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Vol.=20 4, No. 4 &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 April 2008

Newsletter of Charleston Base, United = States=20 Submarine Veterans,=20 Inc.

&nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20

&nbs= p; = ; = =20 USSVI=20 Creed

=93To=20 perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives
in = the=20 pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, = deeds, and=20 supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward = greater=20 accomplishments. = Pledge=20 loyalty and patriotism to the United States = Government=94

Base web = page: = http://www.ussvicb.org/

National web = page: www.ussvi.org

Base = Meeting:=20

March 13,=20 2008

Social hour = 1800,=20 General Meeting 1900

Location:

Fleet = Reserve=20 Association Branch 269, Low Country Home

99 Wisteria=20 Rd.

Goose Creek, = South=20 Carolina. Phone=20 843-569-2962

Base=20 Officers

Phone=20 Number

Commander

Steve=20 Nelms

843-563-7115

Vice=20 Commander

Carl=20 Chinn

843-875-3098

Secretary

Ronnie = Kerstetter

843-367-1026

Treasurer

George = Lisle

843-559-4242

Special=20 Officers

Phone=20 Number

Chief = of the=20 Boat

Marty=20 Sessler

843-871-1536

Public = Affairs

Richard=20 Cleeve

843-899-4563

Publicity

Larry=20 Starland

843-863-8474

Sub = Vets=20 WWII

Barnwell=20 Chaplin

843-762-6945

Nuclear=20 Historian

Rick=20 Carlson

843-875-4030

Veterans=20 Affairs

Jim=20 Morrison

843-832-9716

Chaplain

John=20 Nichols

843-873-5897

Membership

Carl=20 Chinn

843-875-3098

Holland=20 Club

Bob=20 Lowe

843-573-9045

Little = David=20 Project

Rick=20 Wise

843-875-5559

Roving = Reporter

Rick=20 Wise

843-875-5559

Scholarship

Jim=20 Yates

843-873-0246

Newsletter

Carl=20 Chinn

843-875-3098

Storekeeper

Paul=20 Viering

843-797-2623

Alcohol &=20 Gaming

Dave=20 Mueller

843-553-2775

Minutes=20 of the March 2008 meeting

Attendance for = the March=20 13, 2008 meeting was 82

Opening = Ceremony: Base Commander called = the meeting=20 to order. A Quorum = was=20 present and the meeting was commenced at 1900.

Introductions: New people were = introduced;=20 Benjamin McDonald, Bryant Kohut,, Frank Osburn, Guerry McIndosh = (Royal=20 Canadian Air Force). = Welcome=20 aboard.

Secretary: Secretary Ronnie = Kerstetter asked=20 for a motion to approve the meeting minutes from last month. A motion was made and=20 seconded. Minutes=20 approved.

Treasurer: George Lisle gave the = treasurer=92s=20 report.

Storekeeper: No report

Chaplain: February Report: Buddha = had=20 surgery on 20 February and everything went well. A card was sent = wishing=20 him a speedy recovery.

MSC(SS) John = Law departed=20 on Eternal Patrol this morning 24 Feb 2008. His funeral was held = on 27=20 February with over 30 SUBVETS and a detail from the Fleet Reserve. = The=20 Fleet held their 2 Bell Ceremony at the beginning of the service. = During=20 the service, John=92s wife, Toshiko was presented with a framed = Eternal=20 Patrol Certificate, a SUBVET coin and a Silver Dolphin Shadow Box. = The=20 service concluded with the SUBVETS held their 2 Bell Ceremony and = the=20 folding and presentation of the American. I would like to thank = each=20 SUBVET who attended by asking them to stand and be recognized.=20

A=20 special thanks also to Ronnie Kerstetter who helped the family get = through=20 the service and has been assisting the family.

Cards were sent = to the=20 Law family with our condolences.

A=20 card was sent to Martha Archibald and the staff at Stuhr Funeral = Home=20 thanking them for all their help with John=92s = service.

A=20 card was sent to Trident Hospital CEO thanking their 7th floor = hospital=20 staff for their assistance with Mrs. Law until she was told. They = went out=20 of their way to make sure Toshiko was told compassionately about = John=92s=20 death.

