The Long Road Home

The story of Doonesbury character B.D., a National Guard member who lost a leg on the battlefields of Iraq and spent several months in rehabilitation before returning home, is now told in the book The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2005). Pulitzer Prize winner Garry Trudeau is donating all royalties from the book’s sale to the Fisher House Foundation.

The book collects the first seven months of Doonesbury strips about B.D.’s journey, from the Baghdad triage to hospital treatments, awkward visits from friends, agonizing exercise regimens, and gatherings with fellow amputees. It also depicts the anxiety of B.D.’s family and friends, who support him by staying at a Fisher House, the actual nonprofit organization that gives housing to families of soldiers receiving treatment at major military hospitals.

Trudeau researched the B.D. storyline at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he visited wounded soldiers. Trudeau says, “Whether you think we belong in Iraq or not, we can’t tune it out; we have to remain mindful of the terrible losses that individual soldiers are suffering in our name.” The Long Road Home includes a foreword written by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

New Combat Action Badge

The Army has introduced a new Combat Action Badge (CAB) for those soldiers participating in the global war on terrorism. The Army wanted to acknowledge the expanded definition of what it means to be on the front lines of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The badge can be used to honor those who are not assigned to combat — truck drivers, for example — but come under enemy attack while performing their duties.

The CAB features both a bayonet and a grenade and may be awarded to any soldier who is performing assigned duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized, personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. The award is not limited by one’s branch or military occupational specialty and is retroactive to Sept. 18, 2001, when President George W. Bush authorized the war on terrorism.

MOAA’s Annual Meeting

Come to MOAA’s Annual Meeting at the Crowne Plaza Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Nov. 19, 2005. During the morning session, members will hear reports from association officers on matters of current interest to MOAA. After lunch, members can attend seminars on MOAA’s legislative outlook, benefits information, and chapter affairs.

For hotel reservations, call (888) 623-2800. To receive a special rate, identify yourself as an MOAA member and make your reservations by Oct. 17. Look for registration forms and more information on page 11 of Military Officer.

Give Me 10!

MOAA is kicking off its Give Me 10! campaign, challenging chapters to recruit 10 new members by the end of the year. The association hopes to recruit 4,200 new members before Dec. 31, 2005. Chapters that sign up will receive kits containing materials and ideas to help them with their recruiting efforts. They will receive $10 for every new member they recruit and a $100 bonus after they recruit 10 members. Chapters also will be broken out by size, and a $1,000 prize will be given to the top chapter in each category. The campaign runs from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2005. For more information, contact MOAA’s Member Service Center at (800) 234-6622 or msc@moaa.org.

In Review

Old Ironsides: The Eagle of the Sea — The Story of the U.S.S. Constitution By David Fitz-Enz. Taylor Trade Publishing, 2004. $28.95. ISBN 1-58979-160-6.

The 44-gun frigate USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” is the world’s “oldest commissioned warship still afloat,” according to historian Col. David Fitz-Enz, USA-Ret. Built in 1797, the ship is berthed in Boston and is a vivid symbol of American naval history.

Old Ironsides is Fitz-Enz’s third book, an ambitious and well-crafted effort to chronicle the history of this famous vessel’s construction, voyages, sea battles, and restoration.

Fitz-Enz adds much interesting detail about early naval warfare, the politics of sea power, naval command, and life at sea. Diagrams, photos, and exciting narrative make this a valuable addition to the history of American mastery of the seas.

The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II’s Most Decorated Platoon By Alex Kershaw. DaCapo Press, 2004. $25. ISBN 0-306-81304-1.

The Battle of the Bulge in Belgium’s Ardennes Forest in December 1944 was one of the U.S. Army’s largest land battles and worst intelligence failures in World War II. It also produced the war’s most decorated platoon of soldiers, according to Alex Kershaw.

Best-selling author Kershaw (The Bedford Boys) skillfully tells the vivid and inspiring story of the 18 men of an intelligence and reconnaissance platoon and their heroic, desperate, and futile defense of the village of Lanzerath on the first day of Hitler’s surprise offensive on the Western Front.

Lt. Lyle Bouck and his men fought in bitter cold against overwhelming numbers of German attackers before running out of ammunition and surrendering. Kershaw describes the hard-fought battle and the platoon’s leadership and courage during their subsequent brutal treatment as POWs. Amazingly, all of the men survived the war and received medals for their bravery.

— William D. Bushnell

Don’t Get Caught by New Bankruptcy Law

Premature death, divorce, and small-business failure all can lead to filing personal bankruptcy, which approximately 1.6 million Americans did in 2004. Personal bankruptcy comes in two forms: Chapter 7 (complete debt elimination) and Chapter 13 (debt reorganization and repayment plan). Under a new law slated to take effect Oct. 17, 2005, it will become much more difficult to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Major changes include:

• Means testing: Households with income above the state’s median income for a family of four that have the ability to repay $6,000 or more over five years will be forced to choose the less lenient Chapter 13. Those that have more than $100 a month left after court-approved expenses also will have to file Chapter 13.
   
