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The FReeper Foxhole Spotlights The DAV - Dec.12th, 200
Disabled American Veterans ^

Posted on 12/12/2002 5:39:05 AM PST by SAMWolf

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

Resource Links For Veterans


Click on the pix

The DAV's Long Tradition of Service

When the troops came home from World War I, some 300,000 carried grim reminders of war: disabling injuries, battle scars, gas-seared lungs, and prolonged illnesses. Following a tumultuous hero's welcome, America wiped the horror of war from its mind almost as quickly as the ticker tape was swept from the streets of New York City.

As a result, the needs of the nation's disabled heroes were swept aside as well. Prejudice kept capable and qualified--but disabled--veterans from gaining employment in a job market with few enough opportunities to offer anyone. Veterans benefits programs were administered by three separate government agencies with conflicting and overlapping responsibilities, leaving disabled veterans with massive confusion and red tape. Without a medical system dedicated to their needs, many disabled veterans found themselves sleeping on cots--or even on floors--in the halls of America's overwhelmed hospitals. Some just gave up the struggle, sitting on street corners with tin cups and signs reading: "Help Me. I'm a Disabled Veteran."



Angered by the negligence and incompetence of the federal government in dealing with their problems, disabled veterans began forming local self-help groups in cities across America. In 1920, leaders from 250 of these groups gathered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Under the charismatic leadership of Judge Robert S. Marx, himself a veteran disabled in France, they federated into a national body named the Disabled American Veterans of the World War (DAVWW). Judge Marx's public life took him to cities across the country, affording him the opportunity to use his superior organizing skills in the new DAVWW's behalf.

The new organization also attracted some very high-powered supporters from society at large. For example, our first corporate sponsor was Henry Ford, who supplied a caravan of 50 Model-T Fords to carry needy disabled veterans to San Francisco for the organization's second national convention in 1922. At that convention, the famed Rudolph Valentino became the DAVWW's first celebrity sponsor when he threw a benefit concert on the organization's behalf.



Early on, the DAVWW also opened a Washington, D.C., office to help veterans file claims for disability benefits. By the mid-1930s, the DAVWW had veterans' benefits experts stationed in Veterans Bureau hospitals across the country. When the specter of World War II raised its head, the DAVWW dropped the reference to the First World War from it's name, becoming simply the Disabled American Veterans, or DAV.

Among those who led the DAV in the era following World War II were two famous generals. One was General Jonathan M. Wainwright, well known for his defense of Corregidor and his 39 months as a prisoner of the Japanese. The other was General Melvin J. Maas, who became known as the "blind general" when he remained on duty after combat wounds suffered on Okinawa took his sight.



The World War II and Korean War generation built a DAV that could never have been imagined by those who founded the organization back in the 1920s. Their efforts to open up employment opportunities for disabled veterans and other handicapped people are legendary. They built a volunteer network that now contributes nearly 2 million hours annually to patients in VA medical facilities. Using a formula provided by Independent Sector, an organization that provides oversight to American nonprofits, this time is valued at $30.5 million. Most importantly, they prepared an organization that was ready to serve the veterans of the next generation, those who returned from the Vietnam War sick and wounded. In doing so, they resolutely stood in opposition to a society that often shunned these younger veterans. In the belief that Vietnam veterans should be treated with the same respect enjoyed by earlier generations of veterans, they worked hard on behalf of the Veterans Readjustment Act of 1966. In the years following the war, they worked with younger veterans to establish a treatment model for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a model later adopted by the VA Vet Center program.

The DAV's Vietnam generation continued that tradition of advocacy, among other victories winning recognition of the needs of veterans exposed to radiation in the post-World War II era and Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. They also won establishment of the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals, which affords veterans the right to gain judicial review of unfavorable VA decisions.



If the DAV's World War II and Korean War veterans were quick to respond to the needs of Vietnam veterans, the Vietnam generation proved just as ready to respond to the veterans of the Persian Gulf War and other post-Vietnam military conflicts. They have been outspoken in their advocacy on issues like the unexplained illnesses that plague the lives of so many Gulf War veterans. In addition, they're actively recruiting a new generation of DAV National Service Officers from disabled veterans now in their twenties and thirties, a generation that will lead the DAV into the 21st century.

