The American Legion [Volume 148, No. 4 (April 2000)]

Foam rubber • Yet another layer padding from of cushioning provides heel to toe additional comfort

IMEGAWalkers

3 for 36.50 4 for 47.95 5 for 59.25

A Haband 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Peckville, Pennsylvania 18452

Send pairs. I enclose $_ purchase price plus $4.75

toward postage. GA residents add sales la 7EX-4CL D & EEE Widths: White/Navy 7 8 B'A 9 9/^ 10 6A Grey/Wliite 10'/^ 11 12 13 14 15 Bone/Brow/n ALL SIZES ONE LOW PRICE! Midnight Navy

jj Check Enclosed Visa MasterCard Discover/NOVUS®

' Card # Exp.: /

Mr. Mrs. Ms..

Apt. Address. . #

City & State. Zip 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed or Full Refund of Purcfiase Price at Any Time!

' For fastest Order 24 hours a day, -J— \ possible service call i-m-m-mi 7 days a week rj The American

I f For God and Country

Vol. 148, No. 4 The Magazine for a Strong America ARTICLES

DAVID THE GOLIATH interview By Layne Cameron

David Robinson stands tall as a role model and patriot.

REMEMDERIiyG THE FORGOHEN WAR ByOanieu. Aiisup

After 50 years, Korean War veterans visit the country they tried to - but could not - forget.

SOUTH KOREA WELCOMES AMERICAN VETERANS ByDanieu. Aiisup „ IS ROK officials invite Korean War veterans back to witness how the country has changed. ii

THE GREEDY HAND By Amity Shlaes

"Painless withholding" is snatching up more than its fair share of taxpayers' money 11

VIETNAM: WE COULD HAVE WON. WE SHOULD HAVE WON. Byjim Bohannon Bad press and worse politics took their toll on American morale during the war. m

DEFYING THE ODDS AT AN LOC Bypniiip c. ciarke

Outgunned 25 to 1, American and Vietnamese soldiers prevailed. We ipartments

BIG ISSUES Should China be in the World Trade Organization?

VETVOICE ? WASHINGTON WATCH II LEGION NEWS

COMMANDER'S MESSAGE 1 VETERANS UPDATE VETS DEPARTMENT ON DUTY COMMANDERS i PARTING SHOTS

COVER David "The Admiral" Robinson scores big in life just as he does on the court. Photo courtesy of NBA.

The American Legion magazine, a leader among notional general-interest publications, is publistied monttily by The American Legion for its 2.7 million members. These wartime veterans, working through nearly 1 5,000 community-level Posts, dedicate themselves to God and Country and traditional Ameri- can values; strong notional security; adequate and compossionate care for veterans, their widows and orphans; community service; and the wholesome development of our nation's youths.

APRIL 2000 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • \ ntroducing the latest innovation from Bose! r~| The AmericanAm.

I For God and Country

700 N. Pennsylvania St. P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 317-630-1200 National Commander

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief DiCk McNally Editor John Raughter

Editorial Managing Editor Ron Hyink

While another company might settle for inventing the industry's most highly reviewed Contributing Editor Kathy W. FarriS Associate Editor Layne Cameron radio, Bose couldn't. We challenged ourselves to repeat our success — with the Bose Wave- Assistant Editor Steve Brown radio/CD. We started with our patented acoustic waveguide speaker technology. It's what Assistant Editor Kevin J. Dwyer

delivers the clear, natural, room-filling sound that Radio World called "simply amazing" in Editorial Administrator Patricia IVIarschand General Administrator Robyn BlacK the Wave radio. Then our engineers added a CD player for your favorite music. The Wave

General Administrator Robin I radio/CD is available directly from Bose, the most respected name in sound. Call and ask GraphicslProductior\ about our interest-free payment plan and satisfaction guarantee. Then try it in your own home. Graphics/Production Manager

Once you hear it, we doubt you'll settle for anything less. Art Editor Holly K. Soria Designer Douglas Rollison

Call 1-800-375-2073, ext. T4734. Advertising For information on all our products: www.bose.com/t4734 Advertising Manager Diane Andretti Advertising Assistant Cathy Frakes Please specify your color choice when ordering. Wave radio/CD: Platinum White or Graphite Gray Advertising Assistant Laura Feller Wave radio: Platinum White or Graphite Gray The American Legion Magazine

lyirTMrsTMs. ( ) ( ) P.O. Box 7068 Name (Please Pnnt} Day^me Telephone Evening Telepiione Indianapolis, IN 46207

Publisher's Representatives Better sound through research.^ Fox Associates, Inc. Bose Corporation, Dept. DMG-T4734, The IWountain Framingham. MA 01701-9168. ©2000 Bose Corporation. Covered by patent rights issued Chicago: 312-644-3888 and/or pending. Installment payment plan lot to be combined with any other offer and available on credit card orders only, Payment plan subject V change without notice. Frank Beacham, Radio World. 12/93. 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, Vice Chairman, St. Cloud, MN; Robert H. Allen, National Commander's Representative, Americas LIVE Entertamment Capital Mechanicsburg, PA; Theodore R. Hartmann, Smithton, IL; J. Leslie Brown, Jr., Louisville, KY; Donald R. Conn, South Bend, Is Just One Phone Call Away! IN; James W. Conway, Charlestown, MA; Hoy Haught, Huntsville, AR; James H. Hall, Hopewell, NJ; Bettylou Evans, THREE star studaea nights at the Laurel, DE; Eugene J. Kelley, Savannah, GA; James P. Comiskey, Pittsburgh, PA; George G. Sinopoli, Fresno, CA; luxurious Welk Resort Hotel your elM Philip B. Finley, Colby, KS; Joe D. Mercer, Oklahoma City, choice of my FOUR of OK; Russell H. Laird, Des Moines, lA; J. Fred Mitchell, Brew- ton, AL; J.O. Berthelot, Gonzales, LA; Everett G. Shepard III,

these legendary Branson Woodstock, CT; Jerrold W. Wilson, Sr., Harrison, OH; Henry attractions! We welcome^ E. Lamb Sr., Lacey, WA; Robert E. Vass Sr., Huntington, WV; James J. Charleston, /\rlington Hgts., IL and Casimir F. Sojka, veterans year round! New Rochelle, NY, consultants. Copyright 2000 by The American Legion

The American Legion (ISSN 0886-1234) is published monthly by The American Legion, 5561 W. 74th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Periodicals postage paid Indianapolis, IN 46204 and additional mailing offices

Annual non-member and gift subscriptions, $15 ($21, for eign); Post-sponsored and widows' subscriptions, $6; single copy, $3.50. Member annual subscription price $3.00,

which is included in annual member dues. POSTMASTER; Send address changes to The American Legion, Input Ser- vices, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Internel address: htlp://www.legion.org. * per person, dbl. occupancy + TAX Change of Address: Notify The American Legion, Input (NOV.-DEC. S229.90*; expires 12/16/00) Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (317)

860-31 1 1 . Attach old address label, provide old and new addresses and current membership card number. Canada Post International Publications Mall (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 546321. Re-entered second-class mail matter at Manila Central Post office dated Dec. 22, 1991. rHE WELK RESORT CENTER' Printed in USA 1984Hwy. 165 •Branson, Missouri 65616 Hi Member Audit Bureau of Circulations

2 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 The trusted address for everything military on the Internet. Personnel locator, news, resources, unit homepages, free email and more. Connect. Reflect. Engage!

Military com engage!

Discover what millions have turned to for arthritis pain relief.

The #1 selling brand of prescription arthritis medication* delivers powerful relief of

your arthritis pain and inflammation. Celebrex is a scientific breakthrough: the first

product to target only the COX-2 enzyme. By effectively reducing pain, inflammation and

stiffness, Celebrex can help you through the day with activities like standing, walking or

climbing stairs, and through the night while resting in bed. day you discover Celebrex?

You should not take Celebrex in late pregnancy or if you have had aspirin-sensitive

asthma or allergic-type reactions to aspirin, arthritis medications or certain sulfa drugs

called sulfonamides. In rare cases, serious stomach problems such as bleeding can occur

without warning. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems.

Celebrex has been extensively studied in large clinical trials. The most common

side effects were indigestion, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The percentage of patients

who stopped taking Celebrex due to all side effects (7. 1 %) was similar to sugar pill (6. 1 %).

This information cannot replace your doctor's advice. Only your doctor can assess

the benefits and risks to decide if Celebrex is right for you.

The #1 selling brand of prescription arthritis pain medicine. CELEBREX^ (CELECOXIB CAPSULES)S§!Si

Call I -888-326-8469 or visit www.celebrex.com for more information.

*Does not include generic products. Please see following page for important product information. IMS National Prescription Audit 1/1/99 - 9/30/99 SEARLE © 1999 Searle CE18544T istration of fluconazole at 200 mg QD resulted in a two-fold increase in celecoxib BRIEF SUMMARY-CELEBREX™ (celecoxib capsules) plasma con- centration. This increase is due to the inhibition of celecoxib metabolism via P450 2C9 by flu- INDICATIONS AND USAGE conazole (see Pharmacokinetics -Metabolism). Celebrex should be introduced at the lowest recommended dose in patients receiving fluconazole. Lithium: In a study conducted in healthy For relief of the signs and symptoms of OA, and of RA in adults. subjects, mean steady-state lithium plasma levels increased approximately 17% in CONTRAINDICATIONS subjects receiving lithium 450 mg BID with CELEBREX 200 mg BID as compared to subjects receiving Celebrex is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to celecoxib. CELEBREX lithium alone. Patients on lithium treatment should be closely monitored when CELEBREX is should not be given to patients who have demonstrated allergic-type reactions to sulfonamides. introduced or withdrawn. Methotrexate: In an interaction study of rheumatoid arthritis patients CELEBREX should not be given to patients who have experienced asthma, urticaria, or allergic- CELEBREX did not have a significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. Severe, rarely fatal, anaphylactic-like reactions Warfarin: Anticoagulant activity should be monitored, particularly in the first few to NSAIDs have been reported in such patients (see WARNINGS Anaphylactoid Reactions, and — days, after initiating or changing CELEBREX therapy in patients receiving warfarin or similar -Preexisting Asthma). PRECAUTIONS agents, since these patients are at an increased risk of bleeding complications. The effect of WARNINGS celecoxib on the anticoagulant effect of warfarin was studied in a group of healthy subjects Gastrointestinal (Gl) Effects — Risk of Gl Ulceration, Bleeding, and Perforation: Serious Gl receiving daily doses of 2 to 5 mg of warfarin. In these subjects, celecoxib did not alter the toxicity such as bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach, small intestine or large anticoagulant effect of warfarin as determined by prothrombin time. However, in post-market- intestine, can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms, in patients treated with ing experience, bleeding events have been reported, predominantly in the elderly, in associa- NSAIDs, Minor upper Gl problems, such as dyspepsia, are common and may also occur at any tion with increases in prothrombin time in patients receiving CELEBREX concurrently with time during NSAID therapy. Therefore, physicians and patients should remain alert for ulcera- warfarin. Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, impairment of fertility: Celecoxib was not carcinogenic tion and bleeding, even in the absence of previous Gl tract symptoms. Patients should be in rats given oral doses up to 200 mg/kg for males and 10 mg/kg for females (approximately informed about the signs and/or symptoms of serious Gl toxicity and the steps to take if they 2- to 4-foid the human exposure as measured by the AUCo-24 at 200 mg BID) or in mice given occur. Only 1/5 patients who develop a serious upper Gl adverse event on NSAID therapy is oral doses up to 25 mg/kg for males and 50 mg/kg for females (approximately equal to human symptomatic. Upper Gl ulcers, gross bleeding or perforation, caused by NSAIDs, appear to occur exposure as measured by the AUCo-24 at 200 mg BID) for two years. Celecoxib was not muta- in approximately 1% of patients treated for 3-6 months, and in about 2-4% of patients treated genic in an Ames test and a mutation assay in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, nor clas- for one year. These trends continue thus, increasing the likelihood of developing a serious Gl togenic in a chromosome aberration assay in CHO cells and an in vivo micronucleus test in event at some time during the course of therapy. However, even short-term therapy is not without rat bone marrow. Celecoxib did not impair male and female fertility in rats at oral doses up

risk. It is unclear, at the present time, how the above rates apply to CELEBREX (see CLINICAL to 600 mg/kg/day (approximately 11-fold human exposure at 200 mg BID based on the AUCo-24). STUDIES— Special Studies in the complete prescribing information). Among 5,285 patients who Pregnancy: Teratogenic effects: Pregnancy Category C. Celecoxib was not teratogenic in rabbits received CELEBREX in controlled clinical trials of 1 to 6 months duration (most were 3 month up to an oral dose of 60 mg/kg/day (equal to human exposure at 200 mg BID as measured by studies) at a daily dose of 200 mg or more, 2 (0.04%) experienced significant upper Gl bleeding, AUCo-24); however, at oral doses S150 mg/kg/day (approximately 2-fold human exposure at 200 at 14 and 22 days after initiation of dosing. Approximately 40% of these 5,285 patients were in mg BID as measured by AUCo-24), an increased incidence of fetal alterations, such as ribs fused, studies that required them to be free of ulcers by endoscopy at study entry. Thus it is unclear sternebrae fused and sternebrae misshapen, was observed. A dose-dependent increase in dia- if this study population is representative of the general population. Prospective, long-term studies phragmatic hernias was observed in one of two rat studies at oral doses S30 mg/kg/day required to compare the incidence of serious, clinically significant upper Gl adverse events in (approximately 6-fold human exposure based on the AUCo-24 at 200 mg BID). There are no patients taking CELEBREX vs. comparator NSAID products have not been performed. NSAIDs studies in pregnant women. CELEBREX should be used during pregnancy only if the potential shouH be prescribed with extreme caution in patients with a prior history of ulcer disease or benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Nonteratogenic effects: Celecoxib produced pre- Gl bleeding. Most spontaneous reports of fatal Gl events are in elderly or debilitated patients implantation and post-implantation losses and reduced embryo/fetal survival in rats at oral and therefore special care should be taken in treating this population. To minimize the poten- dosages S50 mg/kg/day (approximately 6-fold human exposure based on the AUCo-24 at 200 tial risk for an adverse Gl event, the lowest effective dose should be used for the shortest mg BID). These changes are expected with inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and are not possible duration. For high risk patients, alternate therapies that do not involve NSAIDs should the result of permanent alteration of female reproductive function, nor are they expected at be considered. Studies have shown that patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease clinical exposures. No studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of celecoxib on the and/or Gl bleeding and who use NSAIDs, have a greater than 10-fold higher risk for develop- closure of the ductus arteriosus in humans. Therefore, use of CELEBREX during the third tri- ing a Gl bleed than patients with neither of these risk factors. In addition to a past history of mester of pregnancy should be avoided. Labor and delivery: Celecoxib produced no evidence ulcer disease, pharmacoepidemiological studies have identified several other co-therapies or of delayed labor or parturition at oral doses up to 100 mg/kg in rats (approximately 7-fold human co-morbid conditions that may increase the risk for Gl bleeding such as: treatment with oral exposure as measured by the AUCo-24 at 200 mg BID). The effects of CELEBREX on labor and corticosteroids, treatment with anticoagulants, longer duration of NSAID therapy, smoking, alco- delivery in pregnant women are unknown. Nursing mothers: It is not known whether this drug neral health status. is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from a decision Anaphylactoid Reactions: As i/ith NSAIDs in general, anaphylactoid reactions may i CELEBREX, should prio ixposure to CELEBREX. In post-marketing experience, v be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the ?ases"'of™na"; ngioedema have been reported in patie importance of the drug to the mother.

CELEBREX. CEL X should not be given to patients with the aspirin triad. This £ Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 18 years have not typically occurs in asthmatic patients who experience rhinitis with or without nasal polyps, or been evaluated. who exhibit severe, potentially fatal bronchospasm after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs (see Geriatric Use: Of the total number of patients who received CELEBREX in clinical trials, more CONTRAINDICATIONS and PRECAUTIONS - Preexisting Asthma). Emergency help should be than 2,100 were 65-74 years of age, while approximately 800 additional patients were 75 years sought in cases where an anaphylactoid reaction occurs. and over. While the incidence of adverse experiences tended to be higher in elderly patients, Advanced Renal Disease: Treatment with CELEBREX is not recommended. no substantial differences in safety and effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in Pregnancy: In late pregnancy CELEBREX should be avoided because it may cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosus. response between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older indi- PRECAUTIONS viduals cannot be ruled out. In clinical studies comparing renal function as measured by the GFR, BUN and creatinine, and platelet function as measured by bleeding time and platelet aggre- General: CELEBREX cannot be expected to substitute for corticosteroids or to treat corticosteroid gation, the results were not different between elderly and young volunteers. insufficiency. The pharmacological activity of CELEBREX in reducing inflammation, and possibly REACTIONS fever, may diminish the utility of these diagnostic signs in detecting infectious complications ADVERSE of presumed noninfectious, painful conditions. Adverse events occurring in S2% of Celebrex patients regardless of causality at recommended doses (N=4146l: abdominal pain 4.1%, diarrhea 5.6%, dyspepsia 8.8%, flatulence 2.2%, nausea Hepatic Effects: Borderline elevations of one or more liver tests may occur in up to 15% of 3.5%, back pain 2.8%, peripheral edema 2.1%, injury-accidental 2.9%, dizziness 2.0%, headache patients taking NSAIDs, and notable elevations of ALT or AST (approximately three or more 15.8%, insomnia 2.3%, pharyngitis 2.3%, rhinitis 2.0%, sinusitis 5.0%, upper respiratory tract times the upper limit of normal) have been reported in approximately 1% of patients in clinical infection 8.1%, rash 2.2%. In placebo- or active-controlled clinical trials, the discontinuation rate trials with NSAIDs. These laboratory abnormalities may progress, may remain unchanged, or due to adverse events was 7.1% for patients receiving CELEBREX and 6.1% for patients receiv- may be transient with continuing therapy. Rare cases of severe hepatic reactions, including ing placebo. Among the most common reasons for discontinuation due to adverse events in jaundice and fatal fulminant hepatitis, liver necrosis and hepatic failure (some with fatal outcome) the Celebrex treatment groups were dyspepsia and abdominal pain (cited as reasons for dis- have been reported with NSAIDs. In controlled clinical trials of Celebrex, the incidence of border- continuation in 0.8% and 0.7% of CELEBREX patients, respectively). Among patients receiving line elevations of liver tests was 6% for CELEBREX and 5% for placebo, and approximately 0.2% placebo, 0.6% discontinued due to dyspepsia and 0.6% withdrew due to abdominal pain. The of patients taking CELEBREX and 0.3% of patients taking placebo had notable elevations of ALT following adverse events occurred in 0.1-1.9% of patients regardless of causality. and AST. A patient with symptoms and/or signs suggesting liver dysfunction, or in whom an Celebrex (100-200 mg BID or 200 mg QD): Gl: Constipation, diverticulitis, dysphagia, eructa- abnormal liver test has occurred, should be monitored carefully for evidence of the develop- tion, esophagitis, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia, ment of a more severe hepatic reaction while on therapy with CELEBREX. If clinical signs and melena, dry mouth, stomatitis, tenesmus, tooth disorder, vomiting; Cardiovascular: Aggravated symptoms consistent with liver disease develop, or if systemic manifestations occur (e.g., eosin- hypertension, angina pectoris, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction; General: Allergy ophilia, rash, etc.), CELEBREX should be discontinued. aggravated, allergic reaction, asthenia, chest pain, cyst NOS, edema generalized, face edema, Renal Effects: Long-term administration of NSAIDs has resulted in renal papillary necrosis and fatigue, fever, hot flushes, influenza-like symptoms, pain, peripheral pain; Resistance mecha- other renal iniury. Renal toxicity has also been seen in patients in whom renal prostaglandins nism disorders: Herpes simplex, herpes zoster, infection bacterial, infection fungal, infection have a compensatory role in the maintenance of renal perfusion. In these patients, adminis- soft tissue, infection viral, moniliasis, moniliasis genital, otitis media; Central, peripheral nervous tration of an NSAID may cause a dose-dependent reduction in prostaglandin formation and, system: Leg cramps, hypertonia, hypoesthesia, migraine, neuralgia, neuropathy, paresthesia, secondarily in renal blood flow, which may precipitate overt renal decompensation. Patients at vertigo; Female reproductive: Breast fibroadenosis, breast neoplasm, breast pain, dysmenor- greatest risk of this reaction are those with impaired renal function, heart failure, liver dys- rhea, menstrual disorder, vaginal hemorrhage, vaginitis; Male reproductive: Prostatic disorder; function, those taking diuretics and ACE inhibitors, and the elderly Discontinuation of NSAID Hearing and vestibular: Deafness, ear abnormality, earache, tinnitus; Heart rate and rhythm: therapy is usually followed by recovery to the pretreatment state. Clinical trials with CELEBREX Palpitation, tachycardia; Liver and biliary system: Hepatic function abnormal, SCOT increased, have shown renal effects similar to those observed with comparator NSAIDs. Caution should SGPT increased; Metabolic and nutritional: BUN increased, CPK increased, diabetes mellitus, initiating treatment with CELEBREX in patients with considerable dehydration. It be used when hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, NPN increase, creatinine increased, alkaline is advisable to rehydrate patients first then start therapy with Celebrex. Caution is also and phosphatase increased, weight increase; Musculoskeletal: Arthralgia, arthrosis, bone disorder, in patients with pre-existing kidney disease (see —Advanced Renal recommended WARNINGS fracture accidental, myalgia, neck stiffness, synovitis, tendinitis; Platelets (bleeding or clotting): Ecchymosis, epistaxis, thrombocythemia; Psychiatric: Anorexia, anxiety, appetite increased, Hematological Effects: Anemia may occur. In controlled clinical triah the icidence of anemia depression, nervousness, somnolence; Hemic: Anemia; Respiratory: Bronchitis, bronchospasm, was 0.6% with CELEBREX and 0.4% with placebo. Patients on long-tern- nent with CELEBREX bronchospasm aggravated, coughing, dyspnea, laryngitis, pneumonia; Skin and appendages: should have their hemoglobin or hematocrit checked if they exhibit i ns or symptoms of Alopecia, dermatitis, nail disorder, photosensitivity reaction, pruritus, rash erythematous, rash

anemia or blood loss. CELEBREX does not generally affect platelet i maculopapular, skin disorder, skin dry, sweating increased, urticaria; Application site disorders: (FT), or partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and does not appear to ir )latelet aggregation Cellulitis, dermatitis contact, injection site reaction, skin nodule; Special senses: Taste perver- at indicated dosac (See CLINICAL STUDIES - Special Stu :s in the complete sion; Urinary system: Albuminuria, cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, micturition frequency, renal prescribing inform calculus, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection; Vision: Blurred vision, cataract, conjunc- Fluid Retention and Edema: Flu tivitis, eye pain, glaucoma.

Therefore, CELEBREX should be nth ( Other serious adverse reactions which occur rarely (<0.1%), regardless of causality: The fol- or heart failure. lowing serious adverse events have occurred rarely in patients, taking CELEBREX. Cardiovascular:

Preexisting Asthma: Do not use asthma because of t isk of Syncope, congestive heart failure, ventricular fibrillation, pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular severe bronchospasm. Use witi asthma. accident, peripheral gangrene, thrombophlebitis; Gl: Intestinal obstruction, intestinal perfora- Laboratory Tests: Because seric s Gl tract ulcerations and bleeding can occur without warning tion, Gl bleeding, colitis with bleeding, esophageal perforation, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, ileus; Ataxia; Renal: Acute renal failure; symptoms, physicians should r 3nitor for signs or symptoms of Gl bleeding. During the con- Hemic and lymphatic: Thrombocytopenia; Nervous system: trolled clinical trials, there was n increased incidence of hyperchloremia in patients receiving General: Sepsis, sudden death. celecoxib compared with patient on placebo. Other laboratory abnormalities ttiat occurred more OVERDOSAGE frequently in the patients recei\ ng celecoxib included hypophosphatemia, and elevated BUN. Symptoms following acute NSAID overdoses are usually limited to lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, These laboratory abnormalities 'ere also seen in patients who received comparator NSAIDs in vomiting, and epigastric pain, which are generally reversible with supportive care. Gl bleeding ilities has not been established. can occur. Hypertension, acute renal failure, respiratory depression and coma may occur, but ;dominantly mediated via cytochrome are rare. Anaphylactoid reactions have been reported with therapeutic ingestion of NSAIDs, P450 2C9 in the liver. Co-administration of celecoxib with drugs that are known to inhibit 2C9 and may occur following an overdose. Patients should be managed by symptomatic and sup- should be done with caution. In vitro studies indicate that celecoxib, although not a substrate, portive care following an NSAID overdose. There are no specific antidotes. No information is its of is an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 2D6. Therefore, there is a potential for an in vivo drug inter- available regarding the removal of celecoxib by hemodialysis, but based on high degree action with drugs that are metabolized by P450 2D6. ACE-inhibitors: Reports suggest that plasma protein binding (>97%) dialysis is unlikely to be useful in overdose. Emesis and/or NSAIDs may diminish the antihypertensive effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhib- activated charcoal (60 to 100 g in adults, 1 to 2 g/kg in children) and/or osmotic cathartic may itors. This interaction should be given consideration in patients taking CELEBREX concomitantly be indicated in patients seen within 4 hours of ingestion with symptoms or following a large with ACE-inhibitors. Furosemide: Clinical studies, as well as post marketing observations, have overdose. Forced diuresis, alkalinization of urine, hemodialysis, or hemoperfusion may not be shown that NSAIDs can reduce the natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazides in some useful due to high protein binding. -10/15/99 CE18254V patients. This response has been attributed to inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis. Aspirin: CELEBREX can be used with low dose aspirin. However, concomitant administration of Mfd. bv Searle Ltd.. Caguas PR 00725 Marketed by: G.D. Searle & Co. aspirin with CELEBREX may result in an increased rate of Gl ulceration or other complications, SEARLE Chicago IL 60680 USA compared to use of CELEBREX alone (see CLINICAL STUDIES -Special Studies -Gastrointesti- Pfizer Inc.. New York NY 10017 USA nal in the complete prescribing information). Because of its lack of platelet effects, CELEBREX is not a substitute for aspirin for cardiovascular prophylaxis. Fluconazole: Concomitant admin- landmarks. A million thanks to those Gore's military duty in Vietnam as a Cheers for Miss America who saved it. journalist. In the Army, some personnel I want to - Frank Gilmore, Salt Lake City were assigned as infantrymen, some be- compliment came cooks and others journalists. you on your ex- On the Vietnam Memorial Wall in cellent inter- Time for a Tax Exemptioo Washington, D.C., there are inscribed view with Miss I've been reading lately how some names from all military occupations. America 2000, of our military families are surviving The junior enlisted had very little say Heather Renee with food stamps and part-time jobs. about where they were assigned. French in Feb- Why doesn't at least one politician - Rick Fulton, Pittsburgh, Kan. ruary. propose an income-tax exemption for

I believe her military families? It would encourage

]| cause will ben- younger people to consider Give McCain a Break efit all military military careers. In response to William H. Douglas veterans and hopefully remind soci- - Ronald J. Barwell, Finleyville, Pa. of Winnemucca, Nev., on his issue ety that we gave a lot for the freedom with Sen. John people take for granted. McCain ("Vet - Joe Steinhauser, Broomall, Pa. Change the Pemiion law Voice," Febru- Why do some retired service mem- ary), I think we bers have to forfeit up to half their pen- need all the facts. february fanfare sions to ex-spouses, even if the ex- Yes, he did Georgie Ann Geyer's "Social spouses have remarried? vote against the Awakening of America" (February) This law, the Uniformed Services 4.8-percent pay and Rep. John Kasich's persuasive pro- Former Spouse Protection Act, was raise for the mili- motion of school vouchers ("Big Is- passed by Congress in 1982 and is the tary, but it was out sues," February) should be the lead ed- only retirement plan that continues pay- of his convictions itorials in every major publication. ments to ex-spouses after they remarry. to not let pork spending be railroaded While we have a moral obligation to If you believe this is wrong, ask through on his bill. He had the integri- protect the needy, effective compas- your representative to support HR72. ty to hold to his convictions. sion has been severely lacking in our - John Sims, Topeka, Kan. - Joedy Adams, San Diego government. Thank you also for printing Balint Vazsonyi's "Re-Elect America" tour At least Gore Went Dlgoifieil Treatmeot schedule ("Legion News," Febru- In his letter ("Vet Voice," April) My husband passed away at the be- ary). I'll surely be in Annapolis June C.A. Pursley snidely alludes to Al ginning of the year. He had been in the 30 to welcome this great American VA Hospice Center at the Dayton, patriot. "'"""'"^'^ Ohio, Veterans Hospital. - Maury Hassett, Walkersville, Md. I cannot tell you how wonderful the service at this facility was. He was in a The American Legion Magazine regular hospital for several weeks be- Reverence fertile Hall welcomes letters for publication. fore being transferred to a nursing Letters published represent the views I enjoyed the article about Patriotic home and finally to the VA center. of our readers and not of The Hall in February. As a kid growing up The care and respect their doctors American Legion. The American in pre-World and staff gave to my husband and all of Legion neither endorses nor opposes II Los our family can never be re- War political candidates. Letter writers members Angeles, the are also encouraged to submit paid with any words or money. building had photographs of themselves for - Donna Marcum, Laura, Ohio special mean- possible publication with their letters. ing to me. Be sure to include your hometown I had seven and a daytime phone number for Faith in the VA System verification. AH letters are subject to uncles in At the New York VA department I editing. Send your opinions to: World War I, met an audiologist. In less than six all Legion- The American Legion Magazine months she had me hearing at a level I naires. I often P.O. Box 1055 could only dream of before. The dif- went to the Indianapolis, IN 46206 ference in my life that her care has Hall for special events. You can also contact us via e- brought me is phenomenal. After WWII, I was assigned to a mail directly or through the World That kind of quality care and ser- naval air station near Los Angeles and Wide Web: vice has restored my faith in the VA whenever I flew over the city, Patriotic system. I'd recommend it to any fel- e-mail: talcsiegion.org Hall, City Hall and the Los Angeles veteran. Internet: http://www.legion.org low Coliseum were the three distinctive - Fred R. Alderman, Palmyra, N.Y.

