Sunday, October 31, 2010

Virginia Voters to decide on tax break for veterans

The state of Virginia is asking voters if a tax break should be given to veterans.

Question 2 "Asks voters if the constitution of Virginia should be amended to require the General Assembly to provide a real property tax exemption for the principal residence of a veteran or his or her
surviving spouse if the veteran has a 100 percent service-connected and permanent and total disability.
The proposed amendment would the General Assembly to pass a law exempting from local taxation the principal residence owned and occupied by any veteran with a 100 percent service-connected permanent and total disability. The veterans surviving spouse could continue to claim the exemption provided he or she does not remarry and continues to occupy the home as his or her principal residence."

It appears that the legislators will determine how large of an exemption will be granted, I am sure it will not be a total exemption, but rather a percentage.

This is a great first step, now we question, what about the rest of the veterans. Are they to be left out
in the cold? Does the state have exemptions (as some states do) for Korean and Vietnam Wars?
And what about the Cold War Veteran, are they to still be ignored?

I urge everyone who lives in Virginia to vote yes on Question 2, remember, recognize and honor our
veterans. It is time to say Thank You for your service. You have done well.


Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"



---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Saturday, October 30, 2010

National Day of Remembrance for Nuclear Workers

Today October 30, 2010 is National Day of Remembrance for those Atomic Workers in honor of Cold War Veterans.

We salute and standby our brothers and sisters who at great cost to their health and well being worked
hard long hours being constantly exposed to nuclear energy, including uranium miners, millers, truckers
and employees of nuclear weapons facilities.

They placed not only their own lives, but also the lives and health of their families for generations to come, in peril.

It is sad to say that they were not always aware of the consequences of their dedication and hard work. It was many years before some of the problems started to show, and our government finally admitted that it was possibly due to their exposure.

Many are still fighting for their health and happiness as they battle the diseases that ravage their bodies. It is unfair and unjust.

It is time for our country to take care of its own. Give these men and women the health care, the recognition they deserve. The Cold War Patriots are fighting for them all, and we join them in their crusade for justice.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Russian Military had busy week

The Russian military has been very busy in the last few days as they continue to rebuild and renew.
Not a good sign at this time.

On Thursday Russia test fired a Topal RS-12M (SS-25 Sickle) a single warhead intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a yield of 550 kilotons and a range of 6,125 miles. While this is one of their older missiles, first put into service in 1985, its service life has been extended several times.

This will be replaced by the Topal-M (SS-27 Stalin) which is a single warhead 550 Kiloton, the design is compatible with MIRV carrying 4 to 6 warheads along with decoys. It reportedly has a range of 1,242 to 6,525 miles. It is also claimed to be Russia's most accurate with a CEP of 657 feet.

Russia claims the missile will be invulnerable to any current of future US missile defense systems.  It can make evasive measures and is shielded against radiation,  EMP, nuclear explosions at distances of
over 1641 feet, and with take a hit from any laser. It can be launched from a shielded silo or from a mobile launcher.

Russia also launched two SLBM's from submerged submarines. One submarine fired a Sineva missile, the other fired a SS-N-18 Stingray missile. These missiles were fired at the same time and hit their designated targets.

Friday Russia had a successful launch of the much troubled Bulava (Mace) RSM-56 SBLM. This missile can carry up to ten independently targeted supersonic warheads which Russia claims cannot be
intercepted by any known means. The multiple warheads reached their targets 4,970 miles away in approximately 20 minutes.

Friday also saw the launch of the first of a new class of frigates. The project 22350 ship Admiral Gorshkov is a 4,500 ton frigate with a speed of 29 knots and a range of 4,000 nm at 14 knots.

It will carry a crew of 210 and large assortment of armament. It will have a 130 mm gun, a Kashtan Close In Weapons System, 8 Oniks (SS-N-26) anti-ship missiles, the Shtil (SA-N-12) medium range anti-aircraft missile complex, four 533 mm torpedo tubes. RPK-9 Medvedka-VE (SS-N-29) anti-submarine rockets and 24 Uragan SAM missiles. It will also carry a Ka-27 or Ka-32 helicopter.

