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The Newsletter of the National EOD Association

RSP VOLUMN 2/14 JUNE 2014

Our Rapid City 28th Civil Engineer Squadron form Ellis Air Force Base does field

demoltion, Titan Missles in silos, Brimstone missles from MQ-9 Reapers, Bombs of

all sorts for the B1-B Lancers missioned non stop all over the world. These are the

EOD techs from ELLIS.

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RSP

Volume 2/14 June 2014

National Officers

Charles G. Cobbs – Commander.

Robert J. Bureker – Vice Commander.

Frank A. Martinez – Adjutant.

James H. Paget – Treasurer.

David S. Tipton – Chaplain.

Richard C. Steen ¬ Past Commander.

Marvin G. Rumbaugh – Director.

William D. Ramsey – Director.

Douglass F. Rhodes – Director.

Richard W. Cross – Sgt. at Arms.

Robert E. Leiendecker – Historian.

Stuart A. Steinberg – Legal Advisor.

Bob Bureker – Webmaster.

Contributing Editors –Mike Vining,

Robert E Leiendecker.

Lewis F. Weinberg - CDR VN Vet Chapter.

David Tipton -Adjutant, VN Vet Chapter.

Michael R. Nichols – RSP Publisher.

The National EOD Association, Inc. is a tax-exempt

fraternal and professional association of active duty

and former U.S. Military EOD personnel. Regular

membership is contingent on having attended a

recognized EOD school or having served in an EOD

Military Occupational Specialty of the armed forces

of the United States of America. Associate and

Corporate memberships are available to persons and

organizations interested in military public safety, or

environmental EOD. All members receive the

quarterly newsletter “RSP.” The Regular and

Associate memberships are $15.00 for one year, or

$40.00 for three years. For active duty EOD

personnel in pay grades E5 and below, the

membership fee is $10.00 for one year, or $25.00 for

three years. The Corporate membership fee is

$150.00 per year, and includes 3 memberships and 2

free advertisements per year in the “RSP” newsletter

Membership applications are available on the

<nateoda.com> web site and should be sent to the

Adjutant of record (currently Frank Martinez,

19124 46th Ave West, Lynwood, WA. 98036 ). Article

submissions should be sent to Mike Nichols, 1104

Idlewood Avenue , Azle, TX 76020. Source material

cited herein is for non-profit research and education

in accordance with Title 17, USC 107. Articles are

subject to editing. The editors assume no

responsibility for the return of unsolicited materials.

All materials received will be treated as

unconditionally assigned for reproduction and

publication unless otherwise stated. The opinions

contained in such materials are not necessarily the

opinions of NATEODA. The publisher will make

every effort to ensure the accuracy of information

published in editorial and advertising materials, but

assumes no responsibility for inconveniences or

damages resulting from editorial errors or omissions.

The publisher is not responsible for typographical

errors. The entire contents should be treated as

copyrighted. All rights are reserved.

NATIONAL COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

As stated in the preamble to our by laws the purpose of

the National EOD Association is "to uphold the

constitution of the United States, to cherish the

memories of our military association, and to honor the

memories of our fallen comrades-in-arms."

The preeminent activity of the association is the Annual

Fall Meeting which takes place at various enjoyable

venues. At that time old friends reminisce and

attendees make interesting new friends. Members who

attend comprise an extraordinary group of men with

enormous EOD and life experiences.

I have spent the majority of my post-military service as

a physician--with my primary job at the Birmingham VA

Hospital. Quite a few of our members have concerns

about the attention and care the VA provides our

veterans. I have observed that many of the young

doctors I assist in training are unaware of the

extraordinary service experiences of their veteran

patients. My association with my EOD colleagues has

served to help me to improve my care and to try and

impress upon the young doctors the sacrifice these

men and women have made.

Finally please make plans to join us in Rapid City in

September. An exciting program has been planned and

the venue is spectacular. Furthermore, wives or

significant others add an enormous additional

enjoyment to the meeting--so please "sign up".

THANK-YOU, Charles C Cobbs

Charles C. Cobbs National Commander

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NATEODA ADJUTANTS NOTES May 15, 2014

It seems as though just a short time ago we were in Virginia Beach, VA., celebrating

our 25th NATEODA Anniversary Convention and here we are gearing up for the Rapid City, SD Convention. Our Host Coordinator Lew Weinberg has been extremely busy lining up the Banquet Dinner, tours and the numerous things that need to be dealt with for a successful convention. However, you need to remember that a big part of that success comes from our members, our wives and guests who participate every year.

