Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 . __ . . -*- N A M V E T -*- ____/ \_ . . ( * \ . . Managing Editor \ Quangtri . . ---------------- \_/\ \_ Hue . . G. Joseph Peck \_Ashau Phu Bai . . \_* \_ . . Editorial Assistants \ * ) . . -------------------- _/ Danang . . Pete Farias \|/ ( \_*Chu Lai . . Sarge Hultgren --*-- \_ ------- \__ . . /|\ \_ I Corps \ . . Distribution Manager \ ------- ! . . ------------ /\_____ ! . . Jerry Hindle / ! \ . . ! !___ \ . . Section Editors ! \/\____! . . --------------- ! ! . . IN-TOUCH: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau / Dak To ! . . INCARCERATED VETS: Joyce Flory / * / . . COAST GUARD: Jack Hawkins ! \_ . . NEED TO KNOW: Lefty Frizzell ! Phu Cat\ . . \ * * ) . . \ 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 (413) 442-1660 . . / ____/ Managing Editor . . / 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 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 ================================================================= T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1. Editorials Vested Interest ......................................... 1 2. Ol' Glory n' Shiftin' Sands She Flies Ever High!!! .................................. 3 Kuwait is not being portrayed Correctly ................. 4 Recipe for Good Tour and Happy Homecoming! .............. 7 Facts about Kuwait ...................................... 8 Hands Across Time ....................................... 11 Facts about IRAQ ........................................ 12 Desert Storm Army Addresses! ............................ 16 Desert Dogs and Scud Busters ............................ 18 Break out the Clearasil ! ........................... 21 The Consequences of War ................................. 22 SaudiNet - Its working!!! ............................... 24 3. Images A positive Vietnam Veteran Image? ....................... 26 Vietnam Army - Second to None ........................... 28 They haven't forgutten US!!! ............................ 30 Not this time! .......................................... 31 4. In-Touch It's Not Finished Yet ................................... 33 In-Touch: What is it??? ................................. 35 IN-TOUCH Registration/Request Form!!! ................... 38 5. The NamVet Chapel To Any Soldier... ....................................... 40 Deliverance ............................................. 41 The Electronic Chapel ................................... 42 6. Federal Veteran Service Federal Veteran Service Agencies/Facilities ............. 43 A visit or note once in awhile? ......................... 63 7. Hearts n' Minds Vets Hospital Echo is now on-line! ...................... 64 8. Uncle Sam wants YOU to know Ask the Veterans' Affairs Counselor ..................... 66 Bring them home - NOW!!! ................................ 69 oard of Veterans' Appeals - How to File ................. 70 Foot-dragging and Lip Service Continue in COVA! ......... 73 9. Concentrated IVVEC/NamVet Service Service - A legacy to be remembered ..................... 82 Dear Mrs. Conte ......................................... 83 Conte's Family Thanks his 'extended family' ............. 84 VA States: Guidelines Followed ......................... 85 IRS Steals Money From Newly Disabled Vets .............. 86 VETLink #1 reaches out .................................. 87 10. Look who's talking! BBS-Participants in VIETNAM_VETS EchoConference ......... 88 Some Gave All... ........................................ 92 NAM VET Newsletter Page ii Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 ================================================================= Editorials ================================================================= Vested Interest By G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Well folks, looks like I just barely made it in time for the February issue. So MUCH has been happening and to tell you the truth, I've been sort of overwhelmed. This month's NamVet may not have all that you expected but we hope that its informative to you, your children and others. Joyce Flory has done a TERRIFIC job of inputting all the names and addresses of Federal veteran service agencies. We've received NamVet contributions from many new areas of the country (Hiya Chick!). We've seen a tremendous increase in interest in communicating with and/or about Operation Desert Storm - from sending messages via computer to discussing operational strategies and the merit of any initiatives on OUR part. I've noticed that a lot of the focus in our VIETNAM_VETS echo has quite naturally surrounded Operation Desert Storm. As I'm writing this, Kuwait has finally been liberated, CNN and many major networks show film clip after film clip revealing how thankful and grateful the people are. Stormin' Norman has done a super-effective job and I am among those many who say to him: "Well done, Sir... WELL DONE!!!" Somehow though, in all the pictures of grateful people and news briefings and celebrations, I felt sadness and a little bit of depression. I feel like we've missed something. How many of my Vietnam veteran brothers and sisters would have enjoyed being at the center of throngs of cheering, happy people? How many of them have struggled all these years just to survive, just to be considered "equal" to veterans of prior wars - or, as in many cases, to the non-veteran? How many of them, even today, still experience difficulty in obtaining housing and gainful employment? How about caring and concerned medical treatment from the VA? The first of seven children, as I was growing up I often noticed that my younger brothers and sisters often did things that I had not been allowed to, often got what they asked for WHEN they asked for it and frequently experienced a lot more freedom in their actions. I guess that was because I was the "prototype model" for my parents and after they'd learned on/with me, they could more freely parent my siblings. With what you and I and so many other Vietnam veterans have experienced (the "prototype model" for recent-memory Mother America ), I kind of hope that our Desert Storm brothers n' sisters will find THEIR way easier and will experience the gratitude of a grateful nation. I kind of hope, too, that we are each aware of a normal and natural "sibling rivalry" that can, and oftentimes will, take place as we view the Welcome Home parades and other outpourings of thankfulness and pride. Let us, above all else, remember that we ARE the brothers and sisters of all the Operation Desert Storm veterans - and let NAM VET Newsletter Page 1 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 us be focussed towards helping make THEIR way a LOT easier than WE found it. Our Service Department experienced the loss of a very dedicated, helpful, and committed U.S. Congressman, Silvio O. Conte. His efforts were extremely helpful in providing needed and necessary services to our veterans and their families. The Congressman's funeral was an experience in how FAST security in a city can be established! U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle, Tip O'Neil and many others attended. CHAPLAIN's Department: Guest Chaplains - Where Are You??? AGENT ORANGE: We need another Agent Orange Section Editor!!! MIA/POW: We need another MIA/POW Section Editor!!! We have added another echo to our VetNet echoes: HOSP_VETS. Joan Renne, long active in veteran affairs and long a very welcome participant in the VIETNAM_VETS echo - as well as a contributor of some very well written articles for NamVet, would like to see this echo grow and possibly find its way into many VA hospitals and other veteran help facilities. Here at VETLink #1, we'll help all we can - its an echo that can prove to be VERY helpful to the veteran seeking treatment and/or his dependents. Speaking of VETLink #1... Thanks to the very welcome help and equipment donation of Ray "Frenchy" Moreau, SysOp of VETLink #2, we are just a half-step away from making our on-line Veterans' Mall a very active part of a service dedicated and committed to veterans and the issues that concern them. Easy-to-use and fast, the efforts of VETLink #1 were recently complimented by countless hours of technical advice and assistance provided by Mike Bryeans, SysOp of VETLink #3 as we added a Veterans' Benefit Section. We will soon be in the process of adding section(s) where YOU can obtain veteran information concerning YOUR state at the press of a key. I think that's about it for now, folks. Best be getting this editorial done and start compiling this month's NamVet else you'll not see it until March ... 'til next month Show a brother or sister veteran that YOU care! Ci'ao for Ni'ao - Joe - NAM VET Newsletter Page 2 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 ================================================================= Ol' Glory n' Shiftin' Sands ================================================================= NMNMNMNMNMNMNM\ Operation Desert Storm MH * * * HN/NMNMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNM\ NH * * * HM/MH * * HMNMMNMN/MMMMMMMMMMMMM\ MH * * * HN/NH * * * H////////MMMMMMMMMMMMM/MMMMMMMMMMMMMMH NH * * * HM/MH * * H//////////////////////MMMMMMMMMMMMMMH MH * * * HN/NH * * * HNMNMMNM/////////////////////////////H MH * * * HM/MH* * * HMNMNNMN/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H MH * * * HN/NH * * * H////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNHH NH * * * HM/MH * * H//////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH MH * * * HN/NH * * * HMNMMNMN/////////////////////////////H H//////////////MH * * HNMNNMNM/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H H//////////////////////////////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH NNNNNNNNNNNNNN///////////////////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH NNNNNNNNNNNNNN/NMNMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNM/////////////////////////////H H//////////////MNMNMNMNMNMNMNMMNMN/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H H//////////////////////////////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH MNMNMNMNMNMNMN///////////////////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH NMNMNMNMNMNMNM\NMNMNMNMNMNMNMMNMNM/////////////////////////////H \NMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNMN\NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H \MNMNMNMMNMNMN\NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH WELL DONE !!! \MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH NAM VET Newsletter Page 3 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Kuwait is not being portrayed correctly by Ajit mathew George 1/27/91 Delaware State News Input by: Chick Curry VETLink #1, Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 As one who was born and brought up in Kuwait. I've watched the recent events in the Arabian Gulf with mixed emotions. On one hand, I am excited that Kuwait looks like it will be liberated from Iraqi occupation. On the other hand, I am sad that so many people will die in this effort. I have read and watched what has been reported about Kuwait in the American media with a great deal of interest. I find the relative lack of background information on Kuwait astonishing given the fact that the United States and its allies are fighting to liberate Kuwait. In general, the few articles or stories on Kuwait itself portray this country as a feudal kingdom whose subjects are governed like vassals who do not receive any benefit from this country's oil riches. If this is really so, why should American and allied lives be sacrificed to restore the government of Kuwait? This misinformation that exists about Kuwait is simply astonishing. The news media has made little effort to inform people about Kuwait