The American Legion [Volume 141, No. 1 (July 1996)]
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The Magazine for a Strong America Vol. 140, No. 7 A R T 1 C L E s INFAMOUS ARTISTS Stuteville 16 Even 8-year-olds know the difference between art andfag desecration. By Joe SEE YOU IN SALT LAKE Trent D. McNeeley 18 The latest news about our upcoming National Convention. By POSITIVE FORCE FOR CHANGE 20 The Legion mweils its plan to save VA health care at the 1996 Spring Meetings. WHO ARE OUR HEROES? By Gary Turbak 24 America is lookingfor afew good men and women. THE BUTCHER OF BAGHOAD: HE'LL BE BACK director. 28 We haven / seen the last ofSaddam Hussein, says aformer CIA OATH OF UNCERTAINTY 30 Do our GIs volunteer to seive the United States, the United Nations or both.''. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! '/ Eugene "Red" McDaniel 32 Our nation isn perfect, but it 's the greatest country in the world. By D E P A R T M E NTS BIG ISSUES Should Congress reform environmental regulations.^ 10 VETVOICE 4 ON DUTY 14 VETS 38 COMMANDER'S MESSAGE 9 VETERANS UPDATE 34 PARTING SHOTS 56 WASHINGTON WATCH 12 LEGION NEWS 36 COVER America needs heroes. We look to the Olympics to provide them. See Page 24. Illustration by Bill Vann/Medola Ltd. is publistied The American Legion magazine, a leader among notional general-interest publications, military-service veterans, working monthly by The American Legion for its 2.9 million members. These through nearly 15,000 community-level Posts, dedicate themselves to God and country and traditional American values; strong notional securit/: adequate and compassionate core for veterans, their wid- ows and orphans: community service; and the wholesome development of our nation's youths. JULY 1996 ' . Look Great Blocking i Hannful I FOR GOD AND COUNTRY Sun I 700 N. Pennsylvania St. P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 317-630-1200 National Commander Daniel A. Ludwig Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Steve Salerno Art Director Simon Smith Executive Editors Miles Z. Epstein Joe Stuteville This is the traditional lightweight hal (Operations) (Articles) worn in Costa Rica to protect against Veterans Affairs Editor P.O.P. Canipt'sino Hat looks great Ken Scharnberg Our the harsh tropical sun. Wear it relaxing as it protects you against sunburn, by the pool, fishing on the ocean, sailing Associate Editor Anthony IVIiller premature aging and even skin cancer. on the sea. playing golf, walking city Worn in Costa Rica by ranchers who have Assistant Editor streets, boating on the bay, strolling on Trent D. IVIcNeeley to ride all day long in the harsh tropical sun, the beach, climbing mountains, 3" Editorial Intern this casual style hat features a wicie brim camping or gaj'dcning. This lightweight Rich Powell that protects your face, ears, nose, neck and hat crushes for easy travel and is staff Pfiotographer shoulders from the ravages of the sun. i washable or dry-cleanable. The hat John Simon Made with a superior, pre-shnink, 100% looks great on men and women. Editorial Administrator natural white, cotton canvas material, this 5 sizes: S(6M-7), MiVVs-JVi), WVi- Joan L. Berzins go-anywhere hat comes with an adjustable 7V2), XLi7V2-7%) XXL(73/4+). Publication Design those Caron M. Morales chinstrap (for windy days). When Just $24. postpaid for 1, $42. pp for 2. not needed, the chinstrap tucks neatly under Multi-color bandanas just $4. each. Production Assistant Cindy G. Thompson hat or can be replaced with a hatband or Braided hatbands just $5. each. bandana for a completely different look. General Administration Complete Satisfaction Guaranteed! Patricia Marsehand, Robyn Blacit today 1-800-852-0925 Production Manager ©Call HARRISONHgpE INDUSTRIES! 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday, East Coast Time Joseph Campion! VISA, MC, AMX, Checks & MOs OK Dept AL-76H, 200 Wilson Street Advertising Director Donald B. Thomson NY Residents please add sales tax. Port Jefferson Station, NY 1 1776 Advertising Assistants Diane Andretti, Cathy Frakes Tfie American Legion Magazine P.O. Box 7068 Indianapolis, IN 46207 VETERANS! 317-630-1200 Publisher's Representatives Lets You Go Where the Is! Fox Associates, Inc. Chicago: 312-644-3888 New York: 212-725-2106 Get there on a Rascal Electric Scooter or Powerchair... Los Angeles: 31 0-841 -0280 Detroit, Ml: 810-543-0068 Lead the way to fun and freedom on a new Rascal Electric Atlanta: 404-252-0968 San Francisco: 415-989-5804 Scooter just like Bill Hobbs did on Mennorial Day. Go where The American Legion Magazine Commission Milford A. Forrester, Chairman, Greenville, SO; Russell you want... when you want to... independently. Conquer hills, H. Laird, Vice Chairman, Des Moines, lA; James R. Kelley, Commander's Representative, Wayne, gravel, thick grass or virtually any terrain. Purchase a National PA; George F. Ballard, Belleville, IL; Samuel Barney, Lancaster, OH; J. Leslie Brow/n Jr., Louisville, KY; Deluxe or Heavy-Duty Rascal and get a free trunk lift Joseph Chase, Hatboro, PA; Donald Conn, South Bend, that let's you load and unload your