APRIL • MAGAZINE • 2000 THE AMERICAN LEGION ] monious team for our nation's defense. embrace me. No one has ever - Daniel R. DeyArmin, Westover, Pa. ridiculed me.

I am 75 years old and will continue to salute Old Glory every day as long Treat OOP Troops Bener as possible to show respect and love for I would like to commend Al my flag and country. I am proud to say Lance for his commentary on the I am a flag-waver. conditions our troops must endure in - Cal Smalley, Cincinnati the Balkans ("Commander's Mes-

sage," February). I am appalled that the United States would allow such treatment of our troops. We aren't at

As a former Senior Naval Gunfire war with any of those countries, so I

Liaison Officer, I probably have more don't see why our troops over there experience at Vieques, Puerto Rico, cannot expect the same comforts our than any active-duty Navy officer. stateside soldiers receive: reasonable Sending the fleet on deployments assignment rotations and the ability without first training it in synchroniz- to contact loved ones. ing and coordinating gunfire, air sup- - Michael Schlaak, Detroit port, artillery, mortar and small arms fire at the Vieques range is uncon- scionable. Fiag-Burolng is Arson McKioney iHisses Marii Vieques is the last area in the east- If you burn down a building, it's Rep. Cynthia McKinney's asser- ern United States region capable of called arson. But if some punk bums tion that we don't need a missile de- conducting combined, coordinated, the Stars and Stripes, it's OK because fense system is wrong ("Big Issues", synchronized live fire training. With it's "freedom of speech." Let's wake January). The inadequate conditions increased deployments to global hot up and vote for Senate candidates who of our current defense systems are a spots over the past seven years, it is will be smart enough to realize people direct result of the Clinton administra- critical that our military has a place don't speak with fire, they speak with tion's failure to keep the promise to to train before being sent off to real their mouths. defend this country against all ene- missions. Arson is arson, whether you bum a mies, foreign and domestic. It has Except for the tragic loss of a civil- building or a flag. nothing at all to do with Reagan, 16 ian security guard, Vieques has been a - Arnolds Kaime, Rochester, N.Y. years or $40 billion. safe place to train. What is never re- Also, our nuclear arsenal has not de- ported in the news is that the nearest terred anybody. Who cares about Ko- civilian house or village is more than Never Forget Bid Giory rea and Iraq when it is the People's Re- five miles from the impact area. It's so simple to forget Old Glory public of China that has targeted our

- Thomas Strother, Annapolis, Md. and what it stands for. We are all too cities with ICBMs? Without Clinton's busy, don't care or have forgotten to support, the PRC would not be capable teach our children the meaning of of delivering those warheads to targets Voucher Foes Wrong freedom. in this country. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., stated, I fly the flag at my home and people - David R. Spaulding, Waleska, Ga. "Voucher programs do not cover the ask, "What holiday is that for?" I just total costs of private school tuition" shake my head and ask them to read ("Big Issues," February). This is un- the poem, "God Save the Flag," by BnTopoftiieWorid true. The Milwaukee program begun in Oliver Wendell Holmes. It is a short After retiring, my wife and I took a 1998 offers vouchers worth up to and beautiful poem that should be read motor-home tour of Alaska. $6,000 a year. Most private schools to our school children. Let's get back In Anchorage, we stopped at Post 28. charge less tuition than that. on track before no one cares if this We were invited to dinners, dances and - Charlie Sexton, Bradford, Pa. country and its freedoms are but a lost all Post functions, including an Indepen- memory. dence Day parade and hog roast.

- William Tomany, Hinsdale, III. Later, we went to the farthest north Ban Gays in Military Post in the United States, Post 9 in Pandering for the gay rights vote, Wiseman, Alaska. That was an experi- both Democrat presidential candidates Prond Fiag Waver ence in itself. say gays should be accepted in the mil- I always got chills when I saluted While in Alaska, all the Posts had itary. Nonsense, I say. the flag during my World War II the same caring attitude. To all Legion- The courts, the president and Con- Army Air Force service. When I put naires and Posts in Alaska, my wife gress should have no say in the matter. It out the flag each morning at my and I say, "Thank you." You have should be left up to the military profes- house, I salute it. Some people in cars earned the blue ribbon of hospitality. sionals who know how to mold a har- honk while others shake my hand and - Richard Rogers, Marshalltown, Iowa

• AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL B THE 2000 Now. . . a digital hearing aid that zooms through background noise.

If you wear hearing aids, chances are you background noise for everyone who wore it! In have trouble with conversations in another study that compared AudioZoom with restaurants and crowded rooms. other hearing aids, wearers gave AudioZoom a

90% satisfaction rating. . . the highest rating Now there's new technology that zooms ever achieved by any hearing aid^. through background noise to help you hear better. It's called AudioZoom™ and it's only High performance. High satisfaction. available from Phonak. Now AudioZoom also features 100% digital Here's how it works. sound processing and programmability... two more reasons why it has such take-your-breath- Each AudioZoom hearing aid has two away results. And you can choose from microphones. One picks up sound in front of in-tfie-ear and behind-the-ear styles. you and the other picks up sound from the sides and rear. Space-age computer circuits So if background noise makes it hard for analyze and suppress sound from the sides and you to understand what people are saying, call rear and enhance sound from the front. or write for our free brochure.

So you understand more of what people in front of you are saying. Here's the proof, PHONAK A study^ at two of the world's top medical clinics proved that AudioZoom reduced hearing systems

1. Individual results may vary. Complete clinical test results available on Call Toll Free 888-566-6473 request.

2. MarkeTrak Independent Customer Survey sampled 5,000 hearing-aid Or write users throughout the United States. AudioZoom scored significantly higher in PO Box 3017, Naperville, IL 60566 28 of 34 categories including overall satisfaction and performance in background noise. Complete results available on request. www.phonak-us.com UKHMUI'S HaS»U

AcettUBtiiigs ia not mateb rbetarie

CLINTON administration, pletely sidestepped Executive Order like some of its predecessors, 12958, which automatically declassified THEpromised to make POW/MIA ac- certain government documents more counting the "highest national than 25 years old.

priority." Sadly, the results don't There is absolutely no excuse for tak- match the rhetoric. ing such a laissez faire attitude toward re- The American Legion has leasing information that may hold clues - long demanded a full accounting and answers - to the whereabouts of

of American POW/MIAs, but re- thousands of America's heroes. I wrote a cent actions by the federal government in letter to the president imploring him to the declassification reassess his post- of documents "There is absolutely no ponement. could delay the More than for process. excuse taking such a 8,100 American Some federal POW/MIAs from laissez faire attitude toward agencies failed to the Korean War review all the doc- releasing information that and 2,200 missing uments that were or captured from scheduled for de- may hold clues - and the Vietnam War classification by remain unaccount- this month. These answers - to the where- ed for. Family documents may members of those agencies fail to carry out their responsi- of of contain informa- abouts thousands veterans - includ- bilities. For that reason, I believe the De- tion regarding our America's heroes." ing the 78,000 partment of Justice should be appointed POW/MIAs. But missing from to oversee the process and enforce EG

we don't know because instead of forc- World War EI and the 1 30 missing from the 12958.

ing the agencies to comply. President Cold War - should not have to wait for the On a positive note, I recently visited a Clinton extended the review deadline for answers these documents may provide. government agency that does not need

historical documents by 1 8 months. such bird-dogging - the Central Identifi- This move not only undermined the Failing agencies. The public should not cation Laboratory in Hawaii. While visit-

president's pledge to the cause, but com- have to pay the price if some government ing the Department of Hawaii, I witnessed the laboratory staff's profession- alism, dedication and reverence. Like

many agencies, however, it is under- staffed and underfunded. Last October, a manpower survey revealed a need for 244 employees. Fund- ing levels limited the military and civilian staff to 177, who are currently working between 700 and 800 cases. Even such dire circumstances do not keep the lab workers from giving their ut-

most effort to this cause. While there, I witnessed the repatriation of the remains of 20 American Marines who gave their lives during a raid on Makin Atoll in the South Pacific Aug. 17, 1942. The staff's attention to detail during the solemn ceremony speaks volumes for their reverence and commitment to POW/MIAs. Our elected officials should take a lesson from the staff in Hawaii. Ignoring the deadline to declassify documents, and un- derfunding the laboratory are actions in-

The remains of U.S. Marines whio died during an August 1942 raid on the Japanese-held consistent with - if not in defiance of - a IVIalcin Atoll are returned to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, during a December ceremony. so-called "highest national priority."

10 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 .

New for Member Families EXCLUSIVE UNITED STATES MILITARY

Commemorative Birthstone Rings Personalized with your Birthstones, initials and year dates of Service

Now Available with "Mighty AVAILABLE ONLY TO VETERANS 8th" Air Force Emblem AND Servicemen of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard JAN FEB MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE We proudly present our Official United States Military Gold • • « • Emblem Rings set with 8 personal birthstones to honor those who GARNET AMETHYST AQUAMARINE DIAMOND EMERALD PEARL served our Country! JULY AUGUST SEP OCT NOV DEC

Your choice of Service Emblems • # • m e RUBY PERIDOT SAPPHIRE OPAL CITRINE TURQUOISE sculptured in solid 10 Karat Gold. Mail to: Veteran's Commemorative Gold Emblem Ring Boldly displayed on genuine polished 7453 Shipley Avenue, Hanover, MD 21076 Black Onyx. Set atop an exclusive

YES. I wish to order the following Exclusive Military Gold "Pillars of Strength" Ring design craft- Emblem Ring(s) set with my birthstones. Check (/) choices ed of Sohd_ Sterling silver richly fin- Army Navy Air Force ished in 22 Karat Gold. Marine Coast Guard 8th Air Force Your ring will be engraved with your initials and years of service and set with your choice of birthstones. A personal heirloom to Birthstone/Month ( 1 ) (See Chart above) treasure for a lifetime. My Initials (3) Service Yrs: Thank you priced at a remarkably low $199*. An affordable pay- I need send no money now. Bill me in four monthly installments of ment plan is available. If not satisfied, you may return your ring $49.75* each, with the first payment due prior to shipment. A custom within 30 days for replacement or refund-no questions asked. So, ring sizer will be sent before shipment to assure my correct fit. order yours today! You have earned the right to wear this ring. And my satisfaction is completely guaranteed.

Shipping Address (We CANNOT ship to P.O. Boxes) You may call toll free to order: Name 1-800-255-3048 _ Addres Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm EST

City_ Zip. These rings are not sold in stores. Allow 6-8 weeks delivery. for BRSRlN-ALM^/00 Visit our web site at: www.vetcom.com | ' Diamonds (April birthstones) add $24.00 per payment

NOTE: A custom ring sizer will be sent to you before shipment ' Plus $9.95 for engraving, shipping, and handling. to assure your correct fit. *Genmne Diamond Birthstone rings are $295 PA residents add 6% sales tax. 12 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL.2000 "I tell (my sons), 'Don't try to be like me. Try to he like Jesus.' That's who I'm trying to be like."

San Antonio Spurs center, David Robinson

By Layne Cameron do, the personality traits you display on lives, you must think and act like Chiist Assistant Editor the floor. I hear so much about letting Jesus." That's who I'm trying to be like. people do what they want to do. But we I'm ti-ying to love them like He loves us.

7 feet 1 inch. David ail live together. If you're poking holes STANDINGRobinson attracts attention mere- on your side of the boat, we're all going Ql "Smart, but lazy" was how you ly by his venical presence. After to sink. We should respect each other described yourself during high school. graduating from the Naval Acad- and understand that what we do affects How did the Naval Academy change emy with a mathematics degree other people. your view of yourself? and fulfilling his naval obligation, the NBA veteran has played Ql When your boys ask how they can. There's no room for "lazy" there. centei- for the San Antonio Spurs be just like you, what do you tell them? When you're not sleeping, you're run- for his entire 10-year career. And ning somewhere. It really changed my

whether he is home at the Alamodome Hi I tell them, "Don't try to be like me. whole perception of the world. They or away at the Pacers' Conseco Field- Try to be like Jesus." One of their mem- make this httle environment for you house, he draws the attention and admi- ory verses was Philippians 2:5: "In your. where you're going all the time. Then ration of reporters, photographers and once you get out into the real world, you fans alike. What captivates his audi- realize everyone doesn't move at that

ences, though, is not so much his NBA schedule. It's an advantage. You're titles as much as his humility, elo- more prepared once you come out. quence, character, charitable missions and his devotion to God. family and country.

'The Admiral" is equally adept at

playing classical music as he is playing against the Utah Jazz. He'll discuss

posting up against Patrick Ewing, but think our military is as strong as it has

he'll talk with a smile about potty-train- been. 1 don't think our force projection

ing his 3-year-old. He and his wife, IS what It should be for how we see our- Valerie, are also dedicated to their chari- selves. We see ourselves as the world table missions. Together, they estab- police ot sorts, and we just can't do that

lished the David Robinson Foundation, anymore. It shouldn't be our role in the

which has donated $5 million to pro- A world. I don't think we have enough grams addressing spiritual and family balance to protect our own homeland, needs, and donated another S5 million and then go out and make policy on

to establish the Carver Complex, an other lands - especially if we're going

inner-city college prep school. to cut back the military. Our policy is

After talking with Robinson at a stretched a little thin right now. downtown Indianapolis hotel, Assistant Editor Layne Cameron noted that many Ql Would you recommend military of the NBA star's comments - based service for young people? solely on how they appear in print -

smack of political rhetoric. In person, Jki I think it's a great experience if

though, his inflection, gestures and eye that's what they want to do. Even if

contact reveal the genuineness of his they only do it for three or four years, statements and his character, making they leam a lot about cooperating with Robinson a true giant among men. people, they get a great balance of racial hannony. working within the sys-

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE: tem and working with authority. I think' With so many atiiletes unwilling to be one of the biggest problems in our soci- role models, why have you chosen to ety is most kids growing up in single- j embrace it? parent homes or no-discipline homes :': don't respect authority. That's a ? mm ROBINSP^ I don't think you tragedy. have much of a choice. If you're put in the limelight, you have to realize people Ql You credited a tournament in i "The Admiral" earned a degree in mathe- are going to follow you. Like it or not, ' matics while leading the Midshipmen to Carbondale, 111., during your sopho- kids are soina to emulate the things you their first more vear, where vou scored 68 NCAA Final Four. . points and grabbed 31 rebounds as the "first time I got an idea of what I David Robinson's Neighborhood path could do." What career would Born: Aug. 8,1965, Key West, Fla. you have taken had your basketball College: Graduated from the Naval Academy in 1987. career fiz/led at the Academy? Naval Assignment: King's Bay Naval Submarine Base, Ga. from June 1987 to May 1989. I'd be an engineer. dad got nie A» My Personal: Married to Valerie; three boys: David Jr., into electronics, and I've always been a Corey and Justin.

"tinkerer." Even today. Fin a computer Interests: Piano, saxophone, computers and science. luit and love to take things apart and put ' Basketball accomplishments: together. I have a music stu- them back NBA Championship in 1999; NBA Most Valuable

dio in my home. And more than playing Player in 1995; NBA Scoring Title in 1994; NBA

music, I'm tearing apart the studio and Rookie of the Year in 1 990; Led Navy to first NCAA

putting it back together about once a Final Four in 1986.

montii. When I'm on the road, I take Awards:

equipment manuals with me. I want to 1 999 Sporting News Good Guys in find out how things work. I'd be pretty Pro Sports Award. Inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian happy doing that. Hall of Fame.

Ql Someone noted that the most Charities: The David Robinson Foundation - This impressive moment of your NBA Christian organization has donated $5 million to debut was the way you stood at atten- programs addressing the spiritual needs of families. tion during the national anthem. Why The Carver Complex - Robinson donated $5 is duty to country so important to you? million to create a cultural center and college prep Robinson lends a hand to the academy in inner-city San Antonio. construction of the Carver Com- fti! It was ingrained from having a father -LC. plex in San Antonio. in the Navy for 20 years. It was from spending four years at the Academy title would have meant to Patrick would not be any less complete had I standing at attention every time the Ewing if the New York Knicks had not won the championship. That's the

national anthem was played. Being a won, though he was injured and way your li fe should be. Our job is to

Christian, I think of Jesus giving up his unable to play. In the same vein, how make the most of what we have. That's

life for me. It's a similar thought, in that much would the title have meant to all you can do. There will be times when

whenever "The Star-Spangled Banner" is you had you trash-talked, played dirty people criticize you, but most of the

played I think of all those who laid down and focused solely on winning the title? people who are criticizing you are their lives on the battlefield so we could unhappy people themselves. It's always

have the fi-eedoms we have today. I Ikl Whenever you get something, it's easy to throw stones at other people.

respect that I didn't get here by accident. never as good as you think it's going to I think you're soft if you can't go be. It's always the achieving part that home to your wife every day. You made

Ql Do you support a constitutional makes it so great. That's why when peo- a vow. If you can't do that, you are a amendment that would return to the ple sell themselves to get something, pathetic man. Unfortunately, there are a American people the right to protect they're never as happy as they thought number of people who can't do that.

the flag from desecration? they'd be. The only thing you have is Nobody can ever say 1 didn't work my

who you are. That means something. tail off to get what I wanted. Ac Some of the admirals from the Acad- That's why winning this championship

emy asked if I would participate in mak- was so important to me. We fought hard Ql What are your professional and

ing a statement to Congress about it. I and did it the right way. Tlie ring is nice, personal goals now that you've won

agreed because I feel very strongly that if but it's too big and clunky to wear. It's the NBA Championship?

you let people step on the Hag oi" destroy going to sit on my shelf. If you think jt's.

the flag, It's a very strong statement the ring or the trophy that's going to make A lot of people called that the com- about how people feel about our country. you happy, you're sorely mistaken. pleting jewel, but I wasn't playing for

If people don't want to live here, then those things to begin with. I was playing they need to move somewhere else. Ql You have been praised and criti- to reach my potential, and I think our The flag represents what our country cized for diverse interests. Fans praise team still hasn't reached its potential. has been through. When they raise the you for your diversity, but before win- I'm going to do this as long as I can con-

flag, when they talk about bombs burst- ning the championship, critics said ti ibute to the team.

mg in air, it's because we won the battle. these distractions made you "soft" and Personally, I want to be a good hus- That's what It's all about. If you're that you were not dedicated enough to band and raise my boys. They're incred-

going to make a statement winning. Why is it important to you tr ibly challenging, and I love going home

I for other way. but not with ti ave a balanced life? to them. don't know what God has me down the road, but I'm going to have

It doesn't matter what you acc 11

Q: After winning the NBA J lish if you can't enjoy it. What I have onsbip,

MAGAZINE' jij TU give you my $30 Car Vac absolutely free just for trying my 84b.Oreck XC

Hi, I'm David Oreck. I'm so confident that my 50% more powerful,

8'lb. Oreck XL is pound for pound, the best vacuum in the world that I'll give you my Oreck XL 1200 Car Vac just for taking The Oreck Challenge. That's right—you get to keep the Car Vac, a $30 value just for trying

my 8'lb. marvel risk- free fo

If you don't love it, you don't

The Oreck XL is rated #1 in pick-up performance by

a leading international

consumer testing institute

It's used in thousands of luxury hotels, airports, offices and millions of

homes like yours. In fact, this vacuum is so extraordinary, it's used

at The Windsor Court, which Conde Nast Traveler magazine called

the best hotel in the world. It's hypo-allergenic and has virtually

every feature you could ask for in a vacuum. The Car Vac is

rated M for superior cleaning ability and ease of use.

Decide to keep the B-lb. Oreck XL and I'll ^- —'--^

also give you my super-powerful 5-lb. Compact

Vacuum, as a gift. It's the one you've seen on TV pick up a

bowling ball. So take The 30-Day Oreck Challenge and get your home

and your car Oreck clean. Call toll free 1^80047H437ext.BC520 Visit us at www.oreck.com/acf

Or mail in this coupon today. bc52o

Yes, please send me a free information kit. I understand I will receive absolutely free, an Oreck Super Compact vacuum with purchase of the Oreck XL.

Yes, please call me to arrange a free 30-day home trial of the 8-lb. Oreck XL and send me my free Oreck XL 1200 car vac just for taking The Oreck Challenge.

Also include details of Oreck's 12-month Payment Plan. No Interest or Finance Charge.

City

_Zip_ .TelJ L

Nothing gets by an Oreck.® Oreck Direct, UC 100 Plantation Road, New Orleans, LA 70123 .

When seven American

A commemora- veterans returned to tive marker des- ignates the spot where U.N. forces their South Korean landed at Inchon Harbor July 15, 1950 (inset). The battlefields of50 years Inchon landing (background). ago, they were. . Remembering the R)rgotten

The members of the group who made the trip to Korea for the 50th anniversary of the war are, front row, (left to right) Nancy Kim, Stewart Rothman, Jenny Kim and Monica Poling; middle row, Chuck Stercheie, Roy Blumenauer, Don Reid and Bill Harbin; back row, Jim Drury, Charley Heath, John Shirley and Wes Morrison.

II • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 story and photos by Dan Allsup

"Americans in 1950 rediscovered something that since Hiroshima they had

forgotten: you may fly over a landforev- er, you may bomb it, atomize it, pulverize

it, and wipe it clean of life - but ifyou

desire to defend it, protect it, and keep it

fitfor civilization, you must do this on the ground the way the Romans did, by putting your young men into the mud." - T.R. Fehrenbach, "This Kind of War"

iT THE END OF World War H,

, the United States and the So- j * ^ viet Union reached an agree- 1 f""^^ ment whereby the Soviets would occupy the Korean peninsula north of the 38th parallel, while the United States would control the land south of the line. Eventually, Kim D Sung rose to power in the north and Syngham Rhee became the dominant political force in the south.

By 1950, it was obvious that the division of the country had set the stage for

another war. Kim II Sung announced repeatedly that military force was necessary to urufy the country and, in the early morning of June 25, 1950, he ordered his battle-hardened North Korean Sdldiers across the 38th parallel. Within days, the South Korean army was destroyed and

North Korean troops captured tihe capital city of Seoul. ITie United Nations immediately named the United States as executive agent for conducting the war. WillKHit asking Congress to declare war. Presi- dent Tnjman ordered U.S. intervention June 27. He appointed General of the Don Reid looks out over "The Punchbowl," site of one of the war's bloodiest battles. Anny Douglas MacArthur as commcui- der in chief of the U.N. forces July 10. mm and attend commemorative events thor/photographer, a college football

TrunicUi called it a "police action" and marking the 50th anniversary of the war. coach, a veterinarian, and a former insur-

others called it a "conflict," but Stewart In Februai y, Rothman joined 10 other ance agent who now bags groceries at

Rothman wasn't buying it. lie was one American veterans - seven of them his local commissary to keep busy. of those young men in the mud. And fought in Korea - to tour South Korea on Their one common bond is knowing being in Korea in 1950 meant only one a trip co-sponsored by the Korea Nation- the smell of fear. Of knowing what it's thing: gut-wrenching, mind-numbing, al Tourism Organization, Asiana Air- like to be a teenager in a foreign land

frozen-lingered, stoniach-chuniing, t'oar- lines and California Pacific Tours. fighting for his life and for the freedom soaked war. With a capital "W." The visitors aie a disparate group of of a people he didn't know and a culture

like most w ai" veterans, Rothman men, the kind of men that America al- he would never understand.

hated it. He hated the cold, he hated |-)eing ways asks to fight her wars. They were Their seven-day tour included visits shot at, and he wasn't all that crazy about once soldiers and Marines. Some left the to Heartbreak Ridge, Bloody Ridge, In- kiinchi. the Korean delicacy of aged cab- militai-y as soon as they possibly could; chon and the Punchbowl; battle sites un- bage. Now, 50 >'cars later, and for reasons others wore their uniforms for decades. familiar to today's youth and too many he didn't fully understand himself, he A few weai- hearing aids and two use of their fathers. History books call this stole a linal glimpse of his two Purple canes, limping for a half-century cour- "The Forgotten War," but these men wiU Heaits, packed a bag and returned to the tesy of North Korean and Chinese never forget. Their lives were on the line country he never wiuited to see again. grenades and bullets. They are retired and they survived. As one veteran said, For the next three yeai^s. South Korea now. bill among them are a former "I ain't forgot a damn thing." is reaching out to foreigii veterans to rc- law \ er. a mechanic, a salesman, an au- Jim Drury, a former Army medic.