as it was before the Iraqi invasion of Aug. 2. In general, Americans are predisposed to view any non-Western country as being backwards compared to the U.S. This, combined with the simplistic portrayal in the media of the people of the Middle East and ignorance of how the bedouin monarchy in Kuwait works, reinforces the perception of a foreign and different country like Kuwait as being archaic, autocratic and thus inferior to us. REALITY,PERCEPTION DIFFERENT The reality and perception are very different. For example, the right to work is part and parcel of the official government policy. Kuwait has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, un- employment rates in the world. One does not associate virtual full employment with a backward country. Education is a right for all Kuwaitis. The government provides this higher education free of charge to all Kuwaiti citizens in all schools at the University of Kuwait. It even provides free transport and meals at nominal costs to the students. Kuwait has one of the most sophisticated health care systems including the latest, best and most sophisticated medical technology available anywhere. Kuwait's medical facilities attract some of the best medical doctors and specialists from throughout the world. What is most unusual is the fact that this health care system is available to all residents of Kuwait including citizens and all non-citizens free of any charge. "A home for every citizen" is a slogan of the Kuwait government. Unlike other countries, this is not an empty government slogan. For example, many people with limited and medium incomes are provided two-story houses. In addition, the government of Kuwait pays the rents of all Kuwaiti citizens living in rented houses who are still waiting their turn to move to their private homes on a first-come-first serve basis. NAM VET Newsletter Page 4 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Kuwait has an elaborate social security system for its citizens which guarantees help for the old-aged, the sick, the handicapped and the unemployed, offering the Social Security services at all levels. Interestingly enough, Kuwait does not have any income tax. For that matter there are virtually no other taxes whatsoever except a social security tax of 5 percent of gross income. 'A DEMOCRATIC TRADITION' On March 2, 1990, the Wall Street Journal reported that, "Kuwait is the only Gulf state with anything resembling a democratic tradition." While the kings of nearby nations, such as Saudi Arabia, in years past skewered recalcitrant subjects and seized power by the sword, Kuwatis in 1752 chose the al-Sabah family by consensus to govern what was then a "mud-hut trading outpost." In fact, the monarchy in Kuwait is not hereditary like in England. While Kuwait's freely elected parliament was dissolved in 1986, many people still believe that Kuwait is closer to democracy than any other country in the Middle East, except Israel. While Islam is the official religion of Kuwait, women aren't oppressed in the name of Islam like they are in Iran or Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, women are prohibited from even driving a car. Not only can women drive in Kuwait, women are actively encouraged to participate in virtually all aspects of society. The percentage of female students in all levels of education in Kuwait exceeds 46 percent, which ranks Kuwait among the highest in female education. PEARLS WERE TOP INCOME Prior to the discovery of oil, Kuwait's main source of income was natural pearls from the Arabian Gulf. The advent of cultured pearls by Japan in the mid 1920's destroyed the market for natural pearls from Kuwait. In 1934, the Emir of Kuwait granted a 75 year concession to the Kuwait Oil Company to explore oil. Kuwait Oil Company was a 50-50 joint venture between Gulf and Anglo-Persian which was then partially owned by the British government. Kuwait is very unusual in the Arab and Third World for its policies. Perhaps the most unusual policy was its creation of the Fund for Future Generations. Kuwait knew only too well from its pearling industry how perilous it could be to depend on one industry for all its income. Therefore the government made an enlightened decision years ago to invest a percentage of each year's oil revenues outside Kuwait in other investments that would generate future revenue which would not be dependent on oil. The total assets of the Fund for Future Generations is reputed to exceed $150 billion, a substantial amount of which is invested in the U.S. with most of the balance in Europe. Kuwait earned more income from these investments than from the sale of oil for the past several years. Kuwait, being not dependent solely on oil for its revenues, felt that it was in its economic interest not to increase the price of oil to such a level that it would cut consumption of and encourage alternative energy sources. While proponents of alternative energy in America would not rightfully approve of this policy, the Kuwati strategy was to sell oil at reasonable prices for as long as possible since oil was Kuwait's only natural asset. HUSSEIN DIDN'T INVEST NAM VET Newsletter Page 5 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 On the other hand, Saddam Hussein took the absolute opposite strategy. He didn't invest in this generation, let alone in any future generations. He squandered 10 years of oil revenue to build a vast army machine for Iraq. Why would Iraq, a country of just 21 million people, have a million person army? To fight the war with Iran, he borrowed a reputed $14 billion from Kuwait plus billions from other Arab countries like Saudi Arabia. When the Iran-Iraq war ended in stalemate after almost a decade of unnecessary suffering in the Gulf, Hussein wanted Kuwait to forgive the $14 billion loan. In addition, he wanted to redraw the boundaries of Kuwait to include, among other real estate, portions of an existing Kuwati oil field. Kuwait declined Iraq's attempt to blackmail it. Iraq invaded Kuwait so that it could have access to Kuwait's vast investments throughout the world including Fund for Future Generations and not repay any of its loans to Kuwait. If the world had not intervened under American leadership, Iraq would have access to this vast Kuwaiti wealth and make itself even a bigger menace. While Kuwait's oil reserves are immense, I believe it is the other Kuwaiti assets that were saved and invested prudently by the Kuwaiti government that whetted Saddam's appetite. Kuwait's major crime was that it didn't squander its wealth on a large military machine and instead accumulated a significant nest egg for rainy days. There is no question that Iraq would have used Kuwait's oil reserves and its vast overseas wealth to disrupt the economies of the Western world if Iraq's takeover of Kuwait was left unchanged. The first medical center in Kuwait was established at the American mission in 1911. The relationship between the U.S. and Kuwait began long before a drop of oil was discovered in the Arabian Gulf. With the advent of oil, this relationship blossomed. Most Americans forget that during the Iraqi-Iranian War, the U.S. at the request of Kuwait, reflagged virtually every Kuwaiti oil tanker to fly under the American flag. KUWAIT NOT PERFECT Kuwait is by no means a paradise. Kuwait is not perfect. No monarchy, however well intentioned, is the preferred of most people. Notwithstanding these frailties, Kuwait is by no stretch of the imagination a feudal monarchy which governs its citizens like a banana republic dictator. While Kuwait is not a democracy like the U.S., the system in Kuwait that provided free education, free housing, free health care and a right to a job with no income tax is not an unattractive alternative in a world where there are few countries that offer its citizens such extensive benefits. The world has proved that it can live without Kuwaiti oil since Aug. 2. Therefore this action by the U.S. and its allies to liberate Kuwait is not about oil. It is about the right of a small progressive and enlightened county, by at least Middle East standards, to live in harmony and peace without being bullied by a war monger neighbor. EDITOR'S NOTE: Ajit George lives in Wilmington DE. He came to Delaware in 1970. NAM VET Newsletter Page 6 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 RECIPE FOR A GOOD TOUR AND A HAPPY HOMECOMING! 1/18/1991 Missile Ranger (White Sands Missile Range) Input by: Joyce Flory NamVet's Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM (505) 523-2811 Believe in yourself and your family! Say a prayer everyday and night that God will make you and yours stronger! Always ask, " Would the other approve of what I am doing?" Remember what is at home waiting for you and what you are waiting for yourself. Close your eyes often and think you are lucky you know someone who truly loves you and supports you! Write every day and call as much as possible. When one of you starts feeling down, the other needs to uplift! Understand it's not easy on either of you! Money will be tight, but it's been tighter! It's OK to cry. It cleans the soul. Remember the children and how they feel. Understand when they are bad, because it's hard on them too! Always take the time to answer all questions in each others letters! Take care of yourself. You have people who depend on you! Look forward to the homecoming! What a wonderful day it will be! Last but not least, the key to it all: honesty, to each other as well as yourself! Mrs. Dennis A. Junak USAF Dependent NAM VET Newsletter Page 7 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Facts abouit Kuwait Downloaded from Cloud Nine BBS - Houston, TX (713) 859-8195 Provided by: Lefty Frizzell NamVet's Need-To-Know Section Editor The Executive Washroom - Katy, Texas (713) 347-2558 GEOGRAPHY TOTAL AREA: 17,820 km2; land area: 17,820 km2 COMPARATIVE AREA: slightly smaller than New Jersey LAND BOUNDARIES: 462 km total; Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km COASTLINE: 499 km MARITIME CLAIMS: CONTINENTAL SHELF: not specific TERRITORIAL SEA: 12 nm DISPUTES: ownership of Warbah and Bubiyan islands disputed by Iraq CLIMATE: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters TERRAIN: flat to slightly undulating desert plain NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas LAND USE: NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 8% meadows and pastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 92% other; includes NEGL% irrigated ENVIRONMENT: some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution; desertification NOTE: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf PEOPLE POPULATION: 2,008,053 (July 1989), growth rate 3.6% (1989) BIRTH RATE: 30 births/1,000 population (1989) DEATH RATE: 2 deaths/1,000 population (1989) NET MIGRATION RATE: 9 migrants/1,000 population (1989) INFANT MORTALITY RATE: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (July 1989) LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH: 72 years male, 76 years female (July 1989) TOTAL FERTILITY RATE: 3.9 children born/woman (1989) NATIONALITY: noun--Kuwaiti(s); adjective--Kuwaiti ETHNIC DIVISIONS: 39% Kuwaiti, 39% other Arab, 9% South Asian, 4% Iranian, 9% other RELIGION: 85% Muslim (30% Shia, 45% Sunni, 10% other), 15% Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other LANGUAGE: Arabic (official); English widely spoken LITERACY: 71% (est.) LABOR FORCE: 566,000 (1986); 45.0% services, 20.0% construction, 12.0% trade, 8.6% manufacturing, 2.6% finance and real estate, 1.9% agriculture, 1.7% power and water, 1.4% mining and quarrying; 70% of labor force is non-Kuwaiti ORGANIZED LABOR: labor unions exist in oil industry and among government personnel GOVERNMENT LONF-FORM NAME: State of Kuwait TYPE: nominal constitutional monarchy CAPITAL: Kuwait ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 4 governorates (muhafazat, singular-- muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli INDEPENDENCE: 19 June 1961 (from UK) NAM VET Newsletter Page 8 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 CONSTITUTION: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29 August 1962) LEGAL SYSTEM: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; Constitution took effect in 1963; popularly elected 50-man National Assembly (the 15 cabinet members can also vote) reinstated in March 1981 after being suspended in 1976, but in July 1986 parliament dissolved by the Amir; judicial review of legislative acts not yet determined; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction NATIONAL HOLIDAY: National Day, 25 February BRANCHES: Council of Ministers; legislature--National Assembly (suspended since July 1986) LEADER: Chief of State Amir Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al SABAH (since 31 December 1977); Head of Government Prime Minister and Crown Prince Sad Abdallah al-Salim Al SABAH (since 8 February 1978) SUFFRAGE: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendents (eligible voters, 8.3% of citizenry) ELECTIONS: National Assembly elected February 1985 (suspended July 1986) Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited COMMUNISTS: insignificant OTHER POLITICAL OR PRESSURE GROUPS: large (350,000) Palestinian community; several small, clandestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist groups are active MEMBER OF: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Shaikh Saud Nasir AL-SABAH; Chancery at 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 966-0702; US--Ambassador W. Nathaniel HOWELL; Embassy at Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Hilton Hotel), Kuwait City (mailing address is P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait City); telephone [965] 242-4151 through 4159 FLAG: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side ECONOMY OVERVIEW: The oil sector dominates the economy. Of the countries in the Middle East, Kuwait has oil reserves second only to those of Saudi Arabia. Earnings from hydrocarbons generate over 90% of both export and government revenues and contribute about 40% to GDP. Most of the nonoil sector is dependent upon oil-derived government revenues to provide infrastructure development and to promote limited industrial diversification. The economy is heavily dependent upon foreign labor--Kuwaitis account for less than 20% of the labor force. The early years of the Iran-Iraq war pushed Kuwait's GDP well below its 1980 peak; however, during the period 1986-88, GDP increased each year, rising to 4% in 1988. GDP: $19.1 billion, per capita $10,410; real growth rate 4% (1988) INFLATION RATE (consumer prices): 0.8% (1988) UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 0% BUDGET: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88) EXPORTS: $8.7 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--oil 90%; partners--Japan, Italy, FRG, US IMPORTS: $4.9 billion (f.o.b., 1988); @m5commodities--food, NAM VET Newsletter Page 9 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 construction material, vehicles and parts, clothing; partners-- Japan, US, FRG, UK EXTERNAL DEBT: $10.4 billion (December 1988) INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: growth rate 3% (1988) ELECTRICITY: 7,687,000 kW capacity; 19,539 million kWh produced, 10,080 kWh per capita (1988) INDUSTRIES: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, salt, construction AGRICULTURE: virtually none; dependent on imports for food; about 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported AID: NA CURRENCY: Kuwaiti dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils EXCHANGE RATES: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1--0.2845 (January 1989), 0.2790 (1988), 0.2786 (1987), 0.2919 (1986), 0.3007 (1985) FISCAL YEAR: 1 July-30 June COMMUNICATIONS HIGHWAYS: 3,000 km total; 2,500 km bituminous; 500 km earth, sand, light gravel PIPELINES: crude oil, 877 km; refined products, 40 km; natural gas, 165 km PORTS: Ash Shuwaykh, Ash Shuaybah, Mina al Ahmadi MERCHANT MARINE: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 839,305 GRT/1,200,079 DWT; includes 17 cargo, 6 container, 5 livestock carrier, 9 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 liquefied gas CIVIL AIR: 29 major transport aircraft AIRPORTS: 8 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m TELECOMMUNICATIONS: excellent international, adequate domestic facilities; 258,000 telephones; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 3 TV; 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT stations; 1 INMARSAT satellite station; 1 ARABSAT station; coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq and Saudi Arabia DEFENSE FORCES BRANCHES: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard MILITARY MANPOWER: males 15-49, about 668,734; about 400,529 fit for military service MILITARY BUDGET: $1.179 million, 10.5% of central government budget (FY89) NAM VET Newsletter Page 10 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 . . . For Information on our Saudi Soldiers: . . . . ARMY: 1-703-614-0730 . . 1-800-626-1440 . . 1-800-642-9254 . . NAVY: 1-800-732-1206 . . 1-800-255-3808 . . 1-202-746-5915 . . MARINES: 1-800-523-2694 . . AIR FORCE: 1-800-253-9276 . . COAST GUARD: 1-800-283-8724 . . . . Support Groups: . . National Guard Families: 1-800-356-2794 . . Army Reserve Units: 1-800-874-8451 . . . . . . xxxxx XXXXxxxxx, . . xx''xxxxxxX XX xX XXx . .xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXX x xX' x'' XXXx . . x x xX xXX Xx . . 'x' X XXxx . . xxx X. . xX . . xX . . VIETNAM x x x xX . . VETERANS x xX X x X IRAQ . . X X X X x < VETERANS . . X X X X X Xx . . xxxxxxxxxX X X X x Xxx . . XXX'' /__X__ XX__X___xXX xXxxxxx . . xXXX 'Xxxxx xX Xxx . .XX WE SUPPORT YOU XxxxxxxxxxxxX X. .X BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN SERVICE . . . . . . "We are with you . . Wherever you may be . . We are sailing . . With you on every sea . . We are standing . . With you on desert sand . . We're your country . . Together we stand!" . . . . . . The Staff of NamVet . . . . and participants in . . . . The International Vietnam Veterans EchoConference . . . NAM VET Newsletter Page 11 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 FACTS ABOUT IRAQ Downloaded from Cloud Nine BBS - Houston, TX (713) 859-8195 Provided by: Lefty Frizzell NamVet's Need-To-Know Section Editor The Executive Washroom - Katy, Texas (713) 347-2558 GEOGRAPHY TOTAL AREA: 434,920 km2; land area: 433,970 km2 COMPARATIVE AREA: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho LAND BOUNDARIES: 3,454 km total; Iran 1,458 km, Iraq - Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone 191 km, Jordan 134 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 495 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km COASTLINE: 58 km MARITIME CLAIMS: CONTINENTAL SHELF: not specific TERRITORIAL SEA: 12 nm DISPUTES: Iraq began formal UN peace negotiations with Iran in August 1988 to end the war that began on 22 September 1980-- troop withdrawal, freedom of navigation, sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway, and prisoner of war exchange are the major issues for negotiation; Kurdish question among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR; shares Neutral Zone with Saudi Arabia; periodic disputes with Syria over Euphrates water rights; potential dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers CLIMATE: desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers TERRAIN: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey NATURAL RESOURCES: crude oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur LAND USE: 12% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 9% meadows and pastures; 3% forest and woodland; 75% other; includes 4% irrigated ENVIRONMENT: development of Tigris-Euphrates river systems contingent upon agreements with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air and water pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion; desertification PEOPLE POPULATION: 18,073,963 (July 1989), growth rate 3.8% (1989) BIRTH RATE: 45 births/1,000 population (1989) DEATH RATE: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1989) NET MIGRATION RATE: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1989) INFANT MORTALITY RATE: 69 deaths/1,000 live births (1989) LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH: 65 years male, 67 years female (1989) TOTAL FERTILITY RATE: 7.1 children born/woman (1989) NATIONALITY: noun--Iraqi(s); adjective--Iraqi ETHNIC DIVISIONS: 75-80% Arab, 15-20% Kurdish, 5% Turkoman, Assyrian or other RELIGION: 97% Muslim (60-65% Shia, 32-37% Sunni), 3% Christian or other LANGUAGE: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian LITERACY: 55% (est.) LABOR FORCE: 3,500,000 (1980); 39% services, 33% agriculture, 28% industry, severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force about 1,000,000 (1987) NAM VET Newsletter Page 12 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 ORGANIZED LABOR: less than 10% of the labor force GOVERNMENT LONG-FORM NAME: Republic of Iraq TYPE: republic CAPITAL: Baghdad ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 18 provinces (muhafazat, singular-- muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, As Sulaymaniyah, At Tamim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Irbil, Karbala, Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit INDEPENDENCE: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) CONSTITUTION: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (interim Constitution) LEGAL SYSTEM: based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968) BRANCHES: Bath Party of Iraq has been in power since 1968 coup; unicameral legislature (National Assembly) LEADERS: CHIEF OF STATE AND HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: President Saddam Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974) SUFFRAGE: universal adult ELECTIONS: National Assembly election held October 1984; Legislative Council for the Autonomous Region election held September 1980 COMMUNISTS: about 2,000 hardcore members POLITICAL OR PRESSURE GROUPS: political parties and activity severely restricted; possibly some opposition to regime from disaffected members of the regime, Army officers, and religious and ethnic dissidents MEMBER OF: Arab League, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB-- Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG, WTO DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Abdul-Amir Ali AL-ANBARI; Chancery at 1801 P Street NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 483-7500; US--Ambassador April C. GLASPIE; Embassy in Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad (mailing address is P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad); telephone FLAG: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flags of the YAR which has one star and Syria which has two stars (in a horizontal line centered in the white band)--all green and five- pointed; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band Economy ECONOMY OVERVIEW: Development of the economy is guided by central planning, although economic reforms instituted in 1987 allowed some privatization. The economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Since the early 1980s financial problems, caused by war expenditures and damage to oil export facilities by Iran, have led the government to implement austerity measures and to reschedule foreign debt payments. Oil exports have gradually increased as new pipelines NAM VET Newsletter Page 13 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 have been constructed. Although the agricultural sector was privatized in 1987, development remains hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The agricultural sector employs about 35% of the labor force but accounts for less than 10% of GNP. The industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government, is under financial constraints. New investment funds are allocated only to those projects which rely heavily on local raw materials and result either in import substitution or foreign exchange earnings. GNP: $34 billion, per capita $1,950; real growth rate 0% (1988) INFLATION RATE (CONSUMER PRICES): 25-30% (1988 est.) UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: less than 5% BUDGET: revenues $20.0 billion; expenditures $18.