James 'Jim' Hoffman
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Alert Alert Alert: Gulf War Veterans Need to know big meetings coming outside of DC

by Denise Nichols

VA Gulf War illness Research Advisory Committee will meet in DALLAS Feb 23-24 then June 29-30 Boston and Nov2-3 in DC.  2009 meetings of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses are currently planned for the following dates and locations:

• February 23-24, 2009, Dallas, TX

• June 29-30, 2009, Boston, MA

• November 2-3, 2009, Washington, D.C.

Additional information will be posted here as the meeting dates approach.  The most recent Committee meeting was held November 17, 2008, in Washington, D.C.  Click here for the meeting agenda. 

Committee meetings are open to the public and include time reserved for public comments.  A sign-up sheet for five-minute comments will be available at the meeting.  Members of the public who speak are invited to submit a 1-2 page summary of their comments at the time of the meeting for inclusion in the official meeting record.  Individuals do not need to reregister to attend or speak at the meeting.  However, when meetings are held at VA headquarters or facilities, all attendees will be required to check in and show valid ID at the security desk.

The Committee welcomes suggestions and information from veterans, physicians, scientists, and members of the general public regarding its mission.

VA Gulf War Veterans Advisory Committee  http://www1.va.gov/gulfwaradvisorycommittee/ will meet
February 18-19  in Decatur Georgia and then  March 18-19 in Waco Tx and April in DC
April 7 - 9, 2009 - Washington, DC (venue TBD)

• Laura O'Shea, Designated Federal Officer, Laura.O'shea@va.gov

• Lelia Jackson, Alternate Designated Federal Officer, Lelia.jackson@va.gov

WE need every gulf war veteran and their families notified of these meetings!  There is need for Public Comment from them! They need to write a summary include; Name, Former Rank, Unit, Location in Theater, When and what symptoms occurred, When and What happened when they went to VA for help, How was their VA Claims handled, Where did they turn next to get help, What their health is right now and problems that the spouse and family have had.

This is your chance gulf war veterans!  We have had only at most half a dozen vets show up in DC, Baltimore, Seattle.....So if you have problems now is the TIME to come forward! Have your input!  Family members too!

There is time for you to be heard ie :Public Comment and also a  panel is formed of veterans that are in that local VA system. 

Please Distribute this as much as humanly possible with posting on Websites, getting info to radio stations for PSA's, TV station, Newspapers, Churches, post on grocery store bulletin boards, to all veterans organizations post at posts and in all newsletters to veterans.  Email others to get them to spread the word to individuals they know by email or in their communities.

More Specific information on place and time schedules...go to www.va.gov and go to search on Advisory committees or email Denise Nichols at dsnurse1@yahoo.com

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TOM PHILPOTT | New GI Bill Transfer Rules Give Service Members More Control

By Tom Philpott

Service members nearing the end of their careers will find it easier than first thought to transfer new Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to their spouse or children, under Department of Defense regulations.

And service members who elect to transfer GI Bill benefits will be allowed to modify or revoke that decision at any time, thus keeping control of a benefit with an average start value estimated at $75,000 to $90,000.

Bob Clark, assistant director of accession policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, discussed the transferability feature of the new GI Bill in some depth during an April 29 phone interview.

The details should comfort many long-serving careerists — including enlisted members facing high-year tenure rules or officers facing mandatory retirement — who worried about being denied transferability because they might not meet a requirement in law to serve four additional years.

Clark said the four-year requirement will be relaxed, and for some waived entirely, for individuals near to retirement. The regulation on transferability isn't final yet because it hasn't been signed.

"We're awaiting a general counsel opinion on the (need for] publishing them in the Federal Register," Clark said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs administers all veterans' education benefits. Defense officials are only responsible for transferability policy because of the potential impact on recruiting and retention. Officials decided to confirm policy details before they officially are set because VA will to accept Post-9/11 GI Bill application on Friday May 1.

Here then are the transferability details, as explained by Clark :

ELIGIBILITY – Only members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve on or after Aug. 1, 2009, can transfer new GI Bill benefits, and only spouse or to children or to any combination thereof. Immediate family status will be confirmed through the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System.

Unused benefits, up to the full 36 months, can be transferred. "You can give 36 months to one child or one month to 36 children," Clark quipped.

To transfer benefits, members must have served a minimum of six years and commit to serving four more from date benefit transfer is approved. However, exceptions – one permanent and five temporary — will be allowed to the four-year added service requirement.

