VFW Action Corps Weekly

VFW Submits Testimony for House Subcommittee Hearing: VFW National Veterans Service Director Michael Figlioli submitted a statement for the record to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs for an oversight hearing on VA’s Medical Disability Examination Office. He explained that although the VFW has repeatedly identified and offered solutions for persistent shortcomings in VA’s examination and contracting processes, the system remains overly complex, burdensome and difficult for many veterans to navigate, especially those without accredited representation. Figlioli urged Congress and VA to modernize and stabilize the examination infrastructure and outlined recommendations for improvement in five key areas. Read the testimony or watch the hearing.

VFW Podcast Discusses Call of Duty to Advocate for Veterans: Co-hosts Rob Couture and Brittany Dymond Murray welcomed a dynamic group on the latest episode of #StillServing: The VFW Podcast. Participants explored building bridges and camaraderie among generations of veterans through the VFW’s Combat Tested Gaming platform as well as the VFW’s ongoing fight to ensure elected and appointed officials “Honor the Contract” the government made with every veteran who served honorably. Catch episode 54, “Gaming the System,” on your favorite podcast platform or watch it on the VFW’s YouTube channel.

Holiday Overseas Mail Deadlines Approaching: The U.S. Postal Service is preparing for the holiday season as many families spend holidays apart due to military service. To ensure overseas packages are delivered before Dec. 25, it has provided the following deadlines: Dec. 9 for all Air/Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) addresses with AE zip codes using Priority Mail and First-Class Mail; and Dec. 16 for APO/FPO/DPO addresses using USPS Priority Mail Express Military Service. Actual delivery dates may vary. Read more.

Defeating the Holiday Blues: For many veterans, the holiday season intensifies feelings of stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness. Creating a community and building connections are ways to combat the holiday blues and provide a sense of purpose. For those unable to meet in person with family and friends, you can schedule video calls, online game nights, or virtual dinners, workouts and watch parties. You can also volunteer with local VFW Posts and veteran support organizations in your area. Read more.

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 18 identifications and 10 burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II and the Korean War.

Identifications:

-- World War II Army Staff Sgt. Dayton Polvado

-- World War II Army Pvt. Donald R. Lichty

-- World War II Army Sgt. Melvin E. Jones

-- World War II Army Staff Sgt. Charles H. Knecht

-- World War II Navy Lt. j.g. Thomas A. Ruth

-- World War II Army Staff Sgt. Paul A. Huzarewicz Jr.

-- World War II Army Cpl. Richard A. Veal

-- World War II Army Air Forces Pvt. Lowell C. Akers

-- World War II Army Air Forces Technician Fourth Grade Howard B. Shorts

-- World War II Army Air Forces Sgt. Leonard J. McNeill

-- World War II Army Maj. Harry C. Hoffmeyer

-- World War II Army Air Forces Tech. Sgt. Roman J. Ropinski

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Thomas W. Neiswinger

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Nicholas S. Dell Olio

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Charles L. Carroll

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Vester Hicks Jr.

-- Korean War Army Sgt. James R. Martin

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Lawrence A. Smith

Updates:

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Earl E. Kibbey, Ohio

-- World War II Army Cpl. James M. Walker, Oklahoma

-- World War II Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Woody T. Owen, Texas

-- World War II Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Russell O. Chitwood, Arkansas

-- World War II Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Morton Sher, South Carolina

-- World War II Army Technician Fifth Grade Daniel Wyatt, Texas

-- Korean War Army Pfc. Harold B. Dulyea, Michigan

-- Korean War Army Cpl. Robert L. Brewster, Illinois

-- World War II Army Air Forces Sgt. Sidney Burke, Pennsylvania

-- World War II Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. John A. Pagliuso, To be determined

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