The American Legion [Volume 150, No. 6 (June 2001)]

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Vol. 150, No. 6 The Magazine for a Strong America JUNE 2001

' '

A 11 T 1 C L E SI

TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER By Donald p. Hodei

Unless energy supply catches up with demand, more states will share in California 's power pinch. 1 £

FATHERHOOD UNDER FIRE By Alan w. oowd

A recent study suggests the nation's children might be better off without dear old Dao1. i

MAKING THE PIECES FIT By David Abshire A new world requires a new national-security strategy, which America doesn't have. 1Lw

A TAXING DERATE By Paul a. GIgotandE.J. DIonneJr Will cutting taxes remedy or wreck a slowing economy?

OLD GLORY: SOUL OF OUR NATION By Matt Griiis

The same spirit that inspired Flag Day in 1885 is embodied in toda^''S flag-iorotection

XUniNG RACKLOG' PRINCIPI'S TOP PRIORITY interview „ The new VA Secretary is committed to giving veterans timely evaluations of their claims. 11

THE TIME IS NOW By James V. Carroll Legionnaires gather in the nation's capital to lobby for veterans issues.

[

AUXILIARY SEEKS HELP IN RUILDING MEMRERSHIP ByKristine s. west With more needs to meet than ever, the Legion's sister organization has thinning ranks.

GLUCOSAMINE, CHONDROmN NIAY HELP REUEVE ARTHRmS By Tara Parker-Pope

What's not known is if these two natural remedies work best when taken alone or together

1 A It T M E IM T S

BIG ISSUES Should capital gains be taxed?

VETVOICE WASHINGTON WATCH PARTING SHOTS

COMMANDER'S n/IESSAGE 1 VETERANS UPDATE

LEGION NEWS COMRADES

COVER Electricity towers dwarf a field of sunflowers in a stark example of the California power crunch. Will energy advocates or environmentalists come out on top? Corbis Stock Market photo

The American Legion Magazine, a leader among national general-interest publications, is published monttily by Ttie American Legion for its 2.7 million members. Ttiese wartime veterans, working through 1 5,000 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.

JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • j NEW FOR MEMBER FAMILIES ANnounciiig the Official Veterans Commemoratiwi Mii

Personalized with your Name, Service Unit, Branch EmUem, Yeors of Service onci Post Number 700 N, Pennsylvania St. P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 317-630-1200 http://www.legion.org Preseslmg a Kmmy Petk^ IbA so ipead National Commander Ray G. Smith tLLpiM^ffmrmi. nb mkl Vnenm Editor John Raughter Cwiuin'iMii Bfiie towfi fMT «nwe to cumriry mi fravidei a eseM tool fan wS amy everydey. Editorial Managing Editor Ron Hyink 2" THE KKiFE: Solid Stainless Steel case with serrated blade, guaranteed for life. Contributing Editor Steve BrookS Safety lock blade release protects against accidental closure. Associate Editor Jeff Stoffer Assistant Editor THE UGHT: Built-in push-button RED LED Pin-light for up-close secure use. Serves as James V. Carroll mopllght, keyhole locator - any spot illumination. Assistant Editor Matt GriilS Assistant Editor Elissa KaupiSCh THE EMBLEM: Your choice of Official Military Bodge minted like a fine coin, finished Editorial Administrator Patricia Marschand in Gold and bond enamelling, to honor your service. General Administrator Robyn Black PERSONALIZED: Your full name, Service Unit or Ship, Post Number and year dates General Administrator Robin Bowman of service laser engraved on the stainless steel knife blade. GraphicslProtiuction Tiff PRKE Just 29.95* Buy several as gifts and Save: 2 for $55,' 4 for $99* Graptiics/Produotion Manager Jon Reynolds Art Editor Holly K. ORDEIirOliH Soria Designer Pouglas Rollison Mall to: Veterans Commemoratives Payment: Encloseil is a: (CHeck One) 140 Sugartown Road. Devon. PA 19333 Check IVloney Order, or Advertising YES, send me the following Military Pocket Knives (Indicate Credit Card Info: Visa IVIasterCard Advertising Manager Diane Andretti Quantities) Card Number: Exp. Date _ _/ Advertising Assistant Laura Baker Quantity: Army Navy Air Force Advertising Assistant I I I Sara Palmer I I i ^1 Marines Coast Guard (Not Shown) Signature Tfie American Legion Magazine Engraving: Please include name, address, service emblem choice, unit P.O. Daytime Phone Box 7068 or ship name. Post l\lumber and years of service for each knife ordered ( )

on a separate sheet ol paper *Plus $4 95 per knife for Engraving, Shipping and Handling, Indianapolis, IN 46207

PA residents add 6% sales taj(, . Print caretutty as persoitalized loiives can 't be retumetl. PKTKN-ALM-e-Ol Publistier's Representatives Fox Associates, Inc. Chicago: 312-644-3888 New York: 212-725-2106 Los Angeles: 31 0-841 -0280 Detroit: 248-543-0068 Atlanta: 404-252-0968 San Francisco: 415-989-5804 The American Legion Magazine

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1-BOO-TOURK Dennis J. Henkemeyer, Chairman, Sauk Rapids, MN; Samuel Barney, Vice Chairman, Lancaster, OH; Robert H. Allen, National Commander's Representative, Mechanlcsburg, PA; ' 5000 years of mystery awaits you Theodore R. Hartmann, Smithton, IL; Donald R, Conn, South | Bend, IN; James W. Conway, Charlestown, MA; Hoy M. Haught, Huntsville, AR; James H. Hall, Hopewell, NJ; Bettylou Come to Korea/ Evans, Laurel, DE; Eugene J. Kelley, Savannah, GA; James P. Comiskey, Pittsburgh, PA; George G. Sinopoli, Fresno, CA;

Philip B. Finley, Colby, KS; Joe D. Mercer, Oklahoma City,

OK; Russell H. Laird, Des Moines, lA; J, Fred Mitchell, Brew-

ton, AL; J.O. Berthelot, Gonzales, LA; Everett G. Shepard III, Woodstock, CT; Dolores Ziegler, Bellevue, WA; Silas M. Noel, Frankfort, KY; Frank C. Ward, Greenville, SC; Robert E. Vass

Sr., Huntington, WV; James J. Charleston, Arlington Hgts,, IL

The American Legion {ISSN 0886-1234) is published monthly by The American Legion, 5745 Lee Road, India- napolis, IN 46216. Periodicals postage paid at Indiana- polis, IN 46204 and additional mailing offices.

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2 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 . . .

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vehicles in a day; unfortunately, it condition is exacerbated to the point Three cheers for Rudy can't stop all the ones smuggling drugs that a 30-percent or more disability is Thank you for or other contraband. Maybe someday granted, that person will retire and be putting Master we'll be lucky enough to win the war on the military's income roles as long Chief Rudy on drugs, but not by allowing every- as he lives, as well as medical benefits Boesch on the body across our borders. for him and his family. cover of The - Darren Agnew, Fayetteville, Pa. To prevent this, a superficial med- American Legion ical board is convened and bang - the Magazine ("The man or woman is out of the service 'Survivor' Aid for Alzheimer's with a 10- or 20-percent disability. A SEAL," April). I I found the article "Alzheimer's Un- lump-sum payment is made, and med- doubt anyone is masked" (April) to be informative, but ical is pushed off on VA. I hope some- more deserving something was missing: the toll-free one is paying attention. To allow this to of the honor. What a great career he phone number of the National happen will surely deny a person bene- had. Rudy served his nation well and I Alzheimer's Association office in fits he or she will need later in life. salute him for it. Chicago, (800) 272-3900. Also, it - David L. Samuels, Killeen, Texas -Darwin C. Litzell, Woodville, Wis. might have been helpful to suggest for readers with questions that they contact their local Alzheimer's chapter office. Support jailed veterans But is he a Legionnaire? These phone numbers are available Thank you for James V. Carroll's ar- Although the article about Rudy through the national office or the local ticle "Blue Caps Behind Bars" (April), Boesch covered his 45 years of honor- phone book. Keep up the good work. which reminds us able and dedicated service to the Navy - Paulette C. Krewson, office manager, that the veterans' and his country, it failed to state South Central Pennsylvania Chapter, community ex- whether he is a card-carrying member National Alzheimer's Association, tends to those of an American Legion Post. Harrisburg, Pa. serving time in My kudos to Rudy and his wife. our nation's pris- Marge, for being married 43 years. ons. While these That, too, is an equally impressive idea inmates must pay achievement given today's skyrocket- I found the article "Vets Favor their debts to so- ing divorce rate. Lump-Sum Benefits" (April) alarming. ciety, we must - Mike Doyle, Pittsburgh That's just what the military has been remember they doing for years. What today may be have earned a measure of our respect Editor's Note: Master Chief Rudy called a minor condition can - and in for their past service to this great coun- Boesch is a member of American Le- most cases will - increase in severity as try. By being Legionnaires, many are gion Post 41, Virginia. the years go by, depending on the dis- demonstrating that they are committed ability. The military understands that if to rebuilding their lives and, once they don't get a person out before the again, becoming productive citizens. Let's show them our support. How could a guy hke Rudy Boesch - The Rev. Vince Milum, Lenexa, Kan. allow himself to be associated with the WE WANT YOUR OPINIOiyS bunch of ding-a-lings who were depicted on "Survivor"? Here's a man with a su- Prison Post proud to serve The American Legion Magazine perb record in one of the toughest mili- Thanks for the article "Blue Caps welcomes letters concerning arti- tary units in the world, cavorting with Behind Bars." Here at Missouri East- cles that appear in the publication. people I would refer to as "social mis- ern Correction Center, Post 900, Leg- Be sure to include your hometown fits." Maybe money really does talk. ionnaires also contribute to our com- and a daytime phone number for - Roger Price, Waupaca, Wis. munity. We support the local women's verification. All letters are subject shelter and high schools. Alcohol and to editing. Send your opinions to: Narcotics Anonymous, three state vet- the National NAFTA aids tm The American Legion IVIagazine erans' homes, Emergency I Cardinal Glenn Chil- For once have to agree with Rep. P.O. Box 1055 Fund and the in St. Louis, just to Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio ("Has NAF- Indianapolis, IN 46206 dren's Hospital TA Been a Success?" Big Issues, name a few. You can also contact us via e- April). NAFTA has not only endan- As the article says, incarcerated vet- mail directly or through the World gered the U.S. economy and brought erans understand and accept the fact Wide Web: more unsafe traffic onto the highways, that we have broken the law and must but it has created an easier means for pay our debt to society. However, we e-mail: [email protected] drug cartels to get shipments into our know the majority of Americans view Internet: http://www.legion.org country. The U.S. Border Patrol can us as criminals, nothing more. We only stop, search and inspect so many "blue caps" hope to show our critics we

i| • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 1

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can change, we can contribute to our justice system. While he has served as a pertained to 3 percent of lawyers. Now, communities in a positive way and Congressman, Senator and Vice Presi- I dare say, it pertains to 97 percent. that, by being Legionnaires, we can dent, Quayle is no expert when it comes - S.W. "Pee Wee" Morse, Coinjock, N.C. help ourselves by helping others. to civil justice. He didn't offer any facts We salute our colleagues at Arthur from substantive, academic or neutral Kill in New York and are proud of their studies. Use military along border accomplishments. Keep up the good Quayle rails against "lotto-like I applaud the efforts of the U.S . Bor- work for God and country. awards that tempt people to file law- der Patrol to stem the flow of illegal - Timothy Lantz, Post 900finance officer, suits." Individuals who have sustained border crossings into the United States Missouri East Correction Center, paralyzing, disfiguring or life-altering ("The Frontlines Pacific, Mo. injuries, and families whose children of Illegal Immi- have died due to the negligent behavior gration," March). of other individuals or corporations, As is true in all would tell him that no amount of mon- admirable en- After reading Alan W. Dowd's arti- ey could possibly compensate for those deavors, the hours cle "The War for Recruits" (April), I injuries or deaths. are long, condi- find it unbeliev- He should know that judges not only tions less than op- able that mili- have the discretion to reduce jury ver- timal and pay tary recruiters dict awards and to throw out frivolous probably less than were denied ac- lawsuits and defenses, but also to punish desirable. cess to high- the lawyers who offer them. As a member of the U.S. military, I school campus- For accurate information about ver- am familiar with the El Paso region's es 19,228 times dict amounts, Quayle could have con- operations, having worked in that area in 1999. "Noth- sulted a recent study titled "Tort Trials as part of a task force. ing short of an and Verdicts in Large Counties, 1996," I do believe the military should be ultimatum from released by the U.S. Justice Depart- used along the border. I swore to defend school or feder- ment's Bureau of Justice Statistics. Ac- the United States from all enemies, for- al lawmakers cording to the study, punitive damages eign or domestic. The influx of drugs, il- I WANTYCMJ will change are rarely given - only 3 percent of legal immigrants and terrorists through that," Dowd concludes. plaintiff winners in personal-injury tri- our borders definitely fits that descrip- Oh yeah? Publish the names of als were awarded them. And the medi- tion. But any use of military personnel schools that deny recruiters, and I'll bet an punitive damage award, given for needs to take into consideration what Legionnaires put pressure on the school defendants' outrageous conduct, was the military is trained to do. It also boards and local administrators. We only $38,000. Among jury trials, about should permit service members to take might even remind them of where their 18 percent of awards to plaintiff win- appropriate action to defend themselves, paychecks come from. They'd correct the ners were reduced - by 43 percent on their comrades and any law-enforce- problem before the next election. average. ment personnel they are working in con- - John E. Hocking, Millersburg, Ohio Quayle should welcome the results junction with should the need arise.

of this study, since it also found an av- Our borders on the north and south

erage of 1 1 tort trials per 100,000 peo- are largely unguarded through political Gaps off to Commander ple in 1996. His ambitious agenda to agreements, but the people we fight A resounding "well done" to Na- fix what is not broken is a poorly veiled against are not representatives of our tional Commander Ray Smith for his attempt to limit the rights of injured neighbors' governments. letter to Russian officials that helped workers and consumers - millions of - C. Algiere, Stuttgart, Germany secure the release of imprisoned Amer- them veterans - across America. ican Edmond Pope ("Smith's Letter - Frederick M. Baron, president, Assisted American," March). His ac- and Leo V. Boyle, president-elect. Corrections tion likely saved the life of that inno- Assoc. of Trial Lawyers of America, The Legion News story "VA Com- cent man. Such a fine example of lead- Washington mittee Names Chairman" (March) ership makes me proud to be a member should have stated that rehabilitation of The American Legion. reforms will include a law "to allow - Ken Wright, Palmer, Ark. Put blame on lawyers disabled military retirees to receive Congratulations and a proud salute full disability and retirement pay and a to former Vice President Dan Quayle law to allow service-connected mili- for having the courage to write such a tary retirees to receive full disability Many members ot the Association ol "politically incorrect" article. No doubt and retirement pay concurrently." Trial Lawyers of America who also are lawyers in the United States have influ- The Veterans Update story "VA Ex- Legionnaires were dismayed to read enced the American public to dodge pands Funeral Program" (March) Dan Quayle's commentary "The Trou- self-responsibility, more than any other should have been headlined "DoD Ex- ble With Tort" (March), as it served only group of professional people. When the pands Funeral Program." to perpetuate false myths about the civil phrase "shyster lawyer" was coined, it We apologize for the errors.

• • 2001 B THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE JUNE A Tribute to Americans Heroes

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Why we Bght for the Amrican Obb

early 12 years ago, The Amer- any issue in Washington. Most impor- ican Legion began peaceably tantly, the American people agree. Ac- assembling to petition govern- cording to polls, public-support levels for ment for redress of a serious a flag amendment have consistently, for a grievance. The U.S. Supreme decade, mn at 80 percent. Court had ruled 5-4 that some- Our opponents, meanwhile, are repre- where between the lines of the senting a different faction - primarily First Amendment resides a rebels without a brain. message stating that it's all For instance, on Sept. 6, 1996, in Ap- right to desecrate - bum, rip, deface and pleton. Wis., local youths admitted steal- commit acts too vile to mention - the very ing, burning and defecating on American symbol of our hard-fought freedom. We flags in a series of more than 20 incidents. adamantly disagreed with the ruling then. One flag was left with a note: "The Anar- Still do. Always will. chist Platoon has invaded Appleton, and The debate came up after Texas tried as long as you put flags up, (we're) going and convicted Gregory L. Johnson for to bum them." What a cause. setting fire to a U.S. Rag while chanting On Memorial Day weekend 1997 in "America, the red, white and blue - we Hollywood, Fla., Vietnam War veteran spit on you," during the 1984 Republican Bob Gagnon asked some neighborhood National Convention in Dallas. Unfortu- teen-agers why they didn't have a flag at nately, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed their house. "I was just curious," he said. the conviction and in so doing gave John- The young people jeered and scoffed at on flag-amendment resolutions twice in

son's act of civil disobedience more legal Gagnon and later that evening set fire to that time. The 1 995 score was 63-36 in fa-

protection than it gave to Old Glory and the U.S. Flag on his lawn. vor, three votes shy of the necessary su- millions of offended Americans On July 5, 1999, two 18-year-old men per-majority. Last year, the Senate vote As the world's largest veterans organi- who had recently graduated from high was 63-37, four votes shy.

zation. The American Legion is uniquely school joined a 15-year-old girl in bum- I'm confident super-majorifies in both qualified to stand up for the flag. Some- ing a U.S. Flag on a street in Price, Utah. houses of the 107th Congress will pass the one once said, "For those who have They were cited for improper burning, as single-sentence amendment introduced

fought for it, freedom has a taste that the if it were a backyard leaf pile that got out March 13: "The Congress shall have pow- protected will never know." of hand. er to prohibit the physical desecration of The ink was barely dry in Texas vs. Dozens of similar incidents occurred the flag of the United States." The bill has

Johnson when then-Legion National during the past decade. Often it's been more than 1 15 co-sponsors in the House

Commander H.F. "Sparky" Gierke lit the teen-agers and young adults trying to and more than 40 in the Senate. If it pass- fuse on original intent. "We know in our bring purpose to their lives by test- es this time, we'll go to the states for gut this is wrong," Gierke wrote. "Surely, ing the strength of that 5-4 deci- ratification. We will travel the neither our Founding Fathers, nor our sion - burning the flag be- high road across America and congressmen, nor anyone in the history cause they can - and seeing proudly present the flag's case of our great republic ever intended that if their stupidity and disre- using every tool the First anybody should be allowed to bum the spect can get a rise out of us. Amendment affords. very flag that has been draped on the cas- Most of us, of course, spent "Flag burning is wrong,

kets of those who died to preserve all that our teen and young adult but what it teaches is worse," it represents." years fighting for bigger rea- "/"'^^SIS'^' says retired Maj. Gen. Patrick Thus began a journey . Employing four sons, in strange and foreign ''H l*^^^ Brady, Chairman of the Citizens of the five rights in the First Amendment lands, sometimes to the death. It's hard Flag Alliance. "It teaches that the hate- as they were intended, we stated our case for us to understand why some people on ful conduct of a minority is more impor- through letters, the media, speeches, fo- the fringe of society choose to exercise tant than the will of the majority. It teach-

rams and civil testimony from town halls their freedom by destroying its symbol. es that our laws need not reflect our val- to the U.S. Capitol. But I've come to realize there's just no ex- ues, and that the courts, not the people, We assembled a powerful petitioning planation for some people. own the Constitution." coalition called the Cifizens Flag Alliance The U.S. House of Representatives, That's why we fight. That's why we'll - 141 national organizations collecdvely by an accumulated margin of 927-358, never just go away on this issue. And representing about 20 million people, has given the flag-amendment measure a every step of the way, we shall make our plus another 200,000 individual mem- two-thirds "super-majority" each of the case with pride and respect, ever mindful, bers. In Congress, we have mustered bi- three times a resolution has been intro- ever grateful of the price Americans have partisan majority support - a rare feat for duced since 1995. The Senate has voted paid to allow us the right.

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SHOUID CAPIIIIl EAINS B[ Mlt'l

Sen. Jon Kyi, R-Ariz. Rep. Bernard Sanders, l-Vt.

"The present tax treatment of The issue here is very sim- capital gains and losses is both ple. Do we want to give huge inequitable and a barrier to eco- tax breaks to the wealthiest nomic growth." YES people in this country, or do President George W. Bush? Actual- we want to invest federal funds on ly, those were the words of Democratic some of the most pressing problems President John F. Kennedy, who in 1963 facing our nation, such as full funding proposed excluding 70 percent of capital for veterans' health care and benefits?

gains from a taxpayer's taxable income. Frankly, I regard it as obscene to be The Kennedy plan wouldn't have eliminated the capital-gains talking about tax cuts for billionaires when veterans

tax, but it would have come awfully close. For those in the low- throughout this country are not getting the quality health

est income-tax bracket today, it would mean a rate of 4.5 per- care they need, are sleeping out on the streets and are wait-

cent. For those in the highest bracket, it would mean a rate of ing years to get the benefits to which they are entitled. just under 12 percent. What readers should understand is that the current tax de- President Kennedy understood then, as many of us do now, bate in Congress is much less about "public policy" than that if we are concemed whether new jobs are being created, about "payback time" for campaign contributors. The whether new technology is being developed or whether work- wealthiest people in this country and the largest corporations ers have the tools they need to do a more efficient job, we have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars into the po- should support measures that reduce the cost of capital. Re- litical process. Now they want the politicians they helped member, for every employee elect to lower their taxes. "Capital-gains tax rates there is an employer who took Under the President's $1 .6 'A cut in capital gains that are set too higli risks, made investments and trillion dollar tax reduction created jobs. But that employ- proposal, approximately 50 taxes would mean merely cause people to er needed capital to start. percent of the benefits would another massive tax

hold onto their assets Ideally, the capital-gains go to the wealthiest 1 percent break for the richest to avoid the tax indefi- tax should be eliminated. Re- of the population, while the " Americans." nitely. No sale, no tax. alistically, though, that's bottom 60 percent of the peo- likely to occur only in the ple - the folks who need help

context of a fundamental overhaul of the tax code. In the the most - would only receive 1 2 percent of the benefits. meantime. Congress could support the kind of exclusion that Cutting capital-gains taxes is a bad idea. Capital gains are Kennedy proposed. profits from selling property such as stocks, bonds and real Capital-gains tax rates that are set too high merely cause estate. IRS statistics show that, under current law, the richest

people to hold onto their assets to avoid the tax indefinitely. No 1 percent of all tax filers receive almost two-thirds of all cap- sale, no tax. But that means less investment, fewer new busi- ital gains. In other words, a cut in capital gains taxes would nesses, fewer new jobs and - as historical surveys show - far mean another massive tax break for the richest Americans. less revenue to the Treasui^y than if capital-gains tax rates were The United States is a great country but, in many ways, we set at a lower level. Just as the local department store does not are not getting our priorities right. Rather than giving more lose money on weekend sales - because volume more than tax breaks to the wealthy, we should be concemed about ex- makes up for lower prices - lower capital-gains tax rates can tending Social Security and Medicare and making sure that induce people to sell assets they would otherwise hold. every senior citizen in this country has access to affordable The last time capital-gains rates were reduced, in 1997, cap- prescription drugs - among many other important needs. ital-gains revenues increased nearly 20 percent as people sold Lastly, before we talk about tax breaks for millionaires, more of their assets. we should make certain that veterans do not have to beg for Significandy reducing capital-gains rates will help individ- the benefits they were promised. According to the non-parti- ual savers and investors - people trying to plan ahead for a se- san Economic Policy Institute, the President's proposed bud- cure retirement or to help with get will require a $1.1 billion their children's college expens- cut in veterans' benefits and

es. It will help the economy by services in five years. How can unlocking capital to create new Senators and representatives are interested in con- we talk about massive tax cuts businesses, expand existing stituent viewpoints. You may express your views by writ- for those who don't need them ing The Honorable (name), U.S. Senate, Washington, DC ones or help American business and not fulfill our promises to 20510, or The Honorable (name), House of Representa- it the and of this stay competitive. And will tives, Washington, DC 20515. You may call the Senate at men women help the Treasury by bringing in (202) 224-3121; the House at (202) 225-3121. country who put their lives on additional revenue. the line defending us?

