Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 . __ . . -*- N A M V E T -*- ____/ \_ . . ( * \ . . Managing Editor \ Quangtri . . ---------------- \_/\ \_ Hue . . G. Joseph Peck \_Ashau Phu Bai . . \_* \_ . . Editorial Assistants \ * ) . . -------------------- _/ Danang . . Pete Farias \|/ ( \_*Chu Lai . . Sarge Hultgren --*-- \_ ------- \__ . . /|\ \_ I Corps \ . . Distribution Manager \ ------- ! . . ------------ /\_____ ! . . Jerry Hindle / ! \ . . ! !___ \ . . Section Editors ! \/\____! . . --------------- ! ! . . IN-TOUCH: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau / Dak To ! . . INCARCERATED VETS: Joyce Flory / * / . . NEED-TO-KNOW: Lefty Frizzell ! \_ . . VETERAN EMPLOYMENT: Fred Sochacki ! Phu Cat\ . . \ * * ) . . \ Pleiku ) . . -**- N A M V E T -**- \ \ . . / / . . "In the jungles of 'Nam, some of us ( -------- ! . . were scared and wary, but we pulled _\ II Corps ! . . one another along and were able / -------- \ . . to depend on each other. That has \ \ . . never changed. Today, free of the ! * / . . criticisms and misunderstandings _/ Nhatrang / . . many veterans have endured, _/ / . . NAM VET is a shining beacon, __/ ! . . a ray of hope, and a _ __/ \ ! . . reminder that the _____( )/ ! Camranh Bay . . lessons learned / !__ ! . . at such a high / \ / . . price shall not \ Bien Hoa \ / . . be forgotten - ! Chu Chi * \ __/ . . nor the errors \_ * --------- \ ___/ . . repeated!!!" ____ \ III Corps \ _/ . . / \_____) )_(_ --------- !__/ Duplication in . . ! ( ___/ any form permitted . . _____! \__ * ___/ for NONCOMMERCIAL . . ! Saigon/ purposes ONLY! . . \___ -------- / \/ . . \ IV Corps / For other use, contact: . . ) -------- / . . / ! G. Joseph Peck (413) 442-1660 . . / ____/ Managing Editor . . / Mekong/ . . ! Delta/ This newsletter is comprised of articles . . ! ____/ and items from individuals and other . . ! / sources. We are not responsible for the . . ! / content of this information nor are any of . . ! __/ NAM VETs contributors or Section Editors. . . \_/ gjp . . . NAM VET Newsletter Page i Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1. Editorials Faith is... .............................................. 1 Do Veterans Have Preference in Federal Employment? ....... 5 Were YOU exposed to Agent Orange?? ....................... 8 2. In-Touch In Touch... No Recognition ............................... 11 In-Touch: What is it??? .................................. 14 IN-TOUCH Registration/Request Form!!! .................... 17 3. Forgotten - again? Exploding the POW Cover-Up! .............................. 19 Highlights of Minority Staff Exam of POW/MIA Policy ...... 23 Veterans Call for Coverup Probe! ......................... 25 US to call for Vietnam MIA Search! ....................... 27 Snapshot Raises HOPE!!! .................................. 29 They haven't forgotten US!!! ............................. 30 Cheney vows Vietnam MIA accounting ....................... 31 MIA Families given hope! ................................. 32 MIA pix latest evidence in doubt saga .................... 34 UPI Reports "Hanoi allows U.S. MIA search" ............... 36 Goals of SR 82 ........................................... 38 4. Coins in the Fountain Veterans Readjustment Appointments - PL 102-16 ........... 40 NJ Assemblyman Supports Vets' Rights Advances ............ 44 5. Remember Them!!! How looks the 'Nam vet? .................................. 46 A visit or note once in awhile? .......................... 48 6. Ol' Glory n' Shiftin' Sands VA Benefits for Persian Gulf War Veterans ................ 49 She Flies Ever High!!! ................................... 50 7. Don't drink the water! Areas of Agent Orange Spraying ........................... 51 Break out the Clearasil ! ............................ 54 NPR and Agent Orange ..................................... 55 VA OK's new round of Agent Orange Benefits ............... 59 8. The NamVet Chapel Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Former POWs ............ 60 The Electronic Chapel .................................... 77 9. Letters To The Editor Is Colonel Millard Peck Talking Funny? ................... 78 Rap Group forms in a Telephone Company! .................. 80 KOREA..... WHAT? WHO? WHEN? .............................. 82 10. Concentrated IVVEC/NamVet Service Tell It To VA Secretary Derwinski? Samo-Samo!!! ......... 84 Heroes Should Apply... ................................... 86 NAM-NET in our colleges! ................................. 88 In-Country Cassette Tape Available! ...................... 89 Some Gave All... ......................................... 90 NAM VET Newsletter Page ii Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== Editorials ================================================================== Faith is "Life In Action"! By G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Gosh! For a while here I thought I was becoming an "electronic crustacean" what with the half-shell that seemed to be building around me that consisted of half-running computers and hard disks, floppy diskettes that barely flopped , service that NEEDED to be done and bills that HAD to be paid to keep both myself and Berkshire Veterans' Center, Inc./VETLink #1 up and a running. Believe me, *-ALL-* I wanted was a cocoon to crawl into and hide away from the world whilst it seemed to be crashing down upon me, my family and my family of veterans. Six weeks ago (when last NamVet came out), VETLink #1 was half-up, half-down and we were mungin' about with the CDC 94155-86/SEAGATE ST4086 that Bob Morris had so graciously donated to VETLink #1. No matter WHAT we did, we could not get it to run! You folks out here in NamVetLand offered advice, suggested various formatting programs, TRIED to help. If the computer ain't got the basic stuff, though, nothin's gonna work - and it didn't. Bob, though, determined to help another veteran, talked to Vietnam vet Bil Cook and Tom Ruddy of Braxtel\Arathon Computers (in Cheshire, CT) and worked out a "special" deal to help us get back up and fully running: A Maxtor 180-meg'er! I pulled the funds from my disability check and almost flew to Cheshire, CT to pick it up, bring it home and put VETLink #1 totally back on-line! Three days later, having about given up ALL hope of EVER getting back on-line 'cause the hd would NOT run, Bil Cook drove 70-miles from Cheshire, CT and I drove 70 miles from Pittsfield, MA where, upon meeting-in-the-middle, Bill gave me a replacement Maxtor AND donated a new controller card. When I got it home, it ALL worked flawlessly!!! (Thanx again Bil!!!) If EVER ya need someone who's really, sincerely concerned about GOOD service and customer satisfaction, don't hesitate to give Bil a shout! (He even does Mail Order - and he IS a Vietnam Vet!) The hd/controller card "out of the way", we could then concentrate on getting VETLink #1 back to where it USED to be with all its veteran-service orientation. THEN we learned about Joyce - our Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor and the dragon SHE was out to slay. Ken and Joyce (and family) have learned by now of the SUPPORT, CARE and CONCERN that many of our echo participants continually shoulder concerning a veteran and/or his wife and family! Joyce will be back with us in a short-short. For now, she's got a well-deserved "leave-of-absence". Get well soon, Joyce! Knowing that the donated AT512 was "on its way" as soon as Frenchy finished thoroughly checking it out - and discovering that I no longer had ANY room left to spare in the office that we've been using, the decision was made to begin moving Berkshire Veterans' NAM VET Newsletter Page 1 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Center/VETLink #1 to larger quarters: the entire basement area of my home! But first, it had to be cleaned out; shelves had to be built; electricity had to be rerouted, and phone lines had to be run. Eight trailer-loads to the dump later , VETLink #1's new home began to take shape. Walls were built out of scrap material; a door-with-frame was donated; the NamVet computer was moved, and the process of relocating from up-to-downstairs started. A few days, though, and it was discovered that a dehumidifier was a MUST - water droplets were forming on the sides of the computer! Martin Kroll, Sr., NamVet's Agent Orange Section Editor, was also an officer in his local PC Users Group. The group, after nearly a year of inactivity, decided to close its doors - and needed a place to disburse the funds left in its treasury. Martin suggested Berkshire Veterans' Center/VETLink #1 (THANK YOU, Martin!!!) and soon a Cashier's check for a little over $400 was on its way to us! Jim Hildwine once told me: "God never gives ya want ya WANT - He gives ya what ya NEED!" BEFORE we needed it, it was on its way! Thanks again, Martin! We now have a dehumidifier! I was reimbursed for the amount I paid out for the hd purchased from Bil Cook's Braxtel\Arathon Computers; and the phone bill was paid! NOW all we needed to get nearly-completely ready-to-go was the donated AT512 that Frenchy was working on. Jane (Frenchy's wife) was in California visiting family; Frenchy was home alone, fighting a bout with a summer cold - and chomping at the bit with frustration at the AT512 and the constant parity errors the DRAM chips in the machine kept giving him. For one or two days, everything would check FINE and then, "Parity Error"! The machine ran good for three days; Frenchy said that as soon as Jane returned from California he'd ship it up UPS - and I went back to work in the basement. THEN I got to thinking: "Frenchy's been sick - he's probably waiting for Jane to come back and pack up the AT for him. It would take a lot off of HIS shoulders if, somehow, I could just swing by and pick it up. Hmmm... My daughter (Rosa) has been asking to spend the summer with my sister and brother-in-law who live at Andrews AFB. Lemme see what I can put together to make all the things work... And SINCE I'm going to be near The Wall, how's about I call Sarge Hultgren and see if he'd like to go, too? ... There'll be enough room in the car (station wagon) so why not invite Fred Sochacki, NamVet's Veteran Employment Section Editor, to go along, too? Hmmm..." I fired off a message to Frenchy to let him know that he wouldn't have to ship the AT512 and that Fred, Sarge and I should be there "sometime Saturday"... Everything was "green smoke" here at VETLink #1 *-UNTIL-* I received the reply back from Frenchy! "Would not suggest putting a thousand miles on your car for a computer that has failed again! Best put it off and I will ship as soon as its running fine!" THEN I got a message from Sarge that, yes, he COULD come, he would be bringing his vet-friend who's relative's name is on The Wall, and would leave Lynn, MA at 1300 hrs Friday! Daughter was looking forward to having a summer vacation; "I" was looking forward to goin' with Sarge an' his vet-friend Ed (still can't remember his last name! - but if ya call him "Puppy" or "Milk NAM VET Newsletter Page 2 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Bone" he'll answer! ) an' Fred to The Wall. Arghhh! I'll go ANYWAY! In MY mind, it couldn't have been a better decision. Rosa, Sarge, Ed an' I left Pittsfield, MA about 1800 hrs Friday enroute to pick up Fred (in Passaic, NJ) at/or about 2000hrs at Exit 16W off the thruway. "I" thought it was the New York thruway... Fred and his caring other, Maureen, MEANT Exit 16W on the New JERSEY turnpike. We waited for nearly an hour at Exit 16 on the thruway - while Fred and Maureen waited at Exit 16W on the turnpike! "Well... Let's go through Passaic and call him from there," I said to Sarge - and we left Exit 16. 10pm we arrived at Exit 16W in Passaic and couldn't find Fred nor Maureen! Telephoned him and left a message on his answering machine - and decided to wait at least another half-hour to see if we COULD touch bases. Finally, near midnight, we DID connect and finally found Fred and were on our way again! When we got to Washington, DC I quickly found out that I didn't KNOW how CLOSE I could be to something and NOT find it! We drove nearly an hour-an-a-half just lookin' for my sister's and finally arrived there near 0600! Rosa stumbled upstairs to TRY to go to sleep (never did!); four vets crashed on my sister's living room floor and, at about 1000, left for The Wall. "Easy to get to from here," said the man in the restaurant where we ate breakfast. "Just go down Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue and follow it right to The Wall!" We found Pennsylvania Avenue okay - but, darn if they hadn't closed Constitution Avenue for the National Soap Box Derby events! No matter WHERE I looked, I couldn't FIND the familiar Washington Monument... and we drove an' drove an' drove all 'round Washington, DC lookin' for The Wall! We DID find it, though! It was Fred's first time at The Wall. I'm glad Sarge n' Ed and I were there for him - and for a couple of other "first-time" vets that we met as they tried to gather up the courage to visit, touch the names, rekindle the memories. I'm really GLAD! While there, we tried calling Frenchy and Jim Hildwine. Missed 'em both - but left messages on their answering machines . (No... I *-DIDN'T-* say my name was Lefty Frizzell! > Then we called David Valley (new to the echo, and with OPM) and waited for him to come-on-down! He told the two of us a bit about his work and pledged his help to what we're ALL trying to do with IVVEC and NamVet. (David - Know your father is going in for Open Heart Surgery. Hope he has a speedy recovery and that all things work out well for him and your entire family!) To make a long story a little shorter , we FINALLY got out of Washington, DC (where I also learned how MANY times and from how MANY different directions one can find The Wall) and all of us made it back home safe an' sound. Doin' the best I can with what I got , I went back to work building/moving the NEW Berkshire Veterans' Center/VETLink #1's NAM VET Newsletter Page 3 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 new quarters. The AT arrived a few days later - along with the somewhat-distressing news that the network cards weren't functional (Any of you folk out there into Networking/Networking Cards that might be able to help us?) This editorial is being written from the new headquarters of Berkshire Veterans' Center - with VETLink #1 soon to join us! Yeah... I guess there's been a LOT of action here since last I wrote ya - ACTION that's shown ME so much, much MORE about the UNITY in our veteran commUNITY; so much, much MORE about the need for all of us to support one another and BE there when needed, and so much, much *-MUCH-* to disprove my own personal belief that I've been building an "electronic cocoon" for myself that excluded more than it included! Gosh! You folk are GREAT!!! Thanx for being here!!! 'til next month Show a brother/sister veteran That *-YOU-* care!!! Ci'ao for Ni'ao - Joe - NAM VET Newsletter Page 4 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Do Veterans Have Preference in Federal Employment? By: Fred Sochacki NamVet's' Veteran Employment Section Editor VETLink #1.75 at Passaic, NJ (413) 443-6313 Veteran's are a unique breed. Most of us joined the military in support of our country and in return we expected our country to support us in our time of need. Well, I'm here to tell you that this is not always the case. More and more veterans are falling into cracks within a system whose very existence is dependant on meeting the needs of the veteran. I'm sure we all know the mission of the Veteran's Administration, ("to care for him who should have borne the battle, and for his widow and orphan") - that being to aid and assist the veteran and his dependents in obtaining any or all benefits to which they are entitled in a timely manner and with respect. But, as you will see, somewhere along the line the Veterans Administration has lost track of this mission. Now, keeping in mind the primary mission of the Veterans Administration let's follow the steps taken by a disabled veteran who has spent nearly 2 years trying to obtain training and/or employment assistance through the Veterans Administration. Dooley, a disabled Vietnam veteran was given a medical discharge from the Navy in 1978, but not before having served almost 10 years on active duty including a tour in Vietnam with the Marines. After his discharge, Dooley tried getting a job in the private sector, using the skills he was taught in the military, all to no avail. So he decided to look for Federal Employment so he could take advantage of the 10 point preference given to disabled veterans and would also allow him to use his military time towards his retirement. Dooley took a test for the Post Office and a few months later was hired as a Mail Handler, a position he held for 10 years until physical and emotional problems caused him to resign in 1989. After his resignation, Dooley again went looking for work in the private sector, but to no avail. All he had was the training he had gotten in the military as a Payroll Clerk and that was outdated. It was at this point Dooley decided to apply to the Veterans Administration for Vocational Rehabilitation in order to get some type of job training or at least help in finding suitable employment. Dooley submitted his written request for Vocational Rehabilitation and waited patiently for the VA to act on his request. After all with a 50% service-connected rating, how long would he have to wait. Well, Dooley waited for more than a month before he heard from the VA. When he finally received his appointment, he was sure that the worst was passed. Little did he realize at the time that this was to be the beginning of his worst nightmare. He was seen by a NAM VET Newsletter Page 5 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 counselor who went over his application and explained what he would be doing to help Dooley. The VA Hospital was next and an appointment with a staff psychiatrist to determine whether or not he was able to get into the program and finally back to his counselor who gave him a series of tests to determine his IQ and interests. After waiting 3 months Dooley was finally called back in to see his counselor and find out what type of training he was going to receive. This was not the case. The counselor had decided that all Dooley needed was Employment Assistance so right from there he was taken to meet his Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist. This being Friday afternoon Dooley's new counselor only had about 20 minutes to spare, but he was able to give him 3 job prospects to check on until their next meeting. This was Dooley's first and only meeting with his new counselor, because a few weeks later when called to speak with him, he was told that he had retired and that Dooley would have to start all over again. At this point Dooley decided to research the various veteran programs within the Federal Service. Not having a college degree or any practical work experience made it almost impossible to find work in the private sector. But he did discover a law that was there to help Vietnam veterans in the same situation as himself. This law, Public Law 101-237 (Veterans Readjustment Appointments) would allow Dooley to be hired by any Federal Agency for a period of 2 years, during which time he would receive whatever training necessary for the job, but at the end of the 2 year period he would have to meet all the qualifications of the job in order to be made permanent. However there was just one small catch to this law, that being no Federal Agency has to hire anyone under this law. Most of us would consider this a major setback but not Dooley. He sat down and wrote a letter to his Congressman, explaining the problems he was having in obtaining training or job assistance from the Veterans Administration and asking him for assistance in obtaining a VRA Appointment. This should have been the end of Dooley's problems, but I'm sorry to say it wasn't. After 8 months of Congressional investigations and inquiries on behalf of Dooley he is no closer to training or job assistance from the VA than he was almost 2 years ago. As for the Veterans Readjustment Act, it wasn't very helpful. Even though it's a law, no Federal Agency has to abide by it and that is not the bottom line. Because there are other programs for disabled veterans such as noncompetitive appointments for veterans with more than 30% disability as with the VRA Appointment, no federal agency has to hire under this program. So where is this Veterans' Preference we hear so much about? And how is it helping the veteran? Dooley is still unemployed. After almost 2 years the Veterans Administration has contracted the outside service of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist to help him prepare a good resume. What does this mean to Dooley? Nothing, because he still needs the training to put on his resume, but this NAM VET Newsletter Page 6 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 I assume is the VA's way of getting themselves off the hook, by saying they are doing everything they can to help him. So after all this time Dooley is still fighting the system and will continue to fight until he gets the training or job assistance, to which he is entitled, from the Veterans Administration. I chose to write about Dooley and his attempts to obtain help through the Veterans Administration and the programs that are available, but not utilized by federal agencies in their hiring practices, to open the eyes of all my brothers and sisters. Even though they may not be going through the same problems, they should be made aware of the problems facing other veterans who are not so lucky. To those of you who like Dooley are fighting the system, just remember that you are not alone and that the only way to change the system is to fight it, no matter how long it takes. Most important of all remember that there is strength in numbers. "Justice is Truth in Action" -- Fred -- NAM VET Newsletter Page 7 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Were YOU exposed to Agent Orange?? By Jim Ferguson NamVet's Assistant Agent Orange Section Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 I remember quite well when a doctor asked me that question two years ago. I was sitting in his office at Memorial Hospital Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center in New York. It was the first time I seriously contemplated the answer. Like many other vets, I usually answered "No." In fact, it seemed to me that some vets blamed all their life's woes on Agent Orange. An article in my hometown paper quoted a boyhood friend as saying that he could no longer concentrate after his exposure to Agent Orange, and it was destroying his social life. I snickered as I recalled that he didn't have much of a social life for as long as I'd known him. (If you're reading this, Sorry, George.) Now I had cancer and it wasn't quite so funny to me. To the best of my knowledge, I had never been sprayed and had never handled Agent Orange. But when you consider how much Agent Orange was used in Viet Nam, and HOW it was used, it's probably difficult to really avoid exposure. This point has been made more eloquently and with more quantitative and technical information than I have here. (See Martin Kroll's article in Namvet 4.11) My point here is to suggest avenues of exposure you may not have considered. I was an infantryman (up in I Corps). I specifically recall that we worked in some PREVIOUSLY defoliated areas. These certainly weren't freshly defoliated. If you've seen the type of area I'm talking about, you probably still remember it. It's acres and acres of three foot high grass, nothing else grows there. We made a night camp in one of these areas, sleeping on the ground as there were no trees for hammocks. I recall watching a thunderstorm roll in late in the afternoon. The only reason I remember this incident is because I was worried about the possibility of lightning. We were on the highest hill in the area and except for the grass (and us) it was bare. I was concerned about a lightning strike to the top of the hill, taking us out. Charlie, the radioman, had his 10 foot whip antenna stuck up in the air. I told him it looked like a good lightning rod and moved a ways away from him. I do not recall the later details, as they probably weren't anything unusual. I suppose I got quite wet, sleeping on the ground with a poncho wrapped around me. Typically, we would have gotten clean clothes with a resupply, sometime in the next three days. Is THAT exposure? I wish I knew. As I thought about that night, I also recalled an incident where one guy (can picture him but can't remember his name) pretended to be a "rural hayseed," chewing on a stalk of grass. I'm not certain that this happened at the same place (but I believe that it did.) I also don't remember if I joined in the game. I very well could have, it's not something I would have thought twice about. Could one be exposed from THAT? For the first part of my tour, I spent about 25% of my time, on LZ Maryann. Our nominal schedule was 15 days out and 5 days "on the NAM VET Newsletter Page 8 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 hill." Maryann was our "fire base" or artillery support area. As I recall, there were two 105's, and at least one four deuce (4.2") and at least one 81mm mortar but not much else. [To be technically correct, yes there was an ammo dump, a kitchen, a helicopter pad, and a commo hootch. This was a SMALL place, not far from the Laotian border.] Maryann was usually defended by one infantry company (about 60 men) in addition to the permanent residents. I remember vividly the first night I spent on Maryann. We had an alert that night, and I thought we were under attack. With the light of flares from the 81's and a search light mounted on a jeep I looked out on a clear field of fire, searching for targets. There were only a few dead tree trunks and that low vegetation to obscure the view. It wasn't until those many years later that I thought about WHY the jungle didn't grow right up to the barbed wire perimeter. My point here is that Maryann was simply a defoliated hill in the middle of the jungle. Again it was not freshly defoliated, but I don't know how "old" the defoliation was. When you consider that we LIVED there, (eat, drink, sleep) with an open tank for the drinking and cooking water, slogging through the mud during the rainy season - could we really avoid exposure? I have read that dioxin is not water soluble, I'm not sure if that's positive or negative. It makes me feel somewhat better about all the water I drank from rivers and streams (?), but it also means that the dioxin was not simply washed away by the first monsoon season after spraying. Perhaps the greatest frustration here is that the government does not tell us what would have contributed to exposure. One last incident I'll note for you. When I first got out to the field (FNG) I used the water purification (iodine) tablets. After I found that none of the old hands did, I stopped using them. However, there was one other time when I used them. I was stuck in an area waiting (Weren't we always waiting for something?) and I had no water. There was a light rain and I had my poncho set up as a rain shelter. I loosened the strings so the poncho formed a funnel and I caught the rain water running off from it in my canteen cup. The water was really dirty from the poncho, so I used a tablet to kill the microbes. Maybe I should have worried about the origin of the "mud" as well. These are the things I remember and KNOW about. There are probably many more I haven't yet learned and may never know. So think about it. What kept the weeds from growing over the perimeter where YOU were? Where did YOUR drinking water come from? If you've read this far, I guess you're also wondering what the upshot of my visit with the doctor was. My tumor (soft-tissue sarcoma) was removed Memorial Day weekend 1989 at my local hospital. Two different pathologists have different identifications for the exact type of cancer. However, the treatment is the same so I'm not sure it matters to me. They're both very rare. Of the one type there are 1,500 new cases in the U.S. each year. Of the other type only 900 new cases. After they identified and confirmed the diagnosis, the recommended treatment NAM VET Newsletter Page 9 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 was more tissue removal from the area and radiation treatment. I had that surgery done at Sloan-Kettering in July 1989. They implanted tubes under the skin during the surgery and loaded them with a radioactive implant a few days later. After seven days they pulled out the implants and the tubes. I've had good 6-month checkups, most recently in June 1991. This last one was particularly good news as 80% of reoccurrences are within the first two years. Is my tumor connected to Agent Orange? On an administrative basis, there is now a presumption of service connection. Whether it was really CAUSED by Agent Orange exposure, there doesn't seem to be any way to tell. A side note here. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, get the best care you can within the benefits available to you. Medical care is NOT the same everywhere. My neighbor still wonders why I went to New York for care (a "mere" three-hour drive, each way.) A FEW REASONS WHY I'M GLAD I DID: The LOCAL surgeon had little or no experience with the wider excision of tissue that I needed. At the hospital specializing in cancer treatment, I found a surgeon who performed this operation many times. The LOCAL medical oncologist (chemotherapy doctor) could only find one type of chemotherapy to use on this cancer. He recommended a program where this chemotherapy would have been administered by IV, requiring a two-day hospital stay every four weeks. I found that the EXPERTS from the cancer center have not found chemotherapy effective for soft-tissue sarcomas in the trunk. Can anyone CONCEIVE of going through chemotherapy on an inpatient basis, when it isn't effective for the particular type of cancer? At the cancer center I also could have the radiation implant, which was six DAYS of isolation instead of six WEEKS of daily visits for radiation at my local hospital. In fact, I believe that if I'd been at Sloan-Kettering for the initial surgery, I'd have had only ONE operation (taking care of the whole thing) and only ONE hospital stay. Keep in mind that the doctors themselves say that medicine is an art, not a science. Find yourself a Rembrandt, not a street wise kid with a spray can. NAM VET Newsletter Page 10 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== In-Touch ================================================================== IN TOUCH - NO RECOGNITION By Ray "Frenchy" Moreau NamVet's In-Touch Section Editor HBX Veterans Memorial Gateway VETLink #2 - Herndon, VA (703) 471-8010 There was no recognition of the dirty old man coming towards me. You see them in the streets of DC, New York, Boston, Detroit and countless cities throughout this great land of ours. No difference, I thought, for a small town north of San Francisco like Vallejo. Home of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Cryptographic Repair School, and for some of us River Rats - Mobile Riverine Force training area. As he came closer I was just passing the familiar Napoli Pizza on Tennessee Street, not too far from the main shipyard gate. I remembered that Jane, our three kids and I enjoyed the pleasant warmth and friendliness of the Italian family that owned the restaurant - Pizzas were just FANTASTIC! I thought to myself "Could they remember me?" - Almost as fast as the question surfaced I answered "No!", but I did remember as I looked at the younger face behind the counter. Some people just don't change, even if it has been nearly 23 years since our last tour. I caught a glimpse of the old man again as he approached on my left. I was heading westerly toward the Mare Island main gate and he was heading easterly. I couldn't look away from those steel grey eyes. Eyes that have seen much in his life time. His body was bent over - robbed of the precious youth by alcohol, dope and street living. His grey eyes had a depth as he stared at me. He was still knowledgeable of his surroundings. The closer he came the wider his eyes opened. No recognition. Close on the narrow street the smell of him reached my nostrils. God what a stench! One last look. No recognition. As I looked at him, a chill thought ran through my mind. "Did I know this man?" I did have two tours at Mare Island. It could be possible that I knew him. No recognition. I quickened my step. "No..." "Frenchy..?" "Chief Moe?"... a deep throaty voice emanated from the bent young-old man. I stopped and turned slightly to my left and again stared into those steel eyes. His face was covered with dirt. His beard was NAM VET Newsletter Page 11 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 long and straggly from personal neglect. His Black Beret, which I hadn't noticed before, was cocked to the left. I continued to stare... I couldn't speak. "Chief Moe! It IS you!" he rasped. I thought to myself as I continued to stare at him .... "I can't remember, I don't WANT to remember! This is another dream of someone that has been left behind since his arrival and homecoming." "Chief, its Avila... Dan, Second Class Quartermaster!" My face went white. Not because of a shock of seeing a fellow shipmate, but my lack of memory. The face did have a slight familiarity to it as my mind reeled back to the places and names. "Avila, QM2 USN." He was all of 19 years old in 1968. The man I was looking at could possibly be in his mid sixties. Then it dawned on me as I thought "We remember the dead - those 58,175 brothers and sisters... but not the living!!" Danny let himself go. Didn't pick his life up after the first spittle struck him in the face. Like a knife-stab to the heart - the pain of remembering. An eclipse of pictures: explosions, fear, tears, mud, rain, heat. "Danny? God Almighty - you look like sh*t! "Geez Frenchy... ya look good. Man ya don't even change!" I turned full-body and opened my arms. I couldn't hold back the tears. The Vietnam Vets embrace. The embrace that passes an energy and understanding to the less fortunate. For what seemed like hours - but only minutes - we broke. The tears in his eyes had worked a path which revealed the features on a face covered with dirt. Danny had a bath, cleaned up, some fresh clothes, some dinner - with no booze. I just didn't feel right in supporting the habit which eventually would kill him. But I did realize that Danny was just living the past and probably death was a peaceful solution for him. I gave Danny some phone numbers to the Veterans Office in Benecia. The world will never know the pain that each and every veteran suffers every day of his or her life. But for sure, there is one above us who is looking out for us. His hand is on Danny's shoulder. I will keep in touch with Danny. I have an address of a friend in Vallejo. I am hoping that Danny can lift himself up. I did tell him that the contract that we have with the Navy will bring me back to Mare Island approximately four more trips. This I needed to share with my fellow veterans. Some of use are not all that fortunate to escape and bury behind us the trials and tribulations that the Vietnam Veteran and Korean War Veteran have suffered. I am content to look to the heavens and say "Thank you NAM VET Newsletter Page 12 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 for giving me some of your strength, but give Danny and others that energy of life". Christ died on the cross for us. His strength and love of mankind has only one direction for Danny and many like him. We have served our time in hell!!!! In-Touch bring us closer. It provides us with a common bond with those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. It also provides a means by which we can look into each others eyes and share the experience of life as we know it this day. Don't make the mistake that I did. We can be successful but we can forget those who have not. I have hurt, I have cried and I have bellowed to damn our country for what they did. But, I can also forgive - not forget - and continue my life because those who love me told me I could. I believed them and it worked. I hope and pray it will work for Danny. -- Frenchy -- >> NOTE FROM JOE: I spoke with a saddened Frenchy about Danny shortly before press time. The cleanup, fresh clothes, step into a honor-filled life seems to be a door which Danny could not step through right now. He hadn't shown up at any of the places Frenchy had referred him to. Frenchy and you and I and many others HAVE persisted and continued in OUR efforts to better ourselves, climb above the position that Life and Circumstance seemed to hold for us. I have a hope that Danny will be back - his "cleaned-up, freshly clothed and nourished" look no longer an abrupt change from his normal existence but, instead, his "Uniform of the Day!" Doors to bright rooms MUST open slowly - else the brilliance would blind the visitor! With veterans like Frenchy and the good in you and I, we can continue being In-Touch... ... remembering all the while: "Together Then - Together Now!" "You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb himself." - Andrew Carnegie - NAM VET Newsletter Page 13 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 In-Touch. What is it ??? Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau NAM VETs IN-TOUCH Section Editor Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA (703) 471-8010 ================================================================= |+++++++++++++++++++++++++ IN TOUCH ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++| | There are some 43 million people in the United States whose | | lives were directly and irrevocably touched by the Vietnam | | War. | | | | Almost four million people served in Vietnam -- the longest, | | and perhaps most difficult, war in our history. More than a | | quarter of a million were seriously wounded. 58,175 are dead | | or missing. | | | | Each of those who returned recognizes the true cost of war. | | But so too do the families and friends, wives and lovers of | | those listed on the Wall. They too paid a tremendous price, | | not always recognized... many still do. | | | | Though twenty years have passed, it seems that is the period | | people have needed to get the distance necessary to begin to | | address the unresolved, deeply personal issues that have | | been haunting them since the war. Perhaps that is a measure | | of the pain. | | | | But, the "healing of a nation" that was intended by the | | building of the Memorial, has begun. | | | | In the office of the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans | | Memorial, we hear them on the other end of the phone on | | any given day, and far into the night, they call from all | | corners of the country. | | | | "If only I could find out..." | | "I need to find his family so I can keep my promise..." | | "I just want to talk to someone who was with him... " | | "Please, can you help...?" | | | | At the Wall, we find them every day. Veterans who have not | | spoken of their experiences even to their most intimate | | family members are now beginning, tentatively, to seek a | | responsive ear. | | | | Brothers and sisters, parents and even wives who were simply | | never allowed full expression of their grief because of the | | fierce pressures of the time, are now coming forward, | | looking for someone who can help with their healing. | | | | We hear from children, now 15 - 25 years old, who are | | searching for bits and pieces of information they can | | assemble to help fill that empty place in their lives that | | is the father they never knew well, if at all. And they want | | to talk to each other, to share their special needs and the | | unique experience of growing up with a father on the Wall. | | They understand each other all too well. | NAM VET Newsletter Page 14 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 | | | Millions of Americans need to meet and talk because of the | | Wall, and only the Friends can help them. | | | | Initial discussions with many other national organizations | | whose work brings them into contact with Vietnam veterans | | and their loved ones have attested to the need for IN TOUCH | | and their willingness to help. | | | | Simply put, the Friends will draw on its special work at the | | Memorial, its acquired and available data bases and | | programs designed and integrated by Electronic Data Systems | | (EDS), and the commitment and concern of its volunteers to | | place people with a common association to a name on the Wall | | to be in voluntary communication with each other. | | | | From there, we will let human nature take its good course. | | And let the healing begin. | | | | The starting point for the data base will be the more than | | twenty thousand names of people who have requested name | | rubbings from our volunteers in Washington. Each will be | | contacted and given the opportunity to participate by being | | listed in the IN TOUCH central data base file. | | | | Confidentiality is the keyword to cooperation and IN TOUCH | | will respect the integrity of all lists and records. Lists | | will be unavailable for public use and will not be | | distributed for any commercial purpose. | | | | By its nature, IN TOUCH must reach far beyond the veterans | | community in order to be successful. With professional | | guidance, the Friends will develop a program of on-going | | articles and other coverage in major media markets, high- | | lighting the personal experiences of people as they are put | | "in touch." The International Vietnam Veterans Echo | | Conference via the Herndon Byte eXchange 1:109/316 node as | | the enter point for gathering and disseminating information | | will be used. Aside from bringing the program into public | | awareness, these articles and stories will serve as a val- | | uable tool for public education on a wealth of matters | | relating to the Vietnam era. | | | | As a preliminary test of the IN TOUCH project, the Friends | | has implemented a pilot project to test the design and | | demands of such a program. Several hundred requests with | | full background information have been entered into a system | | designed to match requestor data with the existing Memorial | | data. Even with such a small sample, limited data and a | | fairly unsophisticated cross-indexing system, matches have | | been made and IN TOUCH has produced its first real | | connections. The results have been as profoundly moving for | | the participants as expected. And as gratifying for the | | Friends. | | | | But it was clear that the information management system and | | the supporting hardware system would have to be more power- | | ful and more complex in order to handle thousands, perhaps | | hundreds of thousands, of requests. Confidentiality of the | NAM VET Newsletter Page 15 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 | system and information must be paramount. | | | | With well over 2,000 Vietnam veterans, Electronic Data | | Systems (EDS) became involved and has been generous in its | | assistance with designing the data management systems which | | will be critical to a successful program. The Friends have | | reached a three-year working agreement with EDS which | | promises continuity and maximum potential for success in | | building an information bank that can truly help people in | | their search for others who knew a loved one. | | | | The Friends are delighted that Bob Hope has agreed to make | | a public service announcement which we can use on radio and | | television to help get the word out to the public on the | | availability of the service. | | | | The Friends are also pleased to note that Hewlett Packard, | | Zenith Data Systems, Borland International, FASTCOMM | | Communications Corporation and the First National Bank of | | Chicago have all contributed computer equipment, computer | | software, and office equipment to the project, so they are | | beginning to feel fully functional. | | | | The Friends hear from people who have long been living with | | the pain of loss and looking for a way to heal. For | | instance, the Friends recently received a letter from a | | woman who wrote: | | | | Dear Friends: | | For quite some time I have been searching for a | | way to know my brother. It seems hopeless at times. | | I was 12 when he was killed... I had waited for the | | day he would come back to us. He never did. A part | | of me will always be 12 and continue to wait. | | Thank you for giving me hope that there may be | | a way to find him and bring him home to my heart..." | | | | + + + | | | | The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial | | Electronic Data Systems | | Herndon Byte eXchange TCOMMnet BBS 1:109/316 | | | |+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++| "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." -- Sir James Barrie -- NAM VET Newsletter Page 16 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 IN-TOUCH Registration/Request Form Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau NAM VETs IN-TOUCH Section Editor Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA (703) 471-8010 THIS FORM REQUIRES SIGNATURE FOR CONFIDENTIALITY RELEASE PLEASE READ BELOW ------------------------------------------------------------------ I wish to be IN TOUCH with (Please circle and/or comment) Family, Friends and/or Fellow Veterans of the following: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ----------- PERSON WHO DID NOT COME BACK FROM VIETNAM ------------ First Name_____________ Middle Name___________ Last Name__________ Relationship to You and/or Reason for Request (Answer as fully as possible)_____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ================================================================== -------- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT HIM/HER - IF KNOWN --------- Rank_______ Birth Date ______________ Soc. Sec. # ________________ Tour Date of Birth _______________ Where Buried __________________ Branch of Service: AR__ NA__ AF__ MC__ CG__ RC__ CIV__ (Fill in his/her equivalent unit designations in the spaces below) Division ____________ Brigade ___________ Battalion ______________ Regiment ____________ Company ___________ Ship ___________________ Battles:__________________________________________________________ Locations:________________________________________________________ Nicknames:________________________________________________________ Hometown (while in Nam): ____________________ Home State: ________ ================================================================== ---------------------- INFORMATION ABOUT YOU --------------------- Title___ First Name ____________ Middle/Maiden Name _____________ Last Name ____________________ Address___________________________________________________________ City __________________________________ State ____ Zip: _____-____ Your Home Phone ( ) ____________ Work Phone: ( ) ____________ ---------------- IF YOU ARE A VIETNAM-ERA VETERAN ---------------- Tour date _______________________________ Rank __________________ Branch of Service: AR__ NA __ AF __ MC __ CG __ RC __ CIV __ Fill in your equivalent unit designations in the spaces below Division: __________ Brigade: ___________ Battalion: ___________ Regiment: __________ Company: ___________ Ship: ________________ Battles: _________________________________________________________ Locations: _______________________________________________________ Nicknames: _______________________________________________________ Hometown (when in VN) _______________________ Home State: ________ Comments: ________________________________________________________ NAM VET Newsletter Page 17 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT _____ I give permission to the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to release my name, address, phone number and relationship to other participants in the IN TOUCH project seeking information on the individual above (strike out phone number if you do not want it released). OR _____ I would like to have the names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons who knew my friend or relative, but prefer NOT to have my name, address, and phone number released. I hereby release the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from any and all liability that may arise from the operation of the IN TOUCH project. Signature ____________________________________ Date _____________ NOTE: Do not electronically transmit this form, instead mail to: Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 1350 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036 ----------------------------------------------------------------- NAM VET Newsletter Page 18 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== Forgotten - again? ================================================================== EXPLODING THE POW COVER-UP... by William F. Jasper 7/2/91 Edition of THE NEW AMERICAN!!! Input by: Marsha Ledeman NamVet's Assistant MIA/POW Section Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Nation: Last October 29th. the minority Staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, under the direction of Senators Jesse Helms (R-NC) and Charles Grassley (R-IA.) released a bombshell: its Interim Report on the Southeast Asian POW/MIA Issue. The result of more than a year of intensive research by the two senators and their staff investigators, the report confirmed what many families of those who were left behind in Vietnam had long feared: In spite of the government's repeated public assurances that it was doing "everything possible" to account for all American POWs and MIAs in Vietnam, for more than 17 years the official U.S. government policy has been to write off all POWs and MIAs as dead, and to ignore, suppress and discredit all evidence to the contrary. (See The New American, February 12, 1991, "Official Policy: Abandon POWs") SOME STILL ALIVE??? Finally, after nearly two decades of dealing with government cover-ups, lying, dissembling and stonewalling, the families of the more than 2,000 POWs and MIAs still unaccounted for may at long last take hope that the truth will become known. On May 23rd, Senator Jesse Helms released the Minority Staff's much-anticipated full report. Entitled An Examination of U.S. Policy Toward POW/MIAs, the 100-page document goes much further than the scorching interim report in indicting the government's policy of abandoning our servicemen imprisoned or missing in Southeast Asia. It also offers hope, based upon evidence contained in the Department of Defense's classified live-sightings files, that some of these Americans may still be alive. In his introduction to the new report, Helms reminded his colleagues of the "very disturbing" conclusions of last fall's interim report. "After examining hundreds of documents relating to the raw intelligence, and interviewing many families and friends of POW/MIAs, "wrote Helms, " the Minority Staff concluded that, despite public pronouncements to the contrary, the real, internal policy of the U.S. government was to act upon the presumption that all MIAs were dead." As a result of this policy, "any evidence that suggested an MIA might be alive was uniformly and arbitrarily rejected, and all efforts were directed towards finding and identifying remains of dead personnel, even though the U.S. government's techniques of identification were inadequate and deeply flawed." Since April 1973, when 691 POWs were repatriated in Operation Homecoming, the government has maintained that it has "no evidence that there were any more POWs still alive in all of Indochina." Most Americans never believed it. Various polls have continued to NAM VET Newsletter Page 19 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 show that more than 60 percent of the general public and more than 80 percent of the Vietnam veterans believe that American POW/MIAs are still alive in Southeast Asia. The government's policy of sealing off all POW/MIA evidence under the cloak of "national security" has only added to the public distrust of all official pronouncements on the matter. Until Helms and Grassley gained limited access in 1989, the Defense Department's 11,700 files relating to POW/MIAs, including 1,400 firsthand, live-sighting reports, had remained off-limits to all congressional or other independent examination. After a year of intensive scrutiny of hundreds of files, the senators and their staff investigators concluded that U.S. officials had engaged in a pattern of activities that included: "misleading Congressional inquiries"; concealing information"; misinterpreting or manipulating data"; possible intimidation of witnesses"; discrediting live-sighting reports"; dismissal of credible evidence through technicalities"; and "exaggerating or mishandling forensic data." 70 YEARS OF TREACHERY: The betrayal of American POWs did not begin with Vietnam. Part 1 of the newly-released report presents a historical perspective on POW/MIAs that will shock most Americans. Based in large measure on the groundbreaking research of Vietnam Veterans John M.G.Brown and Thomas Ashworth, the report presents compelling evidence demonstrating that American POWs abandoned in communist regimes, from World War I through Vietnam, number in the tens of thousands. After analyzing the fate of U.S. POW/MIAs in the hands of the Bolshevik regime after World War I, the Soviet regime after World War II, the North Korean regime after the Korean War, and the Vietnamese regime after the Vietnam War, Helms observed: In each case, the same dismaying scenario appears: On the Communist side, the regimes denied holding U.S. prisoners, contrary to many credible reports, while in fact they were holding the U.S. POW/MIAs as slave laborers and as reserve bargaining chips to get diplomatic recognition and financial assistance. On the U.S. side, our government downplayed or denied the reports of POW/MIAs, and failed to take adequate steps to prove or disprove the reports, while elements in our government pursued policies intended to make diplomatic recognition and financial support of the revolutionary regimes possible. "The fact is," says the report, "that Soviet and Asian Communist regimes view POW/MIAs, living or dead, not as a problem of humanitarian concern but as leverage for political bargaining, as an involuntary source of technical assistance, and as forced labor." At the end of World War II, Stalin followed the example of Lenin and kept thousands of American GIs in the gulag. And our government quietly acquiesced. On June 1, 1945, according to the Senate Minority Staff Report, "the U.S. government's public position was that most American GIs taken prisoner have come home and been repatriated, even though the classified cable traffic for the previous fortnight was reporting between 15,000 and 20,000 still held." The U.S. government simply consigned these Americans NAM VET Newsletter Page 20 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 to the memory hole ___ and to deprivation and death in Stalin's prisons and slave labor camps. Thousands more were abandoned to the communists after the