Veterans & Military Families Monthly News-January 2013

Veterans & Military Families Monthly News
January 2013 Vol. 4 No. 1

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.
Honor Flight
Thank you very much!

We wish everyone all the best in 2013!
P.2-Veteran Homelessness P.4-Gulf War Syndrome P.5-Specail Thanks to LEST WE FORGET P.6-VA Work Study Program P.7-VA Pension/Disability P.8-ESGR P.9-WWII Memories from Cpt. Frank Smith Part V P.14-WWI Memorial Foundation P.15-COLA Updates
From: www.honorflight.org Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill. Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nationand as a culturally diverse, free society. Now, with over one thousand World War II veterans dying each day, our time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out.
In This Issue
P.16-Spitfires Excavation Date Set P.17-LEST WE FORGET featured article from the VFW P.20-Civil War Classes P.21-Veterans Health Benefits Handbook P.23-Legal Help for Veterans P.25-Hire Heroes USA P.26-MANGBANG P.27-US and Michigan Dept. of Veteran and Military Affairs
Honor Flight in Michigan

Upper Peninsula Honor Flight (Gladstone, MI) Hub Web Site Flying from: ESC (Delta County Airport, Escanaba) Barbara Van Rooy 906-280-1471 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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And much more.
Paid for by the Michigan Republican Party with Regulated Funds. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. 520 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933
By: Alex Horton From: www.va.gov One of VAs most important missions is also among its most challenging: ending Veteran homelessness once and for all. The goal has been set for the end of 2015, and the numbers seem to be heading in the right direction; last year, Veteran homelessness fell by 12 percent, thanks to an infusion of prevention services. This isnt an initiative that will succeed at just the federal level, but locally as well. Two recent stories highlight what can happen when all levels begin to meet mission. The first, from the Rapid City Journal, details a VA program that intakes homeless Veterans and puts them to work at VA national cemeteries. The paid positions dont just offer steady income, but something worth holding onto as Veterans work to lift themselves back up, as an Iraq Vet in the program described: Its given me a sense of pride, he said. I was kind of blowing in the wind. He also plans to continue to use the skill set at a job after the year is up, even if it means leaving the Black Hills. I love this program; Im intent on doing this job, Kurttila said. The second article from The Washington Post helps illustrate how local organizations are making an impact despite challenges that can delay assistance, like proper identification for homeless Veterans: This is a common problem for homeless people. You need ID to get ID, said Jan-Michael Sacharko, director of development for A-SPAN. You have to establish youre a resident of Arlington, which is a bit of an oxymoron how do you establish youre a homeless resident of Arlington? After many months, enough paperwork was collected to get Maass birth certificate from California. Taken together, these articles show progress is hard fought and can be won, but challenges are still ahead to roll that counter down to zero. If youre a homeless Veteran or family member, or at risk of becoming homeless, please give our help line a call at 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838), and visit our homeless Veteran site for more information on housing assistance, health care options, and more.
Dispatches from the Fight to End Veteran Homelessness
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.
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.
Thank you for your Support!

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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.
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.
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
From: RAO Bulletin December 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) Gulf War illness, the series of symptoms ranging from headaches to memory loss to chronic fatigue that plagues one of four veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf war, is due to damage to the autonomic nervous system, a study released 26 NOV shows. "This is the linchpin," said the study's lead author, Robert Haley, chief of epidemiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "The disease itself is so difficult to express and to understand," Haley said, explaining that veterans described simply that they "don't feel well" or "can't function," without being able to further explain a disease that affects the automatic functions of their bodies, such as heat regulation, sleep or even their heartbeats. "Docs don't know what the disease is, so they can't help," Haley said. "But if you can figure out what the disease is, the other problems will fall in line. Researchers spent 15 years researching a hypothesis, and then "we planned the ultimate study that proved that hypothesis," Haley said. Along with Steven Vernino, chief of the neuromuscular division at Southwestern, Haley sent 97 veterans through 25 tests, including brain imaging, in seven days. The group had been drawn from a sample of 8,000 Gulf War veterans. "Veterans have high faith in Dr. Haley's dedicated and informative research," said Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense and a Gulf War veteran."This finding is important because for the first time physicians who care for Gulf War veterans now have a medical explanation for many of the unusual symptoms." The team conducted several studies, and then built a theory based on the results of that work. The doctors had funding from Congress until 2010, when they were dropped by the Department of Veterans Affairs after being accused of wasting millions of dollars in research money. That came directly after a 2009 study from Haley showed that neurotoxins such as anti-nerve agent pills, insect repellent and the nerve agent sarin caused neurological changes to the brain, and that the changes seem to correlate with different symptoms.
Gulf War Syndrome Update
After they lost funding, Haley and the other researchers continued their work on their own time. "This is the most important study of all," Haley said. "The veterans want to know what's wrong with them. Now, for the first time, all the doctors in the country can say, 'Oh, maybe these are autonomic symptoms.' If you're not thinking autonomic, the symptoms can sound kind of flaky." For years Gulf War veterans have been told the symptoms were all in their heads, which Haley and other researchers say isn't true. There is no known treatment for Gulf War illness, Haley said, but a diagnosis can lead to clinical trials and a possible solution. Veterans of suffering from Gulf War illness tend to fall in three categories: Syndrome 1, or cognitive and depression problems. Syndrome 2, or confusion ataxia, which is similar to early Alzheimer's disease. Syndrome 3, or severe chronic body pain. Haley said studies released in the next several weeks will include theories as to what caused the syndromes. The study should encourage Congress to devote more money for Gulf War illness research, Sullivan said. The disease affects up to 250,000 veterans, according to the Institute of Medicine. "Knowing the medical basis for a disease focuses the search for specific treatments and makes it possible to test them in clinical trials," Sullivan said. "If VA continues to be reluctant to fund research, then Congress should hold hearings that prompt VA to do the right thing for our veterans." [Source: USA TODAY | Kelly Kennedy | 26 Nov 2012 ++]
Special Thanks To Lest WE Forget For Their Support!

