File - Vietnam Veterans of America

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AUGUST 2015
Newsletter of the Carson Area Chapter - 388 of the Vietnam Veterans of America
commobunker388@charter.net
OPERATION STARLITE
A Drang is sometimes referred to as the first large battle of the Vietnam War. In fact, Starlite occurred three months earlier. Operation Starlite
(also known in Vietnam as Battle of Van Tuong) was the first major offensive regimental size action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit
during the Vietnam War. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major General Nguyen Chanh Thi, the commander
of the South Vietnamese forces in northern I Corps area. Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt devised a plan to launch a pre-emptive strike
against the Viet Cong regiment to nullify the threat on the vital Chu Lai Air Base and Base Area and ensure its powerful communication
tower remained intact.
The operation was conducted as a combined arms assault involving ground, air and naval units. U.S. Marines were deployed by helicopter
into the designated landing zone while an amphibious landing was used to deploy other Marines.
The operation was originally called Satellite, but a power blackout led to a clerical error and a clerk working by candlelight typed "Starlite"
instead. It was launched on August 18, 1965, involving 5,500 Marines. Regimental 2nd Battalion 4th Marines (2/4), 1st Battalion, 7th
Marines (1/7) and 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines (3/3), and 3rd Battalion 7th Marines (3/7) the SLF - permission was granted by Admiral Sharp
to use Special Landing Force (originally a reserve component) in an assault on the Viet Cong base near Van Tuong. The United States Navy's
USS Galveston (CLG-3) and USS Cabildo (LSD-16) were available for naval gunfire support and 3rd Battalion 12th Marines was the
artillery unit in direct support. USS Vernon County (LST-1161)embarked elements of the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (Battalion Landing
Cont’d. on Page 2
was considered a great success for U.S. forces as they engaged a
Main Force Vietcong unit and came out victorious. The Marines
sustained 45 killed and 203 wounded.[3] Corporal Robert E.
O'Malley (3/3) and Lance Corporal Joe C. Paul (2/4) received the
Medal of Honor for their actions during the operation.
Cont’d. from Page 1
Team) (BLT) 3, under Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Muir, USMC,
at Chu Lai, and sailed south along the coast to An Thuong, where
she put the troops ashore in one phase of "Starlite."
Viet Cong forces comprised the 1st VC Regiment made up of the
60th and 80th VC Battalions, the 52nd VC Company, and a
company of the 45th VC Weapons Battalion. The total Viet Cong
strength was around 1,500 men, and backed by several elite mortar
units.
Lessons learned from the battle include the knowledge that the
daily allotment of 2 gallons of water per man was inadequate in the
heat of Vietnam and that the M14 Rifle was too bulky for troops
cramped into small personnel carriers.
A MAG-16 helicopter evacuates casualties, while a Marine M48
Patton tank stands guard.
Mike Co., 3/3 was designated the blocking force and deployed on
August 18, 1965 using LVTP-5s to the operational area. When it
landed on the beach, it marched 4 miles (6.5 km) to establish their
blocking positions. 3/3 made an amphibious landing and were
tasked with driving the Viet Cong towards the 2nd battalion 4th
Marines who were to be lifted by helicopter into three landing
zones west of Van Tuong. Secrecy was paramount, and no ARVN
commander or units were informed of the impending operation.
GULF OF
TONKIN - AUGUST, 1964
The Marines met light resistance moving into the attack, using
their M14 semi-automatic rifles to repulse occasional Viet Cong
raiders. Echo Company, 2/4 spotted Viet Cong in the open and
called in artillery fire from 3rd Battalion 12th Marines. The
artillery barrage was reported to have killed 90 Viet Cong,
including crippling several of their mortar units. Hotel Company,
2/4 assaulted the 60th VC Battalion who put up a vicious fight, only
being overwhelmed when attack helicopters swooped on their
position, peppering it with rocket and machine gun fire. One
prisoner was taken and 40 weapons were captured. India
Company, 3/3 attacked An Cuong after receiving heavy fire from
the hamlet and losing their company commander in the
engagement.
the Gulf of Tonkin and the Escalation . . .
To gain intelligence as to the naval strength of the North
Vietnamese, American naval destroyers were sent into North
Vietnamese waters. On August 2nd 1964, three North Vietnamese
torpedo boats fired on the ‘USS Maddox’ in the Gulf of Tonkin.
