Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 . __ . . -*- N A M V E T -*- ____/ \_ . . ( * \ . . Managing Editor \ Quangtri . . ---------------- \_/\ \_ Hue . . G. Joseph Peck \_Ashau Phu Bai . . \_* \_ . . Distribution Manager \ * ) . . -------------------- _/ Danang . . Jerry Hindle \|/ ( \_*Chu Lai . . --*-- \_ ------- \__ . . Section Editors /|\ \_ I Corps \ . . --------------- \ ------- ! . . IN-TOUCH: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau /\_____ ! . . INCARCERATED VETS: Joyce Flory / ! \ . . VETERAN BENEFITS: Jim Hildwine ! !___ \ . . VETERAN EMPLOYMENT: Fred Sochacki ! \/\____! . . KEEPER OF THE LIST: Joyce Flory ! ! . . GUEST CHAPLAIN: Rev. Mike Harris / Dak To ! . . / * / . . ! \_ . . ! 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 . . ! __/ NamVet's contributors or Section Editors. . . \_/ gjp . . . NamVet Newsletter Page i Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 ================================================================== T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1. From US to YOU Meanings... .............................................. 1 Copyright Notice ......................................... 3 2. Troubled Nation!?! Loss of the Training Wheels .............................. 4 Historic Irony ........................................... 5 Stay Away, Bill .......................................... 6 Stay Away, Bill - Part 2 ................................. 7 Things in the mind ....................................... 9 Remember? ................................................ 11 Veteran Organization Supports Ban on Gays In The Military 12 50 Promises - 50 States .................................. 14 Because .................................................. 22 3. Article Submission NamVet Article Submission Guidelines ..................... 24 4. Don't drink the water! Agent Orange - the costs! ................................ 27 Break out the Clearasil ! ............................ 32 5. NamVet's Electronic Chapel Mike & Connie Harris - Laos .............................. 33 The Electronic Chapel .................................... 34 Four Chaplains = Brotherhood ............................. 35 6. Drums be not Silent MIA - Frank C. Elkins .................................... 37 They haven't forgotten US!!! ............................. 50 7. Veteran Organizations The Non-Commissioned Officers Association ................ 51 Veterans Consolidated Rights Association ................. 55 Vietnam Veterans Against The War - WHERE, WHO & WHO ...... 57 8. In-Touch Its not finished; its not EVER over! ..................... 58 Institute for the Study of American Wars ................. 60 9. Close to home Thanks to the Moms Who Also Served ....................... 62 Dreams to Share .......................................... 64 Depression - What you need to know ....................... 65 Forgotten ................................................ 71 10. Sister Vets VWMP's Sister Search ..................................... 73 Monumental Difference .................................... 74 VWMP's Sister Search Form ................................ 75 NamVet Newsletter Page ii Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 11. Serving our veterans! DVA Establishes Women's Division at PTSD Center .......... 76 Veterans' Memorials In-Progress .......................... 77 Homeless Vets "Stand Down" ............................... 78 12. Forgotten - again? Incarcerated Vets and Veterans of the Vietnam War ........ 80 A visit or note once in awhile? .......................... 82 V.V.A. "Adopt-A-Vet" Program (AVP) ....................... 83 13. IVVEC Phonebook The IVVEC PhoneBook ...................................... 90 14. VETLink << SPOTLIGHT >> VETLink available to all vets at VA Medical Center ....... 97 NamVet Distribution Survey Form .......................... 99 Some Gave All... ......................................... 100 NamVet Newsletter Page iii Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 ================================================================== From US to YOU ================================================================== by G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Where to start, where to start? Things have been goin' on so hectic-like up here that even tryin' to slow down or rest a little bit brings on a good case of the ol' guilty's ... knowin' that in my slowing down or resting SOMETHING is NOT getting done that is long, long overdue! The days when my ONLY computer-focus was oriented on VIETNAM_VETS and creating the NamVet's. THOSE were the days ... "I" remember them... SURE I do When "NamVet" began 11/11/87, it was an exciting, exciting project for all of us involved in its creation and publication. Submissions by you, the contributor, went flying back an' forth across America between Todd Looney, NamVet's Co-creator and Editor, and myself and we checked, checked and re-checked for spelling, format, "would this be appropriate if it ended up in a youngster's schoolroom," "Hey! I've gotta reformat this whole thing! They sent it in justified! Arghhhh!" ... "I" remember those days ... SURE I do VETLink #1 ... its goals were to make all the obtainable veteran- related information available for anyone and any time of the day or night and to BE for others what seemed to be missing in those 9-to-5 government offices. VETLink #1 now has 36 others to join it ... And, wouldya believe, there's a real honest-to-goodness VETNet (Zone 19:) for computer communication amongst all veterans and their families in which all the VETLinks participate? I remember the days of VETLink #1 ... SURE I do Failed hard disks; computer parts up in smoke; things donated just to help us keep going - and our veteran commUNITY pulled together and helped keep VETLink #1 on-line. More recently (Thanx Bob!) someone called and asked if VETLink #1 could be down for about an hour or so so that he and his friend could do something to it. "Why?" I asked. "Surprise," the caller said, "You'll see." Two hours later (it took 'em a half-hour to get here), VETLink #1 was running on a 486 motherboard! Few weeks later (Thanx Sarge!), postman said I had to sign for some important mail. MEMORY for the 486 motherboard! Little-by-little, VETLink #1 is catchin' up with all the rest of you folks ... an' 1985 visions of a Commodore 64 set aside so's I could install a new 4.7mhz XT computer flashed through my head as I remembered the original VETLink #1. I remember those days ... SURE I do You folks have been good to me ... can I try to do anything less than be the same to you? Ain't NO way! As you might well tell by the rest of this month's issue, there's quite a number of controversies going on: the somewhat-permanent battle with the [D]VA to obtain the services and healthcare America PROMISED her veterans (and they rightfully EARNED) when they went off to defend her and her principles; there's concerns NamVet Newsletter Page 1 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 surrounding the fibre of our country's President and attempts at changing the make-up (that's NOT makeup!) of today's military. Wanna have some fun? Come stay with me for a little bit; watch the various forms of mail come in (NETMail/EchoMail via computer; packages an' letters via SnailMail); listen to some of the telephone calls I get at all hours of the day and night -- and try to put out a balanced NamVet that will try to address the concerns of ALL our readers in just one issue! Now THAT's a challenge - but one I'm deeply grateful for. You're special people - each and every one of you! In this month's issue, too, you'll see our first << SPOTLIGHT >> on a VETLink BBS - Bob Wieters's VETLink #16. Robert "Bob" Johnson, member of EVAC's Board of Directors and SysOp of VETLink #11 will soon be givin' us more and more about each an' every one of our VETLink's - they're GREAT people to know! MISSING this month is YOUR contribution to NamVet! I'm really goin' ape-shoot tryin' to just keep-even with all that we've now grown into and just do NOT have the time like I used to to go snooping through all the newspapers, magazines, veteran newsletters an' things to get information that's important to ALL of us. Please watch the VIETNAM_VETS EchoConference for details on HOW to get your submission to us. Hey! Got some ideas on how we can streamline production and consistently be able to get it produced EVERY month on-time and in-time? Got some help you'd wanna offer? Call me VOICE (during normal EST business hours please at 413-442-1660 or you can NETMAIL me at either VETLink #1 or VETLink #20 - or ya can even log on HUMAN an' leave a message . Well... since the clock's a tickin' away and so many, many of you are askin' "Where's the NamVet?" I'd better get m' hieney in gear and get this thing off-the-press ... 'til next issue... Show a brother or sister veteran That YOU care!! Ci'ao for Ni'ao - Joe - NamVet Newsletter Page 2 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 > * - Copyright Notice - * ____/~~\_ < < ( * \ > > Prepared by G. Joseph Peck \ Quangtri < < NamVet Project \_/\ \_ Hue > > Electronic Veterans' Centers of \_Ashau Phu Bai < < America Corporation (EVAC) \_* \_ > > Copyright 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, \_ * ) < < 1991, 1992, 1993 _/ Danang > > ( \_*Chu Lai < < All rights reserved. \_ ------- \__ > > \_ I Corps \ < < NamVet is a collective volunteer \ ------- ! > > effort comprised of articles and /\_____ ! < < items sharing veteran-related news, / ! \ > > experiences and resources amongst ! !___ \ < < veterans, their family members, ! \/\____! > > concerned others and health, ! ! < < educational and correctional / Dak To ! > > institutions. / * / < < ! \_ > > ! Phu Cat\ < < Segments of this newsletter may be \ * * ) > > excerpted for counseling, self- \ Pleiku ) < < help, dissemination amongst veteran \ \ > > organizations and groups, and for / / < < scholarly purposes without further ( -------- ! > > permission; it is requested only _\ II Corps ! < < that proper credit be given to the / -------- \ > > author of a particular article and \ \ < < the contributor who submitted it. ! * / > > _/ Nhatrang / < < Any other use requires the _/ / > > written authorization of __/ ! < < _ __/ \ ! > > Electronic Veterans'___( )/ ! Camranh Bay < < Centers of / !__ ! > > America / \ / < < Corporation \ Bien Hoa \ / > > (EVAC) ! Chu Chi * \ __/ < < \_ * --------- \ ___/ > > . ____ \ III Corps \ _/ < < / \_____) )_(_ --------- !