They meet the first Wednesday of everything month and 10am. For more information Click Here. I would also like to thank Mr. Kenneth Mckeown for the great photos.-Matthew X. Hauser
From: RAO Bulletin November 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) If you're a full-time or 3/4-time student in a college degree program, or a vocational or professional program, you can "earn while you learn" with a VA workstudy allowance. This is available to persons training under the following programs: Post-9/11 GI Bill--(38 U.S.C. Chapter 33) Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty (38 U.S.C. Chapter 30) REAP Participants Montgomery GI Bill--Selected Reserve (10 U.S.C. Chapter 1606) Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 32) Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 35) Eligible dependents under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 may use work study only while training in a State. National Call to Service Participants Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program -- (38 U.S.C. Chapter 31) To receive a formal decision from VA on your eligibility you must file a claim for benefits. VA will select students for the work-study program based on different factors such as: Disability of the student Ability of the student to complete the work-study contract before the end of his or her eligibility to education benefits Job availability within normal commuting distance to the student VA will give the highest priority to a veteran who has a service-connected Disability or disabilities rated by VA at 30% or more. The number of applicants selected will depend on the availability of VA-related work at your school or at VA facilities in your area Under the program participating veterans earn an hourly wage equal to the Federal minimum wage or their State minimum wage, whichever is greater. If in a workstudy job at their college or university, the school may pay them the difference between the amount VA pays and the amount the school normally pays other work-study students doing the same job. You may elect to be paid in advance for 40 percent of the number of hours in your
VA Work-Study Program
work-study agreement, or for 50 hours, whichever is less. After you've completed the hours covered by your first payment, VA will pay you each time you complete 50 hours of service. You may work during or between periods of enrollment. You can arrange with VA to work any number of hours you want during your enrollment. But, the total number of hours you work can't be more than 25 times the number of weeks in your enrollment period. Services you perform under a VA work-study program must be related to VA work. Examples of acceptable work are: Processing VA paperwork at schools or VA offices Performing outreach services under the supervision of a VA employee Performing services at VA medical facilities or the offices of the National Cemetery Administration For forms and information, one or more of the following offices or representatives can assist you: Any VA regional office. Any VA office or Vet Center. Local representatives of Veterans organizations. Reserve Education and Incentives Officers. You can download a copy of the application form at http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-228691ARE.pdf. Consult a telephone directory under United States Government, Department of Veterans Affairs, for the telephone number of the office nearest you. Toll-free telephone service is available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Call 888-GI-BILL-1 (888442-4551) or for the hearing impaired call 711. To obtain information on other sources of assistance, contact the financial aid office at your school. [Source: http:// www.gibill.va.gov/documents/pamphlets/ work_study_program.pdf Oct 2012 ++] 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 November 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) VA Pension by definition says that the person does not have and cannot hold gainful employment due to disability and their total income is below the threshold set by law and regulation. The rules for working on a VA Disability are not so cut and dry and vary with the type of service compensation and each veteran's circumstances. There are several types of VA Service Compensation 100% disability for work purposes. 100% Scheduler rated 100% for physical disabilities based on the VA CFR schedule. Disabled veterans on a 100% scheduler disability can work without limitations except where the definition of the disability makes the presumption that the veteran is unable to hold a job. 100% TDIU Individual Unemployability - You are only allowed to be marginally employed. You can only make a certain amount of money, and if you make more than that marginally amount of money, your IU rating will be reviewed for possible reduction in your current rating! 100% Scheduler for PTSD or other psychiatric disability Veterans receiving 100% disability for PTSD may not work, as that is part of the definition of 100% disabled by psychiatric disability. The definition of 100% PTSD is, Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. 70% TDIU Individual Unemployability The PTSD 70% definition is, "Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school,
VA Pension/Disability
family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships." You can see that even at 70% employment is not consistent with the rating, and at 100%, 'inability to perform activities of daily living' and 'Total occupational and social impairment' says that work is an issue. Having this problem implies a person is unable to work. Veterans should exercise caution even if working as a volunteer. If the VA determines that the nature and amount of unpaid work that you are performing demonstrates that you are not unemployable, TDIU can be revoked. Anytime the VA revokes a TDIU rating, the amount of disability compensation drops to the level of the veterans actual rating under the rating schedule. There are laws and regulations that protect VA disability ratings that have been in place for certain periods of time. If a VA award of service connection for a disability has been in effect for ten years or more, absent evidence of fraud in applying for compensation for that disability, the VA may not revoke service connection but can reduce the rating percentage. Similarly, if a specific rating percentage has been in effect for 20 years or more, absent evidence of fraud, the VA may not revoke service connection nor reduce that rating. Bottom line, veterans assigned a VA disability rating are subject to reevaluation based on employment or improved condition. Lowering a rating is possible up to a point and the criteria for lowering can vary with each veteran's circumstances. The type and duration of any work is a major factor in the VA's decision on whether to lower or remove a preassigned percentage. If in doubt check with your assigned primary physician and/or local VARO for clarification on any limitations placed on you regarding employment or voluntary endeavors. [Source: http://forums.military.com, vetsfirst.org & CalVet Oct 2012 ++] 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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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
From: www.esgr.mil ESGR, a Department of Defense agency, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 4,800 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Volunteers, hailing from small business and industry, government, education and prior military service bring a vast wealth of experience to assist in serving employers, service members and their families. Together with Headquarters ESGR staff and a small cadre of support staff for each State Committee, volunteers work to promote and enhance employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve. ESGR has served our country for 40 years, developing and promoting a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. These citizen warriors could not defend and protect us at home and abroad without the continued promise of meaningful civilian employment for themselves and their families. ESGR has continued to adapt to meet the needs of our Reserve Component members, their families and Americas employers by joining forces with a network of other national, state and local government and professional trade organizations as together, We All Serve!
What is ESGR
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
Click the Michigan Flag to access the ESGR Michigan Page
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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
World War II Memories From Captain Franklin H. Smith-Part V

