HSO

---

Appointments

The Service Office is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 9 am to 1 pm. Appointments are not required, but best if you do however Friday is by appointment ONLY. To make an appointment text Richard Keirn at 702-419-6869.

MISSION STATEMENT

To serve Veterans and or their Dependents with guidance on their VA issues, and the review of their VA documents and VA letters. To assist them in ordering their military records. Review their DD-214 Discharge document and correct any mistakes and missing awards. To assist those with other than Honorable Discharges in the upgrade of them. To operate a full time Service Office in support of all veterans and their organizations. Support the local elementary schools with our flag education program as well as the veterans at Nevada State College.

Meet the STAFF

Richard is the Senior Service Officer for the Henderson Service Office and a coordinator with American Legion BMI Post 40 in Henderson, Nevada. He volunteers 40-60 hours per week helping veterans and their dependents with filing claims to the Veterans Administration and assisting them with resolving other military related concerns. He spends numerous hours working diligently on organizing the Henderson Service Office into a workable non-profit corporation and raising funds to finance it.

Richard has been involved in the veteran’s service area since October 2015 as a Chapter / Post Service Officer and State Department Service Officer. He is also the Chairman of the Henderson, Nevada Veterans Organization Forum. He served multiple tours in Vietnam and completed 34 years of honorable service to our Nation.

Richard is a frequent speaker at veterans’ organizations and functions in the Las Vegas Valley. Additionally, he is an editorial writer for the Veterans Reporter Newspaper.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

B.S., Pacific Western University, 1988

USAF Air Command and Staff College, 1884

USAF Squadron Officer School, 1982

U.S. Army Engineer School, 1961

DD 214

We hear this from more Dependents than Veteran’s. I do not have a DD 214 so I cannot get Benefits. The answer is yes and no. If you say you do not have a DD 214 the answer may be no benefits. There are other ways you can get verified.

1. Go to eVetRecs for a DD 214 (at the dropdown check Emergency Request).

2. Go to NPRC, click on Veteran’s Service Records., 

Request Service Records, Start new Request.

3.A State issued Driver’s license or ID with the veteran’s logo on it,

4. A VA Health Card.

A good Service Officer can help you get verified

---

Newsletter – CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

On September 26, 2024, President Biden signed into law Senate Bill S.2825 DUSTOFF CREWS OF THE VIETNAM WAR CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT. This is awarded  collectively to the Dust-off Crews and will be on display at the Army Medical Department Museum. A copy of the Act is available at the Henderson Service Office. A member of the Henderson Service Office (John Friscia) was a Medic with the 101st Airborne Division Dust-off platoon.

Newsletter article – September 7, 2024 Brigadier General Armstrong retired

Brigadier General Armstrong retired from the Nevada Army National Guard today with over

36 years of service He was the Nevada Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of

the Nevada Joint Force Headquarters.BG Armstrong is from Minot North Dakota and

entered the United States Army Reserves in 1988. In 1995 to 1996 he attended the Nevada National Guard Officer Canidate School. On his retirement he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Newsletter -NEW COMMAND

A new Joint Forces Command will stand up in Tokyo Japan with a name and date TBA. It will be led by a Three Star General. The command will coordinate military operations with Japan and some other Pacific Nations. What service will command it is unknown at this time.

A Concept -This may be interesting to you.

There is a Department of Defense Joint Auxiliary Plan being studied. There is not a lot out on it yet and some parts of it are classified. The concept is to form a Joint Auxiliary force. The force                                                                                                                                        would be made up of the following.

Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary)

Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary

US Coast Guard Auxiliary

US Army Auxiliary (Being worked on)

Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS)

State Defense Forces

Select Militia Groups

These organizations would continue their own missions. They would train with the Joint Auxiliary Force two weeks a year and be ready to be called in an emergency.

Newsletter – BURN PIT REGISTRY

The VA will now start too automatically enroll veterans in the Burn Pit Registry. Those who wish to opt out of this can do so, by contacting a Service Officer. This has no effect on anything except making the process easier.

FIRED – The Command Seargeant Major of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza Italy has been fired for alcohol-related incidents. No further information is available at this time. He has been reassigned to

SETAF (Southern European Task Force) pending the outcome of the investigation.

