Vietnam Veterans of America honored 19 forgotten veterans

Vietnam Veterans honor forgotten, unclaimed remains with special ceremony at Fort Logan Cemetery

The Denver Channel 
Lance Hernandez 
Jun 23, 2017

DENVER – The Colorado Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America honored 19 forgotten veterans with a solemn ceremony at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

They were honors that the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines had earned, but never received.

“Our guiding principal was and is that never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another,” said Lt. Col. David Steiner, USAF (Retired)

Chapter member Jim Topkoff said they discovered that there were literally thousands of unclaimed remains spread around the country that had never been recognized and never been given a proper military funeral.

He said members of Chapter 1071 took on the Honors Burial Program a year and a half ago, because of the way they were treated when they left the military.

read more here

Marine Vietnam Veteran Fought Back After Being Shot by Invaders

Friends Of Veteran Shot In Home Invasion Search For The Missing Shotgun

WKRG News

By Emily DeVoePublished: June 24, 2017, 

Mobile, AL (WKRG) Like looking for a needle in a haystack, friends of Michael Irving combed through the overgrown ditches on Bay Road searching for the missing shotgun used in Thursday’s home invasion.

Irving, a Vietnam veteran battling cancer., was inside his home when three suspects showed up at his back door and fired a shotgun through the window pane, striking him in the right shoulder.

“They were going to kill him, plain and simple. You don’t fire a shotgun at someone unless you mean it. But, guess what?  He’s a marine, and he came back with a vengeance. Of all people to pick on why pick on a marine?” Irving’s close friend who goes by the name, “Roadkill,” told us.

read more here

Camp Lejeune Marines Fighting Back With Paintbrush

‘They’re fighting back with the paintbrush now’: Therapy art made by Marines on display
News and Observer
BY SAM KILLENBERG
June 23, 2017

“It’s very therapeutic for them. They’re fighting back with the paintbrush now. They put the gun down, and they’re picking up the paintbrush.”Craig Bone

One of the paintings on display at the N.C. Museum of History exhibit featuring art made by Camp Lejeune Marines to help them recover from the physical and emotional scars of war. The exhibit, “Healing the Warrior’s Heart through Art,” is sponsored by the American Red Cross. Courtesy N.C. Museum of History

A lone Marine wades through chest-deep water, his gun held over his head. A helicopter kicks up dust as it takes off next to a burning building. Two Marines drag a bleeding companion up a sandy hill as a Medevac helicopter approaches.

Those images and others go on display at the N.C. Museum of History on Sunday as part of an exhibit of paintings and sculptures produced by Camp Lejeune Marines as a means of recovering from their physical and emotional scars.

The exhibit, “Healing the Warrior’s Heart through Art,” is sponsored by the American Red Cross, which directed the art therapy program. It features more than 20 paintings depicting military scenes, as well as written and video testimonials from the Marines who participated in an art therapy program at the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East based at Lejeune.

The program is led by Craig Bone, a noted wildlife artist who has worked with military personnel for eight years.

“This is how I thank them for their service – with a paintbrush,” Bone said.
read more here

POTUS Is Too Old To Not Know Better

When Does Accountability Actually Happen?
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
June 24, 2017

"Responding to an Obama-era scandal in which veterans died waiting for doctor’s appointments" is just too sickening to be funny at this point. 

President Donald Trump displays the “Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017” after signing in the East Room of the White House, Friday, June 23, 2017

Responding to an Obama-era scandal in which veterans died waiting for doctor’s appointments, Mr. Trump said the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 will “make sure that the scandal we suffered so recently never, ever happens again.”

“What happened was a national disgrace, and yet some of the employees involved remained on the payrolls,” Mr. Trump said. “Our veterans have fulfilled their duty to this nation, and now we must fulfill our duty to them.”

Gee that sounds really good and what happened with the last President was really bad. It sounds that way but it is pure political bullshit!

History has shown that none of this is new but it also proved that all the speeches about them giving a crap in the first place, have produced too little changes for the better.

