April 2016
The News of Sun City Center
25
Military News Veteran’s Choice Program Could be Saved
By B. F. Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret) The Veterans Administration has finally proposed action that will probably save the Veterans Choice program. That program allows the veterans that have to wait over 30 days for a VA appointment to seek care by their community doctors. Currently, the administrators of the program, Health Net and TriWest, contracted by the VA, were requiring the community physicians to submit the patient’s medical record before they could be paid for the treatment they rendered. This usually took well over 30 days and the providers would become upset and turn the veterans bill over to a collection agency. They were also no longer accepting patients in the program. Besides the aggressive nature of the collection agencies the veterans had to put up with, their credit ratings were often negatively affected as well. The VA now recognizes that this problem has led to the failure of the Choice program as the veterans have understandably stopped using it and are continuing to wait an inordinate length of time for appointments. Now, finally, it has been determined that the community providers no longer will have to submit the patient’s medical record before payment can be rendered. Subsequent to the treatment the record will still have to be submitted to the VA for continuity of care considerations, but the veterans can be treated as soon as they can obtain an appointment. This change is long overdue and may result in the success of the program, which is badly needed.
RM Brigadier Colin Howgill Addresses MOWW
By B. F. Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret) Brigadier Colin Howgill Royal Marines (Ret) was the featured speaker at the Military Order of the World Wars (M0WW) luncheon Thursday, March 17, 2016. The luncheon took place at 11:30 a.m. at the Freedom Plaza Club in Sun City Center. Brigadier Howgill is a 31year veteran of the United Kingdom Royal Marines. He was commissioned in May 1958 and served both as a helicopter pilot and a Commando Special Forces infantry officer. He has extensive, worldwide combat experience in security, counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations. He has been awarded Retired RM Brigadier Colin Howgill numerous military decorations. Key military appointments include Commander British Forces for operations in the South Pacific islands of the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu, and appointed the Royal Marines Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. He retired from the Royal Marines as a one-star officer in April 1989 and settled in the USA becoming a US Citizen in 1997. He provided a PowerPoint presentation detailing the selection and training of UK Royal Marine Officers, covering and comparing what he went through starting in May 1958 and what RM young officers go through today in the Royal Marines Officers Training Wing in the UK.
Pearl Harbor Survivor Visits Thunderbirds
By B. F. Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret) Edward J (Ed) Socha, CDR USN (Ret), Sun City Center MOAA local chapter charter member and Pearl Harbor survivor, poses with Vice Commander Col. Jennifer Crossman USAF(left) and Public Affairs Manager Terry Montrose during the recent AirFest at MacDill Air Force Base. The photo was taken on Friday, 18 March during a Thunderbird practice session. Ed was standing on the USS Maryland flag bridge battle station on December 7, 1941 as the USS Oklahoma took several Japanese torpedoes to its hull and sank in Pearl Harbor within minutes. That experience distinguishes him as a true survivor of Pearl Harbor and one of our country’s first WWII veterans. On the day the attached photo was taken, the Thunderbirds were practicing for their Saturday and Sunday scheduled performances and several acts and displays were open to visitors.
From Left; Vice Commander Col. Jennifer Crossman; Ed Socha, CDR. USN (Ret) and MacDill Public Affairs Manager Terry Montrose.
Retired Lt. Col. USA, Benny Blackshire (left) presenting Gen. Dozier with MOAA cap.
General James Dozier Addresses MOAA
By B. F. Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret) Retired Major General James Dozier, U. S. Army, was the featured speaker at the local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) on Wednesday, March 2, 2016. The luncheon was held in the Florida Room at the North Side Atrium. Gen. Dozier is a graduate of the U. S. Military Academy, West Point, and the University of Arizona, with a MS degree in Aero Space Engineering. He spent 35 years in the U. S Army and NATO in the United States, Europe and Asia, with two tours in the Pentagon on the Army Staff, specializing in Current Operations and Resource Management. He was awarded the Silver Star for heroism and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat in Vietnam. As a result of his kidnapping experience by the Italian Red Brigades terrorists in Italy in 1981, he currently serves as an anti-terrorism consultant to various government and private agencies. He was appointed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida Commission on Veterans Affairs, and also served as one of Florida’s 27 Electors during the 2004 Presidential Election. In 2015, Gen. Dozier was inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame by Governor Rick Scott for service both while on active duty and after retirement. Gen. Dozier kept the MOAA members enthralled describing in detail his capture by the Red Brigades and subsequent rescue by the Special Forces.
Col. James Bradin Inducted Into MOWW
By B. F. Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret) Retired USA Col. James Bradin, was inducted into the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) at a luncheon/meeting at the Freedom Plaza Club on March 17, 2016. In 1961, he was assigned to the 40th Battalion (Towed Tank), 1st Cavalry Division, Korea, where he was promoted to Captain and after twelve months was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, with the 2nd Armor Division 16th Aviation Operation Detachment. After a short tour, the unit moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, to join the formation of the 11th Air Assault Division. He had a follow-on assignment to Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he qualified to fly the CV2B Caribou. From there he was assigned numerous billets including Vietnam; 1st Infantry Division; Fort Knox, KY; Fort Stewart, GA for helicopter training; 11th Armor Cavalry Regiment, again in Vietnam; and the Air War College in Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. In 1978, he was assigned to Fort Monroe, Virginia, as the Executive Officer of the Commander of US Army Training and Doctrine Command. In 1980, he was assigned to The Citadel as the Professor of Military Science and Commandant of Cadets. In 1984, he was assigned to 5th Corps in Frankfurt, Germany, as the Inspector General. He retired in 1987 to Beaufort, South Carolina, and in 2013 moved to Lithia, Florida, and assumed “At Ease.” Awards include: Silver Star 4th award, Bronze Star 2nd award, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal 22ndaward, Purple Heart, Legion of Merit 2nd award, Meritorious Service Medal 2nd award.
From Left, Jim Haney, inductee sponsor; James Bradin, inductee; James Warchol, commander of local MOWW chapter.