November 2012 Update

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Veteran Infidelity & Divorce ----------- (Considerably Higher Rates)
== Women Vet Organizations ------------------------------------------ (List)
== Women Vet Organizations [01] - (Heartland Women Veterans Post)
== VA Claim Denial [09] --------- (Iraq/Afghanistan Missing Records)
== USS LST Ship Memorial ------------------------------------ (LST-325)
== TRICARE Prime [17] ------------- (40 Mile Rule Affects171k Users)
== SBA Vet Issues [23] -------------------------- (Veterans Day Message)
== Military Exchange Price Match Policy ---------------- (NEX Change)
== Illinois Vet Lottery ------------------ (Net Proceeds Benefit Veterans)
== Sleep Apnea [06] --------------------- (Impacts 20% of War Veterans)
== Vietnam Veterans Memorial [11] --------------- (Veterans Day 2012)
== Filipino Vet Inequities [26] ----------- (9th Circuit Court Arguments)
== Elections 2012 [01] ---------------- (Impact on Military Community)
== VA Pension [04] ----------------------- (Room & Board UME Policy)
== Sequestration [08] ------------------------- (Lame Duck Deal Forming)
== Florida Veterans Homes [05] -- (Robert H. Jenkins Vet Domiciliary)
== Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Basura [05] ---------- (KBR Must Pay $85M)
== VA In Vitro Fertilization [01] ----------- (Not Covered for Veterans) == Gold Star License Plate [02] ------------------------------ (Availability) == Mojave Desert Veteran Memorial [10] ------------ (A Promise Kept)
== Dementia [03] ------------------------------ (Physical Activity Impact)
== Pennsylvania Veterans' Homes [05] ------- (Inappropriate Drug Use)
== Louisiana Vet Cemeteries [05] ------------- (Slidell Work Underway)
== Energy Drinks -------------------------------------------------- (Concerns)
== Daylight Saving Time [02] ---------------------------------------- (2012)
== End of Life ~ Feeding Tubes -------------------------- (Considerations)
== Combat Veteran Health Care [08] ------- (Training Injury Eligibility)
== Personality Disorder Discharge [02] ----------------------- (H.R.6574)
== National Coalition for Homeless Vets -------- (Veteran Support Org)
== Military Pay & Benefits ---------------------------------- (CAP Report)
== DFAS Direct Deposit --------------------------------- (2013 Pay Dates)
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== TRICARE Prime [16] -------------- (Possible West Region Changes)
== U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument ---- (JAN Unveiling)
== Louisiana Vet Cemeteries [04] --------- (Zachary Officially Opened)
== GI Bill [131] ---------------------------------- (Trademark Registration)
== GI Bill [132] --------------------------- (Graduation Rate Controversy)
== Tomb of the Unknowns [08] ------------------------ (Hurricane Sandy)
== VA Fraud Waste & Abuse [60] ---------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== Mobilized Reserve 6 NOV 2012----------------------- (1210 Decrease)
== PTSD [121] ------------------------------------------- (CAM Treatment)
== PTSD [122] -------------------------------- (SD Vets Sought for Study)
== PTSD [123] -------------------------------------- (Brain Anatomy Role)
== Vet Jobs [92] ---------------------------------------------- (Top 10 Cities)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ----------- (As of Nov 13 2012)
== WWII Vets [31] ---------------------------- (Last Man Standing Club)
== WWII Posters ---------------------------------------------------------- (17)
== POW/MIA [31] --------------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== Saving Money --------------------------------------- (Car Dealer Tricks)
== Notes of Interest --------------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [104] -------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== Medicaid Fraud [74] ---------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits ----------------------------------- (Idaho 2012)
== Military History -------------------- (Battle of Empress Augusta Bay)
== Military History Anniversaries --------------- (Nov16–30 Summary)
== Military Trivia 62 ------------------ (Crazy Cold War Projects Part 2)
== Tax Burden for Oregon Retirees ------------------- (As of Nov 2012)
== Aviation Art --------------------------------------------------- (Ambush!)
== Veteran Legislation Status 12 NOV 2012 -------- (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? -------------------------------------- (Kulula Airlines)


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Veteran Infidelity & Divorce: Men and women who have served in the military have considerably higher rates of marital infidelity and divorce than the population at large, according to a 2011 study. "Veteran Status, Marital Infidelity, and Divorce," a paper presented at last year's American Sociological Association Meeting, found that:
 32 percent of veterans who were ever married reported that they'd had extra-marital sex, compared with 16.8 percent of ever-married non-veterans;
 38.5 percent of ever-married veterans had gotten divorced, compared with 28.9 percent of ever-married non-veterans;
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 For both veterans and non-veterans, sexual infidelity is likely to lead to divorce. People who reported that they'd cheated on their spouses were more than 2.3 times more likely to have gotten divorced than those who hadn't been unfaithful.
The paper used data from the 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey, focusing on 2,308 18-to-60-year-olds who had been married at least once. "Although it is now two decades old, the NHSLS is one of the few national data sets that includes questions about whether respondents have ever served in the military, extramarital sex, and marital and divorce history," said Andrew S. London, sociology professor at Syracuse University, after the paper was published last year. [Source: The Atlantic | Eleanor Barkhorn | 12 Nov 2012 ++]
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Women Vet Organizations: Following is a partial list of veteran organizations which have been established specifically for women. If you know of any that are not listed request advise via email to raoemo@sbcglonal.net:
 Air Force Women Officers Assoc., P.O. Box 780155 San Antonio, TX 78278
 All Navy Women's National Alliance , P.O. Box 147, Goldenrod, FL.,32733-0147 http://www.anwna.com/
 Army Special Services Association, 609 Concord Place, Pleasanton, CA 94566
 Army Women's Museum, Mifflin Hall, Bldg.5000,Rm. 103B, Ft Lee, VA., 23801-6000 http://www.awm.lee.army.mil
 Coast Guard/SPAR, Inc., 5904 Mt. Eagle Dr., Ap. 1616 Alexandria, VA 22303
 Hispanic Women Veterans Coalition, P.O. Box 25047 Harper Woods, MI 48225-1825
 National Assoc. of Black Military Women , P.O.Box 2798, Laurel, MD., 20708-2798 http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/khnabmw/myhomepage/
 National Navy Women's Reunion, P.O. Box 147, Golden Rod FL 32733-0147
 National Org of World War Nurses, 1509 Emilie St., Green Bay, WI., 54301
 Nat'l Women Veterans Conference, Inc., 2902 Irving Street Denver,CO 80211-6756
 Navy Nurse Corps Association , P.O. Box 1229 Oak Harbor, WA 98277
 Pacific Northwest WAVES, 19304 4th Place SW, Seattle, WA., 98166
 Retired Army Medical Specialist Corps Assn., PO. Box 39451, Serna Station San Antonio, TX 78268
 Retired Army Nurse Corps Assn. , P.O. Box 681026. Serna Station San Antonio, TX 78218-1235 http://www.militaryrn.com/ranca.htm
 Society of Retired Air Force Nurses, P.O. Box 681026 San Antonio, TX,78268
 The Circle of Sisters, 827 Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80204
 United Women Veterans, 113 S. Orchard St, Theinsville, WI., 53092
 Vietnam Women Veterans http://www.spencergroup.net/vwv/
 Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, 2001 S Street, NW, #610 Washington, DC 20009-6000 <wwmpdc@aol.com>
 WAC Foundation, P.O. Box 5339, Ft McClellan, AL 36205
 WAC Veterans' Association, P.O. Box 5577, Fort McClellan AL 36205-5577 http://www.armywomen.org
 WASP , P.O. Box 9212 Ft. Wayne, IN 46809 http://www.wasp-wwii.org/
 WAVES National, 506 60th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI., 49548-6812 http://wavesnational.hypermart.net/
 Women Marines Association, 818 Wildview Way, Knoxville, TN.,37920 http://www.womenmarines.org/
 Women Miltary Aviators, Inc., P.O. Box 46819 Washington, D.C. 20050-6819
 Women Officers Professional Assn, P.O. Box 1621, Arlington, VA., 22210 http://members.aol.com/dittyman8/wopa.html
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 Women Veterans of America, P.O. Box 290283, Homecrest Station Brooklyn NY 10229-0005
 Women's Overseas Service League, P.O. Box 7124, Washington, DC 20044-7124
 WWII Flight Nurses Association, 2111 Spring Lake Rd Fruitland, FL 32731-5154
[Source: Various Nov 2012 ++]
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Women Vet Organizations Update 01: In a corner of American Legion Post 21’s bustling hall, women slowly began filling up a table at the back of a dining area set aside for taco night. The table echoed with questions: “When were you in?” and “What branch?” The women swapped stories over Mexican food, beers and pie. But they also offered each other advice about insurance, employment issues and medical problems. It was Wednesday of the week leading up to Veterans Day, and they were starting an all-women American Legion post — a place where women veterans could talk about experiences and issues all their own. The number of women veterans nationwide has increased 13 percent, to more than 1.8 million, since 2000. About 6,000 of them live in the Kansas City area, said American Legion officials, who applauded the interest in starting the new post here. “It shows that women veterans are standing up,” said Verna Jones, director of national veterans affairs and rehabilitation for the American Legion. “As the face of the soldier changes, the face of these veterans organizations has to change. We have to be ready to accept women coming back and accept those fundamental differences.”
An all-women post already exists in St. Louis, and Shirley Janes, a member of that post, came to talk to the Kansas City women. She said her post is a channel to solve the serious and very different issues female veterans face on the job and at home. Janes listed the concerns she’s heard in the past. Women have issues with child care when they go to VA clinics for medical treatments. Fighting on the front lines and living under war zone conditions causes combat-related problems. And she hears about sexual trauma, a serious concern that one report shows has affected one in five women veterans — including some of those around the table Wednesday night. Billie Gammill said she was looking forward to a forum where she could discuss concerns affecting women in the service. Gammill served in the Air Force from 1973 to 1977, when she was right out of high school. “My mother couldn’t afford to send me to college, and the GI Bill did,” said Gammill, who also spent a year in the Army in 1982. Gammill said she’s been through the “mental health part of it,” meeting with a women’s group monthly to talk about her time in the military and help other women do the same. “I’m on 70 percent disability because of some things that have happened to me when I was in the service,” she said. Gammill has been chosen commander of the new post, named Heartland Women Veterans Post 1107.
Beverly Allen, 57, joined the Navy more than 20 years ago, producing the news as a broadcast journalist. “I’ve been out of the Navy three years, and I really don’t have anybody to hang out with,” she said. “I thought this could be camaraderie.” About 20 years ago, Janes could probably have related to what Allen is going through now. Janes served in the Air Force as a weather forecaster, and when she moved to St. Louis, she didn’t have any military friends. Then she saw a flier for Post 404. “With everything that’s happened since 1991 with Desert Storm and the ongoing global war on terror, a lot of people have worn the uniform — a lot of people you wouldn’t even know,” Janes said. “Women (generally) don’t wear a baseball cap that says U.S. Army, not like the guys do. You have to ask and find out.” Gammill and Allen have seen big changes in the military. When she joined in 1989, Allen said, the Navy was just beginning to put women aboard ships. “By the time I got out, we were 40 percent of the ship,” she said. “When I first joined, it was like 10 percent women and the rest were guys.” Even the uniforms have changed. “In my generation, when I went through basic training, you weren’t handed a gun,” Gammill said. “You were handed a makeup mirror and taught how to wear your uniform that was dated 1949.” In the four years she served with the Air Force, those World War II-era uniforms were traded in for fatigues.
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Creating American Legion posts for women isn’t a move to isolate themselves, according to Janes and others from the St. Louis post. “By forming our own post, we’re going to get the same job done,” she said. “We’ll just do it in a little bit different way.” The American Legion has a membership of 3 million veterans who served during a war, not just in combat. That’s what distinguishes it from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose members served on the ground in countries with ongoing conflicts. The VFW has just started in recent years to keep track of its women members. The organization previously saw all veterans as equal, but it’s now recognizing that women have specific needs when returning from combat, a spokeswoman said. The American Legion does not begrudge the women who are branching off into their own post — far from it. Gary Pace, the 5th District commander in Missouri, said attending a women veterans health meeting prompted him to think those women needed their own post. “We’re getting a lot of interest in the women’s post,” he said. “I can understand why they want their own post where they can talk to one another.”
Post 21, where the women met for the first time on Wednesday, has about 15 women among its nearly 1,600 members. Pace said the post would have been “missing the boat” had it not backed the formation of an all-women post. Jones of the national office thinks all-women posts are likely to draw more female veterans than existing American Legion posts do. That’s not to say that some women might not feel more comfortable in a co-ed post, Jones said. But it does give them options. Jones said that through survey results, the American Legion found an “alarming” number of women veterans were particularly concerned with the competence of their doctors. She noted that women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder might feel more comfortable discussing their experiences with other women. Jones said she’s been amazed at the work all-women posts are doing. “They understand intimately the issues and concerns of women veterans,” she said. “I think it gives the American Legion a big boost up. It puts something extra special right in the middle of it.” [Source: The Kansas City Star | Sangeeta Shastry | 10 Nov 2012 ++]
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VA Claim Denial Update 09: A strange thing happened when Christopher DeLara filed for disability benefits after his tour in Iraq: The U.S. Army said it had no records showing he had ever been overseas. DeLara had searing memories of his combat experiences. A friend bled to death before his eyes. He saw an insurgent shoot his commander in the head. And, most hauntingly, he recalled firing at an Iraqi boy who had attacked his convoy. The Army said it could find no field records documenting any of these incidents. DeLara appealed, fighting for five years before a judge accepted the testimony of an officer in his unit. By then he had divorced, was briefly homeless and had sought solace in drugs and alcohol. DeLara's case is part of a much larger problem that has plagued the U.S. military since the 1990 Gulf War: a failure to create and maintain the types of field records that have documented American conflicts since the Revolutionary War.
A joint investigation by ProPublica and The Seattle Times has found that the recordkeeping breakdown was especially acute in the early years of the Iraq War, when insurgents deployed improvised bombs with devastating effects on U.S. soldiers. The military has also lost or destroyed records from Afghanistan, according to officials and previously undisclosed documents. The loss of field records — after-action write-ups, intelligence reports and other day-to-day accounts from the war zones — has far-reaching implications. It has complicated efforts by soldiers like DeLara to claim benefits. And it makes it harder for military strategists to learn the lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan, two of the nation's most protracted wars. Military officers and historians say field records provide the granular details that, when woven together, tell larger stories hidden from participants in the day-to-day confusion of combat.
The Army says it has taken steps to improve handling of records — including better training and more emphasis from top commanders. But officials familiar with the problem said the missing material may never be retrieved. "I
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can't even start to describe the dimensions of the problem," said Conrad C. Crane, director of the U.S. Army's Military History Institute. "I fear we're never really going to know clearly what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan because we don't have the records." The Army, with its dominant presence in both theaters, has the biggest deficiencies. But the U.S. Central Command in Iraq (Centcom), which had overall authority, also lost records, according to reports and other documents obtained by ProPublica under the Freedom of Information Act. In Baghdad, Centcom and the Army disagreed about which was responsible for keeping records. There was confusion about whether classified field records could be transported back to the units' headquarters in the United States. As a result, some units were instructed to erase computer hard drives when they rotated home, destroying the records that had been stored on them.
Through 2008, dozens of Army units deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan either had no field records or lacked sufficient reports for a unit history, according to Army summaries obtained by ProPublica. DeLara's outfit, the 1st Cavalry Division, was among the units lacking adequate records during his 2004 to 2005 deployment. Recordkeeping was so poor in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2007 that "very few Operation ENDURING FREEDOM records were saved anywhere, either for historians' use, or for the services' documentary needs for unit heritage, or for the increasing challenge with documenting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)," according to an Army report from 2009. Entire brigades deployed from 2003 to 2008 could not produce any field records, documents from the U.S. Army Center of Military History show. The Pentagon was put on notice as early as 2005 that Army units weren't turning in records for storage to a central computer system created after a similar recordkeeping debacle in the 1990-91 Gulf War. In that war, a lack of field records forced the Army to spend years and millions of dollars to reconstruct the locations of troops who may have been exposed to toxic plumes that were among the suspected causes of Gulf War Syndrome.
At the outset of the Iraq War, military commanders tried to avoid repeating that mistake, ordering units to preserve all historical records. But the Army botched the job. Despite new guidelines issued in 2008 to safeguard records, some units still purged them. The next summer, the Washington National Guard's 81st Brigade Combat Team in Iraq was ordered to erase hard drives before leaving them for replacement troops to use, said a Guard spokesman, Capt. Keith Kosik. Historians had complained about lax recordkeeping for years with little result. "We were just on our knees begging for the Army to do something about it," said Dr. Reina Pennington, a professor at Norwich University in Vermont who chaired the Army's Historical Advisory Committee. "It's the kind of thing that everyone nods about and agrees it's a problem but doesn't do anything about." Critical reports from Pennington's committee went up to three different secretaries of the Army, including John McHugh, the current secretary. McHugh's office did not respond to interview requests. His predecessor, Peter Geren, said he was never told about the extent of the problem. "I'm disappointed I didn't know about it," Geren said.
In an initial response to questions from ProPublica and the Times, the Army did not acknowledge that any field reports had been lost or destroyed. In a subsequent email, Maj. Christopher Kasker, an Army spokesman, said, "The matter of records management is of great concern to the Army; it is an issue we have acknowledged and are working to correct and improve." Missing field records aren't necessarily an obstacle for benefit claims. The Department of Veterans Affairs also looks for medical and personnel records, which can be enough. The VA has also relaxed rules for proving post-traumatic stress to reduce the need for the detailed documentation of field reports. But even the VA concedes that unit records are helpful. And assembling a disability case from witness statements can take much more time, said Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the retired Army vice chief of staff who worked to combat suicides and improve treatment of soldiers with PTSD and brain injuries. "You would always love to have that operational record available to document an explosion, but there are other ways," Chiarelli said. "You can provide witness statements from others who were in that explosion. But it's going to be more difficult." [Source: Stars & Stripes | Peter Sleet/Hal Bernton | 9 Nov 12 ++]
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USS LST Ship Memorial: During World War II, production went into high gear on the Navy’s LST (Landing Ship, Tank), an amphibious craft capable of delivering vehicles, troops and supplies right up onto a beach, then putting itself back into open water. LST 325 was one of these ships. Launched from Philadelphia in October 1942, the ship participated in U.S. action at Sicily, Salerno, and Normandy on D-Day. It was also used during the Korean War and the Vietnam War before being transferred to the Greek navy in 1964. The Greeks renamed the ship Syros and used it until 1999, mostly for ferrying. At the end of that year, Syros was decommissioned, and plans were made to scuttle it. A group of Americans had other ideas. The USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc., had been formed with the idea of bringing the ship back to the United States, restoring it and then – as the group’s president, Ken Frank, puts it – "take the ship to the people and tell them about the important role of LSTs in World War II, Korea and Vietnam." The group raised enough money to purchase LST 325 from the Greeks in 2000; in January 2001, members – the average age of whom was 72 – sailed the ship from Crete to Alabama themselves. Only one other LST is currently preserved in the United States.
The refurbished LST-325 traveling down the Cumberland River, stopping at ports along the way.
 328 feet long, 50 feet wide, 65 feet high to top of mast
 Engines - Two GM V-12 Diesels #12-576ATL, 900 HP each
 Crew in wartime - 100 enlisted and 10 officers
 Tank capacity - 20 Sherman tanks
 Max speed - 12 mph
 Construction cost - $1.4 million
The ship’s home today is on the Ohio River in Evansville, Ind., where LSTs were also built at a specially constructed shipyard during World War II. Evansville is also the home base of the memorial group, whose members live in 13 different states. Today, their average age is 70; several of the Crete trippers have since passed away, including the executive officer. Four members served on other LSTs, and there are multiple sets of fathers and sons among the members plus a few civilian history buffs. Each year, the group undocks LST 325 from Evansville and takes it on a river cruise, stopping in various cities to offer tours to the public. Tours are roughly 45 minutes long. The main goal of these tours, aside from displaying the ship’s history, is to raise money for maintenance and repairs, especially a dry docking planned for 2013 that is estimated to cost $2 million. It was this pair of goals that brought LST 325 to Riverside Park in Nashville where it was open for tours between 18-24 SEP 2012. Despite rain, Capt. Robert Jornlin – who commanded the ship on its return journey from Crete – estimated that 1,100 people toured the ship on Sept. 19 alone. "We’ve had some great turnouts," he said.
