Veterans & Military Families Monthly News-February 2013

Veterans & Military Families Monthly News
February 2013 Vol. 4 No. 2

Good afternoon and thank you for reading, this months edition of the newsletter. We appreciate your involvement and continued support. Remember, we have two online sources where you can read and offer comments on the current and previous editions of the newsletter. The newsletter is posted on Facebook through the group called Veterans and Military Families Monthly News. Check it out and join the group. Click here to go directly to the page. (Keep in mind, you need a Facebook account to join; however, the documents can be viewed through the docs link toward the bottom of the page even without an account.) The second source for the online version of the newsletter is the website www.scribd.com. This online source for the newsletter works in the same fashion as the Facebook page. Please let us know what you think, or if you have any questions about the online sources. For those of you who enjoy just receiving the email each month, we will continue to send it out. But we want to build the online presence as a way to reach out to more people. As always, thank you very much for reading. Our hope is to continue to expand the newsletter. For that, we need your input. So, again, if anyone has any suggestions for topics to cover or wants to write their own piece, we will gladly try to work it in. We hope you enjoy, and please share your feedback with us.
Thank you very much! In This Issue

P.14-National Veterans Art Museum P.15-World War II Memories From Cpt. Smith Part V P.22-World War I Memorial Foundation P.23-VFW Operation Uplink P.24-2013 COLA Update P.25-Lake MI College Civil War Class by Lest We Forget P.28-New Co-Pays for TRICARE Pharmacy
P.3-VA Edibility Verification Report P.4-National Deployment of Paperless Claims P.5-Navy Uniform Change P.7-Honor Flight P.8-Deployment P.9-Lest We Forget ReEnactment P.11-VA Homefront P.12-Support American Vets P.13-ESGR
And much more.
From: Wendy Lynn Day (www.goldstarfamilyregistry.com) The National Gold Star Family Registry is the first comprehensive database of the United States fallen Heroes and their families ever developed. The Registry not only affords family members the opportunity to publicly remember their loved one, but serves as a historical log of our Nations true Heroes. By providing educational resources and personal accounts, the Registry ensures that future generations may know who these brave Americans werenot only how they died, but, more importantly, how they lived. The information in the Registry is compiled from a number of different public sources including the Department of Defense and the National Archives. Adhering to Department of Defense guidelines for families who receive the Gold Star Pin, the Registry only includes the names of Heroes who have given their lives on the battlefield. From the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC, to the countless war memorials on courthouse lawns, the United States is peppered with stone monuments honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. These treasures are powerful, but access is limited by geography, and names inscribed in stone dont tell the Heroes full story. The National Gold Star Family Registry serves as a 21st Century monument, utilizing the latest in internet technology to memorialize those same men and women in a whole new way. How the Registry Began The National Gold Star Family Registry is a project of Military Families United, a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to Honor the Fallen, Support Those Who Fight, and Serve Their Families. Through various events held for Gold Star Family members, Military Families United recognized a
National Gold Star Registry
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
Some Useful Links

Air Force Times www.airforcetimes.com Navy Times www.navytimes.com Marine Corps Times www.marinecorpstimes.com Army Times www.armytimes.com Military Times www.militarytimes.com TRICARE www.tricare.mil American Legion www.legion.org Veterans of Foreign Wars www.vfw.org AMVETS www.amvets.org The DAV www.dav.org Department of Defense www.dod.gov Military/Veterans Report www.militray.com The Pentagon Channel www.pentagonchannel.mil Veterans Administration www.va.gov Military Order of the Purple Heart www.purpleheart.org
need for families to be able to share the stories of their Heroes with the world. In the beginning, families attending these events wrote their stories in a notebook to share with other Gold Star families, this concept eventually took the form of the virtual memorial. First launched in 2010, the Registry has been continually upgraded with the latest in technology and resources. This 21st Century memorial ensures that anyone anywhere can honor and remember the Heroes who have laid down their lives in defense of freedom. Whether they gave their life in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, WWII, or another conflict, the Registry is a place to ensure their memory will live on. About Military Families United Military Families United is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) charitable organization whose mission is to Honor the Fallen, Support Those Who Fight, and Serve Their Families. We are a national coalition of Gold Star and Blue Star families, veterans, and patriotic Americans who share a deep appreciation for our men and women in uniform and support them in their mission to keep America safe. Founded in 2005 to provide an avenue for military families to remind the nation of the importance of supporting our military and the mission they have been given , the organization expanded to provide charitable programs offering families direct support. Through a portfolio of unique services, events, and advocacy programs, the organization seeks to ensure that future generations of Americans will never forget the sacrifices of our courageous military.
If anyone has a site they would like to have added to this growing list please let us know! Contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org Also check out the complete list of links that appear in this newsletter on the last page.
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
Thank you for your Support!

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From: RAO Bulletin January 2013 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238 -1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines. Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/ NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/ AD37 member) The Department of Veterans Affairs announced 20 DEC it is cutting red tape for Veterans by eliminating the need for them to complete an annual Eligibility Verification Report (EVR). VA will implement a new process for confirming eligibility for benefits, and staff that had been responsible for processing the old form will instead focus on eliminating the compensation claims backlog. Historically, beneficiaries have been required to complete an EVR each year to ensure their pension benefits continued. Under the new initiative, VA will work with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify continued eligibility for pension benefits. By working together, we have cut red tape for Veterans and will help ensure these brave men and women get the benefits they have earned and deserve, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. VA estimates it would have sent nearly 150,000 EVRs to beneficiaries in January 2013.
VA Eligibility Verification Report (EVR)
Eliminating these annual reports reduces the burden on Veterans, their families, and survivors because they will not have to return these routine reports to VA each year in order to avoid suspension of benefits. It also allows VA to redirect more than 100 employees that usually process EVRs to work on eliminating the claims backlog. "Having already instituted an expedited process that enables wounded warriors to quickly access Social Security disability benefits, we are proud to work with our federal partners on an automated process that will make it much easier for qualified Veterans to maintain their VA benefits from year to year," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "The IRS is taking new steps to provide critical data to help speed the benefits process for the nation's Veterans and Veterans Affairs," said Beth Tucker, IRS Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support. "The IRS is pleased to be part of a partnership with VA and SSA that will provide needed data quickly and effectively to move this effort forward." All beneficiaries currently receiving VA pension benefits will receive a letter from VA explaining these changes and providing instructions on how to continue to submit their unreimbursed medical expenses. More information about VA pension benefits is available at http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension and other VA benefit programs on the joint Department of DefenseVA web portal eBenefits at http:// www.ebenefits.va.gov. [Source: VA News Release 20 Dec 2012 ++]
From: www.michigan.gov In preparation for the possibility that the United States would become involved in the war then raging in Asia and Europe, another major reorganization took place in the Michigan National Guard. It was effective September 30, 1940. Under a stepped-up federal military program, several Michigan Guard units were activated at their armories in October of that year. Within one to two weeks of their mobilization, these units were sent to Camp Beaureguard, La., for a year of intensive training. The units left Michigan in 1940 and did not return until 1945-46. Following their departure, the only units left in the state were: 119th Field Artillery, 177th Field Artillery, 182nd Field Artillery, 210th Coast Artillery, and a few enlisted men of the State Detachment and officers of the State Staff.
Preparing for World War II
National Deployment of Paperless Claims Processing System Underway
Major Milestone Achieved in Improving Benefits Delivery
From: Department of Veteran Affairs www.va.gov WASHINGTON The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today the nationwide transition to paperless processing of Veterans disability claims at its regional benefits processing offices is underway. VA is aggressively building a strong foundation for its new electronic claims processing system, called Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) a lasting solution that will transform how VA eliminates the backlog in 2015. Our approach to claims processing is being modernized to better serve Veterans and address the complex claims our employees are dealing with every day, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. We continue to transform our claims system to be more responsive through new processes and technology, because taking care of our Veterans and their loved ones is our highest priority. As of December 2012, 18 VA regional offices have implemented the new system and are beginning to process newly received compensation claims in an entirely digital format. The VA is on track for full deployment of the system to the remaining 38 regional offices in 2013. For our Veterans, VBMS will mean faster, higher-quality and more consistent decisions on claims. We recognize that too many Veterans are waiting too long to get the benefits they have earned, and that is unacceptable. This is a decades-old problem, and we are implementing a robust plan to address it, said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. For our employees, VBMS will be a more user-friendly system that offers better access to decision-level information, rules-based calculators, and automated tools that help them process claims more consistently. This marks a major milestone in VAs transformation of the processes and systems used to deliver benefits to Veterans, their families, and survivors, even while the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has completed a record-breaking 1 million claims per year the last three fiscal years. Critical to VAs transformation is ending the reliance on the outmoded paper-intensive processes which prevent timely and accurate claims processing. VA is deploying technology solutions which improve access, drive automation, reduce variance, and
enable faster and more efficient operations to eliminate the backlog. The current backlog of claims is the result of increased demand, over a decade of war with many Veterans returning with severe, complex injuries, and increased outreach to Veterans informing them of their benefits. Secretary Shinseki also made important decisions to recognize medical conditions related to Agent Orange service in Southeast Asia, and to simplify the process to file claims for combat PTSD. These decisions expanded access to benefits for hundreds of thousands of Veterans and brought significantly more claims into the system. VBMS was pilot-tested at select regional offices between 2010 and 2012, with improvements and greater functionality added to system software releases throughout the testing period. In pilot programs, the new system cut the time to process claims nearly in half. The most recent version of VBMS software allows VA claims representatives to: - establish Veterans claims entirely in a digital environment as e-folders, - receive, store, and view Veterans submitted claim documents electronically, - identify and track the evidence VA needs from beneficiaries and other outside sources, - quickly direct claims electronically among regional offices to better match VAs workload with available workforce capacity. The system also enables VA claims processors to access online rules-based calculators and drop-down menus to enhance standardization and accuracy of decisions, for both electronic claims and those received by VA in paper form and uploaded into VBMS. Processors will also use VBMS to generate letters to Veterans concerning their claim status and send requests to private physicians for medical records needed to evaluate claims. When VBMS is combined with VAs other Transformation initiativesincluding improved claims rater training, cross-functional claims handling teams, and prioritized lanes to speed processing based on type of claimVA will be positioned to meet Secretary Eric K. Shinsekis priority goal of processing Veterans claims in 125 days or less, at 98 percent accuracy, by the end of 2015. For more information on VAs transformation go to http://benefits.va.gov/transformation/ ###
Michigan Republican Party Facebook Page

