ex-pow bulletin · ing changes should include a tele-phone number where they can be reached if more...

EX-POW BULLETINthe official voice of the

American Ex-Prisoners of War Volume 69 Number 7/8www.axpow.org

July/August 2012

We exist to help those who cannot help themselves

Dept. of Missouri Annual Convention. Clockwise from upper right: Gerald Harvey; Doris Duckworth and Susan McQuilkinRobert and Mary Louise Carter; Stephen Gaither, John and Ann Clark; Bunny and Paul Dillon; Memorial Service; Installationof Officers; National Commander Carroll Bogard and wife Barbara; Boogie Woogie Babes; Ed Slater CENTER: Don Rickle

tribute to Missouri Ex-POWs

EX-POW Bulletin (ISSN 0161-7451) is published bi-monthly (six times annually) by the American Ex-Prisoners of War, 3201 E. Pioneer Pkway,Arlington, TX 76010. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, TX and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to EX-POW Bulletin,AXPOW Headquarters, 3201 E. Pioneer Pkwy. Suite 40, Arlington, TX 76010-5396. Founded April 14, 1942, in Albuquerque, NM, then known as BataanRelief Organization, Washington State nonprofit corporation, “American Ex-Prisoners of War”, October 11, 1949, recorded as Document No. 133762,Roll 1, Page 386-392. NONPROFIT CORPORATION. Nationally Chartered August 10, 1982. Appearance in this publication does not constitute endorsementby the American Ex-Prisoners of War of the product or service advertised. The publisher reserves the right to decline or discontinue any such advertisement.© 2012 American Ex-Prisoners of War

PublisherPNC Maurice Sharp

9716 54th Street CT WestUniversity Place, WA 98467-1118

(253) [email protected]

EditorCheryl Cerbone

23 Cove View DriveSouth Yarmouth, MA 02664

(508) 394-5250(508) 760-2008 fax

[email protected]

Intrepid Staff ReporterAlice A Booher

Deadline for the Sept/Oct 2012issue is August 1, 2012.

Please send all materials to theeditor at the above address.

officers/directors 4commander/HQ 5NSO 6medsearch 7andersonville 12namPOW 13outreach 14pow-mia 15civilian 16events, info, looking for 17news 18stories 25members’forum 28voluntary funding 29applications 30contributions 31new members 32taps 33raffle/Ads 39quartermaster 41

July/August 2012table of contents

Ex-POW BulletinJuly/Aug 2012

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National Convention:We just returned from our National Convention in Arlington, Texasand it was great! More information in the Sept/Oct issue. There werefour generations of two families represented -- all the kids had aball at the parks and our members had time for meeting old friendsand new as well as attending to the business of the organization.Next year, we’re going back to Arlington -- June 26-29, 2013. We’llstart giving details starting in the January issue. Come on downand join the fun!

AMAZING!In the last issue, we spoke about the American Ex-Prisoners of War creditcard and our concern that only 100 members had taken advantage of it. Assoon as the article appeared, the phone at National Headquarters startedringing -- with comments such as: “I didn’t know we had a new credit card”and “How do I sign up?” Headquarters took a bunch of your applicationsover the phone and submitted them on line. Within four weeks, we had 13new approvals! Now if we can double this each month and then doubleagain, within a short time, we will have 1,000 members carrying the AXPOWcredit card. And your organization will have an additional $50,000 (that’sright - $50,000) in the General Fund. It’s painless on your part. Just sign upfor the card, make a single purchasee within one month and we make money!Thank you to those who responded last month -- let’s keep it going!

Legacy Task Force:At National Convention, the Board combined members from two commit-tees to form a Legacy Task Force. If you have ideas for the future of ourorganization, plans to take us into the future, you can email them [email protected].

Bracelets:In the 1970’s, we wore Prisoner of War (P.O.W.) and Missing in Action (M.I.A.)bracelets bearing the name of a captured or lost soldier. We did this tokeep this person in our hearts and minds, even if we did not know thempersonally. We proudly wore these bracelets, and some still do, as a symbolof hope that the POW’s and MIA’s would return home to their families.Today, we also keep others in our memories... Victims and Heroes ofTerrorism. To keep the memory alive of those who have died innocently atthe hands of terrorists or fighting terrorism, we now also wear MemorialBracelets. You can order a Bowe Bergdahl bracelet at: www.memorialbracelets.com. $2.00 from the sale of each bracelet is donated tocharities that support the families of the heroes and victims of terrorism.

axpow officers & directors 2012-2013National Headquarters - Clydie J. Morgan, Adjutant/Treasurer

3201 E. Pioneer Pkwy, #40, Arlington, TX 76010(817) 649-2979 (817) 649-0109 fax [email protected]

North East RegionFranklin R. Koehler243 Torrey Pines Dr.Toms River, NJ 08757(732) 244-4629; (732) 505-8702 [email protected]

Laura McIntyrePO Box 475Hardwick, MA 01037(413) 477-8260 (413) 477-0172 [email protected]

East Central RegionJudy LeePO Box 248Madisonville, TN 37354(423) 442-3223; (423) 442-4702 [email protected]

Southeast RegionEdward L. DeMent8735 Doral Oaks Dr., #1617Temple Terrace, FL 33617(813) [email protected]

Benny Rayborn459 Grady Brown RdLumberton MS 39455(601) [email protected]

North Central RegionJohn W Clark1201 S Johnmeyer LnColumbia MO 65203(573) [email protected]

David ClaypoolPO Box 38Hampton MN 55031(612) [email protected]

National CommanderCharles Susino136 Jefferson StreetMetuchen, NJ 08840(732) 549-5775 phone & fax

National Sr Vice CommanderJames L. Lollar292 VZ CR 3727Wills Point, TX 75169(903) 560-1734; (903) 560-1705 [email protected]

National Judge AdvocateDavid Drummond1 Crane CourtManalapan, NJ 07726(732) [email protected]

National ChaplainPNC Gerald Harvey709 Baptist Home LaneChillocothe MO 64601660-646-4301

Jr. Vice CommandersWm “Bill” Jeffers -Eastern Zone3522 Millbrook way CrGreenacres, FL 33463(561) [email protected]

Pam Warner Eslinger -Central ZonePO Box 117Hammon, OK 73650(580) [email protected]

Milton “Skip” Moore -Western Zone2965 Sierra BermejaSierra Vista, AZ 85650(520) 459-7295; (520) 533-3757 [email protected]

Mid-Central RegionDeanie Schmidt1001 Parkview Blvd. #316Columbus, OH 43219(614) [email protected]

South Central RegionPNC Morris Barker710 Chapel ViewWaco, TX 76712(254) [email protected]

Ben Garrido21083 S Forrest DrTahlequah OK 74464(951) [email protected]

Northwest RegionBonnie Sharp9716 54th Street CT WestUniversity Place, WA 98467-1118(253) [email protected]

Southwest RegionAlice Gollin37231 Turnberry IslePalm Desert, CA 92211(760) 610-1271;(760) 610-1752 [email protected]

Lewis “Lew” Sleeper6636 E Villa DoradoTucson, AZ 85715(520) 751-9628 Voice(520) 490-1082 [email protected]

DirectorsOfficers

Committee addresses appearwith their columns

Senior Director

Carroll Bogard, Ph.D275 N Taft #116Mason City IA 50401(641) 424-4870 – Voice(641) 512-4543 - Cell


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Past National CommanderCarroll Bogard

newsfromhq

CarrollCarrollCarrollCarrollCarrollDear Ex-POWs, Next-of-Kin, Familiesand Friends,

I want to thank all of you for givingme the opportunity to serve as yourNational Commander. This is themost important organization in aPOW’s life. This has been a veryenjoyable and a productive year. Iam very proud of the progress wehave made and the steps we havemade to ensure that the AmericanEx-Prisoners of War continues tothrive in the future.

Your Board of Directors has beenof immeasurable help to me as wehave tackled tough problems andmade good decisions for AXPOW. Ithank them for all their hard work.I also thank Headquarters for theirhelp and assistance this year.

You have responded well to ourreminders about voluntary fundingthat appear in each issue of the EX-POW Bulletin. You have also re-sponded to our direct mail labels,calendar and letters. Because ofyour generosity, I can state that forthe first year in decades, YOUR or-ganization is enjoying a balancedbudget. We have the money in ourcoffers to pay for the programs thathelp us live up to our slogan “Weexist to help those who cannot help

themselves”. I thank you for youreffort on behalf of your fellow ex-POWs and their families.

We have some important workahead of us to continue serving ex-POWs, their spouses and widows,and next-of-kin. Through coopera-tion and thoughtful deliberation,we can continue to exist and keepa place in history for all of our ex-periences.

I will continue to do what I can dohelp those leaders who follow.

Thank you again for electing me tobe your National Commander. Serv-ing you has been an honor and aprivilege which I shall cherish al-ways. I look forward to continuingthe many warm friendships I havemade this year.

bylawsAll requested changes to the Na-tional Bylaws are to be submittedas follows:

Resolutions have two major parts:a preamble and a resolution. Thepreamble gives the reason for theresolution. The resolution gives theintent. Each can contain one ormore paragraphs and the whole isread in its entirety, beginning withthe preamble. Each preamble para-graph begins with “Whereas” andends with “and” to connect it to thenext paragraph. The final paragraphis joined to the resolution with asemicolon and followed by thephrase “Therefore, be it”

Whereas, (ETC); andWhereas (ETC); therefore, be itResolved, that ___________

One signature is required on reso-lutions and amendments. Membersare reminded that resolutions mustbe submitted to the committee be-fore Oct. 1, 2012. Those request-ing changes should include a tele-phone number where they can bereached if more information isneeded. Send requested changes to:

David Drummond, Chairman1 Crane CourtManalapan, NJ 07726(732) [email protected]

Convention is over and it waswonderful! From the Rangersgame – thank you Nolan Ryan! –to the bagpipes, everything wasgeared to your pleasure. The Next-of-Kin Chorus pulled off a flaw-less rendition of 1960s songs☺…the hot dog machine in Hos-pitality was a terrific hit…thetemperature outside may havebeen hot, but our membersstayed cool indoors making newfriends and greeting old ones.

