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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Posted on 12/28/2002 12:03:29 AM PST by SAMWolf
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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| 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.
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From Roosevelt To Montgomery Purpose The purposes of the current educational assistance program, known as the Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty (MGIB), are stated in chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code. They are: To help the members of the Armed Forces adjust to civilian life after separation from service To give those who cannot afford a higher education the chance to get one To restore lost educational opportunities and vocational readjustment to service members who lost these opportunities as the result of their active military duty To promote and assist the All-Volunteer Force program of the Armed Forces To aid in the retention of personnel in the Armed Forces To enhance our Nation's competitiveness through the development of a more highly educated and productive work force The purpose of the educational assistance program for Selected Reservists, known as the Montgomery GI Bill--Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) is stated in chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code. The purpose of this program is to encourage membership in units of the Selected Reserve and National Guard. The purposes of the educational assistance program for dependents and survivors of veterans, The Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA), are stated in chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code. The purposes are: To provide educational opportunities to children whose education is impeded or interrupted by the disability or death due to military service of a parent To help prepare surviving spouses of veterans who died because of military service and spouses of veterans who are totally disabled, to support themselves and their families America has traditionally compensated its veterans for their services. Veterans' benefits, in fact, date back to the earliest days of our history. In 1636 the Pilgrims declared: "If any person shall be sent forth as a soldier and shall return maimed he shall be maintained competently by the Colony during his life." Early in the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress created the first veterans' benefits package, which included life-long pensions for both disabled veterans and dependents of soldiers killed in battle. The last surviving dependent continued to receive benefits until 1911. Veterans of the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Indian wars, and the Spanish-American War also received benefits. The most common type of benefit was "mustering out" pay. Congress also passed several land grant acts during the 1850s to encourage the settling of the frontier. Veterans received more than forty-seven million acres of land as a result of these acts. Education benefits for veterans date back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Congress recognized that military service prevented young people from receiving training for employment or a vocation and passed the Rehabilitation Act of 1919. This act gave veterans disabled in World War I a monthly education assistance allowance.  On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944," better known as the "GI Bill of Rights." At first the subject of intense debate and parliamentary maneuvering, the famed legislation for veterans of World War II has since been recognized as one of the most important acts of Congress. During the past five decades, the law has made possible the investment of billions of dollars in education and training for millions of veterans, and the nation has in return earned many times its investment in increased taxes and a dramatically changed society. An Uncertain Beginning - Though the GI Bill became law in a fast-paced six months, many in Congress and educators at colleges and universities had serious misgivings. Some felt it was too expensive and would encourage sloth among veterans. Others feared veterans would lower standards in education. But dire economic predictions for the post-war years created a great pressure to pass offsetting legislation. Many saw a postwar America faced with the loss of millions of jobs, creating unprecedented unemployment. Many business and government leaders anticipated a widespread economic depression after the war. As early as 1942, plans were being made to handle the anticipated postwar problems. The National Resources Planning Board, a White House agency, had studied postwar manpower needs and in June 1943 recommended a series of programs for education and training. It was the American Legion, however, that is credited with designing the main features of the GI Bill and pushing it through Congress. The Legion overcame objections by other organizations that the proposed bill was too sweeping and could jeopardize veterans getting any help at all. At the time Congress already had failed to act on about 640 bills concerning veterans. The GI Bill was introduced in the Congress in January 1944, and after a nationwide campaign it passed on June 13. President Roosevelt signed it into law on June 22. In the years since, legislation for veterans, often called GI Bills, has adjusted benefits to fit changes in America. Men and women in uniform still earn education benefits. In addition to being used to help veterans ease into civilian life, education benefits now are offered as an incentive to join the current all-volunteer military forces. We have included in the appendix to this report a brief summary of all of the GI Bill and amendatory laws passed since 1944. As background to our discussion of the current benefit programs, we have also outlined below the main provisions of the GI Bills associated with World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Era.  