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VFW National News: 'Seals for Soldiers' Program Raises $520,000 for VFW's Operation Uplink
Thanks to the Doral Community of smokers across the country, more than 70,000 deployed servicemembers will be able to call home. For the second year, the dedicated troop supporters have stepped forward to honor America’s men and women in uniform, raising $520,000 for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Operation Uplink free phone card program for deployed servicemembers and hospitalized veterans.

The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Doral brand conducted the “Seals for Soldiers Fund” promotion, asking Doral smokers from across the country to donate pack seals (proofs of purchase). For every pack seal received, the brand pledged to make a donation to Operation Uplink. In just seven weeks, the company received around 5.2 million pack seals, resulting in a $520,000 donation. For the two years the promotion has been offered, the Doral Community of smokers has raised nearly $1 million for Operation Uplink.

“We applaud R.J. Reynolds and Doral smokers’ continued commitment to those who deserve it most,” said Allen “Gunner” Kent, VFW adjutant general. “Their gift to Operation Uplink will provide a tremendous boost to the VFW’s efforts to maintain a vital connection between both our military and hospitalized veterans, and their families, especially those serving overseas.”

“Doral smokers continue to show they are among the most caring and patriotic people in the country,” said Rob Dunham, vice president – Doral brand marketing. “This is quite an expression of gratitude to all the brave men and women of our armed forces for their sacrifice and dedication. We’re honored to be able to play a part in helping Doral smokers show their support.”

The donation will be used to purchase more than one million minutes of calling time for the service men and women. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the phone card program. Funded solely by donations, Operation Uplink has distributed more than 7.5 million phone cards since its inception in 1996.

VFW in Iraq: Iraqis Determined to Succeed; US Morale High Says VFW Following Iraq Familizarization Visit
The commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. returned from a whirlwind trip to Iraq last week firm in the knowledge that American military forces are making a difference and that the Iraqi people are determined to succeed in rebuilding their government and country.

At the invitation of the Department of Defense, Jim Mueller joined an eight-man delegation of journalists and national commanders from three other veterans’ organizations for a first-hand look at U.S. operations in Iraq. He traveled first to Kuwait, then on to Baghdad, Kirkuk, Taji and Balad to meet with senior American and Iraqi military leaders, as well as civilian city leadership. He also visited with recuperating soldiers at two military field hospitals.

“I was tremendously impressed and proud of the dedication and determination of our forces,” said Mueller, a Vietnam veteran from O’Fallon, Mo., who also met hundreds of junior enlisted men and women during his three days in-country.

In Baghdad, the delegation met with Deputy U.S. Ambassador to Iraq David Satterfield; Army Gen. George Casey, who commands all U.S. forces in Iraq; and with other general officers in charge of the 4th Infantry Division, multinational corps and multinational security transition command.

In Kirkuk, they met with the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division, an Iraqi general and members of the newly elected city council. The group witnessed ongoing training of the Iraq 9th Armored Division in Taji and then visited Balad, home of the largest field hospital and air base.

“From the commanding officers on down to the privates and airmen, our troops know that their mission is important," Mueller said. "They are enthusiastic. Their morale is high, and they know they are helping to make a difference to an entire nation--and the Iraqi people know this, too. Everywhere I went, the message that the Iraqis wanted me to take back was for America to be patient, that ‘We want to get this democracy right the first time.’”

Mueller did say that security is still a concern in a few areas, but that the violence is subsiding as more Iraqi military and police units are created, and as more Iraqi civilians take ownership of their own country’s peace and stability.

“There has been tremendous progress in Iraq because the Iraqi people want to taste democracy,” he said, “and with our help, I know they will succeed.”

Note: In mid-March, VFW Communications Director Jerry Newberry will be in Iraq to visit with troops. He will be broadcasting some of his conversations on VFW's talk radio show, "The National Defense," and will be blogging his trip.

Note: The VFW recently passed Resolution 440 in support of the war in Iraq. To read it, click here.

VFW Advocacy: VFW Troubled by Proposed Legislation to Double Tricare Fees for Military Retirees
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is strongly supporting the Military Retirees’ Health Care Protection Act (H.R. 4949) that was introduced in the House of Representatives Tuesday by Reps. Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Walter Jones (R-NC).

H.R. 4949 is in direct response to the Defense Department’s fiscal year 2007 budget proposal that, if left unchallenged by Congress, would double and triple annual premiums for some retirees under the age of 65 who are enrolled in the military’s Tricare health care system.

Under DOD’s plan, enlisted retirees in the grade of E-6 and below would see overall Tricare Prime premium increases of 41 percent for single or family coverage within two years, and senior enlisted and officer retiree premiums would increase by 106 and 204 percent, respectively. The budget proposal also has automatic premium increases built-in for future years.

“DOD’s proposal is absolutely unacceptable,” said VFW Commander-in-Chief Jim Mueller, a Vietnam veteran from O’Fallon, Mo.

“The military is not a commercial business that can offload health care and other personnel programs and benefits just to increase its bottom line,” he said, “because the bottom line in the military is its people, not its budget.”

H.R. 4949 would prohibit the current premium increase proposal and transfer the authority for future military health care program increases and enhancements to the Congress. The bi-partisan bill, which already has four dozen co-sponsors, was sent to the House Armed Services Committee for evaluation. If approved by the committee, it would then be forwarded to the House floor for a full vote.

