H O U S E A N D S E N AT E “ G R A N D F AT H E R ” C O L A C U T S
8
MARCH 2014
page 18
4 F RA Recognizes Outstanding
USN, USMC Performers
16 F RA Supports the USCG Enlisted
Memorial Foundation
30 W
hat has FRA Been Doing for
the Past 90 Years?
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© 2014 United States Gold & Silver Reserve
GOLD & SILVER RESERVE
Vault No. FRA13-138
March 2014
18
18 ATOMIC VETERANS
Serving in a combat zone is obviously dangerous duty, but it’s not the only kind of hazard
military personnel face in service to our country.
A variety of military assignments pose a health
risk due to exposure to ionizing radiation.
Departments
2 FROM THE FANTAIL
4RECOGNITION
6SHIPMATE FORUM
8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL
House and Senate “Grandfather” COLA Cuts
14HISTORY & HERITAGE
The History of FRA: 1930–1939
8
16MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
Establishing New Branches
29REUNIONS 30 LOOKING FOR… / WHAT HAS FRA BEEN
DOING FOR THE PAST 90 YEARS?
14
32TAPS
34 NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES
36NEWS FROM THE AUXILIARY OF THE FRA
Message from the Northwest Regional President
Sharon Holloway
LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE
FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
ADVOCATING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE
U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR
MORE INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT
WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924.
ON THE COVER
Participation in nuclear weapons tests in the 40s,
50s and 60s qualifies former service members as
“Atomic Veterans,” but they aren’t the only vets
who may have been exposed to ionizing radiation.
Those who participated in a variety of radiation-risk
activities, as well as their survivors, may be eligible
for VA benefits.
1
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
Featured
Volume 93 Number 3
FROM THE FANTAIL
2
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Snee
GREETINGS FROM THE “FANTAIL.” In my early days in the Navy, the fan-
tail was a place where information would be passed down to keep all
hands advised of important events and plans. I want this column to be a
complement to the other content in FRA Today, not a duplication, and
I welcome feedback on how best to keep our shipmates informed. Feel
free to send your suggestions to me at [email protected] or by letter to
our NHQ address.
Since October, I have met a lot of Sailors, Marines and Coast Guard
personnel and spouses. The exchange of ideas, concerns and “what is
being done” is always illuminating. I’ve come away from many of these
discussions with the sincere belief that FRA has a unique opportunity
to pass on relevant information about threats to their pay and benefits
that they aren’t getting elsewhere. There are a lot of information outlets
available, but I don’t understand why our active duty and Reserve personnel are still not getting the message.
FRA can be a reliable source for this audience. We all can pass on
this information in our own ways — in conversation, by sharing a copy
of FRA Today or encouraging them to subscribe to NewsBytes, our
weekly e-mail update. This is also a great chance to share what FRA is
doing to protect the quality-of-life programs that are so important to
them.
Many of the threats to military pay and benefits can only be addressed legislatively. As you can see on page 8, sometimes things
happen very quickly on Capitol Hill and we do our best to keep our
members and others informed on the latest happenings. The COLA
cuts, potential commissary closures, concerns regarding access to quality health care and VA concerns are among the many issues that need
attention from FRA and our shipmates.
I will also be using the fantail to keep shipmates abreast of changes
here at National Headquarters (NHQ). As many of you know, we will
begin a series of capital improvements to our NHQ building that will
not only help us maximize the use of space for our FRA staff, but will
allow us to lease a portion of the building to provide a revenue stream
for years to come. Stay tuned for more details as our plans move
forward.
Tom Snee is FRA’s National Executive Director.
National President
National Vice President
National Executive Dir. Finance Officer Junior PNP National Parliamentarian
Virgil P. Courneya, High Sierra Branch 274
John Ippert, Pearl Harbor-Honolulu Branch 46
Thomas J. Snee, Navy Yard Branch 181
Stephen Cox
Mark A. Kilgore, Pensacola Branch 22
PNP F. Donald Mucheck, Low Country
Branch 269
National Chaplain Dana Wallace, Annapolis Branch 24
REGIONAL PRESIDENTS
Northeast / New England James E. Brown, Staten Island Branch 226
East Coast James Campbell, Chesapeake Branch 40
Southeast
Frederick A. Hill, Mayport Branch 290
North Central Rick L. Wangen, Rough Rider Branch 273
South Central Russell N. Miller, Capital Area Branch 201
Southwest
Michael F. Fulton, Imperial Beach Branch 289
West Coast Peter J. McNamara, High Sierra Branch 274
Northwest
Daniel E. Holloway, Gem State Branch 382
ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Michael Stevens
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael Leavitt
RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL
Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Clarence “CJ” Mitchell
USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major James Booker
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force
Mark Allen
FRA TODAY MAGAZINE
Publisher FRA
National Executive Director Thomas J. Snee
Communications Director Lauren Armstrong
Managing Editor William Kohudic
Contributing Photographer Paul Gunther
Design and Art Direction
FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com
Design Director Scott Rodgerson
Production Manager Sandy Jones
FRA TODAY (ISSN: 1935-7192) COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY THE FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION
(FRA) IS PUBLISHED TWELVE TIMES PER YEAR BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA
22314. BUSINESS AND EDITORIAL OFFICES: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314.
ACCOUNTING AND CIRCULATION OFFICES: FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314.
CALL 703-683-1400 TO SUBSCRIBE. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE
PRICES IS PENDING AT NEW YORK, NY AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.
POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST.,
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314.
FRA ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS:
125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754
PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • FAX: 703-549-6610
E-MAIL: [email protected] • WWW.FRA.ORG
VOLUME 93 NUMBER 3
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RECOGNITION
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
4
FRA Recognizes Outstanding USN, USMC Performers
FRA CONTINUED ITS LONG-STANDING tradition of recognizing superior performance by honoring Navy and Marine Corps
personnel who are standouts in their respective fields. The Association has been a supporter of these recognition programs
since their inception and is proud to continue the tradition of acknowledging excellence. All honorees received a complementary FRA membership.
FRA’s National President (NP) Virgil Courneya, National Executive Director Tom Snee, and members of FRA’s headquarters staff participated in several events honoring the Navy’s 2013 Recruiters of the Year, including attending a special ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial, hosting a luncheon on Capitol Hill, and coordinating a tour of the Capitol.
Congratulations to the following outstanding recruiters:
Enlisted Recruiter of the Year, Active — HT1(SW/AW)
Dustin Grover — NRD Portland
Enlisted Recruiter of the Year, Reserve — HT1(SS) Caleb
Minson — NRD New England
Officer Recruiter of the Year, Active — QM2(SW) Robert
Baetz — NRD Raleigh
Officer Recruiter of the Year, Reserve — LT Kathryn
Gelenter — NRD Minneapolis
Nuclear Field Coordinator of the Year — EM1(SW/AW)
Thomas Bosarge — NRD Houston
Station Leading Petty Officer of the Year — NC1(AW)
Ryan Schlotfeld — NRD Minneapolis
Classifier of the Year — PS1(SW/AW) Stephanie Perry —
NRD Los Angeles
Division Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Year — NCC
(SW/AW) Kevin Kikawa — NRD Portland
Diversity Enlisted Recruiter of the Year — EA2(SCW)
Larzon Ong — NRD San Francisco
Diversity Officer Recruiter of the Year — NCC John
Marullo — NRD San Francisco
Hull Maintenance
Technician 1st Class
Dustin Grover was
named Enlisted
Recruiter of the Year
for 2013. Prior to
recruiting duty, Grover
served aboard the USS
Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
and is shown here
providing instruction as
a hose team combats a
simulated onboard fire.
U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Class James R. Evans
Medical Officer Recruiter of the Year — HMC(FMF/SW/
AW) Joseph Rawson — NRD Philadelphia
Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Recruiter of the
Year — MMC (SW) Sergio Palacios — NRD Philadelphia
Navy Special Warfare/Navy Special Operations Recruiter
of the Year — CE2 (SCW) Mark Durand — NRD New
England
Support Person of the Year — NC1(SW) Archie Anz —
NRD San Diego (FRA Branch 70, Poway, Calif.)
FRA also participated in the Commandant of the Marine Corps 2013 Combined Awards Ceremony, held at Quantico
Marine Base, Va., and hosted a reception following the ceremony. Commandant James Amos, Sergeant Major of the Marine
Corps Micheal Barrett and FRA NP Courneya recognized the following 14 outstanding recruiters, instructors, athletes,
career planners and Marine Security Guards:
Recruiter of the Year: *Sgt Iasia J. Brown (12th Marine
Corps District) and SSgt Richard A. Castro (1st Marine
Corps District)
Prior Service Recruiter: *SSgt Victor Perez (8th Marine
Corps District) and GySgt Fitzpatrick A. Givans (4th
Marine Corps District)
Drill Instructor of the Year: *GySgt Michael H. Wampler,
(Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif.) and GySgt Christian R.
Appleman (Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.)
Marine Combat Instructor: *GySgt Aubrey T. Wrenn
(Camp Lejeune, N.C.) and SSgt Christopher L. Carney
(Camp Pendleton, Calif.)
Marine Security Guard: *SSgt Stanley D. McCaskey Jr.
(American Embassy, Tunis, Tunisia) and Sgt Lindsay D.
Gunter (American Embassy, Chengdu, China)
Career Planner: *GySgt Wesley E. Helms (MACG-28 2D
MAW) and Sgt Jarod C. Mason (2/8 2D MARDIV)
* denotes winner in each category
Commandant of the
Marine Corps Gen.
James Amos and Sgt.
Maj. of the Marine
Corps Micheal Barrett
pose with Sgt. Iasia
Brown, who was
meritoriously promoted
to staff sergeant due
to her outstanding
performance as a USMC
recruiter in 2013.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron Storm
Athlete of the Year: *Capt Christine M. Taranto (MWSS
272) and *SSgt David S. Arendt Jr. (H&S Bn, Camp
Lejeune, N.C.)
