he Founders of this club would like to wish all
of you a Happy Easter. May this be a time of
resurrection for us all.Manychallenges face us all;but the
Power of Sharing & Comradship are 2 veryawesome tools
at our beckoned call.Remember those that are in the
shoesthat we once wore.With that in mind;this came in off
another list.Southwestern Bell and Pacific Bell Internet
services have createdfree e-mail addresses for families of
the three American soldiers nowheld in Yugoslavia.
Those who want to send messages of support can doso at
the addresses below.SSGT Christopher Stone
ssoldier@... Steven M. Gonzales tsoldier@... Andrew
A. Ramirez casoldier@...(Source: SBC
Communications Inc.)

ell........here we are.The Veteran makers in
Wash,DC are hard at work creating a new batch of Veterans
for America.I hope that they have learned some things
from the Vietnam Veterans-but some how-just
wondering.Looks like those that work for Veterans rights &
advocacy are not going to get laid off any time soon.Our
work is cut out for us-let's try to remain on the same
page & continue to bring the Honor back to
America.Here is a good link for expressing your thoughts to
congress.It's found at- <a href=http://congress.org/main.html
target=new>http://congress.org/main.html</a><br> .For
many of us;Vietnam Veterans,these are hard times
because we are again in "demon territory."Look out for
one another-the flashbacks are alive & well.This
storm will indeed pass in time & our comradship will
make us even stronger.I know it's hard-but "Thanks for
you."

hanks James-Glad you liked it-but more
important-glad you wanted to pass it on to others-that's the
power of sharing.It's the heart of networking & one of
the reasons this club room wes formed.Godspeed in the
new chapter & if we can help-link up.

oved version II  , printed it off to share with offline friends..

avy_Vet, same same me Brother.  Just hope we not headed into another Vietnam
(civil war)

am flying my yellow ribbon again for "the Macedonia Three"

hought this was good-got this off a
List;<br><br>*Footprints in the Sand-Version II*<br><br>One night I had a
wondrous dream,<br> One set of footprints there was
seen,<br> The footprints of my precious Lord,<br> but mine
were not along the shore.<br><br> But then some
stranger prints appeared,<br> And I asked the Lord, "What
have we here?"<br> Those prints are large and round
and neat,<br> But Lord, they are too big for
feet.<br><br> My child, He said in somber tones,<br> "For miles
I carried you alone.<br> I challenged you to walk
in faith,<br> But you refused and made me
wait.<br><br> You disobeyed, you would not grow,<br> The walk
of faith, you would not know.<br> So I got tired, I
got fed up,<br> And there I dropped you, on your
butt.<br><br> Because in life, there comes a time,<br> When you
must try and you must climb.<br> When you must rise
and you must stand,<br> Or leave your butt-prints in
the sand."<br><br> -Unknown-

hought this was good-was sent through a
List;<br><br>*Footprints in the Sand-Version II*<br><br>One night I had a
wondrous dream,<br> One set of footprints there was
seen,<br> The footprints of my precious Lord,<br> but mine
were not along the shore.<br><br> But then some
stranger prints appeared,<br> And I asked the Lord, "What
have we here?"<br> Those prints are large and round
and neat,<br> But Lord, they are too big for
feet.<br><br> My child, He said in somber tones,<br> "For miles
I carried you alone.<br> I challenged you to walk
in faith,<br> But you refused and made me
wait.<br><br> You disobeyed, you would not grow,<br> The walk
of faith, you would not know.<br> So I got tired, I
got fed up,<br> And there I dropped you, on your
butt.<br><br> Because in life, there comes a time,<br> When you
must try and you must climb.<br> When you must rise
and you must stand,<br> Or leave your butt-prints in
the sand."<br><br> -Unknown-

