POST NOTES
VFW Hawkins-Reeve Post 7916 Occoquan, Virginia
Volume 21
0CTOBER 2005
COMMANDER’S CORNER:
Dear Comrades:
First, I must apologize for not getting the Newsletter out
sooner. I have no excuse except for computer crashes and other
personal catastrophes. But I do want to get everyone up to
date on this past nine months, and I promise to get OUR
newsletter back on track. This newsletter will not be as
extensive as usual because of the information that I lost when
my computer crashed, but it will provide everyone with
information on what is happening in YOUR VFW.
At the Virginia State Convention in Richmond in June we were
awarded “DISTINGQUISHED ALL STATE POST” for the year,
2004-2005, and the Post and our Ladies Auxiliary won several
other awards. We took sixth in our Community Activities Book
out of 239 other State VFWs and First Place in our Buddy Poppy
display. We also received awards for the Voice of Democracy,
National Recognition Award for our Post Safety Program, Youth
Activities, Community and Hospital activities and for
Operation Uplink. We have adopted four military units serving
in Iraq with DLA and have just recently adopted the Army’s 3rd
ARC, Cobby McDonald, Jr.’s unit, which is also serving in
Iraq. We have also forwarded three commercial grade smokers to
three different units serving in harm’s way. You can be very
proud of your membership in VFW Post 7916 and the Ladies
Auxiliary. I want to thank the membership for all your hard
work during 2004-2005 and it was you that helped us earn all
the accolades that we received during the Convention. I could
not have done it without you and your help.
Many things have happened since the last newsletter. As most
members are aware, Hector Estrada stepped down as our Post
Commander in December and I was elevated from Senior Vice
Commander to Post Commander to complete his term. In April of
this year I was re-elected and installed as the Post Commander
for 2005-2006 in May. I want to thank everyone for their
support and their confidence in me to elect me as your Post
Commander.
We will continue to push forward with all of our programs and
are expanding many other programs. Membership remains the
lifeline of the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary and I stress that
every member is a recruiter for our Post. As our new State
Commander, Dan Boyer would say,
MEMBERSHIP. MEMBERSHIP. MEMBERSHIP.
Everyone should have a blank membership form in his or her
pocket. Comrades, we are at currently at 80.62% of our
membership goal and with a little help from you all we can be
at our targeted mark of 100% by the end of December. We
continue to have several new members join and a few transfers
from other posts. That is the good news. We still need all of
our annual members to renew for 2005/2006 or better yet,
purchase a life membership. The National Organization has
provided us with multiple ways to do this, installment
payments, credit cards or the most expedient, pay in full at
the Post Canteen.
We have been extremely busy during the summer. Ceremonies have
been held to remember the 30th
Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on the 30th
of April. Many of our Post’s Vietnam Veterans were in
attendance and all present were given a picture of all the
District of Columbia’s war monuments by the Ladies Auxiliary.
The Ladies Auxiliary also presented the Post with a large
picture of those monuments. The Ladies Auxiliary also prepared
a wonderful lunch for the event.
We also conducted a ceremony for the 60th
Anniversary of V-J day and many of our WWII veterans were in
attendance. Those attending the ceremony each received a
Certificate, a WWII pin and coin. Again the Ladies Auxiliary
presented a plaque to the Post and prepared a great dinner.
The 10th
District Commander, J. David Keith, myself, the Ladies
Auxiliary President Kaye Keith, Post Junior Vice Commander
Dean Massman, Barbara Stevenson, Teri Bales and others
attended a meeting of the Prince William Board of Supervisors
one week prior to POW/MIA day. We were given a Proclamation
from Prince William County Supervisor, Chairman Sean
Connaughton declaring that the 16th
of September 2005 will be observed in Prince William County.
We conducted our annual POW/MIA observance on the 16th
of September on the deck adjacent to Mamie Davis Park gazebo.
