Red, White, and Lou: Old School Americans Living in the Land of Smiles

I belong to a not-so-secret club. There are 18 million US Veterans on the planet, 7% of the US adult population. I'm never surprised when I meet a fellow vet in some far-flung location. Any place worth living probably has a few of us hanging around, especially if there's warm weather and sandy beaches to enjoy.

When I want to engage with some boots-on-the-ground Americans living in places new to me, the local VFW Post is always a valuable resource. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is an American organization created in 1914, merging three national war veteran societies that were founded in 1899, shortly after the Spanish-American War. There are over 6,000 VFW Posts worldwide, with 1.5 million members.

The mission of the VFW, in its own words, is to "foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts," to "serve our veterans, the military and our communities," and to "advocate on behalf of all veterans." The organization also works to "ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made" on behalf of their country.

International Living recently commissioned me to investigate Rayong Province on Thailand's Eastern Seaboard to evaluate how livable the area is for Americans. So I looked up my old friend Lou Holub, a long-time expat, a US Navy veteran, and Quartermaster for VFW Post 12146 located in Ban Chang, Rayong.

Originally from Chicago, Lou came to Thailand after retiring from the Navy and continuing his career as an Engineer in Southeast Asia. The deep-sea port at Map Ta Phut and the massive industrial estate in the western part of the province provide plenty of opportunities for working expats in this region.

Lou joined the local VFW Post, whose membership includes veterans of all ages and branches of service. Nearby Utapao International Airport was originally a US Air Force Base during the Vietnam War, and Pattaya was the original R&R retreat for American troops engaged in that conflict. Many vets of that era settled here.

One of the VFW's main roles in the lives of US veterans living overseas is ensuring they have access to all the benefits and entitlements they qualify for. Lou told me about a vet he calls "The Chief," who is 102 years old and one of the last surviving US veterans that fought in WWII.

"Someone contacted us about an American in a coma in a Thai government hospital. We found The Chief in pretty bad shape, but we got him to a private hospital, and then later to an assisted living facility," Lou said. "When we got him ID'd, we discovered he was a WWII vet and had full benefits, so we had him taken to the VA facility in Hawaii. Last I heard, he was chasing the nurses around in a motorized wheelchair!"

Lou and the other members of VFW Post 12146 work hard on behalf of expat veterans in Rayong.

Another vet was recently in a similar situation, and the VFW swung into action and discovered he had retired with full disability and could receive Tri-Care, which arranges for the US government to pay for treatment in private hospitals overseas. He also made a full recovery.

"The demographics of veteran expats is changing", Lou said. "Overall, they are younger, with more people of color, and single women." He told me a story about a young female Marine Corps veteran who had endured multiple tours in Iraq. "She was teaching English in a nearby school here in Rayong, but post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was severely affecting her quality of life, so we reached out and got her to a VA facility for treatment."

Lou said The Post is often called upon to help Americans and their families through the toughest times. We talked about a mutual friend from Georgia who had passed away a few years earlier and had been married to his Thai partner for over 20 years. She had no idea that as his spouse, she was entitled to receive his Social Security benefits. Lou and the boys at the VFW delineated the proper administrative channels, assembled the required documents, and successfully got those benefits flowing to our departed friend's family.

VFW Post 12146 hosts regular golf tournaments in Ban Chang for vets and locals.|©Bart Walters

The VFW is also actively engaged in the local Thai community. When I met with Lou, he was finalizing plans for their annual charity golf tournament, which raises money for children's charities. They also have an outreach program that provides essential medical supplies to disabled or bedridden locals who may not be able to afford them otherwise.

Lou is retiring from his second career in two months, but I can't imagine him slowing down. He takes his role with the VFW very seriously. At a time when political tensions are high in my home country and American expats are uncertain about our relationships with other nations, Lou Holub has remained steadfast in his commitment to being the best American ambassador he can be. He and the boys from the VFW have affirmed my belief that being proud to be American is still okay.