Last week we had to battle to make sure that senior veterans did not get hit by the "unemployable" portion of their comp being cut. Well, veterans actually won that part because folks paid attention and fought back. The problem is, it wasn't the first time veterans had to fight for what they should have been able to count on.

Here is a little blast from the past
This is from just before the last President took the oath in 2009

Wounded Warriors in Beetlejuice altered universe

Getting benefits for post-traumatic stress, for losing flexibility, for being in the kind of shape in which you want to work but can't do what you once did — these are the kinds of injuries backlogging the system. 

"We're combating an archaic VA system," said LeJeune, who has been in contact with the state's congressional delegation about his concerns. 

Congress introduced a bill signed into law in December 2007 that increased veterans' funding to help reduce the 400,0000 backlogged claims and 177-day average wait, according to information from U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter's office. 

"It has become an adversarial system," said Shea-Porter. "It certainly isn't supposed to be that way. The frustration we're hearing is accurate. Congress is aware of it. Part of the problem is, we didn't have resources; we were forced to make these terrible unfair decisions." 

LeJeune has been fighting to get his disability rating at 100 percent. It is now at 90 percent. 

"Two-thousand seven hundred dollars a month total disability," Worrall said. "That ain't a lot to live on, (along with) Social Security. I used to make $85,000 a year on the job. I'll be fine because I've planned for retirement. My ability to make that kind of money is gone. What happens to these kids who never had a career? You're going to make them live on three grand a month?" 

That cut was nothing new. Politicians have been pulling that stunt for decades. Veterans had to fight to stop Congress from cutting $75 million from homeless veterans. Oh, almost forgot to mention that was back in 2011.

Then again, historical facts hardly ever get mentioned anymore when the press does a report that should actually matter enough for us to get the whole truth. Messy business telling the truth is. When you are up against popular folks telling you what they want you to know, they somehow manage to trip you up with nonsense.


Time for history lesson  
Am J Psychiatry 1991; 148:586-591 Copyright © 1991 by American Psychiatric Association
Suicide and guilt as manifestations of PTSD in Vietnam combat veterans
RESULTS: Nineteen of the 100 veterans had made a postservice suicide attempt, and 15 more had been preoccupied with suicide since the war. Five factors were significantly related to suicide attempts: guilt about combat actions, survivor guilt, depression, anxiety, and severe PTSD. Logistic regression analysis showed that combat guilt was the most significant predictor of both suicide attempts and preoccupation with suicide. For a significant percentage of the suicidal veterans, such disturbing combat behavior as the killing of women and children took place while they were feeling emotionally out of control because of fear or rage.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PTSD among Vietnam combat veterans emerged as a psychiatric disorder with considerable risk for suicide, and intensive combat-related guilt was found to be the most significant explanatory factor. These findings point to the need for greater clinical attention to the role of guilt in the evaluation and treatment of suicidal veterans with PTSD. http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/148/5/586


Although the link is from 1991 it applies even more now.

From Senator Akaka 2006

In addition, a March 20, 2005, article in the Los Angles Times pointed out how concerned veterans' advocates and even some VA psychiatrists are with VA's handling of PTSD services, saying VA hospitals are "flirting with disaster." The article highlighted the situation at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, specifically the Los Angeles VA hospital, which last year closed its psychiatric emergency room. A decade ago, VA hospitals in Los Angeles had rooms to treat 450 mentally ill patients each day. After a series of cutbacks and consolidations, however, the main hospital can now accommodate only 90 veterans overnight in its psychiatric wards. During the same 10-year period, the overall number of mental health patients treated by the VA Greater Los Angeles increased by about 28 percent, to 19,734 veterans in 2004. Mr. President, if this is how VA handles PTSD care for our veterans at the nation's largest VA hospital, how does that bode for the rest of the nation?

VA Cuts 2006
WASHINGTON, May 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Budget Resolution passed by both houses of Congress will result in staff reductions in every VA Medical Center at a most inauspicious time—as veterans return from the war in Iraq and as increasing numbers of veterans need care from the system, said Thomas H. Corey, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).
The impact will be significant among those returning troops who suffer from mental health issues such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), those who have sustained loss of limbs, and other serious injuries.