__/ > > ! ( ___/ < < _____! \__ * ___/ > > ! Saigon/ < < \___ -------- / \/ > > \ IV Corps / < < ) -------- / CONTACT: > > / ! Electronic Veterans' Centers of < < / ____/ America Corporation (EVAC) > > / Mekong/ ATTN: G. Joseph Peck < < ! Delta/ Managing Editor - NamVet > > ! ____/ Post Office Box 2056 < < ! / Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01202 > < ! / VOICE: (413) 442-1660 < < ! __/ > < \_/ gjp < NamVet Newsletter Page 3 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 ================================================================== Troubled Nation!?! ================================================================== Loss of the Training Wheels by NamVet Newsletter Page 4 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 Veterans Consolidated Rights Association 197 Honeysuckle Drive (318) 396-7685 * FAX (318) 396-2758 February 8, 1993 Letter to the Editor: Fighting was heavy for the allies in 1944 when, in August, Pvt. Eddie D. Slovik, 24 years old, of Chicago, arrived at Omahu Beach, assigned to "G" Company, 109th Infantry, 28th Division. Company "G" almost immediately ran into heavy artillery fire and had to stop and dig in. When his platoon continued on, a frightened Slovik remained in his foxhole. When discovered, he was placed under arrest and ordered to stand ready for Court Martial. The charge: Avoidance of Hazardous Duty. Slovik's trial, held on Nov. 11, 1944, lasted one hour and forty minutes. He was found guilty as charged. The sentence: to be dishonorably discharged from service; to forfeit all pay and allowances due or to become due; and to be shot to death with musketry. Both verdict and sentence were upheld by General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, Allied Forces in Europe. Private Slovik was executed by a military firing squad in the Vosges Mountains of Northwest France in January of 1945. He had entered Service in 1943 via the draft. In 1968 and 1969, the Vietnam War was at its height. Young Americans were running off to Canada and other Countries to escape the draft. The use of marijuana, together with uppers, downers, and hard drugs, was on the rise. College students publicly burned their draft cards and participated in campus riots. Peace marches and open dissent were increasing in America and abroad. The goal of these protestors: avoidance [of] hazardous duty. A member of this group was inaugurated as the 42th President of the United States on January 20, 1993. This individual will automatically become Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces, almost 48 years to the day following the execution of Pvt. Slovik. What a tragic irony! Elzie (Sonny) Fitzgerald President V.C.R.A. NamVet Newsletter Page 5 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 Stay Away, Bill by Bill Geertsen VETLInk #17 - Baltimore, Maryland (410) 866-8613 Heard a great song today (in my opinion). 2/2/93. Grappling with the JFX this a.m., Tom Marr on WCBM, AM680, played a song by a Baltimorean called "Stay Away From The Wall." It was tasteful but very clear in its' message. The Wall is a sacred place Mr. Clinton stay away from it on Memorial Day. I'm trying to get a copy of the tape. If anyone is interested, the singer is John K. Russel, phone# (717)-428-0122, that is somewhere in Pennsylvania. I heard the song after seeing Pres. Clinton ignore the salute of his Marine guard and began to feel that here is a man who does not belong at The Wall, especially on Memorial Day. It would be like Madeline Murray O'Hare walking into a High Christmas Mass at St. Patricks Cathedral in N.Y. Some of us consider the Wall to be a very sacred place, even the otherwise non-religious among us. Perhaps we honor our fallen brothers and pay homage (worship?) to the god of war, peace, freedom and liberty who so affected us all. I have great deal of trouble with the image of Pres. Clinton walking along The Wall among Vets, with his stupid grin and expressed dislike of the military, and pretending to honor us. I, personally, would be more honored if he stayed away as the song suggests. [Lyrics and "where to purchase" follow in next article] NamVet Newsletter Page 6 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 STAY AWAY FROM THE WALL by John K. Russell You led protests against our side, and that sure ain't no crime But when you were called, you turned away... you never served your time And those whose names are neatly carved so deep into that stone Served our flag and country proudly, something you have never known. *******(chorus verse)****** At the end of May, come Memorial Day, when parades come marchin down the mall Please go anywhere... we really don't care Just stay away from The wall *************************** When Tommy Jones was twenty one, he got his call to come Leave his dreams of life, his pregnant wife, and go to Viet-Nam His sacrifice was needed for our country's good they say And Tommy didn't want to go, but he didn't run away **********(chorus)********* We threw Tom a sendoff, and we drank ourselves blind I said for you to go and fight you must have lost your mind Tommy's laugh fell silent and he said without a smile If I've got to go I'll do my best, I'll see you in a while **********(chorus)********* Just a short while later, when Tom was finally home We gathered at his parish church to say goodbye again And we visit him from time to time around the end of May Just reach up and touch his name on that hallowed wall of fame **********(chorus)********* NamVet Newsletter Page 7 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 So now you are our leader and you want for us to say When you turned your back on your flag and us, that it should be okay Well Tommy Jones ain't here, or fifty thousand more And you should know though they had to go... they also hated war *************************** (chorus) (chorus) (chorus) *************************** To order a copy of the taped song and poem, send $6.00 ($5.00 for tape and $1.00 for p&h) to: John K. Russell, P.O. Box 286, Loganville, Pa. 17342-0286. A portion of John's proceeds from the tape sales will go to your favorite charity or Vet's group. I designated mine for: VVA Chapter 451, Baltimore, Md. [Note from Joe: Bill, I'm not doubting in the least John's sincerity or purity of purpose. Please, though, let us know if VVA Chapter 451 DOES receive its "portion of the proceeds." There are so MANY fund-raising and other groups around that *-promise-* to do similar things just to get the prospect to plunk down some $$$ - but don't. Exploiting the sacrifices and plight of some of our veteran brothers and sisters, some fund-raising organizations are reported to have KEPT 94-cents for every dollar they've collected! "Eternal Vigilance..." ] "Its a good idea to obey all the rules when you're young just so you'll have the strength to break them when you're old" -- Mark Twain NamVet Newsletter Page 8 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 Things in the Mind by Jim Hildwine NamVet's Veteran Benefits Section Editor VETLink #4 - Shady Side, MD (Via VETLink #1) For we the living, the process of healing of the Vietnam War has been one of slowness. To a major factor of us, the war was the past and shall be the past. For others the war, tho 20 years plus ago, will always be present in our minds and hearts. For our fallen comrades the mental pain of living is not an aspect they the dead have to contend with. For they now have met their maker and are at peace somewhere in the spirit of the universe. For us the living, the lost part of self remains at some Fire Support Base, Base Camp, or in a rice paddy so far from here. For we the living are the one's who now carry the message. Some of us returned and were able to adjust and go on with life. For many thousands of others, yesterday is still today, and the war, tho over in the physical sense, is still a reality to us in the purest sense of the living mind and its memories of the past projected from the past to today and future days to come. Many thousands of us carry the physical scars and pains from days gone past, and yet many more also carry the mental scars that seem to fester themselves in the forms of alcoholism, drug addiction, failed marriage, broken friendships, and a loss of one's own esteem. Many of my fallen brothers where there out of pick of a number, and were called "US's" - and many of those "US" service numbers did not return from the Nam. But, looking back, I can see the faces, hear the words and the smells, sights, and sounds. For I can truly say, I never heard a "US" say I don't want to be HERE. maybe not spoken, but more-or-less felt in those times. Someday the Vietnam Vet of the in country war will die. I'm speaking of those of my brothers who where in Southeast Asia. But the day will arrive when on the nighty news a thirty second spot will be read something like this. "Today, the last sole surviving Vietnam Vet has died." His name was blank, blank, and was from blank blank." ... I say that the day the last Nam Vet dies his name should be entered on The Wall as he was the end as the sole bearer of pain, depression and, at times, rejection. Yes my brothers and sisters, someday one and only one of us will be the sole survivor of the Vietnam War. We the living and those of us that survived must continue to go forward. For with us the last true battle of war was fought. We the few the proud and living are the pages of our countries past. For within us we hold deep-running pains, and deep-rooted resentments of our Government's failure to help as in our time of need. So in a few days a new President will be sworn in. He may look toward us for counsel, and promise to improve those things we've heard for years. May the next four years be the most productive and helping than those of the past. Let us - or we - the Vets NamVet Newsletter Page 9 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 have a true priority in this government for helping us, the still- stricken, with this unbearable healing process. May 1993 be the year Veterans are treated as a national treasure and not as national headache. I pray my bothers in sisters these coming months bring the so badly needed changes in both the healthcare system and in the court systems to awarding us our rightfully gained deserves, and paid for in pain. For some of us there is HOPE, and for many the trust must be established with "Walking your talk and not talking your walk." For this country owes 58,000 dead the respect - and 6 million or so the due process of their service to our country. May God bring better things in the months to come. JJH.Jr Retired USA "I am in earnest; I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard." -= William Lloyd Garrison NamVet Newsletter Page 10 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 . =DMZ= Camp Carroll__Con Thien =DMZ= . . |___/ \_ Quang Tri . . Khe (| * * \ . . Sanh-/\* * Dong \Camp Evans . . (Hawk \_/\ Ha *\_ Hue . . LZ) / \_ \Phu Bai . . Cam Lo \_Bastogne\_ . . \ An. )Da Nang . . / Hoa \ (Marble . . ( ------- \_Mountain) . . \ I CORPS \__ . . \------ Hoi \ Chu Lai . . \ An ! . . /\_____ ! . . / ! Duc \ . . ! Ben !___ Pho\ . . ! Het \/\____! . . ! !English LZ. . / Pleiku ! Bong . . / Camp / Son . . V I E T N A M ! Holloway Happy \_Hammond . . ! Camp Valley \ LZ . . \ Enarl An Khe ) . . \ Qui) . . \ \ Nhon\ . . / Oasis / . . ( ! . . _\ -------- ! . . / II CORPS Tuy\ . . \ -------- Hoa \ . . ! / . . _/Ban Me / . . --------- _/ Thuot Nha / . . III CORPS Song Be_/ Trang! . . --------\Quan Loi __/ \ ! . . Katum\_____( )/An Loc! Dong Ba ! . . /Dau Loc Ninh!__ Thin ! Cam . . Tay /Tieng \ / Ranh . . Ninh\ Phu Phuoc Yinh\ Dalat / Bay . . ! Loi \ __/ . . Lai Khe\--* Di An \ ___/ Phan . . Cu Chi\ Bien Hoa \ _/ Rang . . / \_____) )_(_Tan San Long Binh !