September/October Issue

The Veteran Departments : Featured Stories / Letters / President's Message / VVAF Report / Government Relations / Ask The Parliamentarian / Veterans Benefits Update / Membership Affairs Committee Report / ETABO Committee Report / PTSD Substance Abuse Comittee Report / TAPS / Region 7 Report / AVVA Report / SHAD/Project 112 Task Force Report / Veterans Against Drugs Task Force Report / VetsConnect Report / Homeless Veterans Task Force Report / Women Veterans Committee Report / Arts of War / Book Review / Membership Notes / Chapter of The Year / Locator / Reunions

Some Like It Hot
VVA’s Leadership Conference in Tucson

It’s not every day that the governor of a state officially proclaims Vietnam Veterans of America Week. But that’s what happened in July when Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano declared the week of July 10-16 VVA Week in honor of our 28 years of service to the nation’s Vietnam-era veterans and the fact that VVA held its biennial National Leadership Conference in the Oro Valley section of Tucson July 12-15. ... [read complete article]

The Chinese Military
North Vietnam's Strategic Reserve

One of the least understood aspects of the Vietnam War, even today, is China’s role in the conflict. Beijing’s actions and intentions had a key impact on the minds of American presidents and affected American actions at important points in the war. As we re-evaluate the Vietnam War, it is vital to confront the China card directly in real terms and from the perspective of how Beijing’s role was understood in Washington ...[read complete article]

Lessons Learned

When I was elected VVA Vice President in August of 2005, the idea or the possibility was not in my mind. When VVA President Rowan told me early this year that he wanted me to make the trip with him, I thought, “Perhaps that would be interesting.” But, without question, the most significant activity for me as VP so far has been the Veterans Initiative trip to Ukraine...[read complete article]

More Gulf of Tonkin Incident Material Released

Once again, the National Security Agency has news for Vietnam veterans. On May 30, the NSA released a second batch of documents on the August 1964 incident that sparked the escalation of the Vietnam War. This release contains some 130 documents. They run the gamut from commentaries and command messages to oral histories and odds and ends of the spot reporting of the NSA listening posts monitoring North Vietnamese communications traffic at the time..[read complete article]