The American Legion Department of Colorado Blog

“Comprehensive Study Will Help VA Provide High-Quality Care”

WASHINGTON (Nov. 19, 2009) -Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a comprehensive study of women Veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War to explore the effects of their military service upon their mental and physical health.

“One of my top priorities is to meet the needs of women Veterans,” said Secretary Shinseki. “Our Veterans have earned the very best care. VA realizes that women Veterans require specialized programs, and this study will help VA provide high-quality care for women Veterans of the Vietnam era.”

The study, which begins in November and lasts more than four years, will contact approximately 10,000 women in a mailed survey, telephone interview and a review of their medical records.

As women Vietnam Veterans approach their mid-sixties, it is important to understand the impact of wartime deployment on health and mental outcomes nearly 40 years later. The study will assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and physical health conditions for women Vietnam Veterans, and explore the relationship between PTSD and other conditions.

VA will study women Vietnam Veterans who may have had direct exposure to traumatic events, and for the first time, study those who served in facilities near Vietnam. These women may have had similar, but less direct exposures. Both women Veterans who receive their health care from VA and those who receive health care from other providers will be contacted to determine the prevalence of a variety of health conditions.

About 250,000 women Veterans served in the military during the Vietnam War and about 7,000 were in or near Vietnam. Those who were in Vietnam, those who served elsewhere in Southeast Asia and those who served in the United States are potential study participants.

The study represents to date the most comprehensive examination of a group of women Vietnam Veterans, and will be used to shape future research on women Veterans in future wars. Such an understanding will lay the groundwork for planning and providing appropriate services for women Veterans, as well as for the aging Veteran population today.

Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population. There are approximately 1.8 million women Veterans among the nation’s total of 23 million living Veterans. Women comprise 7.8 percent of the total Veteran population and nearly 5.5 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates women Veterans will constitute 10.5 percent of the Veteran population by 2020 and 9.5 percent of all VA patients.

In recent years, VA has undertaken a number of initiatives to create or enhance services for women Veterans, including the implementation of comprehensive primary care throughout the nation, staffing every VA medical center with a women Veterans program manager, supporting a multifaceted research program on women’s health, improving communication and outreach to women Veterans, and continuing the operation of organizations like the Center for Women Veterans and the Women Veterans Health Strategic Healthcare Group.

The study, to be managed by VA’s Cooperative Studies Program, is projected to cost $5.6 million.

November 19th, 2009 by MOTHAX

First, two important caveats that need to be clear before we proceed.

1) The American Legion does not have a position on the awarding of the Purple Heart Medal to the wounded and dead of the Fort Hood attacks. I’m going to be as neutral in discussing the facts and legal issues involved as much as humanly possible, but should any of my biases intrude in this largely objective discussion, they are mine and mine alone.

2) I am not a lawyer, I do not play one on TV, and I did not sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night. While I have graduated from a law school, I have not as yet taken that little quiz offered, passage of which allows you to pay an exorbitant fee each year to be a member of a bar which serves no Guinness. So, if you are looking for legal advice, I advise you to contact someone who knows the law, and not this blogger. You wouldn’t contact an astronomer to work on your car, so don’t contact me if you are incarcerated.

Now, let’s begin with the “facts” as we currently perceive them, which is not to say they are facts, anymore so than the earlier “facts” that the shooter(s) was/were three people, one of whom had assumed room temperature on account of severe lead poisoning.

On November 5th at roughly 1:30 in the afternoon, Major Nidal Malik Hasan is alleged to have entered the Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) Station on Ft Hood just outside Killeen, Texas, and opened fire on soldiers and civilians present. 13 people were killed (one of which was pregnant) and at least 30 people were injured. It is further alleged that before he opened fire Major Hasan jumped on a desk and yelled “Allahu Akbar!” which means “God is Good.” Subsequent reporting from various news sources (by way of leaks in the investigation) suggests that Major Hasan had contacted Anwar al-Awlaki, a Muslim imam who had previously been linked to several of the 9/11 conspirators. Additionally, colleagues of Hasan’s have gone public with various allegations that he uttered words that might be construed as extremist in nature in forums both public and private.

Now, some of those facts may be debatable, but for the purposes of our discussion, let us accept for now their validity.