Along with building the newsletters Facebook page, which can be found by the link above, the Michigan Republican Party is building their page. If you would like join, please click here.
Old Warrior Camp

From: Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Retired, ANG This Hunting Camp was built by a retired Marine First Sergeant with the primary purpose of facilitating the Wounded Warriors as they begin their Journey back to Civilian Life. The First Sergeant is the Commander of the Disabled American Veteran (Manistique Chapter 26) He is also 100% totally disabled. There is no cost to veteransBring a Valid Michigan Hunting License and your sleeping bag. Contact Bob Blevins at (906)-477-0025 for dates and times available.
A clipping from Gene Simon. It does bring up an interesting point. Do we forget?Matthew X. Hauser
We hear stories from around the state about Veterans who are in need of help. Please remember what these men and women have done for this nation. Please remember them, and let our communities not forget what these men and women have sacrificed. Thank you to everyone who has supported this newsletter, and if you know of any veterans who are in need of help let us know and we will put the word out to help. -Matthew X. Hauser Contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org
Lest We Forget
From: RAO Bulletin January 2013 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238 -1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines. Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/ NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/ AD37 member) The Navy's standard-issue blue camouflage uniforms are highly flammable and will melt onto the skin when burning, a recent Navy test revealed. A second revelation: This comes as no surprise to the Navy. "We knew when we designed this uniform that it wasn't flame-resistant," said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Navy's top spokesman. "When we were making the uniform, sailors wanted a uniform that was comfortable, that didn't require maintenance and would stand up under a lot of washing, and one of the ways to get that is a nyloncotton blend," Kirby said. "We realize that nylon does not react well to flame, but again, there was no requirement for a fire-resistant uniform in a working environment." The Navy released findings in December of an impromptu test that showed that - unlike the Army and Marine Corps working uniforms - its working uniform is not designated flame- resistant and "when subjected to a flame, it will burn robustly until completely consumed." The Type I NWU, as it's known, is half cotton and half nylon. The nylon component "is a thermoplastic fiber that melts and dr ips as it burns," the report said. "If this sticky molten material came in contact with skin, it would contribute to increased burn injury." Navy admirals said the uniform was never meant to be flame-retardant and there is fire gear throughout any ship in case sailors are exposed to flames. Only sailors with specific jobs such as airman, engineer or firefighter and those in combat are required to have fire- resistant clothing. Kirby noted that the Army and Marine uniforms are geared toward combat and the dangers of roadside bombs. That said, Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, Chief of Naval Personnel and president of the Navy's Uniform Board, announced in a message to commanders on 12 DEC that Fleet Forces commander Adm. Bill Gortney, working closely with Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Cecil Haney, has established
Navy Uniform Changes
working groups to review the fleet's uniform needs and to consider whether these uniforms do the job. Buskirk said he also has expanded the Navy's uniform board, adding the Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command and the Naval Safety Center as technical advisers to the board. The test on the working uniform last month was conducted during research on materials and equipment at the Navy's safety center in Massachusetts. Kirby said one of the testers took it upon himself to check the flammability of the NWU. A video of the test, which the Navy posted online, shows the uniform quickly burning when exposed to flame. "Nobody asked for these tests," Kirby said. "Now that we have the results of this particular test - obviously, we are not surprised the fabric did not react well to flame - but now that we have specifics... we are going to take another look." Admirals, including Buskirk, Kirby and Gortney, all said they were still comfortable that the uniforms are appropriate to wear in the right environment. Kirby noted that the Naval Safety Center issued a message to the fleet last year saying that while the uniform was not suitable for firefighting, it was still appropriate to wear at sea or in initial response to small fires. Ships are equipped with flame-resistant firefighting gear that sailors can get to. The leaders said they were confident that sailors were aware of the garment's limitations. But some sailors expressed outrage that their standard-issue uniforms were flammable and said it poses a serious risk for sailors working in the confines of a ship, where fire is of particular concern. The Navy Times published an editorial last week entitled "For safety's sake, fix NWU mess - fast" that charged that uniforms were not only unsafe, but the Navy was "misleading people about this uniform" since it was introduced in 2005. The newspaper unearthed a Navy posting in an online forum that states, "Navy uniforms are required to meet specific fire retardant standards, and these NWU concepts also meet those requirements." In response, Kirby wrote a strongly worded letter defending the Navy's actions. He acknowledged that there was some "unfortunate and confusing language" posted that had now been corrected but said it "hardly qualifies as some sort of ugly intent to lie to our own people." An Internet search for "Navy fire-retardant uniform" this week, however, still pulls up the page with the questionable information.
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"What I really bristled at was the charge that we somehow have been misleading sailors," Kirby said. "We have been routinely training sailors to this issue when they go off to school, to basic shipboard training." Sailors don't just work at sea, he said. They live there. Most don't sleep in fire-retardant clothing or wear it to work out. "Not every sailor aboard a ship on a daily, normal basis is at the same risk for fire," he said. The Navy Times editorial also calculated, based on flame-resistant Army uniform figures, that the service would have to shell out $20 million a year to phase in a flame-resistant NWU. It said an outright recall would cost even more but that "many sailors would gladly pay an extra $50 per set to know that their uniforms will protect them if their ship ever catches fire." Kirby said the working groups under Gortney plan to examine the current uniform to see whether it is still right for the fleet, as well as the current requirements and whether they are adequate. "I think it's really important to make the point that we are willing and we are right now taking a look at those assumptions and that requirement," he said. "Informed by this test, we are starting anew, and we are going to ask those questions across the board." [Source: The Virginian-Pilot | Dianna Cahn | 9 Jan 2014 ++]
From: www.honorflight.org Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill. Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nationand as a culturally diverse, free society. Now, with over one thousand World War II veterans dying each day, our time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out.
Honor Flight
From: http://www.jpac.pacom.mil The mission of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation's past conflicts. The highest priority of the organization is the return of any living Americans that remain prisoners of war. To date, the U.S. Government has not found any evidence that there are still American POWs in captivity from past U.S. conflicts. JPAC is located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The command was activated on Oct. 1, 2003, created from the merger of the 30-year-old U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, and the 11-year-old Joint Task Force - Full Accounting. Commanded by a flag officer, JPAC is manned by approximately 400 handpicked Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Department of the Navy civilians. The laboratory portion of JPAC, referred to as the Central Identification Laboratory (CIL), is the largest forensic anthropology laboratory in the world. JPAC also maintains three permanent overseas detachments to assist with command and control, logistics and in-country support during investigation and recovery operations. They are Detachment One located in Bangkok, Thailand, Detachment Two in Hanoi, Vietnam and Detachment Three in Vientiane, Laos. JPAC has a fourth detachment, Detachment Four, located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, responsible for recovery team personnel when they are not deployed.
Honor Flight in Michigan