Military Suicide 2005
Gordon Smith: "It's a tragedy to ever lose a soldier for any cause, but it just seems extra cruel when the cause is suicide. They're defending our country, America's interests and if we can't give them mental health assistance when they're in harm's way, we're really falling down on the job."Preventing suicide is a very personal issue for Oregon Senator Gordon Smith -- his own son Garrett committed suicide. 88 active duty soldiers killed themselves in 2005, a number that was up 13% over 2003 and more than 70% over 2001.

PTSD CASES LEAP FAR BEYOND VA ESTIMATE 2006

VA officials agreed that the earlier estimate of 2,900 new cases for all of fiscal 2006 was an “underestimate.” Indeed, it was even lower than the 3,600 cases the VA diagnosed in the last three months of fiscal 2005.

VA Budget request in 2006

"This budget request indeed has glitter," Bock said. "But I am not yet sure how much of it is gold. It is a budget request that appears to table long-needed construction dollars, particularly in the area of grants for state veterans homes and leaves CARES (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services) under-funded again. It takes a $13 million bite out of VA research. It also fails to provide sufficient funds for staffing and training in the Veterans Benefits Administration to address a claims backlog fast approaching one million."

Bock said he sees the estimate of 109,000 new VA patients in 2007 from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as a step toward better forecasting. "The under-estimated number of VA patients from the ongoing war contributed mightily to the $1.5 billion budget shortfall for VA health care in 2005," Bock said. "This appears to address that." He also applauded a requested increase in mental-health-care funding, from $2.8 billion to $3.2 billion.


Wait time to process claims in 2006 145 days
Although the Bush administration expects the backlog to continue rising, its 2007 budget proposal calls for decreasing the staff that directly handles such cases - 149 fewer workers, from the current year's 6,574.

The VA has long wanted to reduce its backlog to less than 250,000 claims. But the department's most recent projections have it rising to nearly 400,000 by the end of 2007.

Those are just a few reports from my old site. You know what is on this one.


Wait time 180 days in 2008 and 69,000 veterans waited more than 30 days for an appointment.

“For the 400,000 veterans, including combat-wounded vets, who are having to wait too long to have their [health] benefits cases reviewed, this bill means over 1,800 new VA caseworkers to reduce the unacceptable delays in receiving earned benefits,” Edwards said. “For veterans with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health care issues, and lost limbs, this bill means renewed hope to rebuild their lives.”

President Bush signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 today, handing over an extra $3.7 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bush had to sign the act by Jan. 18, or VA would have lost the promised extra funding, which will be used to hire and train people to process the backlog of more than 600,000 benefits claims, said Dave Autry, spokesman for Disabled American Veterans. Some of the money also will go toward medical research for conditions such as traumatic brain injuries. 

That was reported on Army Times January 17, 2008 and the link is still on Wounded Times

Veterans dying waiting for care in the news

29 Patients at Marion VA January 2008 and there were more, and more, and more.

Ok, and now for accountability: Exactly when does that happen?

Hint: It won't happen until we actually pay attention enough to know when what happened and who did it first!

Senator Heller Says No to Hurting Us

Heller won't back Senate GOP health care bill 
CNN 
By Eric Bradner 
June 23, 2017

(CNN)Dean Heller on Friday became the latest Senate Republican to say he opposes the current GOP health care bill. "It's simply not the answer," the Nevada Republican said at a news conference alongside Gov. Brian Sandoval in Las Vegas. "And I'm announcing today that in this form, I simply will not support it." 

Almost immediately, the pro-Trump group America First Policies decided to launch what a source with the group says will be a major television, radio and digital ad buy against Heller -- a remarkable attack on a member of Trump's own party whose seat is endangered in 2018.

