The American Legion Magazine, a Leader Among National General-Inter- Est Publications, Is Published Monthly by the American Legion for Its 2.7 Million Members

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For God and Country

Vol. 150, No. 5 The Magazine for a Strong America MAY 2001 ARTICLES

NO ORDIIMRY EHCTION By Man Dowd

A lesson in democracy and military vote-counting rises from the ruins of tfie 2000 election.

DANGEROUS CROSSROADS By Ben Barber Iranian reform movement escalates tiatred of America by weapon-hungry hard liners. 11

VIETNAM: SPINNING THE LEGACY By Fred Peck

Today's popular mythology about Vietnam is wrongly advanced by those who would not fight

WALLS OF WAR By Jeff staffer Priceless, provocative and publicly owned -that's the art collection inside the Pentagon.

PERILOUS PARALLELS By Franl( Gaffney Jr.

Downsized and overdeployed, today's U. S. military sees Pearl Harbor in the mirror 34

COURAGE IN THE NIGHT AT NAM DONG ByOanAtisup

Service and faith run in the veins of Vietnam Medal of Honor hero Roger Donlon. 40

REP. CHRIS SMITH: UNADASHED VETERANS ADVOCATE interview „ House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman stands ready to fight for those who served. il

BALLOONING FOR POWS ByLayne Cameron Organization travels the world, elevating public awareness for POWs and MIAs. 4a W D t P A R T M E N T S J

BIG ISSUES Do you support the nuclear test ban treaty? ID

VETVOICE 1 LEGION NEWS If COMRADES

COMMANDER'S MESSAGE i WASHINGTON WATCH 14 PARTING SHOTS i

VETERANS UPDATE iC

COVER Holding the light of sunset are the chiseled memories of those who gave their lives in the Vietnam War How accurately are we teaching our children the meaning behind the memorial? See Page 22. Stock f\/lar- ket photo

The American Legion Magazine, a leader among national general-interest publications, is published monthly by The American Legion for its 2.7 million members. These wartime veterans, working through 15,000 community-level Posts, dedicate themselves to God and Country and traditional American values; strong national security; adequate and com- passionate care for veterans, their widows and orphans; community service; and the wholesome development of our nation's youth.

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Advertising Advertising Manager Diane Andretti Advertising Assistant Laura Baker Surgeon General's Warning; Advertising Assistant Sara Palmer Quitting smoking now greatly reduces The American Legion Magazine serious risks to your health. P.O. Box 7068 Indianapolis, IN 46207 De u»_>xe 1 Publisher's Representatives Fox Associates, Inc. Sam up to 75% Chicago: 312-644-3888 New York: 212-725-2106 Los Angeles: 310-841-0280 Detroit: 248-543-0068 Atlanta: 404-252-0968 San Francisco: 415-989-5804 The American Legion Magazine Commission

Dennis J. Henkemeyer, Chairman, Sauk Rapids, MN; Samuel Barney. Vice Chairman, Lancaster, OH; Robert H. Allen, National Commander's Representative, Mechanlcsburg, PA;

Theodore R. Hartmann, Smithton, IL; Donald R. Conn, South Bend, IN; James W. Conway, Charlestown, MA; Hoy M. Haught, Huntsville, AR; James H. Hall, Hopewell, NJ; Bettylou

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If the U.S. govemment doesn't send ist for the vast majority of injured people. in on this trend. I sometimes wonder if the military in, they are negligent in pro- Most of the lawsuits listed in his arti- they didn't start the trend when they re- tecting citizens, especially the ones liv- alized they could make a fast buck at ing close to the border. My husband's someone else's expense. life was taken from him at 47, leaving WE WANT YOUR OPINrOIUS I agree with Quayle's analysis of the behind six children, four stepchildren situation, but as long as politicians have and a wife. How many more families their hands out and attomeys are willing The American Legion Magazine must suffer before the govemment takes to fill them, I see little chance of mean- welcomes letters conceming arti- control of our borders? ingful change. cles that appear in the publication. I urge all former military personnel - Douglas B. Eaby, Kirkwood, Penn. Be sure to include your hometown and their families to write Congress con- and a daytime phone number for cerning this invasion. We have left an verification. All letters are subject open door for crime and terrorism, and The trooble with lawyers to editing. Send your opinions to: our govemment is asleep. I find many problems with Dan - article tort reform. First, as Deborah Divver, Palominas, Ariz. The American Legion IVIagazine Quayle's on primary contributors to the P.O. Box 1055 one of the country's legal problems (by virtue of the Indianapolis, IN 46206 Proud to patrol fact that he is a lawyer), we should not You can also contact us via e- Your article on the U.S. Border Pa- put any stock in what any lawyer might mail directly or through the World trol's El Paso sector lacked only mention suggest to help improve the situation. Wide Web: of the many officers - men and women - Lawyers are trained to cause conflict and who belong to The American Legion. complicate matters. The more problems e-mail: [email protected] About 50 percent of El Paso Post 74 's they cause, the more they are paid. Internet: http://www.legion.org members, the only Legion law enforce- Quayle and many other lawyers ment specialty Post in Texas, were recmit- have long espoused having the losing

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party in a civil lawsuit pay all the Regarding President Bush, a Texas several of my fellow servicemen and I costs. This would shut out many small Air National Guard veteran, he is eligi- shared the belief that criminals in jail businesses and almost all individuals, ble for Legion membership because he maintained a higher standard of living and it would probably spawn a whole sen'ed on active duty for one year while than we did. We based that on the fact new industry: legal insurance. Most undergoing flight training during the that the criminal justice system spent lawyers salivate at the idea of tapping Vietnam War. three times our annual base pay on each into that kind of fund. prisoner. I would suggest the losing attorneys - Michael C. Thompson, Border, Ark. in civil cases not be paid at all. This Be patient wHh President would eliminate a whole bunch of Mick- I've been blessed to serve in our na- ey Mouse lawsuits. tion's armed forces on both active-duty Equal protection for all The basic problem is that lawyers in and reserve status for 26 years. During Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., be- this country make the laws, practice the that time, I have served under six Presi- lieves hate crimes need special prosecu- law and judge the laws. This kind of dents. While we should encourage our tion beyond existing local, state and fed- closed system can only lead to corrup- new commander in chief to make good eral statutes (Big Issues, "Is Hate- tion. Lawyers should be restricted to on all his promises, I feel we need to be Crimes Legislation Necessary?" practicing the law, and the other two patient. It is evident to me that we have a January). "Simply put, no person should functions should be completely separat- President who is taking a new approach live in fear because of his or her gender, ed from the first and each other. to his office. Thank God he intends to race ethnicity, disability or sexual orien- We have more lawyers in this country take time to properly research all areas of tation," he says. than any other - more than 1 million, I the armed forces, both active and retired, I agree. I also believe no person should believe. Why then, with all these lawyers to identify the needs of the soldier and live in fear because he or she supervises running around - all of whom are sworn veteran alike. other workers, helps collect taxes, works to uphold the law - don't we have the I certainly hope we give our new for the U.S. Post Office, promotes protec- most crime- and corruption-free country President the time needed to carefully tion of gun owners' constitutional rights, on earth? construct policies that will benefit active- wears a U.S. military uniform while in or

Ask that question of any lawyer, and duty personnel and veterans. We saw fit attending a parade, fells trees for a living, see if you get an answer. I have not to be patient with the last administration; works in a women's clinic or performs an- been able to. let's give President Bush a chance to imal research. - Dan Flanigan, Richardson, Texas show us he will stand by his word. Why single out race and gender? The - John M. Dobranski, Elmira, N.Y. answer is clear: the political correctness of the moment and resulting votes. I Is Bush truly a veteran? couldn't help but notice that Capuano's If a person never received a DD 214 Scouts in good hands example of a disability is "your son ... a and is not considered a veteran, how can I was thrilled to read that Roy limp . . . birth injury," not "soldier ... fa- he be a member of The American Le- Williams had been cial bums and missing arm . . . combat gion? Also, give us the status on Presi- named National wound . . . Vietnam." dent Bush. I've noticed him with a Le- Chief Scout Execu- - Otis F. Curtis, Brookings, S.D. gion cap on, as though he's a veteran. tive of the Boy Does he have a DD 214? And while he Scouts of America was in the Guard, was his unit activated? ("Embattled Boy Corrections Please answer so we all can know the Scouts Moving Editor's note: The On Duty article truth about the service record of our new Ahead," February). "Raiders of WWII Marine Raiders commander in chief. I knew Roy when Brought Home" (February) incorrectly - Frank Clark. Springfield, Mo. he served the Boy identified U.S. Marine Medal of Honor Scouts in Rhode recipient Sgt. Clyde Thomason. Roy Williams Editor' s Note: The American Le- Island. I am confi- The Veterans Update article "TRI- gion' s eligibility criteria for National dent in his ability to lead the Scouts CARE Provides New Benefits" (March) Guard and Reserves personnel are no through the difficult times they are now listed incorrect Web addresses for TRI- different than active-duty personnel: facing and to resolve the issue in the best CARE and Medicare. The correct Web one day offederal active duty during interests of the boys, not what happens to addresses are www.tricare.osd.mil/deers one of the eligibility periods and an be politically correct at the moment. address/ and www. medicare .gov/ honorable discharge or still serving - Lon Jamison, Wickford, RJ. basics/oveniew.asp. honorably. Also, the article "Taiwan-Formosa However, the eligibility criteria for Veterans Sought" listed an incorrect e- National Guard and Reser\'es personnel Lousy pay indeed mail address for the Badge ofHonor As- to receive VA benefits are different. I just read the article "Making the sociation. The organization s correct e- Compensation for disability and all oth- Connection" (February). A few of the mail address is [email protected], er benefits, excluding education and author's comments hit close to home for and its Web address is www.taiwan home-loan guarantees, require at least me, especially the one about soldiers' vets.com.

180 days ofsenice. lousy pay. While I served on active duty. We apologize for the errors.

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HE MEANING of Memorial Day the services, prayers and parades for fall- permanently deepened for me af- en soldiers became something to do if the ter the Fourth of July 1953. On fish weren't biting.

that patriotic day, I was flying over the Pacific with the 19th The Birthplace of Memorial Day. One Bomb Wing of the 20th Air Force place where the holiday's original intent when someone handed me a remains unchanged is Waterloo, N.Y., telegram. The message stated that which in 1966 was proclaimed by Presi- my brother, U.S. Army Pfc. dent Lyndon Johnson as the official birth- Charles C. Smith, was killed in action place of Memorial Day. June 18. The feeling I had at that moment Shortly after the Civil War ended, a I'll never be able to adequately describe Waterloo druggist named Henry Welles or forget. Twenty-four days later, the collaborated with Union Gen. John B. shooting stopped. Murray to organize a local tribute for the My brother was one of more than war dead. The program included proces- 34,000 Americans whose supreme sacri- sions to and from the cemeteries, military fice halted the violent communist inva- music, speeches, wreaths, crosses and sion and occupation of South Korea. And bouquets. Of all the earliest such remem- he was one among nearly 625,000 brave brances (and there were many to heal the Americans who died fighting in a U.S. Civil War's wounds), Waterloo's 1866 uniform during the 20th century. program most closely resembled Memor- Since the Vietnam War, thankfully, ial Days to come. at two different cemeteries. Gulf War, those dreaded telegrams have been com- A pristine village of about 5,300 in Vietnam, Korea and World War n veter- ing fewer and farther between. Less than western New York's scenic Finger Lakes ans - along with Boy Scouts and Girl

1 percent of Americans killed in action region, Waterloo still follows its original Scouts - will parade past the museum and during the 20th century fell after 1975, a Memorial Day model, drawing thousands attend an evening program at the Post. statistic that is perhaps the greatest legacy of visitors each year, even when it's not "There are no horses, no carnivals, no rock of all for those like my brother. The on a Monday. In 1966, to celebrate the oc- 'n' roll bands," Lewis says. "Everything is downside is that today few Americans casion's centennial, a 22-room Memorial patriotic. A lot of politicians are invited younger than 45 understand what Memo- Day Museum opened to the public. here, but they're not here to promote their rial Day really means. To Jim Lewis, a member of Waterloo's pohtics. It's our day, not theirs." Warner VanRiper Post 435, the deeper The Date Matters. For too many Ameri- meaning of Memorial Day does not get A Tree of Many Roots. Though officially cans, the original meaning of Memorial lost in the crowd. A U.S. Army medical proclaimed as Memorial Day's birthplace, Day has drifted away with the barbecue corpsman during the Korean War, he Waterloo was not alone in its rever- smoke. Taking a three-day weekend on routinely risked his life to save ence for the dead after the smoke whatever date the last Monday of May others who were wounded in lifted from the battlefields of the falls, more and more families regard this battle. Many didn't make it. CivU War. important patriotic holiday as little more "A lot of people saw more The little vUlage of Boals- than a swinging gate to summer vacation. than I did, but it still really burg, Pa., traces its Memorial

Off to the mountains, beaches and theme hurts whenever 1 hear Day lineage to October 1864. parks they go. 'Taps,'" Lewis says. "You Many cities across the South The American Legion certainly has never lose that memory." also have Memorial Day roots nothing against three-day weekends or After the war, he came home that date back to the end of the summer vacations, but we do believe to Waterloo and immediately joined Civil War. In all, some two-dozen Memorial Day deserves its moment of The American Legion, which plays a ma- communities have claimed to be the birth- traditional reflection at the same time jor role in the village's big Memorial Day place of Memorial Day. each year. For those who don't remem- observances each year. Lewis' dedica- The fact is that Memorial Day was not ber. May 30 used to be the official date - tion, enthusiasm and leadership haven't bom so much in a particular place as in the Monday or not - to salute those who gave wavered in more than 40 years. "I learned collective hearts of 19th-century Ameri- their lives in battle. Formerly known as very quickly in Korea three words that cans feeling the same indescribable flood "Decoration Day," the holiday's defini- meant a lot - duty, God and country," of emotions I felt on the Fourth of July tion broadened over time to honor the Lewis says. "I still live by those words." 1953 in Korea. It's difficult to put into memories of civilians and soldiers alike. This year, Waterloo recognizes words what we should always remember That was fine, but once the date started Memorial Day on a Wednesday. Prayers, to celebrate on Memorial Day. That's jumping around on the calendar, too often wreaths, flowers and "Taps" are planned what makes it special, lest we forget.

• • D THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE MAY 2001 ,

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Do YDU SlPPOm Tll[ NUtlEIII liSI UN IR[II1Y?

Sen. Larry Craig, R-ldaho Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Dei.

I opposed the ratification of the There is one com.pelling rea- Comprehensive Test Ban son to ratify the Comprehen- Treaty last year, and if this dam- sive Test Ban Treaty: because aging national-security issue is m it is in our national interest. raised again, I will oppose it again. If I Who says? Gen. Henry Shelton, chair- thought supporting the CTBT would man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified make the threat of nuclear war disappear that all the chiefs favored U.S. ratifica- and give us all greater security from tion of the CTBT. His four predecessors these lethal weapons, I would not hesi- as chairman - including Gen. Colin tate in giving my support. Powell, now secretary of state - also supported ratification. Implementing this treaty would likely increase danger to Why have top military leaders supported this treaty? Re- U.S. citizens and troops in the field. Ratification would prohib- tired Gen. John Shalikashvili wrote: "The treaty is a very im-

it the United States from conducting explosive tests of nuclear portant part of global nonproliferation efforts and is compafible

weapons of any kind. This would endanger U.S. national secu- with keeping a safe, reliable U.S. nuclear deterrent. ... I fear

rity and weaken our military arsenal, limiting our ability to re- that the longer entry into force is delayed, the more likely it is spond to new threats. that other countries will move irrevocably to acquire nuclear The center of U.S. defense policy is deterrence. Key to that weapons or significantly improve their current nuclear arsenal,

deterrence is the credible threat of retaliation against those who and the less likely it is that we could mobilize a strong interna- would harm the United States tional coalition against such

and its citizens. This threat can activities." "Our foreign policy "Maintaining our only remain credible if our The CTBT bars all nu-

cannot be based on stockpile of weapons is reliable clear explosions, significant- own weapons without a view of the world and modernized. The CTBT ly constraining nuclear pro- testing is a challenge, runs counter to this objective. liferation. country may de- through rose-colored A but it's one we Our foreign policy cannot velop simple nuclear devices glasses." can meet." be based on a view of the without testing but will lack world through rose-colored confidence in them as glasses. Decisions must be made on the assessment of the clear weapons. More importantly, without testing, countries cannot and present danger to the United States now and in the future. develop more sophisticated nuclear weapons such as ther- The CTBT will do nothing to stop proliferation, even if test- monuclear weapons or weapons for ballistic missiles. Presi-

ing is thwarted. This treaty is based on the flawed assumprion dent Bush says we have no need to test nuclear weapons or to

that prohibiting nuclear testing will stop rogue nations from de- develop new designs; it is clearly in our interest that other veloping nuclear weapons. However, this assumption fails to countries not test, either. acknowledge that rogue nations could likely be satisfied with Opponents of ratification warn that others might cheat and crude devices that may or may not hit intended targets, killing that confidence in our own nuclear weapons might degrade innocent civilians. over time. Frankly, some cheating might occur. No treaty is Some would have you believe that if the United States perfectly verifiable, but this treaty enhances our monitoring stopped testing nuclear weapons, other countries would cease ability by giving us access to additional sensors around the as well. Those of us who understand military affairs know that world. Furthermore, the most feasible cheating scenarios could nations like North Korea, Libya or Iran would not end nuclear only be implemented by experienced nuclear powers and development just because the United States does. would not significantly advance their weaponry. Thanks to

The paramount question before us is whether ratificafion of U.S. and international monitoring capabilities, there is little the CTBT will increase our own national security. The sad truth likelihood that a country with no experience could test a nu-

is that it would be counteiproductive and dangerous to Ameri- clear weapon covertly. ca's national security. Moreover, the implication of ratifying the Maintaining our own weapons without testing is a chal-

CTBT is ultimate nuclear disar- lenge, but it's one we can meet. mament of the United States. If Shalikashvili recommends the United States cannot main- improving U.S. monitoring ca- tain a safe and reliable stockpile Senators and representatives are interested in con- pabilities and stockpile stew- writ- of weapons and is baired from stituent viewpoints. You may express your views by ardship. I agree. We should do ing The Honorable (name), U.S. Senate, Washington, DC testing them, disannament will that this year. Then we should 20510, or Thie Honorable (name), House of Representa- the courage to say "yes" be the de facto policy. The tives, Washington, DC 20515. You may call the Senate at muster United States cannot afford this (202) 224-3121; the House at (202) 225-3121. to a treaty that will help combat dangerous consequence. nuclear proliferation.