The=20 SUBVETS have received a card from the Law family thanking us for=20 everything that was done for them.

Avery Lord was = recognized=20 by the town of Summerville and had one of their Fire Stations = named for=20 him on 3 March. Several of the SUBVETS attended. A card was also = sent=20 congratulating him on the honor.

Girad Coutu had = a leg=20 removed due to diabetes and is recovering at Trident Hospital room = 721.=20 Please keep him and his family in your prayers. A card was sent = wishing=20 Gerry a speedy recovery.

Jim=20 Eckles has been released from rehab. We=92ve been warned by Sue = that he is=20 on the loose again.

David Hixson, = Sr., a=20 dolphin wearer but not a base member passed away on March 5th. The = base=20 sent a card of condolence to his wife and family.

Bill=20 Roberts=92 wife, Becky, had surgery to remove a large mass in her = abdomen on=20 March 10th and was released today. She is doing well and had a = good report=20 that the mass was benign.

Bob=20 Chinn is having leg problems.

Nick=20 read a thank you card from the Law family. John=92s remains were = buried at=20 sea.

Jim=20 Keller sent us an email indicating he has received a clean bill of = health.=20 It was so good I feel I should read it to all of you: =

=93To=20 quote Edward R. Murrow (for those who remember who he was) = "There's good=20 news, tonight". = Late in the=20 afternoon on Tuesday 03/12/08, I had another follow up (internal) = exam=20 which was done by my Kidney / Bladder specialist / = surgeon. After inserting what = appeared to=20 be a ONE INCH (in diameter) pipe through the only orifice that = would allow=20 entry into the Bladder and Kidney, and after about ten minutes of = twisting=20 and maneuvering so he could see through it, he declared that I was = indeed=20 "clean and clear'" of any new types of cancer(s).

He=20 has given his blessing and nod of approval for us to go to New = York in=20 early May and stay for the entire Summer. He does however, want me = to return=20 for another internal "look see" on June 17th. I assured him that I = could=20 accommodate this condition.

It=20 sure looks like the myriads of prayers, coming in from ALL = directions has=20 had a favorable influence on the Man Upstairs.

I=20 thought I'd share the good news with Y'all=94

If you=20 know of shipmates or spouses from other bases who are having a = difficult=20 time, had surgery, etc. and would like for USSVI Charleston Base = to send=20 them a card please send their name and address to the Chaplain via = email=20 or phone call..

Scholarship: Jim Yates was not = present. Carl Chinn said that we = have a lot=20 of money to give out. =20 Applications have been sent out to schools in the = area. Challenge coins are = being sold by=20 the base to support the scholarship fund.

Public=20 Affairs: No = report

Sub Vets = WWII: Sy Maybie invited = everyone to the=20 next Swamp Fox Chapter meeting at Ryan's Family Steak House 1314 = North=20 Main Street in Summerville on the 3rd Thursday in April, at 1200=20 (noon). Amberjack = memorial=20 Saturday March 22nd @ 1100 at White Point Garden downtown = Charleston at=20 the Battery.

Veteran=92s = Affairs: Jim Morrison is our new = VA contact=20 but was not here tonight. =20 Nick discussed passport fees going up, VA enrollment fees = Burial at=20 sea benefit, a new pass point card for travel between Canada and = the=20 Caribbean islands. Need to organize paperwork in the right = place. Details and other = information on=20 the VA web link.

Hunley Memorial=20 Service: = Charlie Rook=20 discussed the annual H.L. Hunley memorial service to be held on = Sunday=20 February 17, 2008 @ 1900 hours. =20 The Confederate Trust committee invites CB Sub Vets and = WWII=20 submarine veterans to attend a memorial service honoring the 8 man = crew=20 lost on the confederate submarine H.L. Hunley along with the 5 = crewmen=20 lost on the USS Housatonic during the night of February 17, = 1864. The service will be held = at the=20 Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Sullivans Island. Please make an effort to = be there=20 and bring your wives, girlfriends and children.

District = Commander: Jerry was not = present

Vice Commander=20 Report: No = report

Fleet = Reserve: No report

Holland = Club: Bobby Lowe said that all = boat=20 sailors qualified in 1958 will get their certificates on April = 10th. The Holland Club = proposed change=20 is getting more attention. =20 Carl Chinn is getting some 30 e-mails a day.

