Veterans & Military Families Monthly News-September 2012

Veterans & Military Families Monthly News
September 2012 Vol. 3 No. 9

Good afternoon and thank you for reading, this months edition of the newsletter. We appreciate your involvement and continued support. Remember, we have two online sources where you can read and offer comments on the current and previous editions of the newsletter. The newsletter is posted on Facebook through the group called Veterans and Military Families Monthly News. Check it out and join the group. Click here to go directly to the page. (Keep in mind, you need a Facebook account to join; however, the documents can be viewed through the docs link toward the bottom of the page even without an account.) The second source for the online version of the newsletter is the website www.scribd.com. This online source for the newsletter works in the same fashion as the Facebook page. Please let us know what you think, or if you have any questions about the online sources. For those of you who enjoy just receiving the email each month, we will continue to send it out. But we want to build the online presence as a way to reach out to more people. As always, thank you very much for reading. Our hope is to continue to expand the newsletter. For that, we need your input. So, again, if anyone has any suggestions for topics to cover or wants to write their own piece, we will gladly try to work it in. We hope you enjoy, and please share your feedback with us.
Thank you very much!

P.7-Hire Heroes USA P.8-VA Disputed Claims P.9-TRICARE Prime P.11-The Wall That Heals P.12-VA Supports Gulf War Vets on Multiple Fronts P.15-Franklin Smith Part-II P.16-4th Annual Show Your Colors
In This Issue
P.18-Veterans Health Benefits Handbook P.19-VA Rolls Out New Claims process P.21-TRICARE Scam P.23-VA Medical Foster Home Program P.25-TRICARE Prime Enrollment Fees Increase Oct. 1st
And much more.
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the Fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
VFW Annual Convention Reno, Nevada July 24, 2012 From: www.va.gov Senior Vice Commander-In-Chief [John] Hamilton, thank you for that kind introduction, and congratulations on your election as the next Commander-in-Chief. I look forward to working with you on making things better for Veterans. Commander-in-Chief [Richard] DeNoyer, thank you for your many years of devotion to Veterans, and for your significant leadership of the VFW this past year. Godspeed to you and your family as you turn over leadership to John. Let me also acknowledge National Adjutant "Gunner" Kent, National Executive Director Bob Wallace, National Service Director Bill Bradshaw, and other members of your leadership. To Gwen Rankin, President of your VFW National Ladies Auxiliary, let me offer my thanks for the unwavering support the Auxiliary has provided to Veterans and their families for 100 years now. Congratulations to you and your memberspast and presenton reaching such a distinguished milestone of service on behalf of America's Veterans! Other members of the VFW, fellow Veterans, VA colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: I am greatly honored to be addressing an organization that has been, for well over a century now, a powerfully important voice for Veterans' rights in the halls of Congress, in the Oval Office, and across the country. Bob Wallace has been your diligent representative and our reliable partner in doing what's needed. Continued
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Remarks by Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
I am especially honored to be following President Obama, who addressed you yesterday, to thank you and your families for your patriotism and service to the Nation. The President's commitment to Veterans was clear from our first meeting. It is genuine, it runs deep, and it is unwavering. His vision to transform VA resonated with me when we first met in November of 2008. His initiatives to provide Veterans and families better transitions from the military; better healthcare especially mental health; faster and more accurate processing of compensation claims; better educational opportunities, jobs counseling, employment opportunitiesthat's why I am proud to be here today to report to you on the state of your VA. Let me review how things looked three and a half years ago, what changes we have put into motion since, and where we are headed in the future. Three and a half years ago, the country was heavily engaged in two operationsthe first major war of the 21st century being fought by a smaller, all-volunteer force. Repeated deployments of that force have created issues that don't show up until later deployments. It takes a superb, disciplined fighting force to handle this kind of strain. The men and women who wear our Nation's uniforms today are magnificent. More of them are surviving catastrophic injuries because of improved body armor, better combat lifesaving skills, and rapid medical evacuation from battle zone to state-side hospitals. But higher battlefield survival rates also mean more complex casualtiesthe compounding effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and multiple amputationsfive quadruple amputees from this warwith complications of blindness and deafness and genitourinary injuries. We had to create a word for thispolytraumaand we have since built five polytrauma centers of excellence, the best in the world, and an entire system of polytrauma care to treat these patients and enable them to go home. Three and a half years ago, we were also still grappling with unresolved issues from two past wars the Gulf War, over 20 years ago, and the Vietnam War, nearly 50 years ago now. We didn't take care of business back then, when we should have, and some Veterans were dying without benefits. Continued...
Some Useful Links

Air Force Times www.airforcetimes.com Navy Times www.navytimes.com Marine Corps Times www.marinecorpstimes.com Army Times www.armytimes.com Military Times www.militarytimes.com TRICARE www.tricare.mil American Legion www.legion.org Veterans of Foreign Wars www.vfw.org AMVETS www.amvets.org The DAV www.dav.org Department of Defense www.dod.gov Military/Veterans Report www.militray.com The Pentagon Channel www.pentagonchannel.mil Veterans Administration www.va.gov Military Order of the Purple Heart www.purpleheart.org
If anyone has a site they would like to have added to this growing list please let us know! Contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org Also check out the complete list of links that appear in this newsletter on the last page.
Thank you for your Support!

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A Note From: Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau

This notice from LWF is to inform the reader of the development of a Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau. Since our organization has conducted three yearlong courses at Lake Michigan College, we have many topics and many qualified speakers to present information from WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have developed formats for school children of all ages, and for veterans organization. Whatever the event we will gladly produce the correct format We would be glad to present any topic of interest to any group. As coordinator, I will be glad to help with the choices of presentations and help with planning. Gary C. Lulenski Coordinator Speakers Bureau 269-428-3442 Garykaye2@comcast.net
Three and a half years ago, 107,000 Veterans were estimated to be homeless in this rich and powerful country. The President has said, "[We won't] be satisfied until every Veteran who has fought for America has a home in America." But this rich and powerful country had suffered an economic downturn the likes of which we had not seen since the Great Depressioncertainly, not in my lifetime. In spite of a collapsing economy, the President was determined not to let Veterans homelessness spiral out of control. In 2009, there were over 23 million living Veterans in this country, but only 7.4 million of them were enrolled in VA healthcare and only 3 million were receiving compensation and pension benefits from VA. With less than a third of the Veteran population enrolled in VA, we had an outreach problem: Many didn't know about VA or their possible benefits. We had an access problem: Even if they knew about us, they had difficulty getting the services they needed. And we had, even then, a backlog in disability claims, one which had been there for decades. Well, that was the landscape in 2009, and we needed to put things into motion. We immediately focused on three key priorities that came out of my talks with a variety of stakeholders. Bob Wallace and I, and the executive directors of the five other major VSO's, still meet near monthly today. Those priorities are unchanged: Increase Veteran access to VA benefits and servicesone-third market penetration is not good enough; Eliminate the backlog in disability claims in 2015; And end Veterans homelessness in 2015. Folks tighten up whenever you tag dates to goals, meaning the sense of urgency is probably about right. The first order of business was to establish closer, more collaborative working relationships with DoD. As I often remind folks, very little of what we do in VA originates in VAmost originates in DoD. It takes both departments to create a seamless transition for separating Servicemembers to return home "career ready" to live, work, raise children, and contribute to restoring the strength of our economy. Continued...
Michigan Republican Party Facebook Page