AMPHIBIOUS SCHOOL
I was then assigned to go to amphibious school. At school we were having sand table landing operations when General Eisenhowers car came in. Our Colonel reported to General Eisenhower and the General came over to the sand table and listened to what was going on. I was only about five or six feet from him. I kept looking at the sand table but I was also looking up at General Eisenhower. We had heard that he was going to be in the area so I had told the Executive Officer of my Company to have each platoon doing different types of training in case he went to our camp. It so happened that he did go there and inspected every one of the platoons of I company. The men were really impressed by him. By that time I was the Company Commander of I company and I censored their mail. It was a job that I didnt like, but it had to be done. All the letters were talking about General Eisenhower and what a wonderful man he was and how he impressed them. This was true of every soldier in my unit who wrote home about him. The way he handled himself made a tremendous impression on those of us in the lower ranks.
THIRD ARMY UNDER GENERAL PATTON

When Doug and I returned from England, I told all of our guys that there was no question that there was to be an invasion because of all the different units and equipment in England. In June we were sealed off in our camp in Ireland. We had gotten the word that we were going to
be buildup troops. This meant we would not be in on the initial invasion but as soon as there was room to get us in, our Division would go. The 1st Army was the invasionary force and we felt we were 3rd Army under General Patton. There was a kind of secrecy about General Patton and where he was going to come ashore with his troops. They were trying to mislead the Germans in thinking that he would be leading the main attack at the Calais area, which is the closet point between England and France. We all knew the main thrust was the one the 1st Army made in the Normandy area. We moved sometime in July to Belfast and were loaded on ships to go to France. On the ship, I company occupied the rear hold. At that time I had 245 enlisted men and 6 officers including myself. We were really jammed in the rear hold of the ship. I thought we had a bad situation until I went to the next hold forward and there were two companies in that hold. They were even more miserable and crowded than we were. We had practiced in Ireland how we would land and what we would do when we came ashore. The idea was that we would reassemble on the beach and move in as a complete company. The company commanders were called together at a meeting on shipboard and we were told to forget all prior instructions. We were being told that as you came to the beach we were to move instantly off the beach and to follow the marked lines and be guided inland. They did not want to have any troops bunching up on the beach. We arrived off the coast of Normandy either the 8th or 9th of July 1944. Our ship began unloading on July 10th. We were anchored about one mile from shore and we had assault type landing crafts that were to take us ashore. I personally was on a larger landing craft and it had an Ensign on board to run the ship. We had climbed down the nets off of our ship into these landing crafts. The Ensign took our craft into the shore area and tied up to a floating dock, which was being pushed down into the water by other people who were on it. They were closer into the shore and we couldnt exactly see where the tracks went. Some of my men started falling through. They were carrying all of their normal equipment plus a bag with their personal gear. Out beyond us, trucks started to unload and they were blowing their horns because the floating dock was sinking. I wouldnt let the trucks proceed because I did not want them to run over my men and as far as I was concerned, the trucks could sink.
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The Ensign came forward and called to me to try to get the men back on the landing craft. He wanted to back off because there was so much confusion. We were able to get about one half of the company back on the landing craft. The other half were scattered on other landing crafts. We came in on the next tide and it was dark. I wondered where we would pick up the rest of the company. As I proceeded to the beach my men came running from different locations where they were hiding behind things that were piled on the beach and told me they had been waiting for me. Even though they were not following orders, when I left the beach I had one hundred percent of my men with me. We kept moving inland, and the first signs we saw said: Achtung! Meinin! Which meant Attention! Mines! in German. We finally arrived at an area where we were moved into a field to stay until further orders. I got an order to send a patrol down to guard a bridge in the area. They came back in the early morning and I was lying on the ground sleeping. The patrol leader shook me awake and told me that they had a prisoner. Sure enough they had a German prisoner! I looked him over and looked in his pockets and saw a picture he had of someone in a sailor suit. I later learned that he was a Marine and was lost from his unit and the picture was of his brother in the Navy. There was a black Quartermaster Soldier with my men and he said the German owes his life to your men. They wanted to capture him, but I shoot first and ask questions later. I told our Colonel that I company of the 11th Infantry took the first prisoner in WWI and I company of the 11th Infantry actually took the first prisoner in WWII. It wasnt recorded as such because our Colonel said he was a deserter and he did not want credit for him. He told them to give the credit to the Quartermaster unit of the black soldier and he told me he would give me a lot of opportunities to be a hero so I said nothing more.
UTAH BEACH
We landed on Utah Beach, which was the beach that had received some fighting although the heaviest fighting had been on Omaha Beach. I had read that one reason that the fighting was not as heavy on Utah was that the units had not landed in the exact spot that they were supposed to land. We assembled in the area around ten miles inland, repacked and cleaned up and got all of our equip meant ready to go while we waited for further orders. On the night of July 12, the Company Commanders were loaded into a truck and taken to the Caumont area. It was quite a trip, a little like All Quiet on the Western Front. We would go through areas where it was very quiet and other areas where tanks were moving up and there was a lot of activity going on. It was something that you realized all of a sudden you were in the war and from here on it was going to be tough. There was shellfire and everything you might imagine going on in a war zone. I had Sargent Hudson with me and he told me not to worry, that he would take care of me. It so happened at a later date, his actions saved me from becoming a prize of a German machine gunner. On July 13, Lieutenant Lowery who was my Executive Officer had brought my company by truck into a rear area behind the position we were to occupy. During the day of July 13, I was making recon naissance of the positions on the left side of the American line with one of the officers of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division. I almost got hit because I took off my field glasses to look through a hedgerow and apparently the sunlight must have reflected on the glasses. Very shortly an 88mm gun picked us up and started throwing shells very close to where we were located. It was my first experience at being directly shot at, particularly by an 88 which makes a terrible sound and just rips everything on the ground when it hits. There was an antitank gun position that was dug in right near us so the officer from the 26th Infantry Regiment and I crawled down into this gun position and stayed there until that 88 finally stopped firing. For a short time, my blood was running cold. Later we were moving across the back of the hillside and that 88mm threw some more shells right over our head and they landed behind us. The shells landed tearing out some trees.