Chairman Sean Connaughton, a Naval Reserve Commander, was our
guest speaker and read the Proclamation and Thom Karlson was
our Keynote Speaker. President Keith, Thom Karlson and others
gave moving speeches and read poems. The names of the POW/MIAs
were read by various members of the Post. As each name was
read the Boy Scouts of troop 74 released a balloon. I want to
thank Dean Massman and Barbara Stevenson for all the work that
they did pulling all the ceremonies together. They did a
spectacular job. Among attendees were the 51st District
Delegate Michele McQuigg, Cory Stewart, Occoquan District
Supervisor, Patricia Conway, Mayor, Occoquan, members of our
own Post and others from the local community.
J. David Keith, 10th
District Commander, myself, President Kaye Keith and others
rode in the annual Dale City 4th
of July Parade. It was a beautiful day for a Parade. Our Color
Guard, myself, Wayne Dearie, Andrea Czeck and J. David Keith
attended Memorial Day Ceremonies at the Quantico National
Cemetery. We have also participated in the Annual Occoquan
Days in June and September. Our annual Post Picnic was held on
September 10th.
Todd Hehr was the chairman for the picnic and did a great job.
We had a DJ, karaoke and lots of food. Everyone had a great
time and thoroughly enjoyed the food and entertainment.
Comrade Massman is really bearing down on his youth activities
and scholastic programs. It vital to the success of our
organization that the youth of our community see us and know
what the VFW is about and what we stand for. He is currently
working on our Scouts Program, JROTC Programs, Voice of
Democracy and Patriots Pen programs. We have attended several
Eagle Scouts Courts of Honor. That was a great privilege and
very informative for me. Some of these young people will one
day be like us and we need to show them what proud, patriotic
and upstanding citizens look like, God knows they don't get it
on TV or among a lot of the common citizenry these days.
Our Veterans programs have continued to grow. We have several
Post and Lady Auxiliary members visiting the various Veterans
Hospitals, we have adopted several deployed units and will
continue to look for ways to help our Veterans, both new and
old. We all need to contribute whatever we can. Our troops
deserve the very best we can give and all of us should know
that every bit counts. Comrades, I look forward to a great
quarter coming up and remember to vote in the local elections,
the fate of the world and our country is in our hands!
May you all remain in good standing with our creator and keep
yourselves in good health.
Commander, Post 7916
B. J. Richardson
|
2005-2006 VFW POST 7916 OFFICERS
|
|
VFW POST 7916 COMMANDER
|
B. J. Richardson |
|
SENIOR VICE COMMANDER
|
Wayne Winchester |
|
JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER
|
Dean Massman |
|
QUARTERMASTER
|
Clyde Embrey |
|
CHAPLIN
|
A. C. Moore |
|
ADVOCATE
|
Vacant |
|
SURGEON
|
Walt Bieder |
|
ONE YEAR TRUSTEE
|
Hector Estrada |
|
TWO YEAR TRUSTEE
|
Andrea Czeck |
|
THREE YEAR TRUSTEE
|
Wayne Dearie |
|
CANTEEN MANAGER
|
Patty Winchester |
|
HOUSE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
|
Larry Jenkins |
Our E-Mail address is:
7916@comcast.net
Our Web Site is:
http://www.vfw7916.org
(being updated)
GENERAL NEWS FOR ALL MEMBERS
Health Benefits for Military Families Aren’t 'Automatic'
By Mary Kate Zabroske, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public
Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Department of Defense TRICARE officials
are working to inform military families that non-active-duty
beneficiaries must enroll in the health care system before
they see a doctor. Active-duty service members are
automatically registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility
Reporting System (DEERS). However, this isn’t the case with
family members, who must personally ensure they are properly
enrolled in DEERS to be eligible for TRICARE benefits. This is
a step many families forget each time they transfer or travel.
Not keeping DEERS information current, though, can create
extra time in the waiting room or incur costly out-of-pocket
expenses. “It is extremely important to keep DEERS records
up-to-date, because that is the key to receiving timely,
effective TRICARE benefits. Prior to rendering services to
beneficiaries, network providers and pharmacies will verify
DEERS eligibility,” said Floyd (Skip) Katon, Navy DEERS
medical project officer. There are several instances where a
military family must update its DEERS enrollment information.
These times include marriage, the birth or adoption of a
child, divorce or retirement. Children over 21 years old who
have a student status must also be registered in DEERS.