scooter in your car IN; James W. Conway, Charlestown, MA; Bettylou Evans, Laurel, DE; James H. Hall, Hopewell, NJ; Hoy M. or van, unassisted. Send for your FREE CATALOG Haught, Huntsville, AR; Dennis J. Henkemeyer, Sauk Rapids, MN; Halbert G. Norton, Topeka, KS; Eugene J. and special Trunk Lift Offer, today! Kelley, Savannah, GA; J. Fred H/litchell, Brewton, AL; J.H. Morris, Baton Rouge, LA; Everett G. Shepard, III, ite : Offer ends August 15, 1996. Woodstock, CT; George G. Sinopoli, Fresno, CA; Robert E. Vass Sr., Huntington, WV; Paul T. Woodard, Lacey, Medicare and Private Insurance WA; Tom C. Smith, Oklahoma City, OK; John W.J. Richter, Consultant, Brenham, TX. Reimbursable - up to 100% if you qualify Copyright 1996 by The American Legion The American Legion (ISSN 0886-1234) is published YES! Rush my free full-color catalog and monthly by The American Legion, 5561 W. 74th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Second-class postage paid at my special FREE Trunk Lift Offer! Indianapolis, IN 46204 and additional mailing offices. Annual non-member subscription, $15 ($21, Foreign); post- Name sponsored gift subscriptions, $6; Single copy, $3. POST- MASTER; Send address changes to The American Legion, Box Indianapolis, IN 46206. Address Input Services, P.O. 1954, A FREE Change of Address: Notify The American Legion, Input GET 317-328- Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. LIFT City -State 4640. Attach old address label, provide old and new TRUNK addresses and current membership card number. Zip. -Phone To request microfilm copies, please write to: University WORTH ( ) PVJRCHASE^^ll^^l^^BY Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 YOU Mail to: Electric Mobility, 1 Mobility Plaza, Canada Po.st International Publications Mall (Canadian 15, 199^ Dept. TL6841, Sewell, NJ 08080 Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 546321. Re-entered AUGUST second class mail matter at Manila Central Post office This offer cannot be combined with any other offer or special pricingj dated December 22, 1991 Printed in USA Write or Call, Toil-Free, 1 800 662-4548 Dept. TL6841 Ask about a free home demonstration when you call. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations 2 THE AMERICAN LEGION - LimitedWORLD'SAdvance Striking. FIRST lOO SILVKR PROOF The Washington Mint Announces the Historic FIRST STRIKING of an Extraordinary Silver Proof the New United States $100 Bill Struck in Pure Silver Bullion - Advance Price $99 m The Washington Mint announces the limited advance ORDERS WILL RECEIVE THE LOWEST minting of a milestone in silver proofs - the WORLD'S FIRST REGISTRATION NUMBERS. $100 Silver Proof ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS This extraordinary piece of pure silver bullion has a surface Substantial additional discounts are available for serious area that exceeds 30 square inches, and it contains more than FOUR OUNCES OF PURE SILVER BULLION. collectors who wish to acquire more than one of these exquisite silver proofs. You can order: And NOW, during a limited advance strike period, the Quarter-Pound Silver Proofs for $289. VERY FIRST $100 Silver Proofs ever struck are available at a THREE special discount price - only $99! FIVE Quarter-Pound Silver Proofs for $469. TEN Quarter-Pound Silver Proofs for $889. 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING There is a limit of ten Quarter-Pound Silver Proofs per The 1996 Quarter-Pound Silver Proof is an exquisite order, and all orders are subject to acceptance by The adaptation of the United States Treasury's new $100 Federal Washington Mint, LLC^"^ Total charges for shipping, Reserve Note. It took the Treasury unit over 20 years to create its handling and insurance are limited to $9.50 per order. first new $100 bill design since 1928. Their efforts have created the most striking note of the century. ONLY 50.000 AVAILABLE Best of all, this stunning Silver Proof is even more beautiful The Washington Mint will strike only 50,000 Quarter- than the original, because it's stmck in precious silver bullion! Pound Silver Proofs for 1996, so oversubscription is a UNPRECEDENTED virtual certainty. WEIGHT BEGINNING TODAY, TELEPHONE ORDERS The Quarter-Pound Silver Proof combines unprecedented ONLY WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A STRICT FIRST- - weight with extraordinary dimension it is a landmark in COME, FIRST-SER'VED BASIS ACCORDING TO THE proof minting. TIME AND DATE OF THE ORDER. The specifications for this colossal medallic proof are CUSTOMERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO unparalleled. Each one: SECURE THEIR RESERVATIONS IMMEDIATELY • Is Individually Struck from Pure .999 Silver Bullion BY CALLING TOLL-FREE: • Weighs Over One Quarter-Pound (4 troy ounces) • Has a Surface Area That Exceeds 30 Inches • 1-800-926-MINT Contains 124.41 Grams (1,920 grains) of Pure Silver • Is Individually Registered and Numbered Ext. 46784 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) And only 50,000 Quarter-Pound Silver Proofs will be stmck A major credit card is necessary to secure your reservation, for 1996.