Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 . __ . . -*- N A M V E T -*- ____/ \_ . . ( * \ . . G. Joseph Peck \ Quangtri . . Managing Editor \_/\ \_ Hue . . \_Ashau Phu Bai . . Todd C. Looney - Chief, Emeritus \_* \_ . . \ * ) . . Jerry Hindle _/ Danang . . Distribution Manager ( \_*Chu Lai . . \_ ------- \__ . . Section Editors \_ I Corps \ . . --------------- \ ------- ! . . PTSD: Kathleen Kelly, Ph.D. /\_____ ! . . AGENT ORANGE: Martin H. Kroll, Sr. / ! \ . . MIA-POW: Rick Stolz ! !___ \ . . Glenn Toothman ! \/\____! . . HOMELESSNESS: Lefty Frizzell ! ! . . FEDERAL BENEFITS: Jim Hildwine / Dak To ! . . INCARCERATED VETS: Todd C. Looney / * / . . Joyce Flory ! \_ . . MEMORIALS: Aaron Schmiedel ! Phu Cat\ . . MEMORIES: G. Joseph Peck \ * * ) . . CHAPLAIN: Rev. Ed Brant \ Pleiku ) . . -**- N A M V E T -**- \ \ . . / / . . "In the jungles of 'Nam, some of us ( -------- ! . . were scared and wary, but we pulled _\ II Corps ! . . one another along and were able / -------- \ . . to depend on each other. That has \ \ . . never changed. Today, free of the ! * / . . criticisms and misunderstandings _/ Nhatrang / . . many veterans have endured, _/ / . . NAM VET is a shining beacon, __/ ! . . a ray of hope, and a _ __/ \ ! . . reminder that the _____( )/ ! Camranh Bay . . lessons learned / !__ ! . . at such a high / \ / . . price shall not \ Bien Hoa \ / . . be forgotten - ! Chu Chi * \ __/ . . nor the errors \_ * --------- \ ___/ . . repeated!!!" ____ \ III Corps \ _/ . . / \_____) )_(_ --------- !__/ Duplication in . . ! ( ___/ any form permitted . . _____! \__ * ___/ for NONCOMMERCIAL . . ! Saigon/ purposes ONLY! . . \___ -------- / \/ . . \ IV Corps / For other use, contact: . . ) -------- / G. Joseph Peck, Managing Editor . . / ! P O Box 2056 Pittsfield, MA 01202 . . / ____/ (413) 442-1660 . . / Mekong/ . . ! Delta/ This newsletter is comprised of articles . . ! ____/ and items from individuals and other . . ! / sources. We are not responsible for the . . ! / content of this information nor are any of . . ! __/ NAM VETs contributors or Section Editors. . . \_/ gjp . . . NAM VET Newsletter Page i Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 ================================================================= T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1. EDITORIALS Conflict and growth!!! .................................. 1 Update from the Valhalla ................................ 3 New MIA-POW Section Editor Says "Hello" ................. 4 Distribution of NamVet .................................. 6 A "start" for our Incarcerated Brothers/Sisters ......... 8 Agent Orange Update .................................... 10 2. Agent Orange Vietnam Veterans to Benefit from VA Ruling .............. 12 The DVA's Orange Colored Glasses ........................ 14 Break out the Clearsil ! ............................ 17 A Veterans' Clear Window ................................ 18 Agent Orange Grant Awarded .............................. 21 3. We know THIS language Vietnam Era Glossary .................................... 22 Remember? ............................................... 30 4. Veteran Benefits & Info DVA To Study Benefit Reforms ............................ 34 VA CLAIMS PROCESSING STILL SHORTAGE-PLAGUED ............. 35 Back Pay for Veterans - Revisited ....................... 37 Questions of the VA .................................... 39 VA Still Short! ......................................... 41 Call for Increased VA Budget ............................ 42 5. Missing!!! Homecoming II Project ................................... 44 LIVE POWs reported! ..................................... 47 MIA: San Dewayne Francisco .............................. 62 MIA: James Albert Champion .............................. 63 MIA: Michael Louis Laporte ............................. 65 MIA: Timothy Roy Bodden ................................ 67 They haven't forgutten US!!! ............................ 69 6. 'Nam Today... Boat People in Hong Kong ................................ 70 Campaign Formed To End US Khmer Rouge Support ........... 75 Peace Brigades International in SE Asia ................. 78 7. Remember Them!!! Vietnam -- The Forgotten Warriors ....................... 79 Interview a Vet - Behind Bars ........................... 82 A visit or note once in awhile? ......................... 86 Bridge To Nowhere ....................................... 87 8. When the Chaplain whispers... PTSD: ANGER (FEAR, MANIPULATIVE, WITHDRAWN, NUMB) ....... 89 The Electronic Chapel ................................... 93 9. Here comes Murphy Murphy's Laws of Combat Operations ...................... 94 10. Hearts & Minds Taps .................................................... 96 Life Goes On ............................................ 97 11. Notices of Interest Veteran Amputees? ....................................... 100 USS Liberty Reunion ..................................... 101 Vet does Army CV-2 / USAF C-7 Caribou Research .......... 102 Info on Cerebral Malaria??? ............................. 104 Help for Homeless Vets? ................................. 105 Agent Orange Project for children of Vietnam Veterans ... 106 Lake County, IL Mini-Wall Schedule ...................... 107 Finally Here!!! ......................................... 108 12. Concentrated Service Veteran Service Commissioners/Directors ................. 109 Concentrated Service .................................... 111 Congressman Responds to Service Request ................. 112 13. IVVEC & NamVet - WHERE? Parameters of IVVEC and NODELIST ........................ 113 NamVet Roll Call ........................................ 118 Some Gave All... ........................................ 120 NAM VET Newsletter Page ii Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 ================================================================= E D I T O R I A L S ================================================================= Conflict and growth!!! by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 It's been a super-busy month here at VETLink #1!!! From all corners of the U.S. we've been hearing "Yes! We want NamVet!!! Please help us get it!" Well, thanks to our Distribution Manger, Jerry Hindle (a NamVet Salute and thanx for a job done well to ya, bro') and the many, many of you "out there" who are willing to call and upload it to your nearby BBS's (THANX!!!), NamVet can be found in almost every US state and in parts of Canada and Australia. We're growing -- and YOU helped us!!! It isn't only NamVet that's been growing. I finally found a job! A very-welcome paycheck is beginning to weakly roll in... 'er... roll in weekly (that's the ticket!) and maybe, just maybe, my family and I will manage to save our house/home and get a few back bills paid. Betchya I got the cleanest hands in Pittsfield, MA too... the "job" is a dishwasher's job at a local truckstop! Honest work; fun to do; helps the family; and helps ME think a little better about myself (thanx all you guys n' gals out there who said "take anything for now" ... it really has a side benefit that I never thought of!). 'Course, since my hours are 3-11pm, it does require a little readjustment for our family and it does take a tad bit of time away from VETLink #1... but the rewards are well worth it! You'll notice in this issue that we have another Section Editor (if we keep addin' Section Editors we'll soon have to do a separate page just to list them!) for our MIA-POW section: Rick Stolz. He's the SysOp of the Reunion BBS in Okauchee, Wisconsin. I've called his BBS and I'm really super-impressed with the amount of detailed work he's done to make all the MIA-POW information available to Reunion BBS users. The articles he's submitted for this month are only SAMPLES of what he's done. If ya get a few extra moments (and a few MA-BELL pennies) ya might wanna call the Reunion BBS and see what he's done. Speakin' of Section Editors... Our Agent Orange Section Editor Martin H Kroll, Sr. (see Martin... I got the middle initial write this time ) has done one outstanding job of keeping right on top of what's been happening with the Agent Orange issue - from writing about it to the highest levels of our government to grabbing the attention of a national veterans' organization. Jim Hildwine has been doing a SUPER job of getting to us all the veterans' benefit information he can come up with - and was even responsible for helping us FINALLY to get on the mailing list of the DVA's Office of Public Affairs. Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor(s) Todd Looney and Joyce Flory have also been doin' a LOT of seemingly thankless legwork to "get the word out" to Commissioners and Directors of Veterans' Affairs, veterans' groups, and anybody who has a name and address of one of our NAM VET Newsletter Page 1 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 incarcerated (we've been hearing about it all the way up here!). Our PTSD Section Editor, Kathleen Kelly, has been doin' a LOT of work tryin' to help us look at the many sides that DO exist to questions and points-of-view. NamVets Chaplain, Ed Brant, has been doin' a lot of writin' that will help our many Christian veterans. And our Memorials Section Editor, Aaron Schmiedel, has been quite busy tryin' to get some stuff up to us (I've seen your message in the IVVEC, Aaron...) Many of you that have called VETLink #1 in the past few weeks have noted that there's some changes going on there, too. MASSIVE changes!!! We're in the process of installing a newer version of our LYNX BBS (Called OSIRIS) and Berkshire Veterans' Center, Inc. (VETLink #1's sponsor) has just purchased an even newer, nicer BBS that has the capabilities of an on-line database to display infor- mation concerning MIAs, POWs, Veteran Benefits in YOUR city/state, ALL the NamVets to-date, etc. Additionally, once everything is set up and in-place, we'll hopefully be adding an on-line Vietnam Veterans Bookstore! We're still clearing up some mites that have cropped up in the mail processing section and I hope that all our downstream nodes will keep us posted if there's ANYTHING wrong at all with any of the mail they receive from us. Springtime... a time of the year when Christians commemorate Easter and the beginning of new life; when Jews celebrate their long ago escape from Egypt; when the world rejoices at deliverance from the harsh bite of winter and applauds the promise held in the new buds suddenly appearing on trees and plants, the tiny eggs found in the robin's nest, and envisions a gentle summer. Springtime in the IVVEC isn't too much different!!! 'til next month... Show a brother or sister veteran that YOU care!!! Ci'ao for Ni'ao - Joe - NAM VET Newsletter Page 2 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Update from the Valhalla By: Todd Looney NAM VETs Chief - Emeritus Vietnam Veterans Valhalla - San Jose, CA (408) 737-2402 (Mail Only) There have been numerous issues in my life during the past year which have nearly made it impossible for me to continue operating in any capacity of responsibility at all, and I would like to thank each and every one of you who have demonstrated patience beyond belief at times (and most certainly beyond anything *I* have demonstrated!). Things are slowly looking better though. For the past three months or so I have at least been able to get a system up and running for e-mail purposes, and even though that has not been entirely successful, it smoothed things out a little bit. I have a new PC being donated by Frenchy which should arrive very shortly. I have my old hard drive with the old Valhalla Opus system still installed and all (or most of) the old files which made it the service it was. I still have to pick up a monitor for it but that should not be too difficult. When that happens I'll install my old faithful USR 2400 modem so that even Joe Peck can communicate with me (grin). Hopefully that will cure most of the problems with regard to operations anyway, and we can give Joe that long deserved break he's been waiting for. I feel really badly about the way things have been during the past year or so, but there has been little I could do to prevent most of it. Thanks to a lot of therapy through both the VA's Vet Centers as well as private sources I am able to cope with life once again, and getting better every day. I really look forward to helping manage the NAM VET again and going through the trials and tribulations of making sure that each release is put together on time and with the care it deserves. Joe has, and still is, doing a spectacular job despite the issues which have been plaguing him and his family... I owe him, and many of you, a lot of thanks for standing by me when I'm sure you were wondering if there was any chance in hell for me. Ciao for Niao Todd Looney NAM VET Newsletter Page 3 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Introducing our second MIA-POW Section Editor RICK STOLZ by: Rick Stolz NAM VET MIA-POW Section Editor