Active-duty service members can make these changes by
completing a DD Form 1172 (Application for Uniformed Services
Identification Card and DEERS Enrollment). While completing
the DD Form 1172, the service member will be required to have
certain important pieces of documentation, such as a marriage,
birth or death certificate, divorce decree, and family
members' Social Security numbers. Sponsors and their families
should contact the nearest uniformed services identification
card facility to learn what documents are needed to register
or update DEERS information. To find the closest facility,
search by ZIP Code at
www.dmdc.osd.mil
. For family members who do not reside with their sponsors,
the sponsors must get the DD 1172 notarized. Beneficiaries may
update information on DEERS in one of the following ways:
visit a local uniformed services ID card facility; call the
Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office at 1-800-538-9552;
fax changes to DEERS at 1-831-655-8317; mail the address
change to the Defense Manpower Data Center Office, ATTN: COA,
400 Gigling Road, Seaside, Calif. 93955-6771; or update
addresses electronically at
www.tricare.osd.mil/DEERS
.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2005
Medicare Part D and TRICARE
Starting January 1, 2006, Medicare Part D prescription drug
coverage is available to everyone with Medicare, including
TRICARE beneficiaries. There are several factors beneficiaries
need to consider when deciding whether to purchase a Medicare
prescription drug plan. For nearly all TRICARE-Medicare
beneficiaries, under most circumstances,
there is no added value in purchasing Medicare prescription
drug coverage if you have TRICARE.
The exception to this general rule may be for those with
limited incomes and assets who qualify for Medicare’s extra
help with prescription drug plan costs. These individuals may
benefit by applying for the Medicare low-income subsidy and
enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug plan. The table
below compares TRICARE Pharmacy benefit to Medicare Part D:
TRICARE Pharmacy (Entitlement): Medicare Part D
. Beneficiaries must be registered in DEERS–Medicare Part B is
required if age 65 after 1 April, 2001, except for active duty
family members (ADFMs) · No enrollment necessary · Uniform
national formulary · Nationwide network of pharmacies and
mail-order pharmacy benefit · Beneficiary Costs: - No monthly
pharmacy premiums - No deductible for retail network
pharmacies or mail order - Standardized cost shares: $3 for
generic, $9 for brand name and $22 for non-formulary; no cost
shares at military treatment facilities (MTFs) - Deductible
and higher cost shares when using non-network retail
pharmacies - $3000 maximum fiscal year cap for medical and
pharmacy; $1000 fiscal year cap for ADFMs · All Part A or Part
B enrollees are eligible · Voluntary annual open enrollment
period
· Covered drugs and network pharmacies vary by drug plan ·
Offered by private sector drug plans and Medicare Advantage
plans · Beneficiary Costs: - Monthly premium about $32 (varies
by plan, adjusted annually); minimum coverage plan to cost
about $20 - $250 deductible - 25% copay for prescription drugs
for the first $2,250 in prescription drugs - 100% beneficiary
responsibility for prescription drugs from $2,250 until their
out-of-pocket costs reach $3,600 - After $3600, they pay the
greater of $2/$5 copay or 5% for rest of calendar year
TRICARE is considered creditable coverage, meaning it pays, on
average, the same or more than a standard Medicare
prescription drug plan. So, if beneficiaries decide not to
enroll in a Medicare drug plan now, but change their minds
later, they may do so without paying the late enrollment
penalty. Beneficiaries will pay the enrollment premium penalty
if they lose TRICARE eligibility and delay the purchase of
Medicare’s prescription drug coverage for 63 days or more.
1. What is a Medicare prescription drug plan?
A Medicare prescription drug plan offers coverage for
prescription drugs through insurance and other private
companies and requires payment of a monthly premium. A plan
may cover generic and brand-name prescription drugs; different
plans cover different drugs. There are two types of Medicare
prescription drug plans:
Prescription drug plans that add coverage to the original
Medicare plan; and Prescription drug plans that are part of
Medicare health plans (Medicare Advantage and Medicare Cost
Plans). Unlike many non-DoD Medicare beneficiaries, TRICARE
beneficiaries enjoy a robust pharmacy benefit with no monthly
premium and minimal copays for
TRICARE Retail Network
Pharmacy (TRRx) and
TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP)
services and no costs for prescription drugs filled at MTFs.
