Wounded Warriors happens to be one of our favorite charities and we would be very pleased if these donations were sent to this very worthy charity.

Our featured approved Veteran this issue is Isadore Poma, who served during the Korean Conflict Era in the Army CPL(T). He was a supply specialist at Camp Carson Colorado and worked in the warehouse where they outfitted the ‘General Honor Guard.” He also served at Sasebo Naval Port in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, the main launching point for the United Nations and U.S. Forces at the time.

Born in Detroit in 1929, he attended trade school and began working on the production line at Ford Motor Company at 17. In 1951 he was in active service through 1953, followed by four years in the reserves. His career spanned 30 years as a Millwright back at Ford.

“Izzy is one of those people you meet that stays with you the rest of your life,” says AAWV’s Founder. “It was an hour’s drive from Jackson, Michigan to our offices for that first meeting. He was a proud man and did not want any kind of a handout. We had to convince him that this was an entitlement that he deserved because of his service to our country.”

William Poma, Isadore’s son wrote us a heartfelt note after the approval notification. “I wish you could have seen the look on his face when I gave him his first check on November 11th, Veterans Day! I still don’t think he believes me that it will come every month. I’m sure God will bless you for the wonderful work you do. This will make a big difference for Dad to be able to “live” his life now, rather than just make ends meet.”

He’s content with care his dad receives and says his dad’s quality life would not be possible if not for “Aid and Attendance and the wonderful things AAWV has done. (Before) we were completely consumed and needed professional help.”

William also tells us that his dad keeps the approval notice by his chair to show company! Thanks for the great endorsement, Izzy!

Bill was eventually transferred to the Military Police. With his own jeep he was able to drive around the base checking up on any trouble brewing. Although things usually were on the up and up, sometimes the servicemen got creative. Bill had to keep the enlisted men out of the nurse’s quarters and caught some men making moonshine. Once he helped two government men catch thieves stealing, of all things, hospital beds!

Of all the hardships that military life brings, Bill’s main complaint was the long chow lines. To this day, he doesn’t like going to buffet-style restaurants because he put in enough time waiting for his food in the Army.

In 1946 Bill was discharged and returned home, not only to his grateful family, but to his sweetheart, Jennie. It was just a year later they were married and started their own family. They now have four children, twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. This war story has a very happy ending because Bill and Jennie recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.

During his service years, he regularly exchanged letters with Mildred Barnstorf, the love of his life. Henry mustered out of the Navy on April 4, 1946, and he and “Sam” were married in Union City, New Jersey a year later.

(These days, 94-years young Sam makes her home at an assisted living center called The Village at Westerville in that central Ohio town. Her application to the VA for Aid & Attendance is pending, with help from PM Josh Wise of Columbus, Ohio.)

By Ann Thompson
Chief Environmental Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 3:38 p.m. ET Feb 26, 2007

DALLAS- At 83, Byrdeen Goldsmith can still harmonize. To look at her, you wouldn’t know she has Alzheimer’s, but she can’t live on her own.  A year ago, her daughter Betty moved Byrdeen into an assisted living facility inDallas, and got an unexpected assist from the government.

“It’s thrilling,” says Betty about the veterans’ benefit that helps her mom. “It’s a real blessing. It’s just something you didn’t expect.”

Byrdeen’s husband, Hubbard, served in World War II, a Navy medic in the invasion ofSicily. Because of that service, Byrdeen gets about $900 a month, one-quarter of the cost of her care. The other $3,000 comes out of Betty and husband Ted’s savings each month. ”The financial burden is stressful enough, then you have the emotional stress on top of it,” says Betty.

It’s called the Aid and Attendance benefit, for at home, assisted living, or nursing home care. Facility director Michael Halliburton says it never fails to surprise families. ”It’s shock and awe,” he says. “Their eyes light up; their jaws drop. I’ve had people cry. I’ve had people hug and kiss me. It can really make the difference as to whether someone can afford the services.” But the program is little known. Today, just 143,000 veterans or surviving spouses receive the benefit. The government says hundreds of thousands more could be eligible.

“We know that about 36 percent of veterans either didn’t know about the program or thought they weren’t entitled,” says Brad Mayes with Veterans Affairs. Eligibility is based on need, but you don’t have to be impoverished. The formula includes your income, minus medical expenses, and your net worth, excluding your house and car. The benefit is available to veterans who served during wartime and their spouses, if they cannot live on their own.

It’s a benefit that is now one more part of Betty’s father’s legacy.

“I think he’d be proud of the fact that his service was being honored,” says Betty.  Hubbard Goldsmith helped his country then; his country helps his wife now.

This vintage postal cover displays the stamp created by the United States Post Office in 1946 to honor all World War II veterans who earned Honorable Discharge recognition. To receive an honorable discharge, service members must have received a rating from good to excellent for his/her service, must have met or exceeded required standards of personal conduct, and must have either completed their tours of duty or mustered out as a result of hostilities ending.

America’s Honorable Discharge stamp lauded members of the armed forces who were returning to civilian life after serving their country in World War II.  This stamp – printed in purple – prominently featured the Honorable Discharge emblem: an American eagle within a ring appearing to take flight. The bottom half of the ring encompasses 13 vertical bars symbolizing the 13 original American states.  Five stars appear at the outside of this stamp, representing those veterans who died in our country’s five different services – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines & Coast guard.

Created by an artist named V. S. McCloskey, Jr., this design closely reflected the honorable discharge patches and buttons presented by the military as World War II veterans mustered out.  The stamp was offered for sale for the fist time on May 9, 1946: one year and one day after hostilities inEuropecame to a close.

With a denomination of three cents, this small purple stamp was used for first class postage.

The AAWV salutes the wisdom of Presidents Roosevelt and Truman for commissioning and issuing this special postal tribute to World War II veterans.  At the same time, we gratefully tip our hats to all who have served in the American military throughout the history of this country.