‘Maddox’ defended itself and fired back, hitting all three torpedo
boats. One of them sank. The US destroyer then sailed back to
international waters. On August 3rd, Captain Herrick, commander
of the ‘Maddox’, was ordered back into the Gulf of Tonkin and he
again radioed that his ship was under attack once it had sailed into
North Vietnamese waters. However, a later message contradicted
this and in the second radio message, Herrick claimed that his men
had over-reacted and that freak weather action may have led his
men to make mistakes. The final sentence in the second message
was telling: “Suggest complete evaluation before further action.”
India Company was ordered to join Kilo and Hotel companies and
clean up any opposition but was caught in a crossfire from Nam
Yen Dan Hill 30. Hotel Company established a defensive
perimeter and were told to await reinforcements. The expected
reinforcements, were diverted to assist the supply column that was
ambushed west of their position. 37mm recoilless rifle fire from the
VC positions tore into the 5 LVTs and 3 flame tanks, forcing the
Marines to mount a rescue. The Marines were hit by intense mortar
and rifle fire and suffered 5 dead and 17 wounded. They called in
artillery and air support to suppress the mortar and automatic fire,
F-4 fighter jets dropping cluster bombs, resulting in an avalanche
on the hillside which wiped out many of the attacking rifle and
mortar squads.
President Johnson and his advisors chose to ignore this second
message. The President ordered the bombing of four known North
Vietnamese torpedo-boat bases and an oil storage depot. What
Johnson needed to do was to convince the US public that this was a
deliberate attack on US forces. In this task he was supported by
major media concerns. The ‘New York Times’ carried the headline:
‘US planes attack North Vietnam bases: President orders
limited retaliation after communist’s torpedo boats renew
raids. Reds driven off.”
The developing engagement necessitated the deployment of Lima
Company, 3/7 from the USS Iwo Jima to join India Company to
assist the ambushed supply column. Part of Lima Company was
caught in a horseshoe ambush in their attempt to rescue a downed
LVT (amtrac) personnel, 4 marines were killed and 10 wounded.
Come nightfall, the Marines hunkered down into defensive
positions. Scout units of 3/7's Marines came ashore during the
night and the battalion got ready for a morning assault on the
Vietnamese positions. When they finally attacked they found the
VC unit had already retreated from the encirclement during the
night, though pockets of resistance continued from other Viet Cong
fighters holed up in bunkers and caves. Fightings ceased at
nightfall.
The various Marine units reported killing 614 Vietcong, capturing
prisoners and 42 suspected guerillas. To the Americans, the battle
Johnson’s decision to bomb military targets in North Vietnam
received overwhelming
backing from Congress in
what was known as the
‘ G u l f o f To n k i n
Resolution’. In the
House, 416 supported the
President with no
dissenters. In the Senate,
88 supported Johnson
and only 2 did not. The
resolution authorized the
President to take all Painting of the engagement between USS
Maddox and North Vietnamese torpedo boats on
n e c e s s a r y m e a s u r e s August
2, 1964. (Credit: Naval Historical Center)
against North Vietnam.
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Our most
sincere condolences
to our Comrade and Friend
Kevin Howell
on the tragic loss of his son,
CHAPTER ORGANIZATION
ELECTED OFFICERS
Frank Reynolds
Tom Spencer
Jack McQuirk
Lee Jackson
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Carl G. Howell
CONTACT
Carl, a Carson City Deputy Sheriff and U.S. Marine
Corps veteran, was gunned down in the early morning
hours of August 15, 2015 while responding to a
domestic violence call.
Executive Committee**
Frank Reynolds
Finance Committee**
Frank Reynolds
Community Services Committee
Rick Arnold
Verne Horton
Outreach
Membership Affairs
Tom Spencer
Government Affairs
Darrol Brown
Bruce Bertram
Chaplain’s
Adopt-a-Vet Dental Program
Brenda Horton
Communications
Verne Horton/John Hussong
POW/MIA
Darrol Brown
Health/Transportation
Neal Davies
Special Events
Jack McQuirk/Ron Moore/Stuart Miller
Scholarship
Darrol Brown/Bruce Bertram
VSO
Joe Matisohn
Welcome Home
Rick Arnold
Women’s Affairs
Lee Jackson
Carl was 35 years of age and a 9 year veteran of the
Sheriff’s Office.
Our thoughts and prayers go also to Carl’s family
and all his brothers and sisters in uniform.
