Fighting Back

I felt compelled to reply to Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr.’s “From the President” column [“Still Fighting,” September 2005]. I, too, am concerned about the apparent growing sentiment among lawmakers over the lack of value they have attached to military service in general, and more specifically, retirement benefits.

Having watched Congress in action as we all have over the years, I can see legislators offering up reduced retirement benefits or longer service requirements for future military servicemembers similar to what they did in the mid-1980s.

However, the admiral made one particular statement that I found to be quite disturbing, and I quote, “As you move into the next phase of your life or enjoy the current one, you cannot rest and depend on ‘the system’ to continue to recognize the full value of your service and sacrifices.” Is the admiral actually suggesting that Congress (the system) could, would, or might decide to take away more retired benefits from current retirees, and could this mean a reduction in current retired pay? As I continued to look through the magazine, I saw dozens of ads of smiling retirees in their retirement villages living the good life. How long would that last if retired pay were reduced?

Maj. John Sabatello, USA-Ret.
via e-mail

I’m tired of being the target of the top officials at DoD who blame the cost of military retirees and their benefits [for] damaging the war effort [“Still Fighting”].

I enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November 1942, served three years on active duty, and elected to reenlist in the reserves. … At no time did I negotiate with Congress for retirement benefits; they were always offered me as an inducement to remain a reservist. Retirement benefits were always promised as a bonus for staying in.

Now that I’ve completed my 42 years as a reservist, I am one of the group that is blamed for the shortcomings of top-level planners.

If Congress and the secretary of Defense are unwilling to shoulder the responsibility for honoring their commitments to military retirees, they should right now cancel all benefits being offered as inducements to recruit and retain members of the Reserve and National Guard.

Col. Al Boeck Jr., USAF-Ret.
via e-mail

Unfunny Funnies

Imagine my dismay at your glowing review of the latest Doonesbury book, The Long Road Home [“Rapid Fire,” September 2005]. Are you not familiar with Garry Trudeau’s virulently antiwar, anti-Iraq statements? He uses his B.D. character to emphasize, from his leftist view, the futility of fighting for America and the U.S. military. Is your staff oblivious, naïve, or — worse — antimilitary? If an organization such as MOAA promotes antimilitary ideas as espoused by the likes of Trudeau, is it any wonder that the public is confused by the correctness of our cause?

As for the foreword by Sen. John McCain: I honor his sense of duty during his captivity but deplore his lack of sensitivity to the ramifications of his endorsement of Trudeau.

Maj. Fred B. Thompson III, USA-Ret.
via e-mail

Enlistment Woes

I have mixed feelings about [“Discouraging Enlistment Hurts Defense” in “Washington Scene,” September 2005]. I fully understand MOAA’s position, and for the most part I support it. A strong military is always going to be the strength of our nation, regardless of the foolishness of our elected representatives.

However, even though I have never been asked by a possible recruit about military service (I served 20 years active, three years Active Reserve), I would have difficulty recommending someone enlist under the current attitude of those same legislators who do not adequately appreciate the service of the military.

Count the broken promises of medical care, reduction of medical treatment for veterans, current problems with wounded servicemembers receiving complete and timely medical care, and numerous other cuts in military benefits for servicemembers. It makes it most difficult to tell our young men and women they will be fairly treated in the service.

Maj. Bob Yeager, USA-Ret.
via e-mail

I have been following the stories about the difficulty recruiters are having in achieving their goals, particularly in the Army. [“Discouraging Enlistment …”] states that a major cause for low recruitment numbers is the negative effect of the “influen­cers” of the youth being recruited and negative reporting about the war.

In my opinion, recruiters have a tough job due in part to the possibility of multiple deployments to combat zones that a recruit could be facing. I believe the influencers’ lack of support is a reflection of an increasingly unpopular war.

Don’t blame the moms or the press for this situation. Maintaining a strong national defense is a major function of any administration. The current administration has a very poor record of supporting the troops with the materials needed to perform their duties as well as overcommitting units to combat areas. These failures and many other related failures have done more to create the recruiting shortages than the moms or the press.

Lt. Col. Robert Lowe, USAF-Ret.
Simi Valley, Calif.

Retirement Issues

[“Home Hunting,” September 2005, included the statement] “Also note that a significant part of your rent and entrance fee is deductible on your income tax return.” If this is true for independent living at a life care community, could the tax code reference please be identified or the statement amplified for a better explanation?

Capt. Michael Jensen, USPHS-Ret.
via e-mail

Editor’s note: According to IRS publication 502, page 9, “Lifetime Care — Advance Payments,” the portion of life care fees that is “properly allocated” to cover medical care is deductible as a medical expense. You can download that publication at
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf.

Here is a tip to ease “Moving On” [September 2005]: Take a quick digital picture of each memento before you sell, give, or throw it away. Thousands of these photos can fit on a single CD, be shared, and easily be brought to a smaller future residence.

My son just left for boot camp. As he cleaned out his room before he left, he snapped photos of his childhood toys and mementos. I told him to snap his duty stations and mementos as he continues his Navy career. I wish I had had this technology when I did my many [permanent change of station] dumps in my career.

Lt. Col. Charles Arndt, USA-Ret.
Prairie Village, Kan.