FRA congratulates and thanks all these service members
for their honor, courage and commitment!
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6
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
Agent Orange
I was on board the USS Platte (AO-24) from 1964 –1966. I’d
like to know if my ship qualifies for being in the blue water
category. How do I find this information out? I’ve tried different websites and read your list of ships, but mine wasn’t
listed. Can you help me?
Edward Marcotte
FRA Response: I’m glad you visited our webpage at www.fra.
org/agentorange to see the VA’s list of ships (and dates of service) for which exposure to Agent Orange can be presumed.
Just because your ship wasn’t on that list, doesn’t mean you
can’t seek disability benefits for illnesses related to exposure.
The VA list is a work in progress and constantly being updated.
According to the VA website, if your ship isn’t on the list
and you believe it should be, you should file an Agent Orangerelated claim for disability benefits. The VA will conduct research on a specific ship ONLY if a claim has been filed. If you
don’t want to file a VA claim, you can do your own research
and submit documentary evidence (such as deck logs, ship
histories and cruise ship entries) to the VA. Ship deck logs are
available from the National Archives (College Park, Md.). For
more information, visit www.archives.gov.
FRA encourages all veterans to register with the VA and
file claims if any health concerns arise.
Lighter-Than-Air Ships
Just finished your wonderful story on
Naval airships. Great story, one that has
almost been forgotten until now. You
were fortunate in finding the two shipmates who had served in that program
so many years ago. I must also mention
that FRA Today has improved so much
over the years. Thanks for your efforts
in providing all shipmates a great reading platform about our Sea Services today.
Bill Hemmingways
I enjoyed reading Lighter than Air
TOUGH AS NAILS, though these airships flew a bit before my time. Early
on in my career I met an “old salt” with
what appeared to be a broken breast
insignia. He looked much too squared
away to be out of uniform in public and,
when I asked about the device, I was informed that he had been a LTA pilot. What I was seeing was
the correct breast insignia. I copied a picture from my old
Blue Jacket’s Manual to share with current shipmates.
Jack Sturdivant
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading the articles
on the lighter-than-air craft in FRA Today. As the memories
of WWII fade, it is important to educate future generations
about how the war shaped the world we live in today.
Joe Coelho
SBP Refunds
Is it possible that FRA would undertake steps to sponsor
changes in the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to allow a member to get back all, or at least some, of the money invested in
the plan when his or her spouse dies first?
I paid into the plan for almost 36 years and I’m sure my
total contributions were quite substantial. If FRA were to
sponsor a change in the plan and it was approved, it might
not help me, but perhaps other shipmates would benefit in
the future.
Lloyd Ozab
FRA Response: SBP is essentially an insurance policy.
Monthly premiums are paid to provide peace of mind by
guaranteeing a financial benefit to a surviving spouse in the
event of the retiree’s death. As you are painfully aware, premiums are not refunded if the spouse dies first. In some regards,
it’s like automobile or home-owners’ insurance: You’re paying
for protection if/when needed, but your premiums aren’t refunded if you don’t make a claim.
Many shipmates share your frustration, but unfortunately
there is little hope for a change. FRA has broached the possibility of offering some sort of refund if the spouse predeceases the
retiree, but no lawmaker has been willing to introduce such
legislation. It is unlikely this proposal will gain much traction
in the current budget climate. That said, we hope you will
share your concerns with your elected officials in Washington.
Shipmates can use the FRA Action Center at www.fra.org or
request a congressional directory by writing to FRA National
Headquarters at 125 N West St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
Submissions Send Shipmate Forum letters to Editor, FRA Today, 125 N. West St.
Alexandria, VA 22314. E-mail submissions may be sent to [email protected]. Please
include “Shipmate Forum” in the subject line. FRA reserves the right to select and edit
letters for publication. Letters published in Shipmate Forum reflect the opinions and
views of FRA members. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of FRA as
a whole. FRA is not responsible for the accuracy of letter content.
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ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
8
House and Senate “Grandfather” COLA Cuts
BOTH THE SENATE VETERANS’ Affairs and the Senate Armed
Photo by Craig Roberts / The American Legion
Services Committees (SVAC and SASC, respectively) have
weighed in on the one-percent cut to military retirees’
cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that is set to take effect on December 1, 2015. SVAC Chairman Bernie Sanders (Vt.) recently introduced the “Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits
and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act” (S. 1982),
an omnibus veterans’ bill that includes an SVAC-approved
provision to repeal the COLA cut aimed at military retirees under the age of 62.
Military retirement benefits, however, are traditionally under the jurisdiction of the SASC (versus the SVAC)
and FRA has been working with SASC members to repeal
the COLA cut. In addition to a letter sent to all members
of Congress urging their support, FRA also presented a
written statement for the record at a SASC hearing that
discussed the matter. (The statement can be found on the
FRA website at www.fra.org/SASC_01-28-14.)
All members of the committee support immediate
repeal of the COLA cut and unanimously agree the reduction is a breach of faith with our men and women in
uniform. The discussion included finding the revenue to
offset the repeal and many legislators suggested rolling
back the cuts and then waiting for the final report of the
Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization
Commission (MCRMC) that is now due to the President
and Congress in February 2015. (See page 9 for more details on MCRMC.)
After the hearing John Davis, FRA’s director of
John Davis
Legislative Programs, participated in a press conference
with Senators Roger Wicker (Miss.), Lindsey Graham
(S.C.) and Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), calling for the need to fasttrack legislation that would allow for quick Senate passage. Following the hearing and press conference, and in
response to a strong grassroots effort by FRA shipmates
and other angry retirees, the SASC agreed to bring a separate COLA-cut bill (S. 1963) to the floor without committee action. This measure, introduced by Senator Mark
Pryor (Ark.), was expected to pass the Senate after procedural vote to end debate.
The House unexpectedly amended and passed yet another bill (S. 25) that would limit the COLA cut to military retirees under age 62 who joined the service after
January 1, 2014. This bill was quickly passed by the Senate
and awaits the President’s signature at press time.
Although FRA is delighted that all current retirees and
almost all of those currently serving are excluded from the
one-percent COLA cut, the Association is concerned this
provision may have a negative impact on recruitment and
the future of the All-Volunteer-Force. Additionally, FRA
also believes that any future changes to retirement benefits
and military compensation should be put on hold until the
Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization
Commission makes its final report in February 2015.
Senators and Hill staff noted the huge number of emails and phone calls legislators received from outraged
retirees, which is a powerful demonstration of the power
of grassroots advocacy. FRA shipmates recently sent more
than 13,000 e-mails to Congress through the Association’s
online Action Center (at http://action.
fra.org/action-center/) to share their
concerns about this cut in retirement
benefits. These messages reinforce our
legislative advocacy efforts and give all
shipmates a strong voice on Capitol
Hill. Your participation is a valuable asset in our fight to repeal these
cuts and FRA appreciates your active
involvement.
January, 28, 2014 — After the SASC
hearing there was a press conference
called by Senators Roger Wicker (Miss.),
Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), and Lindsey Graham
(S.C.)
ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL
9
RETIREE ISSUES
The House and Senate finished their work on a final FY 2014 omnibus spending bill, which
combines 12 individual appropriations bills into one. President Obama signed the bill into
law (P.L. 113-76), which provides $1.1 trillion for the current fiscal year. Because the federal
government was operating under a continuing resolution (CR) that held spending to FY 2013
levels, it also restores $20 billion in Defense spending.
One significant provision of the law excludes disabled retirees and widows/widowers receiving Survivor Benefit Program (SBP) annuities from the one-percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment
(COLA) cut that will impact all other military retirees under age 62 on December 1, 2015.
Although this is a step in the right direction, the FRA was supporting an amendment to repeal
the one-percent COLA cut for all retirees under age 62. (See story on page 8.)
Retirement Commission Final Report Delayed
The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) report was
originally due in May of this year, but the FY 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
delayed the final report until February of 2015. The nine-member commission was established
as part of the FY 2013 NDAA to review military compensation and retirement programs and
make recommendations for their modernization to the President and Congress.
In December 2013, FRA submitted written statements to the commission — both as an individual entity and as a part of The Military Coalition. The statements included the Association’s
2014 legislative agenda and relevant written testimony provided by Past NED Joe Barnes before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee (April 2013) and DLP John Davis
before the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee (October 2011). These
statements included FRA’s opposition to the Defense Business Board report, which recommended replacing the current military retirement system with a 401(k) program.
FRA will closely monitor the commission’s deliberations and oppose any recommendations to
“civilianize” military pay and benefits. To learn more about the MCRMC, visit www.mcrmc.gov
TFL Home Delivery Program Moves Forward
FRA’s National Executive Director Thomas Snee and Healthcare Advisor Bob Washington met
with Lt. Gen. Douglas Robb, director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), recently to discuss
issues of mutual concern. More than 300,000 TRICARE for Life (TFL) beneficiaries received notification about the implementation of the TFL Pharmacy Home Delivery (no co-pay) program.
The program requires no co-payments, which will collectively save these beneficiaries more
than $28 million in pharmacy costs. DHA will also save more than $100 million in the first year
of this five-year pilot program that allows beneficiaries to opt out after the first year.
At the meeting, DHA also announced the implementation of a 24/7 toll-free Nurse Advice Line
in the spring of 2014. All TRICARE beneficiaries throughout the country will have phone access
to a nurse who can answer questions and help with decisions regarding self-care at home or
suggest when it is best to see a health care provider.
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Vice
Admiral Michelle Howard is the first
female four-star admiral in the history
of the U.S. Navy, and the first AfricanAmerican female to achieve four-star
rank in the history of the military. She
was nominated by the president and
confirmed by the Senate.
Howard’s initial sea tours were
aboard USS Hunley (AS 31) and USS
Lexington (AVT 16). While serving
on board Lexington, she received the
Secretary of the Navy/Navy League
Captain Winifred Collins award in
May 1987, given to one woman officer a year for outstanding leadership.
