In July, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018, to end the injustice of denying Vietnam, Korean DMZ, and Thailand veterans, who suffer from life-threatening health conditions related to exposure to Agent Orange, the care and benefits they deserve. This important bill continues to be stalled in the Senate and the VFW needs your help to make sure this bill is passed before the end of the year. Contact your senators to demand that the Senate passes H.R. 299. Contact your senators by email or call (202) 224-3121 and ask to be transferred to your senators’ offices.
First Female Completes Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course
This past week, the United States Army Special Operations Command announced that a female soldier has successfully completed the grueling 24-day Special Forces Assessment and Selection course at Ft. Bragg, N.C. The soldier, whose name was not released, will now attend the Special Forces Qualification Course (Q Course) which consists of four phases and can last from a year to two years, depending on the soldier’s specialty and language training. Upon successful completion of the Q course, soldiers are awarded the green beret and assigned to a Special Forces operational detachment. Since the Department of the Army lifted its ban on women holding military occupational specialties specific to special operations and combat arms in 2016, several women have attempted to complete the course, but were unsuccessful. Despite this, hundreds of women are now serving in infantry, armor, and fire support units, to include the 75th Ranger Regiment, and more than a dozen women have earned the Ranger tab.
TRDP and FEDVIP Update
The current TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) will end Dec. 31, 2018, and will be replaced by the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) dental coverage options. Vision plans will also be available to eligible TRICARE beneficiaries through FEDVIP. The first opportunity to enroll in FEDVIP is during the 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season, which began on Nov. 12, 2018, and runs through Dec. 10, 2018. Coverage begins on Jan. 1, 2019. In general, retired uniformed service members and their families who were eligible for TRDP in 2018 are eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage, and if enrolled in a TRICARE health plan, FEDVIP vision coverage, beginning in 2019. Family members of active-duty uniformed service members who are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan are eligible for FEDVIP vision coverage.
POW/MIA Update
Army Cpl. Francisco Ramos-Rivera, 33, of Puerto Rico, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Nov. 29 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ramos-Rivera was a member of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, engaged in combat operations against North Korean forces near Taegon, South Korea.
Army Pvt. Robert J. Sipes, Jr., 19, of Irvington, Ky., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 5 in his hometown. Sipes was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Eugene P. Ford, 21, of Latrobe, Pa., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 4 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Ford was a member of the 765th Bombardment Squadron, 461st Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force. On Dec. 17, 1944, Ford’s B-24J, known as the Tulsamerican, led a group of six B-24s on a bombing mission targeting oil refineries at Odertal, Germany.
Marine Corps Reserve Staff Sgt. Richard J. Murphy, Jr., 26, of Chevy Chase, Md., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 1 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Murphy was a member of 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed at Red Beach, Saipan.
Marine Corps Pfc. Clarence E. Drumheiser, 21, of Fresno, Calif., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 8 in Prairie View, Texas. Drumheiser was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force.
Navy Fireman 1st Class Bert E. McKeeman, 25, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 1 in his hometown. McKeeman was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
Navy Fireman 2nd Class Martin A. Gara, 20, of Chicago, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 4 in Santa Fe, N.M. Gara was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
Navy Seaman 1st Class William G. Bruesewitz, 26, of Appleton, Wisc., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 7 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Bruesewitz was assigned to the USS Oklahoma.
Navy Fireman 2nd Class Carl D. Dorr, 27, of Anderson, S.C., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 7 in Greenville, S.C. Dorr was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941.
Navy Fireman 1st Class Albert U. Kane, 26, of Fort Worth, Texas, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 7 in Dallas. Kane was assigned to the USS Oklahoma.
Navy Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Durell Wade, 24, of Calhoun City, Miss., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Dec. 7 in the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Newton County, Miss. Wade was assigned to the USS Oklahoma.
Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Nicholas J. Gojmerac was a member of Company Q, 4th Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, when his unit assaulted a Japanese stronghold at Bairoko Harbor, New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands. He was reported missing in action on July 20, 1943, after he was last seen crawling through heavy fire to provide medical care to an injured Marine while he was mortally wounded himself. Interment services are pending.
Navy Reserve Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class John O. Morris was a member of Carrier Aircraft Service Unit (CASU) 17 and was tasked with securing the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll. On Dec. 16, 1943, Morris was killed when a machine gun he was test-firing accidentally discharged, resulting in his death. Interment services are pending.
Have a great and enjoyable Thanksgiving.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