The first GI Bill provided six benefits: education and training loan guaranty for a home, farm, or business unemployment pay of $20 a week for up to 52 weeks job-finding assistance top priority for building materials for VA hospitals military review of dishonorable discharges The first three of these benefits were administered by VA. To be eligible for GI Bill education benefits, a World War II veteran had to serve 90 days or more after September 16, 1940; and have other than a dishonorable discharge. Veterans of the war were entitled to one year of full-time training plus a period equal to their time in service, up to a maximum of 48 months. VA paid the educational institution up to a maximum of $500 a year for tuition, books, fees, and other training costs. VA also paid the single veteran a subsistence allowance of up to $50 a month. This was increased to $65 a month in 1946 and to $75 a month in 1948. Allowances for veterans with dependents were higher. This program ended July 25, 1956. In the peak year of 1947, veterans accounted for 49 percent of college enrollment. Out of a veteran population of 15,440,000, some 7.8 million were trained, including: 2,230,000 in college 3,480,000 in other schools 1,400,000 in on-job training 690,000 in farm training Total cost of the World War II education program was $14.5 billion. Millions who would have flooded the labor market instead opted for education, which reduced joblessness during the demobilization period. When they did enter the labor market, most were better prepared to contribute to the support of their families and society.  Public Law 550, the "Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952, " was approved by President Truman on July 16, 1952. To be eligible for Korean GI Bill benefits, a veteran had to: serve 90 days or more after June 27, 1950, enter service before Feb. 1, 1955, and receive an other than dishonorable discharge. Like the World War II program, the Korean GI Bill provided education and training benefits as well as home, farm, and business loans. But unlike the federally funded unemployment allowance for World War II veterans, it made payment of unemployment compensation a state function. VA paid a single veteran an education benefit of up to $110 a month, out of which the veteran paid for tuition, books, fees, supplies, and other training costs. Allowances for veterans with dependents were higher. The decision to have veterans pay for their tuition and books was made after Congressional hearings disclosed fraud by colleges and other institutions in the program for World War II veterans. Korean Conflict veterans were entitled to GI Bill education and training for a period equal to one and one-half times their active service, up to a maximum of 36 months of training. This program ended on January 31, 1965. During the course of the program, 2,391,000 of 5,509,000 eligible veterans received training, including: 1,213,000 in institutions of higher learning 860,000 in other schools 223,000 on the job 95,000 in institutional on-farm training Total cost of the Korean Conflict GI Bill education and training program was $4.5 billion. Public Law 358, the "Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966, " was approved by President Lyndon B. Johnson on March 3, 1966. Home and farm loans, job counseling, and an employment placement service were other benefits provided. The education and training program went into effect on June 1, 1966. It was retroactive, providing benefits to Post-Korean veterans, who served between February 1, 1955, and August 4, 1964, as well as to Vietnam Era veterans, who served between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975. For the first time in GI Bill history, service personnel also were eligible for GI Bill education and training while they were on active duty. To be eligible, a veteran had to serve more than 180 continuous days, any part of which was after January 31, 1955, and have other than a dishonorable discharge. Participants on active duty had to have two years of service. This was later changed to 180 days. Originally, this GI Bill provided one month of education and training for each month of service, for a maximum of 36 months. In December 1976, maximum entitlement was extended to 45 months. A major change in 1967 enabled veterans to take cooperative farm, on-job, flight and correspondence training. Disadvantaged veterans, those who did not finish high school before entering service, were given full VA benefits while completing high school without losing any entitlement for college or other training. VA paid the veteran directly, out of which he or she paid tuition, fees, books, and other training costs. At first, a single veteran received up to $100 a month. Later legislation increased this rate as the following table shows: Rate for Single Veteran 1967 - $130 1970 - $175 1972 - $220 1974 - $270 1976 - $292 1977 - $311 1980 - $327 1981 - $342 1984 - $376 This program ended on December 31, 1989. During the years of the program, a total of 8.2 million veterans and service members received training, as follows: 5.1 million in colleges 2.5 million in other schools 591,000 on the job 56,000 in on farm training VA spent more than $42 billion during this time to provide educational assistance.
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Sergeant Steven Checo
 A casket holding the body of U.S. Army Sergeant Steven Checo is taken from Mother Cabrini Church in New York City, after a funeral service December 28, 2002. Sergeant Checo died as a result of gunshot wounds he received during a firefight in Afghanistan on December 21. REUTERS/Jeff Christensen  Arelis Perez (C) cries as she arrives at the funeral of her son, U.S. Army Sergeant Steven Checo, December 28, 2002 in New York City. 
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