Things Change!

After several years I once again have my own website. Eventually most of what follows will find its way there - with there being:

http://www.waltsdorsai.net/tobayvet

Enjoy!

Let Me Say This About That...

What I post here, I post for your general information. Notwithstanding it's source, what I have written or copied, how I have written or copied it, or how simple it may seem to read, it is non-authoritative and should not be relied on to be determinative.

As the expression goes, "Your Mileage Will Vary!"

Also, I find Comments can get lost. And while most posts allow comments, as this is (and always will be) the top post, "Comments" here are less inclined to loose their way.

So, if you are so inclined, be my guest! And...

The Order of the Silver Rose...

The Order of the Silver Rose hopes to inform every surviving Vietnam Veteran that a yearly physical along with certain simple tests could easily lengthen or even save their lives. For additional information... see this multi-post blog about the the Order of the Silver Rose.

Now At 58,249...

Washington, DC - The names of four more American servicemen were inscribed on the black granite walls of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Friday, May 13 at 10 a.m.... The number of names on the Memorial will now rise to 58,249 men and women who were killed in Vietnam or remain missing-in-action (http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=401).

In addition to the four names being added, inscriptions will continue through May 15 with changes to status designations from missing-in-action to killed-in-action for approximately 15 service members listed on The Wall.

The new name inscriptions will become “official” at the annual Memorial Day Observance at The Wall on Monday, May 30 at 1 p.m., when they are read aloud. The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will deliver the keynote address.

Since 1982, when the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated with 57,939 names, 310 names have been added, bringing the total to 58,249 as of this writing (May 2005). The service branches and DOD have continued to work diligently to ensure that any names fitting the eligibility requirements are forwarded to the Memorial Fund, who retains and fulfills the responsibility for name addition to the Memorial.

A timeline of all additions since the dedication can be found at http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?sectionID=402

----------------------------------------

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Name Additions
57,939 – 1982 58,249 – 2005
(310 name additions since dedication)

The first group of names to be added to the Memorial after it was dedicated on November 13, 1982 totaled 68 names of servicemen, all of whom were killed in an airplane crash enroute from the combat zone to Tokyo for R&R. The names were added in time for Veterans Day 1983.
Veterans Day 1983
Existing names 57,939
Names added 68
TOTAL NAMES 58,007

Added in time for Veterans Day 1984 were the names of 15 servicemen who died outside of the Veterans Administration hospital system after 1975, the last year of the Vietnam War.
Veterans Day 1984
Existing names 58,007
Names added 15
TOTAL NAMES 58,022

The addition of 110 names in time for Memorial Day, May 26, 1986, resulted from a decision to include deaths of those, mostly aircraft pilots and crew, who were on or in support of direct combat missions at the time of their death during the Vietnam War.
Memorial Day 1986
Existing names 58,022
Names added 110
TOTAL NAMES 58,132

Twenty four names added to the Memorial for Veterans Day 1987 were approved by DOD after it was determined that eligibility requirements were met, in the case of a recent death, or met but overlooked when the list of names was originally prepared.
Veterans Day 1987
Existing names 58,132
Names added 24
TOTAL NAMES 58,156

Nineteen names added to the Memorial for Veterans Day 1989 were approved by DOD after determining that eligibility requirements were met, in the case of a recent death, or met but overlooked when the list of names was originally prepared. In addition, change in status from Missing-in-Action (MIA) to Killed-in-Action (KIA) (the cross, which signifies MIA has a KIA symbol, a diamond, inscribed on top) were made for 101 names on The Wall.
Veterans Day 1989
Existing names 58,156
Names added 19
TOTAL NAMES 58,175

Eight names to be added to the Memorial in time for Veterans Day 1991 were also approved by DOD after determining that eligibility requirements were met. In addition, change in status from MIA to KIA were made for 49 names on The Wall.
Veterans Day 1991
Existing names 58,175
Names added 8
TOTAL NAMES 58,183

Names to be added to the Memorial in time for Memorial Day 1993 were also approved by DOD after determining that eligibility requirements were met. In addition, status changes from MIA to KIA were made for eight names on The Wall.
Memorial Day 1993
Existing names 58,183
Names added 8
TOTAL NAMES 58,191

As of Memorial Day 1994, eight status changes from MIA to KIA.
In time for Veterans Day 1994, five names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met for four of the names; the fifth name had been inadvertently overlooked in 1982.
Veterans Day 1994
Existing names 58,191
Names added 5
TOTAL NAMES 58,196

In time for Memorial Day 1996, six names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Fifty-three status changes were made, and one status change added which had been found to have been unintentionally left off at original inscription in 1982.
Memorial Day 1996
Existing names 58,196
Names added 6
TOTAL NAMES 58,202