lease forward this announcement to anyone you
think would be <br> interested.<br> At 10 a.m. MONDAY,
April 19 an In Memory ceremony will be held at the <br>
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) on the Mall in
Washington, D.C. <br> sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Fund. We hope that persons <br> interested in the
Vietnam War In Memory Memorial project which wants <br>
to place a permenent plaque near the Wall (to honor
those veterans who <br> died after the Vietnam War
because of their war experience) can attend <br> this
ceremony. It is an oppportunity to meet each other in
person and <br> also encourage the placement of a
permanent marker. For more <br> information write Ruth
Fitzgerald, 808 Charlotte Street, <br> Fredericksburg, Va.,
22401; e-mail rcoderfitz@..., or call <br>
540/371-3253.<br> Web site is
<a href=http://members.aol.com/vietwarmem/plaque.htm
target=new>http://members.aol.com/vietwarmem/plaque.htm</a><br> Thank you, Ruth
Fitzgerald

hanks to Steve Braham for this post; Chatrooms -
meeting areas Directory and links to chat rooms, Yahoo
and online master calendar Click on the Calendar of
events at <a href=http://TheVeteran.Net/veteran/chatrooms.html
target=new>http://TheVeteran.Net/veteran/chatrooms.html</a>

lease take a moment to read Manny Babbitt's
story <a href=http://www.ospd.ca.gov/Manny/babbitt.html
target=new>http://www.ospd.ca.gov/Manny/babbitt.html</a> then
Voice your opinion via email, phone, fax, mail to
Governor Davis. <br><br>Email:
gray.davis@...<br>Phone: 916-445-2841<br>Email: gray.davis@...
<br>Phone: 916-445-2841<br>Phone: 213-620-2211<br>FAX:
916-445-4633<br><br>Capitol Address<br>Capitol Building #1114 <br>Sacramento,
CA 95814<br>Phone: 916-445-2841<br>Phone:
213-620-2211<br>FAX: 916-445-4633

ockfish on board, new screen name<br>Rockfishh (same old fish)

can't belive the Gov of California doesnt have
an e-mail address, but his snail mail is<br><br>Gov.
Gray Davis<br>State Capitol Building<br>Sacramento Ca,
95814<br><br>phone 916-455-2841<br>fax 916-445-4633<br><br>Phone,
fax, and mail him to commute the sentence of Manny to
life with no parole. Help a brother in
need<br><br>Navy-Vet

ot this post from
<a href=http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/theveteran
target=new>http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/theveteran</a> posted by Wilbur
Haines;Retired Detroit policeman
Lynn Dornan has come forth today to support Manny's
bid for clemency. Manny saved Dornan's life at Khe
Sanh. Dornan, who does not oppose the death penalty,
agrees that in this case life in prison without
possibility of parole would be more just, the San Francisco
Chronicle reports in today's edition. James Lea, Manny's
company commander at Khe Sanh, is also standing up for
his fallen brother: "If what he did - putting his
life on the line for his country - didn't mean
anything, then what does mean something? That a person is
white, or comes from a good family? Are those redeeming
graces?"Dr. Charles Marmar, a psychiatrist for the U.S.
Veterans Administration and a renowned PTSD expert, has
maintained that Manny was in a PTSD flashback at the time of
the killing.Read about this new development at
<a
href=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/03/2\
9/MN1
target=new>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/199\
9/03/29/MN1</a> 06438.DTL

entative Schedule<br><br>Region III
Conference<br>June 11-13, Rocky Gap Maryland<br><br>Friday, June 11,
1999<br><br>12:00-6:00 Registration and Product Sales<br>7:00-11:00PM
Hospitality Rooms and Crab Feed Sponsored by Chapter
172<br><br>Saturday, June 12,199<br>07:00-08:20 Free Continental
Breakfast outside Conference Room<br>08:30 Conference
called to order<br>0835 Presentation of Colors<br>08:55
Dave Waugerman, master of ceremonies takes
over<br>09:00 Ed Athey, Mayor of Cumberland Welcoming
Comments<br>09:10 Richard La Barre, Region III Director<br>09:20
George Duggins<br>09:50 Mary Stout<br>10:30
Break<br>10:40 George Moore, Director of Martinsburg
VAMC<br>10:40 Nancy Switzer and Lane Simmons AVVA in Evits
Room<br>11:40 *Charlie Montgomery membership
etc.<br><br>12:00-1:00 Lunch<br><br>1:00 Col. John Dramesi Former
POW<br>2:00 *Sutton / Claxton -- Agent Orange Hepatitis
"C"<br>2:30 Barry Hagge National Constitution Chair<br>3:00
Region III and National Convention
business<br><br><br>6:30-8:00 Cocktails in Ballroom<br>8:00-9:00 Dinner and
Presentations<br>10:00 Rock & Roll Good Time<br><br>Sunday June
13,1999<br>0900 Non-Denominational Services Lakeside<br><br>12:00
Maryland State Council meeting lakeside<br><br>* not
confirmed as of March 30,1999<br><br>Steve
Parsons<br>Conference Coordinator

