Thursday, July 29, 2010

More Bad News re: Arlington National Cemetery

And the news gets worse and the count goes up at Arlington National Cemetery. Who knows
how bad it actually is.

According to report by Senator Claire McCaskill between 4,900 to 6,600 graves may be unmarked, improperly marked or mislabeled on the cemetery maps.

Last month the Army examined a small section of the cemetery and declared possibly 211 graves
were marked incorrectly. The cemetery still uses paper records, after spending nearly $5.5 million over the last seven years to create a computer system to keep track of the records,
which so far has been unsuccessful.

"We've lost the bodies of our fallen heroes, we've got cremated remains, and we don't even know who they belong to, turning up in the field. Did you ever write that up? Did that ever go up the chain of command? Did the chief of staff of the Army ever see a document from you that we've got a problem, we've found cremated remains and we don't know where they belong?" McCaskill asked.

There have been no reviews for over a decade, and there was not audit taken to ensure contracts
were being followed, and that contracts were at a fair price.

Former Superintendent John Metzler and his deputy Thurman Higginbotham were both called
to testify at the hearing. Both were forced to retire following the review. The report by the Army Inspector General's office accused Metzler of repeatedly failing to ensure burials were being done properly and of failing to respond after unmarked graves were discovered.

Metzler stated that a 35 percent reduction in staff, and the complexity of handling 6,000 burials
a year contributed to the problems.

"Those staffing losses were to be offset by increased opportunities for outsourcing to private contractors," Metzler stated. "As experience has shown, however, that approach does not always result in the most effective or efficient solution."

In addition to military funerals the cemetery also includes the graves of former presidents
and U.S. Supreme Court justices.

"We owe our veterans better," McCaskill said Thursday. "We owe their families better. We owe better to the Americans who expect their government to not fritter away their money on wasteful contracts. And the officials who let this happen — whether through ignorance, incompetence, or denial — need to be held accountable."

Such treatment of our fallen heroes is beyond contempt and is just one more blot on the
horrible record our caring for our country's veterans and deceased military members. There
is no excuse for such shabby and uncaring; and it seems unending maltreatment of those
who served our country.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"





----------------"And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades."-- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Prime Minister Putin and deported spies

Vladimir Putin met with the deported Russian spies and sang old KGB songs with them. They
sang "What Motherland Begins With" and other songs of that type. The song was from a 1968
television show about Russian spies in Germany. It was also know as the unofficial song of
the KGB.

He praised them for taking risks without possible diplomatic immunity. "They had to learn a
new language, speak it and think it".

Putin promised that Russia would take care of them "They will work, and I am sure they will have decent jobs," he said. "And I am sure they will have an interesting and bright life."

The spies were not charged in the U.S., and it is not sure if any information of value was passed
to Russia. Some Russians claim the venture was a failure, and proved that Russian agents
are ineffectual and not worth the time and money expended.

Putin also attended a motorcycle convention of about 5,000 bikers from Europe and beyond.
He was seen riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle with the Russian flag flying behind him.

And it appears that the fact that the spies who were caught in the U.S. has not had any effect
on President Obama's attempt to improve relations with Russia.

There was actually very little said about and/or reported by the mainstream media about the fact
that these spies had been in the country for over ten years. Can it be that we do not care?
Have we as a nation grown that blase and used to the fact that spies still exist? Certainly if
there were 10, there are more that have not yet been discovered. It reminds me of the old
Mad Comics Spy vs Spy.


So will this have any bearing on the proposed Cold War Service Medal that is in Congress?
Will this mean that once again the Cold War Veterans will be dismissed and ignored?

We hope not. Please contact your elected officials tell them that a Cold War Service Medal is
justified, and it is past time to honor our veterans. Let us finally remember them and their
sacrifices.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

----------------"And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades."-- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Dutch Cold War Medal

Our good friends, and Brothers and Sisters in Arms in Holland have achieved their goal. The Dutch
Minister of Defence has approved a Cold War Victory Medal which is being issued to all thoe
who served during the Cold War. The MOD additionally has approved a medal for NATO Service,
not waiting any longer for Brussels to authorize a medal.

Holland has also designated November 20th, the date of the fall of the Berlin Wall as Cold War Memorial Day to remember Cold War Veterans.

Our congratulations to our Dutch friends on the completion of their long struggle for recognition.
Now if only we could convince our Congress to do the same thing.

You can read their website and view their medals here
http://koudeoorlogveteranen.webs.com/ the website is in Dutch, but I hope that the like
I have provided will be the English translation.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

----------------"And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades."-- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Monday, July 19, 2010

Senate/House Vacation-Contact Now

In just a few short days both the Senate and the House will begin their August Vacation.
Contact each member of the Senate Armed Services Committee now. Ask them to ensure
that SEC. 566 on the National Defense Authorization Act S.3454 NOT be removed during the upcoming Senate/House conference meetings.

You can also still ask both of your Senators to cosponsor S.2743 The Cold War Service Medal Act
2009. Contact your Congressman/woman ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4051.

Now is the perfect time to schedule a face-to-face visit with you legislature in their home office
closest to you. Senators will be in their home state from August 1 to September 5. Representatives will be in their home state from August 9 to September 15.

A visit to their office with just a little information about why the Cold War Service Medal should
be authorized this year could just be what is needed to get them to agree.

Some of my older posts give reasons why this medal is justified and needed to honor all those
who served during the Cold War. Feel free to use any of this information.

We need more support to get this medal this year. You can help, it is easy.

The Korean War was called the "Forgotten War", maybe the Cold War is the War nobody
wanted to think about. Or the War that only we cared about.

Yes the Cold War gets a mention every now and then in the media as some politician brings
up the subject in an abject or off beat way. There was nothing abject or offbeat about it. It was
real, it was something we all went through; and WE WON.

It is time to recognize and honor and show respect to all Cold Warriors. Do not forget 2009
was the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Even better 2011 marks the 20th
anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

So please if you served or you know someone who served from Sept. 1945 to Dec. 1991 act now.
Let your elected officials know this should be the year.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"


----------------"And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades."-- Robert M. Gates, 1996