• LEGION • 2001 ID THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE MAY .

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What happened to Florida's absentee military ballots, Florida election spawned 52 lawsuits, tying up cour- it and how do we prevent from happening again? thouses from Miami to Tallahassee to Atlanta to By Alan W. Dowd democracy. Tragically, a handful of Washington, D.C. Gore people lost sight of this during the bare- surrogates are quick to

fe deal here not with knuckle political brawl that marked point out that it was Bush

' an ordinary election, Florida's vote-counting spectacle. Their who filed suit first, Nov.

but with an election drive to win at all costs would disfran- 1 1 , when his lawyers tried for the President of chise the very people who protect and to block Gore's request for hand

the United States." preserve our own right to vote. recounts of 1 .8 million votes in southern So wrote Chief Jus- Florida.

tice William Rehn- Blame Game. No one is blameless in the But that's only part of the picture. It quist as he outlined Florida election fiasco. Local election was Gore who first dispatched Warren his pivotal opinion in officials designed confusing ballots. Tens Christopher and 75 lawyers to Horida's the case of George W. Bush vs. Albert of thousands of Floridians ignored the 67 counties the morning after the elec-

Gore Jr. By a single vote, Rehnquist's mles when casting their ballots. Driven to tion, as if it were some banana republic. decision would shut down Florida's be first, the television media outscooped Soon after. Bush sent James Baker and problematic recount and mercifully themselves and prematurely called the his own team of lawyers. Of course, those end the 2000 election. state for Gore, only to later declare Bush legal cards couldn't have been played

The Court's 5-4 decision was a fit- the winner without bothering to check were it not for the Florida Supreme ting conclusion to the 36-day election Florida's automatic recount rules. Court, which overstepped its constitution- ordeal. In the five weeks between that The state's rickety election system al bounds by extending the state's certifi- moment - Judgment Day - and Election nearly collapsed under the strain of the cation deadline and, in effect, changing Day, Americans were repeatedly presidential photo finish, although Flori- Rorida's election law midstream. reminded of how precious and powerful da wasn't alone: Days, and in some cas- In its own words, Florida's chastened a single vote can be. As the Florida es weeks, would pass before winners high court conceded that "the develop- Supreme Court declared during the were declared in Oregon, where 0.4 ment of a specific, uniform standard - post-election chaos, "The right to suf- percent was the winning margin; Iowa, to secure the fundamental right to vote frage is the pre-eminent right, for with- where 0.3 percent separated the candi- throughout the state of Florida - should out this basic freedom all others would dates; Wisconsin, where 0.2 percent be left to the body we believe best be diminished." separated them; or New Mexico, where equipped to study and address it, the In other words, to paraphrase Chief a ballot-thin .09 percent separated victor Legislature." If only the court had

Justice Rehnquist, the right to vote is and vanquished by just 546 votes. grasped that a month earlier. not just any ordinary right - it is the Both campaigns played the legal And the list of those who played a essential, defining ingredient of a card early and often. The disputed part in Florida's ordeal goes on. How-

12 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 "

"The right to suffrage is

the pre-eminent right,

for without this basic

freedom all others would be diminished.

- Florida Supreme Court

determined by tary ballots in specific. As Wall Street the will of the Journal columnist John Fund reported people." months before the election, a sizable The Florida majority of overseas voters are Repub- Supreme Court lican, perhaps as many as 80 percent. agreed, adding The military absentee vote traditional- momentum and ly leans toward the Republican candi- legitimacy to date as well. And these late-arriving Gore's postelec- ballots can sometimes make or break a tion campaign. campaign. "The will of the "hi 1996 and 1998," Fund said, "as people," the high many as 15 House races were close court unanimous- enough to be determined by absentee ly concluded, ballots." (Hence the GOP's frustration "not a hypertech- over reports that California intended to

nical reliance leave its 2.7 million absentee ballots Broward County canvassing board member Judge Robert upon statutory uncounted. The reports turned out to be Rosenberg examines a disputed absentee ballot Nov. 25, 2000, at provisions, a hoax.) the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. should be our Unpredictable as it was in other as- guiding principle pects, the 2000 election held true to ever, when it comes to the state's mili- in election cases." All those involved, form when it came to overseas ballots. tary-absentee ballots, it's impossible to the seven justices intoned, should work According to the Florida Department of overlook the fact that Al Gore's lieu- "to reach the result that reflects the will State, Bush netted 1,575 overseas bal- tenants alone targeted and ultimately of the people." lots, while Gore won 836. prevented hundreds of servicemen and With the Florida Supreme Court's women from being heard in the election stirring words in mind, thousands of Taking Out the Trash. Long before of their commander in chief. election officials went to work, imitat- those numbers were final. Gore strate- ing Johnny Carson's "Camac the Mag- gists were exploring how to blunt Taking Aim. In the first days of the nificent" as they divined what each Bush's inevitable edge in overseas Florida photo finish, the Gore team smudge, dimple and crease meant. ballots. seemed committed to counting all the However, the same scrutiny given On Nov. 15, barely a week into the votes. Indeed, during the unpredictable to the ballots of Florida's retirees, Florida recount, Tallahassee lawyer overtime session of the 2000 election, it snowbirds and new citizens would not Mark Herron circulated his now-infa- became the vice president's slogan. be given to the ballots of the military mous memo to Gore's election moni- "It's important for the integrity of our teenagers and 20-somethings who were tors, who were stationed at canvassing democracy to make sure that every vote defending them. Even as the definition sites across the state. Herron 's memo is counted," he observed, staking out of a vote was being stretched beyond amounted to a step-by-step guide on the moral and political high ground in recognition in south Florida, Gore's how to challenge and disqualify the the process. Scolding Bush's lawyers foot soldiers were taking aim at the overseas ballots that promised to play a for trying to short-circuit the hand re- overseas absentee ballots that would pivotal role in determining the nation's count process. Gore campaign chairman eventually decide the election. 43rd President. Bill Daley added, "The presidency of The Gore team had good reason to Directing his colleagues to comb the the United States should not be deter- be concerned about the overseas ab- ballots for technical mistakes, Herron mined by technicaUties. It needs to be sentee ballots in general and the mili- explained how an overseas ballot could

2001 • • MAY THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE jj "

"The presidency of the United States should

not be determined by technicalities. It needs to

be determined by the will of the people.

- Bill Daley, Gore campaign chairman

freedom was tossed aside like trash. In back to the United States as quickly as Escambia County, home of Pensacola possible. Postmarks are often the least

Naval Air Station, 1 12 of 272 votes of their concern. were rejected. According to a Miami While Florida and a dozen other Herald investigation, "almost all [were] states require a postmark on overseas from military addresses." Duval County, absentee ballots, Herron's memo didn't which includes two Navy facilities, bother to mention that the Uniformed threw out 106 ballots. Orange County and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting

disqualified 1 17 and accepted only 30. Act, which govems expatriate participa-

Broward County tossed out 304 of its tion in federal elections, does not require overseas ballots. Republican attorney Fred Bartlit holds a 396 The Herald found ballots to be postmarked. list of rejected overseas ballots from that 246 of Broward's disqualified over- Herron and his colleagues appar- Pasco County, Fla., Nov. 24, 2000, dur- seas ballots were military. ently saw this disconnect between fed- ing a hearing in Leon County Circuit These weren't normal rejection per- eral and state law as an opportunity to Court in Tallahassee, Fla. The Bush cam- centages. In fact, thanks in large part to silence military voters. But according paign filed suit against 13 county can- Herron 's memo, the 2000 rejection rate to Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., who vassing boards to accept all overseas military ballots. was double the 1996 rate. Predictably, the chairs a House subcommittee on mili- most common reason election officials tary personnel, state law was irrele- be disqualified. Reasons ranged from cited for rejecting a ballot was an absent vant in the Florida absentee-ballot the voter not officially requesting the postmark, the pettiest of technicalities. controversy. ballot, to the voter failing to sign the It's petty because military mail is "This is a federal election," Buyer ex- outer envelope, to the voter failing to often shipped or airlifted without a post- plained during the recount dispute, "and have a witness notarize the ballot, to a mark. Rushed by deadlines, stretched the federal statute is what mles here." missing postmark. by special circumstances or limited by a Sadly, Florida election officials The memo included a sample protest lack of resources, APOs, FPOs and couldn't be persuaded. The damage had form, complete with a ready-made MPOs do their best just to get the mail already been done. checklist of reasons for rejecting the ballot. Apparently, some technicalities were important enough to disqualify a vote, but only Herron and Daley knew which ones. Gore supporters who defended the memo as an effort to preserve the integrity of the election were silenced by the missive's first paragraph and last page, which mentioned the armed forces by name and described the military's special postal designations. The memo's unambiguous intent was to weed out as many military ballots as possible. For Gore and Daley, the memo was effective. For Florida's overseas voters - most of them men and women in uniform - it was devastating. Of the 4,017 military and overseas ballots mailed back to Florida, 1 ,527 were rejected under Herron 's guidelines - a total of 38 percent. But true to the Constitution they defend, America's servicemen and women uttered barely a whisper in protest, standing watch on the lonely outposts of A demonstrator holds an American Flag and a sign during a rally in front of the Leon freedom, even as the symbol of their County Courthouse in Tallahassee, Fla., Dec. 5, 2000.

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bills would prohibit states from throw- ing out military absentee ballots "unless the state finds clear and convinc- ing evidence of fraud." "We must take action soon and solve this problem before another soldier,

sailor, airman or Marine is left out of the LI H ,. t mi munm voting process that ultimately selects Former Sen. Bob Dole speaks to Republican supporters about the ongoing recount their commander in chief," Riley said as of Florida's contested votes in front of the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Laud- erdale, Fla., Nov. 24, 2000. he introduced his reform proposal. Vitter agrees. "Trial lawyers and However, like the man who sows paign's ill-thought attack on military political operatives should not be al- the wind and reaps a whirlwind, the ballots. But the bluntest comments lowed to systematically eliminate the damage would come spinning back at came from Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., who legitimately cast ballots of servicemen Herron and Daley. said early on, "Any ballot from a man and women," he said. "Under my bill, Not only was the decision to go or woman in the military who is serving if men or women in the military made after the military ballots nakedly hyp- this country should be counted - period. a good-faith effort to vote, their votes ocritical given the Gore team's "every I don't care when it's dated, whether it's will count." vote must count" mantra, it was disre- witnessed or anything else. If it's from The only difference between the two spectful to the men and women in uni- someone serving this country count it bills is that Vitter's directs the Defense form. Targeting and trashing hundreds and salute them when you do it." Secretary to develop a plan for establish- of military ballots did not sit well with Despite Miller's verbal roundhouse ing a uniform electronic voting system the American people. In fact, just six and the media backlash, only 12 of Flori- for service members on deployment. days after Herron drafted his memo, da's 67 counties ultimately took a second Ironically, the Pentagon took its Gore's disapproval ratings rose nine look at their rejected military ballots. first, tentative steps into the brave new points in a CBS poll. He would never world of "e-voting" in November, regain the trust or support of the slen- Lessons Learned. Even so, all is not when a handful of service members der majority he enjoyed before the lost in the wake of Florida's military from around the world cast their votes memo went public. absentee ballot controversy. As the na- via the Internet. Amid the public -relations storm, tion picks up the pieces, we're leaming "It worked flawlessly," according to some of the loudest and fiercest criticism new lessons and releaming old truths. Polli Brunelli, director of the Federal would come from Gore's fellow Democ- The Pentagon's inspector general is Voting Assistance Program, which co- rats. Leading the charge was none other preparing a report on the treatment of ordinated the landmark vote. Given than Joe Lieberman, Gore's running military ballots, the findings of which what happened in Florida, online voting mate. "I would give the benefit of the are expected to be refined into new poli- could be the wave of the future. doubt to ballots coming in from military cies. Moreover, among the slew of elec- If nothing else, the sad tum of events personnel," Lieberman explained on tion reforms being considered in Con- in Florida has reminded Americans of NBC's "Meet the Press," reportedly gress are a pair of measures aimed every political stripe that the right to blindsiding Herron and other Gore oper- squarely at protecting the votes of vote is no ordinary right. It's powerful atives in the process. American servicemen and women. yet fragile. And it's worth fighting for,

Lieberman 's comments opened the Rep. Bob Riley, R-Ala., introduced especially when it comes to the^ votes of floodgates. Bob Butterworth, Florida's his Armed Services Voting Act Jan. 3 those who are fighting for us. U Democratic attorney general, promptly - the earliest a bill could be dropped issued his own memo to local election in the 107th Congress. Rep. David Alan W. Dowd is a officials, arguing that "no man or Vitter, R-La., wasn't far behind Riley, fi~eelance write?- living woman in military service to this nation submitting his Armed Services Absen- in Indianapolis. should have his or her vote rejected sole- tee Ballot Act just three weeks later. If ly due to the absence of a postmark." Riley and Vitter have anything to say

Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., led a host about it, Herron 's checklist of techni- of others in condemning the Gore cam- calities will be a relic of the past. Both Article design: Doug Rollison

16 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 The Franklin Mint Please mail by May 31, 2001. Franklin Center, PA 19091-0001

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offices were extremely friendly toward 'US. intelligence officials say that of all rogue a \ isiting American, in a village south of the city I discovered thai some Ira- nations, Iran poses the greatest threat to the United nians are extremely unfriendly toward their own government. A woman States because of its intense nationalistic and reli-

grabbed my arm while I was " gious resentment of America. inter\ ievving a village chief and hissed at me. "These people are liars and sell

drugs to our children. Come with me; of Pakistan; it backs the Persian-speak- west and east - the place Alexandei- the ril tell the truth." you ing rebels in Afghanistan; it supports Great. Marco Polo and others punched A few blocks away, surrounded by Islamic revolutionaries in Turkey and their tickets during 2.500 years of world her neighbors and eating the tiny, Azerbaijan, and it arms terrorist groups, war, travel and cultural movements. Iran

green grapes of the region. I heard such as the Hamas and the Islamic Jihad was a gi-eat pow er 1 .200 years before how the mullahs the and police control in the West Bank and Gaza, pa\ ing sup- Islam w as ci'eated b\- the prophet Mo- everything and allow Afghan drug plements to families of suicide bombers- hammed in the seventh centuiy A.D. dealers to sell their cheap opium with based on the number of Jews they kill. Iran remains a country with impunity to children as young as 12. Iran's friends appear to be oil com- tremendous energy. Tehran bustles hate these "We mullahs. They are panies around the world eager for a with self-motivated people who are so cruel." she said. share of its huge petroleum exports. busy. busy, busy - a marked contrast Iranian cleric One told a reporter Other friends include Russia. China with the lethargy one often sees in the hatred of the ruling clergy is so and North Korea, which sell Iran mis- neighboring South Asia and the Mid- intense that he his removed turban and siles and materials for nuclear, chemi- dle East. Everyone is doing something cloak in order to get taxis to stop for cal and biological weapons. But Iran's or going somewhere. The homes I vis- him. For 20 years, militant religious constant harping on the Israeli-Pales- ited were tidy and beautifully zealots beat if women their hair tinian struggle has worn thin. Several arranged, whether in a village or a showed from under their headscarves. Iranians told me, when asked about modern apartment block. Iran has the couple I A met told me of spending the front-page articles about ""Zion- potential to be a great regional power their first date in jail after being arrest- ists" in the government press, "Who if it would give up its current role as a ed for having coffee together. Now. cares about this? We don't." It's how lonely, militant opponent of Western hov\ e\'er. when zealots try to hassle the government distracts the people values and interests. bo_\ s and girls holding hands in trendy from their unhappiness about how the For the past 20 years, the country North Tehran, the people turn on the mullahs control every aspect of their has been isolated from the West, guid- zealots and beat them up instead. lives, one analyst in Tehran said. ed by leaders who believe every other Iran is in great flux these - days the Wlioever wins the power stiiiggle un- religion is wrong and evil. The revolu- clerical regime that swept Shah Reza leashed in IicUi since refomiists won the tionary government is dedicated to Pahlavi into the dustbin of history in presidential election in 1997 will have spreading its own Shiite Muslim faith

1 979 was replaced by the Islamic rev- great influence on U.S. and world inter- around the world. Because most of the olutionary regime founded by Ayatol- ests. Iran is a growing, oil-rich country of world's 1 billion Muslims follow the lah Ruhollah Khomeini. Because the 60 million people at the crossroads of Sunni branch of Islam, Iran is even pro- Western shah was admitted into the United States by President Carter for cancer treatment, militant Islamic eS.. ' ^ « students seized the U.S. embassy and hLimiliated Carter for more than a year by holding American diplomats. .Ma- rine guards and other Americans hostage until the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated in 1980. Now Iranians are fed up with the clerics. The)- want greater social freedom, a free press, freedom to question the religious leadership, and a piece of the economic pie. which is tightly controlled by the clerics and theiii- allies - the bazaaris. or traditional merchants. Iranians are also tired of being isolat- clI internationally, feai-ed as terrorists anuind the w odd. But this image is difficult to erase because Iran has sponsored terrorist killings of its opponents in Gennany and France; it calls Egypt The main entrance at the former American Embassy in Tehran, where 52 and Saudi Arabia ""pro-Western American lack- diplomats, Marine guards and others were held hostage 444 days from 1979-1981, is eys." han also amis the Shiite minority now a Revolutionary Guards base. Photo courtesy Ben Barber

MAY 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • 1{| Iran's greatest enemy is the secular West, and it say Iran, of all the rogue nations, poses the greatest threat to the United States lias been searching lor ways to obtain weapons ol because of its intense nationalistic and religious resentment of America. At a destruction to keep the West out ol the Far mass recent military display, a Shahab 3 missile bore a banner reading: "U.S. Can Eiast, which it hopes to dominate." Do Nothing" and "Israel Would Be Wiped From The Map." more isolated IVom other Muslims. But dead and maimed in Iran. Only Why do the Iranian religious leaders the country's greatest enemy is the sec- because of an earlier Israeli bombing hate America? In part, former Secretary ular West, and Iran has been searching of Iraq's nuclear reactor did Hussein of State Madeleine Albright admitted for ways to obtain weapons of mass fail to build a nuclear bomb before that last year, U.S. covert aid helped install destruction to keep the West out of the war, a weapon few doubt he would the Shah by overthrowing Prime Minis-