UNCLAIMED VETERANS TO
RECEIVE FULL MILITARY FUNERAL
A group of 21 veterans will receive a full military service and
funeral after going for nearly 20 years without a final resting place.
One soldier has been in the care of a mortuary for 18 years.
AD HOC COMMITTEES
Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day
Rick Arnold
Wreaths Across America
Veterans Day Committee
Others (as called for by the President)
The Missing in America Project is honoring the veterans whose
remains have been unclaimed in area mortuaries, the Standard
Examiner reported. The Aug. 1 service will be held at the Utah
Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bluffdale.
** Membership established by Chapter By-Laws
Chapter President is a member of all Committees
The Missing in America Project has interred 2,441 veterans across
the country since it began.
388th is a monthly publication of the Vietnam Veterans of America - Carson
Area Chapter 388 and is published solely for the education of and communication with it’s membership and other interested parties. Not for Sale.
Cedar City, Utah resident Roger Graves oversees the project in
Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming and Montana.
Contact Information:
TH
388
"To put it in the simplest terms, we travel all over the country, going
to funeral homes, crematoriums and coroner's offices searching out
unclaimed cremated remains," Graves said. "Then we find out if
they were veterans, and if they were honorably discharged, we
honor them (with a military funeral)."
Newsletter Email: commmobunker388@charter.net
Chapter 388 Website: http://vva388.com/
Chapter Facebook Page: VVA Chapter 388 Carson City
Nevada
Chapter President: Frank Reynolds: vva388@gmail.com
The group has estimated the remains of between 200,000 and
300,000 veterans are still unclaimed nationwide.
Chapter Meetings:
Veterans Hall - 2nd and Curry Streets, Carson City, NV 89701
1st Thursday of each month - 5:30 pm
Breakfast Meetings
Grandma Hatties Restaurant - 2811 So. Carson St., Carson City
Mid- Month - email vva388@gmail.com for specific date and time.
"There is a lot of work to be done," Graves said. "But we're not
jumping in trying to recruit armies of volunteers, because it has to
be done right."
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ADOPT A VET
Poker Run 2015 Supporters
Applebee's
Bodine's Casino
Buffalo Wild Wings
CAL Ranch Store
Capitol City Dental
Carson City Harley-Davidson
Carson Valley Inn & Casino
Christensen Automotive
Corner Bar
DC Motorsports
Empire Ranch Golf Course
Fastenal
GMG Foreign Auto and Transmission
Genoa Bar & Saloon
Glen Eagles restaurant
Grandma Hattie’s Restaurant
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas)
Harley-Davidson
Harrah's - Lake Tahoe
King Motorsports
Lowes
Motts Tavern & Grill
Mustang Sallies Corner Café
New Washoe Bar
O'Reilly Auto parts
Sam’s Place
San Marcos Grill
Sierra Gourmet Grill
Silver Oak Golf Course
South Point Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas)
Subway
Sunridge Golf Course
The Cheesecake Factory
Tires For You
Walmart
Saturday, August 15, 2015 marked the running of the 3rd Annual Adopt a Vet Poker Run
sponsored by VVA Chapter 388. The warm weather and blue skies brought out 67entrants!
Each succeeding year garners ever larger participation as more and more area bikers hear of
this fun event and the cause it supports.
The Run was again coordinated by Chapter Member Brenda Horton, who also serves as the
Adopt a Vet Program’s Volunteer Case Manager for the Greater Carson and rural northern
Nevada areas. Brenda was aided by a hard working crew comprised of both Chapter
members and friends of both the Chapter and the Dental Program. The numerous volunteers
manned each of the stops as well as the registration table and helped in soliciting the over 50
raffle prizes.
Bikers drew playing cards at each of the seven stops along the 70 plus mile out and back run
attempting to put together the best five card poker hand out of the seven cards drawn. This
year’s winning hand was drawn by a biker who immediately turned around and donated $200
to the Adopt a Vet Dental Program and joined with countless others by making a $200
donation to the family of Deputy Sheriff Carl Howell who had been killed the morning of the
Run (see page 3).
Glenna E. Smith, Military & Veterans Regional Representative for Senator Dean Heller
dropped by and presented a certificate, from the Senator, recognizing and honoring our
Chapter’s support of the Adopt a Vet Program. The Certificate was accepted on behalf of the
Chapter by President Frank Reynolds.