She took command of USS Rushmore
(LSD 47) on March 12, 1999, becoming the first African-American woman
to command a ship in the U.S. Navy.
In 2010, she was the Maritime Task
Force commander for BALTOPS,
under 6th Fleet. Her shore assignments include: J-3, Global Operations,
Readiness and Executive Assistant to
the Joint Staff director of Operations;
Deputy Director N3 on the OPNAV
staff; Deputy Director, Expeditionary
Warfare Division, OPNAV staff; Senior
Military Assistant to the Secretary of
the Navy; Chief of Staff to the director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5,
Joint Staff, and Deputy Commander,
U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Vice
Admiral Howard is a 1978 graduate of
Gateway High School in Aurora, Colo.
She graduated from the United States
Naval Academy in 1982 and from the
Army’s Command and General Staff
College in 1998, with a Masters in
Military Arts and Sciences.
Free Income Tax Preparation for Active Duty Personnel and Some Veterans
Qualified veterans and active-duty military can get free federal and state tax preparation and filing assistance, both online and in person, by MyFreeTaxes.com. This is the only
free online tax preparation and filing service available in all
50 states and Washington, D.C., that allows users to file both
a federal and state return, no matter where they live. To use
this service, qualifying families must earn $58,000 or less.
MyFreeTaxes.com is sponsored by Walmart, Goodwill, the
National Disability Institute and the United Way.
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
FY 2014 Spending Bill Passes, Eliminates COLA Cuts for Some
Navy has First Female FourStar Admiral
ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
10
HEALTH CARE ISSUES
TRICARE Retiree Dental
Program Open for New
Enrollments
The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP)
offers comprehensive dental coverage to all
enrolled members. TRDP is currently open for
enrollment and available to retired service
members and their families, retired National
Guard and Reserve members and their families, and Medal of Honor recipients and their
families and survivors.
TRDP covers diagnostic and preventive services, such as exams and cleanings, at 100
percent. Emergency services and basic restorative services, like fillings, are covered at
80 percent. The annual deductible is $50 per
person per benefit year, and $150 per family per benefit year. The annual maximum
benefit is $1,300 per person per year for enhanced enrollees; this is an increase of $100
from last year. The annual maximum for orthodontia increased from $1,500 to $1,750.
For more information, visit www.tricare.mil/
Dental/TRDP/Costs.
Eligible beneficiaries can enroll online through
the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) website, www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/bwe, or go to
www.trdp.org to print, complete and mail in
a TRDP enrollment application.
To enroll on the BWE, beneficiaries will need a
DS, CAC or DFAS login. During the enrollment
process, enrollees may be asked to enter information to establish an electronic funds transfer (EFT) method for payment of their monthly
premiums. Please note that EFT is not a payment option for the TRDP, so enrollees should
not enter anything in that section.
Federal law requires that TRDP premiums be
deducted automatically through a monthly
allotment from retirement pay. EFT is available only as an alternative method of payment for beneficiaries who do not receive
retired pay or whose retired pay is insufficient to cover the allotment amount. For
those eligible to pay TRDP monthly premiums
by EFT, visit www.trdp.org to download the
EFT authorization form.
Delta Dental of California manages
the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program.
Beneficiaries can register at www.trdp.org to
access several online features such as tracking claims and adding or removing family
members. For further information, please visit
www.tricare.mil/TRDP. TRICARE Goes Digital, Ends Walk-in Admin Services at 189
Facilities
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) recently announced that TRICARE military health plan service centers will
end administrative walk-in services
in the United States on April 1, 2014.
Because overseas areas are unique,
walk-in service at TRICARE Service
Centers in all overseas areas will
continue. While the 189 stateside facilities will stop taking walk-ins, beneficiaries can accomplish their tasks
online or by phone. DHA believes this
change will not affect any TRICARE
medical benefit or health care service, and will allow the DHA to save
$250 million over the next five years.
TRICARE.mil is one option for beneficiaries to
The DHA wants to make it easy for
obtain information online.
beneficiaries to connect to the health
information they need and TRICARE’s mobile options make it simpler for beneficiaries to get
the information they need to manage their health care options.
TRICARE.mil can be used on mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones, and beneficiaries can go to the TRICARE homepage via a web browser to get instant access to benefit
and contact information. The mobile site offers the same great tools beneficiaries use online:
podcasts, TRICARE TV, access to educational materials and TRICARE news.
Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI), the TRICARE pharmacy contractor, has an enhanced “Express
Scripts” mobile application available for download through the iPhone App Store, or Google
Play for Android devices. Using ESI’s mobile app, beneficiaries can refill, renew and track prescriptions ordered through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. They can also set medication
reminders, locate the nearest retail pharmacy, search for drug information, transfer to Home
Delivery and more. The mobile app offers the most convenient way to manage pharmacy
benefits.
milConnect is the Defense Manpower Data Center’s mobile site for Android phone users,
available via the Google Play store. The app helps beneficiaries locate ID card-issuing facilities,
find contact information for TRICARE Regional Offices, find information using a searchable FAQ
section, and log in with a Department of Defense Self-Service Logon to change their address in
DEERS or change their TRICARE enrollments. TRICARE Will Not Cover Certain Lab Costs
In January 2013, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) stopped reimbursing clinical laboratories
for more than 100 different genetic or “molecular pathology” tests. A recent publication of
new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for laboratory tests by the American Medical
Association led to the change. The codes gave greater transparency to how TRICARE was being billed, and DHA determined that many lab tests previously covered were not “medically
necessary.”
The policy to stop reimbursements for these tests occurred without notice to TRICARE beneficiaries or health care providers. FRA and other members of The Military Coalition have signed
a letter asking DHA to reverse this policy.
How to Outsmart
a Millionaire
Only the “Robin Hood of Watchmakers” can steal
the spotlight from a luxury legend for under $200!
I
wasn’t looking for trouble. I sat in a café, sipping my espresso and
enjoying the quiet. Then it got noisy. Mr. Bigshot rolled up in a
roaring high-performance Italian sports car, dropping attitude like
his $14,000 watch made it okay for him to be rude. That’s when
I decided to roll up my sleeves and teach him a lesson.
“Nice watch,” I said, pointing to his and holding up mine. He nodded like we belonged to the same club. We did, but he
literally paid 100 times more for his membership. Bigshot bragged
about his five-figure purchase, a luxury heavyweight from the titan of
high-priced timepieces. I told him that mine was the Stauer Corso, a
27-jewel automatic classic now available for only $179. And just like
that, the man was at a loss for words.
Think of Stauer as the “Robin Hood of Watchmakers.” We believe
everyone deserves a watch of uncompromising precision, impressive performance and the most elegant styling. You deserve a watch that can hold its
own against the luxury classics for a fraction of the price. You’ll feel the
quality as soon as you put it on your wrist. This is an expertly-crafted time
machine... not a cry for attention.
Wear a mechanical masterpiece for only $179! Our customers have
outgrown the need to show off. They have nothing to prove; they have
already proved it. They want superb quality and astonishing value. And that’s
exactly what we deliver.
The Stauer Corso is proof that the worth of a watch doesn’t depend on the size of
its price tag. Our factory spent over $40 million on Swiss-made machinery to insure
the highest quality parts. Each timepiece takes six months and over 200 individual
precision parts to create the complex assembly. Peer through the exhibition back to
see the 27-jeweled automatic movement in action and you’ll understand why we can
only offer the Corso in a limited edition.
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Our specialty is vintage automatic movements. The Corso is driven by a selfwinding design, inspired by a 1923 patent. Your watch will never need batteries.
Every second of power is generated by the movement of your body. The dial
features a trio of complications including a graphic day/night display. The Corso
secures with a two-toned stainless steel bracelet and is water-resistant to 3 ATM.
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Test drive the Stauer Corso. If you don’t love
it, send it back within 30 days and we’ll refund every dollar of your purchase price.
And you’re welcome to keep the $99 sunglasses as our gift! Spending more doesn’t
make you smarter. But saving thousands on a watch this stunning will leave you
feeling (and looking) like a genius!
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ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL
12
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
VETERANS ISSUES
Photo from The White House
President’s State of the Union
Address Promises VA Claims
Backlog Reduction
In-State Tuition for Veterans
The House of Representatives passed (390-0) the FRA-supported “G.I. Bill Tuition Fairness
Act” (H.R. 357), a bipartisan bill sponsored by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC)
Chairman Jeff Miller (Fla.) and cosponsored by HVAC Ranking Member Mike Michaud (Maine).
The bill would enable G.I. Bill recipients to receive in-state tuition rates at any public college or
university in the country, not just those in a veteran’s state of residence. The bill also contains
a number of other provisions designed to enhance veterans’ benefits and bring more accountability and efficiency to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration. FRA members are urged to use FRA’s
online Action Center at www.fra.org to ask their Senators to support this important legislation.
The country must maintain a strong military,
but “move off” a permanent war footing and
look toward partnerships, diplomatic solutions and precision operations for dealing
with world threats, President Obama said
in his recent State of the Union address. The
speech, which focused largely on domestic
policy and economic growth, included reference to the VA’s disability claims backlog,
but said nothing about the recently enacted
COLA cuts. (See page 8.)
“As this time of war draws to a close, a new
generation of heroes returns to civilian life.
We’ll keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned,
and our wounded warriors receive the health
care — including the mental health care —
that they need. We’ll keep working to help all
our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home. And we all continue to join forces to honor and support our
remarkable military families.”
President Obama praised Staff Sergeant Army
Ranger Cory Remsberg, who was sitting next
to the First Lady Michelle Obama in the gallery, for his efforts to recover from his wounds.
He also highlighted The Joining Forces alliance that the First Lady and Jill Biden
launched, which has encouraged employers
to hire or train nearly 400,000 veterans and
military spouses to date. “Few Americans give
more to their country than our diplomats and
the men and women of the United States
Armed Forces,” he said, reminding Americans
that our military will complete its mission in
Afghanistan by the end of this year and end
America’s longest war.