Membership: 288 members

Little = David: Working party = tentatively set up=20 for April 15 and 16 for prep and painting at Santee Canal Park in = Moncks=20 Corner.

Newsletter: No report

Alcohol & = Gaming: Neck talked about John = Law being a=20 supporter for functions and working parties. John even asked how he = could sell=20 adds for the district convention when it was in Charleston. A bluegrass music lover, = who=20 traveled throughout the South to hear Bluegrass was the only thing = that=20 would keep John from Sub Vets events. He would drive his truck = and stay=20 overnight to avoid driving after drinking. He had no e-mail and = would call=20 neck when he when he was in town to asked about the social night=20 menu. If we were = having=20 hotdogs John would ask what kind. =20 He did not like Oscar Mayer wieners for some reason. John = was from=20 NY and lived in Givens. = He=20 especially liked Richard Sparger=92s fish stew. Sadly missed may he rest = in=20 peace. Thank you to = the COB=20 for the exhaust fan in the after battery. Promotions Richard = Carlson has=20 been promoted to the Alcohol Division Torpedo man Chief plus he = gets a=20 parking spot. Eat = your heart=20 out COB.

After battery = to donate=20 $100 to Amberjack memorial toward lunches and = drinks.

This=20 Wednesday night social we will have cook your own steak. Social nights were = averaging 22=20 now averaging 24. = Aluminum=20 cans - Buddha took the cans and got $72. $100 to Rodney McKanna = from the=20 after battery to help toward lunch following submarine day = memorial=20 service. Stop being = a whiner;=20 the reason that Ken Hutchison wins the depth charge drawing a lot = is that=20 he buys lots of tickets. = The=20 after battery is now in competition with the Woodlands and Carl = Chinn our=20 Vice Commander upgraded himself by wearing briefs manufactured in = 1989=20 that had never been washed. =20 Bill Roberts took 2 days to survey our tent needs and he = concluded=20 spray-painting the parts. = He=20 managed in the past to paint every pole with the same four paint=20 colors. Sam=92s has = the 10 x 10=20 easy up tents for $150 each that don=92t take an army of men to = erect. Motion was approved to = get 10 new=20 10 x 10 easy up tents for future use. These can be put up by = two people=20 or 5 Nukes, parts don=92t detach and they will fit in the gas = station.

Chief of the = Boat: The 23rd annual World = Grits=20 festival will be held in St George on 12 April. We will pull the = float. Float leaves the after = battery at=20 0930, line-up at 1000, the parade starts at 1100.

Oyster Roast = =96 Thank you=20 Richard Sparger and all the set up and the 2 working parties to = put=20 away.

Submarine Day = April 11=20 Memorial service at Patriots Point 1130 event being set up by = Rodney=20 McKanna. The Color = Guard from=20 the Nuke school will be there. =20 It will include in invocation, tolling of the bells, = speech. Lunch will be available = at the=20 Point Grill. The = buffet is=20 $6.50 sign up tonight so that we can get a head = count.

Float is in = Savannah for=20 St. Patrick=92s Day parade along with 6 to 8 base members = representing=20 Charleston Base.

Upcoming = District 4/6=20 convention to be held in Kings Bay. Dates are Wednesday April 24 = =96=20 Saturday April 26, 2008. =20 Registrations for the boat tours must be in by April 1st to = get=20 your name on the base access list. =20 The convention will be held at the Ramada off I-95 and = Georgia Exit=20 3. Registration fee = is $30=20 (this will include some food). =20 Room rates are $49 a night, nightly entertainment, boat = tours, BBQ,=20 shrimp boil, banquet, submarine museum/swamp tours are = planned. The memorial service = will be held=20 outside of the St. Mary=92s submarine museum along the water = front.

Mike=20 Kay is looking for an ET or electrician mate to work for comings = Diesel=20 outfitting test rigs, wiring motors, pulling wire. See Mike after the = meeting for=20 contact information. = Mike=20 will be gone to Florida temporary.

The=20 American Submariner magazine has a nice article about the = Charleston=20 Base.

The=20 chaplain did one great job with the memorial service for John Law = without=20 knowing who John was.