At the next scheduled Chapter Meeting, Linda Haigh, Founder and representatives of the
Adopt a Vet’s Reno office will be on hand to accept the Chapter’s check for $2,400. This
check represents the net proceeds from this year’s Run. As in the past, these funds will be
specifically allocated to cover “lab costs” of treatment in the Greater Carson area. These
costs are generated as part of dental treatment, by the area Dentists who volunteer their time
and skill to provide needy veterans with quality dental care at virtually no cost to the veteran.
Please take a moment to go over the Supporter’s list on the left and as you have need of the
services they provide, consider supporting them . . . and thank them for their support of the
Adopt a Vet Program!
4
capacity by more than seven million visits per year, double what it
originally thought was needed to end the backlogs.
EVER-GROWING WAITS
FOR VETERANS’ CARE
The trouble is, that wasn’t enough. The demand for medical care
for aging veterans of the Vietnam War with chronic ailments and
younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are severely
injured has soared. The workloads for doctors at V.A. facilities
have increased by 18 percent to 21 percent in some regions, while
the workload for doctors treating veterans outside the department
grew by 50 percent in one region and 36 percent in another.
By the Editorial Board - New York Times
It was shocking last year when hospitals operated by the
Department of Veterans Affairs were caught falsifying data to hide
the long delays endured by patients needing medical care.
What’s even more shocking is that despite strenuous efforts to
improve the system, more veterans are facing long waits than
before. As The Times’s Richard Oppel Jr. has reported, the number
of veterans on waiting lists of one month or more is now 50 percent
higher than at the height of last year’s crisis.
To help address the budget shortfall, the department is proposing to
use unspent maintenance funds, reduce travel and training and
impose furloughs or hiring freezes. It even considered rationing an
effective but very costly drug for hepatitis C, a liver disease
affecting 180,000 veterans. But it has wisely decided to provide it
to every patient whose doctor deems it necessary.
The problem may well get worse. The department, which operates
a huge system of hospitals and clinics, expects a shortfall of about
$2.5 billion in programs to treat veterans outside the department’s
own facilities for the rest of this fiscal year, ending Sept. 30. It has
asked Congress for permission to shift funds among various
accounts to cover the shortfall, and leaders of the House Veterans
Affairs Committee, though angry at the failure of the department to
anticipate the problem, said they would work with other
lawmakers to help cover the shortfall.
Four major veterans groups said in a joint statement that the
funding shortfall “continues a pattern of inadequate resources for
rising demand.” Many veterans prefer to use the V.A., even when
they may have other options. Congress needs to ensure that they
can.
To address the waiting lists, the department has hired almost 1,100
doctors since April 2014, as well as more than 2,700 nurses and
almost 4,700 other critical personnel like scheduling clerks. It has
also greatly expanded the amount of clinical space. Those steps
allowed the agency to handle an additional 2.7 million
appointments over 12 months.
It has also authorized 1.5 million veterans to get care from hospitals
and doctors in their communities in the past 12 months, a 36
percent increase over the previous period. With the internal and
external care combined, the agency says it has increased its
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6
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show "on a factual basis" that they were exposed to the chemicals
during their military service.
THE AGENT ORANGE ACT WAS
SUPPOSED TO HELP VIETNAM VETERANS . . .
In April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims struck
down VA rules that denied presumptive Agent Orange
compensation for sailors whose ships docked at the harbors of Da
Nang, Cam Ranh Bay and Vung Tau. Those ports, the court
determined, were in the Agent Orange spraying area. The VA is not
appealing the ruling.
- BUT MANY STILL DON'T QUALIFY
Five decades after the Vietnam War began—and four decades after
it ended— veterans exposed to the chemical brew dubbed Agent
Orange are still fighting for compensation and benefits for
themselves and their children.
Veterans who served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone
between April 1968 and August 1971 and who have a disease
associated with Agent Orange are entitled to benefits under VA
rules that took effect in 2011.
Agent Orange is the name given to a mixture of toxins used during
the Vietnam War to remove leaves from trees and bushes, leaving
the enemy more exposed. (It got its name from the orange stripes
on barrels containing it.)
The VA acknowledges that vets stationed at Air Force bases in
Thailand between 1961 and 1975 may have been exposed to Agent
Orange, which was sprayed along the perimeters of the
installations. But those who served at bases in Thailand must prove
they performed duties that may have led to exposure.
All told, about 9 million military personnel served on active duty
during the Vietnam era, but most were not stationed in the country.