VA Website Exposes Some Veterans’ Accounts to Unauthorized Users
It was recently announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) E-benefit website exposed the online accounts of about 5,000 veterans to unauthorized users. The defective software allowed veterans and service members logged into the E-benefit website to view account
information of other users. After discovering the problem, the VA shut down the system and
switched over to an earlier version of the software.
VA’s Data Breach Core Team (DBCT) is reviewing the E-benefit website error. According to a
statement issued by the VA, once the DBCT determines the individual veterans affected, “VA
will take the appropriate response, which may include free credit monitoring for the affected
individuals, consistent with VA’s standard practice.”
VA Regulation Expands TBI Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
promulgated a new regulation that assists
veterans living with traumatic brain injury (TBI)
who also have Parkinson’s disease, certain
types of dementia, depression, unprovoked
seizures or certain diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. The regulation, which
became effective January 15, 2014, stems from
a report of the National Academy of Sciences’
Institute of Medicine regarding the association
between TBI and the above-referenced disorders. Veterans can still file a claim to establish
direct service-connection for these ailments,
even if they do not meet the time and severity
standards in the new regulation.
Photo by Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock
Read more at http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2506
Information about VA and DoD programs for brain injury and related research is available at
www.dvbic.org.
In related news, the VA sent a proposal to the Federal Register to require the use of existing
standardized forms when veterans file disability claims or notices of disagreement concerning
their claims decision. Under current law, a veteran or survivor is not required to use a form to
seek disability benefits from VA, but this ultimately slows the processing of disability claims
and appeals.
The FRA Legislative team is Tom Snee, National Executive Director; John Davis, Director of Legislative Programs; Bob Washington, Health Care Advisor and Outreach
Manager; and Chris Slawinski, National Veterans Service Officer.
Breakthrough technology converts phone calls to captions.
New amplified phone lets you
hear AND see
the conversation.
The Captioning Telephone converts
phone conversations to easy-to-read
captions for individuals with
hearing loss.
Do you get discouraged when
you hear your telephone ring?
Do you avoid using your
phone because hearing
difficulties make it hard
to understand the person
on the other end of the
line? For many Americans
the telephone conversation
– once an important part of
everyday life – has become a
thing of the past. Because they
can’t understand what is said
to them on the phone, they’re
often cut off from friends, family,
doctors and caregivers. Now, thanks
to innovative technology there is finally a
better way.
Hello mrs fleming
this is
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today? I just wante
d to
give you an update
on
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on
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with sophisticated technology. If
is also packed with features to
help make phone calls easier. The keypad has large, easy
to use buttons. You get adjustable volume amplification
along with the ability to save captions for review later.
It even has an answering machine that provides you with
the captions of each message.
See for yourself with our exclusive home trial. Try the
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you have trouble understanding a call, the Captioning
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words spoken to you appear on the phone’s screen –
similar to closed captioning on TV. So when you make
or receive a call, the words spoken to you are not only
amplified by the phone, but scroll across the phone so
you can listen while reading everything that’s said to
you. Each call is routed through a call center, where
computer technology – aided by a live representative
– generates immediate voice-to-text translations. The
captioning is real-time, accurate and readable. Your
conversation is private and the captioning service doesn’t
cost you a penny. Captioned Telephone Service (CTS) is
regulated and funded by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and is designed exclusively for
individuals with hearing loss. In order to use CTS in
your home, you must have standard telephone service
and high-speed Internet connectivity where the phone
will be used. Callers do not need special equipment or a
captioning phone in order to speak with you.
The Captioning Telephone is intended for use by people with hearing loss. In purchasing
a Captioning Telephone, you acknowledge that it will be used by someone who cannot
hear well over a traditional phone.
HISTORY & HERITAGE
14
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
The History of FRA
1930–1939
1
2
3
1930
1931
1932
1934
1935
1935
1937
1938
FRA-proposed legislation is enacted that authorizes a
death gratuity benefit of six months basic pay to the
estates of recalled Fleet Reservists who subsequently
die on active duty.
Delegates at FRA’s National Convention authorize
a change in the name and publishing cycle for the
Association’s news publication. The bi-weekly Fleet
Reserve Bulletin became FRA’s monthly membership
magazine, Naval Affairs.
1
FRA is successful in exempting enlisted personnel from
Depression-era pay cuts that deferred pay for federal
employees by 8 to 20 percent.
FRA regained two-thirds of the 15-percent pay cut
authorized in the Economy Act of 1933. The remaining 5
percent was restored in 1935.
2
FRA was successful in obtaining eligibility for Navy
retirees and Fleet Reservists to receive emergency care
in veterans’ hospitals in areas where military facilities
were not available. The Association also secured the right
to outpatient care for Fleet Reservists and their families in
areas adjacent to Navy yards and stations.
FRA holds its 11th National Convention in Cincinnati,
Ohio, where delegates voted to add “and Marine Corps”
to the fourth and fifth paragraphs of the Preamble of
FRA’s Constitution.
The Association advances legislation that authorizes
commissary privileges for military widows.
FRA-backed legislation is enacted that allows free
medical care at military facilities for members of the Fleet
Naval Reserve and Fleet Marine Corps Reserve.
3
SOMETHING WORTH
PROTECTING . . .
You helped secure our nation’s future.
Let us do the same for your family.
Attention FRA members with MEDICARE & TRICARE
A
If you need more than what Medicare or TRICARE covers,
you may either pay for it yourself — or go without.
WHO PAYS for the costly “recovery care”
services you need at home, after you’re
discharged from the hospital?
Medicare? TRICARE For Life? You?
GET THE FACTS — NOW!
FACT #1
MEDICARE limits the home
health care it will pay for.
FACT # 2
TRICARE has strict criteria
to qualify and does not cover
home health aide, homemaker
or companion services at all.
For F
and t RA Memb
e
h
age 6 eir spous rs
5 and
es
older
The FRA-endorsed Hospital Income and
Short Term Recovery Insurance Plan can
help put you in charge, with CASH BENEFITS
for Hospital AND at-home recovery care.
You’ve earned the right to comprehensive quality health
care. It’s what you deserve and it shouldn’t fall apart
when you leave the Hospital. This plan can help you pay
for the recovery care you want.
• Guaranteed acceptance — you cannot be
turned down*
• Affordable FRA-negotiated group rates for members
• Cash benefits paid directly to you or anyone
you choose, in addition to any other coverage
• Use the money any way you want, no restrictions
KNOW YOUR OPTIONS!
To request more information, call toll-free:
1-800-424-1120 or Go Online: www.frainsure.com
Request Number 066512-1-1-1
Hearing-impaired or voice-impaired members may call the Relay Line at 1-800 -855-2881.
Underwritten by Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, Simsbury, CT 06089
The Hartford® is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries, including issuing company Hartford Life and Accident
Insurance Company.
Plan information includes costs, exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits and terms of coverage. Coverage may not be issued in some
states. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy. Policies underwritten by Hartford Life and Accident Insurance
Company detail exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policies may be continued in force or discontinued.
*This policy is guaranteed acceptance, but it does contain a Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation. Please refer to the Certificate of Insurance
for more information on exclusions and limitations, such as Pre-Existing Conditions.
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In CA d/b/a Mercer Health &
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66512 (3/14) Copyright 2014 Mercer LLC. All rights reserved.
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
16
Establishing New Branches
WHEN FRA SHIPMATES WORK togeth-
er to establish a new branch, it is an
excellent opportunity for them to
strengthen their bond with their fellow shipmates and form a new alliance
with prospective members in their
local area. By working toward a common goal, everyone involved benefits,
including our Association as a whole!
The
guidelines
in
FRA’s
Constitution and Bylaws (Article 12,
Section 1201) require a minimum of
20 eligible members to form a new
branch, which may include new, reinstated or current members of the
Association. A shipmate or interested
person can serve as the organizer to
coordinate all of the administrative
steps to get the branch started.
The first step in starting a new
branch is getting the word out to active duty, Reserve, retired and veteran
personnel in the local area who meet
FRA’s membership criteria and may
be interested in joining our efforts.
Announcing the first gathering of the
prospective branch should include the
purpose, time, date and location of the
meeting, which could take place in a library, veteran’s hall, recreation center,
military facility (e.g., senior enlisted
mess) or any other place where people
can meet and greet. Reaching these
prospective members can be done
Penny Collins
by mail, e-mail, phone calls, posters
placed in areas frequented by service
members and veterans (such as VFW
or other veteran organization meeting
halls, military or veterans hospitals,
recruiting offices, etc.) and newspaper
announcements. If there are local FRA
Branches in the area, invite the shipmates to the meeting to help answer
questions and support the potential of
organizing a new branch.
The guidelines in FRA’s
Constitution and Bylaws
require a minimum of 20
eligible members to form
a new branch, which may
include new, reinstated or
current members of the
Association.
Next, develop a presentation about
the FRA for the attendees. This might
include showing the FRA DVD (available from NHQ), a PowerPoint presentation that highlights some of FRA’s
legislative successes or other ways to
FRA National President
Virgil Courneya presents a
donation of $10,000 to the
U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted
Memorial Foundation as
other FRA shipmates look on.
highlight the value of FRA membership. Be sure to provide a handout or
other take-away to attendees, including a membership application. Light
refreshments may be offered to the
attendees and organizers should be
prepared to answer questions about
the Association’s goals, missions and
objectives.
Once 20 or more members are
ready to be a part of the new branch,
an application or petition must be
submitted to FRA’s National Board of
Directors for approval. Once approved,
the branch has 90 days to be installed
and instituted. A charter showing the
names of the branch members and
signed by national leadership will be
issued to the new branch. In addition,
the offices of President, Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer will be voted
on by the branch members.
