Veterans & Military Families Monthly News

December 2010 Vol. 1 No. 9

Good afternoon In This Issue
and thank you for reading. Various World War II posters from John Nagle, USAAF
Welcome to this month‘s Former Battle Creek Guardsman Honored with Stem Award
edition of the newsletter. I Michigan‘s Vietnam Generation to be Recognized in Upcoming
would like to thank every- Documentary
After the Battle
one for helping us grow So why can‘t I get leave this *@#% deployed tin can and get a job
this idea. driving a mail truck?!!! Or how Veteran‘s Preference for
Remember the two Federal Employment died, part one
online sources on which Warning to all Veterans
And More...
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We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

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 Former Battle Creek Guardsman a senior military analyst and reserve deputy director at the
Defense Intelligence Agency for counterterrorism in the
Honored with STEM Award Pacific and Middle East. Formerly a director at SAIC,
Webb is currently a consultant specializing in technolo-
From: Col. Patricia Webb Oct. 25, 2010
gies supporting airborne recon-
Science Applications
naissance, counterterrorism, spe-
International Corp (SAIC) Joins
cial operations and national secu-
With Women in Military Service
rity issues for the intelligence
for America to Honor SAIC
community and performs her AF
Women Veterans and Promote
reserve duty at Kirtland AFB,
STEM CEO Walt Havenstein,
NM. She is personally very
CTO Amy Alving and Executive
active in venues assisting women
Vice President Debbie James
and children around the world.
joined four members of SAIC's
Board of Directors, including "This donation supporting the
former Air Force Chief of Staff memorial's STEM efforts builds
General John Jumper, to on SAIC's enterprisewide initia-
celebrate the company's contin- tive to help inspire, engage and
ued commitment to supporting educate students in K-12 STEM
the Women in Military Service education," said Alving. "We
for America (WIMSA) Memori- hope this initiative will engage
al, which honors the 2.5 million and motivate students to pursue
women who have served in the careers in STEM to help address
U.S. Armed Forces. As part of the projected science and technol-
its continued commitment, SAIC hosted the celebration ogy workforce shortfall." SAIC's veteran workforce is a
and made a donation to the WIMSA Foundation, part of key component of our success," James said. "These wom-
which is seed money for the foundation's new advisory en are the kinds of role models that are so important to
committee to promote education in science, technology, showing girls and young women that they too can
engineering and math (STEM) among women. Keynote succeed."
speaker was former naval aviator and NASA shuttle pilot
Said James, "We are proud to continue our sup-
Susan Kilrain.
port of WIMSA and the important work it does honoring
Honored at the event and receiving the STEM the nation's women veterans. The memorial is in a unique
award was former Battle Creek Guardsman Colonel position to help promote both STEM education and ser-
Patricia Webb, USAFR, a 14-year employee of SAIC and vice to our country in the armed forces among girls and
32-year military veteran. Webb has flown highly classi- young women." She added that honoring SAIC's women
fied reconnaissance missions and tactical operations sup- veterans in STEM careers was a logical choice. James
porting humanitarian relief in Somalia and counterdrug served for more than five years as assistant secretary of
and firefighting airdrop operations. Completing master's defense for Reserve Affairs and is currently a member of
degrees in international affairs and strategic intelligence, the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the
Webb continued in intelligence and special operations as Services (DACOWITS).

Veterans Radio is dedicated to all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces of the
United States of America. Our mission is to provide all veterans with a voice, to give them a forum where they are able to
discuss their issues…and tell their stories. You can listen to the show on: WDEO (990-AM Ann Arbor/Detroit), WMAX
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 Michigan’s Vietnam Generation to be
Recognized in Upcoming Documentary
From: www.ourvietnamgeneration.com
Director/Producer Keith Famie to direct the camera
lens on the oft-overlooked service of Vietnam veterans
WIXOM, Mich. — They fought on a battlefield
as brutal as any other and more deadly than most wars in
the history of the United States. The only difference: these
veterans fought at a time when the United States was
deeply divided on one of the
most opposed wars in history,
the Vietnam War. To give these
veterans a voice, Director/
Producer Keith Famie, of Vi-
sionalist Entertainment Produc-
tions, has announced he is film-
ing Our Vietnam Generation,
scheduled to debut in late 2010.
The documentary will
focus on struggles experienced by Michigan Vietnam Vet-
erans who received a much different homecoming than
other generations, set to the backdrop of the culture at a
time marked by music, drugs, ideals of love and political
upheaval. Depicted will be some veterans who were able
to become successful business and community leaders and
others who still suffer from haunting memories or
wounds. Further, the documentary will shed light on the
families of these veterans, including those who still hold
yearly vigils in hopes the remains of missing POWs will
still be found.
―Ever since we began working on our documen-
tary, Detroit: Our Greatest Generation, which focused on
our World War II veterans, the most frequently posed
question was, ‗What about our Vietnam vets?‘‖ said
Famie. ―These men and women, mostly now past 60 years
old, still have deeply rooted feelings about their Vietnam
experience, including how society viewed them when
they returned.‖
Featured in Our Vietnam Generation is a journey
back in time for veteran Marine Pfc. Mark Spooner and
his daughter Cpt. Jennifer Spooner, an Iraq veteran
Marine, as they traveled to Vietnam. The father/daughter
expedition retraced Mark‘s footsteps through his tour of
duty on Hills 41 and 37 during the TET offensive and
countless firefights in the Vietnam countryside 40 years
ago in an emotional confrontation of an era most would
like to forget.
The next several months of production for Our
Vietnam Generation, Famie‘s eighth human interest docu-
mentary, will involve countless personal interviews and
events, such as the flight of two Huey Choppers from the
group Huey 369 over the Detroit River, which will serve
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as the dramatic opening sequence of the film. Hundreds of
Vietnam veterans will be present for the event and photo-
graphed together for a commemorative piece acknowledg-
ing their services.
Several special bike rallies with Rolling Thunder
and Patriot Guard will be featured in the documentary, as
well. All will culminate in a special media celebration
premiere for the Vietnam veterans in December, followed
by the television premiere on WDIV-TV in Detroit.
The leading title sponsor for last year‘s successful
documentary, Detroit: Our
Greatest Generation, American
House founder Bob Gillette, has
committed to support Our
Vietnam Generation as one of
the title presenting sponsors.
―It was a different kind of battle
these people were fighting,‖ said
Gillette. ―The people fighting in
Vietnam were not given the
‗hero‘s welcome‘ when they returned home like our
World War II veterans. This film is our opportunity to do
now what we should have done then.‖
The Vietnam production was equally inspirational
as Mark and Jennifer visited Hanoi‘s Children‘s Village
to deliver Operation: Exchange of Hearts, a special book
of artwork created by the children of Detroit Medical
Center. In exchange, Mark and Jennifer picked up a book
of drawings from the Hanoi children to deliver back to the
DMC.
Part of the documentary is the one-on-one inter-
view with American Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael
Michalak, who happens to be from Rochester, Mich.
The documentary team also gained full access to
film at the Hoa Lo Prison ―Hanoi Hilton‖ POW camp
where Senator John McCain was once held.
One of the most emotional wrenching visits
involved the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command
(JPAC), a United States military branch that relentlessly
searches for missing soldiers, both from the United States
and from U.S. allies.
Supporting the film so far are Keith King, Nation-
al Public Affairs Chair of the Vietnam Veterans of Ameri-
ca, American House Senior Living Residences, Terry
Desmond of A.J. Desmond Funeral Homes, Joe Vicari of
Andiamo Restaurant Group Inc., DS Properties,
Lakeshore Engineering Services, WDIV-TV, News/Talk
WJR 760, HOUR Magazine, Digital Image Studios,
Gallagher-Kaiser, Vietnam Battlefield Tours, Knot Just A
Bar, The Medical Team, Advanced Care and Disabled
American Veterans.
For more information and updates on Our Vietnam
Generation, visit www.ourvietnamgeneration.com
3
 A follow up to the story that was in the July 2010 Newsletter.
We hope everyone can attend the premiere. It will be a great night!
If you would like more information about the film log onto www.ourvietnamgeneration.com
We would also like to thank all that served during the Vietnam Conflict.

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 Please Support ―Frontlines of Freedom‖ Military Talk Radio Hosted by Lt. Col. Denny Gillem
You can hear it every Saturday at 1pm on 1260 AM the Pledge (Zeeland, MI), or by visiting the
website at www.frontlinesoffreedom.com or for Facebook click here.

Pilot of aircraft #13 on the Doolittle Raid Some Useful Links

From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Master Air Force Times
Sergeant USAF (Retired) http://www.airforcetimes.com/
I set up quarters with two Navy pilots, putting my
Navy Times
cot between their two bunks. They couldn't get out of bed
without stepping on me. It was just fairly cozy in there,
http://www.navytimes.com/
yes it was. Those guys were part of the Torpedo Squadron Marine Corps Times
Eight and were just swell fellows. The rest of the guys http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/
bedded down in similar fashion to me, some had to sleep Army Times
on bedrolls in the Admiral's chartroom. As big as this ship http://www.armytimes.com/
was, there wasn't any extra room anywhere. Every square Military Times
foot had a purpose... A few days later we discovered http://www.militarytimes.com/
where they had an ice cream machine! TRICARE
There were sixteen B-25s tied down on the flight http://www.tricare.mil/
deck, and I was flying number 13. All the carrier's fighter American Legion
planes were stored away helplessly in the hangar deck.
http://www.legion.org/
They couldn't move until we were gone. Our Army
mechanics were all on board, as well as our munitions Veterans of Foreign Wars
loaders and several back up crews, in case any of us got http://www.vfw.org/
sick or backed out. We settled into a daily routine of AMVETS
checking our planes. The aircraft were grouped so closely http://www.amvets.org/
together on deck that it wouldn‘t take much for them to
get damaged. Knowing that my life depended on this If anyone has a site they would like to have added
plane, I kept a close eye on her. to this growing list please let us know!
Day after day, we met with the intelligence
officer and studied our mission plan. Our targets were
assigned, and maps and objective folders were furnished gunner just so he could go on this mission. We put some
for study. We went over approach routes and our escape new tail guns in place of the ones that had been taken out
route towards China. I never studied this hard back at to save weight. Not exactly functional, they were two
Trinity. Every day at dawn and at dusk the ship was called broom handles, painted black. The thinking was they
to general quarters and we practiced finding the quickest might help scare any Jap fighter planes. Maybe, maybe
way to our planes. If at any point along the way, we were not.
discovered by the enemy fleet, we were to launch our On Sunday, April 14, we met up with Admiral
bombers immediately so the Hornet could bring up its Bull Halsey's task force just out of Hawaii and joined into
fighter planes. We would then be on our own, and try to one big force. The carrier Enterprise was now with us,
make it to the nearest land, either Hawaii or Midway another two heavy cruisers, four more destroyers and an-
Island. other oiler. We were designated as Task Force 16. It was
Dr. Thomas White, a volunteer member of plane quite an impressive sight to see, and represented the bulk
number 15, went over our medical records and gave us of what was left of the U.S. Navy after the devastation of
inoculations for a whole bunch of diseases that hopefully I Pearl Harbor. There were over 10,000 Navy personnel
wouldn't catch. He gave us training sessions in emergency sailing into harm's way, just to deliver us sixteen Army
first aid, and lectured us at length about water purification planes to the Japs, orders of the President.
and such. Tom, a medical doctor, had learned how to be a

