I Am A Vet

We were young and brave, and sometimes foolish
Our leaders, somewhat older and wiser
Showed us how to become our best
Young boys and girls, became women and men

We placed our lives on hold
Put our life on the line,
To protect and serve the nation we love
Often far away from family and friends


We stood our watch where ever it might be
Waiting and hoping we were not called for real
Through heat, dust, cold, snow and ice
Brothers and sisters, I have your back

Friendships were made, and bonds quickly formed
To last a forever, time and distance matter not
When we meet again it is like we never parted

Ready at all times to face the enemy
On land, in the air, on the sea or below
We performed our tasks, never quite sure
Was this really it, or just another drill

Those who paid the ultimate price
They gave their all, the last sacrifice
Our tears were shed as we silently stood
To honor and remember them forever

Some will look down on a veteran
Disregarding and disrespecting
Showing not honor, but venom and hate
Forgetting that we gave them the freedom

Our days are numbered, and quickly passing
The old guard passes the torch to the new
We watch with pride as they take their turn
Will our country ever learn

War is evil, war is hell and yet
Would we do it all over if we had the chance
Yes, we are proud, we stood the test
And now I can say I am a Vet


---- 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

Asbestos Exposure among U.S. Veterans and the Health Effects

When veterans return home from active service back to the country they served so diligently, they seldom think that the dangers they encountered while on active duty will still put them at risk. A very real danger that many veterans are unaware of is asbestos exposure.

Asbestos can withstand heat, chemical corrosion and is a poor conductor of electricity. For this reason, it was used in military insulation, fire proofing and in vehicle and weapon parts. However, when asbestos is damaged or disturbed, inhaled or ingested fibers can cause severe illnesses including deadly cancers.

This toxic material was found in abundance on Army proving grounds, Navy battleships and in military bases all over the world. Veterans of several wars including the Vietnam War, Korean War and especially World War II were all exposed to asbestos regularly. During the Cold War, rearmament asbestos use reached 1,800 million pounds annually and its use did not decrease until after the 1970s, endangering Cold War veterans.

Navy veterans and shipyard workers were at the highest risk for asbestos exposure. In World War II alone, 5,000 merchant vessels were produced in American shipyards and in 1943 the U.S. Navy launched 30,000 warships. Boilers and water pipes aboard these ships were insulated with asbestos. The paint on these vessels also used asbestos. Many of these ships remained in use well beyond the 1970s.

Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure

After asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The most deadly of these is mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma tumors grow in the linings of internal organs. Most mesothelioma sufferers have pleural mesothelioma, and it affects the lining of the lungs. The symptoms of this disease include chest pain, difficulty breathing, persistent dry cough, excessive fluid in the lungs and unexplained weight loss.

The symptoms of this disease often take 10 to 50 years from the date of initial exposure to surface, and by the time it is diagnosed the tumor is usually in later stages. Usually, the earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the treatment options and prognosis. Veterans can contact their local VA center for asbestos disease health screenings.

Bio: Michelle Y. Llamas researches and writes about asbestos and its related diseases for the Mesothelioma Center.

Sources:

Hedley – Whyte, J. & Milamed, D. R. (2008) Asbestos and ship-building: Fatal consequences. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2604477/

---- 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

May 21-Judgement Day? Doomsday?

In my previous post about Armed Forces Day, I neglected to mention that May 21 has
also been prophesied as Judgement Day or Doomsday by Harold Camping.

So it might be your last chance to say Thank You to your military.

Of course May 21, 2012 is the end of the Mayan calendar and the predicated end of the world.

You pay your money and you take your chances.

---------------- "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

Armed Forces Day-Saturday May 21, 2011

Saturday May 21, 2011 has been designated Armed Forces Day, with a theme "United
in Strength."

This is the day dedicated to our Armed Forces, and a chance for everyone to pause and remember
and to say Thank You to our military

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of Armed
Forces Day to replace  the then separate Army Day, Navy Day and Air Force Day.

This came about due to the unification of all military branches under one department, The Department
of Defense. The various military leagues and orders were asked to drop sponsorship of its specific
day, and to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day. The Army, Navy and Air Force
leagues agreed and adopted the new day. However the Marine Corp League decided not to drop
Marine Corp Day, but added their support to the new Armed Forces Day.

The first Armed Forces Day was marked with parades, open houses, receptions and air shows
across the country. In New York an estimated 33,000 participated under the cover of
250 military planes of all types. In Washington, DC 10,000 troops of all military branches, cadets,
and veterans marched in front of the President. In Berlin 1,000 troops marched for the German
citizens at Templehof Airfield.

The battleships USS Missouri, USS North Carolina, USS Iowa, and USS New Jersey; while
sitting in "mothballed" condition were open for public inspection, meanwhile precision flying
teams dominated the skies as on the ground tracking radar was on display.

There were many many purposes for holding Armed Forces Day, in addition to expressing the
unification of all the services under a single department of the government. It was a kind of
educational program for civilians which would increase awareness of the Armed Forces. It
was planned to show the public what kind of job is performed and how the military relates
to civilian life. It gave the military a chance to show their state-of-the-art equipment to the
population they were protecting.