Along with building the newsletters Facebook page, which can be found by the link above, the Michigan Republican Party is building their page. If you would like join, please click here.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
~Ronald Reagan
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The Secretaries of DefenseBob Gates and Leon Panettaand I have personally met nine times in the past 17 months. Leon Panetta is a dedicated public servant, who has been insightful, decisive, and a good friend to me and to Veterans, as is Bob Gates. Tomorrow, Secretary Panetta and I will testify together before a joint hearing of the house Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committeesperhaps for the first time. Our second priority was to fix VA's budget process. You can't create change without resources, and money is firepower. For the past three and a half years, VA has presented compelling arguments for strengthening VA's budget, and the President has been stalwart in his support. In 2009, VA inherited a budget totaling $99.8 billiona good budget, not spectacular, but a good one. In 2010, the President increased our budget to $127.2 billiona near 30 percent increase in a single year. The President's 2013 budget request, currently before the Congress, is for $140.3 billiona 40 percent increase since 2009. During this period of economic downturn, few private-sector businesses and federal departments have sustained this kind of budget growth. In a discussion about values, I was once lectured, "Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." Now, by that standard, there is no question where the President stands. He gets ithe understands our obligation to Veterans. He's provided VA the budgets that allow for meaningful change. So, what have we put into motion these past three and a half years? First, we took care of some long overdue business: For you Vietnam Veterans, we granted presumption of service connection for three new Agent-Orange related conditions: Parkinson's disease, hairy cell and other chronic b-cell leukemias, and ischemic heart disease. For you Gulf War Veterans, we granted presumption of service connection for nine diseases associated with Gulf War illness for Veterans of Desert Storm and Afghanistan. While we must continue to research what might have caused this illness, our responsibility is to diagnose and treat symptoms of these verifiable diseases. And for all combat Veterans with verifiable PTSDWorld War II, Korea, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Operation Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan, and otherswe granted the presumption of service connection. These three decisions alone have dramatically expanded access to VA medical care for hundreds of thousands of Veterans. In addition, we have mounted an aggressive outreach campaign to educate Servicemembers and Veterans about VA's capabilities and their benefits. Since January 2009, enrollment in VA healthcare is up by
nearly 800,000a 10 percent increase. That's great newswe are expanding access. And in expanding outreach and increasing access to VA healthcare, we also, understandably, increased the number of compensation claimsalso good news. Veterans who previously had no access are now enrolling and submitting claims. Three and a half years ago, the total claims inventory was roughly 400,000. Today, it's approximately 880,000. The backlogthe number of claims older than 125 dayswas about 135,000 in 2009 and is roughly 580,000 today. Growth in these numberstotal and backlogged claimsis what happens when we increase access. But it was the right thing to dofor Vietnam Veterans, for Gulf War Veterans, and for combat Veterans of all wars. One last snapshot of the claims backlog. In 2009, we completed 900,000 claims decisionsbut took in one million claims in return. In 2010, we completed, for the first time, one million claims decisionsand took in 1.2 million claims. In 2011, we again produced a million claims decisions, but took in 1.3 million claims in return. Now look, if the total number of claims in our inventory today is 880,000 and we generated nearly three million claims decisions over the past three years, you know that today's inventory and backlog are not the same claims that were there three years ago, two years agonot even a year ago. Now, there are sure to be a handful of exceptionally complex cases, but the process is dynamic. It's also a big numbers process, and we do most all of it on paper. Paper is what we receive from DoD. With the planned draw-down of up to a million troops over the next five years, the number of new claims will continue to grow. It will take both departments for VA to go paperless. Hence, my close working relationship with Secretary Panettahe and I are pulling our departments into the future. You heard the President yesterdaysolve the backlog! We are working hard and smart to solve this correctly. We already have a new automation tool called VBMSthe Veterans Benefits Management System being piloted at two regional offices for over a year now. We'll have it up and running at 16 regional offices by the end of this year, and at all 56 regional offices by the end of 2013. We are also re-directing 1,200 of our most senior claims adjudicators37 percent of our experienced staffto the backlog, which ballooned while I asked them to focus on the 250,000 Agent Orange claims they just completed. I have committed to ending the claims backlog in 2015, by putting in place a system that processes all claims within 125 days at a 98 percent accuracy level. With the President's strong support, we have the resources we need, and we are on track to do it. Continued...
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To further increase access, we have added 57 new community-based outpatient clinics, 20 more mobile health clinics, and our fifth polytrauma center, opened in San Antonio last year. We have four new hospitals under constructionin Denver, Orlando, Las Vegas, and New Orleans. We will open Las Vegas on 6 Augustthe first new VA hospital opened in 17 yearsand provide Veterans and Servicemembers stationed nearby the state of the art facility they need and deserve. As the President said yesterday, we keep our promises. We have also invested heavily in new telehealth-telemedicine technologies to overcome the tyranny of distance and extend our reach into the most remote rural areas where Veterans live. Enhanced IT technologies are also making it easier for Veterans to make appointments, access their medical records, and find out about available benefits and services. We have placed full-time women Veterans' program managers at 144 medical centers to advocate for women Veterans, and named women Veterans coordinators at all 56 regional offices to assist women with their claims. Since 2009, we've opened 19 clinics designed specifically to serve women, and provided training in women's health to more than 1,200 healthcare providers. We've also increased access to our national cemeteries, opening three new national cemeteries and 14 new state cemeteries. Additionally, five more national cemeteries are planned, as well as five columbaria-only cemeteries in urban areas, and eight burial grounds in
From: The USO In 2012, we're calling on the brave men and women of our armed forces to make some incredible sacrifices in Afghanistan, Iraq, and remote locations around the world. That means you and I need to make an extra effort to show our support. One of the best ways to let our troops know that you've got their back is by supporting the work of the USO. Step Up and Lead -- support our troops by signing up to be part of the USO today.
STEP UP AND LEAD
rural areas, owned and managed by VA but collocated with non-VA cemeteries. As some of you know, for the past 10 years, NCA has been the top-rated public or private customer service organization in the country, according to the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index outperforming Google, Lexus, Apple, all the othersnot a surprise when nearly three-quarters of NCA employees are Veterans. In 2009, I told you that Veterans lead the Nation in homelessness, depression, substance abuse, suicides, and they rank right up there in joblessness, as well. As I mentioned earlier, 107,000 Veterans were estimated to be homeless in 2009. By January 2011, that estimate was down to 67,500. We believe that when the Department of Housing and Urban Development announces its 2012 estimate before the end of the year, that the estimated number of homeless Veterans will be below 60,000, keeping us on track to break 35,000 in 2013 and moving to end the rescue phase of Veterans' homelessness in 2015. The prevention phase of defeating Veterans homelessness is ongoing and requires VA to focus all our capabilities to keep an invisible "at risk" population of Veterans and families from slipping into that downward spiral that ends up in homelessness. We have over 900,000 Veterans and eligible family members in training and education todayuniversities, colleges, community colleges, tech schools, and in the trades. Part of our prevention mission is to see them all graduate. Every one who flunks out in this economy is at high risk of homelessness. So my one-word speech to any student Veteran audience is "Graduate!" If I sound like your dad, I am. I'm paying most of your bills. So, graduate! In 2005, at the height of operations in Iraq, we had 13,000 mental health professionals handling the healthcare needs of our Veterans. Today, we have over 20,000. We recently announced that we are hiring another 1,600 to increase our ability to address the growth in mental health requirements spawned by a decade of repetitive deployments. We know that when we diagnose and treat, people usually get better, and the long-term trends of our treatment efforts are good. Among the 8.6 million Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, the number receiving mental health treatment is up. At the same time, for Veterans who receive treatment, our suicide rates are downan indication that treatment, including evidence-based therapies, works. Continued...
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However, too many Veterans still leave the military with mental health issues we never find out about because the issues weren't noted in their DoD records or because Veterans never enrolled in VA's healthcare system. Most Veterans who commit suicideperhaps as many as two out of threewere never enrolled in VA. As good as we think our programs are, we can't help those we don't treatanother reason two secretaries meet regularly, and another reason increasing access is so important. One of our most successful outreach efforts is our Veterans Crisis Line. DoD knows it as the Military Crisis Linesame number, same trained VA mental health professionals answering the phone, no cost to DoD. Since start-up in 2007, over 640,000 people have called in, including over 8,000 active-duty service members. We've made over 99,000 referrals for care and rescued over 23,000 from potential suicide. Some younger Veterans are more comfortable with chatting and texting, so in 2009 we added an on-line chat service and in 2011 a texting service. We have worked to ensure greater collaboration between VA and DoD, especially in that critical phase before Servicemembers leave the military. We simply must transition them better. We do this best with warm handoffs between the departmentsthat is key to preventing the downward spiral that often leads to homelessness and sometimes to suicide. Last year we completed expansion of our joint DoD/VA Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) from the original 27 sites to 139 sitesa major improvement towards a seamless transition to Veteran status. But there's still more VA and DoD can do together. Secretary Gates and I worked these initiatives hard, and Secretary Panetta and I have worked them even harder. We are both committed to a fully operational integrated electronic health record (IEHR) by 2017. Good jobs are essential for Veterans, and we are proud to have partnered with the First Lady's Joining Forces initiative and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes campaign. The President, the First Lady, Dr. Biden have provided strong leadership in increasing employment opportunities for Veterans and spouses of military members. The President challenged private companies to hire or train 100,000 Veterans and spouses by the end of 2013. They have already received commitments from 2,100 companies for 175,000 hires and 90,000 Veterans and spouses have already been hired. VA has also joined private companies and other departments, like Defense, Homeland Security, and Transportation, in efforts to hire Veterans and assist others in hiring them. In January, our hiring fair in Washington, DC, attracted over 4,100 Veterans, resulted in over 2,600
on-the-spot interviews, and more than 500 job offers on one day. We followed that success with an even bigger hiring fair last month in Detroitin conjunction with our national Veterans small-business exposition. Over 8,000 Veterans participated, more than 5,700 were interviewed, and over 1,200 received job offers on the spot. Simultaneously, 3,500 people participated in the Veteran small-business training expositionit was our opportunity to bring Veteran small business owners into direct contact with our acquisition decision makers so they could better understand our procurement requirements, demonstrate their capabilities, and improve their ability to prepare competitive proposals for government contracts. It also increased the opportunity to hire unemployed Veteransbecause Veterans hire Veterans. So, where are we headed? I intend to be here to update you again next summer, and here's what I intend to report: We will have increased spinal chord injury funding by 28 percent between 2009-2013. By 2014, that increase will likely be 36 percent. We will have increased TBI funding by 38 percent between 2009-2013. By 2014, that increase will likely be 51 percent. We will have increased mental health funding by 39 percent between 2009-2013. By 2014, that increase will likely be 45 percent. We will have increased long-term care funding by 39 percent between 2009-2013. By 2014, that increase will likely be 50 percent. We will have increased prosthetics funding by 58 percent between 2009-2013. By 2014, that increase will likely be 75 percent. We will have increased women Veterans funding by 123 percent between 2009-2013. By 2014, that increase will likely be 158 percent. We will have increased OEF/OIF/OND funding by 124 percent between 2009-2013. By 2014, that increase will likely be 161 percent. Our Veterans Benefit Management System will be fully operational at most regional offices, and just 40 percent of claims will be older than 125 days. Now, who doesn't think the President gets it down deep where it counts? "Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." There is no question that our President highly values what Veterans, their families, and our survivors have meant to this country. God bless our country. God bless our President. And may God continue to bless the men and women who serve and have served our Nation in uniform. Thank you. We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
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For the link to the interview with Rep. Ray Franz please Click Here
Rep. Ray Franz talks about the new Veterans program "Hire Heroes" that can be found online at - http://www.hireheroesusa.org/
A Little Information about Hire Heroes