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1987) EXPORTS: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--crude oil and refined products, dates; partners--Brazil, Italy, Turkey, France, Japan, Spain, USSR, Yugoslavia, US (1987) IMPORTS: $13.0 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--food, manufactures, consumer goods; partners--Turkey, US, FRG, UK, France, Japan, USSR, other Communist countries, Italy (1987) EXTERNAL DEBT: $40 billion (1988 est.); excluding nominal debt to Gulf Arab states INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: growth rate 5% (1988) ELECTRICITY: 8,692,000 kW capacity; 22,839 million kWh produced, 1,300 kWh per capita (1988) INDUSTRIES: petroleum, textiles, construction materials, food processing AGRICULTURE: vegetables, wheat, barley, dates, rice, livestock AID: NA CURRENCY: Iraqi dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils EXCHANGE RATES: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1--0.3109 (fixed rate since 1982) FISCAL YEAR: calendar year COMMUNICATIONS RAILROADS: 2,962 km total; 2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 505 km 1.000-meter gauge HIGHWAYS: 25,379 km total; 8,190 km paved, 5,534 km improved earth, 11,655 km unimproved earth INLAND WATERWAYS: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980 because of Iran-Iraq war; Tigris and Euphrates navigable by shallow-draft steamers (of little importance); Shatt al Basrah canal navigable by shallow-draft vessels PORTS: Al Basrah, Umm Qasr, Al Faw (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Khawr az Zubayr MERCHANT MARINE: 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 906,496GRT/1,616,429 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 passenger- cargo, 18 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 18 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker PIPELINES: crude oil, 4,350 km; 725 km refined products; 1,360 km natural gas CIVIL AIR: 15 major transport aircraft AIRPORTS: 106 total, 97 usable; 69 with permanent-surface runways; 7 with runways over 3,659 m; 48 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m NAM VET Newsletter Page 14 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 TELECOMMUNICATIONS: good network consists of coaxial cables, radio relay links, and radiocommunication stations; 632,000 telephones; stations--9 AM, 1 FM, 81 TV; satellite stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; 1 Intersputnik coaxial cable and radio relay to Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey Defense Forces BRANCHES: Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Force, mobile police force MILITARY MANPOWER: males 15-49, 3,932,976; 2,193,448 fit for military service; 212,318 reach military age (18) annually MILITARY BUDGET: NA NAM VET Newsletter Page 15 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Desert Storm Army Addresses Input by: Mark & Linda Reynolds VIETNAM_VETS Echo Please support our military personnel in the Middle East. A postcard or a letter to someone will let them know that the people in the U.S. are supporting their efforts. Following is how mail can be sent to Airman, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines defending democracy in the Middle East. -+--------------------------------------------------------------+- The U.S. Army Community Relations Office has released the chart below as a guide for those wishing to mail letters and packages to units deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. -+--------------------------------------------------------------+- Name of Soldier, Rank, SSAN Any Servicemember Name of Unit Assigned Operation Desert Storm Operation Desert Storm APO New York, XXXXX APO New York, XXXXXX -+--------------------------------------------------------------+- Zip Codes of Major Deployed Units: 1st Armored Division Headquarters: 09761 2nd Brigade: 09663 3rd Brigade: 09665 4th Brigade: 09676 1st Cavalry Division: 09306 1st Corps Support Command: 09657 1st Infantry Division: 09310 2nd Armored Division: (Fort Hood): 09371 2nd Armored Division (European Element): 09758 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment: 09759 2nd Corps Support Command: 09754 3rd Armored Division Headquarters: 09760 1st Brigade: 09680 2nd Brigade: 09681 3rd Brigade: 09682 4th Brigade: 09683 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment: 09209 3rd Infantry Division (3rd Brigade): 09661 III Corps Artillery: 09218 7th Engineer Brigade: 09689 7th Medical Command: 09757 HQs, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade: 09616 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade: 09656 11th Aviation Brigade: 09684 12th Combat Aviation Brigade: 09849 13th Corps Support Command: 09218 24th Infantry Division: 09315 30th Medical Group: 09698 82nd Airborne Division: 09698 101st Airborne Division: 09309 197th Infantry Brigade: 09315 HQs, III Corps: 09218; HQs, VII Corps: 09756 HQs, XVIII Airborne Corps: 09657 Headquarters, U.S. Army Central Command: 09852 HQs, U.S. Army Central Command (Supt Cmd): 09616 -+--------------------------------------------------------------+- PROHIBITED MAIL TO SAUDI ARABIA: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NARCOTICS WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES (WITHOUT PERMIT) NAM VET Newsletter Page 16 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 PORK AND PORK PRODUCTS PORNOGRAPHY MATERIAL CONTRARY TO ISLAMIC RELIGION NOTE: - PORNOGRAPHY IS DEFINED AS DEPICTIONS OF NUDE OR SEMI-NUDE BODIES AND ALL SEXUALLY-ORIENTED LITERATURES AND MATERIALS. THERE IS NO BAN ON PHOTOS OF FEMALE WHO ARE DRESSED IN SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE AMERICAN STANDARDS OF GOOD TASTE. -+--------------------------------------------------------------+- Mark E. Reynolds, Sr. Linda G. Reynolds TSgt USAF NAM VET Newsletter Page 17 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 "Desert Dogs" and "Scud Busters" develop a language all their own By Bill Gannon, 2/12/91 Newark Star Ledger, Newark NJ Input by Jack Hawkins NamVet's Coast Guard Section Editor Vetlink #1.72 - Staten Island, NY (413) 443-6313 DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia-- Each War makes its own somewhat dubious contribution to the English language, and this one is no different. The following is a list of buzz words, phrases and acronyms developed and frequently used by the 510,000 American soldiers of Operation Desert Storm. ARNETT-BOUND: Air Force pilot's term for departing on a bombing mission toward Baghdad. BAGH BOYS: Army tank crews name for their Iraqi counterparts. BAGHDAD BETTY: The troop's name for the female Iraqi radio announcer who broadcast anti-American propaganda to the troops before the war began. THE BEACH: The Saudi Arabian Desert. BEDOUIN BOB: Catchall name for any nomadic Bedouin salesman who lives in the desert and often sells goods to the troops. BLUE DOME BOYS/BABES: The rare sighting by troops in the desert of famous American television news correspondents out of their natural environment -- the illuminated blue domes of the pool cabanas at the Dhahran International Hotel. BOMBED-OUT BETTY: The troops name for the female Iraqi radio announcer who used to broadcast anti-American propaganda. BCGs: "Birth Control Glasses", a term used to describe the ugly military-issued eyeglasses. BDU: Battle dress uniform. BMO: "Black moving object", a term for the black-clad women of the KSA (see below). CHOCOLATE CHIPS: The desert camouflage pattern on the BDUs. DESERT DOG: Servicewoman's derogatory term for a male soldier who has been out in the desert too long and has lost all basic social skills. DIS MISS: Serviceman's derogatory term for an officious and not particularity friendly female member of the armed forces. DOG 'EM OUT: To criticize. A DOOGIE: A suspiciously young and seemingly inexperienced military doctor or dentist -- as in the TV show "Doogie Howser, M.D." NAM VET Newsletter stronger! Always ask, " Would the other approve of what I am doing?" Remember what is at home waiting for you and what you are waiting for yourself. Close your eyes often and think you are lucky you know someone who truly loves you and supports you! Write every day and call as much as possible. When one of you starts feeling down, the other needs to uplift! Understand it's not easy on either of you! Money will be tight, but it's been tighter! It's OK to cry. It cleans the soul. Remember the children and how they feel. Understand when they are bad, because it's hard on them too! Always take the time to answer all questions in each others letters! Take care of yourself. You have people who depend on you! Look forward to the homecoming! What a wonderful day it will be! Last but not least, the key to it all: honesty, to each other as well as yourself! Mrs. Dennis A. Junak USAF Dependent NAM VET Newsletter Page 7 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Facts abouit Kuwait Downloaded from Cloud Nine BBS - Houston, TX (713) 859-8195 Provided by: Lefty Frizzell NamVet's Need-To-Know Section Editor The Executive Washroom - Katy, Texas (713) 347-2558 GEOGRAPHY TOTAL AREA: 17,820 km2; land area: 17,820 km2 COMPARATIVE AREA: slightly smaller than New Jersey LAND BOUNDARIES: 462 km total; Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km COASTLINE: 499 km MARITIME CLAIMS: CONTINENTAL SHELF: not specific TERRITORIAL SEA: 12 nm DISPUTES: ownership of Warbah and Bubiyan islands disputed by Iraq CLIMATE: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters TERRAIN: flat to slightly undulating desert plain NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas LAND USE: NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 8% meadows and pastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 92% other; includes NEGL% irrigated ENVIRONMENT: some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution; desertification NOTE: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf PEOPLE POPULATION: 2,008,053 (July 1989), growth rate 3.6% (1989) BIRTH RATE: 30 births/1,000 population (1989) DEATH RATE: 2 deaths/1,000 population (1989) NET MIGRATION RATE: 9 migrants/1,000 population (1989) INFANT MORTALITY RATE: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (July 1989) LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH: 72 years male, 76 years female (July 1989) TOTAL FERTILITY RATE: 3.9 children born/woman (1989) NATIONALITY: noun--Kuwaiti(s); adjective--Kuwaiti ETHNIC DIVISIONS: 39% Kuwaiti, 39% other Arab, 9% South Asian, 4% Iranian, 9% other RELIGION: 85% Muslim (30% Shia, 45% Sunni, 10% other), 15% Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other LANGUAGE: Arabic (official); English widely spoken LITERACY: 71% (est.) LABOR FORCE: 566,000 (1986); 45.0% services, 20.0% construction, 12.0% trade, 8.6% manufacturing, 2.6% finance and real estate, 1.9% agriculture, 1.7% power and water, 1.4% mining and quarrying; 70% of labor