Defense Ministry sources say the Russian Navy will receive 10 of these vessels in the next decade, and needs between 20 and 30 of these frigates as the main ocean-going surface ship.

This is all done just before the start of new talks scheduled to take place between the US and Russia.
It seems that Russia is purposely trying to prove they can be stronger and more dangerous.

Can it be that Russia plans to hold the upper hand and dictate to the US? Is the "reset" going to happen? One has to wonder.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"
 


---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Friday, October 29, 2010

New York City Councilman wants to give Cold War Veterans Tax Break

New York city councilman Vincent J. Gentile is introducing a bill that would give about 24,000 Cold War Veterans the same exemption on property taxes that are given to veterans of other wars.

A fifteen percent exemption on property taxes would be available for all Cold War Veterans for 15 years and would be capped at $39.000. The period September 2, 1945 through December 26, 1991 is considered the Cold War Era by the legislation. A discharge or separation of honorable conditions

In 2009 New York State gave cities, towns, villages and counties the option to grant this exemption to Cold War Veterans. Councilman Gentile said "My legislation would have New York City opt into the
 state tax exemption to make sure all our veterans are given the respect and courtesy they deserve."

It is our hope that more states take the same course and provide recognition to all Cold War Veterans.
Small steps, taken a few at a time, but we would like to see it turn into a groundswell to finally say
"Thank You" to the Cold War Veterans.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Veteran and Military Suicide Rates Still Climbing

 The Department of Defense has give Florida State University a 17 million dollar grant to attempt to
find out why more Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are committing suicide than those who fought
in previous US wars.

More than 1,100 veterans have died at their own hand between 2005 and 2009. This pushes the veteran
suicide rate higher than the general population, while in the past the rate has been lower than the general population.

The three year long grant and research will try to find the cause and attempt to develop a treatment.

So not only are veterans becoming homeless at a rate greater than normal, but also they are turning to
drugs, alcohol and other methods to ease their pain and suffering. When those attempts fail, and the
veteran does not get help, they fall back on the only thing that will stop the anguish; they take their
own lives.

Something must be done, and done quickly to stop this horrific and needless torture our veterans face
every day.

It is time for our country to step up and accept the fact that veterans are being ignored, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. We owe it to every man and women who ever wore a military uniform, and served our country; now we must serve them.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Lets Make The USS Liberty A Household Word

Jim Conit Jr. is running for the 8th Congressional District in Ohio. He wants a complete investigation into the USS Liberty Attack.

He is running radio ads and wants to spread the word across the country about the massacre of American Sailors. He wants the truth to be told.

Finally someone is standing up for the crew of the USS Liberty and what happened and why.

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/10/20/jim-condit-jr-help-me-make-the-attack-on-the-uss-liberty-a-household-word/

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Thursday, October 21, 2010

IAVA Congressional Report Card

 Thanks to Paul Rieckhoff and the IAVA
Did your representatives make the grade?
IAVA Action Fund just released its 2010 Congressional Report Card – and we want you to be the first to check it out. This critical tool shows who in Congress took action for new veterans and who was full of hot air.
The grades are not good. The Report Card shows just how little Congress accomplished for Iraq and Afghanistan vets this year. Out of 535 legislators, only 20 legislators earned an A+, and more than a third of Congress earned Ds and Fs.
Congress showed promise for vets in the first half of this session, but by the second half, everything went downhill.
They failed to achieve real reform in our three most critical areas: improving the outdated VA disability claims process, upgrading the Post-9/11 GI Bill and helping vets find jobs in a tough economy.
As we head into the midterm elections, Americans must hold Congress accountable for their voting record. Vets can't wait for the gridlock to clear in Washington. IAVA Action Fund is keeping our nation's lawmakers honest, and ensuring that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans remain a priority on Capitol Hill. This is what the Report Card is all about.
This Report Card brings veterans' issues back into the national dialogue before the midterm elections and shows Americans who really has our backs.
Paul
Paul Rieckhoff
Executive Director and Founder
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Action Fund (IAVA)

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

VA Suicide Hot Line


VA Taking Life-Saving Campaign to Streets 

WASHINGTON (Oct. 19. 2010)- This week, nearly 1,200 life-saving
advertisements will go up on city buses, bus shelters, rail and subway
stations across the Nation displaying a message of hope for those who
have served their country and may be facing an emotional crisis. The
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is advertising its Suicide
Prevention Hotline through Jan. 9, 2011.

