KVA Korea Veterans of America Homepage

KWVA / KVA Chapter #299 Accomplishments

Chapter #299 was the first Korea Veterans Organization in the country to put up a monument honoring all veterans who have served in Korea.

Chapter #299 was the first Korea Veterans Organization to have a State Bill (Mass. Senate Bill 2136) passed honoring all post war veterans who served in Korea.

Chapter #299 members were actively involved in getting sponsorship for the KDSM.

Chapter #299 members were actively involved in getting sponsorship for Maine Bill LD 1148 (KSDM on Maine License Plate).

Chapter #299 members were actively involved in getting sponsorship for Pennsylvania Bill HB 2295 (KSDM on Pennsylvania License Plate).

The Korea Veterans of America have decided to join their brother veterans in the Korea War Veterans Association. We did this to show unity between all Korea veterans and to help work on a federal charter for all Korea Veterans in the country. The Korea Veterans of America will be the biggest KWVA Chapter of Korea War and Korea Service Veterans in the country. We will be Chapter #299. We want other KWVA Chapters throughout the country to emulate the Korea Veterans of America by integrating younger Korea Veterans into their chapters.

Coming Events / Meetings

Meetings - 12:00 Noon. Board of Directors meet for 30 minutes after all meetings:

Saturday September 6, 2008 - American Legion Post 341 - 1023 Main Street - Worcester, MA.

Saturday October 4, 2008 - New England Joint Board Labor Office, 149 Mechanic Street - Leominster, MA. Entrance and parking is in the rear of the building.

Sunday December 6, 2008 - Elks - Spring Street - West Roxbury, MA

Events:

Fundraising: KVA Chapter # 299 / KWVA Fundraiser Father's Day Bonanza. Two hundred tickets only will be on sale at $10 each for $500 worth of assorted Mass. Scratch tickets (1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 dollar tickets) - winner take all. Drawing will be at Sunday June 8th meeting. Tickets will be on sale at the 12 April meeting in Plymouth.

Parades: June 28th Braintree, MA - November 22nd Plymouth, MA

Pending Events: Memorial Day, ROTC Scholarship Presentations, Summer Stroll in Fitchburg, Veterans Day (Details pending and will be posted here soon)

Korea Veterans of America, Inc.

Massachusetts State House

Room 545-2

Boston, MA 02133

(617) 523-1441

KVA Links:

1. KWVA - www.kwva.org

2. Korean War Educator - http://www.koreanwar-educator.org

3. Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing - www.koreacoldwar.org

4. Department of Veteran Affairs - www.va.gov

5. My Healthe Vet (Gateway to Veteran Health and Wellness) www.myhealth.va.gov

6. U.S. House of Representatives - www.house.gov

7. U.S. Senate - www.senate.gov

8. BKVA (British Korean Veterans Assn.) National website - http://www.bkva.co.uk/

9. Military Certificates-USA - www.medalcertificates.com

10. KWVA/KVA Vendor Phil Darbonne www.mophproducts.com

11. Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association - www.coastguardcombatvets.com

12. The Silver Star Families of America - www.silverstarfamilies.org (SSFOA is dedicated to supporting and assisting the wounded and their families of ALL Branches of Service and ALL Wars.)

The USFKVO was founded and incorporated by KWVA National President Colonel Lou Dechert and KVA Commander Jeff Brodeur in Alexandria Louisiana on December 4, 2004. The USFKVO is a partnership between the KVA and KWVA and any other Korea Veterans Organizations that want to enhance the ethos of Korea and it's aftermath. The USFKVO will be used as a think tank to help all Korea veterans who served in defense of the Korean Peninsula. Many issues have been brought up to help enhance the sacrifices made by Veterans of Korea. Some issues have been encountered head on to ensure the survival of Korea Veterans Organizations and to ensure the sacrifices of all who served in Korea are never forgotten for generations to come.

The USFKVO design was created by Don Struhar of Leesburg Florida. Don worked for many years at Jonstens and created the first Superbowl ring and First Lady Pat Nixon Presidential Seal. Don is a well known artist who also created the KWVA Florida State patch. Don Lived in Attleboro Massachusetts for over 30 years before retiring to Florida.

The USFKVO design is registered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

USFKVO Resolutions: 1). Father Kapaun 2). Welcome Home Bill

New KWVA Patch was designed by Don Struhar. Don is a Charter member of the new KVA Chapter of the KWVA. Don also designed the USFKVO patch (see above). This patch is available through the KVA PX. It is 4 inches in size.

Korea Veterans of America, Inc.

Chapter #299 of the KWVA

This Chapter would like to thank outgoing KWVA President Lou Dechert for his leadership, integrity, support, friendship and all that he has done for the KWVA. He welcomed all Korea Veterans into the KWVA. We will miss him and we wish him well! (Read his last update on link to right.)

Memorial Day 2008 - Tomb of The Unknown Soldier - Arlington National Cemetery.

Art Griffith, KVA Photographer Pauline Lagace, Otis Mangrum, KWVA National Director Tom McHugh and KWVA/KVA Chapter #299 Commander Al McCarthy laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

KVA Commander Al McCarthy, KVA Vice Commander Art Griffith, KVA Photographer Pauline Lagace, KVA Color Guard Sgt. Otis Mangrum, KWVA Director Tom McHugh - before laying wreath at Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.

