AOH Veterans Report (October 2022)
National:
Summary of AOH National Veterans Just a quick summary notes of some of our discussion items from our 9/20 meeting:
1. VA PACT Act Information – AOH Digest submission for the upcoming Oct/Nov/Dec 2022 edition will include a summary of the VA PACT Act of 2022 related to certain toxic exposure services and support for Vietnam, Gulf War, and Post 9/11 veterans. Brother Jim Feeney of New Jersey also helpfully provided the attached PACT Act Overview PowerPoint from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs. The VA has also established a good info site: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/
2. The VA has released the most recent annual veteran suicide data report. That information along with state data sheets can be found here: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp
3. After the meeting, Past-Chairman Jim Green shared this great article from the Irish Echo describing a recent visit by a ship and crew of the Irish Naval Service to New England and the Bath Iron Works where the U.S.S. Patrick Gallagher is under construction: https://www.irishecho.com/2022/9/irish-sailors-salute-a-hero As a note, for our Division meeting earlier this year, I provided information concerning the new Arleigh Burke Flight III destroy and her hero namesake.
4. Purple Heart Registry Update: Congressional efforts to pass legislation to create a National Purple Hear Registry. That legislation has been introduced and the Pennsylvania US Senate delegation has been working on getting it passed. I have attached a summary of the legislation from NFF to this email.
5. Brother Patrick Flaherty shared information about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program to assist persons with disabilities and medical needs. It can be of great assistance to individuals trying to navigate airports or other key transportation systems. As Patrick describes it, “call the TSA Cares Hotline and make an appointment. It will be passed to the Airport(s) you will be going through screening and the TSA detachment will assign a “Personal Support Specialist” who will contact you ahead of time, consult with you about your needs and then will meet you when you arrive and personally walk you through the process. They will be your guide, liaison to the Security and get you to the Airline gate with a minimum of fuss and bother. The Call Center is 1-855-787-2227 (M-F 8 am- 11pm) (Weekends and Holidays 9am – 8 pm) or TSA-ContactCenter@tsa.dhs.gov.” The contact form can also be found online here: https://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares
6. Brother Charles Hagan shared good information about veteran sports organizations that provide important alternative sports therapy opportunities for veterans and families. He specifically refenced the PGA and it’s PGA Reach program that provides golfing opportunities for veterans. More information on that can be found here: https://www.pgareach.org/services/military. Charlie also referenced the national VetSports organization: http://www.vetsports.org/
State: NSTR.
History and Patriotism-Irish in the Military
For October we have a very special Army veteran.
He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY and was commissioned as a 2LT, Military Intelligence. He then served over twelve years active duty reaching the rank of Captain. He served in several Operations Officer positions, as an instructor at the US Army Intelligence Center, and as Commander Headquarters and Service Company (HSC) 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion (AE). Overseas assignments include over five years at Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. He then transitioned to the Army National Guard after the Cold War ended, appointed as a CW2 in the Connecticut Army National Guard serving as pilot of the C23B Sherpa cargo plane and Aircraft Survivability Officer. He transferred to the Pennsylvania National Guard in 2001 and served in similar capacity, leaving the Army Guard in 2004 at the rank of CW3.
He was transferred to the Retired Reserve on 31 Oct 2018.
He has accumulated over 4400 hours as an Army aviator and served as Pilot in Command of the UH-1H helicopter, RU-21H and RC-12H Special Electronic Mission Aircraft, and the C-23B Sherpa cargo/passenger airplane. He received the Award of Master Army Aviator in 1996.
So, who is this Master Army Aviator, Irish American Patriot? (Pete Hawkins)
