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VFW created to address past mistreatment of US Veterans
Al Serrato, District Commander
for Thailand and Cambodia VFW Posts provides some history on the VFW to the
PCEC and describes many of the services they offer to US veterans.
Past mistreatment of US Veterans resulted in the creation
of organizations to provide them with a unified voice to seek benefits. One
such organization is the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of
America (VFW), which has “posts” all over the world, including Pattaya. PCEC
member Al Serrato is currently District Commander for the VFW posts in
Thailand and Cambodia. Although VFW membership is open to US Veterans who
served in an overseas conflict, it provides services for all US Veterans and
their families.
Al is a Vietnam Veteran, having served as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer;
Adviser to Vietnamese Military Popular Forces for Military Assistance
Command Vietnam (MACV); and Defense Counsel for the Judge Advocate General’s
Office (JAG). Al is also a Pattaya Warden for the U.S. Embassy (Bangkok).
Wilson Fletcher and David
Garmaise, Electoral Officers for the PCEC’s Annual General Meeting in July,
announce that nominations are now open for members to fill upcoming
vacancies on the PCEC’s Board of Governors.
Al began his presentation by pointing out that the
Maltese Cross was used by the Knights Hospitaller (formed during the first
Crusade in the 12th century). The Knights had a role in providing care for
pilgrims and fellow Knights in the Holy Land. Thus, when the VFW formed,
they included the Maltese Cross in their emblem to denote their role in
caring for USA military veterans.
In describing the need for an organization to look after and protect US
Veterans, Al provided a brief history on the treatment of World War I
Veterans in the 1920’s and 30’s. In 1924, the U.S. Congress voted to give
veterans from World War I a bonus payment of $1.25 a day. This was not an
inconsiderate sum in those days, Al said, as for most it would have been
enough to buy a new car with money left over. However, there was a catch; no
payment would be made to the veteran until 1945.
PCEC Member Roy Albiston
invites questions and comments from the audience during the meeting’s Open
Forum where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in Pattaya.
This was acceptable at the time, but then the Great Depression, which
started in 1929, put millions of people out of work. In 1932, 15,000
veterans, wives and children marched on Washington to demand that the
payments start immediately. They set up a tent city, and the protest became
known as the “Bonus Army.”
A bill was introduced in the Senate to start the payments right away (called
the “Bonus Bill”), but it was defeated 62-18. President Herbert Hoover
ordered the tent city to be dismantled. Al said that tanks, cavalry with
sabres, and infantrymen with bayonets attached to their rifles combined to
bulldoze the tents. These events generated a backlash. People were horrified
that veterans could be treated in such a fashion. President Hoover ordered
the attacks on the tents to cease, but Al described how General Douglas
MacArthur, the Army Chief of Staff, ignored the order. In 1932, Franklin
Delano Roosevelt was elected president. In 1934, Congress approved the Bonus
Bill. The President vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode the veto.
Seeing a need for organizations to represent and assist US Veterans, the VFW
was founded as a non-profit organisation in 1936. Al mentioned that there
are 1,500 VFW members in Thailand, of whom 500 are in Pattaya.
Al explained that the VFW fights for the benefits that it believes veterans
deserve. When a veteran seeks the assistance of the VFW, they are first
interviewed as it is important to know whether the veteran was a combatant
or a non-combatant; whether a military retiree or not; where they served;
and what their role was. This information is necessary to determine what
benefits they or their family is entitled to receive.
The second step is to gather all necessary documents, including military
records and any diagnoses of illness. And, third, the VFW assists with the
applications process. Al said that when veterans fill out the forms by
themselves, without checking with the VFW, 80-90% of the applications are
returned because the forms are not filled out correctly.
Currently, the maximum benefit US veterans can receive is $2,400 a month.
This is higher than what most other countries offer. Widows of veterans are
also eligible for benefits. Al cited several cases where the VFW was able to
assist US Veterans or their spouse/orphans in getting assistance to which
they are entitled. Further, the VFW has also helped severely ill veterans
living in foreign countries including Thailand to get US Embassy loans to
allow them to fly back to the U.S. for treatment in a Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) medical facility.