PERMANENT EXCEPTION: If a service member who already has served at least 10 years is barred by service policy or statute from serving an additional four years, because of high-year tenure rules or mandatory retirement rules, they still will be allowed to transfer GI bill benefits if they agree to serve the maximum amount of time allowed by that policy or law.

TEMPORARY EXCEPTIONS: Defense officials will allow five other waivers to the four-year requirement of additional service for categories of members nearing retirement eligibility or with retirement orders in hand.

These exceptions are to recognize, said Clark , "that we have a senior force out there who, had they had this opportunity many years ago, they probably would have selected transferability for their family members."

Granting these exceptions also help force managers, he said. Without them, the services would see thousands of retirement-eligible service members trying to stay four years longer to qualify for GI Bill transferability. That could have "a very negative impact on our force profiles," Clark said.

"So we said, 'Let's look at a way that we can phase this group out.' We developed five rules. All will sunset in 2013."

1) Members retirement eligible by Aug. 1, 2009, may transfer GI Bill benefits to an immediate family member and face no additional service requirement. "Retirement eligible" means completion of 20 years of active service or 20 qualifying years of reserve service.

2) Members with approved orders to retire on or after Aug. 1, 2009, but before July 1, 2010, will not have to serve added time to transfer benefits. This is to avoid forcing the services and members to change set retirement dates in the next year or so. Retirements set for after July 1, 2010, officials decided, could be changed with little difficulty.

3) Members who first become retirement eligible on or after Aug. 1, 2009, but before Aug. 1, 2010, will be required to serve one additional year from the date that transfer of GI Bill benefits is approved.

4) Members who become retirement eligible on or after Aug. 1, 2010, but before Aug. 1, 2011, will have to serve two additional years from the date that benefit transfer is approved.

5) Members who become retirement eligible on or after Aug. 1, 2011, but before Aug. 1, 2012, will have to serve three additional years after benefit transfer is approved.

SUSTAINED ELIGIBILITY – After transfer of benefits, spouse eligibility will not be affected by divorce, and children will stay eligible even if they marry. But the member retains ownership of the benefit and can modify or revoke transfer at any time without explanation. Also, the GI Bill benefit cannot be treated by judges as property to be shared in a divorce.

LIMITS ON USE – A spouse can use GI Bill benefits like the member. The monthly living stipend, set to match local Basic Allowance for Housing rate, won't be paid if the member is on active duty. If the member has left active duty, the spouse will be paid the living allowance. Children get the allowance whenever they use GI Bill benefits.

Also, the spouse has 15 years to use benefits after the member leaves service. Children can use only until age 26. They can start using transferred GI Bill benefits after graduating from high school or at age 18.

A spouse can use transferred benefits immediately. A child can't use GI Bill benefits until the member has served at least 10 years.

"We hope to start to accept requests for transfers in June," said Clark . "But the earliest date transfer would be approved is Aug. 1."

More information is on line at: www.defenselink. mil/home/ features/ 2009/0409_ gibill/

To comment, e-mail milupdate@aol. com; write to Military Update, P.O. Box 231111 , Centreville , VA , 20120-1111 ; or visit: militaryupdate. com.

Hal Cleveland, U.S. Navy, (Ret.)

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Kenny Marchant

Proudly Representing the 24th District of Texas
Special Bulletin: May 25, 2009

Memorial Day 2009

“Yet, we must try to honor them -- not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice.”
“Our first obligation to them and ourselves is plain enough: The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we -- in a less final, less heroic way -- be willing to give of ourselves.”
(an excerpt from the remarks of President Ronald Reagan on
Memorial Day 1982 at Arlington National Cemetery)

On this Memorial Day, we honor and remember the sacrifice of our fallen heroes. Whether near or far, they paid the ultimate price in service to our country – their lives discreetly woven into the fabric of our nation. The lesson their lives and deaths teach us has remained the same throughout our history: freedom is the gift bestowed upon those nations with individuals willing to bravely stake their claim to the unalienable rights we have been given by our Creator. I am thankful for the brave men and women who have, for over two centuries, answered the call each and every time we found our freedom perilously close to extinction. Their willingness to, in the words of President Kennedy, “pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty” is incontrovertible. No higher compliment can be paid one of our fallen. 
I am honored to represent the 24th District of Texas, and appreciate your interest in my e-newsletter.  Please contact my District or DC office with any further questions you may have or visit my website at www.marchant.house.gov. You can also become my Facebook friend here or follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RepKenMarchant.
Sincerely,
Kenny Marchant

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Dear District 54 Constituent,
  
Unprecedented events of the last few days in the Texas House of Representatives are both historic and troubling.  I will attempt to be brief but there is no way to explain these complex matters easily. 

