Profound gratitude for their service: Sen. Jack Reed on Veterans Day

With Veterans Day approaching, I reached out to Rhode Island’s most powerful and influential veteran, Sen. Jack Reed, to get his take on some important issues affecting veterans.

Senator Reed is a West Point graduate who served on active duty with the 82nd Airborne Division in the 1970s. He resigned as a captain to attend Harvard Law School, but military and veteran issues remain close to his heart. He is currently the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Veterans running for office

With midterm elections coming up, we talked about the relatively small number of elected officials at all levels who have served in our military — and the much smaller number who have served in combat.

More:Can bonds built in military service help elected officials overcome the partisan divide?

“When I first joined the House,” the senator recalled, “there was a significant number of World War Two veterans, Korean War veterans, and some Vietnam-era veterans [in Congress]. They added dimension to the debate.”

Fifty years ago, something like three-quarters of our members of Congress had some kind of military service. Today, it's only one in six.

“There was actually a point at which I think I was one of just a handful of vets — perhaps a couple of World War Two veterans and myself,” Reed noted.

“But recently, some Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraqi war veterans have come in. So we're seeing the numbers grow.

“Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth lost both her legs as a helicopter pilot in Iraq. Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa also served in Iraq. Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas) is a veteran. We have a few more veterans on the Armed Services panel than we did five or six years ago. However, there are still several members without military experience.

“The perspective of being on the ground and seeing how it works is helpful.”

Can shared military experiences help bridge the divisiveness pervasive in our country today? Might a progressive veteran and a conservative veteran use that common ground as a basis for compromising?

“I think so,” he replied. “My first days in the Senate, we had Democrat Dan Inouye, who won the Medal of Honor in Italy. Senator Ted Stevens, a Republican, flew over the Himalayans to resupply American forces in China. Yes, they talked a lot, and compromised a lot."

He reminded me that Inouye, Bob Dole, and Philip Hart all recovered from World War II wounds at the same VA Hospital. "All three made it to the Senate, [and those bonds] helped develop compromise. Our own Senator John Chafee was a distinguished Marine in two wars, and people feel he was also a great facilitator.”

The Major Richard Star Act

I wrote about this bill at some length in my July 18 column. Itwould be another step toward eliminating an unfair practice affecting military retirees who also receive disability compensation. For many years, all retirement pensions were reduced by the amount a veteran received in disability payments.

Congress acknowledged this injustice in 2004, but lawmakers only partially corrected the problem.

They authorized concurrent receipt for those with 20 or more years of service and a 50% or greater disability rating. Left behind are those with less than 50% disability, and those injured in combat and forced to retire before their 20-year mark.

Veterans are the only group in the federal retirement system who are treated this way. Can you imagine the uproar if retired firefighters or police officers had pensions reduced by the amount of any disability payments they received? The pressure would probably result in a quick policy change.

The Star Act would expand this exemption to the 42,000 retirees whose careers were cut short due to combat-related injuries.

Proponents are disappointed this bill will not be voted on before the midterms. I asked, “Last time I checked there were 314 cosponsors in the House and 66 in the Senate. With that kind of support, what's the holdup?”

He replied that almost everyone agrees it’s the right thing to do, but no one knows how to pay for it.

“Under budgetary rules, [allowing concurrent receipt] would increase mandatory spending by $34 billion. So it has to have an offset. And the question is, 'What other programs do you cut or decrease to provide funding for the Star Act?'

“We can make progress when people suggest specific reductions, but that’s not generally the case. Some of my colleagues say, 'Just get it done,' rather than ‘Here's how we're supposed to do it.’ “

We also discussed other hot-button issues, such as medical marijuana use and dental care for veterans. These topics will be addressed in separate columns in coming weeks.

Senator Reed’s own military background

Most people know he served in the military, and quite a few are aware he is a West Point graduate. But few know the full details of his service — so I asked if he’d mind sharing.

Graduating from West Point in the top 5% of his class gave him the option to go to graduate school right away. “I went to the Kennedy School at Harvard University… [then] I went through Airborne and Ranger training at Fort Benning. And then I went to the 82nd Airborne Division.”

He served as a platoon leader, XO and then commander of Bravo Company, Second Battalion, 504th Airborne Infantry. "Then I returned to Fort Benning for the Infantry Advanced Course.”

The Army wanted to make use of his master's degree, so they sent him to West Point to teach economics and international relations. After two years of teaching, he had completed eight years of active service.

