Legislative Battles

Wow! Congratulations! It has been well worth the wait and fighting the battle for so many years!

Combat-Related Special Compensation gives me $2,239 a month plus the $17,636 in retroactive compensation I received Feb. 6, 2004. As Vermont Gov. Howard Dean would say—yeaaggh!

Thanks to MOAA and those few individuals like myself who refused to quit! Continue to march!

Lt. Col. R. Rainville, USA-Ret.
San Antonio

I tend to suffer from a mild case of schizophrenia whenever I read “Washington Scene.” … The reasons for my delusions and hallucinations are the actions of our supposed champions, our “friends and supporters” at DoD and the Office of Management and Budget. The March issue illustrates the problem: “Rx Copayments Safe ... for Now.” Or, “Army Will Get More Troops.” Sounds good until one reads of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s “adamant refusal to consider an end-strength increase for active duty or Guard and Reserve forces.”

It is also tremendously frustrating reading about the Survivor Benefit Plan battle in Congress and MOAA’s valiant efforts to obtain for military widows the same survivor benefits afforded federal civilian survivors. That’s an issue that should be a slam dunk, because it is so obviously unfair. I wonder whether MOAA receives any support on that subject, moral or otherwise, from DoD or the administration.

With friends like these ...

Lt. Col. Robert Sandla, USA-Ret.
via e-mail

Sing Another Song

I enjoyed “Songs of War,” but I think you missed one that helped those of us assigned to Vietnam more than any other. In the midst of all the antiwar songs, Barry Sadler’s “Ballad of The Green Berets” was released in 1966. … We played it loud when we were in the bush (unless we were in quiet mode). It seemed to have a psychological effect on the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army that made them more terrified when we attacked—maybe the same effect the North Koreans and Chinese had on us when they attacked blowing bugles during the Korean action.

CWO3 Anthony Baune, USA-Ret.
Las Vegas

I greatly enjoyed David Dayton’s article “Songs of War” in the April issue. However, I feel there were several major omissions:

1. The Civil War song “Battle Cry of Freedom” is probably the most stirring military song ever written.

2. The World War I song “Over There” by George M. Cohan also should have been mentioned.

3. In regard to World War II, “Remember Pearl Harbor” and “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” should have been included in addition to “God Bless America.”

Cmdr. H. Chisholm, USNR-Ret.
Alexandria, Va.

Reserve Challenges

I especially enjoyed the cover story about Lt. Gen. James Helmly’s plan for modernizing and transforming the Army Reserve [“Standing Up for His Troops,” April 2004], a task that’s critical to our Army and nation. It doesn’t surprise me that Helmly’s been an active and aggressive leader in reshaping the Army Reserve so it’s better positioned to support our military commitments around the world.

A successful military relies on the energy, vigor, and idealism of youth and the wisdom and intellectual refinement that come only with experience. There’s no doubt that Helmly’s tours of duty in Vietnam are the basis of his understanding and appreciation of soldiers and their strengths and limitations. His body of knowledge, developed over the past 38 years, is absolutely crucial to the Army Reserve’s future success.

Col. Chuck Hurlbut, AUS-Ret.
via e-mail

I agree strongly … that “defense and congressional leaders need to get real in assessing how often we can continue to call [reservists] to active duty” [“Washington Scene,” March 2004]. I don’t see how any member of the Guard or Reserve can support a family under the new mobilization policy: one year or more of active duty every four or five years. What kind of job can you return to with such frequent and lengthy absences? Certainly not a management or professional career. And how can servicemembers maintain health insurance intermittently?

This mobilization policy is a big issue, and more compensation and benefits won’t suffice. I … joined the Army in 1975 when morale was near its lowest point and served in the Army reserve for another 15 years after my active duty commitment, at a cost to my civilian career. But I had to request retirement prematurely last November when I evaluated this new policy against my family’s needs and my CPA practice.

The question is, how many people can afford to stay in? Is MOAA measuring this and hollering at Congress? What can be done to meet our defense manpower needs after this administration runs off those who can’t accommodate so much mobilization? With all due respect, I think they have their heads in the sand.

Lt. Col. Michael Gray, USA-Ret.
Lago Vista, Texas

Keys to Camaraderie

My wife and I just spent a month at the Key West Naval Air Station and thoroughly enjoyed the many recreational opportunities available there, none of which were mentioned in [“Keys to Paradise,” March 2004].

For example, the Boca Chica Marina and Beach offers a white sand beach and swimming area, boat and kayak rental, and a great place to grab something to eat. There are rental units available for families and a Navy lodge on base. Sigsbee offers the Sunset Lounge for food, drinks, and entertainment as well as a beautiful place to watch the sunset. Trumbo Annex offers a water park for small children and a pool. …

As a retired military officer, I enjoy the camaraderie the military facilities offer and highly recommend my fellow service members support Morale, Welfare, and Recreation and these facilities.

Lt. Forrest Yaste, USN-Ret.
via e-mail

Gift of Life

While I appreciate the encouragement to donate blood [“News Notes,” March 2004], I also feel it would be appropriate to encourage donations to the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP), available at many bases. I … run the blood donor center at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Texas. ...

Civilian donor centers have blood available for us to buy if the ASBP can’t meet its quotas, but the price is [high], especially if we have military and retired military servicemembers who ... could be donating to the ASBP. Could you add the ASBP to your list of places to donate? The Web site is www.tricare.osd.mil/asbpo.

Lt. Col. Wayne Mollhoff, USAR
El Paso, Texas

Correction: On page 78 of the April issue, Lt. Col. G.R. VanLaethem, USA-Ret., incorrectly was listed in “Sounding Taps” in place of his father, Col. Fernand VanLaethem, USA-Ret. We deeply regret this error.