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

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 As we steamed further west, tension was rising as
we drew nearer and nearer to Japan. Someone thought of
arming us with some old 45 pistols that they had on
board. I went through that box of 1911 pistols, they were
in such bad condition that I took several of them apart,
using the good parts from several useless guns until I built
a serviceable weapon. Several of the other pilots did the
same. Admiring my "new" pistol, I held it up, and thought
about my old Model-T.
Colonel Doolittle called us together on the flight
deck. We all gathered round, as well as many Navy
personnel. He pulled out some medals and told us how
these friendship medals from the Japanese government
had been given to some of our Navy officers several years
back. And now the Secretary of the Navy had requested
us to return them. Doolittle wired them to a bomb while
we all posed for pictures. Something to cheer up the folks
back home!
I began to pack my things for the flight, sched-
uled for the 19th. I packed some extra clothes and a little
brown bag that Aggie had given me, inside were some
toilet items and a few candy bars. No letters or identity
cards were allowed, only our dog-tags. I went down to the
wardroom to have some ice cream and settle up my mess
bill. It only amounted to $5 a day and with my per diem
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of $6 per day, I came out a little ahead. By now, my Navy
pilot roommates were about ready to get rid of me, but I
enjoyed my time with them. They were alright. Later on, I
learned that both of them were killed at the Battle of Mid-
way. They were good men. Yes, very good men.
Colonel Doolittle let each crew pick our own
target. We chose the Yokosuka Naval Base about twenty
miles from Tokyo. We loaded 1450 rounds of ammo and
four 500-pound bombs. A little payback, direct from Ellis
County, Texas! We checked and re-checked our plane
several times. Everything was now ready. I felt relaxed,
yet tensed up at the same time. Day after tomorrow, we
will launch when we are 400 miles out. I lay in my cot
that night, and rehearsed the mission over and over in my
head. It was hard to sleep as I listened to sounds of the
ship.
Early the next morning, I was enjoying a leisurely
breakfast, expecting another full day on board, and I
noticed that the ship was pitching and rolling quite a bit
this morning, more than normal. I was reading through the
April 18th day plan of the Hornet, and there was a
message in it which said, "From the Hornet to the Army -
Good luck, good hunting, and God bless you." I still had a
large lump in my throat from reading this, when all of a
sudden, the intercom blared, "General Quarters, General
Quarters, All hands man your battle stations! Army
pilots, man your planes!!!" There was instant reaction
from everyone in the room and food trays went crashing
to the floor. I ran down to my room jumping through the
hatches along the way, grabbed my bag, and ran as fast as
I could to the flight deck. I met with my crew at the plane,
my heart was pounding. Someone said, "What's going
on?" The word was that the Enterprise had spotted an ene-
my trawler. It had been sunk, but it had transmitted radio
messages. We had been found out!
6
 The weather was crummy, the seas were running
heavy, and the ship was pitching up and down like I had
never seen before. Great waves were crashing against the
bow and washing over the front of the deck. This wasn't
going to be easy! Last minute instructions were given. We
were reminded to avoid non-military targets, especially
the Emperor's Palace. Do not fly to Russia , but fly as far
west as possible, land on the water and launch our rubber
raft. This was going to be a one-way trip! We were still
much too far out and we all knew that our chances of
making land were somewhere between slim and none.
Then at the last minute, each plane loaded an extra ten
5-gallon gas cans to give us a fighting chance of reaching
China.
We all climbed aboard, started our engines and
warmed them up, just feet away from the plane in front of
us and the plane behind us. Knobby, Campbell, Bourgeois
and me in the front, Williams, the gunner was in the back,
separated from us by a big rubber gas tank. I called back
to Williams on the intercom and told him to look sharp
and don't take a nap! He answered dryly, "Don't worry
about me, Lieutenant. If they jump us, I'll just use my
little black broomsticks to keep the Japs off our tail."
The ship headed into the wind and picked up
speed. There was now a near gale force wind and water
spray coming straight over the deck. I looked down at my
instruments as my engines revved up. My mind was
racing. I went over my mental checklist, and said a pray-
er? God please, help us! Past the twelve planes in front of
us, I strained to see the flight deck officer as he leaned
into the wind and signaled with his arms for Colonel Doo-
little to come to full power. I looked over at Knobby and
we looked each other in the eye. He just nodded to me and
we both understood.
With the deck heaving up and down, the deck
officer had to time this just right. Then I saw him wave
Doolittle to go, and we watched breathlessly to see what
happened. When his plane pulled up above the deck,
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Knobby just let out with, "Yes! Yes!" The second plane,
piloted by Lt. Hoover, appeared to stall with its nose up
and began falling toward the waves. We groaned and
called out, "Up! Up! Pull it up!" Finally, he pulled out of
it, staggering back up into the air, much to our relief! One
by one, the planes in front of us took off. The deck
pitched wildly, 60 feet or more, it looked like. One plane
seemed to drop down into the drink and disappeared for a
moment, then pulled back up into sight. There was sense
of relief with each one that made it. We gunned our
engines and started to roll forward. Off to the right, I saw
the men on deck cheering and waving their covers! We
continued inching forward, careful to keep my left main
wheel and my nose wheel on the white guidelines that had
been painted on the deck for us. Get off a little bit too far
left and we go off the edge of the deck. A little too far to
the right and our wing-tip will smack the island of the
ship. With the best seat on the ship, we watched Lt.
Bower take off in plane number 12, and I taxied up to the
starting line, put on my the brakes and looked down to my
left. My main wheel was right on the line. Applied more
power to the engines, and I turned my complete attention
to the deck officer on my left, who was circling his pad-
dles. Now my adrenaline was really pumping! We went to
full power, and the noise and vibration inside the plane
went way up. He circled the paddles furiously while
watching forward for the pitch of the deck. Then he
dropped them, and I said, "Here We Go!" I released the
brakes and we started rolling forward, and as I looked
down the flight-deck you could see straight down into the
angry churning water. As we slowly gained speed, the
deck gradually began to pitch back up. I pulled up and our
plane slowly strained up and away from the ship. There
was a big cheer and whoops from the crew, but I just felt
relieved and muttered to myself, "Boy, that was
short!" (to be cont…)
7
 After the Battle
From: RAO Bulletin November 2010 (Lt. James ―EMO
Tichacek, USN (Ret)Associate Director, Retiree Assis-
tance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio
City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238
-1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines.
Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/
NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW VVA/CG33/DD890/
AD37 member)
The wounds of war can go far
beyond what meets the eye. From mental
health issues to pain and illness that persist
long after they've left the battlefield, veterans
face a multitude of health troubles either
unique to their service or more frequent
among them than the general population.
"Folks returning from combat have a constel-
lation of health concerns, including physical
issues, psychological issues and psychosocial
issues concerning things like work and family," said Dr.
Stephen Hunt, national director of the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs Post Deployment Integrative Care Initia-
tive. "This is a population that has unique health care
needs that need to be addressed," added Hunt, who is
based in Seattle. "It's something that really needs to be
done by a team. We can't do it without the collaboration
of other providers, and the knowledge and presence of the
community." Some of the most common physical com-
plaints of returning soldiers cannot be classified into a
single disorder, Hunt said. They include nonspecific
symptoms such as fatigue, pain and cognitive disturbances
such as memory and concentration problems. "The inter-
esting thing is, we see this after all wars," he said. "We
think it's a reflection of the duress and intensity of the sit-
uation. They're worn out, hurting and it's kind of hard to
think straight." Here are seven health conditions confront-
ing veterans:
Musculoskeletal injuries and pain -- Just over
half of all veterans' post-deployment health visits address
lingering pain in their backs, necks, knees or shoulders,
Hunt said. And according to an August study in the
Journal of Pain, about 100,000 veterans of the Gulf War
nearly 20 years ago have reported chronic muscle pain.
Previous research indicated that regular, sustained
exercise can help reduce that pain, which doctors encour-
age to help avoid disability.
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
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Mental health issues -- While post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) among soldiers has been well pub-
licized, other mental woes can also result from the trauma
of war. A June study in the journal Archives of General
Psychiatry found that one in 10 Iraq war vets develop
serious mental problems, including violent behavior,
depression and alcohol abuse. The study found that PTSD
or depression seriously impaired daily functioning in 8.5
to 14% of these vets. Disabling on its own, PTSD is also
linked to the development of physical illness-
es for veterans as years pass. Researchers
from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington, D.C., reported this year that
54% of veterans with PTSD also had sleep
apnea, compared with 20% of PTSD patients
in the general population. PTSD in vets is
also associated with a greater risk of develop-
ing dementia, according to a June study in
Archives of General Psychiatry.
Chemical exposure -- Research by the
American Heart Association found that exposure to nerve
agents such as sarin - which can trigger convulsions and
death on the battlefield- may cause long-term heart
damage in Gulf War veterans. The damage can include an
enlarged left ventricle, heart rhythm abnormalities or a
reduction in the pumping strength of the heart.
"Environmental agents and toxic chemicals are very
common in combat theaters," Hunt said, "and we need to
watch [these vets] closely."
MANGBANG
From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Master
Sergeant USAF (Retired) & Matthew X. Hauser
As you may have seen in past editions of the
newsletter, MANGBANG has been one of our sources.
We are thankful for the source and so we just wanted to
pass the information along for MANGBANG in case
anyone is interested in joining the Michigan Air National
Guard Historical Association.
You can contact Lou Nigro if you are interest-
ed. We think it is a worthwhile investment-it supports
the history of the Michigan Air National Guard and his
monthly publications are very informative.
For those who want to view it on our website
(www.selfridgeairmuseum.org, http://
www.selfridgeairmuseum.org ), Lt Col Lou Nigro, MI
ANG (Ret) Executive Director, Selfridge Military Air
Museum Email: louis.nigro@ang.af.mil
8
 Infectious diseases -- As a rule, all military
personnel are given routine vaccinations before deploy-
ment. Yet veterans suffer disproportionately from certain
infections that civilians almost never experience for
which vaccines are not available, according to the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. They include bacterial
infections such as brucellosis, which may persist for
years; campylobacter jejuni, which causes abdominal
pain, fever and diarrhea; and Coxiella burnetii, which in
chronic cases can inflame the heart. Leishmaniasis, a
parasitic disease caused by the bite of a sand fly native to
the Middle East, is a particularly brutal condition veter-
ans experience. Those infected suffer weight loss, fevers,
headaches, muscle pain and weakness, anemia, and
enlargement of the spleen and liver. It can be fatal if
untreated, according to the VA.
Noise and vibration exposure -- Hearing loss
and impairment - including persistent ringing and
buzzing in the ears - are common effects of harmful
noise from gunfire, heavy weapons, noisy engine rooms
and aircraft, Hunt said. Additionally, vets who regularly
worked with machinery can suffer vibration exposure,
which can prompt irreversible lower back pain or
numbness and pain in the hands and fingers, according to
the VA.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) -- TBI, often
brought on by a blow or jolt to the head, disrupts brain
function and has been called the signature wound of the
fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences. Blast exposures and other
combat-related activities put service members at greater
risk for sustaining a TBI compared to their civilian
counterparts, according to the Defense and Veterans
Brain Injury Center. Common effects of TBIs include
cognitive issues such as shorter attention span, language
disabilities, and an inability to process information. Vets
can also suffer from lack of motivation, irritability,
anxiety and depression, headaches, memory loss and
PTSD. "Between 70 and 80% of combat deaths are from
blast-related exposure," Hunt said, "and of survivors,
20% report that they may have had an event that resulted
in a mild concussion. Whether there will be any
long-term effects is difficult to ascertain."
Urologic injuries -- Penetrating injuries to the
groin area during battle are often treated only after
life-threatening injuries have been dealt with, said Dr.
Arthur Smith, a Medical College of Georgia urologist
who spoke at the Warrior Health Symposium last month.
Injuries to the bladder, ureters, kidneys and genitalia
usually require complex surgery, Smith said, but compli-
cations often arise because treatment must be put off.
[Source: MyHealthNewsDaily Maureen Salamon article
2010 ++]
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A Note From Department Hospital
Chairwoman Merridy Lewis
Hello Everyone,
I‘m sure you‘ve heard about budget cuts that are
affecting so many of us. Our Veteran Medical Centers
are no exception. Have you thought about being a
volunteer?
There are so many ways volunteers can help the
Veteran‘s Homes, medical Centers, clinics or even local
Hospitals and nursing homes. As a volunteer you help to
ensure that our Veteran‘s are treated with care, affection,
respect and enthusiasm.
There are many opportunities available that
volunteers are needed for. A few ideas that come to mind
would be ---- A greeter/ambassador, this position you
would help Veteran‘s who may need assistance locating
general information of the hospital, giving directions, or
even escort them to an appointment. Perhaps, get a
wheelchair for them.
Another idea would be to write letters, read a
book or to sit and visit with them, as sometimes they
don‘t have family or friends that are able to visit. Play a
game of cards or even work on a puzzle.
The veterans can always use phone cards, bus
tokens or transportation, vouchers, crossword puzzles,
canteen books to purchase coffee or soda from the
canteen and reading materials.
How do I become a Veteran‘s Affair Voluntary
Service (VAVS) volunteer? Contact your nearest VA or
local nursing home or hospital. Ask to speak to a
voluntary service specialist. They will set you up an
appointment for an interview to see what interests you
have, and give you a scheduled time to volunteer. You
will also be given an orientation of hospital policy. Non
members of the VFW & Ladies Auxiliary can be spon-
sored from each post. So, if you have a friend that would
like to help you when you volunteer perhaps your Auxil-
iary would sponsor them. Children are welcomed to
volunteer also.
Do you have an out-standing hospital volunteer?
Please submit an application to me for the Out Standing
Hospital Volunteer of the Year!
9
 Obama awards Medal of Honor to Giunta
Need a Ride The Associated Press From: www.militarytimes.com
Form: www.dav.org
Because so many sick and disabled veterans
lack transportation to and from VA medical facilities for
needed treatment, the DAV operates a nationwide Trans-
portation Network to meet this need.
Through the
Transportation Net-
work, DAV volunteers
drive sick and disabled
veterans to and from
VA medical facilities
for treatment. The
Transportation Network
is a clear example of veterans helping veterans. The
DAV stepped in to meet a substantial community need
Photo From: SHIELA VEMMER / STAFF
when the federal government terminated its program that President Obama presents Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta with the
helped many veterans pay for transportation to VA Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House on Nov. 16.
medical facilities. The DAV has 189 Hospital Service
Coordinators around the country who coordinate the WASHINGTON — An Army staff sergeant who
transportation needs for disabled veterans. stepped into the line of fire to help a pair of comrades on
Use the DAV Hospital Service Coordinator the Afghan battlefield received the Medal of Honor on
Directory to contact your nearest HSC for information Tuesday — the nation‘s top military award.
or assistance. Please remember that the DAV Transporta- President Obama awarded the medal to Salvatore
tion Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is una- Giunta at a White House ceremony, making the 25-year-
ble to cover every community. We hope we can help old Iowan the first living service member from the Iraq or
you. Afghanistan wars to be so honored. Seven others have
received the award posthumously.
Locate your nearest VA Medical Center Obama called Giunta a soldier who is ―as humble
as he is heroic‖ and said the ceremony was a ―joyous
occasion.‖
Veteran Legislation The Army says Giunta was a rifle team leader in
eastern Afghanistan‘s Korengal Valley when his squad
Check Out the E-Newsletter From The was split in two after an ambush by insurgents. While
House Committee on Veteran Affairs: under fire, Giunta pulled a fellow soldier to cover and
http://veterans.house.gov/ rescued another who was being dragged away by the
enewsletter.shtml enemy.