April 15 and 16 = Little=20 David working party at the park in Moncks Corner.

Base = Commander: Buddha discussed the = following=20 items:

Annual base=20 elections. = Charleston Base=20 officers are elected at the regular meeting in May each year. If you desire to run or = have a=20 nomination for one of these positions: Commander, Vice-Commander,=20 Treasurer or Secretary, please get your nomination to Stan = Standrich soon=20 so your name will be on the ballot. =20 The present base officers will not be around forever and = someone=20 needs to step up.

Holland Club = proposed=20 changes are getting heard, it will take several months to play = out, but=20 the majority of sailors are in favor of the change.

Ken Sewell = who wrote Red=20 Star Rogue (the untold story of a soviet submarine=92s nuclear = strike=20 attempt on the U.S.) has a new book out called All Hands Down = about the=20 soviet attack on the USS Scorpion. =20 We are trying to get Ken back at the May meeting. He will be telling about = this=20 story and selling books.

We would like = to take the=20 float and the cooker to the VA home in Walterboro to serve the = Victory=20 House guests a meal and provide entertainment.

New Fire = Station on Sheep=20 Island Road was named after retired fire chief Avery Lord in = dedication=20 service attended by several vets.

Buddha talked = about=20 finding John Law at his place. =20 Buddha said that he would like to have more of the kind of = support=20 that John displayed, always there to help out. Sub Vets had 7 pews = filled up and=20 only 6 family members that attended service.

Nuclear = Historian: Rick Carlson discussed = the lady in=20 the news stuck to the toilet seat for several years. Rick told a story of the = St=20 Patrick=92s Day Brewery story and falling into a vat of beer and=20 drowned.

Old = Business: Taking nominations for = Base=20 Officers election in May. =20 Give all nominations to Stan Standrich.

New = Business: Rodney McKanna talked = about=20 Submarine Day events = that=20 will take place on Friday 11 April, at the Cold War Memorial in = Mt.=20 Pleasant 1000-1200 with the ceremony @ 1130. Lunch buffet will follow = at Point=20 Grill at the Shrine Club. =20 Motion was made, seconded, and approved for CB to pay cost = of meals=20 for the Chaplin and the Color Guard from the Nuke school.

Motion approved = to=20 contribute $200 to Good Neighbor Center for homeless Veterans.

Oyster = cookers-we now=20 borrow or rent the cookers for our roasts, would like to buy our = own=20 stainless steel cookers. If=20 anyone knows a means to gets them see Richard Sparger.

May=20 10th base picnic.

Good Of The = Order: The depth charge drawing = was=20 held. The winner = was Bill=20 Roup. Bill gave = $100 back to=20 Sub Vets scholarship fund. Dave Rein had a new hair = cut. Jim Eckles was given = hymn=20 salute. Carl Chinn = has a web=20 link of Julian Villegas as a little guy and will send to any who = want to=20 see it

The=20 Base Commander adjourned meeting at 2000.

**=20 End of the minutes for March 2008 **

"Don't tell mom I'm = a=20 submariner, she thinks I play piano in a = whorehouse."

Attaway

Carlson

Cochrane

Comp

Detwiler

Erickson

Giannetto

Gibson

Hill

Hyatt

Little

McDonald

Naert

Nettles

Oser

Pepper

Shoesmith

Slattery

Smith,=20 Marvin

Sparger

Vacher

Vlam

Walsh

Wood,=20 D

Need a Ride to the = Meetings?

If you need = help getting=20 to a meeting please let The COB or Carl Chinn know. We should be able to = arrange for=20 someone to pick you up and take you home.

April 10 =96 = Monthly=20 meeting

April = 11 =96=20 Submarine Day Memorial Service at Cold War Memorial 1230, lunch=20 afterwards. Cost = about $6.50=20 per head

April = 12 =96 St.=20 George Grits Festival Parade line-up at 1000; starts at=20 1100

April 15 =96 = Little David=20 working party to prep

April 16 =96 = Little David=20 working party to paint

April 17 =96 = WWII lunch at=20 Ryan's 1200

April 23-26 = =96 D4/D6=20 Convention at Kings Bay

FYI =96 = May 10 = Picnic at the=20 After Battery Bring side dish or dessert plus lawn chairs $5.00 = per=20 head