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Being shot at is not pleasant and it does not give you a good feeling. We heard other guns going off and I had never heard that type of gun before. It sounded like the shell was tearing the inside of the barrel out of the gun. I was told that they were Nebelwerfers, which the Americans called Screaming Meemies. While we were making reconnaissance of the positions that we were going to occupy, I had gone to Battalion Command Post with Captain Jack Jester and two other soldiers, one of whom was the driver of the jeep. We were leaving the house that was the Battalion HQ and were going down the driveway when a shell exploded. One big shell fragment came sliding right up to our jeep. It was kind of scary to look at that big piece of metal and think that it might hit you as it could break bones and all. I finished my reconnaissance so I would know exactly what I would do with my troops when they arrived. I went back to the rear area and the company had arrived and was in a peach orchard dispersed under various trees. All of a sudden we heard an airplane overhead and I looked up to see a Focke Wulf 190 diving at our position. As it turned out he was chasing a Cub spotter plane that had been spotting for the artillery and the Cub had dropped so close to the earth I wasnt able to see him. The Focke Wulf was going so fast that he was coming right at us. Our first instinct was to hit the ground, which we did even though he was not firing at us. The sergeant who was in charge of our 50caliber machine gun for antiaircraft duty ran to his gun and immediately cranked it up, but he didnt hit the FW190. It was over in a hurry but it again was another indoctrination to war. That night of July 13, my company left that orchard and came forward to relieve the company of the 26th Infantry Regiment.
changed every night. I called out the password and pretty soon the voice said: Captain, its me, Sergeant Burke, Ive forgotten the password. He was fortunate that I recognized his voice. It struck me as kind of funny because here we were in the dark, in the front lines and he had already forgotten the password, which could have been dangerous for his health. We received a lot of shellfire from the Germans who were across the valley from us and we would return that fire. We patrolled against them and they patrolled against us. I had some outposts out in the front and also some observance posts. One of the observance posts was for our 60mm mortars. One morning when a relief group went out, as they usually did to this observance post, they ran into a German patrol and received some casualties because they had been surprised. We also had some casualties when men stepped on what we called mustard pots. They were very small mines that if the tip was stepped on caused the can to explode and usually shattered the foot or part of the lower leg. When that happened, the war was over for that person. We also received a lot of mortar fire from the Germans. My Battalion Commander was Major Bill Birdsong and he liked to fire 50caliber incendiary bullets
One of my squads had gotten lost coming up during the night so they were quite late in arriving. I heard a rustling on the hill behind me and was waiting to see what it was. We used passwords and replies that were
at the Germans. We were all hooked up on a telephone communication system and whenever we heard him call back to the heavy weapons company and ask them to load the incendiary bullets in the machine guns, we prepared to duck. The Germans did not like those incendiaries bullets and as soon as they would start firing them the German artillery would start firing and we would have shells coming in all over the area. One night we were shelled when we were having a hot meal in the rear area. One squad at a time would go back to get the hot meal and the soldiers would have to keep spread out about five yards apart. When they finished eating they went back to their positions. Continued...
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I was back there one evening and was in line to get my hot meal when the artillery shells came flying in. I ran for a trench that had been dug in that area and dove right on top of my supply Sergeant Jack Lyons. He said: Captain, you should have known better than to try to beat me. I am the fastest man in this company in hitting the ground. Another night I was out in front with a small patrol to inspect one of our observation posts. It was a very quiet night and even my dog tags with tape on them seemed to be ringing like bells. Somehow a German 88, apparently on a tank, started firing in the area where we were located. I told the other fellows that we would go back along the general route, which we did. Every time a shell came in and we would hit the ground and after the shell landed we would move again. I remember thinking that we werent going to get out of there, but we did. We changed direction and moved away from his line of fire. Later that night I went to the Battalion Command Post and bumped in to Captain Jack Jester. He had also been out in that area doing some checking and he felt that the same gun was firing on him. I dont know who made the noise, or how the gunner picked us up, but he gave us a hot time for a while which seemed like an eternity. The British Forces were on our left and they were to take the city of Caen. They were under General Montgomery who believed in using a lot of artillery fire. Every night the Brits would be firing shells into Caen, and they fired a lot of them. It took them a while to take the city and I dont know what the city looked like when they did. On July 17th around 5:30 am, we received a tremendous artillery barrage such as you might lay down before you have a general attack. The artillery must have fired for close to twenty minutes to a half-hour and as the artillery let up, small arms fire started coming our way. Much of it sounded like machine pistols (rapid fire guns). It was a very foggy morning and was very difficult to see so it caused a lot of confusion. All of a sudden I noticed some men running for the rear. I recognized one of the men but couldnt remember his name. I knew he was from L company and he used to put on a Casey at Bat Show. I remembered that and screamed out:
Casey, where are you going? He said that his company was gone. I told him that if L company was gone, I needed all the extra men I could get and they were now part of I company. A little later I saw Casey on the ground and he was shooting to the rear and I asked him what he was shooting at. He told me he thought he had seen somebody. I told him that he was shooting in the wrong direction that he was shooting at Americans. A few days later I ran into our supply officer who said that one of my men had tried to kill him the other morning. He said he was going towards the Battalion Aid Station and one of my riflemen opened up on him and had him pinned to the ground. I told him that it was not one of my men, it was Casey from L company. I told him that I was probably the one that saved him because I had found Casey shooting to the rear. Back to the morning of July 17th, the action was apparently German reconnaissance in force. I had told my men that I didnt care if they ran, even though I did, but if they ran I was not going with them. I told them that I was going to stay put because if we go to the rear area and the Germans occupy our position, we will have to attack back and retake this position which will be worse than holding. I noticed that my First Sergeant, Warner Massey was gathering up a bunch of grenades so I asked him what he was doing. He told me that if I was staying, he was staying and we needed all the grenades that we could get. I thought it was kind of funny at the time, but it certainly proved his loyalty to me and he never wavered. We were also receiving fire from two tanks that seems to be throwing shells only into our company area. No one else in the battalion or regiment seemed concerned with those two tanks. I complained about them and I got our own artillery to fire a couple of times but then they wouldnt fire anymore because they were trying to conserve ammunition. Someone got word to the commander of the M8 armored cars about the tank situation so he came up to talk to me. He was a Lieutenant and he had two M8 armored cars that he could use. He looked at the situation and I pointed out where the tanks were located. He told me he would bring up his two M8 armored cars in the morning before daylight. He would run one of them down to a barn in the forward area and leave the other one up on the hill. As soon as it was light enough to see, his plan was to open up on the two tanks then back up over the hill under the protection of the other armored car. It sounded pretty hazardous to me but I was willing to go along with it as long as it got rid of the tanks.