"I know of one Veteran who saw these signs on a bus shelter, called the
hotline, and came to VA for help that same day," said VA Secretary Eric
K. Shinseki. "That Veteran had been walking out to the desert to take
his own life. There are thousands of other Veterans like him who are
still with us today as a direct result of the hotline. It's important
that we get the word out to everyone who put their lives on the line in
defense of this Nation."

Since its inception in July 2007, VA's Suicide Prevention Hotline,
1-800-273-TALK (8255), has saved more than 10,000 Veterans and provided
counseling for more than 180,000 Veterans and their loved ones at home
and overseas. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week
by trained mental health professionals prepared to deal with immediate
crises. The hotline also offers an anonymous online chat feature
<http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org> . (Look for the chat feature
in the upper right hand box.) While implemented for Veterans, any person
who calls the hotline and needs help will receive it.

VA has marketed the hotline through mass transit campaigns since summer
of 2008, increasing the number of calls and lives saved with each city
the campaign has reached. VA is partnering with Blue Line Media
(www.BlueLineMedia.com) for the campaign, a transit advertising
that specializes in helping business and government tell their stories
through transit advertising media, such as buses, bus shelters, benches,
subways, trains, airports, billboards and more.  

VA has also promoted awareness of the hotline through national public
service announcements featuring actor Gary Sinise and TV personality
Deborah Norville. The transit advertisements and both PSAs are available
for download via You Tube and at
www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention. 

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Camp Lejeune Drinking Water

For anyone who was at Camp Lejeune from the 1950's through 1987. You may have been exposed
to toxic chemicals in the drinking water. Possible effects from the contaminated water include: Cancer,
 Reproductive disorders, Birth Defects, Neurological Problems, Liver and Kidney disease.

An informational meeting will be held Nov. 6, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel located at 107 6th Street Pittsburgh, PA.

This is very important if you or someone you know was at Camp Lejeune during that time period more information can be found http://bit.ly/cXhAph

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Thursday, October 14, 2010

VFW Backs Cold War Medal

At their recent national convention the VFW approved resolution 307 for a Cold War Medal

WHEREAS, millions of unrecognized American troops served overseas around the globe in waging and winning a clear-cut victory in the Cold War (1945-1991); and

WHEREAS, the VFW was in the forefront of the worldwide struggle to defeat international communism since its inception and actively promoted anti-communism as a tenet of membership; and

WHEREAS, membership eligibility already includes service in six separate areas that were Cold War flashpoints recognized by the Army of Occupation Medal, China and offshore waters under the China Service Medal (1945-1957), as well as 17 distinct military actions (1958-1983) covered by the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and

WHEREAS, 382 Americans lost their lives in hostile incidents with Soviets and their surrogates, Chinese, North Koreans and Cuban-supported insurgents along the Iron, Bamboo and Cactus Curtains (over and above the full-fledged wars in Korea and Vietnam) and other combat endeavors as evidenced by the Cold War VFW magazine series (1996-98 and book in 2004); and

WHEREAS, uncounted numbers of the United States military enforced the containment policy in inhospitable environments ranging from the shores of Greenland, the barren Aleutian islands, North Pacific skies, depths of the Arctic Ocean, Latin American jungles to remote outposts stretching from Ethiopia to Pakistan, without official or public recognition; and

WHEREAS, an all-encompassing precedent (Public Law 104-3) as has been set with the universal opening of membership to all veterans of Korea war service regardless of direct exposure to enemy attack; and

WHEREAS, as a matter of fairness and a means of rectifying a continuing injustice to Americans who performed arduous duty during the Cold War in most cases equal to that of combat, closing this gap in Cold War recognition, is the right thing to do for our veterans; and,

WHEREAS, Congress has currently proposed legislation (S.2743 and H.R.4051) that provides for the award of a military service medal to members of the armed forces who served honorably during the Cold War and assisted in its final successful outcome; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, that we support the federal legislation to award a Cold War Service Medal to veterans who were involved in that historical endeavor. 


Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"


---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Older Veterans Target of Scams

As the veterans of our country grow older, we have to watch out for each other. The world can be a
harsh and uncaring place for anyone, but it seems to be more so for the elderly.

Older Veterans at community centers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities have become
targets of scam artists. Posing as "veterans advocates" they are making false claims.

By telling the veteran they can get you instant eligibility for additional benefits.

 The veteran is told "if you purchase financial products through us, we'll make you eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs pensions and other benefits" according to Joe Foster, administrator of
Montana's Veteran Affairs Division.

The veteran is told to transfer their retirement assets into an irrevocable trust so that the family appears to be impoverished, thus able to become eligible for a VA pension and other programs that pay additional benefit to veterans who need assistance with day to day living.

The VA may not wonder why you can be rich one day and broke the next, and not check for reasons.
But Medicare will check and if they find you have transferred your money this way it could change
your eligibility for Medicare benefits.

The big problem is that these trusts usually contain annuities and long-term investments, some must be
held for ten years or more before you can begin to collect monthly payments. Often the person does
not live long enough to collect, and guess where the money goes.

Sometimes these investments are explained at a "free lunch" for elderly people. These are usually completely false and another scam, they just take the money and run; leaving those who agreed and signed any papers without a chance of ever seeing their money again.

How to protect yourself if you are a veteran. A few tips: Don't be fooled by official sounding names, sometimes sales agents act as or work with organizations that claim to have a veteran affiliation and thus are tax exempt.
Don't trust the staff at nursing homes or community centers to safeguard you. They may not know
that salesperson is not on the level, and sometimes the homes are paid a fee.
Contact your state or local veterans affairs agency to make sure the offers are legitimate.
Check the agent's record at your state regulatory office.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Monday, October 11, 2010

Greenville, NC Veterans Memorial Vandalized

Greenville, NC police received notice Sunday that the Veterans Memorial statue had been vandalized.
The memorial, added in 2007 was the classic boots, rifle and helmet used to show a fallen hero.

The rifle and helmet were torn away, and the boots are loose. This is an insult to everyone who ever
served in the U.S. military. This is not a crime just against the memorial or the city but to all those
who wore the uniform of our country.

Greenville holds a ceremony and parade every year on Veterans Day, November 11, and this year they
will be without the monument. This was a place of honor and respect and now it has been ruined for the veterans of Greenville.

This is the type of wound felt very deeply, and hits deeper to those who have served in the military;
and to those who have lost loved ones who died fighting to protect the freedom and protect our country.

The person or persons responsible for this atrocity should be prosecuted to the full extent possible. They deserve to be held up to the public scorn they so richly deserve.

Greenville Parks and Recreation are working to repair the statute, which could cost $10,000 to replace.
In the meantime a sign stating the statute is under repair will be placed beside it.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

North Korea's Big Day

Sunday North Korea held a massive parade to show off their military power, while marking the
65th anniversary of the Communist Party; the only party in the country.

Shown on live TV were thousands of soldiers marching past the review stand where Kim Jong Il and his third son, and heir apparent, Kim Jong Un, watched and were saluted by the passing troops. This gave North Koreans their first extended view of the man selected to become the next leader.

Also on view were tanks, and huge trucks carrying missiles and rockets.

This appears to be notice to North Koreans, and the world that Kim Jong Il; who has been reported to
be in declining health plans to pass power to his third son. Although Kim Jong Un was not in military
uniform he was recently promoted to 4 star general. It was not known if the younger Kim had ever held a position previously.