Upcoming 2011 Events

The Navy will be coming to Michigan and Indiana in a big way this summer. We have secured agreements with the Blue
Angels to perform June 11, 12 in Evansville IN, July 2, 3 in Muskegon, July 23, 24 in Detroit and again in Indianapolis
dates TBD.
A special thanks to Claude for the tip and more information to come soon!

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

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 So why can’t I get leave this *@#%
deployed tin can and get a job driving a mail truck?!!!
Or how Veteran’s Preference for Federal Employment died, part one.
By: Claude McManus,
CMC (SW) USN Ret.
One would think that Vet-
eran‘s Preference is fairly straight-
forward. Unfortunately, it is now
anything but clear; clear as mud. As
recent as three years ago there was
a very nice booklet available that
summed up Veteran‘s Preference. It
was easy to read, easy to under-
stand and lined up nicely with the
laws and Standard Form 15
(Veteran‘s Preference Request
form). The challenge was that the
Veteran‘s Guide as it was called did
no line up with the reality of the
federal government employment
practices. Heck, the government
was not living up to the required
actions of veteran‘s preference. The
‗modified interpretation‘ employ-
ment practices of the federal gov-
ernment agencies were the result of decisions of Federal
and Administrative Judges. And, the U.S. Congress
changing the rules for federal agencies when considering
veterans for employment.
This past Veteran‘s Day, a fellow brother of the
American Legion said it best on a National News channel;
a member of the Armed Forces gives the Country a blank
check. It is their life that is offered when they serve this
great nation. Some give all, but all give some of their lives
during that service. So it would seem simple, as the colo-
nists of Plymouth intended, the American Community
owed the veteran and should provide for their care. Not is
not to say that the veteran is to be a burden to society, not
at all. But it does mean that a veteran who qualifies for
preference should be given that preference for employ-
ment. Right? Dream on.
Currently, The Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) has reissued the Veteran‘s Preference (without the
use of spell check) and is available on the internet. Since I
want to specific and thorough I think the best way to start
this story is with the OPM version. Please forgive me in-
cluding the as written errors.
From the OPM: ―The use of preference in Federal
appointments extends back to the days of the Revolution-
ary War. Though no legal basis existed to govern the treat-
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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
ment of war veterans, certain sol-
diers were rewarded for their ser-
vice by the Federal government.
Early forms of preference were of-
ten based on European models and
featured the use of pensions, bonus-
es for service, disability allowance,
and hospitalization for injuries in-
curred while in uniform, as rewards
for service to one's country. It was-
n't until the heyday of the spoils
system, however, that appointments
to Federal positions as a reward for
military service become a popular
practice. These appointments, how-
ever, were usually reserved for ex-
officers, and not for the rank and
file soldier.
Civil War to the end of World
War I-Towards the end of the Civil
War, congress passed the first sig-
nificant Veterans preference legis-
lation. This act provided that, "Persons honorably dis-
charged from the military or naval service by reason of
disability resulting from wounds or sickness incurred in
the line of duty shall be preferred for appointments to civil
offices, provided they are found to possess the business
capacity necessary for the proper discharge of the duties
of such offices."Under this legislation, preference in ap-
pointments was limited to disabled veterans who were
otherwise qualified for the work to be performed. This
1865 law stood as the basic preference legislation until the
end of World War I.
Along the way, however, several modifications
were made to the 1865 legislation. An amendment in 1871
contained the first instance of "suitability" requirements
for job seeking veterans. The language read as follows,
"The President is authorized to prescribe such reg-
ulations for the admission of persons into the civil service
of the United States as may best promote the efficiency
thereof, and ascertain the fitness of each candidate in re-
spect to age, health, character, knowledge, and ability for
the branch of service into which he seeks to enter, and for
this purpose he may employ suitable persons to conduct
such inquiries, and may prescribe their duties, and estab-
lish regulations for the conduct of persons who may re-
ceive appointment in the civil service."
11
 In 1876, another Congressional amendment gave
preference for RIF retention to veterans, their widows,
and their orphans. This amendment marked the introduc-
tion of the use of preference as RIF protection. It provid-
ed: "That in making any reduction in force in any of the
executive departments the head of such department shall
retain those persons who may be equally qualified who
have been honorably discharged from the military or
naval service of the United States and the widows and
orphans of deceased soldiers and sailors."
Determination of the
"equal qualifications" of a per-
son entitled to preference under
this law was left to the appoint-
ing officer.
In 1888, a Civil Service
Commission regulation gave ab-
solute preference to all disabled
veterans over all other eligible.
In other words, they would quali-
fy with a score of 65, when the
minimum passing score for eve-
ryone else was a 70, and would
be placed at the top of the certifi-
cation list.
A year later, President Harrison
issued an Executive Order allow-
ing honorably discharged veter-
ans who were former Federal
employees to be reinstated
without time limit. This was the
first appearance of reinstatement
eligibility as applied to veterans.
In 1892, reinstatement rights
were extended to the widows and
orphans of veterans. The rein-
statement provision was the last significant addition to
preference legislation until 1919.
Preference Between the World Wars-The first
major expansion of Veterans Preference benefits occurred
in 1919 in the form of the Census Act. This act, amended
shortly thereafter by the Deficiency Act of 1919 granted
preference to all honorably discharged veterans, their wid-
ows, and the wives of injured veterans. An excerpt reads
as follows:
"That hereafter in making appointments to clerical
and other positions in the executive branch of the Govern-
ment, in the District of Columbia or elsewhere preference
shall be given to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors,
and marines, and widows of such, and to the wives of in-
jured soldiers, sailors, and marines, who themselves are
not qualified, but whose wives are qualified to hold such
positions."
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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
This act is significant for two reasons: it no longer
emphasized a service-connected disability as the primary
basis for granting Veterans preference, and it introduced
the concept of spousal preference in the appointing
process. This act redefined eligible veterans to mean all
persons who served in an active military capacity and
were honorably discharged, whether the service was in
wartime or peacetime. Added were their widows and the
wives of those too disabled to qualify for government em-
ployment. This act remained the basic Federal law for
appointment preference until
June 27, 1944, when the Veter-
ans Preference Act of 1944 was
enacted.
Two significant modifi-
cations were made to the 1919
Act. In 1923, an Executive Order
was created which added a 10-
point to the score of disabled
veterans and added 5-points to
the scores of non-disabled veter-
ans. This was the first time the
points were added to the exami-
nation scores in the appointing
process. Under this Executive
Order, however, veterans were
no longer placed at the top of the
certification lists. In 1929, anoth-
er executive order restored the
placement of 10-point disabled
veterans to the top of certifica-
tion lists.
In 1938, a Civil Service
Commission rule required that
the decision by an appointing
official to pass over a veteran and
select a non-veteran for appointment be subject to review
by the commission. Language regarding the passover of
eligible veterans existed in earlier executive orders, but
these early versions only required that the CSC be notified
if a passover occurred. The 1938 rule strengthened this
requirement and marked the first time that the Commis-
sion could overturn the passover if it did not regard the
reasons as being adequate.
VeteransPreference Act of 1944-Veterans pref-
erence, as it exists today, derives from the VeteransPrefer-
ence Act of 1944. This act, to a large extent, resulted from
the veterans organizations' desire to elevate the existing
Executive and regulatory orders governing preference to
the level of National policy. With a victorious end to
World War II clearly in sight, both Congress and the Ad-
ministration were sympathetic to the veterans organiza-
tions' objective. In his endorsement of the legislation,
President Roosevelt wrote:
12
 "I believe that the Federal
Government, functioning in its capac-
ity as an employer, should take the
lead in assuring those who are in the
armed forces that when they return
special consideration will be given to
them in their efforts to obtain
employment. It is absolutely impossi-
ble to take millions of our young men
out of their normal pursuits for the
purpose of fighting to preserve the
Nation, and then expect them to
resume their normal activities without
having any special consideration shown them."
The act, in essence, was a consolidation of the
various preference provision already in effect by the vari-
ous Executive Orders and CSC regulations. It went a step
further by broadening and strengthening existing Veter-
anspreference rules by giving them legislative sanction.
Thus, the Executive Branch could no longer change the
provisions of Veteranspreference. Any changes must now
be sought through legislation. In addition, the act made
clear that preference was a to be a reward for patriotic
duties by a grateful country willing to recognize the sacri-
fices of its servicemen when peace comes. The Act would
help ensure that veterans obtain or regain an economic
position they otherwise would have attained had they not
served in the armed forces.
The Veteranspreference Act of 1944 defined to
whom and under what circumstances preference would be
granted. It provided that Preference be given in competi-
tive examinations, in appointments to positions in the
Federal service, in reinstatement to positions, in
reemployment, and in retention during reductions in force.
Preference would apply to civilian positions - permanent
or temporary - in all departments, agencies, bureaus,
administrations, establishments, and projects of the Feder-
al Government, and in the civil service of the District of
Columbia. Further, the law provided that preference apply
to positions in the classified civil service (now the com-
petitive service), the unclassified civil service (positions
excepted from the competitive service), and in any tempo-
rary or emergency establishment, agency, bureau, admin-
istration, project and department created by acts of Con-
gress or Presidential Executive order. The legislative and
judicial branches of the Government, as well as positions
in the executive branch, which are required to be
confirmed by the Senate, except Postmaster-ships, in the
first-, second-, and third-class post offices were exempt
from the Act.
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
The Act originally granted preference
to non-disabled veterans, disabled
veterans, wives of disabled veterans,
and the widows of disabled veterans.
These were substantially the same
groups granted preference under pre-
vious laws and regulations with two
exceptions. Non-disabled veterans
whose only service was performed
during peacetime and the wives of
non-service-connected disabled veter-
ans over 55 years of age were no
longer eligible for preference.
VeteransPreference Since 1944-In 1948,