Within the last four years, we have
installed and instituted three new
branches — Branch 294 (Crossville,
Tenn.), Branch 301 (Greenville,
N.C.) and Branch 232 (Cape May,
N.J.). Shipmates Richard Martin
(Crossville), PRPEC Joe Palmer and
Robert Moore (Greenville) and Bob
Campbell (Cape May) worked very
hard to launch these branches and,
although it wasn’t an easy task, it
was well worth the effort. Shipmate
Campbell is also the president of
Branch 13 (Atlantic City, N.J.) and he’s
already started working to form another new branch at the Atlantic City
Coast Guard Air Station.
If you are interested in starting a
branch, please contact me to obtain a
kit of instructions and other support
materials.
Penny Collins is FRA’s Director of Membership
Development and a member of FRA Branch 24 in
Annapolis, Md. She can be reached at [email protected].
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19
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
and
Radiation Exposure
Service members are often asked to perform their
duties in harm’s way. Serving in a combat zone is the
most obvious example, but the combat theater isn’t
the only hazardous environment. In fact, some serve, or
have served, in what might appear to be relatively safe
settings, like a dental clinic or a LORAN (Long Range
Navigation) station. These and other occupational
situations may pose a health risk due to exposure to
ionizing radiation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has identified
a number of service circumstances in which military
personnel may experience health problems as a result
of service-related radiation exposure, for which they
may be eligible for benefits. Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of veterans who
die of radiation-related diseases may also be eligible to
receive VA benefits.
“All VA claims are determined on a case-by-case basis,”
explains Brad Flohr, senior advisor for the Veterans
Benefit Administration at the Department of Veterans
Affairs, “but there are three criteria that must be met:
The veteran must show evidence of a disability, evidence of an incident or injury in service and, in the case
of a radiation claim, evidence of exposure. We have to
have a medical nexus of evidence.”
“Small Boy” nuclear test, July 14, 1962, part of Operation
Sunbeam, at the Nevada Test Site. Yield was 1.65 kt.
Photo by the United States Department of Energy
Atomic Veterans
There are some situations in which radiation exposure
is presumed. For veterans who participate in so-called
“radiation-risk activities” during their military service,
the VA assumes certain cancers are related to their
exposure. These are called “presumptive” diseases.
For example, veterans who participated in atmospheric
nuclear weapons testing (primarily in Nevada and the
Pacific Ocean between 1945 and 1962); served in the
occupying forces of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan
(August 6, 1945 to July 1, 1946); or were prisoners
of war in Japan during World War II are unofficially
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
20
Presumptive Diseases
Related to Ionizing Radiation
• Cancers of the bile ducts, bone, brain,
breast, colon, esophagus, gall bladder,
liver (primary site, but not if cirrhosis or
hepatitis B is indicated), lung (including
bronchiolo-alveolar cancer), pancreas,
pharynx, ovary, salivary gland, small intestine, stomach, thyroid, urinary tract
(kidney/renal, pelvis, urinary bladder, and
urethra)
• Leukemia (except chronic lymphocytic
leukemia)
• Lymphomas (except Hodgkin’s disease)
• Multiple myeloma (cancer of plasma cells)
referred to as “Atomic Veterans.” If an Atomic Veteran
is diagnosed with one of the cancers listed above,
he doesn’t have to prove a connection between the
disease and his military service to be eligible for VA
disability compensation. The connection is presumed
and their survivors may also be eligible for benefits if
the vet dies from one of these diseases.
“If an Atomic Veteran has one of the designated cancers, it is presumed that the disease is a result of his
military service,” explains Flohr. “The Defense Threat
Reduction Agency (DTRA) can confirm the veteran’s
participation through its Nuclear Test Personnel Review
and no medical opinion is required.”
Veterans who participated in underground weapons
testing at Amchitka Island, Alaska (before January 1,
1974) or worked at one of the following gaseous diffusion plants for at least 250 days (before February 1,
1992) are also considered Atomic Veterans: Paducah,
Kentucky; Portsmouth, Ohio; or K25 in Oak Ridge,
Tennessee.
Many Atomic Veterans, particularly those involved
with nuclear testing, were sworn to secrecy about
their work. They swore never to reveal what they knew
about these tests and, although documents relating
to the tests were made public in 1996, many continue
to keep this part of their military career a secret from
family members, friends and, in many cases, their
physicians.
Nuclear weapons tests ceased more than 50 years ago,
but there are still many Atomic Veterans who may be
eligible for benefits. “The last above-ground nuclear
testing ended in 1962,” said Flohr. “The veterans who
participated in those tests would now be in their seventies and there are a good number of them still alive.”
Ionizing Radiation Registry
Health Exam
VA offers a free Ionizing Radiation Registry health exam
for eligible veterans to alert them to the possible longterm health problems that may be related to radiation
exposure. This comprehensive health exam includes an
exposure and medical history, laboratory tests, and a
physical exam. A VA health professional will discuss the
results face-to-face with the veteran and in a follow-up
letter. The data collected also helps VA understand and
respond to these health problems more effectively.
Atomic Veterans are eligible for this free exam, as are
veterans who received nasopharyngeal (nose and
throat) radium irradiation treatments during their
military service. Certain pilots, submariners, divers,
and others were given this treatment during service
in 1940 to the mid-1960s to prevent ear damage from
pressure changes.
It is important for veterans to understand that registry
health exams are not disability compensation examinations. The information gathered is based on the
veteran’s recollection, not their military records, and
will not confirm exposure. And although enrollment in
the VA’s health care system is not required for a registry
exam, enrollment is highly encouraged for all veterans,
regardless of medical history or problems.
Radiation Exposure
Compensation Act
Veterans and others who develop certain diseases
following their exposure to radiation released during
atmospheric nuclear weapons tests may also be eligible
for compensation through the Department of Justice
(DoJ) Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).
According to the DoJ website, “the United States
conducted nearly 200 atmospheric nuclear weapons
development tests from 1945 to 1962. Essential to the
nation’s nuclear weapons development was uranium
mining and processing, which was carried out by tens
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FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
22
The “Baker” explosion was part of Operation Crossroads, a nuclear weapon test at Bikini Atoll, Micronesia, on 25 July 1946. The water released
by the explosion was highly radioactive and contaminated many of the ships that were set up near it. Some were otherwise undamaged and
sent to Hunter’s Point in San Francisco, California, United States, for decontamination. Those which could not be decontaminated were sunk a
number of miles off the coast of San Francisco.
of thousands of workers. Following the tests’ cessation in 1962, many of these workers filed class action
lawsuits alleging exposure to known radiation hazards,
[but these] suits were dismissed by the appellate
courts. Congress responded by devising a program allowing partial restitution to individuals who developed
serious illnesses after exposure to radiation released
during the atmospheric nuclear tests or after employment in the uranium industry.”
In addition to an official apology, the RECA legislation
provides a lump-sum financial award to individuals
who contracted one of 27 medical conditions following their exposure to radiation released during these
nuclear weapons tests, or following their occupational
exposure to radiation while employed in the uranium
industry during the Cold War arsenal buildup. These
payments vary, depending on the way in which a
claimant was exposed.
RECA claimants qualify for compensation by establishing the diagnosis of a listed compensable disease
after working or residing in a designated location for a
specific period of time. They do not need to establish
causation.
Those who mined, milled or transported uranium are
eligible to receive a single $100,000 payment; “onsite
participants” at atmospheric nuclear weapons tests
may receive $75,000; and “downwinders” — those who
lived downwind of the Nevada Test Site — may receive
$50,000.
“The RECA program is administered by the Department
of Justice, not the VA. If a veteran accepts the RECA
payment, he or she cannot receive VA disability benefits at the same time, even though he or she might be
eligible for both benefits,” clarifies Flohr. “The benefits
cannot be paid concurrently. If a vet receives a onetime RECA payment of $75,000, his VA benefits will be
withheld until the equivalent of the VA award has been
covered by the RECA payment.”
For example, if the VA determines a veteran is eligible
to receive $3,000/month in disability benefits for his
participation in an onsite nuclear test and he accepts a
$75,000 RECA award, his VA benefits will be suspended
for 25 months ($3,000/month x 25 months = $75,000).
After that, the veteran would be authorized to begin
receiving his monthly VA disability payments.
Potential claimants and/or surviving family members may call the U.S. Department of Justice Nuclear
Veterans Radiation Exposure Compensation Program
at 1-800-729-7327 or leave an e-mail message at
[email protected] to receive further information and
claim forms. Additional information and RECA claim
forms are also available at www.justice.gov/civil/
common/reca.html.
Actual Size
30.61 mm
90% Pure Silver
Before they were carved in stone,
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U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Apprentice Karolina A. Martinez
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
24
USS Jefferson City (SSN 759) and other nuclear-powered, fast attack submarines are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and
surface ships.
The National Association of Atomic Veterans’ website
(www.naav.com) suggests potentially eligible veterans should contact the U. S. Department of Energy
(DoE) to secure copies of their Film Badge Radiation
Exposure History. Such film badge history will prove
the veterans’ presence at a nuclear test. Requests for
these records can be made by sending a NV-192 form
to: U.S. Department of Energy, Bechtel Nevada, (Attn:
Dosimetry Research Project, M/S CF401), P.O. Box
98521, Las Vegas, NV 89193-8521. This office can also
be reached by phone at 702-295-3521.
box below) may be caused by exposure during other
radiation-risk activities associated with military service.
Veterans who served in the following situations or circumstances may also have been exposed to radiation:
•
LORAN: U.S. Coast Guard veterans who worked
at Long Range Navigation (LORAN) stations from
1942 to 2010 may have been exposed to X-ray
radiation from high voltage vacuum tubes. An
estimated 10,000 USCG members were potentially
exposed and it is believed that most received
only minimal occupational exposures. Because
of the low energy of these X-rays, the radiation
would not have penetrated the body deeply. As a
result, superficial diseases, such as skin cancer and
cataracts, are more likely to be linked to this exposure. Veterans who worked inside the equipment
cabinets may experience skin or eye damage.
•
McMurdo Station, Antarctica: The U.S. Navy operated a small nuclear plant (PM-3A) at McMurdo
Station, Antarctica, from 1964 to 1973. Leaks and
other operational problems were discovered and
the plant was eventually decommissioned. The
Department of Defense (DoD) recently conducted
a dose reconstruction effort to characterize the
radiation releases at McMurdo.