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The crew of 45 lives on the ship during these tours, rather than staying in hotels; they use the galley to cook and sleep in the bunking areas. As much as possible, LST 325 is operated the way it was during its wartime service. "A lot of these jobs were designed for 17-year-old sailors, and we have 60- and 70-year-olds doing them," Frank said.
The crew also served as the tour guides in Nashville, showing everyone from school groups to families to a procession of wheelchair-bound veterans around the ship. LST 325 left Nashville on Sept. 25, and opened for tours at McGregor Park in Clarksville, Tenn., on Sept. 26 where she remained there through Sept. 30. To learn more about the LST-325, visit http://www.lstmemorial.org. [Source: American Legion Online Update 27 Sep 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Prime Update 17: With the presidential election over, Defense officials are expected to announce soon that military retirees and their dependents living more than 40 miles from a military treatment facility or base closure site will lose access to TRICARE Prime, the military's managed care option. These beneficiaries would be expected to shift to TRICARE Standard, their fee-for-service insurance option, which would mean an increase in out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries who are frequent users of health services. A total of 171,000 retirees and dependents are expected to have to shift coverage when remote Prime networks go away. Tentative plans are for this to occur 1 APR in the West Region, which would coincide with UnitedHealth Military and Veterans Services taking over the region's support contract from TriWest Healthcare Alliance after 16 years. The North and South TRICARE regions are expected to close down Prime service areas beyond 40-mile catchment areas of bases or base closure sites by Oct. 1, 2013, the date when current Prime enrollment periods expire for most beneficiaries.
Active duty members and their families generally would not be impacted. Drilling National Guard members and reservists living far from military bases could see small increases to health costs. This would occur if they have been taking advantage of modest discounts available under TRICARE Reserve Select when network providers are used. Such discounts would end in areas far from bases if the Prime option goes away. Under TRICARE Prime, beneficiaries get managed care through providers in the network. They pay an annual enrollment fee of $269.28 for individual coverage or $538.56 for family coverage. Retirees and family members also are charged co-pays of $12 for each doctor visit. Under TRICARE Standard, beneficiaries can choose their own physicians and pay no annual enrollment fee. But when they need care, retirees must cover 25 percent of allowable charges. Retirees also have an annual deductible of $150 for the individual or $300 per family. Total out-of-pocket costs, however, are capped at $3000 per family.
In most Prime service areas, about half of eligible retirees already choose to use Standard rather than enroll in the network. The end of Prime outside of 40-mile "catchment" areas of military treatment facilities has been anticipated since 2007, when Defense officials drafted the third generation of TRICARE support contracts. It called for returning the managed care option to its original concept of being a backup network to military clinics and hospitals when they can't provide managed care to all beneficiaries living nearby or in areas where bases have been closed and military health facilities shuttered. Through the first two TRICARE contracts, on the assumption that managed care saved money for the government, contractors had financial incentive to establish networks beyond 40-mile catchment areas. In the South Region, for example, the contractor has offered Prime everywhere. But experience has shown that providing Prime far from bases can add costs to the system, TRICARE officials concluded. Though they wrote the new generation of support contracts to constrict Prime service areas, health officials wanted the shift to occur across all regions simultaneously. That hasn't been possible until now because of delays in finalizing contract awards, the result of multiple protests and even a few reversals of original contract awards.
Contracts for every region are now settled. Health Net Federal Services has been running the North Region under the new contract since April 2011. Humana Military Healthcare Services has operated the South Region
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under the new contract since April this year. But all Prime service areas have been maintained with contract modifications, awaiting final word from Defense that Prime area restrictions are to be implemented. The new contracts were drafted during the Bush administration and are intended to be more comprehensive and efficient. But sensitive to how a change in Prime eligibility might be used by politicians this fall, Defense officials ordered plans to end Prime for retirees living outside catchment areas, including draft notification letters, shelved until after the election. Plans for implementation have not changed, congressional and health sources said. But they also have not been announced officially yet. "The Department is considering whether to maintain the same number of PSAs (Prime service areas) as it has now," said Cynthia O. Smith, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense. Until a decision is final on reducing PSAs, the department won't confirm the number of beneficiaries potentially impacted or the likely dates for executing the changes.
Some members of Congress already are concerned. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV.) told Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, in recent letter he was "dismayed" by news reports that Prime "will be cut for many of the military families and constituents I represent, not only in Reno but also throughout the northern part of the state." Heller said the plan would cause "more out-of-pocket expenses and longer drive times…I am very troubled by these changes and am concerned that these alterations are not being made in a transparent manner. If changes are made, I hope you will notify those affected immediately." A spokesman for Heller said Woodson had not yet answered the letter. Given the nation's debt crisis and the budget cuts looming for defense programs, Congress is not expected to block this long-standing plan to tighten access to Prime if the intent is to hold down costs. Doing so likely would require lawmakers to find equivalent budget savings elsewhere. [Source: Military.com | Tom Philpott | 8 Nov 2012 ++]
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SBA Vet Issues Update 23: As the nation marks Veterans Day 2012, the U.S. Small Business Administration continues to build on its successful programs for America’s military veterans, helping tens of thousands of veterans each year with small business financing, comprehensive business training and counseling and access to federal contracts. “Around Veterans Day, our thoughts turn to the men and women who are currently serving in the Armed Forces, as well as to all veterans who have made sacrifices and served our country over the years,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “When you consider the leadership and management skills our veterans develop while on active and reserve duty, it’s no wonder we see so many of them choose the path of small business ownership.”
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau veterans are successful small business owners. Nearly one in 10 small businesses nationwide are veteran-owned. Collectively, these 2.4 million small businesses employ almost 6 million Americans and generate more than $1 trillion in receipts. In the private sector workforce, veterans are 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed. SBA supports veteran business owners through entrepreneurial training and mentoring, access to capital, and business development opportunities through government contracts. SBA assistance to veterans in 2012 included the following:
 Entrepreneurial Development - SBA partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to develop a national entrepreneurship training program for transitioning service members as part of the new Transition Assistance Program. Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup was piloted with all four branches of the services in summer and fall 2012. The Boots to Business program will be rolled out during 2013 providing exposure to entrepreneurship training to all 250,000 service members who transition from active duty to civilian life each year. In a closely related effort, SBA and Syracuse University continue to expand the success of the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for Veterans with Disabilities program. The growing partnership between SBA and Syracuse University, now in its
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fourth year, provides training on how disabled vets can start and grow a small business, with programs targeted to service-disabled veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their family caregivers, women veterans, and National Guard and Reserve members and their families. Since 2009, the first year SBA partnered with Syracuse University, 434 service-disabled veterans have participated in the program. Participating schools include: Syracuse University, University of Connecticut, UCLA, Florida State University, Texas A&M University, Purdue University, Louisiana State University, and Cornell University. SBA is also providing $2.6 million through a cooperative agreement over three years for two programs; Women Veterans Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE), that focuses on training, networking and mentorship for women veterans, and Operation Endure & Grow, targets National Guard and Reserve component members, their families and partners
 Access to Capital - In FY 2012, SBA backed more than 3,200 loans supporting nearly $2.1 billion in financing to more than 2,800 Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) through its flagship 7(a) and 504 loan programs, including $118 million through the Patriot Express Loan program. Patriot Express loans offer many advantages to veterans and to SBA’s network of participating lenders nationwide. They feature one of SBA’s fastest turnaround times for loan approval and an enhanced guaranty and interest rate on loans up to $500,000 to small businesses owned by veterans, reservists and their spouses. Patriot Express loans can be used for most business purposes, including startup, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases.
 Government Contracting - The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern Procurement Program allows federal agencies to set acquisitions aside for exclusive competition among service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns. Federal prime contracting dollars awarded to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) increased for the fifth consecutive year to $11.2 billion, or 2.65 percent, in FY2011, up from $10.793 billion, or 2.50 percent, in FY2010. Over the last year, SBA has created a series of online contracting courses called Government Contracting (GC) Classroom to help prospective and existing small businesses, including VOSBs and SDVOSBs, understand the basics about contracting with federal agencies. In addition, the Office of Veteran’s Business Development provides procurement training to SDVOSBs to help them take advantage of federal contracting opportunities under the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern Procurement Program.
SBA reaches out to veterans through its 68 SBA district offices, 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers nationwide, more than 1,000 Small Business Development Centers, 110 Women’s Business Centers and some 12,000 SCORE volunteers, more than 40 percent of whom are veterans. SBA also has numerous programs creating government contracting opportunities for VOSBs. For more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/vets and
http://www.sba.gov/reservists. [Source: SBA.gov | Patrick Rodriguez | 9 Nov 2012 ++]
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Military Exchanges Price Match Policy: The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has announced that it has revised its Price Match Policy for NEXs around the world. The NEX Price Match Policy guarantees that NEXs will match any brick and mortar retailer's advertised price within the local market area on any identical in-stock item. The new policy gives NEX cashiers more authority to match prices. NEX sales associates have the authority to match an advertised price reduction up to $100. An NEX supervisor must authorize a price match over $100. Customers may ask for a price adjustment at any cash register in the store. The NEX Price Match Policy does not apply to some items and to some sales. For more information about the NEX Price Match Policy, see your local NEX manager or visit the NEX website
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https://www.mynavyexchange.com/command/customer_service/p_policy.html. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 9 Nov 2012 ++]
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Illinois Vet Lottery: Gov. Pat Quinn bought $20 worth of Veterans Cash lottery tickets 7 NOV and is calling on others to play the newest edition of the game that benefits military vets in Illinois. Ahead of Veterans Day, the governor helped launch the new game. More than $10 million has been raised for veterans' organizations since the program started in 2006. Speaking at The Chicago Lighthouse Quinn said buying a ticket "was a great investment, win or lose." All net proceeds go to groups like The Chicago Lighthouse, a nonprofit that helps the visually impaired, including veterans. Grants have been awarded to 190 organizations, including those specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Erica Borggren said it's a "very tangible way" to thank veterans for their service. [Source: Associated Press article 8 Nov 2012 ++]
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Sleep Apnea Update 06: Whether or not you personally know someone who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan or someplace else on foreign soil, our returning veterans deserve our help and attention. While many have the scars of physical injury, many more veterans bear silent scars. A little known fact but of increasing concern in the medical community is that a growing number of veterans are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and its symptoms can be devastating for our returning war heroes as they readjust to civilian life. Consider these statistics: According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), one out of every five war veterans has been diagnosed with OSA -- compared with only five out of 100 civilians in the general population. And between 2008 and 2010, the number of veterans who received medical benefits related to sleep apnea grew by 61 percent, from 39,145 cases in 2008 to 63,118 cases in 2010. These numbers beg the question: Why do war veterans suffer from sleep apnea more than non-war veterans and civilians? Some VA doctors believe that it is due to the high number of repeat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan -- soldiers are being exposed to higher levels of dust, smoke, stress and violence.
But what is at the core of this connection between war, OSA and other related conditions, such as daytime sleepiness, memory loss, a decrease in work productivity, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension? Researchers at the Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine are beginning to find out. Since the mid-2000s, WSU researchers have been studying "145 American immigrants who left Iraq before the 1991 Gulf War and 205 who fled Iraq after the Gulf War began." All lived in the Detroit area at the time, and were asked about "socio-demographics, pre-migration trauma, how they rated their current health, physician-diagnosed and physician-treated OSA and any somatic and psychosomatic disorders." The study's lead investigator, Bengt Arnetz, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., School of Medicine professor of occupational and environmental health and deputy director of the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at Wayne State, said: It may be the stress of war that leads to fractured sleep, and that no one had explored this possible link before, although basic research suggests it as plausible.
The research showed that: Those who left Iraq after the war began and suffered from mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression and self-rated their physical health as worse than their actual health were 43 times more likely than pre-Gulf War immigrants to report OSA and later develop major chronic health issues, such as cardiovascular disease. On the results, Arnetz said: It's a known fact that the more exposure to violence you have, the more likely you are to report post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and the worse your self-rated health is, the more likely your actual health will suffer in five to 10 years. And I reiterate, those who were exposed to the violence of the war in Iraq were almost twice as likely to experience PTSD and depression, but also obstructive sleep apnea and other chronic health conditions. I applaud Arnetz and his
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colleagues' efforts and encourage them to continue their studies so that we in the medical community can better understand, diagnose and treat war- and stress-related health conditions.
What about treatment? Diagnosing OSA in veterans can be trickier than non-veterans because of the possibility of other military-related medical conditions, such as PTSD. In addition, some military veterans suffering from OSA may underestimate the health benefits of restorative sleep, rather than be properly diagnosed and treated since its common during deployment to have fractured sleep patterns. The good news is that there is more awareness of OSA than ever before, especially within the military. Back in February 2012, Ventus Medical, the company that makes Provent Therapy, announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approved a multi-year, Federal Supply Schedule contract that would enable more veterans to get Provent Therapy treatment -- a small, non-invasive nasal device for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is good timing, considering that a substantial percentage of veterans don't accept or adhere to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, even though it is a safe and effective treatment.
According to Richard B. Berry, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Florida: There is a great need for access to new, clinically-proven therapies -- particularly easy-to-use treatments -- for the increasing number of veterans with obstructive sleep apnea. As more and more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are realizing their post-war health problems, and because many Vietnam veterans are getting older, the number of veterans applying for OSA-related disability benefits will only continue to rise in the coming years. While OSA is a chronic condition creating a significant burden on the Veterans Healthcare System -- the VA spends upward of $500 million a year to treat veterans with sleep apnea -- I believe that it is our duty as a nation to provide proper OSA treatment to our veterans to prevent additional chronic health issues. To read more about the study, go to the Wayne State University website http://research.wayne.edu/news.php?id=10137. [Source: Huffington Post | Dr. David Volpi | 8 Nov 2012 ++]
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial Update 11: He was the first American soldier killed in Vietnam; the first name of 58,282 listed on the granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. And with the reading of his name, Capt. Harry Griffith Cramer Jr. became the first to be honored 7 NOV in what will be a 65-hour marathon session by 2,000 people reading all the names on the wall from then until Veterans Day. “It’s not just reading names, because each of those names … is a human being,” said former Sen. Chuck Hagel, who is also a Vietnam War veteran. “There’s a story, there’s a family. That’s not just part of a memorial.”
For Cramer’s grandson and son, who were the first two to read names, that meant researching the lives of the men whose names they would be speaking. There was an Air Force sergeant who was killed by a fellow American; a Special Forces captain killed in Laos; a young radio intercept operator who was tracking the Viet Cong through radio signals. And Capt. Harry Griffith Cramer, who was commanding an Army Special Forces team training South Vietnamese soldiers. Cramer, 31, was killed Oct. 21, 1957 in an explosion while leading a patrol. “I didn’t feel it was fair to them to read for me to just get up and read names as if I were reading a phone book,” said Hank Cramer, Harry Cramer’s son. “Every one of these names, there’s a family just like ours. And maybe their families are gone, or maybe their families can’t be here, but I owe it to them. I want to know who these people are.” And even though Harry Cramer’s grandson, Hank Cramer, Jr., wasn’t even alive during the war, he still felt the need to fly to Washington D.C. from Colorado to participate in the reading. “I respect their stories, I respect what they do for our country,” said Hank Cramer, Jr. “I feel that it’s a small way to pay them back and say, ‘Thank you.’”
The tribute comes on the 30th anniversary of the wall, and is the fifth time that the reading has been done since it was completed in 1982. This year also marked the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War. “For many people who lost a friend or family member, it’s a spiritual place,” said Jan Scruggs, founder and president of
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the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. “Reading the name brings a sense of relief to their to their spirit. “This is really part of a healing process for the country to remember, it’s a healing process for the veterans, and it’s a way to show people how much pain people still feel in their hearts,” Scruggs said. “There’s a real connection between the living and the dead here, and these are people who gave their lives for their country.” The pain was still fresh for Vietnam veteran Gary Janulewicz, who was reading the name of a 25-year-old Army lieutenant he had met just an hour before the infantry position they were holding on a hill was overrun during the war. The lieutenant, Brian Kay Skinner, died in Janulewicz’s arms. “I need to do it,” said Janulewicz, lips trembling. “I can’t explain it better than that. It’s something that doesn’t go away. I don’t have closure yet on that.” [Source: Stars & Stripes | C.J. Lin |
Visitors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
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Filipino Vet Inequities Update 26: The 9th Circuit seems unlikely to revive the claims of Filipino World War II veterans challenging the government's benefits scheme. The veterans have taken issue with how the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund uses armed service records to determine eligibility for benefits. Created in 2009, the fund provides $15,000 each to veterans who are eligible and are U.S. citizens. The widow of any eligible veteran who dies after timely applying for compensation can also receive the benefits. Non-U.S. citizens who fought for the United States can receive $9,000 each. During World War II, the U.S. military controlled members of the regular Philippine Scouts, the new Philippine Scouts, the Guerrilla Services, and more than 100,000 members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. A group of these soldiers say that the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly determines benefit eligibility by relying on a list held at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Mo., that fire had damaged in 1973. Seven Filipino war veterans with U.S. citizenship and the widows of 21 other veterans filed suit, claiming that the refusal to provide one-time payments violates the due process and equal protection clauses under the Fifth Amendment.
A federal judge in Oakland, Calif., dismissed the claims last year, finding that the VA has sovereign immunity. Arnedo Valera, a Philippines-born attorney now based in Fairfax, Va., is in charge of the veterans' appeal before a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit. At a hearing 5 NOV in San Francisco, Valera asked whether it is "constitutional for the government to establish the NPRC, or the Missouri List, as the only way to prove military service?" Some veterans who have been denied benefits nonetheless received medals and citations for World War II service, said Valera, serving pro bono for the Migrant Heritage Commission. Judge Milan Smith said that Congress had set up a mechanism to resolve issues related to veterans' benefits through the VA, and that federal trial courts could not address individual claims made by veterans. "You declined to go through the administrative process, is that correct?" Smith asked. "You decided that because of a reliance on what you are referring to as the Missouri list that you wanted to go to the District Court." Congress gave the secretary of Veterans Affairs the authority to decide to use that list to determine eligibility, Smith added.
The judge observed that the veterans had characterized their challenge to the statute broadly. "This is not a facial challenge, this is an individual challenge," Smith said. "You've got a lot of individual people, all of whom I'm sure
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served with distinction, but under the rules Congress has established, it said, 'This is the way you've gotta go' and you've chosen not to go it." Judge Robert Sack, sitting by designation from the 2nd Circuit chimed in: "Of course, I understand the unfairness you're talking about." The VA can decide how it determines whether a claimant's service meets the requirements for receiving benefits, Sack said, going on to question why the veterans bypassed the Board of Veterans' Appeals to file a federal complaint. Judge Milan summed up their concerns by asking, "How can we get involved when Congress has expressly said the exclusive jurisdiction is over here in a different court?" Valera, the plaintiffs' attorney, responded that the federal courts are the proper venue for the veterans' constitutional due-process and equal-protection claims.
