Lee Kichen

Member For

49 weeks 5 days

BIOGRAPHY

Lieutenant Colonel Lee F. Kichen is currently a Veterans Service Officer with the Veterans of Foreign Wars at its State Service Office in St. Petersburg. Prior to assuming that position, he was a Veterans Service Officer for Sarasota, County. He assists veterans and their families obtain from the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits such as disability compensation, pensions, health care and vocational and rehabilitation training. In addition to his duties as a Veterans Service Officer, the State Commander of Florida's Veterans of Foreign Wars has appointed him Legislative Chairman.

Successive VFW Commanders in Chief have appointed Colonel Kichen to the National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, National By-Laws and Resolutions Committee and the National Legislative Committee. He is a native of Framingham, Massachusetts. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Master of Arts degrees from Pacific Lutheran University and Chapman University. In addition to his civilian education, Colonel Kichen is a graduate of the Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He retired from the United States Army in 1997 after twenty-seven years of service as an Armor officer. He served in various command and staff positions in the Continental United States and overseas.

His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, with one oak leaf cluster; the Meritorious Service Medal, w/two oak leaf clusters; the Army Commendation Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; the Army Achievement Medal and the Korea Defense Service Medal. He also wears the Army Staff Identification Badge, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and the Bronze Medallion of the Order of St. George for his contributions to mounted warfare. He is a Silver Legacy Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Military Officers Association of America. He is also a member of the Jewish War Veterans, the AMVETS, the Military Order of the World Wars, the American Legion, the Association of the United States Army, the Armor Association, the United States Cavalry Association, the Military Officers Association of Sarasota and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. He served as President of the Sarasota County Veterans Commission from 1999-2002. He was appointed by former Congresswoman Katherine Harris and reappointed by Congressman Vern Buchanan to the Southwest Florida National Cemetery Veterans Affairs Committee. He also serves on Senator Mel Martinez's and Congressman Vern Buchanan's Service Academy Selection Boards.

He was recognized by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3233 as its Man of the Year, Elks Lodge #2495 as its Citizen of the Year, the Bradenton-Sarasota Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars with the Silver Patrick Henry Medallion for Patriotic Service and the Sarasota County Veteran of the Year. He and is wife Carol reside in Sarasota, Florida.

Diary Entries

Veterans Legislative Update - July 2009

By Lee F. Kichen | 07/13/09

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY Federal Legislative Update VFW State Commander Tells Congress to Leave VA Health Care and TRICARE Alone-In a letter to the Florida delegation of the United States Congress, Department Commander Stephen Surface urged the Senators and members of the House of Representatives leave VA health care and TRICARE out of a national health care reform package. Surface wrote: “Military health benefits provide... read more »

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Veterans Legislative Update - June 2009

By Lee F. Kichen | 06/14/09

Federal Legislative Update: Bill to Ease PTSD Burden of Proof Goes to Committee-A bill designed to make it easier for veterans to receive benefits and immediate care for post-traumatic stress disorder moved to the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday and is expected to be voted on by the committee this month. This bill if it becomes law will, in essence, relax the requirement to prove a “combat stressor”. H.R.... read more »

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Pentagon Budget Cuts Revealed

By Lee F. Kichen | 04/17/09

This month, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates made public additional details of the department’s FY2010 budget priorities. Normally, the only aspects of Defense spending we address are those dealing with quality life for service members, military retirees and their families. However, the VFW’s Congressional Charter includes the preservation and the defense of the United States from all enemies as one of its purposes... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

Veterans Legislative Update - April 2009

By Lee F. Kichen | 04/17/09

Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Committee Meets in Washington, DC - Commander in Chief Glen Gardner welcomed committee members to the Capital for this year’s conference. Representing the Department of Florida were State Legislative Chairman Lee F. Kichen, Past State Commander A.E. “Gene” Hall and Al Wallace. “Chief” Gardner reaffirmed the National Organization’s commitment to securing... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

President Obama Withdraws Plan to Charge Private Insurance for Treatment

By Lee F. Kichen | 03/23/09

I have been writing this newsletter for over ten years on a monthly basis. As a result of my trip last week to Washington, DC, it is appropriate that I write a special edition which is really a follow-up to my earlier piece criticizing President Obama's proposal to seek third party payment from private insurance veterans receiving treatment from VA for the service connected conditions. This issue came to a boil last Monday, when the... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »Sarasota County (FL) | Miami-Dade County (FL) |

Veterans Legislative Update - March 2009

By Lee F. Kichen | 03/11/09

Federal Legislative UpdateIs President Obama's Proposed Budget Good News or Bad News Veterans?The Administration last week unveiled a preview of its budget for Fiscal Year 2010. The good news is that the Obama Administration is calling for a twenty-five million dollar increase in appropriations for the VA for the next five years. This outlay assumes enrolling approximately one half million non-disabled veterans in the VA health care... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »Sarasota County (FL) | National Defense & Homeland Security |

Veterans Legislative Update - February 2009

By Lee F. Kichen | 02/10/09

Can We Really Believe in Change? - After many years observing the political landscape, I have learned that it is easier to campaign for a political office than to govern from that office. Campaigns are an exercise in making promises, while governing means delivering on those promises. President Barack Obama, during his run for the White House, made many promises to veterans and members of the Armed Forces and their... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »Sarasota County (FL) | National Defense & Homeland Security | Politics |

Veterans Legislative Update - January 2009

By Lee F. Kichen | 01/13/09

BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAYFederal Legislative UpdateRepresentative Vern Buchanan to Receive Legislative Achievement Award - David L. Harris, Commander of Florida's Veterans of Foreign Wars announced the selection of United States Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL13) as the recipient of its Legislative Achievement Award. In announcing this selection, Mr. Harris, Vietnam War veteran, lauded Mr. Buchanan's service to members of the Armed... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »Sarasota County (FL) | National Defense & Homeland Security | Politics |

A VETERAN BATTLING INSIDE THE BELTWAY

By Lee F. Kichen | 12/11/08

INSIDE THE BELTWAYFederal Legislative UpdatePresident-elect Obama Names VA Secretary-President-elect Barack announced that he will send the name of former Chief of Staff of the Army, General (Ret) Eric K. Shinseki to the Senate for confirmation as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. General Shinseki has first hand knowledge of the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces. As a young officer in Vietnam he was twice wounded and... read more »