A huge thank you to the ArlingtonHilton’s management and staff.They all worked tirelessly with theorganization to ensure all our at-tendees had a wonderful and enjoy-able time. From check-in until thetime you left, they were looking outfor you. The staff, from housekeep-ing to the front desk, was dedicatedto you. We could not have pulledthis off without them.

There were more volunteers andhelpers than I can recite here. Thankyou for your service and dedication.You did good!

We’ll be calling on you for next June– same time, same place!

Clydie, Marsha & Donna

PS. Thank you to everyone whofound my coffee cup that week...itfinally made it home safely!


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Ruth Powell, Director - NSO191 Florence RoadWaltham, MA 02453781-899-0726

nso

Anxiety Disorders(POW PRESUMPTIVE)

If you have an anxiety disorder,worry or fear becomes long-termand may get worse instead of bet-ter as time goes on. Doctors andolder adults tend to view anxietyand fear as normal given the cir-cumstances of aging. But develop-ing an anxiety disorder late in lifeis not a normal part of aging.

Studies estimate that anxiety dis-orders affect between 3 and 14 per-cent of older adults in a given year.More women than men experienceanxiety disorders. They tend to beless common among older adultsthan younger adults.

Anxiety caused by stressful eventslike moving or losing a job is a nor-mal part of life. But anxiety disor-ders are different. An anxiety dis-order lasts a long time and can getworse if it is not treated.

Anxiety disorders commonly occurat the same time as other illnesses.In older adults, anxiety disordersoften occur at the same time as

depression, heart disease, diabe-tes, and other medical problems.In some cases, these other ill-nesses need to be treated beforea person will respond to treat-ment for the anxiety disorder.

Types of AnxietyDisorders

There are several basic types ofanxiety disorders. Although theyshare some characteristics, each isslightly different and may respondto different treatments.

Here we discuss six different anxi-ety disorders:·generalized anxiety disorder·social phobia·panic disorder·post-traumatic stress disorder·obsessive-compulsive disorder·specific phobias.

Generalized AnxietyDisorder (GAD)In generalized anxiety disorder(GAD), a person becomes very wor-ried about things like health,money, and family problems, evenif everything is OK. A person maybe very anxious about just gettingthrough the day.

Social PhobiaIn social phobia, a person fearsbeing judged by others or of be-ing embarrassed. This fear can getin the way of doing everydaythings such as going to work, run-ning errands, or meeting withfriends. People who have socialphobia often know that theyshouldn’t be so afraid, but theycan’t control their fear.

Panic DisorderIn panic disorder, a person hassudden, unexplained attacks ofterror, and often feels his or herheart pounding. During a panicattack, a person feels a sense ofunreality, a fear of impendingdoom, or a fear of losing control.

Panic attacks can occur at anytime.

Post-Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD)Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) develops after undergoing aterrifying ordeal like an accident oran act of violence. A person whodevelops PTSD may have been theone who was harmed, or have aloved one who was harmed, or havewitnessed a harmful event.

Obsessive-CompulsiveDisorder (OCD)People with obsessive-compul-sive disorder (OCD) feel the un-controllable need to check thingsover and over, or they may havecertain thoughts or perform cer-tain routines over and over. Thethoughts and rituals of OCDcause distress and get in the wayof daily life.

The repeated, upsetting thoughts ofOCD are called obsessions. To tryto control them, people with OCDrepeat rituals or behaviors, whichare called compulsions. People withOCD can’t control these thoughtsand rituals.

Specific PhobiaA specific phobia is an intense,extreme fear of something thatposes little or no actual danger.Some of the more common spe-cific phobias involve closed-inplaces, heights, escalators, tun-nels, highway driving, water, fly-ing, dogs, and the sight of blood.

Disability Benefits Question-naires (DBQs) give Veteransmore control over the disabil-ity claims process.

Veterans have the option of vis-iting a private health care pro-vider instead of a VA facility tocomplete their disability evalu-ation form. Watch for more in-formation next issue.

pow medsearchMarsha Coke, Chairmane-mail: [email protected]

3201 E. Pioneer Pkway, Suite 40Arlington, TX 76010

(817) 649-2979


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Thanks to NSO Director RuthPowell for this information

Irritable Bowel SyndromeWhat is irritable bowelsyndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a dis-order characterized most com-monly by cramping, abdominalpain, bloating, constipation, anddiarrhea. IBS causes a great deal ofdiscomfort and distress, but it doesnot permanently harm the intes-tines and does not lead to a seri-ous disease, such as cancer.Most people can control theirsymptoms with diet, stressmanagement, and prescribedmedications. For some people,however, IBS can be disabling.They may be unable to work,attend social events, or eventravel short distances.

As many as 20 percent of theadult population, or one in fiveAmericans, have symptoms ofIBS, making it one of the mostcommon disorders diagnosedby doctors. It occurs more of-ten in women than in men, andit begins before the age of 35in about 50 percent of people.

What are the symptoms ofIBS?

Abdominal pain, bloating, and dis-comfort are the main symptoms ofIBS. However, symptoms can varyfrom person to person. Somepeople have constipation, whichmeans hard, difficult-to-pass, orinfrequent bowel movements. Of-ten these people report strainingand cramping when trying to have

a bowel movement but cannoteliminate any stool, or they are ableto eliminate only a small amount.If they are able to have a bowelmovement, it may have mucus init, which is a fluid that moistensand protect passages in the diges-tive system. Some people with IBSexperience diarrhea, which is fre-quent, loose, watery, stools. Peoplewith diarrhea frequently feel anurgent and uncontrollable need tohave a bowel movement. Otherpeople with IBS alternate betweenconstipation and diarrhea. Some-times people find that their symp-toms subside for a few months andthen return, while others report aconstant worsening of symptomsover time.

The colon and rectum are the twomain parts of the large intestine.

What causes IBS?

Researchers have yet to discoverany specific cause for IBS. Onetheory is that people who suffer

from IBS have a colon that is par-ticularly sensitive and reactive tocertain foods and stress. The im-mune system, which fights infec-tion, may also be involved.

• Normal motility, or move-ment, may not be present in thecolon of a person who has IBS. Itcan be spasmodic or can even stopworking temporarily. Spasms aresudden strong muscle contractionsthat come and go.

• The lining of the coloncalled the epithelium, which is af-fected by the immune and nervoussystems, regulates the flow of flu-ids in and out of the colon. In IBS,the epithelium appears to work

properly. However, when thecontents inside the colon movetoo quickly, the colon loses itsability to absorb fluids. Theresult is too much fluid in thestool. In other people, themovement inside the colon istoo slow, which causes extrafluid to be absorbed. As a re-sult, a person develops consti-pation.

• A person’s colon may re-spond strongly to stimuli suchas certain foods or stress thatwould not bother most people.

• Recent research has re-ported that serotonin is linkedwith normal gastrointestinal(GI) functioning. Serotonin is aneurotransmitter, or chemical,that delivers messages from

one part of the body to another.Ninety-five percent of the seroto-nin in the body is located in the GItract, and the other 5 percent isfound in the brain. Cells that line

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the inside of the bowel work astransporters and carry the seroto-nin out of the GI tract. People withIBS, however, have diminished re-ceptor activity, causing abnormallevels of serotonin to exist in theGI tract. As a result, they experienceproblems with bowel movement,motility, and sensation—havingmore sensitive pain receptors intheir GI tract.

• Researchers have reportedthat IBS may be caused by a bacte-rial infection in the gastrointestinaltract. Studies show that people whohave had gastroenteritis sometimesdevelop IBS, otherwise called post–infectious IBS.

• Researchers have alsofound very mild celiac disease insome people with symptoms simi-lar to IBS. People with celiac diseasecannot digest gluten, a substancefound in wheat, rye, and barley.People with celiac disease cannoteat these foods without becomingvery sick because their immunesystem responds by damaging thesmall intestine. A blood test candetermine whether celiac diseasemay be present.

How is IBS diagnosed?

IBS is generally diagnosed on thebasis of a complete medical historythat includes a careful descriptionof symptoms and a physical exami-nation.

No specific test for IBS exists, al-though diagnostic tests may be per-formed to rule out other problems.These tests may include stoolsample testing, blood tests, and xrays. Typically, a doctor will per-form a sigmoidoscopy orcolonoscopy, which allows the doc-

tor to look inside the colon by in-serting a small, flexible tube with acamera on the end of it through theanus. The camera then transfers theimages of the colon onto a largescreen for the doctor to see better.

If test results are negative, the doc-tor may diagnose IBS based onsymptoms, including how often aperson has had abdominal pain ordiscomfort during the past year,when the pain starts and stops inrelation to bowel function, and howbowel frequency and stool consis-tency have changed. Many doctorsrefer to a list of specific symptomsthat must be present to make a di-agnosis of IBS.

Symptoms include

• Abdominal pain or discom-fort for at least 12 weeks out of theprevious 12 months. These 12weeks do not have to be consecu-tive.

• The abdominal pain or dis-comfort has two of the followingthree features:

– It is relieved by having a bowelmovement.– When it starts, a change occurs inhow often a person has a bowelmovement.– When it starts, a change occurs inthe form of the stool or the way itlooks.

• Certain symptoms mustalso be present, such as

– a change in frequency of bowelmovements– a change in appearance of bowelmovements– feelings of uncontrollable urgencyto have a bowel movement– difficulty or inability to pass stool– mucus in the stool– bloating

• Bleeding, fever, weight loss,and persistent severe pain are notsymptoms of IBS and may indicate

other problems such as inflamma-tion or, rarely, cancer.

