Minutes of a Military Retirees Summit Meeting
held in Laurel Mississippi on 27 March 1999

Compiled by John Schlegal (Class Act Group)
Posted 12 April 1999.

Click here to see the Program Handout for this meeting.

Minutes of the Meeting:
The Meeting started at 9:00 a.m at the Ramada Inn, Laurel, MS.

Guests and delegations in attendance:

Boyce Allen - North Alabama NAUS Chapter
John & Gloria Armstrong - Alliance of Retired Military, Goldsboro, NC
Ann Marie Asbaugh - NAUS, Gulfport, Mississippi
James Bapple - NAUS , Washington, DC
Jim Bell - City Council President, Laurel, MS
Ward Coston - The (Military) Retirees Coalition, Wichita Falls, TX
Col. George E. "Bud" Day - Class Act Group, Ft. Walton Bch., FL
Art Giarth - TREA, Navarre, Florida Chapter
Jim Gunn - CORMV, Sumter, SC
Mike Parker - Former US Congressman - Candidate for Governor of Mississippi
Daryl Pearson - Alliance of Retired Military, Goldsboro, NC
Chip Pickering - Congressman, 3rd District, Mississippi
Betty Reed - Alabama Representative
Lt. Col. Bob Reinlie - Class Act Group
Ronnie Shows - Congressman, 3rd District, Mississippi
Eugene Spencer - US Navy Home, Gulfport, Mississippi
Susan Vincent - Mayor of Laurel, Mississippi
Earl Warmath - Tennessee Representative
Don Waterworth - Arkansas Military Retirees
Floyd Sears - co-host and webmaster, MS Gulf Coast Retirees
Jim Whittington - co-host, MS Military Retirees

Invited but sent regrets:
George W. Bush III, Governor of Texas

The purpose of the meeting was to keep the issue of medical care guaranteed to military retirees and their families alive with the intention to rejuvenate the military retiree community and bring back to life the esprit de corps enjoyed and treasured by the military retiree.

A total of 377 people were in attendance.

The meeting was called to order by Jim Whittington followed by the posting of colors by the Mississippi Army National Guard of Laurel, MS.

The invocation was delivered by Navy Chaplain (Ret) Lewis Allred.
Drew Whittington followed Chaplain Allred by playing taps.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited by all participants.
Kathy Lee sang the National Anthem and led everyone in God Bless America.

At this point, few eyes were dry or throats not choked. Adding to the reaction were the WW II enlistment posters covering the conference room walls.

After opening remarks by Jim Whittington, Col. (Ret) Jim Bell, President, Laurel City Council (who served 32 years, turned 65 last month and “gets the same medical care as any draft dodger”) introduced Laurel Mayor, Susan Vincent, who welcomed all to the city of Laurel and read a Proclamation making “Military Retiree Day” official in Laurel.

Jim Whittington gave recognition and thanks to media, businesses, and individuals who helped plan and prepare for this meeting.

Mike Parker is a Candidate for Governor of Mississippi and a former U.S. Congressman. He was born and raised in Laurel. “America only appreciates veterans when at war,” he stated. He also recognizes there is a big difference between a veteran who may have spent 60 days of military service, and a retiree who has been through combat. National, State and local organizations are all fighting to get Congress to react and the messages confuse the Members of Congress. Many veterans and military retiree organizations do not have money for PACs, lobbying, etc - you don’t need to do that. Petitions and form letters are not effective either. “Fairness requires information, not simply telling them to do something!” He recommended that we all talk to our members of Congress. We should develop a relationship with each of our congressmen and lay out what we feel needs to be done. "Truth has an effect on congressmen's lives". We didn't have a written contract with the government, but an implied contract is just as valid...so develop a relationship with everyone who serves YOU!....Democrat or Republican. “Solve the problem through education.” We still serve the country by solving this problem for this and future generations. Bob Stump of Arizona, who is strong on military retirees' rights, says the promise of social security is no greater a promise than military retiree's rights. The guarantees made were earned with our service and the lives of many comrades. We need to band together instead of going off in different directions. “A fist versus single fingers.” There are 1.2 million military retirees with 3000 dying per day. Get spouses and kids involved in our fight.