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California lias rejected nearly every effort to solve its power crunch. Now, there's no choice. Unless ways are found to allow and expedite new power plants,

more states will become Act 2 In the national drama titled "Greenouts: An Experience Coming Soon to a Location Near You.

on this past winter, had to pay up to eight P. Hodel By Donald times more for power than they could

sell it for and quickly became insolvent. HE ONLY SURPRISE in in Operation Desert Storm. Our casual- Since a very high percentage of the cost ^ p I -I this past winter's power ties were relatively light, but the costs in of electricity from gas-fired power plants percent), jfc. crisis in California is that dollars and subsequent health problems is the price of gas (some say 90

it took so long to arrive. for our veterans of that struggle have the losses were massive. The old joke is: Knowledgeable observers been terribly high. No one ever saw fit "We'll lose a httle on every sale and

' have been shaking their to revisit Dannemeyer' s comment or to make it up on volume." Well, in this case

heads for years over the incredible highlight guilt that should have been it was, "We'U lose a whole lot on every short-sightedness of California's politi- attributed to the green extreme for mak- sale and ... go broke."

cians, who - beholden to the green ex- ing it impossible to find and use domes- n And most serious, while Califomia treme - have rejected every effort to do tic energy resources. "deregulated" the electric business in something about the inevitable power Cafifomia and stimulated growth by its

crunch. It arrived with a vengeance. What Really Happened. Last winter, regulated low prices, it did not deregulate Califomia started to experience rotating the business of building new power No Green Light. In the 1980s, I had "greenouts" (the official designations are plants. As "deregulation" was occurring, firsthand experience working with CaU- "brownouts" or "rotating blackouts"). many companies in and outside of Cafi- fomia's political leaders to find a reason- Liberal politicians once again were fomia saw that there would be a need for able way to develop energy resources on quick to try to divert attention from their new power plants. They came to Califor- and offshore. Nothing worked. Every role in aU this by attacking "deregula- nia to build them and ran into the mental-

single project was opposed as if it alone tion." Wrong. They never tried genuine ity of the 1980s - namely, total opposi- would bring the end of the earth. deregulation. This crisis is the result of a tion to the building of anything. They got These same political leaders seemed mistaken form of deregulation for which nowhere. satisfied that anything Califomia needed they were largely responsible. In the power-plant business, one finds in the way of new power supplies could Califomia had a strong and large elec- aU sorts of attitudes opposing new plants: come from renewables, altematives and tric power system. It was, and is, con- NIMBY ("not in my backyard"), LULU conservation. These were false hopes, nected to the other states in the western ("locally undesirable land use") and BA- even then. Some leaders were smart United States in what is called the NANA ("buUd absolutely nothing any- enough to know that their positions "Western Systems Coordinating Coun- where near anything"). were not reasonable, but they were un- cil." Over the past decade, CaUfomia's During this period essentiaUy all ef- willing to challenge their insistent and energy and peak demands have risen in forts have been aimed at building natural vocal green constituency. the neighborhood of 20 percent, but gas-fired power plants. There are several Attempts to allow drilling for large nothing has been done to add significant impeUing reasons: (1) natural gas has oil reserves off the coast of Califomia new power generation. When Cafifomia been relatively less expensive than other

were fought tooth and nail. People who decided to lead the way to deregulation fuels; (2) contracts to supply it have been

^ claimed the title "environmentalist" in the interest of lower rates, it made readily available; (3) natural gas is con- would not tolerate additional drilling three major errors: sidered to be more environmentally be-

platforms off their coastline. n It did not allow utilities to enter into nign, thereby potentiaUy reducing oppo- Then-U.S. Rep. Bill Dannemeyer, long-term contracts for energy supplies sition to the plant; (4) physically, the with a prescience scoffed at by the (gas or electricity). This meant that utili- plants can be built quite rapidly (perhaps green left, the liberal press and liberal ties, when buying natural gas or electrici- 12 months from constmction start to op- politicians, said, "I would rather explain ty, were at the mercy of the day-to-day eration for peaking, or "simple cycle" to my kids why they have to see a marketplace when prices for gas rose units, and around 30 months for "com- drilling platform the size of a ship on because of shortages. bined cycle" plants); and (5) the conven- the horizon than to have to explain to n Although the utilities were exposed tional altematives, coal and nuclear, are them why they have to go fight in the to the volatiUty of that marketplace and not viable in today's political climate. Middle East to protect our energy sup- would have to pay whatever the spot Nuclear power is under such attack ply." This remark generated shouts of market price was during a period of that utilities all over the United States are

hostility and ridicule, but it was, of shortage, they were not allowed to pass struggling, sometimes unsuccessfully, course, not acknowledged in the early those costs on to consumers. This is why simply to keep them open and operating 1990s when Americans were engaged the utilities, in an effort to keep the lights in the face of enormous opposition. In

JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • .

that atmosphere one would have to be enough to alleviate most of the brown- ifomians really need to do is take a extremely optimistic, masochistic or outs that occurred over the winter. comprehensive look at optimal trans- rich even to think about trying to build a mission requirements and then make a nuclear plant. Coal plants could meet More Brownouts Ahead. Summer, commitment to build them as quickly the current air quality standards and almost upon us, will see more and cheaply as possible in a manner that should be built, but there are problems brownouts unless several things happen: is consistent with legitimate environ- and a solution, which are described later Emission limits continue to be exceeded mental standards. in this article. in times of crisis, hydropower supplies The governor's sudden decision in Strangely, even after the crisis ar- are abundant, and purchases of power January to obtain authority from the rived, and the governor, in fall 2000, said from adjacent states continue to expand. legislature for the state to buy power he wanted to speed up the production of The plan for exemption from emis- and to sell it to the utilities at a reduced new power plants, nothing seemed to sion limits is quite reasonable. Excess price shows the hazards of apparently happen. No speed-up occurred, or so it emissions will have to be "paid back" working without a plan and trying to be has seemed to some plant sponsors at- when the crisis is abated by operating all things to all people. The two major tempting to get an additional 16 power the plants below allowable emission utilities fell more than $11 billion short plants approved and under construction. limits. This "banking" of credits may of covering their costs in just a year. The earliest of these should begin pro- have to continue for at least the next 18 The state will incur that same general ducing additional electricity by late 2001 to 24 months while new power plants level of expense over revenues if it sub- or early 2002. Clearly too little, too late. are being built. Hopefully, this year's sidizes the consumers. How long will it Furthermore, the governor ought to excellent snow pack in the Sierra Neva- take even a rich state like California to be embarrassed by his failure to act da mountains will melt slowly, optimiz- go bankrupt at that rate? sooner in requesting an EPA exemption ing the production of hydropower and Some believe that the governor's on emission limits for existing power filling hydroelectric reservoirs. real intention and that of the environ- plants that were available but could not It should be noted that not all the mentalists is to put California smack- operate because they had reached their power problems are due to lack of gen- dab in the middle of the power business. emission limits. It took the governor eration. Some come from lack of trans- It can be safely guaranteed that the weeks to request this exemption, which mission. Southern California may have long-term consequences of such an act was favored by even some of the lead- an excess of power, but it can't get to will be a less dynamic and less efficient ing less extreme environmental leaders. the north where it is needed because power system than the one they would Some speculate the governor hesitated transmission lines to carry the power have if they simply corrected the errors for fear of being criticized by environ- are inadequate. made in deregulating. mentalists, and in so doing probably Unfortunately, the same head-in-the- cost the state government about $200 sand approach to energy has been ex- Not Just California's Problem. One million extra. This emission exemption tended to the needs for new transmis- way or the other, it is reasonable to ex- alone added about 4,000 megawatts of sion capacity. Work is now under way pect that California will slowly claw its generation, which would have been on projects that may help, but what Cal- way out of the power-shortage business

California Responds

Since the restructuring of its electricity market, Califor- power plants with a combined generation of 6,278 nia's energy shortages and high costs have dominated the megawatts. Six of these plants, with a combined generation news. Yet all too often, news and commentaries about Cali- of 4,308 megawatts, are now under construction with 2,368 fornia's power situation have been inaccurate. Unfortunate- megawatts expected to be on-line by the end of 2001 ly, we see these same inaccuracies have surfaced in Mr. Under Gov. Gray Davis' administration, another 16 Hodel's observations about California's energy crises. power plants - with a generating capacity of 7,134

It is a gross oversimplification to reduce the issue to parti- megawatts - are already in the Energy Commission's siting san accusations, "environmentalism" or simple shortsighted- process. Clearly, the energy industry still views California ness. This is a very complex problem that deserves careful as a world-class marketplace, an important part of aggres- crafting of effective public policy solutions, not worn-out sive business plans for a new century, and a promising are- cliches about environmentalism and free market capitalism. na in which environmental and economic concerns are kept Rocketing demand through the western states have been in balance. driven by robust economic growth. One in eight Americans Only with a clear understanding of the problem can we now lives in California. Neighboring states have seen rapid make progress toward an equitable solution. It would be population growth and are consuming more and selling less wise to pay close attention to California's progress toward power. an equitable solution. Gov. Davis' commitment to estab- In the 1990s before the state's electricity generation in- lishing a template for efficient and economical power pro- dustry was restructured, the California Energy Commission duction and delivery may well become a benchmark as oth- certified 1 1 power plants. Of these, three were never built er states head down the path of deregulation. due to market conditions. Eight plants are now in operation - Steve Larson producing 952 megawatts of generation. Executive Director Since April 1999, the commission has licensed nine new California Energy Commission

• • j/j THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE JUNE 2001 sometime in the next two years through The Economics of Energy a combination of good ideas (more power plants, emission exemptions in Energy is "pervasive." It is in it. That 1 -percent increase is muki- time of crisis, more transmission, in- everything we do and buy, either as phed five, 10 or maybe 15 times. creased conservation, full-cost pricing part of the material, the manufactur- This is why we saw an impact to consumers) and bad ideas (efforts to ing or the transportation. that was inexplicable to some when govemmentalize the system, state subsi- It affects our personal travel, OPEC first raised the price of oil in dies of power costs, state interference in whether we drive, fly or ride. It is 1973. The runaway inflation and the management of utilities). absolutely crucial to the functioning unemployment that hit us in the late One thing is clear, though. The fed- of the information age and the com- 1970s, called "stagflation," was sig- eral government did not cause this prob- munications network. In short, ener- nificantly caused by the OPEC "oil lem and it should not try to solve it, for gy is everywhere and in everything tax," as some called it. it would assuredly do an even worse job in our modem world. The only way to ensure we re- than California has done. Now imagine what happens main in charge of our energy future A question that naturally comes to when "energy prices" go up even a is to develop and use our own do- mind is: How are other parts of the Uttle. The multiplying effect is much mestic energy resources. We have a country doing? Well, unfortunately, in greater than if the price of a food great deal of oU and natural gas still some places - particularly the Northeast item, paper, light bulbs or any to be discovered. We need to stop - conditions look appallingly like Cali- household supphes increase in price. locking up those resources. We fornia. Opposition to every sort of new A 1 -percent increase in the price of have enormous reserves of coal power plant or transmission any item has a 1 -percent impact on (perhaps 500 to 1 ,000 years worth at requirement and "deregulation" Califor- buyers of that commodity. a minimum, if we used it for elec- nia-style seem to be in vogue. Thus, On the other hand, a 1 -percent tricity). But these are of no use to us unless ways are found to allow and ex- increase in energy prices affects the if the U.S. government refuses to pedite new power plants, more states cost of building the plant that gener- allow exploration, development and will become Act 2 in the national drama ates the power, the lines that trans- use of them, as is now the case. titled "Greenouts: An Experience Com- mit it, the factory that manufactures It is time for the majority of ing Soon to a Location Near You." the product, the wages of the people Americans who understand the need Every state and region ought to be who work in the factory (they will for electricity - and all other forms looking seriously at how it compares to require additional pay to cover high- of energy - to assert themselves and California. Then, if the state is deter- er transportation and living costs), insist their representatives in Con- mined to be at risk, steps should be taken the cost of manufacturing the prod- gress, statehouses and legislatures immediately to encourage the building of uct, the cost of packing materials, do right by them and their future power plants and transmission hnes. Per- the cost of transporting, and finally energy needs by allowing produc- haps states will be able to overcome the the costs (wages, heating, cooling, tion of domestic resources. resistance of the green left because of all lighting) of the retail stores that sell the publicity given to what has happened in the West. If so, they may be able to avoid duplicating what happened there. technology." Today, it is possible to agency - the EPA, the Department of If not, we'll see replays in various parts build a coal-fired power plant that will Energy at the federal level and the of the country soon, depending on tem- meet the EPA standards for clean air equivalent agencies at the state level - perature extremes. The fact is that elec- emissions. But almost no plants are be- to enter into a contract with the builders tric demand cannot be allowed to grow ing built. Why? Largely because of coal plants. That contract must pro- and grow without doing something about investors in power plants have to reckon vide that if the rules change, and those building new generation. Thanks to the with the possibility that while a plant is changes reduce the value of the plant, high-tech era we're in, an adequate and being permitted and built, perhaps a six- the government will reimburse the reliable supply of electrical energy at an to eight-year process, the good oF EPA builder for the difference. More impor- affordable price has never been more just might change the standards as they tantiy, such a provision would allow important to our economy. have done before. America once again to start using one With hundreds of millions of dollars of its most abundant and cheap domes- Staying On Top. Nationally, what we invested, a power plant might not be tic resources to supply the energy re- need to come to grips with sooner rather allowed to run, or it might have to run quirements of this nation. America is than later is simple: We shouldn't put "derated," meaning it would run at a not short of energy. It has been short of all our eggs in the single basket of nat- smaller output, jeopardizing the eco- the will to find it and use it. ural gas-fired power plants. An unlimit- nomics and possibly ensuring the plant ed supply of readily available and cheap will never return the investors' money. Donald P. Model is a natural gas doesn't exist. In fact, the Not many investors would consider tak- former Secretary of rapidly rising price of natural gas has ing such a risk. Energy andformer caused much of the current economic However, at least one fairly simple Secretary of the Interi- problem in California. fix for this problem exists. Congress or under President The United States is one of the and the state legislatures in those states Reagan. world's richest coal countries. Billions where coal plants might be built need to have been spent perfecting "clean-coal pass legislation allowing the appropriate Article design: Holly K. Soria

JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • ||j • • 2001 ]|j THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE JUNE Is 'Dad' America's most endangered species?

By Alan W. Dowd ''Addressing the problem of absent | ang up the baseball glove and put away the bedtime fathers must be a national priority because I stories. No need to take that long walk with your daugh- it impacts the well-being of America's ter or have that long talk " \ with your son. Keep the children, families and communities. advice and hugs to yourself, - Sen. Evan Bayh, D-lnd. and don't worry about coming home. If you're a father, you're no longer wanted or needed in 21st-century America. Regrettably, what they usually see is This news may come as a similar to the distortion offered by Silver- mmmmi stein study found shock with another Father's and Auerbach. The NFI Day upon us, but it's just America's 25 million fatherless chil- that TV fathers are eight times more like- some of what Louise Silver- dren might disagree. However, as Dr. ly to be shovm in a negative light than stein and Carl Auerbach con- Timothy Dailey, an analyst with the Fam- TV mothers. "On television," the study cluded in a jaw-dropping ily Research Council, uncovered in his concludes, "fathers are less involved, pro- study on fathers and father- cogent response to the APA study, SU- vide less moral guidance, are less compe- hood aptly titled "Decon- verstein and Auerbach go beyond merely tent and place less of a priority on the stmcting the Essential Fa- arguing that fathers are irrelevant: "The family than do mothers." ther." Published in American authors actually suggest that the tradition- NFI found that fully 65 percent of Psychologist, a journal of al father can be harmful in the home," a Hollywood's depictions of fatherhood the American Psychological flabbergasted Dailey explains. provide either ambiguous or negative Association, the study's rad- In fact, in their view, "dear old Dad" portrayals. In fact, 26 percent of the por-

ical conclusions fijrther un- is downright destructive and dangerous. trayals are completely negative. "This dermine what was once Taking their counter-intuitive argument overabundance of 'bad dads' on televi- beyond debate - the idea to the extreme, Silverstein and Auerbach sion undermines a cultural ideal of that fathers play a crucial contend that the traditional two-parent responsible fatherhood at a time when

role in the health of fami- model of the family "faUs to acknowl- that ideal is most needed," according to lies and children. Still edge the potential costs of father NFI's researchers. sending Shockwaves presence." According to Silverstein and

through public-policy cir- Auerbach, many fathers do little more Grim Numbers. From academia to pop cles more than a year after than waste family resources on gambling, culture, fatherhood is obviously under

its initial publication, the alcohol and other vices. assault. What's happening to fathers and

study is just one of count- Of course, fathers guilty of that kind families is truly sobering. Indeed, the less indicators that "Dad" of selfishness are out there, but they are consequences of Dad's disappearance

is an endangered species. the exception. Even so, it is that model of from America's family landscape illus- imperfection which seems to drive Silver- trate how disconnected from reality Sil- Dangerous Dads? Chip- stein and Auerbach's research. Given verstein and Auerbach are. ping away at some of our such a brutish and bleak picture of the Numbers and statistics sometimes

most basic conceptions of typical father, it's easy to see why they distort the facts, but on rare occasions they

parenting, the APA study arrive at their skewed conclusions. truly illuminate. This is such an occasion. declares that fathers are But what would make them draw such Almost 25 million children live with- not essential to child a depressing caricature of the American out fathers; 4 million don't even know well-being; the institu- father? A recent study by the National who their fathers are; and 33 percent of the tion of marriage does not Fatherhood Initiative, a non-profit organi- babies bom in America today will be the serve the broader inter- zation dedicated to increasing the number sole responsibility of unmarried mothers.

: ests of society; divorce is of children growing up with responsible Indeed, during the past three decades, not necessarily harmful fathers, has a possible answer: television. fathers have disappeared fi^om America I

'i to children; fathers con- "Today's most powerful cultural in- faster than the spotted owl. According to *1'

I tribute nothing special to stitution is television [and] children are its the Family Research Council, 85 percent child development; and ardent the all children lived in fami- I most consumers," NFI study of two-parent I the traditional family begins. "Given the current scope of fa- lies in 1968. In 1980, it was 77 percent. unit - headed by a therlessness, it is exaggeration to say it's just percent and falling. I no Today, 68 mother and father - is that for millions of children the primary During those 30 years, the number of not any better at protecting children than contact they have with the idea of a father single-parent families in the United States anything else. In other words, fathers are is the time they spend watching a father quadrupled; the number of two-parent no longer relevant. on television." famihes inched up by just 8 percent.

2001 • LEGION • JUNE THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE |J search Council, the Initiative for Respon- "This overabundance of 'bad dads' on sible Fatherhood and Family Revitaliza- tion, and hundreds of other nonprofits are television undermines a cultural ideal of partnering with churches and public agencies to promote fatherhood and responsible fatherfiood at a time wfien that thereby protect mothers and their chil- " dren from the long odds faced by father- ideal is most needed. less homes. And their influence is being felt beyond the family room. After - National Fatherhood Initiative decades of indifference and outright con- tempt for fathers, the federal government This destabilizing trend of single- But the consequences of Dad's disap- is finally realizing the necessity of fathers parenthood is continuing as we enter the pearance aren't limited to economics or and the value of two-parent families. 21st century. According to the Forum on education. In most cases, the legacy of The examples abound - from the De- Child and Family Statistics, a research an absentee father is criminal behavior in partment of Health and Human Services' arm of the federal government, birth his children. Fatherhood Initiative to stronger child- rates have increased sharply for unmar- "The likelihood that a young male will support laws, from high-tech, interstate ried women in every age group during engage in criminal activity doubles if he is tracking of deadbeat dads to a wide array the past 20 years. And there's no raised without a father," Maginnis said. No of pro-fatherhood legislation in Congress. evidence that what some have called "the less than 72 percent of teen-age murderers As Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., recenfly epidemic of fatherlessness" will end. grow up without a dad. And according to observed, "Addressing the problem of Cato Institute research, a 1 -percent absent fathers must be a national priority

Counting the Costs. This explosive in- increase in births to single mothers triggers because it impacts the well-being of crease in fatherless homes may seem a 1 .7-percent increase in violent crime. In America's children, families and com- irrelevant to traditional families or those fact, the Institute for Responsible Father- munities." And since families are the who have already raised their children, hood and Family Revitalization has found building blocks of society, the epidemic but it isn't. In fact, it should send chills that children from fatherless homes are 20 of fatherlessness impacts the well-being down their spines: Like a scythe, father- times more likely to end up in prison as of America itself. lessness is cutting a swath of destruction their two-parent counterparts. Bayh's Responsible Fatherhood Act through our nation that touches every This should not be misunderstood as of 2000, which he co-wrote with Sen. American. Indeed, to look at these num- an attack on single mothers. Single Pete Domenici, R-N.M., sought to devel- bers is to look at the root cause of Ameri- moms are among the most creative and op an information clearinghouse to help ca's most intractable problems. courageous people in America today. states and agencies promote responsible An ancient proverb warns, "When a Working two and three jobs outside the fatherhood. The bill also would have father gives to his son, both laugh; when home, they face the toughest job on earth reworked key aspects of the federal-state a son gives to his father, both cry." The inside the home alone. Many of their welfare system "to encourage the formu- children of absentee fathers are now children grow up to be productive mem- lation and maintenance of two-parent paying back their parents and society for bers of society. But the odds are against families." However, the measure died in what they have been given - and them. Most of their children will be for- the Senate Finance Committee last year. deprived of - during the past 30 years. ever scarred by Dad's absence and will The Fathers Count Act proposed by Their pain and anger are wreaking hav- pass the cycle of brokenness on to anoth- Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., would oc with our country. And if we are not er generation. The old saying "like fa- have provided grants to promote marriage moved by their plight, we should at least ther, like son" is all too true. and assist stmggling fathers in job train- be moved by self-interest. The longer Nor is this an endorsement of the mis- ing. The bill also sought to ease some of the epidemic continues, the more pro- guided notion that any father - regardless the eligibility criteria on the Welfare-to- found and costly the consequences for of his behavior - is preferable to no fa- Work program. The bill passed the House every American. ther at all. The health and safety of a with 328 votes. But it succumbed to the According to Robert Maginnis, a spe- child or mother should never be sacri- same fate as the Bayh-Domenici bill. cialist on fatherhood and family, father- ficed for the sake of a marriage. Indeed, Congress clearly has plenty of ground less kids are two times more likely to it's better for some fathers to leave, but to make up. Even so, perhaps the nation quit high school than those from two- today one-third of them are walking has reached a critical turning point. As parent families. They are 70 percent away. That's far too many. Children NFI president Wade Hom notes, "Virtual- more hkely to be kicked out of school, grow up best when Mom and Dad raise ly everyone now agrees: Fathers matter." and 10 times more likely to abuse alco- them together. Ninety percent of single Everyone, that is, except Hollywood hol and other drugs. moms agree, and so do their kids, andtheAPA. The Forum on Child and Family Sta- according to the Department of Health tistics found that children in one-parent and Human Services. Alan W. Dowd is a households "are substantially more like- fi-eelance writer and a ly" to live in poverty. To be exact, they Turning Point? Thankfully, a handful of former associate editor are five times more likely to live in people and organizations are fighting for of The American Le- poverty when compared to children America's fathers and families. Were it gion Magazine. lucky enough to be living with a mother not for them, there would be fewer of both. and a father. Groups such as NFI, the Family Re- Article design: Holly K. Soria m • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 —