•
Depleted Uranium: During the 1990–1991 Gulf
War, the U.S. military began using tank armor and
some armor-piercing bullets made with depleted
uranium (DU). While DU has 40 percent less radioactivity than natural uranium, it has the same level
of chemical toxicity. DU is a potential health hazard
if it enters the body, such as through embedded
fragments, contaminated wounds, and inhalation
Other Exposures
Nuclear weapons testing isn’t the only way a service
member may experience radiation exposure. The VA
recognizes that a variety of diseases (shown in the
Diseases Related to
Radiation Exposure
VA recognizes that the following diseases are
possibly caused by exposure to ionizing radiation during service:
• All cancers
• Non-malignant thyroid nodular disease
• Parathyroid adenoma
• Posterior subcapsular cataracts
• Tumors of the brain and central nervous
system
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FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
26
McMurdo Station on Ross Island, Antarctica, taken from Observation Hill.
•
•
or ingestion. Veterans who served in the 1990–1991
Gulf War, Bosnia, Operation Enduring Freedom,
Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn
may be eligible for the Depleted Uranium Follow-Up
Program* at the Baltimore VA Medical Center, a
program to screen and monitor health problems associated with exposure to depleted uranium. “These
vets are being followed and, so far, they are all doing
OK,” says Flohr. “The concern is that the DU might
cause problems later on.”
Claims for VA Compensation
Military Occupational Exposure: Military personnel
who currently work on nuclear-powered vessels,
serve as nuclear weapons technicians and dental
or x-ray technicians — or have worked in these
arenas in the past — are/have been routinely exposed to radiation. Though this exposure is limited
and usually safe, the level of exposure is closely
monitored.
VA determines these claims on a case-by-case basis and
will consider the possibility that other diseases (besides
those listed on page 24) may have been caused by
radiation, if supported by medical or scientific evidence.
Fukushima Nuclear Accident: When an earthquake
and tsunami hit Fukushima, Japan, in 2011, three
nuclear reactors released radiation into the environment. Personnel serving in the area from March
12 to May 11, 2011, may have been exposed to
radiation. Although the estimated radiation doses
calculated for the nearly 70,000 service members
and DoD-affiliated personnel are not considered dangerous, DoD established the Operation
Tomodachi Registry* that will generate a locationbased radiation dose estimate for each person.
Veterans and their survivors do not need to contact
DoD to confirm exposure activity before applying for VA
compensation benefits. Military records often contain
evidence of radiation exposure or accounts describing
duty-related exposure, and VA will check those records
during the claims process to confirm exposure.
Veterans who wish to be considered for disability
compensation related to their exposure-related health
problems must file a claim with the VA. Eligibility for VA
disability compensation or survivors’ benefits depends
on a number of factors, such as the radiation dose and
when the diseases develop. To be eligible for compensation, VA must be able to establish that it is at least as
likely as not that a veteran’s disease was caused by his/
her exposure to radiation during military service.
Confirming Radiation Exposure
During Service
Reports generated by DoD’s Threat Reduction Agency
(DTRA) are also used to confirm veterans’ participation
in atmospheric nuclear tests, as a member of occupying forces in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or involvement
in some other radiation-risk activities. VA also asks
*More detailed information about these registries and programs is available at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/benefits/registry-evaluation.asp.
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FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
28
DTRA to provide the actual or estimated radiation dose
received by an individual veteran when necessary.
Determining the level of exposure can be a difficult
process, particularly for older veterans. “We have more
nuclear-powered vessels than we had in the past, for
example, and we do get some occupational exposure
claims as a result,” says Flohr. “But there are still more
Atomic Veterans’ claims than those for occupational
exposure. And as the years go by, it’s sometimes difficult to get a definitive medical opinion for our older
veterans.”
The VA is working hard to resolve an unprecedented
number of pending disability claims, many of which
are related to radiation exposure. “Radiation claims
account for a relatively small percentage of all VA disability claims,” elaborates Flohr. “We’ve had more than
a million new disability claims in each of the past three
years, and if 5,000 of those in a given year are radiation
claims, that’s a lot. But many of the unresolved claims
we have are radiation claims.
“If a veteran’s health problems and exposure aren’t on
the presumptive list, DTRA needs to do a dose reconstruction. We need to determine where the vet served,
which tests he might have been involved with, how far
he was from ground zero, etc,” Flohr continues. “This
information must be gathered from and verified by
the veteran or survivor, which takes time and money.
VA pays about $5,000 for each dose reconstruction
and as DTRA staff and funding levels are reduced, the
response time increases.”
Other Resources
More information on VA health care and
compensation is available:
• Online at www.va.gov
• By contacting the nearest VA benefits
office. (A list of VA locations is available
at www.va.gov/directory)
Improving the Process
The VA is working to dedicate more resources — funding and people — to resolve the backlog of claims, and
also developing streamlined processes to facilitate
claims adjudication.
One major improvement was consolidating the
handling of radiation claims at the Jackson, Miss., VA
Regional Office. “We have 57 offices scattered across
the country and each of them processes specific
types of claims. For example, all radiation claims are
processed in our Jackson office and Louisville handles
claims related to the Camp Lejeune contaminated
water. This helps us provide more consistent evaluation
and more rapid response,” says Flohr.
Another improvement is the establishment of the
VA’s E-Benefits website (www.ebenefits.va.gov). The
site offers a wide array of benefit information, including the ability to begin the claims process. “Using the
E-Benefits website to digitally file claims helps veterans
and the VA,” explains Flohr. “It’s faster and saves the
VA money that can be used to serve veterans in other
ways. We currently receive about 80 percent of claims
electronically and are quickly converting them. The
date the online 526-EZ form is submitted is considered
the date of claim and if any benefits are awarded, they
are payable retroactively to that date.”
Working for Veterans
All veterans who were discharged from military service
under other-than-dishonorable conditions are eligible
to apply for VA care and benefits, if they believe they
have medical problems related to their service. “If a
veteran is being treated for cancer or other health
problem, he or she should ask their provider if it could
possibly be related to radiation exposure,” encourages
Flohr. “We want veterans who are disabled due to
exposure to know that the VA is doing everything possible to adjudicate their claims as well and as quickly
as possible, based on laws and regulations.”
• By calling 1-800-827-1000 or 1-800829-4833 (TDD for hearing impaired)
Lauren Armstrong is the Contributing Editor and Member
of the FRA Auxiliary. She can be reached at [email protected].
REUNIONS
29
USS Dixie (AD-14)
October 2–5, 2014, Nashville, TN.
Contact J.T. Smith, 107 Brookhaven
Court, Gallatin, TN 37066, 615-5132440, [email protected]
Association of Minemen
October 6 – 8, 2014, Charleston, SC.
Contact Dick Schommer, 827 N.
Aylesbury Rd., Goose Creek, SC 29445,
843-797-3715, rschommer@
bellsouth.net
Dept. of Florida, Navy Seabee Veterans
of America (DOFL/NSVA) Convention
April 23–26, 2014, Kissimmee, FL.
Contact Carl Barrett, 1700 Glen Abby
Ln., Winter Haven, FL 33881, 863-2999009, [email protected]
NAS Sanford and all Squadrons,
1942–1968
June 26–29, 2014, Sanford, FL.
Contact Ralph Feeback, 205 Poinsettia
Drive, Sanford, FL 32773-7329, 407302-2252, [email protected]
Naval Training Center Bainbridge
Assoc.
October 2–5, 2014, Gaithersburg,
MD. Contact Walter Alexander, 2311
Idavere Rd SW, Roanoke,VA 240153903, 540-345-5826, [email protected]
Navy Patrol Squadron 24
October 16 –19, 2014, Patuxent River,
MD. Contact Preston L. Rose, 301-8635652, [email protected]
USS Alamo (LSD-33)
September 25 –27, 2014, Branson,
MO. Contact Mike Schuerman, 1829
Wellington Drive, Desoto, MO 63020,
314-954-2060, guitarmanrocks69@
hotmail.com
USS Caiman (SS-323)
May 12–15, 2014, Coeur D’Alene,
ID. Contact Douglas W. Smith, 3835B
Maple Ave, Bremerton, WA 98310,
360-377-4763, [email protected]
USS Ethan Allen
October 26–November 2, 2014, Tampa,
FL. Contact Chris Connor, 24 Quinton
Hancocks Bridge Road, Salem, NJ
08079, 856-935-1805, gcconnor@
comcast.net
USS Grenadier (SS-525)
September 11–14, 2014, Jacksonville,
FL. Contact Reggie Thurlow, 1584
Meadowcrest Blvd., Crystal River, FL
34429, 1-800-418-9195,
[email protected]
USS Halibut (SSN/SSGN-587)
October 5–9, 2014, Branson, MO.
Contact Paul King, 18 Cypress Run,
Haines City, FL 33844, 863-207-1600,
[email protected]
USS Hamner (DD-718)
September 10 –13, 2014, Seattle, WA.
Contact Patty Keys, 301-262-5516,
[email protected]
USS Hornet (CV-8, CV, CVA, CVS-12)
66th Reunion
September 9–14, 2014, San Antonio,
TX. Contact Carl & Sandy Burket,
Secretary, PO Box 108, Roaring Spring,
PA 16673, 814-224-5063, hornetcva@
aol.com
USS John A. Bole (DD-755)
November 9 –13, 2014, Branson,
MO. Contact Ron Shipley, 921 Illinois
Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350, 815-4347483, [email protected]
USS John W. Thomason (DD-760)
July 23 – 26, 2014, Long Beach, CA.
Contact Bob Soukup, 562-799-0317,
[email protected]
USS Mississippi (CGN-40)
August 7–10, 2014, Virginia Beach,
VA. Contact Jay Martin, 460 E Park St.,
Elizabethtown, PA 17022, 717-2780757, [email protected]
USS Orleck (DD-886)
August 11–14, 2014, San Diego, CA.