Representative John Carter of Texas represents the district, which Fort Hood is located in. He has introduced a bill, which among other things calls for:

For purposes of the laws specified below, a member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense who was killed or wounded by gunfire in the shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009, shall be deemed—

(1) In the case of a member, to have been killed or wounded in a combat zone as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States; and

(2) In the case of a civilian employee of the Department of Defense, to have been killed or wounded while serving with the Armed Forces in a contingency operation or to have been killed or wounded in a terrorist attack.

Covered Laws

1) Would make the military service members injured by gunfire on November 5, 2009 eligible for the award of the Purple Heart (Executive Order 11016).

There are other financial issues involved, but to avoid too much confusion, let’s just stick to this. Now, for those who don’t know, Executive Order 11016 setting forth the criteria for the Purple Heart contains a subsection, which authorizes the award:

(6) After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed Services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack.

So, that is the appropriate place to start. Now, most people probably wonder why a bill to award the Purple Heart is needed. Fair enough. Two problems arise. First, was this event an “international terrorist attack”? The more important problem though is that in order for the award to be authorized, the SecArmy needs to “recognize” this as an “terrorist attack.”

Major Hasan has been charged in a military court with 13 counts of murder. The possible penalty for this includes corporal punishment. (The Death Penalty.) It is generally accepted that Hasan will be convicted, and the real question that exists now is whether the jury will give him the death penalty. If the SecArmy were to declare this a terrorist attack, the prerequisite for the Purple Heart award, then Major Hasan would have grounds to appeal any conviction by virtue of what is known as “unlawful command influence.” As one military law website aptly stated:

Unlawful Command Influence (UCI) has frequently been called the “mortal enemy of military justice.” UCI occurs when senior personnel, wittingly or unwittingly, have acted to influence court members, witnesses, or others participating in military justice cases. Such unlawful influence not only jeopardizes the validity of the judicial process, it undermines the morale of military members, their respect for the chain of command, and public confidence in the military.

That leaves us in a bit of a quandary. In order to award the Purple Heart it must be deemed terrorism, and yet deeming it terrorism would jeopardize the trial. Put another way, the only person who can speak up also happens to be the one person who cannot speak. You see the problem inherent in this.

Now, this is not the first instance of such an attack-taking place. On 23 March 2003, Sgt Asan Akbar rolled a grenade into an officer tent, and in the ensuing chaos, opened up with his rifle on those fleeing. On 21 April 2005 Akbar was found guilty of two counts of premeditated murder (RIP: CPT. Christopher Seifert, 27, US Army, and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40) and subsequently sentenced to die by lethal injection. That case is currently on appeal.

Now, there are several things that might happen, and I will list them here for you.

1) No award of the Purple Heart is issued to the wounded or those killed.

2) No award of the Purple Heart is issued to the wounded or those killed, however there is financial remuneration equal to what the soldiers and civilians would have received had they received the Purple Heart;

3) Representative Carter’s bill becomes a law, and the soldiers and civilians receive both the Purple Hearts and the money they are entitled to, potentially setting a precedent by which the Congress provides exceptions to the current formulation of the awards process;

4) The mechanism for determining whether an attack is in fact related to terrorism is changed from resting with SecArmy to one outside the chain of command, whether it be with Congress or some other entity;

5) The SecArmy just says screw it and awards the medals, and worries about the legal machinations later.

Now, I am sure there are others I haven’t listed here, and please feel free to enumerate them, but this is what I see as the most likely conclusions.

As I said, The American Legion has no position at this time. It is a more difficult situation than appears at first blush. Some think that TAL should embrace the position that these men were killed as a direct result of the Global War of Terror, and that common sense and justice demand that they be awarded the Purple Hearts, despite there being some potential legal pitfalls and problems stemming from this precedent.

Others have acknowledged that while these troops certain should get all the benefits, it is a scary proposition to allow that determination to be made by Congress. After all, the military is apolitical, while Congress might use their discretion to award such things in the future based on things, which are not entirely altruistic in nature. For instance, do we want Congressmen and Senators dictating who gets awards like the Medal of Honor?

There are a host of positions in between as well. I haven’t run into anyone yet who doesn’t think these guys are entitled to everything we can get for them. The sticking point seems to be the precedent that would be set, and whether to in any way alter a process that has worked well up until now.