Near East, which it hopes to dominate. have used against a defenseless enemy. ter Mohammed Mosadeq in 1953. Sub- The United States has focused on Then Director of Central sequent U.S. aid to the Shah during the Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded Intelligence John Deutch told next 25 years was seen by traditional- Kuwait in 1990. But all the while, Iran Congress in 1996, "We judge that Iran ists and the clergy as interfering with has been busy striving to acquire mis- is actively pursuing an indigenous nu- and replacing Iran's culture and values siles and nuclear weapons. The CIA clear-weapons capability." Later re- with those of the West. Little doubt considers Iran to be one of the most ports indicated Iran was obtaining nu- remains that AyatoUah Khomeini rose potent threats to the United States. clear technology and reactors from to power in 1979 on the shoulders of 'Tehran strives to be a leader in the Russia and China. The limiting factor mass support by millions across the Islamic world and seeks to be the in using nuclear weapons is the neces- country. But after two decades of Is- dominant power in the Gulf," where sity to produce, buy or steal the fissile lamic rule, the cure has become as about half the world's oil exports orig- material, such as enriched uranium or painful as the original problem. inate, a 1997 Defense Department re- plutonium, needed to fuel a bomb. Iranians showed their displeasure port stated. "The latter goals bring it Deutch said Iran was eight to 1 0 years with the rule of the conservative, hard- into conflict with the United States." away from obtaining the bomb. line mullahs by electing reformist cler- Iran's search for weapons was first At the same time, Iran has bought ic Mohammad Khatami as president in inspired by its devastating war with from North Korea advanced missiles 1997. He was widely loved for his Iraq following a Hussein-led attack in such as the No Dong and the Taepo new, gentle approach. When hard-lin- 1980. The eight- year conflict, marked Dong, which Iran calls Shahab, or "me- ers began to chant "Death to America"" by missile attacks and the use of poiso- teor." These missiles can reach as far as during a speech he was giving at nous gas, left hundreds of thousands 2,500 miles. U.S. intelligence officials Tehran University, Khatami - typical of his style - responded, "i prefer to speak of life than of death,"" drawing huge cheers from the crowd. After years of somber, hard-line pressure, a breath of spring had come to the ancient land of Persia. In February 2000, reformists swept elections to the Majlis, or parliament, crushing the hard-liners who lost all 30 seats to the reformers. The movement was not just political but had social aspects as well. Women began showing a bit more hair at the edge of the scarves, which now boasted vivid colors instead of the universal black. Women also shortened their black cloaks, called "manteaus."" to display bare feet and polished toe- nails. Boys and girls dared walk together in the streets and - in more liberal north Tehran - hold hands. A dozen reform newspapers appeared, supporting the new openness and criticizing corruption in the clergy, as well as the giant economic foundations through A woman walks with her skis at the Dizan ski resort north of Tehran, Iran, in February which the economy is controlled by the 2000. On weekends, skiers dress in figure-hugging sports clothes on the slopes at supreme religious leader. Dizan. Iranians have long been used to Islamic inhibitions imposed by the ruling Islamic clergy, but there are signs that Iranians are willing to test the boundaries Khatami stunned the world in 1998 since the 1997 election of reformist President Mohammad Khatami. by giving a lengthy interview to CNN.

20, • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 during which he said he respected I was seated in America's civihzation and favored an the Majlis' press infonnal cultural dialogue. At home, gallery in August Iranian students flocked to lectures by 2000 when the hard- philosopher Abdolkarim Sorush and liners drove the final other thinkers who began to carefully nail into any illu- question the basis of the Islamic revolu- sions they would tionary government - the vali-ye faqih, allow reformists - or rule by the jurisprudent, which gives no matter how big absolute final authority over everything their majority was to one man. the supreme religious in the elections - to leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei. question the power

Appointed for life, Khamanei con- of the mullahs. It trols the economy, judiciary, foreign was the first legisla- policy, the army, the paramilitary Rev- tive session since olutionary Guards, the vigilante bassiji the reformists won groups - in effect, everything. He is as their huge majority, powerful as a medieval king with di- and they were wide- vine right, and that is exactly how his ly expected to intro- supporters see the situation. duce a press free- Despite the reform election victo- dom law. Suddenly, ries, the hard-liners were not about to one delegate stood let public opinion, elections and a free up and asked why press interfere with their conviction the press law was that they were right and had the right not on the agenda. to enforce their will. They struck back, The head of the ousting key reformist allies of Khata- parliament said, "I mi, including the interior minister and thought we had the Tehran mayor, who was jailed for agreed not to discuss five years. In November 1998, myste- the press bill. The rious assassins, later traced to the se- supreme leader sent curity forces, killed five prominent us a letter." Pandemo- liberal intellectuals. One suspect died nium broke out, with An Iranian hard-liner holds a picture of Islamic Revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in front of a large portrait of in jail before he could tell who ordered refoimists asking if Iranian reformist President Mohammed Khatami during a the killings, and the journalist who Ayatollah Khamenei demonstration last year by pro-Khatami students. Protesters exposed the story was arrested and had the right to accused the hard-line Guardian Council of tampering with par- received a 10-year .sentence. change their agenda liamentary election results at Tehran University. AP Photo Then the judiciary, controlled by and the hard-liners the supreme leader and not Khatami, shouting them down. "You must obey," Most Iranians are terrified of the began closing down the reform news- one mullah screamed at the refoimists. In bassijis, some of whom wore white papers and jailing reporters and editors the end, the press bill was dropped. funeral shrouds to show readiness to for insulting Islam and threatening to The next day, the last independent die for the supreme leader and the Is- overthrow the Islamic Revolution. newspaper, Behar, or Spring, was or- lamic revolution. The hostility they When students at Tehran University dered to shut down. A mob of 10,000 showed contrasted sharply with the

bassijis jammed warmth and good will I found in most "Iran has the potential to be a great the street in front other Iranians I met. Many Iranians of parliament, believe a new revolution will soon regional power if it would give up its calling for the explode in their country, so great is blood of any the pent-up desire for change. current role as a lonely, militant opponent who oppose the However, for the moment, the " supreme leader. hard-liners control all the levers of of Western values interests. and "We see the power and guide the ancient country hidden hand of toward a future of zealotry, anti- protested the press clampdown in July America behind the reform press," Americanism and nuclear weapons. 1999. Ayatollah Khamenei unleashed said a 25-year-old political science the bassijis - militant, religious vigi- student. "Our most important saying is Ben Barber is a lantes - who attacked the students with 'Down With America.'" Washington Times cor- clubs in the streets and in their dormi- When I noted that a majority of respondent who has tories. Police stood by until it was over Iranians voted for the reformists, an- covered the Middle and then arrested hundreds of the stu- other bassiji said in a hostile tone, East for more than dents, many of whom still remain in "Why do you Americans want us to 20 years. jail without the benefit of trial and un- exercise your democracy? You only der conditions of torture and isolation. see the world through your lens." Article design: Doug Rollison

MAY 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • 21 By Fred Peck the quarter century since the end of the Vietnam War, what have we learned? Has some of what we have leamed been responsible for Inour successful strategies in the Gulf War and in the brutally effective air campaign in Serbia?

Has it kept us out of potential

quagmires, from taking that first step on a slippery slope that might have gotten us embroiled in another war of national liberation? Today's top military leaders and those of the recent past cut their teeth on the crucible of Vietnam. Our resound- ing military successes of the 1990s are due, in great measure, to what those senior officers leamed from their experiences in Vietnam and the years that followed. Victory in the military arena is finally theirs; but have they, and we as a nation, lost the Vietnam War again on the social front? Have we allowed the valor of millions of Vietnam veterans to be taken from them?

"The path to hell is littered with the bleached bones of lieutenants who for- got their local security," was a phrase 1 heard continuously as 1 trained to be a Marine infantry platoon leader in the early 1970s. It is one of the immutable lessons leamed on battlefields since time immemorial - not unlike "Never become involved in a land war in Asia,"

A member of Company C, 75th Ranger Battalion flies aboard a helicopter bound for a South Vietnamese airfield in March 1970. America's view of Vietnam War vets has been influenced by war movies such as "Apocalypse Now." Photo Courtesy National Archives a dictum uttered in the movie "The Princess Bride." It is a painful reminder "The Baby-boomer generation is divid- that some lessons must be constantly reviewed or they will be forgotten. ed along a fault line of those who With more than 25 years of hindsight, " what have we leamed from one of Amer- served and those who didn 1 ica's most unpopular and most misun- derstood wars? Have we leamed the right lessons from a conflict that lasted for more than a decade and cost the lives Vietnam, one must first understand what of more than 50,000 Americans? coMnimmi was transpiring in American society and around the world at the time. There are Let the Military Run the War. The war out during the Eisenhower years, then military lessons to be leamed from this fought 10 years ago in the Persian Gulf began to grow during the Kennedy ad- war, but equally important societal is- was marked by political leadership in the ministration with the dispatching of sues linger with us to this day. Many of White House and Pentagon that set goals American advisors. Kennedy could not our senior military leaders, including and objectives for their military leader- stand by and watch South Vietnam fall. Secretary of State Colin Powell, came of ship, and then stepped back and let them The Democrats certainly did not want to age on the batflefields of Vietnam. do the job. There could be no more stark be tagged with "losing" Vietnam, but Many of our senior political leaders contrast between philosophies of warfare the Kennedy administration also had over the past decade had the opposite than those of the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. more pressing issues on its agenda. The experience. Behind shields of college In the former case, Washington poUti- fear of massive Chinese intervention deferments, they either managed to cians and bureaucrats managed the war. was foremost in their minds. The hope avoid service through legitimate

In the latter, the military was given a job was that this conflict would remain a means while proclaiming to support it, and the resources it needed, then allowed manageable and relatively low-cost con- or they actively protested American to do it. The goal was simple: Win. tainment operation. involvement in the war and conscious- Imagine what a difference there We all know now that was not to ly resisted serving in the military. might have been if America had taken be. Soon after President Johnson took Former Secretary of the Navy and five or six months to amass a half-mil- office, the war and the stakes began to highly decorated Marine Corps veteran lion strong force in South Vietnam back escalate. Secretary of Defense Robert of Vietnam James Webb notes in an arti- in 1965. Then, when everything was in S. McNamara and the Johnson admin- cle in The American Enterprise Maga- place, a six-week-long bombing cam- istration still hoped to manage rather zine ("Heroes of the Vietnam Genera- paign would be unleashed to destroy the than fight a war in Southeast Asia. The tion," September 2000) that the baby- industry and infrastructure of North demands of Johnson's "Great Society" boomer generation is divided along a Vietoam, followed by an invasion that program and the rapidly worsening fault line of those who served and those had Hanoi as its objective. Would the racial strife in America drew attention who did not. Webb is not the first ob- war have been over in 1965? elsewhere, at least for the moment. server to point out that most of Ameri- It's not fair to make that kind of sup- The Vietnam War occurred during a ca's current leaders in politics, education position, given all the benefits of hind- period of tremendous social upheaval in (particularly higher education), and the sight. The Kennedy administration America. To understand and leam from news and entertainment media did not

came to power in 1961 , recapturing Congress and the White House from the Republicans by promising to be tough on communism. President Eisenhower had been elected in the waning months of the Korean War and only four years after China's fall into the communist camp, partly because Americans wanted a strong leader who would stand up to the communist threat. Unfortunately for President Kennedy, his first experience at battling communism was at the Bay of Pigs. That was followed by the Cuban missile crisis, which the public perceived

as a victory, in that it at least accom- plished the removal of communist missiles just 90 miles off our shores.

How America Got Involved. The first significant U.S. involvement in Vietnam

began during World War H, expanded in A member of the 173rd Airborne Division calls medics to a wounded comrade. African- the 1950s as the defeated French pulled Americans represented 12.6 percent of the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.

MAY 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • 23 "

Army National Guard played an important role In the Vietnam War. Indiana Army National Guard soldiers of Company D, 151 Infantry, such as those depicted in this artist's drawing, were awarded 510 medals for valor and service during the war. Contrary to popular myths that most soldiers were draftees, volunteers made up 67 percent of the forces in the Vietnam War. DoD serve alongside their peers in the Viet- eration," and deservedly so. Likewise, The Fourth Of July" and "Platoon." nam War. Indeed, many speak of a dan- belated recognition was given to those They think they know what it was gerous gap in civil-mihtary relations. who fought in the "forgotten war" in like. What they are told, though, Was that just the breaks of the Korea. Meanwhile, veterans of the Viet- comes almost totally from those who game? Those who didn't serve in the nam "conflict" languish in the historical resisted, those who protested and from Vietnam War were often among the dungeon, their story interpreted by some those who avoided service. Recently, most politically and socially active. Is it whose agenda demands the denigration the Department of Defense reported not natural to assume that they would of their service and their sacrifice. that in its survey of young men and have risen to the top in the fields of pol- This past Veterans Day, I spoke sepa- women considering service in the itics, government, education and media? rately to the assembled classes of a local armed forces, Stanley Kubrick's "Full

Perhaps it is, but the consequences for high school and middle school. I'm fa- Metal Jacket" was cited as the most society may be far greater than we miliar with these students through speak- influential film they had seen. imagine. That part of the generation that ing to current-history classes, teaching Junior Vets In High Places. Despite the pres- Achievement ence of countless examples of success- "Many of our senior political classes to ful Vietnam War veterans, the popular them, and conception of a Vietnam War vet is that leaders, including Secretary of working with of a loser, a drug addict, a baby killer, theater and or someone too stupid to have avoided State Colin Powell, came of age choral serving. I told the high school students groups. To- that in my role as a Marine Corps public on the battlefields of Vietnam. day's stu- affairs officer, I was contacted every dents have Veterans Day by reporters asking me to no inbom help them find Vietnam War veterans to did not serve now controls the agenda bias against the Vietnam War; they know interview. Invariably, the dialogue went for interpreting the Vietnam War to fu- only what they see, hear and read about it along these lines: ture generations of Americans, and they in the popular media. It is as far removed Reporter: "I'd like your help find- have not hesitated to put their spin on it. from them as the Peloponnesian War. ing some Vietnam War veterans to

The greatest lesson of the Vietnam War Even the Gulf War is ancient history - interview for Veterans Day." remains hidden behind their web. today's high school seniors were in sec- Me: "Sure. How about the founder

ond grade when it was fought. of Federal Express, or a guy who Negative Impressions. The 50th Their image of the war in Southeast came back from Vietnam and started anniversary of the end of World War 11 Asia, gleaned from popular culture, is as a runner on the floor of the New brought a plethora of books, articles, almost entirely negative. They have York Stock Exchange and now owns a motion pictures and television programs seen movies such as "Apocalypse seat on the Exchange?" extolling the virtues of the "greatest gen- Now," "The Deer Hunter," "Bom On Reporter: "That's not quite what

• • 2/| THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE MAY 2001 1 \ y /( / 1/ ( (HA I A J HILL SI rPORTING PAH iLYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

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That's the way it always went - always. No one wanted to hear about

Vietnam War vets who didn't fit their template of loser. The facts easily prove Vietnam War veterans are as well-adjusted as veterans of previous wars, and even as successful or more successful than their peers who did not serve. But no one wants to listen. They "know" that Vietnam War vets are the dregs of society. They "know" that they were drafted from the lower rungs of society and were disproportionally young, poor and minorities. They President Lyndon Johnson decorates a soldier during a trip to Vietnam at the height "know" Vietnam War vets were just of the war. General William Westmoreland flanks the President. cannon fodder who returned home ad- dicted to drugs and suffering from post- Consider these facts as reported by pointed out to the students on Veter- traumatic stress disorder. That's what James Webb: In World War II, the av- ans Day that their county sheriff was a they've been told over and over again. erage age of those who served was 25, Vietnam War vet, as was the owner of Why should they believe otherwise? of which 24 percent were high-school a local construction business, an archi- graduates and 7 percent were college tect, two college professors, a lumber The Truth by Numbers. What is the graduates. In the Vietnam War, the av- store manager and one millionaire truth about Vietnam War veterans? A erage age was 23, where 79 percent venture capitalist.

1980 Harris Poll showed that 91 percent were high-school graduates, and 20 per- Once it was popular to speak of of Vietnam War veterans were glad cent were college graduates. Volunteers winning the hearts and minds of the they'd served their country, 74 percent made up 67 percent of the forces in the Vietnamese people if we hoped to win enjoyed their time in the service and 89 Vietaam War but suffered 77 percent of the war. Now it behooves all veterans percent agreed with the statement that the casualties and 73 percent of deaths. to win the hearts and minds of the cur- "our troops were asked to fight in a war Webb also debunks the myth repeated rent generations, if we are finally to which our political leaders in Washing- frequently today that minorities suffered "know" the most important lesson of ton would not let them win." a disproportionate level of the casualties. the Vietnam War here at home: When In fact, Webb their country needed them, Vietnam and many War veterans answered the call. The to about others have alternative is to continue to let the "No one wanted hear reported that likes of Oliver Stone, Francis Ford African- Coppola and Stanley Kubrick tell their Vietnam War vets who didn't fit - " Americans story and tell it wrong. their template of loser were 13.1 The vast majority of Vietnam War percent of veterans served willingly and faithfully, the popula- and they desei^ve the recognition and tion during gratitude of their country just as fully as

Nine million men and women sei"ved the Vietnam War, and they represented do the veterans of our other wars. It is in the military during the Vietnam War, 3 12.6 percent of the Armed Forces. Con- our duty to tell our children and our million of whom went to the Vietnam trary to conventional wisdom, they did grandchildren that Vietnam War veter- theater. Contrary to popular myths, two- not suffer disproportionate casualty in ans served with honor. That's a dutyj! thirds of these were volunteers; only a Vietnam - 12.2 percent of those killed don't take lightly - nor should you. U third were draftees. Contrast that with the or wounded were African-American. fact that two-thirds of those who served Still, the myths remain. Fred Peck, a retired in World War 11 were drafted. That is not Marine colonel and to malign those who served in World Telling the Story Right. Militarily, graduate of the U.S. War n, including my father and my un- tactically and strategically, we learned Naval Academy, cle. It's just to point out the fallacy of two a great deal from the war in Vietnam. served as senior myths: In World War 11, the vast majori- On the social front, however, it spokesman for Opera- ty of those who served were volunteers; appears we have lost the war again tion Restore Hope in Somalia. in Vietnam, the vast majority were and almost without a fight. In my draftees. That's not so. hometown of Gunnison, Colo., I Article design: Doug Rollison

28 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 , .

