and the knowledge that you too,
can do this!
For information please contact us at:
info@fsamus.com Phone # 313-410-1482

MEETINGS
WHERE: American Legion Post 32
9318 Newburgh Road Livonia, Michigan 48150
WHEN: Second Mondays & Fourth Fridays of each month at 6:30 pm
2010 SCHEDULE-Tuesday, November 23rd, Monday, December 13th, Tuesday, December 28th.

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

In Closing
Happy Thanksgiving to all and thank you for your service to our country. It is truly the men
and women like you who make this nation great, and we must never forget that. We hope everyone
had a good Veterans Day and took time to remember the sacrifices of those brave men and women.
Thank you to everyone for all the help you have given us so far. We have been able to reach
more people with your help. Compared to when we first started, the amount of input and ideas we
received has increased greatly. For that we are very thankful. If you have anything you would like to
share, any questions, or have an article idea, please let me know. You can contact me anytime at
mhauser@migop.org

Sincerely,
If you don‘t want to receive these emails or wish to be removed
Matthew X. Hauser from the list please reply remove to mhauser@migop.org

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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933