For more information on TRRx, beneficiaries may call
1-866-DOD-TRRX (1-866-363-8779) within the continental United
States and 1-866-ASK-4-PEC (1-866-275-4732) outside the
continental United States.
TMOP is administered by Express Scripts Inc. (ESI), and is
available for prescriptions that beneficiaries take regularly.
It is the most convenient and cost-effective way for
beneficiaries to get prescriptions. They may receive up to a
90-day supply for most medications. Prescription refills may
be requested by mail, phone or online. For more information
about how to use TMOP, beneficiaries may visit
www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE
or contact TMOP member services at 1-866-DOD-TMOP
(1-866-363-8667) within the continental United States or
1-866-ASK-4PEC (1-866-275-4732) outside the continental United
States.
2. Should TRICARE-Medicare eligible beneficiaries sign up for
the new Medicare drug coverage?
TRICARE-Medicare eligible beneficiaries, entitled to the
TRICARE Pharmacy benefit, need to consider a number of factors
when deciding whether or not to enroll in a Medicare drug
plan. They should consider monthly premiums, deductibles,
copays and drug coverage under the different plans offered, to
include TRICARE. The following questions and answers may help
in making this decision: Q: Is TRICARE’s Pharmacy benefit
reduced because Medicare now has a drug benefit? A: No.
TRICARE has a comprehensive Pharmacy benefit, which does not
change as a result of the new Medicare drug benefit. TRICARE
continues as beneficiaries’ primary payer for prescription
drugs, if they do not enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription
drug plan. Q: What happens to TRICARE Pharmacy coverage if
beneficiaries sign up for a Medicare drug coverage plan? A:
TRICARE-Medicare beneficiaries who purchase a Medicare
prescription drug coverage plan must pay the monthly Medicare
prescription drug coverage plan premium; TRICARE does not
reimburse beneficiaries for their Medicare prescription drug
premium costs. If TRICARE-Medicare beneficiaries enroll in a
prescription drug plan that adds prescription coverage to the
original Medicare plan, Medicare is primary and TRICARE, as
second payer, will pay their out-of-pocket costs for TRICARE-covered
medications and the Medicare deductible and cost shares. When
beneficiaries become responsible for 100 percent of the drug
costs under the Medicare Part D drug plan, the TRICARE
pharmacy benefit becomes primary payer and the beneficiary is
responsible for applicable TRICARE pharmacy copays and cost
shares. Once the TRICARE catastrophic cap is met, TRICARE pays
100 percent for TRICARE-covered medications.
Standard Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Medicare with TRICARE Wrap Around Coverage
Monthly Premium
· $32.20 (national average, varies by plan); $386.40 annually
for 2006 · Beneficiaries are responsible for the monthly
premium*
Annual Deductible
· $250 (national average, varies by plan) · TRICARE pays the
$250 Medicare deductible**
Drug spending: $250-$2,250
· Medicare pays 75% · Beneficiaries pay 25%; · TRICARE pays
the 25% for TRICARE-covered medications**
· Beneficiaries pay nothing
Drug Spending $2,250-$5,100 (Medicare’s Coverage Gap)
· Medicare pays nothing · Beneficiaries pay 100% · TRICARE
becomes the primary payer · Beneficiaries pay the TRICARE
copays ($3 for generic; $9 for brand name; and $22 for
non-formulary medications)**
Drug spending: $5,100 and up
· Beneficiaries pay 5% of drug costs (or a small copayment)
for the rest of the calendar year after they have spent $3,600
out-of-pocket · TRICARE remains the primary payer once the
TRICARE catastrophic cap is reached · Beneficiaries pay the
TRICARE co-pays ($3 for generic; $9 for brand name; and $22
for non-formulary medications)**
*Medicare Part D Premiums are not applied towards the TRICARE
catastrophic cap ($1,000/fiscal year for active duty family
members and $3,000/year for all other TRICARE beneficiaries.)
**Deductibles and cost shares paid by TRICARE for TRICARE-covered
prescriptions count towards your TRICARE catastrophic cap.