Gov. Brian SandovalSandoval specifically pointed to people who were making a little more than $16,000 per year. "These are our friends, these are our families, and these are our neighbors. ... They are living healthier and happier lives because of that decision -- I don' think that can be overstated enough." read more here

Air Force Veteran Spends 2,000 Days in a Row At Disneyland

It really is the happiest place on earth: Air force veteran, 44, breaks Disneyland attendance streak record by visiting 2,000 days in a row
Daily Mail
By Keith Griffith For Dailymail.com and Afp
22 June 2017

Jeff Reitz, 44, marked his 2,000th consecutive visit to Disneyland on Thursday
The Huntington Beach, California resident was unemployed when he started
Now he works for Veterans' Affairs department, but keeps up the habit after work

Huntington Beach, California, resident Jeff Reitz snaps a selfie with The Mad Hatter and Alice characters at Disneyland in Anaheim, on Thursday, during his 2,000th visit to the park

Disney is used to adoring fans but one man has topped them all, visiting its California theme park 2,000 days in a row.

Jeff Reitz marked the milestone on Thursday, using his Disneyland Resort annual pass which has enabled his trek to the Anaheim, Californina park on a daily basis since January 1, 2012.

Reitz, a 44-year-old Air Force veteran, was unemployed when he began making the daily trek to boost his spirits, and now fits in his weekday visits after work hours because he has a job at the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

'It was something to do to keep things fun,' Reitz told the Orange County Register.
read more here

Vietnam Veteran Nabs "Dead" Contractor

Lawsuit: Florida contractor fakes death to dodge angry homeowners
Tampa Bay Times
Mark Puente
Times Staff Writer
June 23, 2017

SEMINOLE — For weeks, Glenn Holland, 67, crawled out of bed before the sun rose to look for a dead man.

Glenn and Judith Holland at Morton Plant Hospital, where she is undergoing radiation treatment for cancer. Last year the couple said they paid a contractor thousands of dollars to renovate their future retirement home in Seminole. But when they tried to move in on Dec. 14, they said the home was in shambles and uninhabitable. They sent a text message to contractor Marc Anthony Perez at 12:36 p.m. looking for answers. Fourteen minutes later, they got back this text: "This is Marc's daughter, dad passed away on the 7th of December in a car accident. Sorry." Turns out Perez was still alive. Now the Hollands are suing him in Pinellas-Pasco circuit court. [LARA CERRI | Times]

The retiree and Vietnam veteran spent several weeks on stakeout in his Ford F-150. Under the cover of darkness, he waited outside the home of a man he was told had died in a car crash.

For weeks, neither the Corvette, Hummer or pick-up truck in the driveway moved.

Holland nearly gave up. He waited one last time. It was 4 a.m. on a Friday in March.

Four hours later, the deceased walked outside and jumped into the truck.

Adrenaline shot through Holland. His heart started pounding. His mind raced:

Could Marc Anthony Perez be alive?

He was. The contractor who Holland said ripped him off, then faked his own death to get out of paying him back for a botched renovation, who left Holland and his cancer-stricken wife with nowhere to live, was still among the living.
read more here

More Upcoming Veterans Events for Central Florida

Upcoming Veterans Events

From Cathy Haynes

The Veterans of Foreign Wars State Convention – Thurs. June 22 – Sun. June 25– The Florida  Department holds its annual event at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, 6677 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando.  Vendors of patriotic items will be available.  

Home At Last dedication – Sat. June 24 – Sgt. Seann Windfield, USMC Ret. - Sat. June 24 - Flag Raising at 10:00 AM and Dedication at 11:00 AM. Dedication will be held at the West Orange Baptist Church at Tubbs Street.

Capt. Elmer Rivera, USAF Ret. - Sat. July 1 - Flag Raising at 9:00 AM and Dedication at 10:00 AM. Dedication will be held at Speer Park in Oakland.

Home At Last builds special disability-friendly, mortgage-free homes in West Orange County.  These are the seventh and eighth homes built for those who have served our country!