The following have been associatedwith a worsening of IBS symptoms

• large meals• bloating from gas in thecolon• medicines• wheat, rye, barley,chocolate, milk products, or alcohol• drinks with caffeine, suchas coffee, tea, or colas• stress, conflict, oremotional upsets

Researchers have found thatwomen with IBS may have moresymptoms during their menstrualperiods, suggesting that reproduc-tive hormones can worsen IBS prob-lems.

In addition, people with IBS fre-quently suffer from depression andanxiety, which can worsen symp-toms. Similarly, the symptoms as-sociated with IBS can cause a per-son to feel depressed and anxious.

What is the treatment for IBS?

Unfortunately, many people sufferfrom IBS for a long time beforeseeking medical treatment. Up to70 percent of people suffering fromIBS are not receiving medical carefor their symptoms. No cure hasbeen found for IBS, but many op-tions are available to treat thesymptoms. The doctor will pre-scribe the best treatments for aperson’s particular symptoms andencourage the person to managestress and make dietary changes.

Medications are an important partof relieving symptoms. The doctormay suggest fiber supplements orlaxatives for constipation or medi-cines to decrease diarrhea, such asdiphenoxylate and atropine(Lomotil) or loperamide (Imodium).An antispasmodic is commonly pre-scribed, which helps control colonmuscle spasms and reduce abdomi-nal pain. Antidepressants may re-


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medsearch, continuedlieve some symptoms. However,both antispasmodics and antide-pressants can worsen constipation,so some doctors will also prescribemedications that relax muscles inthe bladder and intestines, such asbelladonna alkaloid combinationsand phenobarbital (Donnatal) andchlordiazepoxide and clidiniumbromide (Librax). These medica-tions contain a mild sedative, whichcan be habit forming, so they needto be used under the guidance of aphysician.

A medication available specificallyto treat IBS is alosetron hydrochlo-ride (Lotronex). Lotronex has beenreapproved with significant restric-tions by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) for womenwith severe IBS who have not re-sponded to conventional therapyand whose primary symptom is di-arrhea. However, even in these pa-tients, Lotronex should be usedwith great caution because it canhave serious side effects such assevere constipation or decreasedblood flow to the colon.

With any medication, even over–the–counter medications such aslaxatives and fiber supplements, itis important to follow the doctor’sinstructions. Some people report aworsening in abdominal bloatingand gas from increased fiber intake,and laxatives can be habit formingif they are used too frequently.

Medications affect people differ-ently, and no one medication orcombination of medications willwork for everyone with IBS. Work-ing with the doctor to find the bestcombination of medicine, diet,counseling, and support to controlsymptoms may be helpful.

How does stress affect IBS?

Stress—feeling mentally or emo-tionally tense, troubled, angry, oroverwhelmed—can stimulate colon

spasms in people with IBS. The co-lon has many nerves that connectit to the brain. Like the heart andthe lungs, the colon is partly con-trolled by the autonomic nervoussystem, which responds to stress.These nerves control the normalcontractions of the colon and causeabdominal discomfort at stressfultimes. People often experiencecramps or “butterflies” when theyare nervous or upset. In people withIBS, the colon can be overly respon-sive to even slight conflict or stress.Stress makes the mind more awareof the sensations that arise in thecolon, making the person perceivethese sensations as unpleasant.

Some evidence suggests that IBS isaffected by the immune system,which fights infection in the body.The immune system is affected bystress. For all these reasons, stressmanagement is an important partof treatment for IBS. Stress manage-ment options include:

• stress reduction trainingand relaxation therapies such asmeditation• counseling and support• regular exercise such aswalking or yoga• changes to the stressfulsituations in a person’s life• adequate sleep

What does the colon do?

The colon, which is about 5 feetlong, connects the small intestineto the rectum and anus. The majorfunction of the colon is to absorbwater, nutrients, and salts from thepartially digested food that entersfrom the small intestine. Two pintsof liquid matter enter the colonfrom the small intestine each day.Stool volume is a third of a pint.The difference between the amountof fluid entering the colon from thesmall intestine and the amount ofstool in the colon is what the co-lon absorbs each day.

Colon motility—the contractionof the colon muscles and the

movement of its contents—iscontrolled by nerves, hormones,and impulses in the colonmuscles. These contractionsmove the contents inside the co-lon toward the rectum. Duringthis passage, water and nutrientsare absorbed into the body, andwhat is left over is stool. A fewtimes each day contractions pushthe stool down the colon, resultingin a bowel movement. However, ifthe muscles of the colon, sphinc-ters, and pelvis do not contract inthe right way, the contents insidethe colon do not move correctly,resulting in abdominal pain,cramps, constipation, a sense ofincomplete stool movement, or di-arrhea.

Can changes in diet help IBS?

For many people, careful eating re-duces IBS symptoms. Before chang-ing the diet, keep a journal notingthe foods that seem to cause dis-tress. Then discuss these findingswith the doctor. A registered dieti-tian can help a person makechanges to the diet. For instance, ifdairy products cause symptoms toflare up, try eating less of thosefoods. A person might be able totolerate yogurt better than otherdairy products because it containsbacteria that supply the enzymeneeded to digest lactose, the sugarfound in milk products. Dairy prod-ucts are an important source ofcalcium and other nutrients. If aperson needs to avoid dairy prod-ucts, adequate nutrients should beadded in foods or supplementsshould be taken.

In many cases, dietary fiber maylessen IBS symptoms, particularlyconstipation. However, it may nothelp with lowering pain or de-creasing diarrhea. Whole grainbreads and cereals, fruits, andvegetables are good sources offiber. High–fiber diets keep the


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colon mildly distended, whichmay help prevent spasms. Someforms of fiber keep water in thestool, thereby preventing hardstools that are difficult to pass.Doctors usually recommend adiet with enough fiber to producesoft, painless bowel movements.High–fiber diets may cause gasand bloating, although somepeople report that these symp-toms go away within a few weeks.Increasing fiber intake by 2 to 3grams per day will help reducethe risk of increased gas andbloating.

Drinking six to eight glasses ofplain water a day is important, es-pecially if a person has diarrhea.Drinking carbonated beverages,such as sodas, may result in gas andcause discomfort. Chewing gumand eating too quickly can lead toswallowing air, which also leads togas.

Large meals can cause crampingand diarrhea, so eating smallermeals more often, or eating smallerportions, may help IBS symptoms.Eating meals that are low in fat andhigh in carbohydrates such aspasta; rice; whole–grain breads andcereals, unless a person has celiacdisease; fruits; and vegetables mayhelp.

Is IBS linked to other healthproblems?

As its name indicates, IBS is a syn-drome—a combination of signs andsymptoms. IBS has not been shownto lead to a serious disease, includ-ing cancer. Through the years, IBShas been called by many names,among them colitis, mucous coli-tis, spastic colon, or spasticbowel. However, no link has beenestablished between IBS and in-

flammatory bowel diseases suchas Crohn’s disease or ulcerativecolitis.

Points to Remember

• IBS is a disorder that in-terferes with the normal func-tions of the colon. The symp-toms are crampy abdominalpain, bloating, constipation, anddiarrhea.• IBS is a common disorderfound more often in women thanmen.• People with IBS have co-lons that are more sensitive andreactive to things that might notbother other people, such asstress, large meals, gas, medi-cines, certain foods, caffeine, oralcohol.• IBS is diagnosed by itssigns and symptoms and by theabsence of other diseases.• Most people can controltheir symptoms by taking medi-cines such as laxatives, antidiarrheamedicines, antispasmodics, or an-tidepressants; reducing stress; andchanging their diet.• IBS does not harm the in-testines and does not lead to can-cer. It is not related to Crohn’sdisease or ulcerative colitis.

Hope through Research

The NIDDK conducts and supportsresearch into many kinds of diges-tive disorders including IBS. Re-searchers are studying gastrointes-tinal motility and sensitivity to findpossible treatments for IBS. Thesestudies include the structure andcontraction of gastrointestinalmuscles, as well as the mechanicsof fluid movement through the in-testines. Understanding the influ-ence of the nerves, hormones,and inflammation in IBS maylead to new treatments to bettercontrol the symptoms.

Participants in clinical trials canplay a more active role in theirown health care, gain access tonew research treatments before

they are widely available, and helpothers by contributing to medicalresearch.

The U.S. Government does not en-dorse or favor any specific com-mercial product or company.Trade, proprietary, or companynames appearing in this docu-ment are used only because theyare considered necessary in thecontext of the information pro-vided. If a product is not men-tioned, the omission does notmean or imply that the productis unsatisfactory.

For More Information

International Foundation forFunctional GastrointestinalDisordersP.O. Box 170864Milwaukee, WI 53217–8076Phone: 1–888–964–2001Fax: 414–964–7176Email: [email protected]: www.iffgd.org

National Institute of HealthNational Digestive DiseasesInformation Clearinghouse2 Information WayBethesda, MD 20892–3570Phone: 1–800–891–5389TTY: 1–866–569–1162Fax: 703–738–4929Email: [email protected]:www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov

NIH OrganizationThe National Institutes of Healthis made up of 27 different com-ponents called Institutes and Cen-ters. Each has its own specific re-search agenda. All but three ofthese components receive theirfunding directly from Congress,and administrate their own bud-gets.

The Office of the Director is thecentral office, responsible for set-ting policy for NIH and for plan-ning, managing, and coordinatingthe programs and activities of allthe NIH components.

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3._____7._____11.____

4._____8._____12.____

Set of 12 photos_______

Mail to:AXPOW National Headquarters3201 East Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40

Arlington, TX 76010. PH: 817-649-2979; fax 817-649-0109

Name ___________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip ____________________________________________________________

Credit Card: MasterCard ________ VISA _______

Card # ____________________________________ Expiration: ___________

Total Amount Enclosed or Charged

($5.00 per picture/$50.00 for set of 12) __________

1. Santo Tomas prison camp

internees Lee Rogers and

John Todd.