__/ . . ! ( Nhut Bearcat ___/ . . _____! An Long \__Long Thanh_/ . . ! | . \/ Long Giao . . \___ My /| \/ \ (Black Horse) . . \ Tho Dong / | \ Vung Tau . . )Vinh Long Tam / | Saigon . . / \\ ! Tan An . . /Can Tho Phu ___\\| . . /-------- Vinh . . !IV CORPS\ \ / . . !-------- \ \__/ (Due to rectangular restrictions of character . . ! Soc / placements/positions, locations approximate) . . ! Trang / . . ! __/ . . \_/ gjp . NamVet Newsletter Page 11 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 NCOA Supports Ban on Gays in the Military NCOA Journal - February 1993 by Michael F. Ouellette NCOA Deputy Director Legislative Affairs Submitted by Stephen L. Worley, Vice-Chairman NCOA MidChapter #138 Our Potpourri/VETLink #34 BBS - Midwest City, OK (405) 741-5120 The following article is an extract from the February 1993 NCOA Journal. Written by: Michael F. Ouellette, NCOA Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs: As presented 12/92 by: Chuck Jackson, NCOA Vice President Armed with an association resolution opposing legislation and regulations directing recruitment and retention of homosexuals in the Armed Forces,NCOA Executive Vice President Chuck Jackson went to Capitol Hill on December 9, 1992, to express NCOA views and offer recommendations to a Congressional panel. The opportunity to become "The First" Military Association to present formal testimony to Congress on the issue of homosexuals in the military was extended by Rep.Bill Dannemeyer (CA) and Rep. Bill Duncan Hunter (CA) who co-chaired a Republican Research Committee hearing to consider testimony on the issue. The hearing served as a vehicle to counter a rumor that then President-Elect Clinton intended to sign an Executive Order that would rescind the policy that currently denies military service to homosexuals as one of his first official actions. Seizing on the chance to possibly make a difference and offer views that would hopefully cause the new Administration to reevaluate its position, Jackson hit hard on down-to-earth reasons for NCOA's hard-line approach to the issue without entering into a moralistic debate with Committee members. During his testimony, Jackson made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that NCOA would remain committed to its resolution and would not consider compromise or "trade-offs" that would demonstrate any support for change in the current Department of Defense (DoD) policy of denying military service to homosexuals. The key points made by Jackson during his concise and deliberate presentation were: <*1*> In the face of discrimination and equal opportunity arguments NCOA suggested to the Committee that the recruitment and retention of homosexuals in the military should not be confused with racial integration. It was pointed out that skin color, an inert, benign characteristic, must not be compared to a behavioral characteristic when attempting to justify action. <*2*> Service in the Armed Forces is a unique calling where members willingly accept some abridgment of their freedom of speech, their right to privacy, and control over their living and working conditions. NCOA suggested that further erosion of their rights to accommodate the enlistment of homosexuals would be devastating to the morale and good order of the military service. <*3*> NCOA pointed out that the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) considers sodomy a felony as do the laws of twenty-six states; therefore, it is clear that the worldwide NamVet Newsletter Page 12 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 deplorability requirements expected of every servicemember could not be equitably applied to any homosexual population. <*4*> NCOA rejected the idea that the Armed Forces should be used as a cauldron for social experimentation or change to satisfy personal opinions or political debts and that failure to act on the credible advice of top military leaders is a deplorable situation. <*5*> NCOA suggested that it has not been proven that the removal of the ban on military service by acknowledged homosexuals will improve the quality or abilities of the Armed Forces. <*6*> NCOA made it clear that homosexuals who have entered the military service have enlisted fraudulently and subsequently received training and compensation under false pretenses. As in all fraud cases, the burden of cost recoupment should fall on the individual and not the U.S. Government. <*7*> NCOA was adamant that integration of homosexuals into the military ranks must inevitably include the acceptance of their lifestyles and sexual practices. That,in turn,means concessions to those lifestyles, such as housing, health care, and survivor and other benefits to "life partners" of homosexuals. NCOA's Executive Vice President also reminded the Committee that the purpose of the Armed Forces is to defend the nation, not to serve as a laboratory for social engineering. He further stated that, "Service in the military is a privilege and not a right. If it were a right, the military could not decline to accept the services of those who fail to mentally or physically qualify or those with criminal records or histories of illegal drug abuse." NCOA recommendations concerned the need to conduct extensive Congressional hearings on the potentially long-term effects on the all-volunteer force and the need to change UCMJ and the sodomy laws in twenty-six states prior to implementing any change in current policy. Most importantly,however,Jackson told the members of the Committee that, "The new Administration must proceed with caution only after considering the opinions of the nations's top military leaders and particularly the noncommissioned and petty officers of the armed forces who would have to implement such a drastic change in policy." He further added, "They (NCO's and PO's) should know better than anyone if the addition of homosexuals to the ranks is necessary and in the best interest of this nation's downsized military fighting force." Courtesy of: NCOA Mid America Chapter 138 102 Mid America Blvd. MidWest City, OK. 73110 VOICE (405) 737-7772 FAX (405) 736-6202 NamVet Newsletter Page 13 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 50 Promises - 50 States Anonymously Submitted to VETLink #1 via NETMAIL [Note from Joe: So far, the largest number of those commenting on our new Commander-in-Chief have been those most upset and the only ones to provide any submissions for inclusion in NamVet. Our new President, as I'm sure you know, has angered and frustrated many by his contradictory positions. For or against, if you wonder why somebody doesnt do something ... remember that you are somebody!!! As NamVet's Managing Editor, trying my BEST to provide the NamVet YOU want and YOU help write, I share with you the following anonymously submitted article and pray very hard for wisdom and understanding for all that we might make a reality of the bright future possible within this great country of ours.] ================================================================= NOTE: This list and accompanying commentary was NOT written by ME! (the person who submitted it) I send it to this conference as a matter of general interest. =J.D.= ================================================================= Bill Clinton's Campaign Promises (with space for writing the date the promise was fulfilled) 1 "Vote for me and we'll produce more natural gas in Texas." "Dallas Morning News" January 11, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 1 - We voted for him 2 "The West should establish a $60 billion fund to help stablizize the Russian ruble." -New York City, April 1, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 2 - Good. Sell them tractor parts as well. Keep them going. 3 "I will streamline the federal government and change the way it works, cut 100,000 bureaucrats and put 100,000 new police officers on your streets of American cities." -New York City, July 16, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 3 - Forget it. Congress told him they weren't going to cut their staffs, and it looks like he won't cut the White House staff 25% as he promised. If you think 100,000 government employees are going to go quietly without the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) raising hell, think again. 4 "I promise you I will never bash public employees." -"Dallas Morning News" June 18, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 4 - Right. He has already bashed. 5 "I would want the first judge I appointed to believe in the right to privacy and the right to choose." -PBS, July 7, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] NamVet Newsletter Page 14 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 COMMENTARY Promise 5 - He said he would not ask that a Supreme Court nominee be "pro-choice". 6 "[What] would work is to raise the top tax rate on people with gross incomes above $200,000 to 35 or 36 percent and put a surtax on people with incomes of a million dollars or more a year." - "Time" July 20, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 6 - Those people will then pass the tax along to us through higher prices on their products, lower wages, etc. 7 "We should pay up -- and pay now -- the past dues we owe to the U.N." - New York City, April 1, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 7 - Good. And demand that all other countries do the same. 8 "If I become president, we will keep a glatt kosher kitchen in the White House." - New York City, April 1, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 8 - So what? 9 "Under our health care system, all Americans will have access to quality and affordable health care through coverage from their employer, or if they're unemployed, through their government." - Jersey City, NJ, October 29, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 9 - Good. Just like Medicare, or those wonderful socialized medicine programs they have in England or Canada. We *promise* you won't have a 6-month wait for your broken arm like in Canada. 10 "I want a leaner bureaucracy and more investment." - "Time" July 20, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 10 - Good. See Promise 3. 11 "A national apprenticeship program for non-college-bound young people so they can get good jobs, fully fund Head Start -- those things are not terribly expensive." - "Face The Nation" (CBS) October 6 1991 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 11 - Those programs are already there. They're called vocational and technical schools. But it's a worthy idea. 12 "To the fathers who have chosen to abandon their children by neglecting their child support: Take responsibility for your children, or we will force you to do so." - New York City, July 16, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 12 - They should advocate mandatory sterilization for the men and women who engage in irresponsible parenting. 13 "U.S. [NATO] troop levels can be safely reduced to a force in the range of 75,000 to 100,000." - "Europe" October 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 13 - Good idea. NamVet Newsletter Page 15 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 14 "As soon as the Pentagon issued a study which said there was no basis in national security for discriminating based on the sexual orientation of Americans who wish to serve in the military, I said I would act on the study." - Los Angeles, CA, May 18, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 14 - There should be NO sexual orientation in the armed services. If you are gay, keep your mouth shut. If you are straight, keep your mouth shut. Follow your orders. 