While Judge Sack said that he had no reason to doubt that the plaintiffs had served in the military and been unfairly denied by the VA's reliance on the Missouri list, he insisted that the veterans' courts could address such violations of the law, which are not a constitutional issue. The plaintiffs' equal-protection claims center on the disparity of treatment among veterans of different conflicts. Valera added that Filipino veterans are denied pension and other benefits that are available to veterans of other wars. He questioned why there are different benefits for a veteran returning from Afghanistan, Vietnam or Korea, and a veteran from World War II who is now in his 80s and who has been recognized as a veteran by the armed services. The judges went on to question Department of Justice attorney Charles Whitaker about whether the veterans received an opportunity to use records other than the Missouri list to prove benefits entitlement. Whitaker said the veterans had had a one-year opportunity to present U.S. service records and to make due-process claims. The process shields the veterans' equal protection rights because their claims can be made before the Board of Veterans' Appeals and further appealed to the Federal Circuit, Whitaker said. "This is not a case about precluding judicial review, but about channeling review," Whitaker said. [Source: Courthouse News Service | Dave Tartre | 6 Nov 2012 ++]
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Elections 2012 Update 01: Even though Barack Obama has served as commander in chief for the last four years, his re-election 7 NOV will mean significant changes for the military in coming months, especially in terms of defense spending. Where his challenger in the presidential campaign promised big increases in military budgets in coming years, Obama has planned almost $500 billion in spending reductions for the military over the next decade, calling it a responsible post-war plan. Republicans in Congress fiercely oppose the effort, but the president’s re-election blunts their hopes of increasing or even holding steady defense spending. Those cuts would come on top of the $500 billion in automatic defense spending reductions slated to start in January. The president in recent weeks has stepped up his pressure on Congress to find an alternative plan, declaring in the final presidential debate that the cuts “will not happen.” But lawmakers haven’t been able to approach a compromise on the issue. Obama has said he won’t let the military be decimated by sequestration, but also won’t sacrifice other domestic programs to save the services. Here’s a look other military challenges for Obama’s second term:
 End strength cuts. Obama has pledged to trim back the military’s end strength -- the Army by about 70,000, and the Marine Corps by about 18,000, over the next five years -- and reign in the number of senior civilian and military personnel at the Pentagon. The services should start feeling that pinch in 2013. Advisers have said his proposed 2014 budget, due in February, will reflect the strategy he outlined in January of a leaner, quick-response fighting force, one with a smaller footprint in Europe and a larger presence in the Pacific. In a statement to Stars and Stripes before the election, Obama said the more modern defense posture will be more flexible and more sustainable, “helping allies and partners build their capacity, with more training and exercises.” But it will also be done with fewer personnel, a claim his critics on the right have called impossible to execute.
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 The Defense of Marriage Act. The fight over federal recognition of same-sex marriages isn’t directly tied to the Defense Department, but it could have dramatic effects on who receives military benefits. Obama has publicly stated his opposition to DOMA, which prohibits the government from giving same-sex married couples access to federal benefits. Gay rights advocates have made the issue their key battleground, especially since the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law has been overturned. If DOMA is repealed (or overturned by the courts), gay military couples could have access to health care, housing and commissary benefits that are only open to heterosexual couples. Veterans benefits and health care would also be open to those individuals.
 Promises to veterans. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki promised to end veterans homelessness by late 2015, eliminate the veterans benefits backlog by late 2015, and establish a joint VA-DOD lifelong medical records system by 2017. All of those ambitious deadlines will come during Obama’s second term. The VA promises come amid a wave of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans leaving the military for civilian life. The unemployment rate among the youngest generation of war fighters has remained stubbornly high for the last four years, usually exceeding the national jobless rate. Lawmakers in recent months have criticized the department for not having enough mental health specialists on hand, prompting promises of new hiring and better outreach to veterans. Veterans groups have lauded the lofty goals, but privately have been skeptical about whether the VA can follow through and succeed.
[Source: Stars and Stripes | Leo Shane | 7 Nov 2012 ++]
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VA Pension Update 04: Current VA regulations in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.272(g) require deduction of Unreimbursed Medical Expense (UME) from income for purposes of the pension program. VBA has interpreted this deduction in its Adjudication Procedures Manual (Manual), M21-1MR, to mean the unreimbursed cost of medical and nursing services. However, claimant's representatives have recently expressed concern about VA's inconsistent consideration of the cost of room and board at certain facilities, particularly senior or independent living facilities, and the resulting inconsistent pension decisions. Although the Manual defines medical and nursing services and addresses the deductibility of nursing home fees and custodial care, it does not provide adequate guidance on determining whether the room and board paid to certain facilities should be treated as a UME. Representatives further contend that many senior living facilities are equivalent to assisted living facilities because such facilities provide expanded services including emergency pull cords, 24-hour staffing, and locked exterior doors. Based on the availability of these services and the fact that many residents are pension recipients, representatives assert that room and board at such a facility constitutes a UME.
To clarify the UME applicability issue VA has issued a policy letter which can be seen in the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “VA Room & Board UME Pension Policy”. It details VA’s rational in establishing this policy and provides procedures to follow to determine if unreimbursed fees for room and board can be used as a deductible medical expense . In summary, the new policy is:
 The cost of room and board at a residential facility is a UME if the facility provides custodial care to the individual, or the individual's physician states in writing that the claimant must reside in that facility to separately contract for custodial care with a third-party provider.
 A facility provides custodial care if it assists the individual with two or more ADLs.
 If the facility does not provide the claimant custodial care, or the claimant's physician does not prescribe care by a third-party provider in that facility, VA will not deduct room and board paid to the facility but will deduct the cost of any medical or nursing services obtained from a third-party provider.
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In addition, VA does not consider emergency pull cords, 24-hour staffing, and locked exterior doors as a medical or nursing service. [Source: VA Fast Letter: 12-23 dtd 26 Oct 2012 ++]
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Sequestration Update 08: Lawmakers hear the clock ticking toward deep defense and domestic spending cuts, and senior members of both parties appear poised to pass a measure during a lame duck session that would add additional time to that clock. Senior congressional Democrats and Republicans are talking openly about kicking down the road the date that would trigger separate $500 billion, 10-year cuts to planned defense and domestic spending. Senate Budget Committee member Mark Warner (D-VA) said 8 NOV that lawmakers hope to “make a down payment” during a coming session-ending lame duck period “to avoid sequestration.” He was referring to a budgeting tactic to reduce nonexempt defense and domestic accounts on2 JAN short of a $1.2 trillion debt-paring bill or a measure that extends the sequester countdown clock. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) also continues talking about the need to delay those cuts, which economists say — when coupled with expiring tax cuts — could send the U.S. economy into a new recession. “Lame duck Congresses aren’t known for doing big things and probably shouldn’t do big things, so I think the best you can hope for is a bridge,” Boehner told CNN on 4 NOV.
Lawmakers during the lame duck period would have just a few weeks to pass a deficit-cutting bill that would have to cover defense spending, tax reform, domestic entitlement program reform and a score of other prickly, complex issues. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), House Budget Committee vice ranking member, also has recently called for a short-term delay. Speaking at a forum in Washington on 16 OCT Schwartz said it would be “very tough” for Congress to pull off such Herculean work in just six weeks. She called on lawmakers to try to pass a smaller legislative package that deals with “the things we agree on,” such as extending middle class tax cuts enacted during the George W. Bush administration and establishing a sustainable growth rate for the Medicare program.
Boehner, in remarks the day after President Barack Obama’s larger-than-predicted 7 NOV re-election win, sounded ready to cut a deal on a massive debt-cutting bill soon after the new Congress is seated. “Mr. President, this is your moment,” Boehner said. “We are ready to be led.” But Boehner wants that Obama leadership to occur after the new Congress takes office in January, hence the need for a sequester delay. Just hours after an election that gave Obama a second term and saw Democrats gain House and Senate seats, Boehner was talking about the kind of “big deal,” as Obama often calls it, which would include tax reform, some new revenues and entitlement program changes. But the new Congress should write it, Boehner said, because “it will take some time.”
The across-the-board cuts, which would total about $109 billion in fiscal 2013, are required by last year’s Budget Control Act unless Congress and the White House come up with another path to reducing future budget deficits by $1.2 trillion through 2021. For most defense programs, sequestration would mean a 9.4 percent cut for fiscal 2013, while domestic discretionary accounts would take an 8.2 percent hit, according to an OMB overview released in September. Military personnel and the Veterans Affairs Department would be exempted, according to the White House. [Source: Defense News | John T. Bennett | 8 Nov 2012 ++]
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Florida Veterans Homes Update 05: The Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans' Domiciliary Home, a 148-bed housing facility for honorably discharged veterans in Lake City, Fla., provides a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services and incidental medical care to eligible veterans, who must be able to feed and dress themselves, and be in need of assisted living care. Admission eligibility requirements include being an honorably discharged veteran, 1-year resident of the State of Florida (at time of application), 60 years or older,
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needing assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) - i.e., feeding, grooming, medications, or food preparation due to disease or disability. Under 60 years old veterans must be adjudicated as Social Security-, VA pension-, or other disability benefit - permanently unable to work. NOT in need of a nursing home or hospital. Private rooms run about $2,100 a month and semi-private rooms about $1,650. Rates are based on a sliding fee scale according to the veteran's income. Written applications are submitted to the Home by Florida veterans and are acted upon by the Home Admissions Committee. For information about the veterans domiciliary, call 386-758-0600 or email SmithG@fdva.state.fl.us. [Source: Mil.com article 5 Nov 2012 ++]
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Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Basura Update 05: A jury on 2 NOV ordered an American military contractor to pay $85 million after finding it guilty of negligence for illnesses suffered by a dozen Oregon soldiers who guarded an oilfield water plant during the Iraq war. After a three-week trial, the jury deliberated for just two days before reaching a decision against the contractor, Kellogg Brown and Root. The suit was the first concerning soldiers’ exposure to a toxin at a water plant in southern Iraq. The soldiers said they suffer from respiratory ailments after their exposure to sodium dichromate, and they fear that a carcinogen the toxin contains, hexavalent chromium, could cause cancer later in life. Rocky Bixby, the soldier whose name appeared on the suit, said the verdict should reflect a punishment for the company’s neglect of U.S. soldiers. “This was about showing that they cannot get away with treating soldiers like that,” Bixby said. “It should show them what they did was wrong, prove what they did was wrong and punish them for what they did.” Each soldier received $850,000 in noneconomic damages and $6.25 million in punitive damages.
Another suit from Oregon Guardsmen is on hold while the Portland trial plays out. There are also suits pending in Texas involving soldiers from Texas, Indiana and West Virginia. KBR was found guilty of negligence but not a secondary claim of fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Papak acknowledged before the trial began that, whatever the verdict, the losing side was likely to appeal it. Any appeal must first wait for Papak to formally enter the judgment. The company will appeal the verdict, said KBR attorney Geoffrey Harrison in a statement issued late Friday afternoon. Harrison said the verdict bears no rational relationship to the evidence. “KBR did safe, professional, and exceptional work in Iraq under difficult circumstances,” Harrison said in the statement,” and multiple U.S. Army officers testified under oath that KBR communicated openly and honestly about the potential health risks. “We believe the facts and law ultimately will provide vindication.”
KBR witnesses testified that the soldiers’ maladies were a result of the desert air and pre-existing conditions. Even if they were exposed to sodium dichromate, KBR witnesses argued, the soldiers weren’t around enough of it, for long enough, to cause serious health problems. The contractor’s defense ultimately rested on the fact that they informed the U.S. Army of the risks of exposure to sodium dichromate. KBR was tasked with reconstructing the decrepit, scavenged plant just after the March 2003 invasion while National Guardsmen defended the area. Bags of unguarded sodium dichromate — a corrosive substance used to keep pipes at the water plant free of rust — were ripped open, allowing the substance to spread across the plant an into the air. Attorneys for the 12 Oregon National Guardsmen focused on the months of April, May and June 2003, alleging KBR knew about the presence of sodium dichromate and took no action. One of the soldiers’ key witnesses, a doctor, testified that hexavalent chromium caused a change to soldiers’ genes, leaving them more susceptible to cancer. KBR’s attorneys challenged that diagnosis, saying the soldiers’ witness was the only physician in the U.S. prepared to make such a diagnosis.
Plaintiff Jason Arnold said he understands that contractors are a necessity for often-specialized tasks, but he hopes the verdict forces the U.S. military to reexamine its relationship with the private defense industry. “For a corporation to come in and have this much disregard for the health and well-being of men that are shedding blood, sweat and tears for this country,” Arnold said, “for them to come in and to say that we mean less than their profit, is
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wrong.” During the Iraq war, KBR was the engineering and construction arm of Halliburton, the biggest U.S. contractor during the conflict. KBR split from Halliburton in April 2007. KBR has faced lawsuits before related to its work in Iraq. One of the more prominent cases, involving a soldier who was electrocuted in his barracks shower at an Army base, was dismissed. A second case is still in Maryland federal court, in which former KBR employees and others who worked on Army bases in Iraq and Afghanistan allege KBR allowed them to be exposed to toxic smoke from garbage disposal “burn pits.” [Source: Associated Press | Sarah Halzack | 3 Nov 2012 ++]
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VA In Vitro Fertilization Update 01: Sean Halsted followed in the tradition of his family and joined the Air Force. He subsequently married Sarah looking forward to a life together of promise and children. Everything changed one day in 1998: Sean fell 40 feet while fast-roping from a helicopter during a training exercise and damaged his spinal cord. He was left paralyzed from the waist down. During the next several years the Halsteds rebuilt their lives - ones that didn't necessarily include a future with children. "Sexual function is completely different," Sean Halsted said. "Basically the concept of having kids wasn't going to work. It was not only just the biomechanics, but also the concept that I'm in a chair. It was hard enough for me to live life. I didn't have anything left for kids. My wife was not happy with that concept." It was several years later, while Sean watched a friend compete in wheelchair games, that the Halsteds' lives would be steered back to their dreams of family. It wasn't his friend's athleticism that impressed him. It was watching his friend be a dad. "It gave me the perception that kids are possible," he said. "So we started looking into the procedures we needed to do."
The Halsteds discovered they were ideal candidates for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) - a procedure that involves fertilizing a woman's egg outside the body and then implanting it in the womb. They were dismayed, however, to learn the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't cover the costly but effective procedure. According to Sean Halsted, the VA told him it wasn't their responsibility. "They wanted to help," he said. "I don't mean to say they turned a cold shoulder. It just wasn't their field. It just wasn't in their consciousness. It was like, 'Your body is healthy, we've got you on the rehab stuff, our job is done.'?" In an odd twist of how the government treats its military men and women, severely injured active-duty personnel qualify for the procedure in some cases, but the VA doesn't cover it for veterans. "It was a shocker," Sean Halsted said. "I'm not painting them as a bad guy, but they're busy. If you're already busy, you're not looking for more things to do." The Halsteds paid $20,000 out of their own pocket for the procedure. It was an expense they say many veterans and their spouses can't afford. But two bills making their way through Congress could give more injured veterans hope they can still have a family.
Improvements in battlefield medicine mean more servicemen and -women survived blasts from the land mines and improvised explosive devices frequently used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some returned with injuries making it impossible for them to have children. "A lot of the injuries that occur in the line of duty can only be managed in terms of using in-vitro fertilization," said Dr. Lori Marshall, medical director of the Pacific Northwest Fertility and IVF Specialists. "They may result in infertility, and there is no other treatment that would allow that couple to conceive except in-vitro fertilization." The VA covers some reproductive care, but IVF is not included. The average cost of the procedure is $12,000 to $15,000. The federal legislation would offer fertility treatment for veterans' spouses, as well as for gestational surrogates, which may be needed if a female veteran's uterus is damaged or removed. The current lack of coverage for a surrogate is a problem, Marshall said, in light of the increasing role women are playing on the battlefield. "If you don't cover the partner, you're not really covering in-vitro fertilization," she said. "If you don't cover the gestational surrogate, you're not really covering it. You're not really taking care of the injury completely, and not really allowing all the couples that need to have care to have the care that they need." Since 2003, more than 1,800 U.S. military members have suffered injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan that impact the reproductive tract.
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The bills also include research on the long-term medical needs of veterans with reproductive injuries. "There are injuries that are occurring that are things that haven't really been seen that much," she said. "And so we actually don't know everything that we should know about the long-term care and what are the consequences of some of the injuries." Though the Department of Defense provides coverage of IVF through Tricare for some active-duty men and women, it often takes years to recover from severe injuries, and many are veterans by the time they are ready to have kids. "I think it would be hard for anyone to argue that this shouldn't be done," Marshall said of the push for more comprehensive reproductive care for veterans. "I think most people feel that's just a no-brainer." The bills, called the Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012, aim to close those gaps in coverage. They're sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen, both Washington Democrats. "The VA has an obligation to care for the combat wounded, and that should include access to the fertility care they need," Murray said. "We should not force families to spend tens of thousands of dollars of their own money to start a family."
She said the VA is slowly adapting to the needs of veterans and hopes to improve care through the bill, which would also create a pilot program to provide child care to veterans seeking counseling at the VA's Vet Centers.
"These veterans deserve far more," she said. "For a severely wounded veteran and his or her spouse, their infertility is yet another human cost of war. The commitment we have to our veterans is non-negotiable, regardless of the fiscal cost."
The Halsteds have been busy since the life-changing injury in 1998. Through in-vitro fertilization they now have 8-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, and a 3-year-old daughter. All their children were conceived at the same time, but the embryo of their youngest was frozen and implanted later. "They're all miracles," Sarah Halsted said. "It's just phenomenal the way that technology allowed us to have our children. We're just so lucky, so incredibly blessed." The only way the Halsteds could afford the IVF was because of a medical malpractice settlement stemming from a botched medical procedure. The couple don't want other veterans to suffer from the inability to have the sense of fulfillment their family provides them. Sean Halsted, a Paralympian and former combat controller, credits the VA for the help it has given him but said it needs to adapt its coverage to current medical technology to meet the needs of those injured in the line of duty. "What you're saying to those soldiers is, 'We don't value your service enough to give you a normal life after your sacrifice,'?" he said. "That, to me, is at the core of it. You're expected to have a normal life, but if you can't have kids, what kind of life is that? Are you really still normal?" [Source: The San Francisco Chronicle | Chelsea Bannach | 4 Nov 2012 ++]
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Gold Star License Plate Update 02: Gold Star Family License plates are obtainable in almost every state and the U S Territory, Guam. with the exception of Washington DC. Many states have made submission of a Form DD 1300 a requirement for obtaining their plates but the form is not generally available to all relatives entitled to the plate. The form is issued only to the next of kin specified by the deceased on his or her emergency notification form upon entering the military. You can obtain a copy of DD 1300 from eVetRecs (http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/) with submission of a SF-180Form obtainable at http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf if you are the eligible next of kin. The next of kin can be any of the following: surviving spouse that has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother. If you know the next of kin or the casualty officer try to get a copy from them. If you can't get a copy of DD 1300 see if your state authorities will accept alternate proof that you are related to the deceased. To see what each states plate looks like and information on authorizing legislation, where to apply, and any special; criteria to obtain refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Gold Star License Plates” [Source: http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Resources/GSFLicensePlateStatus/GSFStatus.htm Mar 2012 ++]
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Mojave Desert Veteran Memorial Update 10: It's been a long legal battle that lasted more than a decade, but now, Henry and Wanda Sandoz of Yucca Valley will finally be able to keep a promise they made to a dying friend and veteran nearly 30 years ago. "We really loved him," said Wanda in a phone interview. "It was really important for us to keep that promise to him. And to show we love our veterans and our country." On Veterans Day, the Sandozes will be able to legally re-erect a simple 7-foot cross on Sunrise Rock east of Baker in the Mojave National Preserve. The Sandozes met and became good friends with Riley Bembry, one of the World War I veterans who first placed the cross on Sunrise Rock in 1934 as a way to honor the veterans of that war. When Bembry became ill and frail, he asked Henry to watch over the cross. Henry agreed. Bembry died a short time later in 1984. "It means very much to me, yes, and also to our veterans and our Lord and Savior," said Henry, 73. The cross had become the focus of a legal case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union in 2000. The ACLU sued the federal government, asking that the cross be removed because the Christian symbol on federal land violated the First Amendment, prohibiting the government from endorsing any religion. Soon the Liberty Institute in Plano, Tex., took up the cause for the Sandozes. "If they hadn't come in on this we probably wouldn't have won," Wanda. In 2002, the U.S. District Court Central District of California ruled in the ACLU's favor and the cross was encased in wood until an agreement could be reached. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned previous the ruling calling for the cross to be removed and sent the case back down to the U.S. District Court level. A little more than a week after the ruling, the cross vanished. A replacement cross reappeared shortly after, but it was removed. "We had people from all over the country offering us big granite crosses as replacements," Wanda said. "It was tempting, but we thought the cross should stay as the veterans wanted.""Just a simple 7-foot white cross made of pipe," said Henry.
