Samuel T. Brick
Recently our South Carolina State Council President Sam Brick had to resign from his position due to medical reasons. Sam has been with the South Carolina State Council President since August 2018. He has achieved many accomplishments while being in the military service and as the SC State Council President. While in the military he retired as a Colonel in the Army Reserve on June 2002. He was a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer and military judge, serving in various capacities including counsel for HQ Area Command in Vietnam and staff judge advocate for CENTCOM Rear Headquarters during the First Persian Gulf War. With over 30 years with the Department of Defense (DoD) in attorney-advisor roles. His legislative roles included Director of Legislative Reference for the DoD and Chief Legislative Counsel for the Army. He was admitted to practice law before the Maryland Bar and various federal courts, including the Supreme Court. Army Reserve Ambassador for South Carolina from August 2014. While being the SC State Council President, he was elected to the Committee for State Council Presidents as chairperson. It is an Honor knowing Sam, he will be missed as our State Council President and all the good he has done for his fellow Vietnam Veterans.
The Vietnam War officially ended on 30 April 1975 at 2000 (8:00 PM).
U.S. Pres. Gerald Ford and senior advisers receiving an update from Secretary of State Henry Kissinger about the evacuation of U.S. personnel from Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, The last US service members were US Embassy security - US Marines. The war ended at 2000 eastern time, when Presented Gerald Ford received a phone call that all US personal was evacuated 50 years today. To a
Only one of many newspapers headlines the "Vietnam War ENDED".
In Memoriam Of Arnold Collins
Presented to Leslie Bell by Carol Rich
Arnold Edwin Collins, 77, passed away at home unexpectedly on March 24, 2025. Born on February 3, 1948, in Chesnee, SC, he was the son of the late Troy Collins and Elsie Collins Lawter.
Arnold graduated from Chesnee High School with the class of 1966 . He was a veteran of the US Navy during the Vietnam War, and he retired from the R.R. Donnelley Plant.
He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Billy Bell; three grandchildren:
As an Aviation Electrician with the Fleet Airborne Reconnaissance SQDN (VQ-1), Arnold Collins was stationed at NAS Atsugi, Japan. The Squadron’s involvement in the war started characteristically, at the very beginning, when a Sky Warrior crew was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for their role in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident (August 2-5, 1964). For the Next 9 years, VQ-1 would operate from Da Nang, NAS Cubi Point, Bangkok, and aircraft carriers on patrol in “Yankee Station” and other bases in Southeast Asia. VQ-1’s air crews supported countless air strikes and are credited with assisting with the destruction of numerous MiG aircraft and Komar patrol boats. A little-known fact about VQ-1 on April 15, 1969, an EC-121 M of VQ-1 on a reconnaissance mission was shot down by North Korean MiG-21 aircraft over the Sea of Japan. All 31 Americans (30 Navy & w Marine) on board were killed, which constitutes the largest single loss of US Aircrew during this period
The above was requested by Carol Rich, for a memoriam of Arnold Collins. She made a donation to the S.C, State VVA to have this memoriam published in the VVA State council newsletter.
South Carolina State Council
Welcome to the South Carolina State Council web page. The primary function of the State Council is to provide management guidance and administrative support for the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) chapters within the State. In addition, the Council may from time to time be responsible for various state wide initiatives. The council is comprised of representatives (or delegates) from each of the chapters plus a representative from the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America (AVVA).
The AVVA Inc.is a 501(c)3 corporation whose main object is to support Veterans and their families, as well as the families of our active military personnel. We are a National, nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to advancing the awareness of issues affecting Veterans, their families and their communities. AVVA is made up of Veterans of all eras, families and friends of Veterans and all persons who support Veterans' issues. For more information on the AVVA go to www.avva.org
The Council meets three times a year on the second Sunday of the months of February, June and October. This is a change to the bylaws approved by the State Council in June 2019. Anyone and everyone are welcome to attend our "always open " meetings (there may be times to invoke executive session, but that is rare.)
The State Council has three meeting a year, February, June, and October.
Dues are now $50 for life membership only.
Founded in 1978, Vietnam Veterans of America is the only National Vietnam Veterans Organization Congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA is organized as a not-for-profit corporation and is tax exempt under section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
GOALS: VVA's goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam Veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans and to change public perception of Vietnam Veterans.
About Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
VVA'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLE: "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another."
ORGANIZATION;
The National BOD consists of four officers, 10 at-large directors, and 9 regional directors representing each of the regions. The National AVVA president also sits on the BOD as a non-voting special adviser. South Carolina falls in the seven-state mid-Atlantic region, Region III. The director for the current term is Rossie Nance NC State Council President. Each state or territory with at least three chapters may elect to have a state council and there are currently 48 state councils, including Puerto Rico. The presidents of each state elects one member from among them to sit on the Conference of State Council Presidents. They are the voice of the membership and have a seat on the National Board. They provide opinions and recommendations of the membership to the board and it respond. See Section 11 of art 1 of the Constitution.
Vietnam Veterans of America
Below is a synopsis of the March 13th Press Release on Jack’s testimony. Our new Government Affairs Director (Our Chief Lobbyist) will meet us at our upcoming CSCP. He appears awesome. A simplified listing of what Jack testified to in March follows for your info. Sam Brick, Chair
Synopsis of VVA Legislative Program that President Mc Manus testified to before the Congressional Veterans’ Affairs See the April 3d Press Release (No. 24-2) for fuller descriptions.
VVA Legislative Program as President Mc Manus testified before the Congressional Veterans’ Affairs
- Fully fund the Defense POW/MIA Agency to account for the 1,577MIA’s.
- Honor Tom Corey by naming the West Palm Beach Medical Center after him.
- Pass Donut Dolly Congressional Gold medal.
- Hold an oversight hearing of Toxic Exposure with the VA Secretary as star witness.
- Amend Blue Water Act to extend the 12-mile limit to include Marines and Navy personnel who were assigned to the RVN Theater of combat ops or who got the Vietnam Service Medal.
- Research pre-Gulf War burn pit use. This would also fix the PACT Act that excluded vets in locations other than Middle East and West Asia.
- Close oversight of implementation of the Pact Act for review of how funding is used and to ensure it is for veterans and their families.
- Get the VA to execute the Fort McClelland epidemiological study under the Pact Act.
- Pass the Major Richard Star Act to allow combat disabled to receive both retired pay and disability pay simultaneously.
- Reinstate the 48-hour review for VA disability claims.
- Authorize VA disability compensation for incarcerated vets with balance due over 10% put in an escrow fund until the vet gets released.
- Get South Korea to agree for payments so the Korean American Valor Act can get started.
- Amend the Puerto Rican Tax Code to get more healthcare workers. 63.9% of PR vets are over 65 and need healthcare.
- Order the VA to reinstitute physician assistants as mental health treatment providers at VA hospitals.
Dependents of Some Disabled Veterans Can Now Fly Space-A
A recent regulations change allows dependent family members of permanently and totally disabled veterans to fly on space-available, or Space-A, flights.
On Oct. 23, 2020, a change to DOD/4514.13 the eligibility requirements for Space-A travel, adding dependents of permanently and totally disabled veterans.
In 2019, those veterans became eligible to fly Space-A on regularly scheduled military passenger aircraft, joining retirees and their spouses; National Guard and Reserve members on the Active Status List; and surviving spouses of those who died on active duty. However, the dependents of those disabled veterans were not allowed to accompany them on Space-A flights. The regulation change states that dependents of permanently and totally disabled veterans may accompany the veteran on flights within the continental United States (CONUS) or on flights between CONUS and Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. territories. Dependents cannot travel without the veteran sponsor. space - available flights, also known as military hops, allow eligible passengers to fill unused seats on Defense Department-owned or -controlled aircraft. Space-A passengers can fly only after all the space-required passengers and cargo have been accommodated. Space-A passengers are then loaded by priority group; those on emergency leave are the top priority, or category 1, and retirees and disabled veterans are the lowest priority, or category 6. Other categories of Space-A travelers include those on environmental and morale leave (EML), house-hunting leave, or other mission-critical or official travel. Several years ago a bill was passed allowing disabled veterans (100%) to fly on space A on military flights but did not allow their dependents. The article appeared in Military.com 02/16/2021.
Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 988 then and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available. .
Women Veterans Crisis Line
Call or text the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636) or use the online chat feature. Women Veterans Call Center representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays. If you contact the Women Veterans Call Center after hours and leave a message, you will receive a return call the next day the call center is open..