From: www.hireheroesusa.org Mission: Hire Heroes USA (Hire Heroes) is dedicated to creating job opportunities for US military veterans and their spouses through personalized employment training and corporate engagement. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Hire Heroes services are provided at no cost to the veteran. Creating the Opportunity. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, Hire Heroes USA has built a national reputation of excellence for its success at helping unemployed veterans find jobs currently at the rate of one veteran confirmed hired every business day. Our team is comprised of military veterans many with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and business veterans. That mix of military and civilian experience has proven essential to effectively training veterans in the skills of self-marketing and then networking them into good jobs with great companies. The hallmark of the program is a personal approach where each veteran receives dedicated assistance from a highlytrained staff member in order to help them overcome barriers to employment. To become part of this program, click on the tab above that best suits your interest.
We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
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From: RAO Bulletin August 2012 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238 -1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines. Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/ NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/ AD37 member) World War II veteran Arthur Fusco Sr., 92, is waiting for the Veteran's Affairs Administration to pay his nursing home in Daytona Beach Florida, but the VA said the process could take months. He is now in danger of being evicted. Fusco's family members said they don't have that much time. He has until Aug. 25 to leave Grace Manor. Fusco survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the war that followed. When he retired in 1946, he had served eight years in the United States Army Air Corps as a bombardier, but he says he's no hero. "I don't think I did it, but I did my best and that's it. I'm proud of it," said Fusco. Since March, Fusco has been living in the Grace Manor assisted living facility in Port Orange. But recently, he was given an eviction notice. He and his family told WFTV, the ABC affiliated television station for Central Florida, it's because an application for assistance from the Department Of Veterans Affairs has taken too long. "They're hurting me and that's all I can say. It seems unfair," Fusco said. Fusco's son said Fusco applied for assistance from the VA back in NOV 2011, but he claims since then the VA has mishandled paperwork and that he was told getting assistance can take up to a year. Now, he said the possibility that his father could be evicted is heartwrenching. "To see me my dad in a situation where he's happy, content, everybody cares for him there and to be in a position where I might have to move him out of that situation for monetary reason that shouldn't, shouldn't be happening," he said. On 26 JUL, WFTV contacted the VA in Daytona Beach and in Washington, D.C., and officials said that they would take a closer look at Fusco's file. Although officials with the VA have responded, there is no indication yet what the status is of Fusco's application is and if there is anything that can be done to expedite the process. In a 2009 interview of the survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor at the 19th annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Fusco recounted his memories of that infamous day -- It was shortly before 8 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941 when Fusco, then a 21-year-old Army private, watched the first bombs drop on ships, planes and buildings at the airfield, an attack that catapulted the United States into World War II. "Boom," Fusco, then 89,
VA Disputed Claims
Jerry Pease wore his World War II uniform as he joined the last remaining survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor as they were honored in the annual ceremony and lunch by the Fleet Reserve Association Branch/Unit 186 on Monday, December 7. 2009 recalled, "and then it was over." Fusco said he ran for cover, ending up inside a building under a metal staircase. That's when he stood up and banged his head. Bleeding from the head, Fusco knew they needed more weapons. He then ran to a nearby building and pried the lock off a weapons depot. "That's when I grabbed a machine gun," he said. After draping two ammunition bandoliers around his neck, he ran back to the front of a hangar. With tears in his eyes, he began realizing what was happening. The United States was under attack. He could see smoke billowing up from the harbor. "I began crying," said Fusco, an obviously tough statement to admit. He wept only briefly, he said, and then ordered a passing soldier to help him. He carefully readied the machine gun on a tripod. He looked through the thick smoke and spotted a Japanese Zero closing in about 50 feet off the ground. Fusco pulled the trigger and the gun wouldn't fire. At first he thought it had jammed. As it turned out, the soldier he had flagged to his side had leaned against the machine gun, implementing the safety. To this day, Fusco ponders that day. "If that son-of-gun had fired, I know I would of have hit that plane," he said. Fusco, who was serving with the U.S. Army Air Corps, would later be shot down twice behind enemy lines in north Africa and the former Yugoslavia -- and would earn numerous medals for his service. [Source: WFTV News & Ocala Star-Banner Joe Callahan articles 26 Jul 2012 and 7 Dec 2009 ++]
From: RAO Bulletin August 2012 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238 -1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines. Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/FRA/ NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/DD890/ AD37 member) The fiscal year 2013 TRICARE Prime enrollment fees for uniformed service retirees and their families go into effect Oct. 1, 2012. The Prime enrollment fees for 2013 are $269.28 for retirees, and $538.56 for retirees and their family members. Survivors of active duty deceased sponsors and uniformed services medically retired service members and their dependents are exempt from annual fee increases. Their enrollment fee is frozen at the rate in effect when they were classified and enrolled in TRICARE Prime. Their fee remains frozen as long as there is no break in their TRICARE Prime enrollment. As always, active duty service members and their families have access to TRICARE Prime with no enrollment fee. Please Support and listen to Frontlines of Fredom Military Talk Radio Hosted by Lt. Col. Denny Gillem. You can hear it every Saturday at 1p.m. on 1260 AM the Pledge (Zeeland, MI), or by visiting the website at www.frontlinesoffreedom.com. Or on Facebook by clicking here. Thank you for your Support!
Tricare Prime
The 2013 fees are based on the cost of living adjustment retirees received in 2012. The adjustment was applied to the $260 (individual) and $520 (family) 2012 Prime enrollment fees. Because of this, most retirees who were enrolled in Prime prior to Oct. 1, 2011, will see a more significant increase since their enrollment fee remained at the 2011-levels of $230 and $460 per year. Beneficiaries can opt to pay their enrollment fee monthly, quarterly or annually. Before deciding to pay annually, beneficiaries should keep in mind that in most cases enrollment fees are non-refundable, and Congressional changes to fees in the 2013 budget could occur. For this reason, its recommended that beneficiaries pay their enrollment fee monthly or quarterly. To learn more about TRICARE Prime enrollment fees, refer to http:// www.tricare.mil/costs . [Source: TRICARE News Release 23 Jul 2012 ++]
From: www.michiganpva.org MPVA is celebrating its 50th year of service in Michigan. It is a chapter of the national Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), operating according to the standards and practices established by the PVA. MPVA is, however, a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The Michigan programs, services, education, and outreach conducted here are made possible by local volunteers, partners, sponsors, and donors. The mission of Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America is to enhance the lives of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease as well as all citizens with disabilities, by advocating for civil rights, assuring quality health care, supporting continued research and education, and encouraging independence and healthy living through various health, sports and recreational programs. MPVA shall continue striving to remain at the forefront of both veterans benefits services and disability rights, while working toward a better quality of life for all American citizens.
The MPVA Mission
By: Dale Hemphill-Designer, Spirit of America Flag (dhemp31628@aol.com)
Spirit of the American Flag
The Spirit of America Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by a naval veteran realizing the need for historical recognition of American's heroes and the sacrifices they made for our country. The "Spirit of America" insignia shown above was designed to recognize our men and women of the military forces and the battles they fought. As the Spirit of America Foundation continues its mission to promote patriotism and the appreciation of our veterans, it has expanded its reach to help veterans in need in today's tough economy. FORGOTTEN HEROES USA, LTD, supports the missions of the Spirit of America Foundation by offering patriotic products honoring Americas hardships in history dating back to the Revolutionary War to present day Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. With each purchase, a percentage is donated to the Spirit of America Foundation. If you would like to help our cause by making a purchase or donation please know that your generosity will reach many others in their time of need. Please review our web site for more information. If you have any questions or comments please contact us via the "Contact Us" page. Thank you! Video: The Raising of the Spirit of America flag. At the American war cemetery in Margraten in The Netherlands on Sunday the 3rd of July 2011. Made by: RALPH84 Click Here to view the video. We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
From: Gene Simon This summer, veterans who served during World War II and the Korean War will have the chance to take flight, for free! Beginning June 19, veterans will be able to fly in a Boeing-Stearman N2S-5 Kaydet, courtesy of the Air Zoo and pilot/sponsor Alan Wright. The Kaydet is an open cockpit aircraft that served as the U.S. Navys primary trainer during World War II. This is the Air Zoos seventh consecutive year to offer free veteran flights, said Bob Ellis, Air Zoo president and CEO. It is our simple way of saying thank you and giving back to those who have sacrificed so much to serve our country. Flights will take place on Tuesdays through Aug. 21 (except July 3), weather permitting. They are open to veterans who have not previously participated with the Air Zoos free veteran flights. Flights will be scheduled on a first-come, firstserved basis. Those who are flying must sign a waiver and be able to get in and out of the aircraft on their own. A maximum of five flights per day will be offered. For more information or to reserve a flight, please call the Air Zoo at 269.350.2815.
Air Zoo to Offer Free Airplane Rides to Veterans
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From: www.va.gov August 7, 2012 It has now been 22 years since the start of the 1990-1991 Gulf War which comprises the deployment and combat operations known as Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Almost 700,000 Servicemembers were deployed during this period. Those Veterans who have enrolled in the VA health care system have made over 2 million outpatient visits for health care and had over 20,000 inpatient admissions in the VA health care system. The Department of Veterans Affairs has not forgotten the service and dedication of Gulf War Veterans, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. We continue to provide high-quality health care and benefits to them while we invest in research that helps us understand and treat Gulf War Veterans illnesses. In support of care and services to the Veterans of the first Gulf War, VA has led efforts to better understand and characterize Gulf War Veterans illnesses and to improve treatment. Research initiatives have included: Funding an independent Institute of Medicine (IOM) review of scientific and medical research related to treatment of chronic multi-symptom illness among Gulf War Veterans. The report is expected in 2013. Funding and encouraging a wide spectrum of research focused on identifying new treatments to help Gulf War Veterans, including studies on pain, muscle and bone disorders, autoimmune disease, neurodegenerative disease, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory problems, and other chronic diseases. Research is ongoing in other conditions, as well, that may affect Gulf War Veterans, such as brain cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrigs disease, or ALS), and multiple sclerosis. Launching in May 2012, the third follow-up study of a national cohort of Gulf War and Gulf War Era Veterans (earlier studies were conducted in 1995 and 2005; the
VA Supports Gulf War Veterans on Multiple Fronts
health surveys are done to understand possible health effects of service and guide health care delivery). Continuing the clinical, research, and education activities of the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center program which focuses on post-deployment health. VA is also improving care and services for Gulf War Veterans through initiatives outlined in the 2011 GWVI Task Force Report. These include the evaluation of a clinical care model specifically for Gulf War Veterans and of enhanced education for health care providers about Gulf War Veterans concerns. Additionally, a VA Gulf War Research Strategic Plan has been developed to address effective treatment for the symptoms experienced by some Gulf War Veterans and to guide efforts toward improvements in diagnosis, the understanding of genetic and biologic factors related to Gulf War Veterans illnesses, and the application of research findings in Veterans health care. VA provides care for Veterans of all eras as part of its mission. VA operates the nations largest integrated health care system. With a health care budget of more than $50 billion, VA expects to provide care to 6.1 million patients during 920,000 inpatient hospital admissions and nearly 80 million outpatient visits during 2012. VAs health care network includes 152 major medical centers and more than 800 community-based outpatient clinics. For more information on Gulf War Veterans illnesses, see: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/.
Short video from www.tricare.mil that explains some back ground information about TRICARE.
View this video to get a better understanding of what TRICARE is. Or Click Here.
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Additional Benefits for Active Duty Time Served: DD FORM 214-SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT
From: Social Security Administration (SSA) Please share this with anyone who's had active duty service between January 1957 to December 31, 2001 and planning for retirement. In a nutshell it boils down to this: You qualify for a higher social security payment because of Military service, for active duty any time from 1957 through 2001 (the program was done away with 1 January 2002). Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit credited at time of application - which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement. You must bring your DD-214 to the Social Security Office and you must ask for this benefit to receive it! Social Security website: http://www.ssa.gov/ retire2/military.htm This is something to put in your files for when you apply for Social Security down the road... It is NOT just for retirees, BUT anyone who has served on active duty between January1957 to December 31, 2001. FYI - this benefit is not automatic, you must ask for it!
A Note From Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs

