FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010 NEWSLETTER
[ NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES ]
| VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, INC. P.O. BOX 6608 TEXARKANA, TX 75505-6608 www.vva278.org
OFFICERS JOIN VVA and AVVA |
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| VVA # 278's NEXT MEETING |
| VVA # 278's next meeting will be Sunday, February 21, 2010 at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. The meal will begin at 1:30 pm and consist of chili and related items. The chapter will furnish soft drinks and coffee. We ask all members to bring a covered dish and/or dessert to share.
The business session will begin immediately after the meal is finished. Topics to be discussed will include: Veterans' issues updates; Committee reports; Legislative news; Fundraising ideas; Upcoming events; Membership's plans & goals for VVA # 278; set-ups; etc. Remember: Sunday, February 21 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. We hope to see you there! This is your chapter, take part in it! Bring your ideas on what you would like to see this, your chapter, doing! |
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| VVA # 278's MARCH MEETING |
| VVA # 278's March 2010 meeting will be held Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street in downtown Texarkana. The meal will begin at 1:30 pm and will consist of Irish stew and Irish sidedishes. We ask members to bring a covered dish and/or dessert to share. The chapter will furnish soft drinks and coffee.
The business session will start immediately after the meal and topics to be discussed will include: Veterans' issues updates; Committee reports; Legislative news; Upcoming events; etc., etc.. Remember: Sunday, March 21 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post. We hope to see you there!! |
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| VVA #278 MEMBERSHIP |
| As of January 2010 VVA # 278 has 131 members: 66 Life members, 37 annual and/or three year members, and 2 Incarcerated members, and AVVA has 14 Life members and 11 annual and/or three year members. We would like to welcome our newest member:
Paul M. Missildine (Life Member, VVA Member). WELCOME ABOARD & WELCOME HOME!! On a sad note - Joe Kelly, a fairly new AVVA 278 member passed away January 21, 2010.
Since the first of 2009 we have 14 members who haven't renewed and their membership has lapsed. They are: John Barros, Herb Davison, Glenda Davison, Gary Lee Dorsey, Daniel Fedd, Timothy Fultz, Tom Powers, Jimmy Roberts, Tommy Rutherford, Wade Seastrong, Edward Schanefish, Kathy Hicks, Rusty Hick, Angela Honea, Billie Robinson, and Jay Rowe. I hope this is just an oversight for many of these and this will serve as a reminder! We want you, we need you!! Together then, together now!! Join VVA & AVVA. |
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| VVA # 278's 14th ANNUAL "VETERANS INFORMATION FAIR" |
| The Texarkana Area Chapter # 278 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc will host it's 14th Annual "Veterans Information Fair' on Saturday, May 15, 2010 (Armed Forces Day). It will be held at the Southwest Center at 3222 West 7th Street from 9:00 am until 1:30 pm and is open to all veterans and their families. This "Fair" aims to provide all area veterans, active duty, Reserve & National Guard personnel a "one-stop" place to go and get information on the benefits and programs available to them and their families from various agencies - federal and state (Arkansas & Texas with some info on Louisiana & Oklahoma). It is provided free of charge in thanks to their service!!
