Japan, Veteran Benefits, Purple Hearts and a Golf Classic

Getting to know passionate and knowledgable people is among the many positives of this blog. Below are bits of their shared expertise and information that could prove helpful.

For Florida Veterans – From a 22-year Army veteran who prefers to remain in the background, two links for Florida veterans: VAwatchdogtoday.org and the American Legion Department of Florida.

An Airman from the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron offloads a pallet of supplies from a C-17 Globemaster III March 15, 2011, at Misawa Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown)

USAF in Japan – The Air Force has created a new, website focused on U.S. Air Force relief efforts for Japan. It’s a one-stop resource with features articles, links, captioned-photos, and video stories and soon daily fact-sheets.

Tax Credit Ending – Contributor and orginator of the My Last Tour Series, Air Force SMSgt. Rex Temple, sends this link and reminder that the Veterans Tax Credit is scheduled to end soon. Veterans who served overseas in the past two years are probably eligible for an $8,000 tax credit when purchasing a home. Under the extension passed late last year by Congress, a contract must be signed by April 30, 2011, but applicants have until June 30, 2011 to close the deal. Check with professional tax preparers on your eligibility. For tips and important military tax information, visit here.

Military Bloggers in Japan – Milblogging.com is aggregating military blogs being written from Japan that are covering the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The newest military blog is written by an airman stationed at Misawa AB who goes by the name of Scotty D: I’m big in Japan.  (hat tip-From my position on the way) On Living Overseas and My Life in General is a military spouse blog written by a Navy wife named Nancy.  In her latest post, she writes about what the earthquake has taught her. 

Army Clarifies Purple Heart Rules – A report from National Public Radio journalists Daniel Swerdling and T. Christian Miller. “Acknowledging that commanders have sometimes wrongly denied the Purple Heart to soldiers who suffered battlefield concussions, the Army plans to issue new guidance to clarify when such recognition is warranted, Army officials said Wednesday. In addition, the Army is planning to prioritize appeals from brain-injured soldiers who feel they should not have been turned down for the medal, a hallowed military honor that recognizes those injured in combat.”

And here’s the USA Today article on the same topic. A tip of the hat to Steve G.

Veterans on the Green – The University of South Florida Student Veterans Association is holding a Golf Classic at USF’s golf course, The Claw. It’s scheduled Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fee is $75 per golfer and includes a shirt, golf cart, greens fees and dinner. For details, email vetserve@cchd.usf.edu or call 813-974-1725.