ISRAEL – Fears of World War Three mount as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a stark warning to Iran. Iran should take heed because the bible in Psalm 121:4 says “Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep ‘. Wake up Iran the almighty does not like you.

RANK DISHONESTY – In today’s world this will speak volumes about a lot of things to include campaigns of any kind. Things like stolen valor and watch what you say (you do not want to leave the wrong impression).  And never use something that you have not achieved in order to advance yourself. Last bit of advice ” Classic liberal weasel words will never get you anywhere”.

Newsletter – THINK ABOUT THIS

Somewhere since 1776 and the development of the final writing of the “United States” Constitution in 1786 wherein 13 separate Colonies could agree, plus a Civil War that tested the WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE “UNITED STATES” to survive, we have forgotten what it took to become the “United States”! During the War of 1812 Dolly Madison saved the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the “UNITED STATES”! What did she know that neither Presidential Candidate appears not to know?

Glenn Greener (JD)

HSO Legal Officer

Newsletter Article – NEXUS LETTER

Do you need one? A Nexus Letter is not required for a claim by the VA. It can be helpful in certain situations. A Nexus Letter is a document from your private doctor linking your disability to your military service. This is why you might need one. If your condition was not diagnosed during your military service. If you are appealing a denied claim. if you are seeking a secondary service condition.You and or your Service Officer can decide.

Newsletter item – BUDDY STATEMENTS –

Why a buddy statement? If you are serious about your disability claim, you will use them. VA does not like to look at them, but if done correctly they will. Like anything else it MUST be done right.

There are many names for them Buddy Letters, Buddy Statements,Lay Statements or Lay Evidence. They are all the same, they support  a veterans disability claim. They can be an essential part of a Disability claim or be nothing. They  provide insight and help fill in missing pieces of information. Most of all they provide clarification.

A good statement has four sections.

1. Identification and Relationship Information.

2. Description of the situation or witnessed event.

3. Current symptoms (Do not Diagnose) being experienced by the veteran.

4. The Buddy Letter Certification and signature. By the veteran.

     ” I certify that the statement on this form or paper are true and correct to 

       the best of my knowledge and belief.”

If the statement is not signed; it will not be used. Buddy statement can be on a Form VA 21-4138 or just plain paper. The Lay statement is on VA Form 21-10210. Who can write a Buddy Statement? Anyone. Co-workers, Friends, and Family.

Newsletter item – CERTIFICATE

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to the Henderson Service Office from the City of Henderson.

Another job well done.

Newsletter Article – TDRL – Temporary Disability Retired List

The Temporary Disability Retired List is for active-duty members who cannot perform their duties because of medical reasons. The process begins with the IDES (Integrated Disability Evaluation System). This allows the service member (3) options. (1) to return to active duty. (2) be put on the TDRL. (3) to leave the military. To be placed on the TDRL a service members condition must be rated 30% or higher and must not be stable. Any service member who is rated at 80% or higher and whose condition is not expected to improve will be medically retired. Only the PEB (Physical Evaluation Board can place a service member on the Temporary Disability Retired List. TDRL is the same as being medically retired from the military. Except if the service member improves within 3 years they can be returned to active duty. You can be on the TDRL for a maximum of 5 years and if the condition does not improve then they are officially retired.

Newsletter –  VA BUDGET SHORTFALL

The VA has announced that there may be a delay of benefits nationwide. You can get frustrated hearing about benefits not being funded. This is not a problem that is caused by our congress. Our elected officials have the responsibility to ensure that these benefits are on time. Each year congress provides the VA with its requested resources. Congress MUST

hold the VA accountable. We do not need more bills and acts. We need our politicians to do their jobs.

US Navy Ship the USS CARD

The USS Card (ACV-11) was a Bogue-Class World War Two Escort Carrier. It was the only major United States Vessel sunk by enemy action during the Vietnam War. How did the Viet Cong commandos sink a United States Navy Aircraft Carrier? Technically it was not a United States Navy Aircraft Carrier, but it was still sunk.

The USS Card was a flagship in the Atlantic Ocean during World War Two. It was reactivated in 1958 as the USNS Card (T-AKV-40. Its mission was to transport military equipment to South Vietnam as part of the Eisenhower Administrations commitment to that country.