Bump = Keys

The most = popular locking=20 mechanism in the world utilizes the pin tumbler design, first = developed=20 4000 years ago in Egypt and then rediscovered and perfected a = century and=20 a half ago by Linus Yale. There are billions of these locks in the = world=20 and they come in all sizes, configurations, and security ratings. = Some are=20 secure; most are not, and even some high security rated cylinders = can be=20 easily compromised. All that is required to open many types of pin = tumbler=20 cylinders -- the kind of lock that probably keeps the bad guys out = of your=20 home -- is a bump key and a tool for creating a bit of force. = While many=20 people have never heard of "bump keys," authorities say these = modified=20 versions of ordinary keys first gained popularity in Europe and = are=20 spreading rapidly through Internet "how-to" videos that illustrate = how=20 easily doors can be opened though "lock bumping." Any regular key = can be=20 cut to its deepest depth to become a bump key. When a bump key is = inserted=20 into a lock and tapped with a mallet, kinetic energy is = transferred=20 through the pins in the locking mechanism, causing the pins to = momentarily=20 move so the lock can be turned. While bump keys are nothing new, = they have=20 =96 until recently =96 been generally unavailable to the public. = Most=20 reputable locksmiths will not make them or sell them to anyone. = But the=20 Internet has changed that. Now bump keys are being sold online for = as=20 little as $3.25. Videos demonstrate how to use them to quickly and = easily=20 breach locks and in some cases how to make them he keys yourself. = One such=20 video can be viewed at = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DpwTVBWCijEQ. At=20 = http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/24/the-lockdown-locked-but-not-secure-par= t-i/=20 can be found = additional info=20 on Bump keys and illustrations on how tumbler style locks = work. Bottom line if your home = access=20 doors have tumbler pin locks (which most do) they can be opened by = anyone=20 who has knowledge of this. = Bump-resistant locks are available on the market but they = come with=20 high price tag.

SBP SSA OFFSET UPDATE=20 10

The phase-out = of the=20 Social Security Offset (SSO) for Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) = annuitants is=20 almost complete. Currently, beneficiaries receive 50% of their = deceased=20 spouse's SBP annuity base amount. The fact that the SBP payout is = 50%=20 instead of the full 55% is the SSO. There is no reduction in your = Social=20 Security amount. Starting APR 08 all survivors will receive the = full 55%=20 of their late military retiree's pay covered by SBP and the SSO = will be=20 completely phased out. The increased benefit is automatic for = everyone =97=20 no applications or requests are required.

TRICARE USER FEE UPDATE=20 24

Bush = administration=20 officials again have saddled Congress with an under funded = military health=20 care budget by projecting $1.2 billion in savings they know will = not be=20 realized, say critics on Capitol Hill. Part of the false savings, = for a=20 third straight year, is tied to the unlikely scenario that = Congress will=20 enact administration plans to raise fees, co-payments and = deductibles for=20 military retirees. Key lawmakers say that won't happen. But what = irritates=20 lawmakers more is that, even if they did embrace the higher fees=20 recommended by a Department of Defense's Task Force, and penciled = into=20 Bush's fiscal 2009 defense budget, the actual savings realized = wouldn't=20 come close to matching the number that the administration = projects. Most=20 of the $1.2 billion in assumed savings swing on the notion that if = fees,=20 co-pays and deductibles are raised for retirees, tens of thousands = of=20 users of Tricare will drop the military benefit and switch to = alternative=20 health insurance offered by second-career employers. That scenario = defies=20 logic, however, as even the co-chair of DOD's task force on = military=20 health care bluntly stated during a 12 MAR hearing of the House = armed=20 services' military personnel subcommittee. "With all due respect = to the=20 department, there's nothing they're going to do which is going to = make=20 TRICARE more expensive than what goes on in the private sector," = said Dr.=20 Gail Wilensky, a prominent healthcare economist. "I know they have = used=20 that argument. I don't know what they're thinking."