First, there is a central issue in this controversy.  That issue is the so called "Voter ID" bill (SB 362).  Generally, most Republicans, including myself, see no problem with requiring identification in order to vote.  We require identification for cashing a check, renting a movie, and dozens of other everyday activities.  Security in voting is surely as important as renting a movie.

The opponents of "Voter ID" state that requiring identification is likely to "suppress" voting.  Their opinion is intense.  You should be aware that this is no minor matter.  Some research indicates that if voter ID were required, the Texas House would likely change 5 to 7 seats in favor of the Republicans.  With the impending Congressional Redistricting during the 82nd Texas Legislature this obviously has enormous political effect.  That effect is magnified by the almost even division in the Texas House.  Last session three House races were decided by less than 500 votes.  Regardless of how much we might hope for bipartisanship, this issue is and will remain both partisan and very important.

Secondly, I need to explain some things about the process of bill passage in the Legislature.  There are complex rules developed over the last 160 years that govern the process.  While the Senate allows filibusters (one person talking at length to avoid voting on a matter), the House Rules specifically prohibit filibusters.  It is not uncommon for a bill to be "chubbed" in the House as a means to delay a bill, but the delays are generally fairly short, at most a few short hours.  This week two new tactics have been used to essentially bring the Legislature to a halt.  The objective by the Democrat caucus was to block consideration of the Voter ID bill.  These tactics have ground the legislative process to a stand still for five days.

The first tactic was to "chub" each of the 200 bills on the "Local and Consent Calendar."  These are generally bills with little or no controversy and the entire list is usually passed in two or three hours.  The calendar being used to block the vote has now been questioned for 5 days until after midnight each day (about 65 hours of delay). 
The second tactic has been to offer an amendment, talk the maximum allowed time, and then withdraw the amendment.  That tactic was used over 30 times yesterday (over 6 hours of delay). 

Today, Representative Raymond (D-Laredo) made it clear that the delay would continue until midnight tonight, at which time Voter ID dies.  Unfortunately, hundreds of other important issues will die at the same time.  Those are issues that have received countless hours of work, research, and legislative committee time. 

I understand how passionately some House members oppose "Voter ID."  I am however troubled that an entirely new set of strategies have been developed to avoid voting on this issue which is itself about voting.  I believe in a simple concept, "vote on important issues, the majority wins."  Whenever, this principle is violated by procedural tactics I believe we loose a piece of democracy. 

The difficulty is not in the rules.  These rules have been in place for many years during both Democrat and Republican Leadership.  My concern is that this new level of tactical political maneuvers has thwarted any semblance of majority rule.  I hope you share my concern in this matter.

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From: John A Miterko, Legislative Liaison, TCVO
Subject:  HB 3613 Passes
Date:  27 May 2009

Great news for the veterans of Texas:

HB 3613: 100% Property Tax Reduction for 100% Disabled Veterans has passed the Texas House today, Wednesday, 27 May 09, at 11:40 am.  The following is a note that I received from Representative Leo Berman:

John: HB3613 was passed in the House at 11:40 this AM to the cheers and applause of all House members.  I told you it would be done and that I wasn't going home until it was done.

Leo Berman (R-Dist 6)

Representative Berman informed me that all of the House veterans were at the House microphone when the bill was passed by a vote of 145 in favor, zero opposed.  The bill passed to a standing ovation in the House.

To all veterans and veteran service organizations:  please contact your Senator and your Representative and thank them for ensuring that the number one priority bill for the veterans of Texas has passed.

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In case you haven't been paying attention these past few decades after you returned from Vietnam, the clock has been ticking.  The following are some statistics that are at once depressing yet in a larger sense should give you a huge sense of pride.

"Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, Less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran's age approximated to be 54 years old."  How does it feel to be among the last third of all the Vietnam Veterans who served in Vietnam to be alive?  I don't know about you guys, but it kind of gives me the chills.

Considering the kind of information available about the death rate of WWII and Korean War Veterans, publicized information indicates that in the last 14 years Vietnam veterans are dying at the rate of 390 deaths each day. At this rate there will be only a few of us alive in 2015.

These statistics were taken from a variety of sources to include: The VFW Magazine, the Public Information Office, and the HQ CP Forward Observer - 1st Recon April 12, 1997.

