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Located here are Links of interest for our Membership, and interesting information pertaining to the Units or Ships where they served their Campaign duty. You will find that many other Veterans share your same interests, comments and suggestions are important. With your input these pages can become a great source of information and pride. Use the form at the bottom of this page to submit suggestions, links, or any other items you would like posted here.
U S A F
Press Release False Rumor Regarding Destruction of Veterans Records Rumor Hinders National Personnel Records Center’s Ability to Answer Veterans’ Reference Requests Washington, DC. . . There is a false rumor circulating on the Internet, in e-mails, and among veteran service organizations that Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) at the National Personnel Records Center, operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, will be digitized and then destroyed. This rumor is NOT TRUE. Neither the Department of Defense (DoD) nor the National Personnel Records Center intend to destroy any OMPFs stored at the Center. The purpose of any electronic scanning would be to help preserve the originals and increase efficiency in handling reference requests. The National Archives and Records Administration preserves and protects OMPFs that were transferred from the military service departments because they are permanently valuable records that document the essential evidence of military service for the veterans of our nation. NPRC stores and services OMPFs for retired, discharged, or deceased military personnel. The National Personnel Records Center responds to approximately 4,000 requests pertaining to military records each day, totaling more than one million requests each year. Many of those requests are for Separation Documents (usually DD Form 214) and the Center answers the majority of those inquiries in ten days or less. Requests resulting from this false rumor will have a negative impact on NPRC’s ability to respond to requests from veterans with real immediate needs, such as medical treatment, employment, retirement, etc. For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-501-5526 or 301-837-1700.
Page Now Open
Important Alert for Veterans
Personal Data of Millions Stolen WASHINGTON, May 22, 2006--The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is alerting all members that computer records with personal information on millions of veterans were stolen earlier this month from the home of a data analyst who works for the Department of Veterans Affairs. In conference calls today with veterans’ service organizations and with members of the national news media, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson admitted that up to 26.5 million names, social security numbers, dates of birth and, in some cases, home addresses, disability ratings and spousal information were stolen during what appeared to be a random burglary. The VA employee, whom the secretary said was not authorized to take the information home, has been placed on administrative leave as FBI and local law enforcement officials continue the investigation. VFW Commander-in-Chief Jim Mueller called the admission deeply disturbing, but said he would help the VA inform the 2.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries. Then he demanded accountability. “What happened is absolutely unacceptable, but the task at hand is to inform every veteran family so that they can begin taking steps to safeguard their personal information,” said Mueller, who then wants those employees and/or officials who may be at fault to be held accountable for their actions. “Above all else, we demand accountability from those who work for the people,” he said. “Whether the investigation reveals it was one person involved or includes others in more senior positions who may have given tacit approval, we expect their employment to be terminated immediately. The severity of this incident does not permit second chances.” Nicholson said the 26.5 million names represent every military veteran discharged since 1975, and possibly earlier if the individual filed a VA claim. He said that there is no indication that anyone’s medical or financial records were compromised, but did acknowledge that the reason he decided to go public with the news was to alert all veterans of the incident and for them to be more vigilant of their personal information. The VA will send out individual notification letters to veterans to every extent possible. Veterans can also go to firstgov.com for more information. Also, the VA has established a manned call center for veterans to receive information about this situation and to learn more about consumer identity protections. That toll free number is 1-800-FED INFO (333-4636). A special call center has been established and is open from 8 a.m. to 9 pm (EDT), Monday-Saturday, as long as it is needed. If overseas use the phone number below: From Canada: 802-296-5177 From the Caribbean/Central and South America: 713-383-2652. From Europe, the Pacific and elsewhere: 412-395-6272. Have a question? Click to read FAQ's Click to read VA's official statement Click to read VA's letter to veterans Click to read letter VFW sent to Senate VA Committee Chairman Larry Craig (R-ID). Similar letters also were sent to ranking Senate member Daniel Akaka (D-HI), House VA Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN) and ranking member Lane Evans (D-IL).
Our
Members Military Service Pages
Our Armed Services (Branch of Service) pages are meant to share the relevant Campaign or Era histories of the Units in which we served. Every Unit, Ship, or Plane listed was deployed in a Foreign War or Campaign in support of America's Freedom. Varying degrees of information has been posted. Our experiences span from WWII to Afghanistan and Iraq, and all the Services are represented. Our intention is not to rewrite history, only share ours. These pages will be updated as information becomes available.
U S M C
The
National Personnel Records Center
has provided the following website for veterans to access their DD-214 online http://vetrecs.archives.gov/. This
may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for
employment purposes. POC is Lyn Krout, Linda.krout@us.army.mil , DSN
458-1755, commercial 410-306-1755.
NPRC initiates online records request procedures and is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the standard Form 180 which can be downloaded from the online web site. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time. Also, because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. Veterans and next of kin may access this application at http://vetrecs.archives.gov/ - please note there is no requirement to type "www" in front of the web address.
Recent Media Coverage of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5255A VIDEO INTERVIEW TAKEN AT OUR POST WAS VIEWED ON CNN MEMORIAL DAY! WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM ADDING THE VIDEO TO THE WEBSITE. ITS CONTENT SIZE TAKES A VERY LONG TIME TO DOWNLOAD. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE POST HALL.
Congress Bars Military Funeral Protesters By JIM ABRAMS WASHINGTON (AP) - Demonstrators would be barred from disrupting military funerals at national cemeteries under legislation approved by Congress and sent to the White House Wednesday. The measure, passed by voice vote in the House hours after the Senate passed an amended version, specifically targets a Kansas church group that has staged protests at military funerals around the country, claiming that the deaths were a sign of God's anger at U.S. tolerance of homosexuals. The act ``will protect the sanctity of all 122 of our national cemeteries as shrines to their gallant dead,'' Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-TN., said prior to the Senate vote. ``It's a sad but necessary measure to protect what should be recognized by all reasonable people as a solemn, private and deeply sacred occasion,'' he said. Under the Senate bill, approved without objection by the House with no recorded vote, the ``Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act'' would bar protests within 300 feet of the entrance of a cemetery and within 150 feet of a road into the cemetery from 60 minutes before to 60 minutes after a funeral. Those violating the act would face up to a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison. The sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mi., said he took up the issue after attending a military funeral in his home state, where mourners were greeted by ``chants and taunting and some of the most vile things I have ever heard.'' ``Families deserve the time to bury their American heroes with dignity and in peace,'' Rogers said Wednesday before the House vote. The demonstrators are led by the Rev. Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kan., who has previously organized protests against those who died of AIDS and gay murder victim Matthew Shepard. In an interview when the House bill passed, Phelps said Congress was ``blatantly violating the First Amendment'' rights to free speech in passing the bill. He said that if the bill becomes law he will continue to demonstrate but would abide by the restrictions. Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, said the loved ones of those who die have already sacrificed for the nation and ``we must allow them the right to mourn without being thrust into a political circus.'' In response to the demonstrations, the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group including many veterans, has begun appearing at military funerals to pay respects to the fallen service member and protect the family from disruptions. More than a dozen states are considering similar laws to restrict protests at nonfederal cemeteries. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against a new Kentucky law, saying it goes too far in limiting freedom of speech and expression. The bill is H.R. 5037
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