We will be at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, 2111 N La Cross St, Rapid City, SD 57701. Call the hotel direct at 605-343-8550 and ask for EOD to obtain the group rate. The room rate is $79.99 for single/double + tax. A credit card is required to guarantee the reservation.

Unfortunately, due to the economy and how prices keep going up, the Board decided to raise the registration fee. To the best of my knowledge, we have kept the price of $125.00 for many years and it was a unanimous decision to raise the fee to $150.00. We realize that even $50.00 is hard on some members, but we hope that it will not cause such a strain that it will keep them from attending the convention.

We again will be asking for donations, and remember that this is one of the Association’s best fund raising programs that helps keep expenses down. In this issue of the RSP is a Donation Form which is available for anyone making a donation. If you do not have anything to donate, don’t stop there; visit your local business’ and try and get some donations from them & remind them that anything they donate will be tax deductible & we will provide a letter indicating it.

A reminder, if you have any changes in your names, address, phone number or email address, please let me know so that I can keep our roster updated.

Membership has slowed down a bit, and we need to pick up the pace to recruit the younger EOD Techs. A good way to attract EOD techs is by wearing baseball caps with the EOD logo, pins or anything that will draw attention to you and who you are. There is also a good possibility that we will be getting attendees from overseas for this convention, hope they can make it.

Let’s welcome our new members, William E. Richards, III, James P. Smith, Stephen W. Neill, Norman Minton, Chester F. Fleming, Lawrence E. Duffy, Terry D. Gleason, Howard M. Beardsley, Richard L. Boy, Walter F. Murray, Patrick F. Spatafore, Victor Sears, Lawrence W. Hill, Brian B. Barrontine, Jack Britton, Darren R. Wheeldon and George Scott, III.

Thank-you,

Frank A. Martinez

Frank A. Martinez NATEODA ADJUTANT

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VIETNAM EOD VETERAN CHAPTER

COMMANDER'S MESSAGE

CONVENTION 2014

Our 2014 convention will be in Rapid City SD, and Lew Weinberg will be the host and setting up the hotel and making the arrangements for that convention. One of the many downtown attractions, not excluding the fishing, is a Gallery called Prairie Edge Gallery. This native goods store is located Downtown Rapid City. It is surrounded by great eateries and many small shops. It is for anyone wanting to experience a wide range of Native art of high quality merchandise, that is South Dakota. Even if you’re just looking, it will be worth an hour of your time, all three floors. http://www.prairieedge.com/. For those without a car, our convention hotel, the Ramkota Inn, runs a free shuttle service. Dave Tipton will host the 2015 convention in Las Vegas. The committee is looking for a host possibly in Fayetteville, NC for 2016.

Thank you.

Lewis Weinberg

Lewis Weinberg,

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On December 7, 2013, Dave and Carol Tipton along with Dick and Jo Takahashi attended the annual Nellis Air Force Base EOD Christmas party. There were many legacy attendees traveling from as far as Maine and Florida to attend this traditional party. Some team members were deployed to the Middle East but those here were very warm to all of the families that attended the event. There was door prizes, live auction and silent auction items including one item that sold for $2500.00, raising funds for Wounded Warriors. I encourage anyone who would like to attend in 2014 to join us there. We had great fellowship with those young EOD warriors. We should also start our plans for the 2014 convention in Rapid City, S.D. at the Ramkota Best Western on 2-6 Sept 2014. Lew Weinberg, our host, has lots of local plans for the attendees to enjoy including Mt. Rushmore. Please call National Adjutant Frank Martinez @ 424-697-4102 or email frankntinam@frontier.com. Members should also offer to contribute items to sell at auction for National EOD or Vietnam EOD Vets. I plan on bringing some items for sale that have not been presented before. Let's all help Lew Weinberg have a great convention.

BROTHER DAVE TIPTON Dave Tipton

ADJUTANT VIETNAM EOD VETS

Nellis Christmas Party

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EOD HISTORY

INDIAN HEAD EOD SCHOOL HISTORY (Short version)

For those of us “old timers” in EOD training, well not as old as Raritan or Aberdeen folks, we remember the school at Indian Head, MD. Following WWII the Navy realized that it could not justify both the mine disposal and EOD operational units. Therefore the CNO on 2 October 1945 combined the two into a single Ordnance Disposal Unit, quartered at the U.S. Naval Recruiting Station, Anacostia, DC.

This Ordnance Disposal Unit also had begun training of a cadre of officers and enlisted men to become the staff of the EOD School. On 26 July 1946 the unit was transferred to the Naval Powder Factory, Indian Head. Classes were also held to meet the needs of all four military services at this time, and about this time the Navy unofficially assumed joint service training responsibility.