We need your help to grow the Newsletter
We are currently looking for any contact information of individuals or groups that you think would either be interested in receiving our newsletter or interested in writing articles. If you know of anyone please let us know. For it is through your involvement we are able to reach more and more people each month. Thank you very much! We hope you enjoy.
Three ways to help:

1. Email us the contact information at mhauser@migop.org 2. By mail at: 520 Seymour Lansing, MI 48933 3. Or simply forward the newsletter along to a friend. Thank you for your Continued Support -Hank Fuhs
community need when the federal government terminated its program that helped many veterans pay for transportation to VA medical facilities. The DAV has 189 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country who coordinate the transportation needs for disabled veterans. Use the DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact your nearest HSC for information or assistance. Please remember that the DAV Transportation Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. We hope we can help you. Locate your nearest VA Medical Center
To request a copy of a DD-214 click here.
Form: www.dav.org Because so many sick and disabled veterans lack transportation to and from VA medical facilities for needed treatment, the DAV operates a nationwide Transportation Network to meet this need. Through the Transportation Network, DAV volunteers drive sick and disabled veterans to and from VA medical facilities for treatment. The Transportation Network is a clear example of veterans helping veterans. The DAV stepped in to meet a substantial
Need a Ride
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DISABLED WAYNE COUNTY VETERAN OUTFITTED FOR HUNTING

Published: April 29, 2012 4:07AM By: BOBBY WARREN From: http://www.the-daily-record.com & Chad Miles BLACHLEYVILLE -- A Wayne County man received hunting gear from a new nonprofit organization that helps disabled veterans experience the outdoors. Russell Sellers received the gear for wild turkey hunting Thursday from childhood friend and former Triway classmate Chad Miles, who now lives in the Detroit area and started Sling and Stone Outfitters. In the package were a new shirt, pants, jacket, boots, turkey decoys, a turkey call, a mouth call and a face mask. Miles told his friend he wished there were more, but the nonprofit is new and does not yet have much of a budget. Sling and Stone Outfitters was formed on Veterans Day last year: 11-11-11. Miles had been doing research on crossbow hunting and discovered in several states it is illegal, except for disabled veterans. So, he began thinking what if he could get crossbows into the hands of disabled veterans, along with boots and clothes. His ultimate goal is to be able to provide amputees with special gear for hunting. As a 20-year-old, Russell Sellers, who is permanently disabled, was working as a diesel mechanic in the U.S. Army. While installing a drive shaft in a Utah National Guard truck, in preparation to be shipped out for Operation Desert Storm, he felt a pop in his back. For the next month, he lay in traction. At the time, he was told he had a low lumbar fracture. He refused back surgery because he was told there would be a 50-50 chance of not walking again. The injury ultimately led to him being released from the military. Over the course of the next 20 years, Sellers, now 41, dealt with incredible back pain, leading him to take "every drug known to man" in order to find some relief. "It was very stressful," Russell Sellers said. "I lost some good jobs because of it, and I can't hold my kids." In 2011, he had back surgery, and the doctor said his injury was not a fracture, rather he broke his back. He is doing better since the surgery. Laurie Sellers said when her husband was having all of those problems, it was frustrating. His back could go out at any moment, and he would drop to the floor. Russell Sellers, who loves to hunt, whether deer, squirrel, rabbit or turkey, said he thinks it is great to be the first recipient of hunting gear from Sling and Stone Outfitters. When Miles started the organization, he created a Facebook page. He informed others he was soon going to put together a package for turkey hunting for a disabled veteran. After the Facebook post, Russell Sellers contacted Miles about being considered. With five children, Russell Sellers has not had the money to update his hunting equipment. His boots are 13 years old and shredded from the briars, but they were all he had. He was excited to get a pair of insulated boots. The name of the nonprofit plays on the idea of a primitive weapon, but it is also connected with David, an Old Testament figure who as a young boy slew Goliath with a sling and a stone. The goal of the organization is to help disabled veterans face their psychological Goliaths and slay them, Miles said. Anyone wishing to donate to the organization can visit the website, slingandstone.org, or check out its Facebook page.
From More information contact Chad Miles at: Phone: (313)-690-3010 Email: chad@slingandstone.org Mail: 2130 Audette Street. Dearborn, MI 48124 Facebook: Click Here
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On July 4th 2012 Mr. Franklin Smith passed away. In December of 2011 I received a letter with a story attached. Since then I have been working on obtaining a copy of his full story. Don Alsbro the President of Lest We Forget SW MI provided me with the document. Mr. Smith wrote over 50 pages in his account of World War II. Over the next few months we will publish the whole story. I thank Lest We Forget for their support with this project.Matthew X. Hauser
By: The Late Cpt. Franklin H. Smith

