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Lieutenant
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 213
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 Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject: Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) again led by old VVAW? |
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| Quote: | Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is a congressionally charted non-profit orginization and foundation. It supposedly has written within it's charter andor bylaws that it is to be non-political. However, is has issued the official Press Release via e-mail below. From my point of view, I believe this is a flat out breech of it's charter.
On the surface it looks good. I'm sure many will join in because of the hype. However, one's ideology will determine whether it's good or not. One of the main organizers is Max Cleland and I know that I don't agree with most of his views. One would think I should actually be supportive of him. After all, he is a severely disabled combat vet (triple amputee) and to top it off he was in the 1st Cav Div, same as me.
And look at another one of the main organizers, Maura Satchell, here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Oct-11-Mon-2004/news/24941173.html
The timing and location of the meeting, September 16-18, is also very convenient. Why it just so happens this meeting ends near the beginning of the big Peace March on Washington D.C.
To me this organization that VVA is supporting is nothing but a big facade or a wolf in sheep's clothing. Wonder how many veterans will join in this without knowing the truth? What you want to bet that Cindy Sheehan will be there? The antiwar communist / socialist agenda has been very organized since the Vietnam War. They are rather slick mixing in emotional half-truths with their agenda.
I do think the VVA just recently had their National Convention and some of those running for office campaigned to take the organizaion back to the left. I also think one of those that ran for national office was an old VVAW member.
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the sender e-mail properties are: " Mailer1@vva.org "
| Quote: | ----- Original Message -----
From: VVA Communications
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 12:02 PM
Subject: Veterans and Family Members Form National Organization
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL CONTACT: David Boetcher
(608)334-0462; Dboetcher@charter.net
September 15, 2005
Veterans and Family Members
Form National Organization
(Washington, DC) -- “As the mother of two active-duty military men, one now serving in Iraq and the other heading over in the next few months, one thing is clear to me," says Maura Satchell of Smyrna, Tennessee. "While my sons have no voice to speak with and ensure that their future as veterans is protected, I can and will speak.”
Satchell is a member of Veterans and Military Families for Progress (VMFP), a group of veterans, family members and current military which is holding a national conference to complete the formation of this new organization. The conference will be held at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, from September 16-18. With members from across the United States, Canada, and overseas, VMFP brings together veterans, current military and military families concerned about veterans benefits and services and military initiatives and conditions.
Like veterans service organizations, VMFP advocates on issues of policy affecting veterans, current military members, and their families. Unlike VSOs and military service organizations, however, VMFP can and will endorse and work on behalf of candidates for public office – Democratic, Republican, or Independent – who embrace our position on these issues. VMFP is unique because family members participate in all levels of the organization, with full voting rights.
Confirmed to speak at the conference are former Max Cleland, the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Senator from Georgia; Medal of Honor recipient Paul Bucha; Karen Zacharias, author of Hero Mama: A Daughter Remembers the Father She Lost in Vietnam—and the Mother Who Held Her Family Together; and Steve Robinson, Executive Director of the National Gulf War Resource Center.
The goal of those who are forming and joining VMFP is to have a voice in the decisions made in the corridors of Congress – and in state and local affairs as well – that affect their lives and the lives of all veterans and military families “We are fighting for the woman veteran who had a bomb explode in her face in Iraq, for the Reservist who was activated and twice deployed to Iraq, for the Korean War veteran who called me when he had to choose between paying for his medicine or his power bill,” said Navy veteran Tracey Sperko.
David Boetcher, member of the National Guard, agreed. “We need to help them not only during the war but after they return home, whether they have medical needs of PTSD or other war wounds or their families are financially broken from the lost income and increased costs of having one parent gone for so long.”
For more information about the organization or to attend the conference, visit www.vmfp.org or contact David Boetcher. |
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LewWaters
Admin
Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 4042
Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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First mistake, Max Cleland, although a triple amputee and Vietnam Vet, isn't a "Combat" Vet. Even Bobby Muller, in a 1979 speech in Sonoma, California, when Cleland was VA adminstrator of Veterans Affairs said, "This joker got off a helicopter, saw some grenades standing on the side, went over, picked one up, examined it, and it went off. I think that makes a statement in itself." (Page 569, Stolen Valor, B.G. Burkett) Cleland was identified as a 'generals aid' in Vietnam.
Secondly, I know very few Vietnam Veterans who actually belong to the VVA, least of all me. Since this group was born out of the VVAW, I can't see myself joining it.
Thirdly, I'm no lawyer, but it appears this could be a violation of their non-political charter. I'd forward it to a Republican Senator, but wouldn't hold my breath waitng for anything to be done. |
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Lieutenant
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 213
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Secondly, I know very few Vietnam Veterans who actually belong to the VVA, least of all me. Since this group was born out of the VVAW, I can't see myself joining it. |
FYI - I am not a member. Many veterans joined it years ago without knowing the background and have since dropped out. Many also paid as Life Members and haven't been removed from their rolls.
They claim approximately 52,000 members. Compared to the VFW and American Legion memberships their membership is paltry.  However, as they are officially charted by Congress they get to testify at many hearings.
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mtboone
Founder
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 470
Location: Kansas City, MO.
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:01 am Post subject: |
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| LewWaters wrote: | First mistake, Max Cleland, although a triple amputee and Vietnam Vet, isn't a "Combat" Vet. Even Bobby Muller, in a 1979 speech in Sonoma, California, when Cleland was VA adminstrator of Veterans Affairs said, "This joker got off a helicopter, saw some grenades standing on the side, went over, picked one up, examined it, and it went off. I think that makes a statement in itself." (Page 569, Stolen Valor, B.G. Burkett) Cleland was identified as a 'generals aid' in Vietnam.
Secondly, I know very few Vietnam Veterans who actually belong to the VVA, least of all me. Since this group was born out of the VVAW, I can't see myself joining it.
Thirdly, I'm no lawyer, but it appears this could be a violation of their non-political charter. I'd forward it to a Republican Senator, but wouldn't hold my breath waitng for anything to be done. |
Lew, you are right as I have heard it. Does he have the PH and can anyone confirm it? It not, it supports your claim that it was an accident and not do to enemy action. I know a few who died that does not have the medal either. I feel sorry for him for his wounds, but to play to the media that he is a result of enemy action and not for an accident for publicity is a shame.
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Terry Boone PCF 90
Qui Nhon 68-69 |
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BuffaloJack
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 10 Aug 2004
Posts: 1637
Location: Buffalo, New York
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 11:17 am Post subject: |
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In my opinion, VVA, for whatever it may state, will always be just an extension of VVAW. This being said, there is no way I'd ever believe that it isn't a politically motivated machine. Although their charter may exclude political activities, if anyone actually believed that then they would also believe that Hanoi Jane and Cindy Sheehan would support our boys in uniform in every endeavour they undertook.
As far as Max Cleland goes, I honor him for his sacrifice for our country, whether it was combat related or just an unfortunate accident. He is a vet and was in the theater of Operations when wounded. I don't agree with some of his politics, but this is America and he is entitled to be wrong if he wants.
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Swift Boats - Qui Nhon (12/69-4/70), Cat Lo (4/70-5/70), Vung Tau (5/70-12/71) |
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