VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, INC.
P.O. BOX 6608
TEXARKANA, TX 75505-6608
www.vva278.org

OFFICERS
PRESIDENT: Gregory Beck
VICE-PRESIDENT: Harry Campbell
SECRETARY: Johnnie Gentry
TREASURER: Jimmy Smith
AVVA REP: Merle Morris

BOARD of DIRECTORS
Robert Brown
Freddie Weathers
Kenneth Cosby

EDITOR: Gregory Beck

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VVA # 278 DECEMBER MEETING

VVA # 278's next meeting will be Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 1:30 pm at the Texas Elks Lodge at 3702 New Boston Road. The meal, our Christmas dinner, will begin at 1:30 pm. We ask members to bring a covered dish &/or dessert to share. The chapter will furnish ham & turkey. Topics to be discussed will include: Veterans' issues updates; Committee reports; Our 2019 fundraising project; Upcoming set-ups and events; the 2nd annual "Wagons for Veterans" & the disbursements made out of this fund; Hosting a VVA Texas State Council meeting (April 26 & 27, 2019); etc. I will also have our new chapter t-shirts at the meeting: M, L & XL are $15, 2X are $17. I will also have VVA hats for sale at $5.00 a piece.

REMEMBER: Sunday, December 16 at the Elks Lodge at 3702 New Boston Road.

VVA # 278's JANUARY 2019 MEETING

VVA # 278's January 2019 meeting will be held Sunday, January 20 @ 1:30 pm at the Elks Lodge at 3702 New Boston Road. The meal will begin at 1:30 and will be our New Year's meal. We ask members to bring a side dish and/or dessert to share. Topics to be discussed will include: Updates on Veterans' issues; Committee reports; 2nd Annual Wagons for Veterans; etc., etc..

REMEMBER: Sunday, January 20 @ 1:30 pm at the Elks Lodge @ 3702 New Boston Road.

VVA # 278's February meeting will be Sunday, February 17 @ 1:30 pm at the Elks Lodge.

VVA #278's MEMEBERSHIP

As of November 30, VVA # 278 has 143 members: 128 Life, 13 Annual and/or 3 year; 2 IVI. Remember: You don't have to have served in-country Vietnam to join VVA, you just need to have served during that time. We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new members of the VVA # 278 family: John Iverson,Larry Grimes, and Joel Bullock WELCOME ABOARD & WELCOME HOME!!!

Membership is open to U.S. armed forces veterans who served on active duty (for other than training purposes) in the Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975, or in any duty location between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975. New rates for VVA memberships, all effective immediately: Life membership for $50.00. Three-year memberships will no longer be offered, but at the end of any current 3-year memberships, the member will be given (at no additional cost) a life membership in VVA. One-year memberships will no longer be offered, and at the end of each 1-year membership, the member will be encouraged to become a life member. ATTENTION: New members: You must submit a copy of your DD- 214 form along with the application and dues payment!

Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America # 278 has 34 members: 21 Life; 14 Annual and/or 3 year.

Together then, Together now.

VVA #278's ACTIVITIES

Since our last newsletter VVA # 278 set up booths at Dekalb, New Boston and Bloomburg where we distributed information and worked on our fundraising. Had 4 members attend Texas State Council meeting in Galveston. Set up information table at Texas Work Force's Red, White & You job fair. Had members attend several local Veterans day events: Red River Army Depot DLA's Veterans Salute where we were presented a plaque from Lt. Col Chamberlain and we presented him and LaChay Neal with plaques for their hospitality, Texas A&M's Student Veterans Association's Veterans Salute, Texarkana Gazette's 19th annual Veterans Salute, DeKalb High School, & Cooper Tire. We participated in the TAVC's Veterans Day Parade where we took 2nd place in the Veterans Organization category. We hosted the 30th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Korea/Vietnam Memorial where we presented a plaque to Ashlynn Butler for her many years (she's 17) of participation in our many events. And we helped Hero's Pantry again by giving them funds to buy Thanksgiving turkeys for their baskets. We had a great meeting in November with 41 in attendance, great food, great comradeship and good discussions. And we also have our raffle items for 2019 -a Ruger Mini 14 and a Remington 870 Tactical shotgun.

