VFW Action Corps Weekly

Louisville Welcomes VFW National Convention: The 125th VFW National Convention is taking place July 27 – Aug. 1, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky. Every year, thousands of VFW and Auxiliary delegates gather to represent the organization’s more than 1.4 million combined membership. The focus while there is to elect new VFW leadership and approve resolutions to guide our priorities in Washington, D.C., as we advocate for our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families. Be sure to search #VFWConvention on social media, view vfw.org, and download the VFW Events App for helpful information and convention news.

VFW Participates in Transition Assistance Summit: Staff members from the VFW Washington Office attended the 2024 Military-Civilian Transition Summit 7.0. This event is a collaboration between VA, the Departments of Defense and Labor, and military community partners. VFW National Veterans Service Assistant Director of Field Operations Cindy Noel participated in a panel discussion about how Veterans Service Organizations help in the process from assisting with VA benefits to integrating service members and families into communities.

VFW Hosts First of Historic War Commission Hearings: The VFW hosted the first hearing of the Afghanistan War Commission (AWC) at our headquarters in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the AWC is to investigate the entirety of the 20-year war in Afghanistan, from first boots on the ground to when the last Americans left in 2021. The VFW is honored to host the very first hearing. A live stream of the hearing can be found on the commission’s YouTube channel. 

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced two burial updates and four dentifications for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II and the Korean War. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Army Pvt. 1st Class Luther E. Bagley, 22, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion. He was killed in action on July 25, 1944. He will be buried in his hometown on Aug. 10, 2024. Read about Bagley.
-- Army Corporal Edward J. Smith, 18, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was a member of Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Aug. 31, 1950. He will be buried in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 23, 2024. Read about Smith.
-- Army Pvt. Robert L. Skaar was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action on March 10, 1945. Interment services are pending. Read about Skaar.
-- Army Private Rodger D. Andrews was assigned to Company C, 37th Engineer Combat Battalion. He was killed in action in June 1944 during the Omaha Beach invasion in Normandy, France. Interment services are pending. Read about Andrews.
-- Army Corporal Robert A. Bartlett was assigned to Company A, 744th Tank Battalion. He was killed in action on July 26, 1944. Interment services are pending. Read about Bartlett.
-- Army Cpl. Robert P. Raess was a member of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Sept. 1, 1950, and declared deceased on Dec. 31, 1953. Interment services are pending. Read about Raess.

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