THE ORIZABA
World War II Memories From Captain Franklin H. Smith-Part II
Our first general quarters alarm sounded just as we were getting out of New York. When the alarm went off, I was in the navy laundry trying to talk the guys into doing my laundry that I had brought up from the south when I came from Infantry school. Those sailors went out like they were shot out of a gun, for they all had an assignment. I also had one, but I wasnt used to moving that quickly. I went to my assignment, which was to go to the back of the ship and bring I company out of Dhold, which was the bottom hold on the boat, the Orizaba. The Orizaba was an old fruit boat that had been taken out of service but was needed to haul troops and was put back in service in WWII. It was owned by the Army and was run by the Navy so all the officers in charge were naval officers. We all went to the abandon ship locations and stood there for a while and then the all clear signal was given so we went back to our normal duties. I was in charge of a guard that was spaced around the ship. There were two man teams from I company that had field glasses and were stationed all around the ship to watch for periscopes of the enemy submarines. The men took turns and each man would watch a certain sector on the water for five minutes at a time and then pass the glasses to the other man. One of the things that were favorable to us was that we were in a fairly rough ocean with the biggest waves that I had ever seen. The waves would hit the ship and throw water all over the decks. Of course we had a number of people who were sick and didnt feel very good. We were about five days out and I had inspected the guards and had returned to my room around
11 p.m. My roommate was Lee Robards, a fellow 2nd Lieutenant. He was already in his bunk and was sleeping. We were in a very small room, which had three metal bunks. There were only two of us because one of our members had been left be hind to have an operation. As I was sitting on the side of my bunk all of a sudden there was a big explosion. It rocked the whole ship and a metallic sound rang out. I thought we had been hit and I had a sinking feeling because there wasnt enough lifeboats or rafts to go around. If you were a 2nd Lieutenant or down into the enlisted ranks, you were going to be in the water with your life jacket on. I thought that if this ship goes down I was going to be on one of the life rafts because I wasnt ready to die. The explosion did not wake Lt. Robards so I hollered at him to wake up. There was a little thing above the door that looked like a smoke detector which was the general quarters alarm. It came on just as I finished telling Robards that we had been hit. It sounded something like Whak Whak and it brought me to my senses and I realized that I had a job to do. I had to go to the back of the ship and bring I company out of DHold. Of course everybody was running in all directions on the ship and trying to get to their assigned stations. D -Hold was at the bottom of the Orizaba and we had to wait for the other holds to clear before we could go up the metal ladder. It seemed like it was taking forever for the other men to get out. I had to stand there and watch and wait until I could tell my men to start up the ladder. I had to be the last one out to make sure that it was all clear. We went up on the deck and stood in our assigned positions for approximately two hours. The destroyers were running everywhere and finally after about two hours the all clear signal was given and we were allowed to return the troops to their hold and I went back to my stateroom. I was told that we probably got hit by a dud torpedo, but to me it sounded as though it had gone off.
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From: Department of Veterans Affairs Michiganwww.michigan.gov Michigan Joins the War The Spanish-American War is assumed to have started April 21, 1898. On April 23, the President called for 125,000 volunteers. A second call was made May 25 for another 75,000 men. The call was at first confined to existing units but was then issued to the citizens at large. Members of existing units were the first to be accepted and organized. Michigan's Governor ordered out the National Guard and attempted to turn the units over intact as volunteers to the federal government. This however, was not in compliance with federal law and as a result, each individual was required to volunteer as an individual rather than as part of a unit. Practically every member of the National Guard volunteered. They were reorganized into the same units in which they had been serving but the regiments were reorganized so that the existing five regiments of eight companies each became four regiments of 12 companies each. To fill the regiments, eight new companies had to be organized. Each Michigan regiment was to contain 1,000 men. Upon the second call, Michigan furnished one more regiment of 1,200 men as well as an additional 200 men to each of the four original regiments. The regiments organized in the spring of 1898 were designated the 31st, 32nd, 33rd, and 34th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, following in numerical order the infantry regiments of the Civil War. They were all mobilized at Island Lake, near Detroit. The 31st was mustered May 11 and left on May 15 for Chickamauga Park, Ga. The 32nd was mustered May 14 and left May 19 for Tampa, Fla. The 33rd was mustered May 20 and left May 28 for Camp Alger, near Washington, D.C. The 34th was mustered May 25 and left June 6 for Camp Alger. Under the second call of the President, the 35th was organized and left for Camp Meade, Pa. September 14. The Real Enemy is Disease The men in the southern camps, particularly at Chickamauga and Camp Alger, suffered severely from sickness. At Chickamauga, there was an epidemic of typhoid fever, and the 31st Regiment moved to Knoxville, Tenn. where it remained until January 25, 1899, when it was sent to Cuba.
The Spanish-American War
The 31st landed at Cienfugas and was then distributed in the towns of Santa Clara Province to preserve order and protect property. The regiment performed guard duty until it returned to the United States April 25, 1899. It was disbanded at Savannah, Ga. on May 17, 1899. While in service, 20 men died from sickness in southern camps and hospitals. The 32nd was one of the earliest regiments moved to Fernandian, Fla., where it remained in camp for some time. It was among those assigned to service in Cuba but did not leave the United States. While enroute, its transport ship collided with another ship. The regiment was unloaded; it never left the port. After remaining in Florida for awhile, the regiment was transferred to Fort McPherson, Ga., where it remained until September. It then returned to Michigan and was disbanded between October 25 and November 9, 1898. While in service, 20 men from this regiment also died of disease. Battles in Cuba The 33rd and 34th Regiments left Island Lake in May 1898 for Falls Church, Va., and shortly embarked from Tampa, Fla. for Cuba on the transports "Paris" and "Harvard." The regiments were assigned to General Duffield's brigade, a part of General Shafter's army which fought and defeated the Spaniards at Santiago. They did not participate in the fight at San Juan Hill, but were engaged in the attack at Aguadores, which was planned to divert the enemy from the main battle and prevent their reinforcing it. In this engagement, three men of the 33rd were killed or died of wounds. Yellow fever broke out in the camp at Siboney and 50 men died there, at Montauk Point or on the transport bound for the latter camp. The 34th suffered even more severely; 88 deaths in that Regiment were recorded. A large proportion of the deaths were due to yellow fever the soldiers had contracted while in camp near Santiago or in the hospitals on Long Island, N.Y. Upon leaving Cuba, the 33rd reached Detroit September 2,1898, and then departed to their various home stations where they were disbanded between September 3, 1898 and January 6, 1899. The 34th returned to Montauk Point August 27, 1898, and was disbanded between September 3,1898, and January 2,1899. The 35th was disbanded at Augusta, Ga., March 31, 1899. The 35th did not participate in foreign service. Although it remained in the United States, 23 of its men died of disease.
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Hubbardston American Legion Disable Veteran Hunting
From: www.va.gov The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to informing the Veteran community about VA health benefits and services. Currently, VA is producing personalized Veteran Health Benefits Handbooks for Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care. The new handbooks are tailored specificfor each Veteran and provides detailed information about the VA health services the Veteran may be eligible to receive. The Veteran Health Benefit Handbook provides answers to common questions such as contact information for the Veteran's local facility, instructions on how to schedule appointments, guidelines for communicating treatment needs and an explanation of the Veteran's responsibilities, such as co-pays, if applicable. Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare will receive their personalized handbooks via mail as part of a national rollout campaign starting in February 2012 based on Priority Group, beginning with Priority Group 1 and ending with Priority Group 8. In the near future, VA will develop an online version of the handbook for Veterans to access via MyHealtheVet. This will allow Veterans to access their up-to-date health benefit information anywhere, anytime. Click the link below for additional information about the Veterans Health Benefits Handbook or call VA at 1 877-222-VETS (8387).
Veterans Health Benefits Handbook
From: Dan Heckman Adjutant-Hubbardston American Legion Located on Jones Rd. mile South of Maple Rapids Rd. Clinton County, Lebanon Twp. Disabled Veterans Hunting Shack Built and sponsored by the Hubbardston American Legion Post #182. It was constructed on the corner of Tim Chartrand, Doug Cusack and Wilson Dairy Farms properties. The shack is 8 x 8, 2 feet off the ground. Its sporting a fivefoot deck with roof and its insulated and heated. A disabled veteran or person can drive to the shack and exit onto the 4 x 8 platform and ascend up the 12-foot ramp. The entire cost was accepted by the American legion. Sons of the American Legion donated $200.00 for the cost, Triple C trucking donated the gravel for the driveway and Cusack Masonry provided some material and equipment. This opportunity is free, with no guarantee for harvesting a deer. DNR rules & Laws Apply.
100% Disabled Veterans Sept. 26-27 Special Disabled firearm hunt, 100% disability Oct. 15-18 Regular Bow season with a crossbow Oct. 1st-Nov. 14th Regular firearm season Nov. 15th-Nov. 30th Appointments or scheduling, call Mid-Mich. Process Serving at (989) 981-6979
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Available Hunting Dates are as Follows
From: www.military.com Week of July 23, 2012 The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it is deploying a new model for processing compensation benefits claims at 16 VA regional offices. The new organizational model involves special handling of claims from veterans who are facing the most serious injuries or illnesses or experiencing financial hardships or homelessness, and therefore need immediate attention. Veterans and their Veterans Service Organization representatives are encouraged to provide all the needed evidence along with their application in a "fully developed claim" in order to expedite the process. A list of the sixteen regional offices using the new model is available on the VA website. To learn more about how to file "fully developed claims," visit VA's Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) webpage.
VA Rolls Out New Claims Process
Old Warrior Camp