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By David Abshire Today, well into the second decade to be a priority of the new administra- of the post-Cold War era, the United tion, a comprehensive look at the whole § hen Presidents Tru- States has yet to fully adapt to the pre- national-security apparatus would help man and Eisenhower sent and future demands placed upon reformists break out of the traditional

gathered their its national-security structure. Now that box of vertical reform one stovepipe national-security ex- the complex nature of our new world is institution at a time. Now is a time for perts at the outset of becoming clear - as well as a national lateral reform that considers the inter-

the Cold War, there consensus to actively engage it - presi- connectedness of our national-security was clear national dential leadership enjoys a rare oppor- system. If the military is over-extended, consensus for sweep- tunity to reform the national-security as the President said during the 2000 ing change to meet decision-making architecture. campaign, reforming only the Depart- the challenges that lay ahead. Although substantive reform appears ment of Defense is a minimahst

20 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 . "

approach that squanders a rare opportu- Cold War, and the expected "peace div- nity for sweeping and needed change. idend" is still difficult to define. If we look closely, a weakened State A central weakness of today's na- Department, a traumatized intelligence David Abshire, afor- tional security decision-making process community, a disorganized National mer Assistant Secre- is the lack of any long-range strategic Security Council and a reactive nation- tary ofState and am- planning capability and the absence of al-security posture held over from the bassador to NATO, a strong economic component. Cold War all contribute to the dispirit- served in President A recent nonpartisan Congressional ing pace at which we put our young Reagan 's cabinet as Budget Office report warns that, to sus- men and women in harm's way. special counselor. He tain the U.S. military at current spend- is president of the ing levels, our forces will need to be Preparing for Cold War. "Rely on Centerfor the Study of the Presiden- reduced by 25 percent. Otherwise, Con- planning," Eisenhower would say, "but cy in Washington, D.C. gress and the President will need to never trust plans." Eisenhower recog- appropriate an additional $50 billion a nized the importance of strategy as well year to fill the gap. as its limits. The National Security Act to the nation's economic health. But the root problem is not with the of 1947, which Eisenhower helped For Eisenhower's plan to work, new Pentagon; it begins with our preventive draft as Army chief, created a Depart- decision-making mechanisms had to be and diplomatic capabilities that have ment of Defense and a unified intelli- developed that would include planning been stripped bare. gence community as the tools to fight capability in order to anticipate prob- The imbalance between defense and the Cold War. The tools were there, but lems. In the State Department, Eisen- diplomacy illusfrates a pivotal disad- the strategy for using them was not. hower had a strong policy planning vantage. In 1948, the spending ratio of

When Eisenhower became Presi- staff that already focused on the road defense to diplomacy was 2: 1 . During dent, the country was guided by monu- ahead. But in the White House he the Cold War it shifted to 16: 1 . Twelve mental new developments. The National lacked this capacity and, by revamping years into the post-Cold War period, it

Security Act of 1947 created the Na- the NSC to include it, his genius came remains 16:1. Today's mismatch is tional Security Council, the CIA, and out. Eisenhower separated the NSC coupled with an alarming flight of tal- the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1950, the staff into two groups: the Planning ent from a State Department cut off at top-secret NSC 68 report was the Cold Board, walled off from the crises of the the knees. These trends reveal a sys- War order recommending the build-up moment and focused on long-range temic misguided investment resulting of U.S. arras in the event of war with thinking, and the Operations Coordiaat- from the absence of the strategy and the the U.S.S.R. The communist takeover ing Board, which focused on resources to prevent conflict in the new of China, along with atomic bomb test- implementing NSC directives. century. As a consequence, our military ing by the Soviets, elevated the urgency will be asked increasingly to act as the of NSC 68. Back to the Future. During the Cold fire brigade because we failed to invest In the report, Paul Nitze, head of the War, when the enemy was so clearly in fire prevention. State Department policy planning staff, defined, when the nation was so com- Having a seasoned general head up delivered a daunting description of a pletely unified and when the threat of the State Department is a welcome de- coming year of "maximum danger." conflict was so high, our military - velopment. Revitalizing it requires The year was 1954. Eisenhower knew aside from Korea and Vietnam - was strong leadership, which we'll find in he needed more than military might to actively engaged far less than in the its deputy. Rich Armitage, as well. confront that danger. relatively short period since the Soviet What matters most, however, is chang- To keep from succumbing to a strait- collapse. U.S. interventions have in- iag the State Department's culture to jacketed approach, Eisenhower decided creased four-fold since the end of the reintegrate it into the entire national- to take a fresh look at how the nation's security process. forces were deployed and its resources Moving the formulation of foreign allocated. He convened three competing "A central weakness policy out of the NSC and back into teams in the White House Solarium and State with an empowered policy plan- tasked them over a three-month period of today's national ning staff is important, but we must not with reappraising the nation's plans for sideline the responsibilities of the State the Cold War. The Solarium Exercise, security decision-mak- Department to also act as the voice of as it came to be called, gave birth to the America abroad. The U.S. Information "Long Haul" strategy to contain Soviet ing process is the lack Agency is a crucial arrow in the quiver expansion on multiple fronts. Subse- of America's preventive power. Hob- quent presidents followed this strategy of any long-range bling USIA is a sure way to worsen the with only minor modifications image we have in the eyes of our allies Eisenhower's Long Haul included strategic planning and partners abroad. Indications of this two revolutionary developments that are plentiful with the globalization back- shed light on the challenges of today's capability and ttie lash and the failing sanctions against strategic environment: In pursuing a Iraq, where our public diplomacy initia- containment strategy, he recognized the absence of a strong tives have slumped and resolve abroad long-term nature of such a plan and its has thinned to the point of abandonment inevitable impact on and susceptibility economic component by many former supporters.

JUNE 2001 • THE LEGION MAGAZINE • AMERICAN 21 "

'Vur military will be The National Security Act of 1947 asked increasingly to Political scientists might call it a and air forces was a key feature - act as the fire brigade "policy window" - a short breath- both a response to the lessons of catching span of time between crises World War U and a strategy to reduce because we failed to when undistracted public officials can peacetime defense spending while make monumental changes. For Pres- simultaneously building a better mili- invest in fire ident Harry Truman, a poUcy window tary machine. Deeply committed to opened just after the end of World the idea, Truman first had to get past prevention. War n in 1945. He filled it by recon- the interests of the War Department structing America's national-security and the Navy, neither of which want- One fundamental misjudgment of framework. ed a diminished role, before putting the post-Cold War's first decade is a Months of post-war negotiation, the policy up for debate in Congress. tendency to reinforce strengths while coalition-building and compromise Minor changes aside, the poUcy Tru- neglecting weaknesses. Defining a na- came down to the stroke of Truman's man envisioned emerged intact. tional-security strategy today requires a pen while aboard the presidential air- The National Security Act was comprehensive look at critical deficien- craft "Sacred Cow." On July 26, 1947, modified at various stages during the cies - emergent weaknesses needing to he signed the National Security Act, second half of the 20th century, but its be identified and shored up - and arguably the most significant piece of structure and essence still stand. Both strengths that should be maintained defense legislation since the creation in terms of military success and for- rather than continually refortified to the of the Navy Department in 1798. eign-policy execution, the National neglect of preventive measures. The wide-ranging act conceived Security Act might have had its great- To borrow from the great 20th cen- the National Security Council, the est moment 44 years later in the fully tury political essayist Isaiah Berlin, our Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA, the integrated Gulf War victory. country needed the single-mindedness U.S. Air Force and the Office of the In any event it may be one of Tru- of a hedgehog during the years of Cold Secretary of Defense. Its purpose was man 's most enduring contributions to War. America had to remain focused on to create a cohesive brain trust among global peace through American a visible foe, which required a linear military and foreign-pohcy leaders. strength. strategy and threatened mostly vertical Unification among the U.S. land, sea -JeffStaffer military escalation. Today, the United States faces significant differences and must adapt first by identifying new vul- bower's warning by avoiding the pursuit bring inefficiency and failure. The as- nerabilities. of policies at the expense of agility. tounding frequency of post-Cold War To engage the post-Cold War envi- interventions is a symptom of a far worse ronment, we need the multifaceted mind How We Are Organized. While organi- problem, namely an overly compartmen- of the fox. Because power in the world is zation does not ensure successful policy, talized national security structure. Perva- more diffuse, intelligence is more open disorganization will almost certainly sive compartmentaUzation has led to

and defining our national interests is overlapping responsibilities , jurisdiction- more difficult, a new strategy is needed - al turf fights and stove-piped investments new strategy that accommodates Eisen- that invariably delay decisions, thwart prevention and smother innovation. Compounding the problems of com- partmentalization is a transfer in resources from preventive mechanisms (the State Department) to those that re- act to crises. One result of the wide funding gap between diplomacy and

defense is the concentration of foreign- policy decision-making in the White House. An overly influential NSC has led to a muting of the Secretary of State and an inherently reactive posture. Nowhere is compartmentaUzation more a problem than within the De- partment of Defense, but Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's decision to review DoD with the help of the Defense Sci- ence Board, Joint Vision 2020 from the Joint Chiefs and Andrew Marshall is step in the right direction. Con- Using a wide-angle surveillance thermal imager, Airman 1st Class Olivia Latham scans a a control tower at Osan Air Base, Korea. A national-security strategy for the future would gress is generally pleased with the de- need to embrace ever-changing advances in technology. cision to take a step back and look at

22 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 Vlacular Degeneration

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DeptTL 10211 West Emerald Boise, ID 83704 1-800-416-0758 ph (208) 323-9577 fax (208) 377-1528 ® VideoEye is a registered trademark of VideoEye Corporation Patents pending the big picture, but herein lies a rare 'While organization tion for better planning. opportunity for the administration to Political-military crises are on par with learn from Truman and Eisenhower by does not ensure sue- economic and financial emergencies. As taking an even broader look at the en- a result, bringing the Departments of tire national-security complex. Commerce and Treasury into scope is cessful policy, disorga- crucial for a truly strategic reform. Adapting to the Future. One of the cen- A common thread in adapting to the nization will almost cer- tral tenets of strategy is unity of effort. realities of the post-Cold War is restor- For the President to lead in overhauling a ing an institutionalized capability for tainly bring inefficiency badly disorganized structure, he will long-term strategic planning. A refo- need the support of Congress. To accom- cused NSC staff that emphasizes coor- and failure. The plish this, reform measures need to be dination and forward planning should placed into an overall strategic package astounding frequency be the fulcrum. But a group of experts that brings the Department of State, the from outside of government could ad- Department of Defense, the NSC, the vise the President on alternative of post-Cold War inter- Intelligence Community and even the approaches to future contingencies and Departments of Commerce and Treasury long-range planning. This outside group ventions is together in a coherent framework. a symptom could replace the narrowly focused A blueprint for charting such reform President's Foreign InteUigence Advi- of ... overly could be similar to Eisenhower's Solar- an com- sory Board with a team of private-sector ium Exercise and the review initiated leaders and seasoned geo-strategists partmentalized national- by the Secretary of Defense. It should chaired by the Vice President. Such a be a strategic assessment, in this case " board, perhaps named the President's security structure. led by Vice President Dick Cheney, to Strategic Advisory Board, would reconfigure our national-security insti- remain separate from operations and tutions and investment strategies to spective, thus private-sector expertise involve members of the President's cab- meet the new challenges in diplomacy, should be brought into the process. inet and sub-cabinet only in a consulta- intelligence, finance, trade and defense. A starting point for institutional re- tive manner to help guide dialogue. The assessment should be a public doc- form is the State Department. As an in- ument that drives reform by looking at tended first line of defense, its purpose is Opportunities for Change. The impor- our strengths and vulnerabilities, how to defiise problems before they arise, tance of presidential leadership in bring- we shape the changing global environ- warn of imminent threats and help end ing about overarching reform cannot be ment, our anticipatory capabilities and unavoidable conflicts. With a denuded overstated. Furthermore, working with information dominance, the science and State Department, none of these respon- Congress to generate a truly national technology policies that drive innova- sibilities can be effectively assumed. The strategy would facilitate consensus. tion, and our public diplomacy posture State Department needs to be reintegrat- After the recent election, combined and tools. An important ingredient in ed into the national-security complex as with a narrowly divided Congress, most such an examination is an outside per- the chief instrument of prevention. To ambitious legislative initiatives are

further adapt the Eisenhower model, it meeting with considerable resistance. would benefit from an empowered poli- Reforming the national-security com- cy planning staff to focus on long-range plex, however, is a priority with solu- planning as opposed to speech-writing tions that people on both sides of the

and crisis management, as it so often aisle and on either end of Pennsylvania does today. Avenue can work toward together. For

The Department of Defense wiU need its part. Congress would find it in its

to focus its efforts beyond readiness and own interest to work with the new ad- morale. A pay raise and full-scale mod- ministration by offering its views on ernization efforts are absolutely needed, certain areas of reform, perhaps through and Marshall's reports to Rumsfeld will a working group or a new joint commit- likely shed light on these requirements. tee on national-security reform. The next essential step, however, is The need to organize for the future is

overcoming extensive compartmental- clear. So also is the scale on which it is ization and misguided investment strate- needed. If President Bush seizes the gies for achieving coherence. Among the moment of this historical opportunity various measures to achieve this, a for comprehensive reform, our military

greater State-Defense synergy is neces- deployments will not only decrease, but sary. For example, where Defense has our leadership abroad, our resources for

assigned its commanders in chief abroad, agility and our decision-making process foreign-policy Condoleeza Rice, chief the Department of State's regional assis- will be significantly enhanced for the adviser in the George W. Bush adminis- tant secretaries overlap and are disjoint- new challenges that lie ahead. ^ i tration, has already made an impact by the regional assistant streamlining the National Security Coun- ed. The CINCs and illustration : cil and fixing its focus on defense strate- secretaries of state are the experts that Article design and gy and international economics. need to communicate and share informa- Doug Rollison

24 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 Beh breathtak force o natu

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Tax cuts can heal ailing economy

By Paul A. Gigot pened after no other wai^ in U.S. histo- casts, often by hundreds of billions of ry. According to the Tax Foundation, dollars. When then-candidate George U.S. TREASURY is the average American family now W. Bush designed his $1.6 trillion tax

overflowing with cash, the works until May 3 each year before it cut plan in December 1999, the feder-

THE burden is al tax higher than stops paying Uncle Sam. surplus was estimated to be only it's ever been in peace- The explanation for this federal $3.1 trillion over 10 years. Now the

time and now the econo- windfall is simple. The tax increases Congressional Budget Office says it my has begun to slow. If of 1990 and 1993 built a far more will be $5.6 trillion. America's politicians won't cut taxes progressive tax structure. This has Ten-year estimates are always now, when will they? combined with a growing economy to speculative. But despite this fiscal That's the salient question to ponder vault more and more Americans into year's slow economy, federal while Congress debates tax-cut propos- higher tax-rate brackets. revenues over the past five months

als. The case for cutting taxes is as So a married couple that paid only have still come in 6.7 percent higher powerful as it's been in 20 years, which 15 percent in the past has a run of than a year ago, even faster than CBO happens to be the last time Washington good income years and suddenly pays predictions. What this tells us is that passed a major tax cut. As Sen. Bob the 28-percent rate. And millions of surpluses are a product of the tax-rate Torricelli, a Democrat from the high- people who once paid a maximum structure, not just recent prosperity.

tax state of New Jersey, puts it, "There marginal tax rate of 28 percent now That structure was designed for an era should be no argument any more that pay 36 percent, or even what was ad- of deficits and the Soviet threat. Americans deserve a tax cut." vertised by former President CUnton With that era now over, the taxpay- Start with the federal tax burden, as the "millionaire surtax" rate of 39.6 ers who helped defeat both deserve a which now totals 20.7 percent of the percent. Last year a couple had to refund - all the more so because large U.S. economy. The last time the feds make only $288,350 to qualify for surpluses are them- grabbed that high a share of U.S. pri- this "millionaire" rate. selves becoming a vate income was 1944, when America This phenomenon erased the problem. They are an invitation was finishing up some business with deficit to be sure, but so effectively for politicians of both par-

Hitler and Tojo. that it is now producing a gusher of ties to find new ways to

The Cold War ended in 1991. Yet tax surpluses. Over the past four years spend, as if the tax burden has increased over the federal budgeters have repeatedly past decade, something that has hap- raised their semi-annual surplus fore-

20 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 M Four reasons not to slasli Americans' taxes

The truth is that America achieved By E. J. Dionne Jr. something important in the 1990s as a PRESIDENT BUSH has pro- result of policies pursued both by the el- posed a tax cut. The Democrats der President Bush and by former Presi- have said they are for tax cuts. dent Clinton. Through a combination of Is there any real difference be- budget cuts, tax increases on the wealthy tween the two sides? Does this and a booming economy in the 1990s, our tax debate matter to you? nation eliminated a huge budget deficit.

It does, and for reasons that Eliminating the deficit led to some politicians don't always want good things. We began paying down our to talk about. Four big issues national debt. We had a are at stake here chance to do things we - and they hadn't been able to do wiU be at before - among them: stake no mat- providing a prescrip- ter where the tion drug benefit for rapidly changing our senior citizens and tax debate stands at strengthening our edu- the moment you cation system. And read this. partly because the The first issue deficit disappeared, in- is whether large terest rates that had been tax cuts are the too high began to drop. All best idea at the mo- this helped feed the economic ment. The second is gains of the 1990s. who should get the So one issue in looking at a most benefit out of tax cut is whether or not we want the cuts. The third to be cautious about assuming that all is what kind of tax the optimistic projections about big cut would best get surpluses in the future will prove to the economy mov- be right. The President's tax cut is a ing again. The plan that keeps cutting revenues fourth is whether into the year 2006. Isn't it more better uses of the sensible to cut some taxes in the budget surplus exist short term and put off the big than cutting taxes. cuts until we know they didn't spend enough whether the budget will IflB already. be balanced? Just look at the past three years. There is good reason to pro- Even a supposedly tightwad Re- "The problem with the vide some tax cuts to the middle publican Congress has lifted class, especially for those who spending by an average of 6 per- President's proposal did not realize the big economic cent a year, more than double the gains of the 1990s. The problem rate of inflation. A last-minute, is that so much of its with the President's proposal is bipartisan splurge last year alone that so much of its benefit goes to will increase federal spending by benefit goes to the the wealthiest taxpayers. To say $560 billion over 10 years, says " this is not to engage in class war- the CBO. Surpluses left in Wash- wealthiest taxpayers. fare. It is simply to ask where and ington will become the excuse for to whom our budget surplus politicians to create a permanently E. J. Dionne Jr. might usefully go. larger government. The best estimates of the Pres- ident's plan show the top 5 per- Pay the Debt? But what about paying down the na- cent of taxpayers getting about half of the tax cuts.

tional debt? This is the most disingenuous argument The top 1 percent get more than a third - some esti-

now being made against a tax cut. For one thing, it is mates put the number at more than 40 percent. made by the same members of Congress who most OK, but don't the wealthy pay the most taxes? want to spend the surplus. More important, the debt is Well, yes. But the wealthy get a larger share of the

already falling so fast that there soon won't be enough benefits from this tax cut than they'd receive if it debt maturing each year to repay. were pegged to their total share of taxes paid. Why? Here's the reason: Federal debt held by the public Because Bush's plan targets its cuts to the income (Treasury bonds) comes due on a schedule (five years, tax and the inheritance tax. It leaves out the Social 10 years and so on). According to both the White Security tax, also known as FICA, which is the House and CBO, only about $2 trillion of the $3.2 biggest tax on most Americans. And the inheritance trillion publicly held debt is going to come due over tax cuts go entirely to the top 2 percent of estates - the next 10 years. The surplus from Social Security the only estates that now pay any tax at all. The es- alone - which both parties have pledged not to touch - tate tax could be cut and more families might be ex- is more than enough to repay that $2 trillion. cluded from its reach. But a total repeal gives most But to pay down the debt any faster would mean of the benefits to the truly wealthiest among us.

recalling bonds early, inevitably also paying a premi- And it is the wealthy who made the greatest gains um. So let's say Grandma bought Joey a $100 U.S. in the past decade. According to Internal Revenue savings bond paying 5 percent a year to teach him the Service data analyzed by the Center on Budget and

value of thrift and patriotism. But that bond may not Policy Priorities, the top 1 percent of tax filers saw be due until 2020. Do we really want to bribe Joey to their after-tax incomes increase by 24.1 percent be- turn in the bond early by paying him a bonus? Early tween 1989 and 1997, the last year for which num- repayment is even sillier when you understand that 37 bers are available. On average, their incomes went percent of U.S. treasuries are held by foreigners. It up from $417,000 a year to $518,000. means keeping U.S. taxes higher than they need to be They may not like paying the tax increases in order to pay a bonus to Japanese banks. signed into law first by the current President's father Well, then, why not pile up the surpluses in a fund in the 1990 budget deal and then by Bill Clinton in to pay Social Security when the baby boomers retire? 1993. But they sure like the economy that followed. This sounds nice, but any such fund would be a huge And our current President's plan doesn't touch the political temptation. The excess cash can't be stuffed tax that takes the most money out of the paychecks in a mattress. The temptation would be great for the of most Americans: the Social Security tax. feds to use the cash to invest in private stocks and There is a case for a tax cut that would help an bonds, with all the opportunity for political mischief economy that is showing signs of sluggishness. that implies. Do we really want Congress becoming a But far better ways exist to stimulate the economy major shareholder in IBM or Alcoa? now than passing a tax cut whose effect would be Another common argument against President felt mostly in this President's second term, were

Bush's tax cut is that it is skewed to "the rich." In one he re-elected - and that goes, in any event, to the

sense, this is undeniable, if beside the point. The more wealthiest taxpayers who have the least need to income you make the more taxes you pay, so of spend the money. course the rich will get more money back from an in- Conservatives who want a bigger tax cut make a

come-tax cut. It is, after all, their money. fair point in criticizing Bush's tax cut proposal:

But the Bush plan nonetheless goes out of its way to Very few of its benefits would be paid out this year, compensate. Its proposal to double the $500-per-child when the economy could use a push. But this is not tax credit phases out at $200,000 per couple, meaning a case for a larger tax cut. It's a case for a smaller,

the wealthy don't receive it. And under the Bush plan. quicker tax cut directed to the people who most need

