We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:21:32 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:34:31 -0600 Actually, Pogue - you're kind of the poster child of the gestalt. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85514 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85514 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:02:33 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85511 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85511 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:48:34 -0600
Then there are the other organizations, like AUSA, NGUS, MOAA, NCOA, etc, that while they may or may not have local presence, do offer services and lobbying power at the national level.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85506 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85506 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:03:54 -0600
So, some of the membership issues may have nothing to do with the organizations themselves.  It could be nothing more than a false sense that in order to go back, or join as the case may be, the civilian realm there has to be a break from all things military.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85505 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85505 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:02:03 -0600
We live in the St Louis Metro area, where we only have Scott JFB (Used to be AFB but recently changed I believe).  Scott has quite a few servicemembers, and just as many civil service (aka retired military), with more coming in all the time with the BRAC realignmnet that has SDDC moving here.  We have 2 local VFW & American Legions where we live.  I know next to nothing about the Troy locations, but I have had some interaction with the Collinsville chapter of the American Legion.  Mostly through fundraisers for the local high school programs and lately for Fisher House that's being built at Jefferson Barracks.

I'm trying to get DH involved, and maybe after this last trip to Iraq, he'll stay home and join. 
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85504 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85504 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:55:12 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85502 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85502 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:08:17 -0600 The DAV folks, at the state level, DID help me in securing my VA benefits.
I do thank them for that. It's not their fault that the local chapter seems self-absorbed.
I am a life member, so maybe I should try again.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85482 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85482 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:44:37 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85478 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85478 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:40:52 -0600 First time I've commented.
Had joined three vet organizations... DAV, VFW and American Legion.
Have given up on all three.
Local DAV members pretty much ignored me at meetings ( I was the lone Viet Nam vet). At the VFW post, every time I went all I ever found was a bunch of white guys getting drunk and telling racial jokes. The American Legion was a repeat of my DAV experience. So, I pay my dues to NAUS and get to skip going to meetings.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85477 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85477 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:45:08 -0600   Mike,

    I also know some really nice folks who are in the American Legion, and who want very badly to turn the local post around and be a bigger part of the community, but the ones who have been running it has so alienated folks that most all the younger veterans won't join. It'll take quite awhile, and quite a bit of actul change for me or anyone else I know to reconsider membership in that post.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85447 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85447 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:10:58 -0600
some closely local past emeritus muckyety muck jumped into the fray regarding Gold Star Mothers membership rqmnts that excluded non-citizens.  he was in a rage because there was a mother who had lost her son and couldn't join, ignoring the facts that said mother (my condolences to her on her loss) had been a resident alien for nigh on 20 years and never became a citizen and had never actually applied for membership; and also ignoring the fact that his own organization had the exact same membership rqmnt.  he just wouldn't shut up until he had brow beaten the Gold Star Mothers into accepting the membership application.

i'm actually solidly behind the citizenship rqmnt, but that one hypocritical weasel just turned me off the whole prospect of joining such (and its a shame, because the VFW guys in my town are a nice bunch of dudes).
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85438 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85438 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:27:25 -0600
Of course, I'm also interested in success stories!]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85433 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85433 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:39:26 -0600
   That's the same sort of thing with the Legion post in my neck of the woods.  They put out a sad-sack looking color guard for Memorial Day and July 4th.  They wear all the froo froo uniform stuff that makes them look like, well, I dunno... blue bush hats, bloused blue pants, white ascots and gloves, sunglasses, all sorts of shoulder cords, etc. It'd be less conspicuous if they could learn to march in cadence.. sigh. Anyway, a few years back they volunteered to be the firing party at a member's funeral. These guys didn't even bother to clean their old springfields. One of them jammed trying to chamber a blank round, and only 3 of them went off when the command to fire was given.

   This group's most prized thing is the fact that they own their own building, with a bar that runs all hours. Between the tobacco smoke and the alcohol smell, it's not too nice a place to be. Every now and then they throw some money at a charity. Beyond that, I just can't find a reason to join. 

   I joined the DAV, and purchased a Life Membership. Best choice I ever made aroiund here.

   But there is a real PR problem with the Legion up here. Most veterans my age and especially younger, won't go near them. You go to a meeting and it's all about complaining, griping, and hurry up with it so we can move back to the bar.  You go into the bar for a drink, and all you get is bitching about how easy the younger veterans have it, why any soldier would get a tattoo, and that's if any of the older guys will even talk to you. Tes indeed they play cards, and cribbage, but it's always in the cliques. Never an invite for someone else to play. The only time they'll court you is when they want money for dues or for this or that. Afterwards it goes back to the same ol, same ol.

   Sorry if that's too much of a rant, but that's the view here amongst a lot of us of the Legion guys. 
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85432 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85432 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:32:53 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85420 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/veterans_organi.html#comment-85420 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:26:22 -0600