the VeteransPreference Act of 1944 was amended to
include the mothers of veterans. Mother preference was
granted to certain widowed, or divorced or legally sepa-
rated mothers of veterans (men and women) who (a) died
under honorable conditions while on active duty in any
branch of the armed forces of the United States in war-
time or in peacetime campaigns or expeditions for which
campaign badges or service medals have been authorized;
or (b) have permanent and total service-connected disabil-
ities which disqualify them for civil service appointment
to positions along the general line of their usual occupa-
tions. In the case of such widowed mothers, preference
was granted provided they were widowed at the time of
death or disability of the veteran and had not remarried.
The divorced or legally separated mothers were granted
preference only if the veteran was the mother's only child.
This provision was later amended in 1950 to allow prefer-
ence to mothers who are living with their husbands but
whose husbands are totally and permanently disabled.
In 1952, a bill was passed granting preference
benefits to those honorably separated veterans who served
on active duty in any branch of the armed forces of the
United States during the period beginning April 28, 1952
and ending July 1, 1955 (the period after the termination
of the state of war between the United States and the Gov-
ernment of Japan during which persons could be inducted
under existing law for training and service in the armed
forces). The bill also extended preference to the widows
and mothers of such veterans.
The Vietnam conflict in the 1960s resulted in sev-
eral modifications of the VP law of 1944. In 1966, legisla-
tion was passed which granted peace-time preference for
Vietnam-era vets who served on active duty for more that
180 consecutive days between January 31 1955 and Oct
10, 1976; National Guard and reserve service was
excluded from this legislation.
13
 In 1967 legislation was passed which expanded
preference to all veterans who served on active duty for
more than 180 days (no requirement to serve during war,
campaign, or conflict) between January 31, 1955 and Oc-
tober 10, 1976. As with the previous year's law, National
guard and reserve service was not included in this expan-
sion.
The end of the Vietnam conflict brought with it
yet another law, passed in 1976. This law put added
restrictions on veterans whose service begins after Octo-
ber 14, 1976. For post-Vietnam era veterans, preference
was granted only if theses veterans became disabled, or
served in a declared war, a campaign, or expedition. This
legislation was the result of the conclusion of the Vietnam
conflict and its draft, the Department of Defenses' desire
to build a career military service, and veterans‘ organiza-
tions' concern that preference was not appropriate for
purely peacetime service.
The Civil Service reform act of 1978 created new
benefits for veterans with a 30 percent or more disability.
It also gave veterans extra protection in hiring and reten-
tion. Under this act, preference was no longer granted to
nondisabled veterans who retired at the rank of major or
above.
Marine Corps Celebrates 235th Birthday
From: Jacksonville Daily News and www.military.com
November 10, 2010
The Marine Corps turns 235 on Wednesday, its
vigor undiminished by age. Camp Lejeune officials will
commemorate the Marine Corps 235th birthday with a
joint daytime ceremony Wednesday at 10 a.m. at
Liversedge Field aboard Camp
Lejeune.
The ceremony, which will
rededicate the National and
Marine Corps Colors, involves
leathernecks from II Marine
Expeditionary Force, subordinate
commands and Marine Corps Base
Camp Lejeune, according to base
officials.
The birthday pageant will
include the traditional cake-cutting
ceremony and a procession of the Marine Corps uniforms
dating from 1775 to the present. As tradition dictates, the
oldest Marine and the youngest Marine present will share
the first pieces of birthday cake, signifying the passage of
wisdom and tradition from each generation of Marines to
the next. The ceremony is open to the general public.
Aboard Cherry Point Air Station, Marines will
celebrate the birthday with a host of events throughout the
week, including the traditional birthday cake-cutting
ceremony.
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In 1988, a law was passed that required the
Department of Labor to report agencies' violations of
Veterans preference and failure to list vacancies with
State employment services to the Office of Personnel
Management for enforcement.
The last major legislation affecting Veteranspref-
erence occurred in the form of the Defense Appropria-
tions act of 1997. Under this legislation, preference was
accorded to anyone who served on active duty during the
Gulf War period (August 2, 1990 through January 2,
1992). This law also granted preference to certain service
members who earned campaign medals for service in
Bosnia and Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint
Endeavor (November 20, 1995 through December 20,
1996) or Operation Joint Guard (December 20, 1996
through a date designated by the Secretary of Defense).
www.opm.gov
Clear as bilge water? Well, in part two, I will be
moving into deep kimchi, or how the above laws are inter-
preted in Title 5 of the U.S. Code, Section 2302 and
Section 2301. Then we will get into what the judges and
Congress did to take veterans for a long walk off a short
plank.
Fair winds, and following seas, shipmates.
Additionally, leathernecks of 2nd Marine Aircraft
Wing will embark on the annual commanding general's
run, Wednesday, according to releases. The commanding
general of 2nd MAW, Maj. Gen, Jon M. Davis, will lead
thousands of troops across more than three miles of Cher-
ry Point roads in a formation run while singing cadence
for motivation and carrying aloft flags of the Marine
Corps and tenant units.
Units aboard every base
have also joined in a signature
element of Corps pageantry at
ceremonies throughout this week:
the Marine Corps birthday balls.
The new commandant of
the Corps, Gen. Jim Amos,
congratulated the troops in a
recent birthday message, lauding
Marines' past heroism and ongoing
efforts, particularly in bringing
greater stability to Iraq.
"Locations such as Fallujah and Ramadi have
taken their place in the illustrious battle history of our
Corps. Our efforts in defeating the insurgency helped to
build a brighter future for all Iraqis," Amos wrote. "For
235 years, at sea and ashore, Marines have succeeded in
every clime and place ... where hardship and adversity
have often been the common thread."
14
 Odd Golf Rules From WWII
Written by B. L. Edsell, the club secretary, From:
Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Master
Sergeant USAF (Retired)
(If nothing else a comical read, however histori-
cal accuracy is not known.) During the Battle of Britain
early in the Second World War, the St. Mellon's Golf and
Country Club, located in Monmouthshire, adopted a set
of unusual rules for unusual circumstances.
They Read:
1 - Players are asked to collect the bomb and shrapnel
splinters to prevent their causing damage to the mowing
machines.
2- In competition, during gunfire or while bombs are fall-
ing, players may take shelter without penalty for ceasing
play.
3 - The positions of known delayed-actions bombs are
marked by red flags at a reasonable by not guaranteed
safe distance therefrom.
4 - Shrapnel and/or bomb splinters on the fairways or in
bunkers within a club's length of a ball may be moved
without penalty, and no penalty shall be incurred if a ball
is thereby caused to be moved accidentally.
5 - A ball moved by enemy action may be replaced, or if
lost or destroyed, a ball may be dropped without penalty,
not nearer the hole.
6 - A ball lying in a crater may be lifted and dropped not
nearer the hole, preserving the line to the hole, without
penalty.
7 - A player whose stroke is affected by the simultaneous
explosion of a bomb may play another ball under penalty
of one stroke.
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Patriot Guard Riders'
impact on Family
From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon-
Command Chief Master Sergeant
USAF (Retired)
As a member of the Ft.
Custer National Cemetery Honor Guard, I have the dis-
tinct honor and privilege to provide a service to our fallen
veterans. I can‘t begin to explain my feelings during a
memorial service for one of my military brothers or sis-
ters. Yesterday, our Wednesday American Legion Post
298 Squad, had the honor of supporting a service for a
soldier killed in action, by insurgents, in Afghanistan on
November 14th. It was a very small and private family
ceremony with the United States Army
providing pallbearers and an Army
rifle squad the military salute. In addi-
tion, about 25 members of the Patriot
Guard were there to show their sincere
respect for this fallen hero, his family,
and the community. I thought you
might enjoy seeing a similar memorial
and what the Patriot Guard means to the family of a fallen
member of our great military. God Bless our military and
God Bless this great Country.
For Patriot Guard-Veteran Day 2010 Video Click Here
Aid for Low-Income Vets and Families
From: www.military.com Week of November 22, 2010
The Department of Veterans
Affairs recently announced a new
program designed to provide
enhanced services to low-income
veterans and their families who are
at risk of being homeless. The VA's
new Supportive Services for Veteran
Families Program will provide grants to agencies that
will provide direct financial assistance for daily living,
transportation, child care, rent and utilities and other
expenses. Eligible veteran families will include those
who are homeless and scheduled to become residents of
permanent housing or those who have left permanent
housing and are seeking other housing. The VA will pro-
vide local agencies with the instructions necessary to
apply for grants under the program by mid-December.
For more on veterans benefits, visit the Military.com
Benefits Center.
We would like to express our appreciation to all of
the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
15
 You Can Leave The Military,
But It Never Really Leaves You
By: Ken Burger, The Charlestown
Post and Courier, Thurs, March 4,
2010. From: Eugene (Gene) A.
Simon- Command Chief Master
Sergeant USAF (Retired)
Occasionally, I venture
back out to the air base where I'm
greeted by an imposing security
guard who looks carefully at my
identification card, hands it back
and says, "Have a good day, tech
sergeant." Every time I go back
onto Charleston Air Force Base it feels good to be called
by my previous rank, but odd to be in civilian clothes,
walking among the servicemen and servicewomen going
about their duties as I once did, years ago.
The military, for all its flaws, is a comfort zone
for anyone who has ever worn the uniform. It's a place
where you know the rules and know they are enforced; a
place where everybody is busy but not too busy to take
care of business. Because there exists behind the gates of
every military facility an institutional understanding of
respect, order, uniformity, accountability and dedication
that becomes part of your marrow
and never, ever leaves you.
Personally, I miss the fact
that you always knew where you
stood in the military, and who you
were dealing with. That's because
you could read somebody's
uniform from 20 feet away and
know the score. Service personnel
wear their careers on their sleeves,
so to speak. When you approach
each other, you can read their
name tag, examine their rank and,
if they are in dress uniform, read
their ribbons and know where they've served.
TRICARE, VA Coordinate Care
From: www.military.com Week of November 29, 2010
TRICARE and the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs (VA) coordinate care to support military veterans
around the world. When servicemembers leave active du-
ty, they may be eligible for benefits offered by TRICARE
and the VA. Retirees can learn more about VA health
benefits by contacting a VA
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
I miss all those little things you take for granted
when you're in the ranks, like breaking starch on a set of
fatigues fresh from the laundry and standing in a perfectly
straight line that looks like a mirror as it stretches to the
endless horizon. I miss the sight of
