SBP Dissatisfaction

I want to echo the sentiments of comments on the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) made in "Your Views" [February 2003] by [Lieutenant Colonel Gardiner].

I am 86 years of age and a veteran of two of our wars. I, too, took out the SBP annuity … and have been paying the maximum monthly premium for the original 55 percent payout for more than 30 years. That maximum premium is still being taken out of my retirement pay even though the Congress cut that benefit to 35 percent. …

At our ages, when I pass on, my wife could not possibly draw anywhere near the amount of money I have paid into the SBP trust fund. …

We took the SBP annuity at its inception in good faith thinking it would all (including Social Security) be there when we pass on. How easily new congressional people disregard the promises of past Congresses! …

The SBP 30 years, paid-in-full law that goes to 2008 certainly looks like an intended date to allow the demise of most if not all of us World War II veterans to save on money! What a way to treat our military sacrifices!

I just hope somebody will correct the SBP law to help us rather than continue the hurt! The 30-year limitation on payments to SBP should be changed at least to 2003 and not five years from now!

Lt. Col. Lee H. Hilliard, USA-Ret.
Havana, Fla.

Editor's note: The SBP age-62 annuity reduction was in the original 1972 law. Many retirees understandably think Congress changed the law later to require it. But the Department of Defense and the services didn't adequately tell retirees about it until years later. MOAA supports legislation to implement 30-year paid-up SBP in 2003. Turn to "Fighting for Fairness," page 69, for more information about SBP.

I have paid into SBP since its conception. … At that time, there was no mention of any deduction of the Social Security payment that my wife would receive upon my death.

Now Congress has passed a bill that is supposed to be a great benefit for all military personnel, both active and retired, who participate in the program. We won't have to pay any more monthly premiums as soon as we have completed paying for 30 years. I have already thanked my representatives for getting me nothing with this bill. …[I]t doesn't take effect until the year 2008!

Just how many retirees who already have completed 30 years of payment are going to be around in that year? Most of us are in the 80 to 90 years age bracket at the present time. There is no doubt in my mind that if this pertained to Congress, it would have become effective the day after the bill was passed.

Maj. James J. Tighe, USAR-Ret.
Riverside, Calif.

I Can See Clearly Now

Thank you very much to Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., M.A., for the article about cataract surgery ["Ask the Doctor," February 2003]. … It describes the success of my cataract surgery to a tee.

Before my onset of cataracts, my vision had deteriorated terribly due to exaggerated myopia. And the problems only worsened with the advent of cataracts, to the extent that my ophthalmologist told me I could no longer renew my driver's license. My "coke-bottle bottoms" glasses had reached their max in helping me to see, and I was virtually colorblind.

All those problems vanished with cataract surgery, which I had in December 1990 and March 1991. My vision is now 20-30 in both eyes - corrected to 20-20 - and I have never had a minute's problem or a moment of regret. I hope your article encourages anyone who has doubts about such surgery.

Cmdr. Richard W. Jones, USN-Ret. San Diego

1,001 Uses for Butter

Your story in February's Encore, "A Pound of Butter," about an American officer who generously shared some very-hard-to-get butter with a French two-star general and everyone else in a restaurant outside of Tunis, is great. I can't help remembering an incident my husband, Henry T. ["Hank"] DeRosa, then a lieutenant with an ordnance company, told me about butter [during] wartime.

It was probably in 1943 in southern France not far from Marseilles that he and a few other officers went to a French restaurant for dinner. All the electricity was gone, so the place was dark - no lights, no nothing. One of Hank's creative buddies procured a goodly amount of butter intended for the mess hall. What they did was put it in a container and light it. Voila! The Americans had saved the day. All the folks in the restaurant were delighted.

Barbara H. DeRosa
Southbury, Conn.

Hey Mickey!

I read of Mickey Rooney's visit to the Tampa Chapter ["Field Visits," February 2003] and recalled my association in re Mickey.

In 1944, I was the assistant adjutant general of the 37th AAA Brigade headquartered in Los Angeles. Mickey was inducted into the Army, and the Induction Station assigned him to our headquarters. …

Since we were considered a combat unit, and since we had no openings or slots for entertainers, when I saw the orders come before me, I asked our commanding general (CG) whether he wanted to accept [Rooney] - he had had no basic training as yet. The CG put the onus on my back, and said "If you can sign him, and if he is trained, ok; otherwise transfer him out."

Guess what? I transferred him out!

Maj. Raymond W. Conlin, USA-Ret.
via e-mail

Rock Steady

I'd like to confirm Colonel Giaimo's information concerning widows (or widowers) ["Chapter Activities," February 2003]. My husband was not a member of TROA, but that did not keep them from helping me. …

I consider MOAA my rock of stability when it comes to information, benefits, and just plain old friendship and encouragement.

Jackie DeThorne
via e-mail

MOAA Member for Life

I enjoy the articles in the magazine and support and assist in lobbying efforts by contacting my congressmen and/or the president on important issues when requested. …

However, I hope that the recent solicitation for MOAA Life Membership I received is not indicative of things to be expected with the name change - I have been a TROA Life Member since 1985!

Maj. Douglas O. Cruce, USA-Ret.
Leavenworth, Kan.

Editor's note: Several Life Members mistakenly received a mailing soliciting Life Memberships. Be assured that MOAA's membership records are complete and accurate, and the association is taking steps to ensure such a mistake doesn't happen again.