Rep. John = McHugh of New=20 York, ranking Republican on the subcommittee, noted that the false = savings=20 built into the '09 budget will be harder for the armed services = committees=20 to overcome this year because the House Budget resolution, which = opposes=20 the TRICARE fee increases, does not add funding to restore DOD's = assumed=20 savings. McHugh vowed that the money will be found. McHugh and = Rep. Walter=20 Jones, R-N.C., suggested that Congress won't allow fee increases = unless=20 they are endorsed by service associations who lobby lawmakers on = behalf of=20 beneficiaries. But Dr. Ward Casscells, the assistant secretary of = defense=20 for health affairs who testified with Wilensky, said association = leaders=20 have told him they are "willing to see a gradual increase in = TRICARE fees,=20 co-pays and deductibles as long as it's not more than within the = private=20 sector. Because they don't want to rob theater care to address the = rising=20 cost of retiree care. McHugh was incredulous over that input and = told=20 Casscells, "If you could get any of that in writing, I would love = to see=20 it."

Representatives of The=20 Military Coalition, an umbrella group that include scores of = service=20 associations and veteran organizations, have testified previously = that it=20 is unfair for DOD officials to keep fees flat for more than a = decade and=20 then try to double or triple them in a few years. The coalition = wants=20 Congress to establish principles regarding military health = benefits to=20 protect their value from the whims of politicians and = policymakers, and to=20 establish limits on future beneficiary cost increases. For = example, fees=20 increases for retirees and survivor beneficiaries in any given = year should=20 not exceed the percentage increase in retired pay or survivor=20 compensation, the coalition maintains. The coalition opposes the = level of=20 fee increases sought by the administration and specifically = objects to=20 imposing new enrollment fees on users of TRICARE Standard and = TRICARE for=20 Life. It also opposes "tiering" of fees and co-payments based on = rank at=20 retirement or level of retired pay. The coalition argues that = retirees=20 paid large "up-front premiums" for their health care coverage = through a=20 career of arduous service.

VA DENTAL TREATMENT UPDATE=20 01

Outpatient = dental=20 benefits are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs = according to=20 law. In some instances, VA may provide extensive dental care, = while in=20 other cases treatment may be limited. Veterans are eligible = for=20 outpatient dental treatment if they are determined by VA to meet = one of=20 the following criteria:

=95 Those having a=20 service-connected compensable dental disability or condition are = eligible=20 for any needed dental care.

=95 Those who were = prisoners of=20 war (POWs) and those whose service-connected disabilities have = been rated=20 at 100% or who are receiving the 100% rate by reason of individual = unemployability are eligible for any needed dental = care.

=95 Those who are = participating=20 in a VA vocational rehabilitation program under 38 U.S.C. chapter = 31 are=20 eligible for dental care necessary to:

1.) =20 Enter into a rehabilitation program, achieve the goals of = the=20 veteran=92s vocational rehabilitation program; or prevent = interruption of a=20 rehabilitation program; or

2.) =20 Hasten the return to a rehabilitation program of a veteran = in=20 interrupted or leave status; or

3.) =20 Hasten the return to a rehabilitation program of a veteran = placed=20 in discontinued status because of illness, injury or a dental = condition;=20 or

4.) =20 Secure and adjust to employment during the period of = employment=20 assistance; or

5.) =20 To achieve maximum independence in daily = living.

=95 Recently = discharged veterans=20 with a service-connected noncompensable dental condition or = disability who=20 served on active duty 90 days or more and who apply for VA dental = care of=20 within 180 days separation from active duty, effective 28 JAN 08 = may=20 receive one time treatment for dental conditions if the dental = condition=20 is shown to have existed at the time of discharge or release and = the=20 veteran=92s certificate of discharge does not indicate that the = veteran=20 received necessary dental care within a 90-day period prior to = discharge=20 or release. This includes veterans who reentered active military, = naval,=20 or air service within 90 days after the date of a prior Note: = Veterans=20 discharged between 1 AUG 07, and 27 JAN 08, are eligible for the = dental=20 benefit by making application within 180 days (formerly 90 days) of their = discharge. Veterans=20 previously denied this one time dental benefit because application = was=20 made outside of the previously mandated 90 day period after = separation=20 will be contacted to review and correct, as appropriate, your = application=20 denial. Affected veterans may also contact their local medical = center to=20 review and correct, as appropriate, their denied=20 application.

=95 Those having a=20 service-connected noncompensable dental condition or disability = resulting=20 from combat wounds or service trauma are eligible for repeat care = for the=20 service-connected condition(s).