troops marching in the early morn-
ing mist, the sound of boot heels
thumping in unison on the side-
walks, the bark of sergeants and
the sing-song answers from the
squads as they pass by in review.
To romanticize military
service is to be far removed from
its reality, because it's very serious
business, especially in times of
war. But I miss the salutes I'd
throw at officers and the crisp returns as we crisscrossed
on the flight line. I miss the smell of jet fuel hanging
heavily on the night air and the sound of engines roaring
down runways and disappearing into the clouds. I even
miss the hurry-up-and-wait mentality that enlisted men
gripe about constantly, a masterful invention that bonded
people more than they'll ever know or admit.
I miss people taking off their hats when they enter
a building, speaking directly and clearly to others and
never showing disrespect for rank, race, religion or
gender. Mostly I miss being a small cog in a machine so
complex it constantly circumnavi-
gates the Earth and so simple it
feeds everyone on time, three
times a day, on the ground, in the
air or at sea. Mostly, I don't know
anyone who has served who
regrets it, and doesn't feel a sense
of pride when they pass through
those gates and re-enter the world
they left behind with their youth.
Face it guys [and gals],
we all miss it. Whether you had
one tour or a career, it shaped your
life. One Nation Under GOD.
Health Benefits Service Center at 877-222-VETS
or visiting the TRICARE website at www.tricare.mil/
tricaretova. For information about TRICARE-covered
services, contact your TRICARE regional contractor. Re-
gional contractor contact information can be found on the
TRICARE Contact Information webpage.
Military.com surveys have found that most ser-
vicemembers and their families are confused by TRI-
CARE. Get the facts and latest news on TRICARE.
16
LZ MICHIGAN: A JOURNEY HOME
From: www.wgvu.org and Army and
Navy Club News November 2010
LZ MICHIGAN: A JOURNEY
HOME is a WGVU Production. This
documentary features the true stories of
local war survivors. Each Veteran takes
us back 35+ years to the battle fields
and jungles of Southeast Asia. Here
they provide a unique emotional
perspective discussing the realities of
life and death and what it feels like to
return home from an "unpopular" war.
Feelings still linger to this day.
Rex Greenwalt recalls the day
in 1967 when he received orders to
serve his country and fight in Vietnam.
The Allegan native was 21 years old at
the time. He put his marriage proposal
and plans to run the family dry cleaning
business on hold. Rex served as an Army dog handler and
returned home with two Purple Hearts; hobbled physical-
Navajo Code Talker Heritage Month
From: www.military.com Week of November 29, 2010
Two members of the
World War II Navajo Code
Talkers, Peter MacDonald and Roy
Hawthorne, recently took part in a
ceremony at Kirtland Air Force
Base to pay tribute to veterans and
to celebrate Native American
heritage month. During WWII, the
Navajo Code Talkers of the United
States Marine Corps ciphered
thousands of battlefield messages
in the Pacific theatre, saving count-
less lives and helping end the
war. In the first two days of
fighting at Iwo Jima, the Code
Keep up with TRICARE with
New E-Newsletter
From: Army and Navy Club News. November 2010
A new e-newsletter aimed at TRICARE Standard
beneficiaries is available online now at the TRICARE
website. It supplements the printed Standard newsletter
mailed every January to all Standard beneficiaries. The
new e-newsletter helps beneficiaries get the most out of
the flexible TRICARE Standard and Extra healthcare plan
options. For more information on TRICARE Standard or
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
ly and scared emotionally with Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder. Greenwalt’s story is similar and yet so very
different from the first-hand accounts of
soldiers who fought at his side.
"These are amazing people.
They are the warrior class of a society
that has been around ever since the
beginning of time. The warriors are the
strongest and best. They always have
been they always will be," explains
Naval Corpsman and Vietnam Veteran,
Jim Vanden Bosch. "The unfortunate
thing is, to some degree, our general
population doesn’t recognize that.
And that was part of the mess that was
Vietnam. That's why a lot of these guys
are still angry. They’re still hurting.
They have pain every day. They need to
be recognized for who they are, and
what they are, and what they did." For
more information check out http://www.wgvu.org/
lzmichigan/
Talkers transcribed more than 800 messages with perfect
accuracy. At the war's end, they were sworn to secrecy.
For more information, including instructional materials,
visit the Navajo Code Talkers web-
site, the National Museum of the
American Indian website, the
Navy's Navajo Code Talkers
WWII Fact Sheet, Northern Arizo-
na University's Navajo Code Talk-
ers webpage, the National Ar-
chives, the Smithsonian Institution
website, the National Archives'
Prologue Magazine webpage, and
the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma
History and Culture website. For
more military history resources,
visit Military.com's History Center.
Extra, visit the TRICARE website and answer three easy
questions to get connected to user-tailored information.
17
EIGHTH AIR FORCE DOCUMENTARY PROPOSED
From: www.letfreedomringforall.org
"Remembering The Fallen Heroes Of The 'MIGHTY
EIGHTH'--WW II"...with Jean-Paul Favrais
Operating from Eng-
land in World War II was the
EIGHTH AIR FORCE on
daring daylight bombing raids
on German targets. A French-
man, Jean-Paul Favrais, has
tirelessly researched U.S. air-
craft crashes in France and
has obtained names of the
perished crewmembers from
U.S. Archives and matched
them with the crash sites.
Favrais has located
nine families of these airmen
and hosted them in France where they were escorted to
the respective crash sites. The father of Mrs K. Stanclift
was a B-17 pilot whose plane was hit by German anti-
aircraft fire. He ordered the crew to bail out and landed
the plane on a farm with the tail gunner aboard who was
trapped. French farmers pulled them out of the burning
plane. Shortly after, they became prisoners of the Ger-
mans and were taken to a hospital where the tail gunner
had a leg amputated. This was in 1943. In 2006, sixty-
three years later, Mrs Stanclift was invited to France by
Favrais where she was brought to the farm where her fa-
ther crashlanded and met the second and third generation
living there now. She visited the hospital where her father
and tail gunner were taken in 1943 and they still have the
records!
Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News
From: www.veteranstoday.com December 1, 2010 posted by
Michael Leon
1. VA Focused On Encouraging Transitioning Soldiers
To Register For Agency Services. Newsday (11/26, Evans,
339K) reported, ―With veterans like‖ 61-year-old Richard
Whitmarsh, who after serving in Vietnam, ―spent years in psy-
chiatric institutions,‖ the US Department of Veterans Affairs is
―stepping up efforts to encourage troops leaving the military to
register when they are discharged, making them eligible for
psychological, medical and disability benefits.‖ Drew Brookie,
a spokesman for VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, told Newsday that
access and ―homelessness are two‖ of the ―top priorities‖ for
Shinseki, who has ―said helping wartime troops make the often
difficult transition from military lives to civilian ones can
prevent battlefield anxieties from metastasizing into more seri-
ous problems, such as substance abuse, divorce, homelessness
and mental illness.‖ Newsday pointed out that Whitmarsh
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
In 1944 when Jean-Paul was nine years old he
saw a U.S. P-38 fighter plane crash near his home. He
saw the pilot's body and never forgot. In retirement, he
spearheaded a movement to build a monument of granite
shaped like the wing of the
airplane, in memory of the
pilot. Over sixty years later,
the monument was dedicated
with American and French
dignitaries present, as well as
the pilot's younger sister and
her son.
The documentary will be a
military/human interest story
about the Eighth Air Force
operations from England dur-
ing 1943,1944 and 1945...
(The Eighth suffered 26,000
killed and 58,000 casual-
ties). More killed than the Marines in the Pacific Theater
of Operations.
The film will trace Jean-Paul's relentless search of
American aircraft crashes in France. His amazing story
will be told. Also included will be interviews with fami-
lies of some of those killed airmen and interviews with
some veterans of the "Mighty Eighth", as they were
called. Time is of the essence. Sponsors now being
sought for filming in April 2011.
Recently George Ciampa was interviewed by
American Legion Magazine in conjunction with the pre-
liminary filming of several Eighth Air Force veterans who
served during WWII. Click here to view the filming and
interview.
recently ―took a big step toward his goal of reclaiming his life,‖
when he ―sought help applying for VA benefits‖ at a ―veterans
‗Stand Down‘‖ in Freeport, New York.
2. VA Testing Ways To Speed Claims Process With
Health IT. Modern Healthcare (12/1, Conn, 72K) reports, ―The
Veterans Affairs Department announced it aims to use health
information technology to cut the time it takes to process veter-
ans‘ disability compensation claims from an average of 40 days
today to seven to 10 days. ‗Innovations that will speed, simplify
or improve our services to veterans are receiving rigorous tests
at VA,‘‖ said the agency‘s secretary, Eric Shinseki, ―in a news
release.‖ Modern Healthcare adds, ―Pilot projects to test the use
of technology may involve as many as 60,000 records in region-
al benefits offices in Anchorage, Alaska; Chicago, Indianapolis,
Jackson, Miss.; New York; Portland, Ore.; and St. Louis.‖ The
Air Force News Service (12/1), NextGov (12/1, Fung),
Healthcare IT News (12/1, Merrill), InformationWeek (12/1,
Lewis), and iHealthBeat (12/1) publish similar stories.
18
3. House Approves Bill Of Rights For
Women Vets, Injured Vets. In continuing
coverage, CQ (12/1, Symes) reports, ―The
House backed legislation Tuesday that would
require…Department of Veterans Affairs medi-
cal facilities to display a ‗Women Veterans Bill
of Rights‘ and an ‗Injured and Amputee Veter-
ans Bill of Rights,‘ after addressing Republican
concerns about abortion.‖ As ―amended before
consideration, the measure specifically states
that nothing in the act ‗shall be construed to
establish a right to any service excluded‘ under
the current law concerning veterans‘ medical
benefits that excludes abortions and abortion
counseling.‖ CQ notes that the ―measure would
require‖ VA‘s ―secretary to ensure that all VA
employees receive training on the Women Veterans and Injured
and Amputee Veterans ‗Bills of Rights‘ and conduct outreach
to inform veterans about the bills.‖
The Corpus Christi (TX) Daily Caller (12/1, May) points out
that prior to Tuesday‘s House vote, pro-life groups had voiced
opposition to the ―Women Veterans Bill of Rights,‖ arguing
that it could result in Federal funding of abortions at VA facili-
ties. One group, the National Right to Life Committee, had
―mailed a letter to members of the House of Representatives
urging them to oppose the measure or include language in the
bill banning abortion.‖
4. VA Expanding Service Connection Illnesses List For
Vietnam Vets. The Mason City (IA) Press News (12/1,
Namanny) reports, ―Mitchell County veterans exposed to
dangerous defoliants and herbicides while serving in Vietnam
and other areas may now more easily qualify for disability pay
under a regulation recently published by the Department of
Veterans Affairs,‖ which has expanded the ―list of conditions
for which service connection…is
presumed.‖ The agency is ―adding
Parkinson‘s disease and ischemic heart
disease and expanding chronic lympho-
cytic leukemia to include all chronic B
cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leuke-
mia. Eric Shinseki,‖ VA‘s secretary,
―said the decision is based on the re-
quirements of the Agent Orange Act of
1991 and the Institute of Medicine‘s
2008 Update on Agent Orange.‖
Vietnam Vet Says Help From VA
Hospital Saved His Life. The Yucca
Valley, California-based Hi-Desert Star (12/1, Vaughn) reports,