Invited agencies include: Texarkana VA Outpatient Clinic; Shreveport VA Medical Center; Shreveport Vet Center; Texas Veterans Commission; Texas Veterans Land Board; Texas WorkForce Commission; Area Agency ion Aging; Atlanta AARP; Aamerican Red Cross; Serenity Hospice; East Funeral Home; Texas A&M Student Counselors; Social Security Administration; Arkansas Department of Veterans; Barksdale Retiree Office. |
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| VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, INC. CHAIN OF COMMAND |
| If you have any problems with the way things are done or what is done at the local level, your first step would be to bring it up at a chapter meeting. If this is not possible, contact a chapter officer. Their numbers are on the masthead of this newsletter. If not satisfied there, your next step would be to contact the Texas State Council President, which is Buster Newberry at 806/857-0409. The next step would be Region VII Director, Allan Manual at 337/599-2216 . The next step is the National Office. The address and phone number is as follows: Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100 Silver Spring, Maryland (MD) 20910 -- 301/585-4000 & 301/585-0519 (fax). |
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| PRISONERS OF WAR/MISSING IN ACTION - POW/MIA |
| As of January 25 , 2010, according to the National League of Families and the DoD, there are still 1720 Americans unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. March 2009. of these 1720, 1323 in Vietnam (North-479; South-846), 346 in Laos, 59 in Cambodia, and 7 in China. These numbers have changed again due to investigations resulting in changed location of loss. of this 1720, 19 from Arkansas, 24 from Louisiana, 35 from Oklahoma, and 111 from Texas. 556 are Air Force, 550 are Army, 213 are Marines, 369 are Navy and 32 are civilians. 450 of these are losses over sea. Since the end of the war in 1975 there have been 863 Americans acccounted for from the Vietnam War, sadly, none were returned alive after the fall of Saigon. We will never forget!
There are 3347 Americans unaccounted for from World War I (two more sets of remains have recently been identified). There are approximately 78,611 Americans unaccounted for from World War II. There are 8124 Americans unaccounted for from the Korean War. There are 120 Americans unaccounted for from the Cold War. There is one American, Ahmed Altaie, unaccounted for from Operation Iraqi Freedom, and one American, Bowe Berghal, unaccounted for from Operation Eduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The 23rd Annual POW/MIA Vigil will be held September 3 & 4, 2010, Labor Day weekend. We hope to see you there again!! WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! WILL YOU? |
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| LEAVE NO MAN BEHIND by Garnett 'Bill' Bell |
| An eyewitness account of the Vietnam War from its early stages through the last day of the Republic, 30 April 1975. A startling new look at the postwar era and the issue of America's unreturned veterans listed as POW/MIA, an issue that has haunted America since the beginning of American involvement. Shrouded in controversy, a subject of great emotion amid charges of governmental conspiracy and Communist deceit, the possibility of American servicemen being held in secret captivity after the war's end has influenced U.S. policy toward Southeast Asia for three decades. Now, the first chief of the U.S. Government's only official office in postwar Vietnam provides an insider's account of that effort. The challenges he faced in dealing with U.S. politicians, including Vietnam veterans, Senators John McCain and John Kerry, are an ardent reminder of the many similarities in the bloody wars fought by American troops in both Vietnam and Iraq-Afghanistan. In an illuminating and deeply personal memoir, the government's top missing persons investigator in Southeast Asia, who later became a member of the U.S. Congressional Staff, discusses the history of the search for missing Americans, reveals how the Communist Vietnamese stonewalled U.S. efforts to discover the truth, and how the standards for MIA case investigations were gradually lowered while pressure for expanded commercial and economic ties with communist Vietnam increased. Leave No Man Behind is the compelling story of a dedicated group of professionals who, against great odds, were able to uphold the proud military traditions of duty, honor and country. $19.95 at billbell@pinncom.com A very good read - Greg Beck. |
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| TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL (TAVC) |
| The February meeting will be held Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 6:00 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street.The March meeting will be held Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 6:00 pm. Remember: The Texarkana Area Veterans Council meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Post.