The Reunion BBS - Okauchee, Wisconsin (414) 567-0437 Please let me introduce myself, I'm a man of little wealth, or fame. Well that's over with. I have been asked to be Assistant Editor of NamVet's MIA/POW section. For better or worse I don't know, so here goes. Service: '66-68 Branch: Army Signal Corps VietNam 4/67 - 7/68 43rd Signal Bn Central Highlands Presently I am sysop of Reunion BBS located in Wisconsin. The Board is to assist Veterans of all Era's but since I am a Vietnam Vet that is where I have concentrated most of the resources. There would not be a Reunion BBS if it weren't for the gracious help of others. Publicly now I would like to thank them: My Wife Sue, who has not seen me off the computer for two months; Chuck Schantag of POW Network; Loren Levson; LZ Birmingham who spent time and resources helping and encouraging me in their belief of the need for the board. Also those that helped without their knowing about it: Britt Small and Festival; Chuck and Mary Howard of Project Omega; and those from HomeComing II. What we have at the Reunion BBS is primarily Databases for and about VietNam Vets. There is a Locator database that you can search for vets that you might know. It is a true database that is very fast and efficient. I am hoping in the future to be able to have access to a larger database and just act as a hub. POW/MIA database; With Biographies on over 2000 MIA/POWs. This is an official DIA records database. If someone said that they where a POW it is here. It lists people that where POW's for as little as a few hours. If they ain't here then they weren't POW's. The MIA's area lists even foreign nationals and covers all of Southeast Asia, the men lost in Cambodia, or Laos. Makes no difference. When someone says that the sightings of POW's are only people that wanted to stay there because they went AWOL, just tell them that there are only 18 officially listed as AWOL and that there have been sightings of 20 or more in one group. I will be adding a Reunions database as soon as the files are edited to Dbase. It will have over 1800 reunions that can be searched, to find out if there is a reunion planned for your unit. I expect to have it up by the middle of April. That about says it all for myself, and the board that I can think of for now. I am new to this so if there are suggestions NAM VET Newsletter Page 4 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 please feel free to submit them. The purpose of the Reunion BBS, though, is to bring our MIA/POWs home, and never forget that until they are all back, there is still unfinished business there. You where called on once to do an unpleasant job. If they would have let you do it the way you were supposed to do it and cut out all the diplomacy crap, the list of KIA, MIA, and Pow's wouldn't be so long. Now there is another job to do: to put pressure on the government to get their ass in gear to bring the MIA/POWs home, to let them know that you will not forget that there are still over 3500 reasons not to forget, and to tell them that you will never let them sweep this under the rug like they have done in the past. Traditionally we are not joiners. We have been conditioned not to jump into things. But when the chips are down there was never a doubt that you could be counted on to do the job. Now after 20+ years we are still being called on to bring our brothers and sisters home to live, or to rest in peace - the peace that we still haven't found, the peace that will heal our wounds, cleanse our souls, and allow us to again trust in our fellow man. We are a minority in this country. Why should there be any cry from the majority to bring our people home? They didn't want us when we came back alive. How can you tell someone that thinks Jane Fonda is a hero that it is important to us to see that our brothers and sisters be brought home. It must be fate that we are to fight throughout our lives, that no ground comes easy, that we must always walk point. In this month's newsletter I will try to make the faceless names more real to you by listing the names by state. If you see that there are so many from your state that didn't come back, then there might be more of an understanding, and MIA/POW might be more personal. I will also start to print Personal Biographies on one branch per issue per month. Lets hope that I wont have to print them all. 'til they come home, we aren't home yet.................... Rick%%% NAM VET Newsletter Page 5 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Distribution of NamVet By: Jerry Hindle NamVets Distribution Manager M.R.M.S. Mk VII (7:48/0.0) (7:48/0) Memphis, Tennessee I will be handling the distribution of the namvet newsletter from now on and would like to set up some sort of guidelines for its distribution to any systems wanting it. These rules are fairly simple and will not involve any great inconvience to you, nor will it cost you anything. 1st --- The NAMVET NEWSLETTER will not be restricted by politics within any network. Simply put this means that wherever it is needed it will go. If this conflicts with any nets policy concerning file distribution then all means for working out an agreement (short of modifying my system) will be attempted, however failing that I will continue to send it to anyone who wants it. 2nd --- While I am willing to send it to you I ain't rich by any means. Please be sure your system is crash mailable and will accept mail from my system which is in ALTERNET. This means that those of you running fidonet only systems will need to be sure your system accepts mail from "unlisted" systems, otherwise your end will keep hanging up on my mailer when I attempt to call. 3rd --- While HST connections are preferred, I will send to slower modems or modems like the trailblazer. If you are in a net where there is already a system set up to receive the namvet newsletter, you will be directed to that sysop for a feed. There is NO reason for me to send it to two systems in the same net no matter what the reasons. If there are 2 systems in the same net the system with the HST gets prefference as that is the faster method for me. 4th --- Overseas distribution is being thought of and will be accomodated if I can find the funds. If you are willing to poll for the newsletter and can live with "talking to" an Alternet system, then let me know and we will set it up for you. CANADA is not considered overseas, it is considered to be part of CONUS as far as the telephone is concerned and thus falls under the first three rules. 5th --- And finally if you want the newsletter and can netmail an alterent system then send netmail to 7:48/0 asking for a feed. In that message you will need to tell me the following: net/node number (complete with zone) (ie 7:48/0 or 1:123/7) I presently run fidonet and alterent nodelists and will be adding eggnet and any other "nets" I think are needed to my nodelist. YOUR NAME & VOICE NUMBER I can reach you at in the evenings what type of modem you have (name brand and speed) whether you can accept "crash mail" or not (are you a CM system) NAM VET Newsletter Page 6 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 what hours you operate in mail mode if you are NOT a CM system will your system talk to a SEADOG Mailer (ie you are NOT and FD199B or D'Bridge system without sealink protocol). If you are running either D'Bridge or FrontDoor ver 199B then I will have to try a test shot to you to see if my mailer will talk to yours before I attempt to send the full newsletter. Simple enough, I will handle the rest from here and if I need to contact you I will call you at the number you give me. Like I said I ain't rich by any means but am trying to do my bit. Please let's not go overboard with this. I can handle 20 - 30 systems each month and allow FReq's of the newsletter every day except during NMH. THX Jerry Hindle NAM VET Newsletter Page 7 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 "A Start..." Input by: Joyce Flory NAM VETs Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM (505) 523-2811 The following is an update on my progress and a copy of a letter I got from one of our incarcerated. Here's the latest on my quest for finding that illusive list of incarcerated vets. I've gotten word from Craig McLaren and am awaiting the 6th edition of his list of incarcerated vet groups. I am told this covers over 130 groups in over 39 states. When that list gets here I'll be VERY busy with my printer and probably wear out my tongue licking stamps :). I have also been in touch with George Herbert, VVA Chapter 294. I got a form letter from 4-A-MATCH and they are more visit-oriented than letter writing. I am still being shuffled around in Albany, but think I MAY be getting somewhere, at long last. I have gotten 2 letters from Whitmarsh Bailey, one of the incarcerated vets who's address I've left in my updates. He has provided 3 more names for our list. Jerry Baack #57098 Chris S. Crespin #45523 Dennis E. Prentiss #43497 Any or all may be contacted at P.O. box R (prison #) Buena Vista,Co. 81211 As always,if you have a group for me to contact or think you may have an address I could use,leave it on the Echo, at 1:305/105, or 1825 Evelyn, Las Cruces, NM 88001. I was given permission to copy the following by Whitmarsh Bailey. He says his story is typical of the other vets he is incarcerated with. "Dear Joyce Flory 3/5/90 It was a great surprise to get a letter from you. I'm very glad that some people are taking time to care about incarcerated Vietnam Vets. There are about 10 Vietnam Veterans here at this prison. I went around last night and asked all of them if they were interested but only got 3 names for you. I showed your letter and put in a pitch. Most of the guys said that they wanted to write single women,but to me it doesn't matter. A few didn't like the typed letter they said it should be more personal, which I agree. If you know anything about Vietnam Vets, it's hard for them to open up to people. I know it's hard for me. I will keep trying for you and maybe I will get a few more names for you. Here are the names: Jerry Baack #57098 Chris S. Crespin #45523 Dennis E Prentiss #43497 All have the same address,make shore that the DOC (Department of Corrections) number is on the envelope. NAM VET Newsletter Page 8 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Now a little bit about myself. Well I was in the Army and was in Vietnam in 1970 and 71 and was with the 101st and the 196th and yes I was a Grunt, that's enough of that. I'm 38 years old and was born and raised in Charleston, S.C. I was married for 16 years, but divorced now. There are 2 girls, Lori 17 and Stephane 15. Both of them are under the care of Social Services. That hurts me and I fight with the courts all the time trying for visits, pictures, reports and phone calls. I was arrested in 1986 for 2nd Degree attempted murder (16 year sentence). I was living in Rifle, Co. and was working at the Union Oil, oil shale plant in Parachute. I was a pipe welder and had been welding for about 15 years. Really it was one of the best jobs that I had ever had in my life. Plus raising the kids in a small town really helped alot. There are alot of programs here at the prison that help everybody but there aren't any programs for Vietnam Veterans. I have been diagnosed as having PTSD and get a disability for it, none of the other vets get this and have no way of getting this because there is no one to help them. Don't get me wrong we really have tried, it's just Colorado they don't care one bit. It's a shame to, because most of the vets are in prison on crimes that there crime directs from Vietnam. Drug problems, Killings everything. There are thousands of us in prisons around the country and no one is looking at us and no one even cares. We need help and the lawmakers need to take into account that the Vietnam Vet has been through alot and do make mistakes and prison isn't the answer. There are hospitals and vet groups, in and out patient treatment that would help more than being locked up. Well things that I like to do. Watch TV, sports and good movies, working in Arts and crafts where I make belt buckle and I keep my mine and hands busy and that makes the time go by faster. All of this has been hard for me, I am honored to be writing to you because I know that you care. Maybe when we get to know each other better we can exchange pictures and things like that. Even you might even be able to find an unmarried lady for me to write. New Mexico isn't that far from Colorado and you never know what might happen. You take care of yourself and that family of your. I wish you the best in life and hope to hear from you soon. I feel that we will get to be good friends. Thanks for the lift. Sincerely, Whitmarsh Bailey P.S. We should be on first name basis, everybody calls me "Whit". Thanks again, Joyce" NAM VET Newsletter Page 9 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Agent Orange Update By: Martin H. Kroll NAM VETs Agent Orange Section Editor