The month of July has important dates. Here are just a few: July 4, Independence Day; July 27, Korean War Armistice Day (1953); July 29, Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps.
Reading of Names On The Wall
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. will be hosting the reading of the 58,316 service members names that are etched on The Wall, as a part of The Wall’s 35th anniversary. The reading of the names will take place at The Wall for 65 hours over a four-day period, beginning with an opening ceremony at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Volunteers are needed to read the names. The deadline to register as a reader is Aug. 11, 2017. For information, go to www.vvmf.org/rotn.
VA to Open Mental Health to OTH Veterans
Effective July 5, former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges may receive care for their mental health emergencies for an initial period of up to 90 days, which can include inpatient, residential or outpatient care. “Suicide prevention is my top clinical priority,” said VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin. “We want these former service members to know there is someplace they can turn if they are facing a mental health emergency — whether it means urgent care at a VA emergency department, a Vet Center or through the Veterans Crisis Line.” Any veteran in crisis should call the Veterans Crisis Line at (800) 273-8255 (press 1) or text 838255.
VFW Calls on Vietnam Veterans for Help
The VFW is calling on Vietnam veterans to search their wartime memorabilia for any artifacts that might help Vietnam to determine the fate of its estimated 300,000 MIAs. Being requested are photos and sketch maps of battle sites or burial locations, as well as personal artifacts that may contain names, family photos and personal letters. No weapons, please! Veteran-to-veteran initiatives generate good will and further assist the U.S. government’s efforts to investigate and recover Americans missing from the war. Please mail your memorabilia to Joe Davis, VFW Washington Office, 200 Maryland Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002. Everything collected will be turned over to the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington.
POW/MIA UPDATE
Army Sgt. James W. Sharp, 24, of Mannington, W.Va., was buried June 29 in Grafton, W.Va. Sharp was a member of Battery B, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team,7th Infantry Division.
Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Byron H. Nelson, 28, of Primghar, Iowa, was buried July 1 in his hometown. Nelson was a nose gunner aboard an American B-24G Liberator bomber with the 721st Bomb Squadron, 450th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force.
Navy Reserve Lt. William Q. Punnell was the acting commanding officer of the VF-14 Fighter Squadron, operating from the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. Interment services are pending.
Army Cpl. Thomas H. Mullins was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. In November 1950, his unit engaged with Chinese forces near Unsan, North Korea. Interment services are pending.
Army Pfc. Charlie H. Hill was a member of Battery D, 15th Anti-aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Self-propelled Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. Hill was declared missing on Dec. 2, 1950. Interment services are pending.
Army Master Sgt. George R. Housekeeper, Jr., was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Housekeeper was declared missing on Dec. 12, 1950. Interment services are pending.
Army Cpl. Clarence R. Skates was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Skates was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950. Interment services are pending.
Air Force Col. Roosevelt Hestle, Jr., was a pilot assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Interment services are pending.
Air Force Capt. Robert E. Holton was an F-4D pilot assigned to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On Jan. 29, 1969, Holton flew an armed reconnaissance mission over southern Laos. Interment services are scheduled for later this summer.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