On 16 June 1947, the Secretary of the Navy established the U.S. Navy EOD School at the Naval Powder Factory, Indian Head. The school was made subordinate to the Naval Powder Factory and placed under the military command and coordination control of the Commandant, Potomac River Naval Command and the management control of the Bureau of Naval personnel.

At the time the basic EOD course consisted of 24 weeks for Navy personnel and 12 weeks for all other service personnel, the difference being the diving and underwater ordnance training for the Navy. Training in recovery, evaluation and disposal of normally laid, live ordnance was conducted at Eglin AFB, FL.

Up until 11 June 1953, the EOD School was also responsible for the EOD research responsibility. On that date the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit at Indian Head was redesigned the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Center, and it was transferred to the Stump Neck Annex. This left the school with only the training responsibility. The school remained at Indian Head until 24 June 1988 when it officially reopened after moving to Eglin AFB, FL.

I will provide a short history of Stump Neck in a later write-up.

Thank-you Bob Leinendecker

Bob Leiendecker NATEODA Historian

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VIETNAM EOD VETERAN and NATEODA LEGAL ADVISOR’S MESSAGE

VA Benefits and other Important VA News There could not possibly be anyone on the planet who has not heard about the situation unfolding at the Phoenix VA Medical Center. Sadly, although this case may be the worst on record, problems with scheduling appointments within a reasonable period of time is merely one of a myriad of serious, sometimes deadly, problems endemic in the VA medical system. Serious problems are now being investigated at VA facilities in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Ft. Collins, Colorado; Pittsburgh; Columbia, South Carolina; Augusta, Georgia and Dallas Texas. Although the VA has not admitted that there have been 40, possibly 45, deaths due to appointment delays in Phoenix, they have admitted that they are aware of at least 23 deaths of VA patients due to appointment delays. Then there is the debacle of awarding bonuses to VA employees in regions where claims backlogs are huge. Or that at least one regional office was clearing the claims backlog by moving easily determined claims to the top of the pile, while more complex cases, which pre-dated the easy claims, lay dormant. That would be Reno, where an employee blew the whistle on this fraudulent attempt to make managers look good by being able to claim they had greatly lowered their backlog. Then there is the absurd, grossly negligent treatment of veterans who show up at a VA emergency room, often waiting up to 10 hours before being examined and admitted. I know that many of us go to VA clinics and hospitals where we don’t, thankfully, face these kinds of problems. At my clinic in Bend, Oregon, I am always notified when it’s time to make an appointment and I’ve never had to wait more than 30 days. If I get referred to the medical center in Portland, my appointments are made to suit my needs and, although they are sometimes late seeing me, I have never had an appointment canceled. The care I’ve received over the years at the clinics and medical centers where I live has always been the best. That said, we cannot be complacent about the way things are unfolding at numerous VA medical facilities and regional offices. There are still regional offices where claims are mysteriously “lost,” where claims take a year or longer to resolve, and where inquiries are never answered. If you have had long waits for an appointment, or in having a claim decided, please contact me so we can talk about your situation and make sure the proper authorities know that there is a problem in either your medical center, clinic, or regional office. Many veterans are having great success in using a Veterans Administration website called E-Benefits. The site allows veterans to communicate and add

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or subtract dependents on their VA claims, as well as other ways in which to access what’s going on in your claim. This has been found to drastically cut the time that it takes the VA to respond to paper claims. It might be worth your time to take a look at this website and get enrolled so that you can keep abreast of the status of your claim. Just go to any search engine and type in VA E-Benefits. This program is new and still has some bugs, but many are having good results. I have continued to handle claims for EOD veterans, as well as veterans from all wars who are not current or former EOD men and women. Some of our members have referred cases to me for their friends who, although not EOD folks, get the same representation as members of NATEODA/VEVA. Several of the cases involved claims that have been previously denied and I feel confident that I will eventually win these cases. This month—May—I was able to assist a former EOD man, who is retired and fought in WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam. He is 91, his wife is 84, and they were completely confused by the new mandatory mail order prescription program that TRICARE for Life just instituted for all retired personnel who have maintenance medication prescriptions. I’m a pretty savvy computer guy and even I had a very difficult time figuring out how to get them enrolled prior to May 14. To make a long story short, I was able to figure out how to deal with this complicated, absurd process and they are both now enrolled. If you had a problem with this new system, please contact me and let me know what happened.