VVA # 278's delegates and alternates are: Billy Walker, Fisher Plymale, Ann Walker, Donna Carmeli, Freddie Weathers, and Greg Bischoff. We elected our TAVC delegates at our January meeting, and the Officers of the Council will be elected at their February meeting. The TAVC meetings are open to all members of the member organizations. To schedule a ride on one of the vans call the following numbers: To ride the van to Shreveport call: 1-800-863-7441 Ext 7025 To get a ride on the local van call 318-286-6735. Volunteer drivers are needed to drive these vans and provide this service for our veterans! You do not have to be a veteran to drive the van, just a clean driving record and be able to pass a VA physical exam. Help us help veterans! TAVC's 11th ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF The Texarkana Area Veterans Council will host their 11th Annual Chili Cook-off at the Texarkana College's Truman Arnold Center on Friday, February 19, 2010 from 11:00 am until 1:30 pm. We would like to thank Texarkana College, McDoanld's of Texarkana-Atlanta-Ashdown, and Big Jake's for their assistance with this!! See attached flyer. TAVC's 2nd ANNUAL FISH FRY The Texarkana Area Veterans Council will host their 2nd Annual Fish Fry om Saturday, March 27, 2010 at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street from 12:00 am until 2:00 pm. See attached flyer. |
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| HELP LINES |
| The Federal Government has a telephone information service (1-800-333-4636) to help people who are seeking an answer to just about any question regarding U.S. Government benefits and services. Operators available Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am til 8:00 pm, Eastern Standard time. Information also available online at: Answer.usa.gov The Social Security Administration's website is: www.socialsecurity.gov The Government's official hub for federal forms: www.Forms.gov The Department of Veterans Affairs website is: www.va.gov Vietnam Veterans of America 's website is: www.vva.org VVA # 278's website at: www.vva278.org A good site listing Vietnam KIA's & MIA's by state: www.virtualwall.org/istates.htm. |
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| VVA TEXAS STATE COUNCIL MEETING |
| The next VVA Texas State Council meeting will be held February 12 & 13 at Killeen, Texas at the Shilo Inn Suites Hotel at 3710 S W.S. Young Drive. A report will be given at our February 21st meeting. Then the next Texas State Council meeting will be in San Antonio on June 4 & 5, right on the Riverwalk. Start making plans now! This will be the election of Texas State Council Officers. |
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| P-38 CAN OPENERS (JOHN WAYNES) |
| During the WWII, Korean and Vietnam Wars when hungry GI's were ready to dive into their delicious meals of K or C-Rations they used their trusty P-38s to open the cans. No it wasn't the famous WWII fighter plane or a German pistol, it was an amazingly simple little piece of 1-1/2 inch stamped metal that was developed in just 30 days during the Summer of 1942 by the Subsistence Research Laboratory in Chicago. It's official designation is 'US ARMY POCKET CAN OPENER' or 'OPENER, CAN, HAND, FOLDING, TYPE I', but it is more commonly know by its nickname the P-38 which it supposedly acquired from the 38 Punctures required to open a C-Ration can. It is also known by many as a "John Wayne" by those in the Navy and Marines because he was shown opening a can of C-Rations using a P-38 in a WWII training film. From then on Sailors and Marines referred to them as a "John Wayne". Originally P-38s came wrapped in brown Kraft paper packets with a diagram and directions how to use printed on it. About a dozen P-38s came packed in a case of C-Rations but eventually because everyone was hoarding them only 3 were included in a case. These handy gadgets have adorned the dog tag chains and key rings of WWII, Korean and Vietnam war vets ever since opening their first can of C-rats with one. GIs held C-Ration can opening races using P-38s which were usually won by who could open a C-rat can in less time than it takes to read this sentence. VVA # 278 now has a number of these ingenious inventions and for the mere price of $2.00 you can own a piece of history and help the chapter kitty. |
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| IN MEMORY PROGRAM |
| The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's "In Memory" program honors those who died as a result of the Vietnam War, but whose deaths do not fit the Department of Defense criteria for inclusion upon the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall) in Washington, D.C. Every year there is a ceremony to pay tribute to these men and women who sacrificed so much for their country. The ceremony is held on the third Monday in April - "In Memory Day." During the "In Memory Day" ceremony , the names of all the honorees are read aloud. At the conclusion of the ceremony, certificates bearing the honorees' name are placed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The tributes are collected by the National Park Service and stored in their permanent archive. In addition, the honorees are included in an "In Memory Honor Roll Book" to serve as a lasting reminder of their service and sacrifices. If you know of anyone whose death was related to Vietnam War involvement, please complete an "In Memory" application and return it to the Vietnam Veterans memorial Fund along with a copy of the death certificate, proof of service in Vietnam*, a clean photograph of the honoree and a short biography. For a copy of the In Memory" application, download the online version or contact the Memorial Fund at 202/303-0090 or via email at: vvmf@vvmf.org. All applicantion materials must be received by February 5 to be considered for "In Memory Day." |
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| Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) |
| PTSD is an anxiety disorder that surfaces after experiencing a very dangerous, frightening, and uncontrollable event such as military combat exposure, a violent crime, a life-threatening accident such as a car wreck, criminal or sexual assault, a terrorist attack, or a natural disaster such as a tornado, flood, hurricane, or earthquake. Not everybody who is exposed to a stressor requires treatment. However, if left untreated, PTSD can affect individuals to the point that, over time, even their daily functions become seriously impaired. This places them at higher risk for self-medication and abuse with alcohol and drugs, domestic violence, under employment and unemployment, homelessness, incarceration, and suicide. Research studies have also demonstrated that PTSD is linked with co-occurring physical illnesses such as physician-diagnosed chronic pain, hypertension (high blood pressure), sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.
