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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