From: Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Retired, ANG This Hunting Camp was built by a retired Marine First Sergeant with the primary purpose of facilitating the Wounded Warriors as they begin their Journey back to Civilian Life. The First Sergeant is the Commander of the Disabled American Veteran (Manistique Chapter 26) He is also 100% totally disabled. There is no cost to veteransBring a Valid Michigan Hunting License and your sleeping bag. Contact Bob Blevins at (906)-477-0025 for dates and times available. We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
A clipping from Gene Simon. It does bring up an interesting point. Do we forget?Matthew X. Hauser
We hear stories from around the state about Veterans who are in need of help. Please remember what these men and women have done for this nation. Please remember them, and let our communities not forget what these men and women have sacrificed. Thank you to everyone who has supported this newsletter, and if you know of any veterans who are in need of help let us know and we will put the word out to help. -Matthew X. Hauser Contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org
Lest We Forget
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From: www.wwimemorial.org In March 2008, Frank Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, visited the District of Columbia War Memorial, on the National Mall in Washington DC. He observed that this peaceful, secluded memorial, dedicated in 1931 as a memorial to the 499 residents of the District of Columbia who gave their lives in that war, sits neglected and in extreme disrepair, and that there is no national memorial to World War I. Mr. Buckles issued a call for the restoration and re-dedication of the D.C. memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial. The World War I Memorial Foundation was formed to make Frank Buckles dream a reality. The mission of the Foundation is to advocate and raise funds for the re-dedication of the DC War Memorial as a national World War I memorial, dedicated to all those Americans who served in the Great War. In 2014 the world will mark the centennial of World War I. Nearly 5 million Americans served during the war, and 116,516 Americans died in defense of democracy overseas. Americas support of its allies in World War I marked the first time in this nations history that American soldiers went abroad to defend foreign soil against aggression -- and it marked the true beginning of the American century. Yet while the later conflicts of the 20th century World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War -rightfully have national memorials on the National Mall, there is no such memorial to the Great War, even though more Americans gave their lives in World War I than in Korea or Vietnam. The D.C. memorial, which is already located adjacent to those other memorials, is the most fitting site for a national World War I memorial.
The World War I Memorial Foundation
Photo: The Late Frank Buckles during his 2008 visit to the Washington D.C. World War I Monument.
From: RAO Bulletin July 2012 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director, Retiree Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy Warden & IRS VITA Baguio City RPPSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238-1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines. Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net AL/AMVETS/DAV/ FRA/NAUS/NCOA/MOAA/USDR/VFW/VVA/CG33/ DD890/AD37 member) TRICARE Program Integrity has become aware of a Lottery Sweepstakes Scam in which fraudulent checks bearing the TRICARE name are being utilized. Individuals are contacted via mail with a letter informing them that they are winners of a USA Lottery Sweepstakes for $250,000. Accompanying the letter is a fraudulent check bearing the TRICARE name. The instructions on the letter inform the winner that the attached check is a portion of the winnings provided to help pay taxes, insurance, handling, and shipping fees. The winner is also instructed to return a portion of the funds from the cashed check. Individuals receiving this letter and check should be aware that individuals may be trying to gain access to their bank accounts, or other personal information. Individuals who cash the check may be putting themselves at financial risk. Once the bank determines the check is fraudulent, the individual who cashed the check could be held responsible for returning funds back to the bank. TRICARE beneficiaries who receive this Lottery Sweepstakes Scam letter and check are encouraged to report it to their Managed Care Support Contractor Program Integrity Office (i.e. Health Net, Humana Military, TriWest, Express Scripts, or WPS). Reports can also be made to TRICARE Program Integrity by emailing the TRICARE FRAUDLINE at FRAUDLINE@tma.osd.mil or by fax (303) 676-3981. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/fraud/News/Document/Lottery% 20Sweepstakes%20Scam.pdf 11 Jun 2012 ++]
TRICARE Scam
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By: Tech. Sgt. Jake Richmond U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Public Affairs From: Hank Fuhs 12/8/2011 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds announced their 2012 show schedule Dec. 7. The team is set to perform more than 60 demonstrations in 33 locations, including two shows in Canada. The team, officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, will again kick-off their season by performing a flyover for the 54th running of NASCAR's Daytona 500 on February. 26. The remainder of the schedule is as follows bellow: March 17: Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. March 31 and April 1: Lakeland, Fla. April 14-15: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. April 21-22: Barksdale AFB, La. April 28-29: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. May 5-6: Shaw AFB, S.C. May 12-13: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. May 19-20: March Air Reserve Base, Calif. May 23: Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force Academy graduation flyover) May 26-27: Hill AFB, Utah June 2-3: Rockford, Ill. June 9-10: Ocean City, Md. June 16-17: North Kingstown, R.I. June 23-24: Indianapolis, Ind. June 30 & July 1: Battle Creek, Mich. July 7-8: Gary, Ind. July 21-22: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. July 25: Cheyenne, Wyo. July 28-29: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska Aug. 4-5: Hillsboro, Ore. Aug. 11-12: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada Aug. 17: Atlantic City, N.J. Aug. 25-26: Brunswick, Maine Sept. 1-2: Davenport, Iowa Sept. 8-9: Sacramento, Calif. Sept. 15-16: Scott AFB, Ill. Sept. 22-23: Salinas, Calif. Sept. 29-30: McConnell AFB, Kan. Oct. 6-7: Fort Worth, Texas Oct. 13-14: Daytona Beach, Fla. Oct. 20-21: El Paso, Texas Oct. 27-28: Moody AFB, Ga. Nov. 3-4: Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. Nov. 10-11: Nellis AFB, Nev.
Thunderbirds Release 2012 Show Schedule
Five F-16 Fighting Falcons of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team perform aerial stunts Oct. 8, 2011, during their demonstration at the Legacy of Liberty Open House and Air Show at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The team's primary mission is to exhibit the capabilities of modern warfighting aircraft and to demonstrate the high degree of skill maintained by Air Force members serving in a variety of career specialties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss)
"We are excited about the upcoming season and representing our fellow American Airmen," said Lt. Col. Greg Moseley, who will command and lead the team in the 2012 show season. "We feel honored to tell the story of U.S. Air Force Airmen serving on the front lines of freedom around the world. We will proudly represent each Airmen with the same pride, precision and professionalism in which they perform their duties each and every day." As of 2012, the Thunderbirds will have been in existence for 59 years, dating back to 1953 when the team flew the straight-winged F-84G Thunderjets. This season will mark the 30th season the squadron has performed in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Air Force's premier multirole fighter aircraft. The Thunderbirds team is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots, including six demonstration pilots, four support officers, four civilians and more than 100 enlisted people serving in about 30 Air Force job specialties. A Thunderbirds aerial demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The pilots perform approximately 40 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including the beginning ground ceremony, lasts about one hour. The air show season lasts roughly from March to November, with the winter months primarily used to train new team members. To learn more about the Thunderbirds, visit the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Team Facebook, Twitter orYouTube pages.
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VA Medical Foster Home Program
From: www.battlecreekva.gov The Battle Creek VA Medical Center Foster Home Program is seeking potential caregivers from several communities for Veterans who do not have family members to care for them. The Medical Foster Home Program is a new service that will provide area Veterans with an alternative to traditional nursing home placements. If you possess quality personal care skills, have space in your home, and a desire to make a difference in a Veterans life, then VA is looking for you. Through the program, caregivers will provide a safe, long-term, home-like environment and an economical long-term care alternative for Veterans who are unable to remain in their own homes because of medical issues and lack of a reliable caregiver. Potential caregivers homes must be within a 35-mile radius of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center or its Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Benton Harbor. Homes must be licensed by the State of Michigan and will be subject to inspections by the VA. VAs Home Based Primary Care interdisciplinary staff will make routine visits, including some that will be unannounced, to ensure Veterans are receiving quality care. Caregivers will be screened and matched to Veterans who are enrolled in or qualify for the Home Based Primary Care program. Caregivers can provide care for up to three people in their homes through the Medical
Foster Home Program. Caregivers and their homes must meet a variety of criteria, including: Must be at least 21 years of age Must own or rent your home which must be your primary residence Must have experience as a caregiver (formal or informal) Must have a willingness to provide a safe and therapeutic home environment Must have a willingness to be part of the Veterans treatment team and implement care plan Must provide three healthy meals per day and snacks Must provide 24-hour care and supervision to the Veteran Must meet all federal, state, and local licensure requirements and regulations Must provide three personal references and a background check A Veteran and/or the Veterans family will operate from a signed agreement that will define the services that will be provided. Caregivers are paid directly by the Veteran receiving care. The rate is negotiated between the Veteran and the caregiver, based upon the level of care needed. For more information on the program, please contact Ms. Kirsten Dzialo, Medical Foster Home Coordinator at (269) 223-5635 or via email at Kirsten.Dzialo@va.gov.
From: http://www.jpac.pacom.mil The mission of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation's past conflicts. The highest priority of the organization is the return of any living Americans that remain prisoners of war. To date, the U.S. Government has not found any evidence that there are still American POWs in captivity from past U.S. conflicts. JPAC is located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The command was activated on Oct. 1, 2003, created from the merger of the 30-year-old U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, and the 11-year-old Joint Task Force - Full Accounting. Commanded by a flag officer,
JPAC is manned by approximately 400 handpicked Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Department of the Navy civilians. The laboratory portion of JPAC, referred to as the Central Identification Laboratory (CIL), is the largest forensic anthropology laboratory in the world. JPAC also maintains three permanent overseas detachments to assist with command and control, logistics and in-country support during investigation and recovery operations. They are Detachment One located in Bangkok, Thailand, Detachment Two in Hanoi, Vietnam and Detachment Three in Vientiane, Laos. JPAC has a fourth detachment, Detachment Four, located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, responsible for recovery team personnel when they are not deployed.
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Legal Help for Veterans

