Action Corps Weekly – April 8, 2016

VFW Action Corps Weekly – April 8, 2016

In This Issue:

1. VFW Set to Testify Next Week
2. VA Provides New Care to Migraine Sufferers
3. Army in State of High Risk
4. USAF Authorizes Gold Star Lapel Button Wear
5. MIA Updates

1. VFW Set to Testify Next Week: Next week, the VFW will testify at two hearings before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee where we will give our views on pending legislation. A Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, at 10:00 a.m.; and a Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing is scheduled for April 14 at 2:30 p.m. Deputy Legislative Director Aleks Morosky will testify on behalf of the VFW at both hearings. For more information and to watch the hearings live, visit: http://veterans.house.gov/legislation/hearings.

2. VA Provides New Care to Migraine Sufferers: VA is now offering a new form of preventative care to patients suffering from migraine headaches. Cefaly is a new technology that uses electrodes to stimulate nerve cells which stop pain receptors from causing migraines. The device was approved by the FDA in 2014 and is suggested to be worn daily for a minimum of 20 minutes. Most patients report their migraines either completely end or at least drastically improve after consistent use of Cefaly. “It’s reduced the amount of meds I’m taking,” one patient said. “When you’ve had a headache for 14 days, you’re willing to try anything to get relief, and this thing works. If you’re having issues with headaches, it’s worth a try. It’s a comfort, having it here, knowing I can use it whenever I need it.” To read more, click here:

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/26884/va-helping-migraine-sufferers-new-treatment/.

3. Army in State of High Risk: In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said Thursday that his service is in a state of “high risk,” which could spell disaster in terms of being able to respond when, where, and in sufficient strength to a major world crisis. He said another problem is the gap is closing in the U.S. military’s ability to outrange and outgun other major militaries. His current assessment doesn’t include what might happen if mandatory sequestration is restarted again next year, which would force the Army to drop from its planned 450,000 active-duty strength to 420,000. Eliminating sequestration has been a top VFW legislative priority ever since it was created by the Budget Control Act of 2011, not only because it slashes almost $1 trillion from Defense Department funding, but because the world has become far more dangerous and unpredictable since then. Five years ago the Islamic State didn’t exist, Russia wasn’t in Crimea, China wasn’t creating islands out of rocks, and North Korea and Iran weren’t pushing the limits of international patience as much as they are now. The VFW wants all members and veterans advocates to use this federal election cycle to force Congress to eliminate that which it created. Watch video of the hearing at: http://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/16-04-07-posture-of-the-department-of-the-army.

4. USAF Authorizes Gold Star Lapel Button Wear: The Air Force is now allowing airmen to wear the Gold Star lapel button or the Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel lapel button on their dress coats, mess dress and service dress uniforms. Soldiers have been able to wear the pins on their dress uniforms since 2014. No decision has yet been reached for the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. Under federal law enacted in 1947, members of the armed forces who are issued the Gold Star pin include widows and widowers, parents, stepparents, children, siblings, and half- or step-siblings of those who died in combat. The Gold Star pin applies to conflicts from World War I forward. Those not eligible for the Gold Star pin could receive the Next of Kin pin, which applies to relatives who lost loved ones on active duty or were assigned to a Reserve or Guard unit on drill status. Learn more about both at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2006-title32-vol3/pdf/CFR-2006-title32-vol3-sec578-63.pdf.

5. MIA Updates: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains of two Marines lost fighting in World War II, and burial updates of two World War II pilots and three Korean War soldiers. Returned home are:

— Marine Corps Pfc. John F. Price, who was lost fighting on Tarawa on Nov. 20, 1943, will be buried with full military honors on a date and location to be determined. He was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.

— Marine Corps Pfc. Anthony Brozyna, of Hartford, Conn., who was lost fighting on Tarawa on Nov. 20, 1943, will be buried with full military honors on a date and location to be determined. He was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.

— Army Cpl. Robert P. Graham, 20, of San Francisco, is being buried today with full military honors in Colma, Calif. In February 1951, Graham was assigned to Company A, 13th Engineer Combat Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, which was engaged in a battle near Hoengsong, South Korea. His unit was ordered to withdraw south while under heavy attack. He was reported missing on Feb. 13, 1951. Learn more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/711220/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-graham.aspx.

— Army Air Forces Flight Officer Dewey L. Gossett, 23, of Spartanburg, S.C., will be buried with full military honors on April 11 in Wellford, S.C. On Sept. 27, 1943, Gossett was piloting an A-36A Apache in a flight of four searching for targets of opportunity when they encountered bad weather. Only three aircraft returned to base. He was assigned to the 527th Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force. Learn more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/714241/airman-missing-from-world-war-ii-accounted-for-gossett.aspx.

— Army Pfc. Aubrey D. Vaughn, 20, will be buried with full military honors on April 12 in his hometown of Union, S.C. On April 23, 1951, Vaughn was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 5th Regimental Combat Team, when his company’s position was overrun by Chinese forces in North Korea. Vaughn was reported missing in action after the battle. Learn more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/713796/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-vaughn.aspx.

— Army Air Forces Capt. Arthur E. Halfpapp, 23, of Steelton, Pa., will be buried April 14 with full military honors in Annville, Pa. On April 24, 1945, Halfpapp was piloting a P-47 Thunderbolt that crashed during an armed reconnaissance mission southeast of Alberone, Italy. He was assigned to the 87th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group. Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/715567/airman-missing-from-world-war-ii-accounted-for-halfpapp.aspx.

— Army Cpl. Dennis D. Buckley, 24, of Detroit, will be buried April 14 with full military honors in Rittman, Ohio. On Feb. 5, 1951, Buckley was assigned to A Battery, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, which was fighting in the central corridor of South Korea. Buckley would be reported missing on Feb. 13 after the Chinese counterattacked. Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/715592/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-buckley.aspx.