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earn, the larger proper would spend it to stimulate tionate tax cut you receive. The more income the economy. Under the latest U.S. Treasury If we want a tax cut that estimates, taxpayers earning less you make, the more would stimulate the economy, than $40,000 a year would get a 28- wouldn't it make more sense to percent cut in their taxes. But those taxes you pay, so of replace the income-tax earning more than $200,000 would reductions with a temporary cut get only an 8.7 percent cut under in the Social Security tax? That course the rich will get title Bush plan. Thus the share of would put a lot of money in the total U.S. income taxes paid by the more money back." hands of the taxpayers who need $200,000-and-above crowd would it most at a moment when they increase after the Bush plan passed could use it. Alternatively, the - Paul A. Gigot - to 45 percent of the total from income-tax cut could be limited 42.9 percent. to the bottom rate. Or Congress But the best argument for cutting the top income-tax might consider an annual rebate to individual tax- rates is that tax cuts will spur a flagging economy. The payers, depending on how big the real surplus top marginal rate of 39.6 percent - which quickly ap- turned out to be. proaches 50 percent when you add state and Medicare The final issue is whether we really want so taxes and the phase-out of deductions and exemptions - much of the surplus to go to tax cuts or whether it is paid by our most entrepreneurial citizens, especially could be better used for other public purposes. Yes, small businessfoDc. They are most likely to respond to the surplus is the money of the American people. lower rates by investing to expand or start a business. But the American people have a right to decide The U.S. economy could use this incentive kick whether their money best goes to a tax cut of this right about now. The best argument against Bush's sort or whether it might do the country more good if proposal is that it's too small and that it phases in too it went to other areas. slowly. The President designed his plan when surplus- It's significant that the President put off his de- es were smaller and growth was faster. So he back- fense-spending proposals for later. If he decides we loaded it as a political precaution so he couldn't be need to spend more on defense, where will the mon- accused of touching Social Security. The first round of ey come from? Reforming Social Security for the cuts, recently passed by the U.S. House, included a next generation - whether you favor a privatized mere $5.6 billion tax cut for 2001 . That's a nickel bet system or not - will cost real money. As Sen. John in Las Vegas. Congress should recognize the econom- McCain, R-Ariz., argued last year, we have to ic urgency and speed up the pace of the cuts. choose between whether to have a big tax cut or The precedent to keep in mind is Ronald Reagan's whether we want to put money aside to keep Social tax cuts in the early 1980s. The U.S. economy was Security solvent. then in dreadful shape. Reagan's proposal - larger We have other national needs. It remains a scan- than Bush's as a proportion of the economy - ignited dal that in our wealthy country, more than 40 mil- the largest boom since the 1960s. lion people - most of them people who work but Those tax cuts are often blamed for the deficits of the don't qualify for government benefits - go without 1980s. But that ignores spending, which didn't fall as a health insurance. Shouldn't giving them a chance to share of the economy until defense spending declined have health-care coverage be a priority? Shouldn't after the Cold War ended. That critique also ignores the senior citizens get a drug benefit so they don't face a role of the Federal Reserve, which had to keep money choice between needed medicine and food on their tight in the early 1 980s to break the back of raging infla- tables? tion. In contrast, today the Fed is cutting interest rates. That's why this tax debate is not some arcane Given a minimum of spending control, a large tax cut Washington fight. It's a battle over what our today poses very little risk of a return to deficits. nation's priorities should be, how to make our econ- The far greater risk is that Congress won't cut tax- omy grow and whom our government most needs to es. The economy would then grow more slowly than it help. It's a great national argument in which all

can while the government grows faster than is wise. Americans should join. ! I Every 20 years or so the case becomes overwhekning for a tax cut. John Kennedy passed one in the 1960s E.J. Dionne Jr. is a Washington and a boom followed. Ronald Reagan did the same in Post columnist and a seniorfellow the 1980s. It's time to emulate their successes. in government studies at the Brook- ings Institution. Paul A. Gigot, a writerfor the Wall Street Journal, is a Pulitzer Prize winnerfor his 1999 columns on Illustrations by Samuel A. Minick politics.

Article design: Holly K. Soria .

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 "

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simply haven't understood: their nation's Wilson - whose own love for the Stars By Matt Grills flag has a symbolic power. Unity of and Stripes ran deep, as evidenced by the Assistant Editor country, sacrifice by those who Hve and moving language of his flag speeches -

a one-room schoolhouse near Fre- die protecting it, celebration of personal thought three decades of state and local Indonia. Wis., a miniature American and political liberty - these things, writ- celebrations warranted a proclamation. Flag standing in a bottle had a place ten in the stars and between stripes of red But in 1949, it was President Harry S of honor on teacher Bemard J. and white, make the American Flag pre- Truman who took the final step in

Cigrand's desk. cious and worth protecting by giving it a inscribing Rag Day on the nation's col-

It might have been the sight of that day of its own. lective conscience, when he signed an flag - always before him - that con- That was Cigrand's mes- act of Congress making vinced Cigrand a day should be set aside sage, which he took to the June 14 the one day every

to observe the American Flag. It might nation's streets and pubUca- year when the American have been the still-fresh wounds of the tions long after he left teach- Rag would receive her due. Civil War, which 20 years earlier left the ing to become a dentist and, Cigrand's work lives on.

nation badly divided and in need of later, a college dean. It The same spirit that put Rag something under which the states could didn't take but a few years Day on the national calen-

unite once more. for his crusade to bear fruit: dar drives the flag-protec-

Or it might have been that Cigrand's In 1889, a New York tion amendment, recenfly parents, who had emigrated from Luxem- kindergarten teacher intro- reintroduced in the 107th bourg, taught their son that the American duced Flag Day ceremonies Congress. Just as America Bernard J. Cigrand Rag symbolized opportunity and a free- at his school, prompting the is no ordinary nation, her dom unlike any the world had ever seen. State Board of Education of New York to flag is no ordinary piece of cloth. When

Whatever it was that inspired him to adopt the idea of observing Flag Day. an object has been deemed precious - an lead his class in observing "Flag Birthday" Next were the Public Schools of Philadel- event that for the American Rag came

on June 14,1 885 - the 108th anniversary phia, which conducted Flag Day exercis- when that first Rag Day was celebrated in

of the official adoption of the Stars and es June 14, 1893, in Independence Cigrand's schoolhouse in 1885 - it must Stripes - Cigrand managed to put some- Square. Hundreds of schoolchildren, each then be considered worth protecting. No thing incredible in motion that day. He one carrying a small American Flag, as- better option exists to protect the Stars and began a quest to give the American Hag a sembled for a day of patriotic singing and Stiipes than under America's Constitu- place of honor in the national ethos, a uplifting addresses. tion, allowing respect for the flag to take

quest that ended for Cigrand when Presi- The following year, Cigrand and Leroy its rightful place alongside the cherished dent Woodrow Wilson established Flag Van Horn organized the American Flag rights to freedom of speech and religion. Day by proclamation May 16, 1930, and a Day Association for the purpose of pro- Much like the flag-protection amend- quest that continues today in the form of moting a massive Flag Day celebration in ment. Rag Day was bom in the hearts the flag-protection amendment. Chicago. More than 300,000 schoolchild- and minds of hard-working, proud-serv- willfully Cigrand recognized what many f, ren gathered in Dou- ing Americans. Their decision to Americans, then and now. glas, Garfield, and passionately observe the flag every Humboldt, Lin- June 14 - a decision made year upon year coln and Wash- for more than a century now - left elected ington parks to officials no other choice than to endorse

honor the flag. it. History indicates that must be the fate President of the flag-protection amendment. Woodrow As President Wilson declared June 14, 1917, "This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and

purpose as a nation. It has no other char-

acter than that which we give it from generation to generation."

It is now another generation's turn.

Article design: Holly K. Soria

Teacher Bernard J. Cigrand led his students in the first recorded Flag Day observance at Stoney Hill School in 1885.

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ence in Williamsburg, Va., and members of the Legion I met triotism." That is essential to democra-

two law professors attend- around the country. Particularly, I re- cy. And that is what this campaign for ing that conference, Richard member one woman in Kentucky who this amendment has been all about. D. Parker and Stephen B. told me about throwing ration cans at That leads me to my third reason, Presser, have committed Germans in Italy. Fve also appreciated which is much more personal. It is not

themselves to supporting working with General Brady. something I have talked to anyone

The American Legion in its Secondly, it has been an opportunity about, but I am going to say something battle to protect Old Glory. for me to work and to vindicate and per about it today to you. I was classified According to National Commander haps even to redeem the foundation of 1-Y in 1969 as a result of arrests in the

Ray G. Smith, these men have "guided the essence of our Constitution and the civil rights movement. Hence, I never

The American Legion through the legal Rule of Law . There is an idea out there served in the military. So what I have web, woven to ensnare us by opponents that the Constitution is opposed some- done here, in a way, has been for four to this amendment. They have fought how to democracy, that other people, and I want our battle in newspapers, in debate, on the Constitution limits to tell you who they are. radio and in testimony before the judi- and is against democra- First, it is someone ciary committees of the U.S. Senate cy. That is just wrong. named Eugene Daley. I and the House of Representatives." This campaign, it seems went to elementary

Parker is a professor of Law at Har- to me, has shown and school with him from vard Law School where he has taught reminded people of that. kindergarten all the way since 1979. Democracy, first of all, through the senior year in Presser is a professor of legal history means popular sover- high school. And I

at Northwestern University where he eignty. The basis of the , remember him very well. teaches in the law school, the history Constitution and Consti- Eugene was not treated department and the Kellogg Graduate tutional Law is popular as he should have been School of Management. sovereignty, from "We by some of the teachers.

Parker and Presser addressed the Na- the People" at the begin- ' But he was one of my tional Executive Committee at the Fall ning of the text to Arti- classmates who was Meetings last October. The following cle V, setting forth the Harvard Law professor killed in Vietnam, and D. are edited excerpts from their speeches: process of amendment Richard Parker owes when I go to Washington I much of his support for the that we have been invok- touch his name on the flag amendment to a tradition ADDRESS: RICHARD D. PARKER ing, toward the end of the Memorial. So I have been of patriotism established by I want to thank you very much for this text. Popular sovereignty his great-grandfather. doing this in part for him. award. I don't know how many law is the essence of the Rule Let me say something professors have received awards from of Law; also of the essence is political about my own family. I come from a the Legion. My guess is a rather small equality. The Constitution doesn't belong line of family grocers. For four number, which, believe me, makes me long to people who wear black robes. It generations, my family has run, or did all the prouder to be here today and to certainly doesn't belong to professors. It run, a grocery store in a little rural town receive this award. I think what I am belongs to all the American people, in New Hampshire, the town of most grateful to you all for is the oppor- whoever they are. And the fact that the Fitzwilliam. Let me tell you about three tunity Fve had to participate in the cam- fancy people, some of the elite in the of those people. paign for the flag amendment. And I country, have opposed this amendment Second, my great-grandfather who, would like to give you three reasons. has countered for me as a strong reason of course, I never knew. He fought in

Have you ever noticed that the profes- to support it. the Civil War, and as a kid I used to play

sors always have three reasons? Well, I And finally, democracy is based in with his Civil War pistol. As I started have three reasons in this case. community. Without community, with- reading histories of the Civil War, I First, of course, has been the oppor- out some sense of commitment to the thought a lot of what he must have been tunity this has given me to work with bonds that tie us to one another as well through. He was at Gettysburg.

34 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 Third, my grandfather who had chil- In all seriousness, what working for the simplicity and beauty of true values, dren right before World War I but you has taught me is that our framers like patriotism and honor and sacrifice. didn't serve in the World War. As a were right. There is an old saying that I am not a veteran, though I am the little kid, I spent a month every year judges and law professors like to use, son of one, and most of us in the acad- with him. Every morning I would go quoting Earl Warren, "You can't turn emy are not veterans as Richard, I out with him to raise the flag. No matter back the clock." A wise man named C. think, hinted. what, this was a ritual we had done. So S. Lewis once said, "If the clock is giv- In the '60s, many of us did not

I have been thinking of him. ing you the wrong time, you not only have the courage to put our country's But most of all, my father. My fa- can turn back the time, you should." needs in front of our own. You gave ther served in World War II. He went In 1989 the Supreme Court made a me a chance to work with people who over to Europe after D-Day. He was wrong turn in constitutional law, and did, and I think a tiny bit of it may involved in the crossing of the Rhine we have merely been trying to set the have rubbed off. and then the occupation of Germany. clock back to 1989. Thomas Jefferson For a long time, unfortunately, and That was what this used to say that the only maybe this is the case of many veter- amendment was all chance our Republic had ans of World War II, he never got about. It was about to survive was if we man- around to telling me very much about democracy. All about aged to cultivate virtue in his experiences in the war. But what the people expressing our citizens. Today's le- he did communicate with me was pa- their views. But for me, gal culture puts individ- triotism. Let me tell you one story. this was about some- ual expression in its cen- When he was dying 30 years ago, he thing more. If I learned ter and values, above all, told me that a year before, he had been anything from my study self-actualization and on a business trip to Pennsylvania. He of the constitutional what I label self-indul- had taken time out at the end of the day beginnings - and you gence. It is just what to go to the Battlefield at Gettysburg. have to remember that I leads the Supreme Court He had walked out into that huge, am supposed to be a to think that flag desecra- green area where Pickett's Charge took legal historian, a cur- tion is just speech. Just place and was turned back. It was twi- rent expert on constitu- Stephen B. Presser, a profes- one more way of saying, sor of legal history at North- light and he stood in the middle of that tional law - what I "Hey, what I have to say western University, distin- area and he looked to where there was learned from the is just as good as anybody guishes between freedom of an American flag. He was all alone and framers is you couldn't else, and if I trash your speech and the outrage of saluted the flag. That made a great im- have order without law. flag desecration. national symbol, it is my pression on me and I think you could You couldn't have law right as an American." It imagine that. Now, all of these people, without morality. You couldn't have is not, it never has been, never will be, particularly my relatives, would be morality without religion. This is what but there are some things that need to proud of me being a law professor. But the CFA has always understood. remain sacred in any society, and ours is they would be more proud in my work- And if we haven't been about a re- our unique national symbol. It used to be ing for this flag amendment. And for ligious crusade, surely we have been said, especially during the Civil War, me, this has been a way of returning about a moral one. You all taught me that the only cause worth fighting for this salute. something about morality and com- was a lost cause, and there is some wis- mon sense - something missing from dom in that. That is the way I have felt ADDRESS: STEPHEN B. PRESSER the Supreme Court and most of the working with you. That is a very hard act to follow and current legal academy. The really But the fact remains that we did I am going to give almost essentially good lawyers who lived in the 16th some things that no legal struggle in the same speech that Richard did. But and 17th centuries used to talk about America has ever done. Never before we law professors believe that you nev- the law being written in our hearts, not in American history have 49 state leg- er get it the first time around. Maybe it concocted by obscure Supreme Court islatures asked the Congress to send won't hurt to do it twice. justices. When five out of nine justices an amendment to them for ratification. What I wanted to say this aftemoon is can't tell the difference between Our amendment came very close in- that it is really Richard and I who should speech protected by the First Amend- deed to passing - only four errant and be thanking you. You have to remember ment and immoral outrages and dan- foolish United States Senators stood in that Richard and I travel in a strange and gerous acts of desecration, it is a re- its way. And as it has been suggested, bizarre world. People we encounter are minder that maybe it is time to return with any luck a more sensible Senate lawyers, law professors and law students. to basics, which is what our amend- will be elected. Working with the Citizens Flag Alliance, ment effort tries to do. This is a good occasion to renew our on the other hand, we had the rare privi- You will remember that Bill Clinton determination and to remind ourselves lege of meeting actual human beings. won the 1992 election with the slogan that our cause is just and in the true spirit And it was a wonderful experience. I got "It's the economy, stupid." We thought of the American Constitution. To para- to meet Miss America and Tommy La- of a great slogan for us to remind the phrase Daniel Webster, "It is a small

sorda. I got to meet Pat Brady and lots of court where it went wrong for our amendment, but there are those who others working for the CFA. I saw Ufe as amendment: "It's not speech, stupid." love it." Next year may it succeed. it really is lived, and it was an eye-open- So what I have learned from you is the ing experience. value of the simple and the true - and Article design: Doug Rollison

JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • 35 'CUniNG BACKLOG' PRINGIPI'S TOP PRIIRIIY

Vietnam War Veteran ANTHONY J. PRINCIPI: It's hard to say. I'm certainly an advocate for takes helm at VA. the recommendations of the Commission, particularly By John Raughter those that relate to education. Education is clearly Editor the key to success for n Jan. 14, young men and women 1999, the separating from mili-

Commis- tary service. I will sion on do everything with- Service in my power to members advocate the and Vet- establishment of erans a program that Transi- allows men and tion women to pur- Assistance called sue their educa- for some bold tional goals steps to improve limited only by the quality of life their ability and for America's aspirations. Of warriors. Full col- course, I recog- lege scholarships, nize that as Sec- expanded health retary I have to care and better pay oversee pro- for America's mili- grams and fund- tary were just some ^^^V ing for a wide of its recommenda- array of services tions. and benefits for vet-

The Commission erans. Although I was the first major in- have to look at the quiry into veterans pro- W cost of the educational grams since the Eisenhow- program and how it er administration. Then-Na impacts on other benefits, tional Commander Butch I intend to remain a strong Miller said the Commission advocate. "will be remembered for strengthening benefits available to the men Q: What is your top priority as and women who serve this nation in VA Secretary? uniform. The panel deserves our A: My highest priority without ques- VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi has thanks for a job well done." tion is to reduce the enormous back- inherited a department with nearly longer an outsider looking in, log of claims. It is an absolute No 500,000 medical claims pending. the chairman of that Commission, national tragedy, indeed a national Anthony J. Principi, is now in a posi- disgrace, that almost 500,000 claims tion to do something about it. The THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE: are now pending before the Veterans Naval Academy graduate who com- The Principi Commission recom- Benefits Administration for disabili- manded a river patrol unit during the mended restoring the GI Bill back ty compensation and pension. If we Vietnam War is now the Secretary of to its original value. Do you see do nothing, that will grow to about Veterans Affairs. this happening anytime soon? 600,000 claims, which will take

36 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 "

almost a year to resolve. World Atoll, we need to pay attention to War II veterans are dying at that. Causes of disabilities the rate of 1 ,500 a day could range from our sol- We need to take deci- diers walking the streets sive steps to reduce of Nagasaki and this backlog. It is Hiroshima after the unacceptable blast to those rid- and cannot ing the rivers of stand. Vietnam after I am call- Agent Orange ing for a was sprayed. I broad-based remember commission when I was to take a Deputy Secre- look at all tary of VA and our manage- watched the ment black fires of systems, our the Persian Gulf technology, our on CNN, I said to processes and myself, T see the our organizational makings of another structure to see what Agent Orange situa- needs to be done to re- tion.' It was at that time duce the backlog. I want that I ordered a registry be practical hands-on solutions to conducted so we would be able to bring this backlog down and give track the long-term health effects of Principi, left, meets with PNC Jake veterans the opportunity to have their the men and women who have been Comer at The American Legion's 2001 claims evaluated in a timely manner exposed to environmental hazards in Washington Conference. Principi is a in a quality manner. I refuse to the Persian Gulf. Sometimes symp- and member of Post 17 in Kodiak, Alaska. accept the fact that because we want toms don't show up until 20 or 30 good quality, we have to have timeli- years after an event and suddenly ness that's off the charts. The Com- load. But it is a good change and cer- people start coming down with cer- mission will be made up of people tainly one I support. tain forms of cancer. Only with a from the private sector, representa- registry can you track people and tives from Veterans Service Organi- 0: Desert Storm ended 10 years make intelligent decisions on what zations and forward-thinking VA of- ago, yet there is still mystery sur- happened to people in battle. That's ficials. I would like to have those rounding Gulf War Illness. Are we why I insisted on a registry and, of solutions on my desk 90 days from close to determining the cause of it? course, VA dragged its feet because the date the commission kicks off, so A: That's a very difficult question. I it was a different idea. But I'm going

I can look at those recommendations believe the federal government, par- to be very insistent that we carry on and get them implemented. ticularly the Department of Defense these policies because long after I'm and VA, have worked very diligently gone someone will be in my place

Q: Under the prior administration, to find answers. The last I heard, we who will have to determine what is VA refused to assist veterans in spent in excess of $150 million in associated with environmental expo- establishing "well-grounded" dis- research and are still studying it. sures. That said, I think we should ability claims. Now, due in part to Clearly environmental hazards on always give veterans the reasonable pressure by The American Legion, the battlefield can be as deadly as benefit of the doubt. Scientists are "Duty-to-Assist" is now the law. shrapnel, bayonet cuts or bullet never clear in these cases. You have How has your department wounds. If you were exposed to ion- one scientist saying 'yes" and anoth- responded to the mandate that VA izing radiation as a young soldier or er scientist saying 'no.' That's must once again assist veterans scrubbing a ship down in the Bikini always the case in the scientific with these claims? A: It's unfortunate that the "Duty-to- Assist" issue came about. It should never have been stopped in the first It is an absolute national tragedy, indeed a place. It's a very important component of our responsibilities to pro- national disgrace, that almost 500,000 claims vide disability compensation and other benefits. The change is in the are now pending before the Veterans Benefits process of being implemented. It will require us to go back and review Administration for disability compensation approximately 343,000 claims, so it will add significantly to our work- and pension.

JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • medical field. It's very diffi Thompson and try to make cult to reach a consensus. some sense of this. I think But again, the people VA plays a very impor- who are putting their tant role and it's a lives at risk proven fact that deserve the high we deliver est merit. Dur- health care ing my tenure, more effi- during this ciently than President's others do. administration, they Q: The will receive President's it. proposed VA health- Q; What care budget role do you falls short of see The The Ameri- American can Legion's Legion and other proposal. Do you VSOs playing with believe that the VA? administration's A: To be successful, the budget is sufficient to VSOs have to be part of the meet the growing needs of process. They have to be partners veterans? with VA in getting the job done. I A: I certainly support the President's Principj outlines his vision for VA during appreciate and recognize that the the legislative rally at the Legion's Wash- budget. We worked very hard in buck stops with me and that I have ington Conference. fighting for an adequate budget with to make decisions. I will make deci- 0MB (Office of Management and sions and I will see them implement- working in various areas. We are Budget). The starting point was not ed and I will hold people account- providing care for some veterans good. I believe the President's inter- able. But before getting there, I want over the age of 65 who would nor- cession in getting us the $1 billion input and advice. I want a partner- mally fall under Medicare. To the increase was important and greatly ship with the VSOs, so we can reach extent that we provide care, I think appreciated. This $1 billion increase a consensus on how to get things that we should be reimbursed. Of is 63 percent higher than the average done. I think that was one of the course, HHS (Department of Health percentage increases in total discre- hallmarks of the Commission that I and Human Services) feels different- tionary spending for VA over the was fortunate enough to chair - the ly. They are not currently budgeted past eight years. Its health care Commission on Service members for that amount of money and would increases alone are 14 percent higher and Veterans Transition Assistance. prefer to see the status quo. I think it than the average increases over the

The fact is that 12 members - some goes to a bigger issue, an issue of past two administrations. Can I work Republicans, some Democrats, some how we are coordinated with other with this budget? You bet I can. Do I generals, some privates and the rep- federal agencies. Between DOD, want more? You bet, but wouldn't all resentatives of VSOs - all came HHS and Medicare there's a lot of cabinet secretaries like more money? together with different and fervently overlapping eligibilities and I'm not The President has established a poli- held views. They were willing to sure beneficiaries are well served by cy to control federal spending across subordinate their personal views for this. We need to sit down with the board. It's growing out of con- the consensus because they knew Defense Secretary (Donald) Rums- trol. We want to ensure there is that a Commission report that was feld and HHS Secretary (Tommy) money to educate our children, to unanimous would be better received protect Social Security and to give and have a greater impact on Con- some money back to the American gress. I intend to do the same as VA people. I applaud The American "/ Secretary. I may not always agree refuse to accept Legion for fighting for VA and for with the VSOs on every issue, but fighting for our nation's veterans. they will be part of that decision- the fact tfiat because After all the debates are finished, making process. when the ink is dry on the bottom we want good quality, line, I will work aggressively to Ui There are veterans on Medicare ensure the dollars I receive, whether who would like to use VA facilities we tiave to tiave it's a $1 billion increase or a $2.4 but cannot do so. Do you support billion increase, are spent wisely and Medicare subvention? timeliness that's off efficiently for veterans.