Defectors claim that not many people care who is in charge. They just are trying to find enough to
eat to sustain them. The country is very poor, but they continue to build their military; and also try
to bully South Korea and the U.S. with speeches and threats.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"



---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Thursday, October 7, 2010

The Congressional Budget Office Report on VA Health Care

 The CBO issued a report on potential VA health costs through 2020. In using two scenarios, one good
thing both scenarios allow for VA lowering restrictions in all priorities, and increasing the number of veterans covered by the VA.
http://cboblog.cbo.gov/?p=1449

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Vietnam veterans get tribute 40 years in making - abc27 News

York County, PA: County lawmakers host ceremony for Vietnam Veterans recognize that these brave Veterans
did not receive the Welcome they should have had.

Vietnam veterans get tribute 40 years in making - abc27 News

----------------"And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades."-- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Stalin Bust at D-Day Memoria Removed-OH Wait It Will Return

  This bust of Stalin do not deserve to be in a place of Honor in the D-Day Memorial. It should not
be reinstalled at any time.

                        D-DAY FOUNDATION ERRS AGAIN--REMOVES STALIN BUST
BUT PROMISES TO REINSTALL IT 

                        Statement by Dr. Lee Edwards, Chairman
                        Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

            The National D-Day Memorial Foundation has erred again, and badly. Its decision to remove the Stalin bust but to reinstall it in the future is a grave insult to the brave Americans and others who stormed the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944-no Soviet troops participated in D-Day operations. It is also a serious misreading of the history of World War II, which was launched following the Stalin-Hitler pact of August 1939.  There would have been no need for the D-Day invasion if there had been no cynical "non-aggression" agreement between the Soviet and German dictators.

            The D-Day Memorial Foundation attempted to cover up its retreat on the June installation of the Stalin bust by stating it would remove not only the Stalin bust but all the busts of World War II leaders, including FDR and Churchill. It would then "reintroduce" all of the busts, including the Stalin bust, and "congregate them" somewhere in the memorial. This plan is even worse than the original placement of the Stalin statue because grouping Stalin with FDR, Churchill and other allied leaders would give the Soviet dictator a moral as well as a political equivalence he does not deserve.

            The D-Day Memorial Foundation insisted that its decision was not "a reaction to special interests" that had expressed their opposition, thereby insulting the American Legion which had urged the removal of the Stalin bust. As for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, we admit proudly that we have a special interest in educating people about the myriad crimes and victims of communism, millions of whom died as a result of Joseph Stalin's tyranny.

            Stalin-who was responsible for more deaths in the 20th century than any other dictator save Mao Zedong--has no place at a National D-Day Memorial. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation pledges to continue its national campaign for the permanent removal of the Stalin bust from the D-Day Memorial.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"


---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Senator Gillibrand: I'm for Veterans

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a new ad states she is for veterans.

"They bravely fought for our country, and it's appalling to me how our troops and veterans have been shortchanged." She goes on to say "That's why I fought to raise their pay, create incentives for vets starting their own business, and co-sponsored the new G.I. bill that's helping thousands of veterans get a college degree."

Although the ad does not mention the fact that she has been very vocal in support of repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", it is true that she does support the end of this policy.

She goes on to close with "They fought for our country, and now we need to fight for them."

That sounds very nice and well and good, but I fail to see her as a co-sponsor for S.2743 The Cold War Service Medal Act 2009; despite several requests that have gone unanswered.

Her support for the Cold War Service Medal would, I am sure garner a few more votes, as there are several thousand "Cold Warriors" living in New York. Show us you really care, be a cosponsor.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

London, Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Parade

London, Kentucky will have a weekend dedicated to Vietnam and Vietnam era veterans this weekend.
Friday there will be a flyover and vigil in honor of veterans. Saturday there will be a parade in London followed by a veteran reunion and concert.

Vietnam veterans did not receive a welcome home like WWII and other veterans from other conflicts.
This is just a small way to say Thank You and Welcome Home.