Contact Charles F. Burkhardt, Jr., 5405
Shasta Dr., Bossier City, LA 71112,
318-742+9847,
[email protected]
USS Robert E. Peary (DE-1073,
FF-1073)
June 19–22, 2014, San Diego, CA.
Contact Bill Mei, 954-536-7587,
[email protected]
USS Sphinx (ARL-24)
September 8–11, 2014, Branson,
MO. Contact Dennis Klein, 305 Lower
State Rd, No. Wales, PA 19454,
215-542-2283.
USS Ticonderoga Vets Association (CV/
CVS/CVA-14/CG-47)
May 22–26, 2014, Charleston, SC.
Contact John Deasy, 215-348-9981,
[email protected]
USS Toledo (CA-133)
September 4–8, 2014, San Diego, CA.
Contact Paul Specht, 405-737-7404,
[email protected]
USS Walton/USS Silverstein /
USS Whitehurst
October 8–12, 2014, Kansas City, MO.
Contact Mary Hudson, 3924 Oxford
Rd., Jefferson City, MO, 785-220-6605,
[email protected]
VP-6 Bluesharks
September 18–21, 2014, San Diego,
CA. Contact Terry Snyder, 3898 East
Park, Camarillo, CA 93012, 805-2054442, [email protected]
VP-40
October 8 –12, 2014, Pensacola, FL.
Contact Guy Fisk, 107 Springside Road,
Asheville, NC 28803, 828-654-7812,
[email protected]
Members can post reunions online at www.fra.org,
submit to [email protected] or mail to: FRA Reunions,
125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
USS Canberra (CA-70/CAG-2, All
Hands, 1943–1970)
October 8 –12, 2014, Virginia Beach,
VA. Contact Ken Minick, PO Box 130,
Belpre, OH 45714, 740-423-8976,
[email protected]
LOOKING FOR…
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
30
OSCS L. L. Rogers
We served onboard USS Leahy (CG16) in late 70’s. Please contact Bob
Lion at [email protected] or
215-343-3499.
Crewmembers of USS Princeton
(CVA-37), 1953
I have a photograph of the officers
and men, with the ship in the background, which was taken in San Diego
on October 31, 1953. I also have a
“Plank of the Deck” commemorating
the ships commissioning in December
of 1970. I’d like to see these items
back in the possession of a crew
member or surviving family member of
a plankowner. Please contact Edward
Bero at [email protected], 912685-9883, or 205 Mattie Dr., Metter,
GA 30439-3729.
CPO Lucas
Stationed at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.,
in 1982, and was in charge of Navy
transients. Please contact Dan Matrese,
2327 Kensington St., Harrisburg, PA
17104 or 717-236-8149.
Ron Gordon
We were station together at NAS Glenvew
and NAS Whidbey Island. Please contacted John Avram at 2555 Seine Ct.,
Kenai, AK 99611, nhojmarva@acsalaska.
net or 907-335-2701.
LT Mary Frances Anderson
CPO Willie Richardson
Both were stationed at ENRO, Orlando,
Fla., 1975 –1977. Please contact Calvin
Benefield at [email protected] or
615-268-9239.
Florida CPOs
Looking for Navy and Coast Guard
CPOs who reside in Florida to join the
Florida CPO Association. Presently
425 members and only $10/year membership dues. Please contact Steve
Miglionico at 407-348-8466 or
go to www.flcpoa.org
These notices are published on a space available
basis. Notices must be submitted in writing.
E-mail [email protected] or mail your request to: FRA,
Looking for…, 125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA, 22314.
What has FRA Been Doing
for the Past 90 Years?
IF YOU ARE A member of a branch, you are most likely
familiar with the branch’s history, leadership, and activities in your community. You may know your regional officers, or at least know who they are and what work they
are doing on your behalf. But what about the national organization? You hopefully also know, as the saying goes,
what FRA has done for you lately: fighting on Capitol
Hill for active duty pay increases, working to reverse
the COLA reductions set to take effect in 2015, keeping
stateside commissaries open, providing in-state tuition
for veterans, and more. But did you know that FRA has
been at the forefront of many similar battles throughout
its 90-year existence?
Here is this month’s challenge: Identify the benefit(s)
in the list below that FRA was NOT instrumental in preserving or bringing about:
• TRICARE for Life
• Concurrent receipt of disability benefits and
retirement pay
•
Defeat of proposals that would force military retirees to choose between VA and DoD healthcare
services
• Enactment of the Widow’s Equity bill, the precursor of today’s Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
• Equity in disability compensation for disabled peacetime veterans with their wartime
counterparts
Last month, we asked you to match slogans to services; here are the correct answers:
I Want YOU for U.S. Army
Want Action? Join U.S. Marine Corps
Gee, I wish I were a Man—I’d join the U.S. Navy
Loyalty, Protection and Service—FRA
We’re sure you got the last one correct!
We apologize for omitting the USCG recruiting slogan:
“Be Part of the Action”
Chemistry Casanova
Reinvents the Emerald
San Fransisco CA…It is 1937. You never saw a genius more in love. She loved him
back, but how could he surprise her and stun her without breaking the bank? He
knew she loved that glittering green necklace in the jewelry store window. But he
also knew that he could never afford a natural emerald on a chemist's salary. So he
made his own.
A few years later, he brought 100 carats along on his honeymoon in New York City.
But when the couple visited a Fifth Avenue jeweler for a professional opinion, the
manager called the cops. He assumed the gems were stolen because they looked too
good to be true. His beautiful wife just smiled knowingly.
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beauty cradled in gleaming .925 sterling silver and surrounded by the fire of our
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Perfect from the start. Mined emeralds are born in chaos. As a result,
they are littered with flaws, inclusions and cracks. Scienza emeralds
are absolutely free of natural imperfections. Even the finest South
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But every Scienza emerald begins and ends in perfection.
The process begins with the seed of a natural emerald. In strictly
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Our expert appraiser has valued this pendant at $345 but
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Rating of A+
TAPS In Memoriam
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
32
NAMEBRANCH
NAMEBRANCH
Abrams, James T., PO1, USN
Anderson, John E, GYSGT, USMC
Anderson, Michael R, POC, USN
Areostatico, Dino N, PH1, USN
Aspas, Paul T, LCDR, USN
091
031
MAL
077
099
Halstead, Kenneth A, LT, USN
Hice, Arnie D, YNC, USN
Hillesheim, John, AMHC, USN
Hosmer, Joseph W, CTMCS, USN
Howard, James K, HT1, USN
MAL
053
MAL
226
089
Bashaw, Lloyd W, LCDR, USN
Beck, Frederick H, ADC, USNR
Beltran, Rosalino, HM1, USN
Bess, Luther Edward, EMCS, USN
Bitanga, Michael A, MCPO, USN
Bizub, Richard J, CWO2, USN
Bleckner, John M, AEC, USN
Bode, Donald H., MAJ, USMC
Bonner, Rev. Michael J, AZCM, USN
Bono, Anthony J, HMCS, USN
Boothe, William T, HTCS, USN
Brearley, Nelson W, ADRC, USN
Brough, Daniel L, AD1, USN
Buckingham, Taylor C, POCS, USN
Burnett, David G, SGTMAJ, USMC
Burrier, Paul A, HMCS, USN
Buss, Clarence R, HM1, USN
Butts, Howard E, OTMC, USN
099
053
084
020
008
MAL
136
136
289
020
172
170
MAL
MAL
046
043
MAL
MAL
Ingalls, James K, LT 03, USN
170
Jahr, Gerald A, LT, USN
Jernigan, Claud P, CWO2, USN
Jingles, George K, YN1, USN
Johnson, Robert S, CSCM, USN
Jones, Robert K, QM1, USN
147
029
298
251
290
Keller, Alois G, ADC, USN
Kelly, Omer E, ADC, USN
Kelsch, George D, MLC, USN
King, Simmie T, ABH1, USN
King, Harold D, ADC, USN
Kloth, Edgar C, ADRC, USN
Kortum, William P, HMC, USN
Kuhn, Robert N, ADRC, USN
001
126
048
194
275
178
276
014
Caneer, Cecil V, ADC, USN
Carter, Roy T, HMC(SS), USN
Centamore, Joseph, RM1, USN
Chillemi, Anthony C, HMC, USN
Christner, Rex E, BTC, USN
Clements, Donald S, ADRC, USN
Clinton, Richard, PHC, USN
Conner, Marvin L, PO1, USN
Courtois, Victor R, AC1, USN
Cozine, Max E, ADC, USN
Crain, Merle H, SKC, USN
Crawford, Alan L, HMCM(FMF), USN
Criner, James E, CAPT, USN
091
041
229
285
253
117
307
MAL
MAL
097
029
MAL
MAL
Labrador, Alfonso P, DKCS, USN
Lewis, Noah L, DCC, USN
Liebelt, Charles G, MSGT, USMC
Livingston, George R, DTC, USN
MAL
091
175
315
Maddox, Joseph E, PO2, USN
Mason, William F, BTCS, USN
McCambridge, Edmund F, YNC, USN
McCarty, Warren B, QMC, USN
McDaniel, Ralph E, PO1, USN
McNair, William F, CWO, USN
Melde, Robert T, EMC, USN
Militello, Anthony, AOCM, USN
Miller, Donna J, MACM, USN
Montgomery, Morris, LCDR, USN
Moore, William W., CSC, USN
Moore, Robert A, AFCM, USN
Morgan, Robert V., GMG3, USN
Morris, Robert E, SMCS, USN
172
291
289
001
040
MAL
MAL
091
046
061
MAL
097
015
MAL
Dasinger, William E, ETCM(LCDR), USN 024
Denison, Kenneth M, BM1, USN
MAL
Deverick, Leslie C, ENCS, USN
MAL
Dilly, Harrison, GYSGT, USMC
086
Dover, Michael, CPO, USNR
089
Downs, Vernon E, DKC, USN
029
Drake, Kenneth, AEC, USN
175
Ellison, Edward C, CS1, USN
England, William A, SKC, USN
309
091
Flavin, Charles T, RMC, USN
Flynn, Charles A, BM1, USN
Fortney, Howard W, EMC, USN