From: James G. Fausone Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC is a law firm located in Northville, Michigan. We have a national practice representing veterans on veterans disability claims. This representation occurs at the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Board of Veterans Appeals and regional offices. We have helped veterans collect over $10,000,000 in retro and future benefits. Over the last decade, LHFV has become a trusted name in the legal community for providing legal services to veterans and lecturing at law schools, bar associations and community events. Members of the Legal Help for Veterans practice group are former service members who bring not only legal expertise but an understanding of service and duty. The members of the group have medical and administrative backgrounds as well as finely honed legal skills developed over twenty years of practice and experience. We have represented thousands of veterans and currently have over 650 active clients. For more information about the organization and about legal help for veterans and for contact information www.legalhelpforveterans.com and found on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Our telephone number is 800.693.4800. Our blog discusses current issues facing veterans and the VA. Typically our clients are enlisted men and women who served post Korea. The Vietnam vet is still the one with the most common problems. These include Agent Orange related disabilities, PTSD, psychiatric or orthopedic injuries. Other vets often have hearing loss, military sexual trauma or tinnitus. We are now seeing Iraq and Afghanistan vets with TBI. Many vets do not even begin the disability claim process until many years after service. The trigger may be unemployability and the need for benefits. With a million claim back log at VA, it is a slow and confusing process and many people need professional help establishing the proper diagnosis and service connection. That is what Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC has been doing for clients for years. We would like to express our appreciation to all of the fighting men and women in the United States Military. Thank you for your service to this country.
From: Rick Briggs, Major, USAF (Ret) The Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI) Veterans Program utilizes numerous types of outdoor activities to gather Veterans and currently serving military personnel together for a little R&R. These special events are almost always free for the troops depending totally on the kind donations of sponsors and donors. In addition to being a great way to say Thank you for their service, these activities serve as the mechanism to get the troops to open up a little if they are having post-deployment issues. Frequently we find that in the comfortable confines with others who have been there, done that they tend to be more receptive to learn about Invisible Wounds says Rick Briggs the Program Manager, both PTSD and TBI are treatable if they seek the proper help. To find out more about these activities, or to donate to their Veterans Program, please make out checks to BIAMI Veterans Program and send them to 7305 Grand River Suite #100, Brighton, MI 48114 or contact Rick Briggs at veterans@biami.org or call him (810) 2295880 or visit www.biami.org.
Brain Injury Association of Michigan
BIAMI is celebrating its 30th Anniversary as it continues to strive to provide persons with a brain injury and their families, healthcare professionals, and the general public with the resources necessary to enhance brain injury awareness, education, prevention, and support. BIAMI is also fields the first and only dedicated Veterans Program staff within the Brain Injury Association of America.
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About the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI):
MICHIGAN AIR NATIONAL GUARD HISTORY BOOKS

The Michigan Air National Guard Historical Association created a three volume set of history books covering the periods 1926-1996. A fourth volume covering the years 1996 to 2006 is in production and should be available soon. Volume 1 covers the period 1926 to 1976-Cost: $1.00 Volume 2 covers the period 1976 to 1986-Cost: $4.00 Volume 3 covers the period 1986 to 1996-Cost: $1.00 Volume 4 covers the period 1996 to 2010-Cost: $6:00 Full color $35.00 If you wish to purchase one or more of these volumes or are interested in more information, please contact MAGHA at Phone: 586-239-6768, Fax: 586-239-6646, Email: 127.wg.selfridgeairmuseum@ang.af.mil
MANGBANG
From: Eugene (Gene) A. Simon- Command Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired) & Matthew X. Hauser As you may have seen in past editions of the newsletter, MANGBANG has been one of our sources. We are thankful for the source and so we just wanted to pass the information along for MANGBANG in case anyone is interested in joining the Michigan Air National Guard Historical Association. You can contact Lou Nigro if you are interested. We think it is a worthwhile investment-it supports the history of the Michigan Air National Guard and his monthly publications are very informative. For those who want to view it on our website (www.selfridgeairmuseum.org, http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org ), Lt Col Lou Nigro, MI ANG (Ret) Executive Director, Selfridge Military Air Museum Email: louis.nigro@ang.af.mil
From: Gene Simon FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- New TRICARE Prime enrollment fees for uniformed service retirees and their families will begin Oct. 1. Retirees who were enrolled before Oct. 1, 2011 will see a more significant increase since their enrollment fee remained at the 2011 levels of $230 and $460 per year when the fees increased last year. The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2012 allows for the annual increase of TRICARE Prime enrollment fees for most retired beneficiaries based on the annual cost-of-living adjustment. Exceptions to annual increases are for survivors of deceased active-duty sponsors and medically retired service members and their dependents. Here's how the increase will affect beneficiaries enrolled before Oct. 1, 2011: -- People now pay $230 per year for individual coverage, and $460 per year for family coverage. Beginning Oct. 1, individual coverage is $269.28 per year, and family cover-
TRICARE Prime Enrollment Fees Increase Oct. 1
age is $538.56 per year. Beneficiaries enrolled on or after Oct. 1, 2011, including all new enrollments: -- People now pay $260 per year for individual coverage, and $520 per year for family coverage. Beginning Oct, 1, individual coverage is $269.28 per year, and family coverage is $538.56 per year. All TRICARE Prime enrollees are required to pay annual enrollment fees, except active-duty service and family members, transitional survivors, and beneficiaries younger than 65 with Medicare Parts A and B. For more retiree news and information, please visit www.retirees.af.mil
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Two Great Sources for Veterans/Military Legislative Updates in Washington D.C. Simply click the images to view the site.
Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security

Committee Testimony Committee Minutes No SubCommittees Committee Members: Ray A. Franz (R), Committee Chair, 101st District Dale W. Zorn (R), Majority Vice-Chair, 56th District Gail Haines (R), 43rd District Sharon Tyler (R), 78th District Mike Callton (R), 87th District David E. Nathan (D), Minority Vice-Chair, 11th District George T. Darany (D), 15th District Charles Smiley (D), 50th District Lesia Liss (D), 28th District Paul Clemente (D), 14th District Ben Cook, Committee Clerk 517-373-2002 bcook@house.mi.gov
Rep. Ray A. Franz Committee Chair Welcome to the Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee. The committee's regularly scheduled meeting time is Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. in room 308 of the House Office Building in Lansing. I welcome citizens to contact me or other committee members regarding bills or proposals our committee is addressing. Individuals needing special accommodations to participate in a committee meeting may contact my office to request the necessary assistance.
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Steaming Live for those who serve check it out.