Upper Peninsula Honor Flight (Gladstone, MI) Hub Web Site Flying from: ESC (Delta County Airport, Escanaba) Barbara Van Rooy 906-280-1471
By: Roger Rosenberg I recently had the privilege of attending an activation and deployment ceremony for National Guard unit that was being called up and sent overseas. I say privileged, because as a retired USAF officer myself, it is always great to be among young men and women whose response to being asked to carry out a difficult and dangerous assignment is yes, sir, or yes maam. However, I left wife, family and home four times for Southeast Asia (more if you count the departures after mid-tour leaves) and the flood of memories was difficult. Difficult because of the reminder of my own experiences, and difficult because of thinking about what lay in store for these strong, dedicated, and yet incredibly vulnerable men and women. There were similarities and very great differences from my own experiences. The ceremony itself, complete with military and civilian dignitaries, cake and punch was new. We did not have those en route to Southeast Asia. A touching similarity was the young spouses and friends, dressed beautifully and a little provocatively; a reminder of what was being left at home. One last memory one last picture to be carried in the recesses of the mind. The more experienced, however, had been here before. They knew the tears had to wait until later. The job was to get the spouse out of here, so they could begin counting the days until the return. That would be hard enough, but they already knew it to be infinitely easier than the dread running up to the departure. And there were children. Initially they seemed happy at the party-like atmosphere. However, they had all been briefed. They all knew, with various levels of understanding, that the party would not end happily. I remember in particular one captain with wife, toddler and baby present for the departure. They seemed remarkably calm and reserved, except that as the time for the departure approached, they became physically closer. The Captain did a great job of maintaining military deportment that means no public displays of affection nor carrying children, until the last ten minutes. Suddenly it was about hugging the children tightly and often holding the baby close to absorb as much baby powder and stale, recycled milk into the uniform to preserve a smell that would soon become a fading memory. And, there were differences. First, there were women in uniform. One toddler, barely two, was in the company of her uniformed single Mom. The toddler knew two things. Her mom was leaving her forever. If forever seems a strong word, think back to the first Christmas or birthday you can remember the one when the week prior seemed to stretch into months. The other thing she knew was she
Deployment
was going home with an aunt. An aunt with whom she had none of the bonding that children that age take for granted. I hope and pray the aunt is as wonderful and caring, as the Mom she is used to. One young soldier was incredibly military. Her long hair was tucked up under a cap set square and pulled low over her eyes. She was clearly good at being sharper than all the guys she worked with in a formerly male profession. As she walked away at the departure, a voice shouted her name and said I love you! She turned, said simply, Mom, I promised I would not cry. Stop. In that moment, her eyes said something very different to her mother than the stern words. Then she was gone. Because of my perspective, I saw other things. The Captain leaving the toddler and baby would return to a toddler and a little girl. He will also return to a wife who will be very different. She will be more self assured, because she will have to be. She will learn to do things he had handled, and she will not give them up easily when he returns. He and his soldiers will be different too. They will be making split second decisions, some involving life and death. They will do so in many different circumstances and in situations that may influence or implement national policies. These decisions will be made with neither time nor opportunity to ask permission or seek advice. Coming home for many of these reservists will mean returning to jobs where independence and quick decision-making ability are not prized - notwithstanding words about trust and empowerment in MBA programs and management texts. Another difference from my era was the presence of many dignitaries. They read letters from senators, congressmen, and the governor of the state that was giving up a large part of its emergency resources. I wish the people that signed the letters could have been there and observed both the difficulty of the task and the bravery of the people who will implement their decisions. The military establishment is far smaller than it was during my career, yet we still have tens of thousands of troops in Europe, Asia, and other places on the globe far from home. Guardsmen and Reservists are deploying to Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan longer and more often than I did to Southeast Asia as a career officer. The cost these young men and women undertake is incredibly large. Some of it will be calculated in failed marriages, problems in school for their children, or interrupted careers. And while I hope and pray otherwise, some of the cost may be marked by fading photographs looking down from a mantle or table on decades of missed holiday family celebrations. We cannot thank them enough.
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From: Don Alsbro Lest We Forget will present its sixth tribute to veterans, May 17-19, 2013 at the Southwest Regional Airport. This event will have many of the features of the past events with some new additions. While we will not have the WWII beach landings we will have more WWII battles at the airport, there will be a Vietnam re-enactment featuring Huey helicopters, VN vehicles and the 25th Infantry "Wolfhounds" and there will be tributes to the Korean veterans. The project officer for this event will be Bill Womer, a member of Lest We Forget. Bill is a retired SGT MAJ from the MI National Guard and retired social studies teacher from St Joseph HS. Bill will be assisted by members of Lest We Forget heading the various committees with support from the community. The event will be co-sponsored by Fairmount Minerals, Lakeland Regional Hospital, Meijer's and Johnson Rauhoff. In addition to these sponsors Lest We Forget couldn't function without the support of grants from the Upton Foundation, the Schalon Foundation and various service clubs. To put on this re-enactment over $60,000 must be raised. There is no charge for the events at the airport and donations are gratefully accepted. For several weeks prior to the event both sides of the road leading to the airport will be lined with flags thru the cooperation of the BH/SJ Exchange Club and Michigan Works Bridge Academy. Meals will be provided throughout the event. There will be WWII and VN re-enactments and a tribute to the Korean soldiers. Friday 1. 1-3 pm at Tiscornia Beach there will be several landing craft that will be giving rides to the public. The rides will be $10 each with WWII veterans and children 17 and under riding for free. 2. 4:30-7:00 there will be a military vehicle, motorcycle and classic car parade thru Benton Harbor and St Joseph with a 30 min stop at the Berrien County Courthouse. This will be a repeat of the vehicle parade last year which was highly successful. 3. 7:30-9:30 there will be a reception and presentations by the Medal of Honor guests and other distinguished guests at the Airport Hangar
LEST WE FORGET PRESENTS WWII AND VIETNAM RE-ENACTMENT AND KOREAN TRIBUTE
Saturday 1. Two WWII re-enactments: one at 11 am and the other at 3 pm. 2. A Vietnam re-enactment complete with 2 Huey helicopters (Med-evac and assault), troops, and military vehicles at 1 pm. During the event there will be a Vietnam compound set up. 3. Flame throwing demonstrations will be conducted both Saturday and Sunday. The flame throwing demonstration will be performed by Larry MacLean of Rochester Hills, MI 4. Parachute drops by the Mad Dog Parachute team from South Carolina at 10 and 2 pm 5. Demonstration by Johnny Mayo, VN dog handler and his trained dogs. Johnny is from South Carolina 6. Presentations by Medal of Honor and other distinguished guests at 4-6 pm in the Hangar 7. Korean Tribute (TBD) 6-8 pm 8. Hangar Dance from 8-10:30 pm. This dance will be a repeat of last year with the Moonlighters led by Paul Friday providing the music. Last year this was enjoyed by the re-enactors and the public. 9. WWII fashion show during intermission of the dance 10. In the hangar will be The Master Modeler Jerry Lindquist with his display of military dioramas and military history, Weldon and Lorraine House with their display of the history of the USO, sale of LWF merchandise and a display of WWII fashions by Kathy Pendergrass of Decatur 11. In the field will be the 20th Century at War Museum from Holland, MI. This is an interactive display of military field equipment featuring vehicles, signal and other military equipment. There will also be military maircraft from WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Two Vietnam Huey's (medevac and assault chopper) from Kokomo IN will be providing rides to members, plus a Korean Bell helicopter and other aircraft. Sunday 1. Church service at 9 am 2. Presentations by Medal of Honor and other distinguished guests from 10-12 3. WWII Re-enactment at 1 pm 4. Flame throwing, parachute drops will be conducted during the day The above schedule is flexible and subject to change. For questions please call Don Alsbro at 269-9217176, dealsbro@comcast.net or go to the web site: www.lestweforgetusa.org.
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Special Thanks To Lest WE Forget For Their Support!

They meet the first Wednesday of everything month and 10am. For more information Click Here. I would also like to thank Mr. Kenneth Mckeown for the great photos.-Matthew X. Hauser
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For more information please visit www.supportamericanvets.org and www.grassrootsationteam.org. More details coming soon.
The Grassroots Action Team was created in order to advocate for Veterans and others about issues concerning mental health parity and physical health. We will be doing this first and foremost by educating people and making sure they are aware of the issues. Then we will make sure our leaders in Washington and at the State level are aware of the issues and vote in favor of our Veterans. We will keep the pressure on to make sure programs that are already in place as well as any new programs helping veterans are in fact implemented. If you would like to make a donation or have ideas and/or suggestions for us please write to our President, Hank Fuhs, Lt. Col., United States Air Force/ANG/USAF Reserves (ret.) at 3848 Leonard St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 or email him athankfuhs@gmail.com or info@grassrootsactionteam.org.
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A Note From: Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau

This notice from LWF is to inform the reader of the development of a Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau. Since our organization has conducted three yearlong courses at Lake Michigan College, we have many topics and many qualified speakers to present information from WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have developed formats for school children of all ages, and for veterans organization. Whatever the event we will gladly produce the correct format We would be glad to present any topic of interest to any group. As coordinator, I will be glad to help with the choices of presentations and help with planning. Gary C. Lulenski Coordinator Speakers Bureau 269-428-3442 Garykaye2@comcast.net
From: www.esgr.mil ESGR, a Department of Defense agency, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 4,800 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Volunteers, hailing from small business and industry, government, education and prior military service bring a vast wealth of experience to assist in serving employers, service members and their families. Together with Headquarters ESGR staff and a small cadre of support staff for each State Committee, volunteers work to promote and enhance employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve. ESGR has served our country for 40 years, developing and promoting a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. These citizen warriors could not defend and protect us at home and abroad without the continued promise of meaningful civilian employment for themselves and their families. ESGR has continued to adapt to meet the needs of our Reserve Component members, their families and Americas employers by joining forces with a network of other national, state and local government and professional trade organizations as together, We All Serve!
What is ESGR
From: The USO In 2012, we're calling on the brave men and women of our armed forces to make some incredible sacrifices in Afghanistan, Iraq, and remote locations around the world. That means you and I need to make an extra effort to show our support. One of the best ways to let our troops know that you've got their back is by supporting the work of the USO. Step Up and Lead -- support our troops by signing up to be part of the USO today.
STEP UP AND LEAD
Click the Michigan Flag to access the ESGR Michigan Page
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From: Gene Simon The National Veterans Art Museum, formerly the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, located at 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago's six corners neighborhood, is dedicated to displaying and studying art produced by veterans from the Vietnam War and other wars and conflicts. Originally a traveling exhibition, while in Chicago it was viewed by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who was so taken by the power of the art that he immediately insisted that the city provide a permanent home for it. The entrance hall has 58,226 dog tags hanging from the ceiling, representing the US soldiers who died in Vietnam. It and the other exhibits have been described as deeply moving. When visitors first enter the National Vietnam Veterans Art museum, they will hear a sound like wind chimes coming from above them and their attention will be drawn upward 24 feet to the ceiling of the two-story high atrium. Dog tags of the more than 58,000 service men and women who died in the Vietnam War hang from the ceiling of the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago on Veterans Day, November 11, 2010. The 10-by-40-foot sculpture, entitled Above & Beyond, was designed by Ned Broderick and Richard Steinbock. The tens of thousands of metal dog tags are suspended 24 feet in the air, 1 inch apart, from fine lines that allow them to move and chime with shifting air currents. Museum employees using a kiosk and laser pointer help visitors locate the exact dog tag with the imprinted name of their lost friend or relative.
National Veterans Art Museum
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On July 4th 2012 Mr. Franklin Smith passed away. In December of 2011 I received a letter with a story attached. Since then I have been working on obtaining a copy of his full story. Don Alsbro the President of Lest We Forget SW MI provided me with the document. Mr. Smith wrote over 50 pages in his account of World War II. Over the next few months we will publish the whole story. I thank Lest We Forget for their support with this project.Matthew X. Hauser
World War II Memories From Captain Franklin H. Smith-Part V

