VA Help for Gulf War Veterans

http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2365

It has now been 22 years since the start of the 1990-1991 Gulf War which comprises the deployment and combat operations known as Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Almost 700,000 Servicemembers were deployed during this period. Those Veterans who have enrolled in the VA health care system have made over 2 million outpatient visits for health care and had over 20,000 inpatient admissions in the VA health care system.

“The Department of Veterans Affairs has not forgotten the service and dedication of Gulf War Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We continue to provide high-quality health care and benefits to them while we invest in research that helps us understand and treat Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses.” 

In support of care and services to the Veterans of the first Gulf War, VA has led efforts to better understand and characterize Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses and to improve treatment.   Research initiatives have included:

• Funding an independent Institute of Medicine (IOM) review of scientific and medical research related to treatment of chronic multi-symptom illness among Gulf War Veterans.  The report is expected in 2013.
• Funding and encouraging a wide spectrum of research focused on identifying new treatments to help Gulf War Veterans, including studies on pain, muscle and bone disorders, autoimmune disease, neurodegenerative disease, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory problems, and other chronic diseases.   Research is ongoing in other conditions, as well, that may affect Gulf War Veterans, such as brain cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS), and multiple sclerosis. 
• Launching in May 2012, the third follow-up study of a national cohort of Gulf War and Gulf War Era Veterans (earlier studies were conducted in 1995 and 2005; the health surveys are done to understand possible health effects of service and guide health care delivery).
• Continuing the clinical, research, and education activities of the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center program which focuses on post-deployment health.

VA is also improving care and services for Gulf War Veterans through initiatives outlined in the 2011 GWVI Task Force Report. These include the evaluation of a clinical care model specifically for Gulf War Veterans and of enhanced education for health care providers about Gulf War Veterans’ concerns.  Additionally, a VA Gulf War Research Strategic Plan has been developed to address effective treatment for the symptoms experienced by some Gulf War Veterans and to guide efforts toward improvements in diagnosis, the understanding of genetic and biologic factors related to Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses, and the application of research findings in Veterans’ health care.

VA provides care for Veterans of all eras as part of its mission.  VA operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system.  With a health care budget of more than $50 billion, VA expects to provide care to 6.1 million patients during 920,000 inpatient hospital admissions and nearly 80 million outpatient visits during 2012.  VA’s health care network includes 152 major medical centers and more than 800 community-based outpatient clinics.

For more information on Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses, see: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former 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

Maine warns veterans of scam targeting them - Boston.com

Maine warns veterans of scam targeting them - Boston.com

All veterans should always be aware and on their toes. There are so many people trying so many ways
to reach into your pocket and bank account. Never give your account information to anyone, if some
body asks for that information always double check. Ask them for their phone number so you can call
them back

----Jerald TerwilligerFormer ChairmanAmerican 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

Morris, Minnesota to Honor Cold War Veterans

Attention Cold War Veterans, do you live in or around Morris, Minnesota? Plan to attend
this day of recognition.

Morris, Minnesota has planned a day to recognize and honor all Cold War Veterans, those who
served in the military after the Korean War and before the Vietnam War. But, as we all know both
wars were part and parcel of the Cold War (I do not feel those veterans should be excluded).

The day of recognition and gratitude will be held on Sept. 9, 2012 at the Old #1 South Side in
Morris, starting at 2:00 p.m., with a short program and veterans will be given a certificate. There
will be a lunch following the program.

The program is open to veterans of any time period, their families, and the general public. There
is no cost and pre-registration is not required.

More towns, cities and counties are recognize the Cold War, and finally paying the
respect and honor that is long overdue for these brave men and women. Those who have
been forgotten and ignored these many years. It is the "war no one remembers" or maybe
no one wants to remember.

Our national government does not recognize it, the Department of Defense says it was not
a war, even though many lives were lost. DOD continues to block efforts to have a Cold War
Service Medal issued.

There have been many bills issued in Congress over the last ten years, but none have come
to see the light of day. When a provision is written into either the House or Senate version
of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it gets stripped from the final version.
Other bills have been placed before the Armed Services Committees and do not reach
the floor for a final vote.

This year the NDAA FY2013 makes not mention of a Cold War Service Medal, but there are
two bills in committee S.402 and H.R. 1968, please use the POPVOX links on the right to tell your
elected officials to cosponsor these bills and ask that they be put to the floor for a full vote.

And you can also sign a petition that will be sent to Congress and President Obama by
following the link Petition to Create and Authorize a Cold War Service Medal

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former 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

Congress Limits Protest At Military Funerals

As part of "The Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012"
which passed Congress and is now headed to President Obama's desk, is a section to limit protests
at Military Funerals.

Demonstrators will now no longer be allowed to picket two hours before or 2 hours following a
military funeral service. The bill also says that protesters must remain at least 300 feet away
from grieving family members.

Thanks to Maine Republican Senator Olympia Snowe who introduced this part of the legislation
at the urging of a teenage constituent, in response to a Supreme Court case in 2011 that said
the protests were protected by the First Amendment.

This will severely limit actions by the Westboro Baptist Church in their protests at military
funerals. The Church's disruptive and insensitive actions  often suggest that U.S. Armed Forces
have been killed as part of God's vengeance for tolerance of gay and lesbian in our country.

As a response to the court ruling and the continued presence of the protesters many have held
counter-protest demonstrations in an effort to block to protesters, often forming a human
barrier to keep the Westboro Baptist Church members at a distance from the military funeral.

Our Armed Forces have fought long and hard to allow the freedom to protest, the members of
this Church should be thankful and respectful enough to allow the freedom of a peaceful and
dignified final laying to rest of those who have given their all to our country.

Respect for the families grieving the loss of their loved ones should never be allowed to be minimized,
or interfered with in any manner by any person or group.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former 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