Of those, some 2.6 million were potentially exposed to Agent
Orange, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates.
For decades, Vietnam veterans have voiced concern that their
Agent Orange exposure has led to health issues for their children
and grandchildren. Over the past three years, Vietnam Veterans of
America has recorded hundreds of testimonials from offspring of
Vietnam veterans who believe their health has been affected by a
parent's exposure. The VA, though, says there's insufficient
research to make a scientific connection.
The VA began receiving claims related to Agent Orange exposure
in 1977. Congress passed the Agent Orange Act, which said that
certain diseases tied to chemical exposure would be presumed to be
related to a vet's military service and would make the vet eligible
for benefits. The list has grown over time and now includes various
cancers, diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, peripheral neuropathy and
heart disease, among others.
Despite that, the VA provides benefits for a limited number of birth
defects in children of Vietnam veterans, including spina bifida for
children of all vets (male and female) and 18 other health
conditions solely for children of female vets. To date, about 1,200
children with spina bifida have received those benefits, along with
14 children of female veterans with other covered birth defects,
according the VA.
To get these benefits, though, veterans "must have actually set foot
on Vietnamese soil or served on a craft in its rivers (also known as
'brown water veterans')," the Congressional Research Service
wrote. Those who instead spent time on deep-water Navy ships
(called "Blue Water Navy" veterans) do not qualify unless they can
show that they spent time on Vietnam land or rivers, the report said.
In its most recent report to the agency, published in 2013, the
Institute of Medicine concluded that "a connection between toxin
exposure and effects on offspring, including developmental
disruption and disease onset in later life, is biologically plausible."
The report recommended further study.
Since 2002, more than 650,000 veterans have been granted
benefits because of their Agent Orange exposure, the VA estimates.
The VA's website says that: "For the purposes of VA compensation
benefits, Veterans who served anywhere in Vietnam between
January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 are presumed to have been
exposed to herbicides, as specified in the Agent Orange Act of
1991. These Veterans do not need to show that they were exposed
to Agent Orange or other herbicides in order to get disability
compensation for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure."
Bills pending in the Senate and House would create a national
research center to study medical conditions that arise in the
descendants of those exposed to toxic substances during military
service, not only in Vietnam, but also in the Gulf War, Afghanistan
and Iraq.
In June, the VA expanded benefits to Air Force and Air Force
Reserve personnel who served as flight, medical and ground
maintenance crew members on C-123 aircraft that were used to
spray Agent Orange. These troops, estimated to number between
1,500 and 2,100, will be eligible for benefits if they have a health
condition from the same list that applies to on-the-ground troops.
"When an individual serves their country in the military, I would
assume that they recognize the challenges and the sacrifices that
they may make," said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., during a
Committee of Veterans Affairs hearing last month. "When
something happens to them, it's a terrible thing. But I cannot
imagine the pain or concern that comes to a father or a mother who
now sees the consequence of their military service now affecting
their children or their grandchildren."
This followed a report earlier this year from the national Institute of
Medicine, which found that "some reservists quite likely
experienced non-trivial increases in their risks of adverse health
outcomes."
The legislation has the backing of many veterans organizations,
but the VA opposes the bill. Rajiv Jain, a VA assistant deputy under
secretary for health, told lawmakers last month that other federal
agencies are better suited to research the effects of toxic exposure.
Further, Jain testified, "a proposed center focusing solely on
military toxic exposures would likely not have the statistical basis
to support conclusive findings.”
The VA does not currently provide Agent Orange benefits to an
estimated 90,000 "blue water" veterans who say they were exposed
to the chemical in their drinking water while working on Navy
ships off the coast of Vietnam.
In 2002, a VA report found there was insufficient evidence to
connect health problems of blue water sailors with chemical
exposure aboard ships, establishing the basis for denying benefits
to vets who didn't set foot in Vietnam. That decision was upheld by
a federal appeals court in 2008. A 2011 report by the Institute of
Medicine, however, identified several "plausible routes" for Agent
Orange exposure through the water distillation process aboard
Navy ships, as well as through the air.
The above article is composed of excerpts from and article byCharles Ornstein
and Mike Hixenbaugh in the ProPublica and The Virginian-Pilot
Published: July 20, 2015
For additional information on Agent Orange and Other Toxins, go
to the Vietnam Veterans of America web page at:
http://www.vva.org/Committees/AgentOrange/index.html
Such vets can only receive Agent Orange-related benefits if they
8
24 Hour Security Monitoring
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9
RECENT OUTREACHES
CASUALTIES IN THE
VIETNAM WAR
Our special THANKS to all of the Chapter members who came out
and helped make our recent Outreaches such successes! It’s
through their efforts and the generosity of our communities at these
events that the Chapter has the funds to support its many programs!
