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Many veterans will have the need to file for Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security and Disability Resource Center website (www.ssdrc.com) provides answers to questions concerning how to apply for disability, how to appeal a claim in the event of a denial, how to navigate the federal system, and how to avoid certain mistakes that are commonly made by applicants filing for either SSD (social security disability) or SSI (supplemental security income) benefits. Written by a former claims examiner, this information may be helpful to many of you.

If you don't have tears in your eyes and feel pride in your heart after viewing this link, then there is no hope for us! I hope you appreciate this one.

Following is a great site for all you Vietnam Vets! First click on a state.
When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear.
Then click on their names.
It should show you picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals.

Jerry Miller (VADM, USN, Ret.), former Captain of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (1962-1964) sent us the following note:

My good friend Jack Crawford has been a public servant for more than 60 years, specializing in nuclear energy for both reactors and weapons. Jack contends that the general public knows essentially nothing about nuclear weapons. I agree with him.

So I have written a second book on the subject. It is titled STOCKPILE: The Story Behind 10,000 Strategic Nuclear Weapons. It is fifteen chapters of history followed by several pages of speculation about the future, including some suggestions for our leaders to consider. Some will agree with some of those suggestions. Others will find them off the wall. But the subject is timely and worth considering.

Following area couple of links that might be interesting to look at. They are full of great information.
Who knows, you might find something of interest.

Recent VA News Releases

To view and download VA news release, please visit the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel

Veterans' Medallion Available for Order New Option for Marking Veterans' Graves in Private Cemeteries

WASHINGTON (June 29, 2010) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offering
bronze medallions to attach to existing, privately purchased headstones or markers, signifying a deceased's status as a Veteran.

"For Veterans not buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery, or those without a government grave marker, VA is pleased to offer this
option that highlights their service and sacrifices for our country," said Secretary Shinseki.

The new item can be furnished instead of a traditional government headstone or marker for Veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

Under federal law, eligible Veterans buried in a private cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished grave marker or the new medallion, but not both. Veterans buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery will receive a government headstone or marker of the standard design authorized at that cemetery.

The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inches and 1 ½ inches in width. Each bronze medallion features the image of a folded burial flag adorned with laurels and is inscribed with the word "Veteran" at the top and the branch of service at the bottom.

Next of kin will receive the medallion, along with a kit that will allow the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the medallion to
a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or columbarium niche cover.

More information about VA-furnished headstones, markers and medallions can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmtype.asp.

VA is currently developing an application form for ordering the medallion. Until it is available, applicants may use the form for
ordering government headstones and markers, VA Form 40-1330. Instructions on how to apply for a medallion are found on the VA Web
site at www.cem.va.gov/hm_hm.asp.

Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or grave marker.

The new medallions will be available only to Veterans buried in private cemeteries without a government headstone or marker. Families of
eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment.

VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3 million Americans,
including Veterans of every war and conflict -- from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are buried in
VA's national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA Web site on the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by
calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.

US Navy Crew List – Reunite with old Navy Buddies – 192173 entries available online. Add yours!

Some of you may recall these old Navy ratings.... I must admit some are much more before my time.
Many were disbanded or merged with new ratings. It's amazing to me to see how many we have lost
or have been merged. Pass these along to your 'old' buddies too ...

http://ussinaugural.org/crew/ratings&pay/ratings.htm

Also, here is a link to Navy TV: http://www.navytv.org/
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Read to the end and then click on the website -- this is fabulous!

The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood! Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach, FL, eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event… He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing.", he said bitterly.

At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you."

Then the old soldier began to cry. "That really got to me.", Bierstock says.

Cut to today.

Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.

"If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them…"

The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren. "It made me cry.", wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss "the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. "I can never thank them enough.", the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them."

Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web. They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.

Someone sent me the link below which is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the
names, bio's and other information on our lost comrades. It is a very interesting link, and those who served in that timeframe and lost friends or family can look them up on this site.

First click on a state. then when it opens. a name. then it should show you
a picture of the person or at least his bio and medals.

http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm

The following request was sent to us by Fabio, Peña, Manager,
Aircraft Carriers & Escort Carriers Archives, NavSource (http://www.navsource.org)

My name is Xavier Theros, and I’m a journalist for the newspaper El País (Spain). I’m nowadays working on a book about the visits of the VI Navy of United States on Barcelona’s Port between 1951 and 1987.

I’m writing you to ask for your help. I beg you to communicate the goal of my project to your associated, specially the veterans of the Navy that came to Barcelona, in order to gather their experiences and impressions.

- Places where they could dress as civilian (places as the Looker Club o the USO Fleet, or hotels.)

I should be happy to supply any information that you may need, and very grateful for your collaboration.

