Disgraceful Actions at IL Dept. of Veterans' Affai

[yotanka]

The newly appointed director of the IL Dept. of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) recently fired the Deputy Director, * Col. Harold A. Fritz (http://www.ocshistory.org/army_museum/moh/fritz.html) , USA (Ret), a recipient of the Medal of Honor. This is definitely newsworthy, not to mention shameful. Below is my letter to the Governor of IL, also faxed to IDVA.

Dear Governor Blagojevich and the staff at IDVA,

I am writing to express my shock and outrage at the dishonorable termination of Col. Harold A. Fritz, USA (Ret) MOH, from his position as Deputy Director of the IL Dept. of Veterans' Affairs.

You recently appointed Roy L. Dolgos as Director of the Dept. of Veterans' Affairs and during his appointment you stated, "Mr. Dolgos knows first-hand what our Veterans gave up to serve their Country. His background as a soldier and his professional experience as a manager put him in a unique position to address the needs and concerns of Illinois' veterans." Oh really? Whatever gave you such a silly notion?

During the first few days in his new position, the great Mr. Dolgos eliminated the position of Deputy Director, the very same position occupied by one Col. Harold A. Fritz, a highly decorated combat veteran, a HERO of the USA and a Medal of Honor recipient. For over seven years Col. Fritz has served the IL Dept. of Veterans' Affairs and veterans of Illinois with dedication and distinction. This is a well known fact to veterans all across the United States, not just in Illinois.

Upon hearing the disturbing news that a highly regarded Medal of Honor recipient and a great hero of our nation was unjustly and rudely fired from his position, I have been overcome with a sense of total disgust. I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams that the state of Illinois would treat a Medal of Honor recipient in such a shameful manner without regard for the good of the veteran community. This is beyond comprehension.

I am extremely disappointed at this decision and I am greatly embarrassed to discover just how Illinois treats a National Treasure, one of its very own heroes, Col. Harold A. Fritz, recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Where is your honor, Sir? Where is Mr. Dolgos's honor? How dare you treat Col. Fritz this way. I expect to hear an apology coming out of the state of Illinois and I expect to see Col. Fritz immediately re-instated in his position. You Sir should be ashamed of yourself. You are an embarrassment to your state and to MY COUNTRY.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Martinez

To voice your displeasure to those responsible:

IL Governor's Fax: 217-524-4049
IL Governor's Phone: 217-782-6830
IDVA Phone: 217-785-4114
IDVA Fax: 217-524-0344

[Charie]

Good post, Yotanka and welcome to http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/gopusa.gif Come visit in the Precinct, bring your http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif and get to know us. It's a great site. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

BTW, do you have any e-mail addresses for the IDVA and the Governor's office?

[yotanka]

Thank you for the welcome, Charie. I appreciate it. I used to frequent another forum but to tell you the truth, I am sick and tired of the BS from liberals.

IL Governor's email: governor@state.il.us

Congress.org has a good page with easy contact options:
http://www.congress.org/congres....p=&bzip (http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/?id=217&lvl=S&azip=&bzip)

I haven't found email addresses for IDVA but here is their contact page:
http://www.state.il.us/agency/dva/contactus.htm

Jennifer Martinez sends

[Terri]

Welcome, yotanka!

I'm glad you're here. We do have some liberals here but this is a conservative forum and we are proud of that.

[yotanka]

Thank you Terri! Here's an update, just in today:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * From The Office Of
* * * * * * * * * * * *Macon County VietNow Chapter
* * * * * * * * * * * *Glenn Portwood, President

* * * * Hal Fritz, Medal of Honor Recipient, Fired by IDVA

I have been informed by reliable sources that Hal Fritz, Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and recipient of the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, has been fired from his position by the new director, Roy Dolgos. I have talked to Hal Fritz and he says it was due to his pointing out possible wrong-doing and irregularities under Dolgos' predecessor, John Johnson. Dolgos told Hal Fritz that his firing was at the direction of the governor.

The new Director, Roy Dolgos, and the Assistant Director, George R. Cramer, are both Vietnam Veterans from Chicago, both members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and of the American Legion. I know nothing more about them than they have posted on the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs web site:
http://www.state.il.us/agency/dva/staff.htm

but the new director (like the last) appears to be more politician than veterans representative. Hal Fritz served as Deputy Director under two Republican governors. Governor Ryan's political appointee John Johnson, tried to remove Hal Fritz but was unable to due to pressure from veterans groups. Hal Fritz said he informed the new director of several instances of improprieties during the tenure of John Johnson as director and suggested the new director take action quickly. Johnson was allowed to stay on during the transition to get his full twenty years and full state pension, while Hal Fritz, who should have been protected under the state whistleblowers laws, was given two hours to clear out his desk and office under escort and to vacate the building. This is no way to treat a Medal of Honor recipient.

Possible wrong-doing and criminal activity which is alleged to have occurred under John Johnson include bid-rigging at the Anna Veterans Home and sweetheart contract for lapel pins which were paid for but never produced. Other charges against Johnson include a grant from Secretary of State George Ryan while Johnson was Ryan's veterans representative to upgrade libraries at veterans homes. Johnson's assistant was hired by IDVA for $42,000 to oversee grant, then billed state $1000 per day consultant fees when at veterans homes to check on progress under the grant.

These charges have been ignored by the director, Roy Dolgos and the governor while Hal Fritz has been fired for pushing for an investigation. The governor's supporters are saying this is just a case of "politics as usual - Fritz was appointed by a Republican governor, now that a Democratic governor has been elected, he can appoint his own person." If this were the case, there would be no argument. However, it does seem to be "politics as usual" in Springfield, IL. The whistleblower is fired and the crooks get off.

We have contacted our state senators and representatives to see what they can find out. Hal Fritz was terminated on 15 April and we did not find out about it until 25 April, so we are a little behind the power curve on information. Governor Blagojevich ran on a platform of supporting veterans - well, I guess that only includes veterans who supported him. Firing a Medal of Honor recipient and department whistleblower is not a good way to show your support.

If you want to let the governor know what you think, here is his contact information:
Email: governor@state.il.us
Fax: 217-524-4049
Phone: 217-782-6830

Glenn Portwood, President
Macon County VietNow
Decatur, Illinois
217-423-8161
<Pwood20@Juno.com>

[yotanka]

The latest update: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ ID=32377

War hero canned due to politics?

Budget cuts cited by state in firing of Medal of Honor recipient

Posted: May 5, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Jon Dougherty
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

In every sense of the word, retired Lt. Col. Harold A. Fritz is a hero.

As a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Vietnam in January 1969, Fritz was commanding a small reconnaissance convoy that was ambushed by a company of North Vietnamese troops. With most of his vehicles aflame, both of his command tracks and their radios knocked out, and 23 of his 28 men dead or wounded, Fritz led his four remaining troops against some 200-odd enemy combatants. They slugged it out for nearly six hours before an Army tank company managed to receive a faint hand-held radio call for help from the beleaguered force and respond to drive off the enemy.

When the battle was over, Fritz's contingent was battered but intact; the North Vietnamese, meanwhile, had lost 170 men, and more than 20 were captured. In the process, Fritz and his men were able to save a follow-on supply convoy that was transporting, among other things, thousands of gallons of highly combustible aviation fuel. Had that convoy been struck by the North Vietnamese, American casualties would have been horrific.

Before leaving Vietnam, Fritz would be wounded twice in combat and earn a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster to go along with a Silver Star and numerous other commendations.

(See URL for full story)