Fw: Editorial about Cindy Williams

["Douglas Whitney" <dwhitney@moscow.com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "FINN, BRIAN" <BRIFIN@SAFECO.com>
To: <HHRAGAN41@HOTMAIL.COM>; <DWHITNEY@MOSCOW.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 1:22 PM
Subject: FW: Editorial about Cindy Williams


>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: JAUMOTTE, LYNETTE M
> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 10:03 AM
> To: FINN, BRIAN; SULLIVAN, TIMOTHY J; ELLIOTT, JACK; BRITT, KIMBERLY;
> RESSLER, HEATHER; FIRSICH, DIANE; PAYTON, GREG; TRICHIE, SUE; BUTCHER,
> SHIRLEY
> Subject: FW: Editorial about Cindy Williams
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wikoff, Lee [mailto:LWikoff@DohertyEmployment.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 2:44 PM
> Subject: FW: Editorial about Cindy Williams
>
>
> The originator's address is at the Veterans Benefits Administration
> (http://www.vba.VA.gov/) which appears to give the below credibility. -
Lee
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: VFWDRONN@vba.VA.gov [mailto:VFWDRONN@vba.VA.gov]
> >
> > MAKES YOU REALLY THINK,, PLEASE READ AND PASS ON
> >
> > On 12 November, Ms Cindy Williams (from the Laverne and Shirley TV show)
> > wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the pay raise(s)
coming
> > service members' way this year-citing that the stated 13%
> > wage gap was bogus. A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her
> > article below. He ought to get a bonus for this!
> >
> > Ms. Williams:
> >
> > I just had the pleasure of reading your column of 12 Nov, "Our GIs earn
> > enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this
> > vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it
> > disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting
> > Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest leave and earnings
> > statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80, before taxes. After taxes,
I
> >
> > take home $874.20. When I run that through Windows' Calculator, I come
up
> > with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.
> > I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am
> > part of the team responsible for the administration of a 5,000-host
> > computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments,
> > specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for
> > Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area reveals a position in
my
> > career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly,
> > this
> > job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does it pay less than this. No,
> > this
> > job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can
> > draw
> > the obvious conclusions.
> > Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic
> > Allowance for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively) as
> > being a further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I'm
> > curious
> > as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both
> > slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00.
> > Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER had
the
> >
> > pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it
> > upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership
for
> > attempting to get the families in the military's lowest
> > pay brackets off AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a
> > group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN, I leave the choice
of
> > service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the
> > SIX
> > month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away
from
> > your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment
> > experience".
> > As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses
> > and
> > children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to
> > note
> > that several families are still unsure of how they'll
> > be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is
gone-obviously
> > they've been squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving
> > them.
> > Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are
> > perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in
> > a DFP(Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering
against
> > the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that
> > there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember
> > this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the
> > tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to
> > everything, This gives some flavor.
> > Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly
> > be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be
thankful
> > for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree
> > with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece. But, tomorrow
> > from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
> > You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First
> > Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily
> > basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and
> > people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary
that
> >
> > is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most
> > people
> > cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector
> > because
> > we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms.
> > Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?
Rubbish!
> >
> >
> > A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC
> >
> >
> > IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND
> > SHOW OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU. THIS
> > LETTER SHOULD BE APPLAUDED BY ANYONE WHO'S EVER SERVED OR HAD A FAMILY
> > MEMBER SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES! THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES A MEDAL!!!
> >
> >
>