MONTAGNARDS REBUILD THEIR LIVES IN NORTH CAROLINA Pat Tillman’s Legacy ‘BIG 6’ UNITE IN WASHINGTON VFW POST IS FIRST ‘REMOTE’ VA SITE YOU SERVED OUR NATION, let us serve you There are many reasons to serve, but our reason is you. USAA proudly offers free membership to anyone who has honorably served our country. We welcome all branches, all ranks and all generations. Use of the term “member” or “membership” refers to membership in USAA Membership Services and does not convey any legal or ownership rights in USAA. Restrictions apply and are subject to change. To join USAA, separated military personnel must have received a discharge type of “Honorable.” Eligible former dependents of USAA members may join USAA. The Veterans of Foreign Wars receives financial support from USAA for this sponsorship. USAA means United Services Automobile Association. © 2019 USAA. 258972-0419 MONTAGNARDS REBUILD THEIR LIVES IN NORTH CAROLINA Pat Tillman’s Legacy ‘BIG 6’ UNITE IN WASHINGTON VFW POST IS FIRST ‘REMOTE’ VA SITE APRIL 2019 Vol. 106 No. 7 ‘A PROUD PEOPLE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF HONOR’ COVER PHOTO: Pat Tillman (left) and his In the North Carolina countryside near Asheboro, a community of brother, Kevin, prepare to board a helicopter 18 in 2003 in Iraq. Pat, who served with Kevin in Montagnards has found a new home. Aided by a former Green Beret, who fought alongside them in the Vietnam War, and other VFW the 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regt., was killed 15 volunteers, they are assimilating themselves into U.S. life. years ago this month in Afghanistan. BY JANIE DYHOUSE (A.F. Archive/Weinstein Company Photo) ON THE COVER 14 Pat Tillman ‘WE STARTED A DIALOGUE HERE’ 18 Montagnards VFW hosted an historic gathering in 26 VA Telehealth Site January of the six largest veterans 28 ‘Legacy’ Groups organizations at its Washington Offi ce. With the second meeting this month, IN THIS ISSUE they hope to pool resources on the 30 Service Offi cer common objectives they share to help 32 SVA veterans and their families. 34 Balangiga Bells BY TIM DYHOUSE 28 36 Henry Rifl e 38 GIVING BACK TO Member Recruiting THE PHILIPPINES IN EVERY ISSUE A trio of church bells that U.S. troops 2 Command Post brought home after fi ghting in the 1901 4 Mail Call Philippine-American War have been re- 6 Now Hear This turned to the island nation. VFW mem- 8 Issues Up Front bers from three different Departments 10 Washington Wire worked together to make it happen. 34 44 Better Health BY KARI WILLIAMS 45 Reunions ‘YOU JUST HAVE TO BE 46 Member Corner PASSIONATE’ 48 Member Benefi ts 60 Vets in Focus VFW recruiters have a chance to accomplish a signifi cant organizational goal this year. It would be the fi rst time it has occurred since 1992. BY JANIE DYHOUSE 3826 CHECK OUT OUR DIGITAL VERSION AT WWW.VFWMAGAZINE.ORG NEW! NOW ON FACEBOOK NEED HELP? VETERANS CRISIS LINE: 1-800-273-8255 APRIL 2019 • WWW.VFW.ORG • 1 COMMAND POST FROM THE CHIEF Forget the Rhetoric, Pay the NationÕs Defenders VFW magazine is the offi cial publication of the VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS hen members of the nation’s Coast Guard OF THE UNITED STATES needed help, VFW was there. In the midst STAFF of the government’s longest-ever shutdown PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tim Dyhouse in January, we provided nearly $100,000 in W SENIOR EDITOR fi nancial assistance. It enabled members of the Coast Guard Janie Dyhouse and their families to cover rent, put food on their tables and ASSOCIATE EDITOR pay utility bills. Kari Williams This was largely an effort conducted by our Departments. For SENIOR WRITER example, in New York, VFW members donated $15,000 to help Dave Spiva Coast Guard members in their state. ART DIRECTOR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF During peacetime, the members of the Coast Guard are tech- Lauren Goldman B.J. Lawrence nically employees of the Department of Homeland Security ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (DHS). That is why more than 42,000 of them missed two Tina Clark paychecks during the 35-day shutdown. It was the fi rst time in ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE history that members of a military service missed a paycheck GLM Communications, Inc. during a government shutdown. Jacqueline Tobin, Vice President, Digital/Print Media 500 1st Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 The other four military services were unaffected because the (212) 929-1300 FAX 212-929-9574 fi scal year 2019 spending bill for the Department of Defense had Email: [email protected] been approved prior to the shutdown. EDITORIAL OFFICE Address all communications for publication to: DHS was