No Veterans Groups for Mayor Bloomberg

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election_2009/2009/09/27/2009-09-27_veterans_awol_from_mayor_bloombergs_list_of_endorsements.html

Veterans groups AWOL from Mayor Bloomberg's list of endorsements

Adam Lisberg

Sunday, September 27th 2009, 4:00 AM

Mayor Bloomberg appears to have a veteran problem.

As of last week, his campaign counted more than 400 endorsements - but just one of them was from a veterans group. And that group doesn't even exist.

The "Panamanian and Ethnic American Veterans Political Action Committee," which has its own page on Bloomberg's Web site, has never filed any paperwork, made any donations or endorsed a candidate - besides Bloomberg.

Rev. Guillermo Martino, a Panamanian-American Vietnam veteran who heads the Tabernacle of God's Glory in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, said the 125-member group wants to build a community center for its fellow Panamanian immigrants.

"At the beginning, we weren't doing anything politically," Martino said last week. "This year, they came over and asked us to give them our support."

He said a Bloomberg campaign worker told them the mayor could help them get a building for their center - but did not offer any specifics, or offer it as a quid pro quo.

"There were promises that we felt in our heart," Martino said. "He's going to help us to obtain the building. We believe it, and we will stand on that."

So does he think Bloomberg has helped veterans?

"I have not seen it, no. I'm looking forward that he will start," Martino said. "We are looking forward to him learning from whatever mistakes he made in the past."

Funny thing is, some veterans active in real organizations say the same thing - that Bloomberg hasn't reached out to soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, hasn't done enough to help homeless or addicted vets, and hasn't gone out of his way to help veterans get jobs and housing.

"We haven't had much in the way of proactive help from the mayor," said Edward Daniels, who chairs a group called the Incarcerated Veterans Consortium.

He was invited to a "Veterans for Bloomberg" meeting at the campaign's headquarters earlier this month, but after hearing a presentation about Bloomberg's record, he said he walked out unimpressed.

Critics say the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs, which Bloomberg elevated to a commissioner-level department two years ago, rarely starts new initiatives and tends to piggyback on the work of other groups.

And Bloomberg has been to only one servicemember's funeral in more than three years.

Some veterans back him: Stephen Kaufman, an Air Force vet who attended the "Veterans for Bloomberg" meeting, said he lent his support after hearing his plans for more outreach and counseling in a third term.

"He's very subtle, but he's getting it done," said another attendee, Joe Graham, president of the Manhattan branch of the Vietnam Veterans of America. "I think he's terrific for vets."

As Bloomberg campaigns for a third term, he is actively soliciting votes with groups like "Asians for Bloomberg" and "Women for Bloomberg" and "Urban Young Professionals for Bloomberg." But you can scour his Web site and never find mention of an organized "Veterans for Bloomberg" - just a phantom group of Panamanians.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
"We Remember"

Pennsylvania to dedicate Cold War Memorial

Slowly and surely the Cold War is garnering recognition. Cities, towns, counties, states are remembering the Cold War, what it meant, how it influenced our country.

Many high schools and collages now have courses dedicated to the Cold War as part of their history/social science requirements.

We are still attempting to convince Congress to authorize a Cold War Service Medal. It has been a long struggle, but we will not give up the fight.

Cold War monument to be dedicated

The Veterans Memorial Park and Education Center Society will be dedicating the Cold War Monument, their most recent project, on Monday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. This event will take place at Veterans Park at Airport Park in Matamoras. The Cold War spanned the years 1945 to 1991. Although not a shooting war, it was a time of serious tension between the United States, its allies and the Soviet Union. To honor the sacrifice of the men and women who served during that period of time, park sponsors are inviting all military posts, organizations, individual veterans, and the general public to attend the dedication. Military posts that would like to take part in the ceremony with their color guards, are asked to contact Dick Gassmann at 570-491-4003, or Gene Goldner at 570-686-1448

Please contact your elected officials in Washington ask them to introduce legislation, or be a cosponsor when someone else brings forth a bill to authorize and direct DoD to issue a Cold War Service/Victory Medal.

Jerald Terwilliger, Chairman

American Cold War Veterans, Inc

Ask President Obama

This Sunday George Stephanopolous will be interviewing President Obama. The ABC website
has a link that you can use to send a question to ask the President. This is another chance to
get the American Cold War Veterans, Inc and our quest for a Cold War Service/Victory Medal
some national attention.

Here is the link to the ABC website
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/question-president-barack-obama-email-george-stephanopoulos/story?id=8578184

I asked the following question:

Mr. President:

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the 17th anniversary
of the end of the Soviet Union, and thus the Cold War.

During the election campaign you twice stated you thought a Cold War Victory Medal was something you supported. Will you this year issue an Executive Order to establish and have
issued a Cold War Victory (or Service) Medal to all those who served honorably from Sept. 1945
to Dec. 1991?

Thank you,

Jerald Terwilliger, Chairman
American Cold War Veterans, Inc

Gov. Schwarznegger to sign bill

Governor Schwarznegger has promised to sign legislation declaring March 30 of every year as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day"

Assemblyman Paul Cook thanked the legislature for passing his bill after a similar bill was vetoed by the Governor last week.