Words to remember:

Deceive...Deny...Delay...Problem Solved. Stop this train of thought!

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceived the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” (President George Washington)

Mike Parker then answered a few questions from the floor.

Becky Thrash spoke on her views as a "military brat" growing up in a military family. As a teacher, she gave encouragement for getting our families involved in our cause. See http://mrgrg-ms.org/jw-beckie.html

James W. Bapple is a spokesman for the National Association for Uniform Services who works in Washington, DC. He opened by saying “Honoring promises to Retirees is critical to the future of the Department of Defense (all volunteer force). One-third of voters are military vets, but not voting puts bad people in DC”. He continued with "only 1/3 of Congress has ever worn a uniform”. They are overwhelmed with information and paper. Their staff is very young, overworked and underpaid. The local office staff are the pathway to your Member of Congress. Establish a relationship with them. 130 billion dollars is the Peace Dividend won by retirees. That is the difference between the DOD Budget during the Cold War and the current Budget. This is where the money for our health care should come from. Instead, the downsizing cost 58 Military Hospitals lost to Base Realignment and Closing. We keep promises to criminals better than we keep the promises to our military retirees. The Medical Care portion of the Defense Budget is going to be 3.6 to 5.7 billion short per year for the next 5 years if it is to operate at the present level. NAUS goals include filling Military Treatment Facilities and get them fully staffed and funded. A real Pharmacy Benefit is also needed. If nothing else passes, Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) should be an option - the same as Congress has now.. Numbers count, so get involved. We live in a participatory society...either get involved in it or be taken apart by it!"

Charles Pickering, Congressman, 3rd District, Mississippi, spoke to us regarding a bill he introduced last Thursday (March 25) to expand Medicare subvention to 10 regional centers. It is aimed at both the Dept. Of Veterans Affairs and reform TRICARE. This bill is similar to one that was submitted in the Senate. Rep. Moran (KS) is cosponsor. “Congress has a mountain to climb - honor commitments. There can be no partisanship.” Lincoln, in the Gettysburg address, admonished Congress to "take care of its veterans". This year, Republicans increased the military budget by one million dollars more than the President proposed.

Congressman Ronnie Shows, 3rd District, Mississippi, “promised to help people”. He is also aware of the debt America owes. His father was a taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge and a friend earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. He is cosponsor of HR 113 and introduced a bill for a Purple Heart stamp.

Jim Whittington asked both Congressmen if they would sponsor a bill to fully restore our guaranteed, no-fee health benefits when they get back to Washington. Both agreed.

Those present were dismissed for lunch at 11:30 a.m. with instructions to return at 1:00 p.m.

Upon our return from lunch, Floyd Sears spoke for a few minutes. He was our co-host and helped with many details of the meeting in addition to providing an Internet site to keep us informed about the summit meeting.

Jim Whittington introduced various groups and individuals from different states. Dave Tunno is credited as the first tail gunner to shoot down a Nazi fighter in WWII. Dave is the most decorated enlisted man of WWII.

Dock Wiggins, Col. (Ret), Mayor of Heidelberg, MS, read a letter from Col. Gene Smith, former head of AFA (Air Force Association), who sent his regrets that he could not come due to a conflict in his schedule. “If you do not speak up, you deserve what you get”. He supports Col. Day’s efforts.

Jim Whittington read a letter of support from Senator Trent Lott.

John Armstrong from the Alliance of Retired Military states “the Goal is Health Benefit restoration - Period. He also emphasized the importance of distinguishing the word "veteran" from "military retiree". He spoke about the need for a national center with a national leader to centralize our efforts and pull us all together as one. John noted that FEHBP is not what the government owes military retirees, because it will cost retirees in premiums. He estimates $2500-2700 just to buy into a plan. The continuing influx to the over 65 will bring more costs and increases to the premiums.

