Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 05/09/2005

Dear Sgt. Shaft I need your help.
I don't have a big problem like those of many of the people you have helped, but I'm engaged in a project that is very important to me, and I'd be extremely grateful for your help.

I'm preparing a "Pantheon of Patriots" memorial of military personnel who are outstanding examples of great leaders, not just because of their military knowledge and accomplishments, but (even more important to me) their character. These include three generals: Robert E. Lee, Douglas Macarthur, and George Patton. What I need is 5" X 7" black-and-white photos of these three men, which I've not been able to obtain despite several queries to numerous veterans and government organizations; so I'm turning to you in the hope that you can help me get these photo prints (I've seen innumerable prints of these pictures in newspapers and magazines, but I've not been able to find a source).

I want to memorialize and honor such outstanding military leaders in my "Pantheon of Patriots" and will appreciate your help in doing so. Many thanks! John McLeod LTC USAF (Ret)

Dear John
You have the best resources in the Nation to help secure photographs of generals Lee, McArthur, and Patton. These historical documents resources may be available from US National Archives and Records Center. You can visit the NARA facility (Room 5050) in College Park, MD where you will have access and support to retrieve the photographs you seek at nominal reproduction costs. You may also phone 301-837-0539 for information and assistance, or visit NARA on the internet at www.nara.gov. Hope this helps

Shaft Notes
Congratulations to DR. JONATHAN PERLIN who was recently CONFIRMED by the U. S. Senate as the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In that role he will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). He has been the acting Under Secretary since April of last year.

Sen. Larry Craig, Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee stated that "Dr. Perlin is an outstanding man. I am pleased that my colleagues saw fit to confirm him to this important position and do so in such strong way," Perlin is now in charge of is the nation's largest integrated health system.

The VHA's medical care budget is approximately $30 billion. It employs nearly 200,000 health care professionals at more than 1,300 sites, including hospitals, community and facility-based clinics, nursing homes, and more. In addition to its medical care mission, VHA is the nation's largest provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to medical and scientific research.

Before his nomination to his current position, Perlin served as the VA's Deputy Under Secretary for Health and as the Acting Chief Research and Development Officer.

Dr. Perlin has a master's of science in health administration. He received his Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology (performing research in molecular biology) with his M.D. as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia Campus.

At his recent confirmation hearing, Perlin told Craig and other senators that when he was a medical student he received part of his training at a VA medical center.

"My time at VA was my favorite part of the entire medical school experience. I had the privilege of taking care of some of the last Buffalo Soldiers and World War I doughboys - along with veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam," Perlin said.

He said that to meet the challenge for rural care, the VA now has 871 medical clinics nationwide. He said that the VA is now using telehealth and "tele- mental-health" to enable veterans anywhere in the nation to be treated as close to home as possible.

Army veterans and their families can have an easier time tracking and receiving medals and decorations thanks to an automated system used by the Clothing and Heraldry Product Support Integration Directorate (PSID). The Web-based system eliminates extensive paperwork, reduces processing time and has capabilities such as allowing each veteran the opportunity to find out the status of his or her request or make address online. These types of inquiries that used to be handled telephonically or by letter can be entered online at http://veteranmedals.army.mil. Award criteria and background for the different service medals can also be found on the Web site. Requests for medals are initiated through the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis. Eligible veterans or the next-of-kin of a deceased veteran can request medals from NPRC at http://vetrecs.archives.gov.

Also the Defense Department recently announced the issuance of two new campaign medals recognizing service members for their contributions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal for military members who directly support Operation Enduring Freedom between Oct. 24, 2001, and a date to be determined in the future or Operation Iraqi Freedom between March 19, 2003, and some future date.

The new campaign medals were established by presidential order for service members who have been assigned, attached or mobilized to units operating in these areas,

Each military department will serve as the awarding authority for the new campaign medals and issue regulations for processing, awarding and wearing them,

Air Force Personnel Center officials note that the criteria for the awards for Air Force members, including those who have since separated and retired, is not yet available. However, they should periodically check the AFPC web site, http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/Awardsnet/decs.aspx?Mode=Text, where information will be posted when available.

These medals will recognize the specific contribution that our servicemen and women have made in Afghanistan and Iraq. It's appropriate that they are presented as an award that truly honors their heroic service in these operations."

The area of eligibility for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal includes all the country's land and air spaces. The Iraq Campaign Medal applies for service in Iraq, its waters out to 12 nautical miles, and the airspace over Iraq and its 12-mile water area.

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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