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Colonel Yuill, our Regimental Commander, got wind of the plan and cancelled the whole thing so the tanks continued to throw shells into my area. I decided to do something on my own and decided to use 60mm mortars. I called the observation post on the wire line that was run from my command post forward and asked if they could observe the tanks. They told me they knew where they were and that they were under a camouflage net. I told them I would like to try to hit them with 60mm mortars. I told Major Birdsong what we were going to do and he told me to keep in touch on the wire line and he would be listening to what was going on. I told him that we would have one gunfire and try to get zeroed on the tanks and that the other two guns would keep adjusting so that we could get the proper range and location. We fired the first gun and the observation post immediately called for a correction and the gunner made the correction and fired again. He called for another correction and after we fired about the third or fourth shell he told us that they were taking down the nets. I told him five rounds all guns and Major Birdsong said to give them ten rounds per gun. We threw about thirty rounds in and those thirty rounds ran those tanks out of the area. I supposed they thought the small guns had picked them up and next would be the big stuff coming in. That was the end of those two tanks. It was kind of a joke to think that 60mm mortars could drive off a couple of tanks. Actually they would not hurt the tanks but would hurt any personnel on the outside and maybe we did wound some of them. On July 20th our group had six casualties with one killed. They were all wounded from shrapnel and machine pistol. It was common knowledge that the 5th Division was part of the Third Army. We knew that before we left Ireland but the Third Army had not been activated in France. There was always this fake information to try to make the Germans believe that the Third Army under General Patton would be making an attack in a different area of France. They tried to keep Pattons presence quiet and noting was said about the Third Army. We had been attached to the First Army in Normandy.
In July they were getting ready to get the Third Army together and any troops attached to the First Army were being given back to Patton so he could get his army moving under the Third Army Battle Flag. Sometime around 11:00 p.m. on July 23, the entire regiment was being relieved by the British and we slowly went out of the lines as they moved in. I think we were the first company to be relieved and we walked back down through the rear area. We were walking behind the lines in a sunken road when all of a sudden someone hollered Halt. The way he hollered Halt I knew that we better stop or we were going to be shot. I stopped my company and went over to try to find out who had halted us. As I walked through the darkness I kept calling for the sentry and a mans voice would tell me to come a little closer but I didnt actually see him. I thought I heard someone say, Pass on so I went back and got the company moving and the voice again, cried out to halt. The tone of his voice meant that if we didnt halt, he was going to shoot us. I told my men not to move and went back to look for him and I kept calling out. Each time I called out for the sentry, he would tell me to come closer. This went on for three or four more times with my replying to him and his replies to me. All of a sudden through the darkness, I came upon a big gun emplacement, which could have been antiaircraft or general artillery. I identified myself and asked him if he had been notified that there would be troops passing behind his position. He said he had not been told and he appreciated the information. I told him that the whole regiment was moving and the troops would be going through here all night long. We then were allowed to move on and were picked up by trucks later, taken to an area about six miles northeast of the St. Lo area and put in an orchard.
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Dear Honored US Veterans and Your Families, My name is Dr. Jack Grenan and I am a psychologist and hypnotherapist who helps Veterans their families and anyone else who asks for help. I will be writing a column is this newsletter and I will be answering questions sent to me at jackgrenan@netscape.net. I have counseled many veterans with PTSD and I encourage any veteran who may have a question to email me. As far as PTSD any Veterans out there who thinks that you may have PTSD probably does and should speak to someone. Anyone who served their country is a hero for sacrificing time away from home and family to serve our Country and your fellow servicemen and women! I look forward to communicating with you every month! God Bless our Veterans, troops currently serving, their families and GOD BLESS AMERICA! Sincerely, Dr. Jack Grenan
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!
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
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
Photo: The Late Frank Buckles during his 2008 visit to the Washington D.C. World War I Monument.
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From: RAO Bulletin November 2012 (Lt. James EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) Associate Director Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013, the Social Security Administration announced 16 OCT. The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 56 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2012. Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $113,700 from $110,100. Of the estimated 163 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2013, nearly 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum. Information about Medicare changes for 2013, when announced, will be available at http://www.Medicare.gov. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums. The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ cola. [Source: SSA Fact Sheet http:// www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/ colafacts2013.htm ++]
COLA 2013 Update
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
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
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
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From: Gen Simon. http://www.avweb.com/ eletter/archives/avflash/2403full.html#207904 The long-anticipated dig to unearth a cache of brand-new Spitfires that are believed to be buried in Burma is expected to start on Jan. 12, local press has reported. According to The Irrawaddy, archeologists first will spend about a week studying the site, then the digging can begin. Up to 36 pristine Spitfires, still in the packing crates they were delivered in near the end of World War II, are expected to be found. David Cundall, who located the burial site, said he has confirmed the airplanes are there by sending a camera through a borehole. "We went into a crate, you can see an object which resembles a Spitfire," he said. The British troops buried the airplanes when they left Burma in 1945, Cundall said, because they didn't want to take them home but also didn't want anyone else to use them. The crates were tarred and placed on massive teak timbers to assist drainage, and a wooden roof was placed over the crates to protect them, Cundall said. The crates are buried about 30 feet deep in an area close to a runway at Mingaladon Airport in Rangoon. Cundall also has permission to excavate two other sites in Burma. At one of those sites, Cundall said he expects to find up to six crated Mark 8 Spitfires, a rare variation with only one copy still flying.
Spitfires' Excavation Date Set
From: www.michigan.gov
Labor Troubles in Flint