10. POWs at Cabanatuan

Camp 3 beaten with clubs.

11. Bilibid POW hospital

ward, Philippine Islands.12. Bataan Death March,

April 1942.

2. Pvt. Robert Collins & M/

Sgt. Woodrow Haines back

behind UN lines, Chechon,

Korea.

6. Private Joe Demler and

another POW are liberated

from XII-A, Limburg.

3. Pfc. Robert Brandon

rations Red Cross parcels,

Stalag IX-B.

4. Nichols Field Detail, PI,

taken at Pasay Schoolhouse.5. An American POW suf-

fering from dry beri-beri be-

ing treated in Bilibid.

7. Survivors of Suchon

Tunnel Massacre, Korea.

8. Three American POWS

released by the Viet Cong

near Tay Ninh City.

9. Nick Mustacchia. 100

days as a POW -- 100 lb.

weight loss. Stalag Luft IV.

Checks payable to AXPOW


11

andersonville

Andersonville NHS496 Cemetery RoadAndersonville, GA 31711(229) 924-0343Brad Bennett, [email protected]


12

Andersonville observesMemorial Day

By Chief of Interpretation andEducation Eric Leonard

Memorial Day has long been themost significant annual event inAndersonville National Cemetery,with preparations beginningmonths in advance, leading up to aweek’s worth of activity involvingstaff, partners, volunteers, and theAmerican public.

On Friday, May 25, the Robins Rid-ers motorcycle club, based inWarner Robins, Georgia, coordi-nated 50 volunteers to raise theAvenue of Flags along the roadwayswithin the cemetery. The followingmorning, on Saturday, May 26,around 400 boy and girl scouts andother volunteers decorated thenearly 20,000 gravesites within thecemetery with American flags. Newfor this year, the flag program wasreorganized to extend beyond theplacement of flags to include “Flag

Wardens” to sweep the cemetery atleast once per day and straightenflags as needed. On Tuesday, May29, over fifty volunteers bravedsteady rains to pick up thegravesite flags.

On Sunday, May 27, the traditionalprogram began at 2:00 p.m. with aColor Guard from Robins Air ForceBase. Music was provided by mem-bers of the Band of the Air ForceReserve for a second year, endingwith a moving rendition of Amaz-ing Grace played on bagpipes.

Twenty-six wreaths were pre-sented, representing numerous vet-erans, civic, and patriotic organiza-tions, including the Friends ofAndersonville. Mr. Edward L.DeMent, the National Director,Southeast Region, of the AmericanEx-Prisoners of War recognized allveterans in attendance, and pre-sented the wreath for the Ameri-can Ex-Prisoners of War with EstherCarboni. Al Agnew, President ofNAM-POWs, presented a wreath onbehalf of Vietnam era prisoners ofwar. U.S. Congressman Sanford D.Bishop, Jr. introduced featuredspeaker Master Sergeant Nesbitt.

MSgt Jennifer L. Nesbitt is theHonor Guard Program Manager forthe 78th Air Base Wing, Robins AFBGeorgia. She directs the installationHonor Guard program and pro-vides funeral and color guard sup-port in three states over a 70,000square mile radius. She managesthree flights of 25 active duty and

23 Air National Guard and Air ForceReserve members while designinglocal policies and directives for theadministration of the base HonorGuard. MSgt Nesbitt also overseesHonor Guard awards and decora-tions program, as well as executes448 hours of annual funeral hon-ors drill instruction.

MSgt Nesbitt told the crowd aboutwhat it means for a soldier to servein the honor guard and relayed astory about when she served in Af-ghanistan in 2009 at a base usedby four branches of the service.While she and her team unloadedcargo, they saw two helicopters landat the base with wounded soldiers.“My heart sunk into my chest,” shesaid, recalling her thoughts at thetime. “What horrible atrocities didthey see? Will they survive? Doesanyone back home know abouttheir sacrifices?”

One of those injured, a Marine, diedfrom his wounds, and Nesbitt toldthe crowd about how Army, Navyand Air Force members lined up asthe Marines carried his casket to theplane. Nesbitt said she felt privi-leged to be a part of that and othermemorial services. “It’s a true honorto be able to speak to these indi-viduals and bring them the messageabout what the family endureswhen they lose a loved one.”

Photos: Ed Dement & Esther Carbone;NamPOW President Al Agnew

namPOW news

Paul E. GalantiNational Director, East Central804.389.1668 (cell)[email protected]


13

Story with additional comment:

Who packs YOURparachute?

by Charles Plumb

Charles Plumb was a US Navy jetpilot in Vietnam. After 75 combatmissions, his plane as destroyed bya surface-to-air missile. Plumbejected and parachuted into enemyhands. He was captured and spent6 years in a communist Vietnam-ese prison. He survived the ordealand now lectures on lessonslearned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wifewere sitting in a restaurant, a manat another table came up and said,“You’re Plumb! You flew jet fight-ers in Vietnam from the aircraftcarrier Kitty Hawk. You were shotdown!”

“How in the world did you knowthat?” asked Plumb.

“ I packed your parachute,” the manreplied. Plumb gasped in surpriseand gratitude. The man pumped hishand and said, “I guess it worked!”Plumb assured him, “It sure did. Ifyour chute hadn’t worked, Iwouldn’t be here today.”

Plumb couldn’t sleep that night,thinking about that man. Plumbsays, “I kept wondering what hemight have looked like in a Navyuniform: a white hat, a bib in theback, and bell-bottom trousers. Iwonder how many times I mighthave seen him and not even saidGood morning, how are you?’ oranything because, you see, I was afighter pilot and he was just asailor.”

Plumb thought of the man hoursthe sailor had spent on a longwooden table in the bowels of theship, carefully weaving the shroudsand folding the silks of each chute,holding in his hands each time thefate of someone he didn’t know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience,“Who’s packing your parachute?”Everyone has someone who pro-vides what they need to make itthrough the day. Plumb also pointsout that he needed many kinds ofparachutes when his plane was shotdown over enemy territory-heneeded his physical parachute, hismental parachute, his emotional

parachute, and his spiritual para-chute. He called on all these sup-ports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challengesthat life gives us, we miss what isreally important. We may fail to sayhello, please, or thank you, con-gratulate someone on somethingwonderful that has happened tothem, give a compliment, or just dosomething nice for no reason.

As you go through this week, thismonth, this year, recognize peoplewho pack your parachute.

And now for the rest of the story...by Paul Galanti

Charlie Plumb was one of my plebesat Annapolis during the summer of1960. Later I flew a couple of checkflights with him in Pensacola whenI was a primary flight instructor. InJune 1967, the “V” had some EastGerman visitors filming “Pilots inPajamas” in our camp. It was in theOctober 1967 Life Magazine cover“Clean & Neat” cell plotting how tofoil any attempts to use us for pro-paganda when I heard a clatter out-side the room.

I ran to the window (it had fixedslats and was the only cell I lived infrom which I could look out) andsaw a guard followed by a POW go-ing under the window. As theypassed out of sight, another POWappeared moving more slowly. Ashe passed under the window, I whis-pered, “I’m Paul Galanti. Who areyou?” The POW looked startled andpressed on to get his food.

When they returned he fell very farbehind his cellmate and the guard,glanced up at the window and whis-pered back, “I’m Charlie Plumb.Thanks for not washing me out ofthe check ride, you S.O.B.”

va outreach

JVC Bill JeffersChairman


14

Starting with this issue of the Bul-letin, I’ll begin offering some sug-gestions and guidance to enable ourmembers to function as OutreachAmbassadors . As described in aprevious issue, our members canserve a very useful role by assist-ing other veterans and theirspouses to obtain the benefits towhich they are entitled.

There are many VA benefit topicsand situations. It is beyond thescope of these articles to fully ad-dress each in great detail. However,these articles will attempt to dis-cuss situations which are com-monly encountered and will directthe reader in a direction likely tobe useful in dealing with them.Also, I welcome any suggestions forimproving the content or clarity ofthese articles, as well as pointingout any errors.

I would be remiss if I didn’t stateright off the top that the best andmost knowledgeable sources ofhelp are our National Service Offic-ers. Those affiliated with AXPOWare particularly versed in mattersdealing with ex-POWs and their kin.Other service organizations alsohave NSOs who serve veterans andtheir kin. All VA Medical Centershave offices for NSOs. All state gov-ernments have a Veterans ServiceOfficer.

One of the most frequently encoun-tered situations where OutreachAmbassadors can lend a helpinghand is where a newly widowedspouse, or other next-of-kin, isfaced with a seemingly endlessnumber of notifications, termina-tions, applications and necessarysupporting documents.

Attending to all of this takes a lotof time and effort, some of whichcan extend weeks and even monthsafter the funeral. Family membersand close friends are of great help,but their availability usually lasts arelatively short time.

The funeral director can play a keyrole in attending to many detailsand provides valuable services tothe bereaved. One of these is ob-taining certified copies of the deathcertificate. This document is re-quired when seeking insurance ben-efits, VA benefits, etc.

Among the first actions needed tobe taken following death is stop-ping further payments of SocialSecurity (800-772-1213) and VAbenefit (800-827-1000) checks. It isextremely important that both ofthese agencies are notifiedpromptly following the death toavoid having to return paymentsissued prematurely. SS and VA ben-efit checks are not prorated, theyare for the previous full monthof life. However, the VA benefitthat the veteran had been receiv-ing will be issued for the month

of death and is referred to as the“death check”.