―Like many fellow Vietnam veterans,‖ Mike Bower ―knows the
effects of PTSD all too well, but with help from the Veterans
Affairs hospital in Loma Linda, he says he‘s made a total life
transformation. ‗I would not be alive today if I hadn‘t gotten the
help I got there,‘ Bower said.‖
5. Ground Broken On Vets Home In Alabama. In contin-
uing coverage, the Talladega (AL) Daily Home (12/1, Hodnett)
reports, ―Officials broke ground Tuesday‖ on the Colonel Rob-
ert L. Howard State Veterans Home, which ―will become the
most cutting edge Veterans Affairs nursing home‖ in Alabama.
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
WBRC-TV Birmingham, AL (11/30, 6:12 p.m.
CT) also aired a report on the groundbreaking.
6. Emmett To Chair Wyoming Vets Com-
mission. The AP (12/1) notes that US Air
Force veteran Herm Emmett was ―recently se-
lected to serve as the chairman‖ of the Wyo-
ming Veterans Commission, which ―works
with the governor and state Legislature to study
state and federal legislation and make recom-
mendations.‖ The same story appears as the
third item in ―Wyoming Briefs‖ for the Casper
(WY) Tribune (12/1).
7. Vets Home Project In Tennessee
Ranked 47th On VA Priorities List. The
Cleveland (TN) Daily Banner (12/1, Davis,
13K) reports, ―The local effort to build the
Southeast Tennessee Veterans Home in Cleveland moved up to
47th on the priority list published recently‖ by the US Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs. The list ―serves as…VA‘s basis for
awarding state home grants in 2011.‖
8. VA Signs Another Lease For Location In DC’s
NoMa. The Washington (DC) Business Journal (12/1, Krouse)
reports, ―The Department of Veterans Affairs has signed yet
another lease in NoMa,‖ which is named for its north of Massa-
chusetts Avenue location in Washington, DC. The 10-year lease
for ―52,886 square feet at Trammel Crow Co.‘s Sentinel Square
I project‖ is VA‘s ―fourth in NoMa.‖
9. Online Tool To Allow Performance Comparison Of
VA Hospitals. In continuing coverage, Becker‘s Hospital Re-
view (12/1, Oh) reports, ―The Veterans Affairs Department will
provide an online tool veterans can use to compare the agency‘s
153 hospitals…according to a Government Health IT news
report. The dashboard will allow patients and their families to
see how the hospitals perform according to acute-care, patient
safety and intensive care quality indica-
tors at…VA‘s Hospital Compare web-
site, according to the report.‖ The
Review adds, ―A separate dashboard
system called Aspire allows viewers to
see how the facilities measure up
against quality and patient safety goals
as well as their progress in meeting
those goals.‖
10. VA Reaching Out To Trauma-
tized Female Vets. On its website, PBS
NewsHour (11/30) discussed the
―challenges female veterans face after
returning from war,‖ noting, ―Women make up about 14
percent of all service members, but they are at greater risk‖ of
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ―than their male counter-
parts.‖ The Department of Veterans Affairs, which ―says nearly
a quarter of women veterans have reported sexual assault by
their peers while in the military,‖ has ―created a national mili-
tary sexual trauma support team to do staff outreach and educa-
tion and advocate for patients.‖
We would like to express our appreciation to all of
the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
19
 Help for TRICARE Families in
Challenging Times
By: Gabrielle Kirk-TRICARE Management Activity,
December 06, 2010. From: www.tricare.mil
Whether dealing with
separation anxieties because
of long-term deployments or
child behavior issues because
of frequent moves, military
families regularly face unique
challenges. Having a family
member injured or even killed
while serving can also add a
lot of trauma within the
family unit. The Department
of Defense (DoD) has a
wealth of programs aimed at
supporting military families facing both ordinary and
extraordinary stressors.
A parent‘s emotional problem or a child‘s behav-
ioral problem can affect an entire family. Having an
emotional or behavioral health condition or supporting a
loved one‘s struggle is difficult. There are treatment
options available through TRICARE to assist military
families.
TRICARE covers family therapy for families fac-
ing emotional and or behavioral health challenges. Family
therapy may involve all or some members of a family and
is used as part of treatment for a diagnosed behavioral
health disorder. The family generally includes the spouse
of the patient with the diagnosed behavioral health condi-
tion and his or her children. In the case of a child patient,
it may include the parents, stepparents, guardians and
siblings. Family therapy is intended to improve the func-
tioning of the whole family.
Beneficiaries can see any TRICARE network
provider for their first eight outpatient family therapy
visits each benefit year (Oct. 1-Sept. 30) without prior
authorization. TRICARE covers up to two outpatient
therapy sessions each week for individual therapy, family
therapy or a combination of the two. All visits beyond the
first eight visits require authorization from their regional
contractor. Learn more about finding a TRICARE
network provider at www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth.
TRICARE beneficiaries also have access to coun-
seling services at home. The TRICARE Assistance
Program (TRIAP) uses online video chat to access coun-
seling services for eligible beneficiaries. TRIAP counsel-
ing is ideal for short-term adjustment to life issues includ-
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
ing stress management, family difficulties, relationship
issues and resolving communication problems.
Confidential TRIAP services are available
without referral or prior authorization to active duty ser-
vice members, their spouses of any age and family mem-
bers 18 or older. Also, beneficiaries 18 or older who are
enrolled in TRICARE Reserve
Select and the Transition
Assistance Management
Program may use TRIAP.
Learn how to access TRIAP at
www.tricare.mil/triap.
Military OneSource is
a free information and referral
service available to active
duty, National Guard and
Reserve service members and
their families at 800-342-9647
or www.militaryonesource.com. Military OneSource
consultants can help service members and their families
with lifestyle issues from emotional to financial difficul-
ties, fitness, education, work life and military life
concerns. Military OneSource can also provide referrals
to other appropriate DoD resources, including referrals for
up to 12 sessions of short-term, confidential counseling.
Military OneSource is intended to help with adjustment
issues related to stress in daily life. It is not designed to
address long-term issues such as child or spouse abuse,
suicidal ideation and those diagnosed with mental health
conditions. Service members or family members who
need long-term care are referred to a military treatment
facility or TRICARE for services.
For younger beneficiaries and their families,
Sesame Workshop‘s Talk, Listen, Connect program pro-
vides educational materials that aid discussion and under-
standing of the more difficult aspects of military life.
Children ages 2 to 5, and their families who have experi-
enced deployments, multiple separations or injuries may
benefit from Talk, Listen, Connect. The videos and mate-
rials feature the familiar Sesame Street characters and real
-life stories of military families who have overcome
challenges. The Talk, Listen, Connect materials are
designed to help families understand and cope with chal-
lenges and learn to express their feelings and concerns.
Visit www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc to watch Talk, Listen,
Connect videos and access materials.
While most military families and children manage
their lives successfully, those that don‘t can depend on
TRICARE and other DoD programs to help get them
through some of the most challenging times.
20
 U.S. Army Unveils 'Revolutionary' 29-inch system, which was designed by Minnesota's Al-
liant Techsystems, costs up to $35,000 per unit and, while
XM25 Rifle in Afghanistan highly sophisticated, is so easy to use that soldiers be-
come proficient within minutes.
By: Joshua Rhett Miller Published November 28, 2010
"That's how intuitively easy it is, even though it's
FoxNews.com. From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Com-
high-tech," Lehner said. "All a soldier needs to know how
mand Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired)
to do is laze the target. It decimates anything within its
Since the dawn of modern warfare, the best way
lethal radius."
to stay alive in the face of incoming fire has been to take
Once the trigger is pulled and the round leaves the
cover behind a wall. But thanks to a game-changing
barrel, a computer chip inside
"revolutionary" rifle, the U.S.
the projectile communicates ex-
Army has made that tactic dead
actly how far it has traveled, al-
on arrival. Now the enemy can
lowing for precise detonation
run, but he can't hide.
behind or ahead of any target.
After years of develop-
"We have found that this
ment, the U.S. Army has un-
has really made our soldiers so
leashed a new weapon in Af-
much more accurate and being
ghanistan -- the XM25 Counter
able to deliver this high-
Defilade Target Engagement
explosive round in about five
System, a high-tech rifle that
seconds," said Lehner, taking
can be programmed so that its
into account the time it takes a
25-mm. ammunition detonates
soldier to laze, aim and fire the weapon. Once fired,
either in front of or behind a target, meaning it can be
Lehner said, the round will reach its target in a "second or
fired just above a wall before it explodes and kills the ene-
two," meaning the entire process from aiming to direct hit
my.
lasts less than 10 seconds, compared to 10 minutes or
It also has a range of roughly 2,300 feet -- nearly
longer for traditional mortar fire.
the length of eight football fields -- making it possible to
A potential battlefield scenario, according to Ar-
fire at targets well past the range of the rifles and carbines
my officials, might go something like this: -- A patrol en-
that most soldiers carry today.
counters an enemy combatant in a walled Afghan village
Lt. Col. Christopher Lehner, project
who fires an AK-47 intermittently from be-
manager for the semi-automatic, shoulder-
hind cover, exposing himself only for a brief
fired weapon system for the U.S. Army's
second to fire. -- The patrol's leader calls for
Program Executive Office Soldier, said that
the XM25 gunman, who uses the weapon's
the XM25's capability alone is such a "game
laser range finder to calculate the distance to
-changer" that it'll lead to new ways of
the target. -- He then uses an incremental
fighting on the battlefield, beginning this
button located near the trigger to add 1 meter
month in Afghanistan.
to the round's distance, since the enemy is
"With this weapon system, we take
hiding behind a wall. -- The round is fired,
away cover from [enemy targets] forever,"
and it explodes with a blast comparable to a
Lehner told FoxNews.com on Wednesday.
hand grenade past the wall and above the
"Tactics are going to have to be rewritten.
enemy.
The only thing we can see [enemies] being
"This is revolutionary for many rea-
able to do is run away."
sons," Lehner said, citing increased efficien-
And that would make it much easier
cy, safety and lethality. "This is the first time
for U.S. troops to put them in their sights,
we're putting smart technology in an individual weapon
either with that same XM25 or another direct-fire weapon.
system for our soldiers. We feel it's very important to
With this new weapon in the Army's arsenal,
field this because it keeps us ahead of the technological
Lehner said, "We're much more effective, by many mag-
curve of our potential enemies. We have a feeling other
nitudes, than current weapons at the squad level. We're
people will try to copy us -- this is the future."
able to shoot farther and more accurately, and our soldiers
Lehner said the Army plans to purchase at least
can stay behind sandbags, walls or rocks, which provides
12,500 XM25 systems beginning next year -- enough for
them protection from fire."
one system in each infantry squad and Special Forces
Lehner said the first XM25s were distributed to
team. Cont
combat units in Afghanistan this month. The 12-pound,