Beneficiaries will meet their TRICARE catastrophic cap before
they meet the $3,600 out-of-pocket amount required by
Medicare. If TRICARE-Medicare beneficiaries enroll in a
Medicare Advantage drug plan, they must pay the monthly
premiums and obtain all medical care and prescription drugs
through the Medicare Advantage plan. The Medicare Advantage
plan is always the primary payer. Beneficiaries may file a
claim with TRICARE for reimbursement of their out-of-pocket
expenses for TRICARE-covered medications. To help TRICARE-Medicare
beneficiaries decide whether or not to enroll in a Medicare
drug plan, the following example demonstrates that under most
circumstances there is no added value in having Medicare
prescription drug coverage if they have TRICARE: Max, a
Medicare-TRICARE beneficiary, has a number of medical
conditions including acid reflux, hypertension, and problems
sleeping and breathing for which he takes 26 prescriptions in
a year. Assume he gets brand name medications. He has already
met his Medicare deductible.
Medicare Only
TRICARE Only
Medicare with TRICARE
Annual Premium
· Max pays $386.40 (based on national average, varies by plan)
· Max pays $0 – No annual premium · Max pays $386.40 (based on
national average, varies by plan)
Annual Deductible
· Max pays $250 (based on national average, varies by plan) ·
Max pays $0 – No deductible when using retail network
pharmacies or TMOP · Max pays $0 when Medicare deductible is
paid by TRICARE for TRICARE-covered medications
Drug spending: $250-$2,250
· Max pays 25% of drug costs for each prescription · Max pays
$234 for 26 prescriptions ($9.00 x 26 prescriptions) · Max
pays $0 · TRICARE covers Max’s drug costs as second payer for
TRICARE-covered medications
Drug Spending: $2,250-$5100
· Max pays 100% of drug costs · Max pays $234 for 26
prescriptions ($9.00 x 26 prescriptions) · Max pays $234 for
26 prescriptions ($9.00 x 26 prescriptions), while TRICARE is
primary payer
Drug spending: $5,100 and up
· Max pays 5% of drug costs · Max pays $234 for 26
prescriptions ($9.00 x 26 prescriptions) · Max pays $234 for
26 prescriptions ($9.00 x 26 prescriptions), while TRICARE is
primary payer
Totals:
$636.40 + cost shares
$234 x 3= $702
$234 x 2 =$854.40
If Max qualifies for Medicare’s extra help (see question 3
below for income and asset levels), his Medicare prescription
drug premium and deductibles may be lower than TRICARE’s costs
depending on his prescription needs.
Q: If TRICARE-Medicare eligible beneficiaries don’t sign up
for a Medicare drug coverage plan now, can they change their
minds and sign up later without having to pay any penalty? A:
Yes. Beneficiaries may enroll in a Medicare prescription drug
coverage plan during the open enrollment period without paying
the monthly penalty because the TRICARE Pharmacy benefit is
creditable coverage. However, if beneficiaries lose their
TRICARE eligibility, they must enroll in a Part D plan within
62 days or they will pay the monthly premium plus an
additional one percent for each month that they did not have
creditable coverage.
Examples
Sid is a military retiree and TRICARE-Medicare eligible.
Though offered a Medicare prescription drug plan, Sid chooses
not to purchase it and continues to use his TRICARE Pharmacy
benefit, which qualifies as creditable coverage under
Medicare. He is responsible for all TRICARE-related pharmacy
costs. If, for some reason, he later chooses Medicare
prescription drug coverage, he will be responsible for paying
the regular monthly premium rate for enrollment in a Part D
plan. Betsy is the widow/divorcee of a military member. If she
marries a civilian who is not entitled to TRICARE, Betsy loses
her TRICARE eligibility and may now enroll in Medicare Part D
at the regular monthly premium rate. If Betsy delays her
enrollment for more than 62 days from the time she lost
TRICARE eligibility, she will then pay her monthly premium and
an additional late enrollment penalty of one percent for each
month she was not enrolled after becoming eligible. TRICARE
will send a letter of creditable coverage: · Annually, prior
to Nov 15th; · Prior to a beneficiaries Initial Enrollment
Period; · Upon termination of TRICARE Pharmacy coverage;
and/or · Upon beneficiary request.
3. Do TRICARE-Medicare eligible beneficiaries qualify for
extra help paying prescription drug costs under a Medicare
Prescription Drug Plan?