force is non-Kuwaiti ORGANIZED LABOR: labor unions exist in oil industry and among government personnel GOVERNMENT LONF-FORM NAME: State of Kuwait TYPE: nominal constitutional monarchy CAPITAL: Kuwait ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 4 governorates (muhafazat, singular-- anti- tank missile from the tops of their Humvees. VAMPIRES: Snipers. NAM VET Newsletter Page 20 Volume 5, Number 2 February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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 21 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 The Consequences of War By Jesse Brown, Executive Director Disabled American Veterans - Washington, D.C. The DAV Magazine - February 1991 Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Like so many of you, I was struck by both the suddenness of the allied strike against Saddam Hussein and the massive scale of troops, materiel and fire power brought to bear on Iraq. Operation Desert Storm has been an international show of force unmatched in the history of the world. And as I write this - less than a day after the initial attack - it appears the size of the allied force is matched only by its resolve to free Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. As it must, our minds turn to what will surely be a new generation of American combat-disabled veterans, and how this nation will honorably respond to their special needs. During the debate in Congress over whether or not authority would be granted to the President to wage war in the Persian Gulf, I was repeatedly struck by the depth of the moral tone taken by so many Congressmen and Senators. I was moved by the deeply felt votes of conscience so many legislators cast. From both sides of the issue, both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol there came a definite statement of the full support of Congress. Congress and the Administration agreed that the absolute commitment of the government was necessary for the troops in the Gulf. There was a clear statement of the missions and goals of the forces engaged in the operation and there was the repeated promise that whatever those troops needed to meet those missions and goals would be provided. Some Congressmen opposed the commitment of U.S. forces in the region. Others supported it. The majority were ideologically somewhere in between. But they were unanimous - resoundingly so - in the strength of their commitment to our young men and women in uniform serving in the Middle East. For some of those members of Congress, it was a terrifyingly new experience, which many of them acknowledged. They had cast votes that effectively committed more than 400,000 U.S. troops to combat - to the sure threat of disease, disability or death. In the process, the Congress of the United States sent a clear message to all Americans: America's troops in the Gulf will have the full and unwavering support of the nation. It is my wish now that the full strength of that commitment - the completely unwavering sense of moral duty that I witnessed during the Congressional debate - be present for those servicemen and women who will have incurred a combat disability as a result of their service. I hope we do not have to say to Congress that they gave America's soldiers everything they needed on the battlefield, but much less than what they needed as a result of their military service. And when they tally up the cost of war, we hope we need not remind them that the nation's responsibility to pay for a prosthetic arm or leg is equal to the responsibility that dictated the purchase of the bombs, bullets, tanks and aircraft that are the weapons of war. NAM VET Newsletter Page 22 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Some of you may view my statements as mean-spirited in the face of a Congress that has made the right moral decision and an Administration that has set the right course in the Persian Gulf. But I think our sense of duty as advocates on behalf of disabled veterans demands that we ensure everyone - from the outset - understands the consequences of sending Americans into battle. It was easy for the Congress to approve spending $4,000 for each 750-pound bomb that's been dropped on Baghdad. A similar sum could provide a state-of-the-art prosthetic limb for a disabled veteran. But most veteran amputees don't wear state-of-the-art prostheses because the funds to purchase them are not there. It was not so easy for Congress to find the same sense of moral purpose in appropriating those funds. Indeed, that sense of moral purpose has eroded just as surely as the federal deficit has grown - until now that is. And that's my point. We have seen the democratic process at its best, during one of its finest moments. I have seen our leaders in Congress speak from a strong and abiding faith in this nation, its citizens and the freedoms we cherish. And I watched and thought that this truly is what being an American is all about. Now we must ensure that our sense of duty is not diminished, nor promise of assistance dismissed. Much has been made of the blue-collar make-up of the troops of Operation Desert Storm. The sons and daughters of working-class Americans are the backbone of today's all-volunteer military. For the most part they are not from board rooms or boarding schools. Their roots are in the factories of this nation and the public schools of our communities. In the Persian Gulf they are doing a better job than even the most optimistic of battlefield commanders expected. And they are doing it with pride and dignity. We in the DAV, for the most part, share that background. More importantly, we share their pride. And we promise them our support - a support that will not be dampened by political concerns or fiscal expediencies. They may be the consequences of war, but they are also now the pride of America. And the DAV will not let them down. NAM VET Newsletter Page 23 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 SaudiNet - Its working!!! By Todd Looney NamVet Editor Emeritus APECS BBS - San Jose, CA (408) 298-2740 Hello All! Things are really starting to roll here in SaudiNet. We are incorporating as we speak as the American Public Emergency Communications System, Inc. Our legal department should be filing the papers within the next few days. I know there has been some concern about whether our letters were being delivered to Saudi Arabia or not and my response has been that we are in constant contact voice with our people in SA and they are delivering our letters into military hands within a couple/three days of their being written in the U.S. My major concern has always been that we lose control after that point and it has been taking up to 3 weeks to get them to the troops after that. Well, one of our dedicated members (Capt. Stan Hardegree) who has working (along with Dennis Hancock) with us on the military end of things to see what could be done to speed up delivery, just received a call from Marine Major Kerr with the Joint Staff (long distance call *from* Saudi Arabia!) Major Kerr was ordered personally by General Schwarzkopf, who received a letter written by Capt. Hardegree recently, to call us. He didn't have our number so he contacted AT&T Headquarters in the U.S. first to find the number. This is really good news because it means now that we have broken through the military problems in delivering mail, so much so that the top brass are involved. Here's the jist of the conversation as written by Hardegree: -Schwarzkopf is interested in the SaudiNet, interested enough in fact that he told this guy to call me...you may recall that Dennis Hancock and I sent the general a letter some time ago telling him what we are up to. Yes, he read the letter. -The guy I talked to is Marine Maj. Kerr from the joint staff there. Mail is his bailiwick. He had to call AT&T headquarters in the States to get my phone number, which is an indication of how serious they are about helping us with this. -He told me that he would GUARANTEE delivery of SaudiNet messages in two to three days anywhere in the theater...even as the fighting continues, if: The Saudi Sysop contacts Maj. Mike Whitaker (sincere apologies to Tim Jacobs). Whitaker commands the 4401st Air Postal Squadron and Kerr said that he is not familiar with this effort. He is familiar with Prodigy and Genie, but not SaudiNet. NAM VET Newsletter Page 24 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Kerr said that the 4401st will supply the Saudi SYSOP with official (military) mail pouches. Now this may have been done on a local level, but the 4401st will insure delivery ANYWHERE in theater after we contact them. Kerr said that I should expect a letter from Schwarzkopf reference the SaudiNet in the near future. He's that interested. I am going to send him (Schwarzkopf) a SaudiNet message today so that he has an example of what these things look like. If I do get a letter from Schwarzkopf, I will send you a copy and post it in the SaudiInfo echo if appropriate. Ciao for Niao Todd Looney NAM VET Newsletter Page 25 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 ================================================================= Images ================================================================= WITH ONSET OF A NEW WAR'S IMAGES, SOME COUNTY VIETNAM VETS CRASH By Linda Burchard 1/23/91 Berkshire Eagle - Pittsfield, MA Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Pittsfield - "The phone's been ringing off the hook" at the Veterans Outreach Center because of veteran troubled by images of war in the Persian Gulf, according to director Daniel Denault. Televised reports of the war against Iraq have stirred memories and, with them, the anguish that has for some lain just under an uneasy surface since their service in Vietnam 20 years ago. "It's the Persian Gulf," said Denault yesterday. "And with the POWs, it's going to get worse." Denault said that since the day before the United Nations' deadline of Jan. 15 for Saddam Hussein to withdraw from Kuwait, the number of calls has risen dramatically. PSYCHIATRIC HELP This week, the center transported three men, two Monday and one yesterday, to the Veterans Administration hospital in Northampton, which has an inpatient unit for the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Another was referred to the Berkshire Mental Health Center. Denault said that of the approximately 85 calls the center has received since Jan. 14, 50 were prompted by the war in the Persian Gulf, and 20 of the callers were in distress. Of those, 10 were in such distress that they were advised to come to the center to talk and were told that if they could not get there by themselves, "we'll come for you," Denault said. One of these was suicidal, Denault said. Some calls, he said, were from veterans of World War II or the Korean War who wanted to know if they could help. While veterans with the most severe or acute problems are taken to Northampton, others are referred to the peer support groups run by the outreach center, and to the Hoosac Valley and Berkshire chapters of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Berkshire Chapter 65 has a rap group that meets Monday evenings at its chapter house at 97 First St. Hoosac Valley Chapter 54, located at Firebase Trentino, 30 River St., North Adams, provides referrals and an informal support network. Hoosac Valley Chapter President William Bradley of North Adams said members here have had an increased number of calls prompted by the gulf war. "Right now, with the crisis the way it is, seeing the things we're seeing on TV, no one can help but remember," said Bradley. "Things like this bring it right back to mind," he said. Bradley said he expects it will be easier for military personnel serving in Saudi Arabia because