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By Jeff Stoffer what you can. About 100,000 visitors a year are whisked through just one mile Art Of the Associate Editor of the 17.5 corridor miles inside the WEEKDAY half- high-security fortress of the U.S. Depart- armed forces EVERYhour between 9 a.m. and ment of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of 3:30 p.m., a crowd gathers Staff. In just over an hour, curious on- just beyond the Metro sub- lookers pass dozens of office doors - way entrance to the Penta- some tantalizingly open a crack - hall- weaves gon and listens closely. In ways and stairways, display cases and ceremonial dress uniform, an active- windows offering a view of the court- duty Honor Guard member - rotational- yard hot-dog stand employees call powerful ly a soldier, sailor, airman. Marine or "ground zero." And every step of the Coast Guardsman - recites the rules. No way, what you want to see more is price- video cameras. No tape recorders. No less art that portrays military life and imagery photographs of personnel or office inte- combat through the eyes of artists from riors. Stay in the middle of the corridor all five branches of the armed forces. and do not lag behind. If you need to use tlirouglj tlie the restroom, please do so now because Art of Land, Air and Sea. The Penta- there will be no detours. gon's pantheon of art is a collaborative

After all, this is the Pentagon. effort among the branches, each of which Pentagon. What you can't see on the public tour provides just a fraction of its larger col- stirs the imagination almost more than lection for display in the offices and cor-

Top: "James K. Paulding," Secretary of the Navy from July 1, 1838, military aircraft appears in "Wings Through Time" by R.E. Bell. In to March 3, 1841, by Rembrandt Peale, is among many master- four distinct segments, the piece illustrates a century of aircraft pieces in portraiture hanging in the Pentagon. Navy Art Collection buildup and reduction, along with colors to match the times. Bell Above: From the Wright Flyer to the F-22, virtually every type of is the former chief of Air Force Headquarters Graphics in the Pen-

28 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 Left: "Marine Mud and Misery, France 1918" is the title of this 1987 acrylic painting by U.S. Marine Corps Col. Charles Waterhouse. German hand grenades beside the rifleman indicate the trench was overtaken from the enemy. The work of Col. Waterhouse, who served with the 5th Marine Division dur-

ing World War II, has been widely published. US Marine Corps Art Collection Below: "Balloon Barrage" by Alexander Brook. Barrage balloons tethered by long cables were used during World War

II as a defense against low-elevation air attack. Brook was a realist whose still- lifes, landscapes and paintings of women placed him among the great painters of the time. In 1930, he won second prize to Picasso at the Carnegie Institute International Exhibition of Mod- ern Art. U.S. Army Art Collection

Bottom: "The Last Two," an oil painting by Dino Sistilli, portrays the U.S. Coast Guard at work. Here, the last two people on board a disabled ship prepare to be airlifted to safety. U.S. Coast Guard Art Collection

ridors of U.S. military headquarters. Al- D.C. And in order to bring more of this together, the five branches manage more public-owned art before the eyes of the than 45,000 works of art, which hang at public, military art directors and curators bases, posts, galleries and museums are scrambling to install digital galleries worldwide or go on tour for special on the Web. That's a lot of hours at the events. Most of the original work is kept scanner. in cUmate-controUed storage facilities at The Air Force is the only branch various locations around Washington, whose art department and collection are

housed inside the Pentagon. So it may

come as little surprise that the Air Force

- with about 40 percent of its collection

on display in the building - is better represented than any other branch in the Pentagon. Down nearly every corridor, precisely detailed and technically accurate bombers, fighters and attack planes navigate richly hued skies in paintings so reaUstic they appear three-dimensional. Moodier pieces portray the tedium of captivity in a POW cell or a shot-down flight crew's frantic attempt to flag down a rescue heUcopter. These are the works tagon. He retired in after 1999 a career in of artists who've been there. Air Force graphics, illustration and com- Five societies of aviation illustrators munications that began in 1960. Air Force and artists from across the United States Art Collection

• MAY 2001 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • 23 have kept a steady stream of fresh work coming into the Air Force collection

since 1 95 1 . For selected society members, expenses-paid research trips, sometimes into combat zones, are arranged by the Air Force. Artists like Marbury Brown, who flew behind enemy lines to paint scenes from Grenada, and Keith Feixis, a pioneer among modem aviation artists who has flown in nearly every type of Air Force craft, transform their experiences into paintings steeped with realism. In return for access privileges, the artists are expected to produce something for the collection. "There's no guarantee they'll donate anything," Amold says. "But you can count on it." The U.S. Coast Guard has a similar arrangement. Drawing from artists in New York City's Salmagundi Club, the Coast Guard has amassed about 2,000 pieces of original art in the past 22 years. The New York club empanels a committee that selects art worthy of donation to the main collection. "We really don't care to have any of the sunealistic art," says John Thome, community relations branch chief of the Coast Guard in Washington, D.C. "You look at this art and say, 'Wow, there's the Coast Guard at work. ' The idea of the program is to show what the men and women of the Coast Guard do every day. Every time there's a hurricane, there's a Coast Guard unit out there offshore risk- ing their necks to save fellow human beings." office building in downtown Washing- Less than 8 percent of the Army's

The 73 Coast Guard paintings in the ton, curator Renee Klish keeps track of collection is in the Pentagon, Klish says,

Pentagon closely follow that criteria, about 13,000 pieces in the Army Art noting that it takes at least three stars to with detailed rescue scenes, illegal drug Collection. All the work is indexed and get an original in your office. "We are seizures and various air, ice and sea ma- organized in color-coded three-ring very picky about what offices original neuvers. The art tells a story that can't binders shelved in her office/gallery. The artwork can be in," she says. "We're practically be told any other way. "It's originals - which include room-size con- tightening up on what art can go out and kind of difficult to hold a camera still and troversial captured art commissioned by where it goes. And anything that changes keep it dry in a hunicane," Thome says. Adolph Hitler during World War II - are location must be recorded that day." secured in a humidity -controlled room Jack Dyer, curator for the U.S. Ma-

Paintings by the Numbers. From an that is kept dark most of the time. rine Corps collection, says he won't let an original painting hang in a hallway Right: "Score Another at the Pentagon out of concern an acci- For The Subs" by dent might happen. Only the highest- Thomas Hart Benton ranking Marines are privy to originals - was a gift to the Navy from Abbott Laborato- rather than salon-quality reproductions ries, which commis- - from the 7,412-piece collection under sioned artists during his supervision. World War II primarily to With about 17,000 pieces, the Navy illustrate wartime med- has the largest and oldest collection ical activities. Navy Art among the branches. Originals hanging Collection in the Pentagon date back to the early 1800s, some by famous artists like Rem- brandt Peale (known for his 1795 "Port- hole Portrait of George Washington"), regionalist Thomas Hart Benton ("Score

30 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 The Pentagon: A city inside a building

Among the world's largest office buildings, the Pentagon has three times the floor space of The Empire State Building and could

house the entire U.S. Capitol in just

one of its five sides. Here, according to the Department of Defense, are just a few measurements from this full-figured structure:

6,636,360: Gross square feet of floor 7.1: Acres of glass surface area 17: Number of War Department 16: Parking lots buildings consolidated by construc- 284: Restrooms tion of the Pentagon in January 583: Acres of land area 1943.

it the 77: Height of building, in feet 7: Number of years took War Department to return its $83 million 921 : Length in feet of each outer wall construction investment. 5: Number of floors

Left: "Baseball" by Aaron Borhod exhibits the Army's willing- ness to let artists concentrate on topics other than

combat. "That i was allowed to paint at all during those hectic times proved to be the greatest gift of all," Borhod wrote in his autobiogra- phy. U.S. Army Art Collection

Above: "Enterprise on Yankee Station" by R.G. Smith is a breath-taking example from the two-tour Vietnam War combat artist and aircraft engineer. Navy Art Collection

Another for the Subs") and R.G. Smith ("Enterprise on Yankee Station"). But in the Pentagon, the signatures aren't nearly as awesome as the images, most of which were bumed into the souls of combat veterans and front-line troops. The bulk of the Army and Marine Corps art is the work of active-duty personnel. During the past century, the Army has been most consistent among the branches about assigning art details to active-duty troops. That aU started during World War I when a unit of eight artists from the Corps of Engineers was assigned to document activities of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. "The mandate was that they were not to be the portrait painter for the Above: "1st Division Command Post Moving Forward" by Col. H. Avery Chenoweth is commanding general," Klish says. "They one of few U.S. Marine Corps originals hanging in the Pentagon. The painting, which were to paint what they saw in the style hangs in the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Special Conference Room, captures and medium they chose." The body of the fire-blackened skies from burning oil fields as Marine ground forces overtake work that emerged from that unique as- Iraqis in Kuwait Feb. 24, 1991. U.S. Marine Corps Art Collection

MAY 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • Above: "Tarawa" was Army also are scanning their collections one in a series of 1945 and writing captions for Web surfers. In South Pacific combat time, all the curators hope to complete paintings by Sgt. Tom these electronic archives so people who Lovell. U.S. IVIarlne Corps wish to see the art won't have to hunt for Art Collection it around the world, wait for a traveling Left: "The Bridge Busters" exhibit or take a whirlwind tour of the by Randy W. Green repre- Pentagon. want it to seen," says sents the 397th Bom- "We be bardier Group whose the Air Force's Arnold. "It is, after all, attaci

World War II for the Army. However, tapestry of images in Building 67 of only four months after the War Art Unit Washington Navy Yard that traces both Article design: Holly K. Soria received its orders. Congress withdrew the history of the Navy, and of funding of the program. Active-duty art, in the past two centuries. artists were given more strategic military "We consider the collection assignments, and Life magazine com- a primary documentary missioned most of the civilians as illus- source," says Gale Munro, trators to keep the project alive. curator of the Navy Art Collec-

In 1960, Life turned those works over tion. "And we're processing it to the Army on the stipulation that they as fast as we can." By that, she only be displayed in public places. Many means scanning slides, nega- of the pieces can now be seen on the tives and reproductions of the Pentagon tour, including work by Tom art for exposure on the Web. Lea of El Paso, Texas, later a renowned The Navy and the Coast western painter and writer who, as a Life Guard lead the branches in artist, stormed the beaches at Peleliu. that effort. About 600 Navy Peter Hurd of New Mexico, who went paintings can be found online on to earn acclaim for southwestern at www.history.navy.mil. "Waiting Passengers" by Reginald Marsh demon- landscape painting, also was among the Coast Guard art can be strates the artist's keen eye for detail. A social real- World II Life artists. viewed at www.uscg.mil/gen- War ist of the 1930s and '40s, Marsh often painted from Army art units were later deployed in eral.html. The Air Force and on-site sketches. U.S. Army Art Collection

~~32 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 Apply Today For The New American Legion Visa Card.~~

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By Frank Gaffney Jr. Is the United States MEMORIAL DAY, a film depicting the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt con-ectly V setting itseif up for ONpredicted would "live in infamy," will open around the

~~anotlier Pearl Harbor? countiy . Images of Japanese Zeros and dive-bombers strafing Americans and destroying their ships~~

~~and aircraft will soon fill movie theaters. "Pecirl Harbor" will be more than~~

entertainment. It will serve as a powerful reminder of the grave dangers that can arise when this nation fails to recognize and respond appropriately to developments overseas that threaten vital interests - and even physical security.

How much more infamous would it be if the United States were to make that perilous mistake yet again? The complacency evident in official circles and among the public during most of the past decade is ominously reminis- cent of mistakes made roughly 60 years ago. In particular, several symptoms and phenomena that marked the period prior to America's entry into World War II are re-emerging. As a result, we may be at considerable risk of another surprise Pearl Harbor-style attack. Unfortunately, the next one could well entail levels of physical and human destruction that would make the "Day of Infamy" look like a day at the beach. v. An Axis of Authoritarian Foes. With hindsight, it is clear that the "Pact of Steel" between Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan was a precur- sor to Pearl Harbor. Tokyo's detemiinarion to dominate

its "East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" paralleled Hitler's lust for leiben- An aerial view of the USS Arizona J. sraum and Mussolini's desire for IVIemorial serves as a reminder of ^\ cor- tlie attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec.,7, a new Roman empire. The 1941. ImageBank photo relation of forces represented

~~34 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MA' "~~

by the Axis powers in 1941 emboldened particularly noteworthy in this regard the Japanese to believe they could actu- that the Chinese have taken to describ- ally eliminate the American forces and ing the United States as "the main ene- smaller European colonial units that Still, the PRC remains a communist my" in military doctrine and writings, might interfere with the realization of dictatorship, free and willing to utilize speeches to the party cadre and public the emperor's grand design. the coercive powers at its disposal to propaganda broadcasts. Today, America's two most formi- subjugate its people. For its part, con- Worse yet, in recent years PRC of- dable potential adversaries - Russia temporary Russia is in transition; the ficials have on several occasions and China - have forged what they chaotic days of economic privation warned that China would be willing to call a "strategic partnership." Pursuant and political instability that called to trade American cities - including Los to this arrangement, they appear to be mind Germany's Weimar era are Angeles by name - for Chinese ones if collaborating in a number of areas rapidly giving way to a period of rela- necessary to defend their sovereign with worrisome implications. Pre-emi- tive domestic tranquility and prosperi- claim to Taiwan. In this way, they ac- nent among these is the Kremlin's sale ty, bought at a price of growing au- tually served notice to the United to Beijing of an array of advanced thoritarianism under the heavy hand of States of a possible future Pearl Har- weapons designed by the Soviet/Russ- Putin, a career KGB officer. bor, presumably featuring a deadly ian military-industrial complex for one Regrettably, both governments nuclear-armed missile-delivered attack reason alone: to kill Americans. seem tempted to engage in the sort of on a major U.S. population center. In recent months, the People's Re- social engineering, using purported A further danger arises from the public of China has ordered and, in and/or manufactured external threats fact that the Moscow-Beijing axis is some cases, taken delivery of destroy- to justify internal repression, that not only contributing materially to the ers equipped with deadly supersonic, marked the Axis powers' efforts to danger of such a Chinese attack. Both sea-skimming and nuclear-armed enhance their legitimacy and assure the Russians and Chinese are actively

"Sunburn" missiles; super-quiet Kilo- their continued control at home. It is helping the worldwide proliferation of class submarines with an array weapons of mass destruction of formidable high-speed un- and long-range missile tech- derwater torpedoes and anti- nology that can be used by ship missiles; SU-27 and SU- "PRC officials have warned their rogue state clients 31 front-line Russian fighter against American forces, in- aircraft; and T-80 main battle that China would be willing terests and, in the not-too- tanks. The Kremlin also ap- - distant future, territory. pears to be assisting China to trade American cities with its effort to effect a A Military Spread Too Thin. wholesale modernization and including Los Angeles In retrospect, it is common to rapid expansion of ballistic see in the military weakness missile and nuclear weapons by name - for Chinese ones brought on by the wholesale programs. In addition, Russian dismantling of the American cooperation is greatly improv- if necessary to defend their armed forces following World ing China's ability to access War 1 a vacuum of power that and utilize outer space as a sovereign claim to Taiwan. contributed materially to the future theater of military oper- global cataclysm that engulfed ations, with profound implica- In this way they actually the planet starting in 1939. tions for American military We are much less able, and commercial interests. served notice to the United however, to appreciate the To be sure, Putin's Russia potential implications associ- is not Nazi Germany any States of a possible future ated with the diminution in more than Jiang Zemin's Chi- the size, power-projection na is Tojo's Imperial Japan. Pearl Harbor capabilities, readiness, tech- nological superiority and es- "The Kremlin's sale to prit de corps of the U.S. military since the end of Opera- Beijing of advanced tion Desert Storm. These changes have been brought weapons designed by about, in part, by a low level of investment in our armed the Soviet/Russian forces that - expressed as a percentage of gross domestic military'industrial complex product - has not been seen since before Pearl Harbor. is for one reason alone: A captured Japanese photograph Certainly, virtually any by offers a glimpse of the attack on measure, the American mili- to kill Americans." Pearl Harbor. tary is in far better shape to-

~~day than it was at the time of Pearl Harbor. For instance, our troops are not being obliged to most especially Conmiunist China - embark on a course that would appear~~

~~train with broomsticks rather than ri- are seeking asymmetric means of lev- to be suicidal if it misperceives the true~~

fles, as they did before World War II. eling the battlefield. To a degree costs of its actions because it has un- On the other hand, the cumulative ef- unimaginable at the time of the origi- derestimated American power and the

fects of 10-plus years of inadequate nal Pearl Harbor, even relatively im- will to use it. More than 2,000 people investment in maintaining the readi- poverished and technologically back- lost their lives Dec. 7, 1941, because of ness of today's forces and providing ward nations may be able to use tech- such a miscalculation. for that of tomorrow is taking its toll. niques such as information warfare, Ships and armored fighting vehicles electro-magnetic pulse weapons, anti- Economic Warfare. Western democ- that cannot train for want of fuel, air- satellite capabilities and ballistic mis- racies, including the United States, craft that cannot fly because of a lack siles equipped with weapons of mass wrongly believed that accommodating of spare parts and helicopter fleets that destruction to inflict incalculable harm potential adversaries - notably, by en- are grounded over concerns about on this nation and its economy. They gaging in extensive commerce with their safety translate into operators need not match us division for divi- them - would enable a second global unprepared to enter combat and sur- sion or carrier for carrier to pose a conflict to be avoided. In part due to vive, let alone prevail. grave threat. this unfounded expectation, Nazi Ger-

~~Some seek comfort in the fact that, It is sometimes said that this danger many was Great Britain's largest trad-~~

~~for all its deficiencies, the U.S. military is exaggerated because using such tech- ing partner on the eve of World War~~

