TOWN OF ANDOVER

VETERANS’ SERVICES 36 Bartlet Street Andover, MA 01810 [email protected] 978-623-8218 Michael Burke, Director Veterans “Blast Email” Update

As of March 2014

The purpose of “Blast Email” updates is to reach as many Andover Veterans and keep them informed on calendar items, benefit information and other items. You’ve received this update because I have your email address. If you wish to discontinue receiving updates, please email me at [email protected].

COMMUNICATION

Communication methods. I will try to provide you updates via “Blast Emails”, the Andover Townsman, the Eagle Tribune, submissions to the Senior Center Newsletter, the Public Access Channel and information I provide directly to The American Legion, Post Andover. Additionally, you can check our Website @ http://andoverma.gov/veterans/.

My Office Hours are: - Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM for Walk-ins and Appointments - Monday through Thursday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM for Appointments and Emergency Services. - Friday for Emergency Services. - If the office is closed, I’m on official business. Please leave a note or a telephone message @ (978) 623-8218. If it is during the day and an emergency, please call Christine Barraford @ (978) 623-8219.

BENEFITS AND SERVICES The Director of Veterans Services’ mission is to assist all eligible veterans and their dependents in accessing federal and state benefits. If you’re unsure if you qualify for any benefits or services, financial or other, please contact the Veterans’ Office. Additionally, please pass the word to our fellow veterans. Ask them how they are doing and let them know we are here to assist.

Suicide Prevention – The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hrs a day 800-273-TALK (8255). PTSD is a real item for all who served from D-Day to Fallujah.

Massachusetts Department of Veteran Services Financial Aid – If you are a veteran, dependant of a veteran or a widow/widower of a veteran and struggling financially, you may be entitled to assistance. Assistance is based on your income and assets. This office has seen a steady increase in veterans needing this assistance. Massachusetts Welcome Home Bonus – Active Duty service during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, The Persian Gulf and the Global War on Terror (GWOT) means you are entitled to a Welcome Home Bonus. Amounts vary depending on assignment and there is no time limit on applying for this one time bonus.

Massachusetts Education – All Massachusetts veterans are entitled to free tuition at Massachusetts’ state colleges and universities. Determining Veteran Status – Required for State Benefits. See below for requirements.

DATES ERA of Service Requirement for Veteran Status

6-Apr-1917 WWI 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” 11-Nov-1918 and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. 12-Nov-1918 PEACETIME 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or 15-Sep-1940 release under honorable conditions.

WWII 16-Sep-1940 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a (Merchant Marine: 7-Dec-1941 25-Jul-1947 last discharge or release under honorable conditions. through 31-Dec-1946)

26-Jul-1947 PEACETIME 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or 24-Jun-1950 release under honorable conditions.

KOREA 25-Jun-1950 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a 31-Jan-1955 last discharge or release under honorable conditions.

Korean Defense 28-Jul-1954 90 days of active duty service, last discharge under honorable Service Medal (to be determined later) conditions and the Korean Defense Service Medal

VIETNAM I 1-Feb-1955 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or 4-Aug-1964 release under honorable conditions.

VIETNAM II 5-Aug-1964 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a 7-May-1975 last discharge or release under honorable conditions.

PEACETIME 8-May-1975 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or 1-Aug-1990 release under honorable conditions.

Lebanon Campaign * 25-Aug-1982 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a (to be determined later) last discharge or release under honorable conditions.

Grenada Campaign * 25-Oct-1983 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a 15-Dec-1983 last discharge or release under honorable conditions.

Panama Campaign * 20-Dec-1989 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a 31-Jan-1990 last discharge or release under honorable conditions.

PERSIAN GULF 2-Aug-1990 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a (to be determined later) last discharge or release under honorable conditions.

*Training Duty Exception

Active duty service in the armed forces shall not include active duty for training in the Army or Air National Guard or active duty for training as a Reservist in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Discharges and DD214s – Have you provided a Military Discharge to your Local Veterans Office? ALSO, for the retired members of the Reserves and National Guard, it is just as important to provide copies of your retirement orders as well. This ensures your retired military rank is officially on record for funeral honors and VA Grave Markers. ------FEDERAL INFORMATION *(Note this is general information to pass along. Please confirm with your local Veterans Officer or the respective Agency to review your specific circumstances.)