unlike the Vietnam War, "the majority of people support our troops" in the war against Iraq, whether or not they support the war politically. "The Vietnam-era veteran just wanted to forget it all," he said. For Bradley, it is ironic that the Veterans Outreach Center, NAM VET Newsletter Page 26 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 which has offices in Pittsfield and Adams, has been without state funds since October, and Denault has been working without a salary. Denault said the center has been building up its presence for the past seven years, and he is hoping that the state will resume funding. In the meantime, the center is operating on donations to pay the $600 rent for both offices, in St. Luke's Square, 525 East St., and on Park Street in Adams, and pay its $400 a month in telephone bills. The center provides free transportation to VA hospitals to veterans with a handicapped-accessible van, bought for $24,000 through funds from the Agent Orange class action suit. Agent Orange funds also pay for maintaining the van, insurance, and the cost of a driver. Bradley said the Hoosac Valley Chapter formerly had a rap group but discontinued it for lack of demand. "We just weren't getting that many people asking," said Bradley. "The majority of Vietnam vets don't have PTSD. There's a lot of emotional distress, but a lot of fellows were able to deal with their problems." NAM VET Newsletter Page 27 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 THE VIETNAM ARMY --- SECOND TO NONE By Richard K. Kolb 1/25/1991 The Wall Street Journal Input by Jack Hawkins NamVet's Coast Guard Section Editor VETLink #1.72 - Staten Island, NY (413) 443-6313 Just when we thought the open season on Vietnam veterans had ended, the potshots have begun again. As veterans of Vietnam, we are all especially delighted to witness the enthusiastic and sincere public support offered U.S. troops now serving in Saudi Arabia. Those who fill the ranks of combat units - especially the grunts - are to be congratulated for their willingness to volunteer for such hazardous duty. But is it necessary for the so-called experts to denigrate the Vietnam veterans in analyzing today's military? The public is being bombarded by these experts with the same tired message pushed by the anti-war movement during the Vietnam era: that the typical Vietnam serviceman was poor, unmotivated, a high school dropout and overall, not a very admirable character, who had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, all the way to the draft center. So, the Cleveland Plain Dealer referred on Nov. 4 to "the high school dropouts and reluctant draftees who were sent to Vietnam a generation ago." In a confessional piece in Life magazine on October, a former draft dodger absolved his conscience by dismissing the Vietnam era military as "a fighting force made up largely of minorities and the poor ..." "Overall, today's voluntary force is far more representative of the middle class than the draftees of the Vietnam War, who included many high school dropouts, proclaimed U.S. News and World Report on Dec. 24. Talk of reviving the draft to make the military truly representative o the entire population elicits such responses as: "An Army drawn at random would have to include misfits, making discipline and unit cohesion harder to achieve-which would cost American lives in combat," according to that same U.S. News article. A former Reagan Pentagon official quipping that only "the dummies got put in the infantry . . ." under the draft. Observers of the army now in Saudi Arabia compliment it by insulting the army sent to Vietnam. The Associated Press noted on Dec. 13 that "the booze, broads and drugs' synonymous with Vietnam" are absent from Saudi Arabia. "(T)he draftees of Vietnam and their hatred of the military establishment are long gone," it added. Similarly, the Dec. 23 Washington Post associated "bellyaching, malingering, dissent and drug abuse" with the Vietnam soldier. "Vietnam," the Post continued, "also was fought mostly by draftees, amateurs ... some of them reluctant soldiers disgusted and demoralized by a war without end." These invidious comparisons could be listed "ad nauseam." But take a look at the facts: ^ The servicemen in Vietnam were not reluctant conscripts. Draftees constituted 25% -- 648,500 -- of the 2.6 million American servicemen who served in Vietnam. (By contrast, 66% of U.S. forces in the Second World War were drafted.) Draftees accounted for 27% -- 15,404 -- of combat deaths in Vietnam. ^ They were not disproportionately nonwhite. Whites made up NAM VET Newsletter Page 28 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 88.4% of the forces in Vietnam. Whites accounted for 86.3% of the deaths in Vietnam. Blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam as a time when blacks of military age were 13.5% of the total population. ^ The soldiers in Vietnam were not drawn from the poor: 76% of the troops came from lower middle or working class backgrounds. ^ Nor were they ignorant. High school educations or better had been attained by 79% of the men sent to Vietnam, making this the most educated armed force fielded by America up until that time. ^ They did not disgrace themselves during their service to their country. Honorable discharges were earned by 97% of Vietnam- era veterans. ^ They did not crack up when they returned home. Surveys show 85% of the Vietnam veterans have made a successful transition to civilian life. Admittedly, 15% have indeed experienced varying degrees of emotional stress-but, by comparison, that less than half the rate of emotional stress suffered by veterans of World War II. According to a 1965 National Academy of Science study, fully one-third of 1941-1945 veterans suffered some neurotic problems. ^ Nor do they feel any shame for what they did in Vietnam. 91% of actual Vietnam War veterans and 90% of those who saw heavy combat tell pollsters that they are proud to have served their country. Vietnam veterans constitute more that 25% of the membership of each of the big three veterans organizations: the American Legion, the Disabled Americans Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. (The VFW has had two Vietnam vets as commanders-in-chief, and a third will assume that position in 1991-1992.) Simply put: The Vietnam War serviceman was not some sort of societal scum dredged from the bottom of a barrel. America sent some of it finest to Vietnam. The American public has finally begun to acknowledge this fact: According to an April 1990 Gallup Poll, 87% of the nation holds Vietnam veterans in high esteem. The question is, when will the country's opinion-makers do the same? NAM VET Newsletter Page 29 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 W W M M W W M M M M W W \ / M M M M OOOO W W W --*-- M M M IIII O O W W W W / \ M M II O O W W W W M M II O O W W M M II O O II PPPPPP O O ..... II AA PP PP OOOO . '' '' .. IIII A A PP PP ..' '.. A A PPPPPPP ..' ''. A A PP ..' '. AAAAAA PP .' ''. A A PP .' '. A A .' .:::::.. '. .' .::::::::::. ' .' .::::::::::::::. '. .' __ .::::::::::::::::;:... '. .' _- -_ .:::::::::::::::::::::::. '. .' _-_ _ _ -_ ::::::::::::::::::::::::' '. .. _- -!!___!!!-_:::::::::::::::::::::::. .. .' ==_ _- _= .:::::::::::::::::::::::: ', . =-_= _= = :::::::::::::::::::::::: . .' =-_ =_- = ::::::::::::::::::::::: '. .' = - -_ =_:::::::::::::::::::::. '. .' -_ -_- .:::::::::::::::::::;;;. '. .' _-_ ..::::::::::::::::::::::::; '. . _ _ .:;:::::::::::::::::::::;, . ' _ .:::::::::::::::::::::::::. '. Y .'.....::::::::::::::::::::::::::;' '. N ::::::::::::::::::::::::' `''' ': O `::::::::::::::::::::::: \v/ \ / :'E `:::::::::::::::::::::: =========================== :' U `:::::::::::::::::::::. /^\ \ :'T `:::::::::::::::::::: .: A `:::::::::::::::::: .:'T `::::::::::::::::::. .;' R `:::::::::::::::::. .;' T `::::::::::::::::. .;' E `:::::::::gjp::: .:' O `:::::::::::::...........'' G N O T F O R " Bring them home --- NOW !!! " NAM VET Newsletter Page 30 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Not THIS time! by Glenn Drohan 1/22/1991 Berkshire Eagle - Pittsfield, MA Input by G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 NORTH ADAMS -- "When it first started, I could hear automatic cannon fire - sounds I haven't heard for a long time," said Paul Markarian. "It stirred some old memories. It was like, "On, no, not again.'" Markarian, who served one year as a combat infantryman in Vietnam, was one of about 20 members of the Hoosac Valley chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America who stayed to watch news of the Persian Gulf war on the Cable News Network last night after a monthly meeting at Fire Base Trentino. Most of them said they have been glued to their television sets since the war began. They expressed differing reactions - regret that economic sanctions hadn't been continued, jubilation that America had "done the right thing," appreciation over what might happen in a ground war. 'BRINGS BACK THE TRAUMA' All agreed on one thing: This war stirs up memories, but it is nothing like Vietnam. "There's no trees to hide behind, for one thing," joked Eugene "Skip" Lyons, a helicopter pilot who was shot down and wounded. "It brings back the trauma of the war to a lot of Vietnam vets, when you see it," said Carl Wright, who served a year with the Seabees. "It's like somebody punching you in the stomach. When I got asked up, it was like my whole world crumbled." "The equipment is a lot more sophisticated. We had nothing like they have now," said Michael Chalifoux, a former combat infantryman. "Another thing I can't believe is these CNN reporters looking out the window in the Baghdad hotel and saying things like, "The TV tower is still standing, and over here there's artillery left intact.'" he said. "They were acting as forward observers. I couldn't believe they were broadcasting over the air and telling the world what was going on." "Vietnam was the '6 O-Clock War.' This will be the 'Instant War,' the 'TV War.' We're seeing it as it happens. It's amazing," said Lyons. "Is this going to go on for six months, day after day after day?" asked Chalifoux. "Is CNN going to be the War Station?" DUDS, NOT SCUDS "It's just in time to give the Hollywood moguls a whole new series of movies. They were running out of material from Vietnam," said Lyons. The men laughed and joked and sometimes debated as CNN reports continued. "Scuds should have been called Duds," said William Bradley, chapter president, after news that another Iraqi missile had fallen short of its target. "I've got a son, an Apache helicopter mechanic in North Carolina. He's pretty close to going over," said one man. His comment led the group to a question: "If you had a choice, would NAM VET Newsletter Page 31 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 you serve again? Would you go to this war instead of having your kids go?" Everyone said yes. "Definitely." "No question in my mind." "There's no choice at all." Later, the talk turned to protesters. "They don't bug me, as long as they don't break the law. As long as they're not burning flags or turning over police cars or beating each other up," said Michael Putnam, a Vietnam-era veteran who served stateside. All of the others agreed. "Protesters are protesting the war, but when they protest the military, they just have the wrong target," said Bradley. "The politicians are the ones they should protest." "If they had their way, we never would have gotten into World War II, and we'd all be speaking German today," said Lyons. "Nobody hates war more than a soldier, but freedom has its price. There are things worth fighting and dying for." Whether or not they agreed this war is worth fighting and dying for, they all were united in their support for the