Wanda and Henry Sandoz Earlier this year, a land swap was approved in which the Sandozes gave five acres of land to the Mojave Preserve in exchange for the one acre where the cross once sat. The land swap, putting the cross on private property, was finalized 2 NOV. "We're both just so happy that this is finally behind us," Wanda said. "It's been a 13-year battle. Henry had a big heart attack six or seven years ago and it's been a real concern that he was going to die before he saw this resolved." For Henry, it's not only about keeping a promise to a friend, but honoring those who have served. "Not having served, this is a way for me to give something back to them," he said. [Source: San Bernardino County Sun | Beatriz E. Valenzuela | 5 Nov2012 ++]
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Dementia Update 03: In a new study published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, older, non-disabled people who regularly engaged in physical activity reduced their risk of vascular-related dementia
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(loss of memory) by 40 percent and cognitive impairment of any etiology by 60 percent. The protective effect of regular physical activity remained regardless of age, education, changes in the brain’s white matter and even previous history of stroke or diabetes , researchers said. The findings are based on a prospective multinational European study that included yearly comprehensive cognitive assessments for three years. The results are part of increasing evidence that regular physical activity promotes brain health, researchers said. “We strongly suggest physical activity of moderate intensity at least 30 minutes three times a week to prevent cognitive impairment,” said Ana Verdelho, M.D., lead author of the study and a neuroscience researcher at the University of Lisbon, Santa Maria Hospital in Portugal. “This is particularly important for people with vascular risk factors such as hypertension, stroke or diabetes.”
The analysis included 639 people in their 60s and 70s; 55 percent were women and almost 64 percent said they were active at least 30 minutes a day three times a week. The activity included gym classes, walking and biking. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise for optimal health. Researchers performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests at the beginning and end of the study to gauge white matter changes in the brain, an indicator of possible cognitive decline. “Damage of the cerebral white matter is implicated in cognitive problems including depression, walking difficulties and urinary complaints,” Verdelho said. “White matter changes are very common in older people and mainly associated with vascular risk factors like hypertension and stroke.” Throughout the study, researchers asked participants in phone interviews and clinical visits about depression, quality of life and performing everyday activities. At the end of the follow-up, 90 patients had dementia, including 54 with vascular dementia in which impaired blood flow to the brain causes cognitive decline, and 34 patients met criteria for Alzheimer’s disease. Another 147 patients developed cognitive impairment, but not dementia. [Source: American Heart Association article 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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Pennsylvania Veterans' Homes Update 05: More than one in four older veterans in nursing homes were taking antipsychotic medications, with more than 40 percent of those veterans having no documented related diagnosis, according to new research by the University of Pittsburgh and VA Pittsburgh Medical Center. The study was the first to address this issue in VA Community Living Centers and the rates mirrored those in non-VA nursing homes. In July, the Pittsburgh Business Times found that the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing home patients who do not have a related diagnosis was higher in southwestern Pennsylvania than the statewide and national medians — 18.9 percent locally compared to 15.65 percent statewide and 16.7 percent nationally. “Our study adds to the growing evidence base that antipsychotics have been overused in nursing homes and the VA is not immune to the program,” lead author Dr. Walid Gellad said in a prepared statement. “Behavioral symptoms in dementia patients are difficult to treat and in most cases, nursing home staff are doing what they can to keep patients comfortable and safe. We have to find better ways to do this, though.”
Antipsychotics have limited value in alleviating behavioral problems for people with dementia and several studies associate their use with an increase risk of death. Gellad and his colleagues collected data on all veterans age 65 and older who were admitted for 90 or more days to one of the 133 VA Community Living Centers between January 2004 and June 2005, the latest data available for study. Veterans in dementia units had 66 percent greater odds of receiving an antipsychotic and residents with aggressive behavior had nearly three times greater odds of receiving an antipsychotic. By 2008, the Food and Drug Administration required label warnings about the increased risk of death among elderly people on all types of antipsychotics. [Source: Pittsburgh Business Times | Kris B. Mamula | 2 Nov 2012 ++]
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Louisiana Vet Cemeteries Update 05: Land-clearing work has begun on Louisiana’s newest veteran’s cemetery, which will be located on property donated by the Louisiana National Guard at Camp Villere near Slidell, and burials will take place there by the end of 2013 or early 2014. The cemetery is designed to meet the needs of 100,000 veterans and their families. The Department of Veterans Affairs gave the state official notification last week of an $8.3 million grant to build the cemetery, which will be the third operated by the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. The money will be used to build the cemetery’s main entrance, roads, a combined administration and public information center, a maintenance facility and an assembly area as well as gravesites for casketed burials cremains, memorial and scatter burial areas and crypts and other features. The project will include 2,579 preplaced crypts, 273 cremains gravesites and 480 columbaria niches.
The Louisiana National Guard donated 75 acres for the cemetery, which will be located northwest of Slidell on South Perimeter Road. It will be visible from Interstate 12 with the main entrance just outside the gates of Camp Villere. The first phase will be built on 21 acres, according to the state Departments of Veterans Affairs. Robin Keller, press secretary for the department, said that when Lane Carson took office as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs in 2002, he set a goal of having a veterans cemetery in each region of the state. The Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery is located in Keithville, south of Shreveport, and the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery is just outside For Polk in Leesville. Carson is continuing to work on getting cemeteries for northeast and southwest Louisiana, she said. Veterans of the armed services, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in the cemetery, she said. The cost of the gravesite and the head stone are covered by the VA, she said. An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held in December, Keller said. Ground-clearing and other preliminary work began last month. [Source: The Advocate | New Orleans Bureau | 5 Nov 2012 ++]
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Energy Drinks:: As energy drink consumption soars, there are growing concerns about the safety of these beverages, as well as whether they're worth the hype and high price tags. Energy drinks have recently come under fire for containing dangerously high levels of caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating five deaths since 2009 that may be linked to popular drink Monster Energy. One study suggests more than 13,000 people visit emergency rooms each year because of symptoms linked to energy drinks. And a Consumer Reports test revealed that some energy drinks contain twice the caffeine in a typical 8 ounce cup of coffee – per serving. Popular brands like Red Bull, 5-hour Energy, and Monster Energy are marketing their beverages to those looking for a quick burst of energy – often at a price tag of $2 or more a pop. But what should consumers know about the estimated $8.1 billion energy drink market? Do these pricey drinks actually fuel you up or if they’re just a drain on your wallet. Consider the following:
 Safety concerns. A Consumer Reports test turned up the following results: Energy drinks’ caffeine levels ranged from 6 milligrams to 242 milligrams per serving – with some drinks containing more than one serving. Five-hour Energy Extra Strength contained the highest level, and 5-hour Energy Decaf ranked lowest. (For a look at the full chart, refer to http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/12/the-buzz-on-energy-drink-caffeine/index.htm.). “By comparison, an 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams; a 16-ounce Starbucks Grande, 330 milligrams,” says Consumer Reports. Caffeine consumption can be associated with adverse physical and mind-altering reactions. Symptoms can include restlessness, tremors, palpitations, nervousness, and life-threatening heart rhythm changes. People who have heart disease or high blood pressure are particularly at risk. To add insult to injury, many energy drinks – 11 out of 27 in the Consumer Reports study – don’t list caffeine levels. Of the 16 drinks that did, five drinks – Arizona Energy, Clif Shot Turbo Energy Gel, Nestlé Jamba, Sambazon Organic Amazon Energy, and
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Venom Energy – had more than 20 percent above their labeled amount on average in the samples that were tested.
 Extra ingredients with little energy benefit. If you’re expecting the additional ingredients in energy drinks – like vitamins, minerals, and other supplements – to take your energy up a notch, you may be disappointed. B-vitamins are included in energy drinks’ cocktail of ingredients. With 5-hour Energy, you’ll take in an astounding 8,333 percent of the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin B12 and 2,000 percent of Vitamin B6. The 8.3 ounce Red Bull contains 73 percent of your suggested daily dose of Vitamin B12 and 104 percent of B6. While these doses of B-vitamins could potentially be good for your health (and even that’s a questionable claim), they’ll likely do nothing for your energy levels. The LA Times reports that there’s no research or scientific evidence to support claims that all these B-vitamins will boost your energy, and you likely get enough of these vitamins from other sources anyway. Other ingredients don’t fare much better, according to experts’ opinions. WebMD points out that ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and guarana likely won’t give you extra energy, either.
 Find cheaper and healthier alternatives. Energy drinks aren’t cheap. Popular brands, including Red Bull, 5-hour Energy, and Monster Energy, cost $2 to $4 for a single can at the convenience store. Compared to other caffeinated options, like soda or coffee, you’re likely paying more for energy drinks. A can of soda often sells for a dollar or less, and a cup of coffee might cost 25 cents or less to brew at home. According to Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, ”The caffeine may give you a good pickup, but it’s not going to give you energy.” Dr. Cooperman says to start with more sleep. Mayo Clinic recommends seven to nine hours a night for adults, so don’t skimp and rely on stimulants like caffeine instead. Squeezing in a quick 10 to 30 minute nap in the afternoon might provide revitalization to power through the rest of the workday. Don’t forget to look to foods that provide a natural source of energy in the form of calories. EcoSalon http://ecosalon.com/20-foods-to-give-you-energy has several food options to stave off fatigue that also make great meals and snacks throughout the day. Options include nuts, apples, blueberries, and bananas. If you’re still looking to keep some caffeine in the mix, look to cheaper alternatives to energy drinks. Tea and soda also have some caffeine and are typically cheaper than energy drinks.
 Can’t get enough? Make your own energy drink. If you can’t kick energy drinks altogether, you can make your own cheaply from home – and by knowing exactly which ingredients are thrown into the mix, you can be sure that your drink is safe. The energy drink recipes at http://www.walkjogrun.net/blog/index.cfm/2012/6/28/How-to-Make-Your-Own-Energy-Drinks have just a few common ingredients: water, juice, and salt. You’ll get the benefits of sodium and potassium, which help retain fluids and increase hydration, and you’ll avoid paying for energy drinks with extra ingredients you just don’t need.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Jeffrey Trull | 29 Oct 2012 ++]
********************************* Daylight Saving Time Update 02: Most Americans “fell back” 4 NOV, setting their clocks back one hour as Daylight Saving Time officially ended at 2 a.m. and we returned to Daylight Standard Time. There were a few exceptions. Hawaii, Arizona, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands don’t follow Daylight Saving Time, so they ignored the time change as the rest of us synced back up with them.. Most industrialized countries in the world including the U.S. observe some type of daylight saving time and return to standard time in the fall, with Japan, India, and China being the major exceptions. Antarctica observes Daylight Saving Time, even though it has 24 hours
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of daylight much of the summer. It’s so it follows the same time as its closest contacts in Australia and Chile at supply stations. The Navajo Nation observes Daylight Saving Time, part of which is in Arizona, which does not. Completely within the Navajo Nation is the Hopi Nation, which doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time either just like Arizona. So for several months, the Hopi Nation stays with Standard Time, surrounded by the Navajo Nation on Daylight Time, which is in turn surrounded by the state of Arizona on Standard Time. You don’t need a watch to tell the time, you need a GPS map. After getting cranky over losing an hour of sleep last March, we revel in the ability to sleep in an extra hour. But it’s small compensation for the afternoon commute to suddenly be in the dark. Also:  This is the most dangerous time of year if you walk in the late afternoon and early evening. In the three weeks following the return to standard time, a Carnegie Mellon University study found that pedestrians are three times as likely to be hit and killed by cars after the time change. The same study found that the risk of being killed increased 186 percent for every mile walked after 6 p.m. The study backs up 2001 statistics compiled by the University of Michigan which found that 65 pedestrians were killed in auto accidents the last week of Daylight Saving Time; and 227 pedestrians were killed in the week following the time change.  Daylight Saving Time used to end on the last Sunday in October, about a week before Election Day. Starting in 2007 an extra week was added so that Daylight Saving Time ended in November as a way to increase voter participation. The thinking is that more people would go to the polls after work if it was still light outside. That did not this year since Election Day was on the Tuesday after the time changed back. But in 2010, and again in 2021, 2027, and 2032, the time change will happen after Election Day. This will give researchers the chance to find out whether this theory is true.  Research showing an increase in heart attacks after changing to Daylight Saving Time has been followed up by additional studies proving that heart attacks drop after we change back to standard time in the fall. So relax knowing you are far less likely to have a heart attack before Election Day this year. Better figure this into those election turnout studies; we may actually have more people alive to vote after the change back to standard time.  Why does the change happen at 2 a.m.? It was thought this time presented the minimum possible disruption, because it was when the fewest trains ran; most bars and restaurants would be closed or closing; and it prevents switching from one day back to the previous day which would be confusing. It is early enough that the entire country has plenty of time before daybreak to make the change, before most people working early shifts or early morning churchgoers would be affected.  When the clocks fall back one hour, all Amtrak trains in the U.S. that are running on time stop at 2 a.m. and wait one hour before resuming. Trains cannot leave a station before the scheduled time. Overnight passengers may be surprised to find their train stopped and their travel time an hour longer than expected.  For the last 24 years, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Energizer company have reminded people to change and test the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when setting the clocks to and from daylight saving time. Thirty percent of alarms and detectors are not functional at any given time due to dead batteries.
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[Source: The Washington Times | Gayle Falkenthal | 3 Nov 2012 ++]
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End of Life ~ Feeding Tubes: Food is how we comfort those we love; when all other forms of communication have vanished, feeding remains a final act of devotion. So the easy availability of feeding tubes forces a wrenching choice upon families: Do they say yes, condemning a loved one to dependency on a small plastic tube in their stomach? Or do they say no, consenting to their loved one’s death? If no turnaround is in sight -- particularly in elders with progressive neurological illness -- there use can be a dreadful mistake, medical researchers now say. So why is their use so common? Most likely because:
 Families may not understand the implications of tube feeding, due to poor communication with doctors. Many patients don't prepare advance directives, which can specify no artificial hydration and nutrition, so their distressed families urge doctors to do everything. They have a tough time letting go.
 Doctors may not want to let go, either. They're trained to heal. They're paid more to rescue than to talk about death. And those conversations are awful. "It's easier to recommend a nonbeneficial procedure than to confront difficult end-of-life issues," geriatrician Dr. William Plonk Jr. of the University of Virginia Health System wrote in a 2005 journal article.
 Financial incentives encourage hospitals to overuse the procedure, experts say. Because it is costly to keep patients, hospitals seek to quickly stabilize and return patients to a nursing home. That means ensuring they are getting nutrition -- and the most efficient way often is through a feeding tube.
 Nursing homes have their own reasons to favor tubes. It is used on one-third of demented nursing home residents, contributing to a growing device market worth $1.64 billion annually. Many homes lack the staffing for time-consuming hand feeding. Another incentive which promotes tube use is their costs are considered "skilled nursing" care that Medicare generously reimburses. Moreover, nursing homes risk stiff penalties if regulators believe their residents are malnourished.
All these powerful reasons -- emotional, ethical, practical, financial and regulatory -- make it easy to lose sight of what's best for the patient, experts say. "Not eating at the end of life is a normal part of the dying process," said Foote, the medical director at Windsor Gardens in Salinas. "We have forgotten that." Almost all dying patients, even those who are hand-fed, lose their interest in eating and drinking; this is the body's signal that death is coming, according to palliative care providers. If food is not artificially provided, patients typically die within two weeks, although exceptions are common. Lack of food triggers a biochemical process called ketosis, which actually blunts
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hunger and eases discomfort due to the release of natural morphine-like agents. Yet thousands of patients still spend their final days -- and even months or years -- attached to tubes.
Another factor that prolongs the misery elders with progressive neurological illness are removal of life support myths. Dr. Timothy O. Lipman, chief of the GI-Hepatology-Nutrition Section of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C. had the following comments on the misconceptions that surround the ending of life support. Although he is not a lawyer, and has no legal training, Lipman has decades of experience treating elders with eating problems:
- Myth: Termination of life support is murder or suicide.
- Fact: Courts have recognized a legal distinction between killing and letting die.
- Myth: Stopping tube feeding is different from stopping other treatments.
- Fact: With few exceptions, courts have regarded tube feeding as a medical treatment that may be discontinued as can any other treatment.
- Myth: A patient must be terminally ill for life support to be stopped.
- Fact: Courts have tended to focus on quality of life, rather than existence of life. However, courts have insisted on knowing the patient's express wishes.
- Myth: Once treatment is started, it must be continued.
- Fact: There is no legal distinction between withholding and withdrawing treatment.
- Myth: Stopping life support or withdrawing a feeding tube requires court action.
- Fact: This is a clinical decision, involving the patient, family and doctors. It does not need a judicial approval or court-appointed expert.
[Source: San Jose Mercury News | Lisa M. Krieger | 2Nov 2012 ++]
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Combat Veteran Health Care Update 08: Tanya L. Towne was wearing her full “battle rattle” when she got injured preparing for war. Now the Pentagon must explain why that should be treated differently from a combat-related injury. What happens next will put the Defense Department on the spot. It also could mean a lot to veterans other than Towne, who served 17 years in the New York Army National Guard before her 2009 medical discharge.“She represents a lot of folks who were called up for Iraq and Afghanistan and who got hurt,” Towne’s attorney, Scott MacKay, said in a telephone interview 1 NOV. In a provocative recent ruling, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims wants the Defense Department to justify a Bush administration-era decision that an injury during combat training doesn’t qualify a veteran for the enhanced benefits that are provided to those who are injured during combat. While the Pentagon’s distinction between training and combat sounds clear-cut, it seemingly conflicts with another part of federal law.
But the distinction saves the government money. “In my opinion, (the Defense Department) did what they did strictly from a financial perspective,” MacKay said. MacKay knows about such things. A West Point graduate, he’s the vice president and general counsel for Lockheed Martin Information Systems. He’s representing Towne pro bono, and he said many injured veterans could be in similar circumstances. Though precise numbers are elusive, the Disabled American Veterans organization estimated in 2008 that “countless thousands” would lose out on potential benefits because their training injuries weren’t considered combat-related. Towne figures she knows some of them. “I am sure that there are many more cases (like mine) behind the scenes,” Towne said. Justice Department officials,
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defending the Pentagon, counter that the military has acted reasonably. “The . . . determination that Ms. Towne is not eligible for enhanced disability severance pay because she incurred her training-exercise injury outside the performance of duty in combat-related operations is supported by substantial evidence and applicable statutes and regulations, and is neither arbitrary nor capricious,” Justice Department attorney Ryan Majerus wrote in a legal brief.
Now 37, Towne recently opened a sporting goods store in the upstate New York town of Fort Plain. It’s about 110 miles from Fort Drum, where in June 2004 she was preparing with the Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division. Trained as a radio repair specialist, Towne was running through a house-clearing drill. She and her fellow soldiers, clad in body armor and bearing equipment that weighed about 50 pounds, had to climb on each other to enter through a window. “It was a real-world scenario,” Towne said. She fell, landing awkwardly. Army doctors diagnosed a muscle injury, and the following January she deployed to Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit, Iraq. She said she was in constant back pain during her 10 months overseas. Once Towne had returned to the United States, further medical evaluations determined that she was physically unfit for active duty. In June 2009, she was honorably discharged with a 10 percent disability rating.
She also was caught in an apparent contradiction. The Army medical board concluded that Towne’s injury was “combat related” for the purposes of receiving a tax benefit. But at the same time, the board concluded that the injury wasn’t incurred “during performance of duty in combat-related operations.” This cut her disability payments.
