AMVETS Visits American Troops; Allies in Far East This Fall

Every year, AMVETS and the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary visit our allies in South Korea and Taiwan, visit troops stationed on the Korean peninsula, and visit the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

This year, AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National President Patty Piening, and AMVETS National Service Foundation President Joe Piening set out on the week-long trip, corresponding to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Independence Day on Oct. 10.

Cmdr. Miskulin was given the opportunity to speak at the government of Taiwan's official Independence Day commemoration, alongside Republic of China President Ma Ying-Jeou.

AMVETS has a long-established working relationship with the Republic of China. For years, AMVETS has hosted Veterans Affairs leadership from Taiwan at AMVETS events stateside, and Taiwan has returned the favor.

On the Far East visit, Cmdr. Miskulin and the Pienings also had the opportunity to speak with American troops and military leadership from the Eighth U.S. Army stationed in South Korea. Over the last few years, American forces have consolidated operations away from the demilitarized zone with North Korea, moving into the new U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan. AMVETS leaders were treated to a tour of the post, which opened in 2006.

On the return from the Far East, the AMVETS leaders stopped in Hawaii to visit with American troops stationed at Schofield Barracks and to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor. AMVETS played an integral role in fund-raising, construction, renovation and maintenance of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

(Photo: AMVETS leaders meet with leaders from the Republic of China (Taiwan) on this fall's Far East visit. Photo courtesy of the Republic of China.)