The U.S. suffered over 47,000
killed in action plus another
11,000 noncombat deaths; over 150,000 were wounded and 10,000
missing.
Gardnerville
WalMart
Casualties for the Republic of South Vietnam will never be
adequately resolved. Low estimates calculate 110,000 combat KIA
and a half-million wounded. Civilian loss of life was also very
heavy, with the lowest estimates around 415,000.
June 27 & 28, 2015
Gardnerville volunteers were
Neal Davies, Jim Whiteside,
Bob Guernsey, Bill Brazil,
Steve Louks, Frank Reynolds,
Griz Rogers, Johnny Feathers,
Ben Swanson, Jack McQuirk,
Darrol Brown, Don Bemis,
Don Muscott, Dan Diridoni
Brenda and Verne Horton
Similarly, casualty totals among the VC and NVA and the number
of dead and wounded civilians in North Vietnam cannot be
determined exactly. In April 1995, Vietnam’s communist
government said 1.1 million combatants had died between 1954
and 1975, and another 600,000 wounded. Civilian deaths during
that time period were estimated at 2 million, but the U.S. estimate
of civilians killed in the north at 30,000.
Among South Vietnam’s other allies, Australia had over 400 killed
and 2,400 wounded; New Zealand, over 80 KIA ; Republic of
SOME VIETNAM WAR
DEMOGRAPHICS
Fernley WalMart
July 25 & 26, 2015
The demographics of troops deployed to Vietnam were close to a
reflection of the demographics of the U.S. at the time. 88.4% of
troops deployed to Vietnam were Caucasian, 10.6% were AfricanAmerican and 1% were of other races. The 1970 census estimated
the African-American population of the U.S. at 11%.
While 76% of those who served did come from working-class
backgrounds this was a time when most troops had at least a high
school education, compared with enlisted men of wars past, among
whom only half held a high school diploma.
Our Fernley Volunteers were
Don Muscott, Dan Diridoni,
Terry Burt, Frank Reynolds,
Steve Louks, John Trammell,
Jack McQuirk, Tom Spencer,
Brenda and Verne Horton
10
The truth is less like Lt. Dan and more like Gary Sinise the actor
who played the role.
®
Adopt a Vet Dental Program
Ca
r
AAVD
Area Chapter
8
38
Brenda Horton, HLM
n
so
VVA-388/Adopt a Vet Dental Program Volunteer Case Manager
In addition to the Poker Run this month, there have been 3 veterans
accepted by dentist to begin their treatment and 9 veterans are in
different stages of their treatment. The summer months tend to be
slower due to vacations by the dentists and their staffs. Now that I
have a little breather, I will again endeavor to place veterans who
are on the waiting list with a dentist and catch up on my telephone
messages. If you talk with a veteran in need of dental treatment
please give him my phone number or e-mail address and let
him/her know I will get back with them.
As always we are looking for dentists who are willing to
participate in the program. I appreciate those members who have
spoken to their dentist, who is not currently participating in the
program, but require more information before making that
commitment. I am always willing to stop by their office and speak
to them personally.
On some occasions a veteran requires a ride to and from his
appointments. If you are interested in providing that transportation
please contact me.
I would like to say a special Thank You to all the members who
actively participated by manning stops, obtaining raffle prizes,
assisting at Carson City Harley Davidson the day of the run, or
coercing a fellow biker to join in the Poker Run. This year we had
great weather, great raffle prizes, and an enjoyable time was had by
all.
Thank you for your support with this event and I am proud to be a
member of VVA – Chapter 388!
11
2015 TENTATIVE CALENDAR
The below events and dates with the exception of Chapter Meetings,
Breakfasts and National Holidays are tentative and subject to
change.
Date
September 3
September 18
September 19
October 1
October 17
October 31
November 5
November 11
November 21
December
December 3
December
December
Event
Location
Chapter Meeting
Carson City
POW/MIA Recognition Day
TBA
Breakfast 9AM
Grandma Hattie’s
Chapter Meeting
Carson City
Breakfast 9AM
Grandma Hattie’s
Nevada Day Parade
Carson City
Chapter Meeting
Carson City
Veterans Day Parade
Virginia City
Breakfast 9AM
Grandma Hattie’s
Christmas Party
TBA
Chapter Meeting
Carson City
Christmas Shopping for
Families
Walmart -Topsy Ln.