The medical board based its ruling on a Bush administration policy issued in 2008, which said combat-related injuries meant those incurred “as a direct result of armed conflict.” Officials determined that this ruled out training injuries, including those sustained during simulated combat preparations before deployment to a war zone. The Bush administration policy narrowly interpreted a 2008 “wounded warriors” bill, intended to improve military and veterans care. This interpretation, or at least the rationale behind it, came under question in the decision 25 OCT in Towne’s case by U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge George W. Miller. Miller concluded that the Pentagon “articulated no reason” for the narrow interpretation, and said it “lacks any explanation.” He directed the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to reconsider Towne’s case and to ask the Defense Department for a better explanation of the combat-related benefits policy. This is far from a final victory for the training-injured veteran, because courts often defer to the rationales given by government agencies. At the least, though, Towne and others like her could get one more shot at help. [Source: The News Tribune | Michael Doyle | 2 Nov 2012 ++]
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Personality Disorder Discharge Update 02: Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN), along with original co-sponsors Congressmen Tom Rooney (R-FL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jeff Denham (R-CA) introduced H.R.6574, the Servicemember Mental Health Review Act. This bipartisan bill would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to institute a special review board that would review and correct personality and adjustment disorder discharges that have occurred between 2001 and present day. Since September 2001, over 30,000 Servicemembers have been separated from the military for a personality or adjustment disorder. Many of these service members were wrongfully discharged with either a personality or adjustment disorder, when truthfully many of them were suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to combat or sexual trauma. Because Personality and Adjustment Disorders are considered preexisting conditions, the Department is not obligated to provide these service members with the full benefits they would have received with a PTSD or TBI diagnosis. They are ineligible for many healthcare, disability, economic or other employment opportunities because of these wrongful diagnoses and subsequent separations.
Instead of taking care of its warriors, DoD and its component services have separated service members with mental health problems as a result of combat or sexual trauma in a manner that prevents them from getting the help
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that they need. This legislation will require that the DoD establish a Mental Health Discharge Board of Review to review personality and adjustment disorder separations to determine the validity of the diagnosis. If the original diagnosis is determined to be incorrect the board will recommend that DoD re-classify what the veteran’s discharge so that they may receive benefits and get the help that they need. This bill will correct a grave injustice done to these veterans. According to a press release by Congressman Rooney’s office, a 2008 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that 26,000 soldiers were improperly discharged with personality disorders between 2001 and 2007. Based on a review of several hundred cases, GAO indicated that compliance rates were as low as 40 percent. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 2 Nov 2012 ++]
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National Coalition for Homeless Vets: The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) exists to end homelessness among veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration, and building the capacity of service providers. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a 17-member board of directors. They are the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year. NCHV also serves as the primary liaison between the nation’s care providers, Congress and the executive branch agencies charged with helping them succeed in their work. Their advocacy has strengthened and increased funding for virtually every federal homeless veteran assistance program in existence today. Under a technical assistance grant awarded by the Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service, NCHV provides guidance and information about program development, administration, governance and funding to all of the nation’s homeless veteran service providers.
The Coalition was organized in 1990 by a small group of community-based service providers who were troubled by the disproportionately large percentage of homeless people who were veterans, and the lack of veteran-specific programs to help them. They opened their Washington, D.C., office in 1993 in order to work more closely with Congress and Executive Branch agencies to ensure the inclusion of veterans in federal assistance programs. The office is located at 333 ½ Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003-1148 and can be contacted via Tel: 202-546-1969 or 800-VET-HELP, Fax: 202-546-2063, or email info@nchv.org. The organization's community-based service providers represent 46 states and the District of Columbia, and offer assistance to any homeless service provider that contacts their office. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is the only national organization specifically dedicated to improving the opportunities for these deserving homeless Americans to regain control of their lives and once again enjoy the freedoms they helped preserve. The organization:
 Is recognized as the nation’s leading authority on homeless veterans issues by several agencies and departments of the U.S. government, and have worked in partnership on projects with VA, DOL, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 Helped develop and increase funding for homeless veteran-specific programs such as the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, both of which are currently funded at their highest levels ever.
 Helped write and worked to ensure passage of the hallmark Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001, which had the potential to provide $1 billion for homeless veteran service providers and programs. In Congress, NCHV helped craft – and continues to advocate for – 14 bills designed to improve and expand services for homeless veterans.
For additional information on NCHV refer to http://nchv.org/ [Source: NCHV website 4 Oct 2012 ++]
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Military Pay & Benefits: The government must reform military pay and benefits to help the Defense Department rein in spending, according to a new report from a left-leaning think tank. The Center for American Progress (CAP) praised Pentagon proposals to cut personnel costs, which include capping pay raises for service members beginning in fiscal 2015, raising TRICARE enrollment fees for military retirees to keep pace with increases in health care costs, creating a 401(k)-based retirement system to replace the current vesting system, and increasing the age at which service members can receive their pensions. The report, which outlined recommendations for “thoughtful” spending cuts while maintaining a robust national defense, also recommended reducing the number of active-duty personnel stationed in Europe and Asia, something the Obama administration also has proposed. Some personnel-related reforms CAP supports include:
 Limit pay increases beginning in fiscal 2015. “By repeatedly passing pay raises above and beyond the Pentagon’s request, Congress has driven military pay out of line with the Pentagon’s own standards,” the report stated. “Basic pay accounts for about half of military cash compensation -- service members also receive tax-free allowances for housing and subsistence, a variety of other tax breaks, and an array of special and incentive pay.”
 Raise TRICARE enrollment fees and deductibles for working-age retirees to reflect increases in health care costs during the past 20 years. Until 2011, TRICARE enrollment fees for military retirees younger than 65 had remained the same since 1995. As of Oct. 1, all retirees enrolled in TRICARE Prime now pay between $39 and $79 more annually than they did before.
 Implement an enrollment fee for TRICARE-for-Life.
 Mandate the working-age military retirees above a certain income level can enroll in TRICARE only if they don’t have access to other health care plans through their employer or spouse.
 Transition to a 401(k)-style retirement system. Specifically, military personnel with more than a decade of service could choose to stay in the current system or switch to a 401(k); those with less than 10 years of service could enroll in the new 401(k) system or a modified version of the current pension setup, which would vest at 10 years but “provide slightly less retired pay -- 40 percent of base pay at 20 years, rather than 50 percent permitted under the current system.”
The 2011 Budget Control Act mandates $487 billion in Defense spending cuts over the next decade; if sequestration occurs in January, the Pentagon will have to slash an additional $500 billion from its budget during that time frame. Defense annually spends about $107 billion on salaries and allowances, which does not include health care costs or retirement benefits. Those expenses tack on another $75 billion or so annually. All told, military compensation eats up about one-third of the department’s budget. There are three major components to military compensation: pay, health care and retirement benefits. In that sense, it’s similar to many pay and benefits packages elsewhere in government and in the private sector. But that’s where the similarities end. Take pay, for example. The military has more than 70 types of pay and allowances for service members. A typical active-duty service member receives basic pay, housing and food allowances, an annual pay increase, and some tax breaks. Service members also are eligible for combat pay or other kinds of incentive pay based on their specific jobs and any special skills, such as proficiency in a foreign language.
Health care and retirement benefits together cost the Pentagon less in actual dollars today than pay, but much more in political capital and good will among troops, retirees and their families. The House this spring shot down the administration’s recommendations to raise health care premiums for military retirees based on their retirement pay, in addition to other fee hikes. The Pentagon now has a 20-year cliff-vesting retirement system, which some critics would like to replace with one providing some benefits to all service members regardless of their tenure. Personnel who serve less than 20 years -- about 83 percent -- do not receive a retirement benefit, which some believe is unfair given their multiple deployments during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those who do spend a career in
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the military can hit the 20-year mark relatively early, retire from service in their 40s or 50s, draw a pension and work elsewhere for a while. About 17 percent serve 20 years or more in the military. “Military pay and health reform will allow the Pentagon to achieve substantial savings in the near term,” the report said. “Retirement reform, however, presents the greatest opportunity for savings.”
The Center for American Progress is an independent nonpartisan educational institute dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action Their report titled “Rebalancing Our National Security” can be read at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/report/2012/10/31/43074/rebalancing-our-national-security/. [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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DFAS Direct Deposit: The below chart is a list of all 2013 Retiree and Annuitant paydays:
Month of : Direct Deposit Date:
January 2013 Friday, February 1, 2013
February 2013 Friday, March 1, 2013
March 2013 Monday, April 1, 2013
April 2013 Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May 2013 Monday, May 31, 2013
June 2013 Monday, July 1, 2013
July 2013 Thursday, August 1, 2013
August 2013 Friday, August 30, 2013
September 2013 Tuesday, October 1, 2013
October 2013 Friday, November 1, 2013
November 2013 Friday, November 29, 2013
December 2013 Tuesday, December 31, 2013
[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Prime Update 16: Many TRICARE beneficiaries in the West region are contacting NAUS about possible changes in TRICARE. They report that TRICARE Prime will be limited only to those beneficiaries who live within a 40 mile radius of a Military Treatment Facility. Those whose residence is outside the radius will be dropped from TRICARE Prime and have no option other than TRICARE Standard. The change would not affect TRICARE for Life. It is NAUS’s understanding that extended TRICARE Prime region coverage beyond 40 miles has always only been an encouraged option for the providers, not a requirement. For example, several years ago the TRICARE North region started to vigorously enforce the 40 mile rule and anyone outside that area was automatically converted to TRICARE Standard. This may be what is being proposed in the West.
However, for people in the West region this can and will cause some hardships as there simply is not the number of military facilities available and more beneficiaries will have to travel longer distances for their healthcare. Very frankly, a 40-mile radius simply doesn’t work in the West. These States cover extremely large areas of land. One could fit, for instance, the entire geography of New England into the State of Montana. NAUS has asked for a briefing on the matter. In response to a recent NAUS inquiry, a TMA spokesman wrote, “The Defense Department has not confirmed these changes are going take place. If you or your organization are getting questions, you can
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direct people to the TRICARE West transition page at http://www.tricare.mil/t3contracts/west.aspx for the latest information.” (As of 1 NOV, all it says is stay tuned for important announcements on April 1, 2013.)
On 23 October, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) wrote to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs asking for the “rationale behind these decisions” and calling the proposal “simply wrong.” NAUS endorses the Oregon lawmakers’ letter and continues its push to set the situation straight. NAUS is also informed that the Nevada Senate delegation, Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller, have joined the demand for clarification of this proposal. In the interim NAUS is requesting that those affected keep them informed about what they hear or experience by sending an email to mplumer@naus.org. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument: The first national monument to pay tribute to military dogs will be unveiled in California in just two months. The U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument will honor every dog that has served in combat since World War II. Some cities, cemeteries and military bases across the country already have such memorials. But none has been elevated to national monument level, where it will be in the company of the Statue of Liberty, Yosemite National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. In 2000, John Burnam, a 65-year-old veteran military dog handler, wrote a book called "Dog Tags of Courage." A year later, he got an email from a reader wondering why there were no national monuments to the dogs of war.
In "Dog Tags" and a 2008 book, "A Soldier's Best Friend," Burnam wrote about his time with the Army's 44th Scout Dog Platoon when he was in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. His first dog, Timber, was injured in an ambush a few months after they teamed up, so he spent most of his tour with a German shepherd named Clipper. "He saved my life and saved the lives of others by alerting on ambushes, snipers and booby traps. I wanted to give something back to these animals that have done so much and asked for so little, except for food and water and the love of their handlers," said Burnam, who received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Back then, handlers were not able to adopt their dogs when they were retired. "I always worried about them but I know they died over there and they died as heroes," he said. In 2004, Burnam and two other dog handler veterans pursued the idea in earnest, forming the John Burnam Monument Foundation Inc. But it took two more years, until he met Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., that the monument project started to take shape. In 2007, Jones introduced legislation authorizing establishment of the monument. Passed unanimously by Congress, it was signed the next year by President George W. Bush, then amended and signed by President Barack Obama.
Burnam designed the monument, which depicts the modern military handler and four dogs — a Doberman, German shepherd, Labrador retriever and Belgian Malinois, all breeds used in wars. The silicon bronze handler stands more than 9 feet tall and weighs 1,500 pounds. Each dog is about 5 feet tall and weighs 550 pounds. Burnam called them "hero-sized." The figures will stand on a pedestal, in front of a large granite wall. One side of the wall will have photos etched in black marble veneer showing dog teams in combat from the different wars. The other side will have an inscription written by Burnam. The sculptor, Paula Slater, said it was the largest and most complex monument she had ever done. She worked for thousands of hours, saying that finishing a project of that size "is like giving birth to a baby — five of them."
The money for the monument came slowly. Burnam made one of many fundraising pitches on the reality TV show "Who Let the Dogs Out," featuring Tillman, the skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding bulldog. The president of Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc., the company that Tillman represents, attended the show taping and volunteered to pitch in more than $1 million. "Don't do a thing. Natural Balance and Petco (Animal Supplies Inc.)
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will take care of it," Joey Herrick said. To raise funds for the monument and its maintenance, Natural Balance created a jerky bark treat sold by Petco. Maddie's Fund, a family-funded pet rescue foundation, also signed on as a corporate sponsor. The public will get a sneak peak of the monument at the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena on Jan. 1, when a floral replica will be used as Natural Balance's float. Burnam, dogs and handlers from every military service branch will ride on it.
Publicity photo provided by John Burnam Monument Foundation, Inc
When the float goes on display afterward at Victory Park, the real bronze monument will make its public debut next to it, Herrick said. Then the bronze monument will go on tour as it heads to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. The location was chosen as the site for the monument because that's where most of the nation's military's dogs are trained. Meanwhile, Tillman, the dog that helped get Burnam the monument funding, is also getting personal recognition for his military service. For his work entertaining troops at bases and for going through a mini Marine boot camp, the athletic bulldog has been made an honorary private 1st class. [Source: Associated Press | Sue Manning | 30 Oct 2012 ++]
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Louisiana Vet Cemeteries Update 04: Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary officially opened 24 OCT by providing its first Veteran burial at the facility. “With the opening of this national shrine, many thousands of Louisiana Veterans and their families will continue to have a no-cost burial option available nearby, in a setting that is worthy of their service,” said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve L. Muro. “Providing lasting tributes to their sacrifices is one of VA’s most honorable missions, and one we are proud to fulfill.” Louisiana National Cemetery is situated on 103.8 acres of land. Construction includes gravesite development in two phases, providing a full range of burial alternatives to approximately 293,000 Veterans and eligible family members in the East Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding area.
The now completed first phase of construction developed approximately 17 acres with 2,500 in-ground pre-placed crypts, 1,128 traditional gravesites, an entrance feature, roadway, utilities and necessary infrastructure. The next phase will cover approximately 12 acres and will include a maintenance complex and 1,130 in-ground cremains sites. The 19.9-acre Port Hudson National Cemetery, located 1½ miles away, closed to first interment casketed
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burials in October 2012, although it still provides casketed interments for those with family members already buried there. Space for cremated remains is estimated to be depleted in 2015. More than 14,000 military service members, Veterans and family members are interred there. Rex Kern is the director of the new cemetery. He has been and will remain the director of Port Hudson National Cemetery, a position he has held since 2009. Kern is responsible for all burial, maintenance and administrative operations at the facility as well as at Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Natchez National Cemeteries. Additional information about the Louisiana National Cemetery is available by calling the Port Hudson National Cemetery office at 225-654-3767.
Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Also eligible are military personnel who die on active duty, their spouses and eligible dependents. Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker. Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment. In the midst of the largest cemetery expansion since the Civil War, VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3.7 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict - from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror - are buried in VA’s national cemeteries on approximately 20,000 acres of land. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. To make burial arrangements at the time of need at any VA national cemetery, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office toll-free at 1-800-535-1117. [Source: AcadiaParishToday.com article 31 Oct 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 131: VA has registered the term “GI Bill” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as suggested by President Obama at his signing of an Executive Order last April for the purpose of “Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses and Other Family Members.” The order was in reaction to allegations of questionable marketing practices by a handful of schools attempting to recruit GI Bill beneficiaries into their student population. The order read, in part, “Since the Post-9/11 GI Bill became law there have been reports of aggressive and deceptive targeting of service members, veterans and their families by some educational institutions. For example, some institutions have... encouraged service members and veterans to take out costly institutional loans rather than encouraging them to apply for Federal student loans first; engaged in misleading recruiting practices on military installations; and failed to disclose meaningful information that allows potential students to determine whether the institution has a good record of graduating service members, veterans, and their families...”
In its closing paragraphs Obama’s Executive Order directs that “...all appropriate steps (be taken) to ensure that websites and programs are not deceptively and fraudulently marketing educational services and benefits to program beneficiaries, including initiating a process to protect the term ‘GI Bill’ and other military or veterans-related terms as trademarks, as appropriate.” The issue of GI Bill brand name protection became legal news during the summer when the attorneys general of several states won a lawsuit against QuinStreet Inc., a company that owned and maintained GIBill.com. According to the lawsuit’s plaintiffs, the company engaged in deceptive practices by directing website visitors exclusively to for-profit schools that were clients of QuinStreet. As a result of the lawsuit, QuinStreet forfeited commercial use of GIBill.com, with VA winning exclusive rights to the domain name.
The call to trademark “GI Bill” raised some eyebrows in the business community. Immediately after President Obama signed his executive order, Kristen Hinman, associate editor for BloombergBusinessweek, wrote a web
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article titled “Obama Wants to Trademark the GI Bill. Good Luck With That.” “Trademark a law? Can you do that?” she wrote. “It’d be an unprecedented step, say intellectual property (IP) attorneys in Washington. And one that smacks of better PR than policy. “Trademarks are for goods and services,” she continued. “They indicate a place of origin.” Hinman then quoted IP attorney Edward T. Colbert. “‘The GI Bill isn’t selling anything,’” said Colbert. “‘That’s the first problem. Second problem: Trademarks are for the exclusive commercial use of their owners. The GI Bill - which dates to World War II - has been used by everybody for a long time.”
However, Colbert offered an alternative to trademarking the GI Bill name. “Congress could pass a law giving the VA the sole right to use ‘GI Bill” for commercial purposes. The U.S. Olympic Committee, the American Red Cross, and the Boy Scouts of America all enjoy that privilege, thanks to a federal statute designating them ‘patriotic and national organizations’ and the same statute could apply to the GI Bill. It’s rarely used... (but) clearly our veterans - people who fought and died for our country - clearly they would fit within that category.” Nevertheless, VA followed through with its original plans, announcing its ownership of the GI Bill brand name on 16 OCT. The original 1944 GI Bill, which provided millions of World War II veterans with higher education, was conceived and ushered through Congress by The American Legion. [Source: The American Legion Online Update 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 132: Leaders of the Student Veterans of America (SVA) are crying foul at recent news reports noting that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are dropping out of school at alarming rates, calling the claim “unfounded and simply not true.” Last week, the Huffington Post wrote that 88 percent of recent war era veterans were pulling out of college, a disheartening and disturbing statistic. But SVA officials say the 88 percent figure comes from a mistaken interpretation of a Colorado Workforce Development Council presentation earlier this summer, and that no national statistic tracking graduation rates of student veterans exists. In a statement, SVA executive director Michael Dakduk said the insinuation that student veterans routinely flunk out of classes is “an insult to the talents, abilities, and dedication of every veteran succeeding in America's institutions of higher learning." Group officials also expressed concern that the misleading dropout statistics could be used by some politicians to support cutbacks in veterans education benefits, a move they say could severely limit servicemembers’ post-military career options. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Leo Shane | 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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Tomb of the Unknowns Update 08: In the face of Hurricane Sandy, the Army continued to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns on Monday but not with the familiar, choreographed 21 paces that the public typically sees. A photo that went viral on social media of three soldiers from the Army’s Third U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, keeping watch over the tomb was actually taken during a September rainstorm. The Army became aware of the photo and said on its Twitter account and to media that it was from a series of photos taken by photographer Karen Markert during a torrential rainstorm on 18 September 2012. (Refer to http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/25447106_rRDwDr#!i=2095580721&k=SBLxh2X t to view all the photos taken by Market.). The Army handed out the below photo that was taken the morning of 29 OCT before Arlington National Cemetery closed because of the storm. Afterward, when morning funerals were completed, the Old Guard soldiers were still on duty but had moved into an enclosure covered by a green awning known as “the box,” about 20 feet away from the tomb, according to regiment spokesman Maj. John Miller. He said if the weather becomes intolerable, the tomb can also be guarded from a room inside a nearby amphitheater. But no such order was given on Monday afternoon. [Source: Associated Press 29 Oct 2012 ++]
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Sgt. Jose A. Torres Jr. / Army via the APSpc. Brett Hyde, Tomb Sentinel, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), keeps guard over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during Hurricane Sandy at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., on Oct. 29.