Here are a few words concerningnecessary documents. Some or allof the following may be needed,depending on the benefits beingsought: death certificate, birth cer-tificate, marriage certificate, honor-ary discharge or separation certifi-cate, divorce decree, social securitynumber, VA claim number. If thedeceased veteran was VA rated at100% disabled for a period of atleast one year, the widow onlyneeds to complete VA Form 21-534and provide a long form death cer-tificate for VA benefits. If the dece-dent was a civil service retiree, thesurvivor will need to provide theretiree’s civil service retirement(CSA) number to claim any annuityif the deceased retiree elected thisoption. Similarly, if the decedentalso carried FEGLI.(202-632-7700). Many veterans con-tinued some version of their GI in-surance, for which there is a policynumber. (800-669-8477)

A burial allowance not exceeding$700 is paid by the VA. This in-creases up to $2000 if death wasservice connected. An additionalamount may be paid if death occursin a VA hospital, or in a VA con-tracted nursing home. A plot allow-ance of $700 is paid by the VA, ex-cept for disposition in a nationalcemetery (800-827-1000). A one-time death payment of $255 ismade by the Social Security Admin-istration (800-772-1213).

At VA, our mission is to get the right information to the rightVeteran at the right time.

Millions of Veterans and their family members use social mediaeach day, so we’re continuously expanding our online effort.In the directory at the website listed below, you’ll find links to allVA organizations currently using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr, and blogs. We’re updating the list each week, so be sure tocheck back frequently!

http://www.va.gov/opa/SocialMedia.asp

from the va...

pow-mia

PNC John EdwardsChairman889 Randall RoadNiskayuna, NY 12309-4815(518) 393-3907 phone & fax


15

Missing/CapturedUS Service member reported miss-ing or captured while supportingcombat operations:

Army Spc. Bowe R. Bergdahi, 25,June 30,2009, Afghanistan

New Era in Potential VietnamResolutionsBy Alice A. Booher

It has been 17 years since the U.S.

and Vietnam formally “normalized’

post-war relationships, but more con-

crete mending has not come easily.

Now, common needs such as the in-

creased economic and other influ-

ence, and military presence of China,

have stimulated good faith on both

sides for moving forward on improv-

ing U.S. and Vietnam relations. In

early June 2012, for the first time

since the end of the Vietnam War in

1975, MG Nguyen Cong Son, deputy

Chief of the Office of the Minister of

Defense, welcomed a US Secretary of

Defense, Leon Panetta at Vinh Cam

Ranh (Bay). Military cooperation and

maritime concerns were at the top

of the agenda in Panetta’s meetings

in Hanoi with Vietnam Defense Min-

ister Phuong Quang Thanh.

Cam Ranh Bay, a massive joint-ser-

vice site during the War, fewer than

200 miles from Ho Chi Minh City

(Saigon), is now a “restricted military

area” and is empty save local fishing

vessels. Since 2003, 20 U.S ships have

visited the country. But the U.S. Navy,

which uses it on occasion for repairs

(e.g., the USS Robert E. Byrd being

repaired by a Vietnamese business

in the area was visited by Panetta),

would love to better access the huge

deep water port in sheltered anchor-

age off the South China Sea. All of

this is subject to further discussion

per a Memorandum of Understand-

ing signed in 2011 that covers high-

ranking dialogues, search and rescue,

peacekeeping UN operations, mili-

tary management and humanitarian

assistance and disaster relief.

However, more immediately, both

countries have committed to im-

proved resolution of unclosed chap-

ters in that war including cooperat-

ing on clearings of bomb and mine

fields and mitigation of residuals of

Agent Orange.

Perhaps most viscerally tangible is

the bilateral commitment to the reso-

lution of the fates of American MIAs.

On the part of the Vietnamese, they

will permit the opening of three pre-

viously restricted sites which the

Pentagon has stated are critical to

locating specific MIA’s, e.g., Central

sites in Quang Binh province where

a USAF F-4C Phantom II jet crashed

in 1967; in Kon Tum province near

the Cambodian border, involving an

Army loss in January 1968 during the

Tet Offensive; and in Quang Tri prov-

ince involving the loss of a Marine F-

4J Wild Weasel aircraft, a site located

in 2008 but until now, unavailable for

a search. Eight sites are purportedly

still restricted.

Since the end of the Vietnam War,

the Joint POW/MIA Accounting

Command’s Detachment 2 based in

Hanoi has conducted 107 field

searches for American MIA’s with

Vietnamese support. From the Viet-

nam War, there are now 1,666 Ameri-

can personnel still missing; 1,284 are

thought to be in Vietnam. Of these,

586 cases are categorized as “no fur-

ther pursuit” meaning that there is

conclusive evidence that the indi-

vidual perished but it is not possible

to recover remains – Thus, there are

698 MIAs that need to be located in-

country and repatriated.

As visible articles of good faith, dur-

ing the recent meetings, the Defense

chiefs exchanged war artifacts, both

sides agreeing to return the respec-

tive items to the families of the de-

ceased soldiers. From the US came a

small maroon red diary owned by Vu

Dinh Doan, a Vietnamese soldier

found killed in a machine gun field.

A US Marine, Robert “Ira” Frazure of

Washington State saw the diary,

along with a photo and a some

money on the chest of the dead sol-

dier and took it back CONUS. Re-

cently, Frazure asked for help in its

return. From Vietnam came letters

written but not posted by US Army

Sergeant Steve Flaherty, from Colum-

bia, SC, with the 101st Airborne, killed

in northern South Vietnam in March

1969. Vietnamese Col Nguyen Phu

Dat had kept the letters, which were

briefly used for propaganda pur-

poses, and made them available for

return.

It is not perfect and all-inclusive, but

it is certainly a welcome start to

bringing some measure of resolution

on many levels.


16

ND Alice GollinChairman

civilians

Heroes UnseenThis is a first person account bySascha Jansen.

Maria Martinez was a good friendof my family, and our friendshipflourished before the war in the Phil-ippines. She was a young, dynamicFilipino businesswoman who had herfingers in a lot of enterprises in andaround Manila. Her greatest pre-waraccomplishment was not because shewas an astute member of the busi-ness community, but because shehad achieved the title of the firstwoman stockbroker in the Philip-pines. She was on the rise andreached for the stars – but destinyhad other plans for Maria.

When the war started she came toour home, her dark eyes flashing –her mind going a mile a minute. “I donot know my plans,” she said in greatanticipation, “but you will hear fromme from time to time. Take care ofyourselves. God Bless You!”

We did hear from her in the begin-ning of the war. I received, by mes-senger, a birthday present for my 9thbirthday from Maria before we wereput into prison camp. It was a reli-gious icon of the Virgin Mary in ashadow box, which I cherished. Thecard was simply signed – Maria. Fromthat point on all communicationsstopped.

Three years later we were liberated,but had to stay put in Santo Tomasfor several weeks while the battleraged in Manila for a month. A medi-cal unit was set up by the US Armyto care for wounded military and ci-vilians.

One day a young medic came to ourshanty looking for us. “I have a mes-sage from Maria Martinez,” he said.“She would like to see you.” He tookus to the well-staffed medical unitand led us to a sick bay. The personwe saw was not the vibrant womanwe had known. Maria’s body hadbeen broken in many places, but shewas healing well. She smiled,reached into a bag, and handed usa dusty and stained bottle of JohnnyWalker. “For celebration when I getreleased.” We spoke to her, reassur-ing her that we would visit each day.Her story unfolded as the medic be-gan telling it.

Maria had been in Fort Santiago formonths, worked over by the Kempetaiin their inimitable barbaric fashionuntil her spirits and body were bro-ken. Repeated beatings and interro-gations did not deter this womanwho refused to break. She had spentmost of the war arranging for medi-cines, supplies, and food to be sentto military and civilian camps. Shewas part of an organization thatsmuggled ammunition, transportedguerillas, and provided communica-tion to key leaders in the hills andthe outer islands, and sent messagesto the US and Australian intelligence,working under great adversity andsecrecy. Special mission submarinesand leaky bancas were pressed intoservice delivering precious informa-tion and resupplying Filipino andAmerican guerilla forces. Theymanned special observation stationsand reported location, movements,speed and direction of enemy ship-ping.

The work took its toll and many ofher compadres were caught, then tor-tured and killed. Whole Filipinofamilies, all working for the good ofboth countries, were massacred intheir homes. Most of the membersof the Manila German Club, who weresuppose to be allies of the Japanese

while some worked for the under-ground, were also massacred.We will forever be in debt to peoplesuch as Maria Martinez and the thou-sands of unknown Filipino heroes.They all fought and sacrificed theirlives for their compadres and ourtwo countries.

Maria’s mind and body eventuallyhealed. President Roxas and the Phil-ippine Government presented someof these heroes with top awards –both those still alive and posthu-mously. President Truman, on behalfof the US Government, was moved totears as he read out the names ofthese underground movers and shak-ers when he presented their stories.Medals and awards were given forbravery to some, above and beyondthe call of duty. Maria had moved tothe states shortly after the war – andwe continued to be good friends. Shedied in her nineties.

I only tell you about Maria’s story be-cause we, unknowingly, were the ben-eficiaries of her many daring deeds.She and all of those like her shouldbe hailed for their bravery, guts andfortitude because they did the rightthing to overcome adversity. We canthank them aloud and in silence. Ido – when I touch the Virgin Maryicon sitting on my nightstand as Iclimb into bed each night.

On behalf of civilian prisoners andmilitary POWs, we thank you – Maria- and all of those who lay beside you.

During WWII, Filipino soldiers, guer-rillas, and underground heroes wereextraordinary fighters. Their loyaltyand passion for their two countrieswere deliberate and true. Theyfought alongside their Americancounterparts in a war for whichtheir adopted country had failed toprepare, or to arm and back them.Sadly, America forgot them alto-gether post war, their loyalty andbravery left by the wayside. We needto resurrect the meaning of loyalty- the meaning of integrity, and themeaning of accountability.