Korean War. EXPOSING THE SHAM: Sooner or later, someone on the inside was bound to become so revolted by this scandalous betrayal of our fighting men and our national honor that he would come forward to expose the whole rotten mess. It now appears that has happened. On March 28th. of this year, Colonel Millard "Mike" A. Peck, chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency's Special Office for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action, left his job after stapling a startling memorandum to his office door. The colonel charged in his memo that higher-ups "hidden in the shadows" obstructed his efforts, while using his office "as a toxic waste dump' to bury the whole 'mess' out of sight and mind." Peck, who had taken over the POW/MIA post eight months earlier, also wrote, "I was not in charge of my own office, but was merely a figurehead or whipping boy for a larger and totally Machiavellian group of players outside of DIA." "That National leaders continue to address the prisoner of war and missing in action issue as the "highest national priority' is a travesty," Peck declared in his parting missive. "The mindset to 'debunk' all live sightings pervaded the POW/MIA office "at all levels," he said. "Practically all analysis is directed to finding fault with the source," charged Peck. "Rarely has there been any effective, active follow through on any of the sightings..." Peck's command of the POW/MIA Special Office capped an exceptional Army career, including three combat tours in Vietnam, for which he was awarded numerous medals for gallantry, including the nation's second-highest award, the Distinguished Service Cross. He had volunteered for the job, he said, with the intention of "refurbishing the image and honor of DIA" and resolving the POW/MIA issue, which he viewed as a "holy crusade." On May 30th, Peck testified before the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, chaired by Representative Stephen Solarz (D-NY). About half of the hearing was public and was shown over C-Span. The remaining testimony involved classified information and was taken in closed session. As expected, Representatives Solarz and Robert Lagomarsino (R- CA.), both of whom support "fast-track" normalization with Vietnam, immediately began a line of questioning designed to discredit Peck. Soon after the closed session began, Solarz exited the hearing room to tell reporters that Peck had offered nothing to substantiate his earlier charges. But, according to Senator Robert Smith (R-NH), "That's simply not accurate." Smith, a Vietnam vet who pursued the POW/MIA issue as a member of the House, notes that Solarz attended only "about two-thirds of the open session and was only there for about a half hour of the closed session. "Peck did indeed "provide new information and important, strong testimony ... and he did name names" of officials who impeded the effort to resolve the POW/MIA issue, Smith told The New American. But Solarz and Lagomarsino did not want to hear what Peck had to say, and they didn't want anyone NAM VET Newsletter Page 21 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 else to hear him either. "They immediately tried to discredit him, as they had earlier done to General Eugene Tighe, Captain "Red" McDaniel, Representative Bill Hendon, myself ... anyone who challenges the official position," said Smith. "VERY COURAGEOUS OFFICER" Captain Eugene "Red" McDaniel, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran who flew 81 missions in Indochina and spent six years as a prisoner of the communists, sees Peck as a "very courageous officer" with high credibility, and one who will not be easily dismissed. "His testimony is very credible, and it corroborates that there has been an enormous cover-up," he told The New American. McDaniel, who is founder and president of the American Defense Institute in Alexandria, Virginia, remains "firmly convinced there are live POWs still over there." He believes that Peck's revelations will help to set them free. He also believes that passage of Robert Smith's Senate Resolution 82, to establish a Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, is critically important to the final resolution of this issue. "The Select Committee will have subpoena powers," says McDaniel, "which will enable it to require present and former government officials to appear and testify under oath. The Committee will also be able to subpoena government POW/MIA documents." Hearings on S.Res. 82 are scheduled for July 25th. in the Senate Rules Committee. After decades of cover-up, there is now a glimmer of hope that the truth about our MIAs and POWs will finally prevail... (copies of an Examination of U.S.Policy Toward POW/MIAs are available from the U.S. Senate Committee of Foreign Relations Staff, 452-Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC 20510) __________________________________________________________________ One more publication for our side, now we need to help all these men who are risking their careers for the truth to be known... Write Bob Smith and Charles Grassley and Jesse Helms and tell them not to stop now, as we are all behind them 200%... Let's Get It Done in 91!!! NAM VET Newsletter Page 22 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 HIGHLIGHTS OF MINORITY STAFF EXAMINATION OF POW/MIA POLICY [addendum.sum 06/06/91] Input by: Marsha Ledeman NamVet's Assistant MIA/POW Section Editor At VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 1. The conclusions of the 112-page Minority Staff report parallel the conclusions of Col. Millard A. Peck, former director of the Special office of POW/MIA Affairs, namely that the U.S. Government has manipulated the POW/MIA issue to avoid an effective search for missing military personnel. 2. The Minority Staff report states that the U.S. government's stated intention of giving the search for POW/MIAs the "highest national priority" is subordinated to higher policy considerations. (Prologue to Part I, page i) 3. The Report states that the U.S. Government policy of dealing with live-sighting reports is flawed, thereby ignoring reasonable evidence which could lead to finding missing personnel. It cites 7 specific DIA procedures for discrediting reports to avoid a good-faith effort to find POW/MIAs. (page 6-1) It reproduces a censored CIA document from 1988 that summarizes three live- sighting reports of U.S. POW/MIAs in North Korea. (Prologue to part II) 4. The Report states that it was a matter of policy to issue falsified statements of KIA (killed in action) instead of MIA or U.S. personnel captured during covet operations. (page 7-1) 5. The Report states that the U.S. Government uses technical distinctions to avoid accounting for specific MIA cases. It cites an example from the Gulf War where the refusal to categorize two U.S. soldiers captured under fire as POW/MIA could have led to permanent captivity. (Prologue to part I, page ii) 6. The Report states that there is a historical pattern throughout this century of abandoning U.S. military personnel for the sake of diplomatic and other considerations. 7. POWs from the World War I American Expeditionary Force in Siberia 1918-1919 and other Americans were abandoned in the Soviet Union despite the granting of diplomatic recognition in 1933. 8. General Eisenhower told the Allied Command that "only small numbers remain" of U.S. soldiers captured by Nazi forces and taken over by Soviet authorities only two days after he was informed by his intelligence services that 20,000 U.S. personnel were still being held by the Red Army. (page 3-20) 9. General James Van Fleet stated that 8,000 MIAs were unaccounted for in 1953 when the major prisoner exchange took place. (page 4-1) 10. Assistant Secretary of the Army High Milton II received an internal memorandum in 1954 stating that 954 U.S. personnel were NAM VET Newsletter Page 23 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 still being held in North Korea. (page 4-2) 11. The U.S. Department of State sought to mislead then-Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson about the 954 known POWs in Korea in official correspondence. (page 4-10-12) 12. State Department and Air Force Intelligence reports in 1954 detailed that "two trains" of seven cars each containing U.S. military personnel in uniform were observed crossing the Chinese/Soviet border into the Soviet Union. (page 4-6) 13. The CIA already had reported in 1952 from sources inside North Korea that North Korea had already established the policy that certain categories of U.S. personnel in North Korean prison camps would never be exchanged. (page 4-8) 14. Kissinger stated in 1982 that he knew during the 1973 negotiations that 80 U.S. military personnel known by name and known to have been captured alive did not return (page 5-1) 15. Kissinger hand-carried a secret letter to the North Vietnamese Foreign Minister promising $4 billion in reparations to the Commumunist regime. This commitment was concealed from key members of Congress for over five years, who finally found out from meetings with the North Vietnamese. (page 5-12) 16. U.S. authorities originally asked North Vietnamese authorities for the return of 5,000 U.S. military personnel, but settled for only 591. (page 5-8) 17. Although the Pathet Lao stated that they were holding U.S. military personnel in March, 1973--estimated at about 100--no prisoners held by the Pathet Lao ever returned or were accounted for. (page 5-3) [For a copy of the Senate Foreign Relations Minority Addendum Report call 202-224-3941. No charge (for the copy).] NAM VET Newsletter Page 24 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 VETERANS CALL FOR PROBE OF POW, MIA `COVERUP' 7/26/91 Bangkok Post - World News Input by: Marsha Ledeman NamVet's Assistant MIA/POW Section Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 WASHINGTON (REUTER) - A US veteran's group urged President George Bush on Friday to appoint an independent panel to investigate an alleged conspiracy to cover up the fate of US troops missing or captured in Vietnam. In a letter to Bush, the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars cited charges by the former head of the Pentagon Intelligence unit set up to account for missing Americans and a new Senate Foreign Relations Committee Republican minority staff report. "These are serious allegations from very credible sources, "James Kinery wrote. "they call into question the integrity of the United States government and cast serious doubt as to whether the POW/MIA issue has ever truly been of "highest national priority." Since the end of the vietnam War in 1975, resolving the fate of those unaccounted for has been called a matter of the highest priority by successive US administrations. As of May 16, a total of 2,273 Americans were listed as missing or unaccounted for, including 1,656 in Vietnam, 528 in Laos, 83 in Cambodia and six in China's coastal waters, according to the Pentagon. Successive administrations have said information gathered "precludes ruling out" the possibility that at least some Americans could still be held against their will in Indochina. Vietnam and its allies in Cambodia and Laos have repeatedly denied holding any US prisoners and say they are cooperating fully to resolve the issue. In a letter on Thursday accompanying the staff report, Senator Jesse Helms, a fierce critic of the administration's MIA/POWs policies, said the administration was continuing a policy of abandoning soldiers missing after wars. "In each case the same dismaying scenario appears," said Helms, the Foreign Relations Committee's senior Republican. He referred to World Wars One and Two as well as to the Korean and Vietnam wars. "On the Communist side, the regimes denied holding US prisoners, contrary to many credible reports, while in fact they were holding the US POW/MIAs as slave labourers and as reserve bargaining chips to get diplomatic recognition and financial assistance," Helms, of North Carolina, said. Army Col. Millard Peck, who headed the Defense Intelligence Agency's Special Office for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action, accused the Bush administration of using his office as a "toxic waste dump" to bury what he called the whole mess. In an angry resignation letter obtained by news organizations this week, Peck, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran who left his job on March 28, faulted administration officials for failure to pursue leads, adding; "A cover-up may be in progress." In calling for a full independent probe, the VFW national commander said: "Can we trust our government on tis issue or not; this most basic question demands an honest answer." The Defence Department had no immediate comment on the VFW's NAM VET Newsletter Page 25 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 appeal. But a spokesman, Navy Lt-Comdr. Edward Lundquist, reiterated that the POW/MIA issue remained an issue of "the highest national priority." "Obviously, we have the same concerns that these veterans' groups have," he said, referring to a full accounting. The Pentagon has begun an "internal management inquiry" into Peck's charges but not a full-scale investigation, Lundquist said. He added that seven previous probes had been conducted into conspiracy charges over the past decade, each concluding that no coverup on the POW/MIA issue exists or existed. The VFW says it has 2.1 million members, including 670,000 Vietnam veterans. Kinery, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, specified in a statement that he had written on behalf of them all. William Smith, a spokesman for VFW Washington office, said the group wanted Bush to appoint a panel "with the fullest possible powers to conduct an investigation." __________________________________________________________________ Funny how our own news media people won't touch this with a ten foot pole, but in far off Bangkok, Thailand they have it??? Seems like all other nations and countries rate higher than the US government rates its own people doesn't it? Marsha Ledeman NAM VET Newsletter Page 26 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 PHOTO SPURS A US CALL FOR A VIETNAM MIA SEARCH By Jim Wolf - REUTERS News Service 7/17/91 Boston Globe Input by: Sarge Hultgren NamVet's Editorial Assistant Freedom's Choice BBS - Lynn, MA (617) 593-2605 3 FLIERS BELIEVED SEEN IN JUNGLE SETTING WASHINGTON - The US government has asked the governments of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to investigate whether three US servicemen missing in action since the Vietnam war are alive and in Indochina, officials here said yesterday. The action was taken after a photo of three men, apparently taken last year, was provided to US government agencies. The men in the photo have been identified by their families as the missing Americans. A Defense Department spokesman, Navy Cmdr. Edward Lundquist, said yesterday the families of three servicemen listed as missing in action "firmly believe" the photo shows their missing relatives. The picture shows three men in a jungle-like setting, apparently in good health, holding a white sign. The sign bears the handwritten date 25-5-1990 and other markings - NNTK! and K.B.C.19. - that could indicate an address. Family members gave a copy of the photo July 12 to Carl Ford, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, Lundquist said. Ford represents the Pentagon on the government's interagency group on Americans unaccounted for since the war. The State Department said it learned of its existence of the picture July 12 and on the same day sent a copy to Vietnam's ambassador to the United Nations and requested Vietnam's "urgent assistance in investigating this matter," a spokesman said. "Also on that day, we instructed our embassy in Vientiane to present a similar message providing information and requesting cooperation to the government of Laos and to the representative from Phnom Penh," the department said. A congressional staff member familiar with the case said the State Department had had the picture since Nov. 7, 1990. The staff member, who asked not to be identified, said it was brought out of Cambodia by a woman he would not identify. Retired Navy Capt. Eugene McDaniel, freed by Vietnam in 1973 after six years as a prisoner, made a copy of the picture available to Reuters after having obtained permission from relatives of the missing servicemen. He identified those in the picture as Air Force Maj. Albro Lynn Lundy Jr., of Sherman Oaks, Calif., who would be 58 years old, and was shot down Dec 24, 1970 over Laos; Air Force Col. John Leighton Robertson, of Seattle, who would be 60, and was shot down Sept. 16, 1966 over northern Vietnam; and Navy Lt. Larry James Stevens, of Canoga Park, Calif., who would be 48, and was shot down Feb. 14, 1969 over Laos. [The Globe obtained confirmation of the names from two sources yesterday.] Ann Mills Griffiths, executive director of the National League NAM VET Newsletter Page 27 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, said the photo is drawing special attention because family members are adamant in their conviction about the identities of the men in it. "It's highly unusual that three families would identify their missing relatives in a single picture, and with such certainty in their own minds," she said. "It certainly gives it great impact." [The office of Sen. Bob Smith, a New Hampshire Republican, told the Globe yesterday he has seen the photo, but feels the validity of it is beyond his competence to judge. He said, though, that evidence such as this "surfaces quite frequently" and it points to the fact that "problems still exist after 23 years," his office quoted him as saying.] As of July 1, a total of 2,273 Americans were listed as missing or unaccounted for as a result of the US war in Indochina: 1656 in Vietnam, 528 in Laos, 83 in Cambodia and six off China's coast. [PHOTO VIA REUTERS] A worn photo appears to show three American pilots shot down over Indochina during the Vietnam War. The sign is dated May 25, 1990. NAM VET Newsletter Page 28 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 SNAPSHOT RAISES HOPE 3 MIAs ARE ALIVE The Boston Herald - 7/17/91 Input by: Sarge Hultgren NamVet's Editorial Assistant Freedom's Choice BBS - Lynn, MA (617) 593-2605 [REUTER PHOTO] PHOTO ID: A snapshot showing three men believed to be American soldiers missing since the end of the Vietnam War has spurred a new hunt for the servicemen. WASHINGTON - The United States is pressing Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to investigate a snapshot apparently taken last year of three U.S. servicemen missing since the end of the war in Indochina and possibly held against their will, U.S. officials said yesterday. A Defense Department spokesman said the families of three servicemen listed as missing in action "firmly believe" the snapshot is of their missing relatives. The picture shows three men in a jungle-like setting holding a white sign that bears the handwritten date 25-5-1990 and other markings - NNTK! and K.B.C.19. - that could indicate an address. A congressional staff member said the State Department had had the picture since Nov. 7, 1990, and it was brought out of Cambodia by a woman he would not identify. The men in the picture were identified as Air Force Maj. Albro Lynn Lundy Jr. of Sherman Oaks, Calif., who would be 58 years old and was shot down Dec. 24, 1970, over Laos; Air Force Col. John Leighton Robertson of Seattle, who would be 60 and was shot down Sept. 16, 1966, over northern Vietnam; and Navy Lt. Larry James Stevens of Canoga Park, Calif., who would be 48 and was shot down Feb. 14, 1969, over Laos. NAM VET Newsletter Page 29 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 W W M M W W M M M M W W \ / M M M M OOOO W W W --*-- M M M IIII O O W W W W / \ M M II O O W W W W M M II O O W W M M II O O II PPPPPP O O ..... II AA PP PP OOOO . '' '' .. IIII A A PP PP ..' '.. A A PPPPPPP ..' ''. A A PP ..' '. AAAAAA PP .' ''. A A PP .' '. A A .' .:::::.. '. .' .::::::::::. ' .' .::::::::::::::. '. .' __ .::::::::::::::::;:... '. .' _- -_ .:::::::::::::::::::::::. '. .' _-_ _ _ -_ ::::::::::::::::::::::::' '. .. _- -!!___!!!-_:::::::::::::::::::::::. .. .' ==_ _- _= .:::::::::::::::::::::::: ', . =-_= _= = :::::::::::::::::::::::: . .' =-_ =_- = ::::::::::::::::::::::: '. .' = - -_ =_:::::::::::::::::::::. '. .' -_ -_- .:::::::::::::::::::;;;. '. .' _-_ ..::::::::::::::::::::::::; '. . _ _ .:;:::::::::::::::::::::;, . ' _ .:::::::::::::::::::::::::. '. Y .'.....::::::::::::::::::::::::::;' '. N ::::::::::::::::::::::::' `''' ': O `::::::::::::::::::::::: \v/ \ / :'E `:::::::::::::::::::::: =========================== :' U `:::::::::::::::::::::. /^\ \ :'T `:::::::::::::::::::: .: A `:::::::::::::::::: .:'T `::::::::::::::::::. .;' R `:::::::::::::::::. .;' T `::::::::::::::::. .;' E `:::::::::gjp::: .:' O `:::::::::::::...........'' G N O T F O R " Bring them home --- NOW !!! " NAM VET Newsletter Page 30 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Cheney vows Vietnam MIA accounting 13-JUL-1991 Submitted by: Sarge Hultgren NamVet's Editorial Assistant Freedom's Choice BBS - Lynn, MA (617) 593-2605 WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said Saturday the Bush administration will push for return of any missing prisoners of war, even if the effort interferes with re- establishing relations with Vietnam. Cheney said resolving the fate of an estimated 2,300 missing-in- action servicemen from the Vietnam War remained a priority, despite allegations the administration has slowed work in order to improve U.S. - Vietnam relations. "It is absolutely incredible to me to think that any American official would spare any effort that might lead to the discovery of a single American POW," Cheney told the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. "The idea that someone would rather not know about the fates of our POWs and MIAs, because it might interfere with our relationship with Vietnam, is not only outlandish, but it goes against the attitudes of everyone I know in this government about that country," Cheney said. In March, Army Col. Millard Peck quit as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency office for POWs and MIAs, claiming the effort to find prisoners was "being manipulated by unscrupulous people in government." Cheney did not mention Peck, but did describe the controversy as an "extra burden" on the families of servicemen who are missing. He said he regretted the extra burden. The Defense Department has more than 150 experts working on information about the missing servicemen, the secretary said. In 1989, the government listed 2,383 servicemen as missing without any word on their whereabouts. Cheney also announced that a temporary U.S. office in Hanoi, to pursue leads on the men and women still missing, has opened ahead of schedule, and its staff is preparing for a 14th joint investigation in the field. "Until we see the active, willing cooperation that only Vietnam can provide, it will be impossible to set timetables or deadlines," Cheney said. "Ultimately, however, we must recognize that our success continues to rest on the actions of the governments of Indochina. If they live up to their promises, if they follow through on their commitments with integrity and energy, we can achieve the meaningful accounting that Americans demand." NAM VET Newsletter Page 31 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Families given hope in snapshot of MIAs By VALERIE KUKLENSKI 18-JUL-1991 Submitted by: Sarge Hultgren NamVet's Editorial Assistant Freedom's Choice BBS - Lynn, MA (617) 593-2605 LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Cathy Lundy was 10 months old when her father was reported killed in action in the Vietnam War in 1970. She has no personal memories of Maj. Albro Lynn Lundy Jr., an Air Force pilot whose plane went down in hostile territory of northern Laos, and she, like the rest of her family, believed she would never see him again. But Lundy's wife, Johanna, and their six children were given an unexpected spark of hope recently when they learned of a photograph dated May 25, 1990, showing three men who may be prisoners of war in Southeast Asia. The Lundys believe without a doubt that one of the three is Albro Lundy Jr. The Lundy family and relatives of two other missing pilots -- Air Force Col. John Robertson and Navy Lt. Larry Stevens -- spoke with the media Wednesday about the photograph, which first came to their attention last November. They had not intended to publicize the photograph, fearing its release and news of the Pentagon investigation into it would pose a danger to the three men if they are still in captivity. But the photograph was leaked to the press and shown on television news reports Tuesday night, so the three Southern California families came forward Wednesday to tell what little they could about the story. Cathy Lundy, still reeling over the idea of possibly being able to meet her father, said she had mixed emotions about the prospect and is "optimistically cautious." "It would be a real dream if I ever get married to have my dad walk me down the aisle," she said. They gathered for a news conference in an old chapel of St. Paul's Catholic Church where Albro and Johanna Lundy were married Dec. 22, 1956. "They came on Christmas Eve 1970 and told me he was missing, and they came two days later and told me he was dead," Johanna Lundy said. Then, less than two weeks ago, her son Albro III called her at her Rancho Palos Verdes home. "He said, 'Are you sitting down? We have evidence that my father is alive. In fact, we have a picture,"' Johanna said. Johanna said she is certain the man in the middle of the photograph is her husband, now 57 years old. "He has very distinctive brows, and I thought they couldn't have gotten anyone else who looks like that," said Johanna Lundy, once again wearing a thin gold wedding band next to her reset diamond engagement ring. Johanna's son Albro, an attorney, said he received word of the photograph several weeks ago but wanted to either disprove it or authenticate it to his own satisfaction before telling his mother. "I was told that he was dead and there was an eyewitness statement," he said. Albro said his mother was "literally emotionally torn apart" by news of the major's death. He likened his parents' relationship to NAM VET Newsletter Page 32 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 a "fairy tale." "She used to race us to the door when he came home," he said. Albro said he has submitted a copy of the photograph to analysts for testing and initial results indicate it is authentic. Barbara Robertson, whose husband, John, was shot down over North Vietnam on Sept. 16, 1966, said she first got word of the photograph from Gladys Fleckenstein, Stevens' mother, of Big Bear Lake, Calif. Stevens, who would now be 48, was listed as missing in action in Laos on Feb. 14, 1969. Fleckenstein sees an unmistakable resemblance between the man on the right in the picture and her other son, Dennis Stevens. "I have never given up hope he was alive," said Fleckenstein, who received notice of the photograph from a Navy officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency last November. Fleckenstein and Roberston became acquainted nearly 10 years ago through their work with the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, an organization to aid searches for missing servicemen and lend support to the survivors. "Gladys and I have been working this issue for so long ... never dreaming we would be working for her son and my husband," said Robertson, a former Seattle resident who now lives in Santa Ana, Calif. Robertson said she