15 "I am going to send Al Gore to Capitol Hill to take the lead in passing our program in the first 100 days of the new administration." - Little Rock, AR, July 10, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 15 - Duh! That's his JOB! 16 "I would bring in all the players within the first 60 days and tell them to develop a national health care plan." - "Dallas Morning News" October 7, 1991 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 16 - What?!?! He was supposed to have that already planned before he took office! 17 "The Clinton-Gore Administration will view the support of generic industrial technologies as a priority mission." - Clinton's "Technology: The Engine of Economic Growth" September 21, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 17 - That's pretty ambiguous. 18 "My first priority would be to pass a jobs program, to introduce it on the first day I was inaugurated." - St. Louis, MO, October 11, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 18 - See Promise 12. 19 "My plan offers $50 billion in new investments over the next four years -- new incentives for the private sector, and investment tax credit, urban enterprise zones, new business tax incentives, research and development incentives, and others." - "Arizona Republic" June 28, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 19 - The Democrats shrieked and wailed when the Republicans talked about tax credits and incentives. 20 "At the very least, 10 percent of the $76 billion that the government now spends each year on research should be redirected from the Pentagon's research budget to civil efforts." - Clinton's "Technology: The Engine of Economic Growth" September 21, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 20 - Sounds good, but 90% of our technology (computers, calculators, microwave ovens, etc.) has come from defense research and the space program. There are only two places to cut from the budget -- social programs and defense. 75% of defense spending is on salaries, and if you cut that, you'll have UNEMPLOYMENT. 21 "We can give you a country again where we are pro-growth and NamVet Newsletter Page 16 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 pro-environment. Where we are pro-business and pro-labor, where we are pro-civil rights and pro-civil order, where we are pro-family and pro-choice." - "Portland Oregonian" July 26, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 21 - "Pro-family" *and* "pro-choice"? Mutually exclusive. Al Gore wants to emasculate industry or make restrictions so tight that their products will be prohibitively expensive. 22 "When it comes to AIDS, there should be a Manhattan Project." - Los Angeles, CA, May 18, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 22 - When it comes to AIDS, people should keep their pants zipped. Don't screw around, don't use IV drugs. USE COMMON SENSE. 23 "We can pledge right now that for every dollar we reduce the defense budget on research and development, we'll increase the civilian research and development by the same amount." - Georgetown University, Nov 20 1991 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 23 - Defense research is done by the private sector. Ever heard of General Dynamics? 24 "I want to increase federal funding for research, prevention, and treatment [for AIDS]." - Jersey City, NJ, October 29, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 24 - Good thing, but we spend more on AIDS research than any other disease, and it's only increasing. 25 "I support a strong American role in the U.N. and with the European Community to end Serbian aggression. I have supported the use of multilateral military force, if necessary." - "Europe", October 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 25 - What, you mean IMPERIALIST AGGRESSION? The United States should play "World Policeman" and stick its nose in the governments of other countries? GASP! 26 "My administration will stand up for democracy and buttress democratic forces in Haiti, Peru, and throughout the Western Hemisphere." - (AP) August 14, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 26 - See Promise 25. As of the beginning of January, Clinton had ALREADY backed off on his promise to allow Haitian boat people into this country. But then, that helps with the "prevention" part of Promise 24, eh? 27 "We need not just a new generation of leadership, but a new gender of leadership. This is a minority I enjoy being in." - -"Phoenix Gazette", July 15, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 27 - The right person for the right job. If that person is a woman, fine. If not, don't give it to a woman just because she's a woman. Don't give it to a man just because he's a man. NamVet Newsletter Page 17 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 28 "Those who can [after two years on welfare] will have to go to work, either by taking a job in the private sector or through community service." - "Putting People First" Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 28 - Right. When the Republicans brought this up, they were called "unfeeling racists". Remember the "Welfare Queen" during the Reagan Administration? Remember the Willie Horton incident (which by the way was started by the Al Gore campaign)? 29 "The United States should lead the fight to slow global warming, instead of dragging our feet and ignoring important scientific data." - New York City, April 1, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 29 - The United States is filled with greedy companies. They are doing more than any other country in the world. Take a look at the air quality and emissions of Eastern Europe. Clinton has no idea what he's talking about. Sure, let's clean things up, but let's be truthful, Slick Willy. This contradicts Promise 1. How can we clean things up and reduce global warming if we're going to produce more burning fuel? Okay, it's "natural" gas, but it's going to be using up a precious resource. 30 "I want to appoint one person, one man or woman, to oversee and coordinate all federal efforts related to this issue [AIDS]." - Jersey City, NJ, October 29, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 30 - See Promise 24, Promise 26, Promise 27. 31 "A Clinton-Gore Administration will not permit American firms again to sell key technologies to outlaw states like Iraq." - (AP) August 14, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 31 - Good idea. Maybe he will be the Super Democrat who can accomplish that. For what it's worth, Congress must approve the sale of "key technologies" to foreign countries. Guess which party controls Congress? Riiiiiight. 32 "I certainly will give every consideration to Hispanic candidates for the Supreme Court." - "Dallas Morning News", July 2, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 32 - Admirable. So what? There are blacks and women on the Supreme Court. Let the right person for the job be chosen. If Slick Willy chooses an Hispanic, that will disappoint Mario Cuomo, who is expecting a nomination. 33 "The old adage 'mi casa, su casa' will be true when my house is the White House." - "Dallas Morning News", July 2, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 33 - Previous Presidents have tried that, much to their regret. NamVet Newsletter Page 18 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 34 "All the money by which we reduce defense research and development I would put immediately into domestic, commercial research and development." - "Dallas Morning News", August 16, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 34 - What sort of research? 35 "I will elevate economics; create an Economic Security Council similar to the National Security Council." - Los Angeles, CA, August 13, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 35 - Billary knows economics only from "book learnin'". He has already chosen to virtually ignore the recommendations given during his "Economic Summit" in late 1992. 36 "My administration will reduce our forces, but maintain a credible presence in Europe and Asia." - "Portland Oregonian" September 1, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 36 - See Promise 3, Promise 13. 37 "I want people like some of you in this audience to be part of a Clinton Administration, not because or in spite of your sexual orientation, but because America needs you." - Los Angeles, CA, May 18, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 37 - See Promise 5, Promise 10, Promise 27, Promise 32. 38 "You live in a country that makes it harder to raise children than any country in the world. You vote for me and I'll give you family values." - "Portland Oregonian", July 26, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 38 - See Promise 21. Family Values?!?!?! GASP! Is Slick Willy trying to force his view down our throats? Is Slick Willy trying to start a "religious war"? GASP!!! 39 "If I become president, I will have a cabinet that looks like America." - "Portland Oregonian", July 26, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 39 - See Promise 37, Promise 32, Promise 27, Promise 10, Promise 5. 40 "After this election is over, I will continue to reach out to the American people. I'll get back on a bus when I'm president. I'll go back and have town meetings, and let ordinary people ask me questions. I will not hide behind the walls of the White House." - (AP) September 25, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 40 - See Promise 33. 41 "My strategy puts people first by investing more than $50 billion each year over the next four years to put America back to work -- the most dramatic economic growth since World War II." - (AP) June 22, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 41 - See Promise 6, Promise 11, Promise 18, Promise 19, Promise 20, Promise 28, Promise 34. NamVet Newsletter Page 19 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 42 "With the dwindling Soviet threat, we can cut defense spending over a third by 1997." - Georgetown University, Nov 20, 1991 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 42 - See Promise 20. 43 "I propose that the U.S. must take the lead in putting together a bridge loan to help Russia make the transition from its old system to its new economy." - New York City, April 1, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 43 - See Promise 2. 44 "Middle-class taxpayers will have a choice between a children's tax credit or a significant reduction in their income tax rate." - "Putting People First" Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 44 - Right. Due to "Republican Lies" the budged deficit was under-estimated by $18 billion. Even though it was only an ESTIMATE and $18 billion is chump change, all those tax cuts and credits are now out the window. For what it's worth, those plans were based on the deficit being HIGHER than it actually is. Republicans under-estimated, Democrats OVER-ESTIMATED and made their tax cut plans on those figures. Since the Republicans' estimate was wrong, that negates the whole thing. Do you really think the Democrats EVER intended to give tax credits and cuts? You 45 "Vote for me and we'll conserve more energy all over America." -"Dallas Morning News", January 11,1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 45 - Doesn't this contradict Promise 1? See Promise 29. 