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Gulag Nation n Military Tattoos n A Freedom Too Far www.legion.org “For God and Country“ since 1919 TWO ZIPPERS make these the easiest on/off boots in the world! LEATHER Double Medium & WIDE Men’s PLUSH FLEECE Sizes! linings are soft and keep feet snug, warm! 99 per pair Brown 39and This get-acquainted new customer offer comes with Duke Habernickel, Pres. absolutely 11600600 Pennsylvania Ave. free shipping, direct Peckville, PA 18452 to your doorstep. You save $6.95 in delivery cost! Act Now, Don’t Miss Out on the Savings or the Comfort! LEATHER 99* Double per 39 pair Zip Boots 2 pairs for 73.95 Haband 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Peckville, PA 18452 Send ____ boots. I enclose $________ purchase price plus $6.95 toward postage. GA residents add sales tax 1 1 D Widths: 7 7 ⁄2 88⁄2 1 1 FREE 99⁄2 10 10 ⁄2 11 12 13 *EEE Width (just $3 more per pair): Postage! 1 1 1 GENUINE LEATHER UPPERS! Black 88⁄2 99⁄2 10 10 ⁄2 11 12 13 Handsome, weather resistant, and totally WHAT WHAT HOW 7T6-40901 SIZE? WIDTH? MANY? comfortable! Thick, plush fleece insulation 01 also acts as a cushion to absorb shock. BLACK Check 04 Rugged man-made, slip-resistant flexible Visa BROWN outsoles give great traction on any surface! MC Discover/NOVUS® AmEx Exp.: ____/____ Boots have double easy-grip zippers, Card # __________________________________________ and take you everywhere, from office to Mr. Mrs. Ms. ____________________________________ snowy sidewalks, in warmth and style. Address_________________________________________ Don’t delay — order today! Apt. # ______ City _______________________________ State ____________________________ Zip ___________ 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed or Imported Full Refund of Purchase Price at Any Time! DECEMBER 2003 Vol. 155, No. 6 features 12 Gulag Nation North Korea’s political prisons are human NORTH KOREA’S HOLOCAUST 12 black holes from which “enemies of the state” rarely return. By Thomas Omestad 20 For the Children German doctor Norbert Vollertsen will not be silent about Kim Jong Il’s brutal regime. 26 When Holidays Hurt Faith, family and planning ahead can help the recently bereaved fi nd joy in the season. By Victor M. Parachin HOME AWAY 30 The House That FROM HOME 30 Fisher Built A network of comfort homes keeps wounded soldiers and their families together during recovery. By Matt Grills 34 More Than Skin Deep The popularity of tattoos has moved 44 Legion’s Greetings beyond the military and into the Grow the American Legion family this mainstream. By Terisa Green holiday season by purchasing gift 38 A Freedom Too Far memberships for loved ones - American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Demonstrators who enjoy free speech A COMPLICATED Sons of The American Legion or all FREEDOM 38 must respect limits when seeking the three. Inexpensive to purchase, gift public’s attention. By Richard D. Parker memberships make perfect stocking stuffers for adults and children alike. By Jeff Stoffer Cover photo: Alaska Stock departments 4 Vet Voice 46 Under the Radar 2 Legion News Job protection for Guard and Commander’s Message Online defense, terrorism at sea 8 Reserves, Wyoming Legion Measurements of strength and Russia’s westward tilt. 48 Living Well rodeo and a record donation 10 Big Issues to the American Legacy fund. Cap medical malpractice awards Anxiety treatment, value of exercise and a new Agent 60 Comrades Orange benefi t. 64 Parting Shots The American Legion Magazine, a leader among national general-interest publications, is published monthly by The American Legion for its 2.7 million members. These wartime veterans, working through 15,000 community-level posts, dedicate themselves to God and Country and traditional American values; strong national security; adequate and compassionate care for veterans, their widows and orphans; community service; and the wholesome development of our nation’s youth. December 2003 1 The American Legion Magazine Veterans Commemoratives™ Announces its Official UNITED STATES MILITARY DRESS POCKET WATCHES 700 N. Pennsylvania St. Featuring Your Full Color Military Service Emblem, P.O. Box 1055 Engraved With Your Name, Rank, Serial Number and Years of Service Indianapolis, IN 46206 (317) 630-1200 http://www.legion.org National Commander John A. Brieden III Published by The American Legion EDITORIAL Editor John Raughter Managing Editor Jeff Stoffer Contributing Editor Steve Brooks Assistant Editor James V. Carroll Assistant Editor Matt Grills The watch caseback will be engraved with Assistant Editor Elissa Kaupisch Complete with 12” chain and pouch your Full Name,Service Emblem, Rank, Editorial Administrator Patricia Marschand with beltloop. Serial Number and Years of Service. General Administrator Brandy Ballenger General Administrator Robin Bowman Actual Size is GRAPHICS/PRODUCTION 3 1 /4” Diameter A Perfect Graphics/Production Director Jon Reynolds Holiday Gift Art Director Holly K. Soria Designer Douglas Rollison Order by December 12 th for Designer King Doxsee Christmas Delivery ADVERTISING Advertising Director Diane Andretti Advertising Assistant Sara Palmer Advertising Assistant Leslie Hankins The American