A lot of Vietnam veterans, because of the largely negative perception of the war, did not openly say that they had been in Vietnam; some did not even want to admit they were in the military.

Organizers say the ceremonies will be a solemn affair. "There is not a lot of hoopla that we're trying to do. We're not turning it into a festival because we want it to be somewhat of a reverent type event," said organizer Phil Smith.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Lousiana Veterans Honor Medal for All Veterans

In 2008 the Louisiana Legislature created The Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal. This is to recognize and pay tribute to ALL Louisiana Veterans.

The gold plated medal face reads "United States Armed Forces" and bears an outline of the state. The reverse side reads "Louisiana appreciates your service to our country." Suspended from a blue ribbon the medal may be worn around the neck, or pinned on a jacket.

Veterans who were wounded in battle will receive an honor medal designated by a silver star and a purple ribbon. Families of veterans who were killed in battle will receive an honor medal with a gold star and a gold ribbon.

Eligibility criteria includes: *Veteran served in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime or peacetime *Veteran received an honorable discharge or died prior to separation *Veteran is a current Louisiana resident, was a Louisiana resident upon entering military service or was a Louisiana resident at time of death.

Veterans seeking the Honor Medal must submit a copy of their DD-214/discharge papers and completed application. For military personnel killed on active duty attach DD-1300/death certificate with DD-214 and application.

More information and to download an application go to the Louisiana Department of Veterans
http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/medals

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Monday, October 4, 2010

Stop Loss Deadline Extended

Were you or a loved one, friend or family affected by Stop Loss and had your service involuntarily extended?

The deadline to submit a claim for retroactive pay has been extended from its original date of October 28, to Dec

President Obama signed a resolution that provides funding for the federal government through early December.

Retroactive Stop Loss pay, established to compensate military members who had to serve beyond their voluntary service commitment for the period from September 11. 2001 through September 30, 2009. Anyone who is eligible, or their beneficiary must file an application to be paid at a rate of $500 per month or partial month that was served in Stop Loss.

Approximately 145,000  service members, veterans or beneficiaries were eligible when the program started. Even though the services attempted to locate those affected, by mail, social services, and the national media, thousands of people have not applied.

If you are eligible you should apply as soon as possible in order to have you claim processed quickly and avoid the last minute rush.

To apply or learn more information please go to http://www.defense.gov./stoploss immediately.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Michigan Drops the Ball for Cold War Veterans

House Democrats fail to support veterans as bill languishes

Thursday, September 30, 2010
LANSING – House Democrats have refused to address legislation that would allow military veterans of the Cold War era to continue living in the state-run veterans homes in Grand Rapids and Marquette.

The reform measure was sponsored by Sen. Jason Allen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs. Senate Bill 1499 also would have clarified the process for future admissions. The northern Michigan lawmaker introduced the bill after a specific request by the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the clarification.

“Our veterans got the job done when the country needed them,” Allen said. “There is no excuse to delay this important matter. We need to get this done for those who served us.”

The measure, which had passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, was scheduled for consideration in the House when Democrat leaders suddenly removed it from the agenda.

“We missed a perfect opportunity to show strong support for our Cold War veterans and it’s very disappointing,” said Allen. “There is no legitimate reason for holding up this measure and failing to give our veterans peace of mind.”

The department acknowledges and pays for qualified expenses for Cold-War-era veterans although state law remains silent to this period of conflict. As a result, the legality of such admissions to the Dominic Jacobetti Veterans Facility in Marquette and the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans has been called into question by state auditors.

“Now the matter remains unresolved until November or later,” Allen said. “It’s unfortunate that political gamesmanship ruined what should have been a simple reform to help some deserving veterans. This legislation deserves swift passage and area Democrat lawmakers must convince their leaders to stop these delay tactics.”