In conclusion, Al said that the VFW Department of Pacific will be holding
their Annual Convention here in Pattaya on 9 June at the Royal Twin Towers
Hotel across from the Royal Garden. Al is the Convention Chairman and he
invited everyone to attend their opening ceremonies.
During the Question &Answer session, Al commented on the recent publicity
surrounding the VA scandal over covering up VA staff not properly scheduling
veterans for treatment. In his opinion the bureaucratic delays in the U.S.
are costing lives, and that some veterans have had to wait nine months for
their first appointment at a VA hospital or clinic.
After Al’s presentation, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg brought
everyone up to date on upcoming events and called on Roy Albiston to conduct
the always informative Open Forum where questions are asked and answered
about Expat living in Thailand, especially Pattaya.
For more information on the PCEC’s many activities, visit their website at
www. pcecclub.org.
Local photos by Urasin Wat Khantaraphan.
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Catamaran Ice heats up
Pattaya party-boat market
The Catamaran Ice Cruise awaits
its passengers off the Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya.
Urasin Khantaraphan
A trio of Thai, German and Russian partners are heating up the Pattaya
party-boat market with their double-deck Catamaran Ice.
German manager Roger Luesinger said the 67-foot vessel was funded by a group of
Swiss businesspeople. Helping manage the operation are a Thai and Russian
partner.
The boat, in operation for about a year, already has a following of more than
10,000 “fans” on Facebook and operates cruises to Pattaya’s near and far
islands, as well as Koh Khram in Sattahip Bay.
Standard offerings include full-day and night cruises, a full-day “sunset”
cruise and a daytime party cruise. Prices run 1,690-2,750 baht per adult
(alcoholic beverages extra). Special packages include business and pleasure
cruises, wedding, party, birthday and corporate-entertainment voyages.
The boat offers entertainment including a “foam party” experience with deejay on
the second deck. Fishermen can grill their catches on board if they desire. Full
food and drink menus also are available.
A media event is rarely
undersubscribed.
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Pattaya unites for World Environment Day cleanup
Students enjoy their day out of school, learning
about how to keep the environment clean.
Rain “Fone” Sabaidee
Pattaya City Hall did a fantastic job getting many different organizations,
companies and schools together on June 4 to celebrate two important dates,
namely World Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level on “World Environment Day” 5
June and “World Ocean Day” and celebrated on 8 June.
Attending was Green Pattaya Foundation, Conservation Group of Ao Naklua, Rayong
Coastal Fisheries Research & Development Center, Amari Hotel, Thai Alangkarn
Theater, Long Beach Pattaya Hotel, Siam Bayshore Hotel, The Bay View Pattaya
Hotel, Dusit Thani Hotel Pattaya, Soi Khopai Community, Muang Pattaya 1 - 9 & 11
schools, Bannrodfai School, and Phothisamphanphitthayakhan School.
Siam Bayshore staff join the beach
cleaning effort.
The event was attended by many officials from city hall with
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome leading the cleaning and setting fish free into the sea
at Jomtien Beach.
The mayor held a speech and handed over fish to each organization that helped
with the cleaning. Everybody then proceeded down to the beach to release them
into the sea.
Afterwards, over 200 people from different schools, organizations and companies
cleaned Jomtien Beach for two hours.
This annual event creates good awareness about the environment for the children
and adds a boost to the ecosystem there.
Staff from the Dusit Thani Pattaya
take part in the fun.
Green Pattaya was the main social event and marketing
organizers, and they encourage everyone to tag their pictures from these two
days with the hashtag #worldoceansday plus #greenpattaya and upload their
pictures to https://www.facebook.com/GreenPattaya.
Green Pattaya will have their next cleaning in August 2014, and have been
invited by Pattaya City Hall to organize a cleaning on Koh Larn and Koh Sak.
Green Pattaya welcomes any organizations or companies that want to participate
in these unique events.