Some famous quotes regarding Armed Forces Day by our country's leaders:

"It is fitting and proper that we devote one day each year to paying special tribute to
those whose constancy and courage constitute one of the bulwarks guarding the freedom of
this nation and the peace of the free world." ..President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953

"Close understanding between members of our Armed Forces and members of the civilian
communities is most important to preserve the high level of national readiness necessary
for safeguarding the free world."...General Nathan  F. Twining, 1959

"..Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without
them, there will be no other rights to guard."...President John F. Kennedy, 1962"

"..Our servicemen an women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace--many of
them away from their homes, their friends and their families. They are visible evidence of our
determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are
also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth--that the survival of freedom requires great
cost and commitment, and great personal sacrifice."..President John F. Kennedy, 1963

"Armed Forces Day, above all, honors the dedicated individuals who wear the uniforms of their
country. Each serviceman, wherever he may be, whatever his task, contributes directly and
importantly to the defense of the nation. The task of each one is the task of the Armed Forces:
to protect the freedoms which underlie the greatness of America."...Gen. Earle Wheeler, 1967

"It is not just our troops who are called to serve and sacrifice, but also their families, who give
our service members the love and support they need to carry on the fight. We will continue to
improve and enhance our support for the families and survivors our troops leave behind. These
heroes are dedicated to defending the country we love, and we must stand firmly beside them
and help care for their spouses and children."
"On Armed Forces Day let us salute the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen
who perform their duties with impeccable courage, commitment, and character, and recognize our
moral obligation to serve them and their families as they have served us."..President Barak Obama, 2011.

This year as we continue the two wars and more of our servicemen and servicewomen spend
more time away from, often serving multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan; it is even more important
that we remember and honor our military.

Please if there is a parade near you go, stand there and show your support. Attend an open house or
reception. Above all Please say Thank You to every member of the military that you come in
contact with.

And let us all make it a habit not just on Armed Forces Day, but every day of the year, to thank our
military and our veterans. Five simple words "Thank you for your service", or even "Thank You."
It will mean so much to them just to be remembered.

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

The Dumbing of America Continues

According to a report release Tuesday, almost 1 in 4 students who try to enter the military fail the
entrance exam.

That means students graduating from high school can not answer basic math, reading and science
questions. This may present a problem in the future as the available pool of young people grows
smaller.  DoD says it is meeting its recruiting goals for the present, but as the economy improves
that could change.

U.S. Education Secretary Anne Duncan said "Too many of our high school students are not
graduating ready to begin college or a career and many are not eligible to serve in our
armed forces." "I am deeply troubled by the national security burden created by America's
underperforming education system."

Retired Navy Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett, a member of Mission:Readiness a coalition of
retired military leaders working  to bring attention to the high ineligibility rates had this to say.
"If you can't get the people that you need, there's a potential for decline in your readiness."

The study examined the scores of nearly 35,000 high school graduates, ages 17-20 who took
the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery between 2004 and 2009. About half of those
applying went on to join the Army.

Those taking the test must score 31 out of 99 on the first part of the three hour test to get into
the Army. Those applying to the Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard require higher scores.


More tests with questions on accounting, word comprehension, mechanical maintenance,
mathematics and science are used to determine what type of job the recruit would be best
suited for. Which means many who pass the ASVAB are not scoring high enough to qualify
for the best jobs.

Our schools are failing in the education of our youth. Some educators seem to  think that the
graduates will straighten out when they get in the military. But the military does not think that way.

"A lot of people make the charge that in this era of accountability and standardized testing,
that we put too much emphasis on basic skills." "This study really refutes that. We have a lot
of kids that graduate from high school that have not mastered basic skills."

"The military is a lot more high-tech than in the past," said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Norman R
Seip. "I don't care if you're a soldier Marine carrying a backpack or someone sitting in a
research laboratory, the things we expect out of our military members requires a very, very
well educated force."

To make matters worse, the tests are given to a smaller pool of people. Data shows that 75
percent of those ages 17-24 do not qualify to take the test because they are physically unfit,
(a fourth are obese), have a criminal record or did not graduate from high school.

This is a sad and sorry state of affairs, that needs to be rectified immediately. We can not
allow children to graduate high school and be totally unqualified.

Educators must step up and ensure our youth receive a proper education that will have them
ready to face the world.

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

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

Days to remember in November

November has several dates we should remember

To the Editor:
Cumberland Times-News

’Tis interesting, come November that there are three consecutive dates commemorating veterans and their service to the U.S.A:

9 November — The 20th anniversary of the fall if the Berlin Wall, signalling the end of communism in East Germany and by the end of 1989 the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. That was the beginning of the end of the Cold War against Russia (USSR then).

10 November — The 234th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.

11 November — Veterans Day, which honors all veterans of all wars. This day used to be called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

All are important dates in which veterans from different eras and armed forces took part.

Probably the least known date is 9 November. It needs to be remembered the Army Air Force had been omnipresent along the iron curtain facing down the Russians since 1945. That’s 44 years the warriors of the Cold War had served in Europe and are there yet.

Here is how the article titled “Fall of the Berlin Wall Frees East Europe” in the November/December issue of the VFW magazine concludes: “But with the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 Nov. 89, the way to freedom opened up for everyone. Communism’s attempt to control a continent failed because of the sacrifices of many people, known and unknown, for more than four decades, including the steadfast GI’s of the vaunted Berlin Brigade.”

Looking back to 1917 to ever rule mankind, bar none.

Lest we forget.

Paul Shogren

Oakland

Jerald Terwilliger

National Chairman

American Cold War Veterans, Inc