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Saturday, October 2, 2010

USS Virginia SSN-774 Loses Part of Stealth Coating

KITTERY, Maine — The USS Virginia shed pieces of its sonar-absorbent skin while on patrol, giving the submarine's hull a pockmarked appearance as it arrived for repairs at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
The stealthy submarine could become easier to detect by enemy sonar if it lost too much of the special coating. But the Navy insists that the sub never lost enough of the material to rise to that level and that it has moved aggressively to fix the problems in newer models of nuclear-powered attack submarines.

"We've been aware of the issues, we're making improvements in the process, and we're seeing results already," said Alan Baribeau, spokesman for the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. There has been "no measurable impact on the ship's performance," he said.

Since the Navy took delivery of the Virginia in 2004, six others like it have been built and put into service.

During the summer, the Pentagon's director of test and evaluation described a November 2009 review that found the finish peeling off in big swatches "up to hundreds of square feet."

The most serious problems for the so-called anechoic coating have been limited to three of the first four subs in that class, the Navy said. The coating on the hull of the Virginia will be repaired during a regularly scheduled 14-month overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

The USS Virginia was off-limits to public viewing last week. But there were several missing pieces visible on the 377-foot-long sub when it arrived in Kittery on Sept. 1. The repair process includes cutting away any loose pieces of coating before replacing the material, the Navy said.
Cmdr. Timothy Salter, the sub's skipper, declined to comment.

The material is likened to the stealth coating on fighter jets and bombers that absorb radar's electromagnetic waves; the anechoic tiles on submarines absorb sound waves from sonar.
They help to provide stealth to modern submarines.

"If you have a significant portion of a submarine's exterior surface lacking sound-absorbent material, it's at greater risk of being detected and tracked in a way that can compromise its survivability," said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute.

While the Navy has used anechoic tiles for years, it instituted a new process with the USS Virginia in which the ship is coated with a "special hull treatment," Baribeau said. It's described in some literature as a rubber-like substance, but the Navy won't reveal details because it's classified.
Problems with the coating on the USS Virginia were noted in 2007. The Navy immediately began working on changes to the application process, he said.

All told, the USS Virginia, USS North Carolina and USS Texas each lost 5 to 7 percent of their special hull coatings, the Navy said. The amount of coating peeling away has been reduced to less than 2 percent on the USS New Mexico and USS New Hampshire. Data on the newest sub in the class, USS Missouri, isn't yet available.

Norman Polmar, a naval historian, author and analyst, agreed that the loss of part of the special coating isn't catastrophic. And he sympathized with the engineering difficulties in finding a substance that can withstand salt water, rapidly changing water pressure and extreme cold.

But he questioned why the Navy didn't have a handle on the problem. "We've been using anechoic coatings for almost 50 years and in that time, you'd hope that we could get it right," he said.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Massachusetts New Edition of Veterans Benefits

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has issued the latest version of it's book on Veterans Benefits
Here is a link to the website to download a copy
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/CIS/CISvet/vetidx.htm

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Green Bay Disabled Veterans Can Now Ride for Free

Green Bay, Wisconsin has announced that Disabled Veterans, and their service attendants can now
ride for free on city buses.

To qualify veterans will have to show a VA identification card with the words "Service Connected" or
the letters "SC" stamped on the card.

The new program was announced on Friday, as a way of rewarding veterans for their military service.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember" 

