Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 12/27/99

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Some time ago you mentioned that the Department of Defense was issuing a Cold War certificate to veterans who served in that period. I have since learned that my father, who served in the Army within the time outlined, wished to get one, but I have lost the column which gave the details on where to apply. Is it possible to get that information from you?
Bruce@rockbridge.net

Dear Bruce:
In accordance with section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding Cold War Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991. To get the certificate, you'll need to submit any official government or military document with the recipient's name, Social Security number/military service number/Foreign Service number and date of service. Mail your request to Cold War Recognition, 4035 Ridge Top Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-7445; you can also fax it to 1-800-723-9262. Due to the remarkable success of this program, turnaround time for mailing certificates may take as long as six months. The Cold War Recognition Certificate operations team is working as fast as possible to clear the backlog; please do not request feedback on your request prior to six months from the date of submission. Additional information about the Cold War Certificate Program is available on the Web at http://coldwar.army.mil.

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Thank you for supporting the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc. in a recent column. As you know, our group hopes to place an approximately 3-foot by 3-foot plaque somewhere near the Wall in Washington, D.C., in memory of those veterans whose postwar deaths can be attributed to their Vietnam service.

Since I wrote to you, I am happy to say that legislation for the In Memory plaque has been introduced into the U.S. Congress. Representative Elton Gallegly of California (R-23) introduced H.R. 3298 on November 10. On November 16, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado) introduced S.1921. Now, Congress needs to know that Americans endorse this project wholeheartedly. Please encourage all your readers to contact their Representative and both Senators and tell them to co-sponsor and support this legislation. These letters, emails (with home addresses), faxes and phone calls mentioning the bill numbers can make a difference in whether or not the House and Senate bills pass, clearing the way to making the In Memory memorial plaque a reality.

For more information, email rcoderfitz@aol.com or call 540-371-3253 or visit http://members.aol.com/vietwarmem/plaque.htm. 
Thank you.
Ruth Coder Fitzgerald
President, The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc.

Dear Ruth:
Supporting this worthwhile endeavor should be "a no-brainer" for members of the upper and lower Congressional bodies. The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial plaque should remind all of us, that long after the war, suffering lingers on for many of our veterans.

Shaft Shot
A Shaft shot at Andrew Cuomo, Secretary, and his functionaries at the HUD "head shed." It is outrageous that HUD considers non-taxable disability compensation provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs as income in the "Validation of Income Process" when a service-connected veteran applies for HUD's Assisted Senior Housing Program. In many cases, this policy denies veterans access to this so-called compassionate program because their VA compensation payment places them above the income threshold.

The Sarge joins with the American Legion Commander Al Lance in expressing concern over the possible curtailment of naval military exercises at the Puerto Rico island of Vieques. In a recent statement, Lance points out that, while President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno develop a deal to limit the Navy's use of the island's firing range, continuing to restrict naval exercises on the island could be a jarring blow to national security. "The Atlantic Fleet has been training on Vieques since 1941 because that's the only place there the Navy-Marine Corps team can practice amphibious landings with the support of live ordnance," said Lance. "The longer training is withheld, the greater the potential damage to force readiness. The readiness of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps is vital to the United States, vital to Puerto Rico and vital to the safety and stability of the free world." The Department of the Navy has not conducted exercises on the 52-square-mile island since mid-April, when two civilians were killed in a bombing accident. Since their deaths, protesters and the government of Puerto Rico have pressed for closure of the firing range.

Shaft Kudo
To The Retired Enlisted Association for its National Scholarship Program. This Congressionally-chartered Vietnam Service Organization is accepting applications for scholarships beginning January 3, 2000. Eligible students must be a child, or grandchild, of a member in good standing of The Retired Enlisted Association or its Auxiliary and have dependent status as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Applications must meet all prerequisites for entering the college, university, or vocational/technical school chosen, and be a current year high school graduate or enrolled in an institution of higher learning. Application information can be obtained after January 3 by sending a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope to TREA's National Headquarters, 1111 S. Abilene Court, Aurora, CO 80012. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2000. For more information, visit the Association's Web address: http://www.trea.org. Eligible members of The Retired Enlisted Association include enlisted retirees from the Uniformed Services, as well as current enlisted service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, who have 10 or more years of service.

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.

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