STATISTICS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN UNIFORM AND IN COUNTRY

VIETNAM VETERANS
1.  9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (Aug  5, 1964 - May 7, 1975).
2   8,744,000 GIs were on active duty during the war (Aug  5, 1964 - March 28, 1973).
3.  2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam, this number represents 9.7% of their generation.
4.  3,403,100 (Including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the broader Southeast Asia Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in Thailand and sailors in adjacent South China Sea waters).
5.  2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam (Jan. 1, 1965 - March 28, 1973). Another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964.
6. Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack.
7.  7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam.
8. Peak troop strength in Vietnam: 543,482 (April 30, 1968).

CASUALTIES

1. The first man to die in Vietnam was James Davis, in 1958. He was with the 509th Radio Research Station. Davis Station in Saigon was named for him.
2. Non-hostile deaths: 10,800
3. Total: 58,202 (Includes men formerly classified as MIA and Mayaguez casualties). Men who have subsequently died of wounds account for the changing total.
4. 8 nurses died -- 1 was KIA.                                 
5. 61% of the men killed were 21 or younger.
6. 11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old.
7. Of those killed, 17,539 were married.
8. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years
9. Enlisted: 50,274 - 22.37 years
10. Officers: 6,598 - 28.43 years
11. Warrants: 1,276 - 24.73 years
12. E1: 525 - 20.34 years
13. 11B MOS: 18,465 - 22.55 years
14. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.
15. The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
16. 2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam, 58,202 were KIA for a percentage of .0214%.
17. 303,704 were wounded: 303,704. 153,329 were hospitalized.
18. 150,375 were injured requiring no hospital care.
19. 75,000 were severely disabled. 23,214 were 100% disabled. 5,283 lost limbs. 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.
20. Amputation or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% higher than in WWII and 70% higher than Korea.
21. Multiple amputations occurred at the rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WWII.
22. Missing in Action: 2,338
23. POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity)
24. As of January 15, 2004, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

DRAFTEES VS VOLUNTEERS

1. 25% (648,500) of total forces in country were draftees.
2. 66% of U.S. armed forces members were drafted during WWII).
3. Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam.
4. Reservists killed: 5,977
5. National Guard: 6,140 served: 101 died.
6. Total draftees (1965 - 73): 1,728,344.
7. Actually served in Vietnam: 38%
8. Marine Corps Draft: 42,633.
9. Last man drafted: June 30, 1973.

RACE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND

1. 88.4% of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian; 10.6% (275,000) were black; 1% belonged to other races.
2. 86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics); 12.5% (7,241) were black; 1.2% belonged to other races.
3. 170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 (5.2% of total) died there.
4. 70% of enlisted men killed were of North-west European descent.
5. 86.8% of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were black; 1.1% belonged to other races.
6. 14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were among blacks.
7. 34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms.
8. Overall, blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population.
9. Religion of Dead: Protestant -- 64.4%; Catholic -- 28.9%; other/none -- 6.7%

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS

1. Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups.
2. Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent.
3. 76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle/working class backgrounds.
4. Three-fourths had family incomes above the poverty level; 50% were from middle income backgrounds.
5. Some 23% of Vietnam vets had fathers with professional, managerial or technical occupations.
6. 79% of the men who served in Vietnam had a high school education or better when they entered the military service.  63% of Korean War vets and only 45% of WWII vets had completed high school upon separation.
7. Deaths by region per 100,000 of population: South -- 31%, West --29.9%; Midwest -- 28.4%; Northeast -- 23.5%.

DRUG USAGE & CRIME

1. There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and
non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group.  (Source: Veterans
Administration Study)
2. Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison - only one-half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.
3. 85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life.

WINNING & LOSING

1. 82% of veterans who saw heavy combat strongly believe the war was lost because of lack of political will.
2. Nearly 75% of the public agrees it was a failure of political will, not of arms.

HONORABLE SERVICE

1. 97% of Vietnam-era veterans were honorably discharged.
2. 91% of actual Vietnam War veterans and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are proud to have served their country.
3. 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome.
4. 87% of the public now holds Vietnam veterans in high esteem.

INTERESTING CENSUS STATISTICS & THOSE TO CLAIM TO HAVE "BEEN THERE."