THANK YOU Stuart A. Steinberg

Stuart A. Steinberg

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LIST OF MISPLACED – PLEASE HELP FIND THESE MEMBERS!!!

Mark Lipe Mary Romba Stacy Enyeart Paul Plemmons

Adrian White

Brian Sullivan William Adams

366th EOD Flight

Johnny Jones EOD Training Department, USAOMEMS

EOD School M.O.U.T

Wayne Ketielhut

741ST Ord Co (EOD)

John Dziok Thomas Moran

Jason Gerber Patrick Huwiler

John Garcia Shaun Barnes Joseph McGuire

Fred Puckett, Jr.

Lt. Nathan Potter

Kevin Dudenhoffer

Donald Jones Carrol Irving

Iris Crupper Kyle Hall Robert Southwick

Peter Stark

Can anyone offer an up-to-date address or email address for these members. The RSPs are coming back undeliverable.

2014 NATEODA AUCTION DONATION FORM SEPTEMBER 2-6 We plan to have a live auction and raffle at the banquet, the proceeds of which would be used to defer some of the costs of the 2015 convention, thus lessening the cost to attendees. If you are interested in donating items, complete this form as best you can. If you are planning to attend this year’s convention please bring the item(s) with you and turn them in when you register. If you cannot hand carry the item(s) please mail them to Attn: Deb Thomas 2111 North LaCrosse, Rapid City, SD 57701(Remkota address) (phone 605.737.5656) Please ensure you name is with the item(s) and preferably a copy of this form. In any case, no matter the method of delivery, a copy of this form should be included with your donated item(s). Please send the form and items to arrive no later than August 18, 2014. ***Note: The mailing of any ammunition item/component, even inert, through the U.S. Postal System is now forbidden. The above must be shipped via FEDEX.

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Item to be donated Quantity Value Description (If handmade, historical or significant please state).

Member’s Full Name:_____________________________________________ Date:______________________

(If your item is handmade, of historic nature, or of special significance, please let us know.) Please don't delay. Send in the form so it will arrive no later than August 18, 2014.

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2014 NATEODA CONVENTION BEST WESTERN RAMKOTA HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER 2111 N La Cross Street, Rapid City, SD 57701 (757) 425-8555

Name of Member: ___________ No. in my party_ ___________ Street Address______________ Municipality: __________ State:_ _ Zip Code:__ Phone #:______ -______ - _______ Fax #: __________________ E-Mail Address: _______________________________________________________ Preferred Name (or nickname) on badge: ______________________________ Names of others in your party Name:________________________ Name (or nickname) on Badge: _ Name:________________________ Name (or nickname) on Badge: _ I will reserve ___rooms for my party at the convention hotel. I need an RV Site. (The Rapid City KOA is 4-5 miles from the Hotel. Karla can be reached at 605-348-2111 to make arrangements. There are numerous others in the area. ) I will make other arrangements. Registration Fee: $150.00 times the number in my party. Total _________. Thursday Tour: Mt. Rushmore & Crazy Horse Memorials: $50.00 per person. Total __________ TOUR: Thursday Sept 4, 2014. FOR A GREAT AFTERNOON AND EVENING, sign up for a charter bus tour to two of Black Hills most popular attractions, Crazy Horse Memorial & Mt. Rushmore and it’s only $50.00 per person. This includes: Free admission at Crazy Horse with a private guided tour and then on to Hill City for a sit down dinner at the Desperado Restaurant with 2 or 3 menu choices. After dinner, we will continue our tour to Mt. Rushmore Memorial for a moving lighting ceremony of the monument & retiring of the Colors. There will be ample time to shop throughout the day. (Native American jewelry or Black Hills gold vendors will also be on site at the Hotel.) If anyone in your party has a disability condition that requires any special accommodation please describe each required accommodation on a separate sheet. Important: Make sure this registration form with your check or money order reaches the Adjutant no later than Aug 2014, Frank A. Martinez, Adjutant,

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NATEODA, 19124 46th Ave W., Lynnwood, WA 98036. If you have any questions, call the Adjutant at (425) 697-4102 or Email: frankntinam@comcast.net. After receiving your registration and fee, the Adjutant will record & acknowledge the receipt of your registration and fee, prepare your badge(s) and notify the Convention Coordinator.

DON’T FORGET TO MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATION SOON!

Grand Total: _______ September 2 through 6

Thank-you. Lewis Weinberg

Lewis Weinberg, Commander Vietnam EOD Veteran Chapter

NATEODA CONVENTION

We have some updated material on the September 2 through 6, 2014 Reunion Webpage. Please pass the word to your email list to get the word out to all of our members.