Symptoms of PTSD can be terrifying and usually start soon after the traumatic event, although they may not surface for weeks, months, or even years. PTSD symptoms fall into four categories: 1) avoidance (amnesia, dissociation, numbing, hyper-vigilance, controlling behavior, and isolation; 2) reliving or re-experiencing (flashbacks, sleep disorders, overwhelming feelings, and overreacting); 3) victimization (distrust of others, abandonment, helplessness, and fear of change); and 4) shame (feeling guilty, feeling as if you’re mentally ill, and feeling unworthy). Untreated PTSD can also have a negative effect on one’s family and loved ones; and sometimes those suffering from PTSD also develop symptoms of depression that are sever enough as to require additional treatment. In acute PTSD symptoms generally last one to three months after the traumatic event. In chronic PTSD, symptoms generally last three months or longer, and with delayed PTSD, at least six months elapse between the traumatic event and the onset of symptoms. If your symptoms are bad enough, go directly to a hospital. Fortunately there are several evidence-based treatments for PTSD. These include cognitive therapy and exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and some medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Always discuss with your physician which medication may be right for you. |
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 4: TAVC meeting February 9: Trip to Shreveport VA "Salute to Hospitalized Veterans" February 12-14: VVA TSC meeting February 19: TAVC Chili Cook-off February 21: VVA #278 meeting March 4: TAVC meeting March 21: VVA #278 meeting March 27: TAVC Fish Fry April 1: TAVC meeting April 18: VVA #278 meeting May 6: TAVC meeting May 15: Veterans Information Fair May 16: VVA #278 meeting May 30: TAVC's Memorial Day Service @ East Memorial Gardens @ 2:00 pm May 31: American Legion's Memorial Day Service, Miller County Courthouse @ 11am Memorial Day "Walk to Remember" from Courthouse to K/V Memorial May 31: VVA # 278's Memorial Day Service at Korea/Vietnam Memorial @ 11:45 am May 31: Texarkana Funeral Home's Memorial Day Service @ Hillcrest Memorial Gardens @ 1:30 June 3: TAVC meeting June 4, 5, and 6: VVA TSC meeting(San Antonio) June 20: VVA #278 meeting July 2: TAVC meeting July 18: VVA #278 meeting August 5: TAVC meeting August 12-14: Hope Watermelon Festival August 10-15: VVA National Leadership Conference, Orlando, FL August 15: VVA #278 meeting Septmeber 3-4: 23rd Annual POW/MIA Vigil September 17-26: Four States Fair & Rodeo October 2: DeKalb's OktoberFest October 7: TAVC meeting October 17: VVA #278 meeting November 4: TAVC meeting November 6: Dedication of Fouke's Veterans Memorial Park November 13: Veterans Day Parade November 21: VVA #278 meeting December 2: TAVC meeting December 19: VVA #278 meeting January 6, 2011: TAVC meeting January 16, 2011: VVA #278 meeting |
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| MERRY CHIRSTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! |
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