(L to R) Deputy Director Somsak
Tanthong; Director of the Bureau of Environment Sutee Thupnonghee; Teerasak
Jatupong, director of maintaining order and stability; and Master Chief Petty
Officer Somchai Inruang.
Master Chief Petty Officer Somchai
Inruang (right) poses with Pattaya law enforcement.
Students release fish into the
sea.
Teachers enjoy taking part in this
environmentally friendly activity.
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Central Festival hosts Sabina Bikini Fashion Show
Models strut down the catwalk in the latest Sabina
Bikini fashions as Naan Lalita and Fah Tikamporn from The Voice Thailand
television show.
Thanachot Anuwan
Summer beach wear was on full display as Central Festival Pattaya Beach hosted
the Sabina Bikini Fashion Show.
City Councilman Rattanachai Sutidechanai, mall building manager Klisana
Maprangorn and Boonchai Panturahamporn, CEO of the Sabina Far East Co. opened
the May 31 event.
Models moved down the catwalk, showing off Sabina’s summer collection
accompanied by music by Naan Lalita and Fah Tikamporn from The Voice Thailand
television show. The mall offered up to 60 percent off Sabina apparel through
June 5.
Rattanachai Sutidechanai gave his thumbs up to the event, saying, “This is
another special event held by business owners of Pattaya to stir up the tourism
industry this summer season and I believe that this event will be an attraction
for Pattaya.”
RC Eastern Seaboard
welcomes controversial author
Past President Jan Abbink (left) receives a signed
copy of “The Perfect Pair” from author David C Holroyd (right).
Paul Strachan
One of the attractions of the Rotary Club of the Eastern Seaboard is the
regularity and variety of their entertaining and informative guest speakers.
This again was the case for their May meeting held on Thursday the 29th at the
Siam Bayshore Hotel where they welcomed David C Holroyd.
David is the co-author along with his sister Tracy J Holroyd of a trilogy of
books entitled The Perfect Pair. The first award winning book: “The Perfect Pair
- The Enchanted Mirror” charts the story of a young man who in plunged into the
amazing world of working with dolphins as a trainer. The young man nurtures his
technique and develops a form of telepathy between him and the dolphins, a kind
of psychic bonding.
The second book “The Perfect Pair - The Mirror Cracks” has already been
published and the third book “The Perfect Pair - Shards from the Mirror” is
currently being written.
The title the Perfect Pair relates to what is considered the Holy Grail in
regard to dolphins: finding two dolphins that ‘move as one; and can perform the
highly sought after ‘shadow ballet’.
These books are marketed as fictional stories, although the first book recently
won an award in the non-fiction category, they are based on the diaries of the
dolphin trainer who went on to be the top trainer in Europe and although the
account is one that is charming, funny and heart-touching, it also highlights
the plight of the dolphins, mammals that are highly intelligent but are held
captive in an unnatural environment all for the purpose of human enjoyment.
Tai Ji in Japan is home to the notorious ‘Killing Cove’, a place where over
20,000 dolphins are killed each year. Some of the better looking dolphins
survive this hellish process as they are chosen to be taken across the globe to
be held captive, trained, sometimes beaten again for the sole objective of human
enjoyment.
David pointed out in his talk to the members and guests of the club that these
untrained dolphins are sold for approximately 130,000 pounds and that the
companies who train them and run the dolphin-ariums go on to make millions.
Thus these charming books in fact tell two tales, that of the young man and his
extraordinary life, along with the unacceptable face of the mistreatment of the
delightful creatures.
The Perfect Pair trilogy of books have been well received by readers in the UK,
yet many book stores are refusing to stock the books due to the controversy that
the stories have sparked , and how the abuse of dolphins earns millions for
powerful and highly influential companies.
David’s talk was well received and was followed by a short Q&A session, David
also signed copies of his books and finished with some advice. “If people don’t
buy a ticket to go watch these dolphins - the whole business grounds to a halt
and tens of thousands of dolphins can carry on living.”
The Rotary Club of Eastern Seaboard is a very active club, details of their
projects and upcoming events & speakers can be found on their popular facebook
page: https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubEasternSeaboard.
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