Michigan Legion Media Room

Article Posted in the September 2012 edition of the Michigan Legionnaire Understanding the Steps….. By Suzette Price, DVSO Greetings Legionnaires, from the 12 th floor of the federal building in Detroit,  The American Legion Department of Michigan Veterans Service Office.  For the past 16 months I have had the honor and privilege of working with the best veteran’s service organization in the nation and serving many of you.  During those 16 months I have learned many things about the claims process and as I take phone calls from veterans I understand the frustration many feel from the long wait times for their claim.  Our commitment is to service those claim as best and expediently as possible.  In May of 2011 I was trained that the claims process was anywhere from six to nine months long. Today, the claims process is 18 to 24 months long. The claims being filed has severely increased and the hiring of VA employees has failed to parallel with the growth in claims, thus

Time is drawing near, 2012 elections are fast approaching, make sure you are registered to vote. More information available at www.michigan.gov/vote The American Legion Department of Michigan represents over 70,000 members in the State of Michigan. The American Legion was founded in 1919, based on “The Four Pillars”; veteran rehabilitation, Americanism, child welfare, and national security and continued above all its mission as a consumers’ advocate for veterans. For more information contact the Michigan Legion at 517-371-4720 ext 16, mark@michiganlegion.org, or visit our website at www.michiganlegion.org.

James E. Koutz National Commander The American Legion James E. Koutz of Boonville, Indiana was elected national commander of the 2.4 million-member American Legion on Aug. 30, 2012 in Indianapolis, during the 94th national convention of the nation’s largest veterans organization. A Vietnam War Veteran, he entered the United States Army in August 1969. He attended Basic Training at Ft. Knox, Ky., and Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. Ord, Calif.  In January 1970 he reported to Vietnam and served an extended tour of duty with Co. C 169th Engineer Battalion. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Specialist 5 in March 1971 and quickly joined The American Legion. He is a member of Boonville Post 200 where his father, George, was a World War II veteran and a past commander of the post. Jim was honored as a life member of his Post in 1991 and served as its post commander for nine years. Koutz retired from the Amax Coal Company in 1995 after 21 years of service. He