he Sanh vet Manny Babbitt lost his war with
PTSD, and committed a murder<br> while swept up in a
PTSD flashback. He is to be executed in California
on<br>May<br> 4. His prosecutor says his PTSD is baloney.
Please come read about his case<br>and join other vets
in standing up for a brother who deserves
better.<br>&lt;A
HREF="<a href=http://www.ospd.ca.gov/Manny/babbitt.html
target=new>http://www.ospd.ca.gov/Manny/babbitt.html</a>"&gt;<br><a
href=http://www.ospd.ca.gov/Manny/babbitt.html&lt;/A&gt;
target=new>http://www.ospd.ca.gov/Manny/babbitt.html&lt;/A&gt;</a>
<br><br>Please take a moment to&lt;A
HREF="<a href=http://www.ospd.ca.gov/Manny/babbitt.html
target=new>http://www.ospd.ca.gov/Manny/babbitt.html</a> "&gt;<br>read Manny
Babbitt's story&lt;/A&gt;
then Voice your opinion via <br>&lt;A
HREF="mailto:gray.davis@..."&gt;email&lt;/A&gt;, phone, fax, mail to
CA<br>Governor Davis. <br>
Email: gray.davis@...<br> Phone: 916-445-2841<br>
Email: gray.davis@... <br> Phone:
916-445-2841<br> Phone: 213-620-2211<br> FAX:
916-445-4633<br><br>Capitol Address<br>Capitol Building #1114 <br>Sacramento,
CA 95814<br>Phone: 916-445-2841<br>Phone:
213-620-2211<br>FAX: 916-445-4633

o help organize things,the following albumns
have been added;<br>VVA Chapters/Activity<br>VVA
Founders/Presidents<br>VVA National/Activity<br>VVA
Regions/Activity<br>Note:To add photo to assigned albumn-click on photos[look
to left]-click on albumn-click on add photo & follow
instructions.Have added photos to new albumns-Enjoy.JAKE!!

teve Bramham, VVA Region 4 Director, past
president of the Georgia State Council and past president
of VVA Chapter 664, has announced his candidacy for
the position of VVA national vice-president and the
1999 VVA Convention in Anaheim,
California.<br><br>Steve served with the US Air Force as a Combat
Journalist with Headquarters 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut
Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam from April 1970
to April 1971.<br><br>Steve feels that opening lines
of communication between all levels of the VVA
organization is imperative if we want to be an effective
organization.<br><br>National officers and members of the national board of
directors should make every effort to be on-line to answer
questions and hear complaints and compliments from the
membership.<br><br>National must be responsive to the grassroots members of
VVA and act in the best interest of the members.
<br><br>Steve would ask for your support and your help in
passing the word to as many people as you can. Together
we can make a difference. If elected I will be
available via telephone, fax, email, and the Internet chat
rooms to hear from anyone interested in Veteran
benefits.<br><br>Steve can be reached via email at
sbramham@...<br><br>Thank You