I have also heard told of some who do not believe that soldiers injured somewhere other than a battlefield should receive the Purple Heart. I would like it noted, however, that not a single person I have talked to believes this to be the case, but perhaps someone would like the unenviable task of arguing that point.

So, as The American Legion entertains discussion internally as to what our position will be, the National Commander and National Adjutant have authorized me to make this post, and give you, our Legionnaires and interested parties, the opportunity to speak your mind.

Now, before I set you free to comment, a few points. The right to speak freely does not necessarily imply a right to be heard. By that I mean if I see any comments outside the scope of this discussion, which are improper in some way, you may find them relegated to the dustbin of cyberspace. For instance, no President is involved in this discussion. Anyone saying we should “Try Bush for War Crimes First!” or “Our President is a Muslim and not an American!” will be deleted. Let’s stick to the facts of the case. Also, religion is not a discussion item either. This is legal and political, not religious. So please do not engage in any conversation that might be construed as racial, bigoted or prejudicial. I know you all are better than that, but it needed to be said.

So, I grant you the floor, what say you My Readers? While you are at it, go vote on the Big Q today, which deals with this issue.

To participate in this discussion go to http://burnpit.legion.org/2009/11/the-legal-issues-involved-in-the-fort-hood-purple-heart-medal-discussions/

The American Legion – November 17, 2009

Care packages are a welcome treat for deployed servicemembers, especially when they are away from home during the holidays.

Here are a few tips from the Department of Defense:

Citizens desiring to send care packages, cards and letters to deployed servicemembers are encouraged to identify troops through family and friends. Individuals may also partner with some of the America Supports You homefront groups listed at http://www.ourmilitary.mil/help.shtml. They have direct contact with many of the servicemembers and units and can tell you about desired items and shipping frequency.

    Safety and security reasons no longer allow packages to be addressed to “Any Soldier” or to an entire base in general.

    The American Red Cross is sponsoring a national “Holiday Mail for Heroes” campaign to receive and distribute holiday cards to servicemembers, veterans and their families in the United States and abroad. The card campaign includes those working and receiving care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. A special P.O. box address may be found at http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail. Cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 7.

    When thinking of support for our servicemembers, do not forget their families or local veterans. You can show support by helping military families in your community and by remembering the hospitalized veterans in local Veterans Affairs medical centers. Find a center near you.

    Notes of thanks may also be shared with the troops and posted here.

U.S. Postal Service holiday mailing guidelines.

Additional U.S. Postal Service guidelines.

E-mail other questions to asyhome@osd.mil.

New Program Being Made Available Through The Legionnaire Insurance Trust

The complex healthcare system can sometimes make it difficult to find and understand the right information necessary to make informed decisions, resolve thorny insurance coverage or billing issues, or to get a timely appointment with a specialist, for example.  

    Health advocacy services have emerged as a bridge between the consumer, insurance company and health providers, offering help to address these and other complicated, time-consuming healthcare- and insurance-related issues.

    The Department wants you to know about a special new program for you and your family. Health Proponent – a program brought to us through the Legionnaire Insurance Trust – offers expert, personalized help to solve a full range of healthcare and insurance problems and save you time, money and worry.

Here are some of the many things the service does:

• Helps you resolve insurance claims and assist with negotiating billing and payment arrangements.
• Helps find the right doctors, hospitals, dentists and other leading healthcare providers anywhere in the country.
• Negotiates Medical Bills

…and much more

By calling 866-939-3435, you can find out more about this unique new program and how you can enroll to start getting the benefits.

We hope you will find this valuable program useful.

Rick Stewart to oversee the Arapahoe County Veterans Service Office 

Littleton, Colo. — Arapahoe County has appointed Rick Stewart as the County Veterans Service Officer, where he will oversee the program that assists veterans in obtaining state and federal benefits.

     “Rick Stewart brings more than eight years of experience as a veterans service officer in the Midwest, where he single-handedly operated more than a dozen widespread field offices to support veterans,” said Arapahoe County Commissioner Jim Dyer.  “Stewart is no stranger to service to his country, and Arapahoe County saw his knowledge and professionalism as a clear fit to assist the more than 50,000 veterans in our county with navigating the benefits system.” 

    Stewart served in the United States Army as a Forward Observer with the Field Artillery in the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was recognized with the Army Achievement Medal, and was honorably discharged as a Specialist in 1992. 

