Free Republic

Before Thanksgiving, many JINSA Reports readers took the time to nominate Hal Koster, formerly of Fran O'Brien's, for the "Above and Beyond Award" sponsored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. (See JINSA Reports #720 and 721) This month, Hal was chosen as the representative of the District of Columbia. The citation from the Society reads, in part: Hal Koster of Washington, DC for going above and beyond with his unwavering commitment to wounded American soldiers and their loved ones. Koster, a Vietnam veteran, has hosted Friday night dinners for wounded soldiers and their families for the past five years....

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society called on Monday. You can stop now. Hal Koster's name has been branded into their consciousness. "We are thrilled to have the passionate support of JINSA's members behind the "Above & Beyond" initiative," the representative said, enormously impressed with your efficiency. Thank you all for taking the time and effort - we know some of you had trouble working the website and took multiple shots to get it right. Special thanks to "Ooh-Ah", who posted it on Free Republic and to all of the Freepers who pinged and responded; to David in New York...

Corporate Hillton Apparatchiks have given credence to the old adage, “No good deed goes unpunished” by their not renewing Fran O’Brien’s renewable lease. Since October of 2003 Hal Koster, a two-tour Vietnam veteran and Jim Mayer, a combat injured Vietnam veteran and long time advocate for veterans and a small group of volunteers have been hosting a dinner each and every Friday night for the severely injured patients of Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Ward 57 and severely injured sailors and Marines at Bethesda Naval Medical Center and their families. This was begun as part of a promise to insure...