Fort Mountain BBS - Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 (404) 695-8703 Recent announcements by the Veterans Administration and other government officials are beginning to shine a ray of hope towards Vietnam veterans who have health problems due to "service in Vietnam." Please note that I did not say due to exposure to Agent Orange. Although it has now been officially recognized that there is a link between service in Vietnam and certain cancers, the VA has fallen short of admitting that Agent Orange exposure has caused many of the Vietnam veteran's ills. It has been announced that payments will be made to veterans suffering from certain cancers and illnesses connected to duty in Vietnam. Disability classifications will be forthcoming with the possibility of some veterans receiving as much as $1500 per month and some dependents of deceased Vietnam veterans receiving up to approximately $500 per month. Based upon past actions of the government and the VA, I am curious to see just how this will be handled and the criteria for determining who will be eligible and who will not. We must recognize at this point that not everyone in government and the Department of Veterans Affairs is afraid to speak out on the issues and yes, there are some very fine people working for the cause of Vietnam veterans and their families. There are still those though that continue the battle against us and refuse to admit the harm of Agent Orange and the plight of Vietnam veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange. Since reaching middle age, many veterans have indeed become prosperous and influential and more will continue to join their ranks in the next ten to twenty years. They are being heard and are gaining support on an almost daily basis now and the time is coming when the evidence will be so overwhelming that the government will no longer be able to drag their feet on the Agent Orange issue and will be forced to take the actions that should have been taken years ago. Namely, doing whatever is necessary to provide health care and benefits for those that deserve it. The government's reluctance to admit the Agent Orange link leads me to believe that there is a lot more to the issue than meets the eye. We can not forget that Vietnam veterans were not the only ones affected by the spraying of Agent Orange. Also affected were the countless number of Vietnamese civilians who also had no choice in the matter. Then you must consider all of their children and grandchildren. If our government is finally forced into admitting that the spraying of Agent Orange was a drastic mistake and has affected the health of a nation of civilians as well as our veterans, what will the legal and moral ramifications be? We should remember also that most Vietnam veterans did get to come home to the USA after a year or so of duty but most Vietnamese civilians were stuck there in areas that had been saturated with herbicides. I think that it is obvious that the United States cannot afford to provide health care and benefits on such a scale as this. I am not certain that there would even be any legal recourse that NAM VET Newsletter Page 10 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Vietnam could seek but the thought comes to my mind when I question the reasons that our government has prolonged this issue for so long. They continue to spout "lack of scientific evidence" and "lack of conclusive proof" in light of the fact that many veterans of wars past have been justly awarded disabilities and benefits based upon much less evidence than has been presented in the Agent Orange issue. I for one do not care to sacrifice their health and continue to deny my brother and sister veterans what is justifiably and morally due them because our government made a mistake. Mistakes can be put behind us and in some cases even forgiven but not as long as there is a refusal to admit that mistake and take corrective action. To those officials that still cling to the "no scientific evidence" theory and are so certain that Agent Orange did not affect our veterans health, I have an interesting proposal. Since it is obvious that you were probably never exposed to Agent Orange I think that you would make perfect subjects for a new scientific study that would lay this issue to rest once and for all. Let us develop a viable criteria for a new "scientific study" and since you are so convinced that Agent Orange is harmless, you should then have no qualms about volunteering to be exposed to Agent Orange under controlled circumstances for a period of at least one year. We could then drag this thing out for many more years while we compare the findings of your control group with those of Vietnam veterans and even non-veteran control groups that have not been exposed. If you are willing to do this then your claims may begin to gain a little credibility. If you are not willing to do this then it is time for you to do some very serious soul searching and question your values and morals! Brother and sister veterans, we are gaining momentum and if you have not joined in voicing your opinions and demanding that justice be served now is the time to do so. I urge you to flood Congress, the Senate, the VA, and the White House with your letters stating your concerns. The fire has been smoldering for years and now it begins to get just a little hotter. I urge you, fuel the fire! Martin H. Kroll, Vietnam Veteran 1966-67 NAM VET Newsletter Page 11 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 ================================================================= A g e n t O r a n g e ================================================================= VIETNAM VETERANS TO BENEFIT FROM VA RULING Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Public Affairs - News Service Washington, DC 20420 (202) 233-2741 Input by: G. Joseph Peck NAM VETs Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Washington, Mar. 29 -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Edward J. Derwinski, following personal consultation with President Bush, today ruled that Vietnam veterans stricken with a rare form of cancer are entitled to disability payments based on their service in Vietnam. Derwinski said he determined that "there is at the present time enough information for me to give the benefit of the doubt to Vietnam veterans and direct that VA conclude that the disease non- Hodgkin's lymphoma is service-connected with duty in Vietnam." Derwinski said his decision reflects the President's personal concern for veterans whose health may have been affected by military duty. The VA Secretary acted following today's release of study results by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that showed an increased risk of the disease among veterans who served in Vietnam. The CDC reported that the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is 50 percent greater among Vietnam veterans than among veterans who served elsewhere, although it did not point to Agent Orange or any other factor as causing the elevated risk. Agent Orange was sprayed from 1965 to 1970 in Vietnam to destroy enemy crops and ground cover. Derwinski said his decision was not based solely on scientific conclusions or the lack of them. "I am exercising my authority... to make a determination that in my judgment there is enough information to give Vietnam veterans the benefit of the doubt regarding non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and its connection to service in Vietnam." Last May, Derwinski announced he would not appeal a federal court ruling that said VA's cause-and-effect standards were too strict for VA to be in compliance with a 1984 law governing dioxin and radiation claims. Dioxin is a poisonous contaminant that was found in Agent Orange and which some allege causes a variety of health problems. Using a new "significant statistical association" standard, the Veterans Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards last fall reviewed 31 studies and their relationship to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and reported that while no association could be definitively made, it could not rule out the possibility." NAM VET Newsletter Page 12 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 VA officials announced they would immediately begin to identify and re-open claims filed by veterans who served in Southeast Asia and who alleged that their development of non-Hodgkins lymphoma resulted from Agent Orange exposure. VA years ago established a policy that makes it unnecessary for veterans to prove actual exposure as long as their service record validated in-country Vietnam service. Derwinski said VA will extend as much latitude as possible to award health-care services to Vietnam veterans who believed their health was affected by Agent Orange exposure. VA has also conducted a program offering free comprehensive physical examinations to veterans. More than 230,000 have taken advantage of the program and a registry containing their addresses will be used to make follow-up contact concerning Derwinski's ruling. On May 16, the advisory committee is scheduled to review studies dealing with herbicide exposure and another group of cancers including soft-tissue sarcoma, and porphyria cutanea tarda, a non- fatal liver ailment. Subsequent meetings will address other health issues. NAM VET Newsletter Page 13 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 The DVA's Orange Colored Glasses Input By: Martin H. Kroll NAM VETs Agent Orange Section Editor Fort Mountain BBS - Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 (404) 695-8703 VETERANS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20420 March 14, 1990 Mr. Martin H. Kroll Rt. 7, Box 7702 Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 Dear Mr. Kroll, Your letter to the President regarding Agent Orange was recently referred to this office for response. You mentioned that you and a friend were speculating whether the President would personally read and reply to your letter. We have no way of knowing whether the President actually saw your correspondence. Thousands of letters are received at the White House daily. It would be impossible for the President, with all his respons- ibilities, to read more than a handful of these letters. A large volume of mail is referred to the department or agency with the experience and expertise to respond substantively to each inquiry. Letters are not referred because of any lack of interest by the President or his staff but rather to ensure that the best and most meaningful response possible is prepared. You obviously are totally convinced that Agent Orange damaged your health and caused medical problems for most, if not all, Vietnam veterans. You declared that you are "disgusted with the way our Government has handled the Agent Orange issue" presumably because our actions do not correspond with your beliefs. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) actions on this issue are based on scientific evidence. Despite what you may have heard or read, scientific investigations have not demonstrated that veterans have medical problems that were caused or worsened by exposure to Agent Orange. Notwithstanding the lack of evidence that Agent Orange has caused health problems, VA has developed a multi-faceted program to respond to the concerns expressed by many Vietnam veterans. Since 1978, we have offered a free comprehensive medical exami- nation to all Vietnam veterans who are worried about the possible long-term health effects of exposure to herbicides. This examination is provided at VA health care facilities across the Nation. More than two hundred thousand Vietnam veterans have participated in our examination program, known as the VA Agent Orange Registry. Many of the veterans participating in the examination program have questions regarding Agent Orange. Scientific research is essential to respond to these concerns. For many years, VA has NAM VET Newsletter Page 14 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 been pursuing studies, providing financial assistance for investigations by others, and reviewing and analyzing scientific literature on this subject. While some questions have been essentially answered, others persist. Studies of the possible effects of herbicides on Vietnam veterans are ongoing and will continue into the twenty-first century. We recognize that examinations and research, while of critical importance, are not enough to meet the needs of some Vietnam veterans with serious health problems. Va provides priority medical treatment to Vietnam veterans for disabilities possibly, but not necessarily, related to Agent Orange exposure. Thousands of Vietnam veterans have received necessary care under this priority program. VA also provides disability compensation to many Vietnam veterans. To be eligible for these monthly payments, a veteran must have an injury or illness that was incurred in or aggravated by military service. You urged a "massive" Agent Orange publicity campaign via television, radio, newspapers, and magazines. It is our opinion that there has been a great deal of publicity on this issue during the past decade. Unfortunately, much of the information was erroneous or misleading. VA has taken steps, where possible, to correct or clarify this misinformation. We have produced a newsletter (450,000 copies of the most recent issue were printed), a fact sheet series, several videotapes, an exhibit, several monographs, a multi-volume report of herbicide scientific literature (fourteen volumes published to date), and a non- technical language synopsis of scientific literature. In addi- tion, a number of articles by VA scientists have been published in professional journals. Notice of meetings of our advisory committees are published well in advance of the meeting dates to allow ample public participation. Enclosed are copies of our most recent newsletter, fact sheet series, and poster. While we may not be doing as much as you might like, we think that we are doing a great deal. Our public information campaign is somewhat restrained by the lack of conclusive scientific evidence linking the problems of Vietnam veterans to Agent Orange. It would be a serious disservice to Vietnam veterans if we would abruptly launch a nationwide campaign in view of the unproven dangers of Agent Orange. On the other hand, if research efforts reveal that Agent Orange is causing health problems, we would be obligated to communicate this information expeditiously. Your idea regarding providing an exemption for Vietnam veterans from a percentage of Federal income taxation is very interesting. This proposal would compensate all Vietnam veterans for "pain and suffering due to exposure to Agent Orange." Unlike the VA disability compensation program, under the plan that you propose, veterans who have no medical problems whatsoever would benefit along with those with severe disabilities. In fact, those who are the most prosperous economically and therefore pay a great deal of income tax seem to receive the greatest benefit from your proposal. Veterans who are in poor health tend to suffer financially as well. Since Congress must approve any changes in NAM VET Newsletter Page 15 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 the tax laws, you may wish to share your ideas with your Senators and your Representatives. We can certainly understand your feelings that Vietnam veterans have been shortchanged. Many people who share this view have written to us during the past few years. Please be assured that VA is doing all it can to help these veterans. Indeed, service to America's veterans and their survivors is our only mission. Sincerely yours, Lawrence B. Hobson, M.D., Ph.D. Director, Environmental Medicine Office Enclosure NAM VET Newsletter Page 16 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 _ ______ _______ __ _ _______ /\\ H M H H\\ H HHHHHHH / \\ H H H \\ H H /====\\ H HHH HHH H \\ H H / \\ H_____H H______ H \\H H ______ ______ _ __ _ ______ _______ H H H /) /\\ H\\ H H M H H H H____// / \\ H \\ H H H H H H \\ /====\\ H \\ H H HHH HHH H_____H H \\ / \\ H \\H H_____M H______ . _ . _ . . -.- . - . - . -. - . - - - - . - - - - .- - . . . - - -. - . . . . . . . -. -. . . . U S . - -. - . . . . - . . - -. - . . . - - . . -. - . .. V I E T N A M V E T E R A N . _ - - . . . _ _ _ . _-_ . - - - . - - -_- -_-xxx _ -. . - .-. - . . . . - XXXXXxxXXXXXXXXXXXx -. - .- . - . . XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-. .--. - .- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -.- - -.- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -. -. -. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx .g -. -. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX .- j. .- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . p .-. XXXXXXXX ]XXXXXXXXX ]XXXXXXXX .- - -. XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX -.- - -- XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX -- - XXXXXXXXX X'`XXX XXXXXXX Y Y XXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXXXXX X X XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXX XXXXXX XXX XX X XXX XX XX XXXX XX XXX XX XX XX XXXX XXX]XXXXXXXXXXXX XXX[ XX XX XXX XXXXXXXXXX " I t ' s o n l y t e e n a g e a c n e ! " -Robert Nimmo- NAM VET Newsletter Page 17 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 A Veterans' Clear Window By: Martin H. Kroll NAM VETs Agent Orange Section Editor Fort Mountain BBS - Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 (404) 695-8703 April 2, 1990 Martin H. Kroll, Sr. REFER TO - 10B/AO Rt. 7 Box 7702 Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 Lawrence B. Hobson, M.D., Ph.D. Director, Environmental Medicine Office Veterans Administration Department of Medicine and Surgery Washington, D.C. 20420 Dear Dr. Hobson, Thank you for your reply to my letter addressed to President Bush. I also appreciate the enclosures that were included. I understand that the President is a very busy person and letters such as mine are referred to the appropriate departments for response. You stated "Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) actions on this issue (Agent Orange) are based on scientific evidence. Despite what you may have heard or read, scientific investigations have not demonstrated that veterans have medical problems that were caused or worsened by exposure to Agent Orange." It seems to me and many Vietnam veterans that the VA's most difficult problem with completing a so called "scientific investigation" lies not with the facts of the toxicity of Agent Orange, but rather with the alleged inability to verify by military records whether or not individual veterans were exposed to Agent Orange. There has been much scientific evidence released proving the link between herbicide exposure and lymphatic cancer, and also other health problems. The National Cancer Institute and the University of Kansas report that farmers and workers exposed to herbicides are 600% more likely to contact lymphatic than people who were not exposed,(HOAR, 86). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers "any" exposure to dioxin toxic to humans, (NIOSH Bulletin # 40, 1984). "MILHAM, 82" determined that exposure to herbicides may increase the risk of several serious cancers. "SHARON RICE-GRANT,86" determined that over 30% of women Vietnam veterans who had pregnancies also had one or more mis- carriages or stillbirths. This study also revealed that "more" than 50% of the women Vietnam veterans have had a hysterectomy! The list goes on and on... and of course we are expected to believe that none of this information is based upon scientific evidence and that the Doctors and Scientists involved in these studies did not know what they were talking about. The facts are in! There is evidence to show that the chemical companies and the government knew about the potential NAM VET Newsletter Page 18 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 health hazards of dioxin as early as 1957. Nine years later the government undertook a massive spraying program in Vietnam. Military and Civilian personnel in Vietnam were exposed to dioxin and other chemicals through multiple exposure routes, e.g., inhalation and dermal exposure from spray and spraying drift; ingestion of contaminated food and water; inhalation from burning brush which would likely release dioxin by pyrolysis of 2,4,5-t; breathing and ingestion of contaminated dust; and in some cases, the use of discarded pesticide drums for stoves, heaters, showers and storage containers. I would also like to refer you to two articles in the February 1990 issue of the American Legion Magazine. "Bad Science", and "Speak No Evil". I find it abhorrent that the VA and the CDC have contradicted themselves so many times and have hidden "facts" from the public. I find it even more disgusting that the VA's Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards has established a set of criteria for judging studies that differ from the criteria used by other federal regulatory agencies such as the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, whose rules have served as models throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world! To top it all off, we now find that the committee includes a variety of experts that were hired by the industry to testify against people injured by dioxin. The committee's methods of "subtracting" four recent positive and valid studies for non- Hodgkins lymphoma and herbicides are no more than dastardly deceit and an attempt to cover up the truth! It was also your opinion that the VA has done a great deal of publicity on this issue in the past decade. As proof, you included a copy of the most recent Agent Orange newsletter of which 450,000 copies were printed. Based upon the fact that over 3,000,000 veterans served in Vietnam that would only be 1 copy for each 6 & 2/3rds veterans that served in Vietnam, with absolutely no copies left over for other interested civilians. Massive publicity? Not hardly! I am a Vietnam veteran myself and have "never" seen any of the material that you sent. I do, however, appreciate the nice poster urging Vietnam Vets to contact the nearest VA Medical Center if they are concerned about Agent Orange. It now hangs in my office and I also hung your letter right below it and highlighted in "Orange" the section where you stated that "scientific investigations have not demonstrated that veterans have medical problems that were caused or worsened by exposure to Agent Orange." Nice bit of "irony" isn't it? You stated "if research efforts reveal that Agent Orange is causing health problems, we would be obligated to 3. communicate this information expeditiously." What kind of "can of worms" would this open for the government? Obviously research efforts have revealed that Agent Orange causes health problems but yet we have no official word from the government. In light of the recent small victory by Vietnam veterans that linked Vietnam duty with lymphoma but stopped short of admitting that Agent Orange was the cause, I would like to point out that the fire is just now beginning to heat up & the battle is far from over. I would urge everyone in a position of trust and authority to uncover the truth and be done with it. Let's get on with the business of taking care of those veterans that served in Vietnam and their families. NAM VET Newsletter Page 19 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 It was interesting to note that you felt that my proposal to provide an exemption for Vietnam veterans was not quite fair to those veterans that are in poor health. It is those veterans that the VA and the government should be taking care of with no questions asked. You suggested that those veterans that are economically prosperous seem to receive the greatest benefit. Does this imply that you do not feel that prosperous veterans should be compensated for the years of rashes, illnesses, mental anguish, ruined clothing from cortisone cremes etc., and the expenses of various over the counter medications that they otherwise would not have had? You were correct though to point out that this was not your ball park and I may wish to share these ideas with my Senators and Representatives. Enclosed, you will find a copy of a letter I received from the VA dated Oct 11, 1972. I served in Vietnam in 66-67 and it was in Vietnam that I experienced my first skin problems. My medical records should attest to the fact that I had rawness of the skin after spraying of the perimeter of our camp. I was given medicated creams from the dispensary and continued to have this problem for many years mostly during the hottest part of the year. I never had a skin problem before going to Vietnam. I learned to live with this problem after never hearing from the VA although I sent in a notice of disagreement with their findings and never received the requested information pertaining to an appeal. Tests have shown that my hearing has become progressively worse over several years and I now have a sore that comes and goes on the back of my left thigh. I am concerned about Agent Orange, my own health, the well-being of my family, my brother and sister veterans, and the integrity of this great nation. Also enclosed is an ASCII Graphic that may interest you... Sincerely yours, Martin H. Kroll, Sr. Vietnam Veteran NAM VET Newsletter Page 20 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Agent Orange Grant Awarded Input by: Robert Knee -=[*] DE OPRESSO LIBER [*]=- 5th S.F. GRP. (1:105/204) Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Victims, Inc. and The Bradie Schieb Children's Fund Orlando, FL. Amount Awarded: $101,800 (9/19/89) Area of Service: Nationwide Contact Person: Frank McCarthy (800) 842-2946 Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Victims (VVAOVI) Inc., is awarded funding for a program to provide medical services, particularly corrective surgical services, for children of Vietnam