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VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 60:
 Helena MT - A Montana Army National Guardsman is facing two federal felony charges after he allegedly illegally obtained more than $10,000 in education benefits. Jason Martin, 29, who according to court records lives in both Helena and Havre, was indicted by a grand jury on wire fraud and theft of government property charges. A trial is set for Dec. 18 in Great Falls, and he could be imprisoned for up to 20 years. According to information filed with the U.S. District Court, Martin was in the U.S. military from Feb. 25, 2002, until Sept. 16, 2005, when he was discharged under “other than honorable” conditions. But right before his discharge, he purchased fictitious DD-214 forms from a fellow soldier at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. The fake form showed Martin’s discharge status as “honorable.” Martin also allegedly created an ink stamp signature to authenticate the fake forms. On Dec. 7, 2006, Martin allegedly fraudulently re-entered the military by submitting the fake DD-124 form to the Montana Army National Guard. About a month later, he requested GI Bill educational benefits and received regular monthly benefits – except during the summer months – from January 2007 until May 2009. “Based upon his fraudulent re-enlistment, Martin obtained more than $10,000 in education benefits to which he was not entitled to receive,” Kris McLean, the criminal chief assistant U.S. Attorney, wrote in court documents. The interstate wiring charge is because Martin allegedly faxed a signed application for VA educations benefits from Montana State University Northern in Havre to the VA regional Office in Missouri. [Source: Independent Record | Eva Brown | 30 Oct 2012 ++]
 Petersburg TN - Former postal worker Michael Murdoc, 53, pleaded guilty in federal court 1 NOV to taking pain pills he was supposed to deliver to a military veteran. He pleaded guilty to one of nine counts against him for stealing Veterans Affairs-prescribed hydrocodone tablets from a parcel intended for Liggie Arthur Phelps on Poor Grab Chestnut Ridge Road, in Petersburg, Tenn. Murdock faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutor Steve Neff indicated to U.S. Magistrate Susan K. Lee that the remaining counts would be dismissed. Murdock is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 25, 2013. [Source: Times Free Press | Todd South | 1 Nov 2012 ++]
 Blue Springs, MO - Warren K. Parker, 70, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States, one count of major program fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering and one count of making a false statement. He has been sentenced to 87 months in federal
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prison. In his plea, Parker admitted he falsely claimed to be a service-disabled veteran and a war hero in order to obtain more than $6.7 million in contracts from the Veterans Administration and more than $748,000 in contracts from the Department of Defense. The contracts were awarded under the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program. After an extensive investigation, federal agents determined that Parker and his company, Silver Star Construction LLC of Blue Springs, Mo., and Stilwell, Kan., fraudulently claimed Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business status in order to obtain federal government contracts. In fact, Parker never was classified as a service-disabled veteran by the Veterans Administration or the Department of Defense. In March 2011, Parker submitted a fraudulent resume in which he manufactured a history as a war hero, including a record of service in Vietnam, claiming he was awarded three Silver Stars, three Purple Heart Medals and other citations. State and federal records show that Parker served in the Missouri National Guard from 1963 to 1968, he spent six months on active duty. In 1968 he was honorably discharged as a Senior Engineer Equipment Mechanic with the rank of Specialist E-5. His only decoration was an expert rifle badge. He never left the state of Missouri while on active duty or while assigned to the Missouri National Guard. Parker pleaded guilty to the forfeiture counts of the indictment which will result in a $6.8 million judgment being entered against him in favor of the United States. He also agreed the immediate forfeiture of personal property, including a notebook Parker labeled “Book of Death” which contained list of fictitious Vietnam war “sniper kills.” Co-defendants who are awaiting trial include: Mary Parker, 67, Blue Springs, Mo., Michael J. Parker, 37, Blue Springs, Mo., Thomas Whitehead, 59, Leawood, Kan. and Silver Star Construction, LLC. [Source: Hays Post article 5 Nov 2012 ++]
 New Orleans LA - Three people have been charged in a one-count bill of information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office says 41-year-old Ronald Bell, of Gretna; 63-year-old Regina Davis and 45-year-old Yodonnalisa Evans, both of New Orleans, were all charged 6 NOV. Prosecutors say the defendants worked for the Veterans Health Administration at the New Orleans VA Medical Center. Between January 2001 and December 2008, the trio devised a scheme to defraud the VA by creating three false companies — Davis Health Care Consulting, LLC, Caring Hearts Healthcare and C&E Rehabilitation Clinic — and billing patient files for fraudulent services. Davis and Bell illegally obtained about $203,000 while Evans and Bell obtained about $361,000. If convicted, each faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. [Source: San Francisco Chronicle article 7 Nov 2012 ++]
[Source: Various 1-14 Nov 2012
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Mobilized Reserve 6 NOV 2012: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 6 NOV 2012. The net collective result is 1210 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 1 NOV 2012 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 44,372; Navy Reserve 4,538; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve 9,363; Marine Corps Reserve 2,713; and the Coast Guard Reserve 691. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 61,677including both units and individual augmentees. Since 911 there have been 800,584 reservists deactivated. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/MobilizationWeeklyReport110612.pdf. [Source: DoD News Release No. 880-12 dtd 7 Nov 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 121: Recently, the National Center for PTSD reported about types of post traumatic stress treatments know as CAM, Complementary and Alternative Techniques. These are treatments that fall outside of traditional Western medicine. Complementary refers to the use of these techniques in combination with conventional approaches, whereas alternative refers to their use instead of conventional practices. Some examples include:
 Vitamins, supplements, diets
 Meditation, acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy
 Massage, chiropractic care
 Whole medicine systems: like Ayurvedic medicine
 Dog therapy, equine therapy, music therapy
Some people find that CAM treatments help improve their symptoms or help them cope with their symptoms. Research to support these claims is still at an early stage. Most types of CAM have never been systematically studied. It’s difficult to draw firm conclusions from the few that have. However, at this point meditation and acupuncture appear most promising. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 2 Nov 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 122: University of South Dakota psychology professors Jeffrey Simons and Raluca Gaher will soon be conducting a study to examine the association between traumatic stress and health outcomes among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Simons and Gaher are seeking 250 veterans for the 18-month study who have served in operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom. The participants must be able to safely participate in the study and be able to travel to Sioux Falls and Vermillion, S.D. Participants do not have to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. With the help of smart phones, participants will answer questions daily in real time about their feelings, social relationships, behaviors, activity levels and PTSD symptoms. For more information, contact Professor Raluca Gaher or Professor Jeffrey Simons at 605-677-5353. [Source: Mil.com article 5 Nov 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 123: In combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, the area of the brain that controls fear and anxiety responses is much smaller than normal, according to a new study. The finding is the first to provide evidence that a smaller amygdala is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it's not clear whether this smaller size is caused by PTSD or whether people with a smaller amygdala are more likely to develop PTSD, the researchers said. For the study, MRI brain scans were conducted on 200 combat veterans, half with PTSD and half without, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. MRI brains scans of the participants showed that both the right and left amygdala were smaller in those with PTSD. The researchers also confirmed previous study findings that linked PTSD with a smaller left hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays an important role in memory.
Amygdala size does not appear to be affected by the severity, frequency or duration of the mental trauma that can lead to PTSD, which indicates that such exposures do not cause the amygdala to shrink, said study lead author Dr. Rajendra Morey, assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University. This suggests that people with a smaller amygdala to begin with are susceptible to PTSD. Morey and colleagues are conducting further research to determine if that's the case. "This is one piece in a bigger puzzle to understanding why some people develop PTSD and others do not," Morey said in a university news release. "We are getting closer to that answer." PTSD affects nearly 14 percent of U.S. combat veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans
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Affairs. It also affects nearly 7 percent of adults in the general population who have been victims of abuse, crime and other traumas during their lives. [Source: HealthDay News 6 Nov 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 92: Pittsburgh ranks as the top place in the nation for veterans to transition from combat boots to civilian shoes, according to a new study commissioned by USAA and Military.com. The "Best Places for Veterans" list identifies U.S. metro areas that offer America's most recent veterans more opportunities to find a job or go to college while providing a higher quality of life in an affordable location. Here is the entire top 10 list:
 Pittsburgh
 Phoenix
 Dallas
 Cleveland
 Atlanta
 Warren, Mich.
 Ann Arbor, Mich.
 Cincinnati
 Columbus, Ohio
 St. Louis
"Today's veterans are battling a highly competitive job market and need to proactively plan for life after the military," said Scott Halliwell, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at USAA. "This study allows us to help recent and soon-to-be veterans identify preferred locations throughout the U.S. where they can launch a civilian career and use the GI Bill to further their education." Retired Cmdr. Ward Carroll, editor of Military.com said, "The millions of young veterans who have already entered the work force and the many more that will join them in the coming years have the opportunity to use the discipline and determination they've acquired in the Armed Forces to make a significant impact in their workplaces and communities,". "Best Places for Veterans was commissioned to help equip this remarkable group with tools for a successful transition." USAA, a leading financial services provider focused on serving the military and their families, and Military.com, the largest military and veteran membership organization, commissioned Sperling's BestPlaces to develop the list. Researchers reviewed variables for 379 major U.S. metropolitan areas, including:
 Employment opportunities and sectors that align with military skills sets such as defense, engineering, medical services and aviation, as well as the overall jobs climate based on unemployment rate and recent job growth.
 Presence of colleges/universities, as well as quality of local primary schools.
 General quality of life and pocketbook issues such as affordability, crime rate, taxes and recreation opportunities.
Each of the variables was weighted based on what recent and soon-to-be veterans said was important to them, and each metro area was then ranked based on its total points for all variables. Metro areas with the following attributes were excluded from the list: unemployment rate more than 1 percent above the national average, median cost of living greater than the national average and total crime rate more than 25 percent above the national average. USAA and Military.com also commissioned a list of the top metro areas in each state to provide service members with more choices. Veterans and soon-to-be veterans also have the opportunity to create a personalized list with the new Best Places for Veterans calculator by identifying which criteria is most important in their military-to-civilian transition. To see the entire list of Best Places and access the Best Places for Veterans calculator, visit http://www.usaa.com/bestplaces. The list does not represent any endorsement, expressed or implied, by the
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Department of Defense or any other United States government agency. [Source: Military.com article 9 Nov 2012 ++]
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Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of recent and future Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete. Missed House Veteran Affairs committee (HVAC) hearings can viewed at http://veterans.house.gov/in-case-you-missed-it. Text of completed Senate Veteran Affairs Committee SVAC) hearings are available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=va&collection=CHRG&plus=CHRG:
 November 15, 2012. House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled, "Review of Veterans Employment Challenges and Initiatives in the 112th Congress." 10:00am in Cannon Room 334.
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 13 Nov 2012 ++]
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WWII Vets Update 31: And then there were six. On Christmas Eve 1944, Frank Haugh grabbed a rope and swung from the torpedoed SS Leopoldville to another ship that was heaving in rough water of the English Channel. “I was determined to come back,” said Haugh, 88, of Olmsted Falls, Ohio. He escaped from the sinking ship about five miles off the coast of Cherbourg, France. Haugh returned to his childhood home of Millvale on 31 OCT — as he has nearly every year since 1948 — to attend the 65th banquet of the Last Man Standing Club, a group of World War II veterans based at VFW Post 118. Ninety-one people attended the club’s first banquet. Six remain. Two recently suffered heart attacks. Just three made it to the 31 OCT lunch.
Of the 2,235 American servicemen aboard Haugh’s ship, a Belgian passenger liner converted to troopship that carried members of the Army’s 66th Infantry to the Battle of the Bulge, 515 went down with the ship, and 248 died from injuries, drowning or hypothermia. “It is very important for Dad to be here today. He’s only missed one or two of these in 65 years,” said Haugh’s son, Frank, who drove his father from the Cleveland suburb. The elder Haugh was pleased to see old friends, such as Paul Mihlfried of Shaler, a high school classmate in Millvale who fought in China and Burma. Mihlfried, 88, is a retired sheet metal worker. Like Haugh, whose wife and children did not know about his escape from the Leopoldville for decades, Mihlfried does not brag. “I’m not a hero. There was some fighting. I’ll leave it at that,” Mihlfried said about some of the most grueling campaigns of the war.
Organization of annual banquets falls to the group’s youngster, Russell Kurtz, 84, of Kittanning. Kuntz quit high school and lied about his age to join the Navy at 16 in early 1945. He spent months on ships in the Atlantic before the war in Europe ended in May 1945. “I had three older brothers who were in the service during the war. That’s why I left school and lied about my age,” he said. At Wednesday’s lunch, Kuntz recited prayers and tributes and read the names of the 45 men who belonged to the club when they died. Haugh and Mihlfried stood until Kuntz finished. When the club was founded, the group bought a 1928 bottle of Charles Heidsieck champagne from Reims,
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France. Someday it will go to the group’s final member. “It probably tastes like vinegar,” Kuntz said. [Source: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | Rick Wills | 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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World War II Posters (17)
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POW/MIA Update 31: "Keeping the Promise", "Fulfill their Trust" and "No one left behind" are several of many mottos that refer to the efforts of the Department of Defense to recover those who became missing while serving our nation. The number of Americans who remain missing from conflicts in this century are: World War II (73,000+), Korean War (7,900+), Cold War (126), Vietnam War (1,655), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). Over 600 Defense Department men and women -- both military and civilian -- work in organizations around the world as part of DoD's personnel recovery and personnel accounting communities. They are all dedicated to the single mission of finding and bringing our missing personnel home. For a listing of all personnel accounted for since 2007 refer to http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for . For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
 DPMO announced 26 OCT that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, killed in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Maj. James L. Whited, 42, of Norman, Okla., will be buried Nov. 2, in his hometown. On Nov. 19, 1966, Whited was the co-pilot of an OV-1A Mohawk aircraft that crashed while conducting a daytime reconnaissance mission over Attapu Province, Laos. Nearby U.S. aircrews reported seeing the wing of Whited’s aircraft hit a tree during a climb to avoid a nearby ridgeline. No parachutes were seen exiting the aircraft. Heavy enemy presence in the area prevented recovery efforts. From 1993 to 2009, joint U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), interviewed multiple witnesses, and conducted several investigations and excavations of the crash site in Attapu Province. The teams located human remains, military equipment, and aircraft wreckage of an OV-1A, which correlated with the last known location of Whited’s aircraft. To identify the remains, scientists from JPAC analyzed circumstantial evidence and used forensic identification tools, such as dental comparisons. Today, the U.S. government continues to work closely with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to recover Americans lost during the Vietnam War.
Korea
 DPMO announced 30 NOV that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, Have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Pfc. James C. Mullins, 20, of Dunham, Ky., will be buried on Nov. 2, near Fort Bragg, N.C. On July 22, 1950, Mullins and his unit, H Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, battled enemy forces near Yugong-ni, South Korea. After the battle, Mullins was listed as missing in action. In 1951, remains of nine unidentified U.S. service members, from the battlefield near Yugong-ni, were buried as “unknown” in Pusan Cemetery. Later that year, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the Korean peninsula. The unknown remains were re-interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii—the “Punchbowl.” In 2012, due to advances in identification technology, analysts from DPMO and JPAC reevaluated the information associated with the remains interred in Hawaii and concluded that if exhumed they could likely be identified. Based on available evidence such as metal identification tags, military clothing, and wartime records, analysts confirmed that the remains were a soldier who died at Yugong-ni. To determine Mullins identification, scientists from JPAC used the circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools including rdiograph and dental comparisons.
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 The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced 6 NOV that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Cpl. Elmer C. Kidd, 22, of Seneca Falls, N.Y., will be buried Nov. 9, in Romulus, N.Y. In late November 1950, Kidd and his unit, the 31st Regimental Combat Team, known as “Task Force Faith,” were advancing along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea when they were attacked by a massive enemy force. They began a fighting withdrawal to positions near Hagaru-ri, south of the reservoir. It was during this withdrawal that Kidd went missing. Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. service members. Analysts from DPMO and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) developed a list of military members missing from the area where the remains were reportedly located. Kidd was listed as missing from one of the recovery sites. In the identification of the remains, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, such as radiograph and mitochondrial DNA–which matched Kidd’s sister and nephew. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials.
 The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced 7 NOV that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, killed in action during the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Sgt. Stanley W. Bear, 19, of Greenup, Ky., will be buried Nov. 10, in Grayson, Ky. On Sept. 4, 1950, Bear and his unit, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, battled enemy forces near Haman, South Korea. After the battle, Bear was reported as missing in action. In 1951, Korean National Police recovered remains associated with the battle and turned them over to U.S. officials. The U.S. Army was unable to identify Bear’s remains at the time, and he was buried as “unknown” in the U.N. Cemetery at Tanggok, South Korea. Later that year, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the peninsula and the remains were sent to the U.S. Army’s Central Identification Unit in Kokura, Japan, to determine whether they could be identified. When scientific analysis determined an identification wasn’t possible, Bear’s remains were transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii and re-interred as “unknown.” In 2011, due to advances in identification technology, analysts from DPMO and Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) reevaluated the information associated with the remains interred in Hawaii and concluded that they could likely be identified. The remains were exhumed and scientists from JPAC successfully identified Bear using circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools such as radiograph comparison and dental records.
World War II
 None
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases Nov 2012 ++]
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Saving Money: Before Shauna Zamarripa became a personal finance writer, she sold cars. Money Talks News asked her for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the job – and what you should watch out for when you walk onto the lot. She responded she might not look like it at first glance, but she’s an old “car dog” – that’s what car salesmen (and women) call themselves. From 2000 to 2005, she worked at various new and used car dealerships. It was her job to keep you on the lot and sell you a car, no matter what. They had a handful of tricks for bumping up the price
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and their commissions – and the buyers almost never spotted them. Here they are, along with advice for how to outsmart an ol’ car dog…
1. Inflation in plain sight. When you look at the stickers on the window of that shiny new car, you might think all the prices you see are set by the manufacturer. They’re not. Salesmen called them “bumper stickers” – not because they went on the bumper, but because they bumped up the price of the vehicle. They strategically placed those stickers next to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and hoped you wouldn’t notice. What’s on there? Services like VIN etching, fabric treatment, undercarriage sealant – which you don’t really need or could do yourself cheaper. Some of the do it yourself is admittedly harder to do (check out the kits for VIN etching) but others require no time – like buying a can of fabric protector at any auto shop and applying it yourself. In many cases the dealer is using the same stuff.
Solution: Tell the dealer you want to see the “original invoice” minus the “bumper sticker.” If he refuses, walk out and head to a dealer who will.
2. Lowballing your trade-in. Car dealers want you to think that the Kelley Blue Book price is the best resource for determining the value of your trade-in. It isn’t. It is, however, the most effective way for dealers to lowball you. Dealers use NADA (The National Automobile Dealers Association) for used-car valuations. This site lists the most likely amount the dealer can get for your trade – and what they can likely resell it for. You can be sure it’s typically higher than KBB. Zamarripa saw trade-ins undervalued by $5,000 or more on a regular basis.
Solution: Print out and bring with you the NADA values for your car based on its age, mileage, and condition – so the dealer knows that you know its true value. Better yet, sell your car privately before heading to the lot. That’s the way you’ll get the most money for it.
3. Inflating your interest rate. When a sales manager submits your credit application to lenders, the lenders reply with the requirements for your loan and quote an interest rate. If the dealership sees that you were approved for 7.9 percent APR, they can adjust that rate by as much as 2 points. Different states allow different hikes, but the result is the same: That 7.9 percent APR you should get is now 9.9 percent, and the dealer gets to pocket the extra cash. That often adds up to several thousand dollars.
Solution: Get your financing done ahead of time through your bank or credit union.