told only a few family members about the photograph, believing widespread knowledge of it could bring harm to the men. "It has never been out from under the mirror on my dressing table under the perfume," she said, adding she was stunned to see the image on television news reports. Robertson, wearing a POW bracelet popularized in the early 1970s, said she sees the photograph as a "window of opportunity" for the Pentagon and the State Department to resolve lingering questions about the 2,273 Americans still listed as missing in the Indochina War that ended more than 15 years ago. Vietnam has denied in the past it is holding any U.S. servicemen against their will, and officials have long said that some of those listed as missing are undoubtedly men who for whatever reason, went over to the other side and became deserters. But Mrs. Lundy said her husband would not desert his family or his country. "I know my husband is a man of absolute integrity," she said, gesturing toward his Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and other medals displayed at the news conference. "There is absolutely no way he would stay away from me and his children," she said. State Department spokesman David Denny said the government is "actively pursuing" an investigation into the photograph, submitting a copy to the Vietnamese representative to the United Nations and requesting his government's urgent assistance. The families were asked what they would like to say to the three men Wednesday. "We love you, Dad. You know we love you," Albro Lundy III said softly. "We're coming to get you, and we're going to spoil you," Barbara Robertson added with a confident smile. NAM VET Newsletter Page 33 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 MIA photograph latest evidence in saga of doubt By PAUL WEDEL 18-JUL-1991 Submitted by Sarge Hultgren NamVet's Editorial Assistant Freedom's Choice BBS - Lynn, MA (617) 593-2605 BANGKOK, Thailand (UPI) -- The grainy photograph that appears to show three missing Americans in Indochina may hold out hope for the men's families, but its credibility is undermined by previous fraud. And if the photograph is authentic, it could hurt improving relations between the United States and its former enemies in the region. One experienced intelligence analyst in Bangkok said the internal evidence in the photograph indicated it was taken in the highlands of Laos, but another said a history of frequent fraud means a deliberate fabrication cannot be ruled out. "There are just so many scams, that all evidence is tainted," said the analyst who requested anonymity. "Too many people think there is some way of making money out of this issues and they have no scruples about fabricating evidence. They turned out to be just a run-around." A senior Laotian official denied the suggestion the men were in his country. "This is another attempt by ill-intentioned people to harm relations between Laos and the United States just as they are expanding, " said Phao Bhounhaphol, Lao Minister of External Economic Relations. Phao said there was little possibility that the photograph was genuine. "This matter (of prisoners) was finished a long time ago. If we had live prisoners we would never allow foreigners, including your (American) investigators, to travel all over our country," he said. But Phao declined to say why his government has never given an accounting of the prisoners the Lao communist forces said they had captured during the war. Unlike Vietnam, Laos did not return any U.S. prisoners of war after the 1973 withdrawal of the American military from Indochina and did not sign the Paris peace accords. The photograph, said to have been brought out of Cambodia last year, shows three Western men with a hand-lettered sign dated May 25, 1990. Family members have identified the men as Air Force Col. John Leighton Robertson of Seattle, shot down over North Vietnam on Sept. 16, 1966; Navy Lt. Larry James Stevens of Los Angeles, lost in Laos on Feb. 14, 1969; and Air Force Maj. Albro Lynn Lundy, missing in action in Laos since Dec. 24, 1970. The men are among the 2,273 servicemen listed as missing in Indochina. Al Shenkel, who said he is a retired U.S. military intelligence official with 27 years of experience, said the lettering on the sign, particularly a curly figure two and a nine that looks like a "g," are consistent with the style of handwriting commonly used in Laos. He said a fourth person is hidden by the sign whose fingers, much smaller than those of the Westerners, appear to be holding the lower edge of the sign. "The lettering and the size of the fingers indicate this sign was written and is held by a Lao," Shenkel said. NAM VET Newsletter Page 34 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 If the date of the photograph is correct, he said, it may have been taken in the mountain areas of northern Laos because the heat at that time of year anywhere else in the country would be too intense for the long-sleeved shirts the men are wearing. "A reasonable guess, therefore, is that this photograph was taken by a Lao resistance group in the northern mountains," said Shenkel, who operates a private organization called Skyhook II that seeks information on missing Americans. Whatever the doubts about the photograph, it has sparked formal inquiries by the U.S. government to the governments of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. U.S. officials said copies of the photograph were passed on to those governments on July 12. A U.S. embassy spokeswoman in Bangkok said Kenneth Quin, the deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, would be visiting "various capitals on this issue." She declined to say which Indochinese countries he would visit. "This appears to be a whole new attitude by the U.S. government," Shenkel said. "For the first time the government has accepted evidence from private sources without insisting on debunking it." The United States has said progress on MIAs and a peace settlement in Cambodia are the two issues that would determine the pace and extent of normalization of relations and the lifting of a U.S. economic embargo against Vietnam. Movement towards a Cambodian settlement during talks in Thailand and China in the past three weeks indicated the last obstacle to relations was being removed. Vietnam had already allowed the establishment of a U. S. MIA office in Hanoi and broadened cooperation on MIA searches. A Western diplomat who watches U.S.-Vietnamese relations said the dramatic re-emergence of the emotional MIA issue could not only strain government-to-government relations but also inhibit private American businesses who have been pushing for the lifting of the embargo. "Who wants to be seen as a greedy corporation callously trying to do business with the government that may be withholding information about prisoners?" he asked. "If this photograph cannot be disproved and the Vietnamese fail to handle the issue convincingly," he said, "the effect can only be negative." NAM VET Newsletter Page 35 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Hanoi allows U.S. MIA search, is willing to probe photo By PAUL WEDEL 22-JUL-1991 Submitted by: Sarge Hultgren NamVet's Editorial Assistant Freedom's Choice BBS - Lynn, MA (617) 593-2605 BANGKOK, Thailand (UPI) -- A 25-man U.S. military team conducted searches in Vietnam for evidence of missing Americans as Hanoi formally agreed to investigate a photograph allegedly showing missing GIs, official media reported. At the same time Sunday Vietnam demanded punishment of those involved in producing the photo if it is shown to be a fabrication. Hanoi radio, in a broadcast Saturday night, said the 14th joint search for missing U.S. servicemen began Saturday and is expected to last until Aug. 10. It said the search is being conducted in northern and central Vietnam with 25 American experts -- one of the largest U.S. teams to participate in such efforts. The brief radio item did not say whether the investigation would specifically probe the controversial picture made public last week. The radio said Vietnam has returned 452 sets of remains believed to be Americans and will continue to cooperate. The Vietnam News Agency, however, said the government is concerned about the mysterious photograph that made headlines in the United States when it was made public last week by the American Defense Institute, a private agency that investigates the fate of servicemen missing in action from the war. The fuzzy, black-and-white picture shows three men holding up a sign dated May 1990. Relatives of missing Americans say they are sure the men in the picture are their loved ones missing for more than 20 years. Although the origins and authenticity of the picture are not clear, the photo has sparked renewed interest in the fate of the more than 2, 300 Americans missing in action from the war. Vietnam's Foreign Ministry sent a formal letter to the U.S. government saying it was prepared to cooperate with the United States to resolve any questions raised by the photograph and asked that those who produced the picture also help with the investigation, the news agency said. "If they refuse to cooperate and the investigation shows that the picture was fabricated for money-making purposes, they must be punished and condemned for deliberately prolonging the sufferings of the MIA families," the letter said. The letter cited U.S. records provided to Vietnam as showing that two of the men identified in the photograph by relatives -- Albro Lynn Lundy and Larry James Stevens -- were killed in action. It said a joint U.S.-Vietnamese investigation showed that the third man, John Leightson Robertson, was blown up in the destruction of his F- 4 fighter-bomber. The letter said Robertson' s co-pilot, Hubert F. Buchanan, survived the crash and became a prisoner of war who was later released after the signing of the Paris peace accords. It said Vietnamese specialists recovered Robertson's partial remains and turned them over to the United States. A U.S. spokesman, however, said the remains were not positively NAM VET Newsletter Page 36 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 identified. "Vietnam affirms that all U.S. prisoners of war captured during the Vietnam War were turned over to the U.S. government after the Paris Agreement on Vietnam," the letter said. Laos and Cambodia have also officially denied any knowledge that the men identified in the photograph are still alive and repeated their insistence they hold no American prisoners. NAM VET Newsletter Page 37 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Goals of Sen. R. Smith's SR#82 Submitted by: Marsha Ledeman NamVet's Assistant MIA/POW Section Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413 443-6313 The Goals of Senator Robert Smith's S.R.82, bill for a Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA affairs, as well as being a permanent committee are: * To provide a bipartisan group of Senators to exercise effective Congressional oversight on the POW/MIA issue. * To review and assess current U.S. policy concerning the POW/MIA issue. * To recommend and evaluate new initiatives and/or approaches to enhance resolution of the POW/MIA issue, including specific legislative proposals. * To review and assess how agencies are organized for purposes of declassifying POW/MIA information from the Second World War to the present. * To consider legislation to declassify government documents on the POW/MIA issue dating back to World War II when release of the documents would not jeopardize national security, including sources and methods. * To provide a forum for a closer, more coordinated working relationship between the Administration's POW/MIA Interagency Group (IAG) and the United States Senate. * To promote responsible efforts to increase public awareness on the POW/MIA issue. * To review and assess the Government's criteria for classifying American service personnel as prisoner of war, missing in action, or killed in action. * To coordinate with officials of the International Red Cross and the United Nations in order to review and recommend effective frameworks for enforcement of the Third Geneva Conventions of 1949. * To review and assess the manning, funding, methodology, and operations of the POW/MIA division of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). * To review and assess the professionalism and quality of the Division's finished analyses of POW/MIA related intelligence, including live-sighting reports. * To examine the manning, funding methodology and operations of the Joint Casualty Resolution Center in Bangkok, Thailand. * To review and assess the manning, funding, methodology, and operations of the United States Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, which is responsible for the identification of POW/MIA NAM VET Newsletter Page 38 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 remains. * To review and assess the professionalism and quality of the Laboratory's finished analyses of alleged U.S. MIA remains. * To review and assess Government procedures and laws concerning POW/MIA information being provided to next of kin in a timely manner. Other sponsors of this bill include Sens: Leo Thorsness (R-WA), Jesse Helms (R-NC), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Harry Reid (D- Nev.), Bob Graham (D-FL.), Connie Mack (R-FL), Strom Thurmond (R- SC.), Donald Riegle (D-Mich.), Arlen Specter (R-PA.), and Frank Lautenberg (R-NJ.) Lets help get S.R. 82 passed now, we did it with HR1147, so why not go for the most??? We can do it!!! We Will Win this one!!! Get it done in 91!!! - Marsha - NAM VET Newsletter Page 39 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== Coins in the Fountain ================================================================== Veterans Readjustment Appointments - Public Law 102-16 Input by: Fred Sochacki NamVet's Veteran Employment Section Editor VETLink #1.75 at Passaic, NJ (413) 443-6313 The following information was forwarded to me by the Office of Personnel Management, Newark Area Office, Federal Building, 970 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102 and deals with Public Law 102-16. Veterans Readjustment Appointments Expanded Job Opportunities in the Federal Service Public Law 102-16, effective March 23,1991, makes it even easier for Federal agencies to hire Armed Forces veterans who served during and after the Vietnam era. The VRA (Veterans Readjustment Appointment) authority is a special hiring program. Eligible veterans do not have to take examinations or compete with nonveteran candidates. VRA appointees are initially hired for a 2-year period. Successful completion of the 2-year VRA appointment leads to a permanent civil service appointment. Who is eligible for a VRA appointment? Veterans who served more than 180 days active duty, any part of which occurred during the Vietnam era(August 5,1964 to May 7, 1975), and have other than a dishonorable discharge, are eligible if they have (1) a service -connected disability or (2) a campaign badge (for example, the Vietnam Service Medal). Post-Vietnam-era veterans, who entered the service after May 7,1975, are eligible if they served on active duty for more than 180 days and have other than a dishonorable discharge. The 180-day service requirement does not apply to veterans discharged from active duty for service-connected disability. How long are veterans eligible for VRA appointments after they leave the service? Vietnam-era veterans qualify for a VRA appointment until 10 years after discharge or until December 31, 1993, whichever date is later. Post-Vietnam-era veterans are eligible for 10 years after the date of their last discharge or until December 17,1999, whichever date is later. Eligible veterans with a service-connected disability of 30% or more can be hired without time limit. Are there any other restrictions on eligibility for a VRA appointment? No. Under the new VRA law, all veterans described above are eligible. (The law eliminated a previous requirement that VRA appointees have fewer than 16 years of education.) What job can be filled under the VRA authority? Federal agencies can now use the VRA authority to fill any white NAM VET Newsletter Page 40 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 collar position up through GS 11, blue collar jobs up through WG 11, and equivalent jobs under other Federal pay systems. How do veterans apply for VRA appointments? Veterans should contact the agency personnel office where they want to work. Agencies recruit candidates and make VRA appointments directly without getting a list of candidates from OPM. Veterans can get a list of local agency personnel offices from the Veterans Representatives at the OPM offices listed on the back of this sheet. Are disabled veterans entitled to special consideration? Agencies must give preference to disabled veterans over other veterans. Is training available after appointment? In some cases, agencies provide special training programs for VRA appointees. A program could include on-the-job assignments or classroom training. Can VRA appointees work part-time? Agencies may be able to set up part-time work schedules for individuals who want to attend school or handle family or other responsibilities. U.S. Office of Personnel Management Area Office Veterans Representatives for Employment Inquires Alabama Alaska Lee Hockenberry John Busteed Huntsville Area Office Anchorage Area Office (205) 544-5130 (907) 271-3617 Arizona Arkansas Jack Mallin (See Oklahoma) Phoenix Area Office (602) 640-5809 Colorado Doris Veden California Denver Area Office John Andre (303) 969-7036 Los Angeles Area Office (818) 575-6507 Connecticut A.J. Dubois Susan Fong Young Hartford Area Office Sacramento Area Office (203) 240-3607 (916) 551-3275 Delaware Mark Gunby (See Philadelphia) San Francisco Area Office (415) 744-7216 District of Columbia Washington Area Service Ctr. Florida (202) 606-1848 R.C. McFadyen Orlando Area Office Georgia (407) 648-6150 Ruth Walker Atlanta Area Office Hawaii (404) 331-4588 Charles Tamabayashi Honolulu Area Office Idaho NAM VET Newsletter Page 41 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 (808) 541-2790 (See Washington State) Illinois Indiana Victoria Jones Sharon Ellet Chicago Area Office Indianapolis Area Office (312) 353-8799 (317) 226-6245 Iowa Kansas (See Kansas City, MO) Veria Davis Wichita Area Office Kentucky (316) 269-6797 (See Ohio) Maine Louisiana (See New Hampshire) Melody Silvey New Orleans Area Office Maryland (504) 589-2768 Thomas Platt Baltimore Area Office Massachusetts (301) 962-3222 Donald MacGee Boston Area Office Michigan (617) 565-5926 Thomas Bixler Detroit Area Office Minnesota (313) 226-2095 Paul McMahon Twin Cities Area Office Mississippi (612) 725-3633 (See Alabama) Missouri Montana Richard Krueger (See Colorado) Kansas City Area Office (816) 426-5705 Nebraska (See Kansas) Kirk Hawkins St. Louis Area Office Nevada (314) 539-2341 (See Sacramento, CA) New Hampshire New Jersey Gloria Dunn Don Hodge Portsmouth Area Office Newark Area Office (603) 433-0744 (201) 645-2376 New Mexico North Carolina Rosa Benavidez A. Clayborne Albuquerque Area Office Raleigh Area Office (505) 766-1099 (919) 790-2817 New York North Dakota Walter Cashin (See Minnesota) New York Area Office (212) 264-0442 Ohio John McConnell Larry Burkett Dayton Area Office Syracuse Area Office (513) 225-2529 (315) 423-5650 Oregon Oklahoma (See Washington State) Dan Henderson Oklahoma City Area Office Puerto Rico NAM VET Newsletter Page 42 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 (405) 231-4613 Vivien Fernandez San Juan Area Office Pennsylvania (809) 766-5620 John Glooch Harrisburg Field Office Rhode Island (717) 782-4546 (See Connecticut) Gene Hyden South Carolina Philadelphia Area Office (See North Carolina) (215) 597-7670 South Dakota George Horn (See Minnesota) Pittsburgh Area Office (412) 644-4355 Texas Frank McLemore Tennessee Dallas Area Office Ralph Bunten (214) 767-9133 Memphis Area Office (901) 544-3958 Jose Borrero San Antonio Area Office Utah (512) 229-6613 (See Colorado) Virgin Islands Vermont (See Puerto Rico) (See New Hampshire) Washington (State) Virginia Robert Coleman Valerie DeMeis Seattle Area Office Norfolk Area Office (206) 553-4691 (804) 441-3362 Wisconsin West Virginia (See Illinois) (See Ohio) Wyoming (See Colorado) "Never insult an alligator until you've crossed the river!" -- Cordell Hull -- NAM VET Newsletter Page 43 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 NJ Assemblyman Supports Vets' Rights Advances By: Fred Sochacki NamVet's Veteran Employment Section Editor VETLink #1.75 at Passaic, NJ (413) 443-6313 NEWS from THE ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS FOR RELEASE June 20,1991 GILL BILL TO PROMPT ENFORCEMENT OF VETS' RIGHTS ADVANCES (TRENTON)--A review of hiring and promotion procedures for veterans employed in the civil service will occur under legislation approved today by the Assembly Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. The bill is sponsored by Assemblyman Louis J. Gill (D- Passaic/Bergen) who said he introduced it in response to complaints by veterans that hiring and promotion rights awarded to them are not being enforced. "In gratitude for their great service to our country, statutes currently on the books offer veterans hiring and promotion privileges within the state's civil service," said Gill. "We need to determine if and to what extent these privileges are being ignored before any concrete steps can be taken to rectify any problems that might exist." The measure (A-4199) creates a five-member "Veterans' Hiring and Promotion Review Commission to be appointed by the Governor. He said the commission will have six months to submit a written report to the Governor and Legislature. The Commission will dissolve upon submission of the report. "When we pinpoint any implementation problems that might exist, the proper administrative or legislative action will be taken to ensure the rights of our veteran are enforced." The measure now moves to the full Assembly for additional consideration. ASSEMBLY, No. 4199 STATE OF NEW JERSEY INTRODUCED DECEMBER 3,1990 By Assemblyman GILL AN ACT creating the "Veterans' Hiring and Promotion Review Commission." BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. The Legislature finds and declares that recent public revelation have brought to light the possibility of hiring and promotion practices by State agencies regarding veterans which may be in violation of State law. The legislature further finds and declares that these revelations concern the possible denial of veterans' rights for individuals entitled to career advancement and the promotion of individuals not entitled to such advancement. 2. There is created the "Veterans' Hiring and Promotion Review Commission." The commission shall consist of five public members, not more than three from the same political party, to be appointed by the Governor. Vacancies in the membership of the commission NAM VET Newsletter Page 44 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission, be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. 3. The commission shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members and shall select a chairman and a vice chairman from among its members and a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission. 4. It shall be the duty of the commission to review the policies and practices of any State department, division, bureau, board, commission or agency with regards to the hiring and promotion of veterans. 5. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, bureau, board, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for this purpose, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistants, or consultants, and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary in order to perform its duties and as may be within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for these purposes. 6. The commission may hold public hearings and shall, within six months after its first meeting, submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature, together with any recommendations for legislative or administrative action if deems appropriate. 7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the submission by the commission of its report. STATEMENT This bill creates a five-member "Veterans' Hiring and Promotion Review Commission" to be appointed by the Governor. It shall be the duty of the commission to review the policies and practices of any State department, bureau, board, commission or agency with regards to the hiring and promotion of veterans. The commission shall, within six months after its first meeting, submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature, together with recommendations for legislative or administrative action. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the submission by the commission of its report. VETERANS Creates the "Veterans' Hiring and Promotion Review Commission." Semper Fidelis! - Fred - NAM VET Newsletter Page 45 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== Remember Them!!! ================================================================== How looks the Vietnam Veteran? By: Wes Keith Vietnam Veterans for Christ - Searcy, ARK Input by: Joyce Flory NamVet's Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM (505) 523-2811 (Joyce's note: The following information was sent to me by Wes Keith, head of Vietnam Veterans for Christ, an organization out of Searcy, Ark.) "Was the character of my valor less intense than those at Lexington? Was the pain of my wounds any less severe than those at Normandy? And was my loneliness any less sorrowful than those at Inchon?" Then why am I forgotten amongst those remembered as "heroes?" VETERANS Some are very old, others are yet young, We're all the same part, we speak the same tongue. The elders called doughboys went "over there", The youngest went to "Nam", it was our share. Some fought mustard gas, the trenches were hell, Others fought Krauts 'n Japs, in Europe 'n Guadalcanal. Some fought the enemy over, on and under the sea, They did their best for us, you 'n me. There's those who flew B-17's and Phantoms, Many lives were saved by young pilots, the bantams. A place called Korea, where in the heck's that, Lots of 'em died, for places not flat. Fight the commies in Asia, "let's not wait", Let's stop 'em here, not at our front gate. Whether Europe, Pacific, Korea or S.E. Asia, Young men left home, for duty to America. We all know some, who never came back, While others returned in a box or in a sack. We may not agree, why they all went, But let's praise 'n pray, say thanks for the debt. This is a day for us to reflect, So let's not forget, they're all "our" vets. Jim Kramer" "The Vietnam vets experiences are unique in American history. We were participants in the longest military involvement; the only one in which America was not the victor. We were young; our average age was about 19 years old, while WWII vets' average age was almost 26. Our country was not behind our efforts, thus the hostility of those against the war was focused on us. It was common when we came back home to be greeted by war protesters. We were called "baby killers", and were spat upon. Many of us turned to drugs and alcohol to try to escape the pain in returning to a society that simply did not show it cared. NAM VET Newsletter Page 46 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Sadly, but ever so true, our churches did not treat the Vietnam Veterans any better than did society as a whole. Most church leaders failed to realize that the emotional and behavioral problems that the Vietnam vets were going through, was in fact a "SPIRITUAL" problem. As a result no effort was made to evangelize or restore these vets. STATISTICS 1. Nearly 3 million American men and women served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era between 1964 - 1973. About 1 million saw active combat or were exposed to hostile, life- threatening situations. 