It isn’t too late, America. Are you lis-tening?

July 29-Aug 5, 2012. The KoreanWar Ex-POW Association annualreunion will be held at the MarriottRegency Hotel, 10220 RegencyCircle, Omaha, NE 68114; 402-399-9000. For more information, con-tact Bill Norwood, President at:[email protected].

Sept. 6-9, 2012. The 35th InfantryDivision Association Annual Re-union will be held at the KansasCity Hilton Airport Hotel, 8801 NW112th St., Kansas City, MO 64153;816-893-8900. For details, call Col.Robert Dalton, 785-267-3295.

Oct. 2-6, 2012. The annualMukden reunion will be held at theHotel St. Marie, in New Orleans.Room reservations must be madethru the Hotel St. Marie, at 800 –366- 2748, before July 30. Be sureto say you’re with the Mukden Sur-vivors Group. Contact: AnnJohnson, 52 Streamview Lane,Wynantskill, NY 12198; 518- 283 -8062(land line) before August 15th.After that, call 518 -283 - 6280 (cellphone.)

March 14-16, 2013. USS HoustonCA-30 Survivors Association &Next Generations Annual Reunionwill be held at: Hyatt Regency Hous-ton Downtown. Contact: John KeithSchwarz Executive Director- USSHouston CA-30 Survivors Associa-tion & Next Generations;[email protected]; 202-268-2261/703-867-0142.

events

lookingfor


17

An informal history of the indi-vidual Chapter Commanders ofTexas is being compiled and or-ganized. Your assistance is re-

quested in locating and compil-ing the names of the variouschapter commanders of Texas.Please contact: Alfred Evans, 527Cicero, San Antonio, TX 78218.

I am trying to find informationregarding an incident which oc-curred when we were on a bomb-ing mission Jan. 27, 1944 to Sa-lon de Provence, France. 15th AF,2nd BG, 49th BS, flying out ofFoggia, Italy. When the pilot Lt.Frank Glass did not receive a re-sponse from the Radio Operator/Gunner, Vincent Pesature, heasked that one of the Waist Gun-ners check on him and I volun-teered. I removed my parachute,disconnected my oxygen, raninto the radio room and recon-nected my oxygen. He wasslumped over his radio table andhis oxygen indicator was notmoving. I turned his oxygen to100% and he came up. I turned itoff and he slumped down again.I tried this three times with thesame result. I notified Pilot Glassand he said we should abort themission. In the meantime, TopTurret Gunner George Hawkcame through the bomb bays andgave me an oxygen mask hefound in the cockpit. Immedi-ately I took off the defectivemask and replaced it with theother one. Sgt. Pesature was re-vived and we did not have toabort the mission – which wouldhave put the plane in extremedanger. The overhead panel hadbeen removed so that he couldpoint the machine gun outside.The air was extremely cold. I hadto remove my gloves to help Sgt.Pesature, and after a few minutes,my hands began to feel stiff, andturned white and wrinkled. As Iwas in the slipstream under theoverhead panel, frostbite was set-ting in. This information needsto be corroborated by someone.If you can give me any help itwould be greately appreciated.Perhaps some friend or relativeof one of our crew members re-members this story. LawrenceCarastro, 2948 Eastwind Drive,

Fernandina Beach, FL 32034;[email protected]; 786-200-0023.

My name is Mary Forester, and Iam writing you from Florida. I ama member of Rolling Thunder. Iam working on a project to helpraise funds for “The Ride Home”which is a Weekend of Remem-brance for former POWs and MIAFamilies. This happens the thirdweekend in September, or theweekend of National POW/MIARecognition Day. In Florida, I amworking with Bill Arcuri, and BillAllen to contact the former POWsin our area.

I am collecting recipes fromFormer POWs and MIA Familiesto include in a cookbook titled,“Dining with America’s Heroes”.All monies raised from the cook-book will be used for lodging,meals and transportation costsfor the POW and MIA families thatattend the event in Andersonville,GA. I am trying to find a way tocontact as many former POWs,and/or their spouses/familymembers as possible, so that wecan include their favorite recipein the cookbook. I have severalsubmitted so far, including arecipe for an item that was servedat the Nixon White House in 1973.

If you wish to reach me by tele-phone, my home number is 386-427-6747 and my cell number is386-689-2285. Thank you. [email protected].

We live in Memmingerberg nearMemmingen where there was aprison camp during WWII. Nowwe want to write down the historyof our village and cannot find anyinformation about the camp.Does anyone have informationabout it? With regards from Ger-many. Ursula Stetter;[email protected]


18

NewsBriefs

Andersonville POWVeteran Finally Rests inPeaceby Alice A. Booher

Peter Jones Knapp was, by all ac-counts, a rather remarkable and oc-casionally lucky fellow before, dur-ing and after the American CivilWar. The 19-year old Union soldierenlisted with Company H, 5th Infan-try, Iowa Volunteers in July 1861and followed General Ulysses Grantdown the Mississippi to Vicksburg.After months of battle, he camedown with typhoid, was too ill totravel 10 miles by wagon, and heand other men were left in an aban-doned building without medical at-tention for 3 weeks. Knapp wouldsee the Surrender of Memphis (June1862), watching it along with muchof the city’s population. He would

survive the Battle of Iuka (MS),where war records show his regi-ment lost more in the 80 minuteengagement than any other regi-ment lost in any other engagementof the entire war (half of his regi-ment of 440 was lost). He livedthrough Shiloh (April 1862) andVicksburg (May-July 1863), somedetails of which would surface de-cades later. Then came the Battleof Missionary Ridge in late Novem-ber 1863, part of the ChattanoogaCampaign (Orchard Knob, LookoutMountain and Missionary Ridge).Military historians said MissionaryRidge was “the war’s most notableexample of a frontal assault suc-ceeding against entrenched defend-ers holding high ground”, but forthe North, of the 56,00 soldiersengaged, 5,824 were dead, 2,160wounded and 4,146 were missing,mostly prisoners. Knapp was oneof those captured, a Confederateprisoner of war (POW), eventuallylanding in Georgia at Camp Sumterknown as Andersonville.

Of the myriad major prisonercamps, [37 in the North, 38 in theSouth), Andersonville was one ofthe largest and worst, built in late1863-early 1864 after Confederateofficials decided to move the largenumber of Federal prisoners heldin the many camps (includingaround Richmond, VA) to greatersecurity and more abundant foodsupply (certainly a relative mea-sure). The open-air stockade-fenced“pen” at Andersonville existed as aPOW camp for 14 months duringwhich time more than 45,000 Uniontroops were confined there, ofwhom almost 13,000 died of dis-ease, poor sanitation, malnutrition,overcrowding or exposure to theelements. Knapp would be a pris-oner there for 15 months; starvedand virtually unable to see, he wasmoved to another POW camp wherehe escaped with others.

After the Civil War, Knapp reen-listed in the U.S. Army and served15 months in the Indian War. Hethen returned to Muskegon, Michi-gan, married Georgianna Eliza

Pearson (Pierson) in 1870 andmoved to Kelso in Washington Statein 1887. He ran a sawmill, devel-oped a coal mine in Cowlitz Countywith one of his brothers, was a po-lice judge and elected justice of thepeace after his mill retirement, andwas commandant of three differentposts of the Grand Army of theRepublic (GAR) where he was incharge of indigent veterans’ ben-efits for years. The family facedsome publicity when anotherbrother, Cornelius and his wifewere murdered in November 1900as they sat eating dinner at theirhome in Castle Rock, OR, robberybeing the apparent motive. Theirkiller, Martin Stickle, was captureda few days later, charged with theirand another death and eventuallyhanged in January 1901.

In the interim, Americans had an-ecdotally gotten to know Knapp ina curious addendum to anotherCivil War related story involving aConfederate soldier named WillisMeadows and their respective mili-tary service at Vicksburg.

Pieced together by the parties andhistorians, it seems that on July 1,1863, Knapp and three other sol-diers were approaching Vicksburgfrom the east with orders to kill allConfederate snipers. Just outsidethe town, through a peephole in aniron boilerplate, a Rebel sharp-shooter, Pvt. Willis Meadows wasfiring his rifle at the Yankees.Knapp spotted Meadows and firedat the peephole. Meadows fell to hisside, blood pouring out of his righteye socket; thinking he was dead,the soldiers moved on. Meadowswould receive medical care fromUnion doctors and recovered, butthe bullet was never removed fromnear his brain. Years later, living inLanett, AL, at age 78 years old,Meadows would be struggling tobreathe, had a violent coughingspell and the bullet came spewingout of his mouth, rolled around ona wooden kitchen table and cameto rest. According to a 1927 news-paper account, as resurrected in2009 by a Medford Mail-Tribune


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news, continuedstringer Bill Miller, the tale was anewspaper sensation, and when itreached Knapp in Kelso, WA, herecognized the cited circumstancesof the injury and contacted Mead-ows by letter via general delivery.Comparing notes, they confirmedthat it had been Knapp’s bullet thathit Meadows. They would live theirlast few years as buddies, exchang-ing photographs and writing letters,wishing each other good health asformer enemies now friends. OnApril 13, 1924, Knapp died afterbeing bedfast for two months.

In the early 1990’s, the childlesscouple, Peter and Georgianna, hadadopted the daughter of an Oregonwoman who had been abandonedby her husband and could not carefor her children. After the Knapp’sadopted daughter grew up and mar-ried, she visited her biologicalbrother, Henry Kilburn and they dis-cussed the above-cited saga. Henrytold the story to the local newspa-per, which put it on the front pageand where it remained dormant for59 years until unearthed by a rela-tive who ferreted out the story anddecided to pursue it. Wanting toknow where her great, great, greatgrand uncle was buried, Alice Knappdiscovered that only a service hadbeen held for Knapp at a Portland,OR crematorium, a site that still ex-ists but under new management. Oncalling the place, she was flabber-gasted to learn that his ashes hadremained unclaimed and unburied,sitting there still on a shelf, alongwith those of his wife who had diedin 1930.

