Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the VFW-supported H.R. 840, the Veterans Access to Child Care Act. Sponsored by Congresswoman Brownley, the bill would expand a successful child-care pilot program, which has helped tens of thousands of veterans complete their VA mental health care appointments. “Access to child care should not be a barrier for veterans who need care to cope with their mental health conditions,” said VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace. “The Senate must pass this bill immediately to show they are also serious about improving access to care for veterans and eliminating veteran suicide.” On Thursday, the House also passed H.R. 450, the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2019, which would punish with up to five years imprisonment whoever defrauds veterans of their earned benefits.
DPAA Annual Awards Ceremony
VFW National Security and Foreign Affairs Director John Towles attended the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s annual awards ceremony last week at their headquarters in Arlington, Va. The ceremony, which was simulcast with their Hawaii offices, gave DPAA Director Kelly McKeague the opportunity to thank the men and women of the organization for their dedication and hard work throughout the past 12 months. The VFW entered into an agreement with DPAA last fall to recognize their eight annual awardees with plaques, letters of appreciation from VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence, and a restaurant or Amazon gift card. Assisting Towles was Stan Fernandez, National Council member from the VFW Department of Hawaii, who was at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to present the awards to the six Hawaii-based recipients.
Tax Refund for Service in Sinai Peninsula
According to an article in Military Times, if you were one of more than 2,000 troops who served in the Sinai Peninsula going back to June 9, 2015, you may be due a tax refund. The tax reform signed into law in December 2017 designated service in the Sinai Peninsula as being eligible for a combat zone tax exemption. The law also applied it retroactively, so those who received imminent danger pay or hostile fire pay while serving in the Sinai qualify for the refund. Imminent danger and/or hostile pay are also eligibility qualifiers for VFW membership. To get refunds for the two years before the law was enacted and implemented, you must file an amended tax return. Taxpayers generally have up to three years to file an amended return, so those service members who served in the Sinai in 2015 — and who filed their 2015 taxes in 2016 — would still be eligible to file an amended return, but it has to be done this year.
POW/MIA Update
Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Lynn W. Hadfield was a member of the 642nd Bombardment Squadron. On March 21, 1945, Hadfield was piloting an A-26B when his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went missing during a combat mission from Couvron, France. Hadfield, and his two crewmen, Sgt. Vernon Hamilton and Sgt. John Kalausich, had been participating in the interdiction campaign to obstruct German troop movements in preparation for the Allied crossing of the Rhine River on March 23, 1945. Interment services are pending.
Army Pfc. Clifford M. Mills was a member of the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, which participated in Operation Market Garden, the invasion of the German-occupied Netherlands. Interment services are pending.
Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Ted Hall 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 attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Hall. Interment services are pending.
Marine Corps Pvt. Waldean Black was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