2. About 58,000 Americans lost their lives in Vietnam. Almost 350,000 Americans were wounded. 3. Over 800,000 Vietnam vets are suffering from varying degrees of post-traumatic stress syndrome as a result of their experiences in 'Nam. 4. Over 40 million Americans, nearly 20% of our population, have a distinct, direct personal link to a Vietnam era vet (i.e., parents, wives, children, etc.). 5. The suicide rate for Vietnam vets has climbed to over 100,000 (86% higher than their peer group)- almost twice the number who actually died in Southeast Asia. 6. To date, there are almost 100,000 Vietnam vets incarcerated and almost 200,000 on parole. 7. Vietnam vets' divorce rate is double the national average. Of combat vets, 80-90% have been divorced. 8. Unemployment is twice as high. One in four Vietnam vets earns under $7,000 per year. 9. Untold thousands of Vietnam vets are suffering and dying from Agent Orange poisoning - a defoliant sprayed on the jungles in Vietnam and one of the most toxic substances known to man." NAM VET Newsletter Page 47 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX \ \ \ \ \XXXX XXXXX XXXXX.::::::::::::::.XXXXX INCARCERATED XXXX XXXXX XXXXX --------- XXXXX \ \ \ \ \ \ \XXXX XXXXX .XXXXX W W I I XXXXX. VETERANS \ \XXXX XXXXX ::XXXXX --------- XXXXX::. \ \ \ \ XXXX XXXXX :::XXXXX ------------- XXXXX:::. XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX K O R E A XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX ------------- XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX ------------- XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX V I E T N A M XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX ------------- XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX::::::::::::::::XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX::::::::::::::::XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX::' `::XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX:: ::XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX `..........''`XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX .:(O) . (O):. XXXXX:::' XXXX XXXXX ::' XXXXX .. XXXXX:: XXXX XXXXX .:' XXXXX . .. XXXXX: XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX . .. ` XXXXX XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX ' '.. ` XXXXX. XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX" ' ` XXXXX . XXXX XXXXX ``. XXXXX ' . . . ` XXXXX '. ........., XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX'' ..''.'''. XXXXX .' '.XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX" ':.:'' XXXXX .'' .:::'XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX:.. .:XXXXX.'' .::::' .XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX '.. ..:' XXXXX ..:' . .:::'XXXX XXXXX ....::'XXXXX ':::::;' XXXXX .:''. .:::' XXXX XXXXX .:::::' XXXXX .: XXXXX :'. ..:... XXXX XXXXX.::' :: XXXXX: PREPARED TO XXXXX .'' ''.. XXXX XXXXX::' :: XXXXX`: FIGHT XXXXX.' '.XXXX XXXXX' :: XXXXX ``. XXXXX XXXX XXXXX '' XXXXX PREPARED TO XXXXX XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX DIE ...'XXXXX XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX `...' XXXXX XXXX XXXXX `..' XXXXX .' XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX /\ .' .' XXXX XXXXX /\ \ . . XXXX XXXXX / \ \...' `. .' XXXX XXXXX / NOT PREPARED TO BE DESERTED XXXX XXXXX / .'.' . .`.' XXXX XXXXX / ~ | : : : . XXXX XXXXX / |`. : : . .__________ XXXX XXXXX / ~ ~ ||.` ` : || \ / XXXX XXXXX / WRITE OR VISIT AN INCARCERATED VETERAN SOON ! XXXX XXXXX / ~ || . .'. / / XXXX XXXXX/ ~ ~ ~|| ||/ / XXXX XXXXX ~ ~ ~ || || / XXXX XXXXX || || / XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX \_________XXXXX________|| XgjpX XXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXX NAM VET Newsletter Page 48 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== Ol' Glory n' Shiftin' Sands ================================================================== LEGISLATION EXPANDS VA BENEFITS FOR PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Office of Public Affairs - News Service Washington DC 20420 (202) 233-2741 Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 President Bush signed a comprehensive benefits package April 6 providing or expanding a variety of benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs for Persian Gulf War veterans. The legislation formally defines the conflict in the Persian Gulf as a period of war for benefits purposes, beginning Aug. 2, 1990, and ending by Presidential proclamation or by law. The bill also expands eligibility for VA readjustment counseling for Persian Gulf War veterans, as well as veterans who served during other periods of armed hostilities following the Vietnam War, such as Lebanon, Grenada and Panama. VA's Readjustment Counseling Service, which operates a national network of 195 Vet Centers, was originally established to provide counseling and outreach services to Vietnam veterans and family members. Other highlights of the benefits package: ^ Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty basic education rates are increased from $300 and $250 per month to $350 and $275 per month, beginning Oct. 1991 through Sept. 1993. ^ Rates for full-time training under the Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve are increased from $140 to $170 per month, beginning Oct. 1991 through Sept. 1993. ^ Eligibility for VA-guaranteed home loans is extended to each veteran who served during the Persian Gulf War for 90 days or more (previously 181 days or more), even if they did not serve in the combat area. ^ Eligibility for VA pension programs is extended for Persian Gulf War veterans and their survivors. ^ Persian Gulf War veterans who develop an active psychosis within two years of discharge will be presumed to have incurred this disability during active duty (for health-care purposes). ^ Dental benefits are authorized for veterans who served on active duty for 90 days (previously 180 days) during the Persian Gulf War. ^ Maximum Servicemen's and Veterans' Group Life Insurance coverage is increased from $50,000 to $100,000. ^ For more information on VA benefits, veterans and family members are urged to contact the nearest VA regional office, listed in telephone directories under U.S. Government. Toll-free numbers are available in all states. (April 17, 1991) NAM VET Newsletter Page 49 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Operation Desert Shield NMNMNMNMNMNMNM\ Operation Desert Storm MH * * * HN/NMNMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNM\ NH * * * HM/MH * * HMNMMNMN/MMMMMMMMMMMMM\ MH * * * HN/NH * * * H////////MMMMMMMMMMMMM/MMMMMMMMMMMMMMH NH * * * HM/MH * * H//////////////////////MMMMMMMMMMMMMMH MH * * * HN/NH * * * HNMNMMNM/////////////////////////////H MH * * * HM/MH* * * HMNMNNMN/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H MH * * * HN/NH * * * H////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNHH NH * * * HM/MH * * H//////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH MH * * * HN/NH * * * HMNMMNMN/////////////////////////////H H//////////////MH * * HNMNNMNM/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H H//////////////////////////////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH NNNNNNNNNNNNNN///////////////////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH NNNNNNNNNNNNNN/NMNMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNM/////////////////////////////H H//////////////MNMNMNMNMNMNMNMMNMN/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H H//////////////////////////////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH MNMNMNMNMNMNMN///////////////////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH NMNMNMNMNMNMNM\NMNMNMNMNMNMNMMNMNM/////////////////////////////H \NMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNMN\NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H \MNMNMNMMNMNMN\NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH WELL DONE !!! \MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH WELCOME HOME!!! NAM VET Newsletter Page 50 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== Don't drink the water! ================================================================== From a report titled: Agent Orange Phuoc Vihn Ground (Water) Zero by Gregg Knowlton Areas of Agent Orange Spraying Input by Jim Ferguson NamVet's Assistant Agent Orange Section Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 HERBS TAPES USAF HERBICIDE TOTALS (from 1965 onward) These totals represent the USAF Ranch Hand sprayings ONLY; they do NOT INCLUDE the US Army helicopter or ground applications, or any form of the Insecticide programs by GVN or the US Military. Areas specified are either cities or US military bases; and the gallonage represents sprays within 8 km of the specified area. (Thus, each area is 9.6 mile diameter.) Orange White Blue I CORPS: An Hoa 6500 1800 11250 A Shau 53550 2550 6128 Hue 41395 0 5070 LangCo Bridge 50610 5600 3500 Phu Bai 54300 3000 120 Con Thien 84700 12460 10925 Cam Lo 80375 8660 12785 LZ Sandra 118780 20210 24755 FB Rakkassan 150145 23900 2510 FB Jack 140875 11900 3280 Marble, Hill 59 15405 6720 18508 LZ Profess(ional?), Hill 55 39300 13000 17209 Chu Lai 12170 4150 1598 LZ Jane, FB Barbara 91150 6750 3700 Duc Pho, LZ Bronco 46225 14400 1175 Da Nang, China Beach 13800 0 2000 LZ Dogpatch, Hill 327 4490 0 8250 LZ Rockcrusher, Hill 85 47800 0 0 Quang Tri, LZ Nancy 68000 2750 3700 LZ Langley, FB Shepherd 72105 7040 4800 LZ Snapper, FB Leather 11350 0 3000 Khe Sanh, FB Smith 43705 3040 4300 Phu Loc, LZ Tommahawk 78250 4000 0 FB West 15405 3690 18480 LZ Ross 15405 6720 18508 Quang Nai 25605 0 1800 Camp Evans 18690 0 880 LZ Baldy 15430 3000 13950 Hoi An 17520 3000 13950 Hill 63 20500 3200 0 Bihn Hoa 8220 0 1600 Camp Eagle 14250 0 0 LZ Rockpile 110050 15440 7650 Camp Esso 53410 5600 5500 Camp Carrol 78200 5400 5050 NAM VET Newsletter Page 51 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 LZ Geronimo 22535 14000 468 Camp Henderson 68155 7040 4800 Dong Ha 54385 5060 9935 Hill 69 11620 4150 1598 II CORPS: An Khe, Camp Radcliff 37810 6400 5610 LZ Dog, LZ English 63073 630 6000 An Lao, LZ Laramia 68970 490 10570 Phu Cat, LZ Hammond 29700 7210 0 Plei Me, SF Camp 15300 1260 110 Bon Song, LZ Two Bits 80643 630 6000 LZ Putter, FB Bird 50095 0 7200 Tuy An 13215 3740 0 Cam Rahn Bay 21227 1373 0 LZ Uplift 43455 3220 275 FB Pony 43490 0 3800 Nha Thrang 6950 325 0 Ban Me Thuot 16000 9250 0 Tuy Hoa 29565 4485 0 Qui Nohn 53215 1800 4125 Bre Nhi 6600 0 0 Phan Rang 110 2075 0 Phan Thiet 5000 330 220 Kontum 0 415 0 Song Cau 5650 55 0 Che Oreo 0 1800 0 Da Lat 575 0 0 Plei Jerang 98220 51235 1800 Pleiku 1210 11640 1950 Camp Granite 59310 2075 5390 Ben Het 80495 7230 3000 Dak To 49460 600 34800 LZ Oasis No Data No Data No Data III CORPS: FB Jewel, LZ Snuffy 219550 146010 7300 Long Binh, FB Concord 13445 57560 0 Dien Duc, FB Elaine 66850 25500 0 Nui Ba Den, FB Caroline 50020 66500 2100 Vo Dat, FB Nancy 14180 29100 0 Saigon No Data No Data No Data Nha Be (Navy Base) 19725 121925 6000 Cholon 320 0 0 PhuLoi 79000 83430 0 An Loc 77000 79830 0 Lai Khe 57120 22300 1800 Xuan Loc 23865 58750 660 FB Frenzel 13445 57560 900 LZ Bearcat 17840 75470 0 Trang Bang 32365 39560 6000 Bien Hoa 35045 124525 3950 Phu Cuong 39845 62230 12055 Loc Ninh 46660 103710 1800 Qua Viet 50610 5600 3500 FB Mace 34280 23350 730 Quan Loi 44190 34300 0 LZ Schofield 38640 17210 7800 Tan Son Nhut 6320 0 1595 NAM VET Newsletter Page 52 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 FB Di An 6000 0 1595 Ben Cat 87250 83640 20105 Tay Ninh 750 3225 600 Vung Tau 7350 0 0 Song Be 1900 9220 0 Dau Tieng (Michelin) 32370 45800 3600 LZ Fish Hook 44000 23800 0 Duc Hoa 750 0 0 Cu Chi 59150 67540 14105 Phouc Vinh 484383 146576 12810 Katum (not basecamp/FB) 299420 239395 20000 IV CORPS: Vihn Long 8360 9755 890 Vihn Loi 30010 0 0 Tra Vihn 9885 8000 0 Tieu Con 8700 0 0 Tan An 89550 36450 0 Soc Trang 3410 2391 1280 Seafloat 4700 0 0 Phu Quoc 19000 0 0 Phnom 0 184 0 Rach Gia 0 2155 0 Nam Can 150345 64295 0 My Tho 13320 7316 965 FB Moore 9820 0 0 Moc Hoa 12400 6590 0 Ham Long 3275 1620 0 Ben Luc 45900 14838 0 Ben Tre 24800 24750 0 Can Tho 15160 13915 11685 Cao Lanh 1875 2935 830 Dong Tam 5870 605 165 FB Grand Can(yon?) 0 1540 0 Available from the New Jersey State Commission on Agent Orange P O Box 1717 Trenton, NJ 08607-1717 No, you don't have to live in New Jersey. Write to them for a packet of articles, including the one noted above. It'll open your eyes to a lot. NAM VET Newsletter Page 53 Volume 5, Number 7 July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xxx _ -. . - .-. - . . . . - XXXXXxxXXXXXXXXXXXx -. - .- . - . . XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-. .--. - .- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -.- - -.- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -. -. -. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx .g -. -. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX .- j. .- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . p .-. XXXXXXXX ]XXXXXXXXX ]XXXXXXXX .- - -. XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX -.- - -- XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX -- - XXXXXXXXX X'`XXX XXXXXXX Y Y XXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXXXXX X X XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXX XXXXXX XXX XX X XXX XX XX XXXX XX XXX XX XX XX XXXX XXX]XXXXXXXXXXXX XXX[ XX XX XXX XXXXXXXXXX " I t ' s o n l y t e e n a g e a c n e ! " -Robert Nimmo- NAM VET Newsletter Page 54 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 NPR's Bob Edwards & Vernon Loeb - An Interview Input by Jim Ferguson NamVet's Assistant Agent Orange Section Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 The following interview between National Public Radio Morning Edition host, Bob Edwards and Vernon Loeb, foreign correspondent with the Philadelphia Inquirer was aired on the Morning Edition radio news program on April 16, 1991. I have left out a few "uhs," "you knows," and "sort ofs." Other than those, I believe it's an accurate transcript. I've also included a copy of the note I sent to them regarding this broadcast. EDWARDS: Between 1962 and 1971, The United States dumped 11,000,000 gallons of Agent Orange on South Vietnam, blanketing about one-eighth of the country. Thousands of U.S. soldiers were exposed to the defoliant and the health problems it caused them continue to be a source of debate between the U.S. government and veteran's groups. Thousands of Vietnamese suffered more extensive and more direct exposure to Agent Orange. They, too, suffer from certain types of cancer and other ailments which they blame on Agent Orange, but they haven't been able to prove it because the Vietnamese government lacks the resources to conduct a comprehensive study of Agent Orange. On Capitol Hill yesterday, there were suggestions that Washington provide the funds for such a study and that the U.S. Government lift its embargo on aid to Vietnam. Vernon Loeb ?sp is a foreign correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer. He travelled to Vietnam to observe the effects of the defoliant on the land and on its people. LOEB: I can really remember seeing in one... bamboo... hut where one family lived, with a fire inside and it was very smoky and we were waiting for their aunt to come down the road and when she came, they took me outside and I remember watching this woman hobble down the street... the dirt path through this village on what looked like a club foot. And... she explained that she was out in the fields working one day back in the late sixties when a plane flew over, sprayed this white liquid... down on the fields and shortly thereafter, she couldn't walk at all and I think she said she couldn't walk for a year. And she's slowly gotten better but all these years later she basically can't use half of her body. And there were a number of other people in the village who were suffering from the same sorts of things. EDWARDS: You quote a doctor as saying that they used to be afraid of the B-52 bombing, but that wasn't the worst thing that the U.S. dropped on them. LOEB: Right. It's funny, a lot of the people that I spoke to who... who lived in ... directly under the spraying said they didn't know what it was at first. They had no idea what this... this spray, this mist, almost spring-like mist coming down from these airplanes was supposed to do. They quickly figured it out when the leaves started to shrivel up within a day or two. And I think the comment about not realizing that this was more NAM VET Newsletter Page 55 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 devastating than the B-52 bombing, you take a B-52 bomb [run] and if you survive, the worst is over. When your land is sprayed with Agent Orange and you survive, your... your land isn't gonna be the same anymore and you may have some strange disease that may not show up for ten or fifteen years. EDWARDS: And it's a recurring problem in that the land is... is diseased. It's... difficult to grow anything that hasn't been poisoned... LOEB: In many ways it's easier to see what the Agent Orange did to the land than it is to see what it did to the people. It basically reduced thousands of acres of dense tropical rain forest to... vast expanses of... of barren grassland. The Vietnamese call it "American Grass." It's almost like cudzoo... it's tall grass that keeps anything else from growing. And you can stand up in the mountains and you can look all the way back down to Highway 1 and the South China Sea and in some stretches it's just ALL grass. And the Vietnamese can tell you how... before the war... it was ALL jungle. And so... the use of Agent Orange has just permanently... and dramatically... DEVASTATED... whole sections of South Vietnam. EDWARDS: You had a number of different reactions. You had doctors who wanted to set up a research laboratory on the subject in Vietnam. You had others who were just... angry... furious. LOEB: Yeah. I was... the Vietnamese, culturally, do not often show emotion the way... Westerners do. Culturally to the Vietnamese it's... it's... it's a sign of weakness... to... to show your vulnerabilities, to show your emotions. But I was surprised when the subject turned to Agent Orange how quickly... in Vietnam emotions came to the surface. And it's almost as though the Vietnamese on... on... on one level thought, in a war, it was fair game to use bombs and... and guns but... the chemicals... they seem to find... far less acceptable or understandable and... and they... they... it really did make them angry to talk about it... just... hearing them tell stories about how... this liquid would fall on their... on their arms and in their hair and make them itch and vomit. It really was a powerful experience to hear them talk about it. EDWARDS: You say that in all of Vietnam, there's not a single dioxin measuring machine. LOEB: Right. That was.. that was one of the most amazing discoveries I made doing the story. I was interviewing a doc... they have a... they have a National Agent Orange committee in Hanoi that... that conducts research as best it can with very limited funds. I was interviewing a doctor there and he was... very... politely... studiously answering my questions and at the end of the interview he excused himself for a minute and came back just a minute later with a list and he said, "Sir... if you could help us with any of this equipment, we would be most grateful." And on the list was a Hewlett-Packard gas chromatograph, which is the machine that you use to measure dioxin. And that's when it hit me that this country that's probably the most dioxin contaminated country in the world doesn't have a single machine.. capable of measuring dioxin content. NAM VET Newsletter Page 56 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 EDWARDS: The Veterans Administration won't acknowledge a link between Agent Orange and physical problems that have shown up with U.S. Veterans, but the chemical companies seem to understand there is a link. LOEB: Yeah... One... one thing that struck me in reading about all of the research going on in the United States is that... it seem to me if people were really interested in establishing a link between... various diseases and Agent Orange that they should go to Vietnam to do it. Because the Vietnamese experience with Agent Orange is... is vastly different from the American experience, in that the Vietnamese were directly sprayed with Agent Orange, men, women and children. The... the... connection of veterans with Agent Or... American veterans with Agent Orange is different. They would come into an area that had been sprayed... days or... or weeks later. The Vietnamese, on the other hand, were... were under or in... in the jungles when the planes flew overhead... they had the stuff fall right on their bodies. So it seems to me that if veterans groups or anyone else really want to get to the bottom of this mystery... Vietnam would be a good place to start. EDWARDS: Vernon Loeb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He spoke with us from Jerusalem. 1593 Spring Hill Dr. Hummelstown, PA 17036 (717) 534-5562 Days (717) 566-7327 Eves April 16,1991 Dear Morning Edition: I thank you for your recent interview with Vernon Loeb concerning the effects of Agent Orange on the Vietnamese people. As a veteran with a rare type of cancer having an association with Agent Orange, I certainly support additional research as to the effects of the defoliant. However, my purpose in writing is to correct a fallacy included in your report. This is the basic idea that the Vietnamese people "suffered more extensive and more direct exposure to Agent Orange." No one can argue that the Vietnamese have endured MUCH LONGER TERM exposure to the effects of Agent Orange. However, Mr. Loeb made a statement that while the Vietnamese were directly sprayed with Agent Orange, U.S. troops came into these areas days and weeks later. In fact, a sizable number of U.S. veterans report having been directly sprayed with defoliants. Others report moving through areas immediately after (still wet from) spraying, and the defoliant saturating their clothing. I have seen a photograph of a man in shorts using a hand-held or back- pack sprayer, reportedly filled with Agent Orange to kill plants around his "hootch" and in the barbed wire perimeter. (To do this he would have handled quantities of liquid defoliant filling the sprayer, then walked around spraying at his feet.) Still other U.S. veterans (including me) worked from or lived on artillery support "firebases" which were basically hills in the jungle which NAM VET Newsletter Page 57 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 had been heavily defoliated. My point is not to initiate a contest of who was most exposed but at the same time I do not want Mr. Loeb or the Vietnamese to rewrite history and imply that the U.S. military somehow knew the dangers of Agent Orange and "protected" its troops from direct exposure. That is simply not the case. A second incorrect statement in the report was that the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) "won't acknowledge a link between Agent Orange and physical problems that have shown up with U.S. veterans." On May 5, 1990, retired Navy Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. filed a report with the DVA citing 27 diseases/disorders as being "more likely than not" related to dioxin (Agent Orange) exposure. Thus far, the DVA has officially recognized only three of these conditions as being service connected. For a long time, chloracne (a skin disorder) has been recognized as service connected, provided it was manifested within three months of exposure. The DVA currently proposes lengthening that period to nine months. The DVA also recognized non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas in March 1990 and soft tissue sarcomas in May 1990 as being service connected. The history and controversy over Agent Orange is far from over, much additional study needs to be done. Jim Ferguson Vietnam, Class of '70-'71 NAM VET Newsletter Page 58 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 VA OK's BENEFITS FOR NERVE ILLNESS TIED TO AGENT ORANGE 7/2/91 Boston Globe Submitted by: Sarge Hultgren NamVet's Editorial Assistant Freedom's Choice BBS - Lynn, MA (617) 593-2605 --------------- WASHINGTON POST --------------- WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs announced yesterday it will begin compensating Vietnam veterans suffering from a third disease linked to exposure to Agent Orange, the widely used herbicide that veterans groups have alleged is responsible for a wide range of ailments. The decision by VA secretary Edward J. Derwinski means that a limited number of veterans suffering from peripheral neuropathy, a nervous-system disorder that causes numbness and tingling, will be allowed disability payments. The VA previously awarded similar payments to Vietnam veterans who have non-Hodgkins lymphoma and soft-tissue sarcomas, two forms of cancer. Spokesman for two veterans groups expressed disappointment that the department did not do more. "I suppose they expect a pat on the back for this, but they should just grant the benefits" for all the ailments, said John Minnick, a spokesman for Vietnam Veterans of America. Richard S. Christian, deputy director for research and technology assessment for the American Legion, charged that the VA imposed so many restrictions on the latest decision that few of the 34,000 veterans who have filed Agent orange claims will benefit. "This just gets a handful of people. It's too restrictive," he said. Dennis Boxx, a spokesman for Derwinski, and the department was unable to estimate how many veterans would be affected. "We don't think it's a large number," he said. Service-related disability payments would be limited to Vietnam veterans who showed signs of the nervous illness within 10 years of exposure to Agent Orange and to those who were not exposed to other chemicals that could cause the condition. It would not apply to those who suffer from another ailment, such as alcoholism, that would cause the reaction. Derwinski also announced he was rejecting claims that exposure to dioxin, the carcinogenic agent in the herbicide, was linked to lung cancer and was asking the National Academy of Sciences to study a possible link to diabetes. "These latest steps are a mark of progress in helping to resolve some of the lingering concerns felt by Vietnam veterans and their families," Derwinski said. Congress recently directed the National Academy to study the Agent Orange issue, hoping to end the prolonged debate over the chemical's impact. The academy would replace the Veterans Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards, a VA panel that Minnick claimed "was a bogus committee from the start." NAM VET Newsletter Page 59 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== The NamVet Chapel ================================================================== Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Former POWs By Ron Langer In: Post Traumatic Stress Disorders: A Handbook For Clinicians Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 (SPECIAL INSERTION in/on behalf of ALL our exPOWs) INTRODUCTION In the summer of 1983, while working in the psychiatric emergency room and the outpatient psychiatry clinic of the VA Medical Center in Denver, I began to notice a significant number of World War