May 12, 2025

VFW Honors Family of Missing WWII Airman:

More than 80 years after his plane was shot down

over Germany, the remains of WWII Army Air Forces

Staff Sergeant Hubert Yeary have been laid to rest at

Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

VFW Junior Vice Commander Tim Peters was in

attendance with Kelly McKeague, director of the

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), who

oversees the agency’s mission of fullest possible

recovery, identification, and repatriation of the

remains of our missing personnel. Peters offered

condolences and presented a VFW memento to

Yeary’s family members. DPAA’s mission to never

leave a fallen comrade behind remains a top priority

for the VFW.

VFW Meets with House Committee Chairman:

VFW Washington Office Executive Director Ryan

Gallucci and National Legislative Director Kristina

Keenan met with House Committee on Veterans’

Affairs Chairman Mike Bost to discuss the VFW's

legislative priorities and our call to Honor the Contract

to ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have

earned and deserve as promised in military service

contracts. They expressed support for bills introduced

by the chairman, such as H.R. 740, Veterans’

ACCESS Act of 2025, and H.R. 1041, Veterans 2nd

Amendment Protection Act. The VFW looks forward

to continuing work with Chairman Bost on these

proposals and other important pieces of veteran

legislation during the 119th Congress.

VFW Accredited Representatives Train for Success:

More than 200 VFW Accredited Service

Officers from around the world attended a week-long

course hosted in Annapolis, Maryland, to learn about

policy changes and new regulations regarding

veterans’ benefits. Last year, VFW’s network of

accredited representatives recovered $14.6 billion in

VA compensation by helping more than half a million

veterans. If you have questions or need assistance,

contact an accredited representative.

Senate Hearing on Future at VA:

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held an

oversight hearing with Secretary Douglas Collins on

the future at VA. Collins emphasized the need for

reforms to better provide health care and benefits to

veterans, and confirmed his commitment to reduce

wasteful spending. He stated he would keep mission-

essential jobs and phase out nonessential roles with

the goal of a 15 percent reduction, and work to

eliminate inefficiencies to reduce appointment

wait times and the number of pending claims. Read

the testimony or watch the hearing, which begins at

the 20:54 mark.

VA Announces Survivor Benefits Reforms: The

VFW applauds the decision by VA to move the Office

of Survivors Assistance from the Veterans Benefits

Administration to the Office of the VA Secretary. The

VFW has advocated for this change over the last few

years through congressional testimony. This decision

will bring more focus on improving outreach and

coordination of the full range of survivor benefits

provided by VA.

MIA Update:

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting

Agency announced four identifications for service

members who have been missing and unaccounted

for from World War II and the Korean War.

Identifications:

-- World War II Army Air Forces Cpl. William I. Berrier

-- World War II Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Nathaniel L.

Hightower Jr.

-- World War II Army Cpl. George F. Sepsey-- Korean War Air Force Capt. Howard E. O’Dell

VFW Tommy Miller-Dean Johnson Post 4933 Web Site is live! The post hosts the following organizations:

 

• VFW Post 4933
• VFW Post 4933 Auxiliary
• VFW Post 4933 Social Membership
• American Legion Post 255
• The Dam Tavern Canteen