Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 04/03/2000

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I am looking at your column of 5 May 97 in which your readers and yourself advocated approval of a congressional bill to provide the retroactive award of the Navy Combat Action Ribbon to Navy and Marine Corps personnel who participated in ground or surface combat during any period after July 4, 1943 and before March 1, 1961. This would qualify our combat veterans of WW II and Korea.

Approval still has not occurred and I can only wonder why the paper-shufflers at Headquarters, Marine Corps oppose this.

If they can recognize the service of the Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans, why not us? And don't give me that bureaucratic crap about our having already been awarded appropriate campaign medals for the Second World War and Korea. Campaign medals also were issued to Viet and Southwest Asia veterans.

I detect a double standard here. And it's stupid.

In my view, if someone was in harm's way and up front where the war gets "personal", he deserves appropriate recognition.

I understand a bill is now in the Senate to get the Combat Action Ribbon to us. Let's hope the pols get off the dime and approve it, then shoot it to the White House for final approval.

Best to you...Semper Fidelis
Arthur R. M. (Chosen 50-51)

Dear Arthur:
My friend, General Jones, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, informed me that "the bill covers retroactive awarding of the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) to include the period 1941 through 1961, was passed as part of the most recent defense authorization bill. The bill was signed on 5 October 1999. The package on the CAR is currently awaiting the Secretary of the Navy's decision as to who will control verification and issuance of the award. There are a number of considerations involved to include funding issues. As you can imagine, there will be a huge influx of requests for the award, which will require additional staffing, and so on. The Navy Awards Branch briefed the Secretary of the Navy at the end of January. The entire issue should be wrapped up and awards ready to be issued by June of this year."

As an aside, I want to publicly thank General Jones for his phone call and his get-well note. The concern note and well wishes from General Jones and his lovely wife, Diane, speeded the Sarge's recuperation.

Semper fidelis

SHAFT KUDOS
The Sarge is looking forward to joining the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program (VVLP) of Western Pennsylvania at its 11th Annual Partners in Leadership Award Dinner of April 27 in Pittsburgh.

The Veteran of the Year award this year will be presented posthumously to Lewis B. Puller, Jr., founder and director of the Vietnam Children's Fund and author of "Fortunate Son." Former Pittsburgh Steeler Andy Russell is serving as Honorary Chairman of the event. Other distinguished guest include Bruce Bickel, Senior Vice President with PNC Bank, who will receive the John Heinz Community Advocate Award, and 171st Air Refueling Wing who will receive the President's Award in recognition of their exceptional service to our country. Vietnam Children's Fund Board member Terry Anderson will accept the award on behalf of Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Terry Anderson was Associated Press Bureau Chief in Beirut when taken hostage and remained captive for seven years. Mr. Anderson will also provide the Keynote Address at the event

Congratulations to James A. Hontz, Jr. on his selection as Veteran of the Year 2000 by the Joint Veterans Committee of Maryland. The Sarge will be looking forward to addressing the banquet in his honor on April 30 at the Bowie Elks Lodge, Gambrils, Maryland. Jim is the current Maryland State Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the recipient of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. One of the most important services Jim does is escorting veterans families coming to Washington, DC for the annual "In Memory Service," sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, now held on the third Monday in April. He is currently assisting in the attempt to get the "Square Yard of Honor Plaque" approved by Congress so it can placed at a site near the "Wall." One of the biggest jobs that Jim oversees is the coordination and presentation of forty eight Miliary Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Medals to ROTC and JROTC cadets in the Washington area. He feels that our Democratic Republic rests on the shoulders of our youth and honoring these outstanding cadets is a privilege.

Those who wish to attend the banquet should contact Jim Pritchett at (301) 390-6436.

Former Chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals, Syd Shuman, informs the Sarge that the last WWII veteran on the Board, Jack Blasingame, retired on December 31, 1999. Jack served in the Navy during WW II and after service, received a BA in English from the University of Mississippi and a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Texas. He attended law school at night, and in 1973, he received his law degree and joined the Board of Veterans Appeals. He was appointed as a Board member by President Carter in December of 1980 and remained in that position until his retirement. Happy retirement, Jack, and thanks for your dedicated service to veterans.

The dedicated VA retirees once again will be hosting a Spring Luncheon on April 27 at the Pier 7 Restaurant, Water Street, Washington, DC. The guest speaker will be former Deputy Administrator of the VA Tom Harvey. The annual election of officers will be held at this meeting. Information about the luncheon and reservations to attend can be made by contacting Leon Sanchez at 703-451-7529.

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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