The USNS Card operated as an aircraft transport with a civilian crew under the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS). The USNS Card was no longer an aircraft carrier and was no longer in the service of the United States Navy.

On May 2, 1964, a two-man Viet Cong Commando Demolition Team climbed out of a sewer tunnel near where the USNS Card was anchored. After some helicopters were loaded  on the ship to be returned to the United States they attached two charges to the ship. One with eighty kilos of TNT and the other with eight kilos of C-4 Explosives.

The ship sank in fifteen meters of water killing five crewmembers. The USNS Card was refloated within 17 days repaired and continued service until 1970. The incident highlighted the vulnerabilities of the Port Security and has influenced Naval Security protocols worldwide.

The sinking of the USNS Card was a hidden Naval victory for the Viet Cong because no U.S. Navy aircraft Carrier had been sunk in combat since the end of World War Two.

But even before that the same Viet Cong Commando Demolition Team attempted to blow up the USNS core (T-AVK-41), but those mines failed to explode. Since the end of World War Two the United State has sunk seven of its older aircraft carriers. One was the USS America (CV-66) by a live fire exercise and five were used in Atomic Bomb tests.

Still the USNS Card was an example of what the Viet Cong were capable of even before the Vietnam War had escalated. As the saying goes never underestimate the enemy, you must know the enemy or die in the process.

Newsletter – HEADING OVERSEAS

These United States Army units are headed overseas this winter to replace units that will be coming back to the United States.        TO EUROPE

1st Armored Division Headquarters

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

TO THE MIDDLE EAST (UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND)

1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile)

TO SOUTH KOREA

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

The above units have completed their training at the National Training Center Fort Irwin California.

Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023.

There is a House Bill H.R. 1097 and a Senate Bill S.633 titled the Everett Alvarez Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023. This will honor his lifetime of service to this country as a Distinguished Naval Officer. Now you ask who he is.

Everett Alvarez Jr. is from Salinas California He entered the United States Navy in 1960, and Navy selected him for pilot training. He is best known as the first American aviator to be shot down over North Vietnam. He was held as a prisoner for 8 years and 6 months and released in 1973 making him the longest held prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2) Everett Alvarez Jr took off from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation in his A-4 Skyhawk fighter for a combat mission over North Vietnam on August 5, 1964. This was during Operation Pierce Arrow right after the Gulf of Tonkin incident. The last communication heard from him was his call sign 411, I am hit, cannot control the aircraft, I am ejecting. That was the heard or seen from again until he turned up at Hanoi’s Hoa Lo Prison. (Hanoi Hilton).

Lieutenant Commander Alvarez was released in February of 1973. His awards include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit (two awards, one for valor), Bronze Star (two awards, one for valor), Purple Heart Medal (two awards), and the Combat Action Ribbon. He retired from the United States Navy in 1980. Lt. Cmdr. Alvarez once said about the Vietnam War “it was a noble cause. We were trying to maintain freedom as we know it. We just went about it the wrong way.”

Newsletter article – VA TELE – EMERGENCY

The VA has expanded its Tele-Emergency Care Network to include all veterans for urgent health problems and

information or medical advice. The system does not replace 911 or the emergency room visit. It is only to help

you decide what course of action to take. VA says this is like having a doctor in the family. Veterans

can simply pick up the phone and call the VA for advice on what you should do or where you should go.

The Henderson Service Office has been a Nevada Corporation since 15MAR22. We are not an American Legion Service Office; we are Post 40 members that volunteer. There is a team who work in the Service Office located in the Auxiliary Trailer at American Legion Post 40. We have been helping All Veterans and their Dependents since OCT 2015 under various other names. We are not tied to any organization or the Veterans Administration however, we serve Veterans and their Dependents.

MISSION STATEMENT

To serve Veterans and or their Dependents with guidance on their VA issues, and the review of their VA documents and VA letters. To assist them in ordering their military records. Review their DD-214 Discharge document and correct any mistakes and missing awards. To assist those with other than Honorable Discharges in the upgrade of them. To operate a full time Service Office in support of all veterans and their organizations. Support the local elementary schools with our flag education program as well as the veterans at Nevada State College.

---