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TROOP NEWS

The 20th CBRNE Command also trains foreign governments in CBRN detection and response. The Command trained the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo in 2014. During the training, vehicles carrying explosives were prepared as a test scenario. The AFP bomb squad diffused the simulated explosives and the CBRNE Command neutralized the chemical threat. In another exercise, the U.S. Army trained the Kenya Rapid Deployment Capability to respond to HAZMAT/CBRN incidents using SCBA gear.

LONDON, OHIO police stop man for speeding, discover 48 bombs. Andrew Scott Boguslawski, 43, was arrested.

MINDANAO PHILIPPINES The Philippine Star -- GERRY GORIT - Senior Superintendent George Tuson, chief of the Tacurong City Police Office in Sultan Kudarat province and Tuson ,Senior Superintendent Rolly Balquin, police director battle almost daily with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) IEDs are planted and eventually set off in the city of Balquin Camp, SIONGCO, Maguindanao province. Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao these and Doug Wyllie, Police One Editor in Chief were trained by the 28

th

Support Wing EOD, from Ellis AFB .

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A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list By Scott Bronstein and Drew Griffin , CNN Investigations http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/ Veterans dying waiting for healthcare. Are we fulfilling our promise to veterans?

updated 9:15 AM EDT, Thu April 24, 2014 CNN.com

(CNN) -- At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list. The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed by Veterans Affairs managers in Phoenix who were trying to hide that 1,400 to 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor, according to a recently retired top VA doctor and several high-level sources. For six months, CNN has been reporting on extended delays in health care appointments suffered by veterans across the country and who died while waiting for appointments and care. But the new revelations about the Phoenix VA are perhaps the most disturbing and striking to come to light thus far. Internal e-mails obtained by CNN show that top management at the VA hospital in Arizona knew about the practice and even defended it. Dr. Sam Foote just retired after spending 24 years with the VA system in Phoenix. The veteran doctor told CNN in an exclusive interview that the Phoenix VA works off two lists for patient appointments: there's an "official" list that's shared with officials in Washington and shows the VA has been providing timely appointments, which Foote calls a sham list, then there's the real list that's hidden from outsiders, where wait times can last more than a year.

Deliberate…..Scheme……Shred………..Evidence?

"The scheme was deliberately put in place to avoid the VA's own

internal rules," said Foote in Phoenix. "They developed the secret waiting list," said Foote, a respected local physician. The VA requires its hospitals to provide care to patients in a timely manner, typically within 14 to 30 days, Foote said. According to Foote, the elaborate scheme in Phoenix involved

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shredding evidence to hide the long list of veterans waiting for appointments and care. Officials at the VA, Foote says, instructed their staff to not actually make doctor's appointments for veterans within the computer system.

Instead, Foote says, when a veteran comes in seeking an appointment, "they enter information into the computer and do a screen capture hard copy printout. They then do not save what was put into the computer so there's no record that you were ever here," he said. http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/

According to Foote, the information was gathered on the secret electronic list and then the information that would show when veterans first began waiting for an appointment was actually destroyed. "That hard copy, if you will, that has the patient demographic information is then taken and placed onto a secret electronic waiting list, and then the data that is on that paper is shredded," Foote said.

"So the only record that you have ever been there requesting care was on that secret list," he said. "And they wouldn't take you off that secret list until you had an appointment time that was less than 14 days so it would give the appearance that they were improving greatly the waiting times, when in fact they were not."

Foote estimates right now the number of veterans waiting on the "secret list" to see a primary care physician is somewhere between 1,400 and 1,600.

Doctor: It's a “frustrated' staff. " I feel very sorry for the people who work at the Phoenix VA," said Foote. "They're all frustrated. They're all upset. They all wish they could leave 'cause they know what they're doing is wrong.”

"But they have families, they have mortgages and if they speak out or say anything to anybody about it, they will be fired and they know that." Several other high-level VA staff confirmed Foote's description to CNN and confirmed this is exactly how the secret list works in Phoenix. Foote says the Phoenix wait times reported back to Washington were entirely fictitious. "So then when they did that, they would report to Washington, 'Oh yeah. We're makin' our appointments within – within 10 days, within the 14-day frame,' when in reality it had been six, nine, in some cases 21 months," he said. November: A dire situation in South Carolina

In the case of 71-year-old Navy veteran Thomas Breen, the wait on the secret list ended much sooner. "We had noticed that he started to have bleeding in his urine," said Teddy Barnes-Breen, his son. "So I was like, 'Listen, we gotta get you to the doctor.' "

Teddy says his Brooklyn-raised father was so proud of his military service that he would go nowhere but the VA for treatment. On September 28, 2013, with blood in his urine and a history of cancer, Teddy and his wife,

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Sally, rushed his father to the Phoenix VA emergency room, where he was examined and sent home to wait.