Veterans born with medically correctable disabling conditions. VVAOVI will seek out such children and secure medical assessments of their conditions, and where appropriate, and in conjunction with the Brandie Schieb Children's Fund, arrange for surgical and other medical services which will enable those children to live more fully productive lives. The costs of medical services will be funded throught the AOCAP grant, with a small amount of additional funding being provided for operating the program. Duration of project: One year NAM VET Newsletter Page 21 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 ================================================================= W e k n o w T H I S l a n g u a g e ================================================================= Vietnam Era Glossary From: Vietnam Shared, 1987 Produced by: Operation Vets Haven Saranac Lake, New York Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor Vetlink #1 Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 AO: Area of Operation(s) AGENT ORANGE: (Dioxin) was a defoliant used during much of the Vietnam War that was sprayed by aircraft during Operation Ranch Hand. The purpose of this agent was to denude the jungle so that the enemy had fewer places to hide. Late in the War it was discovered that the primary ingredient of Agent Orange was a chemical known as dioxin, which has been determined to be one of the most toxic substances known to mankind. Many veterans of the war were sprayed while in-country with the stuff, only to return home later to discover that they had many symptoms of severe and oftentimes fatal illness. The military stopped using the substance, but over the years there has been found a high incidence of mortality among Vietnam Veterans, accompanied by severe physical and mental aberrations. There is also evidence that shows there is a higher incidence of birth defects and brain damage among the children of Vietnam Veterans, suggesting that the effects of this substance are passed on to succeeding generations. Class action lawsuits have been filed against the US Government and the chemical companies that produced the stuff. While a settlement has been proposed, it is most certainly not adequate to address the problem. As of this time (11/87), neither the U.S. Government nor the Veteran's Administration, nor the chemical companies are admitting liability or taking responsibility for this matter, which has let many to state that the Vietnam War continues to be a legacy for children of Vets, and as such the War is still being waged. AK-47: 7.62mm NATO Automatic Weapon used by the Viet Cong and the NVA against U.S. Armed forces and the ARVN during the Vietnam War. Mainly of Chinese manufacture, though the USSR also made them. AMERASIAN: Descendants of US military personnel and Vietnamese, often shunned and scorned by their native people. APC: Armored Personnel Carrier. A vehicle for transporting ground troops, similar in construction to a tank. ARM: Armored; as in division, or equipment such as tanks, etc. AWOL: Absent Without Official Leave. ARVN: Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South) allied to US forces. NAM VET Newsletter Page 22 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 BAT: Battalion BATT: Battery BODY BAG: A black or grey plastic bag used to collect casualty remains for the purpose of shipping to either GRC, or for shipment stateside. See: GRC. BODY COUNT: The means by which winning battles was determined, as opposed to conquering territory, or capture. The Vietnam War of Attrition. To COMMAND, success was determined on the daily body- count. BUSTING CAPS: An expression used by some troops to fire their weapons, oftentimes as a prelude to a mission or firefight. CAV: Cavalry, as in the 1st. Cav., well-known combat force in Vietnam (US) CHARLIE: Also known as Charles, VC, Gook, etc. Refers to the Viet Cong, enemy of US and ARVN forces. See: Gook. CHOPPER: see Huey CIL: Central Identification Laboratory located in Hawaii. This laboratory was set up for the purpose of identifying unrecognizable soldier remains, that were war casualties. The laboratory is still functioning under military auspices, for the purpose of identifying remains that are returned from the Vietnamese Government. See: GRC. CINCPAC: Commander in Chief Pacific CINCPACFLT: Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet CO: Commanding Officer COMUSMACV: Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam CORPSMAN: See: MEDIC CP: Command Post DEROS: Date eligible for return from overseas. DMZ: Demilitarized Zone. The area of demarcation between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, established at the Geneva Accords of 1954, that effectively divided Vietnam in two. DP: Displaced Person FB: Firebase FSB: Fire Support Base FIREFIGHT: Engaging the enemy in battle, usually at night. It could be light or heavy, depending on enemy troop strength and armament. NAM VET Newsletter Page 23 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 FREE FIRE ZONE: A place where anyone (from the US point of view) was considered the enemy and would freely be fired upon as if they were the enemy. Anything that moved could and did get killed in this zone. Politics and command level decisions determined Free Fire Zones. FNG.: F*ckin' New Guy, also "Cherry, Newbie, New Meat, etc.", usually a term of derision applied to new recruits just assigned to Vietnam, who had not learned the ropes yet. Often New Guys were assigned to POINT, if they were combat troops. Mortality was high. If the New Guy survived his first six to eight weeks, he lost his "cherry", and was considered a vet. FRAG: Fragmentation Grenade. Also, to Frag. i.e. to kill another by use of this grenade. After a time, the term came to mean the process by which one soldier (or group) would kill another, usually of higher rank, for improprietous behavior. The victim was usually an officer who, usually inexperienced, endangered the lives of his men. Other means of "justifiable" homicide also constituted fragging; so-called "Friendly Fire" situations could also have been cover-ups for fragging incidents. Fraggings were almost invariably fatal, and left little evidence. FRIENDLY FIRE: Usually an accidental situation in which US troops fired upon their own men, as a result sometimes of the orders of higher command that could not read their grid maps correctly. Inexperienced officers (Ninety Day Wonders) on more than one occasion, caused casualties because of their inexperience. The situation was by no means rare, and many men died as a result. GOOK: (Charlies, VC, NVA. see: CHARLIE) a derogatory term applied to the enemy. It was also used to describe any Vietnamese person whose loyalty was in question or who was considered less than human. GRC: Graves Registration Company, attached to the Quartermaster Corps, whose primary responsibility was to prepare dead soldiers (tag & bag) to be returned home for burial. Two major facilities existed, one in Saigon, and the other in Da Nang. This very unpopular group of men cleaned, embalmed, and identified fatal casualties and otherwise took care of details in this connection, in order that as many remains as possible were returned home to their families. GRC had access to the best professionals in the field, including but not limited to, Pathologists, Forensic Experts, Toxicologists, Identification personnel, as well as the "line embalmers". This was a very much thankless job, though the participants usually were proud of their work and had great compassion for it. Their story is one that is rarely told. GREEN BERET: See SF. GRUNT: A line soldier or Marine who "humped the boonies". Combat or field soldier. GUNSHIP: An HU1B Huey helicopter, outfitted with armament, specially designed for ground assault. HANOI HILTON: Considered the most famous, and worst, of the NAM VET Newsletter Page 24 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Prisoner of War Camps in all of Southeast Asia. HO CHI MINH TRAIL: A marvel of Vietnamese logistics. This was the main supply route by which the NVA moved men and material into the south. This route passed from the North in a southerly direction through portions of Laos and Cambodia into the tunnel complexes of South Vietnam for distribution of arms and other material to the Viet Cong already in place. Named after the founder of the People's Republic of Vietnam (North) HOOTCH: Also spelled Hooch. A dwelling. Some soldiers lived in these. Of very simplistic design, usually of materials that were found on-hand. HUEY: Helicopter manufactured by Bell Co. The mainstay of the Vietnam War, and was used extensively in practically all applications; whether for troop movements, or as gunships, or for medivac. Literally the workhorse of the jungle. See: DUSTOFF, SLICK, MEDIVAC. HQ: Headquarters IN-COUNTRY: Welcome to Vietnam! KIA: Killed in Action LAAW: Light Anti-Armour Weapon, usually used once and then disposed of. LBJ: Long Binh Jail. A place of incarceration for "naughty" military personnel. LOACH: Light observation chopper. LP: Listening Post LRRP: Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol LZ: Landing Zone. A place where a Huey or Chopper would deliver troops. The LZ might be "hot" or "cold". A hot LZ was a place in which the enemy was in control and was about to be engaged, and was extremely dangerous. Conversely, a cold LZ usually was relatively safe. Names were usually assigned to LZ, or numerical designation. MACV: Military Assistance Command Vietnam. Based in Saigon. Command operated headquarters for all operations in country. MASH: Mobile Army Surgical Hospital M-14: Common automatic rifle used primarily by the Marines. Used 7.62mm. NATO ammunition. Very accurate but heavy weapon primarily because it employed wood stock and handgrips. Very durable gun that rarely broke down in the field. M-16: Also called a Mattie Mattel gun, because of its plastic stock and handgrips, and smaller size as compared to the M-14. Originally manufactured by the Fairchild Corporation and later produced by Colt Industries. US Air Force were the first of the NAM VET Newsletter Page 25 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Services to employ the gun, with the Army following suit sometime later after the gun was modified somewhat. Compared to today's version, the "16 of the Vietnam War did tend to jam and, on more than one occasion, caused losses of life because of its mechanical problems. Yet, the gun was lighter and easier to carry, had relatively simple and fewer parts to maintain. Uses the 5.56 NATO ammunition, and was capable of single, semi-auto and fully automatic use. The gun was first developed in 1954. The gun is still used today in its upgraded versions. Civilian model is designated the AR-15, which only operated in the semiautomatic mode. The newer versions have been redesigned and the jamming problem eliminated. It is now a highly thought of weapon. MAMA-SAN: An older Vietnamese woman, usually married, and a mother, as in German, Frau; English, Mrs.. Papa-San is the male counterpart. MEDIC: Soldier trained in basic medical procedures, who was in the field to take care of wounded combat troops and who often treated minor illnesses and sometimes not so minor illnesses. Good medics were prized by the men in their outfits for the obvious reasons. There were some medics so well skilled they could (and did) perform surgery that civilian surgeons would not attempt until they were well into their surgical residency long after medical school. Navy and Marine versions were called Corpsman. Though the medics were not trained anywhere near the degree as a full physician, they were often called "Doc" by their men. MEDIVAC: A Huey or Chopper designed to evacuate wounded combat troops, or the severely ill to medical facilities in the rear or hospital ships. MIA: Missing in Action MOS: Military Occupation Specialty. NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer. NVA: North Vietnamese Army. The "regulars", and usually better trained than the VC, as well as better equipped. The enemy. OD: OD's were the green utility uniform often worn, as opposed to camouflage dress. Also olive drab. POINT: Soldiers, one or two in number, that headed or advanced in front of a column, squad, or in some cases a full company. Their duty was to "clear the way" for the safety of said column and spot and report intelligence on enemy movements in the field. Point men often were FNG's (see FNG), which is to say inexperienced. Point men would look for mines, antipersonnel devices, booby traps, and the enemy. The mortality rate was very high. You became a point man usually by appointment by the CO or your Sergeant. The appointment depended on your experience, or rather the lack of it. Some units, though, used very experienced personnel in this position. POW: Prisoner(s) of War. NAM VET Newsletter Page 26 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 PRC-25: The common radio used for communications in Vietnam. See: RTO PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A syndrome that affected Vietnam Veterans after their return stateside that manifested symptoms of flashbacks, nightmares, thought ideation, confusion, and dissociative reactions. A syndrome that is still ongoing for many vets to the present day. It fortunately has a good prognosis with proper treatment. PX: Post Exchange. REMF: Rear Echelon Motherf*cker. See: STRACK ROKA: Republic of Korea Army. Allied to US Forces. Very fierce soldiers, and very accomplished in the Art of War. Their Tiger Division became very famous. ROTATION: Servicemen were "rotated" through their tours or duty. Coming in and then leaving (after tour) was "being rotated". RPG: Rocket Propelled Grenade RTO: Radiotelephone operator. A soldier in a company or unit designated to maintain communications with proper authority by radio usually. His survival rate was poor because his antenna was highly visible and usually an easy target. 