46 "We'll restore the dignity of blue collar work by guaranteeing an apprenticeship program to every non-college bound student in the United States of America." - San Diego, CA, June 15, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 46 - See Promise 3, Promise 6, Promise 11, Promise 18, Promise 19, Promise 21, Promise 23, Promise 28, Promise 41. How can Slick Willy increase the number of jobs when he is going to cut Federal jobs and raise taxes on the job producers? 47 "We will link China's trading privileges to its human rights record and its conduct on trade and weapons sales." - Los Angeles, CA, August 13, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 47 - See Promise 31. Congress controls trading agree the Democrats control Congress. 48 "We'll seek to raise the average goal for automakers to 45 miles per gallon." - Philadelphia, April 22, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 48 - Admirable goal. 49 "We'll pass a national bottle bill to encourage recycling by creating small deposits on all glass and plastic bottles." NamVet Newsletter Page 20 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 - Philadelphia, April 22, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 49 - Admirable goal. 50 "I will not raise taxes on the middle class to pay for these programs." - East Lansing, MI, October 19, 1992 Date fulfilled [ / / ] COMMENTARY Promise 50 - See Promise 44. This one went out the window 30 seconds after Cli said it at the debate. He even contradicted himself by saying that he disagreed with Ross Perot on how much to raise taxes on the middle class. "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself." -= Abraham Maslow NamVet Newsletter Page 21 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 Because I Care by Gjoseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Because I care about each and every one of you, my brother and sister veterans and your families, I have a responsibility that I will not now nor shall I ever walk away from: ==> UNITY in our veteran commUNITY <== Zephyr-like, the winds of change have begun to blow throughout our America. Many of us are reminded about a place called Camelot and quiet breezes echo a phrase that was responsible for many of us putting our lives on-the-line for a place called home: "Ask not what your country can do for YOU... Ask what YOU can do for your country!" I watched President-elect Clinton's victory speech the night of November 4, 1992. I watched, too, as Vice-President-elect Gore, a brother Vietnam veteran and one of the first members of Vietnam Veterans In Congress, spoke and reminded us that we MUST all work together. I heard echoes of a time long-past in President-elect Clinton's speech: "...let us not focus on getting, but giving; not on ourselves, but others; not on fixing the blame for things, but on fixing the breakdown; not on pointing out the faults and weaknesses of others, but on bringing out our best and the best of others; not on sitting back and letting others do it, but on rolling up OUR sleeves and putting America and its future first again as a world-class TEAM. "Ask not what your country can do for YOU... Ask what YOU can do for your country!" The echoes STILL ring true. And after the speeches were over and the stage cleared, I watched members of the crowd who'd gathered. Some talked busily amongst themselves; others stared blankly at an empty podium, perhaps wondering what would happen next. What happens NEXT is up to US! "Take back America!" and "Give us back our Country!" were themes often heard during the long and arduous campaigns; themes echoed primarily by the candidates who felt that too long America has stood in-place and heeded not the calls of her citizenry. America IS ours again, brother n' sister veterans (and, of course, your families!); the freedom we fought for IS ours. NOW is the time to begin providing YOUR elected representatives information about the changes in such bureaucracies as the Department of Veteran Affairs YOU'D like to see made; about the changes in Veteran Preference in employment, in education, in medical care, in being HEARD that YOU'D like to see made. NamVet Newsletter Page 22 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 NOW is the time... Too, I must share with you some of the things I've learned about "change" ... that it is often uncomfortable; that it often brings with it a NEW set of responsibilities with which we are unfamiliar; and that it often creates pandemonium as we attempt to solve new problems with thinking and processes that USED to work in an older situation. And, too, "change" irritates, annoys, and creates a strong desire to eliminate the irritant. Candidate H. Ross Perot beautifully described it with his analogy of being the grain of sand within the oyster, the end product of which would be a fine pearl. Without fear there can be no courage. With a little bit of "fear of the unknown," I look forward to a new Administration knowing that, from it I will learn more about courage - the courage so many of YOU in our various VETNet echoes have shown ME. "Some men dream dreams and say 'WHY?' ... I dream dreams and say 'WHY NOT!'" John F. Kennedy (paraphrasing George Bernard Shaw). Towards UNITY in our veteran commUNITY, I am yours In Service to America ... and my fellow man In kindness, honesty, and good faith - Joe - Founder/President: Electronic Veterans' Centers of America Corp. (EVAC) Administrator: VETLink BBSs Managing Editor: NamVet and a brother veteran. NamVet Newsletter Page 23 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 ================================================================== Article Submission ================================================================== NamVet Article Submission Guidelines We don't want contributing to YOUR NamVet to be a "job" but instead a fun thing to do which will share YOUR experiences or something YOU'VE learned with so many others. Here, though, are the actual specifications for those of us who like to cross the tees and dot the eyes... Each article submitted for publication in NamVet should contain: a) The Title of the Article. b) The Author of the Article. c) The Name of the publication and the Date in which the contribution appeared. d) The Name of the person who submitted the article. * e) The BBS or Post Office Box address of the contributor - City and State are important. ** f) The telephone number of the BBS where the contributor can be reached. *** * In the case of an original submission, omit c) and d); ** FOR PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY PURPOSES, the use of street addresses and home telephone numbers are discouraged *** In the case of a non-bbs-using contributor, this can be the BBS telephone number of the Section Editor. Each article submitted for NamVet publication should be submitted in one of the following sample format(s): *NamVet Article from published source NAMVET ARTICLE FROM PUBLISHED SOURCE by XXX (the published author) XXX (published source) Submitted by (User) XX BBS - City, State (XXX) XXX-XXXX (BBS telephone number) - or - *NamVet Article from original author NAMVET ARTICLE FROM ORIGINAL AUTHOR by XXX (author) XX BBS - City, State (XXX) XXX-XXXX (BBS telephone number) Articles submitted for publication in NamVet are to be in 65-character format, flush left margin (i.e., Left Margin 0, Right Margin 65; Left Margin 1, Right Margin 66) and NOT be justified or have any special text formatting (i.e., underlining, bold facing, italics, etc.). Graphic "pictures" - as well as any articles - for NamVet are to be in straight-ASCII format only, comprised of regular keyboard characters, and can not exceed 65 characters in width nor 58 lines in length. NamVet is circulated to many veterans having a wide variety of computers and software processing equipment. The ASCII-only format assures that your graphic picture and/or article will be seen and printable by all. (The margin length of "graphic NamVet Newsletter Page 24 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 pictures" can sometimes be extended to 70 characters) Where "columns" or "lists" are used in a contribution, if at all possible, the columns or lists are to be in two's rather than listed singly. THIS YOUR VET CENTER MY VET CENTER VET CENTER'S ADDRESS VET CENTER'S ADDRESS VET CENTER'S CITY, STATE & ZIP VET CENTER'S CITY, STATE & ZIP VET CENTER'S PHONE NUMBER VET CENTER'S PHONE NUMBER NOT THIS YOUR VET CENTER VET CENTER'S ADDRESS VET CENTER'S CITY, STATE & ZIP VET CENTER'S PHONE NUMBER MY VET CENTER VET CENTER'S ADDRESS VET CENTER'S CITY, STATE & ZIP VET CENTER'S PHONE NUMBER Articles submitted for publication in NamVet should be no longer than 20,000 - 40,000 bytes in length unless "serialized" (a "serialized" submission is one that is in more than one part, each 'part' will have as its heading, the contributor, the source, and any other 'contact the submitter' information). Please indicate the END of the article (or serialization) by the journalistic -30- (The -30- is removed in the publication process but it helps our editors to know that the complete file has been received and that there is no more (of that article) to follow. REJECTED ARTICLES: To date, the PRIMARY reason for rejecting an article has been the contributors' _insistence_ that cursewords not be edited "because they'll change the _meaning_ of the article". The Managing Editor staunchly holds to the following: Articles submitted for publication in NamVet containing common cursewords shall be rejected unless said cursewords are asterisked (*) out (for example, sh*t, f*ck, g*dd*mn, etc.). Although you and many of our readers are oftentimes familiar with the meanings behind the words, asterisking them out STILL gets the meaning across and yet preserves the integrity of NamVet which *-IS-* transmitted to Junior and Senior High Schools; Colleges and various educational institutions. Asterisking the cursewords out shows the reader that WE (NamVet authors, contributors and staff) respect the feelings of our readers. Some "other" reasons for rejection of an article are: 1. It contains many misspellings 2. It is in a non-ASCII format 3. Margins exceed the 65-character line-length limit 4. It has been justified 5. It is too long and NOT serialized 6. Columns are in single- rather than double-column format 7. It is Anti-Veteran NamVet Newsletter Page 25 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 WHERE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED ARTICLES You may submit your article/short story/poem/other item to any of the existing VETLink BBSs. Presently, the VETLink BBSs are: VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA 1-413-443-6313 