• • APRIL 2000 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE \j retum. I've traveled the Orient a dozen and a half times over the last 30 years, but

I've never been back to Korea. I don't

know if it was something psychological or if I'm exorcising old ghosts, but I'm glad I came back. Maybe I had to."

The first quality of the soldier is forti- tude in enduringfatigue and privations; valor is only second. Poverty, privation, and misery are the school of the good soldier. - Napoleon

Historians agree the United States North Korean guards peer through the windows of the conference building in Panmunjom was caught off guard by the North Kore- in an attempt to intimidate visitors, it was in this building where representatives of the an surprise attack. America's war ma- opposing sides met to discuss terms of the truce that ended the war in 1953. chine had been nearly dismanded after was a 1 9- V cur-old Iowa farm boy in tied on my back. World War n, and the country wasn't 1952. He remembers all too well his first "My buddy came over and I told him prepared to send her boys to another dis- winter in Korea. this guy threw a grenade at me and it hit tant war. Consequently, the units that

"In June 1932, 1 spent .six months less my helmet. I told him I didn't have a forged into Korea were undermanned, than 20 miles from where we're standing scratch; all I had was a helluva headache. ill-equipped and poorly trained. Their right now,"' he said during the group's But when I felt the back of my helmet, anti-taiik rocket launchers were inade- visit to the Iron Triangle. "I remember there v/as a hole in it and the back of my quate and the infantry regiments had two liie bankers md the holes in the ground neck was bloody. Then my buddy took rifle battalions instead of three. where we lived, and I remember the my helmet off, picked a grenade fragment Some American veterans remain bit- folks who didn't make it back. I lost my off my scalp and handed it to me. I guess I ter, but to Wes Morrison it was just a fact best friend here. He was also a medic got a httle weak kneed. I stiU have of wartime life. He was a 20-year-old with the 2nd Division and a mortar grenade fragments in my right leg that bazooka gunner based at Fort Devlin, round blew his legs off." have been there for almost 50 years." Mass., with the 24th Infantry Division Drury's voice cracked as he spoke, Rothman added that his first retum when he received his orders. "1 went to but he continued as if mere speech could trip to Korea was a bit eerie. San Francisco and boarded a troop ship," chase away a 48-year-old demon. "When we drove through these hills he recalled. "My orders were to the Far

"He was working on the wounded in today, I could feel waves of goose flesh East, but I kind of figured we were head- the middle of a firefight when a mortar running over me," he said. "It's a strange ing for Korea." round came in and blew both his legs feeling because I just never thought I'd After 15 days, Morrison and his fel- off," Drury said. "He bled to death in front of me. It was pretty traumtitic. I Don Reid and John guess you could say this farni boy grew Shirley examine a small- up in a hurry." arms display during their hi October 1950, the fighting escalat- group's visit to a South Korean military base ed when some 380,000 CMnese troops (right). The border cross- entered the war. The bettrded, beret-clad ing between North and Rdthman, an author and photographer South Korea at Pan- who said he has visited 52 counh'ies, was munjom in April 1953 17 when he an ived in Korea. He had his (background). own memories of fighting the Chinese. "We were fighting in tlie North." re- calls Rothman. now 69 and living in Fairbanks, Alaska. "The platoon sergeant gave the commtuid and we all stood up and started firing at everything that moved. One Chinese soldier stood up and he was dead before he hit the ground because four of us saw him at the same time. But before he died, he threw a hand grenade. In slow motion, I saw it arc through the air, hit on top of my helmet, bounce off and explode about 15 feet behind me. The concussion threw me to my knees, and there were feathers Hying all over the place from the sleeping bag

• • jS THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE APRIL 2000 1

low soldiers arrived on South Korea's me it was the coldest night in 50 years; for your bravery and for risking your east coast. Two days later, he was in his something like 45 or 50 degrees below lives for the freedom of Korea. We will

first firefight. Morrison remembers how zero. I don't know how true that is, but never forget your honor and your valor," hot it was when he landed that August, that'U give you an idea how cold it was. he said. It was a message the Americans but like many of the returning vets, what After that operation, we limped back to heard repeatedly during their visit. he remembers most about the war was our location, and that's when I realized my the numbing cold. feet were Irozen. They had been bleeding Was it worth it? Former Marine Bill

"The heat when 1 arrived here was bad quite a bit and my socks were completely Harbin echoed the thoughts of all the enough, but I can't begin to describe how stuck to my feet with frozen blood. They returning veterans. "When I was here, cold we were that first winter. It almost hurt me in cold weather to this day." the country was totally devastated," the killed me," he said. "In January 1951, During the veterans' trip to Korea, Califomia resident said. "Considering was on a patrol to locate Chinese troops their hosts took great pains to welcome that the South Koreans live in the most southeast of Seoul. Our company com- their American guests. Every day the dangerous place in the world, it's unbe- mander issued us insulated mbber boots veterans visited familiar landmarks and lievable what they have accomplished. that I knew were the wrong kind of battlefields, and every evening senior It's an economic miracle." footwear for that kind of weather, but I South Korean military officers and local Don Reid, a fellow Marine who didn't have any choice but to follow his dignitaries feted them. At a luncheon i'ought in the Punchbowl, agi-ccd. orders. near the Iron Triangle, a provincial gov- "Returning to South Korea has been "We were totally unprepared. I didn't emor told the former soldiers and an incredible nostalgic event." he said. have the proper cold weather gear and Marines that the South Koreims would 'I'm ovei-whelmed to see the changes neither did anybody else. Somebody told never forget their valor. "We thank you that ha\ e occuired over the years. There

wasn't very much left standing when I

lef t. Seoul was a pile of rubble then, but ''When we drove today it's a modern city witli more than 10 million people. To see that our efforts through these hills have come to iruition is splendid. 1 felt very strongly we were doing the right today, I couldfeel tiling; there was never any doubt in my

mind that what I did here was the just waves ofgooseflesh thing to do. This visit has reaffirmed those feelings.'' Reid, who became a lawyer after the - Stewart Rothman a l^lMHa^ war. added that his Korciin combat experience inight have even added something

to his life.

"I don 't think of it as The Forgotten Wiu ,"' he said. "The wm- gave me a great deal of direction and purposefulness, and

I'm eternally grateful foi' having tliat op-

portunity . I went to law school after the

wai- imd achieved a mtxlicum ol' success. I

feel blessed that 1 had ;in opportunity to participate." Midway through the tour, the Ameri- cans were taken to a wind-blown South Koreim Anny post where a contingent of miirtial arts experts put on a bone-jarring Tae Kwon Do demonstration in sub-zero temperatures. ITie soldiers ignored the cold as they kicked, spun, leaped and were thrown onto the frozen, rocky ground. Huddled on the nearby bleach- ers, one American veteran elbowed another cind asked, "How'd you like to be a soldier in this place?" His buddy, teeth chattering, replied simply, "I was."

Dan Allsup is an Air Force veteran andfreelance writer based in subur- A South Korean military policeman pre- ban St. Louis. pares for a martial arts demonstration at a base near the DMZ. Article design: Holly K. Soria

APRIL 2000 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • jj) By Dan Allsup June 25, 2000: Commencement of Several companies are offering 50th CENTURY AFTER Hostilities International Commemo- anniversary tour packages which em- the beginning of the "For- ration. phasize travel to the larger commemora- tHALFgotten War," South Korea July 5, 2000: Task Force Smith Pro- tion activities. These tours range in price

is asking the nearly 1.5 mil- gram, commemorating the first con- from about $ 1 ,500 to $1 ,800 per person, lion Americans who served tact between U.S. and North Korean double occupancy. Prices vary depend- there to return and witness forces. ing on the time of year, length of tour how the nation has changed Sept. 13, 2000: Naktong River and accommodations. Most packages over the last 50 years. Breakout/Pusan Perimeter Program, include some meals, transportation in The Korean National including a re-enactment of the Nak- Korea and admission fees.

Tourism Organization is pro- tong River Crossing by American moting several large events and Korean troops. between June 25, 2000, and Sept. 15, 2000: Inchon Landing Pro- June 27, 2003, to commemorate the gram, a re-enactment of the landing three-year war. The organization esti- by American and Korean amphibious mates that at least 10,000 American vet- forces. erans will return to Korea each year. Sept. 15-28: Seoul City Recovery "Our appreciation of the U.S. ser- Program. vice members stationed in Korea dur- Nov. 11, 2000: Chosin Reservoir ing the war is unlimited," said Sang- Program commemorating the dev- oh Lee, executive vice president of astating battle where undermanned KNTO. "We welcome this opportunity U.S. Marines fought Chinese to give personal thanks. Each veteran forces. traveling to Korea on one of these April 18, 2001: U.N. Cemetery and tours will be awarded a commemora- Pusan Memorial Ceremonies. tive medal at an exclusive appreciation Aug. 18, 2001: Battle of Bloody ceremony. Since many veterans have Ridge, a battlefield in the Demilita- not returned to Korea since the end of rized Zone where many 2nd Infantry the war, this is the perfect opportunity Division soldiers fought. for them to see how much the country May 30, 2002: The Air Power Pro- has changed," he added. gram at Osan Air Base.

Some of the major events commem- Nov. 11, 2002: Veterans Day Program. Left to right, Chuck Sterchele, Don Reid, orating the 50th anniversary of the war May 30, 2003: Sea Power Program Charley Heath and Stewart Rothman at the include: hosted by the ROK Navy. Yanggu County Punchbowl Memorial.

20 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 Relieve Back Pain!

Frustrated With The Quality OfYour Sleep? Select Comfort Air Sleep Systems you toss and turn at night? Do comfortably contour to your body, Can't seem to find a comfortable properly supportyour back and spine, and reduce pressure points. position? Does your back ache when you awake? These are signs that your mattress may not be supporting you properly Metal coil mattresses can create or be right for your body. uncomfortable pressure points and provide uneven support over time. Select Comfort can help you sleep better, with a revolutionary You Control mattress that's so comfortable The Firmness and supportive, you wake up With a Select Comfort Air Sleep feeling better than ever! It's not System, you can change the firm- just a better mattress, it's a ness depending on how your better way to sleep. Even back body feels each night. Go from pain sufferers can sleep more extra-firm to extra-soft, simply comfortably on air! With a Select Comfort Air Sleep System, at the touch of a button. In fact, you can each get thefirmness you want. Sleep Better On Air the firmness A SELECT COMFORT® Air Sleep System doesn't adjusts independently rely side softer on springs or water. on each of the bed i'OB Firniei Instead, it supports your body so you and your sleeping on a cushion of air. Air gently partner can get custom contours to your body's shape, support without compromisini With patented dualfinnness eonfrob, reducing uncomfortable comfort or quality of sleep. you can each selectyour omi custom comfort! Select Comfort mattresses pressure points, and tests show contour to your body. Call For More Information it also helps properly support You owe it to yourself to learn more about this your back and spine. And that lowers the tension in revolutionary way to a better night's sleep. the surrounding muscles. So you can sleep comfortably in most any position and wake For a FREE VIDEO and Catalog, call feeling great! 1-800-831-1211 Ext. 26531 ^ — — — — — — — — — — n Yes! Please rush me a FREE Video and Catalog. Name Address

City Zip Phone Ext. 26531

The Mattress With Easy Push Button SELECT COMFORI Firmness Control! Mail to: Select Comfort Direct Corporation 6105 Trenton Lane North, Minneapolis, MN 55442 J Suddenly, lowering my high cholesterol became even more important than football. -Head Coach Dan Reeves

Only six weeks before one of the most important games of my life, I felt a strange pain in my cliest - and wanted to ignore it. I mentioned it to my doctor, wiio encouraged me to get it checlced out the next day.

What they found was unlike any opponent I had eyer faced: three of my arteries were more than 90 percent blocked. I was suffering from heart disease and had to undergo emergency bypass surgery.

Fortunately, i had a full recovery, and was even able to coach my team in the biggest game of the season four weeks later. Looking back, I wish

I had done some of the things I am doing now to take better care of myself. Some of those things include When diet and exercise are not enough, ZOCOR can help people with high cholesterol and heart disease live a longer life by reducing the risk of a heart attack. ZOCOR is a prescription medication, so you should ask your doctor or healthcare professional if ZOCOR is right for you. ZOCOR isn't for everyone, including women who are pregnant or nursing or who may become pregnant, people who are allergic to any of its ingredients, or anyone with liver disease. Unexplained muscle pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away. Your doctor may do simple blood tests before and during treatment with ZOCOR to check for liver problems. Be sure your doctor knows about medications you may be taking in order to avoid any serious drug interactions. With so much to look forward to, don't let high cholesterol and heart disease take you out of the game.

Talk to your doctor to see if ZOCOR is right for you.

YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY. PLEASE READ THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ZOCOR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS AD.

Before starting treatment with ZOCOR"'(simvastatin),try to lower your cholesterol by other Z5COR methods such as diet, exercise, and weight loss. Ask your doctor about how best to do this. Any (SIMVASTATIN) other medical problems that can cause high cholesterol should also be treated.

Drug Interactions: Because of possible serious drug interactions, it is important to tell your doctor what other drugs you are taking, including PLEASE READ THIS SUMMARY CAREFULLY, AND THEN ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT those obtained without a prescription.

. PROVIDE ALL THE INFORMATION ZOCOR NO ADVERTISEMENT CAN NEEDED TO ZOCOR can interact with cyclosporine (Sandimmune), itraconazole, ketoconazole, Lopid, niacin, PRESCRIBE A DRUG. THIS ADVERTISEMENT DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF CAREFUL erythromycin, clarithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, and nefazodone. (See WARNINGS, Muscle.) DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR DOCTOR. ONLY YOUR DOCTOR HAS THE TRAINING TO WEIGH THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG FOR YOU. Some patients taking lipid-lowering agents similar to ZOCOR and coumarin anticoagulants (a type of blood thinner) have experienced bleeding and/or increased blood clotting time. Patients taking these medicines should have their blood tested before starting therapy with ZOCOR and USES OF ZOCOR should continue to be monitored.

ZOCOR is a prescription drug that is indicated as an addition to diet for many patients with high Central Nervous System Toxicity; Cancer, Mutations, Impairment of Fertility: Like most cholesterol when diet and exercise are inadequate. For patients with coronary heart disease prescription drugs, ZOCOR was required to be tested on animals before it was marketed for (CHD) and high cholesterol, ZOCOR is indicated as an addition to diet to reduce the risk of death human use. Often these tests were designed to achieve higher drug concentrations than humans by reducing coronary death; to reduce the risk of heart attack; to reduce the risk for undergoing achieve at recommended dosing. In some tests, the animals had damage to the nerves in the cardiac procedures (coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous transluminal coronary central nervous system. In studies of mice with high doses of ZOCOR, the likelihood of certain angioplasty); and to reduce the risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). types of cancerous tumors increased. l\lo evidence of mutations of or damage to genetic material

WHEN ZOCOR SHOULD NOT BE USED has been seen. In one study with ZOCOR, there was decreased fertility in male rats.

people should not take Discuss this with your doctor . Some ZOCOR. Pregnancy: Pregnant women should not take ZOCOR because it may harm the fetus.

ZOCOR should not be used by patients who are allergic to any of its ingredients. In addition to Safety in pregnancv has not been established . In studies with lipid-lowering agents similar to the active ingredient simvastatin, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: ZOCOR, there have been rare reports of birth defects of the skeleton and digestive system. cellulose, lactose, magnesium stearate, iron oxides, talc, titanium dioxide, and starch. Butylated Therefore, women of chlldbearing age should not take ZOCOR unless it is highly unlikely they will hydroxyanisole is added as a preservative. become pregnant. If a woman does become pregnant while taking ZOCOR, she should stop

Patients with liver problems: ZOCOR should not be used by patients with active liver disease or taking the drug and talk to her doctor at once. The active ingredient of ZOCOR did not cause birth repeated blood test results indicating possible liver problems. (See WARNINGS.) defects in rats at 3 times the human dose or in rabbits at 3 times the human dose.

Women who are or may become pregnant: Pregnant women should not take ZOCOR because Nursing IVIothers: Drugs taken by nursing mothers may be present in their breast milk. Because it may harm the fetus. Women of chlldbearing age should not take ZOCOR unless it is highly of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a woman taking ZOCOR should unlikely that they will become pregnant. If a woman does become pregnant while on ZOCOR, not breast-feed. (See WHEN ZOCOR SHOULD NOT BE USED.) she should stop taking the drug and talk to her doctor at once. Pediatric Use: ZOCOR is not recommended for children or patients under 20 years of age. Women who are breast-feeding should not take ZOCOR. SIDE EFFECTS WARNINGS

Most patients tolerate treatment with ZOCOR well; however, like all prescription drugs, ZOCOR Muscle: Tell your doctor right away if you experience any unexplained muscle pain, can cause side effects, and some of them can be serious. Side effects that do occur are usually tenderness, or weakness at any time during treatment with ZOCOR so your doctor can decide mild and short-lived. Onlv vour doctor can weigh the risks versus the benefits of any prescription if ZOCOR should be stopped. Some patients may have muscle pain or weakness while taking drug. In clinical studies with ZOCOR, less than 1 .5% of patients dropped out of the studies ZOCOR. Rarely, this can include muscle breakdown resulting in kidney damage. The risk of because of side effects. In a large, long-term study, patients taking ZOCOR experienced similar muscle breakdown is greater in patients taking certain other drugs along with ZOCOR, such as the lipid-lowering drug Lopid (gemfibrozil), and other fibrates; lipid-lowering doses of side effects to those patients taking placebo (sugar pills). Some of the side effects that have been niacin (nicotinic acid); Sandimmune (cyclosporine); itraconazole, ketoconazole, and other reported with ZOCOR or related drugs are listed below. This list is not complete. Be sure to ask azole antifungal drugs; the antibiotics erythromycin and clarithromycin; HIV protease vour doctor about side effects before takino ZOCOR and to discuss any side effects that occur . inhibitors; and the antidepressant nefazodone. Interruption of therapy with ZOCOR should be Digestive System: Constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, gas, heartburn, stomach pain/cramps, considered if you are going to take an azole antifungal medication, such as itraconazole, or anorexia, loss of appetite, nausea, inflammation of the pancreas, hepatitis, jaundice, fatty changes macrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin. Patients using ZOCOR along with any of these in the liver, and rarely, severe liver damage and failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. other drugs should be carefully monitored by their physician. The risk of muscle breakdown is greater in patients with kidney problems or diabetes. Muscle, Skeletal: Muscle cramps, aches, pain, and weakness; joint pain; muscle breakdown.

Because there are risks in combining therapy with ZOCOR with the drugs listed above, your Nervous System: Dizziness, headache, insomnia, tingling, memory loss, damage to nerves doctor should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks. He or she should also carefully causing weakness and/or loss of sensation and/or abnormal sensations, anxiety, depression, monitor patients for any muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly during the initial tremor, loss of balance, psychic disturbances. months of therapy and if the dose of either drug is increased. Your doctor also may monitor the level of certain muscle enzymes in your body, but there is no assurance that such Skin: Rash, itching, hair loss, dryness, nodules, discoloration. monitoring will prevent the occurrence of severe muscle disease. Eye/Senses: Blurred vision, altered taste sensation, progression of cataracts, eye muscle weakness.

If you have conditions that can increase your risk of muscle breakdown, which in turn can Hypersensitivity (Allergic) Reactions: On rare occasions, a wide variety of symptoms have been cause kidney damage, your doctor should temporarily withhold or stop ZOCOR. Also, since reported to occur either alone or together in groups (referred to as a syndrome) that appeared to there are no known adverse conseguences of briefly stopping therapy with ZOCOR, treatment be based on allergic-type reactions, which may rarely be fatal. These have included one or more should be stopped a few days before elective major surgery and when any major acute of the following: a severe generalized reaction that may include shortness of breath, wheezing, medical or surgical condition occurs. Discuss this with your doctor, who can explain these digestive symptoms, and low blood pressure and even shock; an allergic reaction with swelling conditions to you. of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty swallowing or breathing; symptoms Liver: About 1% of patients who took ZOCOR in clinical trials developed elevated levels of mimicking lupus (a disorder in which a person's immune system may attack parts of his or her some liver enzymes. Patients who had these increases usually had no symptoms. Elevated own body); severe muscle and blood vessel inflammation; bruises; various disorders of blood liver enzymes usually returned to normal levels when therapy with ZOCOR was stopped. cells (that could result in anemia, infection, or blood clotting problems) or abnormal blood tests;

In the ZOCOR Survival Study, the number of patients with more than one liver enzyme level inflamed or painful joints; hives; fatigue and weakness; sensitivity to sunlight; fever, chills; elevation to greater than 3 times the normal upper limit was no different between the ZOCOR and flushing; difficulty breathing; and severe skin disorders that vary from rash to a serious burn-like patients to placebo groups. Only 8 on ZOCOR and 5 on placebo discontinued therapy due shedding of skin all over the body, including mucous membranes such as the lining of the mouth. elevated liver enzyme levels. Patients were started on 20 mg of ZOCOR, and one third had their Other: Loss of sexual desire, breast enlargement, impotence. dose raised to 40 mg.

abnormalities including elevated alkaline phosphatase and Your doctor should perform routine blood tests to check these enzymes before you start Laboratory Tests: Liver function test treatment with ZOCOR and periodically thereafter (for example, semiannually) for your first bilirubin; thyroid function abnormalities. year of treatment or until 1 year after your last elevation in dose. Patients titrated to the 80- NOTE: This summary provides important information about ZOCOR. If you would like more mg dose should receive an additional test at 3 months. If your enzyme levels increase, your information, ask your doctor or pharmacist to let you read the professional labeling and then doctor should order more frequent tests. If your liver enzyme levels remain unusually high, your discuss it with them. doctor should discontinue your medication.

ZOCOR is a registered trademark of Merck & Co., Inc. Tell your doctor about any liver disease you may have had in the past and about how much alcohol you consume. ZOCOR should be used with caution in patients who consume large The other brands listed are trademarks of their MERCK amounts of alcohol. respective owners and not of Merck & Co., Inc. O Whitehouse Station,

996096(1 )(435C)-Z0C-C0IM © 1999 Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. (435R)C fornia Pacific Tours 482-0605; Dearborn Travel, 800-621- specializes in Korea 5724; Fultonex Travel, 888-345-1888; tours and offers pack- Korea Task Force 2000, 877-317-3458; ages to veterans, as MiUtary Historical Tours, 703-212-0695; well as special pro- and WalkerhiU Travel and Tours at 800- grams for people in- 383-0556. terested in the history Returning veterans and other Ameri- of the Korean War. cans visiting Korea must have passports. For more information, Travelers can apply for passports at caU Roy Montgomery more than 4,500 passport facilities na- at 888-822-5258, or tionwide, including many federal, state visit the company's and probate courts, post offices and Web site at www.cp- some libraries. Passport forms can also tours.com. be downloaded from the Internet at Four Seasons http://travel.state.gov or obtained by The Task Force Smith Memorial near Osan Air Base. Tour and Travel calling the National Passport Informa- Some tours include visits to Inchon, offers a seven-day program highlight- tion Center at 900-225-5674. site of the amphibious landing led by ing the re-enactment of the Inchon Although State Department officials

General of the Army Douglas landing with stops at Inchon, Pusan say it usually takes 25 working days to MacArthur; the Demilitarized Zone at and Kyong-ju. Call Four Seasons Trav- process a passport, it's a good idea to sub- Panmunjom; tours of various battlefields; el at 213-381-8000. mit an apphcation several montlis before and an excursion to Seoul. Interested Olympus Travel has designed a six- the planned trip. Normal fees for a pass- tourists should ask specifically which day tour that includes stops at major Ko- port run $60. For those who wait untU battle sites wOl be visited and whether an rean historical sites, including the Na- the last minute to apply, there is an addi- Enghsh-speaking guide wiU be available. tional Cemetery. Call 213-487-0947, or tional $35 fee for expedited processing. California Pacific Tours sponsored the visit the company's Web site at For more information about Korean trip for the returning American war veter- www.olympus-travel.com for more War battlefield tours, call the Korean ans mentioned in "Remembering the For- information. National Tourism Organization at gotten War" (see page 16). The seven-day Other companies offering tour 800-868-7567. trip featured visits to famous battle sites, packages include America Tour Consult- Korean historical sites and the DMZ. Cali- ing, 800-535-7552; Asia Hohdays, 617- Article design: Doug Rollison

The USO salute to heroes

Are you a veteran of the Korean War, and Veterans who will be in Seoul June 26, Honorees will be selected on a first

are you coming to Korea for the 50th An- and who served with the U.S. Armed-Forces come, first served basis. Additional guests

niversary of the Korean War Commemora- in Korea between June 1950 and July 1953, may buy tickets for $100 per seat with a

tion June 25? The USO Korea is honoring will be honored at the special function. Also check made out to USO Korea. Please fill

the wartime achievements of 100 to 150 of eligible are veterans who served aboard Navy out the form below and either mail it to USO

the thousands of U.S. veterans who served vessels in waters contiguous to Korea or as Seoul, Attn: USO 50th Anniversary of the in that war at a commemorative event called crew members of aircraft flying over Korea Korean War Committee, PSC 303, Box 53,

"The USO Salute to Heroes." This formal from offshore bases. Applications must be APO AP 96204-0053 or fax it to 011-822-

event will take place in the Grand Hyatt Ball- received by May 15. The individual's spouse 7913-4106. The information may also be e-

room in Seoul, Korea, June 26, at 6 p.m. or one family member is also welcome. mailed to [email protected].

