Action Corps Weekly Hero 2021

VFW Action Corps Weekly

Student Veteran

New VA Grant Program Focuses on Career Services: VA announced the creation of a new grant program to assist service members and their spouses leaving the military as they prepare for their next careers. VA plans to award around $4 million in grants in 2024 to eligible organizations that provide employment-based resources including resume assistance, interview and job recruitment training, employment placement services, and other services to help successfully transition to civilian life. Read more.

US Department of Veterans Affairs and VA logo

Vet Center Counseling for Military Sexual Trauma: Survivors of military sexual trauma (MST) can receive no-cost counseling services at community-based Vet Centers. MST is sexual assault or harassment that occurred during military service. These services are available to any veteran or service member, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, whether or not the MST was reported. Learn more.

The POW/MIA flag flying in the breeze

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced four burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II and the Korean War. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Army Pvt. 1st Class Marcus A. Engesser, 21, of Vallejo, California, was a member of Company L, 31st Infantry Regiment. He was among those captured in the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and he died while a prisoner of war on Sept. 23 that same year. He will be buried in his hometown on a date to be determined. Read about Engesser.
-- Army Private Cecil T. Hinson, 20, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was a member of the Chemical Warfare Service. He was among those captured in the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and he died while a prisoner of war on July 28 that same year. He will be buried in his hometown on a date to be determined. Read about Hinson.
-- Army 1st Lieutenant Nathan B. Baskind, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was assigned to Company C, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He went missing in action in June 1944 and died while a prisoner of war later that same month. Interment services are pending. Read about Baskind.
-- Army Pfc. Thomas A. Smith, 17, of Grant, Michigan, was a member of 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Aug. 2, 1950, and the Army issued a presumptive finding of death on Dec. 31, 1953. He will be buried in his hometown on a date to be determined. Read about Smith.

The VFW is not responsible for third-party content material that may be misleading, incomplete, erroneous, offensive, indecent or otherwise objectionable.

Click here to sign up new veterans’ advocates.

Click here to view VFW-supported bills in the 118th Congress

As always, we want to hear your advocacy stories. To share your stories or photos with us, simply email them directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

View current and archived editions of the Action Corps Weekly.

t

o

p