In time for Memorial Day 1997, seven names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Fifteen status changes were made.
Memorial Day 1997
Existing names 58,202
Names added 7
TOTAL NAMES 58,209

In time for Memorial Day 1998, five names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Twenty status changes were made.
Memorial Day 1998
Existing names 58,209
Names added 5
TOTAL NAMES 58,214

In time for Memorial Day 1999, five names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Sixteen status changes were made.
Memorial Day 1999
Existing names 58,214
Names added 5
TOTAL NAMES 58,219

In time for Memorial Day 2000, one name was added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Thirty-five status changes were made.
Memorial Day 2000
Existing names 58,219
Name added 1
TOTAL NAMES 58,220

In time for Memorial Day 2001, six names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Twenty-eight status changes were made.
Memorial Day 2001
Existing names 58,220
Names added 6
TOTAL NAMES 58,226

In time for Memorial Day 2002, three names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Thirty-one status changes were made.
Memorial Day 2002
Existing names 58,226
Names added 3
TOTAL NAMES 58,229

In time for Memorial Day 2003, six names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Twenty-six status changes were made.
Memorial Day 2003
Existing names 58,229
Names added 6
TOTAL NAMES 58,235

In time for Memorial Day 2004, ten names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Seventeen status changes were made.
Memorial Day 2004
Existing names 58,235
Names added 10
TOTAL NAMES 58,245

In time for Memorial Day 2005, four names were added after eligibility requirements were found to have been met. Sixteen status changes were made.
Memorial Day 2005
Existing names 58,245
Names added 4
TOTAL NAMES 58,249

April 30, 2005, The Long of It...

On that day, it will have been thirty-years since the last American was evacuated from Vietnam. To learn what one Long Island community is doing in detail... see this multi-post blog about the event.

Northport VA Medical Center - Getting into the VA System...

In order to obtain your VA health benefits you need to be "in the system." As to how to get into the system... that's easy as 1 2 3 4!

1 - Call the Northport VA Medical Center ("NPVAMC") at 631-261-4400. Once you hear the recording, dial zero for the operator and ask for "Admissions;"

2 - When you reach "Admissions" ask them to send you the form that you need to complete in order to "get into" the VA Health system;

3 - Fill out the form, and;

4 - Go to the NPVAMC, buiding 200, Admissions - usually Booth 7 - don't forget to bring the completed form AND your DD-214.

For directions to the NPVAMC you can see their website, or just follow:

- Take the Long Island Expressway (I 495) to Exit 53N (Sunken Meadow Parkway).

- Proceed north on the Sunken Meadow Parkway to Exit SM 5 (Rte 25A west). Continue westbound for approximately 2.5 miles (you will observe Norwood Plaza on you right).

- Take the next left (at traffic light) onto Rinaldo Road (you will observe the directional sign for the VA Medical Center).

- The Medical Center is at the juncture of Rinaldo Road and Middleville Road.

A Brief Summary of VA Benefits...

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care to its customers. For additional information... see their seven-page pamphlet.

Obtaining A Copy Of Your Military Records…

Need to obtain a copy of your military records? It is as easy as N • A • R • A - the National Archives and Records Administration website. How easy...

For a general idea of what must be done, see NARA'S “Access to Records by Veterans, Next-of-Kin, or the Veteran's Representative” webpage.

If you are the veteran or next of kin, you can use NARA’s “Request Copies of Military Personnel Records” webpage to request and obtain the records.

If you are not the veteran or next of kin, you must complete the Standard Form 180 (SF 180).

For more information on that process and to obtain the SF 180, see the NARA “Ways to Request Military Records” webpage.

Obtaining Your Military Awards and Decorations...

Once again we turn to N • A • R • A - the National Archives and Records Administration website. And to do that...

Requests for the issuance or replacement of military service medals, decorations, and awards should be directed to the specific branch of the military in which the veteran served. However, for Air Force (including Army Air Corps) and Army personnel, the National Personnel Records Center will verify the awards to which a veteran is entitled and forward the request with the verification to the appropriate service department for issuance of the medals.

For more information on that process see the NARA “Military Awards and Decorations” webpage.

Aid & Attendance Allowance...

If a veteran requires assistance to perform certain normal daily activities, they might be entitled to an Aid & Attendance Allowance. To learn more...

Aid & Attendance Allowance

An additional benefit paid to veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses and parents. It is paid based on the need of aid and attendance.

Examples of some (partial) criteria for regular aid and attendance (Note: this listing does not include all attributes necessary to qualify):

- Inability of claimant to dress or undress himself, or to keep himself ordinarily clean and presentable;

- Frequent need of adjustment of any special prosthetic or orthopedic appliances which cannot be done without aid;

- Inability of claimant to feed himself (herself);

- Inability to attend to the wants of nature; and,

- Incapacity, physical or mental, which requires care or assistance to protect the claimant from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment.