The USO is inviting more than 800 guests, including about 150 Korean War Application for Honorees for "USO Salute to Heroes" Veteran Honorees and their spouses, to the Last Name First Name Ml _ event. Medal of Honor recipients, ambas- Date of birth Branch of Service sadors from many countries, politicians, key Highest rank held Unit military and civilian personnel, celebrities, Dates of service in the Republic of Korea business people and other VIPs are also Campaign Medals/Awards/Citations invited. The president of the United States Mailing and the president of Korea have been invited address to attend. Home phone Alternate phone

The U.S. veterans will be recognized and E-mail address Fax

honored for the vital role they played in pro- Will your spouse accompany you? Name tecting freedom in South Korea. This will be Arrival Date Departure Date an opportunity for representatives of the Contact in Korea (hotel) Korean community to express their appreci- Are you coming on a tour? Name of tour ation to these men and women who risked Are you interested in information about the USO battle site tours or cultural tours offered their lives for the Korean people. near this event? Yes/No

APRIL 2000 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • 25 • • 2(j THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE APRIL 2000 By Amity Shiaes nor frugal. That's around $12,500 per tax filer. It's hard to imagine saving that . . the greedy hand of gov- 10NG AGO, the philosophers who amount each year and then sending it to inspired our founders left powerful ernment, thrusting itself into the IRS in one giant check come April images to describe economic every corner and crevice of 15. Confronted with such a dilemma, forces. Adam Smith described an some of us would surely follow our an- industry and grasping the "invisible hand," the hand of free cestors ' example and revolt. commerce that brings order and That's exactly what the Roosevelt spoil of the multitude. ... It harmony to our lives. administration faced in 1942 as Washing- Thomas Paine wrote of an- watches prosperity as its ton spiked income taxes for the war ef- J I other hand, but this one was all fort. Income taxes doubled for many prey and permits none to I too visible: "... the greedy hand " Americans, while millions more faced I of government, thrusting itself escape without tribute. them for the first time. Many post-De- into every comer and crevice of industry pression Americans couldn't pay their tax -Thomas Paine and grasping the spoil of the multitude. bill. Only 5 million of the 34 milfion eli-

... It watches prosperity as its prey and gible filers had saved for Tax Day 1943. permits none to escape without tribute." lion more in taxes than needed, mostly Instead of arresting millions of tax The invisible hand is busy in this age in fear of consequences for paying the evaders, FDR's advisors - led by of prosperity and fi-ee markets. But the government too little. Macy's executive Beardsley Ruml - greedy hand is, too. Today, federal taxes But Americans weren't always so concocted a plan that would withhold make up one-fifth of the economy. Citi- pliable. In fact, the Revolutionary War taxes before wages were paid. The ad- zens are taxed more than at any period was triggered by smaller tax burdens ministration sold the plan by offering of peace in American history. Taxes than today. Indeed, early Americans tax amnesty for the previous year, which touch our fives at every stage: didn't want to encounter the greedy aUowed citizens to start anew in 1944. PICA taxes tie down young workers hand anywhere, even in excise taxes. In Thus, the greedy hand had become from their first day on the job. Sales tax- the wake of the Whiskey RebeUion, invisible. es punish us for purchases. Property sparked by alcohol taxes, Thomas Jef- As the war ended, with taxpayers taxes affect where we live. Estate taxes ferson ran for office on an intemal tax foUow us beyond the grave. And there is abolition platform - and won. Amity Shiaes is a writer for The concrete evidence that income taxes rob Wall Street Journal and the author of us of something more than our wages. The Greedy Hand Becomes Invisible. "The Greedy Hand: How Taxes Drive They steal our peace of mind as weU. Li Today, we cede $1.48 triUion annually Honest Americans Crazy and What to 1997, Americans paid about $100 bil- to a government that seems neither wise Do About It."

• APRIL 2000 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE 2J obediently accepting their smaller checks, Ruml and other officials got to work not on bringing tax rates back down to earth, but on how liltotklw to spend the postwar dividend The father of the modem Ameri- in fighting social ills. can state was not Theodore Roosevelt In the 1950s, men like the or Franklin Roosevelt or even Lyn- economist John Kenneth don Johnson. He was a department Galbraith began to chide store executive named Beardsley America's upper-middle Ruml. Not only was Ruml ti-easurer class for its prosperous of R.H. Macy and Company, he complacency. By the was also chairman of the board of 1960s, President Johnson directors of the Federal Reserve ushered in the Great Soci- Bank of New York and a close ety, which aimed at elimi- advisor to President Franklin Roo- nating poverty and ending sevelt during the war. the underclass. Hoping to marshal enough re- With such audacious sources to win the war, lawmakers goals, it's no wonder that raised income taxes radically in 1942 the greedy hand has grown. with rates aimed at capturing twice as One way we can gauge much as the previous year. New taxes the greediness of government were imposed on miUions of Ameri- is by charting "Tax Freedom cans who had never paid income tax.

Day," the day Americans must As Tax Day neared, it became clear meet their annual tax obligation. that many citizens were not filing Every year the Tax Foundation calcu their retums or setting aside enough to lates this holiday, and the results are pay their income taxes. A Gallup poU sobering: In 1902, the average American revealed that only 15 percent of eligi- worked about a month to pay Uncle ble taxpayers were saving to make

Sam. By 1940, it was more than two 1938. Instead, he turned to the commis- their payment. months. Today, it is more than five sioner of Internal Revenue for help as he Confronted with the prospect of months. tried to sort through liis tax return. mass tax evasion, Treasury Secretary Another way to measure is by look- "I am enclosing my income tax re- Henry Morgenthau asked, "Suppose ing at the internal revenue code - all 1.3 turn for the calendar year 1937, together we have to go out and try to arrest 5 million words of it! Another 5.75 mil- with my check for $15,000," the presi- million people?" lion words can be found in regulations dent wrote. "I am wholly unable to fig- Enter Ruml, Macy's man of governing and clarifying the code. ure out the amount of the tax for the fol- ideas. At Macy's, he observed that It's little wonder why almost 59 mil- lowing reason: The first 20 days of Janu- customers preferred making lion people turn to professional tax pre- ary 1937 were a part of my first term of payments bit by bit, even if they had parers. At center stage is H&R Block, a office, and to these 20 days the income to pay interest. So Ruml devised a firm so big that it prepares one in seven tax rates as of March 4, 1933, apply. To sirnilar plan to solve the Treasury of all individual returns. H&R Block's the other 345 days of the year 1937, the Department's problems: disconcerting presence in our lives says income tax rates as they existed on Janu- The government would get em- a lot about the greedy hand. ary 30, 1937, apply. As this is a problem ployers to collect taxes for it, retain- In the 1930s, there was no H&R in higher mathematics, may I ask that ing a percentage of each worker's Block, only two brothers, Henry and the Bureau let me know the amount of weekly wages - say, 20 percent -

Richard Bloch, who worked as profes- the balance due?" and forwarding it directly to Wash- sional bookkeepers. (Only after opening Most of us can relate to the ington's war chest. This would hide the business in 1955 did they spell their president's frustration and exasperation, the size of the new taxes. In fact, last name with a "k" in their firm name if not his circumstance. workers would never even see the for ease of pronunciation.) money they were forgoing. World War 11 brought the Bloch Breaking Free. FDR called taxes "the Ruml advertised the system as a brothers their grand opportunity as many dues we pay for organized society." way to help taxpayers out of the Americans filed tax returns for the first Most of us would agree, but we want a habit of carrying income tax debt. time and found the experience daunting. tax system that doesn't intrude in our And he added a powerful sweetener

The lofty rates and numerous deducfions lives while it collects those dues. to make the system palatable: The made H&R Block an instant hit. With the We need to make taxes visible again. federal government would offer a tax inflation of the 1970s, as many Ameri- Ruml's trap worked because it made amnesty for the previous year, thus cans fell into higher tax brackets, H&R taxation invisible. No one today willing- allowing confused and beleaguered Block offices dotted the country, offering ly gives up a third of his income; we pay citizens to start anew. protection from the greedy hand. our taxes now only because the trap was Withholding as we know it was Franklin Delano Roosevelt could shut long ago. When we rewrite our tax bom. have used H&R Block's services in code, we need to make it clear and com-

28 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 prehensible. hopefully lead to a consensus on a re- choice: Keep paying under the old sys- We need to simplify the tax system. placement system. tem, or pay a flat rate of around 20 per- We need to settle on one system, even if We could do away with the tax code cent. A recent Roper poU found that a someone says that it's not "fair" to altogether by creating a national sales majority feels that 25 percent is fair for everyone. tax. Under this system, everyone would government to take.

Taxes have to be lower. To ease the The ingenious aspect of this is that it burden caused by fewer deductions, rates defangs the lobbies. If millions of have to be pulled down. Americans are retirees take the flat rate, the AARP more prosperous today than ever. We can't argue that a flat tax is "bad for se- have managed to achieve that prosper nior citizens." Likewise, if millions of ity in spite of our unwieldy tax struc- homeowners choose the flat rate, the ture. The microchip has allowed us real-estate lobby can no longer to postpone tax reform. But the complain that Americans can't do longer we wait, the more likely it without the home-mortgage de- is that the current tax system will duction. slow our economy. Yet another reform possibility Taxes are for revenue. We've is clearing out the underbrush of used taxes to steer behavior long the current system and putting enough. The time of the nanny state through lower, simpler rates applica- has come and gone. ble consistently to everyone. If the

We don't need to soak the rich middle class" fares a little better than We've learned that a tax system that the poor, that's not all bad. Studies on punishes the rich also punishes the rest mobihty show that today's poor are to- of us. Let's move on to a tax system that morrow's middle class. This is the level is more worthy of us and makes sense of reform most Americans support. for the country. choose when they pay taxes by choosing It's time to privatize Social Security. what they purchase. Do We Have the Will? We're in a better

Many of the tax problems we face are However, we must make sure it re- position to undertake genuine tax reform actually Social Security problems. We places the income tax. In nearly every than ever before. In the 1980s lawmakers should privatize a portion of Social Se- country where it has been tried, a sales had a harder job. The nation was commit- curity and empower individuals to con- tax has come in addition to an income ted to the Great Society and the Cold trol their own accounts. tax. War. Those stmggles against poverty and We must lock in change. President Then there is the flat tax proposed by communism ballooned the deficit to Kennedy's tax reforms in the 1960s and House Majority Leader Dick Armey, record levels and sidetracked lawmakers President Reagan's in the 1980s were and by former presidential candidate in a pointiess budgetary battle. short-lived because of Washington's Steve Forbes. It would sweep away the Today, with the Cold War behind us inability to leave well enough alone. code as well, and it would help lower and the deficit narrowing, we are begin- This time we must make sure that earners with a tax exemption of $34,000 ning to recognize that big government

Washington can't fiddle with tax reform. per household. and the greedy hand that gives it life are

The best way to do that is a constitution- A third option is called the alternative no longer necessary. al amendment. This would trigger a maximum tax, or "max tax." Under this much-needed discussion about taxes. proposal, put forth by the Cato Institute's Article design: Holly K. Soria Such a dialogue on tax reform would Stephen Moore, taxpayers would have a Illustrations: Samuel A. Minick

While FDR had the will to bring you wUl ever have to pay."

security to America, it was the Federal Yet from the start, Social Security friises,priises Insurance Contributions Act of 1935 was not really the arrangement it mas- that gave him the capacity to do so. queraded as. No single individual ever During the Great Depression, one in Thus began a new era of security for had an "account," as FDR had four Americans was jobless. And 18 Americans, one marked by deception promised. There was no trust, where the million Americans were dependent and confusion. money rested untouched. There was upon emergency relief. For the first Soon, the Social Security Board was merely a cash flow. Cash came in from time, Americans demanded security promising to create an account for each workers and went out the same day to from their government. American, assuring taxpayers that "Be- retirees. The surpluses workers paid in FDR responded. In his view, the ginning Nov. 24, 1936, the United were borrowed by the government and

government had to secure some stabili- States win set up an account for you. ... then traded for government bonds. ty for every American. "The civiliza- The checks will come to you as your Today we pay more than double the tion of the past 100 years," argued right." The Board also promised that Social Security Board's promised 3-

Roosevelt, "with its startling industrial there would be Hmits on what workers cent limit. Workers and employers con- changes has tended more and more to would have to pay - "... 3 cents on tribute 7.65 percent apiece in Social make life insecure." each dollar you earn. This is the most Security and other payroll taxes.

30 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 "HOW TO MAKE YOUR COMPUTER AS EASY TO USE AS YOUR TELEPHONE ..." By Webmaster Raymond Steinbacher, and the research staff at Green Tree Press, Inc.

you frustrated by your computer? Is it about as Are"user-anfriendly" as it can be?

L Well, here's great news!

Green Tree Press - with the assistance of Webmaster Raymond Steinbacher - has developed a unique new computer- training course designed specifically for beginners! "How come it's so easy for Grannie?" Whether you're a complete novice or a person with limited • You'll learn a secret to get stereo and computer experience, this is the course you've been waiting for! way FREE FM AM stations from around the world and have them play on your Here's why... sound system — while you're on line! ^ It begins with the assumption that you know nothing • You'll discover a way to make your modem dial twice as about computers. None of the terminology. Nothing. fast as it does now — FREE. ^ Every lesson ... every step ... is explained in plain Enghsh. - • You'll be able to create files ... short cuts ... address books There's no confusing computer jargon. No technical language. even create your own posters and greeting cards! 1^ Every step is sequential. You simply can't make a mistake • You'll be able to talk to anyone in the world — FREE — for because every step is self-correcting. up to 15 minutes {no long distance charges). 1^ It's easy! And it's fun! You'll be amazed at how quickly • You'll discover how you can save hundreds of dollars by you're learning. using your computer as a fax machine. You'll receive your printed course on large 8 1/2" x 11" pages • And much, much more ... with a sturdy Bristol cover. So it's exceptionally easy to read. And, everything is fully illustrated with drawings and photographs. So you not only read — you actually see — each step. Here are some comments from a few of our customers:

"... It comes to you complete. Ready to use. And we're so the course is GREAT!! Why can't those computer confident you'll complete the program successfully, we uncondi- companies make their instructions one tenth as good as tionally guarantee your results or your money back! your course?"

It will take you about 2 - 3 hours — start to finish. Sgt. Frank Gorchak, New Mexico

"... a lot better than those 'dummies' books and a ou'U learn how to navigate through Windows 95™ or whale of a lot easier to understand, too. I learned the 98™ Windows just like a pro ... master basic desktop entire Windows segment in just 38 minutes." Y'pubhshing ... create your own files and spread sheets. George Roddy, New York • You'll be able to recognize all the various parts of your computer ... and how each part functions. "... I'm a homemaker and grandma. I purchased your program out of self defense because the grandkids know • You'll understand the "world wide web" ... "the internet." all about computers. I'm on the internet playing You'll learn how to go anywhere in the world! Instantly! Now trivia games with several other ladies in Scotland!! ... • You'll discover how to acquire new software absolutely you made it so easy." FREE. Margaret Hunter, Ohio • You'll discover how to bypass busy signals and get onto the internet in a matter of seconds.

• You'll learn a secret way to stop receiving junk E-mail. You're welcome to try the course in your own home.

• You'll learn how to create and send messages to people If you're not absolutely delighted with the results you achieve, around the world — even if you don't type! simply return it at any time, for a full refund. No conditions.

• You'll learn to do financial planning, develop a workable No questions asked. That is our 100% guarantee. budget... even do payroll and employment records. To order, simply print your name and address on a piece • You'll discover how to acquire and install the best antivirus of paper and enclose your check or money order for $12.95 (plus program in the world — FREE! $3.00 shipping/handling). Send it to Green Tree Press Computer • You'll learn how to send clear, colorful family photos Course, Dept. 601, 3603 West 12th Street, Erie, PA 16505. around the world — FREE! (PA residents please add 6% sales tax.) Or, charge it to Visa, • You'll learn how to FULLY protect your computer from MasterCard or Discover. Please enclose your account number lightning and power surges (ordinary power strips don't do and expiration date. the job)! °2000 G.T.P. Time-Life Music Presents! Sentimental Treasury of Journey AMERICA the West 44 Original Hits The ultimate musical tribute to America's of the Old West features 60 precious nuggets that BIG BANDS!

capture all the ruggedness, romance and Here is a collection in which every drama of the Wild West. From the desert trail big band memory is a pure gold hit to the lonesome range, from the prairies to the plains, the glory of the performed by the most popular bands ever to grace a bandstand. cowboy's life comes alive in this rich lode that lassos the most famous, original Western hits ever recorded. Sentimental Journey Les Brown/Doris Day • I've Heard That Song Before Harry James • Chattanooga Choo Choo Glenn Miller/ Cattle Call Eddy Arnold • Tumbling Tumbleweeds Sons Of The Tex Beneke/Modernaires • On The Sunny Side Of The Street Tommy Pioneers • Happy Trails Roy Rogers And Dale Evans • Back In The Dorsey • Begin The Beguine Artie Shaw • I Can't Get Started Bunny Saddle Again Gene Autry • High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) Tex Berigan • I've It • Ritter • El Paso Marty Robbins • Cool Water Sons Of The Pioneers • There! Said Again Vaughn Monroe Don't Be That • • Rawhide Frankie L^ine • (Ghost) Riders In The Sky Johnny Cash • Way Benny Goodman Blues In The Night Woody Herman Sunrise Red River Valley Slim Whitman • Mexicali Rose Jim Reeves • Old Serenade Frankie Carle • Tangerine • Amapola • Green Eyes Jimmy Rivers Walter Brennan • Whoopie Ti Yi Yo Elton Britt • YouAre My Dorsey/Bob EberlyAielen O'Connell • Daddy Sammy Kaye • In The Sunshine • Riders In The Sky • The Ballad Of Davy Crockett Mood Glenn Miller • I'll Never Smile Again Tommy Dorsey/Frank Bill Hayes • Along The Sante Fe Trail Jimmy Wakely • Don't Fence Sinatra • Mood Indigo • Take The "A" Train Duke Ellington • Frenesi • Me In Roy Rogers • Jingle Jangle Jingle Tex Ritter • Mule Train Dancing In The Dark Artie Shaw • One O'Clock Jump Count Basie • Frankie Laine • Big Iron Marty Robbins • Home On The Range Gene Tuxedo Junction • Moonlight Serenade Glenn Miller • Sing, Sing, Autry • Shenandoah Robert Horton • The Rebel-Johnny Yuma J Sing Benny Goodman • A String Of Pearls Glenn Miller • You Made ohnny Cash • The Wayward Wind Tex Ritter • Streets Of Laredo Me Love You Harry James • Star Dust Artie Shaw plus 17 more! Marty Robbins • Along The Navajo Trail Sons Of The Pioneers • Rye #129312 3 Cassettes $19.95 #129320 2 CDs $24.95 Whiskey Tex Ritter • South Of The Border Gene Autry • O Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie Sons Of The Pioneers • Down In The Valley Slim Whitman • Legend Of Wyatt Earp Hugh O'Brian • Bonanza David Rose • The Old Chisholm Trail Tex Ritter • The Strawberry Roan Jim Nabors Marty Robbins • Don't Take Your Guns To Town Johnny Cash • Leaving Cheyenne Ian Tyson • Pecos Bill Riders In The Sky • 36 Songs Of Faith And Inspiration A Cowboy's Dream Eddy Arnold • When It's Springtime In The How Great Thou Art • When The Roll Is Rockies Sons Of The Pioneers • Yellow Rose Of Texas Roy Rogers • Called Up Yonder • Sunrise, Sunset • Born The Last Round-Up Rex Allen. ..plus many more! Free • Just A Closer Walk With Thee • #608612 4 Cassettes $39.98 #608620 4 CDs $44.98 The Impossible Dream • My Sweet Lord • The Old Rugged Cross • What A Friend We Have In Jesus • He • Amazing Grace • Velvet Piano You'll Never Walk Alone • Softly And Tenderly • Bridge Over Troubled Dancing In The Dark • Deep Purple • Water • The Bible Tells Me So • Everything Is Beautiful • On A Clear Where Or When • But Not For Me • Day You Can See Forever • Peace In The Valley • Rock Of Ages • My

Round Midnight • (You're) Mean To Me Rosary • In The Sweet Bye And Bye • Blessed Assurance • I Walk With • Moonglow • How Deep Is The Oceem God • It Is No Secret • Battle Hymn Of The Republic • Panis Angelicus • • Chopin E Nocturne • Cry Me A River Holy, Holy, Holy • Crying In The Chapel • Ave Maria • Take My Hand, The Shadow Of Your Smile • I Have Dreamed • All The Things You Precious Lord • May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You... and more! Are • Clair de Lune • Stella By Starlight • Ebb Tide • Bewitched • #181917 2 Cassettes $19.95 #181925 2 CDs $24.95 Meditation • Stranger On The Shore • I Know Why And So Do You • Somewhere Over The Rainbow • Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye • The Way You Look Tonight Louis Prima & Kecly Smith #609818 2 Cassettes $16.95 #609826 2 CDs $19.95 Now in one fabulous collection, you get every great hit Louis Prima and Keely Smith Frankie Laine [^^^. ever made. A fantastic double length album!

• • That Lucky Old Sun I Believe That's My That Old Black Magic • Just A Gigolo • Desire • Mule Train • Jezebel • The Cry I Ain't Got Nobody • I've Got You Of The Wild Goose • Jealousy (Jalousie) • Under My Skin • Embraceable You • High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) • Hey, I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good • Felicia Good Lookin' (with Jo Stafford) • Rose, No Capicia • Angelina • Zooma Zooma • Rose, I Love You • Granada • Rawhide • • • • Robin Hood Oh Babe Buona Sera (TV Theme) • Sugarbush (with Doris Day) Street • • Marie, Tell Me A Story (with Jimmy Boyd) • Moonlight Gambler • In The Cool, Bourbon Blues Moonglow Oh • • • Cool, Cool Of The Evening (with Jo Stafford) • Some Day • Cool Water • Hey Boy! Hey Girl! Up A Lazy River Sing, Sing, Sing • Try A Littie Tenderness • Because • I'll Get By • Your Cheatin' Heart I'm In The Mood For Love When The Saints Go Marchin' In #108910 2 Cassettes $12.98 #108928 CD $16.98 #114819 Cassette $10.98 #114827 CD $14.98

OUR GUARANTEE: If for any reason you arc not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you may return it within 30 days for a complete refund. So order with confidence! All -Time Favorites ™e

Mairzy Doat$ Fred Waring 44 Wacky Hits & His Pennsylvanians from the Fun 40 's 61 Favorites! Original Hits! The glorious sound of this dazzling Original Stars! blend of large chorus and orchestra, and the beauty of their songs, made

Bring back all those memorable them America's All-time favorite. moments with the great songs by the America The Beautiful • Shine On, Harvest Moon • great stars that gave our country a laugh when it needed it most. The Loveliest Night Of The Year • Oh! What A Beautiful Mairzy Doats The Merry Macs • Aba Daba Honeymoon Debbie Reynolds & Morning • Oklahoma • The Whiffenpoof Song • Too Ra Loo Carleton Carpenter • Rag Mop The Ames Brothers • Chickery Chick Sammy Ra Loo Rai • You'll Never Walk Alone • Stars And Stripes Kaye • Woody Woodpecker The Sportsmen & Mel Blanc • The Thing Phil Forever • Let Me Call You Sweetheart • With A Song In My Harris • Peggy Lee • Cocktails For Two Spike Jones • Buttons Manana Heart • Younger Than Springtime • If I Loved You • Easter And Bows Dinah Shore • Too Fat Polka Arthur Godfrey • Open The Door, Parade • In Apple Blossom Time • I Wonder Who's Kissing Richard Count Basie • Daddy Sammy Kaye • I'm My Own Grandpa Guy Her Now • Battle Hymn Of The Republic • The Impossible Lombardo • Cruising Down The River Russ Morgan • Deep In The Heart Dream • Bless This House • Climb Ev'ry Mountain • Of Texas Alvino Rey • Beer Barrel Polka Will Glahe • Bell Bottom Trousers The Lord's Prayer • This Is My Country • Some Enchanted Jerry Colonna • Ragtime Cowboy Joe Jo Stafford • Personality Johnny Evening • Little White Lies • The Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi • Mercer • Managua, Nicaragua Guy Lombardo • "A"—You're Adorable Perry Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life and lots, lots more! Como • Mule Train Frankie Laine • Feudin' And Fightin' Dorothy Shay • I'm A Lonely Little Petunia (In An Onion Patch) Two-Ton Baker & His #606715 3 Cassettes $44.96 #606723 3 CDs $49.96 Music Makers • The Hut-Sut Song Freddy Martin • The Maharajah Of Magador Vaughn Monroe • Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop Tex Beneke & The Glenn Miller Orchestra • Temptation (Tim-Tay-Shun) Red Ingle & Jo Stafford • HIS GREATEST HIT? Three Little Fishies Kay Kyser • Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief Betty The Polka King FRANK YANKOVIC Button • 1 Never See Maggie Alone Kenney Roberts • Doin' What Comes I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover • Naturally Dinah Shore, plus more! Liechtensteiner Polka • Just Because • #115212 3 Cassettes $19.95 #115220 2 CDs $24.95 Blue Skirt Waltz • Heartaches • Have I Told You Lately That I Love You • Who Stole The Keeshka • Linger Awhile • You Are My One True Love • Hoop De Doo • There Pete Fountain Is A Tavern In The Town • Let A Smile Be "Smooth and Mellow" Your Umbrella • Pennsylvania Polka • Beer Barrel Polka • Let Me Call You Sweetheart • Too Fat Polka • Missouri Waltz • • • Just A Closer Walk With Thee Maria Elena Clarinet Polka • Beautiful Ohio • Helena Polka • You Can't Be Blue Heaven • Lady Be Good • You're My Oh True Dear • Barbara Polka • My Wild Irish Rose • Three O'Clock 'Til Somebody Loves You • Blue Skies • Nobody In The Morning Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans • Moonglow • Just One Of Those #108712 2 Cassettes $12.98 #108720 CD $16.98 Things • Petite Fleur • Fascination Medley: Fascination/Basin Street Blues/Tin Roof Blues/ YesterMusic Way Down Yonder In New Orleans • High Society FREE Shipping (A Division of Good Music Record Co.) Stranger On The Shore • Careless Love • Indiana Dept. 400933 (Back Home Again In Indiana) • Hello Dolly! * Over The Ways • P.O. Box Holmes, PA 19043-0645 When The Saints Go Marching In • When My Baby Smiles At Me • 645, Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet • Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home * It's Been A Long Long Time • The Darktown Strutters Ball Name #118414 2 Cassettes $12.98 #118422 CD $16.98

City_ Vaughn Monroe Item No. Qty Title Total Price "His Golden Voice"

Charmaine • Moonlight And Roses • There! I've Said It Again • Red Roses For A Blue Lady • Racing With The Moon • Ghost Riders In The Sky • Carolina Moon • Look For The Silver Lining • Did You Ever See A Dream Walking • Cool Water • Dream A Uttle "wsT Dream Of Me • Someday (You'U Want Me To Want You) • Ballerina • I Wish I Visa Sub-Total Didn't • • • Love You So Let It Snow! Kiss Me Again The Night Is Young And Res. sales tax Mastercard NY & PA add You're So Beautiful • I'll See You In My Dreams ^'''""'"^ FREE #124610 Cassette $10.98 #124628 CD $14.98 Discover/Novus Total

Order online at www.yestcrmusic.com ^^^^ " n Check Enclosed to Good Music Commentary

iJrJJJJUrsjJhrJlJ jljJjr^/JrjWJi

By Jim Bohannqfn

Soldiers of the First Cavalry Division leap from a "Huey" helicopter during a reconnaissance operation in Buc Pho, South Vietnam, in 1967.