II combat veterans who were manifesting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some of these veterans had been chronically symptomatic. Others had displayed brief periods of symptoms shortly after the war, but began developing symptoms again in their late 50s and early 60s. I hypothesized that the exacerbation of PTSD symptoms was due to the various losses these veterans were currently experiencing: e.g., retirement, deterioration of physical health, deaths of contemporaries, and loss of previous physical and sometimes mental abilities. Aware of the success of group treatment of Vietnam veterans with PTSD, I began talking with other psychiatric staff about a therapy group for World War II combat veterans with PTSD. Another therapist at the clinic, Cynthia Ochs, expressed interest in being co-therapist for such a group. When I mentioned the group to Steve Oboler, who wrote another chapter in this book, he described to me the exPOW protocol evaluation program he was coordinating and noted that he was identifying many exPOWs not currently in psychiatric treatment who could benefit from the program. Dr. Ochs and I then decided to do a therapy group exclusively for World War II exPOWs. In December 1983, we began a weekly, one-hour psychotherapy group with five exPOWs from both the European and the Pacific Theaters. The group has now been in existence for over two years. During this time, we have added six members, and one of the original members has discontinued. During this two-year period, I have evaluated perhaps a dozen other exPOWs who were either not interested in or not appropriate for the group. I see approximately half of these in individual psychotherapy at frequencies ranging from once a week to once every few months. We have also run a time-limited (six months)support group for wives of exPOWs, with the primary purposes of education and helping the women develop a mutual support system (see C. Williams, "Women Partners," this volume). ["this volume" referring to the book from which this article is quoted - Joe] COMMON FEATURES OF PTSD AMONG FORMER POWS I have come to understand the PTSD syndrome among exPOWs as a result of the traumas they experienced and their attempt to adapt to and/or master these catastrophic experiences. This section NAM VET Newsletter Page 60 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 will review some of the more prominent features I have noted among exPOWs, and will attempt to clarify my belief that these symptoms are the result of the POW experience and are an effort to adapt to and overcome the traumas. How many of these exPOWs actually have PTSD? From Oboler's figures (this volume), we see that only 28 percent of Pacific Theater and 11 percent of European Theater exPOWs were diagnosed with PTSD on their exPOW protocol examinations; 82 percent of the former, and 60 percent of the latter received some psychiatric diagnoses. It is my impression, however, that the number of exPOWs with PTSD is far greater than this, and that some of these exPOWs who received other psychiatric diagnoses actually have PTSD. Whether this is true or not may be a question of semantics. What is undeniable, though, is the great frequency with which features of PTSD occur among this population. PTSD is a diagnosis that is difficult to make, and one that is often missed. It is a new diagnosis (officially recognized in 1980), and its existence is controversial, especially among older clinicians. It is often confused with character disorders, on which it is sometimes an overlay. It is difficult to differentiate from dysthymic disorder and various anxiety disorders. In some cases, it is only after a significant period of evaluation and/or treatment that PTSD can be differentiated from character disorders, affective disorders, and other anxiety disorders. When PTSD has psychotic features, it is often confused with other psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia. We have found the following symptoms among the World War II and Korean exPOWs whom we have evaluated and treated. Of course, not all symptoms are present in all patience (cf. Jacob, Goodwin, and Newman, this volume): > Anger > Depression > Fear of loss of control > Guilt > Overstimulation > Nightmares > Acute Psychoses > Anxiety > Interpersonal distancing > Feeling misunderstood by - and distrustful of - nonPOWs > Disorders of self-esteem (both inappropriately low and inappropriately high). ANGER AND IRRITABILITY Perhaps the most common presenting symptom, and the symptom most often described by exPOWs and their families, is excessive anger and irritability. These veterans are often involved in conflicts with the VA and other large systems. Anger at strangers for real or perceived slights, anger at Orientals, even anger at Japanese automobiles and their drivers, is common. One group member, Mr. A., frequently had to pull off to the side of the road when he felt he was being cut off by drivers in Japanese automobiles. He sometimes had thoughts of driving his vehicle into the offender. Another group member, Mr. B., was a frequent visitor to the Hospital Director's office to register complaints in an inappropriate - generally impatient - manner. NAM VET Newsletter Page 61 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 It is not difficult to understand why these people are angry. They have been subjected to deprivation, torture, humiliation, threats of death, and have seen their comrades die. Through all of this, they were unable to express the anger they felt. Therefore, massive amounts of anger still exist to be displaced on other authority figures. Anger is a healthy, normal response to being abused, especially when one is helpless. On the other hand, it is difficult to be the object of anger. As a counselor, it is important that you be aware of your own emotional response to the anger of these patients, and not to allow them to push you away, as they have pushed away so many other people. Anger is also functional. It is a good defense against depression, a symptom that is not far from the surface in many of these patients. Also, it serves to discharge psychic energy, thus avoiding overstimulation, a problem common among exPOWs, and one I will discuss in more detail later. Anger is also adaptive in keeping people away, and protecting the exPOW from the threat of intimacy. This must have been important in situations where death of comrades was frequent. This, too, will be treated in more detail at a later point. DEPRESSION Depression is very common, indeed almost universal, in exPOWs. However, it is often masked by anger, anxiety, and a variety of other defenses. Depression was not acceptable in the POW camps because it mean giving up and dying. "The testimony of survivors is practically unanimous that prisoners who became depressed or allowed themselves to become agitated by thoughts of home developed distaste for food and died" (Wolf & Ripley, 1947). Mr. C., a group member, describes being forced ot eat by a friend shortly after his arrival in Manchuria from the Philippines: "I hated it then, but it saved my life." In the exPOW therapy group, members often protect each other from sad feelings. When a group member cries, it is not uncommon for another member to attempt to change the subject, rather than stay with the feeling. It is important for the therapist to stay with the feeling and to empathize with it, modeling this behavior for the group members. It is also important to interpret the protectiveness of the group members as adaptive while they were POWs but as no longer adaptive. Depression no longer means death. The most common service-connected diagnoses of exPOWs are "anxiety related disorders." (Veterans Administration [VA], 1980, p.123; see also Oboler, this volume). It may well be that anxiety is a defense against the depression, and the depression is so well disguised that all that is seen on disability evaluations is the defense. Wolf and Ripley describe "the shallow optimism" or "a sort of dull euphoria" (1947, p. 191) after repatriation. This is probably a reaction formation, defending against depression. Nevertheless, there is a pervasive, chronic, generally low-grade depression found in most exPOWs that is apparent to anyone who has worked with them on a long-term basis. This depression is generally manifested in feelings of despair, defeat, and failure. This low-grade depression was itself adaptive in protecting the NAM VET Newsletter Page 62 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 self against disappointment, which was so frequently felt. Indeed, even today these men are almost surprised when something good happens to them, and cannot believe it to be true. FEAR OF LOSS OF CONTROL Early in the group, one member mentioned a fear of heights, and one after another group member acknowledged that they too had a fear of heights; all but one group member shared this fear. Acrophobia is symbolic of a more general fear of loss of control. Several members commented that they feared that they would slip or fall or even jump from a height. This is fear of loss of impulse control. Fear of loss of control is a key issue in the problems with interpersonal relationships faced by these veterans. Control issues were the problems most frequently cited by the wives in the wives group, as well. It is not surprising that these exPOWs fear loss of control since they had little or no control over their lives while prisoners. Furthermore, they had to "keep the lid on" their feelings and behavior. Humiliation was common, and displays of anger were severely punished, sometimes by death. Mr. C. recently had a dream, about which he felt "wonderful." In his dream, another therapy group member managed to leave a line of prisoners and steal some potatoes from under the noses of the Japanese. He was no longer under their control. POWs found many ways to maintain some feeling of control. They made up comical names for the Japanese guards, or managed to find a way for some infected stool to end up in the food of the Japanese officers. In working with the control issue, it is best not to insistently confront or attack the defense - such assaults only strengthen the defensive response. If the therapist respects their needs for the defense, these veterans, in their own time, will slowly let go of their overtly strong need for control GUILT AND SHAME There is no exPOW who has not asked himself the question, "Why did I make it and others did not?" Mr. A. describes being placed on one "hell ship" and his six closest friends were placed on another. The ship carrying his friends was attacked and sunk, and they all died. There is, of course, no logical explanation for his survival and his friends' deaths, yet he has been trying to understand it for over forty years. When his own son suffocated to death about five years ago, nearly replicating his own almost fatal experience when his tank overturned in a river during the defense of Bataan, it brought back the old guilt and the old question, "Why not me?" Survival guilt (see T. Williams, this volume) is especially prominent with WW II Pacific Theater exPOWs and Korean exPOWs. This is due to two factors: first, there was an extremely high mortality rate among these two groups; second, because of the unbelievable harsh conditions to which they were subjected, these men sometimes did things of which they were later ashamed. Often this shame is unrealistic, and out of proportion. For example, a Korean exPOW, Mr. D., feels guilty because he was not able to bring out every American captured in Korea. Others feel guilty over such things as eating while their comrades died of starvation. Sometimes this guilt is so great that the individual cannot face other exPOWs. The clinician should be sensitive to this and gently explore it. When the guilt does not abate even after such NAM VET Newsletter Page 63 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 exploration, the exPOW's wishes to be seen individually, rather than in group, should be respected. I have made the mistake of pushing such an individual into group therapy, and the result was counter-therapeutic. In their article, Wolf and Ripley make an observation that is relevant here: "Among the survivors two personality types seem to dominate: (1) those with features of psychopathic personality, and (2) personalities of the highest order of adjustment" (1947, p.186). It is clear that these two personality types were the most adaptive in dealing with the POW experience, albeit in different ways. Notably, the findings of the "Morgan Board" regarding the factors that enabled some to survive while others died (Oboler, this volume) contain characteristics of both personality types. Mr. E., for example, grew up on a ranch in Wyoming under conditions of severe deprivation. He had learned to take care of himself at a very young age, and had also learned to make do with very little in the way of food, shelter, and especially the emotional closeness of other human beings. He developed a somewhat sociopathic personality style, which served him in good stead throughout his more than 39 months of Japanese captivity as well as in his career as a senior "non-com" after the war. In contrast, Mr. A., who was described above, was the son of a minister and had a successful professional career after the war. He survived his 39 months of Japanese captivity through close association with other prisoners and holding fast to the religious and moral values he grew up with. Mr. A.'s feelings might more properly be called "guilt" and Mr. E.'s "shame." Mr. E.'s feelings are more primitive, and he has poorer ability to tolerate them. Mr. A. is seen in group therapy; Mr. E. in individual therapy. At times, the guilt is manifested in various self-destructive behaviors, ranging from mild to severe. Mr. D. compulsively involves himself in helping other exPOWs, even at his own emotional expense. His need to help other exPOWs has interfered with his marriage and with his own therapy. Another individual, Mr. F., convinced that he did not deserve to survive his POW experience, refused psychiatric treatment and hindered attempts to increase his service-connected compensation. He was recently diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma, and may have delayed getting this condition diagnosed out of his unconscious need to punish himself. Still another individual, Mr. G, has found a way to almost literally repeat his POW experience by becoming involved in a relationship with a German woman from the town where he was held prisoner. She is pathologically jealous, perhaps to psychotic proportions, and prevents him from significant contact with other people - in effect, keeping him a prisoner. This symptom - pathological guilt - is perhaps the most difficult to deal with because there is at times some reality to it. There is no satisfactory answer to the question: "Why not me?", and POWs did behave in ways that whey would not normally behave. What is most helpful is to assist the exPOW in recognizing the abnormal, psychotic nature of what he has been through, and to help him recognize that it is not shameful to do what one can to survive in NAM VET Newsletter Page 64 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 such a situation, as well as recognize that HIS BEHAVIOR did not kill his comrades. For those who are able to tolerate group therapy, the acceptance by their comrades in the group seems to be most effective in dealing with the guilt. OVERSTIMULATION We have encountered several exPOWs who are subject to overstimulation, which in this context may be defined as an inability to tolerate a normal degree of affect. These individuals look very agitated and extremely anxious, and at such times they often cannot speak intelligibly, need to leave the room and pace about, or engage in some other motor activity to dissipate the affect. A similar phenomenon has been noted among (nonPOW) combat veterans: "In my experience, motor activity as a defense against painful affects... is the ;rule with traumatized patients" (Schwartz, 1984, p.54). It seems that this symptom is often confused with anxiety, but it is qualitatively different from anxiety. It is more like the symptoms frequently observed in adult psychotherapy patients who were victims of physical or sexual abuse as children, who, like the POWs, had to tolerate sensations they were not physically or emotionally able to discharge at the time. This concept of overstimulation needs elucidation to help explain the prevalence of so-called anxiety disorders among exPOWs, their fear of loss of control, the often-observed anger and irritability, and possibly the vivid nightmares and flashback phenomena. It may be a later manifestation of the hysterical conversion reactions frequently observed by Wolf & Ripley (1947). In responding to symptoms of overstimulation, it is not helpful to try to impede the physical discharge unless such discharge would be dangerous. However, AT A LATER TIME, helping the individual put his affect into words is an important treatment intervention. NIGHTMARES At the time of their repatriation, exPOWs almost universally experienced nightmares. Themes were generally rather close to the individual's experience, either during captivity or when captured (Segal, 1974, p.10; Wolf & Ripley, 1947, p.86). With the passing of time, the prevalence of nightmares seems to have diminished among most exPOWs. However, during periods of stress, in response to current events like hostage situations, or at significant anniversaries (e.g., Pearl Harbor, V.E. or V.J. Day, the fall of Bataan, etc.), nightmares often reappear. The various losses being experienced by WW II exPOWs, now in their 60s, also seem to have contributed to an increased frequency of nightmares. Common nightmare themes center around being threatened and being helpless. For example, Mr. C., a survivor of the ;surrender of Corregidor, frequently dreams of being attacked by the Japanese, having one of his grandchildren with him, and running out of ammunition. Other dreams are less clearly understood. Mr. H., who was captured at the Battle of the Bulge, sometimes experiences strange, confusing, "science-fiction-type" dreams, which he cannot understand. He says he gets the ;same feeling of being lost and confused that he had as an infantryman lost in the fog at the time he was captured. These dreams seem to be a way of discharging psychic energy, and NAM VET Newsletter Page 65 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 can be very helpful, not only in their energy discharge function, but also as a means for understanding the internal conflicts of these veterans. In individual and group therapy, it is helpful to encourage these patients to talk about their dreams and nightmares so that they can come to understand them. As with the dreams of any psychotherapy patient, the level of interpretation should be appropriate ot the needs and capabilities of the patient. ACUTE PSYCHOSES In their 1947 article, Wolf and Ripley state: "Eight (of thirty- five) patients had psychoses. Three of these were classified as schizophrenia, one as manic depressive psychosis, manic type, and one as paranoid condition. One patient had a delirium associated with cerebral malaria and two were considered to be psychotic because of nutritional deficiency." (p.185) ALthough there is no way to be certain, I would speculate that at least some of these patients would not be more correctly diagnosed as having PTSD with psychotic features. Some of the exPOWs I have met have described experiences in the early years after repatriation as very similar to "flashbacks" described by Vietnam veterans with PTSD> These sometimes occurred during hypnagogic or hypnopompic states, and at times were difficult to distinguish from nightmares. Other exPOWs experienced psychotic symptoms of longer duration, but still not the more global deterioration that is characteristic of schizophrenia. Mr. I., a B-17 gunner taken prisoner in Germany in 1943, was hospitalized in 1948 for 2 years in a state hospital where he was treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) after an incident of bizarre and uncharacteristic behavior. On admission, the examining psychiatrist noted that, "During the time [of the incident, Mr., I.]... felt as if he were watching a movie and that he was not doing it at all. Afterwards, he felt very guilty." (Clinical Record, 1948) The psychiatrist wrote further that: At other times he noted that people were talking about him as he passed them on the street. He is sure that they were making derogatory remarks about him although he did not hear what they said. Although he has no idea what they were saying he thinks it may be about the way he was dressed. This is very similar to the experiences in prison camps when the guards would see him pass and make remarks about his appearance, etc. Also, when he became very tense, usually at night, he would smell rubber burning and blood. This compared ot his experience in the burning plane and the sights he saw in prison camps. Vivid nightmares bothered him a good deal at first and he also heard his name being called; the voice was similar to that of a friend who called to him just after his landing in the bay and before his friend's parachute carried him under. The nightmares were a repeat performance of the experience in the Army (of seeing 1200 Jews killed). In addition to his irritability and nervousness, he has had several periods when he felt as if he were floating in air, light-headed, and describes a "funny feeling" all over. Also, several times he has just felt suddenly like getting away from things and wandered impulsively with no special goal in mind. He knows he should not, but seemingly cannot stop himself. (Clinical Record, 1948) NAM VET Newsletter Page 66 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Mr. I. received a diagnosis of DEMENTIA PRAECOX, or schizophrenia, at that time. He required only one other psychiatric hospitalization since: for one month, in 1969, when he suffered a "psychotic break" after seeing a war movie. His disability examination in 1983 noted that: "It appears that he has suffered in the past from a post-traumatic stress disorder, however, although symptoms of this disorder remain, I would not currently diagnose him as suffering from such a disorder. It is my firm opinion, however, that his generalized anxiety disorder is a direct result of his POW experience." (Clinical Record, 1983) Mr. I. was most likely MISDIAGNOSED as schizophrenic, and consequently treated with ECT. More likely, he had a PTSD with psychotic features of an hysterical, dissociative nature. This sort of misdiagnosis is, unfortunately, not uncommon: It seems that the florid symptoms of repetitive anxiety attacks, panic states, dissociative paranoid rage states, and other dissociative phenomena such as "flashbacks" often lead to the diagnosis of schizophrenia, rather than PTSD. Despite dissociative phenomena observed in these veterans, reality testing, and other ego functions known to be severely impaired in schizophrenic disturbances, remain intact. (Parron, 1984, p. 17) Other exPOWs begin to show psychotic symptoms related to their POW experiences when an organic brain syndrome weakens their usual defensive structure. Mr. C., for example, who was described above as suffering from frequent nightmares, has become psychotic on two occasions, both immediately following major surgery. On both of these occasions, he believed he was - and behaved as if he were still - a captive of the Japanese. He attempted to physically assault hospital personnel and to escape from his hospital room, almost jumping from his second-story window. On both occasions, he needed ot be restrained for several days. Mr. J., a European Theater exPOW who developed a chronic organic brain syndrome in his mid-60s after a successful professional career, concurrently began ruminating about his POW experiences. He eventually became paranoid and began hallucinating that people were breaking into his home and believed that he had to guard it. In the hospital, during an initial mental status exam, he reported that the current president was Roosevelt. Whether such cases fully meet the criteria for PTSD is probably not very important. What is important, however, is that such symptoms are undoubtedly related to the patient's POW experiences. It is not unusual to see exPOWs with psychotic symptoms. Much of the time, the POW experience provides a better etiological explanation than does a diagnosis of schizophrenia. As noted above, however, this is not to deny the importance of predisposing personality factors. ANXIETY Anxiety disorders are the most common type of service-connected disability. Anxiety is a normal response to the constant NAM VET Newsletter Page 67 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 uncertainty with which POWs had to contend. As discussed above, it appears that anxiety is sometimes confused with overstimulation. Several of the patients we have seen have experienced panic attacks, which is also a kind of overstimulation. As these veterans become involved in treatment, their general level of anxiety tends to decrease, and they become overstimulated less easily. However, at the Denver VAMC, anti-anxiety agents, such as benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants, have been used with good results with this population (see Yost, this volume). INTERPERSONAL DISTANCING The need to keep a certain amount of distance from other people is a common symptom among exPOWs. It is often seen in marital and family relationships as well as in work relationships and friendships. We have sometimes noticed a peculiar combination of distancing and dependence. There is often a considerable amount of dependence on a spouse or interdependence between spouses, accompanied by an avoidance of any real intimacy. It is not unusual to find a chronic state of conflict, which keeps the spouses connected, yet maintains a certain amount of distance. At times, there is a repetition of "prisoner-guard" patterns in POW marriages. In some of these marriages, one spouse will always take the prisoner role and the other the guard role; in others, there is an interchangeability of roles, but the basic pattern does not change. The combination of distancing and dependency may be understood in light of the POW experience. POWs needed each other desperately, yet they also needed to keep a certain distance because of the possibility(sometimes probability) of the death of their comrades. The subject of POW marriages deserves much more treatment than is possible here (see C. Williams, "Women Partners," this volume). However, we have found it very helpful, especially in the wives' group, to explain the "prison-guard" dynamic and to use it to explain interactional patterns otherwise difficult to understand. It is helpful to note that this pattern was adaptive in the POW situation but is no longer necessary. DISTRUST OF NONPOWs There is a chronic feeling of being misunderstood among exPOWs. The assumption that nonPOWs will not understand is in part realistic (cf., Hickman, this volume). The VA system has not always responded with understanding toward these veterans. Many were told after repatriation to "just forget" about their POW experiences. This we now know is an impossibility. Many were told by clinical staff, who themselves must have felt helpless and hopeless, that they had "K-Z syndrome" or "concentration camp syndrome" or "POW syndrome," and that nothing much could be done. The feeling of being misunderstood is also the result of the psychotic nature of the POW experience. What exPOWs have experienced is often so far beyond the