On Wednesday, VFW National Legislative Service Director Carlos Fuentes testified on behalf of the VFW at a Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing on bills to improve VA cemetery benefits and operations. Fuentes offered the VFW’s support for H.R. 4312, which ensures the battlefield cross is authorized to be displayed at VA national cemeteries; H.R. 6409, which would authorize VA to inscribe the name of spouses and children buried with veterans on veterans’ headstones; and H.R. 6420, which would expand the Veterans Legacy Program that perpetuates the memories of veterans buried at VA national cemeteries.
VA Provides Training for Rural Women’s Health Providers
The number of women veterans enrolled in VA has more than tripled since 2000, and as of May 2017 over a quarter of those women lived in rural or highly rural areas. As the demand for more gender-specific health care increases for VA, rural women veterans struggle with a lack of providers in general – let alone providers adequately trained in their gender-specific needs. Since 2009, Women’s Health Services (WHS) has been providing face-to-face education and training for clinical staff, called the Women’s Health Mini-Residency, 1-2 times per year in Orlando. Over the years, WHS realized the difficulties for rural VA providers to travel and partake in the three-day program. This summer, the program took to the road and will provide the education and training for rural providers and nurses in up to 40 rural clinical sites per year. Each provider and nurse who completes the program will receive more than 18 hours of accredited medical training.
‘Star Spangled Banner’ history
“Star Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from “Defense of Fort McHenry,” a poem written on Sept. 14, 1814, by the then 35-year-old lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. “Star Spangled Banner” was recognized for official use by the United States Navy in 1889, and by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, and was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931.
U.S. Air Force Marks 71 Years
The U.S. Air Force is one of seven American uniformed services. Initially established as a part of the United States Army on Aug. 1, 1907, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on Sept. 18, 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and fourth in order of precedence.
POW/MIA Update
Navy Reserve Ensign Harold P. DeMoss, 21, a WWII veteran of Nashville, Tenn., whose remains were previously identified, will be buried Sept. 15 in his hometown. DeMoss was a member of Fighting Squadron 100 (VF-100), piloting an F6F-3 Hellcat from Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii.
Army 1st Lt. Herman L. Falk, a Korean War veteran, was a member of Company B, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Following the war, returning American prisoners of war reported that Falk died in either April or May of 1951. Interment services are pending.
Army Sgt. 1st Class James S. Streetman, Jr., a Korean War veteran, was a member of Company B, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Streetman was initially reported to have been killed in action on Aug. 14, 1950. However, historical records determined he had been killed on July 22, 1950. Interment services are pending.
Army Air Forces 1st Lt. John D. Crouchley, Jr., a WWII veteran, served as a pilot with the 828th Bombardment Squadron, 485th Bombardment Group. On June 28, 1944, Crouchley was lost when his B-24H aircraft was shot down and crashed during a combat mission over Romania. Interment services are pending.
Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Herbert W. Harms, a WWII veteran, served as a B-17 tail gunner with the 569th Bombardment Squadron, 390th Bombardment Group, 13th Combat Bombardment Wing. On Aug. 16, 1944, Harms’ aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft artillery during a bombardment mission to Zeitz, Germany. Interment services are pending.
Marine Corps Sgt. Millard Odom, a WWII veteran, was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 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 1st Class George E. Naegle, a WWII veteran, was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Marine Corps Pfc. Alva J. Cremean, a WWII veteran, was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 1st Class Earl P. Baum, a WWII veteran, was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Navy Seaman 1st Class Joseph K. Maule, a WWII veteran, was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Navy Water Tender 2nd Class Edgar D. Gross, a WWII veteran, was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