They may qualify for help paying the Medicare Part D premiums,
deductibles and copays if they have limited income and limited
resources. Beneficiaries that think they may qualify for
Medicare’s extra help may apply for it, and still keep their
TRICARE pharmacy coverage.
What are the income limits?
Beneficiaries with an annual income below $14,355 (or $19,245
if they live with their spouse) may qualify. These amounts may
be higher if beneficiaries provide at least half of the
support for other relatives living in their household; or
reside in Alaska and Hawaii; or work. There are also income
exclusions for the working blind and disabled.
What are the resource limits?
For extra help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs,
beneficiaries’ countable resources, which are the value of
their possessions, must be below $11,500 (or $23,000 if you
are married and living with a spouse), including $1,500 per
person for burial expenses. Countable resources include real
estate (other than primary residence); bank accounts,
including checking, savings and certificates of deposit;
stocks; bonds, including U.S. savings bonds; IRAs; mutual
funds; and cash at home, or anywhere else. Countable resources
do not include primary residence; vehicle(s); household goods
and personal possessions; resources not easily convert to
cash, such as farm machinery, livestock, jewelry and home
furnishings; money conserved for medical and social services;
federal income tax refunds; property needed for self-support,
such as rental property, or land used to grow produce for home
consumption; and life insurance policies owned by an
individual with a combined face value of $1,500 or less. An
individual and spouse may have a total of $3,000. The Social
Security Administration (SSA) sent an application for extra
help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage to people
with certain incomes during the summer of 2005. Beneficiaries
who did not get an application in the mail may request one by
calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or apply online by visiting
www.socialsecurity.gov
. They may also apply at their local Medicaid office.
Additional Resources
For more information about the TRICARE Pharmacy benefit,
beneficiaries may visit
www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy
. For more information about Medicare prescription drug
coverage, beneficiaries may read the “Medicare &You 2006”
handbook, which will be mailed in October 2005. For more help,
beneficiaries may visit
www.medicare.gov
and select “search tools;” call their State Health Insurance
Assistance Program (the “Medicare &You 2006” handbook has the
telephone number); or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
TTY users may call 1-877-486-2048.
TRICARE Management Activity collaborated with Centers for
Medicare &Medicaid Services on this Fact Sheet.
POW-MIA INFORMATION:
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense Aug
10, 2005
Twelve MIAS from Vietnam War are Identified The Department of
Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today
the identification of the remains of 12 U.S. servicemen
missing in action from the Vietnam War. Five of those
identified are being returned to their families for burial,
and the remaining seven will be buried as a group in Arlington
National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. The men who were
individually identified are: Cpl. Gerald E. King, of
Knoxville, Tenn.; Lance Cpls. Joseph F. Cook, of Foxboro,
Mass.; Raymond T. Heyne, of Mason, Wis.; Donald W. Mitchell,
of Princeton, Ky.; and Thomas W. Fritsch, of Cromwell, Conn.,
all of the U.S. Marine Corps. Additional group remains are
those of: Pfcs. Thomas J. Blackman, of Racine, Wis.; Paul S.
Czerwonka, of Stoughton, Mass.; Barry L. Hempel, of Garden
Grove, Calif.; Robert C. Lopez, of Albuquerque, N.M.; William
D. McGonigle, of Wichita, Kan.; and Lance Cpl. James R.
Sargent, of Anawalt, W. Va., all of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Additionally, the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Glenn E. Miller,
of Oakland, Calif. will be included in the group burial. The
Marines were part of an artillery platoon airlifted to provide
support to the 11th Mobile Strike Force, which was under
threat of attack from North Vietnamese forces near Kham Duc in
South Vietnam. On May 9, 1968, the Strike Force had been
directed to reconnoiter an area known as Little Ngok Tavak
Hill near the Laos-Vietnam border, in the Kham Duc Province.
Their base came under attack by North Vietnamese Army troops,
and after a 10-hour battle, all of the survivors were able to
withdraw from the area. Six investigations beginning in 1993
and a series of interviews of villagers and former Vietnamese
soldiers led U.S. recovery teams in 1994, 1997 and 1998 to
specific defensive positions within the large battle site.