Liberty Weekend Celebration – Sat. June 24 – Free concert in the atrium of the Hyatt Airport hotel at Orlando Int’l Airport featuring the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.  Theme:  “From Sea to Shining Sea.”  7:45 pm with free airport garage parking IF you take a paper ticket- DO NOT use your electronic transponder (SunPass/EPass) but you must take the paper ticket and you will be given a paper voucher at the event.  Prior to the concert, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) will honor Navy Admiral Al Harms (ret.) with the Col. Joe Kittinger award in recognition for outstanding service and contributions to aviation.  Info:  Carolyn at 407.825.2055   

Then stay and welcome senior veterans home from an Honor Flight! (see next item)  

Greeters needed!  Honor Flights - Come Welcome them Home! – Orlando Int’l Airport –After a day spent in Washington DC, veterans of WWII, Korean War and Vietnam veterans return home thru Orlando Int’l Airport.  The nation-wide organization has three local hubs that take veterans on a single day trip to our nation’s capital where they visit the WWII, Korea, and Vietnam War Memorials, Marine Corps Iwo Jima and the Air Force Monuments, and witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.  Come welcome these former warriors home!  “Welcome Home” receptions at the airports make a difference!  Bring your flags, banners and signs! – This months’ dates are: 

·        Sat. June 24  SW#2305 from BWI  25 vets at 8:20pm (This Mission contains 10 WW2 and 15 Korean War veterans; 21 men and 4 women (3 of them from WW2).  The group’s ages range from 82 to the senior veteran with 97 yrs! 

·        Sat. Aug 19 – Info pending. 

The groups enter the Hotel end of the Airport terminal area and we greet them in front of the Starbucks - Terminal A, Airside 2 – oftentimes led from the Tram by a bagpiper.  Before leaving home to attend the homecoming, it is suggested that you check online to see if the flight is on time because there may be delays due to weather, mechanical or medical issues.  Free parking has been arranged at an off airport property – FastPark and Relax (7870 N Frontage Rd, Orlando, 32812) who has been very generous to Honor Flights with free parking and shuttles to/from the airport (Tips welcomed by drivers!) Just tell the attendant upon entering that site that you are there for the veterans/Honor Flight – they try to park us together. 

New:  Parking Vouchers WILL be available for airport garage parking from a GOAA rep. in the terminal for this event – maximum of 3 hours – BUT you have to take a PAPER ticket upon entering the airport garage.  The vouchers will NOT work if you use the SunPass/EPass transponders – we cannot credit the charge back.  Seek the GOAA rep. (or ‘Miss Liberty’) early before the veterans arrive. 

For the AM Early Birds - you can wave these veterans off in the morning no later than 5am.   They process thru Security early and quickly In Terminal A, Airside 2.  Information for more Flights will be forthcoming.  Contact Cathy Haynes for those details  407-239-8468  chaynes11629 @yahoo .com    

“How to do Business with Orange County Public Schools” – Thurs. June 29 - Info training workshop to expand your business in procurement.  Find out about the district’s minority/woman-owned and small business and veteran owned business programs.  Walk thru the new Vendor Registration process.  9am to 11am at OCPS Facilities Services, Building 101F, 6501 Magic Way, Orlando, 32809.  Info: nestaly.morales@ ocps .net  407- 317-3700 Ext. 2025021   or   aaron.smith2@ ocps .net  407- 317-3700 Ext. 2025566

FYI - If you wish to do business with the school system, you need to register with the school system.  It has a separate procurement system than the county procurement system.  Each department may have separate requirements.  FAVOB (Florida Association of Veteran Owned Business) offers some guidance on these challenges.  

Hiring event – Fri. June 30 – The Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona is hosting a Hiring event with numerous employers.  10am to 2pm, 13800 Veterans Way, 4th Floor, Orlando, 32803.  Come in business attire with your resume’s.  Hiring employers include:  Allied Barton Security Services, Miller Electrical, Walt Disney, City of Orlando, Hilton, Orlando Airport and more!  Info:  Annie Artis, (Veteran Community Employment Coordinator) VHAORLHVCES@ va .gov   ellamay.artis@ va .gov    407-646-5500 x27246 or 407-750-0350.  

The American Legion, Department of Florida – Fri. June 30 – July 2 - 99th Annual Department Convention at the World Center Marriott, Orlando, FL. Approximately 3,000 veterans will be in attendance to include spouses and family members.  Vendors of patriotic items will be available.  