Alice Knapp put all of this informa-tion together and contacted veterans’

advocate, Debbie Peevyhouse of theCalifornia Medal of Honor Project,the Oregon Military Department andothers to secure a proper restingplace for the ashes.

On April 13, 2012, the 88th anniver-sary of his 1924 death, and the 151st

anniversary of the Confederate vic-tory at Fort Sumter, SC, which ignitedthe Civil War, Knapp was buried withfull military honors at the WillametteNational Cemetery, near Portland,OR. He thus became the first CivilWar veteran to be buried in the larg-est Department of Veterans Affairscemetery in Oregon, one of a networkof national cemeteries that becamea necessity during the Civil War sothat America might respectfully burytheir military dead. The Willamettelocation also houses the state’s Ko-rean Conflict Memorial and thegraves of notables from GOV MarkHatfield to Four Medal of Honor Win-ners.

Knapp’s was an extraordinary burialservice, complete with Civil War re-enactors, historians. press, civilianand military brass and 300 relativesand friends he never met but whowere determined to help his ashes(and those of his wife) find a finalresting place of honor. Given fullmilitary honors by the Oregon Na-tional Guard, the hearse carrying thetwo gold boxes containing the ashesdrove down a road flanked by 100motorcycle riders representing Pa-triot Riders, Combat Vets, and InCountry Vietnam Vets who walkedand rode, all carrying American flags.A contingent of the First Marine Di-vision Association, dressed in brightred jackets, lined the entry to thefuneral shelter. The Sons of theUnion Veterans of the Civil War per-formed a ritual for the dead basedon a GAR ceremony from 1873, a bag-piper played “Amazing Grace”, a bu-gler sounded taps, wreaths were laid,and a musket fired the final salute.Said the presiding cleric D.H. Shearer,a Union chaplain for the day: “Maywe all be inspired by his example ofloyalty and fidelity”. Echoed one ofthe bikers, “You’ve got to honorthem, you’ve just got to”.

Memorial Day, 2012AXPOW’s Bob Noble of Quincy, MAwas the speaker at the “Field ofHonor Flag Display” honoring allveterans. There were over 550 flagsdisplayed . The event was spon-sored by the Sons of the LegionSquadron of the Cohasset Ameri-can Legion Post.

Steve and Marcia visitthe Davao Penal ColonySteve [email protected]

Our nine-day Valor Tours BataanDeath March tour ended on Friday.Truly, it was one of our most memo-rable, being privileged to accompanyseven WWII veterans, including threewho served and were taken prisoneron Corregidor. Having the studentsfrom the College of the Ozarks addedsomething extra-special; they weredelightful, both as individuals and asa group. Our highest level of praisegoes to them and Dr. Fred Mullinex,vice president and tour host for thecollege. Check out their blog at http://patriotictravel2012.blogspot.com/and be sure to watch the videos about

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the trip. We decided to take a breakfrom writing and let the students tellthe stories.

We finished the main portion of thetour on Corregidor, and had the privi-lege of escorting Marine WarrenJorgenson to the place where he waswounded. During a banca ride wewere able to show Marine Bob Erhartthe south side of Caballo Island – notvisible from Corregidor – where hemanned a machine gun prior to thesurrender. And we were able to takeArmy veteran Jim Collier to BatteryCheney, where he worked in the plot-ting room, and also to C1 (“Bunker’s”)Bunker, where he was, as he says,“schlepping ammunition” when wordcame of the surrender on May 6.

We then returned to Manila for onelast day of touring. On our way tolunch, which was planned to occurimmediately before our appointmentat the U.S. Embassy, we passed asmall protest taking place in front ofthe embassy. By the time we ate andreturned it had been dispersed. Theywere young Filipinos calling for allU.S. forces on training assignmentsto leave the Philippines, not some-thing we would expect to happen anytime soon. In the embassy’s ball-room, U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Tho-mas addressed the group, and Steveintroduced the seven veterans andJohn Hogue, a civilian WW II POW, tothe ambassador.

Four of our guests, including RayHeimbuch (HIME-buck) had signed onfor an additional three nights andtwo days in Davao, one of the larg-est and southernmost cities in thePhilippines. Davao (DAH-vow, notduh-VOW) is in Mindanao (MEAN-duh-now). A few areas of the second-largest island in the Philippines arebest avoided, but the Davao area isconsidered safe for western visitors.

Our purpose was to visit the DavaoPrison Main Camp, which was knownas Davao Penal Colony under the

Japanese during WWII. Ray was heldprisoner there for the first two yearsof captivity. The six of us reached theManila airport two hours ahead ofour scheduled takeoff for our 90-minute flight, as recommended forinter-island flights. Unfortunately –and for reasons we never learned –many of the flights arriving at thePhilippine Airlines terminal werelate, including our plane which wascoming from Bacolod. Our takeoffwas delayed by more than two hours,getting us into Davao at midnight.We were met by local representativesof Rajah Tours and driven straightto the very nice Marco Polo Hotel,where we got into bed as quickly aspossible.

In the morning we reconnected withour Filipino guide, Tommy Soria, andlocal driver Alfredo. We headed outto Davao Prison. The drive took aboutan hour, going first through much ofDavao City, and then into the coun-try, which looked somewhat like theprovinces of Luzon. The countrysideis dominated by tall coconut palmsand much shorter banana trees. (Thebanana bunches, seemingly millionsof them, are bagged on the trees toprotect them from pests.) Althoughwe did not see pineapple plants, thepineapple slices served at the break-fast buffet were the best we have evertasted! This area is the home ofdurian, a fruit that “tastes like heavenand smells like hell.” We receiveddurian candies to taste after lunchat a Chinese restaurant, with mixedreviews amongst the six of us. An-other fruit grown here is pomelo, avery sweet relative of grapefruit.Tommy said he bought a bag-full totake back to Manila for family andfriends. It can be purchased in Ma-nila, but at about double the price.

Since the site of the penal colony isstill an active prison, we needed spe-cial permission to enter. Tommyknew the right things to say, and intothe prison we rode. It is a large area,and resembles a small village, exceptfor the barbed wire fences surround-ing the medium and high securityareas. There are three classes of pris-oners, each wearing a specific t-shirtcolor for identification. An officertold us about the prison and an-swered our questions, and Rayshared some of his memories. Oneinteresting fact is that the vast ma-jority of the prisoners were convictedof crimes-against-property (ratherthan crimes-against-persons), oftendue to desperation secondary to un-employment. Although the prisontoday is very different from 70 yearsago, Ray was quite certain that herecognized at least one area.

Steve asked the guard if the prison-ers were expected to work, and if so,how much they were paid. The an-swer was surprising: the inmateshave assigned jobs, and are paid lo-cal minimum wage, which is 258 pe-sos a day, or about six American dol-lars. This may sound low to you, butwe learned that many of the prison-ers are not eager to be released, sincethe tight economy means probableunemployment. Their wages helpsupport their families, even enablingthem to send their children to col-lege, something impossible for themon the outside if they cannot findwork. The prison officer then led uson a drive-through of part of thegrounds where we saw some of thehousing, and vegetable gardensplanted and maintained by the pris-oners.

This area of the Philippines does nothave defined dry and rainy seasons,and it was predominantly cloudy andtherefore noticeably cooler than inManila and Corregidor this time ofyear, where it typically reaches nearly100 degrees in April and May. Wespent some time at the hotel swim-ming pool but it would have beeneven more inviting if the sun hadbeen beating down on us. Not thatwe are complaining about a breakfrom the heat, which has definitelyset in at home!

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If you want to know more about theDavao Penal Colony, we recommendRay’s book, “5 Brothers in Arms,”available at amazon.com. We alsohighly recommend the recently pub-lished “Escape from Davao” by au-thor and friend John Lukacs, avail-able at major bookstores and online.

POW, Marine, Scholar,Agent: Charlotte DayGower ChapmanBy Alice A. Booher

Some people’s lives read like fantas-tic movie scripts; Charlotte DayGower Chapman’s is a case in point.Except for relatively obscure refer-ences (e.g., a chapter by MariaLepowsky in The History of Anthro-pology Volume 9, 2000), Chapmanusually shows up on those “Howmuch do you know about the USMC”and Women History Month triviaquizzes as being the only womanMarine to serve in the OSS. Realitywas that but far more.

Born into a prominent Kankakee, ILfamily on May 5, 1902, her fatherEben Judge, Charlotte was pre-med,

majoring in psychology at Smith Col-lege, receiving her BA at age 20. Whileat Smith, a course in anthropologyredirected her focus. She taught atSmith (1922-23) and at University ofTexas (1923-24), starting graduatework at Chicago in 1924, spending ayear interviewing individual seg-ments of the local Sicilian commu-nity while juggling an active es-teemed faculty spot and completinga Masters.

On completion of her PhD disserta-tion,” The Supernatural Patron in Si-cilian Life”, [her 1928 degree was thefirst awarded to a woman in anthro-pology at Chicago], she took her CO-NUS data for Continental validation,spending 18 months of field work ina small isolated fishing village nearPalermo, Sicily, sponsored by SocialService Research Council (SSRC).[Two of only three prestigious SSRCFellows that year were Chapman andMargaret Mead]. Charlotte completedher final draft in 1935, but the origi-nal was mysteriously and irrevoca-bly “lost in the mail” and a yellowedcarbon copy did not surface fornearly 40 years. [Published in 1971,Milocca: A Sicilian Village was a re-markable study but the inordinatedelay in publishing influenced herbeing in the vanguard academicallyfor the renown as many of her con-temporaries]. Again CONUS, shetaught prehistory and archaeology atUniversity of Wisconsin for almost 8years amidst an increasingly stormyfaculty environment and challengingpersonal relationships.