=95 Those having a = dental=20 condition clinically determined by VA to be currently aggravating = a=20 service-connected medical condition are eligible for dental care = to=20 resolve the problem.

=95 Those with=20 nonservice-connected dental conditions or disabilities for which = treatment=20 was begun while the veteran was in an inpatient status in a VA = medical=20 center, when it is clinically determined to be necessary to = complete such=20 dental treatment on an outpatient basis.

=95 Those receiving = outpatient=20 care or scheduled for inpatient care may receive dental care if = the dental=20 condition is clinically determined to be complicating a medical = condition=20 currently under treatment.

=95 Certain veterans = enrolled in=20 a VA Homeless Program for 60 consecutive days or more may receive = certain=20 medically necessary outpatient dental services.

For more = information=20 about eligibility for VA medical and dental benefits, contact the = Health=20 Benefits Service Center at 1(877) 222-8387 or=20 www.va.gov/healtheligibility. Note: Veterans awarded a temporary = total=20 disability rating by the Veterans Benefits Administration are not = eligible=20 for comprehensive outpatient dental services.

SOCIAL SECURITY TAXATION = UPDATE=20 06

Plan = carefully before=20 starting Social Security benefits of any type if you are = continuing to=20 work. This is = especially=20 important if you are thinking about taking reduced Social Security = benefits before you have reached full retirement age, or a reduced = spousal=20 or widow=92s benefit. = Once you=20 start Social Security, there are special rules about how much you = may earn=20 without reducing your benefits. =20 And once you factor in taxes, it=92s entirely possible that = you may=20 have only a small gain or even lose money because of the earnings. = If you=20 are under your full retirement age in 2008, you are allowed to = exempt=20 $13,560 in earnings for the year, or $1,130 per month without a=20 reduction. If you = earn more=20 than that, $1 in benefits will be withheld for every $2 above the = limit.=20 You are allowed to earn substantially more in the calendar year in = which=20 you attain full retirement age. =20 In 2008 retirees may earn $36,120 for the year, or $3,010 = per month=20 in the months prior to turning full retirement age. If you earn more than = that, $1 in=20 Social Security will be withheld for every $3 in earnings above = the=20 limit. =

Full = retirement age is=20 not so easy to figure out though, because it=92s rising. Seniors born in 1943, = for example,=20 have a full retirement age of 66. Because these = seniors will=20 not turn their full retirement age in 2008, they may only exempt = $13,560=20 or their benefits will be reduced. If, on the other hand, you were = born in=20 1942, your full retirement age is 65 and 10 months. Only people born in = January and=20 February of 1942 attained full retirement age in 2007. Everyone else, people = born in=20 March through December of 1942, attain full retirement age January = through=20 October of 2008. If you reach full retirement age in 2008, you may = earn=20 $3,010 per month until your birth month without a reduction in=20 benefits. The month = you reach=20 full retirement age, you can start earning as much as you want = with no=20 reduction in benefits. = The=20 amounts are adjusted annually. The annual earnings test can also = reduce=20 the Social Security of dependents who receive benefits based on = your work=20 record, like a spouse or a disabled child. Additional earnings = could possibly=20 subject your Social Security benefits to higher Medicare premiums = if your=20 income exceeds $82,000, or $164,000 if you are married. Seniors who are working = after=20 starting benefits should call Social Security at 1(800) 772-1213 = or visit=20 www.ssa.gov to learn more about Social Security=92s earnings = restrictions,=20 and other things you should know about working after starting=20 benefits.

Admiral Osborne Scholarship = Fund

How about = helping out the=20 scholarship fund? = We are=20 offering a Charleston Base Challenge Coin for sale. ALL proceeds go into the = scholarship fund.

Coins only = cost $7=20 each. Available for = an=20 additional $1 is a protective plastic capsule.

To get your = coin(s) see=20 Jim Yates, Julian Villegas or Carl Chinn.

Make sure you = have one=20 for =93when you get challenged=94!

Buy several = for great=20 gifts!

April = Submarines=20 Lost:

USS Pickerel

SS 177

April=20 3, 1943

USS Grenadier

SS 210

April=20 22, 1943

USS Snook

SS 279