By: The Late Cpt. Franklin H. Smith
PLANNED BREAK OUT OF NORMANDY It was in the early morning of July 25, 1944 that droves of bombers came over and started a heavy bombardment of the front area. The ground was shaking and my men were nervous because they didnt know what was going on. I began to think that maybe the Germans had counter attacked and the 8th Air Force had been called out to help stem the attack. Actually it was the planned break out of Normandy a coordinated attack between the ground troops and the 8th Air Force, which was flying out of England. They were bombing on a designated line and the waves of airplanes that were following were bombing on the smoke. General Leslie McLear had been up the forward area and some of the bombs were dropping short. The smoke
had blown back across the American lines. The later wave of bombers started to drop their bombs on the smoke line and they were dropping them on American troops. General McLear was killed in that bombing. The breakout was handled by a couple of infantry divisions attacking and when they bogged down, they sent a couple of tank divisions through them and broke the German lines. That afternoon, company commanders and battalion commanders were called to a meeting with Colonel Yuill. It was explained that the 3rd Battalion was being given to the 2nd Infantry Division. An extra division had been requested from Corp Headquarters and they were told that a regiment could not be spared. The best that could be done was to give them one battalion. They had heavy casualties in taking Hill 192 and when they attacked again on July 26th, they would have an open right flank and were afraid the Germans would hit them. My battalion, the 3rd, was selected to be given to the 2nd Infantry Division and orders were given to us by Major Birdsong. He said that I company would be in the middle, we would be farthest out and on our left would be K and L company would be on our right. It sounded like a hairy proposition and we thought we would get a lot of artillery fire out of that. I explained to my platoon leaders and tried not to convey my fear about the situation. That night around midnight an automatic weapon went off in the orchard. I started to run toward the firing. My supply sergeant was located under a peach tree and hollered at me not to go over there. I realized that I didnt have a gun and I hadnt put on my helmet. I went back, slammed my helmet on my head, picked up my gun and started to move in the darkness when I heard a man moaning. I hurried over to see what was going on and found a Lieutenant lying on the ground who had accidentally shot himself with a German machine pistol. He said he had been sleeping and he always laid the gun on his right side with his hand on the trigger. He got up during the night to relieve himself, reached up for the gun, touched the trigger and it went off. I wondered how he hit himself in the left foot when the gun was on the right side. (Continued)
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I had to appoint Lieutenant Lowery, who was a little grouchy because it was so late, to make a complete investigation. Two or three times I was told by Major Birdsong that Colonel Yuill wanted me to prefer Court Martial charges against this officer for shooting himself but I told him that I was not sure that he did it on purpose. It could have been an accidental shooting because that is what the lieutenant had told me. I finally told him that I would not prefer charges against him but that if he or Colonel Yuill wanted to prefer charges against me, that would be fine because I knew that if I went to Leavenworth Prison I would come out of there alive but I didnt know if I would come out of the war alive. I guess Major Birdsong told Colonel Yuill what I said because that was the end of anyone telling me that I had to prefer charges against that officer for selfinflicted wounds. I felt that the man might have shot himself on purpose because when he first joined our unit in the Chaumont area as a replacement, he was full of fight and was ready to go after the enemy. When the first big shells came flying in it took all of that bravery out of him. One of my very good sergeants came to see me one day and asked me what exactly was a platoon leaders job. I knew then that there was something wrong with the lieutenant. The sergeant told me that he was scared to death and that he was hiding all the time. I told the sergeant that I would speak to him and when I had the opportunity I asked him if he was having trouble. He told me that when he came up here he was ready to go but he didnt know what he was getting into and he was frightened to death and hardly knew what to do. I had a talk with him and told him that we were all frightened and scared but he was an officer and those bars meant he was going to lead. I told him that he was in a more difficult situation that I was in because the men knew me but because he was new they were watching every move he made because he was supposed to be their leader. I thought I had given him a good pep talk and maybe had helped him out. I knew he was still frightened so the shooting was very suspect but I still didnt know in my own mind for sure that he did it on purpose. That was my reason for not preferring charges against him.
155mm Guns
I started to move forward with my company somewhere after 5:00 am. We were plodding along when all of a sudden there were explosions to the right and left of us and we all hit the ground almost instantaneously. After a few minutes I figured out that the 155mm guns were opening up on the enemy positions to support the 2nd Division in their attack. I reassured the company that everything was all right and got them up on their feet. We were walking in a sunken road and two guns were on each side of the road. We got tremendous impact between the noise of the guns on either side of us. It did scare all of us, including me. We continued to move up to get to a certain position and then we got the word that things were going badly and we were to move up immediately and get in a position on the right flank of the 2nd Division. I ran forward and left the company with Lieutenant Lowery and went forward very quickly to scout out what was going on. I told Lowery to bring the company on forward. When I was going up the reverse side of Hill 192, I started running into men who had been wounded. I had three or four of my runners with me and we stopped and started to patch the wounded and reassure them that everything was all right. They were telling me that the enemy had attacked and they were being wiped out. This is generally what happens when things go wrong and a man is going to the rear whether he is wounded or not. He thinks everything has gone badly and you really cannot believe anyone who is going to the rear.
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Finally I told my runners that I couldnt help take care of any more of the wounded because I had to go out in front and find a place to take my company in. I ran down in front and there was a tank battle going on. I made a quick reconnaissance of the area and decided where each platoon would go, ran back up the hill and there was Lieutenant Lowery who was bringing the company up the hill near the crest. We got into position as quickly as possible but we were not to be in on the attack. We were to dig in and hold the hill in a counter attack. We dug in on the hill side and the worse thing that happened to us was from our own planes. The attack was being supported by P47 bombers. All of a sudden four P47s went over and they dropped three bombs on our position. We had been issued orange smoke grenades and the instructions were that if we were ever attacked by our own planes we should throw them. I had my command post in a farm yard and our jeeps were parked in the general area so I ran out to one of my drivers, Smitty, and asked for the smoke grenades. They were in the bottom of a trailer covered with shovels and ammunition and we had trouble locating them. Meanwhile the P47s had gone beyond our positions and had turned around and were coming back for another run. Smitty and I made a run for it and took cover.. When the bombers made the first pass our battalion real ized that we were being bombed and they sent a message to the rear that the planes were bombing their own troops. The explanation came back that they did not see any troops on the ground. They were after a tank that did not have a red cover on it. The tank turned out to be an American tank and fortunately was not hit. Its red cover had been pulled off. Apparently, in this attack, the 2nd Division had arranged with the Air Force for red covers to be put on tanks so they would not mistake them for the Germans. I did have some men who had to be sent back for concussions
as they were in a gun position near one of the bomb hits. The 500 pound bombs made quite a hole in the ground. Later on I was talking to Lieutenant Hazam, our antitank officer who was to our rear up on the hilltop and had seen the planes go over and bomb. Our machine guns had fired at the P47s and it was not possible to stop them. I later asked why the men were shooting at the planes, and their answer was, they were bombing us. It was funny after it was all over, but it was not funny at the time. That night the German planes bombed us with antipersonnel bombs. I had my command post in a farm house and I could hear a German bomb approaching. At that point I wished that we were in a slit trench. The bomb hit the end of the house and fortunately it was an antipersonnel bomb. Our machine guns were firing at the enemy but didnt hit them. Around midnight, after the bombing I went to look for my weapons platoon leader, Lieutenant Smith and his platoon sergeant. They had been sleeping in a 500 gallon barrel, which they had padded with straw, but they were not there. They finally showed up and told me that they had left the barrel which was in a shed behind the house. They showed me the holes in the barrel that had been made by the antipersonnel bombs. They were lucky that they had decided to change their sleeping location. The 2nd Division released our battalion and we rejoined the regiment around two thousand yards north of Vidaville. Our regiment was in division reserve. On the afternoon of July 29th, our battalion was ordered to fill the gap between the 2nd and the 10th Infantries near Lambeville. One of our regiments had been held up and the other one had gained quite a bit of ground so there was a gap be tween the two. Major Birdsong gave the order that I company would fill the middle part of the gap with K Company on one side and L company on the other.
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We were the ones who projected the farthest out into the gap. We finally got into position the next morning. I heard sporadic rifle fire on our left flank. I heard our left flank open up and start firing and I began to think it was an all American fight and of course, that is what it was. It is hard to stop these things when they happen because you have to take care of yourself and see that you do not get wounded by getting in between the cross fire. The 2nd Infantry Regiment had been shot up pretty good and as they were moving forward, they were firing across the ground in front of them. One of my platoons happened to be extended out into the area where they were doing sporadic firing. My platoon turned around and started firing back at our own men because they were being fired upon. It was an accident that should not have happened. After the 2nd Infantry had moved past us, we pulled back and then on the night of July 30th, I was advised that my company had been selected to do a night attack with bayonets. The 10th Infantry had a position along a ridge line and when they had attached down on the ridge line, they had received very heavy casualties from the Germans who were dug in on the reverse slope of the hill in a sunken road. They were not able to move forward. Division headquarters made a decision to have two rifle companies attack with bayonets to dig the Germans out of their positions. As luck would have it, my company was one of those chosen along with Captain Gerrie, who was commander of F Company of the 2nd Battalion. I suggested to Major Birdsong, who was in charge, that we have minesweepers come up and sweep the road that was going to be between Gerries company and my company. The Major thought it was a good idea. The attack was supposed to go off around 2:30 am and it was July 31st. The mine weepers did not get up to our position so the attack was delayed. Finally Major Birdsong said we could not wait any longer, that we must go ahead with the attack. (In a night attack, all of the men are in a single line about double arm length from each other with rifles locked and bayonets fixed.) Around 4:30 am we finally pushed off expecting strong resistance. As
we moved down the slope of the hill I was waiting for the Germans to hear us and start firing. We reached the objective, which was about one thousand yards or less and we found that the Germans had withdrawn from their positions. The holes were dug in the sunken road, but the enemy was gone. I figured this was a trick on the part of the enemy and was expecting to be attacked in the flank but it did not happen. I reported back on the radio that the enemy had withdrawn from the position and was given the order to keep moving through the darkness with bayonets. This was an unusual order because a bayonet attack had a fixed objective and is usually not more than a thousand yards. We moved forward through the night and I kept thinking that the Germans had something up their sleeve and they would eventually hit us in the side, but nothing happened. The reason for this was that the breakthrough had occurred a few days prior to this and the German lines had been broken. The enemy, that was in front of our division had been given the order to pull back. The delay that we had in the attack waiting for the minesweepers just gave the enemy enough time to get out and pull back while we moved forward. Later in the day we changed formation and I company was in the lead on the road while A Company was to cover our front. A Company was to be spread out across the front to pick up the enemy. I company was to move across the initial point and as I remember it, around 4:00 p.m., when we did so there was not anyone at the initial point. This was most unusual because always in training it was usually the whole staff and other people standing around watching you pass the IP. As we moved down the road I saw about five Sherman tanks backing down the road. As our column came up along them a captain came over to talk and I asked what was going on. He told me that there was supposed to be 11th Infantry out in front of us and he had run into enemy fire down the road and that they do not operate without infantry. I told him that now he had infantry, a whole company right here. I told him to put his tanks in my column and go with me, which he did. It wasnt too long after that we came under enemy fire.
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Sniper machine gun fire and mortar fire was coming in from the front and the right flank. As the shelling increased, I began to wonder what was going on and I wondered what had happened to A Company. About that time Major Birdsong called and told me to hold up my advance because I had passed A Company. The tanks began to pull back and went back down the road. I had dispersed my company so that we were in a position that wasnt bunched up. I sent one platoon, commanded by Lieutenant Nicholson and Platoon Sergeant Frank Crawford, to the right flank. I was going to try to find out what happened to A Company but Sergeant Baker stopped me and said that he would go because I was much more valuable to the company than he was. We were coming under a lot of heavy shelling and it was getting close so I crawled in among a bunch of cows. I thought the cows might absorb some of the enemy shells that were being directed at me. While in this area, I noticed four or five Sherman tanks coming back down the road. It so happened that these were tanks from the 2nd Infantry Division and a captain was in charge. He told me that they knew we had advanced up into this area and they were over on our right side. They had been held up in a little village by enemy fire and he was coming around with his tanks to bring fire on the village. His tanks opened up and were shelling the village to our right when not too long after I heard someone running down through the area shouting, stop that firing. It was an American Captain from the 2nd Division. The 2nd Division forces had moved forward and had taken part in the village and their own tanks were throwing shells into their own troops. The firing stopped and the tanks withdrew. These accidents do happen, not very often, but they do occur in wartime situations. On August 1st we moved back behind Hill 211 on the map and this was a corps assembly area. I think the Twenty Corps was being assembled and it was part of Pattons 3rd Army. While we were there we did see two USO shows. On August 4th we were moved by truck to a town called Comprepous and then on August 5th we moved to a new position six miles southeast of St. James. On August 6th, we were alerted that we