HERE ARE PROBABLY few One principal myth of the war is that boat people are well remembered. It more heretical words written Ho Chi Minh was some benign nation- should also be remembered that before about contemporary history alist with only a hint of agrarian re- those 2 million fled South Vietnam in

i than those in this title. Over form tendencies who could easily have anticipation of Hanoi's rule, a million

! and over this past quarter cen- been converted to a pro-western view fled North Vietnam in the 1950s from tury, we have been bombard- if the United States had just made the Hanoi's rule.

i ed by the view that our effort right overtures. While it can be argued From terror campaigns to purges and

I in Vietnam was immoral, ille- that we should have pushed our allies mass executions. Ho Chi Mirii's regime

: gal and doomed to failure, after World War 11 to abandon colo- was a junior version of the Kremlin's by

i The conflict hung like a nialism immediately, that still would conscious design. His life was devoted to cloud over American foreign have been too late to influence Ho. despotism and there is no evidence that policy for much of that time, until we missed any opportunity for turning Desert Stomn cleared the air and made Ardent Communist. In the 1920s, Ho him into a benign democratic nationalist. this nation a supeipower worthy of the was a founding member of the Commu- Was this purely a civil war, in name again. nist Party in France, spending the 1930s which Uncle Sam should have butted Yet the record shows that none of in the Soviet Union backing every mur- out? While there was communist sup- the conventional wisdom was correct. derous purge by Stalin. Ho later joined port in the South, it never approached The war had a solid moral underpin- the Chinese Communist Party and laid a majority. The war effort was led by ning, a basis in international law and the basis for many of the military sup- an ironclad chain of command direct- remained winnable up until the plies he used against the French, the ly from Hanoi. Indeed the North moment of U.S. militaiy withdrawal. Americans and his own people. The Vietnamese were rather disdainful of

rWF AMFRIHAM I FfiinW MAnA7IMF . APRIi 9 resources of the United States were overwhelmingly superior to those of Hanoi. The Soviets, as with North Ko- rea a dozen years earlier, sent equipment, advisors, whole surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile crews and even pilots to fly North Vietnamese fighters. But American pilots still maintained a considerable edge and the Soviets were never willing to turn this into a major- power land war with all of the nuclear implications. Although they may have wished to prop up the Hanoi regime, the fact is the United States was there first and any insertion of Soviet ground troops would have made them the ag- gressors. China contributed supplies and advisors, but the People's Libera- tion Army had yet to recover from the Tanks and armored personnel carriers of the U.S. 25th Infantry Division seal off an mauling it took from Korea. There is area of Cholon where heavy fighting erupted in IVlay 1968. no indication that Beijing was willing to risk their Southern colleagues and occa- standards. But compared with much of huge losses sionally used them as cannon fodder the world, it was a fairly nonnal level in per- to draw allied fire and determine unit of authoritarianism. Compared with sonnel positions. the butchers of Hanoi, the Saigon and regimes should have won the Nobel A War Against Communism. Was Peace Prize. Those who think Asians this a case of imperialist Uncle Sam have some kind of cultural antipathy placing his boot across the backs of to self-rule should see the emerging the proletarians struggling in revolu- democracies of the region, notably tion? Besides sounding like a script Taiwan. written in the fCremlin, it was also Most importantly, the war was completely untrue. The average battlefront against well-organized South Vietnamese peasant was apo- tyranny. Those who decry the litical but still flocked to the polls notion of an international com- despite communist threats during munist conspiracy should note rare voting opportunities. No, South that people are judged by Vietnamese governments were never their words and deeds alone. models of democracy by Western The communists conspired to rule the world and came a lot closer than we'd like to think. There was certainly no inevitability of the evil empire's demise in the 1960s. There are reasons why the Vietnam War should have been prosecuted to a successful con- clusion. By any measure, avail-

U.S. Marines patrol the DMZ near Gio Linh, South Vietnam, in 1967 during to the Thai border, cutting off the Ho Chi Minh trail completely. We could have extended bombing in the North to the dikes, the backbone of North Viet- namese agriculture. And we could have ended, early on, the communist impuni- ty. Those who say we had no basis for attacking "neutrals" should remember that neutrality has responsibiUties as well as rights. Both Cambodia and Laos, by their acquiescence to the presence of North Vietnamese troops and whole base camps, forfeited any reason to be treated as neutral. To those who say neither country had the power to eject Hanoi's forces, they could simply have asked for help restoring the sover- eignty of their territory.

Boomers Cling to Falsehood. Why, in the face of this evidence, do the views Soldiers patrol near Saigon after heavy enemy striltes during the Tet Offensive in 1968. U.S. forces knocked out the communist forces decisively, though the Ameri- persist that the United States fought an can public was told just the opposite by the media. illegal, immoral war in Vietaam, which could never have been won? Largely equipment, which would have meant a middle America. But what really hap- because an entire generation has a great full-scale involvement in Indochina. pened during Tet? stake in maintaining that view. The baby

The North Vietaamese themselves Certainly it was a dramatic period of boomers are seen, and see themselves, proved resourceful and tenacious, but both the war and communist confidence, as people who fought two great battles: there is no record of any clash larger which bordered on a swagger. Coincid- for civil rights and against war. Perhaps than battalion size won by their forces. ing with the Viemamese New Year's it was necessary to develop some identi- Anytime they went beyond hit-and-run observance, communist forces tried to ty in the face of parents who could gueixilla tactics, as in Khe Sanh, they take over nearly every provincial capital merely point to saving the world from suffered terrible and in- as well as portions of crippling depression and fanatic fascism. evitable defeat. The com- Saigon. For varying periods For whatever reason, boomers identi- munists faced an enemy of time, brief except for the fy with the civil rights and anti-war caus- with total air superiority northem city of Hue, they es, even those who never marched a step and unprecedented air- managed to seize and hold in protest. Therein lies a tragic irony. mobile capabilities. Amer- some territory but only at The fight for civil rights was among ican morale was far from the cost of the Viet Cong, the most noble in history. The irony is the basket case made out among other factors. The that at the same time civil rights demon- by some. The rotation of VC, the so-called indige- strators were bravely demanding the troops every year made for I nous forces of the South, right to vote, peacefully assemble and a persistent supply of inex- I never again contributed speak freely in this country, others were perienced personnel. But I units of any significance to marching to ensure that the Vietnamese the fight. that point on, have these same rights. that was more than bal- I From would never anced by the knowledge " the wai- in the South was This was a tragic betrayal of all that is Actress Jane Fonda that this was, for most of and other well-known totally waged by North supposed to make this country great. L j us, a 3 65 -day experience - media personalities Viemamese Army regular and we had the short-timer helped turn public units, trashing even the fic- Jim Bohannon calendars to prove it. opinion against liberat- tion of some popular upris- served in Vietnam ing South Vietnam from Imagine the communist ing. Tet was a huge gamble with the U.S. communist oppression. counterpart, doomed to and General Giap rolled Army 199th Light face American firepower for the dura snake eyes. Except, of course, in the Infantry Brigade tion or death, whichever came first. eyes of an American public fed by a in III Corps from completely distorted picture of what 1 966-1 970. He 1 The Turning Point of Tet. Obviously took place. But don't let that misconcep- I currently hosts we need to examine the Tet Offensive tion alter the truth of Tet: It was one of I "The Jim Bohan- victo- nan in 1968. It was at that time that the our most dominating, one-sided I Show" for most trusted man in America, CBS TV ries in U.S. history. i radio as well as anchor Walter Cronkite, began to pub- There was any number of things the contributing to "Good Morning Amer- licly question our ability to win. Presi- United States could have done in prose- ica" on ABC television. dent .lohnson himself took note, say- cuting the war. We could have occu- ing that if he'd lost Cronkite, he'd lost pied a line from the demilitarized zone Article design: Doug Rollison So easy - so convenient. Place them anywliere, - then, sim- \f<

Not yet available in stores - especially at this inaedible low 'direct-to-you' price - these wondrous TOUCH UGHTS* New! Touch Light are yours for only $9.98 for a set of three. Or take advantage of even greater savings when you order additional Instantly - Touch On , Touch Off... lights. Satisfaction guaranteed or money back. Offer expires any day now. ..don't miss out, ACT NOW! thcuvisinoi jHM^^ Instant Light Wherever You Jon'lalnL ^^^Hi^^^ Need It With Just A Touch ^l^^^l^^^^^^^j^^ Of Your Fingertips - imitations Anytime -Anywhere!

New \vonder-in\-ention is n must for e\'erv home.

Instant li'ilit for all your closets. Instant light for stair\vays, walkways, Instant light for ciip- boai-ds, under-the-sink storage, for washer and di-ver areas. Yes, MAIL NO RISK-COUPON TODAY] instatk blight light 1 NATIONAL TV BARGAINS, Dept. TLSA 0900 for ever dark nook, 2 |1 Eversley Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851-5884 cranny and crevice ^ Please send me the Touch Lights ordered below in your home - all I [on your money-back guarantee (less p&h). witli just a touch | ! 3 Touch Lights only S9.98 of your fingertip! g I SAVE!: 6 Touch Lights only $14.98 SAVE MORE!: 9 Touch Lights only $19.98 Also recommended ; ! SAVE EVEN MORE!: 12 Touch Lights only $24.98 to keep on hand for | !

power outages to > I BEST OFFER: 24 Touch Lights ($L99 ea.) only $47.76 " keep eveiy room fully I Add $4.25 for P&H no matter how many you order lit... instead of relying j I Enclosed is $ check or money order. on candles. Great for i = (CT residents please add 6% Sales Tax) stairwells, closets, walk- wa}'s and nurseiy OR: Charge it: Visa MasterCard Exp. ^

NOTHING TO INSTALL- 1 NOTHINC; TO PLUG IN ? NO WIRES, NO SWITCHES, % NO SOCKEIS NEEDED!

FOR VALUABLE FREE GIFTS VISIT US AT

www.nationaltvbargains.com City_ _Zip_

Just Released by Drove Anywhere - LIMITED EDITION The National. Motor Museum Mint LIMITED TO PRODUCTION IN 2000 Did Anything- Authentic military collectibles normally sell j for $29.98 to $49.98.. .and their value contin- Went Where No Car Could Go/ ues to rise. But under the terms of our official Jeep"* license, we are authorized to offer this all- time classic military vehicle for a very special price of only $19.98. To make sure you do not miss out order TODAY! Satisfaction

is guaranteed or money refunded in full (less p&h). ACT NOW!

National Motor Museum Mint Dept. JEPB-0020 1 Eversley Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851-5884

One 1941 Jeep each only $19.98 SAVE! Two 1941 Jeeps only S38.98 BEST OFFER! Three 1941 Jeeps only SS4.98 add $6 p&h no matter how many you order PRECISION DIB-l'AST

Enclosed is $ check or money order. (CT residents please add 6% Sales Tax) OFFICIALLY AIJIHOKIZGI), PKECISIOIV UIVCIK'EI^KEI) 10 U.S. ARMY MOST FAMOUS ^lilHICIJ! IK MIIJIVWY HlS'ltmV SPKCIFICATIONS - FULL OPFMTIIVG PARTS, OR; Charge it: Visa MasterCard Exp. OFFICIAL EMRLEMS AND IKSIOMA It carried GI's and Generals to ultimate victory in all three

theaters Africa, Europe, Asia. It was Ike's front-line Timo' and Here in this classic die

could stop it. Not axle-high mud, not hood-high snow, not at the precise scale ratio of the heavy-duty tires mounted on

drifting dessert sands, not soggy jungle swamps, not even wheels that roll and tum - die twin fender-top head beams - the sand-mired beaches of Normandy or the raging swollen the spare and tarp-covered "jerry" can - the distinctive Jeep^ streams of Germany's Black Forest. Its 4-wheeI drive and fold down windshield plus a complete tool kit strapped to the 1/4 -ton capacity out-raced, out-flanked, out-maneuvered driver's side, featuring a G.l. shovel and Motor Corps axe for

enemy troops in all 33 major land battles of WWII. hacking through dense woods and steaming tropic jungles. _Zip_ And now Jeep* has authorized the release of this strictly Why even the instrument panel is perfectly duplicated, with limited edition of the original 1941 WWII model... every dial and guage fully calibrated to original U.S. Army FOR VALUABLE FREE GIFTS VISIT US AT available from the National Motor Museum Mint, standards, same as the interior and exterior baked on factory- www.nationaltvbargains.com for as long as remaining supplies hold out. finish paint and official military insignia. Combat Assistance Team 70 ensured America's lasL^^ ^great battle omKf ^he Vietnam War^ By Philip C. Clarice again. For three ag- onizing months they HEN THE North Viet- endured the most namese launched their sustained tank and massive 120,000-man infantry attacks and Easter Offensive all-out artillery March 30, 1972, some bombardments of of the communist the war, burrowing troops heading for underground to sur- Saigon had packed vive and fight back, away new uriiforms for hi the first weeks, an expected victory only two blocks parade. Hanoi had rea- separated enemy son to feel confident. Caught by surprise, salience from the South Vietnam's thinly spread defenses north and west. Dur- were crumbling. And on the southern- ing the siege, nearly most of three battlefronts, an army of 80,000 rounds of three heavily reinforced divisions - artillery fire - at 36,000 crack troops backed by 100 Sovi- times one shell et-made tanks - roUed toward Saigon. every 5 seconds - With most of America's combat reduced An Loc to forces withdrawn and the remaining rubble. Yet the American advisors re- long-delayed Paris peace accord was 65,000 in the process of going home, the mained at their posts in the battered signed, leading to the release of our South Vietnamese capital seemed ripe command bunker, coordinating para- POWs from Hanoi." for the taking. So did An Loc, a rubber chute drops of vital supplies for soldiers Early in the siege, EUsworth Bunker, plantation town only 65 mUes up High- and terrified civilian refiigees alike. The the U.S. ambassador to Saigon, character- way 13 from Saigon. When the enemy advisors called in immensely diversified ized the task as "Mission Lnpossible." I encircled An Loc and began an armored American air power with timely preci- appealed for renewed consideration for assault at dawn April 13, the defenders sion while maintaining hope among the the citation. It would "serve as well to could muster fewer than 5,000 rag-tag demoralized defenders. honor all of the U.S. Army advisors who troops and militia and a handful of U.S. Finally and heroically. An Loc and remained behind in Vietnam to safeguard Army advisors. its handful of U.S. advisors turned the our withdrawal. Moreover, such a gesture South Vietnam President Nguyen tide. By early July the siege was broken; could further bind the spiritual wounds Van Thieu ordered the 5th to hold An Hanoi's mighty Easter Offensive was left from that tragic conflict."

Loc "at all costs," but the outlook was tumed back; America's last great battle It was nine months before the final

grim. Media reports predicted the of the Vietnam War was won. word arrived. Dated July 6, 1999, the town's imminent fall. Hanoi's delegate letter from the Army's Military Awards to the moribund peace talks in Paris Unsung Heroes. On the homefront, Branch said, "It is an honor to recognize boasted that within a week An Loc however, few people seemed to know or the gallantry and determination would be proclaimed the provisional to care, hi 1972, anti-war demonstrators displayed by the men of the United capital of a new revolutionary govem- increased their pressure on Congress, States Army Combat Assistance Team fent of the South. demanding a total cutoff in aid to South 70 through issuance of the U.S. Army's But the communist vows of victory Vietnam. An Loc's handful of heroes highest unit award for heroism." were premature, hi what seemed a mira- were unsung and unknown. Returning The veterans of Team 70 and their cle. An Loc's defenders, though vastly from covering the story, this correspon- wives will meet May 5-6 in Biloxi, outnumbered, rallied and held again and dent coaxed the Nixon White House to Miss., for their fourth reunion. They will honor Team 70's advisors. But have a lot to celebrate. Watergate intervened, hi 1998, more than a quarter of a centu- Article Design: Holly K. Soda ry later, I decided to try again. Opening illustration, "In Defense of My letter to President Clin- An Loc," courtesy ofDru Blair

ton asked him to look into a ( www.drublair.com). proposed Presidential Unit Citation for the group of U.S. Philip C. Clarke, Army advisors who had formerly of served with incomparable skill Newsweek mag- and valor during the waning azine, is a retired days of America's involve- reporter and ment. The letter said, "For a newscaster. He critical time Saigon was covered the Viet- saved, the remaining 65,000 nam War for the U.S. combat troops were re- Mutual Radio tumed safely home and the Network.

APRIL 2000 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • Sjj Census to count troops The Census Bureau, along with military officials, will enumerate all service members and their families for the 2000 census.

To ensure that every state gets its fair share of the federal government's money, members of the military and their families will be counted where they are stationed. However, for purposes of ap- portioning seats in the House of Repre- sentatives, service members will be counted in their home states. Questionnaires, scheduled to be mailed between March 13 and 15, ask how many people are in the household as of April 1, the official census day. An artist's rendering depicts the recently dedicated Fishier House support- "That's how we get the snapshot of ing Darnall Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas. America," said a Census Bureau spokesperson. New Fisher Houses serve patients' families Two new Fisher Houses in the Air Force Base, Texas, Tripler USD center opens at BWI United States and the first one in Army Medical Center, Hawaii, and Service members and their families Germany are scheduled to open by Landstuhl, Germany, bring the to- passing through Baltimore-Washing- the spring of 2001. tal number of Fisher Houses to 29. ton International Airport can take ad- The houses provide free lodging The most recently dedicated vantage of the amenities offered by the for out-of-town families while Fisher House supports Darnall new United Service Organization their loved ones undergo treatment Army Community Hospital, Fort lounge. at military medical centers. The Hood, Texas. It was dedicated Designed especially for the needs of three new facilities at Lackland Feb. 5, 1999. the modem military traveler, the state- of-the-art $1.1 million, 5,000-square- foot lounge is the USO's largest and Department Inspector General to as- newest facility. The USO expects more sess the environment within each de- 2001 pay liike proposed than 250,000 visitors per year to make partment concerning the application President Clinton ceJled for increases use of this "home away from home." of the homosexual conduct policy. in military pay and improvements in The lounge offers travelers several Cohen said that the Inspector Gen- training and equipment as part of his 2001 options that are usually not available to eral would review the extent to which budget request. The administration's military members in other airports. harassment, disparaging speech or ex- 2001 defense budget includes a 3.7-per- The facility has a complimentary pression with respect to sexual orien- cent across-the-board pay raise and total snack bar with the tables wired so visi- tation is tolerated. spending authority of $291 biUion. tors can plug in their computers for In- Along with the pay raise, DoD is ternet and e-mail access. Other features asking for $3 billion to increase service include a children's playroom, a sleep- Voting assistance nnWeii members' basic allowance for housing. ing room, storage for luggage, and Members of the military can now This increase in the BAH, part of a plan washers and dryers. find clear-cut information for out-of- to eliminate service members' out-of- state voting in the upcoming elections pocket costs by 2005, would reduce at a new World Wide Web site of- out-of-pocket costs from 19 percent to Gay poiicy updated fered by the Federal Voting Assis- 15 percent next year. Secretary of Defense William S. tance Program. The chairman of the House Armed Cohen recently announced that he had Responsible for educating all U.S. Services Committee, Rep. Floyd received and approved each of the citizens of their right to vote, the FVAP Spence, R-S.C, criticized the Clinton military services' updated training Web site, www.fvap.ncr.gov, provides administration's defense budget for se- plans on the DoD's homosexual con- important voting information for mili- rious mismatches between strategy, duct policy. The updated plans incor- tary members residing outside their forces and resources. porate the guidelines for investigating homes of residence. "The consequent widespread shortfalls threats against or harassment of ser- Included on the site are links to state have left a legacy of debilitating quality of vice members based on alleged homo- election sites, the dates of all state pri- life, readiness and modernization prob- sexuality. mary elections and information about lems that the military services now con- The secretary directed the Defense absentee voting. front on a daily basis," Spence said.

40 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 A

Olr Reverse

DIRECT FROM LOCKED VAULTS TO U.S. CITIZENS!

WASHINGTON, D.C., Tuesday, 8:55 AM - experiences limited only by your imagination. Their Today the National Collector's Mint announces a silver content, then as today is .900 fine silver, totaling special limited release of 3,416 Morgan Silver Dollars .77344 ozs. of pure silver. These are the reasons 79-122 years old at $19.90 each... that's $10.05 less collectors have always hoarded them... when they could than several prominent national dealers! These get them. Morgan Silver Dollars are among the last surviving TAKE NOTE originals still in existence. U. S. Government melted The Now, 122 years after they were first minted, comes 270 million Morgan Silver Dollars for military down this special release of ORIGINAL U. S. GOV'T needs during World War I (270,232,722 to be exact). MORGAN SILVER DOLLARS... some of the last This increased the value of the surviving silver dollars surviving "Morgans" still in existence in all the world! dramatically! In fact, the rarest ones have sold for as Condition is mostly Brilliant Uncirculated to Fine. We're as to volatile fluctuations in the much $462,000.00. Due confident of their current value and future potential, so precious metals market, price can be guaranteed @ your satisfaction is guaranteed or return your order $19.90 each for one week only! within 30 days by insured mail for a full refund. Avoid MARKET CONDITIONS disappointment and future regret by staking your claim to these valuable treasures America's history A worldwide silver shortage of historic proportions from today. was reported last year, a shortage of 129,600,000 Troy HOW TO ORDER ounces of silver! Private and government stockpiles are To make sure no one is unfairly disadvantaged by dwindling in response to this shortage. Increased huge their geographical location and differing mail delivery demand and reduced supply has seen silver prices patterns, we ask you to call us immediately toll-free 1- skyrocket as much as 106% in just the last few years. 888-NAT-MINT, Ext. 648 (1-888-628-6468). Orders INVESTMENT will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and a limit Increasing prices of precious metals makes every of 100 coins per customer will be strictly adhered to. Morgan Silver Dollar more valuable. But acquiring your Timely mail orders will be accepted if directed to: National Collector's Mint, Dept. 4401 own private cache of Morgan Silver Dollars is a long 648, term investment in so much more... in history... in Connecticut Ave NW, PMB-850, Washington, DC American heritage... in the splendid rendering of Miss 20008. However, late orders may not be honored and Liberty's profile by designer George T. Morgan, whose remittance will be returned uncashed. You may order 1 "M" mark on every Morgan Silver Dollar identifies his Morgan Silver Dollar for $19.90 plus $4 shipping, masterwork. And, of course, Morgan Silver Dollars have handling and insurance. 3 for $66.70 ppd. 5 for $109 not been minted for 79 years and are no longer in ppd. 10 for $212 ppd. 20 for $417 ppd. 50 for $1025 circulation. ppd. 100 for $2025 ppd. Don't wait. ACT NOW! HOARDS CaU ToU-Free Ask for Ext. 648 Americans have been fascinated by these magnificent "Silver Cartwheels" since 1878. Desperados like Jesse 1-888-MT-MINT James may have once stolen the very silver dollars you THE NATIONAL COLLECTOR'S MINT INC. 4401A Connccticuc Avenue NW, can acquire through this limited offering. Or maybe Washington, D.C. 20008, (Corporate ID Center, PMB-850). Customer service phone: 1- 800-452-4381. address: 8 Slater, Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. The National Collector's John Dillinger "withdrew" them from his bank at Mint, Inc. distributes United States coins and currency, bullion, numismatic medals, replicas, rarities, and other numismatic items the American public as an independent gunpoint. Whether they settled someone's debt in the to organization, not owned or a division of the United States Government. No other Old West, paid for a drink in a saloon or were lost in a relarionship, affiliation ot endorsement is implied or sought alter. All items .iie unconditionally guaranteed to be oenuinc, as dc-s.nhcd, in pripnuin' card game on a river boat, they are rich with legendary © 2000 NCM', Inc. MSn-415 Wielding EKieutiire Power The secret prize in the presidential contest may very well be the executive order. Infuriated by Presi- dent Clinton's use of this power, eight Republican members of Con- gress have filed a brief with the Supreme Court challenging one of them - Clinton's American Heritage Rivers Initiative. They contend that this EO, which restricts economic development, is unconstitutional because it ignores the role of Congress in such matters. Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York says Republican attempts to restrict EOs could backfire, especially if a Republican wins the White House. Perhaps with that in mind, a leading pro-life activist, Colleen Parro, points out a conservative president could use executive orders to benefit Defense Secretary William Cohen, shown here with his Chinese counterpart, Chi Haotian, recently met with the controversial Chinese Gen. Xiong Guangkai their cause. She said, "The president to improve relations with the communist nation. can rescind every pro-abortion executive order issued by Bill Clinton." She also said the president can "issue "Spymaster" Visits Pentagon, Defense Secretary his own executive orders" stopping William C. Triplett, author of the Pentagon gave the visit a low pro- the use of fetal tissue in medical re- "Red Dragon Rising," said the Pen- file. Spokesman Ken Bacon said there search. tagon recently had a special visitor would be no "press availability" with who should be in jail. Chinese Gen- the general, who holds the title of eral Xiong Guangkai, who met with Deputy Chief of Staff of Intelligence Clearances for Criminais Defense Secretary William Cohen for the People's Liberation Army. The Defense Office of Hearings as part of an effort to improve rela- Triplett, former counsel to the and Appeals, a Pentagon agency, has tions with China, "is the man who Senate Foreign Relations Commit- been reported by USA Today's Ed- threatened to incinerate Los Ange- tee, also said the general was at Tia- ward T. Pound to harbor a willingness les with nuclear bombs back in 1996 nenmen Square, directing the brutal to overlook criminal activity by peo- if we supported Taiwan." He is also crackdown on pro-democracy ple with access to classified informa- China's chief military spymaster. demonstrators, many of them stu- tion. DOHA reviews clearance appli- "The espionage documented in the dents. "He has the blood of young cations from employees who work for Cox report was run by him and his Chinese people on his hands," defense contractors. people," Triplett says. Triplett concluded. Pound, whose articles have already Perhaps for this and other reasons. -C.K. led to a congressional investigation of the Defense Security Service, says DOHA has granted security clear- ers, D-Mich., is pressing for hearings ances to felons, drug abusers, tax Pay lip the Slavery Debt on his slavery reparations bill now be- evaders, alcoholics and one person in- If you thought the battle over the fore Congress. But the concept is re- volved in a murder-kidnapping case. Confederate flag was controversial, jected by conservative blacks. "I think Congressional hearings are also ex- wait until arguments start over a repa- that is ridiculous," said Rev. Jesse Lee pected into DOHA. rations campaign. Activist Randall Peterson, who has led national Pound said the system is ripe for Robinson's new book, "The Debt: protests against Jesse Jackson. exploitation by foreign intelligence What America Owes to Blacks," ar- "America owes black people the truth. services. "If you've got people with gues for a multibillion dollar compen- We should love our country and love access to top secret information and sation for black America because of the Constitution." they're vulnerable because of person- slavery. Robinson, whose TransAfrica Peterson also rejects the label, al problems, they could be black- group fought to bring black rule to "African-American," saying it repre- mailed," he said. "That is a concern South Africa, is on a national speaking sents black people "turning away from among security experts in and out of tour to promote the book. their own country." the government." On Capitol Hill, Rep. John Cony- - Cliff Kincaid

42 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 Macular Degeneration

The VideoEye power magnification system combines simplicity and versatility to help people with low vision continue reading and doing everyday tasks. A self-focusing viewing head on a Prescription bottles Writing checl(S precision arm moves over anything you want to see. Crisp images are displayed in full color on a high- resolution monitor magnified up to 25 times larger.

