Info
Underage Military Service
The organization for underaged veterans is Veterans Of Underage Military Service. Their address is:
18802 Rogers PassSan Antonio, Texas 78258
Phone is 1-888-653-8867 (toll free), web site is oldvums.com. National Commander is Bernard Doyle.
Membership is open to all including the Merchant Marines.
Designation of Beneficiary
Defense Finance and Accounting Service( DFAS) emphasizes the need for Retired Military service members to make certain their Designation of Beneficiary paperwork is up to date and on file.
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.