Home At Last dedication – Sat. July 1 – A special disability-friendly, mortgage-free home – the eighth one - will be dedicated for Army Capt. Elmer Rivera and his family in Oakland.  He was badly injured from a mortar attack in Iraq in 2004.  The house keys will be handed over in a ceremony at Oakland Avenue Charter School cafeteria at 10am, 456 E. Oakland Ave.  HAL is a special program that builds homes for combat-wounded permanently disabled veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan war.  Info:  Dan at danster36@ centurylink .net or Gary at 321- 356-0401  cpu65@ hotmail .com  

Leu Gardens – Mon. July 3 - Free admission to the amazing 50-acre botanical oasis minutes from Downtown Orlando.  Part of their ‘Free First Mondays’ promotion.  1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando, 32803 407.246.2620  

Tuskegee Airmen exhibit – Mon. July 3 – The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center will be hosting an exhibit about The Tuskegee Airmen and their importance both in WWII and in the fight for civil rights beginning July 3 thru Sept 8.  Admission is free.  Located at 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, 32751.   Info:  407-628-0555 ext. 227.

Suggestion:  If you or a surviving local veteran served in a group that liberated some of the work camps or death camps in Europe, leave a note with your contact information.  There may be future exhibits or educational events about the liberators and the opportunity to share.  thunter@ holocaust.edu .org  

Independence Day – July 4    Information about events is lacking…..  Fly your flags at home!  

Navy Seal Team VI Memorial unveiling – Tues. July 4 – Never Forgotten Memorial hosts this event that commemorates the 30 members of that unit who were killed in a helicopter crash in 2011.  Beginning at 12noon, The Girl Scout Citrus Council will sing "God Bless America" to our flag that will be escorted from The Lake Nona VA from local rider organizations.  Ceremony will include the playing of Taps and a benediction from a Navy Chaplain at the front entrance of Rock and Brews Orlando at 6897 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando, 32882.  Socializing after the ceremony inside the restaurant with discounts on food!  Info:  Dave Matthews at rememberthefallen@ davematthewsnfm .org  407-535-1728  

Fireworks at the Fountain – Tues. July 4 – The City of Orlando celebrates our nation’s freedom at Lake Eola Park with festivities beginning  at 4pm.  Activities for children, live music, and food and beverages available for purchase. The Orlando Concert Band will perform in the amphitheater.  The evening will conclude with the 40th annual fireworks display at 9:10pm.  The fireworks finale will be broadcast live on WKMG News 6.     

Florida United Numismatists (F.U.N.) – Thurs – Sat. July 6-8 – The summer F.U.N. (money) show – over 200 dealer booths of coins and paper money often include military collectibles, artifacts, political ephemera (old campaign buttons) along with jewelry and watches.  Many veterans choose hobbies amongst these items.  Numismatic-related exhibits, educational programs, Scout Programs, the Heritage Auction, and much more.  Great history items.  Kids can learn during their summer vacation!  Admission is FREE but there is convention center parking fee.  Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, Hall WA4, West Concourse. (NOTE:  The BIG national F.U.N. show with 1500+ dealers and 15,000+ collectors will NOT be held in Orlando in Jan. 2018.  Due to contract ‘challenges’ it will be in Tampa.)  

Clash on the Green – Army vs. Navy Golf Tournament – Fri. July 14 - Central Florida Navy League, a large active group composed of civilians and veterans supporting all sea services.  (USN, USMC, USCG, and Merchant Marines.) and the Sunshine Chapter of Association of Unites States Army (AUSA).  Lots of fun and good smack! Timacuan Golf & Country Club, 550 Timacuan Boulevard, Lake Mary, 32746.  8am Shotgun start.  $85 pp/ $340/team.  Corporate sponsors welcomed.  Register and Info:  www. armynavygolf.org      

