Deployment is a difficult yet expected part of the U.S. military experience. It impacts an entire family and community, disrupting regular life and routine, and leaving a family behind to count days, weeks and months until their loved one’s return. Thankfully, the Armed Forces offer many support services to families of the deployed, but it can still be a challenging time for both the deployed and those waiting at home. In 2006, North Dakota resident Shelle Michaels Aberle decided to take action to honor U.S. military personnel who were currently deployed, just like her cousin, LTC David Hosna, who had been deployed to Iraq from Kaiserslautern, Germany. She petitioned then North Dakota Governor John Hoeven to proclaim the first official “Day of the Deployed” on Oct. 26, which also happens to be her cousin’s birthday. Soon after, the Day of the Deployed celebration spread to other states and in 2011, Hoeven (who by then had become a senator) led the efforts to establish it as a national day or recognition, honoring all deployed military personnel and their families. In 2011, the U.S. Senate passed an unanimous vote to make the day a national day of honor. By 2012, all 50 states celebrated the day on Oct. Deployment to a foreign country impacts more than 150,000 of the nation’s 1,302,941 total military personnel worldwide. After WWII, the United States developed an extensive network of bases around the globe, establishing a presence in 150 countries, more than 75% of the world’s nations. Maintaining this global presence takes dedication and commitment from the United States all-volunteer force and, during deployment especially, the entire military makes the sacrifice.
VA Provides Adoption, IVF
Veterans who lost their ability to reproduce due to a service-connected disability may be eligible for adoption expenses to be reimbursed through VA or to receive coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF). VA also provides infertility evaluation, management, and treatment services to veterans enrolled in VA health care – regardless of service connection. Veterans interested in infertility services should contact their VA provider or their local VA Women Veterans Program Manager.
Holiday Overseas Mail Deadline Approaching
Military and U.S. Postal Service officials have issued suggested mailing deadlines for holiday packages and letters to military locations overseas in time for Christmas. To get them there in time for Hanukkah, which starts on Dec. 2, subtract 23 days from the deadlines. According to Military Times, the deadlines for various methods of shipping are the same for most APO/FPO/DPO (diplomatic post office) ZIP codes, with the exception of some mail going to APO/FPO/DPO Zip Code 093, which covers overseas contingency areas.
POW/MIA Update
Army Staff Sgt. Marshall F. Kipina, 21, of Calumet, Mich., whose remains were previously identified, was buried Oct. 18 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Kipina was assigned to the 131st Aviation Company, serving as an observer aboard an OV-1C aircraft, on a night surveillance mission from Phu Bai Airfield over Attapu Province.
Army Lt. Col. Robert G. Nopp, 31, of Salem, Ore., whose remains were previously identified, was buried Oct. 18 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Nopp was an OV-1C pilot assigned to the 131st Aviation Company. On July 13, 1966, Nopp flew a night surveillance mission from Phu Bai Airfield over Attapu Province, Laos.
Army Cpl. James I. Jubb, 21, of Eastport, Md., whose remains were previously identified, was buried Oct. 17 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Jubb was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.
Army Pfc. Kenneth B. Williams, 38, of Akron, Ohio, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Oct. 22 in Seville, Ohio. Williams was a member of Heavy Mortar Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.
Army Pfc. Fred W. Ashley, 22, of Emmett, Idaho, whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Oct. 20 in his hometown. Ashley was a member of Troop C, 2nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Group, on a reconnaissance in the town of Paseka, Czechoslovakia. Following the war, when Ashley was not among the American prisoners liberated from German captivity, the War Department amended his status to killed in action.
Army Pfc. Leslie E. Shankles, 33, of Arcadia, Kan., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Oct. 24 in Fort Scott, Kan. Shankles was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, when he was killed Oct. 14, 1944, by enemy fire in the Raffelsbrand sector of the Hürtgen Forest in Germany.
Army Pvt. John B. Cummings, 22, of Hartford, Wis., whose remains were previously identified, was buried Oct. 13 in Hazelhurst, Wis. Cummings was a member of Company A, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, along the France and Germany border.
Naval Reserve Lt. Richard C. Lannom was the bombardier/navigator aboard an A-6A aircraft on a night strike mission over Quang Ninh Provicence, North Vietnam, on March 1, 1968. The flight path to the targets was over islands known to have anti-aircraft artillery. Interment services are pending.
Navy Fireman 2nd Class George C. Ford, 25, of Lidderdale, Iowa, whose remains were previously identified, was buried Oct. 20 in Glidden, Iowa. Ford was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen.
Marine Corps Pfc. Michael L. Salerno was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 2nd Class Charles C. Gomez was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 1st Class John A. Karli was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. Interment services are pending.
Navy Buglemaster 2nd Class Lionel W. Lescault was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