VA AMENDS REGULATIONS ON VA PENSION AND OTHER NEEDS-BASED PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON - Oct. 30, 2018. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently amended its regulations governing entitlements to VA pension & Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, which are need-based programs. "The amended regulations bring consistency to the pension process and ensure benefits are available for Veterans and survivors with financial need," said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. "They will help maintain the integrity of and provide clarity to our needs-based pension program."

VA's pension program provides monthly benefit payments to eligible wartime Veterans and their survivors with financial need. The pension regulations, which were updated Oct. 18, cover the following:
Establish a clear net-worth limit for income and assets for Veterans to qualify for pension,
Establish a 36-month look-back period to review asset transfers at less than fair market value that reduce net worth and create pension entitlement,
Establish up to a five-year penalty period to be calculated based on the portion of the covered assets that would have made net worth excessive, and
Updates medical expense definitions for consistency with VA internal guidelines.

The changes are intended to ensure VA only pays benefits to those Veterans with a genuine need. For more information on VA's pension program, visit www.benefits.va.gov/PENSION/.

2nd ANNUAL "WAGONS FOR VETERANS"

When? Saturday, March 30, 2019. Where? The Four States Fairgrounds in the area of the Oasis. What? This is a fundraiser to raise funds to assist local disabled and needy veterans of all eras. As of this writing we have assisted local veterans to the tune of $7200 from last years event, and have a couple of more applications pending. You can come out and see 18 or more chuckwagons (and other displays like the Iron Munchers, etc.) hear local bands, gates open at 9:00 am, (looking is free) and for just $10 for adults, $5.00 for children 12 and under, eat from a varied menu of food cooked the old fashioned way - in cast iron pots over an open fire. Will start feeding at 12:00 noon. Live auction. Also the day of the event they are having barrel racing in the rodeo arena plus we are looking at having a "Veterans 5K Walk/Run that morning in an adjacent area. We are also looking at having a car/jeep/motorcycle show. We are having meetings the 2nd & 4th Wednesday at 6:30 at the Elks Lodge at 3702 New Boston Road. if you would like to attend. We are looking for sponsors for the wagons and items for the live auction plus volunteers the day of the event. Come out and help us help veterans and enjoy some great food and entertainment!

PRISONERS OF WAR/MISSING IN ACTION - POW/MIA - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR: As of November 20, 2018 the number still missing (POW/MIA) and otherwise unaccounted-for (KIA/BNR) from the Vietnam War is 1,592. Of that number, 90% were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Cambodia or Laos under Vietnam's wartime control: Vietnam-1,247 (VN-452, VS-795); Laos-290; Cambodia-48; PRC territorial waters-7. The total accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is 989. A breakdown by country of these 991 Americans is: Vietnam - 671, Laos - 275, Cambodia - 42, and the PRC - 3. In addition, 63 US personnel were accounted for between 1973 and 1975, the formal end of the Vietnam War, for a grand total of 1,054. These country-specific numbers can and do fluctuate when investigations result in changes to loss locations. Of these 1592, 15 are from AR; 24 are from LA; 30 are from OK; and 101 are from TX. US Army -512; US Navy -354; US Marine Corps - 202; US Air Force - 494; Civilians - 30.

There are still 126 Americans unaccounted for from the Cold War 2 from AR; 1 from LA; 3 from OK; & 4 from TX.

As of Nov. 19, 2018 there are still 7,675 Americans unaccounted for from the Korean War: 100 from AR; 142 from LA; 143 from OK; 427 from TX; 5845 from the Army; 908 from the Air Force; 276 from the Navy; & 645 from the USMC.

As of November 9, 2018, there are still 72,778 Americans unaccounted for from World War II, 848 from AR; 977 from LA; 1218 from OK; & 3631 from TX; 16,738 from the Army; 20,106 from the Army Air Corps; 31,157 from the Navy; 2862 from the USMC.

There are 6 Americans unaccounted for from Iraq Theater and other conflicts in the Middle East.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!

Pvt CHARLES G. KANIATOBE

Pvt Charles G Kaniatobe was assigned to Able Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on July 10, 1950, as a result of heavy fighting with the North Korean People's Army at Chonui R.O.K. He was a Native American Choctaw, born on January 31, 1929 in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, the son of Walter Kaniatobe and Wilcey Shaw Kaniatobe. Charles was awarded: Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.