    Stewart has worked as a Veteran Service Officer in Michigan and also helped veterans from the State of Wisconsin for the past eight years. Between October 2002 and June 2004, he operated seven field offices for the AMVETS Department of Michigan. From September 2004 to May 2009, he operated 15 field offices for the American Legion Department of Michigan. He possesses his federal accreditation from the VA and has received certifications for successfully completing nine national trainings with the

Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission. Stewart earned a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications from Northern Michigan University. He is a member of the American Legion.

    During his career as a veterans services officer, Stewart has prepared and presented more than 50,000 individual pieces of legal correspondence with the Department of Veterans Affairs and has averaged $10 million dollars per year in recoveries of cases he prepared, presented and appealed to the VA. He was presented a Certificate of Appreciation in 2008 by U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General W. Casey, Jr. for outstanding service to active duty military personnel, veterans and their families. 

    Stewart plans to conduct outreach in the community to inform active duty military personnel and veterans about the benefits that may be available to them. He is committed to providing exceptional customer service and advocacy to all veterans and their dependents with the preparation, presentation and possible appeal for their VA benefits. 

Veterans in need of assistance can call 303-738-8045 or visit the Arapahoe County Vet Office at 1690 W. Littleton Blvd, Suite 103, Littleton.

Burn Pit.org – November 9th, 2009 – By MOTHAX

Dr. Phil discusses PTSD on CNN, despite the fact that the Ft Hood shooter did not have PTSD, had never served overseas, and no evidence supported the theory that PTSD made him do it.

    It was so predicable that one didn’t need to be a prognosticator on par with Nostradamus to predict what the aftermath of Major Hasan’s shooting spree would look like. CNN for 5 hours solid (I know because I was watching every second of it) interviewed mental health professionals on what the effect of returning from combat can do to a man. Even long after other bloggers and media sources had alerted CNN that nothing in this man’s record indicated overseas service, still the investigation into unstable soldiers with PTSD continued unabated.

    When a JAG officer on Larry King Live lambasted the network for the “psycho-babble” and noted the killer’s last name, everyone on the set lambasted him for his obvious racism. Dr Phil was nearly apoplectic, and chimed in noting how irresponsible this assertion was. Now, just why it was irresponsible to note the last name, and yet not irresponsible to malign those of our brothers and sisters with PTSD, was never really addressed.

    Into the Valley of Impropriety rides “Veterans for Common Sense.” “I’m very upset. I’m at the point of tears,” said Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, who lives in Austin.  “We warned the military about this. We warned the military about the need to increase the number of mental health care providers. We warned the military about lowering recruiting standards, about the medical exams for soldiers coming back from the war and needing mental health care and brain injury exams.”

    “We have been working tirelessly to try to prevent this from happening,” he said. “This is so horrible. This is a tragedy.”

    Really Paul, you warned the military that a psychiatrist might at any moment decide to switch teams and launch an attack on an SRP center? Or, did you just leap to a conclusion that supported your world-view, and facts be damned, you decided to run with it? Because I don’t see a single thing in your warnings that would have had any bearing what-so-ever on this atrocity.

    Not to be outdone, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence decided to take advantage of this opportunity to attack a completely unrelated bill that Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Burr, had introduced with support from The American Legion.

    “Our deepest sympathies go to the families who lost loved ones or are today visiting them in the hospital. Along with the rest of the country, we wish the Fort Hood community a return to a secure and safe environment.

    “When I heard of the tragedy yesterday, we were in the midst of planning a response to the latest dangerous legislative proposal from the gun lobby in the United States Senate – language to automatically restore access to guns to veterans designated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Justice Department as ‘mentally incapacitated’ or ‘mentally incompetent.’ In light of what happened yesterday – a violent attack by an emotionally unstable soldier – it is even clearer that the proposal being pushed by Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina should be rejected.

    “America has seen an epidemic of horrific gun violence at churches and synagogues, workplaces, health clubs, high schools, universities, police stations and now Army bases. This latest tragedy, at a heavily fortified army base, ought to convince more Americans to reject the argument that the solution to gun violence is to arm more people with more guns in more places. Enough is enough.”

