The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association

National VA/VS Representative Report
By Norman S. Kantor
As of March 31,1999, there were
107,270 Volunteers serving in
the VA. Reports received from
The Dept. of Veterans Affairs showed an
increase of 974 more than in 1998. The
Korean War Veterans Association has
now risen from Committee Member to
now being a Service Member.
Countless Chapter Presidents are not
showing enough concern in encouraging
members to serve as Volunteers. One
Chapter having a large membership participates
in countless parades yet not one
hour is donated toward their local VA
Medical Center.
As health care changes, fewer veterans
are in hospital beds and greater numbers
are cared for in Out-Patient Clinics
or in their own homes, as well as authorized
VA Contracted Nursing Homes.
VAVS summary reports covering 1
July to 31 Dec. 1999 were due by 15 Jan.
2000. Annual joint reviews are to be
completed in April. Chapter VAVS Reps
must contact The Chief Of Voluntary
Services to set up an appointment
PRESIDENT from page 4
War Veterans. National Director Jack
Edwards and I were introduced as
National officers.
The week after Christmas was a bad
one for me and family as we all had a
severe case of the flu. I had over 20 calls
on my voice mail and it took me a week to
answer them. One problem with these
voice mail answering machines is that
they miss a beat sometimes and you don’t
get all the message. Many Korean
Veterans and families were down with this
Graybeards Copies
VAVS Summery Sheet covering Jan.
through 30 June 2000 will only be sent to
chapters being active in the VAVS
Program.
At this time there are openings for two
National Deputy Reps; one on the East
Coast and the other on the West Coast.
A hour or so a month would be of
enormous help to our VAVS Program.
Call me at 914-632-5827. Showing concern
for hospitalized veterans is our main
goal. Are you that busy? Many of us
spent countless weeks or months in
Military or VA Hospitals. As a volunteer
you can help toward a patient recuperation.
Remember a patient spending all
their time in a wheelchair or a hospital
bed without having visitors, is living in a
lonely world. Think about your fellow
hospitalized veterans. What would be
your feelings if that was you? A member
who is a combat veteran knows what the
buddy system meant. Now, after all these
years a unknown buddy being all alone
waits for you.
The requests for extra The Graybeards to support printing of same was such a
sucess, we will offer extra copies for every issue on a first-come first-serve basis.
For future issues, if you wish to make sure your orders are filled, I must have
advanced payment.
The Graybeards is a great tool for the chapters in New Membership and Tell
America Programs. We request minimum orders of 5 at $1 donation per copy plus
$3.20 postage. We can send up to 7 copies for $3.20 postage. For orders above 7
copies or future issues, additional costs for postage is $3.20 for each increment of 7
plus $1 per copy. Example: if you wish to order a full year (7 copies each of 6 issues)
then a check for $61.20 and your request is needed.—Editor.
flu. I sure feel for those that got sick. This
was the worst case I have ever had.
My “E” mail address is .
You can contact me
there if you would like. I am looking forward
to seeing many of you at the
Executive Board meeting on March 24-
25-26, 2000.
Till then I remain:
Harley
President KWVA
Book Review
Korean Vignettes, Faces
of War
This is a book about men The men of
the Korean War. It contains vivid recollections
and memories of 201 of the men who
made up the fighting forces in Korea. It
was undertaken to save for posterity the
human side of the soldier and marine who
served there. The 206 pages of photographs
graphically illustrate the tableaux
of battles, weather and topography of that
mountainous country. The pictures show
in blunt detail the ugly face and brutalities
of war. All photographs were taken in
Korea. Some were taken by the fighting
men in this book. It is a 6” x 9” quality
made, hard bound book of 486 pages printed
on heavy 80 lb matte acid free paper.
There are 32 pages of “soldier” poetry.
We at Artwork Publications, Art
Wilson, editor and Norm Strickbine, photographer,
both Korean veterans, believe
that as you read the 201 vignettes, the 206
pages of pictures, the marine and soldier
poetry, you will form a mental picture of
those bygone days. Each vignette is an
actual memory of a soldier, marine, sailor
or airman that fought there. In remembrance,
we invite you to again visit the
“Land of Morning Calm.” You may find
some of your comrades who contributed,
or were named In ‘Faces of war.‘
Since this book is not published or distributed
in the normal manner, it would be
appreciated if you would pass on to others
the information on the advertisement in
this issue to your family and friends, your
community and your neighborhood
library.
Reviews
This book is a much needed addition to
our history of the Korean War. It depicts
the role of America’s fighting men in that
conflict The detailed narratives spotlight
the individual serving in small Marine and
Army units and salute his spirit and innate
fortitude.
Raymond G. Davis General
USMC Ret Medal of Honor
Korea 1950
CO 1st Bn 7th Marine Regiment
Please turn to BOOKS on page 48
Page 6
The Graybeards