~~is still vastly superior to any other in the niques against the United States would II. And in the months leading up to~~

world today. This is indisputably true, be tantamount to national suicide. Pearl Pearl Harbor, the United States sold but perhaps dangerously misleading - if Harbor offers an objective lesson, how- Japan tons of scrap metal that were not, in some respects, actually irrelevant. ever, about the folly of such mirror- subsequently rained down on Hawaii's Increasingly, prospective foes - imaging: A relatively weak nation may ports, ships and airfields - among many other places - in the form of Japanese artillery shells and bombs. Today, there is strong reason to Traffic passes believe that unfair trade with the Unit- by a McDonalds ed States from which Communist Chi- restaurant in - annual trade sur- Beijing in May na is benefiting an 2000. Trade with plus of about $50 biflion a year - is Communist not only far less beneficial to our na- China is not tional economy than is often suggest- only less benefi- ed; it is enabling a Chinese military cial to our buildup likely to be our most serious national econo- national-security threat of the future. my than is often suggested, but Parochially minded American com- actually enables panies also are pushing for expanded a Chinese mili- economic relations with the likes of tary build-up Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan and that translates North Korea. These companies tend to into a serious national securi- focus exclusively on short-term profits ty threat. and generally seem unconcerned about the larger implications for the nation if the regimes of such rogue states are enriched, legitimated and emboldened. History suggests that, far from encour- aging democratic reform, the effects of trade conducted on the dictators'

~~30 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 Macular Degeneration~~

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~~relatively weak nation may embark on a course that would appear to be~~

~~suicidal if it misperceives the true~~

~~costs of its actions because it has underestimated American power and~~

~~the will to use it. More than 2,000~~

~~people lost their lives Dec. 7, 1941, The USS Arizona burns following the Japanese attack on because of such a miscalculation. Pearl Harbor.~~

terms usually translates into life sup- Certainly, important differences lost in promoting this perception port for them and their abidingly hos- exist between the world the new Bush around the world. tile governments. administration faces today and that which confronted the Roosevelt ad- Frank J. Gaffney Jr. The Trouble With Treaties. Prior to ministration in 1941. In addition, such held senior positions in World War II, the United States and conditions as those noted above which the Reagan administra- other Western democracies pursued a bear strong similarities across the tion's Defense Depart- variety of accords with one or more of years are certainly not identical. ment. He is currently the Axis leaders. Arguably, the most Yet the United States ignores at president of the Center delusional and preposterous of these its peril the reality that, under for Security Policy in Washington, D.C. was the Kellogg-Briand treaty, which circumstances that are in some no- purported to ban war altogether. table ways similar to today's, this Article design: Holly K. Soria Even in the face of a succession of nation was surprised failed accords, the democracies to find itself at the nurtured the belief that the next deal receiving end of a would somehow be honored more deadly and premedi- faithfully by the dictators. It was only tated attack that even when the bombs were exploding in the Japanese admiral

~~Pearl Harbor that the United States fi- who conceived and~~

nally broke off negotiations with Japan- executed it thought ese diplomats duplicitously sent to was likely to prove Washington to parlay about how to suicidal. avoid conflict between the two nations. For these reasons, Today, we are told that deals with the deficiencies in our people like Kim Jong II of North Ko- military readiness rea - by which, for example, he would must be corrected im- pledge to suspend his ballistic missile mediately. Actions to development program - are a more redress the shortfalls reliable basis for U.S. security than of today's armed having a missile-defense system capa- forces, and to provide ble of shooting down anything for tomorrow's, are launched at us. This requires that we both warranted and ignore considerable evidence that Kim essential. This is es-

Jong II has violated his previous un- pecially necessary to derstandings about foregoing covert defend the American acquisition of nuclear weapons. We people against missile also would have to disregard the fact attack and deny a that ballistic missiles are today North large and growing Korea's most lucrative export com- number of nations the

modity. Kim Jong II could always ex- means to inflict a ploit existing cooperative more devastating arrangements with Iran, Libya, Syria, Pearl Harbor down Iraq, Sudan or Pakistan to enable his the road. History Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chi- regime to circumvent any agreement teaches us that this is nese parliament speaker Li Peng meet in the he might make by allowing further the most sure means Kremlin in September 2000. America's two most missile development, testing and proof avoiding wars; formidible potential adversaries have created a duction to be conducted overseas. there is no time to be "strategic partnership."

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Courage in the night at Nam Dong Donlon's unit held tough, fighting offa bloody VC raid. By Dan Allsup Officer Kevin Conway of with the U.S. Army Com- the Australian Army Train- mand and General Staff was 2 a.m. on July 6, 1964, and ing Team - also were dead. College. ItCapt. Roger Donlon uneasily pa- But Nam Dong had held. Donlon travels the trolled Nam Dong, a small outpost With two Distinguished country to speak to youth of freedom in Vietnam, where he Service Crosses, presented and civic groups about pa- commanded the U.S. Army Special posthumously to Alamo triotism and military ser- Forces Detachment A-726. and Houston, four Silver vice. "I grew up in a family

~~"I can't put my finger on it, but Stars and five Bronze Stars where service was a core something's wrong," Donlon mused with the "V" device for val- value," he says. "My dad~~

silently, wringing a final harsh drag or. Detachment A-726 of served in World War I, and from his cigarette. the U.S. Army Special my four brothers served in It was quiet, maybe too quiet, and he Forces remains one of the World War II and Korea. wasn't the only trooper feeling uneasy. most highly decorated units Special Forces Capt. Our hometown has a rich "I don't think we'll see the sun come of its size in history. Roger Donlon could tradition of service, and its up," one man predicted. In December 1964, the sense the enemy was townsfolk have participat- "Get everyone buttoned up tight nine survivors were in the near on July 6, 1 964. gd in wars since the Revo- tonight," the 30-year-old Donlon ordered. White House's east wing when Presi- lutionary War. This all had an impact

"The VC are coming. I can feel it." The dent Lyndon Johnson presented Donlon on my longing to serve." 13 Americans and more than 300 South the first Medal of Honor of the Vietnam Nam Dong was Donlon's personal

~~Vietnamese compatriots could only wait. War. Two years later. The American contribution. '|~~

At 2:26 a.m., dressed in black paja- Legion presented him its highest award, mas and a T-shirt and carrying an AR- the Distinguished Service Medal. Donlon is The author of "Beyond Nam 15 rifle and a .45-caliber automatic, Donlon retired from the Army in Dong," available by writing R and Donlon opened the mess hall screen 1988 as a full colonel. He now lives Publishers, 2101 Wilson Avenue, Leav- door to check the next day's duty roster. with Norma, his wife of 32 years, in enworth, KS, 66048. Then his world exploded in a cacopho- Leavenworth, Kan. Active in commu- ny of automatic-weapons fire and mor- nity and public affairs, Donlon is a Dan Allsup is a fi-eelance writer who tar explosions. Nam Dong was under board member of People to People In- lives in suburban St. Louis. • attack by the Viet Cong. ternational, an education and cultural Blown through the mess hall door by exchange program, and he's active Article design: Doug Rollison a mortar explosion, Donlon scrambled to his feet and ordered a team member to radio for an air strike. Ignoring the effects of a severe stomach wound, Donlon Straight talk from a war hero wiped out a three-man enemy demolifion Retired Army Col. Roger Donlon pulls no punches when he travels the country team attempting to breach the main gate. speaking on patriotism, faith and duty. Here are some of his recent remarks: After crawling to a gun pit and finding is in that our youth today would benefit most of his men wounded, he covered Military service: "There no doubt my mind of the of the them with withering return fire as they from one or two years of national service. One biggest drawbacks withdrew. Now bleeding from his shoul- military today is the concept of the all-volunteer force. It's just drawing from too der as well, Donlon crawled out of the small a segment of America and leaving out too much of our society."

gun pit, attempting to drag his nearly un- Vietnam draft dodgers: "We were fighting the war to stop the spread of conscious team sergeant to safety, only to communism. We were fighting for our way of life and the people's right to protest. be blasted back into the mortar pit. But there were cowards. When we are called to fight for our country, we have an For the next five hours, Donlon - inherent responsibility to serve." bleeding from multiple wounds - mar-

~~affected his life: "I came out changed in many ways. I changed shaled his forces, treated the wounded How combat~~

~~I also emotional scars of losing my and directed Nam Dong's defenses. He physically because of the scars, but have the blinked when the morning sun cut friends in the war."~~

through the smoky battlefield. Fifty-five Today's military: "The military hasn't received the support it needs for some time South Vietnamese soldiers were dead now. We're doing much more with much less and many of our people feel and more were wounded. Two Ameri- disenfranchised. There's too much stress being placed on our families and we're cans, Master Sgt. Gabriel Alamo and stretched too thin. We just can't be all things to all people. It's hurtful to see." Sgt. John Houston - as well as Warrant

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Affairs the Hill and at home. In the early New chairman of House Veterans years of the Clinton administration. Committee is no stranger to Legion issues. Smith voted with the President about 45 percent of the time. He has backed y most political definitions, politics and has always been atop his the Family Medical Leave Act, a wait- Christopher H. Smith can rea- domestic legislative agenda. He has ing period for the purchase of hand- sonably be pegged a moderate even taken his anti-abortion crusade guns and a ban on assault weapons - - a strong defender of his core international. As a member of the For- all issues not typically embraced by beliefs, but a political centrist eign Relations Committee (now called Republicans.

nevertheless. In his 1 1 terms as International Relations), Smith suc- Long a member of the House Veter- a Congressman representing cessfully blocked U.S. funding for the ans Affairs Committee, Smith is its New Jersey's 4th District, Smith has United Nations Population Fund and chairman for the 107th Congress. If his been a bur under the saddle of Democ- the International Planned Parenthood past record on veterans' causes is any rat and Republican colleagues alike. Foundation. indication. Smith is expected to be an But all agree he is a passionate advo- Yet it's been his untiring devotion important voice on behalf of veterans. cate for those issues he holds dear. to blue-collar workers and organized To get a better understanding of

Smith is a steadfast anti-abortion labor that gives the Republican Smith's agenda at the Veterans Affairs activist. The debate first drew him to crossover appeal with Democrats on Committee, The American Legion Magazine Assistant Editor James V. Carroll traveled to Washington, D.C., to find out what's on the chairman's mind.

~~The American Legion Magazine: Congress faces a lack of credibility with many veterans. How can confidence be restored?~~

Rep. Chris Smith: 1 m an unabashed advocate for veterans. There has never been another group^f Americans anywhere, at any time, as deserving as our veterans. We need to demonstrate in absolute terms, in the

clearest way possible, that I, the Vet- erans Affairs Committee, Congress and certainly George W. Bush want to strengthen and expand veterans' health care and other benefits. We need more outpatient clinics, not fewer. We need more nursing homes. We need to embark on significant infrastructure improvements. We need to show that our support for veterans is here to stay.

~~Q: One area of particular distrust deals with the difficulty of obtaining~~

recognition for service-related ill- nesses. What can be done about that? A: Where science is suggestive but not determinative, that's where reasonable men and women should make judg- ments in favor of the veteran. That's particularly so when you have a large set or subset of veterans who have

i|2 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 been affected. Bottom line: err on the "There has never been often for our nation to forget. them. If side of the veteran. you want to pass important, landmark another group ofAmeri- legislation, you have to play a full- Q: Even when service-connected ill- court press. I've never seen anything ness is established, delays in treat- cans anywhere, at any that just happened. ment often follow. What can be done about that? time, as deserving as 0: You are an advocate of the flag- A: We have a very aggressive oversight protection amendment. How likely is committee looking at a number of these our veterans." it that the 107th Congress will pass it? issues facing veterans in their daily A: I have co-sponsored legislation - Christopher H. Smith, R-N.J. interaction with VA. Why are there so year in, year out and am totally in sync many delays in getting medical atten- with it. The flag is the ultimate symbol tion or benefits decisions? Why are of our country. When the Iranians or there so few adjudicators? Why does it anyone else want to make a statement take two years for a veteran to get of utter contempt and hatred for appeals resolved? We have to address America, what is it they bum? The these problems and deliver solutions. flag! We should be lifting up the flag We must develop accountability. in such a way that we are saying, "This is our national symbol." Q: How will the committee develop its priorities regarding veterans? Oi Why does the flag-protection A: In addition to reviewing VA pro- amendment continue to fall short of grams, we will seek the views of vet- a two-thirds majority in the Senate? erans service organizations such as A: Certainly there are a number of rea- The American Legion, military associ- Rep. Chris Smith favors concurrent sons, but one most frequently articu- ations and other interest groups and receipt, better VA funding and the flag lated is the argument that we are tam- private organizations. In a series of amendment. pering with the Constitution, taking joint hearings with the Senate Com- something away. I don't see it. It's a mittee on Veterans Affairs, these solidify. I realize veterans have high false fear. What are we taking away? groups will present to the committee expectations, and we'll try to get as What comma, semicolon, word, respective national resolutions and much for them as humanly possible. phrase or anything are we taking away agendas for veterans. We may not get everything at once. from the U.S. Constitution when we More likely progress will be made add something to it? We are only mak-

Q: What specifically can the Veter- incrementally. Piece by piece, you get ing it stronger. This should be a slam- ans Affairs Committee do to closer to your goal. dunk with near unanimity. We have to improve the plight of the veteran in revive respect, not only for veterans, his or her daily dealings with VA? Os What is the possibility of concur- but also for what this country stands A: We can help the VA set targets. We rent-receipt legislation passing in for. We are the envy of the world. can do oversight and work to get addi- the 107th Congress? When we take the flag and throw it on tional resources for VA. If there's a A: I'm in favor of concurrent receipt. the ground or desecrate it by burning it lack of personnel, we need to know. Military veterans are the only class of - well, shame on us. We have to get a solid handle on the federal employees who lose earned shortfalls. That's why Veterans Affairs retirement pay equal to the amount of is What do you hope to accomplish Secretary Anthony J. Principi is taking disability benefits. It's not fair. We are during the first half of the 107th an A-to-Z review of his agency to find going to try to get something done, but Congress? out where the gaps might be. And I can't guarantee there will be signifi- A: I hope we will have made significant those gaps are going to jump off the cant progress right now. progress on a number of fronts - Medi- page, I'm sure. That doesn't mean care subvention, concurrent receipt, problems get resolved immediately, 0: Competing interests aside, why is VERA (Veterans Equitable Resource but it does mean problems have the it sometimes difficult to pass veter- Allocation), VA and DoD Health potential to get resolved quickly. ans legislation? Resources Sharing, CHAMPVA, to A: When we are not in all-out war, vet- name a few. I realize that at the end of 0: How do you compete with the erans are quickly forgotten. That's the day there will be some people upset. conflicting demands for finite unfortunate, because I think peacetime I've learned you never can meet all the resources? veterans are extremely important. They expectations. But I hope everyone will

A: Veterans do face competing inter- know how to wage war and are a deter- say I did everything humanly possible, ests. However, veterans issues will rise rent to fighting more wars. Memorial touched every single base and worked to the top if we make a case based on Day and Veterans Day observances, faithfully for the issues important to vet- need. If we can't win on need, we can't despite major efforts, are less attended erans. I can't promise an outcome, but I win. The budget will ultimately dictate than in the past. I don't know how you will be faithful in all efforts to forward what resources will be available. But can enforce remembrance, but you cer- veterans issues. we are trying to talk to as many people tainly can criticize forgetfulness. Our as we can before the numbers start to veterans have sacrificed too much, too Article design: Doug Rollison

~~MAY 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • \l Legion offers plan for VA bodget~~

A resolution passed March 2 1 by the burial plot allowance from $150 to $300; House Budget Committee would be good Increase the automobile and adap- for veterans, American Legion National tive equipment grant for severely disabled Commander Ray G. Smith said. veterans from $8,000 to $9,000, the The measure would increase the De- adapted housing grant from $43,000 to William Collins, left, formerly a partment of Veterans Affairs budget by $48,000, and increase the amount for fu- homeless veteran and resident of $5.6 billion in fiscal 2002. The resolution ture necessary adaptations to the home the Center, his Dodge celebrates authorizes a $1.7 bilhon increase in dis- fi-om $8,250 to $9,250. recent college graduation with cretionary spending, which includes "More than a thousand American Le- Robert Lefter, executive director of health care and the VA claims process. gion representatives personally lobbied the Dodge Development Center in Rutland, Vt. The Dodge Center is The measure also takes into account two their members of Congress for a strong Vermont's only transitional-hous- bills that the Veterans' Affairs Committee VA budget; that's what this resolution ing facility for homeless veterans. passed March 21. HR 811, The Veterans represents," Smith said. "I commend the Hospital Emergency Repair Act, would House Veterans Affairs Committee and Vermont Post authorize $250 million in fiscal 2002 and the House Budget Committee for doing $300 million in fiscal 2003 for VA con- everything in their power to help those helps homeless struction and repair projects. The key pro- who sacrificed for freedom. This level of Across the nation. The Amer- visions of HR 801, the Veterans' Oppor- VA funding will go a long way toward

~~ican Legion is successfully help- tunities Act of 2001. would: improving all veterans' benefits. It will ing formerly homeless veterans Expand the Servicemembers' provide the funds to expedite the VA~~

get back on their feet. Group Life Insurance (SGLl) program to claims process so that, someday, it wiU no A shelter in Rutland, Vt., is cover spouses up to a maximum of longer take months or years for a disabili- one such success story. At the $100,000 and children to $10,000; ty claim to be adjudicated. Dodge Center, Vermont's only Include certain private technology "However, Congress can make further transitional-housing facility for entities in the definition of educational in- improvement by adding a provision of homeless veterans, new residents stitutions; The American Legion's GI Bill of Health, receive help with personal, legal Permit veterans to use Montgomery one that would allow veterans to use their and financial problems - plus get Gl Bill educational benefits for a certifi- Medicare coverage to receive treatment a roof over their heads - provid- cate program offered by an institution by in the VA. Many more veterans would ed they stay clean and sober. way of independent study; use the system if they could use their New residents also receive a free Authorize the VA to maintain tran- Medicare benefits for any type of care one-year membership at Rut- sition assistance offices overseas; they require, just as they can in the private land's American Legion Post 31. Increase VA outreach efforts to eli- sector. Our proposal would give more One of the program's most gible veterans and dependents; veterans the access to quality health care successful former clients, Robert Increase the burial and funeral bene- they earned by their military service and

Lefter, now runs the program. fit fi-om $1 ,500 to $2,000 for service-con- allow VA to become a direct TRICARE Recently named executive direc- nected veterans and from $300 to $500 to contractor to enhance health care for vet- tor of the Dodge Center, Lefter is nonservice-connected veterans, and the erans who are military retirees." a Vietnam War veteran who spent five years homeless before going through the Legion-sup- Legion lionorees recognized ported program. "Getting connected with other veterans gives Almost since the founding of The members, as this will result in lapsed a closeness I can't describe," he American Legion in 19 19, Posts have rec- memberships, says Deputy Director of said. "The whole deal is veterans ognized their outstanding members for Internal Affairs Jeffry Wonder. helping veterans." exceptional service or accomplishments In recognition of their meritorious ser- The center's single biggest by awarding Life Memberships. A Post- vice. The American Legion Magazine non-government supporter is the sponsored Life Membership is the highest will once again publish the names of Sons of The American Legion honor a Post can bestow on its members. those Legionnaires awarded Post-spon- Detachment in Vermont, which Although Departments may have dif- sored Life Memberships. A new list of raises more than $5,000 a year for ferent rules pertaining to the granting of members' names will be published the program. Post 31 also makes this type of membership, the only nation- monthly in "Comrades." a monthly contribution, and The al requirement is that the Post assumes the For more information or to nominate American Legion Auxiliary pro- responsibility of paying the annual dues someone for Life Membership, write to vides support with food drives, for the remainder of the member's life. The American Legion, Membership Di- blankets, clothes and other items. Posts must be careful not to overlook vision, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN the annual dues payments for its Life 46206 or caU (317) 630-1205.