Self care Reading FREE information video!

n Please send free brochure and video ]

1 Name 'j Address j

30 day money-back guarantee 1 Citv State Zip i

Phone f \ For information or to order call [ \ VideoEye Corporation, Dept. TL 1-800-416-0758 ] [10211 West Emerald • Boise, ID 83704 www.videoeyecorp.com ]

registered trademark of VideoEye Corporation Pruenls ns issus

Uvm Mi IE IN THE WDmi ImiE OKIillNIZIIIIDN?

Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio Rep. Doug Bereuter, R-Neb.

Alfl eagerness to admit Improving trade relations jpil^^^ H II ^^^"^ ^"^^^ ^^^^^ with China is in our short- ^g^^^^W IB II Organization, the free-trade- and long-term interests. In- V IllJ at-all-costs crowd is ignor- cluding China in the World ^ *^ ing the lessons of Seattle. Trade Organization is the most ef- More than 40,000 protested back fective way to accomplish this. Chi- room trade deals that ignore citizen na's joining the WTO is dependent demands for worker rights and envi- on China achieving a bilateral- ronmental protections. WTO protes- trade-and-WTO-accession agree- tors delivered their message loudly and clearly: It's time to ment with the United States. hold trade negotiators accountable to the public they repre- Overall, the offer by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji dur- sent. They want trade agreements that protect our health ing his visit to Washington, D.C., last April was a com-

and labor laws, working conditions and the environment. mercially viable trade agreement. It was a serious mistake

Despite the collapse of the WTO negotiations, Ameri- for President Clinton to have rejected it then. We should ca's largest corporations are pushing ahead. They intend to correct that now by closing the deal quickly, without salvage a trade deal with China when Congress recon- weakening the commitments already made by Beijing. venes. For its part, the Clinton administration is touting the With $85.5 billion in bilateral trade in 1998, China is creation of a working group on labor and the environment America's fourth-largest trading partner. Yet trade with

as a major breakthrough for the WTO. It is envisioned that China remains severely disadvantaged with most Chinese this group will finalize a set of recommendations on how to markets closed to our exports. In contrast, American mar- incorporate clean air, food kets are open to theirs. safety and labor standards The resulting trade deficit "Exporting more to China's "The American people into trade agreements. reached a record $58 bil- 1.2 billion people is the need to see real evidence Congress has been lion in 1998 — that is a promised that the free 15.5 percent increase over key to reducing our trade that China is respecting market will create a more the 1997 level. Today our deficit and creating more the rule of law." democratic and less hos- trade deficit is growing at American jobs." tile China. Yet after 10 $1 billion per week and years of U.S. engagement could set a new record of with China, China remains a nation ruled by an authoritar- more than $70 billion by the year's end. ian government with a violent aversion to human rights WTO accession for China requires opening China's and a hostility to environmental and labor standards. What markets. It would lock China into a more open trade makes anyone think the next 10 years will be different? regime enforced by multilateral dispute settlement proce- The Chinese dictatorship condones forced abortions, dures. The United States effectively gives up nothing; all engages in religious persecution of Christians and Muslims the concessions are made by China. As this is an export- and has institutionalized slave and child labor. In fact, at- oriented agreement that opens up China's market to Amer-

tempting to form an independent labor union is an offense ican commodities, products and services, it is the worker, punishable by death in this communist workers' paradise. farmer and businessman in America who benefits from in- Why were there more corporate jets in Washington dur- creased sales to China. The agreement would also reduce ing the congressional debate on normalizing trade relations the competitive coercion on American businesses to trans- for China than any other time during the year? The Amer- fer their industrial technology to China and to transfer jobs ican public has come to know that a WTO deal for China is through manufacturing offsets from America to China. Ex-

more about gaining access to 1 .2 billion low-wage workers porting more to China's 1.2 billion people is the key to re-

than it is about selling our goods to 1.2 billion consumers. ducing our trade deficit and creating more American jobs. Times have changed. The American people need to see WTO accession will also require substantial economic real evidence that China is re- reforms in China, providing specting the rule of law. Ulti- the foundation for a more mately, a stable, democratic open economy there, a pro- China is essential to our na- cess that, in the long term, tion's long-term well-being, stituent viewpoints. You may express your views by writ- should facilitate rule of law ing The IHonorable (name), U.S. Senate, Wasliington, DC not a China that persecutes its and political liberalization. 20510, or The Honorable (name). House of Representa- its advance in this area is a citizens and finances mili- tives, Washington, DC 20515. You may cali the Senate at Every tary buildup with slave labor (202) 224-3121; the House at (202) 225-3121. positive development in our and U.S. currency. national interest.

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 1 1

HealthSmari www.HSVitamins.com www.HSVitamins.com www.HSVitamins.com www.HSVitamins.com 1 800-492-3003 Shop online at www.HSVitamins.com www.HSVitamins.com Steal These Vitamms I 3 for 1 Low Price! I All Products In this Ad! Fabulous Low Prices! Direct to Your Door!

Retail stores charge more for their products to cover their expensive rent, overhead, and the infamous "middleman." You get so much more for your

money from HealthSmart Vitamins® because we sell our products directly to you. We'll never ask you to pay retail price for one bottle of vitamins!

Healthy Joints " Coenzyme Q10 Melatonin Bilberry Ginkgo BUoba Flax Seed Oil Exclusive Glucosamine Spark-of-life enersy For restful sleep Eye-food for Brain food for For healthy

Cliondroitin formula your fieart needs* when you need it* night vision* mental alertness* cholesterol support*

Coenzyme Rax Seed Healthy Joints Melatonin Bilberry C310 Oil

, FOR « FOR FOR

Glucosamine Sulfate MSM Grape Seed Extract Garlic (Low Odor) Chondroitin Sulfate St. John's Wort

Building block Natural mineral for easy Unbeatable protection All- natural Garlic at Economical joint and Natural herb for

for joints* joint movement* | for your health* a great price! cartilage support* sunny days*

1 Qiucosamine Cliondroitin St, John's Qrape Seed Qarlic Sulfate MSM Extract Sulfate Wort

tjiAlTHSMAg He?""

Retail Price $9.99 per bottle Retail Price $15.99 per bo Retail Price $14.99 per t>i

3 BOTTLES FOR 1 LOW PRICE! • 3 BOHLES FOR 1 LOW PRICE! FFER EXPIRES 3 1, 2000 To i OCTOBER order by phonenecall 1-800-492-30031-3003 p Mon-fri 6:30om-9pm, Sot-Sun Bom-Spm MST City Or mail this order form with payment to: HealthSmart Vitamins' Check Dj l2777Claude Ct.Thornton, CO 8024 Card #

Colorado residents add 3% tax Free Catalog Shipping and Handling* SHOP ONLINE! with your order! Total HealthSmart Vitamins" www.HSVitamins.com DISCOUNT CODE: DSA461 l2777Claude Ct.Thornton, CO 8024 Enter "Discount Code" : stotements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products ore not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or

t ony diseose. Tills offer may not be combinea witti other offers on the some piorlurts nor moy it be oppiietl to previously placed orders. HealthSmart Vilomins " prices

(. The "Retail Prices" listed here ore based on a survey of octuol retail prices conrfucted by HealthSmart Vitamins* as of 1 2/99. ©2000 HealthSmart Vitamins" at checkout page to receive your 3 FOR 1 PRICE! www.HSVitamjns.com 1-800-492-3003 www.HSVitamlns.com Veterans, tobacco bills introdoced

Legislation was introduced by Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., D- Ohio. in February that would establish a

If approved by Congress, the bronze plaque would lie near the black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Traficant funding for veterans' programs in- Bills creases by at least the rate of infla- recognize war-relaled deaths tion over the next 10 years. Calling for recognition of the hidden Gallegly, R-Calif., and Sen. Ben Nighthorse The President's Commission on casualties of the Vietnam War, a resolu- Campbell, R-Colo., would authorize the ad- Veterans and Smoking would study tion by the Department of Virginia re- dition of the 3-foot by 3-foot plaque near the the extent to which the past military cently gained momentum with the intro- Vietnam Veterans Memorial. policy of providing service mem- duction of two separate pieces of legisla- The simple inscription acknowledges bers with free cigarettes contributed tion in Congress. those who lost their lives due to service to their becoming smokers. It The campaign for "A square yard more of in Vietnam: "In memory of American would also address the percentage honor" is a bronze plaque dedicated to veter- veterans whose postwar deaths are at- of veterans who are smokers com- aas who died of service-related causes, such tributed to their Vietnam War Service. pared to the general population. as Agent Orange exposure, after returning Their names are not inscribed here, but home. The bills, introduced by Rep. Elton their spirits are ever present."

Lance testifies on VA heath care

With a growing number of veterans Congress at a recent hearing. needing VA health care. National Com- The Legion's solution calls for VA fa- mander Al Lance urged Congress to meet cilities to be more accessible to veterans by this need. allowing them to use their Medicare bene-

"While the fiscal outlook is rosy. Con- fits. Additionally the plan would make VA gress should fund VA at a level that out- less reliant on discretionary funding in the paces inflation," Lance testified before president's annual budget.

New Stamp boners Vietnam veterans Report prohes paint exposure risk

The U.S. Postal Service recent- The Office of the Special Assistant for tions, the soldiers did not initially use the ly unveiled a new Vietnam Veter- Gulf War Illnesses released a report in proper respirators and other protective ans Memorial commemorative February that examined the effects of ex- gear required. postage stamp. posure to polyurethane paint fumes dur- CARC paint is one of several poten- Illustrated by Robert Rodriguez ing Operation Desert Shield. tially harmful substances to which some of Pasadena, Calif., and designed by According to the report, at least 200 service members were exposed during the Carl Hernnan of Carlsbad, Calif., members of the Florida National Guard's war. the stamp depicts a veteran touching 325th Maintenance Company may have One of the conclusions in the report is

The Wall. It is the second time the been exposed to Chemical Agent Resis- that CARC paint is not the cause of the memorial has appeared on a stamp. tant Coating paint. In the rush to paint undiagnosed illnesses from which thou- hundreds of vehicles for desert opera- sands of Gulf War veterans are suffering.

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 No Middlemen... No Inflated Mark-ups... No Pushy Salesmen & No Phone Calls Buy Your Hearing Aids Direct From the Factory... SAVE Hundreds of Dollars! oAuiyou/ coAt try thmu -Kislc Free^/

Do you say "what" and constantly ask It's So Small... people to repeat what they just said? If so, are one of the millions of people It's Amost Invisible! you in the United States who suffer from GHL (gradual hearing loss syndrome). Don't be embarrasses, GHL happens to almost everyone as we age. The everyday nois- es that attacked our hearing senses over the years (traffic, machines, equipment) have caused the mild to moderate hearing loss we suffer from.

But MaxiSound can help... it can be your hearing solution. With a MaxiSound hearing aid you'll be able to hear the children, the grandchildren, the TV and your friends in a group conversation. The MaxiSound performs great in "rea/-//fe" situations (not just in the store). SPECIFICATIONS MaxiSound offers the best possible fit Maximum Output 111. 5dB in ready-to-wear hearing aids and the frequency Peak Gain 36dB

"After seeing your ad in the newspaper, I is preset to clearly pick-up the sound of speech. Average Gain 32dB decided to take a chance on your product. MaxiSound is not just smaller (it's almost invis- Frequence'. 600-5900 Imagine my surprise when I first tried your ible), it's sound amplification product and it worked also better (Made in USA) and it's afford- Harmonic Distortion: great. The amplification seemed to bal- able ($179.95) yWax/Soi/nc/ compares to hearing 500Hz 1% ance out the hearing between my left and aids that retail in stores for up to $1000.00. Your at 800Hz 0% right ear. I am completely satisfied with both the sound quality and amplification of satisfaction is guaranteed or return within 45 days at 1600Hz 0% your MaxiSound." Dr. George T. Stallings for a full refund of purchase price (less P&H). Individual Left and Right units There are over 100,000 satisfied customers who "I paid $2000.00 for (a pair of hearing aids) More Output, Higher Gains for have improved their quality of life by using they just never did work right so I quit using DISTORTION FREE SOUND

them. When I got MaxiSound I put them MaxiSound. Don't you want to be one of them?

right in my ears and I want you to know

they sure work well. I wear them every day

I have been advised that the to work." J. Jackson, GA excel labs, Dept. MSL-302 FDA has determined that my best 136 John Street, Southport CT 06490-1497 interests would be served if I had "The MaxiSound I purchased from you is a medical evaluation by a Please RUSH me by First Class Mail the best... and the best price I have ever licensed physician, preferably a had. I have has at least 10 hearing aids... the guaranteed MaxiSound hearing aids ordered below: Yours is the best! Harold F. Beach, physician who specializes in dis- PA only eases of the ear, before purchas- ONE MaxiSound $179.95 Indicate DLeft Ear DRight Ear "You can imaging my surprise, and delight, ing a MaxiSound, or a test by a SAVE $19.95! Order a pair for only $339.95 licensed dispenser utilizing when I able hear very was to close to nor- Dozen Model #312 Hearing Aid Batteries - $10.00 established procedures and One mally the first day I used my MaxiSound units." Leighton Soule, NY instrumentation in the fitting of Add $12.00 for shipping, handling and insurance per order any amplification device. I am 18 EXPRESS MAIL $20.00 EXTRA "I have worn the MaxiSound amplifier for years old or older and voluntary this Enclosed is check/Money Order for $ several days and it's the greatest thing sign waiver which indicates

that I do not wish either a medical sliced I since bread. am very well satisfied Charge: nVISA DMasterCard Discover Exp I evaluation or before with it, works as well as my friend's units test pur- that cost hundreds more." D. £. Allen, SD chasing my MaxiSound."

"The right aid is just wonderful, fits just perfect... last week we had a Christmas Party at a restaurant with approximately 50 peo-

ple and I could sit and talk with the parties that were there and could hear every word." JoAnn Kellar, OR Waiver signature City_ -Zip_ CALL 1-800-898-4285 TOLL FREE TO CHARGE ORDER i THE DEPARTMENT

Julian T. Gore Jimmie L. Foster COMMANDERS Alaska

Bjarne G. Runchel Everett Shepard III mmColorado Connecticut '99-00

Michael T. Umland Charles F. Wessmger France Georgia

Richard E. Tonkel Edwin N. Reiter Jerry L. Kitchen Bernard D. Wells L. Kent Lynn Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana M |A g§

Edward G. Delinski Norbert J. Schollett Dennis W. Sculthorp James H, Hernng Irvin M. Etzold Mexico Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri

JohnE. Neylon Berley Hanna Jr. Robert Hamilton Richard R. Keiser George H. Willis Dean Overby Ronald Hartman Larry E. Tiensvold New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma

Harley W, Ray Richard Coccimiglio Antonio Ty Edwin Vega-Santiago Russell P. Richards Frank C. Ward Norman H. Tapken Oregon Pennsylvania Philippines Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota

Donald F. Simons Terry Schow William W. Graham Daniel M. Dellinger James F. Angell Arthur P. Oger Arthur D. Herbison Jean M. Brown Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 SAVE ON OUR MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS FOR HEALTHY LIVING IMPOTENCY SOLVED! BUT VIAGRA'S NOT FOR YOU. RINGING IN THE An estimated 30 million men in the U.S. suffer from impotence. EARS Now two systems are available witfiout a prescription! One may BOTHERING be the answer for you! YOU?

Have difficulty achieving an erection? The Encore System with pump is the solution. Easy-to-use pump enables you to achieve an erection and comfort rings help you

maintain it. Kit contains vacuum pump (with batteries), 4 sized rings, lubricant, illustrated instructions. #23589 BATTERY-POWERED MAGNETIC ENCORE KIT 349999' $i 4999 BACK BRACE #23300 MANUAL People all over the world have been using magnetic therapy for ENCORE KIT $9999 hundreds of years to relieve back pain. Now there Is a unique, elastic The Comfort Ring System is for the man Thousands have found relief with wraparound back brace with strate- who is able to get an erection but Bio'Ear herbal drops. A safe all- gically placed, sewn-in magnets cannot maintain it. Comfort Ring helps natural remedy from Sweden. to help relieve pain and support your maintain a lasting erection. Kit contains Helps relieve ringing and buzzing back. Adjustable Velcro® closure 4 sized comfort rings, applicator, of tinnitis. Contains aloe, ginseng ensures a perfect fit. Washable. lubricant and illustrated instructions. root, bitter orange, myrrh, saffron. Fits waists 24" to 52". #23301 COMFORT RING SYSTEM Hear the difference! V2 oz. #23086 MAGNETIC * BACK BRACE *

FOR HERNIAS A SYSTEM HELP ELIMINATE AGE SPOTS The adjustable elastic band pro- OF PROTECTION Help eliminate age spots in just MAGNETIC SUPPORT vides proper compression and Solve incontinence problems days with this all-natural, The Chinese have studied support for those who suffer from comfortably and easily. Fits like homeopathic cream. Not just a magnetism for centuries and hernias. Foam pads protect right, an athletic support. Undetectable left coverup, this medicated treatment believe that it can stimulate or double hernias. Washable under clothing, the sheath holds is also great for warts moles. circulation and reduce stiffness. nylon/Lycra®. USA. Specify waist 5 oz., while the collector bag and Now you can own a comfortable size. S(30-33), M(34-37), holds 20 oz. Adjustable waistband Apply directly to help skin imperfections vanish fast. stretch knee support that has M/L(38-41), L(42-45), XL(46-49). conforms to any waist. Allows full No four rows of strategically placed unpleasant side effects. Greaseless #22358-01 RIGHT HERNIA TRUSS daily activities. One size fits all. magnets sewn in. Washable and odor free. 1 .4 oz. #22356-02 LEFT HERNIA TRUSS polyester/ spandex. One size. #22048-02 AGE #22310 SHEATH URINAL*34- $099 #22883 MAGNETIC $, SPOT CREAM KNEE BRACE '14- $2099 #22739 EXTRA SHEATH $19.99 HELP RELIEVE THE PAIN AND PRESSURE CAUSED #22740 EXTRA LEG BAG $9.99 BY LONG PERIODS OF SITTING Healthy Living " DESIGNED FOR WHEEL CHAIRS AND REGULAR CHAIRS. P.O. Box 94512, 6836 Engle Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44101-4512 Sit comfortably for long periods of time. Soft, downy, polyester fiberfill surrounds the body, even arms, ^ with soothing comfort. Reduces r stress on pressure- sensitive areas. | Washable Payable to Healthy Living^ Check Money Order poly/cotton cover. POSTAGE & HANDLING UptoS10,00 $4.99 Fits standard wheel- American Express" $10.01 to $20.00 $5.99 VISA' MasterCard"' chairs and armchairs. $20.01 to $30 00 $6.99 Discover #22652 COZY CUSHION Card''/Novus Over $30.00 $7.99 Expiration Date / '29- Acct. # Signature

(required if using credit card)

CHARGE IT! CALL TOLL FREe1 -800-800-01 00 WION-FRI BAM to 9PIVI • SAT 9AIVI to 3PWI • EST Zip mm nws

Dave Mracek of No-Vel Post 159 presents a child with a Spinoza Bear.

Sick Gblldren Cheered

by Post's donation Very few things bring a smile to a child's face like a teddy bear. President Clinton congratulates Alfred Rascon after presenting him with the IVIedal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War. That is why Legionnaire Dave Mracek came up with the idea of donating Spinoza Bears to ill children. He and other members Veteran honored 35 years later of No-Vel Post 159 in Venice, Army veteran and Legionnaire Al- sance platoon in the 173rd Airborne Fla., donated a dozen of the soft, fred Rascon said little during the recent Brigade came under fire while moving furry creatures in 1999 and hope White House ceremony in which he be- to assist another unit being attacked. to donate dozens more in 2000. came the latest Medal of Honor recipi- The intense fire wounded several squad

The $135 Spinoza Bears ent. And when he did speak, it was to members. feature cassette players and acknowledge those men of his platoon During what he described as "ten speakers inside the stuffed who credit the Minnesota Post 435 minutes of hell," the then-21-year- animals. They come with nine member with saving their lives almost old medic ignored bullets and tapes that play uplifting messages. 35 years ago. grenades to aid injured soldiers.

"The honor is not really mine, it Wounded in the hip, back and face ends up being (for) those who were and continuing to disregard his own solve Cnngrass must with me that day," said Rascon as he safety, Rascon dragged another hnusing dilemma asked his fellow platoon soldiers to wounded soldier to safety and deliv- stand and be recognized. But the mem- ered much-needed ammunition to a

Despite receiving a 4.8 percent bers of the teary-eyed group said it is machine gunner.

pay raise Jan. 1, thousands of ser- Rascon's actions in the Long Khanh Throughout the firefight, Rascon vice members saw no net gain in province March 16, 1966, that describe used his body as a shield to protect sol- their paychecks due to a decrease truly heroic deeds. diers from grenade blasts as he treated in their housing allowances. According to their accounts, Rascon their wounds and then directed their Recognizing the damage this and the other members of a reconnais- evacuations. policy could cause to troop morale. Department of Defense officials announced that beginning March 1, service members' Basic Al- Post AL team spawned many pms lowance for Housing would be returned to the higher 1999 rates. One Oregon Post's baseball pro- recently along with others who have The Department of Defense also gram has served as a springboard for made the team possible over the years.

announced that it plans to ask Con- several pro baseball careers and pro- The others were team sponsors Jack gress to authorize a retroactive duced more than its share of major and LeRoy Richey, team manager

hike to Jan. 1. league superstars. Gene Hansen, his wife and volunteer

"The American Legion will Corvallis Post 1 1 counts seven ma- Helen Hansen, and chairman of team fight for the troops and their fami- jor leaguers among the former players facilities maintenance Ernie Hansen lies," said National Commander on its American Legion Baseball team. (no relation). Al Lance. "Congress must find the They include Harold Reynolds, Don Dick McClain, longtime coach of money to ensure that our troops re- Reynolds (no relation), Dave Roberts, the Richey 's Market team, noted the ceive the pay raise they were Mike Thurman, Jeff Doyle, Dan importance of having dedicated volun- promised." Williams and Jim Wilson. They were teers who have made their program a inducted into the team's Hall of Fame success.

50* THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 .

Order without risk. Your satisfaction is guaran- The 'Royal Paulownia^^ - a magnificent flowering shade teed. If not completely liappy, just write us for a refund (less postage and handling), replacement tree tliat GROWS SO FAST - ARCHES OUT SO WIDE - you can or credit on next order whichever you prefer. talce a ruler and measure the incredible difference in height ' every 2 or 3 days! It's like growing "instant shade". Wait 'til you fCardeneT? ChoicerDept."EM^^ see the spectacular show when it starts to flower. Actually P.O.Box 8005, Hartford, MI 49057^8005 smothers itself in lavish masses of bouauets of breath-taking Please send me tlie Royal Paulownia Trees I liave lavender-blue blooms. ordered below on your money back guarantee (less p&h). GROWS IN VIRTUALLY ANY SOIL- 1 Only $17.98 REQUIRES NO SPECIAL CARE- Tree Only $4.98 6 Trees HARDY TO -30° BELOW 2 Trees Only $7.98 10 Trees Only $24.98 3 Trees Only $9.98 20 Trees Only $45.98 Best of all it's practically work-free. Add $3.50 shipping no matter how many you order Simply plant it, water it, enjoy it. Just order. a sprinkle a week sends it soaring Enc. is $ check or money from a sapling to a roof high tree IN CT, MI, NY Res add sales tax

- JUST ONE YEAR! turns even the OR- Charge it: MasterCard Visa Exp. Date l__ barest spot into a shaded show- Acct place of beauty. BUT SUPPLIES ARE STILL EXTREMELY SHORT - Name SO ACT NOW! Address VISIT US AT: www.gardenerschoice.net City .State. Zip_ I '.^^^^^^^^^^^^^ L. J UBIBH HtWS

Resolution to honor Vieques training nnt cnnditinnal

Korean war veterans The Clinton administration and the AtUimic Ocean Surrounded by Legionnaire Puerto Rican government reached an Isia de San Juan members of Congress, Rep. agreement in January that allowed Culebra Thomas Ewing, training on the island of Vieques to re- R-Ill., intro- sume in March. Yet Legion officials PUERTO Isia de duced a House are concerned because the Vieques compromise RICO Joint Resolution came with strings attached. Feb. 1 that "A matter as important as national would establish security must be handled by bold lead- Portion of the island owned by June 25 - the ership rather than by popular senti- tlie U.S. Navy day North Ko- ment," National Commander Al Lance Ewing rea invaded said. "Additionally, in 1941 the De- South Korea in 1950 - as a na- partment of the Navy paid fair market temative for this type of vital military tional day of honor for Korean value for 26,000 acres on Vieques. training. War veterans. Therefore it is federal property, the Following the death of a civilian se- "The founders of The American same as any other military installa- curity guard April 19,1999, when two Legion, in 1919, mandated future tion." 500-pound bombs missed their target generations of Legionnaires to pre- Under the agreement, if voters in by one and a half miles, a wave of op- serve the memories and incidents Puerto Rico vote to end the training, position forced the Navy and Marine of our associations in the Great the Navy would be forced to abandon Corps to suspend training on the 51- Wars," National Commander Al Vieques by May 2003. There is no al- square-mile island. Lance said. "Consistent with that founding commitment, the men and women of The American Le- gion are grateful for the introduc- tion of this resolution. Further, we urge every member of Congress to

endorse it."