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

VA Extends Coverage for Gulf War Veterans

From Global Defence.net

WASHINGTON - Veterans of the first Gulf War as well as current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan now have a smoother path toward receiving health-care benefits and disability compensation for nine diseases associated with their military service, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced today.
A final regulation published in today's Federal Register relieves veterans of the burden of proving these diseases are service-related: Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella Burnetii (Q fever), Malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral leishmaniasis and West Nile virus.
Shinseki added the new presumptions after reviewing a 2006 National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine report on the long-term health effects of certain diseases suffered among Gulf War veterans.
He also extended the presumptions to veterans of Afghanistan, based on NAS findings that the nine diseases are prevalent there as well.
The new presumptions apply to veterans who served in Southwest Asia beginning on or after the start of Operation Desert Shield on Aug. 2, 1990, through Operation Desert Storm to the present, including the current conflict in Iraq. Veterans who served in Afghanistan on or after Sept. 19, 2001, also qualify.
For Shinseki, who pledged to honor the 20th anniversary of the Gulf War by improving health-care access and benefits for its 697,000 veterans, the new presumptions represent a long-overdue step in addressing the medical challenges many face.
"This is part of historic changes in how VA considers Gulf War veterans' illnesses," he said. "By setting up scientifically based presumptions of service connection, we give these deserving veterans a simple way to obtain the benefits they earned in service to our country."
The new presumptions initially are expected to affect just under 2,000 veterans who have been diagnosed with the nine specified diseases, John Gingrich, VA's chief of staff, told American Forces Press Service. He acknowledged that the numbers are likely to climb as more cases are identified.
With the final rule, a veteran needs only to show service in Southwest Asia or Afghanistan during the specified time periods to receive disability compensation, subject to certain time limits based on incubation periods for seven of the diseases.
"It gives them easier access to quality health care and compensation benefits," Gingrich said. "The message behind that is that the VA is striving to make access to health care easier for our veterans who have served in our combat zones."
He expressed hope that by providing quick, easy access, VA will help veterans get the care they need early on, without having to fight the bureaucracy.
"When we find these presumptions and we reach out and get the veterans into our system, we can help them and give them the proper medical care they need, and maybe keep their disease from getting worse or getting it to go away altogether," he said.
It also will help eliminate the piles of paperwork and long claims adjudication process veterans had to go through to prove their cases to receive care and benefits. "This will help break the back of the backlog in the long run, while sending a reassuring message to veterans that the VA is there for them," Gingrich said.
He called the new presumptions part of Shinseki's effort to "create a culture of advocacy" within VA that builds trust as it reaches out to veterans.
For Gingrich, a Gulf War veteran himself, the effort is very personal. He remembers being deployed as a 1st Infantry Division field artillery battalion commander during Operation Desert Storm, when one of his officers became very sick with an illness nobody could diagnose.
"The medics couldn't diagnose it. We called in the doctors and they couldn't diagnose it. And eventually, he had to be medevaced back," he recalled. "And now here we are, 20 years later, and I saw him in Dallas in August, and he is still sick. You can't identify all the reasons and symptoms, but he is sick."
Veterans deserve better, Gingrich insisted. "I believe that our veterans that served in uniform for our country deserve the absolute best care and benefits that we can provide," he said.
VA provides compensation and pension benefits to more than 3.8 million veterans and beneficiaries, and received more than 1 million claims last year alone, VA officials reported. Veterans without dependents receive a basic monthly compensation ranging from $123 to $2,673.
Source:
U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Friday, October 1, 2010

Thank You Congress..For leaving us waiting

It seems that our elected officials are more concerned about themselves and staying in office
than they are about the rest of the country. Just another slap in the face, punch in the stomach to all of America.

Instead of adjourning on October 8 as we all thought they would, low and behold they all made a big dash out of town on Thursday. Leaving the country in a lurch, they did pass a stop gap spending bill to keep things running for now.

Family care, child care, child nutrition and any and everything to do with our military and our veterans will have to wait until the lame duck session starts on November 15. Nothing was done about the tax cuts from the Bush era; which are due to expire at the end of the year, Democrats wanted to avoid lengthy debates.

As they come home and ask you to vote for them remember how they have held the country ransom. Do they deserve our vote? Is this the way to show Americans what is just and right? How can they
return to their home state and just leave so many important issues unanswered?

OK, they believe they can continue to pull the wool over our eyes, but stand up America tell these
men and women who are supposedly doing what is best You Have To Do Better.

It is hard to believe that these men and women who we voted for in the past to set the ship aright, now are jumping out of town to further their own desires; and apparently not caring what "Joe the plumber", or any of us think.

We can only hope that the next Congress will be more in tune with our country's needs. What we need
is more than just promises, we need action; and someone who will say Enough Is Enough!

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996