Foster, Robert H, DCC, USN
Furgeson, Richard D, GYSGT, USMC
309
MAL
MAL
MAL
MAL
Gale, Frank L, HTC, USN
Garrahy, John J, AVCM, USN
Gibson, Richard A, CPO, USN
Gill, Robert E, GYSGT, USMC
Goodwin, James L, LCDR, USN
037
091
MAL
MAL
MAL
Hagenbuch, Richard N, ENFN, USN 115
Halpin, Alfred L, CTACS, USN
022
Napert, William N, EQCM, USNR
042
Nelson, Larry L, MMCS, USN
029
Newell, Grover C, BM1, USN
219
Novak (Navatkosk), John A, HMC, USNMAL
Nowak, Alexander J, MSGT, USMC
175
Nunemaker, John T, ETCM, USN
MAL
Olson, Oscar J, BT1, USN
Osorio, Napoleon G, MSC, USN
Ostrom, Eddy R, TDCS, USN
Otero, Martin M, ADJC, USN
Owen, Ben G, GMC, USN
022
170
070
070
070
Patterson, Raymond W, CPO, USN
Phillips, Henry, PO1, USN
Puckett, Vernon E, AMHC, USN
091
257
245
Quartulli, O Thomas, CAPT, USN
MAL
Rafanan, Marcelo, MS1, USN
Rawls, James D, BM1, USN
Reddick, William, CPL, USMC
Reed, John E, CSCS, USN
084
MAL
162
022
NAMEBRANCH
Reimer, Douglas T, HM1, USN
Rogers, Darnel, CMC, USN
Ross, Raymond J, BM1, USN
Rost, Ervin T, PO1, USN
Rowell, James M, CSC, USN
MAL
382
048
098
170
Samuelson, Norman W, OSCM, USN
Sarwinski, Adam E, CS1, USN
Scharschan, Stephen J, CWO4, USN
Schlott, David S, HMC, USN
Seeley, Eugene R, CTC, USN
Shear, Irwin M, CMC, USN
Simpelo, Constancio T, SHC, USN
Skaleski, Sylvester, AVCM, USN
Smith, Thomas J, MAC, USN
Smyth, Joseph, RADM, USN
Spivey, Paul N, BMC, USN
Stasney, Victor J, HMCS, USN
Steffey, Roy F, PNC, USN
Stemen, Dewey A, ATC, USN
Stoll, Richard C, GYSGT, USMC
Stone, J C, GMCS, USN
Storm, Paul V, CSC, USN
Sundin, Richard C, SKC, USN
Swearingen, James G, MMC, USN
Swenson, Merrill G., BMCS, USN
Sykes, Owen W, POCS, USN
Sylvester, Ellwood R, MNC, USN
264
288
MAL
309
024
027
022
136
MAL
MAL
055
106
162
126
161
099
136
MAL
MAL
162
179
MAL
Terrell, Porter L, CPO, USN
Thomas, Ashley Joe, PO1, USN
Trail, Dent A, MRC, USN
Tuck, Paul D, HMCM, USN
MAL
091
120
022
Ulrey, Joe L, MGYSGT, USMC
MAL
Villaluz, Cresencio P, EM1, USN
Vogltanz, Lawrence E, EMCM, USN
084
310
Wallin, John E, EN1(SS), USN
Waters, Jerry, CTRCS, USN
Wilson, Alan F, CAPT, USN
Wood, Gregory S., MK1
Woodlief, Ashby L, CSC, USN
Wylie, Clayton R, CAPT, USN
048
MAL
162
046
005
MAL
Yates, Beryl E, AK1, USN
Young, David G, BMCS, USN
261
365
Names in red indicate 50 year continuous members.
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
34
BRANCH 207 DALE CITY, VA.
Members of Virginia’s 2014 Joint Leadership
Council and guests posed during the council’s
January meeting in Richmond, Va. Council
members, representatives from the Virginia
Department of Veterans Services and 24
Veteran Service Organizations, including FRA
Shipmates Abe Zino (3rd from the left) and
Paul Galanti (10th from the left), are working
for the 840,000 Virginia Veterans each and
every day. (Photo provided by Stan Crow of AUSA.)
BRANCH 268 OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.
Branch 268 is named in memory of USS
Oklahoma (BB-37) and shipmates braved belowzero wind chill at the USS Oklahoma Memorial to
honor the more than 400 Sailors who were killed
on the battleship during the 1941 attack on Pearl
Harbor. Shipmates Susan Hammond, Ken Kerby,
Damon Carlton and Bob Delaney gathered at the
Oklahoma State Capitol on Dec. 7, 2013, to
remember their fallen shipmates.
BRANCH 182 BETHESDA, MD.
Branch President/East Coast Regional Secretary
Keith Kaider congratulating Shipmate Juan
Velazquez-Ortiz on his 40 years of continuous
FRA membership. Ortiz was a Lab Tech during his
20 years in the Navy and currently volunteers
three times a week at the Walter Reed National
Military Medical Center Pharmacy. The certificate
and pin were presented in the pharmacy conference room, with his supervisor and colleagues
present. (Photo by PRPEC Paul Gunther)
BRANCH 126 JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
Branch & Unit 126 participated in the 2013
Veterans Day Parade in downtown Jacksonville,
FL. Holding the banner (l to r) are Shipmates Ed
Gribbin and Dave Burris. Seated behind the
banner are Shipmate Al Roby, Shirley Attebery,
Flo Kulier and Shipmate Martha Klinikowski.
Standing are Shipmates Don Rodely, Bill Kulier,
President James Thomas, Dave Pippin, Unit
President Veralyn Thomas, Don Walsh, Al Peter
and Clinton Attebery.
BRANCH 296 AUBURN CALIF.
President Mac
McKown presenting
a 40 year continuous Membership
Certificate and pin
to Branch Member
Frank Gomez, HMC
USN Ret.
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES
35
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
BRANCH 163 PHOENIX, ARIZ.
FRA was well represented as thousands gathered to dedicate a
WWII Memorial in Phoenix on December 7, 2013. The unique
memorial (left) was built completely with donated funds and
services, and features main battery gun barrels from the battleships USS Arizona and USS Missouri. The memorial also
features the names of 1,900 Arizona service members lost
during WWII (above left). FRA NVP John Ippert and Unit 163
President Virginia Ginter presented a memorial wreath during
the dedication ceremony (above right), while RPSW Mick Fulton,
Branch President Joe Bland, Branch Secretary Bryan Ginter, and
other shipmate and Auxiliary members watched. To learn more
about the memorial, visit www.gunstosalutethefallen.com.
BRANCH 301 EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
Representing Branch 301, President Anthony Bishop accepts a
Certificate of Appreciation and a U.S. Navy Flag flown over Africa
during a Combat Search and Rescue Mission. Presented by
Shipmate QMCS(SW/EXW) Patrice M. Frede, USN. Shipmate
Frede, a member of Branch 301, recently returned from being
forward deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She
was assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, Camp
Lemonnier, Djibouti and was attached to the US Army 411th
Civil Affairs Battalion.
BRANCH 208 JACKSONVILLE, N.C.
FRA National Vice President John Ippert presents a
50-year membership pin to Shipmate John Vavro. Shown (l
to r) NVP Ippert, Shipmates Vavro and PNT “Bill”
Hemmingway. Kneeling in front, left to right are Shipmate
Robert R. Baum and Shipmate Secretary of Branch 208
Mark Rogers. Shipmate is a resident of Liberty Commons
assisted living in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
To submit a photo for News From the Branches, please e-mail a photo as an attachment
in jpeg format to [email protected] or mail a high-quality photograph to FRA Today, 125
N. West Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Please include a brief description of the photograph
and include the names of those pictured. Laser prints and scanned copies of photographs
cannot be accepted.
NEWS FROM THE AUXILIARY OF THE FRA
36
FRA TODAY MARCH 2014
Message from the Northwest Regional President
WE HAD A GREAT year in 2013 and are looking forward to finishing up this
Association Year in Corpus Christi, Texas, for the National Convention in
October. We’re also anxious to see our fellow Auxiliary members and shipmates
at the Northwest Regional Convention in Spokane, Washington, in September.
Between now and then, I’m excited to finally be able to attend the Pilgrimage in
April and am so looking forward to it. And I’m grateful that I’ll be able to make
all my unit visits with my husband, FRA RPNW Dan Holloway.
All of our units in the Northwest are involved in doing whatever they can
to give back to the community and help others in need. For example, Auxiliary
members work very hard to support the veterans’ homes and hospitals in their
local areas and we place flags (and remove them later) on gravesites for Memorial
Day and Veterans Day. Members also donate food baskets during the holiday
season, take toys to less fortunate families and also assist with the Toys for Tots
program. It is so rewarding to see everything our units and members are doing.
As with all regions, we are working to keep our current members and recruit
new ones. The Northwest Region would like to thank National Vice President
Doris Fri, Junior Past National President Diane Hoover and Membership Service
Administrator Pat Boudreaux for all their help in reinstating Unit 247 (Dagupan
City, Philippines). We also appreciate the outstanding work of Unit President
Araceli Orante and everyone is looking forward to working with all the members
of Unit 247.
To the members of all the U.S. military services currently serving all over
the world, we thank you for all the sacrifices you and your family make for our
freedom. God Bless You!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost a loved one. If you
have been ill, we wish you a quick recovery. To those celebrating a birthday or
anniversary, may you have many more.
Virginia Olson receives her 50 year pin at Unit 59 in Cheyenne Wyo. Shown (l to r) are Sgt
of Arms Kate Dickey, Past Unit President Carol Marshall, Olson, and Past Unit President Mary
Archer.
SHARON HOLLOWAY
Northwest Regional President
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