allied troops that will be doing the fighting and dying. "In Vietnam, people confused the warrior with the war. I hope they don't do that here," said Markarian. NAM VET Newsletter Page 32 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 ================================================================= In-Touch ================================================================= It's Not Finished Yet By: Ed Henry From: Among Friends - a FVVM Publication In October (1989) I began a new endeavor with The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. For the past year the organization has manned an assistance booth near the Memorial. Bob Evans, a founding member of VVA Chapter 227, has established himself at the booth and he's been doing an outstanding job of meeting the public, answering the myriad of questions surrounding the Wall - and the war. Bob and I have worked on many Vietnam-related projects so he asked me to come down to the Memorial grounds and help him out. For those of you who have the privilege of knowing Bob, and I know there are many out there, you know what kind of sensitive bearing he can bring to this solemn place. Bob will let you know right up front about how he feel about the Vietnam war and what it did to him and his brother and sister vets. He bears the scars of it on his face, and in his heart. He nearly died in the A Shau Valley when an NVA bullet ripped through his lower jaw. His story really begins after that horrendous incident, and he has shared it widely with high school and university audiences and he shares it now with the multitudes of visitors at the wall. He never preaches, he doesn't proselytize. He only answers when asked about the events that have shaped his live as a Vietnam veteran. He is especially good with the younger generation. Always patient, he expresses a special need to assist the families and loved ones of those who are now memorialized on the black facade. One particularly beautiful October day I was with Bob at the booth near the Lincoln Memorial and that day the crowds were fairly heavy. The site is near the TourMobile stop and it can be an interesting day spent just watching all the various nationalities and tourists go by. The kids come noisily with not much understanding of the events surrounding this monument. The foreigners approach it with an interested curiosity. The families of the men and women whose names are on the Wall approach it with great solemnity and silence. They also come with anger and bitterness harbored too long. They come with questions that have tugged at their lives since the day they got the news that someone was no longer in their lives. On this day, Bob and I were standing there talking about nothing in particular when three or four women strode abruptly up to our table and practically yelled "It isn't finished yet!" in our faces. Bob and I just looked at each other and then we looked at the women. They were about my mother's age, and I felt like a son who had just gone a bit too far with the amount of cookies he'd had that afternoon. Bob spoke first with the ever brilliant and diplomatic "May I help you?" I chimed in with something as equally brilliant: "Excuse me, but what did you say?" She said "It isn't finished yet. It's just not done. I don't like it. It needs something more - a flag or something. Just something to make it not look so plain. The names are just startling, and stark. What do you think about it? Do you agree NAM VET Newsletter Page 33 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 with me?" After one great big pregnant pause I decided to break the ice with introductions all around. Her name was Marie Nissen and she and her friends were visiting from Waterloo, Iowa. She asked if we were Vietnam veterans and we nodded our heads. We don't wear fatigues down there. We don't promote the fact that we are vets and that in and of itself has a calming effect on the public. Bob immediately dove right in with an explanation of the design of the Memorial; how Maya Lin wanted the names above anything else to be the focus of her design. Both of us talked at length about what the Memorial meant to us as vets, and what it means to other vets and the thousands of families who have been touched by the war. Mrs. Nissen's persistence continued. She probed and questioned us about this and that and how we felt about the war and its aftermath. We soon found ourselves embroiled in a 45 minute historical-psychological-political discussion that involved the geo-politics of twenty or thirty nations. In the end she said, "Yes. But it's not finished YET!" Bob and I laughed. The women from Waterloo laughed. It dawned on me that this provocation was taking on a profound magnitude. The lady from Waterloo taught me a lesson that day. While she and Bob talked, and I thought about it, her every word was correct in the concept. I finally said, "You're right. You're brilliant. In your one little statement you've summed up the whole of the situation. This Memorial isn't finished and may never be finished. The war isn't finished and that may never be finished, either. The aftermath isn't finished yet. We veterans of the war aren't finished yet in what we have to do with ourselves and the rest of the population that's been affected by the war. In summation, Mrs. Nissen, nothing was finished from this thing we called the Vietnam War and discussions about it may never get finished. As a matter of fact, Mrs. Nissen, because of your discussion, I'm off to write an article about all this unfinished business we have on our hands as Vietnam veterans. And when people tell me to go away as a Vietnam veteran and stop talking about the war and its aftermath, I'll mention your name and tell them that a woman from Iowa told me it wasn't finished yet!" Bob just nodded in agreement and embarrassment, being the saint that he is. I felt like giving Mrs. Nissen and her friends a big hug. I felt renewed and enlightened through this simple conversation with the visiting heartlanders. I thank you, Mrs. Nissen, for the lesson you taught me that day. My own process of daily insight isn't finished either. God bless you, Mrs. Nissen, and all the rest of your generation. We have so much to learn from people like you, if we would only take the time to listen - closely. As a Vietnam veteran, I have a long road ahead of me in trying to finish this thing. NAM VET Newsletter Page 34 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 In-Touch. What is it ??? Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau NAM VETs IN-TOUCH Section Editor Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA (703) 471-8010 ================================================================= |+++++++++++++++++++++++++ IN TOUCH ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++| | There are some 43 million people in the United States whose | | lives were directly and irrevocably touched by the Vietnam | | War. | | | | Almost four million people served in Vietnam -- the longest, | | and perhaps most difficult, war in our history. More than a | | quarter of a million were seriously wounded. 58,175 are dead | | or missing. | | | | Each of those who returned recognizes the true cost of war. | | But so too do the families and friends, wives and lovers of | | those listed on the Wall. They too paid a tremendous price, | | not always recognized... many still do. | | | | Though twenty years have passed, it seems that is the period | | people have needed to get the distance necessary to begin to | | address the unresolved, deeply personal issues that have | | been haunting them since the war. Perhaps that is a measure | | of the pain. | | | | But, the "healing of a nation" that was intended by the | | building of the Memorial, has begun. | | | | In the office of the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans | | Memorial, we hear them on the other end of the phone on | | any given day, and far into the night, they call from all | | corners of the country. | | | | "If only I could find out..." | | "I need to find his family so I can keep my promise..." | | "I just want to talk to someone who was with him... " | | "Please, can you help...?" | | | | At the Wall, we find them every day. Veterans who have not | | spoken of their experiences even to their most intimate | | family members are now beginning, tentatively, to seek a | | responsive ear. | | | | Brothers and sisters, parents and even wives who were simply | | never allowed full expression of their grief because of the | | fierce pressures of the time, are now coming forward, | | looking for someone who can help with their healing. | | | | We hear from children, now 15 - 25 years old, who are | | searching for bits and pieces of information they can | | assemble to help fill that empty place in their lives that | | is the father they never knew well, if at all. And they want | | to talk to each other, to share their special needs and the | | unique experience of growing up with a father on the Wall. | | They understand each other all too well. | NAM VET Newsletter Page 35 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 | | | Millions of Americans need to meet and talk because of the | | Wall, and only the Friends can help them. | | | | Initial discussions with many other national organizations | | whose work brings them into contact with Vietnam veterans | | and their loved ones have attested to the need for IN TOUCH | | and their willingness to help. | | | | Simply put, the Friends will draw on its special work at the | | Memorial, its acquired and available data bases and | | programs designed and integrated by Electronic Data Systems | | (EDS), and the commitment and concern of its volunteers to | | place people with a common association to a name on the Wall | | to be in voluntary communication with each other. | | | | From there, we will let human nature take its good course. | | And let the healing begin. | | | | The starting point for the data base will be the more than | | twenty thousand names of people who have requested name | | rubbings from our volunteers in Washington. Each will be | | contacted and given the opportunity to participate by being | | listed in the IN TOUCH central data base file. | | | | Confidentiality is the keyword to cooperation and IN TOUCH | | will respect the integrity of all lists and records. Lists | | will be unavailable for public use and will not be | | distributed for any commercial purpose. | | | | By its nature, IN TOUCH must reach far beyond the veterans | | community in order to be successful. With professional | | guidance, the Friends will develop a program of on-going | | articles and other coverage in major media markets, high- | | lighting the personal experiences of people as they are put | | "in touch." The International Vietnam Veterans Echo | | Conference via the Herndon Byte eXchange 1:109/316 node as | | the enter point for gathering and disseminating information | | will be used. Aside from bringing the program into public | | awareness, these articles and stories will serve as a val- | | uable tool for public education on a wealth of matters | | relating to the Vietnam era. | | | | As a preliminary test of the IN TOUCH project, the Friends | | has implemented a pilot project to test the design and | | demands of such a program. Several hundred requests with | | full background information have been entered into a system | | designed to match requestor data with the existing Memorial | | data. Even with such a small sample, limited data and a | | fairly unsophisticated cross-indexing system, matches have | | been made and IN TOUCH has produced its first real | | connections. The results have been as profoundly moving for | | the participants as expected. And as gratifying