New Legion Post opens

on Goliege campus Southeastern Louisiana Uni- versity staff and students have

established what is believed to be the first Post on a college campus since Desert Storm. "Over the years I've come to realize the importance of involving and educating young veterans in Legion programs and services," explained Past Department Commander Bobby Watts. "During my visit to the

university (on Memorial Day) it The 1 ,036 pieces that form Chesty Allen's stained glass American Flag grace the wall dawned on me that there was of Bradner, Ohio, Post 338. probably no better place than this to start." Legionnaire glorifies Flag with art Watts, with the blessing of university officials, set up a Patriotism and hard work paid off the flag was the main inspiration be- "recruiting station" in the for Legionnaire Eldon "Chesty" hind his creation now hanging at the school's veterans' assistance Allen when the stained glass Ameri- Post.

office and recruited the 16 can Flag he designed and built over Each of the 1 ,036 pieces of glass in charter members of Louisiana the past year was dedicated at Post the flag has a special meaning. For ex- Post 423. 338 in Bradner, Ohio. The Army ample, 42 of the pieces signify the veteran says that lack of respect for presidents.

52 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 " .

SIMILAR TO Dra©(o)(o)[^ g[Lg©Tr[^©K]i]© CORDLESS AS SEEN ON LIGHT TV WHY PAY FOR EXPENSIVE CABLE? This new technology eliminates the need for a cable hookup to get a sharp, clear

picture every time. Here's how it works, Our TV Booster simply plugs into any

electrical outlet. It actually uses the immense antenna system that currently exists in everyone's home - your electric wiring system. In other words simply No Wires plug it into any outlet and your entire house or apartment becomes a huge i

No " TV reception station. It amplifies weak Outlets ' s i g n a instantly One Touch Lighting Wherever It's Needed.

COMES WITH A 75 TO 300 OHM CONNECTOR IT'S BETTER THAN MANY INDOOR OR OUTDOOR ANTENNAS COSTING MANY TIMES MORE

This compact, unique design measures only 2V8 " x SVs". So throw away those rabbits ears, loops or roof top aerials which are dangerous to install. Complete kit comes with 75 to 300 ohm adapter and Simply touch the dome to turn light on or off. Eliminate fumbling in a 6 foot coaxial cable plus easy-to-follow instructions. Takes just min- the dark. Portable. Easily mounts on wall or rests on table. Perfect utes to install for great reception. Your TV picture will appear so clear for your closets, stairwells, desk, night table, cars, RVs, boats, and you will swear you are at a movie theater. Why Pay $50.00? child's room. Uses 4 "AA" batteries (Not incl.) Big 5Vz" diameter. TV Antenna Booster - ONLY $9.95 Why Pay $19.95? - Touch Light $3.95 each / Set of 6 $17.95 'm@w ^c^^ ©@mm® www AUTOMATICALLY TELLS YOU HOW DONE YOUR FOOD IS

A Proud Tradition For Your Home! Now you can proudly display your patriotism with one of our Armed Forces flags. Each flag has the authentic insignia of its respective service - Army, Air Force, Navy Eliminates cooking food too raw or too done. Simply insert and Marines. The U.S. flag is the fork with its built in thermometer into your hamburger, also available. Showing an steak, or chicken. Then press the button. An LED will illumi- Armed Forces flag, and the nate.telling you if your food is cooked rare, medium-rare, U.S. flag together makes a medium, medium-well, well for beef, and well for pork / poul- magnificent presentation. try. This two-in-one function fork has stainless steel tips. Makes An Attractive Display Durable ABS handle. Heat resistant to 400°. Uses two AA Each attractive flag is magnificently reproduced in battenes included. 14" long. Why pay $24.95? durable weather-proof polyester. They will never fade or Barbecue Fork With Thermometer - ONLY $9.95 discolor. These majestic flags are perfect for flying during roEERCREEK PRODUCT'S INC.7Dept.T226 our nation's holidays. Perfect for hanging in an office, 3038 NW 25th Ave., Pompano Boh, PL. 33069 den, porch or even on a boat. They make a great state- I / day money back ment in front of your house. Each measures 40" x 130 / V®[LD[^©[1[L[F guarantee Qty. ($) TOTAL 28". Flag pole comes with wall mounting bracket / I O Touch Light 3.95 and measures over 4 feet long. Made of durable O Touch Light - Set of 6 17.95 long lasting steel. Imagine the dignity and , pride you will receive by displaying your true / TV Antenna Booster 9.95 colors. / U.S. Flag 6.95 Machine washable. / 3 Shot Air Force O Army Flags 6.95 Easily Mounts Wall Fireplace! On / / Snub Nose Marines Navy Flags 6.95 Please indicate choice of flag / Revolver . Flag Pole ARMY / NAVY / AIR FORCE / No Federal License or f'^''"''' Needed! Barbecue Fork MARINES / U.S.A. - Only $6.95 / I Now you can arm yourself with the I each / FLAG POLE $8.95 8 Shot Revolver 29.95. / most effective .22 caliber non-lethal O 10 Tear Gas ^ 8.95 Only tear-gas handgun available. Each Blanks 10.95 _ r $6.95 shot sounds so real that an intruder will be instantly scared away This hand- handling charges add $2.00 some 8-shot heavy duty snub nose revolver is side loading. The smooth easy- Total trigger action allows you to fire off each and every round in rapid succession. Our gun responds perfectly to your every movement, and is extremely easy to handle. Easily fits in a pocket or purse. So now walk without fear.

Great For Holldaysl '""af^LAUl"" $10-95 8 SHOT SEMI-AUTOMATIC $29.95 |^State Zip J iism urn

Vazsonyi's Re-Elect

America tour rolls on / ..V Balint Vazsonyi continues his Re-Elect America tour with stops in 10 state capitals during April. Vazsonyi is traveling the nation 3 ^r. by bus in an effort to restore the principles penned by America's founding fathers. The American Legion resolved to support Re-Elect America during the FaU NEC meetings in Indi- anapolis. The resolution encour- ages the Departments to work with Re-Elect America and their state governors' offices to facilitate activities in their states.

Dave Squibb, with Legion hat, prepares to sing the National Anthem during the mil- Upcoming tour dates lennium ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

3 Cheyenne, Wyo. Legionnaire opens ceremonies 5 Denver Before more than 4,000 people, in- N.J., has more than 30 years of stage 7 Topeka, Kan. cluding President Clinton and retired experience in off-Broadway and re- 10 Jefferson City, Mo. Gen. Colin Powell, Legionnaire Dave gional theaters. 12 Indianapolis Squibb opened the nation's millennium "I took a great deal of pride in repre- 14 Charleston, W.Va. ceremonies in Washington, D.C, with senting the Legion," Squibb said. As 17 Raleigh, N.C. a stirring rendition of "The Star-Span- for singing before the president and 19 Richnnond, Va. gled Banner." first lady, as well as numerous mem- 26 Columbus, Ohio Squibb, 79, a Junior Vice Comman- bers of Congress, he commented, "I'm 28 Franl

New Jersey Post nets Legionnaires teacli flag histury

space-bound recruit When Legionnaire George Post 328 of Clark, N.J., has Lesch saw only half the crowd taken its recruiting efforts to the salute the American Flag properly outer limits by recently signing up during a parade, he decided to fix space shuttle the problem. pilot Navy Lt. Lesch, Commander of Huntley, Cmdr. Kenneth 111., Post 673, along with Legion- T. Ham. A for- naire Bob Zirk and Bob's wife, mer Clark resi- Betty, a member of the Auxiliary, dent, Ham works started teaching a flag history and at Johnson Space etiquette program. For two years Ham Center in Hous- the trio has traveled far and wide ton. He is sched- giving their presentation to civic uled to fly the space shuttle within organizations, scout troops and two years. schools. Ham graduated from the Naval "We have to talk to the adults as Academy in 1987. He has flown well because they're not standing George Lesch teaches the proper way to combat missions in both Northern up and they're not saluting. But our fold the American Flag. Danielle Welder and Iraq and Bosnia. first objective is to get into the Joshua Neufeldt, both 11, fold Old Glory, schools," Lesch said. while Bryan Hoxie, 12, looks on.

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 NOTICE BLADDER CDNTRDL Recent announcements regarding ECPA's Laser Vision Correction Program with a charge of no more than $1,500 PROBLEMS? per eye has caused some confusion. ECPA Laser Vision Surgeons must be board-certified, have performed more New Regain stops a bladder control problem from interfering than 1,000 successful laser procedures and be willing to with an active lifestyle. perform these procedures at our reduced fee. Ensuring • Proven effective in clinical studies and standards for providers our network these high has made available without a prescription. the most qualified in the industry. Offering such large • Regain is not a pill, not a pad and

savings and adhering to these high standards has resulted not a diaper.

in some states not having a Laser Vision Provider. We • Regain applies gentle pressure to the apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, underside of the penis stopping the leakage and flow of urine. and continue to recruit qualified surgeons nationally. Money back satisfaction guarantee. Please continue to visit our Website at www. ecpa.com or call our Customer Satisfaction Line at 800-221-3272 To order, or for more information call today if you desire to use any of your ECPA benefits. 1-800-437-0102

Thank you. $14.99 B PI _

American MedTech EYE CARE PLAN OF AMERICA 521 7 Wayzala Boulevard SuiteMO Minneapolis, MN 55416

EXTREMELY On January 6, 2000, the U.S. Mint released the First Silver Dollar of the Millennium. LIMITED EDITION A fast and complete sellout is expected! Order immediately to avoid disappointment. r Dollar ILLENNIUM

This magnificent coin is not only the first Sil-

ver Dollar of the New Millennium, it will be among the first minted from the new Year 2000 dies created especially for this historic coin.

Orders will be taken on a first come, first served basis. To own the First Silver Dollar of the New Millennium, you must order now! One full ounce .999 Silver

Brilliant Uncirculated Condition

Huge 40.6mm diameter

Among the first U.S. Mint coins

to bear the historic date 2000 Now enhanced in FULL COLOR Certificate of Authenticity by The American Historic Society!

TliBse Brilliant Uncirciilalei) AniErican Easle Silicr Oollars \\m been imei Ironi the U.S. FREE Display Case! Mini and cnlorized liy The American HIslnrIc Society, which is in no way associated with the

U.S. Mint or any other government agency. Ca/I Toll Free f

APRIL 2000 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • .

IISIOH HIWS

WWII heroes finally receive high-school diplomas

One of the most memorable days in a high school student's life is graduation day. Unfortunately, some veterans never got that opportunity, abandoning their text- books for rifles to preserve democracy. Dubbed "Operation Recognition," Massachusetts and Nebraska are providing a Legion-endorsed remedy for these veterans by awarding honorary diplomas firom the schools where they would have graduated. During a special ceremony in Nebras-

ka, 105-year-old World War I veteran and Trenton Post 337 member Jasper

Cole received his diploma. Thaddeus S. Kulczyk proudly displays the Gardner High School diploma presented to

"As the governor's representative, I him last year. Kulczyk was one of 39 World War II veterans who received diplomas watched these veterans get their diplo- from the Massachusetts school more than 50 years after leaving their studies to do mas," said Massachusetts Veterans Af- their part in the war effort.

fairs Director of Cemeteries and Post my heart, that I was going to see this be- similar legislation.

129 member Robert McKean after one come a statewide initiative." "I waited 50 years and traveled 1 ,500

of the ceremonies. "As I sat on the stage Other states are following suit. Law- miles for this," said graduate Alfred Ge-

I was overcome with so much emotion makers in Florida, Texas, California, niejewski, holding his diploma aloft.

that I made a promise, in my mind and West Virginia and Louisiana are drafting "This is a proud day."

ADVERTISEMENT Amazing Diabetes Improvement

(SPECIAL) - Here's important news for tain so-called "diabetes" diets. It's been double vision or diplopia may also be anyone with diabetes. A remarkable book is proven amazingly effective time and time experienced. now available that reveals a medically tested again. ..and works so fast you can begin to If you or someone you know have method that normalizes blood sugar natural- feel improvement in a matter of days. The diabetes, this could be the most important ly...and greatly improves the complications "Diabetes Improvement Program" is based on book you'll ever read. As part of a special associated with diabetes. People report bet- documented scientific principles that can: introductory offer, right now you can order a ter vision, more energy, faster healing, • Eliminate ketones and give you more special press run of the "Diabetes regained feeling in their feet, as well as a abundant energy Improvement Program" for only $12.95 reduction of various risk factors associated • Make blood sugar levels go from High plus $2.00 shipping. It comes with a 90 day with other diseases. Risk to Normal money back guarantee. If you are not 100% It's called the "Diabetes Improvement • Stimulate scratches and scrapes to heal satisfied, simply return it for a full Program" and it was researched, developed faster and written by a leading medical researcher • Improve eyesight refund. . no questions asked .

It shows you exactly how nature can activate • Improve your balance Order an extra copy for family or friend your body's built-in healers once you start • Help numb feet regain a level of feeling and SAVE. You can order 2 for only eating the right combination of foods. It • Reverse neuropathy and resultant heel $20 total. works for both Type I and Type II diabetes ulcers HERE'S HOW TO ORDER: and it can reduce, and in some cases even Improvement can be seen in other areas Simply PRINT your name and address eliminate, the need to take insulin. It gives as well, such as lower blood pressure, and the words "Diabetes Improvement" on a diabetics control of their lives and a feeling lower cholesterol and reduced triglyceride piece of paper and mail it along with a of satisfaction that comes from having nor- levels. There has also been a reduction of check or money order to: THE LEADER mal blood sugar profiles. other risk factors associated with: heart CO., INC., Publishing Division, Dept. The results speak for themselves. attacks, stroke, retinopathy, kidney

DB333 , P.O. Box 8347, Canton, Ohio The" Diabetes Improvement Program" is damage.

447 1 1 . VISA or MasterCard send card num- based on research that is so new most doc- What's more, it can help improve short date. Orders are tors aren't aware of it yet. It tells you which term memory and make you feel more ber and expiration Act now. delicious foods to eat and which to avoid. It alert and no longer chronically tired. fulfilled on a first come, first served basis. also warns you of the potential danger of cer- Improvements and even total cures of ©2000 The Leader Co., Inc.

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 IjC r

You Can ^ Count

Financial Health Services Services North American Discount Van Lines MBNA America Prescription Program 1-800-524-5533 Banl<, N.A. ID# Membership Card RxAmerica (Ask about other 1-800-905-9818 American Red Bali services available) ID# Membership Card World-Wide Movers 1-800-847-7378 ID# J8P2 1-800-877-7332 Eye Care Plan ID# Membership Card of America The American 1-800-221-3272 Atlas Van Lines Legion Annuity ID# Membership Card 1-800-847-6683 1-888-353-4466 mn ID# Membership Card ID# Membership Card Insurance Services Travel Services American Legion Union Fidelity Services Days Inn 1-800-523-5758 1-800-268-2195 ID# Membership Card Customer Service 1-800-433-3318 Howard Johnson Hartford Life [email protected] 1-800-769-0939 Insurance Company 1-800-542-5547 Emblem Sales Ramada Inn ID# Membership Card 1-888-453-4466 1-800-462-8035 [email protected] TriCare Supplement Travelodge 1-800-542-5547 1-800-545-5545 Americanism/ Children & Youth (Always use ID# 00020204) 1-317-630-1203 Internet/Computer [email protected] TOR MORE Choice Hotels Services International INFORMATION Legislative VISIT OUR WEB 1-800-4-CHOICE 1-202-861-2740 Internet/IHomepage ID# Membership Card [email protected] Provider " iBelong .g Avis National //legion. ibelong.com Membership Benefits, 1-800-331-1212 Emergency Fund iD# G343600 PO Box 1055, 1-800-433-3318 Computer Provider Gateway Indianapolis, IN [email protected] \ National Car Rental 1-888-882-1289 46206 1-800-CAR-RENT Veterans Affairs 01" e-mail us at: ID# 5176669 1-202-861-2758 [email protected] [email protected] Employment Services 55 Alive Driver Education Hire Quality northAmerican Course 1-800-414-4733 1-888-227-7669 www.hire-quality.com iV . ;;

^^¥ITS® The Veterans' Connection

VETS® is a private veterans program that provides The American get in touch with tlreir outfits and buddies. Ann Landers and Dear Abby have Legion with infomiation about reunions, helps veterans locate old buddies shared our success with millions of their readers and now due to technology and offers other special benefits and services to veterans and their families. and demand, Finders/Seekers has moved to the Internet. A searchable list of our active files is available on the VETS home page. We encourage all veter- REUiVIIOM INFORMATIOM ans to check this registry to see if someone is tiying to find them. Individuals This month we have listed many groups that are planning reunions. Infor- who order Fmder/Seekers will have their requests listed and also receive our ination is provided free to Legion members and other veterans who write free tips on how to locate missing veterans. Cost is a non-rel'undable $15. VETS and enclose the 5-digit VETS number of each reunion. VETS main- Please do not send cash. We accept checks, money orders and MasterCard, tains reunion and contact infonnation for more than 12,000 outfits. Reunion Visa and Discover cards. informafion is also available at no charge on the Internet at www.vets.org. Many libraries and schools wiU provide Internet access free for veterans with VETS® BENEFITS no Internet access or computer skills. We regret that due to call volume we Veterans who enroll in the National VETS Archives are eligible for a cannot accept phone requests for reunion information. See "How to Use variety of products and services offered by VETS. Veterans who qualify VETS Services" below. automatically receive notices about their outfit reunions, free or discounted Finders/Seekers services and other VETS consumer benefits. In most cases, OUTFIT ENROLLMENT IS FREE VETS benefits can be extended to other family members and the survivors Coordinators may list reunion information with VETS at no charge. of deceased veterans. Details are available on the VETS website or by writ- Information may be submitted electronically via the VETS website or on offi- ing VETS. cial forms by writing VETS®. Individuals planning new reunions or offering TO USE VETS® SERVICES themselves as points of contact for possible new reunions may also register at HOW no charge. To promote better accuracy and faster response, and except for reunion information requests, official VETS forms should be used to submit infor- THE NATIONAL VETS® ARCHIVES mation or request other services. Forms are available free on the VETS The National VETS Archives is a free historical registry for veterans website at www.vets.org or they may be obtained by writing VETS at P.O. who want to be listed on the VETS roster for each outfit in which they Box 901, Columbia, MO 65205-0901 and enclosing a self-addressed, served. Registration is free but to ensure accuracy, must be on official stamped #10 (long) reply envelope. VETS normally responds to all written archive forms. Registration may be done electronically at the VETS Internet requests the next business day. To keep costs low and still handle thousands home page. VETS uses the archives to develop historical rosters and reunion of requests each week, VETS does not accept phone calls for reunion infor- contact information. Deceased veterans may be enrolled posthumously by a mation. In an emergency, messages about other services may be left on the family member. VETS voice mail system 24 hours a day at (573) 474-4444. You can also reach VETS via e-mail at [email protected]. FINDERS/SEEKERS® VETS® and FINDERS/SEEKERS® are registered trademarks of Vets Each year for nearly a decade, VETS has helped thousands of veterans Data Corporation.

AIR FORCE #10387; 29th Ftr Bmbr Sq, Woodridge RAF COAST GUARD 1952-55 #14004; 351st Bomb Grp (England) 13th Bomb Sq. "Grim Reapers" (All Years) #241 90; Ramey Air Force Base #41 254; USS Westwind (WAGB-281) #23536 Wimpole Parl<, England (also Army Units) #15058 MARIIMES Presenting the ALL-TERRAIN ARMY 1 st Mar Div., 5th Rgt., 2nd Bn (WWII) #1 3941

1st Mar Div., 7th Rgt., 3rd Bn, I Co. (All Wars) FIELD 10th Avn Fid Depot Sq (1951-55) #23242; DW and #171 79; 6th Defense Bn, Midway Is. #1 7081 1476th EngrMaint. Co, #24015; 16th Armored 8th Defense &AA Bn. #17159; MAG 11/12/14 BRUSH MOWER Div. #10170; 194th FA Bn, 194th Grp Hq, #17166; Platoon 208, Parris Island 1959 185th/740th FA #15359; 245th Engr. (C) Bn - the Amazing Walk-Behind Brush Cutler that - #19677; USS Kitty Hawk Marine Del #41256; #16102; 24th Sig Serv Bn (All Cos/All Cycles) CLEARS & MAINTAINS meadows, VMF-21 2 (1944-45) #41259 #23941; 2nd Engr. Spec. Brigade #11809; pastures, woodlots, wooded and rough 32nd Inf. Div. Great Western Red Arrow Club non-lawn areas with ease. CUTS tall MISC/ALL SERVICES grass, weeds, brambles, tough bmsh, #20527; 3rd Inf. Div. #24131; 406th Engr. Christmas Island Task Force, Central Pacific even hardwood saplings up to 1" thick! Const. Bn. #14137; 40th Inf. Div., 223rd Rgt, CHOPS/MULCHES most every- 1st Bn., ACo. #14812 APO 915 #14148 thing it cuts. Leaves NO TANGLE of bmsh to pick up like hand-held NAVY 434th AA, 435th AA. 532nd AA, 900th AA, 473rd bmshcutters and sicklebar

1 ; 81 mowers. Perfect for low- Inf. Rgt. #10346; 45th Inf. Div., 189th FA, 645th 07th Seabees #1 8651 29th NCB #1 66; maintenance wildflower TD #15493; 480th AAA AW Bn (WWII) #16162; 301st Seabees #19160; 4th NCB #17402; AE meadows. European-style 503rd Engr, L. E. Co. #13526; 531stOrd. Co. Sailors Assn (appx 28 ships) #41253; CASU woodlots. walking 1944- #41258; 6th U.S. Cavalry (IncI Attch Units)792nd 16/17 (Tarawa 1943-44) CASU 44 (Tinian paths, or any area i North Is. AAA AW Bn. WWII #15670; 80th Div. Assn 46) #11767; LST-528 #22819; NAS you only want to Supply Div, San Diego #12444; NAS Sanford, FL mow once a (WW-I & WW-II) #12422; 81st Inf. Div., 322 Rgt, #18251; PATRON 6 #28340; SLCU-36/ Boat month or once C Co. (WWII) #10925; 82nd Combat Engr Bn Pool Baker #14878; USS Achernar (AKA-53) a season! ^^^^^^^^^^^ WWII #15976; 8th Armored Div. "The Thundering #28421; USS /1/7C00 (AGC-4) #18008; USS Herd" #15403 /lugus?a(CA-31) #18496

97th Inf. Div., 387th Rgt, C Co. #11360; USS Basilone (DD/DDE-824) #12895; USS Buckles-Weatherly, 24th Inf. Div., 11th FA, 26th 3 HP -'-^ 8.. ^ 'C^fjf> Benner (DD/DDR-807) #17867; USS Bremerton 4 Speeds • Power Reverse 57&-7I00 AAA Bn (Korea 1952-54) #41257; PKG 6, 1st (CA-130/SSN-698) #18427; USS Cascade (AD- Guided Missle Grp (SAM), 1st Bn, A Btry 16) #12142; USS Chemung (AO-30) #18077; #24288; Santa Ana Army Air Base #16719; US USS Chikaskia (AO-54) #18533; USS Consolation I MOWER including prices, specifications of Manual Army Chapt, The Chosin Few #20117; Wimpole [and ELECTRIC-STARTING Models, and "Pre- (AH-15) #18022; USS Craven (DD-382) #17866; Season" Savings now in effect. Tliere is no obligation. Park, England (also Air Force Units) #15058 j USS Dauphin (APA-97) #10238; USS Diablo (SS- ARMY AIR CORPS 479) #13768; USS Earle B. Hall (APD-107) Address #23749; USS English (DD-696) #17651; USS I | 1 9th Bomb Grp #1 0598; 31 5th Trp Carrier Grp Forrest B. Royal (DD-872) #21816; USS Gen. A. (City Stale ZIP § WWII #16864; 69th Werewolves 58th Ftr Gp E. Anderson (AP/TAP-1 11) #22174; USS Gen. I COUNTRY HOME PRODUCTS\Dept5586F j (WWII, Korea, Desert Storm) 9th AF, A. (AP-1 1 2/TAP-1 1 #1 3503; Meigs Road, P.O. Box 25, Vergennes.VTO.Wl #14858; Wm. Mann 2) USS [ UK |

www.drfieldbrush.com i #12018 I 394th BG, 584th Bomb Sq, WWII #16831 GoWenC//)/(AP-169)

US • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000 ) ! . . ! ......

Advertisement Are you over 55?