In 1937, rioting broke out in Flint as a result of labor troubles in the auto industry. The Michigan National Guard was called to the area to maintain law and order as it did during the 1913 Copper Country strike. The situation was fraught with many pitfalls. Proper control by Guard commanding officers, coupled with a very skillfull Flint area headquarters, no serious incidents occurred. The auto workers settled most of their differences with the auto manufacturers, and the troops went home. The troops spent 42 days on duty.
As in the 1913 action, the troops received the highest commendations possible from the Governor for the skill with which they conducted themselves. He was especially lavish in his praise of the officers for the manner in which they handled matters. In the following year, 1938, Michigan was authorized to organize its portion of the 107th Quartermaster Regiment and to complete the organization of the 107th Medical Regiment and the 182nd Field Artillery. 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 Don Alsbro and Lest We Forget-From the January 2013 Issue of the VFW Magazine.
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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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Lake Michigan College Winter Semester offers The Civil War class
From: Victoria Dunlop, Public Information Officer 269-468-5679, vicki@birdbite.com BENTON HARBOR, MI Let it be said this isnt your ordinary history class! The community education course will be facilitated by two Vietnam veterans and a local attorney: Don Alsbro, LMC professor and President of Lest We Forget; and Gary Lulenski, Civil War enthusiast; plus Mike Dumke, an expert in the Civil War era. The class is structured around Ken Burns award-winning Civil War documentary and most sessions will feature a 60 to 90 minute presentation from this series. In addition, Lest We Forget has purchased The American Civil War from Great Courses - a 24-hour course taught by Professor Gary Gallagher. Preceding each class, a segment will be shown from 5:306:45pm. If you are interested in a deeper understanding of the Civil War, you will want to attend these optional showings. The class itself will be held Tuesdays from 7-9 pm, January 15 to April 30 on the Napier Avenue Campus, Benton Harbor, in the Blue Lecture Hall (Room
D-112). Most sessions will also feature guest speakers who are recognized as authorities on the Civil War. For example, Abraham Lincoln will make several appearances, Bob Myers will speak on the hardships of the soldier, authors will discuss various Michigan units in the Civil War, and the roles of Generals Custer, Chamberlain and Upton will be discussed by their descendants. Class topics include a prelude to the war, Berrien County casualties and heroes, ancestors of class members, Michigan units in battle, medical treatment, Civil War flags, and letters from a Niles soldier. Amid the significant events to be covered are entertaining elements added by course planners to bring history alive. These include a Civil War Movie Marathon featuring films in their entirety at the Maud Preston Palenske Library in St. Joseph on March 2 and the Heritage Centers Civil War extravaganza featuring their exhibit, a public speaker and a Civil War re-enactor musician demonstrating music of the era. You are invited to bring Civil War memorabilia you may possess to this April 13 event. Admission is free for Civil War class students but the public will pay an admission to each of these events. The cost for the entire Civil War course is merely $39. There should be no problem determining which side you are onbe on the winning side and register for The Civil War, CRN: 60413. Visit www.lakemichigancollege.edu/ce where you can download and fax in your registration today. Or call 800-252-1562 ext. 7502 beginning January 2.
Short video from www.tricare.mil that explains some back ground information
View this video to get a better understanding of what TRICARE is. Or Click Here.
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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
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.
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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):
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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.
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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: Dept. Hospital Chairman Merridy Lewis Hospitalized Veterans Writing Program (HVWP). This program helps veterans get their poems and stories down on paper is one of the goals for our volunteers. Volunteer aides help both with a one on one or with groups of patients to help them put their thoughts and feelings into stories and poems. The stories and poems can be submitted to veterans voices, a magazine that publishes the articles that have been submitted. The HVWP does its very best to publish every article that has been submitted following the guide lines.
"Veterans Voices"
It is important to submit the authors name, VAMC facility and state, the authors permanent address the branch of service and duties along with the serial number or social security number. Manuscripts must be original and unpublished, except in VAMC publications. Writers can submit up to three poems, each no longer than 24 lines with 60 character width. Stories no longer than 10 pages, typed using double spacing. This is a brief detail of what HVWP is about. It may be an interest you would like to share with a Veteran on a volunteer basis. This is part of our history for generations yet to come we are losing World War II Veterans every day and we need to hear their stories. For more information about the organization please visit their website at www.veteransvoices.org.
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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 January