2nd lieutenants (shake & bakes, ninety day wonders) who were inexperienced often stayed too close to this soldier and wound up being a casualty himself. The model designation of the radio often was the PRC-25, or known as PRICK 25's. R & R: Rest and recreation, also known as Rape & Riot. A period of time usually 10 days to two weeks in duration where American servicemen got time out from the War. Normally, each man was entitled to one period of R & R during his tour (there were exceptions). Popular places for R & R includes Bangkok, Thailand, The Philippines, Tokyo, Honolulu, New Zealand & Australia. There was also in-country R & R in such places as Cam Rahn Bay. The goal was women, drink, and fun; and quite the dichotomy coming from a combat zone. SAM: Surface-to-Air Missile. SAPPER: A soldier with special training in explosives and mines. In the War situation, it is referred to VC and NVA personnel who were trained to infiltrate and attack American bases from within. Usually a suicide mission on the part of the enemy who utilized explosives. Sappers also came from without and invaded our perimeter. SF: Special Forces, aka: The Green Berets and Navy SEALS. These were specially trained personnel who were considered in some military quarters to be elite, by reason of their training and independence from conventional military units and lifestyle, which did not please some elements of higher echelon command. The Green Berets (so noted because of their distinctive headgear) and SEALS were trained in special guerilla insurgency and counterinsurgency techniques, linguistics, medicine, and cultural exchange. Their NAM VET Newsletter Page 27 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 medical training far exceeded that of the Medic, and they were also trained to live under just about any adverse conditions and apply infiltration techniques to achieve their missions. Oftentimes these men lived in villages with civilian personnel to train the civilians in matters of community services and in defense of those communities. Training of these men was commonly at Ft. Bragg, and under the pall of secrecy, which further annoyed the top brass. But they were goo, especially in the early days of the Vietnam War when their standards were very high. President John Kennedy had a special fondness for the Green Berets and was largely responsible for their continuation under a somewhat hostile military command structure. Kennedy encouraged them tremendously, and contributed much to their popularity with civilians, as did Barry Sadler who, in 1965-66, wrote a song called THE BALLAD OF THE GREEN BERET. The Green Berets were represented at Kennedy's funeral in November 1963. The rank status of most was that of non-commissioned officer. SHAKE & BAKES: Also called 90-day-wonders. These were officers commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants, who graduated from Officer Candidate School (OCS) or were commissioned from college. They were poorly trained, as there was a severe shortage of 2nd Lieutenants. They became "instant" officers, not given enough time for proper training. They often did not live very long, usually as a result of their inexperience, or incompetence, which sometimes caused them to be fragged by the more inexperienced combat vet. See: REMF, STRACK, FRAG, FRIENDLY FIRE. SLICK: A huey used for transporting ground troops, usually eight in number. Two M-60 machine guns were mounted on each side at the doors. SPOOK: Refers to CIA personnel and military intelligence types, who were involved in covert operations, usually in areas where the US was not supposed to be. Examples are Cambodia and Laos. Mainly they gathered intelligence, but would also conduct missions. SPOOKY: Also known as PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON. An aircraft outfitted with special guns that were capable of firing great quantities of bullets (some say in excess of 6000 rounds per minute) that were capable of hitting every square inch of ground the size of a football field in approximately one minute. STRACK: Refers to certain types of officers who were long on spit and shine, but not much on the concepts of the War or the men who fought it. These officers were not well liked because they seemed to be more concerned with military discipline and image than they were with the conditions and morale of the men of the War. Usually these officers knew very little about the actual conditions and needs of the combat or support soldier. They seemed to go out of their way to harass seasoned veterans. Great on the parade field, but that was about all. See: REMF SHORT: Term applied to a troop who was nearing the end of his tour and was about to go home. The closer that time approached the "short" man would do just about anything to avoid a war zone. Especially in the last 45 to 30 days or so. This guy could become very superstitious about anything, the closer his time came. NAM VET Newsletter Page 28 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 There are many instances where a man who was real short wound up dead, even on the day he was to rotate out. See: TOUR TDY: Temporary Duty Assignment. TDY was used extensively in the early part of the War when we were acting in an "advisory" role. Personnel in other parts of the world or stateside often were "TDY" to Vietnam when additional troops were necessary without arousing public suspicion or congressional concern. TDY was also used as a means of assigning troops or others to areas that were technically or politically off-limits, in covert operations. TOUR: A tour of duty in Vietnam lasted 12 months, and was so called. The Marines tour was 13 months, and the Air Force tour was based on flight missions. At the end of which you rotated or DEROS'd home. TUNNEL RAT: Strictly a volunteer soldier or grunt in a unit that would undertake the business of flushing out the enemy who was holed up in tunnels that were all over Vietnam, especially in the Iron Triangle Area of South Vietnam. These tunnels ran for miles and often contained caches of weapons and contained fully underground surgical and hospital facilities along with barracks and intelligence areas. The survival rate for Tunnel Rats was less than 1%. The job was considered about the most dangerous duty in the 'Nam. Oftentimes the tunnel rat would go into these places equipped only with a handgun and a flashlight. Since the Vietnamese people are of such short stature, and with underground areas so small, that the ideal tunnel rat was a man also of short stature. Big on guts though! VIETNAMIZATION: A policy devised under the administration of President Richard M. Nixon by which US Troops would gradually be withdrawn from Vietnam, turning the War effort over to the South Vietnamese Government as the gradual withdrawal took place. The policy ultimately failed as the North Vietnamese overran South Vietnam which culminated in April of 1975 with the emergency evacuation of Saigon of both military and civilian personnel, not to mention many citizens that fled the country later in boats. Thus the term Boat-people. Many of these citizens perished in their escape attempts. Those that did survive, ultimately settled in the United States. WIA: Wounded in Action XO: Executive Officer NAM VET Newsletter Page 29 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Remember from YOUR tour of Duty? Messages in VIETNAM_VETS International Echo To/From: Jim Hildwine Larry Magnello Mike Harris Lefty Frizzell From: Jim Hildwine To: All Do any of you remember any of the following during you tour with the Army 1. Getting up at O Dark Thirty for that famous morning formation in the dark.. i.e 5:30 am... (For you older folks, they don'nt do it any more) 2. Saturday moring inspections? 3. Ye old CMMI Team? (Head Hunters!, caused many a down fall of Company Commanders as well as Motor Sgt's) 4. The crap before the annual IG.. Now called the AIG.. 5. Being paid ONCE a month, and for E-3's and below in the sixties it was less then $100.00 a month (Me was 99.37 before the deductions. 6. Your very frist day in "Basic Training"? Now who can forget that day? Remember your weapons serial number.. Try you will. 7. Remember these? There not used any more.. RA, US (god love em), ER's, and last but least NG (Where is Quale?) 8. Your very frist KP? 9. Any one out there remember your "Welcome" to the 90th Replacment Bn at Long Binh? Remember the lousy chow, got even worse when you got to you new out fit. 10. Remember being an FNG? or what FTA ment (For The Army!!!!) 11. Those famous words well spoken by your favorite NCO... Yea wanna RE-UP??? 12. Day one in Nam, with only 364 to go. What a Bummer! 13. The weather girls name on AFVN TV at night... You know the one with the mini skirt...? 14. Remember what a "Star Light Scope" was? 15. Anyone remember his buddy having a "Spider Monkey"? God they were the worst>>>>>>//. 16. Does anyone remember the famous "Morning Report"... They don't em any more. Took em 30 years to find they really did't need em. 17. When "Mess Halls" were Mess Halls, and not called Dining Facilities? 18. Speaking of Food and Mess Halls remeber the following: SOS, and corned beef, and all the eggs were cooked the same. Overdone!. 19. Remeber when you could write "Free" on you letter and send it any were in the world for nothing? 20. The feeling you had when you pulled a can of "Chopped Ham and Eggs" out of the warm up pot? (Gross) (Many of them were on M-60's to help feed the belt. 21, The taste of C-ration instant Coffee... Ugh.. make that double. 22. Going to Mail call and not getting mail? 23. Being out in the boonies just waiting and talking about going back to the land of Big Px's and round door knobs, and getting NAM VET Newsletter Page 30 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 "Dear Johned"? 24. Your Very 1st Art 15? (some of us did'nt and some of us did) 25. Remember the Following: 20's were Red, Ten's were Blue, and one's were green. Ye old MPC..... the pennies, nickles, dimes etc were the real thing. 26. F&N Ginerale. Triple Ugh..... That stuff was just number 10,000. 27. The Steambath...? 28. When you found out "Slick" did'nt mean what you thought it ment. 29. The added addition to the "Body Count"? 30. Anyone remember Sgt Major of the Army "WoolRidge"... 31. Remember the famous three songs of our time in Nam. a. Leaving on a Jet Plane... You got that right. b. We gotta get out of this place... Thats for sure. c. Rain drops keep falling.... You get bet your sweet dupa on that one. 32. Getting to you new outfit, and the frist guy you meet in going home the next day, and is from your home town....! 33. The free steak dinner when you came home from Nam, and also you now had to pay taxes to Uncle sam again.? 34. Not shining your boots for one "WHOLE YEAR""""""""""""" 35. Being told when you got to Nam you had to take a drivers test? Now that is a joke.... Anyone remember those buses of theirs (RVN)? 36. Anyone remember "Silver Bullets" and the "No Sweat" Pill? 37. What "LBJ" really stood for (Long Binh Jail) Add your own to the list? Federal Benefits? Ask me!!! - Jim - From: Larry Magnello The Steel Valley BBS (1:237/500) To : Jim Hildwine Subj: Remember?:reply No.# (38) The tropical candybar that you could throw to the vietnamese and they would throw it back at you, but they would keep your empty tin cans from your sea rations... No. #(39) The FREEDOM BIRD that flew away when you landed and it dawned on you that you could not leave until you were booked on one. No.# (40) The monkeys that would jump from your head onto another head while you were smokingggg away.. No.