4. Paying for customer service. On your loan paperwork, you’ll notice something called a “customer service fee.” This is what the dealership charges you to handle your loan paperwork, issue your tags, process your title, and pay your taxes. How much do they charge for something that takes a grand total of 30 minutes for your salesperson and the finance office to complete? Anywhere from $299 to a whopping $1,000.
Solution: Don’t pay it. Or at least get it reduced, especially if you’ve obtained financing elsewhere.
5. Gap insurance. If you wreck your financed car, gap insurance pays the difference between what you owe and what it’s worth – handy when you’re upside down on the loan. The dealership will try to sell it to you for $500 or more. But you can often get the same thing at your local credit union for $200.
Solution: Buy gap insurance from your credit union or other outside source after-market. But don’t drive off the lot without it.
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6. Extended service contracts. Extra protection and peace of mind are usually good things when it comes to car buying, but a dealer isn’t the least expensive place to find it. You’ll undoubtedly find better rates after-market than at the dealership.
Solution: Before deciding on an extended service contract, shop rates, terms, and deductibles from outside warranty sources.
The best solution for outwitting the car dogs? Avoid them. Buy a nice used vehicle for cash. [Source: MoneyTalksNews article 24 Aug 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
 SSA. If you or people you know plan to retire early in 2013, now is the time to apply for Social Security benefits. People can apply as early as four months before they want benefits to start. The most convenient way to apply is online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. Retiring online can take as little as 15 minutes.
 Vet ID. Oklahoma military veterans can now get a driver's license identifying their status, which will allow businesses to honor their service with discounts without worrying about fraud.
 Vet Jobless Rates. The jobless rate for post-9/11 veterans rose slightly in October," rising to 10 percent, from 9.7 percent in September. But for "veterans of all generations, the unemployment rate for October was 6.3 percent, much better than the 7.9 percent national unemployment rate."
 Congressional Vets. With most election results in, once again there will be fewer Members of Congress with any military experience. In the Senate there will only be 19 senators with any military experience. None of the newly elected senators have any experience. In the House there will only be 86 Representatives with military experience.
 Small Business Saturday. If you’re an American Express credit card holder, you can get $25 back when you spend at least $25 at a local retailer. All you need to do is enroll in the program and meet a few qualifications, which can be found on the Small Business Saturday site https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small . Enrollment is limited and begins Nov. 18, 2012. The wife and I used our Costco cards last years and got $50 back.
 Humor. For some Navy humor that for some veterans may be a bit nostalgic, check out the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Navy Days”.
 Open Season. Open season, the annual period during which federal workers can switch enrollments in health insurance plans, officially began 12 NOV. Federal employees are able to make changes to their health insurance coverage through 10 DEC.
 Baggage. Spirit Airlines now charges $100 for a carry-on bag if you don’t pay in advance. You can’t avoid the fee, but you can lower it by paying sooner.
[Source: Various 1-14 Nov 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 104:
 Farmington Hills MI - Doctor Chyawan Bansil, 61, was sentenced to 13 months in prison by for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan of more than $1 million. Bansil, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell in Grand Rapids who noted at the sentencing that Bansil violated the trust of patients and “worsened the health care crisis” in this country. Bansil has paid more than $3 million in restitution, civil penalties and back taxes on charges of health care fraud and money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Grand Rapids. The convictions arise from an indictment which charged that between February 2007 and January 2012, Bansil defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan of more than $1 million by causing those programs to be billed for expensive nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography tests that Bansil did not perform. He was illegally laundering the proceeds of his fraud scheme in order to avoid taxes, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. As part of his plea agreement, Bansil forfeited over $500,000 in assets which had been seized by the government and paid an additional $2.25 million in treble damages to resolve related civil claims under the False Claims Act. Bansil also paid almost $250,000 in back taxes that were uncovered by the IRS during the investigation. Bansil was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release following his incarceration and will be excluded from participating with Medicare and Medicaid for a minimum of five years.
 Houston TX - A seventh person convicted in a $45 million health care fraud scheme based in Houston has been sentenced to prison. A federal judge in Houston on Monday ordered 41 months in prison for 56-year-old Tony Nnonso Obi. The naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria in August pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to money laundering. Prosecutors say Obi was affiliated with an assisted living facility and sent some residents to City Nursing Service of Texas Inc. Authorities say City Nursing owner Umawa Imo paid Obi more than $1 million in the Medicare and Medicaid scheme. Imo last year was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for running the scam. An eighth person convicted in the fraud case awaits sentencing.
 Buffalo IN - Federal investigators accuse a White County EMS service, the owner of the business and two employees of defrauding Medicare out of more than $2 million. Authorities said the fraud started almost as soon as the business began operating. Hoosier EMS is just about the only business on the town of Buffalo's main strip, about 10 miles north of Monticello in White County. Indictments filed 9 NOV in federal court spell out the multimillion dollar fraud that happened behind closed doors. Owner Roy Dunn, employee and former co-owner Anthony Bitterling, and General Manager Kahley Vergon-Mayotte are nowhere to be found. Each of the three people, along with Hoosier EMS, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of scheme to commit health care fraud. Investigators accuse the trio of falsifying documents to get Medicare reimbursements for taking patients to their dialysis appointments, something that is only reimbursable by the government if the person is confined to a bed.
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But authorities said the trio directed employees to omit or rewrite trip records to disguise patient conditions and qualify illegally for reimbursement. Investigators said some patients sat in the jump seat chair in the back of the ambulance. Others actually walked in and out of the ambulance but were asked to lie on the stretcher on the ride to or from dialysis. Documents detail 14 false claims between June 2009 and May 2012 at almost a $1,000 per trip. The total of the fraud is estimated at more than $2 million.
 Washington DC - Patricia Mubanga Chisanga, 33, who fled the country on the heels of an D.C. Medicare fra-d investigation has been indicted in a $500,000 scheme involving power wheelchairs and incontinence supplies, according to charging documents. Chisanga, the chief operating officer for Emerald Medical Services, disappeared last summer, shortly after federal agents visited her office in Northwest Washington, court documents indicated. Uche Ben Odunzeh, the owner of the business and the father of her child, pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to court papers, two weeks after agents handed Chisanga a letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. stating that she was under investigation for federal health care fraud, law enforcement officials received a tip that she and Odunzeh were planning to flee the country. Federal agents learned that Chisanga had obtained a one-way ticket to Ethiopia from Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport for a flight that departed earlier that day. She was accompanied on her flight by a minor child with the last name Odunzeh. Agents also discovered that Ben Odunzeh, 31, had bought a ticket to Nigeria for later in the week. He was arrested at the airport. According to prosecutors, from 2008 to 2011, Emerald Medical submitted 100 claims to D.C.'s Medicaid program for power wheelchairs for about $591,000. The D.C. Medicaid program reimbursed Emerald about $480,000. Those claims were for the most expensive power wheelchair, worth about $6,100 each, but Emerald provided only more basic, less expensive wheelchairs. Emerald Medical also submitted about $45,000 in claims for adult incontinence supplies such as diapers, disposable underpads and gloves that it never actually provided. Odunzeh, a Nigerian national whose visa expired in 2004, admitted to embezzling more than $275,000 from the District of Columbia from 2008 to 2011. He faces 10 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 16.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Nov 2012 ++]
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Medicaid Fraud Update 74:
 Chevy Chase MD - Jacqueline Wheeler, 55, convicted of submitting $7 million in fraudulent claims to the District of Columbia Medicaid program has been sentenced to more than six years in prison. She was also ordered to pay $3.17 million in restitution at sentencing 2 NOV. According to government evidence presented at trial, Wheeler was the owner or CEO of two health care providers. Wheeler submitted false claims for services that were not provided. She used money to buy luxury cars and beachfront property.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Oct 2012 ++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Idaho provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits – ID” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of the benefits listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state.
 Housing Benefits
 Education Benefits
 Employment Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/idaho-state-veterans-benefits.html Nov 2012 ++]
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Military History: The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay — also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom, and in Japanese sources as the Sea Battle of Bougainville Bay Shore — was a naval battle fought near the island of Bougainville on 1-2 November 1943. The naval battle was a result of Allied landings on nearby Bougainville in the first action in the Bougainville campaign of World War II and may also be seen as part of the Solomons and New Guinea campaigns. The battle was significant as part of a broader Allied strategy—known as Operation Cartwheel—aimed at isolating and surrounding the major Imperial base at Rabaul. The intention was to establish a beachhead on Bougainville, within which an airfield would be built. On 1 November 1943, the U.S. 3rd Marine Division landed at Cape Torokina in Empress Augusta Bay. The bay had been chosen because it was at the outer limit of Allied fighter plane range, and because the numerically-superior Japanese 17th Army was concentrated at other, more strategic sites in the north and the south. The Marines were backed by Task Force 39, composed of cruisers and destroyers, commanded by Rear Admiral Aaron S. "Tip" Merrill.
The Japanese responded with air attacks and a powerful naval force from Rabaul commanded by Admiral Sentaro Omori: Cruiser Squadron - heavy cruisers Myoko and Haguro, 10th Cruiser Squadron - light cruiser Agano, destroyers Naganami, Hatsukaze, and Wakatsuki, 3rd Destroyer Squadron - light cruiser Sendai, and destroyers Shigure, Samidare,and Shiratsuyu. The Japanese formation was hastily assembled from whatever ships were on hand, many which had never trained or fought together before. The U.S. Task Force 39 consisted of CruDiv 12 - USS Montpelier(CTF39/CL57), Cleveland (CL55), Columbia (CL56), Denver (CL58) and two destroyer divisions: DesDiv 45 - USS Charles Ausburne (CDD 45/DD570), Dyson (DD572), Stanley (DD478), Claxton (DD571) and DesDiv 46 - Spence (CDD 46/DD512), Thatcher (DD514), Converse (DD509), Foote (DD511). The Americans evacuated most of their landing craft and troop transports, assembled their ships to the southwest of Empress Augusta Bay and steamed slowly northward. CruDiv 12 would maneuver in a race track pattern, blocking the entrance to Empress Augusta Bay. The Japanese approached from the northwest and would try to bombard the invasion force in their transports and on the shore. On 2 November at 0130 Haguro was struck in an American aerial attack amidships. The resulting damage necessitated a significant reduction in speed for the entire formation.
The Americans made radar contact at 0230 on 2 November. From the leading position in the American formation Commodore Burke sent the four destroyers of DesDiv 45 forward for a torpedo attack and at 0245 fired a salvo toward the enemy. Almost simultaneously, the Sendai-led division fired 18 torpedoes. Each attack was detected and both groups maneuvered away from the torpedoes. 3rd Destroyer Squadron turned southward into the path of Cruiser Division causing havoc in the Japanese formation. The Japanese fleet became separated in the confusion into three groups, north, center and south.Admiral Merril then ordered DesDiv 46 to attack. Unprepared, Foote misinterpreted the command and was separated from the other ships. Despite her captain's best efforts Foote was unable to effectively rejoin the fight and was in some danger of colliding with other friendly s hips. Once it became apparent that DesDiv 45's torpedo attack had failed to achieve complete surprise, at around 0250, the American cruisers opened fire, quickly disabling Sendai. DesDiv 45 maneuvered north and concentrated on the northern group, DesDiv. 46 engaged the center group while the cruisers divided their fire between all three groups.
After firing its torpedoes, Samidare collided with Shiratsuyu. Samidare and Shiratsuyu were subsequently forced to retire from the battle with Samidare receiving 5 in. hits at 0300. Myoko also collided with Hatsukaze, slicing off her bows. Myoko had significant damage from this collision including loss of a torpedo launcher. She was next hit by 6 cruiser shells, only two of which detonated, causing even more damage. The Japanese ships were equipped with ineffectual Type 21 Radar and they were forced to rely on optical tracking of their targets. With difficulty they pinpointed the American cruisers and at 0313 they opened fire. At 0320 Cruiser Squadron fired a total of 10 torpedoes at CruDiv 12. At 0327 numerous hits on CruDiv 12 were erroneously reported to Omori - all missed their
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targets. The Americans were also having problems as the Spence and Thatcher also collided but were able to continue in the battle. The Foote was struck by a torpedo in the stern and disabled. Subsequently, the drifting Foote became a navigational hazard to the other ships adding to the confusion of the battle. Foote was busy for the remainder of the engagement trying to stay afloat and fighting off an enemy aircraft attack.
Without radar, the Japanese depended heavily on flares to illuminate their targets. CruDiv 12 repeatedly maneuvered to avoid starshells fired by the opposing ships but was finally successfully illuminated by brilliant flares dropped by Japanese snooper aircraft. Between 0320 and 0325 Denver received three 8in. hits which failed to detonate. Also, while closing with a group of Japanese destroyers in the center the Spence was hit at the waterline by a shell that failed to explode. As was common during WWII, the thin-skinned destroyers weren't tough enough to detonate armor piercing ammunition designed to penetrate heavily armored battleships. At this point the Japanese fire was heavy and increasingly accurate. In response, the American cruisers began maneuvering behind a smoke screen which successfully interfered with the Japanese gunnery. All during the battle the American destroyers experienced difficulty maintaining contact with each other and several times came close to firing on friendly ships, underscoring the difficulty in fighting night actions even when equipped with radar and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems. A later evaluation of the battle revealed that DesDiv 46 missed an opportunity to torpedo the center group of enemy ships because of uncertain identification. DesDiv 46 then turned north and concentrated fire on the Sendai. Subsequently:
 At 0337 - Omori, believing that he had sunk a heavy cruiser and worried about being caught in daylight by U.S. carrier aircraft, ordered a retreat.
 At 0340 - 10th Cruiser Squadron fired a salvo of 8 torpedoes at CruDiv 12 from extreme range at but missed.
 St 0354 - Omori received another erroneous report of torpedo hits. Merrill's cruisers closed to bombard the retreating Cruiser Division to the south but difficulties in positive identification hampered this effort and CruDiv 12 turned away to the north allowing the Japanese cruisers to slip away in the darkness.
 By 0400 - DesDiv 45 and 46 were engaged in a confused melee with retreating Japanese stragglers - sinking the Sendai and driving off the remaining northern group ships.
 At 0410 - Spence lost speed due to water in the fuel line and fell out of formation.
 At 0438 - The American ships reported many hits on the enemy contacts but unfortunately DesDiv 45 fired on the limping Spence in error while causing no damage.
 At 0510 CruDiv 12 and Spence engaged an enemy straggler. Unable to distinguish between the straggler and Spence the cruisers ceased fire.
 By 0519 DesDiv 45 came to the aid of Spence which by this time had almost exhausted its ammunition.
 By 0542 - The Japanese straggler, the heavily damaged Hatsukaze, exploded and sank. At daylight the pursuit was broken off and all ships, many low on fuel and ammunition, were ordered to rendezvous with the hapless Foote. The rest of the day was spent defending the landing beaches from air attack.
After the Japanese ships returned to Rabaul, they were joined by four cruisers and more destroyers from Truk for another attack on the Allied landing forces at Bougainville. On 5 November, however, two U.S. aircraft carriers raided Rabaul, heavily damaging four heavy cruisers, which had to withdraw to Truk. This ended the Japanese warship threat to the Allied landing forces at Bougainville. Casualties and losses were:
 U.S. - 1 destroyer heavily damaged, 19 killed, 1 cruiser lightly damaged, and 2 destroyers moderately damaged.
 Japan - 1 light cruiser sunk, 1 destroyer sunk, 1 heavy cruiser damaged, 1 light cruiser damaged, 2 destroyers heavily damaged, 25 aircraft shot down, and 198 to 658 killed (Sources differ on Japanese personnel losses in the naval battle).
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Empress_Augusta_Bay
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant November events in U.S. Military History are:
 Nov 16 1943 – WW2: USS Corvina (SS–226) torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I 176 south of Truk. 82 killed
 Nov 16 1944 – WW2: Dueren, Germany is completely destroyed by Allied bombers.
 Nov 16 1945 – Cold War: Operation Paperclip – The United States Army secretly admits 88 German scientists and engineers to help in the development of rocket technology.
 Nov 17 1776 – American Revolution: Hessian mercenaries capture Fort Washington from the Patriots.
 Nov 17 1863 – Civil War: Battle of Campbell's Station near Knoxville TN – Confederate troops unsuccessfully attack Union forces.
 Nov 17 1913 – The first ship sails through the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
 Nov 17 1943 – WW2: American bombers strike a hydro–electric power facility and heavy water factory in German–controlled Vemork, Norway.
 Nov 17 1944 – WW2: Operation Queen, the costly Allied thrust to the Rur river was launched
 Nov 17 1945 – Cold War: Operation Paperclip – the United States Army secretly admits 88 German scientists and engineers to help in the development of rocket technology.
 Nov 17 1970 – Vietnam: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai massacre.
 Nov 18 1909 – Two United States warships are sent to Nicaragua after 500 revolutionaries (including two Americans) are executed by order of José Santos Zelaya.
 Nov 18 1961 – United States President John F. Kennedy sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam.
 Nov 19 1861 – Civil War: Julia Ward Howe writes "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" while visiting Union troops.
 Nov 19 1861 – Civil War: The Confederate raider Nashville captured and burned the Union clipper ship Harvey Birch in the Atlantic Ocean.
 Nov 19 1863 – Civil War: Lincoln delivers the "Gettysburg Address" at the dedication of the National Cemetery at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.
 Nov 19 1943 – WW2: USS Sculpin (SS–191) damaged by Japanese destroyer Yamagumo and later scuttled north of Truk. 12 killed, 51 POWs later died and 21 POWs survived.
 Nov 20 1943 – WW2: U.S. Marines landed on Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, one of the bloodiest campaigns waged by American forces against the Japanese in the Pacific.
 Nov 20 1950 – Korea: U.S. troops push to the Yalu River, within five miles of Manchuria.
 Nov 21 1864 – Civil War: From Georgia, Confederate General John B. Hood launches the Franklin–Nashville Campaign into Tennessee
 Nov 21 1970 – Vietnam: Operation Ivory Coast – A joint Air Force and Army team raids the Son Tay prison camp in an attempt to free American prisoners of war thought to be held there.
 Nov 22 1812 – War of 1812: Seventeen Indiana Rangers are killed at the Battle of Wild Cat Creek.
 Nov 22 1864 – Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea: Confederate General John Bell Hood invades Tennessee in an unsuccessful attempt to draw Union General William T. Sherman from Georgia.
 Nov 22 1943 – WW2: War in the Pacific – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Chinese leader Chiang Kai–Shek meet in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss ways to defeat Japan (see Cairo Conference)
 Nov 23 1863 – Civil War: Union forces win the Battle of Orchard Knob, Tennessee.
 Nov 23 1863 – Civil War: The Battle of Chattanooga in Tennessee, one of the most decisive battles of the War, begins.
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 Nov 23 1914 – Mexican Revolution: The last of U.S. forces withdraw from Veracruz, occupied seven months earlier in response to the Tampico Affair.
 Nov 23 1941 – WW2: U.S. troops move into Dutch Guiana, by agreement with the Netherlands Government in exile, to guard the bauxite mines to protect aluminum ore supplies from the mines in Surinam.
 Nov 23 1943 – WW2: Tarawa and Makin atolls fall to American forces.
 Nov 23 1968 – Vietnam: Battle of Nui Chom Mountain. The 4th Bn, 31st Infantry, 196th Inf Bde fought and destroyed the 21st NVA Regiment on Nui Chom Mountain southwest of Da Nang in a fierce six day battle.
 Nov 24 1943 – WW2: The USS Liscome Bay is torpedoed near Tarawa and sinks with nearly 650 men killed.
 Nov 23 1944 – WW2: The first bombing raid against Tokyo is carried out by 88 American aircraft from Saipan.
 Nov 24 1979 – The United States admits that thousands of troops in Vietnam were exposed to the toxic Agent Orange.
 Nov 25 1940 – WW2: First flight of the deHavilland Mosquito and Martin B–26 Marauder.
 Nov 26 1941 – WW2: The Japanese fleet departs from the Kuril Islands en route to its attack on Pearl Harbor.