SP4 Vincent Mannion - WIA TIKRIT 3-11-07 - Fort Bragg 5-22-08 - Memorial Day

Note from Jeff Brodeur (Vincent's Father) - I and my family just returned from Fort Bragg from a very memorable and momentous display of courage and sacrifice I have ever witnessed in my life by not only my son but the 82nd Airborne Division. My son Vincent returned to his unit 14 months after being severely wounded. On hand, were his friends to meet him SP4 Andy Taylor, SP4 Jared Wardell, Sgt. Hart and his whole company including Captain Greg Sakimura, his Company Commander. Friends from Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval, 82nd Commander General David Rodriguez and his wife Ginny, Colonel Paul Bricker who commands the 82d Airborne Combat Aviation Brigade. 82nd CSM Capel. 82nd Water Reed Liaison SFC James Babin and SFC Jonathon Mackey. LTC Michael Lopez. and 82nd Wounded warrior Committee Vincent's Brigade Commander Bryan Owens, Deputy Commander Edmondson and 319 FA Commander DiRuzza. 2-505th Battalion Commanders LTC. Leung and LTC .Zeisman. Captain Sakimura provided us with 2 excellent escorts in LT. Keith Weaver and SSG John Sastre. Bert Schmitz from the 505th Panther Association was on hand to greet us. Vincent also met MOH Recipient from the Korean War Rudy Hernandez and President Bush welcomed all the families.

Vincent back with his Company B-2-505the PIR and friend SP4 Andy Taylor, 14 months after his injury.

Vincent's Battalion (2-505th PIR) made the jump into Sicily Drop zone and his company did the JRTX assault. President Bush was on hand to review the troops and unveil the new Global War on Terrorism Monument. He also awarded 3 Distinguished Service Crosses. 2 of those medals were awarded to 2 members of Vincent's Battalion (2-505th PIR). SGT. Chris Corriveau and SGT. Eric Moser who were part of a 4 man sniper team surrounded by hundreds of terrorists. The trapped team killed dozens of insurgents and only half of them made it off the roof top, Corrieiveau and Moser held until reinforcements from the battalion came to their aid. 5 Silver Stars were also awarded by the President, one to SSG Peter Rohrs of the 82nd Aviation Brigade for rescuing 12 critically wounded soldiers while under fire in Afghanistan.

President Bush and General Rodriguez review the Panther Brigade.

Vincent and his mother with 82nd Commanding General David Rodriguez at the new memorial.

The courage and valor displayed by the 82nd was incredible. If the public ever knew the sacrifices these men and women make. You don't hear any of these soldiers complaining about the war or having to go back. They know their mission and they do it. The country is very fortunate to have a unit like this. President Bush was at Fort Bragg all day and gave outstanding praise to the division for its valor. Guest Speaker LT. Gen Vines couldn't have said it better when he said he was watching the news and someone who made a last second basketball shot to win the game was described by the announcer as a hero for making the winning shot. What a laugh !! The real hero's were at Fort Bragg that day including my son Vincent. God Bless America.

The Final Chapter and a new beginning.

April 2008 - STATUS OF SPC VINCENT MANNION 82ND ABN - WIA 3-11-07

Recently, Vincent's Neurosurgeon came up to Boston to see and evaluate him. I had the pleasure of escorting Army Colonel Rocco Armonda MD around the city of Boston. Dr. Armonda gave presentations at both Spaulding Rehab and Mass General Hospital. He also ran the Boston Marathon on behalf of Vincent. Dr Armonda is a true American hero who has saved Hundreds of wounded American lives at Ballad Iraq, Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed. We are forever grateful to him for saving not only Vincent but all our troops lives. Vincent will be leaving Spaulding and coming home as an outpatient shortly. He will then be medically discharged from the Army.

April 2008 - Mass. DAV State Chaplain Lorraine Ahern and past American Legion National Commander Jake Comer (Vincent's cousin) present PFC Vincent Mannion a GPS at Spaulding Rehab.

March 12th, 2008 - Update on PFC Vincent Mannion - Vincent is recovering slowly and is scheduled for more surgery this month at Boston Medical. Please continue to keep Vincent and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

December 2nd, 2007 - Special Ceremony to honor PFC Vincent Mannion took place at the KVA/KWVA Chapter #299 annual Christmas party. (read more)

March 12th, 2007 - Special Request - Please keep PV2 Vincent Mannion, son of Jeff and Maura Brodeur in your thoughts and prayers. PV2 Mannion was seriously wounded when Task Force Lightning soldiers were attacked while conducting combat operations in Salah Ad Din province near Tikrit Iraq. Many of you met Vincent at last year's Christmas party where he presented challenge coins to the KVA on behalf of the 82nd ABN Assoc. and the 173rd ABN Assoc. In picture below KWVA National Director Jeff Brodeur awards his son Vincent his Infantry Blue Cord at Fort Benning in Fall of 2006.

PFC Vincent Mannion September 9th Boston Sunday Globe Article

Note from Vincent's father, Jeff Brodeur - "I would like to thank everyone for their support for Vincent and our family.