Absent suitable anthropological op-portunities, she applied in 1938 fora teaching position in sociology atLingnan (Ling-nan) University in Can-ton. As she described it, “The Chi-nese opening rather terrifiesme…They are entirely frank aboutbombs, the uncertainty of the situa-tion, and so on. But after all, whynot?” Further noting that she was nomore (typhus or) bombproof thananyone else, and acknowledging the“missionary” aspects of the positionwere bothersome, she observed thatthe horrors of the spot might giveher a unique professional perspec-tive. On retrospect, her analysis pre-dated by 60 years a new wave of an-

thropologists as to the impact ofwarfare, disaster and terror. Sinceapplicants were slim in a place wherethe Japanese had already invadedManchuria and were advancing downthe coast, Charlotte was accepted bythe liberal arts school.

As she reported in a speech in 1943,Ling-nan was “shot from under” heralmost as soon as she arrived whenthe Japanese conquered the city. Fornearly a year, Charlotte served as apharmacist in a refugee/casualtyhospital set up on the campus. In1939, she rushed to Ling-nan’s newcampus in Hong Kong to resumeteaching. The British evacuated ev-eryone in 1940, but until December7, 1941, the Americans remainedoptimistic, so there was no panic andshe stayed and set up a new infir-mary. When that locale came undershrapnel and was evacuated shemoved to another city hospital to actas a nurse. She described Christmasday when the island surrendered:“Ours was a terribly hopeless situa-tion when the news came…We sat allnight waiting for the (Japanese) tocome, no knowing what to do or whatwould happen.” On January 5, all “en-emy aliens” in Hong Kong wererounded up and for several weeks,they were crowded into various Chi-nese brothels until taken to intern-ment in the prison community on theother side of the island. SaidChapman: “We had a fairly decentcamp, but it was terribly crowded.The crowding was next worst to theconstant, gnawing hunger. FromJanuary to March we were almost al-ways hungry…At first our diet wasfixed at 1,000 calories per day, andif most of us had not brought extrasupplies, we would have died.”

Charlotte tutored other internees inChinese (Cantonese) until she wasreleased in a prisoner exchange dur-ing which time she smuggled out herdiary in luggage. She arrived in NewYork City on August 20 on the SSGripsholm. While family and associ-ates were busily endeavoring to findher academic work, the U.S. Marines


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news, continuedeyed her first. Dr. Robert Hutchins,President of the University of Chi-cago, writing a requested recommen-dation to the Headquarters MarineCorps, stated the obvious, that shewas “an exceptionally capable andbrilliant woman”.

Less than six months out of captiv-ity, when she arrived at the Marinerecruiting station, she was nearly 40years of age and described as sturdywith glasses and graying hair, per-sonal details which were clearly su-perfluous to the Marine Corps. [Ac-cording to Chapter IV , USMC MAJRobert E. Mattingly’s Command andStaff College work, HerringboneCloak-GI Dagger: Marines of the OSS],in January 29, 1943, she was com-missioned a Captain in the MarineCorps Women’s Reserve and re-ported directly to USMC HQ for duty.Without special military training,Captain Gower, soon Major, was as-signed a series of recruiting trips tosecure and supervise training for allWomen Marine Reserve officer appli-cants. Within the year, she also be-came Officer in Charge of theWomen’s Reserve Section whereinshe supervised all such activities andheaded the Board which selected allwomen candidates for officer train-ing. She was credited with thesmooth overhaul of the program thathad some inherent difficulties as runby the Navy; by March 1944, a facili-tated system was turned over to theM-5 Section of USMC HQ Plans andPolicies Division.

Because her other unique qualitieswere also badly needed elsewhere, onApril 17, 1944, the Office of Strate-gic Services (OSS) asked for, and withreluctance on the part of the USMC,received her services. She was orga-nized, articulate (in English, French,Chinese and Italian), had spent agreat deal of intimate time overseasin both East and West, and hadworked with, knew well, and hadbeen imprisoned by the Japanese.

She reported to OSS duty from June1, 1944 to war’s end as an analystwith R&A when it was demolished atwar’s end. She described her own OSSservice primarily with the Far East.She brought extraordinary long-termfield experience, contacts, analyticalexperience and vernacular languageskills in two countries, China andItaly, where there was imminent risk.Lepowsy observes that it seems fairto assume that her return to Ling-nanin 1946, a year after officially leav-ing the OSS, and only three years af-ter Mao’s entry into Beijing, she didso in a dual capacity associate pro-fessor of sociology/Dean of Womenand as a field intelligence operative.In this, she was anticipating thechoice of many other anthropologistsfor whom academia did not haveadequate lure or positions. Chapmanjoined the CIA in 1947-8 and re-mained there until retirement in1964, and as Lepowsky points out,having become one of the earliestfield researchers on the anthropol-ogy of warfare and terror as formsof social change as well as what cameto be known as applied anthropol-ogy. It is noted that even while oper-ating these academic and intelligencedualities, she retained her love forthe Marine Corps. She retired as a LtCol without pay in the Reserves inthe early 1960’s.

In 1947, Charlotte married SavilionH. Chapman, former merchant ma-rine captain on the Isthmian Line.Born in 1904 in Hartford, CT, a gradu-ate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Acad-emy, he served at sea during WWII.In 1946, he had moved to Washing-ton to serve with the OSS as an op-erations officer in the field of mari-time affairs, work he continued withthe Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)until his retirement in 1966. Char-lotte Chapman died in Washington,D.C. in on September 21, 1982 of amyocardial infarction. Her husbanddied ten years later.

PNC Barker SpeaksOn May 17, I was invited to speak atthe Hella Shrine Temple in Garland,TX, representing WWII veterans.

Other speakers were from the localpolice and fire departments. Thegentleman on my right in PictureNo.0906 is Ray McNeil, a friend ofmine who was a pilot in the 15th AirForce, 446 Bomb Group, WWII. Heflew 65 missions with the 15th. AF.Ray has been a wanted man sinceWWII (68 years ago), for flying, notonce, but two times under the GoldenGate Bridge in a B-24. Ray was 22 atthe time. I should turn Ray in, butthe pay-off has been great. I get tovisit with Ray occasionally, when I’min the Dallas area, and our stories getlonger each time we tell them. Raysays, “When a group gets togetherand begins to tell stories, the olderyou get, the further you could throwa baseball when you were young”.

VA TelehealthThe Department of Veterans Affairsno longer charges Veterans acopayment when they receive care intheir homes from VA health profes-sionals using video conferencing.“Eliminating the copayment for thisservice will remove an unnecessaryfinancial burden for Veterans,” saidSecretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.Shinseki. “We will continue to do ev-erything we can to ensure that Vet-erans have access to the first-classcare they have earned with their ser-vice to our Nation.” This change willprimarily benefit Veterans with lim-ited mobility, such as spinal cord in-jury patients. Whenever medicallyappropriate, VA will make the homethe preferred place of care for Veter-ans to ensure timely and convenientaccess to VA services. For more in-formation about telehealth, refer to: http://www.telehealth.va.gov. Datahave shown that expanded use oftechnology in the home enables pa-tients with chronic health conditions,


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such as diabetes, chronic heart fail-ure and hypertension, to live inde-pendently, actively engage in man-aging their health, and preventsavoidable hospitalization of pa-tients who otherwise may needlong-term institutional care. Hometelehealth does not replace the needfor nursing home care or for tradi-tional noninstitutional care pro-grams. However, it enhances theability for many veterans to betterunderstand and manage chronicdiseases. This partnership withtheir care team helps delay the needfor institutionalization and enablesthem to maintain independence foran extended period of time, thusimproving their overall quality oflife.

Statement on RemainsRecovery Activities inIndia

The Department of Defense an-nounces that the United States andIndia have agreed to resume re-mains recovery activities in parts ofNortheastern India.

The Department assesses that thereare approximately 400 unac-counted-for service members fromsome 90 aircraft crashes in the areaduring World War II.

Secretary Panetta said, “This is acritical step toward bringing homeour service members lost duringWorld War II. The United States andIndia, working together, can helpprovide comfort to the families ofAmericans who were lost during thewar.”

The Department deeply appreciatesthe close cooperation of the Gov-ernment of India in helping ourteams resume their critical work.Returning our fallen heroes is a toppriority of the Department of De-fense.

Background:

• There are about 400 unac-counted-for servicemen in India as aresult of approximately 90 aircraftcrashes. Virtually all of those sites arelocated in Northeast India.• The United States possessesinformation on sixteen known crashsites and continues to develop infor-mation on others.• Some of the information wasreported to the Department of De-fense by private parties or throughIndian press.• In April 2012, Department ofDefense representatives participatedin State Department-led bilateral dis-cussions with the Government of In-dia where restarting remains recoveryoperations was addressed.

Bring Bowe HomeBy Alice A. Booher

They are not fancy folks, Jani and Rob-ert Bergdahl, but a bright,hardworking, solid, unflinchingcouple, she with piercing brown eyesand straight cut shoulder lengthbrown hair; he with a strong, straightforward look, directed fierce eyes in aruddy face surrounded by a batch ofslightly unruly reddish beard. Some-one hands him a bandana emblazonedwith POW on the front. He explainsthat the beard is but a chronology ofhis son’s captivity since June 30, 2009.They look a bit out of place, not un-comfortable but somber and eager.They certainly never expected to bebanked on all sides by the strong-hewn, solid look of the black motor-cycle leathers of Rolling Thunder, theirescort and guard, an impermeablehuman backdrop to support them ashe spoke what he had come all the wayto the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Wash-ington to say.

The Bergdahls journeyed from a tinyt

ex-pow bulletin · ing changes should include a tele-phone number where they can be reached if more...

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