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 Article rekindles lost friendsiiip PNC DiFrancescD Some pranks are too good to forget, even after 56 years. Just ask Martin honored for service Pelland of Tucson, Ariz., and William Dauphin County commission-

Mrazek of Naperville, 111. ers in Pennsylvania recently hon- Pelland submitted a letter to The ored Past National Commander American Legion Magazine describing Dominic D. DiFrancesco for years a buddy's prank during basic training of service to the United States and at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita military veterans by naming the Falls, Texas, in 1945. The letter ap- county veterans building the "Do- peared in the magazine's September minic D. DiFrancesco Veterans 1999 issue. Memorial Office Building." In the letter Pelland described how A plaque bearing DiFran- recruits, deprived for the first time of cesco 's name and likeness is per- the privacy and comforts of home, m anentl y slept in tents with dirt floors and lined mounted at up to share toilet facilities. the build- One day, Pelland, leaving the bar- ing's en- racks after showering, was crossing the trance. sandy compound leading to his tent "As a Ko- when buddy William Mrazek suddenly rean War vet- divested him of the towel he had eran and the wrapped around his waist. Pelland was Past National left standing stark naked. Commander Just then, a lorry of open-back of The Am- trucks loaded with female nurses drove erican Le- DiFrancesco by. Pelland heard laughter and screams gion, Dominic DiFrancesco has as the women caught sight of him. spent his entire adult life working Buddies William Mrazek, left, and Martin Feeling vulnerable, Pelland dropped to Pelland met during basic training at to improve the Uves of veterans," the ground, face down, and stayed in Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Commissioner Lowman Henry the sand until the convoy passed. Texas, in 1945. This photo was talcen after said. "He served at the local, state the had completed basic training. After their military service, the two men and federal levels of veterans orga- men lost contact. - that is, until Pel- later, the friends were reunited. The nizations and has served as a com- land's article appeared in the maga- men plan to continue their reunions in munity role model, proving that zine. Mrazek read the article and con- 2001 and beyond, thanks to a prank one man can make a difference." tacted his old buddy. Several months that neither man will ever forget. DiFrancesco was elected Na- tional Commander in 1991. He also has served as the Department of Pennsylvania's National Executive Deceased vet receives medal Committeeman and Alternate Na- tional Executive Committeeman. A deceased World War I veteran Washington, D.C., staff, searched DiFrancesco 's other national will be awarded a Purple Heart, thanks through the National Archives in Col- positions have included chairman in part to the work of American lege Park, Md., in October. He of the Membership & Post Activi- Legion National Security Deputy found proof that Harvey wore ties Committee and of the Legisla- Director Mike Duggan. the "wound chevron" on the left tive Commission, as well as mem- Duggan was contacted by wrist of his uniform jacket. bership on the Public Relations Judy Harvey, the granddaughter- Duggan took the case to the Commission, National Security in-law of Army Pvt. Charles H. Military Personnel Records Cen- Council and Resolutions Sub- Harvey. The World War I veteran, ter in St. Louis, which could not Committee. who has several great-grandchil- authorize the medal. In Decem- He also was part of a special dren serving in the U.S. military, ber, he appealed in writing to the American Legion delegation sent was originally approved for a Purple U.S. Total Army office in Washing- to Saudi Arabia m October 1990 to Heart by then-Army Chief of Staff ton. The office approved the medal and gain firsthand knowledge of the

Douglas MacArthur, but the medal was sent it to him. preparations, needs and concerns never awarded. Duggan will make arrangements for of American troops prior to Opera- Duggan, a Vietnam War Army vet- a suitable presentation of the Purple tion Desert Storm. eran and member of the Legion's Heart.

~~MAY 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • IISIOH Hm~~

~~Legionnaire Jeffrey N. Williams took an American Legion flag with him on the space shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station. Williams is a member of Wacek- Slattery Post 303, Winter, Wis.~~

In a new public-service announcement produced by The American Legion, National Legionnaire talces Commander Ray Smith, left, talks with Duke University men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski about the Legion's involvement in the Children's Miracle Network. Post to new lieiglits When U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey N. Williams, a Legion- Commander, Coach K host PSAs naire from Wacek-Slattery Post 303, Winter, Wis., took a flight National Commander Ray Smith has the Legion family invest in the CMN. aboard the space shuttle Atlantis teamed up with Duke University men's Krzyzewski also appears in two other to NASA's International Space basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski in a PSAs by himself, praising the Legion Station, he had an American Le- new public-service announcement about family for its fund-raising efforts and en- gion flag with him. The American Legion's involvement couraging active-duty military personnel

~~As part of the STS-101 Mis- with the Children's Miracle Network. to join the Legion and explore its many~~

sion, Atlantis spent 1 1 days in In the 60-second spot, Krzyzewski, a volunteer opportunities. space. Williams spent more than member of Post 1981, Department of All three videotaped PSAs, 30 and 60 six hours outside the space sta- North Carolina, bounces a ball back and seconds long respectively, have been dis- tion completing planned assem- forth with Smith while the two discuss tributed to 86 cable television markets bly and maintenance tasks. The American Legion's role in CMN surrounding military installations. Copies After the mission was com- fund raising. also have been sent to every Department. pleted, Williams' return to Win- Smith and Krzyzewski, a CMN Legionnaires wanting to provide the tapes ter was marked by a celebration spokesman and chairman of the Duke to local cable stations can do so by con- at a local school gymnasium. A Children's Hospital Telethon, praise the tacting the Legion's PubUc Relations Di- Legion Honor Guard escorted time and talents the 4 milUon members of vision at (317) 630-1253. Williams and his family to the packed gym where the crowd greeted them with a standing Oig IWelve wioners aoooooceil ovation. Williams narrated a comput- Two winners were recently an- goal and may pledge to reach goals high- erized photo presentation of his nounced for the Big Twelve Competition: er than 90 percent. Departments reaching experiences on the shuttle and Vermont from Category V and Delaware or exceeding the higher-pledged goals his walk in space. He later pre- from Category VI. Each Department will score higher in the competition than De- sented to Post 303 and the Le- receive a computer or related equipment partments that pledge a lower percentage. gion's 12th District in Wisconsin valued at $2,000. According to William Sloan, assistant a collage of The American Le- The "Big Twelve Competition" re- director of the Legion's Internal Affairs gion flag, an Atlantis crew shoul- wards those Departments that meet or ex- and Membership Division, "Delaware and der patch, and photos of the crew ceed target "pledges" made earlier at the Vermont are just two great examples of inside the shuttle and a view Commanders and Adjutants Conference. Department leadership in action, which from space. Each Department must achieve at least 90 they demonstrated by exceeding tough, percent of the Department's membership self-imposed membership goals."

~~• • 41) THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE MAY 2001 New incentive fnr Ray's Aces~~

In September, National Commander an engraved gold diamond-studded Ray Smith initiated "Ray's Aces" to ring. The second-place award will be boost declining Legion membership. an engraved silver diamond-studded To become a "Ray's Ace," Legion- ring. The third-place award will be a naires must recruit five new members. bronze engraved plaque. Early 2001 recruitment figures to- In addition, winners and their Na- Buy the Last 1921 Morgan taled 3,530, leaving the Legion 6,470 tional Executive Committeemen and Silver Dollar BU, Get a FREE short of achieving its goal of 10,000 Department Adjutants will be Smith's new mem- guests at a 1921-1935 BU Peace SUver DoUar bers through special re- BOTH FOR $29 Smith's pro- ception dur- gram. ing the Nation- Incredible Introductory OJfer: Guaranteed Brilliant Uncirculated! Own both these great Smith re al Convention. American silver dollar classics in lustrous cently announced a Also invited will be the mint-state quality for substantially less than new incentive to spur mem leadership of those Depart- you'd pay for one elsewhere. New customers bership efforts. Department Com- ments that obtain 100 percent or only. Set, $29 (#34785). Limit 2 sets. Add $2 manders and Membership chairmen more of their 2001 membership goal by postage. 30-Day No-Risk Home Examination: have the highest percent of gain, 9. who May Money-Back Guarantee. To order by credit incentives minus direct solicitation members, Smith said the have one card call toll-free. Or send check or money from Feb. 1 through May 9 will be pre- goal in mind: to reverse the member- order to: International Coins & Currency sented three special awards at the Na- ship slide so that the Legion can con- 62 Ridge St., Dept. 41 14 tional Convention Aug. 24-30 in San tinue to serve veterans, their families Montpelier, VT 05602 Antonio. The first-place award will be and communities everywhere. 1-800-451-4463 For other offers visit www.iccoin.com 4114

~~^ PEARL HA~~

~~www.pearlharbor.com MAY 25~~

~~• • MAY 2001 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE /|7 Id~~

~~By Layne Cameron niversary event will be worth enduring the frosty stillness.~~

Photos by Tom Strattman Soon, a caravan of trucks and trail- ers streaming from Gallup toward the r N THE PREDAWN darkness at park emerge from the darkness, mimick- New Mexico's Red Rock State ing the closing scene from the movie Park, few visitors can envision "Field of Dreams." The convoy is a anything blossoming from the mix of pilots, crew and spectators who lifeless silt in the morning's have traveled across the United States Freedom biting cold. Temperatures hover in the teens, and nobody, with the ex- ception of a handful of enthusiastic volunteers, seems to be awake yet. Flight Inc. The hosts of the Red Rock Balloon Rally in Gallup, N.M., however, promise that the canyons will soon raises bloom with color and their 20th an- awareness of the plight of POWs, MIAs

~~The best place to find solace from the dawn's frigid temperatures is near the balloons as participants fire up their burners prior to launch.~~

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 to fly in or watch the colorful rally. One ment but jets around the world pro- the launch. (When space is available, can almost hear the canyons whisper, moting his organization. Freedom the truly lucky ones are invited to fly.) "Ry them, and they will come." Flight Lie. After a year of recruiting Freedom Flight IIFs black enve- As promised, the quiet canyon be- volunteers and sponsors. Freedom lope, or bag, with its teary-eyed eagle comes a flurry of activity and color as Flight was launched - quite literally - ensnared in barbed wire, stands out balloon crews begin the arduous task in 1989 to raise awareness for the from the other balloons. The makeshift of preparing for flight. Trails leading plight of POWs, MIAs and their fami- crew realizes they're a part of some- toward the mesa tops fill with know- lies. The maiden voyage of Freedom thing more than just someone's hobby. ing spectators scurrying to prime van- Flight I affirmed founders Jim Tuorila And before Cesnik fires the dual, 19- tage points to welcome Old Sol and and Bill Nohner's belief that a hot-air million BTU burners, he rewards witness the transformation. balloon was the best medium for the everyone with a collector's pin, a small The sun's rays beam upon the organization's message: "The Ameri- card (complete with the balloon's sta- canyon's crimson walls and the flow- can people are raising their voices to tistics) and an abbreviated POW/MIA ering fields below. Pilot Luke Cesnik demand that American servicemen be lesson: "We're flying in Freedom, be- of Albuquerque Legion Post 49 is un- brought home. Some of us are raising cause they lost theirs." fazed by the cold. "In Mirmesota, more than our voices." Novice crewmember and Vietnam we're used to flying on a frozen lake," Judging by the throng of visitors War and Desert Storm veteran Edison Cesnik, 48, chuckles. What's impor- gathered around Cesnik and his crew, Tsosie wins the lift-off lotto and is tant to him, he says, is the calm wind it's obvious the organization is achiev- asked if he'd like to fly today. His and piercing blue sky - a perfect ing its mission. Cesnik's wife, Pam, beaming smile answers for him, and morning for ballooning. and fellow Legionnaires Jerry Becker he clamors aboard. (His grin doesn't Cesnik, a Vietnam War veteran and and Bob Hoversten act as the skeleton subside throughout the entire 90- frequent balloonist, resides in St. crew. Spectators milling about the trail- minute flight.) Cloud, Minn. He holds his Legion er soon leam just how accessible the With a few long blasts from the membership in the State of Enchant- sport is as they're recruited to help with burners, the balloon takes flight with cheers from the crowd. Rising up. Freedom joins a formidable armada of hot-air crafts - more than 100 balloons will take to the skies this morning.

~~The variety is as eclectic as it is colorful. Traditionally shaped balloons are~~

~~Above: Luke Cesnik displays a medicine bundle gifted to him by a Navajo Indian medicine man, who Is also a Vietnam War veteran. Cesnik carries the "good luck" bundle with him on every flight.~~

~~Left: Russ Grantham, a Vietnam War veteran, enjoys a panoramic view of Red Rock Canyon. Grantham has been ballooning since 1992.~~

MAY 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • i|9 Left: The awesome sight of the hot-air balloons stops traffic along the busy high- ways beneath. Below: Bal- loons light up the night like oversized luminaries during the"Glow in the Rocks" event. the most prevalent and range in hue and just crew for our friends." from Freedom's flat black to others His delight is apparent as he gives sporting radiant rainbow schemes. Cesnik a kiss. Actually, their balloons (Dthers, however, seem to have been share the smooch - a maneuver in peeled from the pages of children's which the pilots allow their envelopes books. Humpty Dumpty, giant pigs, a to brush against each other. For the globe, flying carriages and a soda can remainder of the flight, the two friends hang silently in the sky. One of the play hide-and-seek, flying in and out most elaborate balloons is Arky - a of the canyons on delicate whispers of replica of Noah's ark, complete with wind. Just as Drake thought he had 28 animals peeping over the side. lost Freedom, the watchful eagle's Out of the canyon's shadows, tem- eyes rise from the adjacent ravine as if peratures in the 40s feel like a verita- to say, "You're it." ble heat wave. And since the balloon Just before touching down, Cesnik moves with the breeze, no wind chill casts a somber note over the playful taints the warmth. "You couldn't ask mood. Acknowledging the higher pur- for a. better day to fly," beams Cesnik. pose of his flight, he dedicates the fi- Cesnik's father, a fixed- winger fly- nal pass through the canyon to every er, sparked his son's love of flight by POW/MIA not yet accounted for. Af- allowing the 10-year-old to accompa- above the sage, Cesnik opens one of ter a moment of silence, he offers up a ny him in his plane. Five years later, the dual rotators. The propulsion pro- slight variation of the balloonist 's Cesnik earned his own flying license. duces a slow spin and allows the bal- prayer to conclude the ceremony: Nine years ago, yearning to broaden loon to playfully roll against the "The winds have welcomed us with his flying expertise, he became a bal- smooth walls. softness. The sun has blessed us with loon pilot. His extensive experience, its warm hands. We flew so high and honed by logging 40 flights a year, Laughter and Hot-air. Hearing the so well in Freedom that God has affords him a wealth of maneuvers laughter and seeing the frolicsome ma- joined us in our laughter, and he has and finesse that make the flight pure neuvers. Legionnaire Terry Drake of set us gently back again intojhe lov- bliss for him and his three passengers. Post 407, High Rolls, N.M., joins the ing arms of Mother Earth." U

From 1 ,000 feet up, the imprisoned fun. Drake, a Vietnam War veteran eagle's gaze extends beyond Gallup to helicopter pilot, wouldn't have dared To find out about Freedom Flight's the west and Mount Taylor, some 60 fly his Cobra this close to a gorge - or schedule ofevents or to obtain member- miles to the east. The view, which a balloon, for that matter. But being ship information, write to Freedom Flight seems to extend to the edge of the able to drop in on his friends from out Inc., P.O. Box 1052, St. Cloud, MN earth, is extraordinary. But taking a of the blue is what makes his hot-air 56302-1052, or visit the Web site at flight path over lower elevations hobby so enjoyable. www.fi-eedomflight.org. proves to be even more exhilarating. "The flying is fun," says Drake. A controlled descent drops the "But it's the companionship that Layne Cameron is a wicker gondola within arm's reach of makes it worthwhile." The 57-year-old free-lance writer living the sandstone cliffs, close enough to loves the camaraderie so much that he outside Indianapolis. snatch a red rock for a souvenir. Drop- and his wife occasionally travel to ral- ping further, hovering mere inches lies without their balloon. "We'll go Article design: Holly K. Soria

~~• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 IjQ You Can Count On~~

TRAVEL SERVICES Dental Plan Covers routine and RAMADA First National w-rop more extensive dental work. Banli Omaha Save 15% -30% Call 800-621-3008, Ext. 45284 AVIS The American Legion every time you stay. Affinity Credit Card Call 800-462-8035 Health Save5%-10% off Call 866-546-8472 Offer ID#: 00020204 Insurance mart SuperValue Daily, Weekly Individual health insurance and Weekend Rates. First National Bank for members and their families ^National CarRental. Call 800-331-1212 Omaha 800-323-2106 Offer ID#: 343600 CDs, Market Savings, Save up to 10% -25% Money IRAs, Equity Products, Home off daily, weekend, weekly, Home Budget Outstanding Rates Protection monthly and business rates. 877-709-3626 Deductible reimbursement Call 800-227-7368 Call on paid homeowners or Save up to 25% off standard Offer ID #: 5176669 The American Legion Annuity renters insurance claims. time and mileage rates. Call 800-576-3445. Call 888-353-4466 Call 800-455-2848 Not available in all states. Offer Legion Offer BCD#: T756500 ID#: Membership Card Save 15 - 30% HEALTH SERVICES at more than 500 Travelodge INSURANCE DAYS INN and Thriftlodge hotels. Level Term Plan Save 15% -30% off already Call 800-545-5545 Higher benefits to cover debts Eye Care Plan ofAmerica standard rates. Offer ID#: 00020204 low room that reduce over time. Call 800-268-2195 Save up to 40% Call 800-542-5547 Offer ID#: 00020204 or more on eyewear. Modern Call 800-221-3272 CHOICE HOTELS Present your Legion INTERNATIONAL im'^J^ Vets Plan Membership card. A more economical choice for Younger members (under 40). You save when you mention Call 800-542-5547 Save 15% -30% you are a member of the Legion Ijfimerica off your next stay. Call 800-424-6423 Whole Life Plan Save as much as Call 800-682-1071 Offer ID#: 00800800 Smaller debt coverage - 20% or more on prescription drugs. Offer ID#: 00020204 never terminates due to age. Call 800-905-9818 MOVERS Call 800-523-5758 Present your Legion WINGATE TRICARE Supplement Membership card. INN northAmericark Supplements both active duty and retired military Members can save 15% -30%. Minimum 50% discount and MAGAZINE & member's health care. SERVICE Call 877-202-8814 Free coverage. INTERNET $50,000 Call 800-542-5547 Offer ID#: 00020204 Call 800-524-5533 Small Employer HOWARD Amerieaa Plan JOHNSON Employees benefits Full year's subscription to the %HfOBAU award-winning American Save 15% -30% for small businesses, including Posts and Departments Legion Magazine. off standard rates. Up to 55% discount on 800-321-1998 Call 800-769-0939 interstate moving expenses. Call The American Lef^ion Offer ID#: 00020204 Call 800-877-7332 Web Site Latest news on issues that Your Legion Working For You concern Legion members, veterans, active/retired Customer Service and/or Emblem Americanism/ Legislative and/or National Emergency Fund Sales Children & Youth Veterans Affairs military and reserve. Call 800-433-3318 Call 888-453-4466 Call 317-630-1203 Call 202-861-2700 www.legion.org eiNvm mm giiie Air, lodging, car discounts welcome Legionnaires to San Antonio.