$ (41) The first time you prayed because you were in the bush going to the bathroom squatting down and saying Oh God, please don't let me die in this position. From: Mike Harris + T.M.E. + Coos Bay, OR 503/269-1935 (1:152/18) + (8:7700/0) The NETWORK - G rated FAMILY oriented (1:129/34) To : All Subj: Jim's "Remember" list! #42 Remember the "Chicken Man" episodes? A bit of humor in a dark time. #43 Remember the Crown Royal "Tassel" being used to designate a NAM VET Newsletter Page 31 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 shorttimer? #44 Remember the P-38 races? I think we got a can of peaches down to about 7 secs. Remember the callous on your thumb from opening so many cans? #45 Remember the brilliant one liners? "A Dong saved is a Dong earned!" #46 Remember the menagerie a flags on the bases, boats, tracks, etc. Oregon, California, Nebraska, Alabama, etc. Each owner a proud young man fighting for a cause. (I still have mine with shrapnel holes in it! Oregon) #47 Remember seeing your 1st "Red Snake" coming down out of darkness on the horizon. Then later seeing "Green Snakes" coming up at you from the ground? #48 Remember Camp Alpha in Saigon? Feeling like a migrant while waiting to be processed somewhere? #49 Remember NEVER "Popping a top" in Vietnam? Better wait and see it the guys after 7/69 had pop tops! Always had the opener close! #50 Remember searching for the Conex Box that you KNEW was full of beer after the club had closed? (I tried to steal on with a forklift in Dong Tam and got caught!) #51 Remember the sweat running down all parts of your body as you waited in line for your FREEDOM BIRD to take off? No air on and Remember not feeling totally at ease until you could not longer see the coast of Vietnam? What makes me think that this numerical order will get messed up? Come on guys and gals! Let's get some more on here so we can all.. REMEMBER!!! MIKE From: Lefty Frizzell The Exec Washroom "ANet<>VetNet<>Qlink<>RIME Multinet Gate" To : Mike Harris Subj: Jim's "Remember" list! In a message of Mike Harris (1:129/34) writes: MH>#48 Remember Camp Alpha in Saigon? Feeling like a migrant MH>while waiting to be processed somewhere? Remember the guy who stole your bags at Camp Alpha? And claimed that his bag had the name "FRIZZELL" on it in letters 6 inches tall? MH>#49 Remember NEVER "Popping a top" in Vietnam? Better wait MH>and see it the guys after 7/69 had pop tops! Always had the MH>opener close! Still have my church key. My daughter looks at it as if it were a civil war musket.. (Daddy, you mean they didnt even have pop tops back then??) MH>#50 Remember searching for the Conex Box that you KNEW was MH>full of beer after the club had closed? (I tried to steal on MH>with a forklift in Dong Tam and got caught!) NAM VET Newsletter Page 32 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 MH>#51 Remember the sweat running down all parts of your body as MH>you waited in line for your FREEDOM BIRD to take off? No air MH>on and Remember not feeling totally at ease until you could MH>not longer see the coast of Vietnam? Lefty NAM VET Newsletter Page 33 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 ================================================================= V e t e r a n B e n e f i t s & I n f o ================================================================= VA STUDY BENEFIT REFORMS Input by: Jim Hildwine NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47 Shady Side, Md Washington D.C., Feb 28, - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Edward J. Derwinski said today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will soon complete work on a package of benefit reforms that would eliminate inequities and inconsistencies in eligibility criteria for VA health-care services and disability payments. Derwinski said he wanted to be sure there was no misunderstanding that VA intended to scale back current benefits. "What we are doing," Derwinski said, "is identifying those areas that by any definition are patently unfair. Our work is aimed at improving access to the health-care system and correcting numerous imbalances in eligibility criteria." Examples Derwinski provide included equalizing payment of benefits to surviving spouses of disabled veterans. In the only VA benefit program now based on a veterans military rank, current law delivers monetary benefits to surviving spouses of disabled generals and admirals nearly 1 1/2 times greater than payments go to survivors of veterans discharged at the lowest enlisted ranks. "That's an injustice and morally wrong," Derwinski said. "The system needs to be fixed." Other areas of eligibility reform being examined by a VA task force would like the payment of service-connected disability compensation directly to actual performance of military duty. Current law provides benefits for almost all disabling injuries and diseases that occur during military service, even off-duty accidents and health problems not traceable to military exposure. Also under scrutiny are restrictions VA now confronts in offering medical care to low-income veterans -- So-called Category A -- who are not eligible for outpatient care unless a physician certifies that without it hospitalization will be required. "That is an illogical and costly restriction, "Derwinski said. "We ought to be able to see that veteran regularly and help prevent the kind of problems and make hospitalization necessary." Emphasizing that the eligibility reform project was still in development stage, Derwinski said, "We are not engaged in a scheme to deprive veterans of what is rightfully theirs. Furthermore, we will ensure that any proposed changes wouldn't cut benefits to any veteran now receiving them; any increases would go into effect immediately." Derwinski said he would continue his practice of meeting with veterans organizations leaders to discuss the reforms and proposed legislative changes. NAM VET Newsletter Page 34 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 VA CLAIMS PROCESSING STILL PLAGUED BY STAFFING SHORTAGES APPLEGATE CALLS FOR PERFORMANCE TURNAROUND Input by: Jim Hildwine NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47 Shady Side, Md WASHINGTON -- File a claim and wait a minimum of three months. That is what three out of four veterans who apply for compensation benefits from the VA can expect. Further, the likelihood that an error will be made during the process continues to increase. Rep. Douglas Applegate (D-OH), during a house hearing last month on Administration budget proposals, called upon the VA to improve its productivity in claims processing and expressed doubts that current Administration proposals would result in appreciable "recovery" in the timely delivery of benefits. He links ever- lengthening delays in the consideration of veterans' applications for benefits to the sharp decline in funding for VA benefits personnel over the past decade. The latest available statistics show that only 26.7 percent of original compensation claims are being processed within 90 days, well below VA's minimum acceptable level of 35 percent. Applegate and other members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee believe that at least half of these claims should be processed within a 90-day period. At the moment, according to the VA, there are 381- thousand pending compensation and pension claims. "The only sure way to substantially reduce this backlog is for the Congress to provide sufficient funding for more warm bodies, plain and simple," said Applegate, Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Compensation, Pension and Insurance. "My concern is no way should suggest that we don't have hard-working, dedicated employees in the field ... there just aren't enough of them," he said. Since 1982, staffing levels for these employees in the VA's 58 regional offices who are responsible for processing claims for disability, death, and education benefits have fallen by 25 percent, from 4,832 to 3,664. The Administration has requested only seven additional full-time employees above the actual FY '90 level. Applegate applauded the Administration for its $32-million proposal (1 $13 million increase over FY '90) for modernization initiatives, which includes the implementation of an automated information exchange between VA's benefits and medical divisions. However, he cautioned that hardware alone is not the answer. "Over the years, modernization initiatives have been paid for with staffing cuts, and I don't believe we should permit this trend to continue," says Applegate, adding that "because of the labor intensive nature of the claims processing system, you simply cannot reach a level of automation that makes up for a lack of people." Quality too is a problem. Substantive errors in claims ratings and authorizations have increased. NAM VET Newsletter Page 35 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 "Program complexity, the difficulty of decision making and the rate of legislative change has never been greater ... our error rates have moved away from our goals in recent years," testified Raymond H. Avent, VA's Acting Chief Benefits Director. Applegate and VA officials agree that there must be increased emphasis on employee training. VA has announced plans to enhance it's training activities for new veterans claims examiners and claims it "will explore" the use of such tools as computer- assisted training, videotaping, and video conferencing. "It is a great injustice to subject a veteran to unreasonable delays or any other impediments in obtaining benefits for which he or she might be eligible for having served in this nation's Armed Forces. This injustice is especially compounded if we choose to ignore so obvious a solution -- people -- to reversing the downward performance trend in benefits assistance in our regional offices," said Applegate. NAM VET Newsletter Page 36 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 BACK PAY FOR VETERANS? From: HIRAM PEREZ Subj: Back Pay For Veterans There was a message dated 2-14-90 from Jim Hildwine concerning "Back Pay For Veterans." In it, he stated that any veteran who served on active duty between 10-1-72 and 1-1-73 may be entitled to some back pay. There were several addresses included to write to. I thought you all might be interested in the reply I received. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY U.S. ARMY FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING CENTER Indianapolis, Indiana 46249-0865 March 13, 1990 Dear Sir: Your correspondence is returned. The article upon which your claim is bases is several years out of date. Claims for the period cited in the article cannot be accepted as the statute of limitations for such claims has expired. We are trying to identify the source of the "Veterans Affairs Newsletter" mentioned in your letter so that we may advise the editors accordingly. We regret that a more favorable response cannot be made to you regarding this matter. Sincerely, Carolyn J. Shaw Claims/Inquiries Division Centralized Pay Operations ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ What I got was obviously a form letter since I've never heard of the "Veterans Affairs Newsletter" much less mentioned it in my inquiry. Although I'm very sure Mr. Hildwine posted the original message in good faith, it appears to be a blind alley. Sure hope no one was planning to retire on this windfall! From: Jim Hildwine To : HIRAM PEREZ Subj: Back Pay For Veterans Hiram, the letter for back pay was passed to me by another Veteran who is retired US Army as me. At the time I received it, I declined to send for the money as it was really not worth all the time and effort for me, as I figured even if due, it would be taxed, and would be less then forty dollars. It was also accompanied by a newspaper article with no date, plus a form to send to your local accounting office ie. Army, Navy, AF, etc... Sorry for the trouble, but it was passed to me in good faith. Will get with my buddy and ask him what the deal is .. Tks for the input.. NAM VET Newsletter Page 37 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Federal Benefits? Ask me!!! - Jim - NAM VET Newsletter Page 38 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Questions Often Asked Of The VA Input by: Jim Hildwine NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47 Shady Side, Md VA EDITOR'S NOTE: Following are representative questions answered daily by VA counselors. Full information is available at any VA office. Q... Are veterans with a service-connected disability seeking Department of Veterans Affairs medical care exempt from VA's Means Test? A... All veterans with service-connected illnesses or disabilities are provided no-cost care regardless of income. Certain other veterans also are exempt from the Means Test, including former prisoners of war, veterans exposed to radiation or herbicides, and veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Border period and World War I. Q... When a veteran is training under a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program, does the receipt of subsistence allowance cause any reduction in VA compensation payments? A... No. The veterans may receive both subsistence allowance and disability compensation to which entitled. In addition, VA will pay for the cost of tuition, books and fees involved in the rehabilitation program. Q... I have a five-year level premium term insurance plan with the Department of Veterans Affairs. I would like to convert to one of the permanent plans. Will I have to take a physical to meet certain health requirements? A... The five-year level premium term insurance plan can be converted without meeting health requirements at any time the policy is in force. However, if the veteran is totally disabled, it cannot be converted to an endowment type policy. Q... Is it possible for a veteran to be entitled to a pension and to compensation and receive both benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs? A... A veteran may be technically entitled to both benefits, but cannot be payed(sic) for more than one. Q... May I use my VA home loan benefit to purchase a house for my daughter? A... No. The home must be the principal residence of the veteran. Q... I am a divorced veteran. Can my ex-wife force me to main- tain her as my beneficiary on my VA life insurance policy? A... Under your Government Life Insurance contract, you have the right to designate or change a beneficiary at any time. You can do this without the knowledge or consent of your designated bene- ficiary or beneficiaries. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that state courts cannot restrict your right to make changes to your beneficiary designation. Any changes must be made by sub- mitting your written designation to the Department of Veterans Affairs. NAM VET Newsletter Page 39 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Q... How do I apply for eligibility for VA medical treatment for my service-connected disability while traveling overseas? A... Prior to treatment, authorization must be obtained from the nearest American Embassy or Consulate if treatment is required for a service-connected disability. Q... What type of income should I report on my annual eligibility verification report to continue my VA pension benefits? A... Income from all sources must be reported. VA will determine what sources and amounts will be counted and the amount of income to be excluded. Q... Can I get a release of liability from the Department of Veterans Affairs if a non-veteran assumes my VA-guaranteed home loan? A... If the buyer meets with VA approval, you may be released from liability. Q... If I encounter legal difficulties while purchasing a home using my VA home loan benefit, will the Department of Veterans Affairs provide or pay for any legal assistance I may need? A... No. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide legal assistance or advice; nor can the Department pay for legal assistance a veteran obtains to deal with troubles encountered in the purchase or construction of a home. Federal Benefits? Ask me! - Jim - NAM VET Newsletter Page 40 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 VA Rings in New Year With More Staffing, Money Shortages By Ellen Rafshoon --from VETS' FORUM "Service To The Alaskan Veteran" State of Alaska - Division of Veterans' Affairs Jan/Feb 1990 Issue Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVets Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Veterans Affairs Department medical employees will find no relief from mounting workloads caused by staffing shortages this year. Due to automatic Gramm-Rudman-Hollings spending cuts and a $94 million miscalculation of personnel costs by the VA, the agency plans to cut 2,000 employees from medical care rolls over the next six months through attrition, said VA spokeswoman Donna St. John. In all, there is a $158 million shortfall, she said. Any job vacancies not deemed to be of absolute necessity at the VAs 172 medical centers will gto unfilled during that period, she said. The agency will therefore not get to the congressionally mandated personnel ceiling of 194,720 for 1990. The VA employs 193,800 people. To prevent any further reductions in staff, the VA will divert funds from its equipment and construction supply accounts to medical care accounts, St. John said. In addition, the $50 million that the VA received for drug-fighting efforts will be funneled to medical centers. Meanwhile, key members of Congress, including Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chairman Alan Cranston, D-CA, and Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-ME, are asking President Bush for an emergency funding bill. The group called on Bush to provide $252 million in emergency aid. An emergency funding bill passed last year baled out the agency with $1.3 billion. Due to increases in special pay rates, the increasing cost of health benefits for employees ad the elimination of pay caps for certain physicians, the VA failed to account for $94 million in personnel costs as part of its 1990 budget request, St. John said. Also, medical centers are forced to absorb 40 percent of the January 1990 pay raise. "VA cannot continue to function on this start-and-stop basis with inconsistent funding levels and inadequate commitment from the administration from year to year," senators warned. They urged Bush to avoid last year's crisis by proposing a 1991 budget of $11.6 billion, $743 million more than the administration's 1990 request. NAM VET Newsletter Page 41 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Committee Calls for Seven Percent Increase in Veterans' Spending Input by: Jim Hildwine NAM VETs Federal Benefits Section Editor VetPoint 47 - FidoNet 1:321/203.47 Shady Side, Md WASHINGTON --- The Committee on Veterans' Affairs today recommended that next year's budget for veterans' programs be increased to $32.5 billion, a seven percent hike in projected spending for the current year. The proposal now goes to the Budget Committee for consideration before it is submitted to the full House of Representatives. "This is an entirely reasonable request considering the fact that the administration proposed a five percent increase above FY '90 levels," said Committee Chairman G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery (D- MS), "and considering that under the Administration plan, even though it's the best we've seen in years, there's still some significant deficiencies which must not be ignored." "In particular," said Montgomery, "there is a dire need for additional direct care resources for our VA medical facilities, a need which has been well documented and with which I am confronted daily though veterans' letters which cross my desk. If these recommendations are accepted, we will make considerable progress toward reducing delays and backlogs for outpatient and nursing care. Further, while the focus primarily has been on health care in recent years, we must not forget that our regional benefits offices are understaffed, which has severely hampered the Department's ability to deliver services in a timely manner. This simply cannot be allowed to continue," he said. The Committee's ranking Republican agreed. "Our recommendation to the budget Committee should go beyond an amount which merely halts the trend in declining services to the veterans' advocates by requesting a budget which restores access to the system and reestablishes the high degree of quality that veterans deserve," he said. The Committee's changes to the Administration's budget proposal amount to an additional $729 million and 2,832 employees. Among the highlights of the Committee budget as compared to the Administration proposal: - INCREASES staffing of benefits personnel by 577 in order to improve quality, timeliness, and access to services - RESTORES finding for community nursing home care to 1988 levels by adding $96 million. This would allow 10 thousand more veterans to receive contract care - PROVIDES an additional $69 million and 990 full-time employees for outpatient care to allow for an additional one-half million outpatient visits - REJECTS the Administration's proposed legislation to NAM VET Newsletter Page 42 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 increase the mortgage indemnity fee and implement a down payment for home loan guarantees "If the defense budget is reduced as a result of the so- called "Peace dividend" from a thaw in the Cold War, which seems likely, then some of the savings most certainly should go to our veterans. Peace worldwide has been built upon their sacrifices," said Montgomery. NAM VET Newsletter Page 43 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 ================================================================= M i s s i n g ! ! ! ================================================================= Homecoming II Project by: Rick Stolz NAM VET MIA-POW Section Editor The Reunion BBS - Okauchee, Wisconsin (414) 567-0437 March 21, 1990 The U.S. Army has refused to confirm or deny that the remains returned and identified as those of SFC Frank C. Parrish which were buried in 1973 were again returned and buried in 1990. Many of us could dig in our files and find that SFC Frank C. Parrish and his comrade, SFC Earl Biggs, were lost in 1968 near My Tho, Vietnam. These two were members of Company D, Detachment A411, 5th Special Forces Group. Their strike force was ambushed. After the fighting, search parties were dispatched. They learned from Vietnamese that Biggs and Parrish had been captured and executed. Both men were classified Missing in Action. The Defense Intelligence Agency further expanded the classification to include an enemy knowledge ranking of 1. Category 1 indicates "confirmed knowledge" and includes all missing personnel who were identified by the enemy by name, identified by reliable information received from escapees or releases, reported by highly reliable intelligence sources, or identified through analysis of all-source intelligence. On January 17, 1972, remains were reported in the vicinity of the Parrish/Biggs action. These remains were recovered and identified in June, 1973 as those of SFC Parrish and returned to Parrish's family for burial. Reports of other remains exhumed by local farmers in this vicinity have been received, but no confirmation has been possible of their identity. No positive word on Earl Biggs surfaced until 1989, when his remains were returned and positively identified. Then in 1990, Parrish was buried...again. What did the Army return to Parrish's family in 1973 that they called Frank Parrish? Did they just not find all of him in 1973? Or did they not really have an identifiable body in 1973? Do they now? As the numbers of remains returned to U.S. control has increased over the past few years, tough questions are being asked about the quality of identification of these remains. Some of the cases are very interesting. One such case concerns a Vietnamese Air Force CH34 helicopter (serial #14-4653) which crashed just inside Laos east of Tchepone on November 30, 1968. The crew of the helicopter was Vietnamese. The American passengers were a team assigned to Command and NAM VET Newsletter Page 44 Volume 4, Number 4 April 10, 1990 Control North, MACV-SOG, U.S. Army Special Forces. The team was being transported to their reconnaissance mission area in Laos. Details of the mission were classified at that time, and remained classified as late as early 1990. American passengers on board the aircraft included: Sgt. Richard A. Fitts, Sgt. Arthur E. Bader, Cpl. Gary R. LaBohn, SSgt. Klaus D. Scholz, Maj. Samuel K. Toomey, Cpl. Michael H. Mein, 1Lt. Raymond C. Stacks. The helicopter was struck by 37mm anti-aircraft fire and crashed in a mass of flames and exploded. The crash site is in heavy jungle, near a stream. No one was seen to leave the aircraft. No ground search was initiated because the location was in a denied area. Later visual search indicated that the pilot's hatch was open, and his helmet was seen 25-30 feet from the helicopter. No survivors were seen. All the personnel aboard the aircraft were declared Missing in Action. In March 1988, the area in which the helicopter crashed was excavated by a joint Lao/US technical team. Remains were returned to the Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. On January 3, 1990, it was announced that the remains of Richard Fitts had been positively identified from the remains recovered at the crash site. According to Fitts' parents, the other remains found at the site were unidentifiable. The Fitts family had an independent forensic pathologist examine the remains, and accepted the identification. Barely a month later, on February 8, 1990, the Department of Defense announced that the remains of the rest of the crew had been positively identified. These remains are to be buried in a mass grave at Arlington National Cemetery on March 23, 1990. Walter and Rosella Fitts have long been active in the effort to resolve the POW/MIA issue and do not intend to stop now. They believe that Americans are still alive in captivity, even if their son is not among them. If these remains are so incomplete as to contraindicate positive identification, it seems wrong to label these men "accounted for." Even recognizing the peace of mind some families may derive from such a decision, it must also be noted that other families