Purple Heart Update

Those brave heroes who were Promoted to Glory while a POW from Dec 7th 1941 to the present have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal! The regulations have been changed and now Next Of Kin (Moms and Dads and siblings) can apply to get that medal. This happened because of an outstanding effort by Brenda and Rick Tavares. Brenda’s Next of Kin, Melvin Morgan died while with the Tiger Survivors in...
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DFAS Retired Pay Newsletter

The first issue of the DFAS Retired Pay Newsletter for 2009 is available. In this issue you will find information on The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, offset of pay for disability-based compensation, safekeeping of bonds, the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)/Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) Open Season which was extended through Feb. 28,...
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Purple Heart For Those Who Died In Camp

On October 6, 2008, Department of Defense announced the approval of a Purple Heart for those who died while a POW since December 7, 1941. Family members with questions about this change in regulations may make contact with the respective branch of service. It is not known at this time if family members beyond mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers and children of the POW would be able to...
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Disability Compensation

I have talked to many Ex-POWs who still are not rated at 100% permanent, many have the unemployability rating at 100%. Those rated at 100% permanent and whose other disabilities add up to at least 60% automatically receive “House Bound.” This means additional dollars in your VA Check. For an Ex-POW, including an allowance for the wife, his check would be for $3062.00. This will increase by 5.8%...
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How to Avoid Probate

A POW friend of mine who lived in Florida passed to Glory and his wife is now going through Probate. Probate can take up to 3 years and cost 10% of more of the estate. So it is common sense to avoid Probate if at all possible. How can one do this? First of all have a will drawn up. Husband and Wife can draw up their own will if you prefer. We do not know who will pass first. I suggest you get...
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