    Now, just to be clear, nothing in that bill would have had any impact here. Hasan was in the military, ergo, NOT GOING TO VA. This bill they reference would allow veterans who go to the VA some legal protections from having a psychiatrist arbitrarily take away their right to own guns, unless they are a threat to themselves or others. So, not only would this not have hindered Hasan, it is designed so that Hasan wouldn’t have taken away a veterans Constitutional rights, if he decided to go work for VA.

    So, there you have it. For Veterans Day this year CNN honored us by maligning those with PTSD, “Veterans for Common Sense” blamed the military for not listening to them, even though what they were saying wouldn’t have any impact here, and the Brady Center plans to use this tragedy to stifle a bill intended to protect the Constitutional Rights of Veterans.

    Oh, and as for the Brady Campaign’s little shot about how this was a “heavily fortified base” I am sure they knew this, but all privately owned firearms on base have to be stored with the ammunition separate, and one has to clear it through the provost marshal first. So knock off the idea that everyone on base was running around armed.

    Thanks a lot to CNN, Veterans for Common Sense, and the Brady Campaign. Stop trying to help us; we can’t take much more.

Stars, veterans turn out for ‘Beyond All Boundaries’ debut

By Matt Grills – The American Legion – November 9, 2009

The National World War II Museum opened three new attractions Friday during a weekend celebration that included Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, Mickey Rooney, former Sen. George McGovern, and hundreds of World War II veterans and their families.

    The latest phase in the museum’s ongoing $300-million expansion, the Solomon Victory Theater complex, is the exclusive home of “Beyond All Boundaries,” a multisensory, 4-D cinematic experience that immerses viewers in the story of World War II.

    Next door, the Stage Door Canteen offers a taste of 1940s culture and music with another original show, “Let Freedom Swing!” And at The American Sector restaurant, managed by Gulf War Marine Corps veteran and award-winning chef John Besh, visitors can enjoy a menu inspired by the era’s cuisine.

    Together, the venues are the biggest cultural addition to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city in 2005.

    “This museum is a leader in the economic resurgence of the city and bringing tourists back,” said Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, president and CEO of the National World War II Museum. “We already know that over the next year or two our attendance is going to double. Of the people from out of town, half come just to see this museum, and that’s before we opened this new expansion. We think the economic impact of this museum is going to be enormous.”

    Nearly 4,000 people attended Friday’s “Experience the Victory!” dedication and grand opening, which began with a procession of 350 World War II veterans and more than 100 active-duty military personnel. NBC newsman Tom Brokaw served as master of ceremonies.

    Reflecting on his trip to Normandy for the 50th anniversary of D-Day in 1984, Brokaw said he’d thought then, “My God, these are the people who gave us the life we have today.” He called his best-selling book, “The Greatest Generation,” the “greatest professional accomplishment of my life.”

    Mueller presented a choked-up Mickey Rooney, 89, with the National World War II Museum’s Silver Service Medallion. “We were not just USO,” the legendary entertainer and veteran told the crowd. “We were proud to be United States soldiers.”

    Other speakers included former California Gov. Pete Wilson, chairman of the National World War II Museum’s capital campaign; Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs, daughter of the late historian and biography author Stephen Ambrose; Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.; Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu; former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco; New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin; and actress Patricia Clarkson.

    Blanco hailed the museum’s growth as “a reminder that we can survive great suffering,” and a victory for “a weary people who have labored long and hard to restore South Louisiana.”

    After the ceremony, celebrities such as Hanks, Ron Livingston of the acclaimed “Band of Brothers” miniseries and Bill Sadler of HBO’s “The Pacific” served lunch to veterans and servicemembers at a Feed the Troops event. Then, guests lined up for a special screening of “Beyond All Boundaries.”

    Narrated and produced by Hanks, the show goes far beyond a movie in drawing the audience into the war. The guard tower of a concentration camp, an anti-aircraft gun and a vintage radio blaring the news of Pearl Harbor rise from a pit in front of the 120-foot screen. Environmental effects such as steam and snow also put viewers in the battle, as bullets streak by and tanks rumble past in surround sound.

    “It fills up the room,” Hanks said. “Phil (Hettema, creative director), Nick (Mueller) and everybody were talking about (creating) a one-of-a-kind experience that would envelop you and engage all of your senses. I think it works substantially well and is even bigger than what was promised.”