This Link will enable you to view pictures from the 2009 reunion: www.west-photography.com.
There are already over 1,000 pictures for you to see! Pictures of the reunion, dedication ceremony and memorial can be purchased on this site. Also, if you attended the reunion, remember to send back your form so that the photographers will know what portrait photo you wish to have included in the memory book.

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Public Law 106-348 authorized The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial to be built in our nation’s capital, along 2^nd Street, SW, a short distance from the Capitol Building . The site has been approved by the National Capital Memorial Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts has approved the design of the Michael Vergason Landscape Architects.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will commemorate the sacrifices and dedication of disabled veterans from all branches of the US Armed Forces throughout America ’s history. As well, it will educate generations of Americans about the courage and sacrifice of disabled veterans and the immense personal adversity they continue to suffer for our freedom, long after their tour of duty is done. And, The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will provide America’s 3 million living disabled veterans and their families with an historic place for solace and for healing.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is an $87 million project managed by the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation; a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization authorized by the public law. Our present status puts us at almost 90% - with but about $6 million remaining to be pledged and collected before we may break ground – for which no federal funds may be used. To accomplish this task, we are reaching-out to veterans throughout the country, as well as active duty military personnel, to help us reach our goal.

Major veterans’ service organizations have endorsed The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, including The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Inc., Paralyzed Veterans of America , the Military Order of the Purple Heart, AMVETS, and The Disabled American Veterans, Inc. All we need is YOU! We are asking all veterans to help in building this first-ever tribute to veterans permanently disabled in the line of duty. Your service organization, club, school, and family can help us raise the funds needed to put shovel to earth and begin the process of transcending conflicts, service branches, and generations to express our gratitude to the women and men whose lives have changed in service to our country.

Your support is much needed and appreciated. Please visit our website: www.avdlm.org to learn about how former Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs, the late Jesse Brown, and Philanthropist, Ms. Lois Pope joined together to develop the concept and begin the task of raising the funds needed to honor America’s disabled veterans by building The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. We hope we may count on your help; and, we ask that you share the information with everyone in your circle of friends and family by sending a post card from our website, at: http://www.avdlm.org/spread-the-word.php

We thank you in advance for your interest and help in building The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. We hope to hear from you soon….Michael C. Corbett (USMC ’64-‘70), Veterans Fund Raising Coordinator

Following are links to photos taken by Rick Johnson, the father of Paul Johnson,
a friend of our President, Garry Thies.
His father was a reporter for the Indianapolis Star and, while in Vietnam, spent a few days aboard
the USS FDR in the Gulf of Tonkin, November of 1966.
There are more than USS FDR photos, but he thought many of you may be interested
and like to take a peek at some of these images.
If you are interested, you can look at Album 1 and Album 2

Larry Blumenthal, a member of the USS FDR Reunion Assn. and former Navy Photographer,
has created a website of pictures that may be of interest. If you are interested in looking at these images,
and more, go to www.usnavyphotos.com.
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USS FDR Operational History, crew rosters, crew photos, film to video project & much more available at www.ussfranklindroosevelt.com

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Gary Limmer (199th Infantry Brigade, Vietnam, 1966-67) has created a site
where you can create various items with your personal information from
when you were in the service. You can view his site at www.prideofservice.com

The Retired Enlisted Association - www.trea.org
The mission of The Retired Enlisted Association is to enhance the quality of life for uniformed services
enlisted personnel, their families and survivors - including active components, reserve components, and all retirees:
to stop the erosion of earned benefits through our legislative efforts; to maintain our esprit de corps,
dedication and patriotism; and to continue our devotion and allegiance go God and Country

The following website is for veterans to request records: www.vetrecs.archives.gov. You can view your records or make written requests
to Military Records Div., 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132. If intending to personally view the records on site, it is recommended
that you call ahead for an appointment at 314-801-0850. You can also fax a request to 314-801-0195.

VFP-62, "The Eyes of the Fleet", flew photo RF-8 Crusaders from the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt and other east coast carriers.
Visit the following site dedicated to the squadron, men, and officers at www.vfp62.com.

A new website for all who are interested in a book about the US Navy's Ocean Minesweepers from 1953 to 1994.
Go to www.heritagebooks.com/ and look for "Wooden Ships and Iron Men".

As you probably know, many of our veterans were exposed to asbestos during their time serving on Navy ships.
Asbestos was commonly used in hundreds of military applications, products, and ships primarily because of its resistance to fire.
Exposure to asbestos can result in a number of life-threatening respiratory conditions including lung cancer, asbestosis,
and mesothelioma, a deadly cancer directly caused by asbestos exposure.

