The Western Allies of World War II launched the largest amphibious invasion in history when they assaulted Normandy, located on the northern coast of France, on June 6, 1944. The invaders were able to establish a beachhead, as part of Operation Overlord, after the first day of the invasion. Allied forces included the United States, Britain, Canada, and Free French Forces. In the weeks following the invasion, Polish forces and contingents from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, and the Netherlands participated in the ground campaign. The Normandy invasion began with overnight parachute and glider landings, massive air attacks and naval bombardments. In the early morning, amphibious landings commenced on five beaches, code-named Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah.
DOD Expands Travel Policy for Dignified Transfers at Dover AFB
Last week, DOD released supplemental guidance regarding the travel of surviving family members to Dover AFB to attend Dignified Transfer ceremonies. The new guidance expands the authority under which the military departments may provide government-sponsored transportation to surviving family members. It also allows the secretary of a military department to authorize the payment for travel and transportation when a service member or DOD civilian dies overseas and the armed forces medical examiner requires that the deceased service member or DOD civilian be brought to Dover Air Force Base for examination. Government-sponsored transportation was previously limited to survivors of service members who died in a theater of combat operations. The VFW believes this important change in policy will allow DOD to better honor and serve the needs of surviving family members.
Medical Images Available on MyHealtheVet
Medical images such as mammograms, CT scans, MRIs and X-rays can now be viewed, downloaded, and printed through MyHealtheVet under VA Medical Images and Reports.
GI Bill Comparison Tool
For any service member or veteran looking to pursue their educational goals through the use of the GI Bill, there is an important tool offered by VA. The GI Bill Comparison Tool allows users to compare different programs and institutions that accept the GI Bill. In the past few years, some student veterans have been impacted by the abrupt closures of the schools they were attending. These schools were using predatory business practices and had numerous complaints against them. The GI Bill Comparison Tool gives users the ability to check on the schools they wish to attend, and provides up-to-date data received from current and past students, helping GI Bill users make better, more informed decisions about where to attend school, and hopefully avoid programs that offer little to no value.
D-Day Commemoration
On Wednesday, June 6, at 11 a.m., the Friends of the National World War II Memorial will host a ceremony at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., to recognize the service of the some 160,000 Allied troops that landed on the beaches of France 74 years ago. In attendance will be approximately 10 D-Day and WWII veterans who will place wreaths to honor the sacrifice of the 9,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who were killed during the invasion.
POW/MIA Update
Gunners mate 3rd Class Marvin B. Adkins 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. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