Antonio's zesty mix of fla- Flying vors - from historic missions To receive a 10-percent discount on Santo modem skyscrapers and a Southwest Airlines fares to and from unique cuisine known as "Tex- the 2001 National Convention, call Mex" - makes America's (800) 433-5368 and refer to code No. eighth-largest city a national D5513. Travel dates are Aug. 21 to hotspot for visitors. Sept. 3. Members of The American Legion Discount fares ranging from 5 per- family will get a taste of San Antonio's cent to 15 percent are offered on Unit- diversity Aug. 24-30 during the Nation- ed Airlines flights, including United al Conventions. Special prices for air- Shuttle and United Express. Price re- plane tickets, rental cars, hotels and ductions are greater for earlier ticket even an RV campground are now of- purchases. Information on United fered to members of The American Le- flights and ticket prices can be gion, The American Legion Auxiliary obtained by calling (800) 521-4041 and Sons of The American Legion to and referring to Meeting Plus ID code make travel costs more affordable. No. 551SQ. The offer is good for the Eighteen hotels will house members travel period Aug. 19 to Sept. 4. of The American Legion's 55 Depart- The Riverwalk is one of San Antonio's Northwest Airlines also offers ments. Local RV accommodations are top attractions. Legionnaires 5 percent to 15 percent also available. Members planning to off the National Convention travel attend the National Convention should • Connecticut and Wyoming at price - depending on the type of fare contact their Department Adjutants to Homewood Suites Riverwalk and ticket purchase date. Northwest's make hotel reservations. More infor- • Alaska, District of Columbia, window of travel time is Aug. 21 to mation is available on The American France, Hawaii, Mexico, North Sept. 2. Assistance is provided at Legion's Web site at www.legion.org Carolina, Philippines, Puerto Rico, (800) 328-1111 Monday through Fri- General sessions of the National Con- The American Legion National day, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (CST). The vention will be conducted at The Henry Headquarters, Sons of The Ameri- American Legion Worldfile Numbef is B. Gonzalez Convention Center. can Legion and 20 & 4 at Hyatt Re- NMSE7. Here is a list of who's staying where, gency Riverwalk followed by American Legion partners • Massachusetts at LaQuinta Inn providing transportation discounts: • California at Radisson Hotel Market Driving Square Group rates for rental cars during Who's Staying Where • Minnesota at Ramada Emily Mor- the National Convention are available • Arkansas, Indiana, South Dakota gan Hotel from Hertz, Avis and National Car and Texas at Adam's Mark San An- • Pennsylvania at Residence Inn by Rental. tonio Riverwalk. Marriott Alamo Plaza Hotel Reservations may be placed • New York and Rhode Island at • Missouri and Oregon at Riverwalk through the Hertz Meeting Sales Desk Camberley Gunter Hotel Plaza Hotel at (800) 654-2240. When booking • Kansas and Nebraska at St. Antho- • Michigan and Oklahoma at reservations for Hertz cars with the ny Hotel, Wyndham Heritage Amerisuites Riverwalk toll-free number. Legionnaires should • Illinois and New Jersey at Four • Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, use Meeting No. 022M0323. Points Sheraton Riverwalk Maine, Virginia and West Virginia Avis offers discount rental car rates • Mississippi, New Mexico and Wash- at The Menger Hotel to Legionnaires in San Antonio Aug. ington at Hampton Inn Riverwalk • Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, 17 to Sept. 6. The toll-free number is • Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, New Montana, North Dakota, Vermont (800) 331-1600. The American Hampshire, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin at Westin Riverwalk Legion's Avis Discount Number is American Legion Auxiliary Na- San Antonio G343699, which must be used to re- tional Headquarters and 8 et 40 at ceive the discount. Hilton Palacio del Rio Camping The reservation contact number for • Colorado and Tennessee at Holiday Travelers World RV Resort National Car Rental is (800) 227- Inn Downtown/Market Square Hotel 2617 Roosevelt Ave. 7368. The ID number for The Ameri- • Kentucky and Ohio at Holiday Inn San Antonio, TX 78214 can Legion National Convention is Riverwalk (800) 755-8310 or (210) 532-8310 6800711.

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Education imondoggle Under President Bush, the Department of Education wUl receive the biggest percentage budget increase of any department in the federal government. But the President's new Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, has been wamed by Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., that fiscal responsibility must be restored at the agency because billions of education dollars have literally been wasted or lost. Hoekstra, chairman of the new House Select Education Subcommittee, pointed to a U.S. Office of Special Counsel investigation that substantiated a whistleblow- er's allegations that "violations of law, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds and an abuse of authority" had occurred in the office of the chief financial officer at the department. The waste included duplicate pay- After an epidemic of mad cow disease struck England in recent years, the Britisli government began requiring cattle to be tagged to insure that cattle ments to grantees and contractors totaling shipments can be tracked. Mad cow disease still poses a threat to Americans, more than $150 million and $177 million including 4.5 million U.S. military personnel and their families. in education grants to ineligible students. In addition to financial mismanage- Mad cow disease threatens military and families ment, cases of fraud included the theft of $300,000 worth of department equip- Are members of the military and fortable with your food supply," ment, $600,000 in false overtime pay, and their famihes at special risk of con- said Thomas Kalil of the Depart- the diversion of $1.9 million in agency tracting the fatal mad cow disease? ment of Agriculture. "Don't be so funds to the CEO's personal bank account USA Today, which recently reported comfortable." to buy a house and two expensive cars. that the United States hasn't done Even though cattle are supposed enough to ward off the threat, says to be banned from mad cow-infected 4.5 million U.S. military personnel nations, Kalil said that live cattle are Friend or foe? and their dependents might have now coming into the United States* The discovery of a Russian mole in the consumed beef supplied by the from Mexico, which brings them in EBl has raised concern on Capitol Hill United Kingdom during the peak of from Argentina, where cases of con- about the bureau's ongoing cooperation its mad cow epidemic. taminated beef and mad cow disease with the Russians, hi the name of fighting But the risk is even more wide- have already been discovered. international crime, FBI Director Louis spread. "All of you are very com- -C.K. Freeh established close relations with Russian police agencies, even venturing to Moscow in 1997 to give a speech, re- security agency on counterterrorism. to go further. She said Gadhafi himself ferring to both sides as "comrades." Freeh Those relationships "are extremely im- should be indicted for the crime by the advocated a Mutual Legal Assistance portant to both countries" and "will not be U.S. Department of Justice. Treaty between the United States and affected by this case," he said. After the Scottish court hearing the Russia so that cooperation could increase. case convicted a Libyan intelUgence offi- Under Freeh, the FBI has opened nu- cer, the Loudon Sunday Times disclosed merous offices abroad. As of 1997, the Targeting tlie godfatlier that Gadhafi 's brother-in-law, Abdullah

FBI had 82 agents and 6 1 support employ- In a joint statement with British Prime al-Senussi, then head of Libyan intelli- ees in 30 nations around the world, in- Minister Tony Blair, President Bush gence, planned the bombing and that cluding a legal attache office in Moscow. called on Libya's dictator Moammar Gadhafi sanctioned it. The paper said Russians have even graduated from the Gadhafi to comply with U.N. resolutions Brifish spies in Libya confirm their role. FBI's National Academy. regarding the Pan Am 103 terrorism case However, opposition to a tougher However, at the end of the news con- before sanctions on Libya would be lifted. policy is coming from the American ference in which he discussed the arrest of Those resolutions require accepting re- Oasis group of oil producers who want senior FBI agent Robert Hannsen on spy sponsibility and compensating die fami- to get back into Libya to make money. charges, Freeh reiterated that the FBI lies of the victims. They are Amerada Hess, Conoco, would continue to "work very closely But some American family members, Marathon Oil Company and Occiden- with the [Russian] ministry of interior" on including Susan Cohen, who lost her only tal Petroleum Corporation. criminal matters and the Russian internal child in the blast, want the United States - Clijf Kincaid

~~• • Ijil THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE MAY 2001 .~~

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MAY 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • Alabama Memorial honors vets Veterans face BED retake deadline The Alabama Veterans Memor- ial opens May 27 in Birmingham to Time is running out for veter- honor Alabama military veterans ans who have taken the GED from all branches of service in all High School Equivalency Ex- 2(Dth-century wars. ams but failed to score high Situated in a 21 -acre park, the enough on one or more sections memorial will recognize more than for a certificate. 1 1,000 Alabama veterans who lost A major overhaul of the GED their lives in the wars of the 20th

Battery of exams will change the century, including World War I, rules in 2002. The new GED World War H, the Korean War, the tests will share no compatibility Vietnam War and the Gulf War. with the old exam, according to "The Foundation envisions the Steve Beckman, Department of memorial as a place of thanksgiv- Defense GED administrator. If a ing for more than 430,000 veterans veteran previously failed and currently living in Alabama, a wants a GED after January 2002, place to educate and a place that he or she must take the entire celebrates democracy," said Delia battery, which amounts to 5.5 Fancher, founder and president of hours of testing at a cost of $63 the Alabama Veterans Memorial in most states. Foundation. Currently, veterans who The memorial will feature a Located in a 21 -acre park in Birmingham, the failed to score high enough for a Regiment of Columns honoring Al- Alabama Veterans Memorial will recognize more than 11, 000 Alabama veterans who lost GED certificate may retake one abama's 22 Medal of Honor recipi- their lives in the wars of the 20th century. or more of the five sections and ents in addition to the veterans who have that score combined with lost their lives and those who returned education center will contain rotating ex- the old scores. If the required home. The 36 columns, 20 feet in height, hibits. Its auditorium will serve as a forum score is achieved, the veteran contain veterans' stories and patriotic for educators and students to hear guest will be awarded a GED High sculptures cast in metal by Alabama artists. speakers, says Fancher. School Equivalency from his or In addition to celebrating the opening For more information on the Alabama her home state. of the Memorial Park, the grand opening Veterans Memorial, visit its Web site at event will establish the Alabama Veter- www.alabamaveterans.com. The Foun- ans Memorial Foundation's commitment dation may also be contacted by mail at Lejeune Marines to education. Scheduled for completion in P.O. Box 36972, Birmingham, Ala., cnntinue searcli 2002, the memorial's multimillion-dollar 35236, or by calling (800) 288-7890.

Marine Corps officials are still seeking former Marine fami- VA creates Parkinson's centers lies who conceived children while living in Marine Corps VA has taken a step toward improving bilitation, health services delivery and clin- base housing at Camp Lejeune care and pursuing a cure for Parkinson's ical trials. In addition, each center will par- from 1968 through 1985. The disease by creating six new centers that ticipate in a landmark clinical trial to assess Agency for Toxic Substances specialize in research, education and clin- the effectiveness of surgical implantation and Disease Registry, a public ical care. More than $30 million has been of deep brain stimulators in reducing the health agency, is conducting a committed over the next four years to symptoms of Parkinson's disease. health survey concerning these support the new centers. Parkinson's disease is slowly progres- children. The centers will be established this sive and symptoms are characterized by To participate, call the Na- year at medical facilities in Houston, tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness tional Opinion Research Center Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., Richmond, of limbs and gait or balance problems, ac- at (800) 639-4270. For more in- San Francisco and West Los Angeles. cording to the National Parkinson Foun- formation about the survey, call Operating as a national consortium, the dation. Treatment exists, but no cure has the health agency at (888) 422- new centers will function similarly to been found. The Foundation estimates

8737, extension 5132. The Ma- VA's Geriatric Research, Education and that up to 1 .5 million Americans have the rine Corps has also established a Clinical Centers and mental Illness Re- disease and approximately 50,000 new toll-free number at (877) 261- search, Education Centers. cases are diagnosed each year. 9782. Each Parkinson's center wUl conduct VA medical centers treat at least 20,000 research covering basic biomedicine, reha- Parkinson's disease patients each year.

~~• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 If you have contracted MESOTHELIOMA or LUNG CANCER due to exposure to Asbe 9~~

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organization and branch of service with your request. The request HOW TO USE NATIONAL REUNION REGISTRY^ should also include the reunion dates and city, along with a contact name and The National Reunion Registry handles all reunion information telephone number. Please also include a size estimate of the group. services for The American Legion Magazine. NRR, a division of Mili- Using Internet is the the 'quickest, most accurate way to access the j tary Information Enterprises, Inc., is a private organization that provides reunion registry. You may check to see if your buddies are planning a ;1' information about reunions, helps veterans locate old buddies and offers reunion by visiting NRR's Web site at www.MilitaryUSA.com. To pro- other special benefits to veterans and their families. mote the best accuracy and fastest process when listing your reunion, maintains contact information on thousands of reunions and NRR complete the Reunion Registration Forni available on the Web site. provides this information free of charge to veterans. There are several ways to register reunions or check reunion listings LOCATING A BUDDY j with the National Reunion Registry. Please contact the organization MilitaryUSA.com offers many services for veterans, including tips directly by writing to NRR/Reunions, PO Box 17118, Spartanburg, and techniques for locating current or former military members. How To SC 29301, by faxing (864) 595-0813 or via e-mail at inforniation@niil- Locate Anyone Who Is or Has Been in the Military: Armed Forces Loca- itaryUSA.com. Due to the large number of reunions, NRR cannot tor Guide is a practical guide to help people locate service members. The accept phone requests for reunion information. publication can be purchased by contacting MIE Publishing, P.O. Box To register a reunion, you should include the complete name of the 171 18, Spartanburg, SC 29301 or by faxing (864) 595-0813.

AIR FORCE KY, 6/18-24, Bill Meyer, (316) 382-3475, donna® Co, Ticonderoga, NY, 6/7-10, Doc Lerp, (410) 374- 99div.com; 105th AAA AW Bn, Metairie, LA, 6/20-22, 1008, [email protected]; 2nd AMTRAC Bn, GEEIA/MDA/EI, Biloxi, MS, 6/8-10, Hal Smrth, (228) Sheila Favalora, (504) 865-5240, favalora® Albuquerque, NM, 6/13-16, Austin Rishel, (505) 797- 826-1427, [email protected]; 351st tulane.edu; Persian Gulf Cmd Vets WWII, Omaha, NE, 4142; Chi Chi Jima Marines, Pittsburgh, 6/14-17, Bob

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1 1 Vogel, 783-3625; Branson, MO, 5/13- [email protected]; 73, towersfw/@aol.com; 26th Inf Div Yankee, (520) LST 791 , 9808, USS Gen W.P. Richardson, Hyannis, MA, 6/5-7, Robert Raney, (978) 531-2257; 18, Charles Haight, (941) 729-1469, clhaight21@ AP 118, USS Gen William Mitchell. AP 114, USS 128th AAA Gun Bn, Atlanta, 6/5-9, Chester Brett, aol.com; USCG Eastwind. SAGB W 279, Boston, Adm H.T. Mayo. AP 1 25, USS Pres Monroe. AP 104, (760) 342-2624; 7788th Med Dept France, Dover, 5/25-28, Joseph Quntiliani, (508) 548-0329, USS Adm E.W. Eberle. AP 123, USS Gen George OH, 6/6-8, Gene Argento, (330) 343-0065, uscgdiver®webtv.net; USCGC Burton Island. WAGB Randall, AP 1 1 5, USS Adm W.L Capps, AP 1 21 [email protected] 283, Las Vegas, 6/20-23, Greg Reel, (81 6) 454-7991 USS Gen W.H. Gordon. AP 117, USS GenJ.C. gbreel®swbell.net Breckinridge, AP 145, USS Gen William Weigel, AP