A: Yes I do. Several pilot projects on Medicare subvention have been the charts. Article design: Doug Rollison

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THE TIME IS NOW Invigorated by prospects in the 107tli Congress, Legionnaires fan out across Capitol Hill to support veterans' causes and protect Old Glory.

By James V. Carroll Assistant Editor

till disappointed after last year's four-vote defeat of the flag-protection amendment in the Senate, Leg- ionnaires assembled for their 41st Annual Wash- ington Conference more determined than ever to

taste victory in 200 1 Last-minute flip-flops by Sens. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., and Richard Bryan, D-Nev., aborted any chance of victory for flag-amendment advocates in the 106th Congress. De- spite a 305-124 vote in the House in 1999, the 63-37 vote in the Senate spelled doom for flag protection. Despite the setback of last year. Leg- Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduces the flag-protection constitutional amendment. is ionnaires and the 142 patriotic organiza- He flanked by Medal of Honor recipient and CFA Board Chairman Patrick H. Brady, and fellow tions of the Citizens Rag Alliance say primary sponsors Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., and Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. they feel 2001 holds the greatest opportunity in their 1 2-year effort to get a pie is the right thing to do." tion as their defense when the fight to flag-protection amendment passed by The Supreme Court made a mistake, recapture our flag is, in truth, a fight to Congress and sent to the states. and the American people have an oblig- recapture our Constitution. We will not "We've always held a strong edge in ation and sacred duty to correct that win this struggle until there are enough the House, and of all the new members mistake, Brady said. The Bill of Rights members of Congress who have the in the new House, there are only three was designed to protect the people, but courage to stand up to the media and who do not agree with us on the flag government - through the courts - has correct the errors of the Court." issue," CFA Board Chairman Patrick been using the Bill of Rights to defile That time may be at hand. H. Brady told Legionnaires attending the values of the people. "Sen. Max Cleland, Rep. Randy the Washington Conference March 10- "We must make it known that flag- 'Duke' Cunningham, Rep. John

14. "On the Senate side, eight of 12 burners are not the problem. The prob- Murtha and I will today introduce the new members are with us. Overall, 85 lem is those who call flag burning flag-protection constitutional amend- percent of those committed in the 107th 'speech,'" Brady said. "Every Ameri- ment," Senate Judiciary Chairman Or- Congress support us on the flag." can should be outraged by legalized rin Hatch, R-Utah, announced in a

More importantly, flag-protection flag-burning - not just because it is standing-room-only Dirksen Senate advocates have the support of President wrong, but because calling it speech Office Building hearing room. "Our George W. Bush politically and emo- defiles our hallowed Constitution. Our amendment reads simply: 'The Con- tionally, said Brady, a retired Army ma- opponents have usurped the Constitu- gress shall have power to prohibit the jor general and recipient of the Medal of Honor for a series of medical rescue "If tfie Flag is not sacred, wfiat in missions during the Vietnam War. American "The flag was taken away by the tfie world is? Parents tiave lost tfieir ctiildren Supreme Court during his father's presidency and I'm sure President for tfiis flag; wives tiave lost their husbands. (George W.) Bush would like to see it returned," Brady said. "Not only as a should protect it. present to his father, but because re- Congress turning the flag to the American peo- Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga.

I|0 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 physical desecration of the flag of the "The flag is a solemn and sacred Cunningham added. "It is imperative United States.' This amendment will symbol of the many sacrifices made that we finally enact protections for return to the American people the by our founding fathers and our veter- our flag. Amending our constitution to right to protect the American Flag ans throughout several wars as they protect the flag is a necessity." from desecration and disgrace." fought to establish and protect the Following the March 1 3 press con- It's time for Americans to make founding principles of our nation," ference, Legionnaires fanned out unequivocally clear that certain behavior in this country is and should be recognized as wrong and punishable Desert Storm Vets by law, Hatch said. Laws are based on Legion remembers our values, not vice versa. By passing A standing-room-only crowd of one thing: the men and women who the flag-protection amendment, Con- more than 300 attended The Ameri- were there," Homer said. "I'd al- gress will reaffirm the very basis of can Legion's "Reunion and Unity" ways find this can-do spirit." the Constitution, he added. tribute to nearly 700,000 U.S. vet- Homer concluded that the victo- "We must recapture and reinvigorate erans of the Persian Gulf War who ry endorsed many forms of change: the importance of our responsibilities as helped free Kuwait from the grip of a change in technology, a change in citizens, to each other and to our com- Iraqi occupation. America's view of its armed forces, munities," Hatch said. "Doing so will The forum, organized by the a change in tactical focus from help us to combat divisiveness, selfish- Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation maximizing killing to minimizing ness and immorality. The flag-protec- Commission's Gulf War Task U.S. casualties while killing, and a tion constitutional amendment is a step Force, kicked off The American change in the international perspec- toward reorienting our moral compass." Legion's 41st Washington Confer- tive on America's post-Vietnam Cleland agreed. ence March 10. The commemora- War fighting spirit. "As a veteran who risked his life in tion was a retrospective on perse- "We changed warfare; we saw Vietnam to protect the freedoms that verance in battle, the intractability things we never saw work before Americans hold sacred, I am a strong of freedom and lessons America work well," Homer said, alluding to supporter of the First Amendment," learned both about its troops and smart munitions and stealth technolo- Cleland said. "However, I believe that the institutions that produced them. gy. "[The victory] didn't just change an amendment to protect the flag is an U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., warfare. It changed nations. It helped acceptable, very specific limitation in who served as legal counsel for an us escape the Vietnam syndrome. order to protect the most sacred of Army medical service corps division "Our schools work, our families American in the Persian Gulf, was one of four work, our churches work because

symbols. I be- members of Congress who received a they put forth a half-million of the lieve that soci- Certificate of Appreciation from The finest young men and women." etal interest in American Legion acknowledging his Acting Kuwait Ambassador preserving the active-duty service during the 1991 Ahmed Razouki summarized the symbolic val- war. Reps. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., global implications of the war in ue of the flag Mark Kirk, R-IIL, and Van Hilleary, one poignant query: "Had Bagh- outweighs the R.-Tenn., also were honored. dad's aggression not been reversed, interest of an Buyer, visibly moved in his re- what message would that have sent individual who marks as he remembered a fallen to other dictators?" chooses to comrade, characterized the allied Since the end of the war. The physically des- victory as yet another chapter in the American Legion has been at the ecrate the flag. annals of the American GI. forefront of advocacy on behalf of Sgt. Maj. of the Marine "The flag "They fight for no bounty of Gulf War veterans suffering from a Corps Alford McMichael unites Ameri- their own and leave freedom in variety of illnesses, some diagnosed serves as a panelist cans as no their footsteps," Buyer said. "The and some mysterious. The commem- during a discussion on symbol can. If that I left in that part oration a the the Legion's Reconnect only thing of included discussion of Program. the American the world is my innocence." government's efforts to deal with Flag is not sa- Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. sick veterans, efforts inspired in cred, what in the world is? Parents have Charles Homer, who was in charge large measure by The American Le- lost their children for this flag; wives of air operations during the war, gion. Addressing veterans' health have lost their husbands. Congress reflected on the conditions through issues were Department of Veterans should protect it," Cleland added. which U.S. troops triumphed. Al- Affairs Deputy Under Secretary for Hatch and Cleland said they believe though beset with spoiled food, tent Health Dr. Frances Murphy; Dr. enough votes exist in the Senate to get life, mind-bending heat and vision Michael Kilpatrick, chief of staff for the necessary 67 to pass the flag-pro- obscured by the occasional torrents the Department of Defense Gulf War tection amendment during the 107th of muddy rain, "The ground war Office; and Army Lt. Col. Dr. Chuck Congress. Cunningham and Murtha are was truly magnificent," Homer said, Engel, chief of the Gulf War Health convinced the House will once again pointing out that the Guard and Re- Center at Walter Reed Army Med- vote to send the flag-protection amend- serve units were well prepared. ical Center, Washington, D.C. ment to the states for ratification. "Desert Storm is a miracle for - Steve Thomas "We have momentum," Hatch said.

JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • i|j across Capitol Hill to convince their Senators and Representatives "the time is now" to pass the flag-protection amendment. They also took the yearly opportunity to reinforce time- honored Legion causes in support of the nation's veterans. Flag protection took center stage at the Conference, but a number of other important veterans issues also were discussed. Conference speakers high- lighted issues such as concurrent receipt, Gulf War illnesses, Montgomery GI Bill education benefits, Medicare subvention, military absentee voting issues and fiscal 2002 Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs budget requests.

VA Activist. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi told Legionnaires he is a committed activist for veterans' rights and benefits. He vowed to conduct a top-to- National Commander Ray G. Smith, left, presents Rep. Bob Stump, R-Ariz., with the bottom review of health care and VA Legion's Distinguished Public Service Award. Stump, a member of Post 2, Tempe, claims processing services. Ariz., is the former House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman. "If we don't improve our benefits and services after four years, I will soldiers are being met when they be- "To be recognized is one thing, but consider my tour as a failure," Principi come veterans and file for benefits, to be recognized by your peers is al- told Legionnaires. Principi said. New technology meth- ways very special," said Stump, a Le- Myriad VA activities will be scruti- ods are likely to play a major role in gionnaire for 56 years and member of nized - and improved if need be - to upgrading VA services, he added. Post 2 in Tempe, Ariz. "It has been an ensure that the needs of active-duty "It is unacceptable to take two years honor and privilege to serve as Chair- to make decisions on medical claims," man of the Veterans Affairs Committee.

Principi said. "I want practical hands- I think we have done a lot of good

on solutions to find ways to provide things for a lot of veterans. I say 'we'

timely evaluations on claims. I want to because I can't presume to take credit

ensure we have uniform access to high- for this. It took the entire Veterans Af-

quality health care in a timely manner." fairs Committee and it took Congress.

It is his personal commitment to But more than that, it took your partici- restore the confidence of many veter- pation and your tremendous efforts by ans who have lost faith in VA's ability calling on your members of Congress to to fairly and promptly decide their make them aware how you feel about

benefit claims, Principi said. veterans issues. It means a lot." In other Washington Conference Also honored was Wal-Mart for its events. Rep. Bob Stump, R-Ariz., for- support of the National World War II mer House Veterans Affairs Committee Memorial and for its associates' voter- Chairman and current House Armed registration drive. Services Committee Chairman, was pre- Smith presented Wal-Mart the Na- sented the Legion Distinguished Public tional Commander's 2001 Public Rela- Service Award by American Legion tions Award during the closing of the National Commander Ray G. Smith. Washington Conference. Wal-Mart Vice Stump was recognized for his long- President Norm Lezy, a retired Air Force distinguished career in public service; lieutenant general, accepted the award at his commitment to America's veterans a luncheon in honor of the retailer. and their families while serving as "Wal-Mart's public service upholds chairman of the House Veterans Af- traditional values and two of the

Aaron Helm, left, Sergeant-at-Arms of the fairs Committee; his consistent sup- American Legion's founding princi- Sons of The American Legion Detachment port for a strong national defense sec- ples: Americanism and preserving the of Nebraska, shares a moment with retired ond to none; and his steadfast backing memory of those who fought in our U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, Citi- for a constitutional amendment to pro- nation's wars," Smith said. zens Flag Alliance Board Chairman, after tect the American Flag from desecra- flag-protection amendments were introduced in both the House and Senate. tion, Smith said. Article design: Doug Rollison

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AaxHiarji seeks leg'm's assistanee

cams you membership to our organiza- By Kristine West miLim RIPBRT tion as well. If you are a veteran's fe- HE YEAR WAS 1970. The Viet- male relative and haven't joined, why nam War was escalating, four not? We need to know what we can do students were gunned down at to make The American Legion Auxil- Kent State University, the Apollo iary more desirable and beneficial for 13 crew escaped a near tragedy all those eligible. and 18-year-olds gained the right Our service to veterans, communi- to vote in federal elections. ties, and children and youth is far-reach- Americans were going to the ing. We offer something for everyone. box office to see George C. Scott in Our programs include assistance to "Patton." We were listening to Simon some of the most respected organiza- and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled tions in existence: Girl Scouts of Amer- Water" on the radio and watching ica, Children's Miracle Network, Spe- "Marcus Welby, M.D." on television. cial Olympics, March of Dimes, Ameri- Our American Legion Auxiliary was can Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, celebrating its 50th anniversary by serv- America's Promise, Citizens Flag Al- ing our beloved veterans through liance, Ronald McDonald Homes and

1 ,236,799 hours of service and Fisher House, to name only a few. $1,646,328 in expenditures. America's Furthermore, we support the children and youth were aided by the American Legion Auxiliary National Pres- Legion's High School Oratorical Con- ident Kristine West Auxiliary's support of pre-school vision test, the Junior Shooting Sports, Ameri- testing, educational services for the more profound than ever. can Legion Baseball and the Child Wel- multiply handicapped and rubella im- Today, the Auxiliary serves more fare Foundation. We provide scholar- munization screening. Community ser- than 1.5 million veterans through $5.7 ships, distribute poppies, promote flag vice efforts amounted to $480,877 and million in donations and 4 million hours education, sponsor Girls State and Girls 1,400,324 volunteer hours. of service. Our assistance to America's Nation and raise funds for the National

It was a time of growth for The youth tallies $5.35 million with 1 mil- World War 11 Memorial. This year, we

American Legion Auxiliary as it wel- lion volunteer hours serving 1,250,000 proudly became a sponsor of the Na- children. We give back to our commu- tional Veterans Creative Arts Festival. 'The American Legion nities in the amount of 2.8 million hours National Commander Ray G. Smith and $4 million. and I agree that when a veteran's entire Auxiliary's national The Department of Veterans Affairs family is involved in Legion functions, estimates that 25 million veterans are it strengthens not only his or her fami- membership is at its out there. More youths are at high risk; ly, but our Legion Family as well. I am an aging veterans population has dire asking all Posts and Units to join as a lowest point since medical and social needs in the hospital, family to seek out women eligible for field and home settings; and more de- membership in your communities, to 1970, a 30-year low. mands than ever have been placed on encourage our junior members to con- our communities and families. tinue past their 1 8th birthdays and to do We must stop this However, The American Legion a better job of retaining our current Auxiliary's national membership is at membership. membership slide now its lowest point since 1970, a 30-year In The American Legion Auxiliary's low. We must stop this membership 8 1 -year history, our members have comed into eligibility granddaughters of slide now. faithfully cared for and assisted Ameri- veterans. More than 15,000 granddaugh- We simply cannot keep up with the ca's veterans. We have served our com- ters joined that year. In the next five needs of those we were founded to as- munities and have been mentors to chil- years, the organization would gain an sist with fewer and fewer members. dren, our greatest natural resource. additional 40,000 members, due largely Auxiliary members are aggressively Please help us continue this excellent to female relatives of new Viemam War working to stop this slide. Now we take tradition by supporting our veterans. With more than 12,000 units. our campaign to the organization that membership. By doing so, you help us, The American Legion Auxiliary ended has never turned its back on us - The help yourself and help The American 1970 with 922,170 members. American Legion. Legion, the greatest, strongest and Fast forward 30 years - things have We encourage Legionnaires' wives, most-loved wartime veterans organiza- changed a lot. Along with differences in mothers, sisters, daughters, granddaugh- tion in America. our pop culture, technology and every- ters, great-granddaughters and day living, the needs of The American grandmothers to join our ranks. If you Kristine S. West is the National Legion Auxiliary have changed. In fact, are hesitant, let us know why. If you are President of The American Legion Aux- the Auxiliary's needs are greater and a female veteran, your mihtary service iliary.

4I) • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 — Thomas KiNKADE m

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Two natural remedies may help alleviate arthritis pain.

By Tara Parker-Pope glucosamine and chondroitin. The article concluded that although much of the

I hen patients hobble into the research is flawed, the supplements Arthritis Center at Boston Uni- probably do help relieve pain. versity Hospital, they often ask In January, the medical journal Dr. Tim McAlindon about two Lancet published a three-year Belgian popular natural remedies: glu- study, funded by the Italian supplement cosamine and chondroitin. maker Rotta, that followed 212 patients Although he was once skeptical of with arthritic knees. Half the patients them, McAlindon's own research and took glucosamine sulfate and half took other medical studies have since con- a placebo. The patients taking glu- vinced him the supplements may help. cosamine reported as much as 25-per- "I now tell patients that they're worth cent improvement in pain. More signif- trying," says McAlindon, associate icantly. X-rays showed patients taking professor at Boston University's the placebo continued to lose cartilage School of Medicine. between their joints. The knees of pa- Last year, consumers spent about tients taking glucosamine were essen- $400 million on glucosamine and tially unchanged, suggesting the sup- chondroitin supplements, according to plements may have slowed the pro- ACNielsen. The supplements generally gression of the disease. are made from crushed crab shells or It's unclear whether taking glu- cow windpipes. How they work is un- cosamine or chondroitin alone or to- proven, but one theory is that they help gether offers the most relief. Most of rebuild worn cartilage between joints. the research favors glucosamine, but Some doctors believe the supplements many patients swear by a combination Medical research indicates natural reme- have an anti-inflammatory effect. of the products. Manufacturers often dies glucosamine and chondroitin relieve Osteoarthritis affects nearly every- recommend a combination of 500 mg arthritis pain. one as he or she ages. It occurs as the of glucosamine and 400 mg of chon- cartilage that acts as cushioning be- droitin three times a day. The Lancet Lancet article. The product can be found tween joints breaks down and wears study used 1,500 mg of glucosamine at www.originalglucosamine.com. away. The result can be stiffness, aches, sulfate once a day. The supplements aren't cheap. Rex- limited movement and severe pain. But even though research suggests all Sundown's popular brand Osteo Bi- Although the disease is common, the supplements may help, confusion Flex contains both glucosamine and arthritis sufferers have few options be- remains about which brands to take. chondroitin. It costs about $30 for a cause daily use of many drugs can lead Some brands contain glucosamine hy- 1 10-pill bottle. A three-week supply of to additional health problems. drochloride and others contain glu- Dona is about $30. Long-term use of common pain re- cosamine sulfate. Researchers don't Although the supplements are wide- lievers such as ibuprofen can cause ul- know whether the type of glucosamine ly viewed as safe, consumers, especially cers and internal bleeding. Nearly makes a difference. "It's very confus- those on medication, should always ask 17,000 arthritis patients die each year ing," McAlindon says. their doctors first. A few brands contain as a result of taking too much of this Of greater concern is that many high levels of manganese, which in type of drug. Acetaminophen can re- brands don't contain the promised in- large amounts can cause neurological lieve pain, but taking more than recom- gredients. A review by the independent side effects. People with shellfish aller- mended can lead to severe liver prob- testing firm ConsumerLab.com found gies or diabetes, or those who are on lems. Some new prescription drugs that among 25 major brands of glu- blood-thinning drugs may also be ad- have fewer side effects but can cost cosamine and chondroitin supplements, vised not to take glucosamine. $60 to $100 a month. nearly a third didn't contain everything Two high-profile studies have boost- promised on the label. A listing of the Living Well is a column written to ed interest in glucosamine and chon- brands that passed the review is avail- provide general information to our droitin supplements. The first, written able for a $15.95 annual subscription at readers. It is not intended to be nor is it by McAlindon and published last year www.consumerlab.com. medical advice. Readers should con- in the Journal of the American Medical Some doctors recommend patients sult their personal physicians when Association, reviewed 15 studies of use Dona, the Rotta brand studied in the they have health problems.

46 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 GOLDSHIELD

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(?) First National Bank Omaha

Legion family, FNBD join forces The American Legion and Sons of The American Legion have paired up with First National Bank Omaha to offer a variety of banking services that benefit the Le- gion's many programs. Members of the Legion and SAL are encouraged to take advantage of FNBO's many programs. All revenues earned by The American Legion through its partnership with First National Bank Omaha will go directly into the Finalists in the 2001 National Oratorical Contest were from left: Alexander Captain, Mira- Legion's general fund, which sup- ga, Calif.; Caleb Williams, Lewisville, Texas; and Tiffany Francisco, Chesapeal^e, Va. ports Americanism programs such as Boys Nation, Legion Baseball and the National Oratorical Con- Texas Student top Orator test, as well as the Legion's VA&R programs. The top three contestants in the 64th nior at Hampton Christian High School in All proceeds from this partner- American Legion National High School Chesapeake, Va., finished third, earning a ship go directly into the general Oratorical Contest were Caleb Williams, $14,000 scholarship. Francisco was spon- fund that supports those pro- Lewisville, Texas; Alexander Captain, sored by Post 31, Hampton Roads, Va. grams." Moraga, Calif.; and Tiffany Francisco, Each of the 54 contestants earned a First National Bank Omaha of- Chesapeake, Va $1,500 scholarship. Nine semifinalists fers Legionnaires many services, A Lewisville (Texas) High School se- earned an additional $1,500 scholarship. including The American Legion nior capped a busy weekend of competi- The nine semifinalists and their Le- Visa Card, certificates of deposit, tion in Indianapolis April 8 by earning an gion Post sponsors were: Candice Neal of IRAs, money market savings ac- $18,000 college scholarship with a speech Eva, Ala. (Morgan County Post 15); counts and home-equity products. titled "The Muscles We Have in Writing." Monica Rice of Ellenwood, Ga. (Jerome This spring FNBO will donate Caleb Williams started the weekend Butler-Francis Battle Post 291); Miriam- $5 to the National Emergency as one of 54 state champions and ad- Danielle Black of Decatur, Ind. (Adams Fund whenever a Legion family vanced to the top through three rounds of Post 43); Tyler Cegler of Stevensville, member opens an FNBO Visa ac- intense competition. Mont. (Fort Owen Post 94); Jamie Frazier count and uses the card for the first In his speech, Williams talked about of Monck's Comer, S.C. (Monck's Cor- time. In the future, FNBO may of- the three democratic "muscles" Ameri- ner Post 126); and Brooks Reeves of fer potential services that will also ca's citizens should use to keep the coun- Cheyenne, Wyo. (Francis E. Self Post 6). benefit Legion programs. try strong: remembering, listening and The competition was conducted at the Legionnaires are encouraged to speaking out. Once citizens flex these University Place Conference Center and transfer their CDs to FNBO once muscles, he said, "we can fulfill our atten- Hotel on the campus of Indiana Universi- the CDs reach their maturation date. dant obligation as citizens and make use ty - Purdue University Indianapolis. To learn more about banking of what we have in writing." In each round of the weekend compe- services that FNBO offers mem- Williams, 18, plans to attend Western tition, orators delivered a rehearsed eight- bers of The American Legion fam- Kentucky University in Bowling Green, to 10-minute address on any aspect of the ily, use the following toll-free num- Ky., this fall and major in political science constitution, as well as a randomly as- bers: for Visa accounts, (866) and corporate communications. Williams signed three- to five-minute oration on a

LGN-VISA; for CDs, IRAs and represented Post 8 1 in Duncanville, Texas. constitutional topic, each without the ben- money market accounts, (877) Second-place winner Alexander Cap- efit of notes and in front of several judges 709-FNBO; and for home-equity tain of Miraga, Calif., earned a $16,000 and a live audience. products, (877) 709-FNBO. scholarship. Captain, a 17-year-old junior The American Legion developed the Legionnaires may also apply at Miramonte High School, was spon- contest to encourage young people to im-

online at www.legion.org. sored by Post 1 15 of Walnut Creek, Calif. prove their communication skills and to Tiffany Francisco, a 17-year-old se- study the U.S. Constitution.