"They wrote on his chart that it was urgent," said Sally, her father-in-law's main caretaker. The family has obtained the chart from the VA that clearly states the "urgency" as "one week" for Breen to see a primary care doctor or at least a urologist, for the concerns about the blood in the urine. "And they sent him home," says Teddy, incredulously. http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/

Sally and Teddy say Thomas Breen was given an appointment with a rheumatologist to look at his prosthetic leg but was given no appointment for the main reason he went in. The Breens wait ... and wait ... and wait ...

No one called from the VA with a primary care appointment. Sally says she and her father-in-law called "numerous times" in an effort to try to get an urgent appointment for him. She says the response they got was less than helpful. "Well, you know, we have other patients that are critical as well," Sally says she was told. "It's a seven-month waiting list. And you're gonna have to have patience." Sally says she kept calling, day after day, from late September to October. She kept up the calls through November. But then she no longer had reason to call. Thomas Breen died on November 30. The death certificate shows that he died from Stage 4 bladder cancer.

Months after the initial visit, Sally says she finally did get a call. "They called me December 6. He's dead already." Sally says the VA official told her, "We finally have that appointment. We have a primary for him.' I said, 'Really, you're a little too late, sweetheart.' "

Sally says her father-in-law realized toward the end he was not getting the care he needed. "At the end is when he suffered. He screamed. He cried. And that's somethin' I'd never seen him do before, was cry. Never. Never. He cried in the kitchen right here. 'Don't let me die.' "Teddy added his father said: "Why is this happening to me? Why won't anybody help me?" Teddy added: "They didn't do the right thing." Sally said: "No. They neglected Pop."

First hidden -- and then removed Foote says Breen is a perfect example of a veteran who needed an urgent appointment with a primary doctor and who was instead put on the secret waiting list -- where he remained hidden. Foote adds that when veterans waiting on the secret list die, they are simply removed. "They could just remove you from that list, and there's no record that you ever came to the VA and presented for care. ... It's pretty sad." Foote said that the number of dead veterans who died waiting for care is at least 40.

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"That's correct. The number's actually higher. ... I would say that 40, there's more than that, which I know of, but 40's probably a good number."

CNN has obtained e-mails from July 2013 showing that top management, including Phoenix VA Director Sharon Helman, was well aware about the actual wait times, knew about the electronic off-the-books list, and even defended its use to her staff. In one internal Phoenix VA e-mail dated July 3, 2013, one staffer raised concerns about the secret electronic list and raised alarms that Phoenix VA officials were praising its use. "I have to say, I think it's unfair to call any of this a success when Veterans are waiting 6 weeks on an electronic waiting list before they're called to schedule their first PCP (primary care physician) appointment," the e-mail states. "Sure, when their appointment is created, it can be 14 days out, but we're making them wait 6-20 weeks to create that appointment." The e-mail adds pointedly: "That is unethical and a disservice to our Veterans." Last year and earlier this year, Foote also sent letters to officials at the VA Office of the Inspector General with details about the secret electronic waiting list and about the large number of veterans who died waiting for care, many hidden on the secret list. Foote and several other sources inside the Phoenix VA confirmed to CNN that IG inspectors have interviewed them about the allegations. http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/

VA: 'It is disheartening to hear allegations', CNN has made numerous requests to Helman and her staff for an interview about the secret list, the e-mails showing she was aware of it and the allegations of the 40 veterans who died waiting on the list, to no avail.

But CNN was sent a statement from VA officials in Texas, quoting Helman. "It is disheartening to hear allegations about Veterans care being compromised," the statement from which Helman reads, "and we are open to any collaborative discussion that assists in our goal to continually improve patient care."

Just before deadline Wednesday, the VA sent an additional comment to CNN. It stated, in part: "We have conducted robust internal reviews since these allegations surfaced and welcome the results from the Office of Inspector General's review. We take these allegations seriously." The VA statement to CNN added: "To ensure new Veterans waiting for appointments are managed appropriately, we maintain an Electronic Wait List (EWL) in accordance with the national VHA Scheduling Directive. The ability of new and established patients to get more timely care has showed significant improvement in the last two years which is attributable to increased budget, staffing, efficiency and infrastructure."

