There are only 26 surviving members of the Alaska Territorial Guard, a unit composed of mostly Native militiamen which was established to guard the territory of Alaska from the threat of Japanese attack during World War II. The militia was deemed necessary because Japan had made incursions into the Aleutians and occupied some of the islands in 1942.
Now the Army, in its bureaucratic wisdom, has decided to cut off retirement pay for these patriots, most of them now in their eighties. They stand to lose as much as $557 in monthly retirement pay at the end of this month. Another 37 of the militiamen have had their applications for retirement pay suspended.
At Libertarian Republican, Eric says the Pentagon’s decision could be “a first sign that the incoming Obama administration may be planning retribution for the State of Alaska.”
According to an Anchorage Daily News report:
Gov. Sarah Palin said the state is pursuing a remedy for “these brave Alaskans, who did so much for the cause of freedom during a time of great national peril.”
The Associated Press picked up the story, and added that Alaska’s two U.S. Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, are preparing legislation defining service in the territorial guard as active duty for calculating retirement pay:
Murkowski said Alaska’s congressional delegation has sent a letter to President Barack Obama, asking him to intervene so that those affected by “this tragic, tragic series of events do not lose the safety net.”
All of those who are standing up for Alaska’s native vets are to be commended. And shame on the the Army, whether the Oministration was involved or not, for its shabby treatment of these American patriots of native ancestry.
Dan McLaughlin
Moe Lane
Neil Stevens
Steve Maley
As much as I'd like to hate the BHO Administration
Achance (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 2:58PM EST (link)over this, I doubt that screwing a few old guys was so important to the new Administration that they had this all worked up to do on the second day they were in office. This was something the Army itself had on its mind for some time and may have thought the new Administration wouldn’t care – on that they might be right. Or they could have just been waiting for Ted Stevens to go away because even with BHO as President, they wouldn’t have dared with Stevens still there.
Just to clarify, the Territorial Guard service was unpaid, but if the guy had other Guard and Reserve Service, he was allowed to count the Territorial Guard service as earned time for retirement credit. So this only effects men who had both Territorial Guard service and either Regular Army or Guard and Reserve time. There’s always been some tension here about what credit should be given to Territorial Guard, Alaska Scout, and other rural National Guard service. The NGB and the Army never looked for opportunities to do things for them.
In Vino Veritas
Did you notice
Rapunzel46 Saturday, January 24th at 4:04PM EST (link)The sustained applause for Ted Stevens the other night when Palin paid him his due at the start of her State of the State address?
It was just all the corrupt good old boy Republicans
Achance (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 4:29PM EST (link)applauding. At least that’s the way it’s spun.
The man is still enormously respected here and whatever else he might or might not have done, he was mau-maued by a DC jury that would have convicted him just for being white and a Republican. That’s why they brought the chickens@#t charges they brought; so they could try him in DC. I hope the DNC gives a nice reward to the Prosecutor – a holdover BTW. One might be permitted to wonder why GWB didn’ fire all the US Attornies the second his hand came off the Bible in ’01.
In Vino Veritas
Achance, thanks - your insightful Alaska
Old_Crow (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 5:02PM EST (link)(and union) comments are appreciated.
“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” — James Madison
plans crawling out of the woodwork...
JLenardDetroit (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 3:25PM EST (link)even before Obama gets his hands into any meddling, the Liberals ingrained in Govt Bureaucracy (for life) are ready and beginning to pounce on their plans to enact the typical/usual Surrender First and Defense Cuts Doctrine they always undertake with a LIBERAL President. Congress will be slashing anything and everything, but they “care” about the Troops (as demonstrated by this articles subject matter…. yeah right)!
Regards from NoMoTown (the MOTORlessCITY)
“Liberals, looking to do for? America what they’ve done for? Detroit! which is DESTROY IT!”
“I think, therefore I am Conservative”
“Conservative by choice, Republican by necessity”
“You can lead a Liberal to the Truth/Facts, but you cannot make them THINK!”
“Romney [No, not my first choice] does NOT have a MORMON problem. He has a, far too many Americans; these days; are MORONS problem!”
Follow @JLenardDetroit
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (message) (Warning: Children Will Die!!)
Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” – a Rush caller (other Quotes)
This is a travesty.
red4ever (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 4:12PM EST (link)These men served their country just as much as anyway in the “traditional” guard service. It is just more liberal denigration of the military.
The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.
Dante
Smell Test: This does not pass it whatsoever.
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 4:22PM EST (link)I get enraged when any veteran, at no fault of their own, stands to lose any part of a pension…..
These gents were out there, assigned to a task by their government. They had zero idea if at any minute, something would be on the horizon. That kind of edge is not a nice thing for those who haven’t ever been on it.
Lemme stop, because I’ll get angry and I really don’t want to.
If there’s anything I can help with from Florida (like writing somebody), please let me know.
Cheers !
Here's more on the story
1SGinTN (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 4:37PM EST (link)http://www.ktva.com/ci_11533014
Looks like we’re talking about $324,000.00 dollars a year savings to screw some veterans. Time to start naming names of the folks responsible. Hell, put it in a stimulus package – everything else is.
Tu Ne Cede Malis
-Virgil
Also in the stimulus package........... $600 MILLION to prepare the country for universal healthcare.
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 4:59PM EST (link)Think I’m kidding ?
Read on, McDuff………………….. http://www.ncsl.org/statefed/health/AmRRact09.htm
Training Primary Care Providers:
$600 million to address shortages and prepare our country for universal healthcare by training primary healthcare providers including doctors, dentists, and nurses as well as helping pay medical school expenses for students who agree to practice in underserved communities through the National Health Service Corps.
=================
Want me to comment: on this ?
Nope, I’d get banned instantly.
OMG!
Praying (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 7:29PM EST (link)No wonder Pelosi is do eager to get this thing passed. The longer it sits out there (ReadTheStimulus.org) the more insightful people like you will find all the little hidden liberal gems. I bet there are a lot more – but this is the first time I’ve seen THIS. What was it Rush said yesterday – if we get universal healthcare – this country is sunk. AND – do you know who the primary healthcare providers that they are going to train will be? Most of them not from this country. There is already a severe shortage of GP, family, and primary care physicians – so the ranks are being filled by foreigners. This is just all wrong…
You know, if I knew 16 – 19 years ago what I know now, I think I would have chosen not to have children. I’m so very glad I did, and I truly wanted them and love them and wish the best for them, but… I also fear for them.
No!!!11!1!!1!1! The Bilderbergers are coming
The inauguration cost 500x more than $324K
bk (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 7:34PM EST (link)Heck, the Obama family’s clothing and accessories for that one day cost more than $324K I bet.
let's make sure we have our facts straight
Doc Holliday (Diary) Saturday, January 24th at 7:40PM EST (link)if we do, then this is a travesty and we will have it changed, publicity will handle that.
Molon Labe!