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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
 The military isn't overly concerned that the weapon might be captured by the enemy, because they would be
unable to obtain its highly specialized ammunition, batteries and other components. Lehner said he expects other nations
will try to copy its technology, but it will be very cost-prohibitive.
"This is a game-changer," Lehner said. "The enemy has learned to get cover, for hundreds if not thousands of
years. "Well, they can't do that anymore. We're taking that cover from them and there's only two outcomes: We're go-
ing to get you behind that cover or force you to flee. So no matter what, we gotcha."

MICHIGAN SOLDIER, LAW SCHOOL GRAD STATIONED

IN KUWAIT TO BE SWORN IN AS AN ATTORNEY ON
NOV. 24 VIA LIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE
From: Stephanie Romeo
Christopher Horvath of Lansing to take dual oath
while stationed 6,300 miles away
LANSING, Mich., Nov. 24, 2010 – A recent Coo-
ley Law School graduate and new groom who arrived in
Kuwait nine days ago, will be sworn in as a new attorney
this morning via a live videoconference by two judges
who are working together to make the occasion possible.
The live videoconference, arranged by the Thom-
as M. Cooley Law School, the Michigan Court of Ap-
peals, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of
Michigan and the Michigan Army National Guard will
make it possible for 26-year-old Army SGT. Christopher
Horvath, now 6,300 miles away, to be admitted to practice
law in Michigan and the U.S. District Court for the West-
ern District, a federal court, at the same time.
Chief Judge William Murphy, Michigan Court of
Appeals, will administer the attorney‘s oath for admission
to practice law in Michigan followed immediately by
Chief Judge Paul Maloney, U.S. District Court for the
Western District of Michigan. The ceremony is scheduled
for 9:30 a.m. today, Nov. 24 at the Michigan National
Guard Joint Forces Headquarters in Lansing.* SGT.
Horvath‘s wife, Dena, a third-year Cooley student, and
many family members will attend the ceremony.
―Chris is putting his life on the line for our coun-
try; arranging for this special ceremony is the least we can
do to show our appreciation for his service,‖ said Heather
Spielmaker, director of Cooley‘s Service to Soldiers: Le-
gal Assistance Program and the law school‘s Center for
Ethics, Service and Professionalism. ―This dual swearing-
in ceremony represents the line SGT. Horvath walks be-
tween state and federal responsibilities; he served Michi-
gan prior to his deployment orders, and now is an active
duty U.S. Army soldier.‖
SGT. Horvath graduated from Cooley‘s Lansing
campus in May, married Dena in June, took the bar exam
in July, received notification of his bar passage in Octo-
ber, and left for a 12-month tour of duty in Kuwait on
Nov. 15. SGT. Horvath‘s deployment orders precluded
his participation in a traditional swearing-in ceremony
with his graduating class.
Attending the ceremony will be Jules Fiani, an
attorney and a friend of Horvath‘s, who will move for
SGT. Horvath‘s admission to practice law in Michigan
courts, a traditional part of the swearing-in ceremo-
ny. Also present will be Nelson Miller, dean of Cooley‘s
Grand Rapids campus, who will move for SGT. Horvath‘s
admission to the U.S. District Court for the Western Dis-
trict of Michigan, several Cooley staff and fellow class-
mates, and representatives of the Michigan National
Guard.
Following the ceremony, the videoconference will
continue so that Horvath‘s family and friends can visit
with him.

STEP UP AND LEAD

From: The USO
In 2010, we're calling on the brave men and women of our armed forces to
make some incredible sacrifices in Afghanistan, Iraq, and remote locations around the
world. That means you and I need to make an extra effort to show our support.
One of the best ways to let our troops know that you've got their back is by
supporting the work of the USO. Step Up and Lead -- support our troops by signing
up to be part of the USO today.