would move out and we moved out about midnight. We arrived in Mondraun around 5:00 am. We were again alerted that at noon we would move to take the city of Angers. Our regimental combat team was to be a spearhead to take Angers. Our battalion arrived in the area about midnight. The 1st and 2nd Battalion had arrived earlier and was fighting to take the town. We started to bivouac and about 1:30 am I was called to the Battalion Command Post. I was told by Major Birdsong that Colonel Yuill had sent orders to him to send me on a special mission. A small patrol from the reconnaissance platoon had supposedly gone down through the area and into the town of Bouchemaine. The patrol leader had reported that there were not any Germans in the town, so with that knowledge, Colonel Yuill had prepared a special mission for I company. I was given extra units to reinforce my rifle company and I was given a machine gun platoon and a mortar platoon from M Company. I probably had three hundred men or more when I moved out. We had lots of machine guns and mortars. I was to move to Bouchemaine and seize the bridge at that point and I was to leave one platoon at that bridge which was on the Maine River. Then I was to move south to where the Maine and the Loire came together and I was to leave one of the infantry platoons at that point to keep any Germans from using that bridge to come north. I was to take the remainder of my company, move to the rear of Angers and cut off two roads that lead to the southwest. The map that I was given only went to the town of Bouchemaine.
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When I crossed the river I was to be absolutely on my own. I took some coordinates off a map in battalion headquarters so if I did get into any trouble, I could call for artillery fire using the map coordinates, but it was pretty hazardous work. I questioned a sergeant and asked him if he had been to the bridge, and made sure that he really did not see any Germans. The sergeant said he would have no trouble leading us there in the darkness. I was very suspicious about the whole thing and I didnt think it could be carried off. For once we got across that bridge, if we ran into any tanks and used up what bazooka ammunition we had, we were dead ducks as far as the tanks were concerned and it would be too far for any help. But orders were orders and I was going to try to carry them out. I put the sergeant from the recon naissance platoon with my 1st Platoon and we were following them at a distance of two hundred yards. Between the 1st Platoon and the head of the company I had a couple of men. The platoon stopped and we stopped and I asked the sergeant who was guiding us what the problem was. He said he thought he had gotten us on the wrong road so we had to back track and turn the vehicles around. We had a number of jeeps with their machine guns and mortars and we also had a wire line that was being run for communication to the bridge at Bouchemaine. After we got back on the right road, we began moving again. Soon the column had stopped and one of my privates, Anthony Antonioni, came back and told me that the sergeant was lost and doesnt know where he is. I thought that I had better have a talk with him so I got the sergeant off to the side and asked him if he
knew where we were. He told me that he wasnt sure that he had not really actually gone down to Bouchemaine like he told Colonel Yuill and he had never been this far forward. He had only gone as far as the railroad tracks that were way behind us. I told him to get out of my sight because he has jeopardized the lives of a lot of men who could have been killed or captured. While we were stopped some bullets came high overhead. They were aerial burst and my men started muttering. I didnt know what they were and I thought maybe Hitler had come up with some new kind of secret weapon and this secret weapon was causing these aerial bursts. They seemed to be coming from quite some distance and they made the men nervous because I couldnt tell them exactly what was happening or what they were. I then got Lieutenant Lowery and we took out my map and got down on the road under the blanket and turned on a flashlight and tried to find out where we were. I then sent out a couple of patrols to look for road crossings. After they found the crossings I was able to determine our approximate location. I told my 1st platoon leader what was going on and that we must be much more careful because no one had been up through this area before, we could run into the enemy any time. After giving this information the lead platoon started moving forward and I followed the lead platoon at a short distance and the company was following again at a couple of hundred yards. It was about 6:00 am as we were coming over the hill that starts leading down into the town of Bouchemaine, when firing started.
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We had hit the German outpost line and they were going into action. We were getting fire from the front and mortar shells. Then we began to get machine gun fire from our right flank and I had to get the platoons moving and we got the machine guns in action. I was in front with the 1st platoon and was going to go back to circle the company in just like the wagons did in the Indian days. As I ran up the road past some of our jeeps that had trailers loaded with ammunition, there was a big explosion to rear on top of the hill and a great big black cloud went skyward. I thought for a minute that an airplane had dropped a bomb on us. I looked up and I could not see anything in the sky so I kept running towards the rear and ran face to face with a German armored car. I was able to recognize it instantly because it had the typical German camouflage painting on it. I thought about trying to get through the hedgerow but if I got stuck I would be a goner. I made an instant decision to turn back down the road to run where there was an opening into a field. As I ran down the road the armored car was machine gunning and also opened up with a bigger gun on our jeep trailers. As I was running I was screaming Bazooka, bazooka! Private Paige, our bazookaman arrived and I pointed out what I wanted him to do. Unfortunately, machine gun fire hit him on the right side of his head and it spun him around. I gave him a slight push to get him out of the line of fire and other people began to arrive and also some other bazooka men arrived and they started to go into action. Lieutenant Cody arrived with my extra platoon. I told him where I wanted him to put his platoon into position. My 3rd platoon had gone in on the rear. We got hit by German tanks in the rear and they managed to blow up two or three trailers and a couple of jeeps. One of the trailers had white phosphorus mortar shells in it and these shells were going off. We were also getting shelled from the front and it was a bad situation. I was going around with a couple of my runners telling people what to do and some mortar shells came in very close to us. We ran into
an area with a very small ditch and dove in. We lay there and the shells came in so close that dirt was being thrown over our backs. I could hear the mortars that were firing those shells and I could actually hear the shells leaving the guns. Then came a pause and I realized that perhaps they had run out of mortar ammunition. That was going to be our break to get out of that particular ditch. I heard seven shells leave the guns. I heard boom, boom. boom, seven times then there was a long pause and I said to the men to do as I do, when I get up, follow me. The seven shells landed and fortunately all went off so that I could count seven shells and when they hit around us I jumped up and we ran across the field into a sunken road on the other side. This is where I set up my company headquarters. The Germans did get a direct hit on one of our mortars and we had men killed and wounded. We finally got the situation under control. I had withdrawn to the high ground , circled my company and talked to Colonel Yuill. He said for me to hold the ground that I had and he was going to release the 3rd battalion to come up and help me out. I must mention that one of the bazooka men did knock out the armored car. The others on our rear finally withdrew so what we ended up with was an enemy to our front and to our right flank. There was sporadic firing and finally as evening came firing stopped and everything was quiet. During the night Sergeant Robertson showed up and I was surprised to see him and asked him where he had been. He had gotten too far to the front with his men so he laid low until it was dark and then they crawled back. The Germans had fired some flares up in the area prior to his arrival. I was wondering why they were firing flares and lighting up the area. I think they were firing the flares because they could hear the movements of Sergeant Robertson and his men but could not determine exactly where they were. The funny thing that happened when Sergeant Robertson was talking to me was when he asked if we had any chow and of course we didnt have any.
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Dear Honored US Veterans and Your Families, My name is Dr. Jack Grenan and I am a psychologist and hypnotherapist who helps Veterans their families and anyone else who asks for help. I will be writing a column is this newsletter and I will be answering questions sent to me at jackgrenan@netscape.net. I have counseled many veterans with PTSD and I encourage any veteran who may have a question to email me. As far as PTSD any Veterans out there who thinks that you may have PTSD probably does and should speak to someone. Anyone who served their country is a hero for sacrificing time away from home and family to serve our Country and your fellow servicemen and women! I look forward to communicating with you every month! God Bless our Veterans, troops currently serving, their families and GOD BLESS AMERICA! Sincerely, Dr. Jack Grenan
Please Support and listen to Frontlines of Fredom Military Talk Radio Hosted by Lt. Col. Denny Gillem. You can hear it every Saturday at 1p.m. on 1260 AM the Pledge (Zeeland, MI), or by visiting the website at www.frontlinesoffreedom.com. Or on Facebook by clicking here. Thank you for your Support!
From: www.wwimemorial.org In March 2008, Frank Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, visited the District of Columbia War Memorial, on the National Mall in Washington DC. He observed that this peaceful, secluded memorial, dedicated in 1931 as a memorial to the 499 residents of the District of Columbia who gave their lives in that war, sits neglected and in extreme disrepair, and that there is no national memorial to World War I. Mr. Buckles issued a call for the restoration and re-dedication of the D.C. memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial. The World War I Memorial Foundation was formed to make Frank Buckles dream a reality. The mission of the Foundation is to advocate and raise funds for the re-dedication of the DC War Memorial as a national World War I memorial, dedicated to all those Americans who served in the Great War. In 2014 the world will mark the centennial of World War I. Nearly 5 million Americans served during the war, and 116,516 Americans died in defense of democracy overseas. Americas support of its allies in World War I marked the first time in this nations history that American soldiers went abroad to defend foreign soil against aggression -- and it marked the true beginning of the American century. Yet while the later conflicts of the 20th century World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War -rightfully have national memorials on the National Mall, there is no such memorial to the Great War, even though more Americans gave their lives in World War I than in Korea or Vietnam. The D.C. memorial, which is already located adjacent to those other memorials, is the most fitting site for a national World War I memorial.
The World War I Memorial Foundation
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
~Ronald Reagan
Photo: The Late Frank Buckles during his 2008 visit to the Washington D.C. World War I Monument.
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From: Veteran of Foreign Wars www.vfw.org January 07, 2013 The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) proudly announces its Operation Uplink Free Call Day program recently surpassed 7 million connections from deployed military personnel to their loved ones at home. The program hosts Free Call Days for service members serving in Afghanistan and Kuwait, as well as hospitalized veterans, giving them the opportunity to call family and friends in the United States at no cost. The program will also expand in 2013 when it begins providing three designated Free Call Days each month, more than ever before. Sport Clips Haircuts, a longtime supporter of the program through its annual Help A Hero fundraising campaign, made the expansion possible with a $500,000 donation to the program in December. The donation was the single largest in Operation Uplinks history. Sport Clips has donated almost $2 million to the program since 2007. The VFW is proud of Operation Uplink because it makes such a difference in the lives of our active-duty military. Being able to talk to your loved ones free of charge while youre thousands of miles away from your home is a precious gift, says VFW Commander-in-Chief
VFW oPerATIon uPLInK Free cALL dAY ProGrAm ToPS 7 mILLIon conNECTIONS THE PROGRAM ALLOWS OVERSEAS SERVICE MEMBERS TO CALL HOME AT NO COST
John Hamilton, a Vietnam veteran. Free Call Days are available at more than 600 Morale, Welfare and Recreation center Internet cafs using SPAWAR. Service members use their regular SPAWAR prepaid PIN number and then follow normal dialing procedures. If they dont have a PIN, the caf manager can issue them one on the Free Call Day. A sponsor message greets the caller before the call is placed to inform them the call is at no charge, and they are free to talk as long as they are able. Operation Uplink began in 1996, initially providing calling cards to deployed and hospitalized troops. On Mother's Day 2006, due to the growing popularity of the program and thanks to the generosity of corporate donors like Sport Clips, the program began hosting Free Call Days. To learn more about the Operation Uplink Free Call Day program, including the 2013 Free Call Day schedule, click here.
Good afternoon,
Relay For Life
I am a committee member on the American Cancer Society's Dearborn Relay for Life team. On April 27th and 28th, my friends and I will be walking for 24 hours to support the American Cancer Society's efforts to find cures for cancer. This effort means a lot to me since my Father was a cancer survivor for eight years until his fight came to an end in 2008. Please help me to fight this horrific disease by donating to the American Cancer Society's Dearborn Relay for Life. Please follow the link below and enter the information over our secure network. https:// secure.acsevents.org/site/Donation2? idb=1611989909&df_id=1010546&1010546.donation=fo rm1&FR_ID=50205&PROXY_ID=26407729&PROXY_ TYPE=20
We are also looking for companies or individuals who would like to support us by becoming a sponsor. Sponsorships begin at 250.00, and are a way to make your presence known on the internet and on the day of the event. If you are interested in sponsorships with the American Cancer Society, or for the Dearborn Relay for Life, please send me an e-mail back with your contact information and I will be happy to speak with you about opportunities to help. Thank you for your time, and your dedication to this worthwhile cause. Sincerely, Lt. Col. Rob Seeley
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From: RAO Bulletin November 2012 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013, the Social Security Administration announced 16 OCT. The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 56 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2012. Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $113,700 from $110,100. Of the estimated 163 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2013, nearly 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum. Information about Medicare changes for 2013, when announced, will be available at http://www.Medicare.gov. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums. The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ cola. [Source: SSA Fact Sheet http:// www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/ colafacts2013.htm ++]
COLA 2013 Update
A Note From Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs

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We are currently looking for any contact information of individuals or groups that you think would either be interested in receiving our newsletter or interested in writing articles. If you know of anyone please let us know. For it is through your involvement we are able to reach more and more people each month. Thank you very much! We hope you enjoy.
Three ways to help:

1. Email us the contact information at mhauser@migop.org 2. By mail at: 520 Seymour Lansing, MI 48933 3. Or simply forward the newsletter along to a friend. Thank you for your Continued Support -Hank Fuhs
Form: www.dav.org Because so many sick and disabled veterans lack transportation to and from VA medical facilities for needed treatment, the DAV operates a nationwide Transportation Network to meet this need. Through the Transportation Network, DAV volunteers drive sick and disabled veterans to and from VA medical facilities for treatment. The Transportation Network is a clear example of veterans helping veterans. The DAV stepped in to meet a substantial
Need a Ride
community need when the federal government terminated its program that helped many veterans pay for transportation to VA medical facilities. The DAV has 189 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country who coordinate the transportation needs for disabled veterans. Use the DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact your nearest HSC for information or assistance. Please remember that the DAV Transportation Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. We hope we can help you. Locate your nearest VA Medical Center
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Lake Michigan College Winter Semester offers The Civil War class
From: Victoria Dunlop, Public Information Officer 269-468-5679, vicki@birdbite.com BENTON HARBOR, MI Let it be said this isnt your ordinary history class! The community education course will be facilitated by two Vietnam veterans and a local attorney: Don Alsbro, LMC professor and President of Lest We Forget; and Gary Lulenski, Civil War enthusiast; plus Mike Dumke, an expert in the Civil War era. The class is structured around Ken Burns award-winning Civil War documentary and most sessions will feature a 60 to 90 minute presentation from this series. In addition, Lest We Forget has purchased The American Civil War from Great Courses - a 24-hour course taught by Professor Gary Gallagher. Preceding each class, a segment will be shown from 5:306:45pm. If you are interested in a deeper understanding of the Civil War, you will want to attend these optional showings. The class itself will be held Tuesdays from 7-9 pm, January 15 to April 30 on the Napier Avenue Campus, Benton Harbor, in the Blue Lecture Hall (Room
D-112). Most sessions will also feature guest speakers who are recognized as authorities on the Civil War. For example, Abraham Lincoln will make several appearances, Bob Myers will speak on the hardships of the soldier, authors will discuss various Michigan units in the Civil War, and the roles of Generals Custer, Chamberlain and Upton will be discussed by their descendants. Class topics include a prelude to the war, Berrien County casualties and heroes, ancestors of class members, Michigan units in battle, medical treatment, Civil War flags, and letters from a Niles soldier. Amid the significant events to be covered are entertaining elements added by course planners to bring history alive. These include a Civil War Movie Marathon featuring films in their entirety at the Maud Preston Palenske Library in St. Joseph on March 2 and the Heritage Centers Civil War extravaganza featuring their exhibit, a public speaker and a Civil War re-enactor musician demonstrating music of the era. You are invited to bring Civil War memorabilia you may possess to this April 13 event. Admission is free for Civil War class students but the public will pay an admission to each of these events. The cost for the entire Civil War course is merely $39. There should be no problem determining which side you are onbe on the winning side and register for The Civil War, CRN: 60413. Visit www.lakemichigancollege.edu/ce where you can download and fax in your registration today. Or call 800-252-1562 ext. 7502 beginning January 2.
Short video from www.tricare.mil that explains some back ground information
View this video to get a better understanding of what TRICARE is. Or Click Here.
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From: www.va.gov The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to informing the Veteran community about VA health benefits and services. Currently, VA is producing personalized Veteran Health Benefits Handbooks for Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care. The new handbooks are tailored specificfor each Veteran and provides detailed information about the VA health services the Veteran may be eligible to receive. The Veteran Health Benefit Handbook provides answers to common questions such as contact information for the Veteran's local facility, instructions on how to schedule appointments, guidelines for communicating treatment needs and an explanation of the Veteran's responsibilities, such as co-pays, if applicable. Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare will receive their personalized handbooks via mail as part of a national rollout campaign starting in February 2012 based on Priority Group, beginning with Priority Group 1 and ending with Priority Group 8. In the near future, VA will develop an online version of the handbook for Veterans to access via MyHealtheVet. This will allow Veterans to access their up-to-date health benefit information anywhere, anytime. Click the link below for additional information about the Veterans Health Benefits Handbook or call VA at 1 877-222-VETS (8387).
Veterans Health Benefits Handbook
By: Dale Hemphill-Designer, Spirit of America Flag (dhemp31628@aol.com)
Spirit of the American Flag
The Spirit of America Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by a naval veteran realizing the need for historical recognition of American's heroes and the sacrifices they made for our country. The "Spirit of America" insignia shown above was designed to recognize our men and women of the military forces and the battles they fought. As the Spirit of America Foundation continues its mission to promote patriotism and the appreciation of our veterans, it has expanded its reach to help veterans in need in today's tough economy. FORGOTTEN HEROES USA, LTD, supports the missions of the Spirit of America Foundation by offering patriotic products honoring Americas hardships in history dating back to the Revolutionary War to present day Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. With each purchase, a percentage is donated to the Spirit of America Foundation. If you would like to help our cause by making a purchase or donation please know that your generosity will reach many others in their time of need. Please review our web site for more information. If you have any questions or comments please contact us via the "Contact Us" page. Thank you! Video: The Raising of the Spirit of America flag. At the American war cemetery in Margraten in The Netherlands on Sunday the 3rd of July 2011. Made by: RALPH84 Click Here to view the video.
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MICHIGAN AIR NATIONAL GUARD HISTORY BOOKS

