In the Military
For and about Hawaii's servicemen and womenBy Gregg K. Kakesako
See also: For Your Benefit
Legionnaires defend
benefits for wealthy vetsThe American Legion says the actions of the Department of Veterans Affairs to deny health care for high-income veterans that are not service connected is "a raw deal."
The VA estimates that 164,000 veterans who are expected to register for benefits this year will be affected. The VA this week said it will suspend benefits for veterans registering in the priority 8 category whose annual income levels range from $30,000 and higher.
U.S. Navy and Japanese officials are denying a Yomuiri Shimbun newspaper report that an agreement has been reached for the first time to allow a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be based at Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture. It would be the first time for such a vessel to be permitted to be based in Japan. The USS Kitty Hawk, currently stationed at Yokosuka, will be decommissioned in 2008. The U.S. Navy had asked Tokyo to allow it to dispatch a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the Kitty Hawk to strengthen the U.S. 7th Fleet, which covers the western Pacific and Indian oceans.
To date, three U.S. Navy aircraft carriers -- Midway, Independence and Kitty Hawk -- have used Yokosuka as their home port. All are powered by conventional steam turbines. Japanese government sources said a newly built aircraft carrier scheduled to go into service in 2008 is a likely candidate.
Col. John Y.H. Ma became the Army Reserve's newest brigadier general, replacing Robert G.F. Lee as head of the 9th Regional Support Command. Ma becomes the Pacific Army Reserve's eighth commander since the Army Reserve was established in Hawaii.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other
sources by reporter Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for
the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. He can be reached can be reached by phone
at 294-4075 or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
