HonorBound Foundation has awarded the VFW a $55,263 grant to help offset a larger initiative that will begin equipping VFW service officers with new laptops and tablets so they can more efficiently and effectively help veterans file disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VFW has nearly 2,000 VA-accredited service officers across America and abroad, and reliable internet connectivity is key to helping veterans process their claims. The HonorBound Foundation grant will help jumpstart a larger $300,000 VFW initiative to ensure all service officers have the ability to provide the same service to all veterans anytime, anywhere. “The VFW is in business to help as many veterans and their families as possible, and part of our success relies on technology,” said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. “We’re thankful for the HonorBound Foundation’s generosity, which will help ensure our professional advocates can process more VA claims wherever and whenever needed.”
Happy Birthday to The United States Navy
The Navy claims Oct. 13, 1775, as the date of its official establishment, when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution creating the Continental Navy. The U.S. Navy is one of seven uniformed services of the United States and is the largest and most combined battle tonnage. It also has the largest aircraft carrier fleet, with eleven in service, and two new carriers under construction. It boasts 319,421 personnel on active duty and 99,619 in the Ready Reserve. It has 282 deployable combat vessels and more than 3,700 operational aircraft.
Erie VA Medical Center & VA Community Clinics Flue Shots
Starting Monday October 15th walk in clinics will be available for Veterans eligible for VA health care from Mon-Fri at the following locations. Erie VA Medical Center from 8am till 3:30pm and VA CBOCs on the hour from 8am till 3pm. Saturday October 13th from 9am till 12pm at *Erie VA, *Ashtabula VA CBOC, *Meadville CBOC. and Warren CBOC. Saturday October 20th at the Venango VA CBOC 9am till 12pm. and at the Bradford VFW 10am till 12pm.
Special Forces Medic Receives Medal of Honor
President Trump presented the Medal of Honor on Monday to former Army Special Forces medic Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II for fighting his way through an enemy ambush to render aid to wounded Special Forces soldiers and Afghan commandos in an April 6, 2008, battle in Shok Valley in northeastern Afghanistan. Shurer was initially awarded the Silver Star for his role in the operation, but a Pentagon review of all valor medals awarded since 9/11 resulted in the award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Shurer is currently a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service.
POW/MIA Update
Navy Reserve Cmdr. Charles B. Goodwin, 25, of Haskell, Texas, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried on Oct. 12 in Abilene, Texas. Goodwin was the pilot of an RF-8A aircraft, assigned to Detachment D, VPF-63, CVW-15. On Sept. 8, 1965, Goodwin was conducting a combat reconnaissance mission over the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Army Sgt. Eugene W. Yost, a Korean War veteran, 18, of Milaca, Minn., whose remains were previously identified, was buried on Oct. 5 in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minn. Yost was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Army Pvt. Donald E. Brown, 24, of Thompson, Iowa, whose remains were previously identified, was buried on Oct. 6 in his hometown. Brown was a member of Company A, 745th Tank Battalion, fighting in support of the 1st Infantry Division in the European Theater in World War II.
Army Sgt. Melvin C. Anderson, 31, of Omaha, Neb., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried on Oct. 12 in his hometown. Anderson was a member of Company C, 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, participating in intense fighting in the Hürtgen Forest.
Marine Corps Pfc. William F. Cavin, 19, of Ewing, Va., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried on Oct. 13, in Hancock County, Tenn. Cavin was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.
Marine Corps Reserve Tech. Sgt. Harry A. Carlsen, 31, of Brookfield, Ill., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried on Oct. 13, in Elwood, Ill. Carlsen was a member of Company A, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force.
Marine Corps Reserve 2nd Lt. Elwood R. Bailey, 22, of Parma, Mich., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried on Oct. 13 in his hometown. On Aug. 24, 1942, Bailey was a member of Marine Fighting Squadron 223 (VMF-223), Marine Aircraft Group 23.
Navy Water Tender 1st Class Stephen Pepe, 43, of Bridgeport, Conn., whose remains were previously identified, was buried on Oct. 8 in Bourne, Mass. Pepe was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941.
Navy Seaman 2nd Class William V. Campbell, 20, of Elizabethton, Tenn., whose remains were previously recovered, will be buried on Oct. 10 in his hometown. Campbell was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941.
Navy Seaman 1st Class Natale I. Torti, 19, of St. Louis, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried on Oct. 12 in Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Torti was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941.
Navy Seaman 2nd Class Harold L. Head, 20, of Browning, Mo., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried on Oct. 10, in Laclede, Mo. Head was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island Pear Harbor.
Navy Seaman 2nd Class Bernard V. Doyle, 19, of Red Cloud, Neb., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried on Oct. 13 in Lake City, Iowa. Doyle was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941.
Army Sgt. 1st Class James L. Boyce was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, engaged in combat operations against the North Korean People’s Army south of Chonui, South Korea. Interment services are pending.
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Allen R. Turner was a pilot assigned to the 1330 Army Air Force Base Unit, Air Transport Command. On July 17, 1945, his aircraft crashed in a remote area en route from Jorhat, India, to Hsinching, China. Interment services are pending.
Army Air Forces Pfc. Joseph I. Natvik was a flight engineer assigned to the 1330 Army Air Force Base Unit, Air Transport Command. On July 17, 1945, his aircraft crashed in a remote area en route from Jorhat, India, to Hsinching, China. Interment services are pending.
Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. James R. Lord was a P-47D pilot assigned to the 66th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, 12th Tactical Air Command. On Aug. 10, 1944, his aircraft crashed a mile off the coast of Anghione, Corsica. Interment services are pending.
Army Pfc. Marvin E. Dickson was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. Dickson was allegedly killed in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 1944, when he and other soldiers moved to the front lines to reestablish broken telephone lines. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 1st Class Herbert J. Poindexter was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Chief Pharmacist’s Mate James T. Cheshire was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
