Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 01/17/2005

Dear Sgt. Shaft
I’m trying to think of words to express my appreciation as well as Ed’s and the rest of our family for the special effort you put forth to get our brother Ed 100% as a disabled vet – something we have been fighting for but kept running into false hope or wall too high to climb after some 20 years.

It wasn’t easy trying to compile the letter you received on Ed’s behalf when my brother Bill and I sent you, along with photos of Ed. Apparently you got others involved like John Sells & a Keith Hancock, VA Rep. In a matter of a few weeks the VA finally took notice of Ed and his record.

He has since received some back pay and able to enjoy some of the finer things in life. A few years back he was using Elmer’s Glue to hold some of his teeth in place! He is one happy person again-that someone was finally interested in him. We only wish we had known about you sooner. You made the Vincent family (all 6 of us) very happy during the Holidays.

Our thoughts go out to other vets out there who have no one to fight for them. They can’t do it on their own without family & other vets. We have 2 nephews in the service at present; one in the Air Force and another in the Air National Guard. So far they have not been sent to Iraq.

What a wonderful gift you are!

(Ed’s Sister)
Kathy R & Family
Wisconsin

Dear Kathy,
I am glad that I was able to help your brother. Also thanks to the folks at the VA who were able to straighten out his claim for compensation.

Shaft Notes
Kudos to a special organization

Angels of America (www.angelflightamerica.org). This is a non-profit organization that provides FREE flights to patients who may live in a rural area and can't afford to get to a larger medical facility for treatment. The expenses are paid for by donations and volunteers. You can contact them at 1-800-446-1231. You still have the issue of getting the patient from the airport to the medical facility.

Example: a patient on chemo lives in a rural area and needs to get to a larger medical facility a few hours away for treatment once a week and he can't have the treatment done at a local facility. They will fly him to the appointment every week. They will also fly a family member with him if he can't fly alone.

They also have Compassionate Flights for family members.

Example: A patient is at a larger medical facility and his wife needs to remain home with the children and can't afford to get to the larger medical facility that is a few hours away. This organization would fly the wife to visit her husband.

They also want to extend this service to immediate family members of injured soldiers who can't afford to visit their loved one. They have also flown Veterans to the blind rehab centers.

*THESE SERVICES ARE BASED ON NEED AND INCOME* However, they do review each case individually.

The Sarge is looking forward to joining other members at the National Press Club and the general public at a Luncheon featuring Hank McKinnell president, Chief Executive Officer at Pfizer, Inc

He is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Pfizer Inc, the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company.

He joined Pfizer in 1971 in Tokyo. Over the years, he held positions of increasing responsibility for Pfizer subsidiaries around the world, including service as president of Pfizer Asia, based in Hong Kong. He has also served as Pfizer’s president and chief operating officer, executive vice president, chief financial officer, and president of Pfizer’s Global Pharmaceuticals group.

Hank McKinnell is a member of the Board of Directors of Pfizer Inc, Moody’s Corporation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, and John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hank was appointed by President Bush a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). Hank is Chairman of the Business Roundtable (BRT) and a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Corporation. He is also a director of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, the Business Council, the Royal Shakespeare Company America, the Japan Society, and chairman of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Advisory Council. He is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and a member of the Boards of Trustees of the New York City Public Library, the New York City Police Foundation, Channel Thirteen/WNET, and the J.F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Hank holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from the University of British Columbia, and M.B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Recent honors include the United Nations Association of the United States of America’s Global Leadership Award, the Woodrow Wilson Institute for International Scholars Corporate Service Award, Columbia University’s Teachers College Cleveland E. Dodge Medal for Distinguished Service to Education, Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business/Excellence in Leadership Award, and an honorary doctorate in engineering from Polytechnic University.

Pfizer recently announced plans to commit medicines, funds, and logistical support to the relief effort following the catastrophic disaster in Asia. Pfizer will donate $10 million to local and international relief organizations operating in the region. These will include the American Red Cross/International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Rescue Committee, Catholic Relief Services, CARE, UNICEF, and Save the Children as well as local relief organizations.

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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