    Leaving the theater, the men who fought the war, who actually lived “Beyond All Boundaries,” praised the show.

    “I’ve never seen something so realistic in my life,” said Richard Horton of Goodrich, Mich., a World War II Army veteran who served as a tank driver with the 14th Armored Division 47th Tank Battalion. “Everything in this film happened. There’s no fooling around here, no actors. Every kid in the country ought to see this.”

    Robert Frost of Covington, La., served on the submarine USS Rock (SS 274) during the war.

    “The show expresses how we got into the war and why,” said Frost, a member of American Legion Post 185 in Slidell, La. “It was almost real. They’ve done a very good job. It’s good for posterity.”

When the original D-Day Museum opened in 2000, 6 million World War II veterans were living, Mueller said. Today, about 2 million remain.“We’re in an urgent race against time to complete the rest of this campus while we have some of them still with us,” he said.    Construction will begin next year on the museum’s Campaigns Pavilion, which will record the land, sea and air battle s of every branch of the U.S. military during World War II.

Steve Brooks – The American Legion – November 10, 2009

American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill was on hand Monday night to witness President Barack Obama sign an executive order establishing a Council on Veterans Employment and a veterans employment program within most federal agencies.

    Hill, who attended the signing at the White House and spoke briefly with the president, called the order a move in the right direction. “This is big step toward veterans’ hiring. Veterans preference also plays into it,” Hill said. “Now the job of implementing this executive order begins, starting (today).”

    The Council on Veterans Employment will be chaired by the secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs, while the Veterans Employment Program offices will be responsible for helping veterans identify employment opportunities within federal agencies, provide feedback to veterans about employment application statuses, and help veterans recently employed by these agencies adjust to civilian life and a workplace culture often different from military service. Additionally, these offices will ensure that hiring officials understand how to use all the tools available to them to increase the number of veterans employed within their agencies.

    The order also requires the Office of Personnel Management to issue a government-wide strategic plan to move the program forward. OPM is partnering with other federal agencies – primarily VA, and the departments of Labor, Defense and Homeland Security – on the development of the plan.

    The American Legion was among just three veterans service organizations invited to the signing, joining representatives from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. Also present were the VA, DoD and Homeland Security secretaries, and OPM officials.

    “Veterans preference and veterans employment will get a great assist from what just happened,” Hill said. “This is one of the things that we’ve worked on for a long time.”

    But Hill said there is still work to be done to further improve veterans employment.

    “Folks transitioning out (of the military) that have got military certification find that they have to recertify out in the civilian world. We’re trying to get one certification that’s good for every state for whatever you’re certified,” he said. “Clearances are still an issue. If you come out with a (security) clearance and take a job that requires a clearance, you still have to go through the process again. That can take six to nine months. Your military clearance should be sufficient.

    “Of course there are still issues with the GI Bill. There are some gaps with on-the-job training, with vocational training and with distance learning. There are still things to do, but this is a great step forward, and I’m happy to have witnessed the president signing this executive order.”

INDIANAPOLIS  (November 10, 2009) – The American Legion family is renewing its fundraising efforts for the holiday season to purchase comfort items for troops recovering in U.S. military hospitals and warrior transition units around the world through its Operation Comfort Warriors campaign.

    “The government does a good job of providing the necessities,” said American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill. “Through Operation Comfort Warriors we have been able to provide items that usually don’t appear in the budget, such as personal sweat suits, I-Pods, DVDs, phone calling cards and other comfort items. The American Legion family is challenging its members and friends to continue giving to those who have already given us so much. I am grateful that American Legion Auxiliary National President Rita Navarreté and Sons of The American Legion National Commander Mark Arneson have given their complete support to this effort.”

    The American Legion family has already raised more than $215,000 for Operation Comfort Warriors since its inception last December. Upon taking office in August, Commander Hill set a goal to raise an additional $100,000 by year’s end. Donors can make online contributions by visiting www.legion.org/ocw or by sending a check to Operation Comfort Warriors, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.   

     Administrative and promotional costs for Operation Comfort Warriors are paid by The American Legion, allowing 100 percent of the donations to be spent directly on the troops.

    “Some people think that expecting $100,000 during an economic recession is too lofty a goal. I don’t,” Hill said. “Americans are generous and what better way is there to show your holiday spirit than to remember those who have served and are still serving?”