1.  1,713,823 of those who served in Vietnam were still alive as of August, 1995 (census figures).
2.  During that same census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to have served in-country was: 9,492,958.
3.  As of the current census taken during August, 2000, the surviving U.S. Vietnam Veteran population estimate is: 1,002,511. This is hard to believe, losing nearly 711,000 between '95 and '00. That's 390 per day.
4.  During this census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to have served in-country is: 13,853,027. By this census, FOUR OUT OF FIVE WHO CLAIM TO BE VIETNAM VETS ARE NOT.
5.  The Department of Defense Vietnam War Service Index officially provided by The War Library originally reported with errors that 2,709,918 U.S. military personnel as having served in-country.
6.  Corrections and confirmations to this erred index resulted in the addition of 358 U.S. military personnel confirmed to have served in Vietnam but not originally listed by the Department of Defense. (All names are currently on file and accessible 24/7/365).
7.  Isolated atrocities committed by American Soldiers produced torrents of outrage from anti-war critics and the news media while Communist atrocities were so common that they received hardly any media mention at all.
8.  The United States sought to minimize and prevent attacks on civilians while North Vietnam made attacks on civilians a centerpiece of its strategy.
9.  Americans who deliberately killed civilians received prison sentences while Communists who did so received commendations.
10.  From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. The death squads focused on leaders at the village level and on anyone who improved the lives of the peasants such as medical personnel, social workers, and school teachers. - Nixon Presidential Papers.

And again, thank you!

Semper Fi,

Jeffrey A. Dement
Volunteer Recruiter

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Good Morning Texas VFW Commanders,

            My Name is Matthew Powers. I work for the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin , Texas . I've provided our link that will give you some back ground as to who we are and what we do for the State of Texas . ( http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/spb/spb/museum.htm )
The reason for this email is to make all of our Texas Veterans aware that Texans have a state history Museum, who cares about our Texas Veterans. And secondly, we wanted you, and all our veterans to know that we are showing a documenmtary series, called "A Hero's Welcome."
A Hero's Welcome is a tribute to our nations decorated veterans and a small Texas town's commeration of them. We would love to have all of our VFW post veterans, come and see this Texas Spirit Theater Documentary Series. So please feel free to dissimante this information to all those interested.
 ( http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/showtimes/spirit/documentary.html )
As a veteran myself, I'd thank each and everyone of you, and your fellow VFW post members for your service to this great nation. If there is anything I can do to arrange a visit, please call me at 512-936-4650. Thank you for your time. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
 
Sincerely,
 
Matthew W. Powers | Group Sales Coordinator
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 N. Congress Avenue | Austin , Texas 78701
Toll Free: 866-369-7108 Ext. 64649 | www.tspb.state.tx.us/
www.TheStoryofTexas.com

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December 9, 2009                                                                              (512) 463-0374                                                                                                                                       Emily.Amps@house.state.tx.us

TURNER: Veterans Cash Sales Top $5.3 Million in First Month
Over $1.2 million raised to help Texas veterans in four weeks

Austin - State Representative Chris Turner announced today that sales for the Veterans Cash scratch-off ticket have topped $5.3 million since the game was launched on November 9th.  During the first four weeks of sales, $5,345,108 worth of the $2 tickets were purchased statewide. As a result, the Fund for Veterans Assistance (FVA) will be receiving over $1.2 million based on sales to date.

"I am thrilled to see that the initial veterans lottery game is off to such a great start," said Turner.  "With so many men and women returning from service in Afghanistan and Iraq joining the ranks of the 1.7 million veterans in Texas, organizations that provide aid to veterans need resources now more than ever," he continued.  Turner authored and passed legislation in the House to create the dedicated lottery game to benefit the FVA. 

"In this season of sharing and helping those less fortunate among us, the people of Texas have proven once again that they support our active duty military, our veterans, and their families by participating in the veterans scratch-off lottery ticket program.  The money that will go into the Permanent Fund for Veterans Assistance will provide much-needed help for our disabled veteran population, and will go a long way in easing their burdens into the foreseeable future," said John Miterko, Legislative Liaison, Texas Coalition of Veteran Organizations.

The FVA was created by the Texas Legislature in 2007 to provide aid to veterans and their families in need. However, the FVA was not funded by the Legislature until the lottery game was created this year. With the revenue from the Veterans Cash scratch-off tickets, the FVA will be able to provide grants to organizations who help veterans and their families who are in need of services, such as transportation to and from VA hospitals and clinics, job placement services and treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Twenty-three (23) percent of the sales of the Veterans Cash ticket go to the FVA. The remaining goes to prizes paid out (65%), administration (7%) and retailers commissions (5%). The Texas Lottery Commission has projected that the veterans lottery game will raise up to $9 million annually for the FVA. 

For his efforts on veterans issues and the creation of the veterans lottery game, Turner was named "Freshman of the Year" by the bipartisan Veterans Caucus and received the Leadership Award from the Texas Veterans Commission. 

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