range of normal experience that they cannot imagine that anyone would believe what they have to say. Indeed, they sometimes mistrust their own memories. And it is not uncommon for the clinician to disbelieve what these people tell them as a defense against fully comprehending the NAM VET Newsletter Page 68 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 horror. I have found myself disbelieving something an exPOW has told me, only to realize at a later time that it was my own inability to tolerate the awful nature of what I was being told that created my disbelief. The exPOW's belief that he will not be understood also serves a defensive purpose. First, if he will not be understood then there is no need to have to open up old wounds and talk with other people about his experiences. Second, if he does describe his experiences to others, and is not then understood, he will not be as disappointed. The corollary to the feeling that nonPOWs will not be able to understand them is the belief that other exPOWs already understand, and thus do not have to be told the awful details. When exPOWs talk among themselves, they frequently avoid dealing with their more troubling memories. They often focus on the humorous aspects or "high points" of their experience. Guilt, fear of overstimulation, and above all, protection of their comrades, leads them to avoid talking about the most unsettling experiences. If they already understand, there is no need to talk. LOW SELF-ESTEEM Disorders of self-esteem and chronic lack of self=confidence are common among this population. Often there is an overcompensation through a brittle, narcissistic personality structure that is very vulnerable to narcissistic injury. These men were prisoners during a period of their lives when self-esteem is developed and reinforced through success. They had few successes. Indeed, while POWs, they were subjected to almost continuous humiliation and defeat. There is a tradition of victory in the U.S. Armed Forces, and these men were not victors. Among Pacific Theater exPOWs, there is often a feeling that "we lost our war." Successes after repatriation have remedied these traumas with some exPOWs. However, with many of these individuals the various physical and emotional disabilities they received as POWs have prevented further successes. In some cases, the intense shame and guilt have led to a sort of "vicious cycle." Mr. K., a European Theater exPOW, who was eventually forced by his intense guilt to drop out of the group and fail in treatment, attempted and failed in more than two dozen jobs. ...a crisis is to be expected once the rapture (of repatriation) recedes and the realities of life appear. Some physical disabilities take years to overcome, if, in fact, they are ever overcome. Being below par psychologically as well as physically, the former prisoner has little chance of holding his own, yet finds himself in daily competition with completely healthy people. He is almost programmed to lose and social decline often follows. There is a high divorce rate. The inability to feel belonging anywhere, or understanding by anyone, leads to increased alcohol and drug use (Russell, 1984, p.253) Some exPOWs defend against their feelings of low self-esteem by refusing to acknowledge their POW status. For example, they avoid POW organizations, free or low-cost license plates often offered to exPOWs, and treatment for their physical and psychological NAM VET Newsletter Page 69 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 wounds offered at VA medical centers. Some exPOWs present at first as self-centered, overbearing individuals. This is generally an attempt to compensate for feelings of low self- esteem, and - as with most defenses - is best not directly confronted. It will disappear when it is no longer needed. For other exPOWs, the status of being an exPOW or as a disabled veteran is their PRIMARY SOURCE of self-esteem. When they begin to feel better about themselves as whole people, they are able to see themselves as more than just exPOWs. TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS In writing this chapter, I asked the exPOW group, after two years of treatment, what had been most helpful to them from the therapists and from other group members. From the therapists, what was cited most often was a willingness to listen and the ability to understand what was being related with interest and respect. In addition, a willingness to allow the group members to maintain their defenses as long as they needed them, or as one member put it, "To allow us to wander around in left field for a while," was noted as helpful. What was cited as most helpful from other group members was their interest and caring. COUNTER-TRANSFERENCE The most difficult issue for therapists working with this population is counter-transference. It is essential not to push these people away, like others have, because the therapist cannot tolerate what he is hearing or feels helpless and frustrated. Rejection is a major fear, and exPOWS are sensitive to even very subtle signs. It is difficult to really listen to stories of death, illness, torture, and general inhumanity, to empathize with feelings of hopelessness, intense sadness, humiliation, lack of control, and mortal fear without such defensive reactions as disbelief, intellectualization or other pulling away, or subtly discouraging talk about these experiences. When the group was starting, I usually warned group members against "telling war stories." I thought I had good reasons for this, having experienced combat veterans' using often-told stories of their combat experiences to avoid affect. However, what I didn't realize until later was that what I had said discouraged group members from talking about some of their most painful experiences. This was unconscious on my part, and I did not realize it until over a year later when several group members told me about the inhibitory effect of my initial statement. During the first two months of the POW group, I found myself frequently experiencing nightmares of being a POW myself or of being a victim of similar experiences to those being described by the group members. Just hearing about these experiences had precipitated a kind of derivative traumatic neurosis in me, shorter in duration and less intense, but nevertheless very real to me; it went away as I was able to talk about it to my co=therapist and other colleagues. Any therapist working with this population must convey his willingness to listen to the exPOW's he is working with. Not every therapist can work with every population. If a therapist cannot listen emphatically to material of this sort without undue injury to himself, it is best to avoid working with exPOWs. With this population, perhaps even NAM VET Newsletter Page 70 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 more than with other psychotherapy patients, failures in empathy are far more significant than failures in techniques. A superb discussion of the counter-transference issues involved in treating concentration camp survivors, which is applicable as well to the treatment of exPOWs, may be found in De Wind (1984). INITIAL CONTACT: EVALUATION OF TREATMENT NEEDS In the setting in which I work, many of the exPOWs referred ot me are not coming as a result of their request for psychiatric treatment. Many of them have been seen for exPOW protocol examinations, where it was suggested that they talk to me. They are generally not presenting with an acute condition, or even an acute exacerbation of a chronic condition. Nevertheless, the intensity with which they present often makes it APPEAR that they have an acute condition. We believe this is due to the fact that POW issues are always just below the surface, and when these patients finally find someone whom they feel will listen to them, their presentations have great intensity. Almost without exception, exPOWs feel they have not been heard in the past, and when they finally feel they've found a listener, there is a sense of great relief. A psychiatric evaluation or a psychiatric referral may be seen as a narcissistic injury, and the ;referring clinician as well as the evaluating mental health professional needs to be aware of this. Although the exPOW may have marital problems, difficulty controlling anger, problems with interpersonal relationships, depression, or other psychosocial difficulties, these problems are generally chronic, and he may have become used to them. He may have long ago given up hope of changing anything. I generally begin by explaining what I do, note some of the more common problems I have observed in exPOWs, and try to determine the individual's interest in my services. Knowing what sorts of psychosocial problems other exPOWs experience helps the veteran normalize his problem and soften the blow to his self-esteem. KNowing what services are available makes it easier to ask for help. I attempt to explain the connection between current symptoms and past experiences, and ask the exPOW if any of this fits him. I generally focus primarily on group therapy, because I strongly feel that in the great majority of cases it is the treatment of choice for this population (see Jelinek, this volume). However, I also explain and sometimes offer individual or couples treatment. I usually expect some resistance to getting into a group. However, I have come to respect the STRONGLY STATED desire to not get into a group. Some exPOWs cannot tolerate group therapy because of overwhelming guilt or shame. They cannot face other exPOWs. Others do not have the ego strength to tolerate the affect generated by the content of these groups. Still others, because of character pathology, may be too disruptive of the group process. Some exPOWs referred ot me are not interested in treatment; they simply want help in dealing with the VA system. Providing such services may be all the individual wants or needs, or may be the first step to getting into treatment. It is significant to note that for some exPOWs, especially those NAM VET Newsletter Page 71 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 from the European Theater, the experience surrounding their capture was more traumatic than the POW experience itself. Mr. L., for example, a B-17 pilot, became significantly more anxious when describing bailing out of his plane, being followed down in his parachute by a German fighter, and then nearly being killed by the civilians who surround him when he reached the ground. After landing, I peeked over the small knoll that surrounded me to see if anyone was coming. There was about 25 or 30 of them, and armed with knives, guns, clubs, pitchforks, axes, and other forms of concealed weapons. I knew then that everything was finished and that I may as well quit. Consequently, I simply raised my hands and stood up. Immediately I was surrounded by about 20 persons, all of whom tried to talk to me at the same time. I'd heard German in school before, but this jabbering could have been Chinese, for all I know and cared. At first, they didn't dare come near me because they thought I had a gun. You see, the type of heated flying suit that I was wearing had a little brown, rectangular junction box on its right-hand side about the hip level. I had to tear it off to convince them that it wasn't a gun, or I probably would have been shot right there on the spot. When they closed in around me somebody gave me a rabbit punch from behind. I fell down. When I got up, somebody hit me on the shoulder with a club, knocking me down again. I had just got up again when a wheezing little old man stepped up in front of me and took a swing at me with a double-bitted woodman's axe, causing me to fall down again. That was a good thing because the axe swung about a foot away from me. While I laid there on the ground, he lifted his axe to take another swing when a little Frenchman hopped out of the crowd, stood over me and began to reason with the German. He must have put his point across because the little German backed away and the Frenchman helped me to my feet. By now I was having a great deal of trouble in standing erect due to my leg, but nevertheless, they forced me to start walking toward the village. In order that I wouldn't run away they made me drop all my flying clothes down around my legs, except for my shirt, which is the only thing they allowed me for coverage, and grabbing the loose arms, made me move on ahead of them. Just before entering the town a woman stuck a camera in my face and got, what later probably turned out to be a very embarrassing picture. (Unpublished diary) Mr. M. still feels guilty about his decision to try and make it back to England in his crippled B-17, during which time two crew members were killed. Neither Mr. M. nor Mr. L. report being affected as much from their stays in POW camps, despite suffering significant hardships and deprivation there. The fact that for some European exPOWs their capture was more traumatic than was their internment may help account for the observation that "there does not appear to be a specific minimum length of internment before anxiety neurosis really appears in former European Theater POWs; this disability occurs in a significant number of the POWs interned a few days just as NAM VET Newsletter Page 72 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 certainly as it does in those interned several years." (VA, 1980, p.84) GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY We believe strongly that group therapy is the treatment of choice for most exPOWs. The group experience is therapeutic for many reasons, but primarily because it is only in group that these veterans feel understood and accepted BOTH by other exPOWs and by nonPOWs. Group members and therapists differ in their SYMBOLIC function in the group. This is in addition to the different roles they play. Group members are symbolic of fellow POWs (see Rheault, this volume). Their understanding and acceptance is the understanding and acceptance of the other prisoners in the camp. The therapist (or therapists), on the other hand, is symbolic of all nonPOWs,m of family, of friends, and of the society at large. The therapist's understanding and acceptance are on a different level and have a different significance than that of other group members. Both are essential, but each is different. Some observations about the development of the now two-year-old exPOW group at Denver VAMC may be helpful. This is a group of only WW II exPOWs. Approximately half the group is from the European Theater. (Although difficulties combining members from both Theaters of War have been noted by other therapists, we encountered no problems in this area.) The group initially had six members and two therapists. It now has ten members and one therapist. One member has permanently terminated from the group, and one of the therapists left the group due to a job change. Nearly all group members attend the weekly one-hour sessions whenever they are in town. Three members spend winters in warmer climates than Denver, and several other members travel frequently and consequently miss sessions during their travels. However, average weekly attendance is about seven or eight members. After the first few sessions, it was observed that the group was exhibiting unusually strong and fast bonding among the members. The group BECAME a group, and developed into a SOLID GROUP, more quickly than any other group with which I have been associated. Related to this phenomena was the initial exclusion of the therapists because of the feeling that "they won't understand." The therapists were commonly ignored in group interaction during the early weeks and months of the group. There was also an unconscious attempt on the part of nearly all group members to protect each other from painful affect. Whenever one member would begin to talk about a painful experience or would begin to show any emotion, another member or members would either change the subject or direct questions of a factual nature toward him, to move him away from the feelings. This was interpreted time and time again, and even after two years, it still occurs. We also noticed the development of a "pre-group group" and a "post-group group." Some of the members would meet in the canteen for coffee for an hour or so before the group, and would go to the canteen for coffee after the group. We wondered whether this was another way of excluding the therapists. We also speculated that it might be a defense, necessary for the modulation of affect, and necessary for the members to keep attending group. At some NAM VET Newsletter Page 73 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 points, a kind of "prisoner-guard" role-play seemed to be occurring, with the therapists being seen as guards. Because of exPOWs' exquisite sensitivity to affect and fear of loss of control, defenses against affect play an important part in the process of the group. It is the therapist's role to track the defenses and interpret them when appropriate. It is a difficult - yet essential - task to recognize when defenses are necessary, either for the group or for an individual, and when they can be interpreted and the affect tolerated. Some therapists working with this population in group therapy have noted that shifts from present material to past material is a defense maneuver. It is my impression that EITHER a shift from past to present OR from present to past can be defensive, but that neither is necessarily so. It is important to track where the affect is at any given time. Descriptions of events from the past, especially when they are recently re-repressed or have not been shared with other people, can contain tremendous affect, just as some recent events may not be affect-laden. The therapist's empathy in allowing himself TO FEEL WITH the group or one or more of its members is the key here. The goal, of course, is to enable the group members to experience and tolerate previously intolerable affect. In our therapy group, the initial defensive angry stage began to break down after about three to six months, at which point sadness became the most prominent feeling. Simultaneously, members began to talk about the therapists' (and other nonPOWs') not understanding them. There was a shared group fantasy that the therapists must either be bored or overwhelmed. It was extremely helpful when the group could recognize and talk about this as its fear with ALL nonPOWs. At a later point, the expectation of being misunderstood was more clearly analyzed. NEARLY ALL of the group members felt "disfigured on the inside," whereas only SOME bore physical disfigurement. There was an expectation that since others could not SEE their psychological scars, they could not understand their pain. Another noteworthy observation is the group's response to the absence of its members. Whenever a group member or therapist was absent, there was a serious concern about where he was and whether he was "O.K." This was especially significant when the group member did not call in to explain his absence. When the one individual who terminated from the group did so under less than ideal circumstances, viz., during a period of depression, the group was extremely concerned about his well-being, and whether or not they had "chased him away." Some members had teased him in a rather mild way a few weeks before his termination, and they felt intensely guilty about doing this, blaming this incident for his leaving. It became clear that unexplained absences rekindled feelings from the POW experience when absence usually meant that the missing person was dead. The guilt generated by the premature termination of the group member had revived feelings of survivor guilt. The group was so concerned about this member that about six weeks after he had left they wrote him a card expressing their concern; unfortunately, the card was not answered. INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY Some exPOWs are seen in individual psychotherapy, but only when group treatment is clearly contraindicated. Two exceptions to NAM VET Newsletter Page 74 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 this are (1) using the individual treatment to help prepare the veteran for group treatment, and (2) the occasional individual session that may be necessary while the veteran is in group treatment to help him deal with some particularly difficult issue that he cannot YET talk about in group. Ideally, the goal is to reach a level of comfort where any issue can be dealt with in the group. Individual treatment cannot accomplish one of the essential psychotherapeutic goals obtainable in the group, viz., understanding and acceptance by other exPOWs. Individuals with lesser ego strength or with overwhelming guilt or shame are most appropriately seen for individual, rather than group, psychotherapy, and for them, individual psychotherapy does serve this purpose. A word about marital treatment may be appropriate here. I have seen several exPOW couples for marital treatment, and I have recommended it in several other cases. However, the marital dynamics are usually so influenced by the POW experiences that I recommend marital treatment only in addition to, not instead of, group therapy. WIVES' GROUPS We are now completing a weekly, time-limited (six months) group for wives of exPOWs, which was done with a female co-therapist. The initial goals for this group were (1) to educate the wives about the basic dynamics of exPOWs in order to help them understand their husbands and their marital relationships better, and (2) to assist the wives in forming their own informal support network. Five wives began the group; four are completing it. Initial results seem promising, with all members noting an improved understanding of their husbands, themselves, and their marital relationships, and two members noting distinct improvements in their marriages. One of these had been in individual and couples therapy for over two years before this group, but showed little improvement. Some of the women have also begun seeing each other and calling each other outside of the group for both social activities and support. The decision to make the group time-limited was based on our intention not to foster unrealistic dependence on the VA system. A previous open-ended group for wives of veterans being treated at the mental hygiene clinic had encouraged but could not meet such dependency needs, and when the group was disbanded, some of the participants felt severe disappointment and anger. Setting this group as time-limited avoided this problem, and does not seem to have had any adverse effects. CONCLUSION ExPOWs are a very special subgroup of the veteran population. They have been subjected to some of the harshest treatment of any of our veterans and as a group have probably been more misunderstood. This misunderstanding has exacerbated pre-existing feelings of guilt, shame, unworthiness, and anger. Consequently, perhaps the greatest service we can provide for NAM VET Newsletter Page 75 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 these veterans is to demonstrate enough empathy, patience, and willingness to listen so that they will feel more understood and accepted. This requires creating an environment where they can tell their stories to their comrades and to us - the American society that has never really listened, let alone full understood, the experiences and sacrifices of these extraordinary individuals. REFERENCES DE WIND, E. (1984). Some implications of former massive traumatization upon the actual analytical process. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOANALYSIS, 65, 273-281 PARRON, E.R. (1984). The reparation of the self: Clinical and theoretical dimensions in the treatment of Vietnam combat veterans. JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOTHERAPY, 14, 4-56 RUSSELL, C.F. (1984). The captivity experience and its psychological consequences. PSYCHIATRIC ANNALS, 14, 250-254 SCHWARTZ, H. (1984). Unconscious guilt: Its origin, manifestations, and treatment in the combat veteran. In H. Schwartz (Ed.), PSYCHOTHERAPY OF THE COMBAT VETERAN (pp. 47-84). New York: Spectrum Publications SEGAL, J. (1974). Long term psychological and physical effects of the POW experience: A review of the literature. SPRINGFIELD, VA: NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (1980). POW: Study of former prisoners of war. WASHINGTON, DC: Veterans Administration Office of Planning and Program Education WOLF, S. & RIPLEY, H.S. (1947). Reactions among allied prisoners of war subjected to three years of imprisonment and torture by the Japanese. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 104, 180-193 NAM VET Newsletter Page 76 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 I I IIIII I I 88888 ITTTI o88888888 I I o888888888888o 8888 I I 888888888888888888888888 I I 88888888888888888 8888 888 xI Ix 8888888888888888 88888888 T III T 88888888888888 888888 88 I III I 8888888888888888 88888888 xI III Ix 888 888 88888888888' T I I T 88888888 I I I I 8888 xI IIIII Ix TI IT II II II II The Quiet Place IT | TI II --|-- II XIII | IIIX oooo o II I I II o88 888) (888) II I IIII I II o88 88888888 8888) XII I II II I IIX (88 8 88 888888) XIII III III IIIX (8 8 8 88 88 88 8 888) XIIII I I IIIIX (88 8 8 8 88888888) II II I xIIIIIx I II II ( 8 88 888 88888) II I T T T I II (8888 88 8 8 8888888) II I I I I I II (8 88888 888 88 88) II I I I I I II (8888)888 88888) II I I II II I II (8) (I8I8I) 8 oo8888888o II I I I I I II IIIII X 8888888 888BII I I I I I IIXX III X XX 88 88 88 BII I TIIIIIT I IIXXX III XXXXX 888888 88BII I .... I IIXXXXXX III XXgXXX 888 888888888XXXXXII ... IIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXjXX II .. IIXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXpX The Vietnam Veteran XII IIXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX has relatives in the III IIIXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX Old and New Testaments III IIIXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX who also experienced loss II IIXXXXXXXXX XXX and grief, guilt and shame, II IIXXXXXXXXX XX rejection and betrayal, I IXXXXXXXXX alienation and estrangement, I IXXXX XX isolation and withdrawal. II IIXXXX II IIX Adam and Eve tried to hide from God; II II Moses, born Hebrew and raised Egyptian IIII IIII searched long and hard for his real self; II II Job, losing his children and all he owned, II II became sorely diseased; IIII III Biblical Joseph was rejected by his brothers, II II lied about and imprisoned; I Peter denied Jesus. II I "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" Matthew 28:20 NAM VET Newsletter Page 77 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== Letters To The Editor ================================================================== Letters to the Editor In this section of NamVet are printed letters that are sent to me either via NETMAIL at 1:321/203 or USSnailed to: Berkshire Veterans' Center, Inc., Attn: NamVet Editor - P O Box 2056 Pittsfield, MA 01202. Generally, the letters should be in good taste (whatever THAT is - never tasted a letter yet) and may provoke or generate conversation(s). In ALL cases, Letters to the Editor must contain your name, address and telephone number where I can reach you. If you do NOT want your name published/printed, please let me know. The right to edit and/or otherwise "polish up" Letters to the Editor is herein reserved. What you see may not be EXACTLY what I received. -=< Joe - Is Colonel Millard Peck Talking Funny? *-Anonymous-* Tell ya what bothers me about the "Millard Peck resignation. The use of the language and the implication he had little or no knowledge of the efforts of those in the other "Intelligence Agencies" to cover their tracks and confuse the issues. First of all, the language. From a full bird with lots of staff time. Look closely at paragraph #1 (of Peck's resignation). "I hereby request to resign"? Accepted practice is to say "I hereby resign..." In the last line of his memorandum he says "... I further request that the Defense Intelligence Agency, which I have attempted to serve loyally and with honor, assist me in being retired immediately from active military service". Am I supposed to believe this Full Colonel who has served long enough to qualify for retirement (and as a chief honcho of a national agency) does not know how to have his G-1 or Personnel Officer prepare a request for retirement? You guys out there that did retire, did you need special assistance to get those forms into the mill? I sure as hell didn't. All it took was a simple signature on a request for Personnel Action Form (1049?). My personnel clerk did the rest, including setting up the retirement physical. This Colonel is either not carrying a full deck or he is not what he espouses. Ya gotta remember that even those military types that are assigned to other agencies DO have a personnel staff to handle things like retirement. Similarly strained usage throughout the letter are also oddly written for one with his staff background. In para 2b. he (Colonel Peck) states he has experience as the Deputy Director for Intelligence of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and as Chief of the Asia Division for Current Intelligence, yet he voices surprise that there is within the Intelligence community a system to waylay or otherwise withhold information from not only other government agencies but from the American people as well ("need to know", comes to mind as a cute catch phrase). That doesn't make sense at all. If he has in fact held those NAM VET Newsletter Page 78 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 positions he is well aware of the conscious efforts to keep any information that may bring discredit to himself, his immediate superiors, or the present administration from becoming public knowledge. Those of you with any assignments involving "secret" work are well aware of this. Why is this man playing "dumb"? Okay, just for the sake of argument, let's assume he is correct in that there is a cover-up taking place. Who is at the top of this effort? George Bush? He (George Bush) WAS at the head of the CIA a while back. He has consistently dodged any questions about his part in the Iran-Contra affair - yet is suspected of having more than just a passing knowledge of the entire operation. Could he be involved? How about his ex-boss, Reagan? Other possible involvements - the major players in the Congress, both Republican and Democrat? How about the "Golden Triangle"? Does it play a part in all this? Wanna go for a real wild shot? Go back to the power plays that set up the JFK assassination and those political appointments that little escapade brought about. People like Johnson, Connolly, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush, and the hangers-on who travelled with them. Bring in the players from the Ollie North days. Remember the electronic fence? Know who provided it? His background? This may be a pretty big story. Is America ready to concede it has "dirty" politics? How about the CIA itself? Have they gone beyond the law that created the agency? Are they, in fact, operating within the limits of the Continental United States (in FBI territory?) where they were specifically prohibited from working? Were (are?) there within the CIA a group of individuals who consider themselves above the law? Are drugs, sex, and power involved? A few of you had involvement with agency actions (classified, of course). Wanna tell us the goodies now? Or are you still playing the "national defense" game that it is all classified? What all did you see and do that you swore you would never reveal, ever? Don't ya wonder sometimes just who you are protecting? Is it remotely possible that WE are among those responsible for a part in the POW/MIA problem because we have not come forward to tell it like it is? If the answer is "YES", then guys and girls we are in deep do- do!. Watcha think we ought to do???? NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST ... FOR PERHAPS OBVIOUS REASONS NAM VET Newsletter Page 79 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Vietnam Vet suggests Rap Group for Telephone Company From: Presidents Column April 1991 edition of SNET VETS (Southern New England Telephone VETS) Input by and Edited for NamVet Inclusion by G. Joseph Peck - NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Dear Vietnam Vets: I wanted to write something to our Vietnam Vets and didn't know how to start until I saw the following article in the newspaper: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VIETNAM VETS COME HOME Dear Vietnam vets: This letter has been a long time coming. I hope, in finally writing it, I'll be able to look you in the face again. I am so very sorry. I apologize for myself and everyone else who bears the guilt and shame of our nation's treatment of you when you came home from Vietnam. YOu didn't want to be there any more than we wanted you there. But you did your duty, and we did not. It's too bad most of us have to learn the hard way. But the important thing is that we do learn. Our soldiers who are returning from the Gulf benefited from our mistakes of the past. The patriotism that is evident across the nation has been missing for decades. We bear the burden of your tears, your psychological and drug problems, forever. But maybe we can soften some of the pain we feel by the support we gave our men and women while they were in the Gulf, by welcoming them home with open arms and hearts so full of love and pride that, every time we see your faces and hear the national anthem, even just seeing our flag flying will give us lumps in our throats and bring tears to our eyes. I wish we could turn the clock back to the 1960s and early 1970s. There were many of us who cared deeply about you. But we were overshadowed and intimidated by those who protested so loudly against the war. Shame, for keeping quiet! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I know I had some feelings that I had to deal with since our troops became involved in Saudi Arabia. Even my wife could tell it was bringing back memories and that I was not myself. As we all watched TV, seeing the troops saying goodbye to their families and REMEMBERING, watching the war unfold and REMEMBERING, and watching the war end and REMEMBERING. It does my heart good to see what the American public is doing for our troops today. The flag waving, the supportive groups, all the recorded messages from radio stations being sent to Saudi Arabia. That was all lost in our time. The country has learned a lesson from Vietnam, and let's hope they never forget. The reason for this letter is to see if anybody would like to get involved in a Rap Group. I know a lot of people are still dealing with Vietnam, or have other problems they are trying to solve Maybe you thought everything was fine until the war broke out. We have talked to the VA about this. They think the idea is great. If we have enough people and the problems warrant it, the NAM VET Newsletter Page 80 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 VA would help. You did not have to be in combat to have problems. The stress alone is enough for people to have problems. Think about it! Just the way we were trained has a lot to do with our behavior today. We were trained to handle things a certain way. Do you have feelings such as: Is everything black and white to you? Do you want to be left alone? Don't bother me? My wife/husband doesn't understand me? I can live on a mountain top with no one around? I hate holidays? Are you irritable, short on temper, no one understands me, etc? You are not alone, we can help each other. I have already talked to a few people who would like to get involved. I know from personal experience that this group type works. This group will be kept confidential. Who you see here and what you hear here, STAYS HERE. This would be our group and would have nothing to do with SNET (Southern New England Telephone VETS). If you have an interest in getting involved, please send your name and phone number to Don Mitchell, President SNET VETS Room 2B2, 84 Deerfield Lane, Meriden, CT 06450 - or call the office at 203-420-2818 and leave a message. Or call me at home on 203-592- 9766. [Note from Joe: (Thanx for the SNET VETS cap, Don!) Don's editorial is placed here to show that outreach to our brother/sister Vietnam veterans *-MUST-* STILL continue and what one company is doing about it. Kudos to Don Mitchell!) NAM VET Newsletter Page 81 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 KOREA... WHAT? WHO? WHEN? From 5/91 SNET VETS NEWS (Southern New England Telephone VETS) Input by and Edited for NamVet Inclusion by G. Joseph Peck - NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 -- The following is reprinted with permission from the author. It first appeared in a column called "MY TURN" which as part of "Management Topics" Vol 7, No 7, May 10, 1985 (A TELCO publication believed to be TELEPHONE TIMES) Some thoughts on David Ohlson's moving story about Viet Vets (Telephone Times, April 24). I have mixed emotions. One emotion is deep sympathy for these guys who entered combat so young, remained so isolated and returned to be forgotten. I know what it was like. That leads to my other emotion. That's a much more complicated one. You see, the veterans of my war are still forgotten. So is the war. When Bob Janicki, in the Times story, compared Vietnam with another war, he used World War II, as if no combat involving the U.S. occurred between 1945 and 1961. Bob's not alone. That's the comparison that's usually made. I know, though, that something did happen at a place called Korea. It didn't last as long as the war in Vietnam. The Korean War lasted from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953. Three years, one month and two days. When figuring casualties, the government considers the Vietnam war as lasting from January 1, 1961 to September 30, 1977 (to include the Mayaguez casualties). Almost 16 years. There weren't nearly as many troops in Korea, either. About 2,600,000 U.S. servicemen passed through 'Nam. Korea never saw half a million. The two wars had some similarities, though. For one thing, they produced about the same number of American bodies. Vietnam killed 57,091. Korea killed 54,246. Think about that a moment. More than one of every ten soldiers who went to Korea came home in a box. For the number of troops involved, the Korean conflict was the bloodiest war in our history. That surprises a lot of people. Those old enough to remember know that cease fire talks began July 1951 after barely a year of war. Most of the troops killed were killed after the talks began. And while they were being killed, most of the people back home thought the fighting was over. A member of the TV M*A*S*H cast once said the show had great flexibility in blotting because Korea was a war "nobody knows anything about." Some of us know. 'Nam vets say that there you never knew when you might be attacked. That undoubtedly, is a stressful situation, and it's one we didn't have. In Korea, we knew when we'd be attacked. All the time. Except when we were attacking. The war never paused. That's pretty stressful, too. What did cease fire talks mean to us? Flopping into trenches to NAM VET Newsletter Page 82 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 avoid machine gun bursts; Crouching in bunkers an listening to the pitter-patter of mortar shells on the roof. Endless "contact patrols" up Noname Ridge to see if Joe (our Victor Charlie) was still there (Where else WOULD he be?); Wiping out a battalion size Chinese push on King Outpost in the Iron Triangle. Little stuff. It didn't get much press. But you can get just as dead in a little action as a big one. A lot of us did. Vietnam and Korea had other similarities besides the casualties. Youth was one. World War II had just ended. It had taken all of the older guys. Isolation was another - at least to the extent it was a factor in Vietnam. Individual replacement was the rule in Korea, too. Being forgotten didn't start with Vietnam, either. The last stateside civilian I talked with was a cab driver who said most of his customers hoped the war would never end, because they had jobs. When we came back, individually, we had all the impact of a snowflake crashing on a pillow. There were no brass bands or parades for Korea, any more than for Vietnam. And there were no monuments, either. There still aren't. Of course, the Korean War was long ago and in another country. We K-vets are old coots now, and even we have forgotten all of this stuff. So why am I trembling as I write this? Bill Weir (Replies may be sent to Don Mitchell, President SNET VETS Room 2B2, 84 Deerfield Lane, Meriden, CT 06450 - or call the office at 203-420-2818 and leave a message.) NAM VET Newsletter Page 83 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 ================================================================== Concentrated IVVEC/NamVet Service ================================================================== TELL IT TO THE SECRETARY (Believed to be from) 10/90 Federal Times Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 Ever have one of those dreams in which you finally get the courage to tell the top boss your great idea ... or what you really think of the new management plan? One of the good things about dreams is they relieve stress while you sleep. You can eliminate all the middle players who would take your idea and hash, mash or trash it before it even leaves the office. The "Tell it to the Secretary" program, begun by Secretary Derwinski last year, is like a good dream. It provides the opportunity for a direct, open line of communication between the Secretary and employees, patients, supervisors, managers -- anyone with an interest or idea to voice. "I decided I would not be cut off from the rank and file. I would not let my front office isolate me. I noticed that when you take a complaint and send it through the system, people tend to be instinctively defensive," Derwinski said. "I started this 'write to the secretary' because I found the response of the system was to draw their wagons in a circle." According to Camille T. Barry, staff assistant who administers the program, the Secretary's purpose is to improve the system by listening to people. "He really tries to keep his finger on the pulse of what's happening in VA," said Barry. "The letters we receive run the gamut from personnel concerns, veterans' families, the placement of patients, jobs well done, facility problems and suggestions to make things work better." In fact, the program has highlighted a number of issues important to VA employees. For example, registered nurses are writing about the need to make the chief of nursing service position equal to the chief of staff and associate director positions at each medical center. Other employees are voicing concern over what they feel is fraud, waste and mismanagement in the system. This issue has launched some investigations. "Secretary Derwinski reads every single letter. He sees everything," said Barry. "Every letter is acknowledged, and he has no reservations about picking up the phone and addressing the problem with a director, the medical inspector or the inspector general. "The "open door" policy has led to many interesting letters. One of them resulted in a new flag flying high atop VACO. An employee had suggested that the old one had ragged edges, caused by gusty winds that whip across the Potomac River. "Employees send their letters to a post office box that has limited access and a designated 'mystery' person who picks up the mail," Barry said. "This element ensures the strictest confidentiality we can provide our writers." You can write to the Secretary by sending your letters to: Tell it to the Secretary NAM VET Newsletter Page 84 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Post Office Box 27840 Washington, D.C. 20038-7840 >>> NOTE FROM JOE: Shortly after I came across this information (thanks to the Massachusetts Office of Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs/Massachusetts Veterans' Service), I sent a letter, Certified Return Receipt Requested (and received) with a copy of my most recent claim to Secretary Derwinski. Five weeks went by and I'd heard NOTHING. I telephoned and, about 10 days later, received a letter from Secretary Derwinski's office which said, in effect: "We have referred your claim to those parties who would be in a position to know more about your case/claim. Thank you for writing Secretary Derwinski's office." Ain't nothin's changed - In fact, I got BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE responses from Presidential Aide's than Secretary Derwinski's office - and I didn't have to call them FIRST to get it! Walk carefully and cautiously when you're writing to the above, folks. In my humble opinion, it's just a new name to an old practice. Searchin' for BETTER veteran service... >> Joe NAM VET Newsletter Page 85 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Local Heroes Need Apply From the US VETERANS BBS (612)-522-2026 Submitted by: Marge Clark The Homestead BBS - Nashville, TN (615) 385-9421 Veterans who never received awards or decorations they earned, or who lost them, and merely want replacements now have a chance to get them. In some cases, the military will even throw in a ceremony to have them presented. The following should be of assistance: Q-- How do I get an award or decoration that I should have received, but never did? A-- First of all, remember that you are dealing with straightforward military regulations that will require you to give all the information you can to support your case. Pull together all your documents and try to include, if possible, a DD Form 214 with all the data on it. A DD-214 is the best document you can use. If you do not have a copy of your DD-214 you can request one by filling out a Standard Form 180, "Request Pertaining to Military Records", which can be obtained from any Veterans Administration regional office. Other data, such as a set of orders, all your service numbers, and your social security number, can also support your case. Once all the information is pulled together, write a clear letter as brief as possible but with all the data to your former service: ARMY Commander U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Center Attention: DARC-PSE-AW 9700 Page Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63132-5200 NAVY Navy Liaison Office National Personnel Records Center 9700 Page Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63132-5200 AIR FORCE National Personnel Records Center Attention: 6KTF-M 9700 Page Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63132-5200 MARINES Commandant U.S. Marine Corps CODE: MNDM-2 Washington, D.C. 20380-0001 COAST GUARD Commandant (G-PS-5/(TP41) U.S. Coast Guard Washington, DC 20593 Q: How long will it take to get a response? A: The records centers are very busy, so you must allow a fair amount of time. If you have not heard from them in about 90 NAM VET Newsletter Page 86 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 days or so, drop them another line. Plan on the whole action taking at most about six months. Q: How do I get a better looking copy of my award? A. Write and tell the records center what you want, but do not send in your old award until they tell you they want it. Q: How do I receive an award that I thought I should have gotten, but was never put on my records? A: The awards people call this a "lost recommendation." Do yourself a favor when you ask for a decoration and have no records of being awarded - give them all the information you can. If you leave anything out, plan on having to send more information. Except for people who served in the Air Force, write to those addresses previously given. If you were in the Air Force write to: Commander U.S. Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center Attention: MPCASA 1 Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-6001 Q: How do I arrange for a ceremony to receive my award? A: You can request a ceremony if you are to receive an award for the first time. Contact the public affairs office at your nearest military installation. Try to contact a big post, base, reserve or National Guard unit with a general or flag officer in command. Some awards take a lot of brass to be pinned on. It often makes good press for a "local soldier to receive his medal after 20 years." Q: How can I receive past awards if I am still in the military? A: If you are still in service, see your commander for details. NAM VET Newsletter Page 87 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 NAM-NET is up and running! Submitted by Lydia Fish, Director Vietnam Veterans Oral History and Folklore Project Department of Anthropology - Buffalo State College VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 NAM-NET is up and running! NAM-NET is the newly created networking component of the Vietnam Veterans Oral History and Folklore Project and was designed to facilitate communication between scholars, teachers, veterans, and anyone else who is interested in the Vietnam War. INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON NAM-NET WILL INCLUDE: ^ Announcements of meetings, conferences and veterans' activities ^ Works in progress ^ Papers ^ Book reviews and announcements of publications ^ Newsletters of special interest groups ^ Resources for teachers and scholars ^ Bibliographies, diskographies and filmographies ^ Notes and queries ^ News items of interest to veterans and scholars. OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO INCLUDE. IT'S UP TO YOU! NAM-NET is a permanent conference on the BITNET LISTSERV facility. (Most colleges and universities and many high schools have access to BITNET, which is an international education network.) It is also accessible from INTERNET. To sign up, contact your computer support personnel and tell them that you want to subscribe to VWAR-L on LISTSERV@UBVM. There is absolutely no charge involved. Any message sent to NAM-NET will be distributed immediately to all the subscribers on the list. Afterwards it will be placed in the list archives so that it may be accessed by new subscribers at a later date. If you have any questions, please contact me! LYDIA FISH, Director Vietnam Veterans Oral History and Folklore Project Department of Anthropology Buffalo State College 1300 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 HOME: (716) 883-1843 OFFICE: (716) 878-6110 FAX: (716 878-4009 BITNET:FISHLM@SNYBUFVA NAM VET Newsletter Page 88 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 IN COUNTRY - Songs of Americans in the Vietnam War Submitted by Lydia Fish, Director Vietnam Veterans Oral History and Folklore Project Department of Anthropology - Buffalo State College To VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 [Note from Joe: I've reviewed this tape; played it for quite a few veterans; thought long n' hard as I listened to each song on it. I "pictured" and "remembered" what so many of us experienced seems like SO many years ago. For a softer recon of the harsh reality of 'Nam, the tape (or CD) is well worth having in YOUR library!] A digital recording of 28 songs written and sung in country by American servicemen about their experiences and emotions there. Some of the songs are original compositions, performed by their composers; others are variants of songs sung in World War I, World War II and the Korean War, performed by men who learned and sang them in Vietnam. The singers and song writers include fighter and bomber pilots, grunts, members of the elite forces, and rear echelon personnel. The recording is available in record stores or it may be ordered from the Vietnam Veterans Oral History and Folklore Project at the address below. The price is $9.98 for a cassette or $15.98 for a CD. A tacher's manual is also available for $3.00 from the Project. SAUL BROUDY: Green T-Shirt Blues, Saigon Warrior, Chu Yen, Here I Sit CHIP DOCKERY: The Panther Pack is Prowling, Ling Po Drove the Truck Away, Sitting in the Cab of My Truck, I've Been Everywhere. BULL DURHAM: Jolly Green, Danang Lullaby, Crack Went the Rifle BILL ELLIS: Grunt, First Cav, Firefight, Freedom Bird TOBY HUGHES: Ho Chi Minh Trail, Tchepone, Cobra Seven DICK JONAS: Pull the Boom from the Gashole, Will There Be a Tomorrow?, Fighter Pilot's Christmas, Battle Hymn of the River Rats CHUCK ROSENBERG: Six Clicks, Ba Muoi Ba, Green Beret and Friendly FAC, Boonie Rat Song Vietnam Veterans Oral History and Folklore Project LYDIA FISH, Director Department of Anthropology Buffalo State College 1300 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 HOME: (716) 883-1843 OFFICE: (716) 878-6110 FAX: (716 878-4009 BITNET:FISHLM@SNYBUFVA NAM VET Newsletter Page 89 Volume 5, Number 7 July 27, 1991 Some Gave ALL ... Some Still Give!!! O O O SOME GAVE ALL ... ________O__________________________________O______________ ! O O ! ! pow mia pow mia - BRING THEM HOME NOW! - pow mia pow mia ! ! O O ! ! ~~~~~ ~ ~ O~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~ O ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ! ! ~~~~ ~ ~~ O ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~O~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ O~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ ! ! ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~ O ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ! ! ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ O ~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ O ~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ! ! ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ O ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ O ~_~_~_~_~_ ~ O ~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ! ! ~~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~ O ) O ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ /(O) / O \ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ / / O \~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ! ! ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ / PRISONER / \~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~~~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ / / MISSING \~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ! ! ~~~ ~ ~~ ~~ / OF /\ \~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~ ! ! ~ ~~~~ ~~ ~ / / \ IN \~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ! ! ~~~ ~~~ ~ / WAR / ~~ \ \ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~ ~ / / ~ ~~ \ ACTION / ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ! ! ~~ ~~ ~~~(__________/ ~~ ~~~ \ / ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ! ! ~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ \ / ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ! ! ~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ \ / ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~ ! ! ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ \ /~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ! ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ SOME STILL GIVE ! ~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ! ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ! ! mia pow mia pow - BRING THEM HOME NOW! - mia pow mia pow ! !__________________________________________________________! NAM VET Newsletter Page 90