VETLink #2 - Herndon, VA 1-703-471-8010 VETLink #3 - Poplar Bluff, MO 1-314-686-0120 VETLink #4 - Shady Side, MD 1-301- DOWN VETLink #5 - Passaic, NJ 1-201-778-1879 VETLink #7 - Portland, OR 1-503-254-6819 VETLink #8 - Manchester, NH 1-603-622-2371 VETLink #9 - Merrimack, NH 1-603-424-4915 VETLink #10 - Dearborn, MI 1-313-562-0051 VETLink #11 - Killingly, CT 1-203-779-3173 VETLink #12 - Portales, NM 1-505- DOWN VETLink #13 - Las Cruces, NM 1-505-523-2811 VETLink #14 - West Haven, CT 1-203-932-6236 VETLink #15 - West Haven, CT 1-203-934-9852 VETLink #16 - Pineville, LA 1-318-449-1012 VETLink #17 - Pembroke Pines, FL 1-305-432-8210 VETLink #18 - East Lynn, MA 1-617-593-2605 VETLink #19 - Baltimore, MD 1-410-866-8613 VETLink #20 - Pittsfield, MA 1-413-442-2181 VETLink #21 - Herndon, VA 1-703-471-8563 VETLink #22 - Richmond, CA 1-510-234-1053 VETLink #23 - Magnolia, Arkansas 1-501-234-5064 VETLink #24 - Lincoln Park, MI 1-313-386-1905 VETLink #25 - Johnsonville, NY 1-518-753-7421 VETLink #26 - Pleasant Grove, AL 1-205-744-0943 VETLink #27 - South Bend, IN 1-219-273-2291 VETLink #28 - Penngrove, CA 1-707-763-7108 VETLink #29 - Valdosta, GA 1-912-242-0496 VETLink #30 - Falls City, TX 1-210- DOWN VETLink #31 - Universal City, TX 1-210-945-9304 VETLink #32 - Jacksonville, FL 1-904-744-9991 VETLink #33 - Yucaipa, CA 1-909-797-1835 VETLink #34 - Midwest City, OK 1-405-741-5120 VETLink #35 - Athens, GA 1-706-548-0130 VETLink #36 - Ft. Worth, TX 1-817-244-4245 VETLink #37 - Pittsfield, MA 1-413-499-1327 Each VETLink BBS will review any contributions that have been uploaded to his/her BBS and send them either to the Managing Editor who will, in turn, send them on to the respective Section Editor or to the NamVet Section Editor him/herself who handles the particular subject/topic matter. If YOU would be interested in handling a section of NamVet, please file request NVET9902.LZH from VETLink #1 BBS. We hope to see YOUR contribution published in a NamVet soon! G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor NamVet Newsletter Page 26 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 ================================================================== Don't drink the water! ================================================================== Agent Orange - the costs! by Harold Jackson Jackson's FoxHole - Houston, TX (713) 376-4767 Edited for NamVet by G. Joseph Peck [Personal Note from Joe: I've talked to Harold a few times. Oftentimes, the struggle in each of his days really get him down and it's a real bright spot when he hears from any of us through NamVet or the VIETNAM_VETS EchoConference. Where once he, his wife and family seemed quite alone and all seemed lost and futile, the "Paralegal with Sneakers" Joe Krickenbarger-Oliver (thanx Joe!) stepped in and things have kinda changed for Harold now. He KNOWS of the goodness and kindness that is in all our veterans - and in Joe K-O ). The *-ONLY-* reason that Harold's Address and Claim Number are left IN this article (identifying numbers and addresses are normally NOT input into a NamVet) is because Harold publicly asked each and every one of us to WRITE the DVA, to CONTACT our local Congressman, Senator, Governor, etc., etc. etc. to see that this sham of DVA mistreatment goes not one day further - for him and for many like him. You'll need his C# to help Harold; you'll need his address to write to him personally. Do both! Harold - we're in your corner bro' ... You're gonna take that mountain yet!] Harold W. Jackson 14103 Ella Lee Houston, Texas 77077 Re: CSS 546 56 4979 16 FEB 93 Mr. Jessie Brown The Secretary Of Veterans Affairs Washington, DC 20420 Dear Secretary Brown: Thank you for accepting the position of Secretary Of Veterans Affairs and the challenges the position represents. My name is Harold W. Jackson, and I am a Vietnam [In Country] Veteran. I served my country and fellow man with honor and pride while in service in Pleiku, Vietnam with the 4th S&T. I was not a hero, just another guy doing his tour. I left the Nam and headed home assuming I was OK and ready to live as close to normal life as one can. I pursued the American dream and opened my own service [gas] station, was married and had children. I had no complaints, until I started feeling numbness in my arms and toes. Soon I started walking with a limp, in fact friends started calling me "Chester". I sought medical advice and was told initially I was crazy, it was all in my head. Then I was told I had Lou Gerig's Disease, then MS. along with a host of other mis- NamVet Newsletter Page 27 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 diagnosis until I met Dr. Bernard M. Patten. Dr. Patten was stumped by my condition, but after ample research concluded my disease was a peripheral neuropathy, caused or aggravated by dioxin (agent orange) while on tour of duty in Vietnam. That was several years ago. Since then I have undergone several shunt implants to my brain with tubes draining into my heart. A complete blood transfusion, over 175 chemotherapy treatments, as well as other less dramatic medical procedures. I was given 5 years to live almost 7 years ago now, and if I am dieing I would like to die with dignity, the same dignity I had when in service to my country, and this would be possible if I were to receive my benefits. The history of the Veterans Administration, prior to your taking office has been less than honorable regarding Agent Orange Veteran Victims. In 1984 Congress placed into law the Radiation & Dioxin Act, an act that recognized a responsibility owed the Veteran who served in Vietnam and who may have been exposed to Agent Orange. The VA now DVA complied in part with the act when they allowed service connection for chloracne, but violated the spirit of the act and the letter of its mandates, as well as several other statutes enacted to protect Veterans when chloracne was the only associated disease allowed. I'd like to present a brief history, and finalize this letter with a recommendation. It is my understanding you will not become part of the "untouchables" at the DVA, but plan to bring the agency back into line with its purpose, a non adversarial arena, where a Vet with a valid claim (outlined in 38 U.S.C. s. 3007(a)) will receive his or her just compensation, wherefore I take the liberty mentioned above, to make recommendations. As a concerned citizen of The United States I am ashamed at the way our Veterans, and specifically those exposed to dioxin "are" being treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, an Agency that seems to have defied congressional mandates, statutes and court orders in an attempt to deny Veterans benefits they earned. In 1986 a group of veterans had to seek judicial remedy within NEHMER vs. U.S. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, [712 F.Supp 1401 N.D. Cal 1989]. In this case the Court [Hon. Thelton H. Henderson] invalidated the VA (now DVA) regulations and remanded the case back to the VA and it's Advisory Committee to remedy their illegal actions. It has been 41 months from the date of invalidation and 33 months or so, from the date of the NEHMER court approved Stipulation and Order. The dilatory tactics by the DVA in NEHMER are well noted. What stands out in the end is the veterans and their families and what the DVA did to them and continues to do to date, harm individuals it claims it represents. Delays that might be altogether reasonable in the sphere of economic regulation are less tolerable when human lives are at stake [Public Citizen v. Auchter, 702 F.2d at 1157] such as in my instant claim. [see also 38 U.S.C s. 354 note, Section 2(1)]. If I die, given the circumstances of my health and the prediction of "5 years to live" almost seven years ago, before my claim is heard administratively or judicially, I will never enjoy the benefits Congress intended, and my family who has suffered dearly with me will be limited to recovery of one years benefit compensation. The mandatory wording of the Dioxin Act [38 U.S.C 354] may have been amended by the Agent Orange Act of 1991, [Pub.Law 102-4] yet NamVet Newsletter Page 28 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 I believe other Statutes enacted to protect our Veterans as a class, and specific wording regarding "individuals" in the original ACT still stand as well as ample case authority on agency actions that have been unreasonably delayed. Even the 1991 Agent Orange Act requires the DVA, in my opinion, to remedy the illegalities of the 1985 dioxin rule-making procedures, and references the NEHMER case, id.. In this "non-adversarial" setting, why must one even consider judicial remedy requesting orders appropriate to enforce a statute? I feel that this scenario over the past 9 years has been nothing more than a clever attempt by the DVA to usurp Congress, evading final rule making obligations. In the cases of peripheral neuropathy victims I am aware of, it has been extremely harmful, causing multiple injuries to their rights as citizens of the United States, as well as their Veteran rights to just compensation for injuries incurred while in-service to their Country. Being denied needed compensation, day after day, [a compensation that can NEVER cure their disease or injury], that should have been paid "years ago" has caused irreparable harm, and will continue to harm veterans in their person and within their property rights until the DVA begins adjudication of individual circumstances based on a disease that has been shown by the DVA to be associated to dioxin poisoning, peripheral neuropathy. The exclusion in the proposed rule, be they allowed or changed to a reasonable latency period, should not prohibit those with well grounded claims to proceed on a case by case basis. In other words, if it has been shown that there is no other way an individual could have contracted or aggravated a disease, other than through his service in Vietnam, the 10 year time period, or other exclusions lack merit as a basis to deny these well founded claims. Included or excluded, a veteran must be allowed to present the facts and evidence that applies to him or her. If section 3007(a) of 37 U.S.C. is satisfied, then the DVA not only has a duty to help the veteran, but must consider and apply section 3007(b). If on the claims face there is an approximate balance of evidence, the claim must be decided in the favor of the one who applied. In any event, what controls here is the statutory standard of 38 U.S.C. s. 3007(b). Note: Though it may appear to be dicta, the court pointed out in NEHMER, Id., that there was nothing in the Radiation and Dioxin Act that prohibited a case by case adjudication. I believe, that the Court was pointing to an issue that has merit but could not be decided then and there, because it was not before the court. Often judges comment in their opinions on any number of extraneous issues, or enlarge on their reasoning, or speculate about possibilities which are not material to the immediate controversy, and thus can not be made part of the factual decision. Again, a court is considered competent to decide only those issues which are in dispute and which were therefore argued before it. It does not mean