[Source: VA Benefit Index, Aid & Attendance Allowance]

VA Compensation & Pensions...

You know there is more than one type of disability compensation. As to what the four major types are...

VA Compensation & Pensions...

• The Disability Compensation Program: This benefit program evaluates disability resulting from all types of diseases and injuries encountered as a result of military service. The degrees of disability that are determined by VA represent, as far as can practicably be determined, the average loss in wages resulting from such diseases and injuries and their complications in civil occupations.

• Disability Benefits: Disability Compensation is a benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were made worse by active military service. It is also paid to certain veterans disabled from VA health care. The benefits are tax-free.

• Disability Pension: The Pension Program provides monthly payments, as specified by law, to needy wartime veterans who are permanently and totally disabled as a result of disability not related to military service. The Pension Program also provides monthly payments, as specified by law, to needy surviving spouses and dependent children of deceased wartime veterans.

• Dependency Indemnity Compensation: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly check paid to eligible survivors of certain deceased veterans. To get DIC, you must be an eligible survivor of a veteran who died because of a service-related illness or injury.

[Source: James Tichacek's Veterans Information Bulletins, 15 Oct 04, taken from MSC (Medical Service Corps) Newsletter SEP 04]

Catastrophic Disablement...

Due you have a permanent severely disabling injury, or a disease that compromises your ability to carry out the activities of daily living to such a degree that you require assistance to leave the home or bed? If so, perhaps you are "Catastrophically Disabled." As to what that means...

Catastrophic Disablement...

(Thanks to UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION's "VetsFirst" Quarterly Magazive, Summer Issue, Volume 1, Number 1, 2004 ):

Veterans who are catastrophically disabled are veterans who have “a permanent severely disabling injury, disorder, or disease that compromises the ability to carry out the activities of daily living to such a degree that the individual requires assistance to leave the home or bed or requires constant supervision to avoid physical harm to self or others.”

A VA determination that a veteran is not catastrophically disabled may be appealed.

Criteria for Catastrophic Disablement:

1 - Quadriplegia and quadriparesis, paraplegia, blindness, persistent vegetative state, or a condition resulting from two of the following procedures provided the two procedures were not on the same limb: amputation through hand; disarticulation of wrist; amputation through forearm; disarticulation of elbow; amputation through humerus; shoulder disarticulation; forequarter amputation; lower limb amputation not otherwise specified; amputation of great toe; amputation through foot; disarticulation of ankle; amputation through malleoli; other amputation below knee; disarticulation of knee, above knee amputation; disarticulation of hip; and hindquarter amputation.

Or,

2 -

A. Dependent in three or more activities of daily living - eating, dressing, bathing, using the toilet, transferring, incontinence of bowel and/or bladder, with at least three of the dependencies being permanent with a rating of 1, using the Katz scale.
B. A score of 10 or lower using the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination
C. A score of 2 or lower on at least 4 of the 13 motor items using the Functional Independence Measure
D. A score of 30 or lower using the Global Assessment of Functioning

Non-service-connected veterans who are catastrophically disabled and have income over the attributable income limit will have to pay a co-payment for the care provided.

VA Health Care Priority Groups...

If you are "in" the Department of Veteran Affairs Health Care Benefits program, you have been assigned to one of eight Enrollment Priority Groups. As to what each of the eight represent...

Department of Veteran Affairs, Health Care Benefits, Enrollment Priority Groups

(Thanks to UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION's "VetsFirst" Quarterly Magazive, Summer Issue, Volume 1, Number 1, 2004 ):

Priority Group 1

• Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more

Priority Group 2

• Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 30% or 40%

Priority Group 3

• Veterans who are former POWs
• Veterans awarded the Purple Heart
• Veterans whose discharge was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
• Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10% or 20%
• Veterans awarded special eligibility classification under 38 USC 1151, “benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation”

Priority Group 4

• Veterans who are receiving aid and attendance or housebound benefits
• Veterans who are determined to be catastrophically disabled

Priority Group 5

• Non-service-connected veterans and non-compensable serviceconnected veterans rated 0% whose annual income and net worth are below the established VA means test thresholds
• Veterans receiving VA pension benefits
• Veterans eligible for Medicaid benefits

Priority Group 6

• Compensable 0% service-connected veterans
• World War I veterans
• Veterans solely seeking care for disorders associated with:

1. Exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam
2. Exposure to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
3. For disorders associated with service in the Gulf War
4. For any illness associated with service in combat in a war after the Gulf War or during a period of hostility after November 11, 1998

Priority Group 7

• Veterans who agree to pay specified co-payments with income and/or net worth above VA Means Test threshold and income below the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) geographic index