24th Inf Div Assn, Charleston, WV, 6/6-9, Hany 1 1 9, USS Gen M.B. Stewart, AP 1 40, USS Gen H.F. Wrttman Jr., (304) 788-0465; 807th Tank Dest Bn, JOINT Hodges, AP 144, USS Gen Harry Taylor, AP 145, Louisville, KY, 6/6-10, Ginger Robinson, (219) 493- USS Adm C.F. Hughes, AP 124, USS Golden City. PB4Y All Sqdn, Albuquerque, NM, June, Ronald 9946, giner,[email protected]; 38th Inf Div AP 169, USS Adm W.S. Benson, AP 120, AP Trans Sathre, 487-7249, pb4yguy®aol.com; Berlin (510) 747- 149th Inf Rgt Co I, Marion, KY, 6/7, Z, Cumel, (270) Assn, Norfolk, VA, 6/7-10, Chuck Ulrich, (516) Vets, Las Vegas, 6/3-7, Charles Farrell, (727) 522- 965-3486; 36th Inf Div Midwest Chapter, Minneapolis, 7426 4633, beriinvets®cs.com; Berlin Airlift Vets, 6/8-10, Wenzel Franz, (715) 425-7347, ncfranz@ Springfield, IL, 6/17-21, Cal Korf, (941) 485-2625, spacestar.net; 90th Chem Mortar Bn, Minneapolis, USS Hammerberg, DE 1015, Columbus, OH, 6/8-10, cal®berlinveterans.com; Vietnam Helicopter Crew, 6/10-14, Charles Foster, (952) 944-3544, Roger Kapes, (614) 470-4468, kapesrw® Louisville, KY, 6/19-24, Charlie Rains, (901) 795- [email protected] hammerberg.org; USS Barbican. ACM 5, Beckley, 2850, vhcmaed®sprynet.com; Mt. Eckstein, WV, 6/8-15, Charies Schultz, (517) 467-7520; USS Rimbach, W. Gennany, Hagerstown, MD, 6/23-25, 29th. 570th Air Ser Grp, Charlotte, NC, 6/1 1 -1 5, Frank Peterson. DD 969, Woodbridge, NJ, 6/9, J. Fenwick, Glenn Miller, (915) 949-4775, rimbach 2001® Pace Sr., (330) 343-7855, [email protected]; 238th (908) 537-6106, toddlerf®yahoo.com; USS yahoo.com; 6010th Eng Avn Co, 919th"Eng Avn Maint Cbt Eng Bn, Oklahoma City, 6/14-16, Donald Ray, Caphcornus. AKA-57, San Francisco, 6/10-12, Co, Colorado Springs, CO, 6/26-28, Paul Repsher, (405) 341-0888; 1st Cav 82nd FA, Lafayette, IN, Thomas Longo, (410) 289-4504, [email protected]; (918) 650-0967, perepshe®msn.com; PBR Forces 6/14-16, Alva Snider, (765) 762-2032, VB/VPB/VP-106, Branson, MO, 6/11-15, Arthur Ft. Mitchell, KY, 6/28-7/1 Keny Shaffer, Veterans, , [email protected]; 9th Inf Div 39th Inf Rgt 4th Hacker, (407) 242-1 937,wood61 [email protected] (696) 451-5688, [email protected]; Neviffound- Bn, Springfield, MO, 6/14-16, Allen Suendgard, (402) land/Greenland, Colorado Springs, CO, 6/29-7/1, Dee 426-9598; 7th Anny 33rd Armd 2nd Tank Bn Co A, USS Warren. APA 53, Overland Park, KS, 6/12-16, Teefy, (360) 452-3430, [email protected] Radcliff, KY, 6/14-17, Tom Howard, (907) 338-1961; Wan-en Lofstedt, (913) 722-0672, banksy@ 328th Radio Research Co Det, St. Louis, 6/14-17, MARINES kscable.com; VR 21, Reno, NV, 6/13-16, William Thomas Heiser, (715) 423-3914, [email protected] Schweitzer, (775) 972-1391, schweitzer2@

~~Bulk Fuel 1 390/1 391 , Las Vegas, 5/1 7-20, Marvin earthlink.net; USS Conyngham, DD 371/DDG 17,~~

33rd Army Band Alumni, Minneapolis, 6/16-18, Peck, (71 7) 369-4698; 1 st Div 1 st Mar 2nd Bn, New Washington, 6/13-17, Len Gordon, (732) 432-0588, Lorelei Giddings, (612) 729-4413, oboemuse® Orieans, 5/24-26, Daniel Savino, (732) 462-4348, ddggusboat®aol.com; USS Fall River CA 131 uswest.net; Ret Army Med Spec Corp, Las Vegas, [email protected]; 7th Mar 2nd Bn Fox Co, Seattle, 6/13-18, David Morris, (954) 484-8365, 6/18-21, EIna Mayhugh, (650) 349-6583, Gatlinburg, TN, 6/3-6, Bob Gallagher, (615) 360-7927, [email protected]; Radar Picket Ships, San Diego, [email protected]; 99th Inf Div Assn, Ft. Mitchell, [email protected]; 2/26th Weapons 2nd Pit Golf 6/14-16, Hany Miller, (401) 724-7278, yagr®

~~• jS THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 2001 ,~~

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msn.com; U5S Allen M. Sumner, DD 692, San Hariess, 830 E. Main St., Greenville, OH 45331 or 45459 or call (937) 438-1179. Diego, 6/14-17, Joe Gall, (716) 692-2697, call (937) 548-4406. Anyone who served with the 3rd AF or 3rd Bomb [email protected] Anyone who served with the OR Div aboard the USS Cmd on TOY from McDill Field to Venice AFB Oklahoma City between 1960 and 1963, contact Ed between 1 943 and 1 945, contact Eugene

USS Alaska. CB 1, Savannah, GA, 6/14-17, Charles Yunker at 1 1 21 9 Easy Street, Brainerd, MN 56401 Culpepper, P.O. Box 917, Forest MS 39074 or St. George, (716) 672-4432, [email protected]; call (21 8) 825-3777 or e-mail [email protected]. call (601) 469-4222. USS Sterett, CG 31, Longmont, CO, 6/15-17, Elden Anyone who served with CASU-1 5 at Guadalcanal Anyone who served with Army 69th Eng Co Miller, (303) 693-9302, [email protected]; USS and Efate or CASU-65 at Ream Field, Calif., during (Topographic) at Camp Roeder in Salzburg, Pamanset, AO 85, Branson, MO, 6/19-21, Paul WWII, contact Wendell Hubbs, 2404 Idlewood Austria, between 1954 and 1955, contact John 753-4634 City, call 635- Johnson, (704) ; USS Ashland, LSD 1/48, Road, Jefferson MO 65109, (573) Weldon, 1704 Tartan Place, Anacortes, WA

Springfield, IL, 6/20-23, Paul Adams Jr., (302) 834- 1579 or e-mail [email protected]. 98221 , call (360) 293-3998 or e-mail jweld® 1806, [email protected]; USS Burton Island, Anyone who served with the 810th AC&W Sqdn at valleyint.com.

AGB 88/AGB 1 , Las Vegas, 6/20-23, Greg Reel, Winston-Salem AFS, N.C., contact Gary Smith, Anyone who served with PATSU 8-44 on the 454-7991 [email protected] Belews Creek Road, Walkertown, NC islands of and Attu during WWII, (816) , 5660 Shemya contact

~~27051 , call (336) 595-3267 or e-mail gvsmith@ R.W. "Bob" Miller, 266 County Road 2436, USS Franklin, CV 13, Bar Harbor, ME, 6/21-24, attglobal.net. Mineola, TX 75773, call (903) 569-6609 or e-~~

Emest Scott, (207) 427-6686 ; USS Moale Assn, DD Anyone who served with HQ Btry 6, 56th Air mail [email protected]. 693, Virginia Beach, VA, 6/21-24, Don Boyle, (252) Defense Arty, Americal Div in Chu Lia, Vietnam, Anyone who served with the 8221 st or 821 9th AU 756-1855, [email protected]; USS ShangriLa, between 1968 and 1969, contact Jim Marquis, Field Arty Topographic & Meteorological Det Pittsburgh, 6/21-25, Chuck Hull, Box Watersmeet, Ml 46696, call 472- during the Korean War, CV/CVA/CVS 38, 181 , (906) contact Michael C. J. (724) 378-3244, [email protected]; USS Carry, 2640 or e-mail [email protected]. Kaminski, 2912 S. 10th Ave., Broadview, IL DD 817, Pittsburgh, 6/22-25, Jim Shaftic, (330) Anyone who served as an Arty Forward Observer 601 55, call (708) 345-8244 or e-mail 544-3301, [email protected]; USS Dashiell, DD during the Korean War, contact Anthony J. [email protected]. 659, Harper's Ferry, WV, 6/24-27, Jack Heasty, Sobieski, 4432 Ernie Davis Circle, Philadelphia, Anyone who served with the USN Armed Guard

(304) 274-1 801 , troublel @msn.com PA 1 91 54, call (21 5) 281 -3382 or e-mail during WWII, contact A. Bridger at 62 Strathmore [email protected]. Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34233, call (941) 377-0954 USS Vulcan, AR 5, Kissimmee, PL, 6/24-27, Don Anyone who served at Fleet Hospital 103 on Guam or e-mail five71 1 @aol.com. Hadley, (863) 324-0728, [email protected]; between November 1944 and May 1946, contact USS LST 944, Lincoln, NE, 6/27-30, Charies Lee Roy Michael, 1768 Buckingham Green Court, TAPS Headrick, (402) 486-1738; Mobile Riverine Forces St Charles, MO 63303, call (636) 916-4757 or e-

Assn, Ft Mitchell, KY, 6/27-7/1 , Albert Moore, 828- mail [email protected]. Jay Field, Dept of Hawaii. Natl Americanism Cncl. 464-7228, [email protected]; USS Wedderbum. DD Anyone who attended Small Boat School at Saigon, Memb. 1964-1965; Nat1 Counter-Subversive Activ. Indianapolis, 6/27-7/1 Lloyd Ash, 637- Vietnam, between 1968 and 1969, contact John Cncl. Memb. 1965-1968 and 1969-1980; Natl 684, , (803) 9618, [email protected]; USS Will Rogers. SSBN Paul Nowak, 94 Church Ave., Staten Island, NY Distinguished Guests Cmte. Memb. 1969-1970; Tulsa, OK, 6/28-7/1 525-9005, T. Oman, 10314, call 761-6009 ore-mail Natl M&PA Cmte. Memb. 1967-1968; Alt. Natl 659, , (414) (718) [email protected] [email protected]. Exec. Cmte. Memb. 1971-1972; Natl Legis. Cncl. Anyone who served with the 148th Ord, R&C Co in Memb. 1975-1976; Dept Cmdr. 1968-1969 and USS Newport News. CA 148, Norfolk, VA, 6/28-7/1, Frankfurt-Griesheim, Germany, between 1951 and 1973-1974; and various Department positions. Franklin Ragland, (757) 583-9021, c148rags@ 1952, contact Percy R. De Rouen, 622 Williams Josef Kocsis, Dept of South Carolina. Natl exis.net; USS Iwo Jima. LPH 2, Mobile, AL, 6/28-7/1 Drive, Lake Charies, LA 70607. Americanism Vice Chmn. 2000-2001 Robert McNally, (757) 723-0317, yujack@ Anyone who served with USMC 5th Comm Bn FLC, Roy B. Koeneman, Dept of Illinois. Natl M&PA Cmte.

megalink.net; IntI CPO, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 6/28- 3rd Marine Amph Force at Danang, contact Memb. 1957-1958 and 1962-1964; Natl M&PA 7/2, Patrick Ahem, (702) 471-7430 Richard Demi, 822 S. 21st, La Crosse, Wl 54601, Cmte. Vice Chmn. 1958-1961; Natl Housing Cmte. call (608) 784-2616 ore-mail rickof48@ Memb. 1962-1968; Natl Sec. Cncl. Vice Chmn. LIFE MEMBERSHIPS aol.com. 1968-1985 and 1995-1998; Dept Cmdr. 1984- Anyone who served with Army 1 32nd Evac Hosp, 1985; Natl Life Insurance & Tmst Cmte. Memb.

Life Membership notices are published for Semi-Mobile, in Europe during WWII, contact 1 985-1 993; Natl Life Insurance & Tmst Cmte. Vice Legionnaires who have been awarded Life LeRoy M. Reams, 2872 S. Wheeling Way, Chmn. 1990-1993; Alt. Natl Exec. Cmte. Memb. Memberships by their Posts. Life Membership notices Aurora, CO 80014, call (303) 752-4844 or e-mail 1991-1993; Natl Exec. Cmte. Memb. 1993-1995; must be submitted on official forms, which may be [email protected]. Natl Fin. Cmsn. Liaison Cmte. Memb. 1993-1995; obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped Anyone who served with the 630th Eng Co, contact Dept Cmdr. 1984-1985; and various Department envelope to Life Memberships, The American Legion Cecil Brown at 2602 Appaloosa Lane, Mahomet, positions. Magazine, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206. IL 61853, call (217) 586-5069 or e-mail Robert H. Lounsbeny, Dept of Iowa. Natl M&PA [email protected], or Jim Fitzgerald at 476 Cmte. Memb. 1950-1951; Natl Trophies, Awards

Post 328, CA: Wilbert Bates, James F. Blake, Bmce M. SW 121st Place, Portland, OR 97225, call (503) and Ceremonials Cmte. Memb. 1955-1956 and Cook, James E. Szymonek, William J. Underwood 641-8180 ore-mail [email protected]. 1961-1962; Natl Trophies, Awards and Ceremoni-

Post 1 82, CT: Joseph J. Wiener, Stephen G. Coupe Anyone who served with USAF 3921 st RTS at West als Cmte. Chmn. 1956-1961; Natl Rehab. Cmsn. Post 110, FL: Ronald L. Boisvert Drayton RAFB in West Drayton, England, between Advisory Bd. Memb. 1963-1964; Natl Exec. Cmte.

~~Post 273, lA: Robert T. Blake, Richard L. Blitgen, 1953 and 1955, contact John Berlekamp, 604 1965-1969; Natl Sec. Cmsn. Liaison Cmte. Memb.~~

Eugene J. Ernst, Willard J. Emst, Ralph F. Nutmeg Place, Sun City Center, FL 33573, call 1965-1966; Natl Foreign Relations Cmsn. Liaison Feldennan, Donald E. Neubert (813) 634-5122 ore-mail [email protected]. Cmte. Memb. 1967-1968; Natl Legis. Cmsn. Post 1574, NY: Peter Paul Woods Anyone who served with USMC 7th Motor Trans Bn Liaison Cmte. Memb. 1968-1969; Natl Distin- between September 1950 and December 1951, guished Guests Cmte. Vice Chmn. 1973-1988; IN SEARCH OF contact Richard "Smoky" Stover, 20340 SW Dept Cmdr. 1953-1954; and various Department 344th St., Homestead, FL 33034 or call (305) positions. Anyone who served in the Pacific theater during 245-8383. Raymond V. Mahoney, Dept of Florida. Natl Rehab. WWII, combat or noncombat, contact Deb Anyone who served with VS-831 or VS-36 at NAS Cmsn. Advisory Bd. Memb. 1964-1966 and 1982- McCabe, 3710 Mesa Ridge Road, Houston, TX Norfolk, Va., between 1951 and 1954, contact 1984; Natl Sec. Cncl. Memb. 1967-1970; Natl 77043, call (713) 895-0542 or e-mail John Meyer, 1934 3rd St., North, St Cloud, MN Distinguished Guests Cmte. Memb. 1966-1967 and [email protected]. 56303, call (320) 252-8287 or e-mail 1970-1972; Natl Distinguished Guests Cmte. Vice Anyone who served with the 438th Heavy Const Sig [email protected] or [email protected] Chmn. 1970-1971 and 1975-1979; Natl Veterans Corps during WWII, contact Greg Jacobs, 227 N. Anyone who served with the 28th Cav Recon Sqdn Preference Cmte. Memb. 1970-1972; Natl VA&R Shaddle, Mundelein, IL 60060, call (847) 970- Mech in Germany between 1945 and 1946, Region 3 Memb. 1971-1975; and Natl Legis. Cncl. 7852 or e-mail [email protected]. contact Charies W. Chappuis, P.O. Box 258, Memb. (11th Congress District) 1983-1986, 1989- Anyone who served on the USS Muscatine, contact Rayne, LA 70578, call (337) 334-4707 or e-mail 1990 and 1993-1994. Carroll Abbott, 2917 142nd Lane NW, Andover, [email protected]. Willie Pitts Jr., Dept. of Georgia. Natl Defense Civil MN 55304, call (763) 757-3475 or e-mail Anyone who served with the Westover AFB Motor Preparedness Cmte. Memb. 1992-2001; Natl Legis. [email protected]. Pool Drivers, 814th Trans Sqdn, between Cncl. Memb. 1999-2000; Alt. Natl Exec. Cmte. Anyone who served on the USS Darke between December 1961 and September 1965, contact Memb. 1999-2001; Dept Cmdr. 1995-1996; and October 1944 and April 1946, contact Jack John Mott, 843 Maxwelton Lane, Dayton, OH various Department positions.

~~• • GO THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE MAY 2001 . "~~

~~ElASSIfUB~~

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~~82 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • MAY 20Cn| iimnmppin~~

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~~MAY 3)01. • AMERICAN LE6it)N.MAGAZJNE'' • -fij"" PABTUIB SMTS~~

~~PUZZLE EDITOR~~

~~"Wendy will be down in a few minutes. Why don't we~~

~~use that time to see if I can buy you off?"~~

No Tears Here No, Really - Come On In What's the difference between an onion and an accordion? Tact is making people feel at home in your home when you No one cries when you cut an accordion in half. wish they were in theirs. - Submitted by Terry C. Kaiser, Palm Bay, Fla. - Submitted by John F. Felton, Somers, N.Y.

Mum's The Word Moving Up In The World Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains High heels were invented by a woman who was kissed on from giving us worthy evidence of the fact. her forehead. - George Eliot - Submitted by Elmer Reznicsek, Prineville, Ore.

~~"What's the matter with you guys? Don't you~~

~~know that smoking can kill you?"~~

Parting Shots The American Legion Magazine wel- and telephone number of the person Parting Shots Editor comes anecdotes, jokes or submis- submitting the material for verification. The American Legion IViagazine

~~jokes wanted sions for "Parting Shots." Submissions ($25 will be paid for submissions that P.O. Box 1055 should include the name, hometown are published.) Send submissions to: Indianapolis, IN 46206~~

~~• • |{/| THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE MAY 2001 Asbestos Cancer Hits Former Sailors~~

• Many who served aboard ship in the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's and early 1970's were exposed to asbestos. • Due to the long latency period of these diseases, some are now coming down with asbestos-related cancers.

~~IF YOU NOW HAVE MESOTHELIOMA or LUNG CANCER, OR A LOVED ONE HAS RECENTLY DIED FROM ONE OF THESE CANCERS~~

~~For Medical Resources :~~

Visit the Mesothelioma Web: www.mesotheliomaweb.org/n4658 or call toll-free 1-877-367-6376 to receive a free packet or to ask questions. (Packet includes information on mesothelioma treatment, clinical trials, cancer links, how to access legal and financial resources, and frequently asked questions with answers by the law firm below.)

For Information on Compensation from the Asbestos Industry: Law Offices of Jonathan David, P.C.*

~~10655 Six Pines Drive, #260 The Woodlands, TX 77380 (Greater Houston Area)~~

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