the dictum is without merit. An administrator or benefits director within the DVA should be well aware of and guided by Congressional Instruction "that when, after consideration of all evidence and material fact of record, NamVet Newsletter Page 29 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of an issue material to the determination of a claim, the benefit of the doubt in resolving each issue "SHALL" be given to the claimant." To date, what appears to be the position of the DVA regarding the "Benefit Of The Doubt" statue was documented in a hearing on Dioxin by the DVA's Deputy Assistant General Counsel John Thompson. (see statement: in Transcript of June 24, 1985) While answering a question on this subject, he "outlawed" the reasonable doubt standard as a criteria within recommendations by committee to the DVA(VA). NEHMER pointed out that this statute must apply and it was part of the basis of rule invalidation by the NEHMER court. Recent case law by COVA (U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals), [Gilbert vs. Derwinski, 1990 WL 151815 (Vet.APP)] admonished the DVA to apply the statute. [38 U.S.C 3007(b)] Yet, a pattern and practice seems to continue. Though the NEHMER court "may not" (emphasis added) have jurisdiction over the rule making procedure(s) of the DVA, the Court maintains a supervisory jurisdiction concerning other aspects of the original declaration and orders which would include violations of the original opinion, an opinion never appealed by the DVA, thus law. Because Congress has created statutory legal rights that apply to veteran benefits, an invasion of these rights by rule or custom creates continued standing. I am being injured in my person and property because of the DVA's present course, as even though peripheral neuropathy has been recognized by the DVA as an associated disease, well over a year ago with no finalized rule to date, unless my case is decided on its individual merit, a criteria for adjudication that should be allowed, I will have no recourse within the DVA. Wherefore, I ask you to look over the attachments to this letter that apply to me and other victims of peripheral neuropathy, as well as my well documented claim. I also ask you to note the letter from one Joseph Krickenbarger-Oliver to the Director of Benefits, D'Wayne Gray, and the attachments concerning latency periods. This letter has NOT been responded to. Also find enclosed 32 letters directed to you from concerned citizens in Houston Texas, and more are being signed every day. Copies of these letters are being sent to Congressman Archer, as most of the individuals are his constituents. Last, a form 2-2(a) giving Mr. Krickenbarger-Oliver authority to investigate my claim, view whatever he needs to view that may be held by the DVA or an RO or to exercise what ever other right or privilege my power of attorney may bestow upon him. This is my last attempt to settle this matter administratively. I have tried for nearly a year to resolve issue mentioned above concerning my right to individual adjudication once peripheral neuropathy was found by the DVA to be statistically associated to dioxin, to no avail. Before I act I would like to give you an opportunity to respond and possibly take action and order individual adjudications at the RO level to proceed. NamVet Newsletter Page 30 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 My recommendation is that you contact the National Veterans Legal Service Project in Washington DC, and ask those familiar with the DVA's modus operandi [prior to your appointment] the case history of NEHMER, and how it has harmed the average person who has a just and proper claim to benefits they earned. Thank you for any consideration you might give to this issue and my final plea. Sincerely, Harold W. Jackson cc: Congressman Bill Archer Senator Strom Thurmond Joseph Krickenbarger-Oliver Ted Myatt, Houston RO D'Wayne Gray, Benefits Director DVA Agent Orange Victims - In Touch mailing list. National Veterans Legal Service Project Linda Peterson, [Former Lead Counsel - Nehmer] Attachments. " The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it." -= Harry Emerson Fosdick NamVet Newsletter Page 31 Volume 7, 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- NamVet Newsletter Page 32 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 ================================================================== NamVet's Electronic Chapel ================================================================== Mike & Connie Harris - Laos Into The Hedges AIC International Publication [Many of ya VIETNAM_VETS "old-timers" remember Mike Harris an' how he'd gone to Vietnam for a couple of trips and, more recently, how he an' Connie, his wife, have been helping in Laos. Mike write a column in "Into The Hedges" every month and here's this month's...] "Greetings from Seattle, Washington. We pray this month's newsletter fills you with hope and joy for the future. We are certainly excited about what lies ahead! Since this is our first official missionary "furlough," we had great plans of getting much rest and recuperation while stateside. Not so! We have been on the go since my arrival on Dec. 11th. But... we have been blessed many times over on our journey thus far and expect more of the same. The "Body of Christ" has been wonderful to us..! We have had an abundance of places to stay and meals to eat. So much so that our clothes are shrinking or we are gaining weight. Ha..! At times we feel like nomads moving from place to place. Living out of suitcases is not easy. Then we think of Jesus, Paul, and the many disciples who have done the same for centuries. They must have felt as grateful as we do to have saints waiting on them everywhere they traveled. There is one real drawback though. We truly regret not getting to visit all those we have wanted to. In many cases we have been right in your neighborhood and have not even given you a call. This bothers us but we only have so much time to utilize. for this, we are sorry. We regret our many short visits also. We trust you understand our dilemma. We had a wonderful Christmas season with Connie's folks in Louisiana and Mississippi. From there I was able to travel up to Connecticut to meet with my old friend, Dewey, who was on my river boat during the Vietnam War. It was the first time that Dewey and I had met in almost 24 years. What a blessed time we had. As a result of our getting back together in July of this year, Dewey has made a strong commitment to serve Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. For this we are blessed immensely..! We have spoken in a few churches along the way and have been received well. Tomorrow we will share with Northlake Christian Church, our home church in Bothell, Washington. It is always such an honor to be home to visit with our home "body" of believers. We are not only able to minister, but we are ministered to as well. Thank you for all your faithful prayers for us while we have been on this journey! We have been blessed with wonderful traveling mercies, safe passage, and our luggage has followed us everywhere. We'll depart on 1/13 for Hawaii where we will stay with some saints for 3 days and then on to Bangkok to prepare for two more teams that will be arriving to work in Laos during the month of February. May HE bless you all and give you a very successful 1993..! In HIS love, Mike and Connie Harris NamVet Newsletter Page 33 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 I I IIIII I I 88888 ITTTI o88888888 I I o888888888888o 8888 I I 888888888888888888888888 I I 88888888888888888 8888 888 xI Ix 8888888888888888 88888888 T III T 88888888888888 888888 88 I III I 8888888888888888 88888888 xI III Ix 888 888 88888888888' T I I T 88888888 I I I I 8888 xI IIIII Ix TI IT II II II II The Quiet Place IT | TI II --|-- II XIII | IIIX oooo o II I I II o88 888) (888) II I IIII I II o88 88888888 8888) XII I II II I IIX (88 8 88 888888) XIII III III IIIX (8 8 8 88 88 88 8 888) XIIII I I IIIIX (88 8 8 8 88888888) II II I xIIIIIx I II II ( 8 88 888 88888) II I T T T I II (8888 88 8 8 8888888) II I I I I I II (8 88888 888 88 88) II I I I I I II (8888)888 88888) II I I II II I II (8) (I8I8I) 8 oo8888888o II I I I I I II IIIII X 8888888 888BII I I I I I IIXX III X XX 88 88 88 BII I TIIIIIT I IIXXX III XXXXX 888888 88BII I .... I IIXXXXXX III XXgXXX 888 888888888XXXXXII ... IIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXjXX II .. 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 NamVet Newsletter Page 34 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 Four Chaplains = Brotherhood ON SINKING TROOP SHIP, CHAPLAINS PROVE THE MEANING OF BROTHERHOOD By George W. Cornell - AP Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 The night was frigid. The U.S. transport ship Dorchester, carrying 902 troops, had slowed to half speed because of ice floes. At 1 a.m., a torpedo struck and exploded midship. The ship started down rapidly. Then, in the panic on the deck of that doomed World War II vessel 50 years ago, came an episode that implanted the ideal of interfaith bonds in American memory. Four Army chaplains - two Protestants, a Jew and a Roman Catholic - after working to distribute life jackets, calm the frightened men and direct them to lifeboats and rafts, gave their own life belts to men without them. Survivors related that as the ship went under on Feb. 3, 1943, the four chaplains clung together on the slanting deck, their arms linked, their heads bowed in prayer. "It's a living parable that has affected the lives of many Christians and Jews ever since," said the Rev. David Poling of Albuquerque, N.M., a cousin of one of the four chaplains. "Ministers of different backgrounds, drawn together in crisis, gave up their lives for others in love of God. A threatening, challenging moment brought out the essence of their relationship - that they were brothers." That tie was little recognized in the early 1940s and before, a time of denominational aloofness, backbiting and prejudice, prior to the rise of ecumenical organizations and interfaith work. "It was the sort of thing you didn't see back then, but which we now see all over the country," said Fred K. Honigman, interim executive director of The Chapel of the Four Chaplains at Valley Forge, Pa. He said the event got wide public attention, spreading a spark that had implications for the whole ecumenical movement. It has broadened understanding and produced working links among most Christian denominations and Judaism. On the 50th anniversary, commemorative events were being held this week and next in scores of communities across the country by churches and veterans' organizations. Several ecumenical services and processions are scheduled tomorrow [January 31, 1993] and next week in Philadelphia. Dedication services also were held on a 4.5-acre plot in Valley Forge for building of a new Chapel of the Four Chaplains designed to suggest the shape of the Dorchester. A $2 million-fund drive is under way for the project. On Monday, ceremonies were held at the U.S. Naval Station on Staten Island, N.Y., and a plaque commemorating the heroism of the four chaplains was dedicated at Pier 