Legion Commander Koutz set on ensuring veterans and families receive proper care
National American Legion Commander James Koutz addressed a crowd of veterans at the Jasper American Legion on Monday night.
Koutz is a Boonville-native and a veteran of the Vietnam war where he served an extended tour of duty with Co. C 169th Engineer Battalion. When he was honorably discharged from the Army he joined the American Legion.
Koutz has served in many roles for the Legion and Department of Veteran Affairs for the state. He was appointed the American Legion National Commander this past August and is tasked with carrying the message of the Legion around the nation and addressing issues that are important to veterans and organizations that they support.
During the address, Koutz stated the organization is concerned about possible national budget cuts that could severely affect veterans and the benefits they receive. “We can’t afford any cuts in Defense, we can’t have any cuts in the V.A. for health care. We’ve got to be sure that these medical centers and these clinics are ready to go,” he said.
Koutz also explained he is concerned that women veterans get the proper benefits and care they are entitled to and that the V.A. clinics have the proper doctors, equipment and medicine to care for them. “We’re finding out in surveys that the American Legion has done that we’re not up to par in our V.A. clinics of taking care of women.”
Koutz says that the budget must contain the money to carry out these tasks. Koutz testified last week in front of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that the American Legion is worried even though they have been told that there will be no cuts. He is concerned that it is just pre-election rhetoric.
“We want the veterans and their families and especially the soldiers and the families that are here that are deployed that don’t worry, the American Legion, we’re here to back you,” he said. “We’re going to be sure that you get the care that you need.”
Koutz says he has been a member of the American Legion for 42 years and says that the red garrison cap that he wears is Indiana’s cap and represents everyone who belongs to the American Legion in the state, he is just the one that gets to wear it.
