Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 03/29/2004

Dear Sgt Shaft

I have been trying to get some medals that were do me many years ago, but with no luck. Do you know the email address for Military Records in Missouri, I assume that is who you need to contact.

Thanks Linda. H, juno.ocm

Dear Linda. . The medals and citations must be ordered from the National Personnel Records Center using Standard Form 180. That form may be downloaded from NPRC at the following address: http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/standard_form_180.html  That site also has information specifically on Requesting Medals. .

Shaft Kudos
The Sarge was happy to attend the retirement of a very special lady, Captain Angeline Abraham Lazarus. She was honored at a ceremony on February 20, 2004 at the Bethesda National Medical Center. Captain Lazarus was born in 1947 in Lalgudi, India. After coming to the United States, she completed a second Internship at Saint John’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and then joined the Navy in 1978.

In 1985 she was assigned to the Navy Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia. She was deployed with the Fleet Hospital-5 during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In 1992 she returned to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and established critical care fellowship training programs. In 1985-1992 Dr. Lazarus held academic appointments at Eastern Virginia Medical School (Assistant Professor of Medicine).

Her military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold stars, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Medal, and Kuwait Liberation Medal. She was awarded the Outstanding Subspecialty Teacher Award Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia in 1987 and Laureate award from the Navy chapter of ACP (American College of Physicians) in 1997.

Captain Lazarus is married to Nithi Abraham, M.D., a Staff Psychiatrist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

What was most evident at the ceremony was her love of patients and especially her love of Country. This was highlighted by the following emotional words in her retirement program:

OLD GLORY

I am the Flag of the United States of America. My name is “Old Glory.”
I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings. I stand watch in America’s hall of justice.
I fly majestically over great institutions of learning.
I stand guard with the greatest military power in the world.
Look up and see me!
I stand for peace…Honor…Truth…and Justice. I stand for Freedom.
I am confident. I am Arrogant. I am Proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little
higher, my colors a little truer. I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world. I am worshipped. I am saluted
I am loved I am revered. I am respected and I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years…
Gettysburg, Shilo, Appomattox, San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,
the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome, the beaches of Normandy
the jungles of Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, in the
Persian Gulf and a score of place long forgotten, by all,
but those who were with me. I was there!
I led my Sailors and Marines…followed them…I watched
over them. They love me.
I was on a small hill in Iwo Jima. I was dirty, battle worn and
I was at Ground Zero in New York City on September 11th
as cowardly fanatics attacked America.
I was raised from the ashes of once proud buildings by
brave firefighters, heroes who risked their lives to save
others showing all that America, though bloodied will never be beaten.
Those who would destroy me cannot win for I am the
symbol of Freedom, of one Nation under God, indivisible
With Liberty and Justice for all.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of
Countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the
streets of my own country, and when it is by those whom I
have served in battle, it hurts. But I shall overcome…for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of earth and stood watch over the
uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America’s finest hours.
but my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my
wounded comrades on the battlefield, when I am flown at
half –mast to honor my Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and
Airmen or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving
parent at the gravesite of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud! My name is “Old Glory.”
Long may I wave! Dear God, long may I wave!

The Sarge has been advised that The Retired Sergeants Major and Chiefs Association, Inc.(TRSMCA), E-9's from all branches of the armed forces, will have its annual convention May 7-9, at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge, PA. Contact CSM Craig N. Gower; e-mail cgower4692@comcast.net, phone: 215-783-1624.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs competitive pay to recruit and retain the highest quality physicians and dentists to treat the Nation's veterans. Competitive pay would allow VA to set its physician and dentist compensation levels according to market forces. The Sarge urges the U. S. Congress to pass legislation that will support this effort, as VA’s compensation system for physicians and dentists is unable to respond to the demands of the current market

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

BAVF Home | Who We Are | Sgt. Shaft | Flag Week | Links | Financials | Search | Contact BAVF

BAVF - P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900

Copyright BAVF 2004