 Nov 27 1950 – Korea: China sent 200,000 troops across the border of Korea at Chosin Reservoir to attack U.N. forces..
 Nov 27 1950 – Korea: East of the Choosing River, Chinese forces annihilate an American task force.
 Nov 28 1941 – WW2: The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise departs from Pearl Harbor to deliver F4F Wildcat fighters to Wake Island. This mission saves the carrier from destruction when the Japanese attack.
 Nov 29 1776 – American Revolution: The Battle of Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia comes to an end with the arrival of British reinforcements.
 Nov 29 1864 – Indian Wars: Sand Creek Massacre – Colorado volunteers led by Colonel John Chivington massacre at least 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho noncombatants inside Colorado Territory.
 Nov 29 1864 – Civil War: Battle of Spring Hill – Confederate advance into Tennessee misses opportunity to crush Union army. Gen. Hood angered, leads to Battle of Franklin.
 Nov 29 1872 – Indian Wars: The Modoc War begins with the Battle of Lost River.
 Nov 29 1950 – Korea: North Korean and Chinese troops force United Nations forces to retreat from North Korea.
 Nov 30 1782 – American Revolution: The British sign a preliminary agreement in Paris, recognizing American independence
 Nov 30 1864 – Civil War: Battle of Franklin – The Army of Tennessee led by General John Bell Hood mounts a dramatically unsuccessful frontal assault on Union positions
 Nov 30 1942 – WW2: Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of Tassafaronga – A smaller squadron of Japanese destroyers defeats a US cruiser force.
 Nov 30 1950 – Korea: President Truman declares that the United States will use the A–bomb to get peace.
 Nov 30 1995 – Official end of Operation Desert Storm.
[Source: Various Nov 2012 ++]
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Military Trivia 62: Crazy Cold War Projects Part 2
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Questions
1. During the 1960s, the CIA decided it was tired of the boring, conventional methods of surveillance. This led to the launch of "Operation Acoustic Kitty," one of the strangest programs ever devised to spy on an enemy. What did the operation entail?
A. Implanting cats with microphones and antennas to spy on Soviet agents
B. Implanting cats with video recorders to visually spy on Soviet agents
C. Implanting cats with GPS units and having them follow Soviet agents
D. Creating remotely-controlled robotic cats so they could sneak it into the Soviet embassy and steal documents
2. Operation Acoustic Kitty cost anywhere from $15 million to over $20 million to start, but was deemed a failure after only a single test. That test involved a cat spying on two men in a park in Washington, D.C. What went wrong?
A. Both men noticed the cat looked very odd and stayed away from it
B. The cat was distracted by a squirrel and ran off
C. The cat was hit by a taxi while crossing the road immediately after being released
D. One of the men was allergic to cats and kicked it, causing the implanted equipment to fail
3. In 1958, the United States began looking at Canada's Athabasca Oil Sands as a possible major oil source, with around 2 trillion barrels available. However, the viscosity was far too high to be pumped out using normal methods. This brought in "Project Oilsand," which planned on reducing the viscosity of the Oil Sands by what method?
A. Drilling deep into the North American Plate to cause a man-made earthquake and shake up the deposits
B. Employing giant microwave emitters to boil the deposits under the surface
C. Deploying a space-based laser to heat up the Oil Sands and boil the deposits
D. Detonating a nuclear bomb underground to boil the deposits
4. In early 1959, Canada's Federal Mines Department approved Project Oilsand, and a test site was selected in Alberta. However, the project was cancelled in 1962 before any tests were conducted. What caused the quick reversal of opinion on the project?
A. The US and USSR agreed that if the USSR took its missiles out of Cuba, the US would not test in Canada
B. They realized the radiation would make the crude oil unusable even if it was extracted
C. It was determined that Soviet agents had penetrated Canada and the threat of them stealing a bomb was too high
D. Canada announced a new non-proliferation policy, and no nuclear detonations would happen in the country
5. In early 1962, the CIA devised a plan to finally take down Fidel Castro once and for all. "Operation Northwoods" was proposed and accepted by the Joint Chiefs to accomplish this feat. What did the Agency plan on doing?
A. Sending exploding cigars to Fidel Castro
B. Sending Cuban exiles to the Bay of Pigs to invade Cuba and overthrow the government
C. Faking Cuban terrorist attacks on US territory and property to justify an invasion of Cuba
D. Replacing Castro with a look-alike who would destroy the Cuban government from the inside
6. Operation Northwoods included a variety of possibilities to help it achieve its main goal of taking down Fidel Castro. Which of these possibilities were NOT considered in order to get the job done?
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A. Dress up marines in Cuban uniforms and stage an amphibious assault on Key West
B. Creating a terror campaign in Florida and Washington, D.C. aimed at Cuban refugees
C. Blowing up an American ship in Guantanamo Bay to create another "Remember the Maine" incident
D. Building a replica Cuban MiG aircraft and having pilots harass American airspace
7. Three days after the proposal memo for Operation Northwoods was sent from the Joint Chiefs to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, it was proposed to President John F. Kennedy. What was Kennedy's response to seeing the plans laid out before him?
A. McNamara decided to reject the plan himself and not even let Kennedy see it
B. He accepted the plan initially, but the Cuban Missile Crisis put an end to it
C. He flat out rejected the plan and denied the Joint Chiefs' chairman the opportunity to get another term
D. He accepted the plan and had it postponed during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but died before putting it into action
8. Annoyed at the American moon landing in 1969, the USSR felt that it had to respond in kind by one-upping the feat. It revived the TMK project, originally proposed in 1959, which planned a June 8, 1971 launch to send a crew of three in a 125 cubic meter spacecraft to perform a flyby of Mars. How long was this flight supposed to last, assuming everything went according to plan?
2 years, 3 months, and 4 days | 21 months, and 1 week | 3 years, 1 month, and 2 days | 14 months, and 19 days
9. Feeling that a manned Mars flyby simply wasn't impressive enough, the USSR scrapped the TMK-1 plan. In its place came TMK-E, which included a much larger spacecraft to take a crew of six to actually land on the surface of Mars and stay there for a year. How did they plan on the cosmonauts getting around on the surface?
A. They would have to move by foot since there was no spare room for anything else
B. Bicycles were included so they didn't have to rely on powered vehicles
C. A nuclear-powered "Mars Train" would be assembled on the surface from parts kept on the spacecraft
D. Two "Mars Rovers" would be sent down with the crew
10. Unfortunately for the USSR, the TMK plan failed to materialize. There were numerous problems from the outset, but the most pressing was the fact that the Soviet N1 rocket that was supposed to be used for the project (and also the proposed moon missions before that) had serious malfunctions. How far did the rocket get in testing?
A. Several tests made it to orbit, but all crashed on their return flights
B. No tests made it out of Earth's atmosphere without it being destroyed
C. Only one of ten tests made it to orbit and returned safely
D. All the tests were successful, but it was determined too much damage would be done to the cargo during liftoff
ANSWERS:
1. A. The actual procedure used in Acoustic Kitty was described by a former CIA agent and sounds quite gruesome, especially to cat lovers. Not only were surgeries done on cats to have the microphones and antennas (along with a battery to keep them functioning) implanted, but also they put in a wire to override the cat's sense of hunger to keep it from wandering off on the job. Details were not given as where the microphone and battery were placed, but the antenna supposedly ran up the cat's tail. Massive training was done so that the cats could be controlled and actually knew what to do, but the operation ended up not lasting very long.
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2. C. Just after CIA operatives released a cat for Acoustic Kitty's first test run, a taxi ran it over. The only positive sign from the test was that the two men were actually across the street, so the cat may have actually been going towards them. The remains were collected quickly, but the project was considered a complete failure. In 1967 the operation was dismantled. According to unclassified documents, the only redeeming factor that came out of Acoustic Kitty was that they learned cats could be trained to be used in surveillance, but "the environmental and security factors in using this technique in a real foreign situation force us to conclude that, for our purposes, it would not be practical."
3. D. One of many projects to use nuclear power for peaceful means (other than power plants), Project Oilsand was introduced by L.M. Natland, an employee of the American-based (but British Petroleum-owned) company Richfield Oil. The Athabasca Oil Sands have roughly 2 trillion barrels of oil locked in a semi-solid state called bitumen. Because of this, normal methods of drilling could not be used unless the viscosity was lowered to a more liquid-like state. In theory the detonation of the 9-kiloton nuclear bomb underground would cause so much heat and pressure that the bitumen would boil to a lower viscosity, and open up a massive oil site very close to the United States.
4. D. Much like Project Iceworm in Greenland, Project Oilsand never got off the ground because the host country - this time Canada - moved to a non-proliferation status. It was determined that Canada could not risk possible Soviet incursion, whether outright or covert, because they allowed American nuclear detonations on (or under) their soil. When it was originally accepted by the Federal Mines Department, Branch Director John Covey noted that the entire project may require up to 100 bombs: "That sounds like an awful lot of explosives, but you have to remember that this won't be accomplished overnight."
5. C. Operation Northwoods was every conspiracy theorist's dream. The Joint Chiefs approved the plan in early 1962 and wrote a memo describing the plan to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on March 13. The memo said that "World opinion, and the United Nations forum should be favorably affected by developing the international image of the Cuban government as rash and irresponsible, and as an alarming and unpredictable threat to the peace of the Western Hemisphere." Since the plan also happened months before the Cuban Missile Crisis, it also made the point that "There is as yet no bilateral mutual support agreement binding the USSR to the defense of Cuba, Cuba has not yet become a member of the Warsaw Pact, nor have the Soviets established Soviet bases in Cuba."
6. A. All of the other choices given were considered for Operation Northwoods along with several other options for subverting Castro's power. The "Remember the Maine" re-creation also gave another option for blowing up an unmanned vessel anywhere in Cuban waters, and when Cuban planes and boats went to investigate, the US would claim that it was actually the attacking force. The terror campaign was proposed to go so far as to widely publicize the wounding of refugees in assassination attempts and to explode "a few plastic bombs in carefully chosen spots."
The use of aircraft also had several options. The Air Force would have the option of simply re-painting an F-86 to "convince air passengers that they saw a Cuban MiG, especially if the pilot of the transport [commercial airliner] were to announce such fact." They also said "reasonable copies of the MiG could be produced from US resources in about three months." Also possible was the faking of said MiG to "shoot down" a made up commercial airliner going to a foreign country so that the flight plan would be over Cuba. Another break from that plan was to have agents board a plane, and when they were in the air an exact duplicate plane (unmanned) would rendezvous with it in the air and continue on the original's flight path, and the plane with the real passengers would go back to the US. The drone would then signal it was under attack once near Cuba and an explosive would be triggered via radio. It was also discussed that the fake MiG could be used to "shoot down" a USAF aircraft.
7. C. A memo from Ed Lansdale sent to the Joint Chiefs after meeting with President Kennedy stated the following: "The President said bluntly that we were not discussing the use of military force, that General Lemnitzer
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[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs] might find the U.S. so engaged in Berlin or elsewhere that he couldn't use the contemplated 4 divisions in Cuba." While Lemnitzer was denied the chance to get another term as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, in January 1963 he was named the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. It certainly didn't help the plan that less than a year before, the Bay of Pigs invasion had been a complete failure, and Kennedy had the top level of the CIA dismantled because of it. Thankfully, President Kennedy realized that the strategy of attacking yourself in order to attack someone else was just as insane as it sounds.
8. 3 years, 1 month, and 2 days. TMK-1 was planned to be launched on June 8, 1971, and not return to Earth until July 10, 1974. The flight to Mars would take an estimated 10.5 months, and the crew would drop remotely-controlled landers to the surface. Other variations actually had the crew also making a flyby of Venus, but there was no estimate to how much longer that would make the trip. To give a good example of how small a space the crew of three was supposed to live in during this time, the Cessna Skycatcher single-engine airplane has exterior dimensions of 2.53m x 6.95m x 9.14m, which means it has a total volume of just over 160 cubic meters. That still leaves it at 35 cubic meters larger than the living area on TMK-1.
9. C. TMK-E was supposedly going to be powered using nuclear-powered ion engines, which could be taken from the ship and used to power a "Mars Train" that would be assembled on the Martian surface. The train itself would include a crew cabin, a launch cabin with a "convertiplane" capable of vertical takeoff included for air travel, two launch wagons each with a rocket capable of leaving the Martian atmosphere to return to TMK-E, and the caboose would be the nuclear reactor powering the train. The crew was supposed to actually go from pole to pole collecting soil samples and doing assorted research before returning to Earth. Curiously, the TMK-E mission was estimated to take only 1,000 days, making it shorter than the TMK-1 mission even with the year-long stop on Mars.
10. B. The N1 rocket went through four different tests. The first exploded at just over 12 kilometers in the air after 69 seconds of flight. The second is perhaps the most famous, exploding after only 23 seconds with 2,600 tons of fuel on board. Both of those tests occurred in 1969. Two years later, the third test was destroyed after 51 seconds at only one kilometer off the ground. The final test took place in late 1972, and made it to 40 kilometers after nearly 107 seconds, but an explosion completely demolished the craft. In 1974, the N1 program was stopped, and with it ended Soviet aspirations for both moon and Mars landings.
[Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz318809247f6c0.html Nov 2012 ++]
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Tax Burden for Oregon Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Oregon.
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: None Gasoline Tax: 31.0 cents/gallon . Rates to do not include local option taxes of 1 to 2 cents. Diesel Fuel Tax: 30.3 cents/gallon. Rates to do not include local option taxes of 1 to 2 cents. (Local fuel taxes may add 1 to 3 cents) Cigarette Tax: $1.18/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
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Tax Rate Range: Low – 5%; High – 11%. Starting in tax year 2009 the personal income tax rate is 10.8% on taxable income over $125,000 but not over $250,000, and 11% on taxable income over $250,000. For tax years after 2011, the highest rate will be 9.9% on taxable income over $125,000. Income Brackets: Three. Lowest – $3,050; Highest – $250,000 (For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.) Personal Tax Credits: Single – $169; Married – $348; Dependents – $169 Additional Credits: Credit equal to 40% of federal credit Standard Deduction: Single – $1,865; Married filing jointly – $3,735; Deduction greater if age 65 or older. Additional Deduction: Single over 65 – $1,200; Married over 65 filing jointly $2,000 Medical/Dental Deduction: Full only for age 59 or older, if itemized. Oregon allows a tax credit on long-term care insurance premiums. The credit is the smaller of 15% of premiums paid or $500. Federal Income Tax Deduction: $5,000 ($2,500 if married filing separately) Retirement Income Taxes: New residents will find that their pension income along with all other income regardless of the source, will be taxed by Oregon. The state does not tax Social Security or railroad retirement benefits. Depending on your age and income, you may be entitled to a retirement income credit on your Oregon return. If you receive a U.S. government pension, you may be entitled to subtract part or all of that pension on your Oregon Individual income tax return.
Retired Military Pay: Federal retirees, including military personnel, may be able to subtract some or all of their federal pension income. This includes benefits paid to the retiree or to the surviving spouse. The subtraction amount is based on the number of months of federal service before and after October 1, 1991. Retirees can subtract their entire federal pension if all the months of federal service occurred before October 1, 1991. If there are no months of service before October 1, 1991, retirees cannot subtract any federal pension. If service included months before and after October 1, 1991, retirees can subtract a percentage of their pension income. Military Disability Retired Pay: Retirees who entered the military before Sept. 24, 1975, and members receiving disability retirements based on combat injuries or who could receive disability payments from the VA are covered by laws giving disability broad exemption from federal income tax. Most military retired pay based on service-related disabilities also is free from federal income tax, but there is no guarantee of total protection. VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits are not taxable because they generally are for disabilities and are not subject to federal or state taxes. Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with state department of revenue office.
Property Taxes
Oregon does not grant homeowners a homestead exemption. Tax rates are set by the counties and any special considerations are levied by county officials. Homeowners 62 or older may delay paying property taxes based on certain income criteria. The state offers a Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program and a Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program. Both deferral programs allow qualified taxpayers to defer payment of their property taxes on their homes. The state pays the taxes to the county, maintains the account, and charges 6% simple interest, which also is deferred. Taxes are owed when the taxpayer receiving the deferral dies, sells the property, ceases to live permanently on the property, or the property changes ownership.
To qualify for either program, the taxpayer must live on the property and have a total household income of less than $39,500 for the year before application. Participants may remain on either program as long as their federal adjusted gross income does not exceed that amount. If a participant’s income exceeds the $39,500 limit, part of the taxes still may be deferred. Participants can come in and out of the programs if their income changes. In addition to meeting the income limitation and property ownership requirement, disabled persons must be receiving or be eligible to receive federal Social Security Disability benefits to qualify. Residents must be 62 years old or older to qualify for the Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program. For more information Call 800-356-4222 or 503-376-4988 or refer to http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/SCD/Pages/seniordef.aspx.
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Inheritance and Estate Taxes
At the beginning of 2012, the laws governing Oregon’s inheritance tax changed. First the name of the tax changed from an “inheritance tax” to an “estate tax.” This is consistent with the majority of states and the federal government which defines an estate tax as a tax on an entire estate while an inheritance tax is defined as a tax assessed against only certain beneficiaries of an estate.
In addition, while the estate tax emption of $1,000,000 remains in effect. The tax will only apply to the value of an estate in excess of $1,000,000. Under current law once an estate exceeds $1,000,000 the tax applies to the entire estate and the rates change such that the majority of estates valued between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 will pay slightly less in taxes an estates valued over $2,000,000 will pay slightly more in taxes.
For more information refer tp http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/forms/business/form-it-1-150-103-001-2011.pdf?ga=t
Note: Oregon has a statutory provision for automatic adjustment of tax brackets, personal exemption or standard deductions to the rate of inflation. For further information, visit the Oregon Department of Revenue site http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/Pages/index.aspx or call 503-378-4988. If you are thinking of moving to Oregon, check out http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/PERTAX/Pages/faq-moving.aspx.
[Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Nov 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art (17):
Ambush!
by Heinz Krebs
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Pictured is Lt. Heino Sachsenberg in his Focke Wulf 190 Dora 9 "Rote 1" W.Nr. 600424, as he turns to engage P-51s over the airfield of Ainring in an attempt to protect the approaching Me262 jet fighters from an attack by the Mustangs. [Source: http://www.brooksart.com/AmbushORG.html Nov 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 13 NOV 2012: The Senate and House reconvened at 1400 on 13 NOV to begin their lame Duck session. For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication on that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise, you can locate on http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. [Source: http://www.loc.gov Oct 2012 ++]
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Have You Heard? Kulula Airlines.
Kulula is a low-cost South-African airline that doesn't take itself too seriously. Check out their new livery!
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On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want)
Passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced ---
"People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it !"
On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said ---
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
On landing, the stewardess said ---
 "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it 's something we'd like to have."
 "There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."
 "Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
 As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"
After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant on a flight announced ---
"Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
From a Kulula employee ---
 "Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth . To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."
 "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."
 "Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."
 "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."
 "As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."
 And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town ---
The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."
Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town , on a particularly windy and bumpy day ---
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During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing ---
"We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline". He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it ?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"
After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg, the attendant came on with ---
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.."
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement ---
"We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today.. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."
Heard on a Kulula flight ---
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing.. If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."
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Naval Lingo: Geedunk. To most sailors the word geedunk means ice cream, candy, potato chips and other assorted snacks, or even the place where they can be purchased. No one, however, knows for certain where the term originated, but there are several plausible theories.
1) In the 1920's a comic strip character named Harold Teen and his friends spent a great amount of time at Pop's candy store. The store's owner called it The Geedunk for reasons never explained.
2) The Chinese word meaning a place of idleness sounds something like gee dung.
3) Geedunk is the sound made by a vending machine when it dispenses a soft drink in a cup.
4) It may be derived from the German word tunk meaning to dip or sop either in gravy or coffee. Dunking was a common practice in days when bread, not always obtained fresh, needed a bit of tunking to soften it. The ge is a German unaccented prefix denoting repetition. In time it may have changed from getunk to geedunk.
Whatever theory we use to explain geedunk's origin, it doesn't alter the fact that Navy people are glad it all got started.
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