VA Long-Term Care. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide spectrum of geriatric and extended care services to veterans enrolled in its health care system. One question we often have is regarding VA Nursing Home Care. Who is Eligible for Nursing Home Care:  Any veteran who has a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more;  A veteran who is rated 60 percent service-connected and is unemployable or has an official rating of “ permanent and total disabled"  A veteran with combined disability ratings of 70 percent or more;  A veteran whose service-connected disability is clinically determined to require nursing home care

* To receive services through the VA, for any geriatric and extended care services, the veteran needs to be enrolled with the VA Health Care System and receive Primary Care Services. The veteran will have to be followed by a VA Primary Care Physician, which is the person that initiates the referral for all services. The veteran must be seen by the VA at least one time per year to continue receiving services.

VA Health Care. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers health care to certain veterans. Note: You are only eligible for VA Health Care if you have a VA disability, are a recent GWOT veteran, or meet a financial means test. Note: The Veterans Health Administration will be issuing new, more secure ID cards. VA is introducing a new, secure identification card called the Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). VHIC replaces the Veteran Identification Card (VIC), which was introduced in 2004. On February 21, 2014, VA began issuing the newly designed, more secure VHIC to newly enrolled and other Veterans who were not issued a VIC. Starting in April VA will begin a replacement effort to automatically mail the more secure VHIC to Veterans who have the old VIC. All Veterans who are enrolled and have the old card should have their new replacement card by July. VA expects to complete mailings of the replacement VHICs by July. The new VHIC is distinguished by additional security features and will have a different look and feel. The Social Security number and date of birth were removed from the barcode and magnetic strip. Similar to a typical health insurance card, the VHIC displays the Veteran’s Member ID and branch of service emblem, a new unique identifier, as well as a Plan ID which reflects the Veteran’s enrollment in VA health care. VA Disability Claim. A VA Disability claim requires 3 items. They are: (1) Military Discharge, (2) current medical diagnosis and (3) proof that the illness (disability) is connected to your military service. If you do not have these, you do not have a claim. VA Pension. A VA Pension is for Low-income veterans. To receive Pension, a veteran must have served on active duty, at least 90 days, during a period of war. There must be an honorable discharge. If younger than 65, the veteran must be totally disabled. If age 65 and older, there is no requirement for disability. Income must be less than $12,652 for the veteran. VA Counseling (Vet Center)

PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND HISTORY

Deyermond Park

“Deyermond Fields”, on Chandler Road, is named after Andover’s last casualty of Vietnam – Warren “Buster” Deyermond. “Deyermond Fields” has been a solemn location for Andover’s youth for many years. Now, “Deyermond Fields” is now being moved. A new field, on Blanchard Street, will be dedicated as “Deyermond Park”.

A dedication ceremony of the fields and memorial to Warren Deyermond is scheduled for Opening Day of Andover The Dedication of the fields and unveiling of Little League . the memorial is scheduled for:

April 26, 2014 at 2:00P.M.

Please plan to join us for the dedication.

“Heroes Among Us” – “Book V” Focuses on our Korean Era Veterans. On Veterans Day 2013 “Book V” was released and special tribute was given to those veterans in the book during our official ceremonies.

“Heroes Among Us” – “Book VI” We are currently working on our next book. “Book VI” continues our effort to capture the stories of our Korean Era Veterans. We plan to release this book Veterans Day 2014.

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Andover Veteran Challenge Coin The Andover Veterans Challenge coin was instituted Veterans Day 2013. It has already been presented to the Veterans in Heroes among Us Book V and members of the American Legion Honor detail. We plan to present this coin to deserving individuals at future ceremonies.

The Andover Veteran Challenge Coin

A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem and carried by the organization’s members. Traditionally, they are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale. In addition, they are also collected by service members. In practice, challenge coins are normally presented by unit commanders in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit.