Jim Gunn, President of CORMV, spoke about the status of his lawsuit. The three Judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals-District of Columbia Circuit gave Dept of Justice lawyers 15 minutes. The panel spent 90 minutes with the CORMV attorneys, and the Head Judge ended by saying “This has to do with the taking of what was earned”. He expressed his support of a FEHBP version with NO premiums. He noted that his lawsuit involves everyone who carries an ID card, while the Class Act Lawsuit covers over-65 retirees only. He thanked NAUS and TROA for their help and support. He stated that 68% of VA hospital funds are spent on research. He expressed an interest in centralizing with a national leader and stopping the loss of 45 acres from the Soldiers and Sailors Home in DC. He finished with “Commissaries were directed by Memo to charge civilian prices although they only cost $7-8 a carton.

Floyd Sears presented a Petition of Appreciation signed by all retirees present to Jim Whittington for putting this meeting together. He earned every bit of praise.

Jim Whittington stated that he personally knew of two retirees who did not come because they did not have the cost of a meal due to being broke by health care costs.

Bob Reinlie, Class Action Group, spoke to us about the planning involved in the nationwide picketing scheduled for the weekend of June 5 & 6, 1999. There are two objectives: Educate the Member(s) of Congress and Inform the public on the plight of Retired Military Veterans and their families. He stated that the Convention to Educate Congress last September was too small and received no notice from the Media. The picketing (friendly) will be at the local office(s) or a place with high traffic. Always say Guaranteed Medical Care - Earnedwith 20 or more years Service, not promised!

Col. Bud Day spoke about the status of the Class Act Group lawsuit. He told us that one reason he filed this lawsuit was because a convicted felon, ex-Congressman Rostenkowski, was admitted to a Military hospital for a kidney transplant. At the same time, a friend was denied care at Eglin AFB because he turned 65. He explained the theory of the lawsuit using another case involving the Viaria Statute on certain Savings & Loans who assumed the insolvent debts of other S&Ls. The arguement is Congress (government) cannot go back retroactively and cancel a Unilateral Contract- if you do this, I do this. That is what Congress did in 1956 when Shall was changed to May. In contrast, the Merrill vs. US Crop Insurance Corp. case was the basis for the District Court ruling against us. That case ruled a government agent (GS1) did not have the authority to make a federal contract. Another case (Larionoff), upheld 5-4 by the Supreme Court involved denying Nuclear Specialists in the Navy a bonus used to keep them from separating to hire on with GE. "Surely we must hang together, for surely we will hang separately!"....(John Adams)

Boyce Allen presented a gift to Bud Day in appreciation for his work on our behalf.

It was noted that Ward Coston (Ret), The Military Retirees Coalition, filed his lawsuit before Bud Day did, but Ward's suit was thrown out of court.

It must be noted that many speakers paid tribute to and/or told stories of action with Congressman G. V. “Sonny” Montgomerey, 3rd district, MS. As a Mississippi Representative, and ranking member of the House Armed Service Committee, he did great things for Active Duty, Veterans and Retired Military Veterans. Many College Degrees resulted from the “Montgomerey GI Bill”.

Jim Whittington, in his closing remarks, stated that the government has allocated 12.5 million to introduce grey wolves into Yellowstone Park, another 7.5 millions to introduce Mexican wolves in Arizona, and 20 million for cold war certificates. So, why can't we get our health care and let the government keep the cold war certificates.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by JimWhittington.

What is next? I do not know. Will anyone else host the next Summit?

[Signed]
Jim Whittington

The Letter of Appreciation Presented to JIM WHITTINGTON at the Military Retirees Summit Meeting in Laurel MS on 27 March 1999.

Dear Jim Whittington:

This letter to you, from the Military Retirees of America, expresses our very sincere appreciation for the effort you have expended in the past few months to make the Military Retirees Summit Meeting in Laurel Mississippi a reality and a success. Your attention to all of the details necessary to make the meeting a success is indicative of the management skills you acquired as a member of the United States Armed Forces. We understand that you undertook this project because you love the United States of America, the country you served for more than 20 years, and the country that you continue to serve to this day. We are aware of the personal sacrifices you sustained in the process of accomplishing yet one more mission which you felt was necessary for the good of the Military Retiree Community. We thank you for all your efforts and we [the undersigned] are very proud to be one of your Military Retiree Associates.

[Signed]
List of Military Retirees

Click here to see the Program Handout for this meeting.

This web page provided by: The Retired Military Advocate........E-Mail the sponsor.