Page 1 Newsletters Facebook www.facebook.com Newsletters Scribd www.scribd.com Honor Flight www.honorflight.org Page 2 Department of Veteran Affairs www.va.gov Page 3 MIGOP Facebook www.facebook.com Page 5 LEST WE FORGET SW MI www.lestweforgetusa.org Page 6 Department of Veteran Affairs www.va.gov Page 7 Department of Veteran Affairs www.va.gov Page 8 ESGR www.esgr.mil The USO www.uso.org Page 14 Front Lines of Freedom www.frontlinesoffreedom.com World War I Memorial www.wwimemorial.org Page 15 Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov DAV www.dav.gov Page 16 AV Web www.avweb.com Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Michigan www.michigan.gov Page 19 Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command www.jpac.pacom.mil Page 20 Lake Michigan College www.lakemichigancollege.edu TRICARE www.tricare.mil Page 21 Department of Veteran Affairs www.va.gov Spirit of the American Flag www.forgottonheroesusa.com Page 22 Team Pascarella www.teampascarella.com Page 23 Legal Help for Veterans www.legalhelpforveterans.com Brain Injury Association of Michigan www.biami.org Page 24 Home Front www.va.gov/homeless Page 25 Hire Heroes USA www.hireheroesusa.org Page 26 Michigan Air National Guard www.selfridgeairmuseum.org Page 27 U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs www.veterans.senate.gov U.S House Committee of Veterans Affairs www.veterans.house.gov
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Michigan www.michigan.gov Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee www.house.mi.gov Page 28 Pentagon Channel www.pentagonchannel.mil Veterans Radio www.veteransradio.net LEST WE FORGET SW MI www.lestweforgetusa.org Also check out the Some Useful Links Section on Page 2. Thank you for your Support!
29
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!
CoordinatorMatthew X. Hauser
Staff & Contributors

