An Open Letter to America’s Veterans From VA Secretary Robert McDonald Undated (edited for brevity) VA has signed contracts with two private health care companies to help VA administer the Veterans Choice Program (Choice Program) under VACAA. The Choice Program is a new, temporary benefit allowing some Veterans to receive health care in their communities rather than waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility. It does not impact your existing VA health care or any other VA benefit you may be receiving. We will begin implementing this benefit on November 5, as required by law. A call center is now operational to answer your questions and verify your eligibility for this program.

As part of this new program, we are issuing a Veterans Choice Card to every Veteran who is potentially eligible for the new, temporary health benefit. The Choice Card allows Veterans to elect to receive care outside of VA when they qualify for the new program based on the distance of their residence from a VA care facility, or when wait times for VA health care exceed the standards established in law. The Choice Card does not replace the identification card you already use to access other VA benefits; please do not throw away that identification card.

The Choice Card will be issued in three phases: The first group of Choice Cards along with a letter explaining eligibility for this program is currently being sent to Veterans who may live more than 40 miles from a VA facility. - The next group of Choice Cards and letters will be sent shortly thereafter to those Veterans who are currently waiting for an appointment longer than 30-days from their preferred date or the date determined to be medically necessary by their physician. - The final group of Choice Cards and letters will be sent between December 2014 and January 2015 to the remainder of all Veterans enrolled for VA health care who may be eligible for the Choice Program in the future.

We are continuing to work with our partners—Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, and others—to get the information about this health program out to Veterans in as many ways as possible. Please visit our Web site at www.va.gov/opa/choiceact where we have provided helpful information on Choice Program eligibility. We will work with our partners to keep you informed as we improve our delivery of high-quality, timely care.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Sincerely, Robert A. McDonald

The Veteran's site

Tax Return Filing and Payment Extensions for the Military

OLDER VETS TO POST 9-11 VETS

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/28/opinion/the-vas-shameful-betrayal.html?_r=2

MICHIGAN VETS: Voice of Warriors has a unique opportunity for a few combat veterans located in Michigan on 5/12-5/13. This event is open to veterans at least 70% service disconnected through the military/VA or those who have a Purple Heart and to those who have not had an opportunity to accompany VOW on an outing. If you are interested in attending this trip, please email our activities director - Mollie Grywalsky at: mollie@voiceofwarriors.com We cannot say what this event is until after the guests are chosen. I know this is different, but its going to be big. The atmosphere will be on the noisy side and the press will be in attendance. Serious inquiries only, please.

This list was sent to me by Professor David Ulbrich, Department of History, Fort Leonard Wood

Summary

 

This report is written in response to numerous requests for war casualty statistics and lists of war

dead. It provides tables, compiled by sources at the Department of Defense (DOD), indicating the

number of casualties among American military personnel serving in principal wars and combat

actions.

 

Wars covered include the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War,

the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict,

and the Persian Gulf War. Military operations covered include the Iranian Hostage Rescue

Mission, Lebanon Peacekeeping, Urgent Fury in Grenada, Just Cause in Panama, Desert Shield

and Desert Storm, Restore Hope in Somalia, Uphold Democracy in Haiti, and the ongoing

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

For the more recent conflicts, starting with the Korean War, more detailed information on types of

casualties, and, when available, demographics have been included. This report also cites sources

of published lists of military personnel killed in principal wars and combat actions.

This report will be updated as events warrant.