Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

[rjb]

The meeting time for the VFW meeting has been changed to 1030 hrs from 1000 hrs. The meeting place is still the Belle Italia Restaurant the 2nd Wed of each month.

[luangtom]

Greetings! Just where is the Belle Italia Restaurant in Udon-town? I will hopefully be in the Isaan for the November meeting, if it is still the second Wednesday of each month. I am a Life-member of Post 10249.

[rjb]

The Bella Italia is located in front of Robinsons and connected to the Chareonsri Grand Hotel. Yes, we still meet at 1030 the 2nd Wed of the month. Welcome back.

[luangtom]

Thank you for the quick response. We hope to arrive at Udon Thani airport on November 6th and will stay for the month in Sawang Daen Din, Sakhon Nakhon, with visits to Udon Thani during the month. Again, thanks.

[HParenteau]

May 27, 2010

My name is Helene Parenteau. I am looking for information on my brother Ronald E. Parenteau who was living in Udon Thani with his wife Kommei. He served in the military 1972-1975. I have just learned that perhaps he had died. His family was not notified back in the United States. It appears he might have died in April of 2007.

Does anyone know how I can find out if indeed he is dead and how he died. His wife does not speak English.

Helene Parenteau

[fdimike]

Helene

If you have your brother's social ecurity number you can go tothisweb site to see if it's still active: www.ssnvalidator.com . If you do not have his SSN then I would suggest you contact the US Embassy America Citizens Section in Bangkok to see if they have received a notification of death.

I hope this helps.
Good luck

[parrot]

Helene,
Ron died on 7 April 2007. I'm not certain of the cause of death. He was very overweight and had a hard time getting around before he died. His ashes are interred at St Mary's Cemetery in Udon. On 31 May, the VFW has a memorial day ceremony and will place flowers at the grave and be sure all is in good order.

1.Ronald Emile Parenteau
21 Apr 54 – 7 Apr 07
(?not VFW member?)
Probably died from heart attack, very overweight

[HParenteau]

May 27, 2010

Dear Parrot,

Thank you very much for your reply. Did you know him personally. I know he was very overweight -- his medications did awful things to his metabolic system. He did not like taking certain medications because the side effects (weight gain, insomnia) were usually worst than the disease.

Did you know Kommei his wife? Do you know how I can get a bi-ligual person in Udon Thani to go to their home and find out from Kommei more details about his death? I know he was a member of St. Mary's Church in Udon Thani. Is there any one there I could contact?

Thank you again for your consideration to this issue,

Helene Parenteau

[jimboLV]

For future reference, if you're trying to find out the status of an American, a useful tool is the Social Security Death Index.

http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi

This is a listing of all deaths which have been reported to the Social Security Administration. All you need is the name and you will get a list of all people with that name, including their SSN. date of birth and death, place of application, and last residence. It is extremely useful to us expats who may have lost contact with family and acquaintances from long ago, at least it will tell you if they are still alive.

[parrot]

I'll talk to some of the folks who knew him at the Memorial Day ceremony and pm you back.

[UdonExpat]

10am this morning, May 31, VFW members and friends will gather at St Mary's Cemetary off Posri Road for a short ceremony honoring America's veterans interred there and to place flowers on the graves of all Americans there. All are welcome.

[parrot]

HParenteau

I've sent you a separate PM. Please check you inbox on this forum.

[UdonExpat]

As a reminder, the VFW meets at 10:30 the second Wednesday of each month at the Chareon Hotel, 549 Posri Road.

[cookie]

two months ago,
Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
I couldn't find a link on the forum,
perhaps this is helpful for the veteran members of the forum.

President Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 into law. The law includes provisions that help provide support for the caregivers of seriously injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, helps improve services for our nation’s 1.8 million women veterans, and helps expand the availability of health care for veterans and services preventing veterans from becoming homeless. These measures and others honor the sacrifices of our men and women who have served this country proudly, the commitment and dedication of the those who care for our wounded service members every day, and our Nation's sacred responsibility to stand by our troops, our veterans, and their families.

Here’s a quick look at what the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 does:

* Provides veterans’ caregivers with training, counseling, supportive services, and a living stipend; provides health care to the family caregivers of injured veterans under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA); requires independent oversight of the caregiver program;
* Requires VA to report to Congress on its comprehensive assessment of the barriers in providing health care to the 1.8 million women veterans’ currently receiving VA health care and it requires VA to train its mental health providers in the treatment of military sexual trauma. It also mandates that VA implement pilot programs to provide child care to women veterans receiving medical care and provide readjustment services to women veterans;
* Expands VA’s authority to provide incentives so that VA can recruit and retain high-quality health care providers; provides travel reimbursements for veterans receiving treatment at VA facilities and grants for veterans service organizations transporting veterans residing in highly rural areas;
* Authorizes the Secretary to utilize non-VA facilities for the care and treatment of veterans suffering from TBI when the Secretary: (1) is unable to provide such treatment or services at the frequency or for the duration necessary; or (2) determines that it is optimal to the veteran's recovery and rehabilitation;
* Establishes and increases eligibility for Iraq and Afghanistan service members, including National Guard and Reserve members, to receive readjustment counseling; requires VA to conduct a study on veteran suicides;
* Emphasizes VA's commitment to provide medical care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and Gulf-War era veterans who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability; and
* Eliminates copayments for veterans who are catastrophically disabled.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/ ... e-veterans

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-off ... rvices-act

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. Danny Akaka, aloha. (Laughter.) Since the 9/11 attacks more than eight years ago, the United States has been a nation at war. In this time, millions of Americans have worn the uniform. More than a million have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many have risked their lives. Many have given their lives. All are the very embodiment of service and patriotism. And as a grateful nation, humbled by their service, we can never honor these American heroes or their families enough.

Along with their loved ones, we give thanks every time our men and women in uniform return home. But we’re forever mindful that our obligations to our troops don’t end on the battlefield. Just as we have a responsibility to train and equip them when we send them into harm’s way, we have a responsibility to take care of them when they come home.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

[DesertStorm]

Hi, all. I'm new to Udon and this forum.

I fought in Iraq in '91 and would like to know if there is a younger men's section of the VFW here in Udon?

If so, who should I contact, please?

Please note, no offence intended towards 'Nam vets!!!

[DesertStorm]

I am truly amazed that I haven't received a response to my last post in here!

[bumper]

The answer is no there are not

[papaguido]

Hi, all. I'm new to Udon and this forum.

I fought in Iraq in '91 and would like to know if there is a younger men's section of the VFW here in Udon?

If so, who should I contact, please?

Please note, no offence intended towards 'Nam vets!!!

Try here, contact info for Post 10249

http://www.vfw10249.org/contact.html

[dighambara]

Over the years, I have met American Veterans who had not served 'in theater' in wartime, so could not join the VFW.

However, those folks are eligible to join the American Legion.

Membership in both organizations is possible and organizing a Legion Post, may enhance the local VFW Post 10249, with each organization serving as an 'auxilliary' to the other.

Therefore, anyone interested in forming an American Legion post, should contact dighambara@hotmail.com...

Minimum membership requirement is 15 persons, so pass this information to all your veteran friends....

[Frans]

dighambara, As fare i remember my Philippine time, i could enjoy the American Legion post located at Angeles, as a Non American service man. Would this be the same in your future planning?