- SUBPRIORITY A: Non-compensable 0% service-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA Healthcare System on a specified date and who have remained enrolled since that date
- SUBPRIORITY C: Non-service-connected veterans who were enrolled in the VA Healthcare System on a specific date and who have remained enrolled since that date
- SUBPRIORITY E: Non-compensable 0% service-connected veterans not included in Subpriority a above
- SUBPRIORITY G: Non-service-connected veterans not included in Subpriority C above

Priority Group 8

• Veterans who agree to pay specified co-payments with income and/or net worth above the VA Means Test threshold and the HUD geographic index

- SUBPRIORITY A: Non-compensable 0% service-connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003 and who have remained enrolled since that date
- SUBPRIORITY C: Non-service-connected veterans enrolled as of January 16, 2003 and have remained enrolled since that date
- SUBPRIORITY E: Non-compensable 0% service-connected veterans applying for enrollment after January 16, 2003
- SUBPRIORITY G: Non-service-connected veterans applying for enrollment after January 16, 2003

TOBay's 36 Communities...

TOBay's 36 Communities...:

Bayville... 11709
Bethpage... 11714
Brookville... 11545
Centre Island... 11771
Cove Neck... 11771
East Hills... 11548
East Massapequa... 11758
East Norwich... 11732
Farmingdale... 11735
Glen Head... 11545
Glenwood Landing... 11547
Greenvale... 11548
Hicksville... 11801
Jericho... 11753
Lattingtown... 11560
Laurel Hollow... 11771
Locust Valley... 11560
Massapequa... 11758
Massapequa Park... 11762
Matinecock... 11560
Mill Neck... 11765
Muttontown... 11545
North Massapequa... 11758
Old Bethpage... 11804
Old Brookville... 11545
Old Westbury... 11568
Oyster Bay... 11771
Oyster Bay Cove... 11771
Plainedge... 11756
Plainview... 11803
Roslyn Harbor... 11545
Sea Cliff... 11579
South Farmingdale... 11735
Syosset... 11773
Upper Brookville... 11545
Woodbury... 11797

About Veterans Services Available in TOBay...

There exists in the Town of Oyster Bay a Veterans Services Division whose purpose is... to administer, manage, and provide for programs, projects, plans, and activities that will analyze the needs of, or assist in the delivery of, services to, and benefits for, veterans, and their families, residing in the Town of Oyster Bay, solely or in cooperation with individuals, groups, municipalities, or other town agencies; to maintain liaison with other agencies, organizations, or their boards, whose missions are also the betterment of veterans' affairs; to make recommendations to the Town Board that will advance the interests of the town’s veterans; and, to encourage the veteran’s informed involvement in the processes and activities that affect them.

It represents the 36 communities of the Town of Oyster Bay ("TOBay") as its Veterans Services Division ("VSD"), or, TOBay's VSD, Nassau County, Long Island, New York, USA.

Their MISSION STATEMENT...
To ADVANCE the interests of the Veterans, and their families, of the Town of Oyster Bay and to ENCOURAGE their informed involvement in the processes and activities that affect them.

Their GOALs...
- To ESTABLISH relations with existing Veterans, and veteran related, organizations, municipal divisions, and governmental agencies;
- To PROMOTE understanding of these organizations', divisions’, and agencies’ activities;
- To FURNISH information about ourselves and these organizations, divisions and agencies;
- To ENCOURAGE ongoing communications amongst these organizations, divisions, and agencies;
- To LIASION with the TOBay’s Veterans Advisory Council, and;
- To PROVIDE on an ongoing basis the means for us to achieve our Mission.

Their MOTTO...
"Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"

Who is this Walter Schmidt, and why is he saying these things here...

In addition to being part of the services available to veterans living in TOBay, to learn a little more about me..., I did my Four in the Navy, more than a few years ago. To that end:

As CYNSN (Communications Yeoman Seaman) Schmidt, I was there from October 1967 to December 1969, when I left as RM2 (Radioman Second Class) Schmidt. Among other things, while In-Country I was known as Courtley Grapes Lima 9. Yes, I was a Mekong Delta River Rat ! Cam bic ?!? And this happen over 26 Months, 3 Tours, and 8 Campaigns...

Assigned:
10/67 - NSA (Naval Support Activity) Vinh Long - 01/69
01/69 - River Squadron 57 - 12/69

Berthed:
10/67 - NSA Vinh Long Villa - 10/68
02/68 - USS Garrett County LST-786 - 02/68 TET I
10/68 - APL-46 - 01/69
01/69 - YRBM-20 - 12/69

Sweated:
10/67 - VN RAG Base Vinh Long - 10/68
02/68 - YR-9 - 01/69
01/69 - YRBM-20 - 12/69
NILO Vinh Long
Various River Divisions
Seawolves HAL-3

To say it one more time: "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"