Foote says Helman's response in the first statement is stunning; explaining the entire secret list and the reason for its existence was planned

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and created by top management at the Phoenix VA, specifically to avoid detection of the long wait times by veterans there.

"This was a plan that involved the Pentagon, which includes the director, the associate director, the assistant director, the chief of nursing, along with the medical chief of staff -- in collaboration with the chief of H.A.S." http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/

The Phoenix VA's "off the books" waiting list has now gotten the attention of the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee in Washington, whose chairman has been investigating delays in care at veterans hospitals across the country. According to Rep. Jeff Miller, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, what was happening in Phoenix is even worse than veterans dying while waiting for care. Even as CNN was working to report this story, the Florida Republican demanded the VA preserve all records in anticipation of a congressional investigation. In a hearing on April 9, Miller learned even the undersecretary of health for the VA wasn't being told the truth about the secret list. "It appears as though there could be as many as 40 veterans whose deaths could be related to delays in care. Were you made aware of these unofficial lists in any part of your look back?" asked Miller. "Mr. Chairman, I was not," replied Dr. Thomas Lynch, assistant deputy undersecretary, Veterans Health Administration.

Congress has now ordered all records in Phoenix, secret or not, be preserved.

That would include the record of a 71-year-old Navy veteran named Thomas Breen. Curt Devine and Jessica Jimenez contributed to this report. Watch Anderson Cooper 360° weeknights 10pm ET. For the latest from AC360° © 2014 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Final Roll Call By SGM Mike R. Vining, USA (Retired)

Leroy P. Meredith, USA, age 66, of Cottonwood, Arizona, passed away on 17 February 2009. Leroy was born on 3 November 1942, Youngstown, Ohio, and was married to Betty Ann. He spent 40 years as a EOD technician, first for the Army then the Navy. He served in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 9th Infantry Division and later as an EOD instructor at Indian Head, Maryland. Leroy was NATEODA member #1053.

MAJ Edward Herbert “Ed” Schollian, Jr., USA (Retired), age 71 of Imperial Valley, California, was killed on 3 January 2014. Ed was riding his 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle on County Highway S2 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, about 2:35 p.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle veered onto a dirt shoulder and Ed over corrected. The motorcycle then veered onto the dirt shoulder on the opposite side of the road. Ed was then thrown from his bike. Ed served in the 59th Ordnance Detachment (EOD) and the 533rd Ordnance Detachment (EODCC) in the Republic of Vietnam. Stateside he served in the 67th Ordnance Detachment (EOD), Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. and the 543rd Ordnance Detachment (EODCC), Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

SFC Blaine Dare Bartley, USA (Retired), age 72, of Olympia, Washington, passed away on 12 February 2014. Blaine was born on 4 July 1941, at Frankfort, Ohio, and was married to Donna. Blaine was mostly stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and served with the 27th Ordnance Detachment (EOD). Blaine was NATEODA member #609.

MSG William A. Campbell, USA (Retired), age 85, of South Mansfield, Ohio, passed away on 12 February 2014. William was born on 5 May 1928, Forest Grove, Oregon, and was married to Lillian who passed away in 2010. In 1968, William served with the 133rd Ordnance Detachment (EOD), Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. William was laid to rest in the Armed Forces Section of the Oak Grove Cemetery, Lexington, Ohio. William was NATEODA member #1067. The family of SGM Kenneth R. "Ken" Foster, Sr., USA, age 45, had a reinterment service for their father on 22 April 2014. Ken was assigned to the 63rd Ordnance Detachment (EOD), Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and was killed on 28 September 1976, in Quincy, Illinois during a series of domestic bombings. Ken was originally buried at Rowan Memorial Park

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Cemetery, Salisbury, North Carolina on 2 October 1976. He was laid to rest next to his wife Elizabeth Rose Foster who passed away on 11 November 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Representatives from the 763rd Ordnance Company (EOD), at Fort Leonard Wood attended the service.

If you know of an EOD veteran or spouse that has passed away, please email me at: sgmmvining@gmail.com

You are not forgotten!

BOOKS by MEMBERS and BOOK REVIEWS

NINE FROM ABERDEEN by Jefferery Leatherwood PHD

THIS IS WHAT HELL LOOKS LIKE by Stu Steinberg

XUK MAY by Gary Pool

History of U.S. Navy Mine Disposal

By CWO4 John D. “Bart” Bartleson, Jr., USN Retired By U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association

20 October 1995

This book is the most comprehensive book on the history of the U.S. Navy Mine Disposal operations during World War II. The U.S. Navy’s Mine Disposal School closed down on 20 October 1945.