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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
 Pearl Harbor Day
Dec. 7, 2010
Contact: Jennifer Hoff (517) 487-5413
Lansing, MI—Michigan Republican
Party Chairman Ron Weiser issued the follow-
ing statement on the 69th anniversary of the
attack on Pearl Harbor:
―Today we reflect on the terrible tragedy of December 7, 1941, a day which has lived in infamy, and remember the men
and women who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
―They stood guard for America in dark times and paid the ultimate price for our sake. Their sacrifice, and that of those
who fought back, kept us protected from tyranny and safeguarded the freedoms we so treasure.
―The current members of our nation‘s armed forces continue this proud tradition and put themselves in danger to secure
our way of life. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and we thank those members, and their families, for their sacrifice and
service.‖

Program Provides Support for Fallen into the support, information and services available to
help them as they deal with their loss.
Soldiers' Families The Army launched the program servicewide in
By: Donna Miles-American Forces Press Service October 2008 to enhance its care and support for families
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, of the fallen. Fort Campbell, home
2010 - Inside a one-story building of the 101st Airborne Division
undergoing renovations at the far "Screaming Eagles," unveiled its
side of the commissary parking lot own program in 2009, tailoring it to
here, families of fallen soldiers are the needs identified by focus groups
getting the support and services they of surviving family members.
need and reassurance that the Army The staff brings a broad
won't forget them or their sacrifices. range of expertise to help families.
The building, the new home Benefits coordinators provide
of Fort Campbell's Survivor expertise on local, state and federal
Outreach Services program, offers a benefits. Working with casualty
haven for about 1,000 Gold Star assistance officers, they help
family members throughout Tennes- surviving families apply for bene-
see and in much of Kentucky. It's fits they're entitled to. Financial
being equipped as a "home away counselors help them through
Gold Star Mother Sheila Patton, senior advisor investment and estate planning.
from home," with a kitchen and for the Survivor Outreach Services program at
dining room, computer room, play Fort Campbell, Ky., left, lights the a memorial Support coordinators provide long-
area for children, a game room for candle with assistance from Loreta Guzman, term support, facilitating support
teenagers and on-site child-care SOS financial counselor, during a candlelight groups, providing life skills educa-
services. vigil at the post's McAuliffe Hall. SOS hosted tion and connecting survivors with
A Hall of Remembrance the ceremony to honor mothers who have lost a counseling resources.
being built within the facility will child serving in the armed forces. U.S. Army "This should be a one-stop
honor the fallen servicemembers photo by Megan Locke shop for our families, where they
who have brought these families (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high- can access all the resources
resolution image available. available to help them through a
together. Each family will contribute
a photograph of their loved one to be difficult time," Yates said.
displayed in the hall. Suzy Yates, interim Survivor Meanwhile, the SOS program also offers what
Outreach Services program manager, said the idea is to Yates said is often the most-valued support service of all:
make families feel comfortable and welcomed as they tap a community of families who share the same sense of
loss. "They want to know they are not alone," she said.

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

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 Families take comfort in each other during a host
of activities organized through SOS, from support group
sessions to candlelight vigils for their loved ones to social
events that enable them to let their hair down and have
fun. "There's a sense of understanding they find in each
other that creates a very special bond," Yates said.
Sheila Patton, whose son, Army Staff Sgt. James
R. "Jimmy" Patton, died April 18 in a helicopter crash in
Tikrit, Iraq, serves as senior advisor for Fort Campbell's
SOS program. "This is long-
term, and it is much-needed,"
she said. "The staff is
phenomenal over there. They
are doing everything they can
for surviving family mem-
bers: spouses, children, par-
ents, siblings. They are reach-
ing out and trying to touch
everyone."
Yates said the
program underscores the
Army's enduring commitment
to surviving families. Fami-
lies "want to know that the
Army is not going to forget
them," she said.
"And that is what the Survivor Outreach Services
program was put in place to do: stay in contact with fami-
lies and let them know, 'Your soldier paid the ultimate
sacrifice, and the Army is not going to forget your fami-
ly,'" she added. "We will always take care of you. And
there will always be a place for you to go."
In October, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W.
Casey Jr. emphasized that point to surviving family
members attending the Association of the U.S. Army's
Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington. "You
need to know that your loved one's sacrifice is both recog-
nized and appreciated and won't be forgotten," he said.
For Mary Byers, whose son, Army Capt. Joshua
Byers, was killed July 23, 2003, by a roadside bomb as he
convoyed from Ramadi to Fallujah in Iraq, the SOS
program offers a connection to the military she'd thought
was lost. Her son, who was assigned to Headquarters
Troop, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment,
based at Fort Carson, Colo., was married, which essential-
ly cut his mother and father out of the military's infor-
mation and support chain.
"We felt like the military had deserted us," Byers
said. She noted that the military has made amends, now
assigning casualty assistance officers to parents of mar-
ried soldiers and keeping them in the information loop.
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
Byers, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., said she was
thrilled when Fort Campbell's new SOS program reached
out to her and her husband. The staff helped them get
passes to drive onto the post without having to check into
the visitor's center every time they attend an SOS func-
tion, offered financial planning services, and introduced
them to other Gold Star families.
Now Byers attends as many SOS events as possi-
ble, and enjoys getting phone calls and friendly e-mails
from the SOS staff to check
in on her and see if there's
anything they can do to help.
"It means a lot to me to know
that somebody cares," she
said. "This connection really
means a lot."
Casey noted at the
AUSA convention that the
SOS program is still in its
infancy and will continue to
develop to meet family mem-
bers' needs. Recognizing that
"grieving is a very individual
process," he said, noting
there's no "cookie-cutter solu-
tion" that works for everyone.
Families served through SOS are at different
phases of the grieving process, Yates noted. Some are
brought to the SOS office by their casualty assistance
officer, the pain of their loved one's funeral still fresh in
their minds.
As Fort Campbell's SOS staff makes contact with
families of the fallen in their geographic area –- regardless
of what service their loved one served in and whether or
not the death was combat related -- Yates said she has
been surprised to hear from widows dating back to the
Vietnam era.
Although the program was initiated to serve fami-
lies who have lost a servicemember since 9/11, "we do not
turn any surviving family member away," she said. Simi-
larly, there's no definitive amount of time that families
will want to remain connected to the SOS program, Yates
added.
"The surviving family determines how much or
how little contact they have," she said. "As they go
through the grieving process, it's all up to them. We will
always be there for them, as little or as much as they
want. We will be there today, tomorrow, 10 years from
now. Whenever they want assistance, we are here for
them."
24
Additional Benefits for Active Duty
Time Served: DD FORM 214-SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFIT
From: Social Security Administration (SSA)
Please share this with
anyone who's had active duty
service between January 1957
to December 31, 2001 and
planning for retirement.
In a nutshell it boils
down to this: You qualify for a
higher social security payment
because of Military service,
for active duty any time from
1957 through 2001 (the program was done away with 1
January 2002). Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit
credited at time of application - which can make a sub-
stantial difference in social security monthly payments
upon your retirement. You must bring your DD-214 to
the Social Security Office and you must ask for this ben-
efit to receive it!
Social Security website: http://www.ssa.gov/
retire2/military.htm This is something to put in your files
for when you apply for Social Security down the road...
It is NOT just for retirees, BUT anyone who has served
on active duty between January1957 to December 31,
2001. FYI - this benefit is not automatic, you must ask
for it!
From: Patricia Webb- Correction:
It is automatically applied for duty from 1968
forward. Duty prior to 1968 must be applied for.
To request a copy of a DD-214 visit
www.vetrec.archives.gov.
Freedom is never more than one generation
away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected,
and handed on for them to do the same.
~Ronald Reagan
We would like to express our appreciation to all of
the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate‘s committee.
520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
Staff
Coordinator- Matthew X. Hauser (mhauser@migop.org)
Writers-Larry Harr Msgt USAF Retired
Denny Gillem Lt. Col., US Army, Retired
Claude McManus Command Master Chief
(Surface Warfare), USN, Retired
Sean M. Furr Specialist 4, US Army Veteran
Sherry Swann-Secretary of Fort Custer Advisory
Committee and Event Coordinator
Sam Cottle-Michigan State Captain Patriot
Guard Riders
Sandra Eggers-Family Service Counselor Oak-
land Hills Memorial Park
Gary Lillie, MCB3, Chu Lai, RVN '66
Phil Smith-Director/Chief Vietnam Veterans of
America, Veterans Benefits and
Rehabilitation, State Council of MI
Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Mas-
ter Sergeant USAF (Retired)
John Arend, SGT, USMC
John Nagle, USAAF
Maureen VanHooser, Navy (SeaBee) Veteran
Mom and wife.
Don Alsbro, COL, US Army (ret), President of
Lest We Forget
Publisher- Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Ret, ANG
Old Warrior Camp
From: Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Retired, ANG
This Hunting Camp was built by a retired Ma-
rine First Sergeant with the primary purpose of facili-
tating the ―Wounded Warriors‖ as they begin their
Journey back to Civilian Life. The First Sergeant is the
Commander of the Disabled American Veteran
(Manistique Chapter 26) He is also 100% totally disa-
bled.
There is no cost to vets…Bring a Valid Michi-
gan Hunting License and your sleeping bag. Contact
Bob Blevins at (906)-477-0025 for dates and times
available.
Lest We Forget-A Clip from Hank Fuhs Lt.
Col., USAF, Ret, ANG
(Just Click the Link Below)
I Fought For You
25
 Stand Up For Veterans-They Stood Up For US
-The DAV

WARNING TO ALL VETERANS Way Out West MANG Luncheon

Forwarded by Kevin Secor, VSO Liaison, Office of the From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Mas-
Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. ter Sergeant USAF (Retired)
An organization called Veterans Affairs Ser- The Way Out West MANG Luncheon will be
vices (VAS) is providing benefit and general information held 1:00 PM February 9th,
on VA and gathering personal information on veter- at the Great China Super Buffet (formerly HomeTown
ans. This organization is not affiliated with VA in any Buffet), 1501 West
way. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, AZ.
http://www.vaservices.org/us/index.html The lunch, including tax, drink and gratuity
VAS may be gaining access to military personnel will be $10 per person. Payment
through their close resemblance to the VA name and can be made at the luncheon or checks mailed to AL
seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate Larson, PO Box 80799,
with DoD to inform military installations, particularly Phoenix, AZ 85060.
mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affilia- Please RSVP to AL at aelarson7@cox.net or Lori
tion or endorsement by VA to provide any services. Cripps at crippsaz@cox.net by February 1st.
In addition, GC requests that if you have any ex-
amples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38
United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting
veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for
benefits, please pass any additional information to
Mr.Daugherty at the address below.
More Info-Michael G. Daugherty Staff Attorney-
Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Coun-
sel (022G2) 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC
20420

We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States
Military. Thank you for your service to this county.

In Closing
Happy Thanksgiving to all and thank you for your service to our country. It is truly the men
and women like you who make this nation great, and we must never forget that. We hope everyone
had a good Veterans Day and took time to remember the sacrifices of those brave men and women.
Thank you to everyone for all the help you have given us so far. We have been able to reach
more people with your help. Compared to when we first started, the amount of input and ideas we
received has increased greatly. For that we are very thankful. If you have anything you would like to
share, any questions, or have an article idea, please let me know. You can contact me anytime at
mhauser@migop.org

Sincerely,
If you don‘t want to receive these emails or wish to be removed
Matthew X. Hauser from the list please reply remove to mhauser@migop.org

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520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933