Wreaths Across America
Fernley
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
George Allison
Brenda Horton
Marvin Weissberger
Sharon Urban
Norm Whitney
Jim Smiley
Don Muscott
Craig Horn
Tom Scholl
Hugo Gruner
Aug 1
Aug 1
Aug 1
Aug 6
Aug 11
Aug 16
Aug 19
Aug 24
Aug 25
Aug 30
John MacBride
Terry Burt
Craig Timmermann
Jan Smith
Mike Billow
Darrol Brown
Tom Baker
Jack McQuirk
Sep 1
Sep 9
Sep 10
Sep 12
Sep 15
Sep 18
Sep 22
Sep 26
AUGUST FACTOID
August 23, 1972
The last U.S. combat troops
depart Vietnam.
VVA Chapter-388 Fellowship Breakfast Location
A limited number of VVA POW-MIA Challenge
Coins are available for a $10.00
or more donation to
the Chapter!
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Great Food
Great Service
Great Prices
To Order, Contact:
commobunker388@charter.net
Family Restaurant
2811 So. Carson St., Carson City
(775) 882-4900
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USEFUL CONTACTS
Carson Area Chapter - 388, Vietnam Veterans of America website www.vva388.org ; email: vva388@gmail.com
Websites
VVA
www.vva.org
- Programs, News, Forms, Services, Applications
Benefits, Publications/Forms, LSO Listings
1-877-222-8387 (Help Line)
1-800-237-8255 (Crisis Line)
1-877-424-3838 (Homeless)
Service Records
www.archives.gov
Memorial Wall Research
www.virtualwall.org
Agent Orange Website
www.lewispublishing.com
- FAQ’s, Maps, VA Compensation & Claims
General Military
www.military.com
- Benefit Info, News, Stories, Buddy Finder
Nevada Dept. of Veteran Services www.veterans.nv.us
- Benefit Info, News
Army Times
www.armytimes.com
- Online Publication, News, Benefit Info
Navy Times
www.navytimes.com
- Online Publication, News, Benefit Info
Marine Corps Times
www.marinecorpstimes.com
- Online Publication, News, Benefit Info
Air Force Times
www.airforcetimes.com
-Online Publication, News, Benefit Info
50th Anniversary - Vietnam War www.vietnam50th.com
Events, Photos, Interactive Timeline
Local Veteran Services
F.I.S.H.
Reno Veteran Center
5580 Mill Street
Reno, NV 89502
Office: 775-323-1294
Fax: 775-322-8123
US Veterans Employment Services
500 E 3rd Street
Carson City, NV 89713
Office: 687-4632
Veterans Employment Services
State Dept. of Employment, Training &
Rehabilitation
1933 N. Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Office: 775-684-0400
138 Long Street
Carson City, NV 89706
Office: 775-992-3474
email: www.info@nvfish.com
Healthcare for Homeless Veterans
350 Capitol Hill
Reno, NV 89502
Office: 775-324-6600
Nevada Job Connect
775- 4684-0456
1929 N. Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Northern Nevada Veterans Resource Center
Veterans Healthcare USA
145 Esmeralda Drive.
Washoe Valley, Nevada 89704
Office: 887-338-8807
419 W. Plumb Lane
Reno, NV 89509
775-284-8387
Western Nevada College Veterans Resource Center
Western Nevada College
Cedar Building 327
2201 West College Parkway
Carson City, NV 89703
(775) 445-3000
Carson 305 N. Carson St., Suite 201
City
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 283-4838
(775) 360-2157 - fax
State of Nevada Department of Veterans Services
Katherine Miller, Director - millerk@veterans.nv.gov
Veterans Service Officers
Reno- 5460 Reno Corporate Dr. Ste. 104 FallonReno, NV 89511
Office: 775-321-4880
Fax: 775-321-4848
458 W. B Street, Ste. 103
Fallon, NV 89406
Office: 775-428-1177
Fax: 775-423-9371
Joe Matisohn, Veterans Service Officer
(775) 835-3181 email: benefits.al@gmail.com
®
Reno
Caleb Cage, Director of Military and Veterans Policy - Nevada Governors Office
(775) 684-5670
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