Instituted 2013

The Andover Veteran Challenge Coin

Instituted 2013 Veterans Memorial Walking Tour

We have a number of Veterans Memorials in town. Recently we dedicated two memorials in Spring Grove Cemetery and are planning a Memorial Dedication in April 2014 for Andover’s last military casualty. However many of our memorials are centrally located and a walking tour brochure is available from the Andover’s Veterans Office and on line at the Andover Veterans Office Memorials Website. http://andoverma.gov/veterans/memorials/

------Memorial Bridges

Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Bridge. Andover has a tradition of dedicating bridges to raise the community’s awareness of the service and sacrifices that our citizens have made to protect and defend us.

We continue that tradition with dedicating a bridge to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans that have served to preserve the freedoms we hold dear. On Memorial Day 2014, at 2:00 P.M., the High Plain Road Bridge over Rte 93 will be dedicated. Please plan to join us.

WW II War Veterans Korean War Veterans Bataan/Corregidor River Road and Rte 93 Stevens Street and Joseph A. Horan Route 133/93

Vietnam War Veterans CPT George L. Street WWII Gulf War Veterans Route 28/125 Medal of Honor WWII Harding Street Fiscal Year 2013 Highlights Accomplishments Fiscal year 2013

The US Marine Corps White House Band -”The Presidents Own” School performed at the Collins Center!! Involvement Two Monuments Dedicated

Memorial Day at Spring Grove!!

Veterans Day Heroes Among Us – Book IV

FLAG DAY Town Warrant Approved for The th (June 14 ) Warren “Buster” 9/11 Pearl Deyermond Harbor Monument!!

OTHER NEWS / UPDATES: ------Poor Charity Work - Donators Beware

Please note that my office and Veteran Service Officers in Massachusetts have seen an increase in “scams”, particularly preying on the elderly.

We all wish to assist charities. Yet even if a charity is not a “scam” some charities are better than others. Unfortunately there are organizations that should be ashamed of what they do.

Often we see organizations with pretty websites, appealing mailings and they present nice press releases. However the underlying problem is they have exorbitant pay for CEOs and paid employees, hold excess cash in reserve and the percentage of donations that actually make it to the veteran is small.

When in doubt, I suggest donating to an organization you are certain of; or locally where you can confirm your donation will go to a good cause.

There are two local organizations you can donate to that impact our veterans directly. They are: 1. The American Legion, Post 8 Andover 2. The Andover Veterans Office KEY CALENDAR ITEMS

DATE EVENT

March 30th Flags on Graves. (Rain date April 6th) This is a great opportunity for the veterans to connect with our youth. *NOTE: We will meet at Spring Grove Cemetery on Abbot Street at 11:00 a.m.

April 26th Deyermond Park Dedication 2:00 p.m, Blanchard Street

May 26th Memorial Day Ceremonies and Parade 7:00 a.m. West Parish Cemetery, 7:30 a.m. St Augustines Cemetery, 8:00 a.m. Spring Grove Cemetery and 10:00 a.m. the parade.

May 26th Dedication: Iraq and Afghanistan Bridge 2:00p.m., High Plain Road and Rte 93

June 13th Flag Day - Schools and Other (Note: This is Friday)

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VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS:

We have one Veteran Service Organization in Andover. It is The American Legion Post 8 Andover.

- The American Legion, Post 8 Meets the second Wednesday of each month @ 7:00 p.m. in The Veterans Hall, at the Center of Punchard (Rear of Town Offices) Contact is Ted Witman (978) 683-9988.

“Some” of Post 8’s recent highlights an/or upcoming events:  Memorial Day / Veterans Day Firing Detail  Posting colors at the Andover Town Meeting.  Supporting Youth Programs (Boys State, Sea Cadets, Army JROTC, Civil Air Patrol Cadets etc…)  Flags on Graves (10 cemeteries and over 3,800 graves)  Honor Guard at Ceremonies and Grave Side Services

Proper Respect to the American Flag

Disposal When a flag is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

** Please change your unserviceable flags. I have a drop off box outside my office. Please leave them with me and I will ensure they are disposed of properly.