The Michigan Air National Guard Historical Association created a three volume set of history books covering the periods 1926-1996. A fourth volume covering the years 1996 to 2006 is in production and should be available soon. Volume 1 covers the period 1926 to 1976-Cost: $1.00 Volume 2 covers the period 1976 to 1986-Cost: $4.00 Volume 3 covers the period 1986 to 1996-Cost: $1.00 Volume 4 covers the period 1996 to 2010-Cost: $6:00 Full color $35.00 If you wish to purchase one or more of these volumes or are interested in more information, please contact MAGHA at Phone: 586-239-6768, Fax: 586-239-6646, Email: 127.wg.selfridgeairmuseum@ang.af.mil
MANGBANG
From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired) & Matthew X. Hauser As you may have seen in past editions of the newsletter, MANGBANG has been one of our sources. We are thankful for the source and so we just wanted to pass the information along for MANGBANG in case anyone is interested in joining the Michigan Air National Guard Historical Association. You can contact Lou Nigro if you are interested. We think it is a worthwhile investment-it supports the history of the Michigan Air National Guard and his monthly publications are very informative. For those who want to view it on our website (www.selfridgeairmuseum.org, http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org ), Lt Col Lou Nigro, MI ANG (Ret) Executive Director, Selfridge Military Air Museum Email: louis.nigro@ang.af.mil Veterans Radio is dedicated to all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. Our mission is to provide all veterans with a voice, to give them a forum where they are able to discuss their issuesand tell their stories. You can listen to the show on: WDEO (990-AM Ann Arbor/Detroit), WMAX (1440-AM, Saginaw), WDEO-FM (99.5 FM, Naples FL), KAGY (1510-AM Port Sulfur/New Orleans LA), KIXW (960-AM, Apple Valley CA) and KMRC (1430AM Morgan City, LA). Or, listen to our Webcast and archives at: www.veteransradio.net.
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From: Gene Simon FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFRNS) New co-payments for prescription drugs covered by TRICARE will go into effect soon. The Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act requires TRICARE to increase co-pays on brand name and non-formulary medications that are not filled at military clinics or hospitals. There is no increase to co-pays for generic medications. Increases will be effective sometime in February, depending on when system changes can be made, and the publication of a required Federal Notice. TRICARE Pharmacy co-pays vary based on the class of drug and where beneficiaries choose to fill their prescriptions. The co-pay for generic medications stays at $5 when a prescription is filled at a network pharmacy. There is no co-pay when generic prescriptions are filled through TRICARE Home Delivery. The new co-pay for a 30-day supply of a brand name medication purchased at a retail network pharmacy will be $17, up from the current $12. Beneficiaries using TRICARE Home Delivery will pay $13 for brand name drugs, up from $9; however, the Home Delivery price is for a 90-day supply. The greatest change in co-pays applies to non-formulary medications. The $25 co-pay for these
New co-pays for TRICARE pharmacy customers
drugs increases to $44 at retail pharmacies and $43 through Home Delivery. The TRICARE Uniform Formulary is a list of all the medications TRICARE covers. For fiscal 2014 and beyond, the new law directs that co-pays increase annually by the same percentage as retiree cost-of-living adjustments. In years when a COLA increase would total less than a dollar, it will be delayed a year and combined with the next adjustment so increases will always be $1 or more. Pharmacies at military hospitals and clinics will continue to provide medications with no co-pays. Visit http:// www.tricare.mil/Costs/PrescriptionCosts.aspx for more details. (Courtesy of TRICARE Communications). For more retiree news and information, please visit www.retirees.af.mil.
From: www.michiganpva.org MPVA is celebrating its 50th year of service in Michigan. It is a chapter of the national Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), operating according to the standards and practices established by the PVA. MPVA is, however, a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The Michigan programs, services, education, and outreach conducted here are made possible by local volunteers, partners, sponsors, and donors. The mission of Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America is to enhance the lives of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease as well as all citizens with disabilities, by advocating for civil rights, assuring quality health care, supporting continued research and education, and encouraging independence and healthy living through various health, sports and recreational programs. MPVA shall continue striving to remain at the forefront of both veterans benefits services and disability rights, while working toward a better quality of life for all American citizens.
The MPVA Mission
Steaming Live for those who serve check it out.

If anyone has any other sites or link they find to be a good source please let us know we will gladly work it in. Please contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org.
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For the link to the interview with Rep. Ray Franz please Click Here
Rep. Ray Franz talks about the new Veterans program "Hire Heroes" that can be found online at - http://www.hireheroesusa.org/
A Little Information about Hire Heroes

From: www.hireheroesusa.org Mission: Hire Heroes USA (Hire Heroes) is dedicated to creating job opportunities for US military veterans and their spouses through personalized employment training and corporate engagement. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Hire Heroes services are provided at no cost to the veteran. Creating the Opportunity. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, Hire Heroes USA has built a national reputation of excellence for its success at helping unemployed veterans find jobs currently at the rate of one veteran confirmed hired every business day. Our team is comprised of military veterans many with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and business veterans. That mix of military and civilian experience has proven essential to effectively training veterans in the skills of self-marketing and then networking them into good jobs with great companies. The hallmark of the program is a personal approach where each veteran receives dedicated assistance from a highlytrained staff member in order to help them overcome barriers to employment. To become part of this program, click on the tab above that best suits your interest.
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Two Great Sources for Veterans/Military Legislative Updates in Washington D.C. Simply click the images to view the site.
Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security