The Battle of Chochiwon was an early engagement between United States and North Korean forces during the Korean War, taking place in the villages of Chonui and Chochiwon in western South Korea on July 10-12, 1950. After three days of intense fighting, the battle ended in a North Korean victory.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at the White Family Chapel in Idabel, OK with Bro. Rick Kaniatobe officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at the Denison Cemetery. VVA # 278 had 5 members attend the services. Thank for your service Charles Kaniatobe and WELCOME HOME!!!

TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL’S 20th ANNUAL CHILLI COOK-OFF

ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019 THE TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL (TAVC) WILL HOST THEIR 20th ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF AT THE TRUMAN ARNOLD CENTER AT THE TEXARKANA COLLEGE. AREA CHILI COOKS WILL BE COMPETING FOR TROPHIES IN THREE CATAGORIES: BUSINESS, CIVIC GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL. THERE WILL ALSO BE A "PEOPLE'S CHOICE" AWARD AND AN AWARD FOR "BEST PRESENTATION", BOTH CHOSEN BY THE PUBLIC.

FUNDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE A NEW DAV VAN (WHEN NEEDED) TO TRANSPORT LOCAL VETERANS TO THE VA MEDICAL CENTER IN SHREVEPORT, LA & TO ASSIST LOCAL VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE DOORS WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT 11:00 AM UNTIL 1:00 PM. TICKETS ARE SIX DOLLARS. EACH TICKET WILL ALLOW YOU TO SAMPLE EACH CHILI AND WILL ENTER YOU TO WIN DOOR PRIZES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR TO ENTER PLEASE CALL: 870/773-8279 OR 903/628-7216 OR 903/824-2727 OR E-MAIL @ USMCgreg@aol.com

VVA # 278 "NEWS & VIEWS"

We are proud of our newsletter "News & Views!" We mail it out to all VVA # 278 VVA & AVVA members plus to our elected officials, local, state & federal. We mail it to local organizations, veterans and otherwise. We try to include veterans information updates, local events, happenings in the chapter and other pertinent information. We try to get it to local veterans of all eras. We don't mind absorbing the costs of this. But we like to know the ones that are receiving it are reading it. Therefore, if you have a red mark on your address label please let us know you are interested in receiving it. Otherwise this will be your last issue. This would be a great time to join VVA or AVVA, $50 for Life membership in VVA now! Thank You!

News from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine , Nov. 15, 2018
Hypertension Upgraded in Latest Biennial Review of Research on Health Problems in Veterans That May Be Linked to Agent Orange Exposure During Vietnam War

WASHINGTON -- The latest in a series of congressionally mandated biennial reviews of the evidence of health problems that may be linked to exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War found sufficient evidence of an association for hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The committee that carried out the study and wrote the report, Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 11 (2018), focused on the scientific literature published between Sept. 30, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2017.

From 1962 to 1971, the U.S. military sprayed herbicides over Vietnam to strip the thick jungle canopy that could conceal opposition forces, destroy crops that those forces might depend on, and clear tall grass and bushes from the perimeters of U.S. bases and outlying encampments. The most commonly used chemical mixture sprayed was Agent Orange, which was contaminated with the most toxic form of dioxin. These and the other herbicides sprayed during the war constituted the chemicals of interest for the committee. The exact number of U.S. military personnel who served in Vietnam is unknown because deployment to the theater was not specifically recorded in military records, but estimates range from 2.6 million to 4.3 million. Hypertension was moved to the category of "sufficient" evidence of an association from its previous classification in the "limited or suggestive" category. The sufficient category indicates that there is enough epidemiologic evidence to conclude that there is a positive association. A finding of limited or suggestive evidence means that epidemiologic research results suggest an association between exposure to herbicides and a particular outcome, but a firm conclusion is limited because chance, bias, and confounding factors could not be ruled out with confidence. The committee came to this conclusion in part based on a recent study of U.S. Vietnam veterans by researchers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which found that self-reported hypertension rates were highest among former military personnel who had the greatest opportunity for exposure to these chemicals.

Now the VA has to make the decision on how to handle the results of this study.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

United States Army National Guard: December 13, 1636
United States Army: June 14, 1775
United States Navy: October 13, 1775
United States Marine Corps: November 10, 1775
United States Coast Guard: August 4, 1790
United States Air Force: September 18, 1947

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