The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) includes several VFW-supported provisions. One such provision would eliminate the Widow’s Tax, which is a dollar-for-dollar offset of earned benefits for the surviving spouses of about 65,000 service members and veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. In the coming weeks, Senate leadership will meet in conference to resolve the differences between the Senate and House versions and debate final passage. Since the provision to end the Widow Tax is not in the Senate version of the NDAA, it is in jeopardy of being left out of the final conference agreement. Contact your state senator and tell them to ax the Widow Tax.
VA Walk-In Community Care
As part of the VFW-supported VA MISSION Act of 2018, VA now has a network of urgent care community providers. There are currently 5,000 providers, with VA looking to add an additional 2,000. Urgent care providers can be used for injuries or illnesses that need to be treated immediately but are not life threatening. It is important to note that the eligibility criteria requires that the veteran must be enrolled in the VA health care system and they have to have received care from VA or a VA community provider in the preceding 24 months. The urgent care facility must also be part of VA’s contracted network. For more information, go to the VA web page and clink on Community Care.
Border Wall Funding
Last week, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow the Trump Administration to reprogram $6.1 billion in Department of Defense (DOD) funding to expand the barrier that divides the U.S. and Mexico. The bulk of the funding will be taken from military construction; Overseas Contingency Operations; drug interdiction; and military personnel funds from service member pay and compensation, retirement benefits, food, and moving expenses, which were lower than originally budgeted. While there are little details regarding which military construction projects will be impacted, guidance issued by DOD states that no military construction projects that already have been awarded, and no military construction projects with FY 2019 award dates, will be impacted. Projects like the $5.2 million weapons maintenance shop for Anniston Army Depot in Alabama, which was due to be awarded in March 2020, could be cut. Other projects that would be delayed include: a mission training complex at East Camp Grafenwoehr, Germany; a rotary wing apron at Wheeler Army Air Field in Hawaii; and an engineering center at the U.S. Military Academy.
Scams
Scammers are calling again to tell you that there is a problem with your Social Security payments. Hang up, do not give them any information.
Korean/Cold War MIA Family Update
The VFW Washington Office attended the Korean/Cold War Family’s annual meeting this week in nearby Arlington, Va. Hosted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the purpose was to highlight successes and continuing challenges to locate and recover more than 7,700 unaccounted-for Americans on the Korean Peninsula. One year ago this week, 55 transfer cases containing the co-mingled remains of perhaps more than 150 Americans returned to U.S. soil. To date, eight have been identified, with another two dozen IDs expected to be announced within a few weeks.
Important Dates in August
Aug. 4 – United States Coast Guard Birthday
Aug. 7 – Purple Heart Day: National Purple Heart Day honors the men and women who have been wounded or killed in military service.
Aug. 8 – VJ Day: Victory over Japan in 1945
Aug. 29 – Marine Forces Reserve Birthday
POW/MIA Update
Air Force Maj. Neal C. Ward was a member of the 602nd Special Operations Squadron, as the pilot of an A-1H aircraft, leading a flight of two on an armed reconnaissance mission in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Interment services are pending.
Army Cpl. Herman R. Phy was an infantryman assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 6, 1953, near Hill 255, Pork Chop Hill, North Korea. Interment services are pending.
Army Cpl. Harold Pearce was a military policeman assigned to 1st Platoon, 24th Military Police Company, 24th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on July 20, 1950, during his unit’s withdrawal from the city of Taejon, South Korea. Interment services are pending.
Army Pfc. Daniel W. Gerrity was a member of Headquarters Battery, 2nd Infantry Division, fighting against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near Kunu-ri, North Korea. Interment services are pending.
Army Maj. Harvey H. Storms was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which was part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team. Interment services are pending.
Army Pfc. Eugene E. Lochowicz was a member of Company A, 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. On Feb. 23, 1945, he went missing while his unit was attempting to cross the Roer River, near Lendersdorf, Germany. Interment services are pending.
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Herschel H. Mattes was a pilot assigned to the 525th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group. On March 6, 1944, his aircraft crashed approximately 2.5 miles from Lake Bracciano, Italy. Interment services are pending.
Marine Corps Pfc. Joseph R. Livermore was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio. Interment services are pending.
Army Air Forces Cpl. Walter J. Kellett was a member of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, when he was taken as a prisoner of war by enemy forces and interned at the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp. Interment services are pending.
Army Pvt. Charlie M. Waid was a member of the Medical Detachment, 31st Infantry Regiment. Following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and the fall of Bataan, Waid was taken as a prisoner of war to the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