Legion Magazine P.O. Box 7068 Indianapolis, IN 46207 We are pleased Each Military FOX ASSOCIATES, INC. to honor your Emblem is sculpted Publisher’s Representatives Chicago: (312) 644-3888 service to Country in high relief detailed New York: (212) 725-2106 Los Angeles: (213) 228-1250 by issuing a unique with full color hand- Detroit: (248) 543-0068 Atlanta: (404) 497-7690 Veterans Commemorative enameling and gold plating. San Francisco: (415) 989-5804 THE AMERICAN LEGION Military Dress Pocket Watch. MAGAZINE COMMISSION Dennis J. Henkemeyer, Chairman, Sauk Rapids, MN; The watch features precision quartz for These exclusive watches are “Thank Samuel Barney, Vice Chairman, Lancaster, OH; Charles years of accurate timekeeping and FREE You” priced at just $65.00* plus E. Hartman, National Commander’s Representative, Eau Claire, PA. James J. Charleston, Consultant, Island Lake, easy to read 24 hour Military time dial. FLAG PIN with $4.50* for engraving, shipping and IL. Robert A. Corrigan, Consultant, Bronx, NY. Commis- each order sion Members: Harold F. Arnold, Statesboro, GA; Jerry D. The watchcase is beautifully finished in handling. Your Satisfaction is Askins, Clinton, OK; J.O. Berthelot, Gonzalez, LA; Vincent E. Blank, Vinton, IA; James P. Comiskey, Pittsburgh, PA; 22 karat gold. Guaranteed or Your Money Back! Donald R. Conn, South Bend, IN; James W. Conway, Charlestown, MA; Bettylou Evans, Laurel, DE; Philip B. Finley, Colby, KS; James Hall, Hopewell, NJ; Theodore Hartmann, Smithton, IL; Bob Legan, Russellville, AR; J. Fred Mitchell, Brewton, AL; Michael L. Montaney, Ephrata, WA; Silas M. Noel, Frankfurt, KY; Everett G. Shepard III, Woodstock, CT; George G. Sinopoli, Fresno, CA; Robert E. Vass Sr., Huntington, WV; Frank C. Ward, Greenville, SC. NEC Liaison Committee: William W. Kile, ARMY NAVY AIR FORCE MARINE COAST GUARD Chairman, Petersburg, WV; Alfred Pirolli, Philadelphia, FOR FASTEST SERVICE CALL TOLL FREE TO ORDER: 1-800-255-3048 PA; Arthur E. Sell, Big Timber, MT; Marco A. Valenzuela, Tempe, AZ. Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm EST Have Credit card ready when ordering. th Copyright 2003 by The American Legion Order by December 12 for Christmas Delivery The American Legion (ISSN 0886-1234) is published ORDER FORM Mail to: monthly by The American Legion, 5745 Lee Road, India- Veterans Commemoratives™ Military Pocket Watch Credit Card: (Pease print clearly.) napolis, IN 46216. Periodicals postage paid at Indiana polis, 1250 Easton Road, Suite 290, Horsham, PA 19044 IN 46204 and additional mailing offices. Annual non- Credit Card# ________________________________________ member and gift subscriptions, $15 ($21, foreign); post- K YES! I wish to order my Military Pocket Watch, spon sored and widows’ subscriptions, $6; single copy, personalized as follows: (Check choice. Please print clearly.) K Visa K MasterCard or K AMEX Exp.Date______/______ $3.50. Member annual subscription price $3.00, which PLEASE SEND ME A FREE AMERICAN FLAG PIN. is included in annual member dues. POST MASTER: Send address changes to The American Legion, Data Services, Service Branch: Signature ______________________________________ P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Internet address: K Army K Navy K Air Force K Marine K Coast Guard http://www.legion.org. Change of Address: Notify The American Legion, Data Daytime Phone Number(______) ______________________ Full Name: ________________________________________ Services, P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, IN 46206. (317) 860-3111. Attach old address label, provide old and new Rank:_____________________Years Served: _______-_______ Name ________________________________________ addresses and current membership card number. Canada Post International Publications Mall (Canadian Serial Number: ______________________________________ Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 546321. Re-entered Address ________________________________________ second-class mail matter at Manila Central Post office I wish to pay as follows: dated Dec. 22, 1991. K Enclosed is my check or money order for $ 65.00* as payment in full. OR, City____________________State_______Zip __________ K Charge my Credit Card $ 65.00* as payment in full. Printed in USA *Plus $ 4.50 shipping & handling and engraving **PA residents add 6% state sales tax. © ICM 2002- 2003 NMPWAT-ALM-12/03 Member Audit Bureau of Circulations VISIT VETERAN’S COMMEMORATIVES™ ONLINE AT WWW.VETCOM.COM vet voice Slush fund Congress doesn’t care Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart blames One of the reasons members of Congress do nothing about Social everybody from baby boomers to those older than 70 for the Security is that it means nothing shortfall in the Social Security system to them. They do not participate in the program. They have their (“Stretched Thin,” October). First, consider own retirement plan. Ask any administration costs and bungling. Second, a senator or representative. It’s a golden parachute. lot of people have never paid a dime into it. – John Frew, Cartersville, Ga. In my opinion, the biggest culprit is Uncle Forced to pay Sam dipping into the kitty and borrowing I read with interest William W. funds.