The book goes into detail on German sea mines and fuses, which I learned a lot. Aerial dropped German influence sea mines took the British by surprise. These mines could be dropped at sea to attack shipping or dropped on land to destroy metropolitan targets. The United States sent navy teams to Great Britain to learn from the British on how to deal with these mines.

The book contains a biography on all of the commanders of the Mine Disposal School; LCDR (later RADM) Odale Dabney “Muddy” Waters, Jr., USN, LCDR (later CAPT) Fred Furst Nichols, USCG, LCDR Walter Raleigh Amesbury, Jr., USNR, and LCDR John Richard Ganther, USNR. The book also contains a chronology of the Mine Disposal School and its curriculum. The book goes into detail of the death of Ensign John M. Howard, USNR (MD3),

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which occurred on 11 June 1942. Ensign Howard was the first U.S. Navy Disposal man killed after his initial training in World War II.

The development of remotely operated fuse wrenches are covered, including the Egell, Nash, and Chewing wrench. The book covers the Ordnance Investigation Laboratories at Fort Townsend, Washington, and Stump Neck, Maryland. Mobile Explosives Investigation Unit One, Two, Three, Four, U.S. Navy Technical Mission, Europe, and Bomb and Mine Disposal Team 5, 8, 9, and 10 are covered. The book has class photos from class #1 to 19, and NCDU class #3-45, and #6-45. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a deep interest in bomb and mine disposal during World War II. If it wasn’t for this book, much of this history would have been lost to the ages. Seventy-two members of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association contributed information to the author.

John D. “Bart” Bartleson, Jr., is also the author of the History of U.S. Navy Bomb Disposal, 1 January 1992, published by the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association.

The paperback book contains 194 pages, 146 photos, and 21 drawings/maps. The book is not available at Amazon.com at this time: http://www.amazon.com/History-U-S-Navy-mine-disposal/dp/B007FD3S5E/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390772137&sr=1-3

The reviewer, Mike R. Vining, is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major who served in the army from 1968 to 1999 in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Special Operations field.

Thank-you Bob Leinendecker

Bob Leiendecker NATEODA Historian

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March crosswords puzzle by Robert Leiendecker

1 V

1 9 9 7 P I C A T I N N Y

S 7 P N 6

U X O S T 5 0

P G I 5 S

E O R A M A S T E R B A D G E

R I J T U A R R

V A R L I N G T O N R T I

I B E R I E E

S O D C C T P S

O R D E A R M E R A

R N O A X N R S P

S H E P B C T

O N U

T O M E N

C H A L L E N G E C O I N E F P

O I O I C N

L N H U R T L O C K E R

K E D R S C

A N A T E O D A O T K

N G A

E O D N E R E N D E R

U P A L L A D I N O

M V B

P Y N I M B U S M O O N

T

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Cindy Yates: wearyourjourney@gmail.com Please contact me directly if you want to purchase any jewelry. The

beads are $69 plus $6 shipping. I also have the Basic EOD bead, but I did not

get a picture of it before it sold, so it is available. I am also making a pair of

earrings for Peg, those will be done in January, I do not have a price as of yet

though.

My Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/followingorders

Thank you so much for contacting me and promoting my jewelry, all efforts

are greatly appreciated. My web site: www.followingorders.biz

Covers available by special order through

“The Blasting Cabinet”. Gift time is coming.

There are some nice pieces of EOD jewelry available.

www.theblastingcabinet.com

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NATEODA INFORMATION AND OFFICIAL BUSINESS

For Membership, Address changes and other information changes, tax-

deductible donations, Meeting information, Commercial & Non-commercial

displays at meetings, and Meeting site proposals.

Contact: Frank A. Martinez, Adjutant, NATEODA

19124 46th Avenue West, Lynnwood, WA 98036-4640

Telephone: 425-697-4102 E-mail: frankntinam@comcast.com

For NATEODA , hats, pins, patches, and belt buckles

Contact: James Paget, PO Box 567, Clinton, AR 72031

For a really nice jacket with the NATEODA crab on the back contact: Bob

McDaniel, 1920 Spruce Drive, Erie, Co 80516-9734. Telephone: 303-828-3422 or

E-mail: barbmcd@earthlink.net

Please visit our website at nateoda.org

NATEODA

1104 Idlewood Ave

Azle, Texas 76020-3648

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Azle, Texas

76020-364 Non-

Profit or US

Postage Paid

Azle, TX or

Permit No. 1