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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 North Korea. Without these two outstanding individuals this would never have became law. Many helped and I thank you all for your efforts. Congressman Bob Filner and Senator Barbara Boxer worked very hard to accomplish this and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts.
Brenda Tavares was presented her Next Of Kin’s Purple Heart for Melvin Morgan by Congressman Bob Filner on 18 April 2009 in San Diego California. Tiger Survivors, Henry Arakaki, David (Moo Moo) Vilafana and Shorty Estabrook were in attendance. Brenda’s husband, Rick, was there and all smiles was he.
Submitted by Shorty Estabrook
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, 2009.
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 apply for this medal.
ARMY: Military Awards Branch, 703-325-8700
NAVY: Navy Personnel Command, Retired Records Section, 314-592-1150
AIR FORCE: Air Force Personnel Center, 800-616-3775
US MARINE CORPS: Military Awards Branch, 703-784-9340
Those who were killed in POW camp and who have been awarded a Purple Heart would not qualify for this additional award. Those wounded in camp and who were awarded a Purple Heart for that wound and who died of other causes later on in captivity should qualify for this additional award.
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% as of 1 December 2008.
If you are among those losing out it is recommended you reopen your claim for PTSD by sending a very short note with your C-number and SSN to your VA Regional Headquarters. Ask them to reopen your claim for PTSD because your condition is getting worse. They will set an appointment at your local VA Hospital via C&P and that will give you a shot at increasing your disability to 100% permanent. If you do not have enough other disabilities to add up to 60% then reopen a claim or open a new claim for one of your disabilities.
Submitted by Shorty Estabrook
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 “An Agreement to Establish Right of Survivorship to Community Property between Spouses.” Each state could be different so it is best to check with your lawyer about this where you reside. This agreement is good when both spouses intend to leave everything to each other. This is a simple agreement between them. This agreement would cover your home and other real property, all furnishings and household goods in the home, all automobiles and other vehicles, all bank accounts, stocks, bonds, IRAs, Certificates of Deposits, and all property jointly owned and all other property acquired during marriage, except property acquired by gift or inheritance, clearly identified as separate property and kept separate and apart from the community property of the Husband and Wife. This means that all community property of Husband and Wife shall pass to the surviving spouse upon the death of the first to die, without the necessity of Probate Court proceedings or other legal actions other than the recording of this Agreement in the records of the County Clerk where you reside at time of death.
If you have a Military ID Card through disability or Retirement you can use the services of the Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) office on any Military Base that has one. They can do a will for you and one for your wife and also this Agreement as well as a living trust etc.
Don’t leave your spouse in a bind.
Respectfully submitted by Shorty Estabrook