for the | | Friends. | | | | But it was clear that the information management system and | | the supporting hardware system would have to be more power- | | ful and more complex in order to handle thousands, perhaps | | hundreds of thousands, of requests. Confidentiality of the | NAM VET Newsletter Page 36 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 | system and information must be paramount. | | | | With well over 2,000 Vietnam veterans, Electronic Data | | Systems (EDS) became involved and has been generous in its | | assistance with designing the data management systems which | | will be critical to a successful program. The Friends have | | reached a three-year working agreement with EDS which | | promises continuity and maximum potential for success in | | building an information bank that can truly help people in | | their search for others who knew a loved one. | | | | The Friends are delighted that Bob Hope has agreed to make | | a public service announcement which we can use on radio and | | television to help get the word out to the public on the | | availability of the service. | | | | The Friends are also pleased to note that Hewlett Packard, | | Zenith Data Systems, Borland International, FASTCOMM | | Communications Corporation and the First National Bank of | | Chicago have all contributed computer equipment, computer | | software, and office equipment to the project, so they are | | beginning to feel fully functional. | | | | The Friends hear from people who have long been living with | | the pain of loss and looking for a way to heal. For | | instance, the Friends recently received a letter from a | | woman who wrote: | | | | Dear Friends: | | For quite some time I have been searching for a | | way to know my brother. It seems hopeless at times. | | I was 12 when he was killed... I had waited for the | | day he would come back to us. He never did. A part | | of me will always be 12 and continue to wait. | | Thank you for giving me hope that there may be | | a way to find him and bring him home to my heart..." | | | | + + + | | | | The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial | | Electronic Data Systems | | Herndon Byte eXchange TCOMMnet BBS 1:109/316 | | | |+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++| NAM VET Newsletter Page 37 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 IN-TOUCH Registration/Request Form Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau NAM VETs IN-TOUCH Section Editor Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA (703) 471-8010 THIS FORM REQUIRES SIGNATURE FOR CONFIDENTIALITY RELEASE PLEASE READ BELOW ------------------------------------------------------------------ I wish to be IN TOUCH with (Please circle and/or comment) Family, Friends and/or Fellow Veterans of the following: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ----------- PERSON WHO DID NOT COME BACK FROM VIETNAM ------------ First Name_____________ Middle Name___________ Last Name__________ Relationship to You and/or Reason for Request (Answer as fully as possible)_____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ================================================================== -------- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT HIM/HER - IF KNOWN --------- Rank_______ Birth Date ______________ Soc. Sec. # ________________ Tour Date of Birth _______________ Where Buried __________________ Branch of Service: AR__ NA__ AF__ MC__ CG__ RC__ CIV__ (Fill in his/her equivalent unit designations in the spaces below) Division ____________ Brigade ___________ Battalion ______________ Regiment ____________ Company ___________ Ship ___________________ Battles:__________________________________________________________ Locations:________________________________________________________ Nicknames:________________________________________________________ Hometown (while in Nam): ____________________ Home State: ________ ================================================================== ---------------------- INFORMATION ABOUT YOU --------------------- Title___ First Name ____________ Middle/Maiden Name _____________ Last Name ____________________ Address___________________________________________________________ City __________________________________ State ____ Zip: _____-____ Your Home Phone ( ) ____________ Work Phone: ( ) ____________ ---------------- IF YOU ARE A VIETNAM-ERA VETERAN ---------------- Tour date _______________________________ Rank __________________ Branch of Service: AR__ NA __ AF __ MC __ CG __ RC __ CIV __ Fill in your equivalent unit designations in the spaces below Division: __________ Brigade: ___________ Battalion: ___________ Regiment: __________ Company: ___________ Ship: ________________ Battles: _________________________________________________________ Locations: _______________________________________________________ Nicknames: _______________________________________________________ Hometown (when in VN) _______________________ Home State: ________ Comments: ________________________________________________________ NAM VET Newsletter Page 38 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT _____ I give permission to the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to release my name, address, phone number and relationship to other participants in the IN TOUCH project seeking information on the individual above (strike out phone number if you do not want it released). OR _____ I would like to have the names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons who knew my friend or relative, but prefer NOT to have my name, address, and phone number released. I hereby release the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from any and all liability that may arise from the operation of the IN TOUCH project. Signature ____________________________________ Date _____________ NOTE: Do not electronically transmit this form, instead mail to: Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 1350 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036 ----------------------------------------------------------------- NAM VET Newsletter Page 39 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 ================================================================= The NamVet Chapel ================================================================= To Any Soldier... In The Indianapolis News Input by Marty Schuch ATTEL BBs - Brazil, IN (812) 442-5354 I saw this letter in the Indianapolis News and thought I would share it here: =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= To Any Soldier: They said, "Write to any soldier," but you are not just any soldier. You are an American soldier. Even though I don't know you personally, I know you in my heart. You are someone's wife, husband, mother, father, son or daughter, and for that reason I know you. I know you are defending everything America believes in --- peace. We are glued to the television, afraid we might miss the latest update or the chance to sneak a glimpse of a loved one. The newspapers have become our photo albums of your trip to the Persian Gulf. Many of us live with lumps in our throats and tears in our eyes. The goodbyes get harder, and the days seem to get longer and longer. Yellow ribbons decorate our houses all across the U.S.A. Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and children of all ages wear the patriotic red, white and blue. The American flag has become our favorite team pennant, and you our most valuable team player. We give many thanks for your efforts in the Gulf. But we pray many prayers for your safe return home. You are our country's pride and joy, and you are our heroes. If we could wrap all of our love and support in red, white and blue and send it to you, believe me, we would. They tell us they have sent the best troops the United States has to get the job done. We believe in you, so don't ever doubt us. We love you and miss you very much. Come home soon. God bless you, American soldier. Lori Jo Simpson Indianapolis =*=*=*=*=*= /\/\arty NAM VET Newsletter Page 40 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 Deliverance Input by: Dale Malone Midas Touch BBS - Orlando, FL (407) 648-1133 You stand for principles that bring a lump to my throat I have travelled this globe in support of your pure motives I trod the sands of San Angelo Texas The wrinkle in time called Karamursel Turkey I sipped the solitude of Shemya Alaska The backward deep southerness of Biloxi Mississippi Isolated Misawa in the steppes of Northern Japan The screaming winds of remote Wakkanai on The tip of Hokkaido, where you can Almost throw a rock and hit Russian soil On the "hill" at Osan Korea In sleepy Guam where Agana was "excitement" In a tankers belly out of Kadena Okinawa Triple play in Saigon, at busy Tan San Nhut With choppers from the in-country R&R and 3rd Field Hospital Whomping day and night, and 100,000 candlepower flares Lighting the night, and "Patches" Spraying the wee morning hours with kerosene blended poisons Accompanied by the heart stopping blast of her twin propellers Less than 200 feet above my sweat sogged bed Singular lines of steel death from "Shadow" and "Spooky" Redistributing my pay in Bangkok's bars In Manila, watching the "students" storm the Embassy Flying with no tower controller into wonderful CCK, Taiwan Listening on the tactical freq's as brothers Play deadly tag with AAA and SAM's along the Ho Chi Minh Trail Sweltering in Udorn whilst the lumbering, heavily laden B-52's Spewed volumes of black smoke as they Trundled down the runway, bristling with ordinance In places I could hardly spell like Nakon Phanom With a "downtown" shared by bordering Laos The cool evenings of the Highlands of Pleiku Spectating at ping-pong while the swing Shift sights in and clears their weapons TDY's to Nha Trang, Dalat, Phu Cat, Vung Tau, Da Nang Long Binh, Bien Hoa, Cam Rahn Bay, other's, now forgotten But not the unforgettable Phu Bai where first I experienced The noxious greasy smoke of feces incinerators Centuries later, back in America, My rusted and time-worn armor put away I am confronted by those that Would desecrate your magnificence by burning you in protest Playing up to the toadies of the unsuspecting media Salty tears blur my vision, a crimson rage, gnawing at my heart Then your regal voice whispers to me: "Be at ease my stalwart, unknowingly, these Philistines Proffer me reverence, and deliver me from this Shocking disgrace with full honors as they Retire me by fire and bring surcease to my travails." I sit in mute, stunned surprise Affirming in my inner soul That the flag's spirit has indeed uttered the truth. 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IIXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXpX The Vietnam Veteran XII IIXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX has relatives in the III IIIXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX Old and New Testaments III IIIXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX who also experienced loss II IIXXXXXXXXX XXX and grief, guilt and shame, II IIXXXXXXXXX XX rejection and betrayal, I IXXXXXXXXX alienation and estrangement, I IXXXX XX isolation and withdrawal. II IIXXXX II IIX Adam and Eve tried to hide from God; II II Moses, born Hebrew and raised Egyptian IIII IIII searched long and hard for his real self; II II Job, losing his children and all he owned, II II became sorely diseased; IIII III Biblical Joseph was rejected by his brothers, II II lied about and imprisoned; I Peter denied Jesus. II I "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" Matthew 28:20 NAM VET Newsletter Page 42 Volume 5, Number 2 February 28, 1991 ================================================================= Federal Veteran Service