• Debt counseling: Individual debtors must obtain and show proof of qualified credit counseling within 180 days of filing for bankruptcy.
   
• Credit card purchases: Debtors are required to repay all credit card purchases made within 90 days of filing.
   
• Homestead exemption: The new rules require a two-year residency program to qualify for a full homestead exemption.
   
• Autos: Debtors must repay an auto loan or surrender the vehicle.
   
• Retirement funds: Debtors receive full protection for IRAs and Roth IRAs up to $1 million.

TRICARE Update

Continued Health Care Benefits Program (CHCBP): If you disenroll from TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), you can apply for temporary, transitional medical coverage under the CHCBP. CHCBP is a premium-based health care program and is similar to, but not part of, TRICARE. You and your eligible family members must enroll in CHCBP within 30 days after losing TRS eligibility. You could be eligible for coverage under CHCBP up to 18 months after TRS ends. Benefits under CHCBP are virtually the same as those under TRS.

The CHCBP program is administered by Humana Military Healthcare Services Inc. Visit www.humanamilitary.com or call (800) 444-5445 to receive your CHCBP Enrollment Package. You will receive a booklet with more information about the program and an application. If you decide to enroll, Humana Military will notify you once your application has been received and provide you with a CHCBP identification card.

Nutrition Notes

Fat — we all want to lose it. Nutritionists recommend no more than 20 percent to 35 percent of total calories come from fat, with less than 10 percent total calories in saturated fats (which most often come from animal products). Though some fat is needed to assure adequate intake and absorption of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins, too much fat in our bodies is unhealthy and can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers, and other diseases.

Prepared foods often are 30 percent to 50 percent fat. However, you can adjust your recipes at home to reduce the amount of fat in foods. For more ideas about easy low-fat cooking and eating, visit MOAA’s Web Base at www.moaa.org/wellness and click on Nutrition Notes.

— Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, USPHS-Ret.

Scholarship Spotlight

Lyndsey Scott currently is majoring in international affairs and economics at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. After graduation, she plans to follow in the footsteps of her father, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott, by launching a career in the Navy.

Why did you join the Navy? I can’t imagine not being involved with the military because it feels so natural to me. I also really wanted to use my international affairs major, and I’ll be able to do that as a naval intelligence officer, which is exciting.

How has The Scholarship Fund of MOAA helped you? The money has helped me because I don’t have to work as much when I am in school, and I can participate in organizations such as the University Program Board, which coordinates educational, cultural, and entertainment activities for students.

The scholarship fund also was a godsend this summer because it provided me with the money I needed to participate in a four-week study abroad program in Ghana. Unfortunately I got malaria while I was there, but I only spent one day in bed because I didn’t want to miss out on anything.

How are you feeling? I’m feeling better, and I no longer fear malaria.

Do you have any lifelong career goals? A career in the Navy is not out of the question, but I’m going to take it one tour at a time. Even if I don’t make a career out of the Navy, I still want to be involved with the military and help the troops.

—Kris Ann Hegle

Attention!

Check out these military-related entertainment offerings.

Voices of Courage: The Battle for Khe Sanh, Vietnam (Bulfinch Press, 2005, $35): Historian Douglas Brinkley and Vietnam veteran Ronald J. Drez describe the 77 days of intense combat at Khe Sanh. The book is accompanied by two CDs with the testimonies of soldiers, some recorded hours before dying in combat.

The National Defense: The Veterans of Foreign Wars and Kansas City 710KCMO have launched a new Sunday afternoon radio talk show to help raise awareness of veterans’ issues. To listen online, go to www.710kcmo.com and complete a registration form.

1776 (Simon & Schuster, 2005, $35): Historian David McCullough discusses military actions in this important year in American history, addressing the conditions faced by troops, the role of weather, and the importance of motivation and troop morale.

Choosing Students for Scholarship Fund

The Scholarship Fund of MOAA provides financial help for a college education to children of servicemembers, regardless of their rank. During the selection process for the interest-free loans and grants, each applicant is scored on three equally weighted criteria: academic record, financial need, and activities. MOAA never considers a parent’s rank as a part of the selection criteria. Any applicant who is a good, solid student has a chance to get into the program based on his or her own merit.

The Scholarship Fund Board provides MOAA with the number of students to be selected, based on the fund’s budget and number of openings in the program. Following the board’s guidance, MOAA selects semifinalists and requests documentation to verify their application information and ensure they are children of military parents. MOAA then selects the recipients of the awards. For more information, visit www.moaa.org.