National Association of Blind Veterans (NABV) Convention – Mon. - Sat. July 10-15 - Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando.   Sight impairment may be caused by injury or disease but it doesn’t stop us!  Veterans Celebration on Tues. July 13 at 9am with ALL veterans welcomed on stage.  Info:  www. nabv .org   or  president@ nabv .org    

MISCELLANEOUS:  

Help preserve Orlando Naval History! Keep important keepsakes, rudders (graduation yearbooks), guides, memorabilia and other items of general interest of Orlando Navy History from going to the landfill. 600,000+ lives were changed at the Orlando “Boot Camp.”  Each year hundreds of pieces of history are lost forever because they are thrown away. Contact Brian Warner at brian.warner@ fla-intl .com if you have items to donate.   

Wearing of Military Awards with Civilian Clothes - per Military.com - It is permissible for veterans and retirees to wear military awards on civilian clothes for gatherings of a military theme.   Retired personnel and former members of the military may wear all categories of medals on appropriate civilian clothing. This includes clothes designed for veteran and patriotic organizations. The medals may be worn on:    Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, formal occasions of ceremony, social functions of a military nature.  (Thank you for sharing, Ed Burford of the Seminole County Veterans Service Office!)  

Hand salutes – The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which took effect Jan. 28, 2008, and with other recent revisions, authorize optional hand-salutes by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel during events involving the national flag (ie: The raising, lowering or passing of the flag, during the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.)  All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.  

Military Exchange Shopping - Shopping online at the “Exchange” (formerly called the PX) online is being opened up to all who have served.  The Army, Air Force and Navy exchange will start allowing all honorably discharged veterans to shop online, (think Amazon, but only cheaper with no taxes.)   The target start date is Veterans Day, November 11, 2017 - but you must register first. Registration begins June 1, 2017.   You must call 1-844-868-8672, after June 1 to register.  SEND THIS TO ALL OF YOUR VETERAN FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.  (Thank you for sharing, Ed Burford of the Seminole County Veterans Service Office!)

(FYI - Shopping in the “bricks and mortar” stores still has the restricted rules.  The change ONLY involves ONLINE shopping.)  

United Way Offers Assistance to Veterans and Families – per Military.com | Week of June 12, 2017, United Way's Mission United program assists military veterans and their families in acclimating back to civilian life. Veterans can face challenges transitioning from active duty, and too many find themselves homeless, jobless, or unable to access treatment for substance abuse, brain injury, or other physical and mental health issues. Mission United is a free program that coordinates community services for veterans and their families, connecting them to affordable housing, job training, health care and other resources.   In Central Florida call 211 for Mission United assistance. (Thank you for sharing, Ed Burford of the Seminole County Veterans Service Office!)  

Veterans Business Initiative (VBI) - VBI is a no cost program for all Military Veterans and spouses who are seeking for employment, entrepreneurial and continuing education. The VBI classes are held beginning at 8:30am at the CFDC located at the National Entrepreneur Center, Orlando Fashion Square, 3201 E Colonial Dr A20, Orlando, 32803. Info:  Rogue Gallart   rogue@ nationalec .org   407-420-4875.    

Business Incubation Program for Entrepreneurs – Univ. of Central FL offersassistance with the many aspects of starting or advancing businesses, including veteran owned businesses.  Expert advice, mentoring, and classes available –  See  incubator.ucf .edu/   for more information and enrollment.  A wide variety of class topics are offered on various dates and locations - held in Apopka, Winter Springs and Kissimmee.  This is a must if you want to start or grow a business.  Info:  michael.weiss@ ucf .edu  

It’s Hurricane Season and we are overdue…. Whether you are on the Special Needs Registry or not, your county may offer helpful services, such as access to a special needs shelter or transportation from your home to a shelter. Ask your county's Emergency Management Division representative for details. Are there seniors - especially veterans - in your neighborhood?  Please assist them with preparedness for any disaster – natural or man-made.   Info:   www. floridadisaster.org  