Vicki Dunlop Mark Eddy Keith Famie James G. Fausone Rep. Ray Franz Sean M. Furr Denny Gillem Robert Goulet Dr. Jack Grenan John Haggard Larry Harr Dan Heckman
In Memory of Gary Lillie

Louis Nigro Sid Rubin Eugene (Gene) A. Simon Phil Smith Sherry Swann Tim Pascarella Bob Tidmore Rep. Fred Upton Maureen VanHooser Publisher-Hank Fuhs
ContributorsDon Alsbro Rick Briggs Helen Budd Sen. Patrick Colbeck Sam Cottle Rep. Kurt Damrow Matt Davis David Duenow
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 Chad Miles
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
30
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

31

Veterans &amp; Military Families Monthly News-January 2013

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Veterans & Military Families Monthly News

January 2013 Vol. 4 No. 1

Thank you very much!

Honor Flight in Michigan

And much more.

Dispatches from the Fight to End Veteran Homelessness

Some Useful Links

Thank you for your Support!

Michigan Republican Party Facebook Page

Old Warrior Camp

Gulf War Syndrome Update

Special Thanks To Lest WE Forget For Their Support!

A Note From: Lest We Forget Speakers Bureau

STEP UP AND LEAD

Click the Michigan Flag to access the ESGR Michigan Page

By: The Late Cpt. Franklin H. Smith

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

THIRD ARMY UNDER GENERAL PATTON

The World War I Memorial Foundation

COLA 2013 Update

A Note From Lt. Col. Hank Fuhs

Three ways to help:

Spitfires' Excavation Date Set

Labor Troubles in Flint

Veterans Health Benefits Handbook

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

Spirit of the American Flag

Legal Help for Veterans

Brain Injury Association of Michigan

About the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI):

A Little Information about Hire Heroes

MICHIGAN AIR NATIONAL GUARD HISTORY BOOKS

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 January

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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Veterans & Military Families Monthly News-January 2013

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