• • 411 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE JUNE 2001 UBIOH HIWS

Flag amendment revisits Cnngress

On Mar. 13, Sens. Orrin Hatch, R- Utah, and Max Cleland, D-Ga., along with Reps. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R- Calif., and John Murtha, D-Pa., introduced in both chambers a proposed constitutional amendment that would return the right to protect their flag to the Ameri- can people. (See "The Time is Now," Barb Thurlow, a member of Post page 40.) 101, Mountain Home, Idaho, lis- National Commander Ray G. Smith tens to a presentation at the 2000 welcomed the introduction of the constitu- Legion College. Thurlow has taken what she learned during her tional amendment. "What we have here is week of training and is using it to not a Republican issue nor a Democratic benefit her Post and community. issue; this is an American issue," Smith said. "We think members in both houses and on both sides of the aisle should join Legionnaire iieips together in a show of true bipartisanship abused victims and pass the amendment. WTiat they do wiU determine the legacy we pass to future Barb Thurlow, a Legion Col- generations of Americans." lege Class of 2000 graduate and The one-sentence amendment reads, Americanism Chairman of Post "The Congress shall have power to pro- Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, along with 101, Mountain Home, Idaho, is hibit the physical desecration of the flag of Sen. IVlax Cleland, D-Ga., introduced the making a difference in her com- the United States." The amendment has flag amendment to both houses of Con- munity. gress Mar. 13. Here Hatch addresses the more than 1 15 cosponsors in the House of Thurlow recently headed up a Legion's Flag Amendment Conference in Representatives and 45 in the Senate. public service project for her Post Washington. Post-election analysis indicates the mea- to help the victims of domestic vi- sure enjoys support from 64 Senators as from the American people the right to pro- olence. In Thurlow 's town, cases weU as 308 members of the House, well tect their flag by invalidating flag-protec- of domestic abuse are on the rise above the 290 needed for passage. tion laws in 48 states and the District of with as many as 19 occurring in "There is no doubt what the people Columbia. To date, 49 state legislatures one month. want," Smith said. "1 urge Congress to have passed resolutions asking Congress With the endorsement of the heed its own advice and pass this amend- to pass an amendment and send it to the Elmore County Domestic Vio- ment now." states for ratification. lence Council and the Mountain During the 106th Congress, a flag-pro- For 2001, the Senate flag-protection Home Police Department, the Post tection amendment passed overwhelm- amendment , SJ Res . 7 , and HJ Res . 36 , the conducted a cellular phone drive ingly in the U.S. House of Representatives companion bill in the House, have been to collect old phones, batteries and by a vote of 305-124. However, the initia- referred to the Judiciary Committees of chargers. Thurlow asked members tive fell four votes short in the Senate. each chamber, where hearings on the of her Post for donations, then hi 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court took measures are yet to be scheduled. went to the community for help. The Domestic Violence Coun-

cil requested only 1 1 phones, but Yager retires after 47 years Post members donated that number themselves. Six more were do- Jack Yager, an employee at The gion following the war, starting his em- nated from the community. American Legion National Headquar- ployment Feb. 3, 1954. The phones were cleaned, ters, retired Feb. 28 after faithfully Yager attended approximately 20 charged and, with the permission serving the Legion for 47 years. National Conventions, working in ei- of the police, tested for 91 1 ac- A Korean War veteran. Purple ther a supply staff capacity or for Em- cess. They were then given to the Heart recipient and member of Post blem Sales. council, which provided them to 465, Department of Indiana, Yager "Jack's loyalty, dedication and at-risk clients. Phones not needed worked in the National Headquarters faithful service to his country and The by the council ai'e donated to the print shop for more than 39 years be- American Legion is appreciated by the local police department for use in fore spending the past eight years 4 million members of The American other domestic cases. working in the Emblem Sales Division. Legion family and countless others," The project will continue until Yager is thought to be the first Ko- said National Adjutant Robert W. the community's need is filled. rean War veteran to be hired by the Le- Spanogle.

JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • IIEIM HiWS

San Antonio Posts welGome Legionnaires Five American Legion Posts

within 20 miles of downtown San Michigan Auxiliary President Brenda Dee, left, maps last-minute recruitment strate- Antonio are available for large gies with Department Commander Kenneth Dittenber, Post 556 Commander August and small events and special Maasch and 7th District Auxiliary President Susan Kuefler. gatherings during the 83rd Na- tional Convention Aug. 24-30. Those Posts, along with Teamwork spawns revitalization points of contact, are: Post 568, Legionnaire August Maasch discov- ten signals an Auxiliary unit that needs Commander Joe R. Chavez, ered that revitalizing a Post can be as attention. Ford has been seeking opportu- (210) 734-4109; Post 579, Com- easy as asking for help. nities to combine Legion and Auxiliary mander Roderick E. Johnston, Maasch, Commander of Merrick Pot- efforts to revitalize sagging membership. (210) 674-8069; ter Post 566 in Memphis. Mich., worried Legion and Auxiliary teams from Post 375, Commander Rick about the declining membership of his Michigan's 7th District, Department and Holloway, (210) 633-2365; Post rural east-central Michigan Post. When National levels arrived at Memphis to 667, Commander Robert L. membership dwindled to about two join local Legion Post and Auxiliary unit Yost, (210) 658-2390; and Post dozen, Maasch called Department Head- members in a combined two-day work- 2, Commander Larry Garcia, quarters in Lansing for help. shop and recruiting effort. (210) 561-2578. The Department of Michigan has a A campaign of known Legion and Points of contact may change strong New Post and Revitalization Com- Auxiliary prospects in four towns upped due to Post elections. Any ques- mittee charged with the task of assisting the roll from 36 to 76 Legionnaires and

tions concerning these Posts or troubled Posts and providing support for Auxiliary members. Maasch's goal is a others in the area can be directed start-ups. The committee has helped start membership in the triple digits. to the Department of Texas at more than 30 new Posts within the past Sherry McLaughlin, National Auxil- (512) 472-4138. two years and has assisted in the revital- iary Vice President, and Charlene Ash- ization of another dozen or so. worth, National Auxiliary Membership According to Al Ford, the commit- Chairman, said the Legion-Auxiliary revi- Sliottie service offers tee's chairman and Past Department talization partnership at the Memphis Post Gonventinn disconnts Commander, a Legion Post in trouble of- can be used as a model for future efforts. The shuttle company SATRANS is offering discount Benefits open to family members service between the airport and downtown San Antonio for The American Legion recently ap- companies where dental benefits are not members of The American Le- proved three insurance benefit plans, of- offered, at (800) 621-3008 Ext. 45284. gion attending the 83rd National fering good insurance at an affordable Each plan is backed by an insurance com- Convention there Aug. 24-30. rate. These plans are open not only to pany rated excellent, or better, by A.M. With individual seating, Legionnaires, SAL members and their Best, publishers of insurance information, SATRANS offers easy-access spouses and children, but also to the par- including financial data, industry news 10- and 18-passenger mini-buses ents of Legion and SAL members. and insurer ratings. that comply with Americans with Insurance plans include the Small The American Legion also offers ad- Disabilities Act design stan- Business Group Insurance Plan, toll free ditional insurance programs available ex- dards. at (800) 321-1998; the Market Basket clusively to Legionnaires and SAj^ mem- For more information, call Health Plan for members of the Legion bers, such as life insurance and TRI- (210) 281-9900 or visit the Web family and their dependents, at (800) 323- CARE supplements. Call (800) 542-5547 site at www.saairportshuttle.com. 2106; and a dental plan for self-employed for more information about Legion insur- Legionnaires or those working at small ance programs.

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 |jO .

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Foreign-made medals Delegate Richard H. Black of Vir- ginia, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and retired Army colonel, had just finished speaking to a group of Virginia Na- tional Guardsmen returning from Bosnia who had been given a Virginia Commen- dation Medal. "They came around me and they were holding out the medals they had just gotten," he said. "They turned them over and, on the back, they read 'Made in China.' The Guardsmen were most distressed." Black, who earned the Purple Heart in Vietnam, said he believes that China is our most likely foe in the future. He said, "Frankly, receiving a medal that's made Despite humanitarian efforts, North Korean children are subject to starvation by the people most likely to kill you in due to misuse of food aid. Assistance from the West is merely propping up the combat is not what people want." So he communist regime. introduced a "Made in the USA" bill re- quiring Virginia military medals be made North Korean aid jeopardized by nuclear program in America and have a notice to that ef- Reflecting deep concern by the public with his charges. fect stamped on the back. The bill passed. Bush administration, Rep. Henry He said the situation has improved He added, "The idea of having any Hyde, R- 111., said the United States in Pyongyang, the North Korean capi- military supplies or equipment produced needs to verify that North Korea has tal. "There's a nice casino," he said. in a country which will probably be at abandoned its nuclear-weapons pro- "There's a nightclub. There are diplo- war with us someday is a big mistake. I gram before giving the dictatorship matic shops for the elite and the high- hope we don't go to war and that we have further aid. Hyde, chairman of the ranking politicians and military." But good relations with China, but I see no House International Relations Com- in the countryside, where the children signs of that. I see a very belligerent, very mittee, said the same applies to a po- are starving, nothing has changed. He hostile country. When it comes to some- tential agreement with North Korea on said, "When I came to the Democratic thing as near and dear to soldiers' hearts missile proliferation and deployment. People's Republic of Korea in 1999, as the medals they get for serving their The track record is not good. Dr. there were pictures of starvation. And country , they ought to be made right here Norbert Vollertsen, a German doctor when I left the DPRK a year and a half at home in the United States." who spent 18 months inside the later, it was the same situation. But in country, has told Congress that Pyongyang, there are more Mercedes- Western humanitarian assistance and Benz cars than there are in Washing- Kyoto tiireatens readiness food aid is propping up the commu- ton or Seoul, South Korea. They are When President George W. Bush sur- nist North Korean regime. He was incredibly rich in Pyongyang." prised Environmental Protection Agency expelled from the country after going -ex. administrator Christine Todd Whitman by rejecting a plan to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, he once again signaled icle. "They also would limit drastically our point, a new chronology of U.S. military his opposition to the Kyoto Protocol, or ability to support our deployed forces." operations from 1990 to the present global warming treaty. He also threw a Homer, former commander in chief of shows more than 100 different deploy- lifeline to the U.S. military. the U.S. Space Command, said this is be- ments. They include combat operations Carbon dioxide, or C02, blamed by cause the treaty has an exemption only for and peacekeeping, or humanitarian, mis- environmentalists for causing global fuel used in U.N.-approved military oper- sions. Sixteen are still ongoing. warming, stems mainly from our nation's ations. "Put bluntly," he said, "the Kyoto The DoD-assembled chronology use of oil and coal. The treaty, the terms Protocol will not allow the U.S . military to cites current operations in Yemen, Sierra of which have been unanimously reject- train adequately and could even preclude Leone, East Timor, Iraq, Kosovo, Cen- ed by the U.S. Senate, would require a it from successfully defending our free- tral America and Bosnia, as well as 40-percent reduction in U.S. energy use dom and national interests unless the oper- counterdrug activities throughout the en- and higher prices. ations are preapproved by the United Na- tire Western Hemisphere.

"The draconian restrictions pending tions and it involves multinational forces." The latest figures from the United under likely Kyoto rules would force ma- Nations show a total of 888 U.S. person- jor cutbacks in training for our armed nel involved in U.N. peacekeeping mis- forces that would imperil them in time of U.S. forces spread tiiin sions as military observers, civilian po- battle," said retired Army Gen. Charles A. In a fresh sign of how U.S. forces lice or troops. Homer in a column in the Houston Chron- have been stretched to the breaking - Cliff Kincaid

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Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Department will begin docking federal Callers can speak directly to has referred approximately 243,000 retired pay, military pay or retired VA representatives Monday names of veterans to the Treasury military pay, railroad retirement through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 Department with debts valued at more benefits (but not Tier 2 benefits). Black p.m. CST, or access a 24-hour than $75 million, VA said. Lung Program payments (Part B) and automated system. 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54 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 America Wants Your Stories! We have a simple WWII parachutists get citation and complete program to help A 56-year over- your post or veterans sight was correct- group put together a ed earlier this year book of everyone's when Army Chief experiences to sell. of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki presented the Presi- This could be the dential Unit Cita- most important tion to survivors of fundraising project the 55 1st Para- your post or group chute Infantry Bat- will ever do! talion. The citation was presented to Your community is eager to buy Joe Cicchinelli, a former scout with the 551st Parachute Infantry more than 100 your books and readfirst hand Battalion, places a streamer on the Army colors during a ceremony members of the accounts from the men and women honoring the men for their heroic efforts in the Battle of the Bulge. 551st in recogni- who served our great country. An unidentified veteran of the 551st watches. Photo U.S. Army tion of their role in Call For FREE Info to get started. Battle the the time suffering a 94-percent ca- the of Bulge during World same Custom Book Specialists ^ ^ — j^ba War II. The parachute group also was sualty rate. 800-383-1679 credited with the first daylight combat The next day, Adolf Hitler ordered GD&^%/ Dept.ALM Publishing Co. 507 Industrial Street- Waverly, lA 50677 jump in U.S. history and with capturing the first German army puUback from the also print: Unit Reunion Books the first Nazi general in Europe during Battle of the Bulge. We • Unit Histories • Memoirs that time. The 551st participated in a mass parachute jump into southern France Aug. 5, 1944. Shortly after the 6 p.m. Introducing a special jump, they captured German Gen. Lud- wig Bieringer at his Draguignan head- for a special Dad. quarters near La Motte. The unit was deactivated Feb. 10,

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JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • organization and branch of service with your request. The request TO USE NATIONAL REUNION REGISTRY* should HOW also include the reunion dates and city, along with a contact name and The National Reunion Registry handles all reunion information telephone number. Please also include a size estimate of the group. services for The American Legion Magazine. NRR, a division of Mili- Using the Internet is the quickest, most accurate way to access the tary Moimation Enterprises, Inc., is a private organization that provides reunion registry. You may check to see if your buddies are planning a information about reunions, helps veterans locate old buddies and offers reunion by visiting NRR's Web site at www.MilitaryUSA.com. To pro- * other special benefits to veterans and their families. mote the best accuracy and fastest process when listing your reunion, NRR maintains contact information on thousands of reunions and complete the Reunion Registration Form available on the Web site. provides this information free of charge to veterans. There are several ways to register reunions or check reunion listings LOCATING A BUDDY with the National Reunion Registry. Please contact the organization MUitaryUSA.com offers many services for veterans, including tips directly by writing to NRR/Reunions, PO Box 17118, Spartanburg, and techniques for locating current or former military members. How To SC 29301, by faxing (864) 595-0813 or via e-mail at information@mil- Locate Anyone Who Is or Has Been in the Military: Armed Forces Loca- itaryUSA.com. Due to the large number of reunions, NRR cannot tor Guide is a practical guide to help people locate service members. The accept phone requests for reunion information. pubhcation can be purchased by contacting MIE Publishing, P.O. Box To register a reunion, you should include the complete name of the 17118, Spartanburg, SC 29301 or by faxing (864) 595-0813.

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Need At Times Fitting Needs None None Included Testing Requirements None None None This compact, state-of-the-art electronic device can be easily concealed. No annoying, unsightly, behind-the-ear Inconspicuous Yes Yes Yes component. It's easy to use. Allows you to easily amplify Feed Back Limited Limited Limited the sounds around you. Imagine! Now you can hear clear, Resists Impact Excellent Excellent Excellent crisp sound. Great for the outdoors or today's shopping Volume Control Yes Yes Yes malls. All you do is slip our tiny, sound-amplifying compo- Retail Price: Each $700. $299.85 $29.95 nent in the ear. Easily fits in right or left ear. That's it. The amplifying system is small enough to fit comfortably. Its Pair $1,200. $599.70 $54.95 lightweight design is ruggedly built to assure you that it will "/ am over 18 years of age. I have been advised by Lakeside Products tliat tiie Food and Drug Administration has determined that my best health interest would last a long, long time. You can take it anywhere. Ideal for be served if I had a medical evaluation by a licensed physician (preferably a watching TV, movies, sporting events, parties, or simply physician who specializes in diseases of the ear) before purchasing a hearing

aid. I do not wish a medical evaluation before purchasing a hearing aid". having a relaxing evening with a few good friends. * Not sold as a medical device. Not available in CA, FL, lA. GREAT FOR PICKING UP DISTANT SOUND FROM ANYWHERE fLAKEsTDE PR0DUCTi,'Dept"E3br 3038 N.W. 25 Avenue, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 Imagine this will life. It how small device change your can 30 Day Money Back Guarantee help you to hear those sounds which have eluded you One Micro Ear Sound Amplifying Device before. Perhaps you simply got bored while watching TV, only $29.95 plus $5.00 shipping & handling or it's been years since you appreciated the sound of birds Two Micro Ear Devices only $54.95 plus $8.00 shipping chirping or rain gently pouring on your house. These are Enclosed is my payment: Money order Check life's little special gifts. They were meant to be enjoyed. Mastercard Visa Cash This compact, inconspicuous device can help put back the Card No. Exp. Date quality of life we all need and deserve. Comes with on/off Waiver switch and volume control. Three different sizes of ear tips Signature to assure you of a proper fit everytime. Takes common, Name easy-to-find batteries. You get a 10-piece set including six replacement batteries and also a designer case to protect Address, your sound amplifier when not in use. No wires. No tubes. City We recommend you discuss this product with your physician. This is not a medical device. State -Zip. , ) eamms

148lh Inf Rgl, Camp Petty, OH, 8/24-25, Henry Donnell, Krist, (317) George (440) 235-9862; 19lh Cbt Eng Rgl WWII, Mar, Cromwell, CT, 8/23-26, Jim Bassett, (760) 757-3836, 849-0979, [email protected]; Army Sec Agency Arizona Charieston, SC, 9/16-20, Milan Glumac, (843) 406-4662; [email protected]; 1st Mar Div, 7th Mar, 3rd Bn, Split Chapter, Tucson, AZ, 8/24-26, Dave 378- Waldmann, (520) 553rd FA, 18lh Rgl, 3rd Bn, Branson, MO, 9/17-19, Harold Rock, PA, September, Eric Bubeck, (410) 757-8613; 6th Mar 0159, [email protected]; 280lh FA Las Bn WWII, Holland, (909) 678-7628, [email protected]; CID Div Assn, St. Louis, 9/2-9, Vince Mathews, (651) 455-6700; Vegas, 8/26-30, Leo Holinstat, (626) 339-7168; 104th Inf Div Agents Assn, Charleston, SC, 9/18-23, Louise Head, (706) China Marine Assn, Albuquerque, NM, 9/5-9, Arthur Goetz, Natl Atlanta, 8/27-9/3, Glen Assn Timberwolf, Lytle, (316) 798-0588, [email protected]; 838lh AAA AW Bn, Two (301) 742-0930; MCRD San Diego Pit 3077, Chicago, 9/7-9, 636-5334, [email protected]; 36th Inf Div, Inf 141st Rgt, Rivers, Wl, 9/19-22, Al Malley, (920) 793-1456, Al Joyner, (319) 827-2148; 5th Mar, 3rd Bn Korea, St. Louis, Irving, TX, 8/29-9/2, Leonard Wilkerson, (903) 489-1644, [email protected]; 65lh Armd Field Bn, Elko, NV, 9/19- 9/11-15, Al Bettiga, (520) 229-0657, [email protected]; 4th [email protected]; 101st, 503rd MP Bn WWII, Niagara Falls, 23, Wallace Eckdahl, (612) 929-4078, [email protected]; Mar Div, 1 st Bn, San Diego, 9/1 3-1 7, Lonnie Young, (501 NY, 8/29-9/6, Harvey Miller, (727) 786-3529, fdny158@ 792nd AAA AW Bn, New Castle, IN, 9/20-22, Homer Yeakle, 751-1084, [email protected]; 9th SBC Quantico, juno.com; 89th Inf Div, 354th Inf Rgt, Colorado Springs, CO, (765) 662-7716, [email protected]; 45lh Inf Div Assn Ariington, VA, 9/17-21, Hert) Hart, (703) 912-6124, 8/30-9/1, Larry Berg, (719) 576-4968, [email protected]; Thunderbirds, Oklahoma City, 9/20-22, Raul Trevino, (210) [email protected]; 7th Eng Bn FMF, Ariington, VA, 9/20- 79th Inf Div, 315th Inf Rgt, Chapel Hill, NC, 8/30-9/2, Les 681-9134; 509th Eng Co (Panel Bridge), Dallas, 9/20-22, 23, Bill Bates, (703) 897-0283, [email protected]; VMF (A) Brantingham, 657-3078, [email protected]; (616) 39th Richard Trapp, (402) 759-3659; 17th Air Cav, 7th Sqdn, St. 531 Gray Ghost, San Diego, 9/20-23, Dave Kassebaum, Cbt Hudson, Eng WWII, OH, 8/30-9/2, Stanley Gasawski, Louis, 9/20-23, Jose Martinez, (314) 423-7910, (858) 459-6088, [email protected] (618) 397-3925 [email protected]