If anyone has any other sites or link they find to be a good source please let us know we will gladly work it in. Please contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org.
Veterans Radio is dedicated to all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. Our mission is to provide all veterans with a voice, to give them a forum where they are able to discuss their issuesand tell their stories. You can listen to the show on: WDEO (990-AM Ann Arbor/Detroit), WMAX (1440-AM, Saginaw), WDEO-FM (99.5 FM, Naples FL), KAGY (1510-AM Port Sulfur/New Orleans LA), KIXW (960-AM, Apple Valley CA) and KMRC (1430AM Morgan City, LA). Or, listen to our Webcast and archives at: www.veteransradio.net.
Lest We Forget SW Michigan

Have you ever felt that history, particularly military history, isn't being taught in our schools like it was in the "good old" times? Why is it that many of our high school graduates, some say a majority, don't know who we fought in WWII, who bombed us at Pearl Harbor or worst yet, believe that the holocaust never happened? Our children are not being taught the basic principles that have made this country great! "Lest We Forget" was started by a group of veterans who felt that patriotism was too important of a subject to be given the short shrift that it presently receives in our schools and community. Our operating principle is "To brighten the future we must illuminate the past." We've "illuminated the past" through WWII re-enactments, patriotic concerts, presentations by Medal of Honor recipients, presentation of the American flag to Frank Buckles, our last WWI veteran, TV telecasts to schools throughout the country, participation in local parades, made presentations in our schools on the flag, presented college classes on WWII, Korea and Vietnam wars, published a book of WWII stories by local veterans, presented college classes on WWII, Korea and Vietnam wars, published two books of veterans stories, brought in the VN Wall and honored the Korean vets this year. Next year (2012) Jun 29-Jul 1 we will have D-Day and Iwo Jima beach landings and much more. Remember, "Freedom is NOT free!" Patriotically Yours, Don Alsbro, President COL, US Army (ret) Lest We Forget For more info about Lest We Forget SW MI please visit their website by simply clicking here.
LWF 2010 Group Picture
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Newsletter Links From Articles For September

Page 1 Newsletters Facebook www.facebook.com Newsletters Scribd www.scribd.com Military.com www.military.com Page 3 MIGOP Facebook www.facebook.com Page 5 The USO www.uso.org Page 7 Hire Heroes USA www.hireheroesusa.org Page 9 Front Lines of Freedom www.frontlinesoffreedom.com TRICARE www.tricare.mil Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America www.michiganpva.org Page 10 Spirit of the American Flag www.forgottonheroesusa.com Page 11 Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation www.glcsf.org Page 12 Department of Veteran Affairs www.va.gov TRICARE www.tricare.mil Page 13 Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov DD-214 Form www.archives.gov DAV www.dav.gov Page 14 The Daily Record www.the-daily-record.com Sling and Stone www.slingandstone.org Page 17 Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Michigan www.michigan.gov Page 18 Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov VA Veterans Benefits TRICARE www.tricare.mil www.publichealth.va.gov Page 27 Page 19 U.S. Senate Committee on Department of Veteran Affairs Veterans Affairs www.va.gov www.veterans.senate.gov Page 20 U.S House Committee of Veterans Team Pascarella Affairs www.teampascarella.com www.veterans.house.gov Page 19 World War I Memorial Foundation Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Michigan www.wwimemorial.org www.michigan.gov TRICARE Military and Veterans Affairs and www.tricare.mil Homeland Security Committee Page 23 Battle Creek VA www.house.mi.gov www.battlecreekva.gov Page 28 Joint Pow/MIA Pentagon Channel Accounting Command www.pentagonchannel.mil www.jpac.pacom.mil Veterans Radio www.veteransradio.net Page 24 Legal Help for Veterans LEST WE FORGET SW MI www.legalhelpforveterans.com www.lestweforgetusa.org Brain Injury Association of Michigan www.biami.org Also check out the Some Useful Page 25 Links Section on Page 2. Michigan Air National Guard Thank you for your Support! www.selfridgeairmuseum.org
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Stand Up For Veterans-They Stood Up For US

-The DAV
American Legion Post is in looking for current military members to send care packages to. Please contact Robert Goulet if you know of any military member who might like something. Please see News From American Legion Post 341 below for more information. Thank you very much!
Staff & Contributors

CoordinatorMatthew X. Hauser ContributorsDon Alsbro Rick Briggs Helen Budd Sen. Patrick Colbeck Sam Cottle Rep. Kurt Damrow Matt Davis David Duenow Vicki Dunlop Mark Eddy Keith Famie James G. Fausone Rep. Ray Franz Sean M. Furr Denny Gillem Robert Goulet John Haggard Larry Harr Dan Heckman Dale Hemphill John Hess Norma Housey Sec. of State Ruth Johnson James Julian Adrian Keogh Adele Krovsky Bill Langbehn Merridy Lewis Gary C. Lulenski Claude McManus
In Memory of Gary Lillie

Chad Miles Louis Nigro Sid Rubin Eugene (Gene) A. Simon Phil Smith Sherry Swann Tim Pascarella Bob Tidmore Rep. Fred Upton Maureen VanHooser Publisher-Hank Fuhs
News From American Legion Post 341

American Legion Post 341 is seeking the names of troops that are deployed to a combat zone so that we can send them large package of goodies and that their names and address should be sent to the address below. Also post 341 is always seeking new members please contact Robert at the same address if interested. American Legion Post 341 Sr. Vice Commander Robert P. Goulet 6130 Nicholas West Bloomfield, MI rgoulet264@aol.com
Thank you for your service to our country. It is truly the men and women like you who make this nation great, and we must never forget that. Thank you to everyone for all the help you have given us with the newsletter. We have been able to reach more people because of your help. Compared to when we first started, the amount of input and ideas we receive has increased greatly. For that we are very thankful. If you have anything you would like to share, any questions, or have an article idea, please let me know. You may contact us anytime at mhauser@migop.org. Sincerely, Matthew X. Hauser and Lt. Col Hank Fuhs
In Closing
Lest We Forget-A Clip from Hank Fuhs Lt. Col., USAF, Ret, ANG (Just Click the Link Below)
I Fought For You
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Hope you enjoyed the Newsletter!

Please let us know what you thought. Contact Matthew X. Hauser at mhauser@migop.org
We need your help to grow the Newsletter
We are looking for any contact information of individuals or groups that you think would either be interested in receiving our newsletter or interested in writing articles. If you know of anyone please let us know.
Sincerely,
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
~Ronald Reagan
Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs & Matthew X. Hauser

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Veterans &amp; Military Families Monthly News-September 2012

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Veterans &amp; Military Families Monthly News-September 2012

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Veterans & Military Families Monthly News

September 2012 Vol. 3 No. 9

Thank you very much!

And much more.

Remarks by Secretary Eric K. Shinseki

Some Useful Links

Thank you for your Support!

A Note From: Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau

Michigan Republican Party Facebook Page

STEP UP AND LEAD

A Little Information about Hire Heroes

The MPVA Mission

By: Dale Hemphill-Designer, Spirit of America Flag (dhemp31628@aol.com)

Spirit of the American Flag

Air Zoo to Offer Free Airplane Rides to Veterans

VA Supports Gulf War Veterans on Multiple Fronts

A Note From Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs

Three ways to help:

To request a copy of a DD-214 click here.

DISABLED WAYNE COUNTY VETERAN OUTFITTED FOR HUNTING

By: The Late Cpt. Franklin H. Smith

World War II Memories From Captain Franklin H. Smith-Part II

The Spanish-American War

Hubbardston American Legion Disable Veteran Hunting

Veterans Health Benefits Handbook

Available Hunting Dates are as Follows

VA Rolls Out New Claims Process

Old Warrior Camp

The World War I Memorial Foundation

Thunderbirds Release 2012 Show Schedule

VA Medical Foster Home Program

Legal Help for Veterans

Brain Injury Association of Michigan

About the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI):

MICHIGAN AIR NATIONAL GUARD HISTORY BOOKS

TRICARE Prime Enrollment Fees Increase Oct. 1

Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security

Steaming Live for those who serve check it out.

Lest We Forget SW Michigan

LWF 2010 Group Picture

Newsletter Links From Articles For September

Stand Up For Veterans-They Stood Up For US

Staff & Contributors

In Memory of Gary Lillie

News From American Legion Post 341

Hope you enjoyed the Newsletter!

Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs & Matthew X. Hauser

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