Committee Members
Jim Stamas (R) Committee Chair, 98th District Ray Franz (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 101st District Gail Haines (R) 43rd District Kenneth Kurtz (R) 58th District Tom Hooker (R) 77th District Dale Zorn (R) 56th District Joseph Graves (R) 51st District Harvey Santana (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 9th District George Darany (D) 15th District Dian Slavens (D) 21st District Brian Banks (D) 1st District Henry Yanez (D) 25th District Phil Cavanagh (D) 10th District Ben Cook, Committee Clerk 517-373-2002
Rep. Jim Stamas Committee Chair Welcome to the Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee. The committee's regularly scheduled meeting time is Wednesday at 9:00am in room 308 of the House Office Building in Lansing. I welcome citizens to contact me or other committee members regarding bills or proposals our committee is addressing. Individuals needing special accommodations to participate in a committee meeting may contact my office to request the necessary assistance.
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Legal Help for Veterans

From: James G. Fausone Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC is a law firm located in Northville, Michigan. We have a national practice representing veterans on veterans disability claims. This representation occurs at the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Board of Veterans Appeals and regional offices. We have helped veterans collect over $10,000,000 in retro and future benefits. Over the last decade, LHFV has become a trusted name in the legal community for providing legal services to veterans and lecturing at law schools, bar associations and community events. Members of the Legal Help for Veterans practice group are former service members who bring not only legal expertise but an understanding of service and duty. The members of the group have medical and administrative backgrounds as well as finely honed legal skills developed over twenty years of practice and experience. We have represented thousands of veterans and currently have over 650 active clients. For more information about the organization and about legal help for veterans and for contact information www.legalhelpforveterans.com and found on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Our telephone number is 800.693.4800. Our blog discusses current issues facing veterans and the VA. Typically our clients are enlisted men and women who served post Korea. The Vietnam vet is still the one with the most common problems. These include Agent Orange related disabilities, PTSD, psychiatric or orthopedic injuries. Other vets often have hearing loss, military sexual trauma or tinnitus. We are now seeing Iraq and Afghanistan vets with TBI. Many vets do not even begin the disability claim process until many years after service. The trigger may be unemployability and the need for benefits. With a million claim back log at VA, it is a slow and confusing process and many people need professional help establishing the proper diagnosis and service connection. That is what Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC has been doing for clients for years. We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
From: Rick Briggs, Major, USAF (Ret) The Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI) Veterans Program utilizes numerous types of outdoor activities to gather Veterans and currently serving military personnel together for a little R&R. These special events are almost always free for the troops depending totally on the kind donations of sponsors and donors. In addition to being a great way to say Thank you for their service, these activities serve as the mechanism to get the troops to open up a little if they are having post-deployment issues. Frequently we find that in the comfortable confines with others who have been there, done that they tend to be more receptive to learn about Invisible Wounds says Rick Briggs the Program Manager, both PTSD and TBI are treatable if they seek the proper help. To find out more about these activities, or to donate to their Veterans Program, please make out checks to BIAMI Veterans Program and send them to 7305 Grand River Suite #100, Brighton, MI 48114 or contact Rick Briggs at veterans@biami.org or call him (810) 2295880 or visit www.biami.org.
Brain Injury Association of Michigan
BIAMI is celebrating its 30th Anniversary as it continues to strive to provide persons with a brain injury and their families, healthcare professionals, and the general public with the resources necessary to enhance brain injury awareness, education, prevention, and support. BIAMI is also fields the first and only dedicated Veterans Program staff within the Brain Injury Association of America.
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About the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI):
Newsletter Links From Articles For February

Page 1 Newsletters Facebook www.facebook.com Newsletters Scribd www.scribd.com National Gold Star Registry www.goldstarfamilyregistry.com Page 3 VA Benefits www.benefits.va.gov eBenefits www.ebenefits.va.gov State of Michigan www.michigan.gov Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Michigan www.michigan.gov Page 4 www.va.gov VA Benefits www.benefits.va.gov Page 5 MIGOP Facebook www.facebook.com Page 7 www.honorflight.org Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command www.jpac.mil Page 9 LEST WE FORGET SW MI www.lestweforgetusa.org Page 10 LEST WE FORGET SW MI www.lestweforgetusa.org Page 11 Home Front www.va.gov/homeless Page 12 Support American Vets www.supportamericanvets.org Grassroots Action Team www.grassrootsactionteam.org Page 13 ESGR www.esgr.mil The USO www.uso.org Page 22 Front Lines of Freedom www.frontlinesoffreedom.com World War I Memorial www.wwimemorial.org Page 23 Veteran of Foreign Wars www.vfw.org Page 24 Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov DAV www.dav.gov Page 25 Lake Michigan College www.lakemichigancollege.edu TRICARE www.tricare.mil Page 26 Department of Veteran Affairs www.va.gov Spirit of the American Flag www.forgottonheroesusa.com Page 27 Michigan Air National Guard www.selfridgeairmuseum.org Veterans Radio www.veteransradio.net Page 28 TRICARE www.tricare.mil MI Paralyzed Veterans of America www.michiganpva.org Pentagon Channel www.pentagonchannel.mil Page 29 Team Pascarella www.teampascarella.com
Page 30 Hire Heroes USA www.hireheroesusa.org Page 31 U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs www.veterans.senate.gov U.S House Committee of Veterans Affairs www.veterans.house.gov Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Michigan www.michigan.gov Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee www.house.mi.gov Page 32 Legal Help for Veterans www.legalhelpforveterans.com Brain Injury Association of Michigan www.biami.org LEST WE FORGET SW MI www.lestweforgetusa.org Also check out the Some Useful Links Section on Page 2. Thank you for your Support!
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Stand Up For Veterans-They Stood Up For US

-The DAV
American Legion Post is in looking for current military members to send care packages to. Please contact Robert Goulet if you know of any military member who might like something. Please see News From American Legion Post 341 below for more information. Thank you very much!
CoordinatorMatthew X. Hauser
Staff & Contributors

Vicki Dunlop Mark Eddy Keith Famie James G. Fausone Rep. Ray Franz Sean M. Furr Denny Gillem Robert Goulet Dr. Jack Grenan John Haggard Larry Harr Dan Heckman
In Memory of Gary Lillie

Louis Nigro Roger Rosenberg Sid Rubin Eugene (Gene) A. Simon Phil Smith Sherry Swann Tim Pascarella Bob Tidmore Rep. Fred Upton Maureen VanHooser Publisher-Hank Fuhs
ContributorsDon Alsbro Rick Briggs Helen Budd Sen. Patrick Colbeck Sam Cottle Rep. Kurt Damrow Matt Davis David Duenow
Dale Hemphill John Hess Norma Housey Sec. of State Ruth Johnson James Julian Adrian Keogh Adele Krovsky Bill Langbehn Merridy Lewis Gary C. Lulenski Claude McManus Chad Miles
News From American Legion Post 341

American Legion Post 341 is seeking the names of troops that are deployed to a combat zone so that we can send them large package of goodies and that their names and address should be sent to the address below. Also post 341 is always seeking new members please contact Robert at the same address if interested. American Legion Post 341 Sr. Vice Commander Robert P. Goulet 6130 Nicholas West Bloomfield, MI rgoulet264@aol.com
Thank you for your service to our country. It is truly the men and women like you who make this nation great, and we must never forget that. Thank you to everyone for all the help you have given us with the newsletter. We have been able to reach more people because of your help. Compared to when we first started, the amount of input and ideas we receive has increased greatly. For that we are very thankful. If you have anything you would like to share, any questions, or have an article idea, please let me know. You may contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org. Sincerely, Matthew X. Hauser and Lt. Col Hank Fuhs
In Closing
Lest We Forget-A Clip from Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Ret, ANG (Just Click the Link Below)
I Fought For You
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Hope you enjoyed the Newsletter!

Please let us know what you thought. Contact Matthew X. Hauser at mhauser@migop.org
We need your help to grow the Newsletter
We are looking for any contact information of individuals or groups that you think would either be interested in receiving our newsletter or interested in writing articles. If you know of anyone please let us know.
Sincerely,
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
~Ronald Reagan
Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs & Matthew X. Hauser

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Veterans &amp; Military Families Monthly News-February 2013

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Veterans &amp; Military Families Monthly News-February 2013

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Veterans & Military Families Monthly News

February 2013 Vol. 4 No. 2

Thank you very much! In This Issue

And much more.

National Gold Star Registry

Some Useful Links

Thank you for your Support!

VA Eligibility Verification Report (EVR)

Preparing for World War II

National Deployment of Paperless Claims Processing System Underway

Major Milestone Achieved in Improving Benefits Delivery

Michigan Republican Party Facebook Page

Old Warrior Camp

Navy Uniform Changes

Honor Flight in Michigan

Special Thanks To Lest WE Forget For Their Support!

A Note From: Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau

STEP UP AND LEAD

Click the Michigan Flag to access the ESGR Michigan Page

National Veterans Art Museum

World War II Memories From Captain Franklin H. Smith-Part V

The World War I Memorial Foundation

Relay For Life

COLA 2013 Update

A Note From Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs

Three ways to help:

Veterans Health Benefits Handbook

By: Dale Hemphill-Designer, Spirit of America Flag (dhemp31628@aol.com)

Spirit of the American Flag

MICHIGAN AIR NATIONAL GUARD HISTORY BOOKS

New co-pays for TRICARE pharmacy customers

The MPVA Mission

Steaming Live for those who serve check it out.

A Little Information about Hire Heroes

Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security

Legal Help for Veterans

Brain Injury Association of Michigan

About the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI):

Newsletter Links From Articles For February

Stand Up For Veterans-They Stood Up For US

Staff & Contributors

In Memory of Gary Lillie

News From American Legion Post 341

Hope you enjoyed the Newsletter!

Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs & Matthew X. Hauser

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Veterans & Military Families Monthly News-February 2013

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