USS Halibut (SS-232) #21 1 98; USS Halsey Nicholas (DD/DDE-449) #17466; USS Nimitz Powell (DD-686) #13029; USS Hampton (APA- (CVN-68) #10149; USS Northampton (CA- "It*s All Free 11 5) #1 3799; USS Harwood (DD/DDE-861 26/CLC-1/CC-1) #18301; USS Oglethorpe (AKA- #19109; USS Klondike (AD-22) #14497; USS 100) #22139; USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590) - LCIs: 1 -5, 8-1 6, 32, 33, 35, 75, 1 93, 209, 21 1 #18010; USS Philippine Sea (CV/CVA/CVS-47 & for Seniors" 21 232, 238 #1 1 232; Lexington CG-58) #28301; USS Portsmouth (CL-102) 9, 229, 231 , USS (CV-1 6) Blue Ghost Assn #1 8688; USS Uscome #1 3907 USS Randall (APA-224) #1 1 1 44; USS Washington DC (Special) An amazing (CVE-56) #18142; LST-W59 #18329 (DD-688) #13066; USS San Marcos Bay USS Remey new book reveals thousands of little-

USS Lynde McCormick (DDG-8) 1961-91 (LSD-25) #1 891 1 ; USS Shenandoah (AD-26) known Government give-aways for #1 1 528; USS Mississippi (BB-41 "Mighty Missy" #20813; USS Sigourney (DD-643) #19665; USS ) people over 55 Alumni Assn #22735; USS IVIississippi (EAG-128) Steinaker (DD/DDR-863) #19636; USS Summit #19885; USS New Kent (APA-217) #14943; USS County (LST-1146) #19203; USS Swearer (DE- Each year, lots of these benefits Newman K Perry (DD/DDR-883) #14477; USS 186) #17458; USS Tarawa (CV/CVA/CVS-40) are NOT given away simply because people don't know they're available... and the government Create Your Own Outdow doesn't advertise. Many of these fabulous freebies can be yours regardless of your

Room,,Jn Just Seconds! income or assets . Entitled "Free for Seniors", the book tells you all about such goodies as how you can: Get free prescription drugs Get free dental care Get up to $800 for food. How you can get free legal help Get help in paying your rent. $15,000 free money to spruce up your home $1 ,800 to warm you this winter. Access the very best research on our planet on how you can live longer. Forgetful? Here's valuable free information you should get now. Stop blood pressure & cholesterol worries from ruling your life. Free help if you have arthritis Free facts could help incontinence. Introducing The Revolutionaiy Free eye treatment. SunSetter Retractable Awning! Free help if you're depressed. New Cancer Cure? Maybe! Get If you're tired of having your outdoor enjoyment rained free information. on.. .baked out.. .or just plain ruined by unpredictable weather. New prostate cancer developments. Get paid $100 a day plus expenses At last there is a solution! One that lets you take control of the weather on your deck or patio! It's the incredi- to travel overseas ble SunSetter Retractable Awning! A simple... easy-to- $5 ,000 free to help pay your bills use.. .& affordable way to outsmart the weather and start Confidential help with your sex life enjoying your deck or patio more.. .rain or shine/ Free impotence treatments The SunSetter is like adding a whole extra outdoor room Hot Flashes? New research helps! to your home... giving instant protection glaring you from Find out if a medicine you are tak- sun...or sudden showers! Plus it's incredibly easy to ing could be affecting your sex life use...opening & closing effortlessly in less than 30 seconds! To receive a FREE information So, stop struggling with the weather... & start enjoying your packet without obligation about this deck or patio more!

outstanding $ 1 2 .95 value , simply write Call for a Catalog Video! FREE & your name and address on a piece of 1-800-876-8060 Ext. #6520 paper and mail to: Free for Seniors Dept. FS1312, 718-12th St. N.W., ^ FREE"Catalog"& A^deo"CaU ToTl-Free: T-iob^Te^sbeo" Box 24500, Canton, Ohio 44701 Special Bonus - Act promptly to Yes! Please send your FREE Catalog & Video... including Special also receive a free tip sheet to help Savings now^ in effect... DAY! TO get you started To help us cover printing and postage, $1 would be warmly

APRIL 2000 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • #23445; USS Teton (AGC-14) #23818; USS contact Daniel J. DeRoch, 103 Oak I Americanism Cncl. Memb. 1977-1978, Natl Ticonderoga (CV/CVA/CVS-14 & CG-47) #17791; Oakland, ME 04963. Foreign Relations Cncl. Vice Chmn. 1988- USS riv/ggs (DD-591) #12620; USS Vincennes 2000, Dept. Cmdr. 1996-1997, Natl Legis. (CL-64) IncI Mar/Avn #18705; USS l/wy//a/T? M. Cncl. Memb. 1993-1994, 1999-2000 and Wood (DD-DDR-715) #22233; VC/VAW-1 1/VAW Charles Serabian, Dept. of Maryland. Nat1. numerous Department positions 1989-1994. West #23266; VJ-3/VU-3/VC-3 #24315; VPB-18 Distinguished Guests Cmsn. Vice Chmn. Gaylord N. Sheline, Dept. of Indiana. Natl #17874; VR-21 #22641 1992-2000 and numerous Department Counter-Subversive Activities Cmte. Memb. positions 1989-2000. 1956-1967, Natl Americanism Cmsn. Memb. IN SEARCH OF Waiter W. Blackington, Dept. of Rhode Island. 1969-1972, 1975-1987, Dept. Cmdr. 1973-

Anyone who served with the 3rd Inf. Div. in Korea Dept. Public Relations Chmn. 1992-1993. 1974, Natl Americanism Council Vice Chmn. from 1951-1953 contact Leon J. "IVlike" IVlican, William G. Cline, Dept. of Indiana. Natl. 1974- 1975, Natl Legislative Cncl. Memb. 1328 Norwood Dr., Ashtabula, OH 44004-2452 Distinguished Guest Cmte. Memb. 1975-1976, 1975- 1986 and numerous Department or ph. 440-964-5175. Natl M&PA Cmte. Memb. 1976-1977, Natl positions 1964-1983.

Anyone who served with "B" Co. 762 Tank Bn. in the Pacific contact Emil H. Herter, Golden Eagle,

IL 62036 or ph. 618-883-2310.

Anyone who served with the 16th Inf. Reg. in Furth or Nuremberg, Germany, from 1948-1953

and participated in regimental sports contact

Chartie Silk or John Taylor at 8 Old Mill Pond Rd., Selbyville, DE 19975 or ph. 302-436-9409. ADVANCE YOUR POSITION

Anyone who served in the 536th MP Co. in

Germany from 1 957-1 959 contact D.W. Shoultz, 1544 E. County Rd., Winslow, IN 47598-8863 or ph. 812-789-2187. Anyone who served with the 42nd Ord. Det. (EOD)

in Vietnam from 1967-1968 contact MSgt. Bill Ramsey (USAR-Ret), 23 Lehigh Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21742 or ph. 301-797-0152. Anyone who served onboard the USS Bryant

DD-665 during its lifetime of service in the

Atlantic and Pacific Fleet during Wortd War II. Also, anyone who served aboard the YO G-5

during its service at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,

NEW! CORDLESS GAIN MORE FINANCIAL GROUND WITH THE ELECTRIC MOWER! The DR • WHISPER LITE ' is the CLEAN^ QUIET, EASY WAY to mow your lawn! AMERICAN LEGION-SPONSORED CERTIFICATE

• STARTS INSTANTLY, with the push of a button! OF DEPOSIT AND MONEY MARKET DEPOSIT • SO QUIET it won t disturb neighbors! • LIFT-OUT BATTERY ACCOUNTS FROM MBNA AMERICA® BANK. costs pennies to recharge. • HALF THE WEIGHT OF GAS MOWERS.

Easy for i to operate! • PERFECT FOR SMALL LAWNS Just because you retired from active a Legion-sponsored money market camps, second duty, doesn't mean your money has to. account, a liquid account with rates homes idea! a _ Now more than ever, you need the that have been consistently ranked ^^m- .' a trim ' I^B^ TOLL earning power of a American Legion- among the nation's highest. Both afford

sponsored deposit account. For high you the protection of FDIC insurance

\ce>oo) yield savings, select a Legion-sponsored up to $100,000 per depositor. For

CD with your choice of terms, from 6 to current rates, or to open an account, Why MESS any longer with a hard-to-start and 60 months. For high rates and easy call today and an Investor Services run gas-powered mower? access to principal and interest, choose representative will assist you. Please mail this coupon TODAY for FREE DETAILS of the DR" WHISPER LITE' CORDLESS Electric Mower, including prices, CALL 1-800-900-6653, EXT. 6324 specifications Special Savings now in effect. and www.legion.org Name J Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday 8 to 5 (Eastern tim MBNA and MBNA America are federally registered service marks of America Bank, N.A. ©2000 MBNA America Bank, N.A. City. MBNA

Meigs Road, P.O. Box 25, Vergennes, VT 05491 www.countryliomeproducts.com

• 60 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE APRIL 2000 8 IIEIOH SHBPPEH mssifm MOVING? SEND ADVERTISING COPY AND REMITTANCE RATES; $23 per word. Count street addresses and TO: Joan Rizzo, Classified Advertising, The Ameri- box numbers as two words; all city, state and zip can Legion Magazine, c/o Fox Associates, Inc., codes as three words. 347 5th Ave., Suite 1110, New York, NY 10016. (212) 725-2106, FAX (212) 779-1928. All classified CIRCULATION: 2,700,000 per month. DEADLINE: advertising is payable in advance by check or Advertising copy must be received 60 days before money order. Please make remittance payable to cover date of issue desired. All advertisements are "The American Legion Magazine." accepted at the discretion of the publisher.

APPAREL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SUSPENDER WEARERS! Frustrated with clips that WWW.EMBLEM-BADGE.COM. The best supplier of northAmerican Offers constantly slip off your pants? Our suspenders fea- metal/embroidered emblems, made-to-order, 3-4 ture patented "no-slip clip." Brochure/order, (800) weeks delivery, Daisy Crafts Co., Moving Discount 700-4515. [email protected]. ARROWHEADS/INDIAN CRAFTS MUSIC & MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS SAVE $$$ FREE CATALOG, 346-6029. BAGPIPES/KILTS, (201) 385-8991. (530) On Your Next BOOKS & MAGAZINES OF INTEREST TO ALL Interstate Move! BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! Publisher with MILITARY CAPS @ wwfw.flagsoftheworld.com. North Lines international offices can help. Contact Pentland American Van Press, Dept. AL, (800) 948-2786. WWW.USIMAGES.COM offers American Legion members a 40% discount on interstate moves. CASINO SUPPLIES/PLAYING CARDS COLD WAR VETERAN VICTORY MEDALS! (530) 550- 0392, www.falloutproducts.com. Let Northi American, the world's CATALOG, (800) 233-0828. WWW.WARCLASSICS.COM. largest professional mover, trans- COINS & COLLECTIBLES port your household goods with PERSONALS moving services to meet every need MEET NICE SINGLES. Christian values. FREE maga- and budget. In addition to saving zine. Send age. Singles-ALM, Allardt, TN 38504-0310. you will receive up to $50,000 EDUCATION & INSTRUCTION [email protected]. 40%, coverage on your household goods PARALEGAL - GRADED CURRICULUM. Approved ASIAN WOMEN! Overseas, marriage-minded. Sun- at no charge home study. Affordable. Since 1890. Free catalog. shine International Correspondence, Box 5500-HK, (800) 826-9228 or Blackstone School of Law, P.O. Kailua-Kona, HI 96745-5500. (808) 325-7707, For more information or a free Box 701449, Dallas, TX 75730. Department AL. http://sunshine-girls.com. estimate, call Andy Mento at Quality HEALTH & HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS Movers/North American Van Lines, FREE INSULIN SYRINGES, Diabetic supplies, no OLD GUITARS, (800) 451-9728. 1-800-524-5533 cash expense for all diabetics with Medicare. (800) 203-6198. Email: [email protected] MISCELLANEOUS SIMULATED ENGRAVED BUSINESS CARDS. SWORDS, (800) 798-6167. $17/thousand, delivered. Free samples. (888) 263- VIDEOS "THE PANAMA CANAL: AMERICA'S LIFELINE", 28- SENECASMOKES, DISCOUNT CIGARETTES. Car- minutes, free to show your post. Fax on Post letter- tons start at $12.50. Call toll free, (877) 234-2447. head: (225) 923-1939, phone: (225) 926-6097. Jim www.senecasmokes.com. Ware.

U.S. MILITARY MEDALS-PINS MARTIN'S FLAG CO. AU KINDS - ALL SIZES - PROMPT SHIPMENT Ask for our colorful catalog. Write or Call: (800) 992-3524 (U.S.) 248-3524 (Iowa) 2 SEAT BIKE (800) Drives Like a Car! P.O. BOX 1 1 1 8 - FORT DODGE, IOWA 5050 1 • 1 1 1 NAVY SHIP'S Easy to Pedal ^^.^ CUSTOM CAPS Multi-Speed

Street Legal f

, Seater^ A treasured 1 2 & 4 1^15-822-2737 Ext. 3386 nTo^LTrnn l HEARING AIDS symbol of your RllOilPC/ CAR V--' www.4wc.com/73386 upTo 60% SAVINGS service This is all you wear! 30-DAY TRIAL E.T.Wri^r An American Tradition Since CJ 1876 TRY Men's Quality Footwear in BEFORE ^^^^ YOU BUY Extensive Sizes and Widths. Sizes 6 to 20, Finally, you can wear a military ring that doesn't GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES! look like a high school ring! Over 100 rings ^Widths AAA-EEEEE. • ALL MAKES & MODELS • TERMS ARRANGED available in your choice of silver or solid gold. 30 YRS. EXPERIENCE • ALL MAKE REPAIRS Men's ring prices start at $127. 60 day iGaii 1-800-240-7463 • CUSTOM INSTRUMENT SPECIALISTS • money-back guarantee . Call for a FREE color to receive a

FOR FREE INFORMATION CALL: brochure: (503)731 -9256 (24 hr. recorded Free Catalog message). Or write: Classic Military Rings, 1-800-323-1212 435 SB 85th Dept. MOO, Portland OR 97216. We're the oldest, biggest and best Visit our website at www.CIassicRings.coni Please Mention Dept D410T Code/MOOl LLOYDS, DEPT. AL BOX 1645, ROCKFORD. IL 61110

APRIL 2000 ' THE AMERICAN LEGMAGAZINE • I , lEQIOH SHOPPER

DIsplayYour* Government Issue Military Awardg U.S. Peace Silver Dollars 3000 Official IVIedals, Badges, Patches & Insignia Army • Navy • Marines Air Force

Call for your FREE Color Catalog America's Last Real Silver Dollar in Brilliant ¥Scri -800-486-1 651 Uncirculated condition Issued between 1921 and 1935 tocommemorate the Peace Treaty

which ended World War 1. These beautiful coins were designed

by Anthony de Francisci and modeled after his wife Teresa. We

offer 3 different Peace Dollars, all over 75 years old. Limit 3 sets AVOID COLLISIONS! per household. Prices subject to change without notice. N. Y. residents add sales tax. 30 Day unconditional guarantee. Use the ALIRT Lane-changing alarm. In 1 Coin $14.95-i-$3.00 For P&H Total $17.95 mud. Its flashing red light will warn you 3 Coins $44.85+Free Pres. Case-i-S6.00 P&H Total $50.85 when there's a vehicle in your In snow, in water. driver's-side blind spot. Order Toll Free 1-800-835-0008 Incredible. Fast, easy installation Eastern Numismatics, 642FranklinAve.. Garden City, NY 1 \5M) Visit us on the INTERNET at htIp;//u,scoins.com Dept. Al. MAX 6-wheel drive ATV's. Military technology 2- and a-passenger models. Battery included Snap on/off design prevents theft

Works in all weather

Fits most cars, light trucks, SUVs

INTRODUCTORY PRICE ( jCQQc 1877-492-2200.V. 9«la«j9 US On-line ordering at wvirw.alirt.

Mailorder: P.O.Box 1881V standard shipping included. 48021, s time. Toronto, ON, Canada M4S 3C6 www.maxatvs.com Call toll-free 1-800-255-2511 MONROE HEARING AID CO Recreatives Industries. Inc. P.O. BOX A-3976 DEPT. 8 America's Highest Quality, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 60690 Lowest Priced Steel Buildings Ba«]ge-A-IVIinit

Yes, it's really possible by inaking and selling bright, colorful pinback buttons. Buttons cost less than " 400 to make and car in turn be sold (or

or more! Sell your Badge-A-Minit buttons

fairs, flea markets, conventions and mc Or promote your upcoming fundraisers by wearing buttons around town!

Our Starter Kit is only $29.95 (IL res. add $1 95 fax) and con- everything you need to jfSS? get started. Call to order or .^-.^^ equesf a FREE catalog! 'i-+!4>' ^

Enjoy an active Badge-A-Minit, Dept. AL400. Box 800. LaSalle. IL 61301 Call BOO • 223 • 4-I03 ^^^^^^^^m^ nit .com rewarding lifestyle!

Scooter Lifts & Ramps Available. SUPER TOUGH PROTECTION FOR YOUR Quality Savings You Deserve! BOAT, RV or AUTO & iVlasterCraft with plenty of room 1-800-229-1317 DRINK TOKENS steel Building Systems left over for a workshop Scooter Discountei Plastic or Wooden Nickels 1-888-781-6629 ext#436 Custom Printed www.straightwallsteelbldgs.com FREE CATALOG /SAMPLES 1-800-233-0828 KARDWELL INTERNATIONAL Box 607-AT, Orient, NY 11957 VIAGRA ALTERNATIVE visit www.lordweil.com IMPOTENCE SOLUTION AND PREVENTION WITH COMPLETE VACUUM THERAPY SYSTEM • Our system conies with four rings, MEN'SWIDE SHOES our competitors comes with none! EEE-EEEEEE, SIZES 5-13 • No prescription required TOLL FREE 888-231-2486 FREE catalog •Shipped in a plain pacloge r to your door NAME High ciuaiity

' ADDRESS. • Medicare patients may qualify 160 styles CITY for a device with no cost to them I IMRO TEC 6757 ARAPAHO CHECWISA/MASTERCARD/DISCOVER HITCHCOCK SHOES,INC. STE 711, BOX 333 SIGNATURE Dept. 5D Hingham, MA 02043 DALLAS, TX 75248 1-&00-992-WIDE www.wideshoes.com

• 02 THE.AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • APRIL 2000, LEBIBH SHOPPER

VIAGRA . DIDN'T WORK? RHODES HEARING FREE CATALOG!

NOW AVAILABLE WTHOUT A PRESCRIPTION NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL MINI-CANAL ECKERD DRUGSTORES AND SNYDER DRUGSTORES SAVE HUNDREDS! FOR FREE INFORMATION CALL: 45 DAY TRIAL! 1 -800-475-3091 ' Viagra is a registered trademark of Pfizer

Encore Medical, Inc., 1002 N. Central Expressway., Ste. 341, Richardson,TX 75080

EYEGLASS HEARING Alt^ FLAGS, FLAG CASES, WITH A SIMPLE TUBE FITTING LEAVE THE EAR CANAL OPEN TIRED OF BEING PVIiVDE & MEMORLVL SHORT? Try our quality footwear. DECOR/VTIONS

:r 100 styles. Extremely com- CALL 800-628-3524 fortable. Discreet packaging. Sizes 5 to 12. Widtfis B to EEE. In business since 1939 MONEYBACK GUARAN- CARROT-TOP INDUSTRIES, In TEE! Call or write for FREE color catalog, www.elevator- P.O. Box 820 Dept. 18001 Hillsborough, NC 27278 ELEVATORS® Q www.carrot-top.com CALL OR WRITE: RHODES HEARING DEPT R11, BROOKPORT, IL 62910 1-800-343-3810 1-800-320-3300 EXT R11 Biilliartlo GEM Uncirculated. Our dioice from the followinj dates 1878, 1879 PS, 1880 POS, 1881 POS, 1882 OS, 1883 POS, 1884 POS 1885 POS 1886, 1887, 1888 POS 1889, 1890 PO, 1896, 1897 FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG! HAT PINS'MEDALS 1898 PO, 1899 0, 1900 PO, 1902 0, 1903 0, 1904 0. 1921 POS (Morgan), 1922, 1923 1924, 1925, Buy 9 coins $139'^ FREE COLOR CATALOG Buy 18 corns $269' Receive 2 Free!! Receive 4 Free!! 2500+ IVlilitary Designs J1295°' Receive 10 Free!! Army. Navy. Air Force, tvlarines

Call now! Toll-free! Our choice from the following: 1948 PD. 1949, 1950 PO. 1951, 1952, 1953 PD, 1954 PO, 1956, SK.NDi'OHAVin'FSAJJCATflJ.OUi^ORSl.OO; 1 -888-223-1 1 59 1957 PD, 1958 PO, 1959 PD, 1960 PD, 1961 PD, 1962 PD, 1963 PD, 1964 PD. \W Custom pins & patches i Buy 15 coins S69'^ Receive 5 Free!! PIECES OFHISTORY Dealer inquiries welcome Buy 30 coins |l37» Receive 10 Free!! Buy GO coins $269^° Receive 20 Free!! ^ Buy 70 coins $334'° Receive 30 Free!! Call: 480-488-1377 Fax: 1-800-488-1316 D Postage and Handling. Prices subject to ctlange. by Hoover's Mfg., Co. Chaim Greenberg I NEW AUTHORS PUBLISH YOUR WORK iBUY FACTORY Pi«€0T ^".v^^eii, WorldsLowestPrices.com ALL SUBJECTS CONSIDERED WRITE, OR SEND YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO: MINERVA PUBLISHING CO. 1001 BRICKELL BAY DR., #2310, MIAMI, FL 33131

ElettroEase® Scooters • Adjustable Beds • Uh Chairs & Stair Lifts 1 -800-727-1 954

Are you moving to Las Vegas ? Your Real Estate Connection Paul Damon Realtor ® ILL & NV

• I worl< for a Buyer at No Cost

• VA Loans Las Vegas First Realty 1(800)592-9278 www.avethelpingavet.com

One call to Paul does it all

A WWII ACTION VIDEO ! Palmer's one-hand operated, double & TOLD BY THOSE WHO WERE THERE single seat 3 wheelers are Gear driven. THEY WERE THE LITTLE-KNOWN FUGS • POLES . FUGS. POLES • FUGS • POLES , FREE BROCHURE -t- B-24 S THAT FLEW WITH THE ^î^ Call _800-847-1 304 ^.^ê^^ mm FAMOUS FLYING TIGERS FLAG & BANNER SUPPLY _ IB "''"""'s "> organizations PALMER INDUSTRIES WHAT HAPPENED TO MISSION 19 ? •Top Quality ™ ^^^73 OF THE •Heavy Duty Mb Full Line of Flags & Banners \c'?i P.O. BOX 5707PY •All New Complete $24.95 plus $3.75S&H U.S. Made & Catalogue ^ ENDICOTT NY 13763 K J^TTI^^Î Call for quotes on '^^l-SOO-SZB-FmG (SSS) MERCO PO 1 ALSO PEDAL / ELECTRIC 1 & 2 SEATERS & rj 1 . BOX 96 0 8 B 1 1 3 ^^^^ flagpole discounts V ""^LOCAL 740-335-7730 Also e ^BBMMBM ^^WfcW' PORTIJ^ND. OR 97219 HANDCYCLES, ELECTRIC KIT FOR TRIKES FUGS • POlfS 'FUGS' POLES • FUGS • POlfS Visit us at our Web Site: www.palmerind.com

APRIL 2000 • THE AMERICAN LEGION ;#GAZINE • flf PAmB sms

"You should know better than to try to mug "Do you have malpractice insurance?" people on April 15thi"

The A-Bomb Was Easier Moving IVIemories The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax! When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot - but I always - Albert Einstein found them. - Rodney Dangerfield

A taxpayer is someone who works for the federal govern- The Regulations We Paid For ment but who doesn't have to take a civil service examina- We're getting a lot of government these days, but we'd tion. - Ronald Reagan probably be worse off if we were getting as much as we're paying for. - Olin Miller

The trick is to stop thinking of it as "your" money. - Tax Auditor A Captain Goes Down With His Bill When I lost my rifle, the Army charged me $85. That's The challenge of politics is how to rip off the taxpayers why, in the Navy, the captain goes down with the ship. without unduly alarming the voters. - Edward MacManus - Dick Gregory

• • 1)4 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE APRIL 2000 .

The 'National Motor Museum' - in Association with Pepsi-Cola, Presents: CLASSIC 1940 FORD

Die-Cast Replica Strictly Limited, Final Edition of the 20th Century, Scale - 1:32 Authorized by Pepsi-Cola

Direct from the 'National Motor Museum Mint,' comes 'Pepsi' bottles. Lift the hood and inspect the engine ... the very last officially authorized 'Pepsi-Cola' commem- ana you can almost hear this miniature V-8 power orative to be issued in this century. From over 100 plant roar to life ... same as the very first day it was years of 'Pepsi' vehicles, the most memorable of all its delivered to 'Pepsi' six decades ago! delivery trucks - the original 1940 Ford V-8 Pepsi-Cola "pleasure-mobile." Comes With Certificate of Authenticity - And is Fully Guaranteed Precision-Engineered From Original 'Pepsi' Specifications, it Features Full Operating Authentic die-cast replicas of classic vintage cars normal- Parts, Official Logos & Factory Baked ly sell for as much as $29.98 each ... and in the case of Enamel Finish. specially issued limited editions, as high as $59.98. But under the terms of the license from PepsiCola for this spe- So finely detailed, even the most minute detail and most cial release, we are authorized to offer this 1940 'Pepsi' intricate feature has been recaptured in precise scale- treasure-piece for only $9.98. So, to make sure you do ratio: gleaming chrome bumpers ... chrome V-nose grille not let this opportunity pass you by, order TODAY! ... twin running boards ... working rubber tires ... why Satisfaction guaranteed, or money refunded (less P & H) even the back-loaded racks that hold over 500 individual ACT NOW!

i NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM MINT, Dept. PBLA 0020 |1 Eversley Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851-5844

I Please send me the Pepsi Trucks ordered below on your money-back guarantee, less p&h. I One Pepsi Truck only $9.98

SAVE ! Two Pepsi Trucks only $17.98 BEST OFFER! Three Pepsi Trucks only $24.98 Add $4 P&H No Matter What You Order

1 Enclosed is $ check or money order.

(CT residents please add 6% Sales Tax)

! OR: Charge it: Visa MasterCard

iAcct# -Exp. Name

Dwer Planl Rear view with Nostalgic Pepsi Sign [Address FOR VALUABLE FREE GIFTS VISIT US AT: I www.nationaltvbargains.com ICity State .Zip_

0 NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM MINT 1 EVERSLEY AVENUE, NORWALK, CT 06851 .

11 ^^^^ if Iim

Iminiiliilumnui \

There's a hidden dividend in our famous Pincords that maiies them our most popular summer slaclfs...

Those crisp color-on-white vertical stripes have a trimming, slimming effect!

Terrific with a sport shirt, they go to the office with equal aplomb - just add a blazer and tie! Expertly tailored withall the quality benchmarks you expect:

• Tough, durable nylon zipper • Four big No-Hole pockets • Ban-Rol® no-roll waistband • Premium woven polyester and cotton pincord fabric • Tropical weight for summer comfort • 100% automatic machine wash and dry. Imported.

PINCORD A AA95 1 3 for 43.75 SLACKS 2-29 4 for 57.50 Haband 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Peckville, Pennsylvania 18452

WAISTS: 30 32 34 35 36 1 PINCORD SLACKS What What How w 7EL-0TH Waist? Inseam? Many? A BLUE C TAN D BL7\CK F BERRY Send pairs <

and shirts. I enclose MATCHING SHIRT $15 each

I $ purchase price, WHAT HOW ) 7EL-1NE SIZE? MANY? plus""$3:€Sl toward postage A BLUE I and insurance. GA residents add sales tax. J TAN FREE POSTAGE B BU\CK

I Check Visa order., F BERRY Discover Card MC

Exp.:

Mr. Mrs. Ms.

Mail Address _ Apt. #

City & State Zip 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed or Full Refund of Purchase Price at Any Time! ,

For fastest possible service call 1-800-742-2263 Order 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!