Tennis is an excellent way to stay physically fit and mentally sharp. Disabled Veterans and wounded, ill and injured service members are invited to participate in a 8-week program designed to help Veterans and Service Men and Women reconnect with everyday activities. All veterans are welcome at no cost – as in FREE! Please bring valid military ID, VA ID or DD 214 on the first day of program. Mondays thru July 31, 6pm – 7pm.   10000 USTA Blvd., Orlando, 32827.  Info:  844- 872-8667  

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED – Wall of Faces - This is a project to collect photographs of all the persons whose names are engraved on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC.  There are currently 24 heroes from Central Florida area (265 in all of Florida) who have no photographs.  Help us locate one/some so that picture can accompany a name in the future Wall of Faces in the Vietnam Wall museum.  They are:

*  Eugene Brown of Apopka;   *  Gerald K. Brown of Maitland;  *  Cary Craddock of Orlando;   *  Joe A. Crutcher of Winter Park;   *  William J. Deuerling of New Smyrna Beach;   *  Michael G. Dinkins of Titusville;   *  Randolph Eubanks of Cocoa;   *  Tennis C. Ferrell of Orlando;  *  Charlie Fields of Winter Garden;   *  Robert L. Harter of Palm Bay;  *   Sam Holmes Jr. of Sanford;   *  Elijah Ingram of Cocoa;   *  Eugene H. McKay III of Orlando;   *  Charles Miller of Daytona;   *  Daniel R. Partin of Christmas;   *  Nathan E. Peacock Jr of Winter Garden;   *  Paul M. Roberts of Melbourne Beach;   *  Robert E. Thornton of Brevard;   *  Malcolm R. True Jr of Cocoa;   *  David Welch of Oakland;   *  Maurice T. Williams of Ocala;   *  Robert C. Williams of Orlando;   *  Joseph Woodard of Winter Park; and  *  Roger L. Young of Cocoa.

Help us locate their families and friends!  

Veterans in crisis – For you or someone you know.  Suicide is a medical emergency.  If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, know that you are not alone and care should be sought immediately by calling 911.  Free, confidential resources are instantly available through the Military Crisis Line to aid you if you are in crisis. 

Call 800-273-8255 and press 1,  

OR chat online now for 24/7 access to trained counselors who understand what service members and military families are coping with.  Website at  veteranscrisisline 

OR:  text 838255  for 24/7 confidential assistance. 

They are there because they care….  

Camaraderie Foundation in Central Florida provides resources for private and confidential Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) counseling for Post 9/11 veterans/warriors and their families.  They also have connections in other areas, other states.  It works.  It HAS saved lives, saved marriages and saved families.  camaraderiefoundation .org   Contact 407-841-0071        

Caring and sharing,  

Cathy Haynes

Member/supporter of numerous veteran and military organizations in Central FL

407-239-8468

chaynes11629@ yahoo .com

Vietnam Veterans: Finally Justice After Burch Pleads Guilty

Head of Vietnam veteran charity pleads guilty to embezzling $150,000
Washington Post
By Justin Wm. Moyer
June 21

The former head of D.C. charity meant to benefit Vietnam veterans pleaded guilty to wire fraud after embezzling about $150,000, federal prosecutors said.

John Thomas Burch, 75, of Alexandria was the president of the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation until last year, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia said in a statement. 

He misappropriated about $150,000 of donations marked for veterans’ family members with small children in poverty, the statement said, giving the money to women he was involved with and claiming reimbursements for visits to clubs, meals and hotel stays that were not related to the charity.
read more here

FINALLY!

Iraq Marine Veteran Became Police Officer...After Amputation

Marine veteran amputee to become Chula Vista police officer
FOX 5 San Diego
BY SALVADOR RIVERA
JUNE 21, 2017

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Chris Lawrence is about to realize his dream of becoming a police officer. He's been hired by the Chula Vista Police Department.

His journey has been long and painful.

At 20 years of age, he found himself in Iraq serving with fellow Marines. An improvised explosive device was set off as he crossed a bridge, critically damaging his feet and left arm.

It would be months before he started walking again, but when he did, his right leg wasn't responding and was ultimately amputated.

"I always looked up to them and thought about becoming an officer after I got out of the Marine Corps, that's something I would do," Lawrence said.
read more here