VFW Action Corps Weekly - March 28, 2022

[Boats]

VFW Action Corps Weekly - 03-28-22
Re: https://www.vfw.org/actioncorpsweekly

Note: (Additional data links for all subject(s) on site only).

1. VFW to Testify at Senate Hearing on Toxic Exposure: (Additional data links for all subject on site only)

The VFW and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough will testify on Tuesday, March 29, at 3:30 p.m. EDT, before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on H.R. 3967, Honoring our PACT Act of 2021. VFW National Legislative Associate Director Kristina Keenan will testify for the VFW on the urgent need to pass this comprehensive toxic exposure bill as it would help millions of toxic-exposed veterans, and ensure VA has the appropriate staff and resources to implement this legislation. Watch the hearing.

2. National Vietnam War Veterans Day:

Tuesday, March 29, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This is a day to recognize and remember the more than 8.7 million men and women who served during the Vietnam era, the 3.4 million who served in theater, the 58,000 who paid the ultimate price, and the 1,584 who remain missing and unaccounted-for. In our nation where less than one percent of the population currently wears the uniform and less than seven percent has ever worn the uniform, this day is a great opportunity to say, “Thank you for your service.”

3. VA Women Veterans Breakfast:

VFW National Legislative Deputy Director Tammy Barlet attended a women veterans breakfast at VA headquarters in honor of Women’s History Month. In attendance were VA Secretary Denis McDonough, VA Deputy Secretary Donald Remy, VA Chief of Staff Tanya Bradsher, and other women veterans from various organizations. Toxic exposure, reproductive health, mental health, and access to benefits were among the discussion topics to improve VA women veterans’ services, programs, and research. Read more.

4. Veteran Mammography Bills Pass Senate:

The Senate passed VFW-supported S. 2102, Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments (SERVICE) Act of 2021, and S. 2533, Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options (MAMMO) for Veterans Act. The SERVICE Act would require VA to provide mammography screenings to veterans who served in known toxic exposure locations. The MAMMO Act would require VA to carry out a mammography telescreening pilot program, upgrade VA mammography suites to 3-D digital screening, and develop a breast imaging strategic plan for veterans.

5. Military Housing Feedback Tool Bill Introduced: Reps.

Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to create a housing feedback tool for use by members of the armed forces and their spouses to identify, rate, and compare housing conditions. For those plagued by ongoing military housing-related health and safety problems such as mold, this bill would provide an urgently needed platform to voice concerns and seek resolution.

6. ATLAS Update: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Erie VA Medical Center Director John Gennaro visited the ATLAS site at VFW Post 7842 in Linesville, Pennsylvania . This location offers the convenience of telehealth appointments and eliminates the need to drive to the Erie VA Medical Center for appointments, providing relief from travel in treacherous winter weather conditions. VFW Post 2487 in Los Banos, California, is featured in a VA video to demonstrate the functionality of the ALTAS site, and includes many of the local veterans who use it.

7. MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced six burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted-for from World War II and Korea. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

01- Navy Fireman 2nd Class Hal J. Allison, 21, of Paducah, Kentucky, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Allison. He will be buried in his hometown on April 8, 2022. Read about Allison.

02 - Navy Coxswain Paul L. Boemer, 21, of St. Louis, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Boemer. He will be buried in his hometown on May 3, 2022. Read about Boemer.

03 - Army Cpl. Donald L. Menken, 21, of Whitesburg, Kentucky, was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion,15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action after being wounded on June 10, 1953, while his unit was guarding Outpost Harry on the main road to Seoul. Following the battle, Menken could not be located and no remains were recovered. He will be buried in Ermine, Kentucky, on May 14, 2022. Read about Menken.

04 - Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Eugene P. Shauvin, 25, of Spokane, Washington, was assigned to the 95th Troop Carrier Squadron, 440th Troop Carrier Group. On Sep. 17, 1944, the C-47 Skytrain aircraft he was piloting was shot down over Belgium. The four-person crew, including Shauvin, and five paratroopers died in the crash. Following the war, his remains could not be identified. He will be buried in his hometown in July 2022. Read about Shauvin.

05 - Navy Water Tender 1st Class Milo E. Phillips, 26, of Pierce, Colorado, was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Phillips. He will be buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu, on Aug. 4, 2022. Read about Phillips.

06 - Army Pvt. Pearl F. Barrow, 36, of Wichita, Kansas, was assigned to Company F, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. He was reported killed in action on Nov. 20, 1944, when his unit was engaged in battle with German forces near Hürtgen, Germany. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. Barrow will be buried in his hometown on a date yet to be determined. Read about Barrow.

Note: More specific data available on site there are addiional links on site only.
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Personal note:

Welcome home men we thank you for your sacrafice you were not forgotten
May you all now rest in peace on American soil and may your families now
have closure knowing your home. We also Thank You For Your Service.
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