101st Abn Div, 63rd Chem Co, Monteagle Mountain, TN, 3rd Inf Rgt "The Old Guard," Arlington, VA, 9/20-23, Brett VMF (N) 541, Rosemont, IL, 9/20-24, John Devine, (570) 8/30-9/3, David Lowrie, 779-2220, dlovi/rie@blo- (931) Reistad, (703) 361-1730, [email protected]; 45lh Inf Div, 875-0898; Naval Ammo Depot Mar Barracks, Hawthorne, mand.net; 185th, Little 194th FA, Amana, lA, 8/31-9/3, 180th Inf Rgt Assn, Oklahoma City, 9/20-23, Larry Traw, NV, 9/21-23, Edward Engel, (775) 945-3563; 3rd Mar Div, Raymond Behr, 659-3683; 1st Cav Div Det, (563) HQ (580) 924-6693, [email protected]; 796th MP Bn, 1sf Bn, Irving, TX, 9/26-30, Kenneth Martin, (800) 328-8439, Belleville, IL, September, John Kronenberger, (618) 277-2311, Charieston, SC, 9/20-24, William Meek Jr., (301) 868-5604, [email protected]; 3rd Mar Div, Irving, TX, 9/26-30, Bill [email protected]; 74lh Coast Arty Anti-AircrafI Rgl Gun [email protected]; 325lh AAA S/L Bn Krueger, (703) 451-3844; 3rd Mar Div, 3rd JASCO, Chicago, Bn, Hagerstovi/n, MD, September, Al Greene, 932-7719; (865) HQ A/B/C Btrys, Louisville, KY, 9/21-23, Tom Moak, (601) 9/27-30, Donald Famham, (708) 447-5403, drfam@ 18lh Surg Hosp, Washington, September, Marge McGinnis, 833-7807, [email protected]; I Corps Football Team, New webtv.net; VMSB 333, Newport Beach, CA, 9/30-10/4, Robert (253) 759-1458, [email protected]; 569th AAA AW Orleans, 9/21-24, Duane Mattheis, (952) 942-0892, Ramsay, (949) 675-1693

Bn WWII, Nortolk, VA, September, John Bradshaw III, (401) [email protected]; 45th Inf Div, 179lh Inf Rgl, 884-5674, [email protected]; 28th Inf Div, 109th Inf Rgl, Oklahoma City, 9/23-29, Charies Nace, (903) 583-2802, NAVY Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA, 9/5-8, George Bunnell, 229- (802) [email protected]; 11th Eng, Williamsburg, VA, 9/25- 9260, [email protected]; 86th Inf Div Blackhawk, AP Trans Reunion Grp, USS Gen. William Mitchell, AP 1 27, Robert Tippett, (615) 885-7872; 344th Serv Sqdn, 14, Philadelphia, 9/5-9, Robert Bookbinder, (954) 974-3511, USS Gen. Harry Taylor, AP 145, USS Gen. J.C. Breckin- Branson, MO, 9/26-29, Allan Sebastian, (253) 850-3089, [email protected] [email protected] ridge, AP 145, USSyirfm. W.S. Benson, AP 120, USS Gen. George Randall, AP 1 1 5, USS Gen. W.H. Gordon, AP 1 1 7, 103rd Inf Div, Grand Rapids, Ml, 9/5-9, Betty Ellsworth, (517) USS Gen. W.P. Richardson, AP 1 1 8, USS Gen. William 29th Inf Rgt, Ft. Benning, GA, 9/26-30, Frank Plass, (706) 688-9249; 106th Inf Div Assn, Arlington, VA, 9/5-10, Marion Weigel, AP 119, USS Gen. M.B. Stewart, AP 140, \iSS Adm. 561-0774, [email protected]; 7th Base Army Far

Ray, (618) 377-3674, [email protected]; 34th Air W. L Capps, AP 1 21 , USS Adm. E.W. Eberle, AP 1 23, USS East Postal, Branson, MO, 9/27-30, Donald Bahr, (262) 552- Depot Grp, Dayton, OH, 9/6-8, Joseph Kenney, (309) 925- Adm. C.F. Hughes, AP 124, USS Adm. H.T. Mayo, AP 125, 8545; 35lh Inf Div 134lh Inf Rgl, Oriando, FL, 9/27-30, 3459, [email protected]; 235lh FA Obsn Bn, Havenport, USS President Monroe, AP 104, USS Golden City, AP 169, James Graff, (217) 445-2570; Army Sec Agency Chilose, lA, 9/6-8, Robert Gamboe, (877) 473-4155; 100lh Inf Div USS Gen. H.F. Hodges, AP 144, Norfolk, VA, 6/7-10, Chuck San Antonio, 9/27-30, Gerald Koula, (210) 650-4573, Assn WWII, Tampa, FL, 9/6-9, Henry B. Williams, (803) 438- Ulrich, (516) 747-7426; USS Warren, APA 53, Kansas City, [email protected]; 33rd Inf Div Assn, Albuquerque, NM, 2647, [email protected]; 11th Armd Div, 55lh Armd Inf Bn, MO, 6/12-16, Wan-en Loffstedt, (913) 722-0672; USN Cruiser 9/27-10/1 , Bill Endicott, (425) 741-3549, [email protected]; 7th Co B, Amana Colonies, lA, 9/6-9, Gene Foster, (641) 858- Sailors Assn, Seattle, 6/13-18, B. Browell, (360) 755-9104; Sig Bn, Nashville, TN, 9/28-30, Buck Service, (51 7) 823- 21 58; 14th Armd Div, Rapid City, SD, 9/6-9, Verlon Hofer, USS Preble, DD 345/DM 20, Seattle, 6/21 -24, Eugene 3447, [email protected]; 804th Eng Avn Bn, New Orieans, (605) 647-2280, [email protected]; 254th FA Bn, Wamsley, (513) 248-4026, [email protected] 9/30-10/2, Frank Ceriani, (724) 843-2123, ceriani@ Ashtabula, OH, 9/7-9, Earle Schwari<, (440) 884-4323; 89th bellatlantic.net; 1st Inf Div, 1st Eng Cbt Bn, Asheville, NC, Chem Mortar Bn, Niagara Falls, NY, 9/7-9, Richard lUWG 1-5, Ft. Mitchell, KY, 6/28, James Meehan Jr., (561) 9/30-10/3, Robert Ayrton, (860) 442-9782, eayrton@ Mclennand, 331-3802; Inf Inf 287-4361 (412) 85th Div, 338lh Rgt, Co , [email protected]; USS South Dakota, BB 57, uconect.net; E, Ann Arbor, Ml, 9/7-9, Scott Street, (734) 483-7490, Sioux Falls, SD, 7/3, Howard Bartholf, (804) 740-7652; USS [email protected] Saleguard ARS 25, Duncan, OK, 7/4, Danny Mackey, (580) COAST GUARD 252-5651, [email protected]; USS Orleck, DD 886, 77th Ord Depot Co, Waltham, MA, 9/7-9, Lowell Medin, (847) USCGC Winona, WPG 65 WHEC 65, Port Angeles, WA, 9/7- Seattle, 7/4-8, Robert Orieck, (802) 728-9806, bob@ussor- 359-4194; 14th Cbt Eng Bn, Branson, MO, 9/7-9, Stanley leck.com; K. 9, Cliff Rocheleau, (360) 582-0925, [email protected]; USS James Polk SSBN SSN 645, Groton, CT, Schwartz, 498-4567, [email protected]; 7/5-7, (859) 832nd Eng USCG Duane, W/WPG/WHEC 33, Charieston, SC, 9/13-15, Mike Lame, (860) 886-1889, [email protected]; Avn Bn, Chillicothe, MO, Leroy Stuehm, 331-6343; Fort Marion, Denver, 9/8, (402) Paul Turner, (518) 287-1900, [email protected]; Patrol USS LSD 22, 7/8, John Hardy, (303) 94th AAA AW Bn Sp, Copperas Cove, TX, 9/8-10, Glenn Frigate Assn, USS Bedord, PF 71 Reno, NV, 6-21 674-6705; USS Belle Grove, LSD 2, Omaha, NE, 7/8-1 5, New , 9/1 Hawley, (360) 733-0433, [email protected]; 4lh Armd Lester Maudlin, (515) 285-7210, [email protected]; George Schordine, (631 ) 475-31 1 5; USCGC Castle Rock, Div, Myrtle Beach, SC, 9/9-15, Joseph Barto, (770) 418- USS Biddle, DLG/CG Longview, TX, 7/12-14, WAVP 383, Boston, 9/21-22, Eugene Calmon, (302) 947- 34, James 1421, [email protected]; 191st Sig Repair Co, Newport, 9645, castlri<[email protected] Treadway, (903) 643-8719, [email protected]; NMCB 8, Rl, 9/10-12, John Thomas, (517) 894-0592, jethomas@con- Port Hueneme, CA, 7/19-22, Ronald Dougal Sr., (480) 807- centric.net; Ft. Richardson Alaska Vets, New Orteans, 9/10- JOINT 3016, [email protected] 14, Alex Franchuk, (701) 282-4276, [email protected]; 51st Sig Bn, Utica, NY, 9/11-13, Glenn Carpenter, (419) 738- Vietnam Helicopter Pilots, Denver, 7/2-6, Donald Joyce, Vietnam Era Seabees, Port Hueneme, CA, 7/19-22, Ed 3369, [email protected]; 787th MP Bn, Bellevue, OH, 9/11-13, (407) 870-5367, [email protected]; Women's Overseas Kloster, (625) 280-9495, [email protected]; USS Hany Rinehart, (215) 855-2928, [email protected]; Serv League, Ft. Mitchell, KY, 7/6-9, Gertrude Gay, (502) Pittsburgh, SSN 720, Groton, CT, 7/20-22, Anthony 233rd AAA Searchlight Bn HQ A/B, Louisville, KY, 9/1 1 -1 3, 636-5372; USN Aircrew Surv Equip Sch Grads, Pensacola, Lundgreen, (71 2) 274-2737, [email protected]; Robert Tribble, (502) 255-7409, [email protected] FL, 7/19-22, Lisa Hanington, (850) 994-2291, pripn® USS Boston, CA69 CAG1/SSN703, Andover, MA, 7/20-22, aol.com; Kansas Vietnam Vets, El Dorado, KS, 7/20-22, Arthur Hebert, (603) 672-8772; NMCB 6, Milford, MA, 7/20- 4th Trans Co, 152nd Trans Co, FL Banning, GA, 9/12-15, John Bevier, 839-201 Lany Keune, (918) 836-0489, [email protected]; 407lh 24, (231) 1 , [email protected]; USS Jimmy Huntington, [email protected]; 2nd Armd Div Civil Affairs Desert Storm Assn, Wiona, MN, 7/27-29, Brinkley Bass, DD 887, Ft. Mitchell, KY, 7/25-31, Bob Assn, Buffalo, NY, 9/12-15, Roy Ruffner, (610) 678-7251, Michael Stalka, (507) 452-9499, [email protected]; Shetran, (626) 335-4034; USS Grouper, SS/SSK/AGSS 214, [email protected]; 568th Ord Heavy Maint Korean War Vets of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, 8/17-19, Bremerton, WA, 7/26-29, Edwin Soriano, (360) 692-4344, Co Assn, Charleston, SC, 9/13-15, Hertjert Peppers, (615) Edward Fonseca, (978) 924-5155; Korean War Vets of [email protected]; VR 52/62, Detroit, Port Clinton, OH, 883-1417; 16th Armd Div, Cedar Rapids, lA, 9/13-15, Nebraska, Columbus, NE, 8/25-27, William Kline, (402) 564- 7/27-29, Bill Bomjsch, (727) 862-6343, [email protected]; Edward Krushesri, (609) 978-0490; 73rd AAA AW Bn (SP), El 6196, wrtSubic Bay (619) 466-2132, [email protected]; USS Quapaw, ATF

• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 nil , ——

110, Amarillo, TX, 8/9-12, John Chilcote, (505) 374-2416, 9/6-8, Donald Fox, (412) 336-5655; USS Alcor, AD 34 AR Gherardi, DD 737/DIVIS 30, Savannah, GA, 9/10-15, James [email protected]; CGN 40, Norfolk, VA, 8/9-12, Dan 10, Philadelphia, 9/6-8, Stan Peterson, (610) 544-4899; 85th Storey, (850) 456-9436, [email protected]; USS Huskisson, (623) 972-7369, [email protected]; USS Seabees, Grapevine, TX, 9/6-8, Fred Kofman, (970) 474- Essex, CV/CVA/CVS 9/LHD 2, Atlanta, 9/10-16, Frank Lewis & Clark, SSBN 644, Groton, CT, 8/1 0-1 2, Ed Del 2463, [email protected]; USS Hamlin, AV 15, Bridgeton, O'Connor, (812) 476-5645, [email protected]; USS Delta, Santo, (860) 376-4420, [email protected]; USS Bon MO, 9/6-8, Lawrence Godwin, (724) 652-4880; USS AR 9/AK 29, Seattle, 9/10-16, Eugene Sonnleitner, (920) Homme Richard, LHD 6, Spokane, WA, 8/10-12, Ralph Shelton, DD 790, Great Falls, MT, 9/6-8, Richard Petrowich, 235-1866, [email protected]; USS Samuel S. Miles,

Pound, (662) 842-8247; USS Bus/7, DD 529, Reno, NV, 8/15, (618) 475-3248, [email protected]; USS Maryland, BB 46, DE 1 83, Amana, lA, 9/1 1-13, Junior Famer, (641 ) 472-7550;

Robert Carney, (503) 246-5772, [email protected]; USS Asheville, NC, 9/6-9, Dick Beaman, (831 ) 722-4966; USS USS Osage, LSV 3, USS Saugus, LSV 4, USS Monitor, LSV WimUiamBay, CVE 92, Bismarck ND, 8/15-18, Kirk Smith, Robinson, DD 562, Peoria, IL, 9/6-9, Rick Tinker, (440) 871- 5, USS Montauk LSV 6, Panama City, FL, 9/11-13, George (701) 772-9388; VP 44, Daytona Beach, FL, 8/16-19, Ray 1946, [email protected]; VP 11 (F), VP-54, VP-51, VB 101, Hasten, (217) 826-2784; USS Solace, AH 5, Bettendorf, lA, Beck, (407) 894-6742, [email protected]; USS PATSU 1-2, CASU (F) 56, Springfield, MO, 9/6-9, Donald 9/11-13, James Underwood, (262) 473-5416; USS LSI Salem, CA139, Quincy, MA, 8/16-19, Bob Daniels, (352) Hatcher, (763) 533-8323; 17th Seabees, Minneapolis, 9/6-9, 702, Branson, MO, 9/11-14, James Mattchen, (217) 428- 31 5-1 397; Seabee Vets of America, NMCB 10, St. Cloud, William Memll, (219) 762-2048; USS Pasadena, CL 65, 3004, [email protected]; USS Wilson, DD 408, Ft. MN, 8/16-19, Donald Kunz, (651) 459-2807, mnseabee@ Niagara Falls, NY, 9/7-9, Joseph Calvino, (856) 697-9521, Mitchell, KY, 9/11-15, Eugene Houck, (845) 647-7147, uswest.net [email protected] [email protected]

USS Dace, SSN 607, New London, CT, 8/1 7-1 9, John USS Vincennes, CL 64, Nashua, NH, 9/7-10, Guy Jacobs, USS Spokane, CLAA 120, Biloxi, MS, 9/11-15, Gene Robert, (516) 785-7625, [email protected]; USS Wichita, (410) 665-8710, [email protected]; USS Capps, DD 550, Williams, (21 9) 665-9886; USS Davison, DD 618/DIVIS 37, CA 45, USS Tuscaloosa, CA 37, Omaha, NE, 8/19-25, John Des Moines, lA, 9/9-12, Eari Beadle, (870) 247-3702, Branson, MO, 9/11-16, Eari Lee, (619) 444-5384, Sheeran, (860) 974-1431, [email protected]; USS Phoenix, ert)[email protected]; USS Helena, CL 50/CA 75/SSN 725, Las [email protected]; USS Diodon, SS 349, Peoria, IL,

Bill CL 46, Branson, MO, 8/1 9-25, Andy Wilson, (360) 295-381 1 Vegas, NV, 9/9-13, Bunker, (626) 446-7361 ; USS 9/11-16, Glenn Boothe, (559) 291-5330, gpboothe@ [email protected]; USS Halibut, SS 232, St. Louis, MO, Whitman, DE 24, Omaha, NE, 9/9-13, Tony Polozzolo, (703) email.msn.com; USS Seadragon, SSN 584, Peoria, IL, 9/11- 8/20-26, John Peri

CVA/CV/AVT 59, Tampa, FL, 8/21-26, Hugh McCabe, (757) Omaha, NE, 9/9-13, John Naylor, (405) 789-4507, Sea Fox, SS402, Peoria, IL, 9/1 1 -1 6, George Amold, (573) 340-1105, [email protected]; USS Blenny, SS [email protected]; Dest Escort Sailors Assn, Omaha, NE, 635-6033; USS James C. Owens, DD 776, Niagara Falls, NY, 324, St. Louis, 8/22-25, Charies Wems, (913) 722-0182, 9/9-13, Dori Glaser, (904) 738-6900, desanews® 9/12-15, W. Nelson, (719) 635-7667, w.nelson® [email protected]; USS Bordelon, DD/DDR 881, Branson, desausa.org; USS Richmond, CL 9, New Orieans, 9/9-13, wortdnet.att.net; USS Trenton, CL 11, Portland, OR, 9/12-15, MO, 8/22-26, Bamey Oursler, (41 789-2281 rtjosr@ Jim Miles, 384-7873, [email protected]; USS Jay Balfour, 254-4439, [email protected]; 0) , (719) (360) USS woridnet.att.net; USS Pompon, SS 267, St. Louis, 8/22-26, Coolbaugh, DE 217, Omaha, NE, 9/9-13, Milton Kochert, Klondike, AD AR22, San Diego, 9/1 2-1 5, Don Fartienkamp, Nathan Henderson, (559) 322-1360, [email protected]; USS (330) 533-5753, [email protected]; USS Catamount, (612) 447-6060, [email protected]; USS fi///esp/e, DD 609, Quincy, CA 71, Quincy, MA, 8/23, Al Levesque, (401) 728- LSD 17, Portland, OR, 9/10-13, Don Steinbach, (414) 453- USS Welles, DD 628, USS Hobby, DD 610, USS Kalk, DD 3063 8930, [email protected] 611, Mobile, AL, 9/12-16, W. Willeford, (402) 483-2059, [email protected] USS Horace A Bass, APD 124, Branson, MO, 8/23-26, USS Pima County, LS1 1081, Mobile, AL, 9/10-13, Horace Paul, (407) 322-7879; USS St. Louis, CL-49, Raymond Studer, (309) 647-4465; USS Tigrone, SS 419, USS Turner, DD/DDR 834/DD 648, Savannah, GA, 9/12-16,

Minneapolis, 8/23-26, Lany O'Neill, (218) 743-3124, Peoria, IL, 9/10-14, Frank Hill, (812) 936-2892, Richard Shanaberger, (717) 764-3834, dick_shan@ loneill@bigfori<.net; USS Knox 1052, FF 1052, Rapid City, [email protected]; USS Chevalier, DD/DDR 805, San msn.com; USS Randah, APA 224, San Antonio, 9/1 2-1 6, SD, 8/23-26, Roland Han-, (605) 399-3748, roily® Diego, 9/10-15, Jim Hillard, (765) 962-4870, John Walsh, (732) 367-6472, [email protected]; USS dtgnet.com; USS Randolph, CV/CVA/CVS 15, Stamford, CT, [email protected]; USS Amsterdam, CL 101, Myrtle Tang, SS 563, Peoria, IL, 9/12-16, Rick Rowe, (208) 734- 8/28-9/2, Walter Timmons, (904) 775-3721; USN Beach, SC, 9/10-15, Leon Stewart Sr., (610) 363-7977; USS 6540, tango@magiclinkcom; USS Kitty Hawk, CV/CVA-63, 255- Cryptologic Vets, Boston, 8/29-9/1 , Lew Bearden, (41 0) 6620, [email protected]; 63rd Seabee/NCB, Buriington, VT, 8/29-9/3, John Monis, (262) 569-0770; USS Detroit, CL 8, Jackson Hole, WY, September, BariDara Fisher, (801) 521- Now get a Genuine 6888, bart)[email protected]; USS Waddell, DDG 24,

Baltimore, September, Bill Brewer, (410) 531-1250, brewenfl/[email protected]; USS President Jackson, SSBN 619, ^359'°! Peoria, IL, September, Sam Eddy, (309) 962-2509, DR for just [email protected] The New-for-2001 DR^ TRIMMER/ USS Eichenberger, DE 202, Indianapolis, September, Edward Wilson, (317) 546-3954; USSWeiv, DD/DDE/DDR818, MOWER Is the easiest-to-use, best Newport, Rl, September, Dennis Butler, (810) 743-9094, [email protected]; USS O'Bannon, DD/DDE 450, Corpus performing trimmer-on-wheels ever! time! Christi, TX, September, Robert Martin, (623) 546-1748; USS Salt Lake City, CA 25/SSN 716, Reno, NV, September, • NEW MODELS from SPRESTT Myron Variand, (408) 724-1990; USS Waldron, DD 699, starting at $359. 10.. .to the lowest-priced Pittsburgh, September, Walter Haidet, (412) 366-0137, [email protected]; NMCB 3, St. Louis, 9/21-23, ever 6.0 HP PRO...to the powerful Phil Weathenwax, (626) 969-1841, [email protected]; 6.75 HP COMMERCIAL! USS Herbert J. Thomas, DD 833, Annapolis, MD, 9/2-5, John Wenderoth, (703) 256-5426, [email protected]; USS • NEW FEA TUBES instant Philip, DD/DDE498, Annapolis, MD, 9/2-6, Hazard Benedict, cord attachment/height adjustment, (858) 794-0513; 2nd Spec Seabees, Branson, MO, 9/4-6, Douglas Splady, (218) 829-8417, [email protected]; USS anti-wrap, edging and optional Pierce, APA 50, Rapid City, SD, 9/4-7, Donald Hind, (605) brush cutting and bulb planting 692-5247, [email protected] attachments for all DR® Models!