"From day one, my intention was clear – establishing a 'Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day' to honor California's Vietnam veterans for their bravery and sacrifices on the battlefield in serving our country," Cook stated in a media advisory.

Cook emphasized, "This is a special day for Vietnam vets who have been ignored for decades throughout this country. This is a day to appreciate them and the sacrifices they made on behalf of this great nation. How fitting that on 9-11, Democrats and Republicans came together as Californians and Americans to honor our Vietnam veterans.

Schwarzenegger issued the following statement regarding the bill: "Thousands of Californians answered our nation's call to serve during the Vietnam War. They served with honor and distinction, and many courageously gave their lives to protect the freedoms that we as Americans hold dear. Declaring a public day of remembrance with the 'Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day' is an important reminder for all Californians to reflect on the sacrifices and valiant contributions that California's great Vietnam veterans have made for us all."

The American Cold War Veterans, Inc. thank the Governor and the state of California for this step in recognizing our fellow veterans.

Now the question is: Will California do the same for Cold War Veterans? These veterans are
ignored and spurned and forgotten. Many people feel that Cold War Veterans are not really veterans, made to feel unwanted and not appreciated.

20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and 17 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union is
too long. It is time to acknowledge the fact that there was indeed a Cold War, lasting 46 years,
and the the U.S. did in fact win. Time to honor these brave and dedicated veterans is now.

Jerald Terwilliger
Chairman, American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
"We Remember"

Gulf War Aircraft Losses

We sometimes forget that the Gulf War/Desert Shield/Desert Storm were part of the Cold
War era. Short lived though it was, there were losses that could not be considered any different or account for less. Any loss is felt by all, we grieve along with the family of the who gave their all.

Iraq lost a total of 259 aircraft in the war, 122 in combat. They lost 36 aircraft shot down in aerial combat during Desert Storm.^[48] 3 helicopters and two fighters were shot down during the invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Kuwaiti claims to have shot down as many as 37 Iraqi aircraft have not been confirmed^[49] In addition, 68 fixed wing aircraft and 13 helicopters were destroyed on the ground, and 137 aircraft were flown to Iran and not returned.^[50]

The Coalition lost 52 fixed-wing aircraft and 23 helicopters during Desert Storm, with 39 fixed-wing aircraft and 5 helicopters lost in combat.^[50] Only one Coalition fighter was lost in aerial combat, with Iraqi pilots making a second, more dubious claim.^[51] The rest of the Coalition losses came from antiaircraft fire. The Americans lost 28 fixed-wing aircraft and 5 helicopters, the British 7 fixed-wing aircraft, the Saudis 2, the Italians 1, and the Kuwaitis 1. ^[52] In addition, during the invasion of Kuwait on August 2 1990 the Kuwaiti Air Force lost 12 fixed-wing aircraft destroyed on the ground, 6 helicopters shot down and 2 destroyed on the ground.^[49]

Coalition losses to enemy fire

190 Coalition troops were killed by Iraqi combatants, the rest of the 379 coalition deaths being from friendly fire or accidents. This number was much lower than expected. Among the American dead were three female soldiers.

This is a list of Coalition troops killed by country.

United States - 293 (113 by enemy fire, 145 in accidents, 35 to friendly fire)

United Kingdom - 47 (38 by enemy fire, 9 to friendly fire)

Saudi Arabia - 18 ^[63]

Egypt - 11^[64]

United Arab Emirates - 6^[65]

Syria - 2^[66]

France - 2

Kuwait - 1 (as part of Operation Desert Storm)^[67]

Friendly fire

While the death toll among Coalition forces engaging Iraqi combatants was very low, a substantial number of deaths were caused by accidental attacks from other allied units. Of the 148 American troops who died in battle, 24% were killed by friendly fire, a total of 35 service personnel. A further 11 died in detonations of allied munitions. Nine British service personnel were also killed in a friendly fire incident when a USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II attacked a group of two Warrior IFVs.

These brave men and women deserve our honor and respect, our thoughts and prayers.

They also deserve the Cold War Victory Medal, when it is issued.

Jerald Terwilliger, Chairman

American Cold War Veterans, Inc.

Venezuela to get Russian Missiles and Tanks

During his visit to Russia it appears Hugo Chavez made some great deals.

In addition to at least 100 T-70 and T-90 tanks valued at over $500 Million that President Medevdev said were being sold to Venezuela other arms will be sold as well.

Chavez says that Venezuela will be receiving short range missiles.

"Soon some little rockets are going to be arriving," he said at the presidential palace. "They can fly 300 kms. And they don't miss their targets."

"We are not going to attack anybody, these are just defense tools, because we are going to defend our country from any threat, wherever it may come from," he went on. "We need to increase our defense potential," he said. "A blockade is closing in around us."

I believe that the intention is to attempt to stop Colombia from allowing the U.S. from building a military base in the neighboring country.

The US wants this base to help in the fight against drugs. Chavez claims that the base will be used to further American interests in South America, and possibly an attempt against Venezuela.

As Russia continues to reach out to other countries they are also looking towards Asia notably India and Pakistan.

After Putin's speech warning against attacks on Iran one has to wonder how much power he actually gave up to Medvedev.

Jerald Terwilliger, Chairman

American Cold War Veterans, Inc.