“So I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life. If I went past the 10-year mark, then it would make sense to stay in. So I should make a decision: go or no go. And then I was fortunate enough to get accepted into Harvard Law School.”

Reed resigned from active duty in August 1979. He stayed in the inactive reserves until 1991, when he retired as a major.

Decision to leave the service

I pressed him a bit on his “go or no go” decision, as he had put it.

“I was single and in my late 20s. The challenge of going to Harvard Law School was very exciting.

“I was very satisfied with the Army. But [the 1970s] was a different time. We were in the middle of the Cold War. Assignments were very predictable. You'd go to Germany for three years, you’d come back and if you could get reassigned back in the 82nd, that would be good. Then you spent time in the Pentagon, etc. So [my choice was] between a very stable and predictable career path versus trying law school and who knows where that might lead.”

Final message for Veterans Day

“The message we all should send is one of profound gratitude for their service, and the service of their families. And also the need to inspire younger Americans to serve; we're running into a problem of recruitment. [We need to] develop the same kind of service ethic that so many older veterans display so magnificently.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Veterans Day 2022 free meals, discounts and offers; The national VA website has published a list of nationally available Veterans Day discounts, meals or other ways businesses and organizations want to honor veterans. The VA states: “These Veterans Day discounts, free meals and other programs are being shared so that veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors are aware of all resources available to them. Verify with the organization offering.”

Or click on this direct link: https://news.va.gov/109711/veterans-day-discounts-free-meals/

Who needs volunteers? Who wants to volunteer? Many veteran-centric organizations have events or projects that are labor intensive, and could use volunteer help to get them across the finish line. On the other hand, some of you readers may have some extra time that you would be willing to donate to a worthy project or cause. If you fall in either category, please email veteranscolumn@providencejournal.com and we will try to make the appropriate connections.

CALENDAR

Friday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m.: North Kingstown Veterans Day Commemoration; starts with placing of wreaths at town hall (80 Boston Neck Rd.) and at Veterans Memorial Park. Parade kickoff is 10 a.m.; route is West Main and Brown streets through Wickford village to Boston Neck Road and then to North Kingstown High School for concluding ceremonies which are expected to begin at 11 a.m. Call Bill Pennoyer, 401-398-2358.

Friday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m.: South Kingstown Veterans Day Parade; starts on Holly Street, turns onto Main Street, and concludes on High Street at the Saugatucket Park Veterans Monument where a ceremony will be conducted at approximately 11 a.m. Veterans and/or family members are encouraged to march; please meet behind Old Mountain Lanes, 765 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield, at 9:30 a.m. Inclement weather: ceremony will be conducted at the South Kingstown High School at 11 a.m. Visit www.southkingstownri.com or contact the Neighborhood Guild after 9 a.m. at 401-789-9301 for all scheduling updates on the day of the parade.

Friday, Nov. 11, 11:30 a.m.: Cranston Veterans Day Parade; route will start at the Doric Avenue playground (corner of Doric Avenue and Arthur Street) and proceed down Park Avenue, past City Hall and end at Rolfe Square. Any veteran wishing to participate is welcome to join. If any veteran needs a ride we will try to accommodate their request. Ceremony at cannon memorial will follow immediately. Call Paul McAuley at 401-780-3177 to confirm your spot in the parade and request a ride if needed.

Friday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Free Haircuts for Veterans at Amy’s Men Barbershop, 1086 Willet Ave., Riverside. Susan Pereira Buckley writes, “I have been cutting hair for 26 years, and I will be giving free haircuts to all who served… I feel this is a very important day and deserves recognition...my husband, his father and son all served in the Army.” No appointments will be taken. First come, first serve, but Susan promises to stay as late as necessary to make sure everyone gets a haircut. Her number is 401-527-1730.

Saturday, Nov. 19, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame honors its 20th group of aviation heroes at the Scottish Rite Center, 2015 Broad St., Cranston. Public is welcome. Reception, dinner and ceremony to follow. Tickets cost $65 and can be reserved online at www.riahof.org. Questions? Email riahof@aol.com or call 401-831-8696.

To report the outcome of a previous activity, or to add a future event to our calendar, please email the details (including a contact name and phone number/email address) to veteranscolumn@providencejournal.com

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Jack Reed talks military issues before Veterans Day, Nov. 11