Many important dates in the month of April
Gold Star Wives Day – April 5, 2017, is a day that is dedicated to widows/widowers whose spouses died while serving in the Armed Forces of The United States, or as result of service-related disabilities. On this day, Gold Star Wives come together to support one another and to raise awareness of the incredible sacrifice that their spouses and families made as a result of their military service. It is a title and organization that many people are not familiar with, but is one that, as Americans, we should all recognize and appreciate.
Other notable dates in April are:
April 14 – Air Force Reserve Birthday
April 16 – Easter
April 17 – Patriots Day
April 17 – Last Day to File Taxes
April 23 – Army Reserve Birthday
April 30 – National Military Brats Day
VFW Supports GWOT Memorial Bill
The VFW Washington Office hosted a press conference March 28 to announce the introduction of H.R. 873, the Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act, which is a necessary first step toward the building and placement of a GWOT Memorial in Washington, D.C. The VFW-supported bipartisan bill was sponsored by Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., and Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. Gallagher is a life member of VFW Post 2037 in Green Bay, Wisc., and Moulton is a member of VFW Post 2005 in Marblehead, Mass. GWOT Memorial Founder and Executive Director Andrew Brennan is a life member of VFW Post 3945 in Pittsburgh, Pa. VFW supports the creation of a GWOT Memorial by the passage of Resolution 302 at the 117th VFW National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
VFW Meets Russian POW/MIA Delegation
The VFW met twice this week with a Russian delegation from the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIA Affairs and their Ministry of Defense. The commission’s purpose is to help break down bureaucratic barriers in order to help determine the fates of American and Russian MIAs from World War II through the end of the Cold War.
Arlington Faces Future Burial Issues
On March 29, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs held a hearing to discuss current operations and concerns with shrinking space for future burials at the Arlington National Cemetery. Currently, Arlington is estimated to reach capacity around the year 2040 unless more space is added or eligibility is changed. This means a veteran from the 1991 Gulf War who lives to normal life expectancy would not have the option of being buried at Arlington. The Army and subcommittee members are looking for ways to keep Arlington open for new burials beyond 2040. Options discussed include: costly expansions, some of which would be annexes not physically connected to Arlington; changes of eligibility for burial in Arlington, which range from restricting eligibility for military retirees to reducing the amount of eligible veterans to those who have earned certain valor awards such as the Medal of Honor and service members who were killed in action. The VFW is working closely with Congress to find the best solutions that keep the integrity of ANC intact and honors the lives of those who have worn our nation’s uniform.
POW/MIA Update
Returning home for burial with full military honors are:
Peter Atkinson, 25, of Berkley Springs, West Virginia, will be buried April 8 in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Atkinson, a former U.S. Army Air Corps Reservist, was among a small group of American pilots training with the Flying Tigers at Kyedaw Airfield, outside of Toungoo, Burma, in 1941. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 1st Class Murry R. Cargile, 21, of Robersonville, North Carolina, will be buried April 7 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Cargile was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
Navy Seaman 2nd Class Vernon N. Grow, 25, of Redding, California, will be buried April 7 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Grow was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Grow was one of 429 crewmen to be killed in the attack.
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Robert E. Moessner, 24, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, will be buried April 5 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. On April 18, 1944, Moessner was serving as a bombardier on a B-24 departed Kwelin, China, on a sea sweep. After making two passes over a Japanese merchant ship and escorting destroyer, Moessner’s plane came under heavy fire and was then shot down over Hong Kong harbor by Japanese fighters. Survivors reported that Moessner went down with the aircraft.
Army Sgt. Homer R. Abney, 24, of Dallas, will be buried April 7 in his hometown. Abney was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was declared Abney missing on Nov. 30, 1950.
Army Cpl. James T. Mainhart, 19, of Butler, Pennsylvania, will be buried April 8 in his hometown. Mainhart served with Company I, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was reported missing as of Nov. 30, 1950.
Army Sgt. Donald D. Noehren, 23, of Harlan, Iowa, was buried April 3 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Noehren was a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Service Company, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division.
Air Force Capt. Robert R. Barnett, 32, of Gladewater, Texas, will be buried April 7 in Austin, Texas. Barnett was a B-57B pilot with the 8th Bomb Squadron. While on a strike mission over Laos, Barnett’s aircraft reportedly crashed with no parachutes seen. Barnett was declared killed in action on April 7, 1966.
Navy Seaman 1st Class Monroe Temple was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941.
Marine Corps Reserve Capt. James W. Boyden was a member of the Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 233, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force.
Army Cpl. William R. Sadewasser served with Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, as part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was reported missing as of Nov. 28, 1950.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
