President Signs VFW-Supported Bill
Last Wednesday, VFW Adjutant General Robert E. Wallace was at the White House to join President Trump as he signed a VFW-supported bill to expand and improve the Choice Program into law. S. 544 will authorize VA to continue the Choice Program for an additional eight months. It would also improve the Choice Program by ensuring veterans are not billed for Choice Program care and streamlining medical record sharing to expedite the Choice Program scheduling process, two issues the VFW had identified and asked Congress to fix.
VFW Base Visit
VFW Director of National Security and Foreign Affairs Sarah Maples and Assistant Director for Field Operations Gregg Orto visited our partners at Fort Campbell, Ky., last week. In addition to observing the Benefits Delivery at Discharge claims process, they also toured the installation’s new Army Community Service’s building and met with the transition service manager, VA benefits advisors, the DOD/VA liaison, Wounded Warrior Battalion coordinators, the Chief, medical boards and VA Military Services coordinator from the Integrated Disability Evaluation System process. The VFW provides claims assistance to transitioning service members at Fort Campbell and VFW leaders routinely conduct site visits to see firsthand how the military is working to successfully transition service members back to civilian life.
VA to Review Caregivers Program
Last Monday, VA announced that VA medical centers around the country will not discontinue or graduate veterans from the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers for the next three weeks. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David J. Shulkin announced that VA will take the three weeks to evaluate the “consistency of revocations in the program and standardize communication with Veterans and caregivers nationwide.”
POW/MIA Update
* Army Pfc. Kenneth R. Miller, 23, of East Cleveland, Ohio, was buried April 21 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Miller was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. * Navy Fireman 1st Class Michael Galajdik, 25, of Joliet, Ill., was buried April 22 in Elwood, Ill. Galajdik was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. * Navy Ensign Verdi D. Sederstrom, 25, of Montevideo, Minn., will be buried April 26, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Sederstrom was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. * Seaman 1st Class Milton R. Surratt was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending. * Army Air Forces Pvt. Harold S. Hirschi was assigned to Headquarters Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. Hirschi died Nov. 19, 1942, in the Philippines. Interment services are pending. * Army Cpl. Leslie R. Sutton was reported missing in action on Nov. 2, 1950, while fighting in Korea. Interment services are pending. * Army Pfc. Richard A. Lucas was reported missing in action on Nov. 26, 1950, while fighting in Korea. Interment services are pending. * Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard G. Cushman was assigned to Company A, 72nd Medium Tank Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. Cushman was reported missing in action Dec. 5, 1950, while fighting in Korea. Interment services are pending. * Army Pvt. Walter F. Piper was reported missing in action on Feb. 13, 1951, while fighting in Korea. Interment services are pending. * Air Force Col. William E. Campbell was assigned to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Campbell was reported missing in action on Jan. 29, 1969, while operating in Laos. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