egion I Agenda-Apr 24 @
9AM[EST]-Bennington,VT;<br>LOCATION: VERMONT VETERANS HOME MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM -
BENNINGTON, VT.<br><br>SATURADAY APRIL 24TH, 1999<br><br>
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM PRESENATION OF COLORS<br> PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE<br> OPENING PRAYER & MOMENT OF SILENCE<br> ROLL CALL
OF THOSE ATTENDING<br> WELCOME REMARKS:<br> JOHN
MINER, PRESIDENT VERMONT STATE COUNCIL<br> GEORGE
DUGGINS, NATIONAL PRESIDENT<br> <br> ADOPT AGENDA<br><br>
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM GOVENMENT RELATIONS - RICK WEIDMAN
- NATIONAL<br> 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM BREAK<br> 10:45
AM - 11:30 AM POW/MIA - BOB NECCI - NATIONAL
CHAIRMAN<br> 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM SERVICE OFFICER REPORT
(?)<br> 12:00 PM - 13:00 PM LUNCH - (FURNISHED)<br> 13:00
PM - 13:45 PM (SPEAKER) VT STATE SENATE PRESIDENT
PRO TEM<br> PETER SHUMLIN<br> 13:45 PM - 14:30 PM
NANCY SWITZER - ASSOCATE'S NATIONAL PRESIDENT<br> 14:30
PM - 14:45 PM BREAK<br> 14:45 PM - 15:30 PM
MEMBERSHIP - ALAN GREEN NATIONAL DIRECTOR AND<br> CHARLIE
MONTGOMERY - CHAIRMAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE<br> 15:30 PM -
16:30 PM REGIONAL REPORTS - MA,VT,CT,ME,NH,RI<br> 16:30
PM - 18:00 PM SPECIAL FILMS NORWICH COLLEGE AND
STUDENTS<br><br> I don't think we will need sunday. Please print
this and pass it out<br>to every one.

VA,Chapter #172 sponsors new Lee Teter
Print-"The Brighest Star."Can be seen
at-<a href=http://www.vietnamreflections.com/star.html-For
target=new>http://www.vietnamreflections.com/star.html-For</a> a smaller
version-click on photos[on your
left]-then click on default albumn-click on photo.JAKE!!

ome see the regional set up of VVA in the USA.Click on photos[look to your
left].Once in photos;click on default albumn.Then click on title to see the
regional map.JAKE!!

lubs at Yahoo are free. If you need assistance setting up your chapter area at
Yahoo, don't hesitate to give us a shout.   We're here to help you make it
happen~

an anyone tell me how to locate a copy of the "Cold War Certificate" that the
government is issuing for service during the cold war.  If you know the website
please advise me.  Thanks, Jim

t would be a great help to the club if members
could at least put their location in their profile.It
would give us all an idea of the parts of the country
represented-if shy about the city;consider at least putting the
state.JAKE!!

n the early years of VVA,chapter # 1,we had two
seperate occasions where we set up ceremonies to present
medals to Veterans who had not received them.It was
initiated through Vermonts
Representatives[Congressman/Senators-our case Sen. Jeffords] with most of the
leg
work/communications going through their aids,who were working on
Veteran affairs.The ceremony was also a combination of
things-all geared to Honoring the military-which brought in
other groups like the National Guard,etc.The Vermont
Reps. can cut through a lot of red tape.It's never to
late to bestow Honor.JAKE!!

n a very short period of time since the VVA club
room was started,there has been some good activity &
we now have 49 members-Congrats on a super job.Pass
the word on & remember;Regions/Chapters/Whatever can
set up their own club rooms to maximize the
networking that is going on.Some have already done this-use
this tool to help reach the wounded/lonely/out of
touch/whatever.The tools for invite is on your left.Thanks for the
progress.JAKE!!

ecently a request was made on the procedure to
obtain medals. <br><br>Steve.Bramham writes,<br> The
best way is the fill out an SF-180, obtainable from
the local VA office or on-line at <a href=http://www.va.gov.
target=new>http://www.va.gov.</a>
<br> You can obtain a copy of your DD-214, separation
report, all medals awarded while in service, and your
complete medical history. The first time is no charge. If
you need medals replaced a second time there is a
small fee.<br><br>C Cook, director of sf county
veterans service office writes,<br> As of March 01, 1999,
all replacement medals should be ordered through the
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at 9700 Page
Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 - Standard Form 180,
Request Pretaining to Military.<br> Records can be used
to request replacement medals. The URL for the
Records Center is <a href=http://www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html
target=new>http://www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html</a>