It is important to note that the DAV has had a quiet partner as the organization built this substantial record of achievement. It takes funds to field the kind of services, programs and advocacy the DAV offers to disabled veterans and their families--more funding than could possibly be supplied by the dues paid by disabled veterans for membership in the organization. The American people--good and loyal people like yourself--have stood by our organization, providing nearly all of the funding necessary to field our extensive network of services. We are not exaggerating one bit when we say we are eternally grateful to you. Your generosity has allowed us to touch the lives of literally millions of disabled veterans and their families. Thank you for such great kindness.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: dav; disabled; freeperfoxhole; va; veterans
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To: MistyCA
Yeah. Makes one wish for a vacation and some suntan lotion.
201 posted on 12/12/2002 6:42:20 PM PST by Darksheare
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To: AntiJen
Thanks for the link regarding the Veterans history project, Jen.
202 posted on 12/12/2002 6:42:44 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Darksheare; AntiJen; SpookBrat; Victoria Delsoul
Well, stick around! We are always good for a few good laughs! Come on girls....show dark how to laugh! :) Seen my nervous twitch before?
203 posted on 12/12/2002 6:45:26 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: Darksheare
Wanna join us in Jen's spa?
204 posted on 12/12/2002 6:47:20 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: Bryan
Outstanding post, Bryan. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
205 posted on 12/12/2002 6:50:44 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: MistyCA
I love your graphic, Misty. That's so neat.

Good job!
206 posted on 12/12/2002 6:52:57 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: SpookBrat
Thanks Spooky! :-)
207 posted on 12/12/2002 6:58:55 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Thanks for the update,Oldeconomybuyer
208 posted on 12/12/2002 7:00:59 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: DoughtyOne
Thanks for the graphic, now that I know Jen saved it I don't have to worry about losing it in the mess I have on my machine.
209 posted on 12/12/2002 7:03:56 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
Prayers for the 4 brave crew being said Tonk. Thanks for letting us know.
210 posted on 12/12/2002 7:05:53 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: AntiJen
Nice song. Love the graphic too, thanks Jen.



211 posted on 12/12/2002 7:08:08 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Thanks for the bump, Victoria. Unfortunately in some of the VA hospitals today the situation is not much better. It's a disgrace to our service men and it's groups like the DAV that try to improve things.
212 posted on 12/12/2002 7:08:29 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: Victoria Delsoul
thanks, Victoria!
213 posted on 12/12/2002 7:08:51 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: SAMWolf
Glad to do it Sam. I'll set up some more soon.
214 posted on 12/12/2002 7:09:15 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: SAMWolf; DoughtyOne; AntiJen
I saved it too!
215 posted on 12/12/2002 7:09:52 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: DoughtyOne
I hope Jen saved the "street sign" you did. I'm afraid I slacked off and didn't think of saving them.
216 posted on 12/12/2002 7:10:39 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: MistyCA
Come on girls....show dark how to laugh!

LOL! You're always funny, Misty. :-D



217 posted on 12/12/2002 7:13:40 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: SAMWolf
Sam, I wish you could see the difference between the VA facility in Palo Alto and the one in West LA. Over the years the one in West LA has gotten somewhat better, but there was always something very dark and dreary about the place. The facility in Palo alto (Stanford) is really nice! That is the one they have airlifted my brother in and out of over the last couple of years. Private jets...private nurses....excellent care. I can remember not long ago (In West LA) when the only phone calls he could have had to be taken down at the end of the hallway from his room. It was like a public phone on the wall. On this last couple of visits, the phones are finally (!) in the rooms. And it always seemed like there wasn't enough staff. Our vets deserve better than that!
218 posted on 12/12/2002 7:15:13 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: DoughtyOne
Wow, thanks, Doughty! I can't wait to see what you come up with next! :)
219 posted on 12/12/2002 7:15:52 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: Victoria Delsoul

220 posted on 12/12/2002 7:17:46 PM PST by MistyCA
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