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LASTLY --- PATRIOTISM A look at yesterday’s TV and Film Personalities that put service to our nation above their personal goals.

Stewart Hayden, US Marines and OSS. Smuggled guns into Yugoslavia and parachuted into Croatia. James Stewart, US Army Air Corps. Bomber pilot who rose to the rank of General. Ernest Borgnine, US Navy. Gunners Mate 1c, destroyer USS Lamberton. Ed McMahon, US Marines. Fighter Pilot. (Flew OE-1 Bird Dogs over Korea as well.) Telly Savalas, US Army. Walter Matthau, US Army Air Corps., B-24 Radioman/Gunner and cryptographer. Steve Forrest, US Army. Wounded, Battle of the Bulge. Jonathan Winters, USMC. Battleship USS Wisconsin and Carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. Anti-aircraft gunner, Battle of Okinawa. Paul Newman, US Navy Rear seat gunner/radioman, torpedo bombers of USS Bunker Hill Kirk Douglas, US Navy. Sub-chaser in the Pacific. Wounded in action and medically discharged. Robert Mitchum, US Army. Dale Robertson, US Army. Tank Commander in North Africa under Patton. Wounded twice. Battlefield Commission. Henry Fonda, US Navy. Destroyer USS Satterlee. John Carroll, US Army Air Corps. Pilot in North Africa. Broke his back in a crash. US Marines. Sniper. Wounded in action on Saipan. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery Art Carney, US Army. Wounded on Normandy beach, D-Day. Limped for the rest of his life. Wayne Morris, US Navy fighter pilot, USS Essex. Downed seven Japanese fighters. Rod Steiger, US Navy. Was aboard one of the ships that launched the Doolittle Raid. Tony Curtis, US Navy. Sub tender USS Proteus. In Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan. Larry Storch. US Navy. Sub tender USS Proteus with Tony Curtis. Forrest Tucker, US Army. Enlisted as a private, rose to Lieutenant. Robert Montgomery, US Navy. George Kennedy, US Army. Enlisted after Pearl Harbor, stayed in sixteen years. Mickey Rooney, US Army under Patton. Bronze Star. Denver Pyle, US Navy. Wounded in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Medically discharged. Burgess Meredith, US Army Air Corps. DeForest Kelley, US Army Air Corps. Robert Stack, US Navy. Gunnery Officer. Neville Brand, US Army, Europe. Was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. Tyrone Power, US Marines. Transport pilot in the Pacific Theater. Charlton Heston, US Army Air Corps. Radio operator and aerial gunner on a B-25, Aleutians. Danny Aiello, US Army. Lied about his age to enlist at 16. Served three years. James Arness, US Army. As an infantryman, he was severely wounded at Anzio, Italy. Efram Zimbalist, Jr., US Army. Purple Heart for a severe wound received at Huertgen Forest. Mickey Spillane, US Army Air Corps, Fighter Pilot and later Instructor Pilot. Rod Serling. US Army. 11th Airborne Division in the Pacific. He jumped at Tagaytay in the Philippines and was later wounded in Manila. Gene Autry, US Army Air Corps. Crewman on transports that ferried supplies over "The Hump" in the China- Burma-India Theater. Wiliam Holden, US Army Air Corps. Alan Hale Jr, US Coast Guard. Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy. Battle of Okinawa. Russell Johnson, US Army Air Corps. B-24 crewman who was awarded Purple Heart when his aircraft was shot down by the Japanese in the Philippines. William Conrad, US Army Air Corps. Fighter Pilot. Jack Klugman, US Army. Frank Sutton, US Army. Took part in 14 assault landings, including Leyte, Luzon, Bataan and Corregidor. Jackie Coogan, US Army Air Corps. Volunteered for gliders and flew troops and materials into Burma behind enemy lines. Tom Bosley, US Navy. Claude Akins, US Army. Signal Corps., Burma and the Philippines. Chuck Connors, US Army. Tank-warfare instructor. Harry Carey Jr., US Navy. Mel Brooks, US Army. Combat Engineer. Saw action in the Battle of the Bulge. Robert Altman, US Army Air Corps. B-24 Co-Pilot. Pat Hingle, US Navy. Destroyer USS Marshall Fred Gwynne, US Navy. Radioman. Karl Malden, US Army Air Corps. 