It has been reported that there are phone calls being made, saying that payment is due or your account. Some bills they claim are past due are taxes, car insurance, medical bills, health insurance, credit cards and VA medication. These are phone scams. Do not give your credit card numbers or Social Security numbers out. The VA will not ask for that information. When in doubt, just hang up. The phone numbers actually look like some one in your local town that you know. Do not be fooled.
Blue Water Navy Bill Update
VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence met last week with Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), who earlier this week blocked the passage of H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018, because he believes it costs too much. “If we can afford to send our military to war, it’s unacceptable that we cannot afford to take care of them when they return home wounded, ill or injured,” said Lawrence, who called the meeting very productive. “I met with Sen. Enzi to make it clear that VFW members expect the Blue Water Navy to pass before the end of the year. The senator assured me that he wants to provide Blue Water Navy veterans the benefits they have earned and is working with his colleagues, including Senate VA Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, to get this bill passed. I told him the VFW will work with him to make it happen, but we will hold him accountable if it does not,” he said. “We also met with key staff for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to let them know that the VFW wants the Senate to pass H.R. 299 now!” The VFW is asking all members and advocates to join in our Call to Action to get the Blue Water Navy Bill passed into law. Contact your representatives today and tell them to vote “yes” on H.R. Bill 299.
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Examines VA Appeals Reform
The VFW attended a hearing Wednesday of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to examine if VA is ready to implement the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017. Implementation of the new law is set for February 2019 and aims to modernize the claims and appeals process by providing veterans multiple review options and shorter times for claim resolution. Recent problems with the rollout of the Forever GI Bill this fall prompted lawmakers to press VA on its IT capabilities related to these changes. “We’re updating two critical VA systems, and we have actually had boots on the ground working very hard long before this bill passed,” said Lloyd Thrower, VA’s deputy chief information officer. The VFW submitted a statement expressing further concerns regarding VA’s IT platforms, as well as their poorly executed “Informal Conference” option for Higher Level Review (HLR) claims. The VFW will continue to monitor the implementation of this law.
POW/MIA Update: Nine from the USS Oklahoma
Navy Capt. James R. Bauder was an F-4B pilot assigned to Fighter Squadron Twenty One, USS Coral Sea, in South East Asia. On Sept. 21, 1966, during a night reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam, contact with Bauder’s aircraft was lost and his plane did not return to the ship. Interment services are pending.
Army Pfc. Karl L. Dye was a member of Battery B, 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, engaged in combat operations against North Korean forces, near Taejon, South Korea. In July 1950, he was seriously wounded by an enemy mortar shell and placed in an ambulance. The ambulance allegedly encountered an enemy roadblock. Dye was reported missing in action on July 16, 1950. Interment services are pending.
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Allen R. Turner was a C-109 pilot assigned to the 1330 Army Air Force Base Unit, Air Transport Command. On July 17, 1945, he took a routine flight from Jorhat, India, to Hsinching, China. Interment services are pending.
Army Pfc. Marvin E. Dickson was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. On Nov. 13, 1944, while attempting to reestablish broken telephone communications lines between headquarters and outposts in the Hürtgen Forest in Germany, he and three others were attacked. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 2nd Class John C. Auld 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. Interment services are pending.
Navy Water Tender 1st Class Edwin B. McCabe was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Interment services are pending.
Navy Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Roman W. Sadlowski was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Interment services are pending.
Navy Fireman 3rd Class Kenneth L. Jayne was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Interment services are pending.
Navy Signalman 3rd Class Charles E. Nix was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 1st Class Camillus M. O’Grady was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island. Interment services are pending.
Navy Ensign William M. Finnegan was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 1st Class Harold W. Roesch was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma. Interment services are pending.
Navy Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Fred M. Jones was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma. Interment services are pending.
Christmas Tip
With Christmas very close, and you are not sure what to get that service member, you will never go wrong with a American Flag as a gift.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
