The Korean War Veterans Association will host the annual statewide reunion of Korean War veterans in July. The association will be observing the 55th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. As a fundraiser for this event, there will be a
The Korean War Veterans Association will host the annual statewide reunion of Korean War veterans in July. The association will be observing the 55th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.
As a fundraiser for this event, there will be a tournament at the Wailua Golf Course on May 24. The deadline for registration is May 17.
The association asks for supporters to participate, sponsor a tee or donate a monetary/prize contribution.
The entry fee for the shotgun-start tournament is $75 and includes a cart, green fees and an awards luncheon immediately following the event.
Individuals may attend the luncheon only, which will be held at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center at a cost of $10 per person. For information, contact Royce Ebesu at 822-4341 or Bob Hiraoka at 822-5516 after 5 p.m.
Veteran’s Texas Hold ’Em tournament
The Kauai Veterans Club will host periodic Texas Hold ’Em tournaments for veterans of any Kaua‘i organization. Non-members may join the club, which is open to any honorably discharged veteran. Annual dues are $12. There will be an entry fee, which will be returned in its entirety as prizes to participants. Those interested in participating are asked to call Johnny at 245-1625 or e-mail him at kauaiveterans@aol.com.
Temporary closing of military ID office
The ID card office at PMRF will be closed on April 14 and 15 due to installation and upgrade of the hardware/software of the equipment. The office will reopen April 16. For information, call 335-4493.
Burial at sea
Veterans desiring a final disposition of their remains may have them performed with vessels from the Unites States Navy. The ceremony is performed while the ship is deployed, therefore family members are not allowed to be present.
Eligible personnel include active duty members, retirees, veterans who were honorably discharged and dependent family members. Individuals interested should obtain the “Burial at Sea Request Form” and check the requirements. For information, call Tony Elliot at 241-3348.
VA will accept military’s PTSD diagnosis
With an increase of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, the diagnosis made while on active duty will be recognized for VA purposes. The decision will end VA’s requirement that veterans provide additional evidence.
VA Secretary James Peake has directed the regional offices that veterans do not require additional evidence; they must only schedule examinations to determine the severity of the illness for VA compensation purposes.
The VA has recognized the increase of affected veterans and has hired an additional 800 psychologists in the past three years. This will supplement the more than 11,000 mental health professionals that were already in the VA system.
Casualties of the war
As the nation reached 4,000 Iraq war fatalities, USA Today gave an analysis of those who gave their lives. Ninety-eight percent were male, compared to 99.9 percent of those lost in Vietnam. The common age was 21, with 9 percent being officers, including 24 lieutenant colonels and six colonels.
The installation with the most casualties is Fort Hood, Texas. New York City, which lost 62 residents, had more deaths than any other hometown.
According to the Honolulu Star Bulletin, there have been 218 military personnel with ties to the Hawaiian Islands who have died in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. This number includes not only Hawai‘i residents, but also all of the military personnel stationed in the state.
Tax rebate 2008
As reported last month, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 includes a cash rebate. Individuals do not normally include VA disability compensation, pension or survivor’s benefits when filing a return. If necessary to qualify, veterans must include these benefits on a 2007 tax return to receive the rebate.
Individuals must have at least a $3,000 earned income. Both social security and veteran benefits qualify as income. Although there may be exceptions, stimulus payments will be made starting May 2 for those who had requested a direct deposit. Those who are paid by checks will begin receiving payments after May 16.
Interesting military facts
Thirty of the 43 U.S. presidents served in the Army, 24 during time of war. The U.S. Air Force was part of the Army until 1946 and called the Army Air Corp.
The Coast Guard seizes on average 169 pounds of marijuana and 306 pounds of cocaine worth $9.6 million every day.
The United States has 737 military installations overseas.
The U.S. Army was in charge of exploring and mapping America. The Lewis and Clark expedition was an all-Army affair
Miss Kaua‘i Veteran
Applications are being accepted for Miss Kaua‘i Veteran 2008-09. The applicant must be a senior in high school. The winner will be crowned during ceremonies after the Veterans Day parade and awarded a $1,000 stipend. Application forms are available at the high schools or by calling Dr. Belles at 822-3677.
Monthly feature of a veteran
In the past few months, the executive board members of the veteran’s council have been featured. We will now feature the commanders of the veteran organizations on the island. We will start with the Kaua‘i Veterans Club, the only organization open for membership to all veterans. Those interested in joining can call Gemi Pascua at 742-1951.
The commander of the veterans club is William Crowell. Crowell was born in Waimea and grew up in Lihu‘e. He attended the Lihu‘e Elementary School and then graduated from Kamehameha High School. Following graduation, Crowell joined the United States Air Force and served four years. Shortly after discharge, he joined the Hawai‘i Air National Guard until his retirement in 1997. He and his wife, Leimomi, had three children and they currently reside in Kekaha.
• Johnny Rabasa, a Hanama‘ulu resident and Kaua‘i High School graduate, served for 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a command sergeant major. He served in Vietnam. He also retired from the U.S. Postal Service, was postmaster at the Kaumakani post office, and worked at the Lihu‘e post office. He writes this monthly column exclusively for The Garden Island.
