Dear Sgt. Shaft,
I found the following letter in my mother's files. I don't know whether she mailed it to you or not, but in case she didn't, here it is.

My mother died at her home from cancer on February 7, 1999. As one of her sons, I feel it my duty and obligation to personally thank everyone who helped her while she was alive, with a special mention to Army Surgeon General Ron Blanck and Colonel Ursone of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Mom was buried with her first husband, Russell Jenkins, at Arlington National Cemetery. Appropriately, her grave overlooks Washington, D.C., the city where she was born and raised.

One final note, Sarge. Mom was a widow at 17, after her husband, a World War II veteran, was killed in post-war France. Mom was a proud American patriot who volunteered to work at the USO during the Second World War. She also volunteered as a nurse for the American Red Cross to care for the wounded returning from Vietnam.

It should be remembered that our troops were never completely alone with the many faithful supporters on the home front. As a Vietnam veteran, I felt very proud of my mother. I'll always remember the folks left behind--the ones President Nixon called the silent majority--who supported us despite the social chaos tearing up our nation in the 60s and 70s.

Dear Sgt. Shaft,
I want to thank you for the invaluable help you gave me when I lost my medical benefits. Due to your intercession and that of Gen. Blanck and Colonel Ursone, I was reinstated under Secretary of the Army Designee for one year. My oncologist at Walter Reed said they will contact the Secretary of the Army later to have the time extended. Your help was deeply appreciated as it brought me peace of mind. Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Lucille G. Jenkins

James Alexander
Herndon, VA

Dear James,
I am sorry to hear of your mom's passing. Thanks for sharing her letter to me praising Lt. Gen. Blanck and Colonel Ursone. I had many phone conversations with your mom and know first hand what a special person she was. Lt. Gen. Ron Blanck is a good friend whose competence as Army Surgeon General is only surpassed by his compassion and concern for the soldier and his family.

Your mom's serious medical situation reinforces the need for the passage of Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill) legislation to restore medical, education and home-loan benefits to reinstated widows. H.R. 708 will ensure that these deserving widows like your mom can live their remaining days with dignity and peace of mind.

Dear Sgt. Shaft,
You helped Gold Star Wives of America get a law passed that allowed certain remarried widows to collect monthly benefits of $832 per month. We estimated that 10,000 widows would immediately qualify for the benefits, and VA estimated that number to be about 6,000. In fact, fewer than 600 have applied and qualified for the Dependents Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefit since last June. Simply, the word is not getting out.

Please help us relay the information that veterans surviving spouses, including World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Persian Gulf widows who remarried after the veterans death but are now single, should contact the VA to determine their eligibility for these benefits.

Sincerely,
Florance Herbert
National President, Gold Star Wives of America

Shaft Kudos

The Sarge is looking forward to attending the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program (VVLP) of Western Pennsylvania's 10th Annual Partners in Leadership Awards Dinner this Thursday evening in Pittsburgh, PA. Former VA Secretary and friend Jesse Brown will receive VVLP's 1999 Veteran of the Year Award in recognition of his efforts to broaden all veterans access to VA benefits and programs.

Diane Carlson Evans, founder of the Vietnam Womens Memorial, will deliver the keynote address at this year's event. A former nurse in Vietnam, Evans will discuss her experiences in spearheading the nine-year effort to erect a memorial to honor the more than 265,000 women who served during Vietnam. The Annual Leadership and Awards dinner is the biggest fundraiser of the year in support of VVLP's programs for unemployed and homeless veterans in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Long time public affairs officer and pal Ozzie Garza returned to his native Texas last month after 29 years in Washington--including 17 with Department of Veterans Affairs. Garza, who headed the VA's Public Affairs News Service, is now the regional director of VA's public affairs office in Dallas. Hats off and gracious, amigo, for your years of good work on behalf of our nation's vets.

A hearty pat on the back to Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center (DC VAMC) employee participants for "hopping" over to area children's hospitals delivering baskets of joy during the sacred Easter and Passover Season. The baskets included much needed clothes, toys, books and games for these special little ones. While on the subject of DC VAMC, Fort Washington, Md., area vets now have easier access to medical care. On April 12, the DC VAMC mobile health clinic added the Harmony Hall Regional Arts Center, 10701 Livingston Road, to the list of site visits.

The mobile clinic team provides preventative screening exams, patient education and counseling reviews, and has access to electronic patient records. The clinic began operating in late January and serves veterans in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the District. The primary locations for mobile clinic visits are Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts. For more information, call (202) 745-8247.