1 from which the Dorchester departed on Jan. 22, 1943. After taking on more troops in Boston, the ship joined a convoy in the Atlantic, but broke off alone to head for Greenland. German submarines at the time were sinking about 100 Allied ships per month. "Torpedo Junction," those Atlantic waters were then called. NamVet Newsletter Page 35 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 The four chaplains on the Dorchester, working to allay anxieties of the young servicemen, were Lt. Alexander D. Goode, 31, a Brooklyn-born Jewish rabbi; Lt. Clarke V. Poling, 32, a Dutch Reformed minister from New York; Lt. John P. Washington, 34, a Roman Catholic priest from Kearney, N.J., and Lt. George L. Fox, 42, a Methodist, of Altoona, Pa. "They were all very sociable guys, who seemed to have initiated interfaith activities even before the war," said Clarke Poling's cousin, David Poling, a Presbyterian pastor who has collected material on the four and the Dorchester episode. "They had hit it off well at chaplains' school. Sharing their faiths was not just a first-time deal for them. They were really very close. They had prayed together a number of times before that final crisis," David Poling said. "That was the climate they had grown up in," he said. "But it wasn't the climate of the country back then. They lit a kind of vision for the rest of us." The Poling family has been prominent in Protestant affairs, particularly Clarke's father, the late Rev. Daniel Poling, who was influential in launching commemorations of the four chaplains by President Truman in 1951. "For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation." -= Ranier Maria Rilke NamVet Newsletter Page 36 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 ================================================================== Drums be not Silent ================================================================== MIA By Marilyn Elkins - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MARILYN ELKINS is an assistant professor of English at California State University, Los Angeles. Frank Elkins diary, The Heart of a Man, which she edited, was republished by the Naval Institute Press last year. It is now also available as a Dell paperback. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Every war has produced some number of men whose remains could not be recovered. In previous centuries, accurate counts of those missing in action (MIAs) were often unobtainable. When Napoleon Bonaparte embroiled Europe in war, for example, soldiers were recruited as armies advanced. The result was huge numbers of men about whom relatives heard nothing and about whose whereabouts the military cared little. In this century, the numbers of American MIAs have been reasonably well documented: In World War I there were 2,913 of them; in World War II, almost 79,000; in Korea, 8,200; and in Vietnam, 2,273 remain unaccounted for. Since World War II, reported sightings of prisoners of war (POWs) -- with attendant claims that Americans are still being held in captivity -- have also been common. At the end of World War II, the Soviets had seized more than 15,000 Americans from German camps and from Soviet-held areas; although they were repatriated, during the late 1940s reports persisted that Americans (including a man wearing a "U.S. Navy" tattoo) were being held in Soviet labor camps. In Korea, the Allied command listed 952 Americans believed to be prisoners of Communist forces; these prisoners' disappearance has never been fully explained. In 1953 a Japanese POW who had been held in the Soviet Union told U.S. officials that he had seen at least a dozen Americans at a labor camp near Khabarovsk. Recently declassified documents indicate that another Japanese POW corroborated this report of American prisoners; this man insisted that he had also met an American who had been convicted of espionage by a Soviet court and sentenced to imprisonment. Whether these Americans were prisoners from an earlier war or men who disappeared during espionage activities in the cold war is unclear; on June 13, 1952, a U.S. Air Force B-29 flying a secret mission near the Soviet Union had disappeared near Siberia with twelve Americans aboard Declassified Pentagon documents from the 1950s also detail persistent reports by refugees and released prisoners that describe American POWs in both the Soviet Union and China. According to the State Department, some of these reports were "so credible" that in 1956 it demanded an accounting from the Soviets. The Pentagon estimated that the Soviet government was holding at least twelve American prisoners -- perhaps from the B-29 and from a Navy plane that disappeared over the Baltic in 1950. The Soviets insisted, however, that no Americans were in their prisons. Because cold-war missions were classified, the United States never publicly sought the return of these reported prisoners, and their families were never encouraged to make their concerns public. But the Defense and State departments have NamVet Newsletter Page 37 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 admitted that evidence suggests these men may have been captured by the Soviets. The U.S. Army has a secret archive of alleged sightings under the title "American Citizens Detained in the U.S.S.R." Mark Sauter, an investigative reporter based in Seattle, obtained these records under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The documents detail chilling descriptions of Americans being held -- often in poor health -- by Communist forces. Recently, relatives of the two U.S. air crews have begun emulating the activist families of the Vietnam era by organizing pressure groups to look for evidence that Americans were -- and may remain -- prisoners in the Soviet Union. In only a few months, these families have amassed records of sightings and enlisted the help of senators and congressmen. The Soviet government has already agreed to consider a State Department request for access to archives that may reveal the fate of many alleged Soviet prisoners. Compared to the numbers of American MIAs from earlier wars, the 2,273 listed from Vietnam seem almost insignificant. The number in relation to the total killed -- 4 percent -- also pales compared to some earlier wars: 5.5 percent in World War I, 27 percent in World War II, and 15.1 percent in Korea. It is insignificant, that is, unless you happen to be related to one of them. Few of their wives or other family members were prepared for the length of time these servicemen would be listed as either POWs or MIAs; no American soldiers had ever officially been held for more than three and one-half years. While the law provides that a person who is missing for seven years can be presumed dead, this does not apply to MIAs during a time of war. Americans had never fought in such a long war, and no military policy had been established for such an event. A majority of the MIAs in Vietnam were pilots -- America's best and brightest. Exceptional athletes, intellects, and aviators, they had seemed invulnerable. They had not been expected to fall prey to a small, Asian enemy. Certainly I thought my husband, U.S. Navy lieutenant Frank Callihan Elkins, was immune to MiGs and SAMs. Married for only nine months, he was twenty-seven and I was twenty-two when his A- 4 Skyhawk disappeared during a flight from its vessel, the USS Oriskany. I still believed that death was for other people. When I received the notification on October 13, 1966, I had just returned from spending two weeks with Frank in the Philippines and Hong Kong. He had December orders to a test squadron in China Lake, California; I was residing with my parents while I waited out his Vietnam tour. When the casualty assistance officer arrived, I answered the doorbell in a blue floral housecoat, half- awake and half-smiling: I knew that this man would be embarrassed when he learned he had delivered his message to the wrong wife. The officer told me that Frank had been killed. After making a telephone call to report that he had delivered his message, he returned to say that he had misunderstood the original communication: Frank was only missing. Eager to see this as portentous, I interpreted the whole episode as additional proof that Frank was invulnerable. Because Frank's father had a serious heart condition, I NamVet Newsletter Page 38 Volume 7, Number 2 February 27, 1993 immediately contacted my brother-in-law and asked him to break the news to his parents. I didn't want them to receive the same misinformation I had. I could not cry but was shiveringly cold, despite the numerous quilts by parents wrapped around me. I seemed to be watching myself participate in conversations, observing these events as though they were happening to someone else. While official policy demanded that such news be delivered in person by an officer of equal or higher rank, practice -- as in my case -- sometimes fell short if the ideal. No matter how it bungled the delivery of such news, the Pentagon assumed that families of MIAs in the Vietnam War would maintain the official expected silence -- the traditional stiff upper lip that guaranteed a husband's continued military success -- as they had done in past wars. The Korean War was the first one in which the behavior of POWs under stress had been blamed on the prisoners rather than on their captors. Suspected of conspiring with the enemy and succumbing to Communist brainwashing (this was during the McCarthy era), the Korean POW became a symbol of national dishonor, although the number of Americans who chose not to return -- twenty-one -- was small when compared to the 88,000 Chinese and North Korean prisoners who refused repatriation (more than half of those who fell into American hands). Consequently, the U.S. military code of conduct used in the 1960s insisted that a captive conduct himself as a fighting man rather than as a powerless prisoner. The code was designed to produce soldiers who could resist torture, remain silent, and attempt escape against overwhelming odds and under brutal conditions. As part of this doctrine, pilots who were being prepared to fly over Vietnam were sent to a week-long survival school in which they were beaten, forced to curl up in a tiny black box for hours, and verbally assaulted if they failed to escape from their "captors." When he returned from this week of "captivity" in March 1966, Frank had bruises on most of his body and slept for a full twenty-four hours from exhaustion. While many of the simulations were classified and therefore not subjects he could discuss, he confided that he had found the solitary confinement most difficult. To occupy his mind during these seemingly endless episodes, Frank had imagined happy scenes from his childhood and of his return home. I soon found that equal stoicism was expected of military wives. The official policy was to give us as little information as possible so that we could not harm our husbands with any indiscretion. The government ensured our silence through effective manipulation of our concern for our husbands' safety. The Navy's telegrams and other communications insisted that because my husband might be "held by hostile force aga