The following link may be helpful to those interested: Mesothelioma Cancer Center .
They are committed to providing the latest, up-to-date information to visitors
in hopes of creating awareness about the dangers of asbestos.

The following website has over 1,000 articles regarding asbestos and asbestos exposure and they have created
a veteran-specific section found here: Mesothelioma Cancer Center in order to help inform our nations vets.
It covers possible exposure points, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases, and programs designed to assist vets
in preventing, diagnosing, and treating these ailments. They also offer assistance, free of cost, to veterans applying for
benefits. They have knowledgeable veterans on staff that can make the process easier and help individuals
receive benefits from the VA system. I felt that this would be information that many of you would be interested in having.

Navy Veterans and the Risk of Mesothelioma

Veterans of the United States Navy are among the occupational groups who are at an elevated risk for the aggressive form of cancer known as mesothelioma, primarily because of their extensive exposure to the mineral asbestos. It's important for veterans to learn about this devastating disease, and to carefully monitor their own health for its symptoms.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that has remarkable properties of strength, non-conductivity, and non-flammability. Since fires at sea have proven to be so devastating, it was widely used in Navy ships—not only in boiler and furnace rooms, but in mess halls and sleeping quarters as well. Many veterans recall working in great clouds of asbestos dust, and inhaling it while aboard ships. Even civilian contractors who worked in the shipyards are at risk, since they too worked closely with asbestos products.

Unfortunately, asbestos can lead to mesothelioma cancer, when its microscopic fibers are inhaled. These fibers work their way into the soft tissue that lines the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs, known as the mesothelium, where they can cause cells to replicate erratically. This may lead to a tumor, although the victim may not become aware that he or she has cancer until an astonishing 20 to 50 years after the exposure took place, due to the latency period of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma symptoms can resemble other conditions, making diagnosis tricky. They include breathing problems, chest or back pain, persistent or bloody cough, wheezing, and excess fatigue.

Striking approximately 3,000 new patients in the United States annually, mesothelioma may be a rare cancer, but it's a fatal one. It is rarely discovered while it is still operable, and does not generally respond well to chemotherapy or radiation, although patients may opt to undergo such treatments if they are strong enough. Sadly, most patients live fewer than 24 months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

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The Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center is a leading Internet resource for information about asbestos exposure and the associated health consequences, including the development of malignant mesothelioma cancer. The MAA Center website is recognized by DisabilityInfo.gov as a trusted resource for veterans and members of the military community, and we are also accredited by the Health On The Net Foundation as a credible and trustworthy source of medical information on the web. Our organization is committed to increasing awareness of the causes of mesothelioma cancer through our public outreach efforts and the distribution of informational materials.

As you may know, mesothelioma cancer is a serious health issue for seniors. Linked only to previous asbestos exposure, mesothelioma has a latency period of between 20 and 50 years, and the average age of a newly-diagnosed patient is between 65 and 75. In addition, World War II veterans experience arguably the highest rate of mesothelioma cancer, as Navy vessels built during the WWII era contained high levels of asbestos in the form of piping insulation and other products. Often, when a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, their spouse and loved ones become their caregivers, and because there is no cure for mesothelioma, the average patient loses their battle with this disease in less than 2 years. For this reason, the MAA Center provides extensive information focused on the families and caregivers of cancer patients.

Our website has several pages devoted to serving veterans: http://www.maacenter.org/veterans/, http://www.maacenter.org/veterans/navyveterans.php, and http://www.maacenter.org/veterans/medicalsupport.php. Additional pages focused on veterans can be found by browsing the related topics, found on the right-hand side of each of these pages. For further information about mesothelioma, please visit the MAA Center website.

Another link for mesothelioma as been given to us for your use. The following email (with related links) came to us just the other day:

Dear Friends at the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt page,

Raymond I recently came across your veterans link page and I am just as passionate about people’s health and safety as your site is. My name is Alex White and I am the Communications Director for Mesothelioma Symptoms. We have an excellent resource for you to take a look at today http://www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com. This site is designed to inform the public about one of the most dangerous lung cancers in the world, mesothelioma. The mesothelioma symptoms site covers an extensive range of topics from the different types of mesothelioma, to the different methods of treatment.

I noticed on your site that you had a page of resource links currently pointing to other health-related web sites. As stated before our goal is to create greater awareness on specific mesothelioma symptoms. I would be very grateful if you would share our site with your visitors on your links page. Our goal is to receive a single text link to Mesothelioma Symptoms. We may also be able to exchange links as well. Please let me know if this information exchange is of interest to you.

Thanks again,

Alex White
Communications Director
Alex@mesotheliomasymptoms.com

Check out our Veterans page at http://www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com/veterans-and-mesothelioma

Crew List - Reunite with old US Navy Buddies