Raymond man to chair committee on Gulf War vets

Raymond man to chair committee on Gulf War vets

RAYMOND (May 19, 2008): Charles L. Cragin of Raymond, a 36-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and a former candidate for governor of Maine, has been chosen to chair a federal committee advising officials on issues related to veterans of the Gulf War.

Cragin was appointed to the advisory committee on Gulf War veterans by Dr. James Peake, secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The committee will advise Peake on the full spectrum of health care and benefits issues that confront veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War period, 1990-91.

"It is a great honor to join this distinguished group of Americans in evaluating how America has responded, and how it should respond in the future, to the unique issues presented by the dedicated men and women who went in harm's way during the Gulf War of 1990-1991," Cragin said in a press release.

Currently a senior government affairs counselor for Maine Street Solutions, based in Augusta and Washington, D.C., Cragin will join on the committee 13 other distinguished members from throughout the United States.

"Gulf War veterans made an invaluable contribution to national security and peace in a volatile region," Peake said. "This new panel will ensure that VA benefits and programs adapt to the needs of these veterans, just as our services have adapted for veterans of other conflicts."

Cragin is a former senior U.S. Department of Defense official, chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the 1982 Republican nominee for governor of Maine. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1998 at the rank of Captain following over 36 years of service in both the enlisted and officer ranks.

The committee will hold meetings, invite testimony and receive information, including from the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, and any other federal department or agency. The committee will submit to Peake a report no later than 18 months after the date of its first meeting.
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The committee will submit to Peake a report no later than 18 months after the date of its first meeting.

Is it just me or does anyone else find this hilarious Secretary Peake will NOT be the Secretary of the VA in 18 months, he will lose his job in Jan 2009 when the Bush Administration leaves, so this committee which if it is a continuation of the past committee's will continue to ignore the open and honest testimony of DR James Binn and DR Haley of Texas, and the continued resistance of using animal studies that show many medical problems related to mustard agent and Sarin gas exposures and the use of bug repellants by the military during GW1.

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