one of nine federal departments to go without The Editor, VFW Magazine funding. About 25 percent of the government’s 800,000 406 W. 34th St., Suite 523, Kansas City, MO 64111 employees — including 150,000 veterans — missed checks (816) 756-3390; www.vfw.org; [email protected] VFW magazine is protected through trademark reg is tra- between Dec. 22 and Jan. 25. tion in the United States and in the foreign countries where To bring attention to this matter, VFW hosted a news confer- VFW magazine circulates. VFW magazine (ISSN 0161-8598) is published 10 times a year by Veterans of Foreign Wars, 406 ence at its Washington West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. Non-profi t standard Offi ce on Jan. 15. We class postage paid at Oklahoma City, Okla., and additional What the Coast Guard, DHS were joined by repre- mailing offi ces. sentatives of AMVETS, Publications Agreement No. 1476947 Disabled Veterans Available on recording for the blind and those with physical handicaps that preclude reading material. and all members of the U.S. of America, Iraq and Contact: [email protected]. Afghanistan Veterans SUBMISSIONS of America and the U.S. Unsolicited manu scripts and pho to graphs must be ac com pa- Coast Guard Chief Petty nied by return postage and no re spon si bil i ty is assumed for safe military do daily allow the han dling. Poetry submissions not accepted. VFW mag a zine is Offi cers Association. By available in microfi lm from NA Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 998, the end of the next week, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998. Payment of membership dues includes $1.98 for a year’s subscription to VFW magazine. rest of us to sleep easier at the shutdown was over. CHANGE OF ADDRESS/DECEASED MEMBER However, at press time, [email protected] 1-833-839-8387 Congress and the White Forward address changes to: Member Service Center, VFW, night. No one should ever House still had not agreed 406 W. 34th St., Kansas City, MO 64111. to a permanent solution Be sure to furnish your old ad dress, also your Post number, when requesting change to new address. To ensure on the central issue — accuracy, please clip and enclose your present address take that for granted. how to best protect the as printed on a recent copy of VFW magazine. U.S. border. So, another NON-MEMBER SUBSCRIPTIONS possible shutdown was looming on Feb. 15. Regardless of the U.S. and its possessions, $15 per year, $1.50 per copy. For subscription in other countries, $20 per year. outcome, VFW will be prepared to help active-duty troops and Make checks payable to VFW Magazine and send to: veterans who might be affected. Member Service Center, 406 W. 34th St., KC, MO 64111. Our government’s fi rst responsibility is to secure the nation VFW OBJECTIVES To ensure national security and protect its citizens. Congress and the White House must through maximum military strength. remember this going forward. They must push through the To speed the rehabilitation of the nation’s disabled and needy veterans. rhetoric and take care of those who are on the front lines To assist the widows and orphans and the de pen dents of disabled and needy veterans. protecting the nation. To promote Americanism through education in pa tri o tism What the Coast Guard, DHS and all members of the U.S. mili- and constructive service to the communities in which we live. tary do daily allow the rest of us to sleep easier at night. No one Copyright 2019 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States should ever take that for granted. MEMBER ALLIANCE FOR AUDITED MEDIA 2 • VFW • APRIL 2019 MAIL CALL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR VFW’s Changing Culture Yongsan Arizona Hike ‘BLACKREUNION HAWK DOWN’ I wanted to say thank you for a wonder- I read with interest your article on why members leave the VFW. I wonder if 800-MILE HIKE Garrison ful article. I have received multiple mes- REJUVENATES ARMY VET another category can be added, and that In regards to sages from people who really liked it. If is when the atmosphere or the culture your article by even one person reaches out and steps on a trail versus taking pharmaceuticals, at the Post and the canteen change such AMERICA’S FUTURE Justin Malzac that members leave. Of concern at our Student Vets and VFW in the February it will be worth every word. MIKE BUCKLEY Post is the introduction of a jukebox U.S. SPACE FORCE: magazine, a few AT WHAT COST? in the canteen. The canteen was estab- comments are CAZENOVIA, N.Y. lished as a place of peace, quiet and in order. I also tranquility where veterans could relax. shipped to Korea Space Force J.E. VESELY in 1959 on the USS James O’Hara The February article on the Space MORRISTOWN, TENN.