Additionally, maps provided by American survivors helped to
locate some key areas on the battlefield. Three excavations by
the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) in 1998 and 1999
yielded human remains, personal effects and other material
evidence. JPAC scientists and Armed Forces DNA Identification
Laboratory specialists used mitochondrial DNA as one of the
forensic tools to help identify the remains. Of the 88,000
Americans missing in action from all conflicts, 1,815 are from
the Vietnam War, with 1,381 of those within the country of
Vietnam. Another 768 Americans have been accounted for in
Southeast Asia since the end of the war. Of those, 540 are
from within Vietnam. For additional information on the Defense
Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit
the DPMO Web site at
http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo
or call (703) 699-1169. NEWS RELEASE from the United States
Department of Defense
BIRTHDAY WISHES TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WHO HAVE BIRTHDAYS IN
OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL!!!
OCTOBER
John Bass, Sidney Cox, Patrick Crotzer, Ray Dees, John Fogerty,
James Gee, Gary Hagarman, Richard Hooper, Elby Hudson, Jose
Jasso, Michael Johnson, Ollie Keith, James Langley, Ronald
Leo, Gilbert Liming, Reid Maxwell, Robert Miller Jr., Wilhelm
Mueller, Robert Norton, Francis Qualey, William Radford,
George Reese, Donald Sanford, Robert Sibigtroth, Carl Svedberg
Jr., David Thomason, Donald Totman, Robert Tuttle, Wayne
Winchester, Michael Woodard, Stephen McCarthy, Homer Thibault,
Donald Ohs, Tommy Roberson, Bryan S. Hamilton, Matthew K.
Byers, Eugene Costodio, Donnie Ann Brande, Richard Herrington,
Joseph Lahue, Francis Schlick, Meliesa Schlick, Christopher
McFarland
NOVEMBER
Thomas Davis, John Delvaney, Richard Diaz, Anthony Giglio,
Joseph Gil, David Goodman, Rodger Harris, Gregory Hurst, James
D. Keith Jr., James Mason, Gordon Merritt, Jerry Meyers,
Daniel Miller, Harold Nelson, Richard Pate, David Reed, Joe
Schroeder, John Shoop, Craig Smith, Leon Smith, Thomas Tesluk,
Johnathan Thompson, Gary Watkins, Douglas Wiggins, Michael
Anglemyer, John Mark Morris, Raymond Davis, Mark Demont,
Joseph Forant, Clarence Hartenstine, Todd Weegman, Bruce Ford,
Juan Martinez, Keri McLeod
DECEMBER
Donald Adamson, Jimmie Bledsoe, Rodney Boysen, Sol Brandell,
Kenneth Brenton, Gayle Brock, Nicholas Brown, Byron Dean,
James Deering, John Foley, Ronald Forest, Stanley Zdunczyk,
David Gabhart, John Gamblin, George Gilbert, Clyde Gillespie,
John Hardy, Horacio Hernandez, James Hoffman, Seymore
Horowitz, Denzel Jones, James Kelly, James Kesel, Jerry
Lambert, Parks Lovelace Jr., Michael McCabe, Frank Meyer,
Ronald Miller, Robert Murdock, Christopher Deeke, Raymond Raum
Jr., B. J. Richardson, Nicholas Riggio, Edward Smith, Richard
Summers, Mike Tilitsky, Kenneth Trujillo, Billy Wilson,
Richard Duff, Robert Hawkins, Dauton Carter, Sergio M.
Alvarez, Erskrne Lee Cousin, Mitchell E. Webb, Gene Czeck,
Stephen McArdle, Russ Symons, William Yanger, Kenneth
Brunsvold, James Duncan, Richard Mishler
If I have missed your birthday please leave me a note at the
post so that the data can be updated and get your name on the
list. Our data is a little dated and I apologize if I missed
your birthday.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
I apologize again for the lack of a Post Newsletter but I will
get it caught up and in the proper format. Please provide me
with information or any recommendations, suggestions or inputs
that you may have at;
bjrsuppo@comcast.net
. I welcome any and all inputs.
B. J. Richardson
Newsletter Editor
Freedom is not free...
God Bless our troops world wide, God Bless our President and
God Bless America.