“DOD’s proposal sends the wrong message to those who served, those who are serving, and to those who are contemplating military service,” said Mueller. “I urge the Congress to ensure that our retirees are not forgotten in the budget process.”

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VFW on Capitol Hill: VFW Testifies Before Senate VA Committee
The commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee today that his organization wants to work with the Congress to ensure that the VA is properly funded without having to resort to enrollment fees and prescription co-payment increases to veterans with nonservice-connected disabilities.

VFW Troop Support: America Supports You: Famous Marine, JROTC Unit Push VFW Effort
Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey, famous for his role as a drill instructor in the movie "Full Metal Jacket," has joined forces with a Midwest Junior ROTC unit to help support troops and their families.

Together, they have challenged Junior ROTC groups to raise funds for "Unmet Needs," a Veterans of Foreign Wars program that gives financial aid to military families. Unmet Needs has raised over $900,000 to help 1,000 military families since its inception in June 2004.

"When a family is about to be evicted while its breadwinner is defending our country, well, that's reprehensible," Ermey, the program's spokesman, is quoted as saying on the VFW Web site. Ermey starred as a Marine drill instructor in "Full Metal Jacket" in 1987. He also hosts "Mail Call" on the History Channel.

The Junior ROTC unit at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Mo., began its relationship with Unmet Needs just over a year ago. The VFW Foundation held a kick-off event for the effort, which featured Ermey and the Lt. Dan Band, led by actor Gary Sinise, Feb. 25, 2005, in Kansas City, Mo.

"At the invitation of the VFW, with whom we had partnered on another initiative, we received an invitation to this event and sent quite a few of our cadets to it," said retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Hill, the school's vice president for enrollment management and marketing.

As it turned out, Hill said, a Wentworth Academy alumnus was already working closely with Ermey and the program.

"We approached him about seeing if R. Lee Ermey would serve as this year's judge for our military ball queen's court," he said. "The gunny agreed with one stipulation -- that we help him raise funds for the Unmet Needs campaign. Our alumnus went even further and proposed that (we) lead a national challenge engaging all ROTC units. We agreed."

Hill said his group has run into some difficulties in their efforts to issue the challenge, including problems with the Junior ROTC Web portal, as well as legal concerns, which kept senior ROTC units from officially supporting it. Still, with some 1,600 Junior ROTC units in the Army program alone, he said he sees no reason why his group won't be able to muster plenty of involvement.

"We're contacting JROTC units directly (and) making this a school-to-school challenge," he said. "We're also getting word to local VFW chapters, encouraging them to contact local JROTC units to undertake a joint effort."

Hill said he hopes to get 100 high schools to take the challenge by mid-May, and he hopes to double or triple that number each following year.

Michael Gormalley, the VFW Foundation's senior director, said working with Hill and his JROTC unit will help Unmet Needs in creative ways, going beyond simply raising dollars to help families with home and car repairs, basic finances, mortgage payments and other necessities.

"They're also saying, 'You might be able to get some certificates from an automotive dealership or other places that local military family support center people can use for the needy military families,'" he said.

Military members or their spouses may apply for financial aid through the Unmet Needs website, Gormalley said. The VFW reviews the applications and makes contact with applicants, as well as their military commands or family support representatives, to talk about their specific financial needs. When approved, the money goes directly to the company or utility to whom the family owes money. No money leaves the program without a specific destination.

Gormalley said he sees the fund best used as a financial management tool to help families get out of debt and then continue on their own. To that end, a close relationship with on-base financial experts is key. "The Family Support Center folks have been very good," he said.

The VFW, which has 9,000 posts located throughout the United States and many foreign countries, works with many programs to support America's troops, including America Supports You, a Defense Department initiative facilitating corporate and grassroots support for America's troops and their families. Unmet Needs is a nonprofit America Supports You member.

Independently, Gormalley said, VFW posts help individual families on an immeasurable scale through their own post and state funds. They also work year-round with Boy Scout groups, school programs, and other youth-oriented service societies. "We're trying to educate the public about the importance of supporting our military and their families in the future," he said.

Article written by: Paul X. Rutz, American Forces Press Service

VFW: Assignment Iraq: Vietnam Veteran Returns to War

Membership Benefits: Extend Your 'Legacy' with New Membership Program
The VFW's Legacy Life Membership provides an opportunity for Life Members to leave their mark on the nation's largest combat veterans' organization.

Available only to current Life Members, the new Legacy Life Membership not only offers expanded and exclusive benefits, but also helps ensure that the VFW's good work will continue for generations to come.

Legacy Life Members can select from three membership categories: Gold, Silver or Bronze. Each offers a selection of exclusive benefits.

Once activated, your membership will endow additional income - made in your name - that will provide a stable financial foundation for both your Post and the VFW.

Here are some of the benefits of becoming a Legacy Life Member:

Click here for the Legacy Life Membership Form.

Leave a legacy that keeps on giving. Call the VFW Membership Dept. at 816-756-3390 for more information.

Member Profile:
 

Timothy P. Murray

VFW Member since: 2005
Born: 1951

Post: #3261-General William Stark Rosecrans Post; Gardena, CA

Branch: U.S. Army
Theater of Operations: Vietnam, 10/10/71 - 6/20/72 - 1st Signal Brigade, 39th Signal Battalion, 535th Signal Company
Military Medals:
National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal w/Bronze Star; RVN Campaign Medal w/1960 Device; Overseas Bar; Expert Badge (Rifle)

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