8th Air Force, NCO. . US Navy. Lied about his age to enlist. Discharged after a year when they Navy found out. Rock Hudson, US Navy. Aircraft mechanic, the Philippines. Harvey Korman, US Navy. Aldo Ray. US Navy. UDT frogman, Okinawa. Don Knotts, US Army, Pacific Theater. Don Rickles, US Navy aboard USS Cyrene. Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy. Served aboard an LST in the Battle of Okinawa. Robert Stack, US Navy. Gunnery Instructor. Soupy Sales, US Navy. Served on USS Randall in the South Pacific. Lee Van Cleef, US Navy. Served aboard a sub chaser then a mine sweeper. Clifton James, US Army, South Pacific. Was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. Ted Knight, US Army, Combat Engineers. Jack Warden, US Navy, 1938-1942, then US Army, 1942-1945. 101st Airborne Division. Don Adams. US Marines. Wounded on Guadalcanal, then served as a Drill Instructor. James Gregory, US Navy and US Marines. Brian Keith, US Marines. Radioman/Gunner in Dauntless dive-bombers. Fess Parker, US Navy and US Marines. Booted from pilot training for being too tall, joined Marines as a radio operator. Charles Durning. US Army. Landed at Normandy on D-Day. Shot multiple times. Awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Survived Malmedy Massacre. Raymond Burr, US Navy. Shot in the stomach on Okinawa and medically discharged. Hugh O'Brian, US Marines. Robert Ryan, US Marines. Eddie Albert, US Coast Guard. Bronze Star with Combat V for saving several Marines under heavy fire as pilot of a landing craft during the invasion of Tarawa. Cark Gable, US Army Air Corps. B-17 gunner over Europe. Charles Bronson, US Army Air Corps. B-29 gunner, wounded in action. Peter Graves, US Army Air Corps. Buddy Hackett, US Army anti-aircraft gunner. Victor Mature, US Coast Guard. Jack Palance, US Army Air Corps. Severely injured bailing out of a burning B-24 bomber. Robert Preston, US Army Air Corps. Intelligence Officer Cesar Romero, US Coast Guard. Coast Guard. Participated in the invasions of Tinian and Saipan on the assault transport USS Cavalier. Norman Fell, US Army Air Corps., Tail Gunner, Pacific Theater. Jason Robards, US Navy. was aboard heavy cruiser USS Northampton when it was sunk off Guadalcanal. Also served on the USS Nashville during the invasion of the Philippines, surviving a kamikaze hit that caused 223 casualties. Steve Reeves, US Army, Philippines. Dennis Weaver, US Navy. Pilot.

11 Robert Taylor, US Navy. Instructor Pilot. . Tried to enlist in the Marines in WWII but was rejected due to injuries sustained in US Army, World War 1. Ronald Reagan. US Army. Was a 2nd Lt. in the Cavalry Reserves before the war. His poor eyesight kept him from being sent overseas with his unit when war came so he transferred to the Army Air Corps Public Relations Unit where he served for the duration. . Declared "4F medically unfit" due to pre-existing injuries, he nonetheless attempted to volunteer three times (Army, Navy and Film Corps.) so he gets honorable mention. Audie Murphy. America's most-decorated soldier, who became a Hollywood star as a result of his US Army service that included him being awarded the Medal of Honor.

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Please feel free to provide input and ideas as to what we can do to reach veterans in need.

Sincerely,

Michael Burke

“There are some who've forgotten why we have a military. It's not to promote war. It's to be prepared for peace.” - Ronald Regan

SOME HELPFULWEBSITES: Veterans Administration US Army The American Legion US Navy American Legion, Post 8 Andover US Marines The Disabled American Veterans US Coast Guard Veteran of Foreign Wars National Site US Air Force

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