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JUNE 2001 • THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • Pensacola. FL, 9/12-16, Phil Miller, (619) 460-0786, Honolulu, CL 48/SSN 718, Branson, MO, 9/20-23, Glenn 2, Branson, MO, 9/27-29, Duane lossi, (970) 482-6237; USS [email protected]; USSfle/cf, DD 369, Buffalo, NY, 9/12- Willmann, (618) 654-9767, [email protected]; USS Charles Trathen, DD 530, Washington, 9/27-29, Ron Keeler, (540) 16, Walter Fox, (716) 627-6718, [email protected]; USS R. Ware, DD 865, St. Louis, 9/20-23, William Chitwood, 459-7272, [email protected]; USS floe, DD 418, St. Higbee, DD/DDR 806, Minneapolis, 9/12-16, Gil Rodello, (636) 464-4601, [email protected]; USS LST 829, St. Augustine. FL, 9/27-29, Peny Gallian, (904) 255-6761, (541) 747-1408, [email protected]; USSFIusser, DD Peters, MO, 9/20-23, A. Ryzner, (508) 995-0734; USS Gen. [email protected]; USS Snowden, DE 246, Albany, NY. 9/12-16, E. Dennis, 992-3766; Norfolk, 368, Branson, MO, (601) USS AI. Anderson, AP/TAP 111, VA, 9/20-23, Willaim 9/27-29, Jack Coyle, (732) 257-8031 ; USS Gen S.D. Sturgis, Odax, SS 484, Peoria, IL, 9/13, Ron Gibson, (415) 239-5490, Hamelman, (214) 341-4196, [email protected]; USS AP 137, Manchester, NH, 9/27-29, Williard Ritchie, (661) [email protected]; USS Jacob Jones, DE 130, Guadalupe, AO 32, Grand Junction, CO, 9/20-23, Bill Brooks, 946-1935; USS Albuquerque, PF 7, Buriington, VT, 9/27-29, Albany, NY, 9/13-15, Arthur Filete, (516) 541-1846; USS (334) 675-6535, [email protected]; USS Manlove, Robert Kaigle, (802) 864-7669, [email protected]; USS Ringgold, DD 500, La Crosse, Wl, 9/13-15, Ray Luehne, DE 36, Albany, NY, 9/20-23, Neil Winbeny, (718) 263-9672, Hugh Purvis, DD 709, Lancaster. PA, 9/27-30, Dennis Dow, (608) 782-6156, [email protected]; MCB 2 CBMU 1/101 & [email protected]; USS Fechteler, DD/DDR 870, (727) 771-7248. [email protected]; USS Fiske, DD/DDR 577, San Antonio, 9/13-15, Scott Williams, (702) 254-1929, Branson, MO, 9/20-23, Dan-ell Penberthy, (573) 496-3686, 842, Jacksonville. FL, 9/27-30, John Greeley, (732) 469- [email protected]; USS Howard W. Gilmore, AS 16, St. [email protected]; USS Oberon, AKA 14, Albuquerque. NM, 2868; USS Remey, DD 688, Branson, MO, 9/27-30, Tom Louis, 9/13-16, Roscoe Wise, (740) 992-2675, 9/20-23, Gene Oberie, (631) 421-1067, [email protected] Davidson, (913)649-6683 [email protected] USS Kretchmer, DE DER 329, Baltimore, 9/20-23. Can-oil USS Joftn Willis, DE 1027, Norfolk, VA, 9/27-30. Bob

USS Thetis Bay, CVE 90/CVHA 1/LPH 6, Minneapolis, 9/13- Pin-era, (41 0) 661 -0530; USS Gosper, APA 1 70, Salt Lake Kitchen, (215) 698-1858, [email protected]; USS 16, Frank Balthazor, (608) 249-9961, shaggbear11@ City, 9/20-23, Michael Bilello, (801) 582-4329, sylta@prodi- Oglethorpe, AKA 100, New Orleans, 9/27-30, Ron home.com; USS NoM, DL 1, USS iVIitscher, DL 2, USS gy.net; USS Mitchell, DE 43, Coming, NY, 9/21-23, William Williamson, (908) 475-4435. [email protected]; USS Jolin S. McCain, DL 3, USS Willis A. Lee, DL 4, USS Fitzpatrick, (607) 732-6031; USS Requin, SS/SSR481, Oklahoma City, CL91/CLG5/CG5, Mobile. AL. 9/27-30. Frank Wilkinson, DL5, Buffalo, NY, 9/13-16, Walter Alexander, Pittsburgh, 9/21-24, Robert Gariock, (717) 485-3451, Zaccara. (620) 221-0343. [email protected]; USS Whiteside, (540) 345-2826, [email protected]; USS Hampton, APA [email protected]; USS Myles C. Fox, DD 829, New London. AKA 90, Nashville, TN, 9/27-30, H, Wall, (828) 724-4296, 115, Seattle, 9/13-16, William Daubenmire, (740) 687-1061; CT. 9/22-23. William Quinn. (718) 984-9437; USS Davis, DD [email protected]; USS Bristol, DD 857, Buffalo. NY, 9/27- USS Great Sitkin, AE 17, Mobile, AL, 9/13-16, Dough 395, Tempe. AZ, 9/22-24. William Crewe. (302) 629-8668. 30. John Watt. (760) 353-1408. [email protected]; USS Hauser, (334) 277-2151, [email protected]; VC 33, [email protected]; USS Shad San Diego. 9/22-26, Ray Severn, AO 61, Newport. Rl. 9/27-30. David Bartjer. (614) Titusville, FL, 9/13-16, Ray Dunkman, (954) 437-8364, Hawley, (619) 440-3888, [email protected]; USS 837-1268. bart)[email protected]; USS LST 510, Muskegon. Ml, [email protected]; USS Charleston, PG 51, Kansas Fredrick Funston, APA 89, Indianapolis, 9/23-25. Walter 9/27-30, Ernie Williams, (816) 455-7074, [email protected]; City, MO, 9/13-16, Raymond Sears, (816) 331-0681; USS Schwarting. (262) 367-0055. [email protected]; USS USS Gen 6.0. Squier, AP 130, Philadelphia, 9/27-30, Donald Portland CA 33, Colorado Springs, CO, 9/13-17, Ted Waller, Undenwald LSD 6, Mt. Pleasant, SC, 9/23-25, Richard De Meisinger, (402) 391-3900, [email protected]; USS (214) 341-7152, [email protected]; USS Custer, APA 40, Lottinville, (410) 592-8234, [email protected] Agerholm, DD 826, Salt Lake City, 9/30, Harold Thompson, Tampa. FL, 9/13-17, Richard Shaw, (407) 862-2903, (404) 493-7388, [email protected] [email protected] USS Guadalcanal 7, LPH 7, Las Vegas, 9/23-26. Joseph Conjura. (570) 648-4169, [email protected]; USS Sabine, USS Albert I Harris, DD 447/DD 415, Williamsburg, VA, USS Tinsman, DE 589, Branson, MO, 9/13-18, Michael AO 25, Bend, OR, 9/24-27, Bob Rhodes, (419) 238-9499; 9/30-10/2, Chartes Cook, (918) 749-8434, cicook13@ Langone, (781) 944-5877, [email protected]; USS USS Carpellotti, APD 136, Mystic, CT, 9/24-27, Thomas cs.com; USS Knapp, DD 653, Las Vegas, 9/30-10/2. Frank Trumpetlish, SS 425, Peoria, IL, 9/14, Robert Beny, (316) Peny, (301) 336-2091, [email protected]; NCB 79, Ragusa. (702) 897-0771; USS Oriskany, CV/CVA 34, 223-6789, [email protected]; USS Shelikol, AVP 52, Myrtle Beach, SC, 9/24-27, Fred Hummel, (717) 733-1865; Bremerton. WA, 9/30-10/2, Lee Puglia, (603) 626-4823,

Boston, 9/14-18, Frank Prekop, (978) 458-2797; USS USS Tillman, DD 641, Wilmot, OH, 9/24-28. Bill Wenzel, [email protected]; NCB 117, Branson, MO, 9/30-10/3, Louis Medregal, SS 480, Peoria, IL, 9/15, Mike Burt

854-3730, [email protected]; USS Wyandot, AKA 92, 9/24-28, Bill Lindsey, (541) 947-4801; USS Dehaven, DD San Diego, 9/30-10/4, Ray Hawley, (619) 440-3888, New Orieans, 9/15-19, William Tribble, (817) 572-0804, 727 469, San Antonio, 9/24-29, Dan Wisner, (208) 442- [email protected]; NCB 9, Branson, MO, 9/30-10/5, [email protected]; NCB 1009, Cincinnati, 9/16-18, Edward 1433, [email protected]; USS Floyd B. Parks, DO 884, John Amott, (941) 255-5427, [email protected]; USS Lang, (513) 374-2338; USS LS1 1126, LST1126, Branson, Reno. NV, 9/24-30, James Robbins, (530) 283-2165; USS Craven, DD 382, San Antonio, 9/30-10/6, Can-ey Nelson, MO, 9/16-19, Joseph Miller, (818) 340-0463, retdptr@pac- William J. Ditter, DM 31, Rapid City, SD, 9/25, Keith (714) 529-8397 bell.net; USS Stribling, DD 867, Branson, MO, 9/16-19, Pete Emerson, (605) 859-2065; USS Wyoming, BB 32/EA6 17, Grare, (252) 637-0545, [email protected]; Naval Air San Diego, 9/25-27, John Winters, (419) 823-7524 LIFE MEMBERSHIPS Trans Serv, San Diego, 9/16-22, Conine Mathison, (816) 690-8307, [email protected] USS Bollinger, APA 234, Eureka Springs, AR, 9/25-27, Life Membership notices are published for Legionnaires who Chariie Stewart, (409) 642-1 704; USS Hamul, AD 20/AK 30, have been awarded Lite Memberships by their Posts Life USS English, DD 696, Las Vegas, 9/17-19, Ray Ross, (760) Branson, MO, 9/25-28, Ralph Kennedy, (301) 277-4069, Membership notices must be submitted on official towns, 347-2825; USS Fessenden, DE/DER142, Portsmouth, VA, [email protected]; Navy Mall Serv Vets, St. which may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped 9/17-19, Mike Kirsch, (757) 487-6122, [email protected]; Louis, 9/25-29, Jake Spurgeon, (415) 333-6865, envelope to Life Memberships The American Legion Magazine P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206. USS Callaway, APA 35, St. Louis, 9/1 7-21 , Wallace Shipp, [email protected]; USS Concord, CL 10, Nashville, (202) 363-3663; NCB 143, Hawley, PA, 9/17-21, Joseph TN, 9/25-30, Bud Law, (405) 794-8129, [email protected]; Post 34, FL: Wan-en B. Retzlaff Campanella, (610) 353-8558, [email protected]; USS USS Point Detiance, LSD 31, Gatlinburg, TN, 9/26, John Post 116, MD: Leonard F. Gmeiner, Douglas A. Lawrence Butternut, YN 4/AN 9, Jackson, CA. 9/18-21, Eari Gamer, Nicolosi, (978) 283-9024, [email protected]; USS Post 42, Rl: Jack Lucas (209) 296-5998, [email protected]; USS Rawlins, APA Eastland APA 163, Hershey, PA, 9/26-28, Robert Hoffman. Post 451, TX: James A. Vavra 226, Neenah, Wl, 9/18-21, John Kuebler, (920) 739-1972, (717) 732-9894. [email protected]; USS New Kent, APA [email protected]; USS LST Assn, Mobile, AL, 9/18-24, 217, Minneapolis. 9/26-28. Francis St Gemnain, (781) 396- IN SEARCH OF Reunion Planner, (419) 693-0725, [email protected]; 7910. [email protected]; USS Black, DD 666, Oklahoma USS Altamaha, CVE 18, San Diego, 9/18-24, Don Dolan, City, 9/26-28, Osborne Yori<, (580) 226-3993, ussblack® Anyone who served with the 10th Eng Cbt Bn, 3rd Inf Div (619) 469-5850. [email protected]; USS IVIurphy, DD 603, brightok.net in Homberg, Germany, during the occupation following Baltimore. 9/19-22, Talbert Shepke. (410) 255-2997; USS WWII in 1945, contact Howard W. Eckman at 549 Old Markab, AD21/AR23/AK31, San Antonio. 9/19-22. William 3rd Spec Seabees, Savannah, GA, 9/26-29, Horace Johnson, Mill Road, Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762 or e-mail Campbell. (941) 575-6829. [email protected] (512) 452-4922; USS LST 874, Branson, MO, 9/26-29, Joel [email protected]. Wentz, (785) 827-9214, [email protected]; AE Anyone who served with the 507th Eng Heavy Shop Co in USS Griswold DE7, Springfield, MO, 9/19-22, Bmno Sailors Assn, New Orieans, 9/26-30, Doug Hauser. (334) Hanau, Germany, between 1949 and 1952, contact J. C. 277-21 Chastain, 502 McAlister Road, Easley, SC 29642 or call Mancinelli, (724) 258-5379; USS Edmonds, DE 406, Golden, 51 , [email protected]; USS Alchiba, AKA 6/AKA CO, 9/19-22. Richard Walker, (303) 279-4135, burgess2@ 23, Nashville, TN, 9/26-30, Robert Litten. (828) 524-8053; (864) 859-7019. pacbell.net; Natl Sonar Assn, Biloxi, MS, 9/19-23, H. Love, USS Hale, DD 642, Chesapeake, VA, 9/26-30. Robert Anyone who served with the 299th Cbt Eng Bn, McNair (228) 467-8538; USS Robert H McCard DD-822, Reinhardt (856) 456-5227, [email protected]; USS Kaserne, in Hochst, Germany, between 1959 and 1961, contact William Sobolewski, 28th SL, Savannah, GA. 9/19-23, Tom Bumett, (334) 567-3573, Galveston, CLG 3, Biloxi, MS, 9/26-30, Tom Campbell Jr., 18318 NE [email protected]; USS Sproston, DD/DDE 577, (609) 386-9183. [email protected]; USS Brush, DD 745, Vancouver WA 98682, call (360) 256-2437 or e-mail Nashville, TN, 9/19-23, Jim Mariatt, (626) 351-0362, Sacramento, CA, 9/26-30, Quenton Miller, (662) 843-5572, [email protected]. [email protected]; VPB 117, Branson, MO, 9/19-23, [email protected]; USS Radlord DD DDE 446, Anyone who served with C Btry, 32nd FA Bn, 1st Div in contact Robert William Swink. (228) 255-3738; USS Kermit Roosevelt, ARG Canton, OH, 9/26-30. Vane Scott, (740) 498-4446, vane@ Germany between 1949 and 1952, C. lA call 16, Charieston. SC, 9/19-23. Robert Simpson. (952) 881- sota-oh.com; USS Wickes, DD578, Branson, MO, 9/26-30, Dethlefsen, 603 Main St., Ida Grove, 51445, 2436. [email protected]; USS Conway, DD/DDE 507, Edward Arzinger, (316) 744-0590 (712) 364-3998 or e-mail carolbob@pioneLneL served on the Robert K. Huntington, DD Gettysburg, PA, 9/19-23. Charies Coale Jr., (703) 552-7904, Anyone who USS Jim McGrath, [email protected]; USS Kaskaskia, AO 27, Buffalo, USS Rushmore, LSD 14/47, Corpus Christi, TX, 9/26-30, Joe 781, during and after the 1940s, contact Bradford Circle, Clayton, call 550- NY, 9/20-22, Donald Deymour. (716) 693-5018, Zamora, (316) 992-5959; USS Daly, DD 519, Branson, MO, 142 NC 27520, (919) 1 or e-mail @attglobal.net. [email protected] 9/26-30. Cleo Pottorff. (712) 252-4661. [email protected]; 664 iam781 Bn, 47th Rgt, USS Vesole, DD/DDR 878, Buffalo. NY, 9/26-30, Raymond Anyone who served with Co A, 746th Tank 9th Inf Div, and crossed the Remagen Bridge March 8, USS Carter Hall, LSD 3, Las Vegas, 9/20-22, Roy Cogdill, Gorenflo, (914) 227-5762, [email protected]; USS 1944, contact Chuck Aldieri. 21 Jay Lane. Bristol. CT (254) 248-0928; USS Cimarron, AO 22, Salt Lake City, UT, Belleau Wood CVL 24, Reno, NV. 9/26-1 0/1 . Robert Ross. call 582-5553 or e-mail brosemarya@ 9/20-22, Siegfried Weiss, (801) 255-5567, rasebudd® (727) 848-5409; USS Colonial, LSD 18, San Diego, 9/26-30, 06010. (860) aol.com. aros.net; USS Tellair, APA 210, San Diego, 9/20-23, Ralph James Roberts, (615) 833-4948, [email protected]; USS the Alderamin during WWII, Limon, (909) 658-7426. [email protected]; USS Fanshaw Bay, CVE 70, Air Grps VC-66, VC-68, VC-10, VOC- Anyone who served on USS

• • DO THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE JUNE 2001 , . )

contact Loren Brown, 217 Longdate Ave., Totedo, OH Anyone who served with the 34th Air Depot Grp in North or call (330) 424-8042. 43605 or call (419) 693-6680. Africa, Italy and Germany during WWII, contact Joe Anyone who served with the 81 st Inf Div and Band in the Anyone who served on the USS Point Defiance, LSD 31 Kenney, 9092 Dillon Road, Tremont, IL 61568 or call Pacific during WWII, contact Gary Richter, P.O. Box 218 between 1955 and 1983, contact John NicolosI, 6 Shore (309) 925-3459. Comfrey, MN 56019 or call (507) 877-3523.

Hill Road, Gloucester, MA 01930, call (978) 283-9024 Anyone who served with AAF 8th Radio Sqdn Mobile at Anyone who sen/ed with the 282nd Cbt Eng, 3rd Army, or e-mail [email protected]. Guam, Mariana Islands, between October 1944 and contact Clyde Davies, 16542 Casero Road, San Dtego, Anyone who served with the 247th FA MSL Bn at Ft. Bliss, January 1946, contact Ken Conlin, 14146 Wyant Lane, CA 92128, call (858) 487-9687 or e-mail Texas, contact Jim Gallagher, 7191 NE Bluff Drive, Whittier, CA 90602, call (562) 693-0297 or e-mail [email protected]. Bondurant lA 50035. [email protected]. Anyone who served on LSTs 172, 844 or 1043, contact

Anyone who served with USAF 1 st Comp Tech Sqdn at Anyone who served with the 734th Ord Co, 34th Div in Jesse R. Russell, 211 Hillandale Drive, Griffin, GA Forbes, Ramey and Barksdale AFBs, contact J.R. Salerno, Italy, during summer 1944, contact Donald L. 30224.

Thompson, 2416 Sandridge Court, Grand Junction, CO Becker, 433 Jessup St., Dunmore, PA 18512, call (570) Anyone who served with Det 1 , 6981st Radio Grp Mobile, 81503, call (970) 243-8993 or e-mail jesstom® 342-3986 or e-mail [email protected]. USAFSS and Support Units on St. Lawrence Island, aol.com. Anyone who served with the 1 68th Bomb Sqdn in Alaska, between 1959 and 1960, contact Jim Adams, Anyone who served on the USS Terrel Country between Bordeaux and Laon, France, between 1951 and 1952, 1427 Johnson Lane, Springfield, IL 62702, call (217) 1966 and 1968, contact James Grooms at (641) 363- contact Gene Westerman, 895 Mill St., S. Elgin, IL 546-641 7 or e-mail [email protected]. 4406 or e-mail [email protected]. 60177, call (847) 742-8711 or e-mail Anyone who served with the "Chuting Stars" U.S. Navy Anyone who served with the 518th Cbt Eng Co in Austria [email protected]. Parachuting Team between 1961 and 1964, contact Ed between 1950 and 1953, contact Fred M. Brown, 2019 Anyone who attended Aviation Photo School and Camera Kmse, 14335 Embassy Way, Apple Valley, MN 55124 or Westwood Drive, Columbia, TN 38401 or call (931) Repair School, Class 6-49, in Pensacola, Fla., contact call (952) 322-1954.

380-1915. Joe Brancati, 39 Roxton Road, Plainview, NY 11803, call Anyone who served with A Btry, 1 8th FA Bn at Ft. Sill, Anyone who served at Grandview AFB, Mo., attended Air (516) 681-1879 or e-mail [email protected]. Okla., between April 1948 and June 1949, or with the Police school and went to Korea between September Anyone who sen/ed aboard the USS LST 845 between 2nd Pit 30th Eng Survey Co, 29th Eng Topographic Bn 1950 and September 1954, contact William Hardy, 25 1950 and 1955, contact Larry G. Patterson, 815 S. 9th in the Philippines and on Okinawa between April 1952

Bonaire Drive, Toms River, NJ 08757 or call (732) 341- St., Humboldt KS 66748 or call (316) 473-2706. and June 1955, contact Michael C.J. Kaminski, 2912 S. 2397. Any Marines who served with MCTSSA, Telecomm Maint, 10th Ave., Broadview, IL 60155, call (708) 345-8244 or Anyone who served with the 56th Chem Maint Co in Hilton, at MCB Camp Pendleton, Calit, between 1975 and e-mail [email protected]. England, contact Howard Ellsworth, 609 E. Windemere, 1978, contact Tony Glass, 246 Lynwood Drive, Mt Anyone who sen/ed with the Small Boat School at Saigon, Royal Oak, Ml 48073 or call (248) 588-5944. Washington, KY 40047, call (502) 538-7894 or e-mail Vietnam, contact John Paul Nowak, 94 Church Ave., Anyone who served on the SS James Baines near Oakland, [email protected]. Staten Island. NY 10314, call (718) 761-6009 ore-mail Calif., in 1943, contact Rollie Broell, 5514 Big Woods Anyone who served with the 7th Div, 31st FA, B Btry, No 3 [email protected]. Road, Cedar Falls, lA 50613 or call (319) 277-3892. Gun between September 1950 and April 1951, contact Anyone who served on the USS Scott between 1943 and Anyone who served with B Btry, 1 1th FA Bn, 24th Inf Div In Leroy L. Shook, 3818 Briery Road, Keysville, VA 23947 1945, contact Shirley Pozar, 106 1st Ave., Pittsburgh, Korea and Japan between 1951 and 1953, contact or call (804) 736-9088. PA 1 5229, call (41 2) 366-21 41 or e-mail Morris Peters, 97 Pleasant St, Waterville, Ml\l 04901 or Anyone who served aboard the USS IVIount Katmai on a [email protected]. call (207) 872-9002. trip from Guam to San Francisco in June 1946, contact Anyone who served aboard the USS Portent during the Ronald Brest Box 92, Kulm, ND 58456 or call (701 TAPS invasion of Anzio, Italy, during WWII, contact Florence 647-241 7 or (701) 252-2180.

loli Sacco, 2231 Ariington Chase Road, Cape Charles, Anyone who served with S-4, 3rd Bn, 84th FA in Harold Victor Conwell, Dept. of District of Columbia. Nat'l VA 23310 or call (757) 331-1567. Neckarsulm, Germany, between 1968 and 1974, contact Distinguished Guests Cmsn. Memb. 1964-1965; Nat'l Anyone who served with the 3708th Basic Military Tng Harold L. Salter, 907 Pfau St., Mankato, MN 56001, call Distinguished Guests Cmsn. Vice Chmn. 1980-1981 and Sqdn at Lackland AFB, Texas, between December 1952 (507) 387-6363 or e-mail [email protected]. 1991-1992; Nat'l Foreign Relations Cncl. Vice Chmn. and February 1955, contact Ernie Pazzi, 647 Mulholand Anyone who sen/ed with the 39th Inf Rgt, 9th Inf Div, Co 1988-1989; Natl Sec. Cncl. Vice Chmn. 1989-1990 and Drive, Ripon, CA 95366, call (209) 599-6718 or e-mail G, 2nd Bn in Sicily during 1943, contact Lawrence E. 1994-1995; NafI VA&R Region 2 Memb. 1992-1994; and [email protected]. Bickel, 10901 Steubenville Pike Road, Lisbon, OH 44432 various Department positions. ElASSIflEB

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^ ^ ^ - jj^. -THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE VJU:NE 2001 . , , V 1 UEIOH SHOPPER

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• THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • JUNE 2001 Asbestos Cancer Hits Former Sailors

• Many who served aboard ship in the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's and early 1970's were exposed to asbestos.

• Due to the long latency period of these diseases, some are now coming down with asbestos- related cancers.

IF YOU NOW HAVE MESOTHELIOMA or LUNG CANCER, OR A LOVED ONE HAS RECENTLY DIED FROM ONE OF THESE CANCERS

For Medical Resources :

Visit tine Mesotlielioma Web: www,mesotheliomaweb.org/n4658 or call toll-free 1-877-367-6376 to receive a free packet or to ask questions. (Packet includes infornnation on nnesothelioma treatment, clinical trials, cancer links, how to access legal and financial resources, and frequently asked questions with answers by the law firm below.)

For Information on Compensation from the Asbestos Industry: Law Offices of Jonathan David, P.C.*

1 0655 Six Pines Drive, #260 The Woodlands, TX 77380 (Greater Houston Area)

Handling cases nationwide with

local counsel in state of filing.

www.asbestos-attorney.com/n4658

Call Toll-free 1-800-998-9729

*Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization K .

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