yourviews

consume more than 50 percent of the federal budget and [whose] ex- ploding costs are contributing to the national deficit. However, politicians will not make difficult decisions con- cerning these programs because of voter backlash and the risk of being voted out of office since recipients of these programs comprise a lot bigger segment of the population than uni- formed servicemembers and retirees. We, as a nation, must determine if

we want to continue to maintain an all-volunteer force or reinstate con- scription. An armed force based upon conscription will definitely reduce costs if servicemembers in the lower ranks are single. This would eliminate the need for child care centers [and] medical care for dependents and substantially reduce cost of housing since the majority of servicemembers would reside in barracks. I doubt that a return to the draft is politically fea- sible, and most young people have no desire to serve in the military. It is not possible to maintain an

all-volunteer force with minimal resourcing. Therefore, we need to maintain adequate funding or return to conscription. — Lt. Col. James T. Delisi, USAR (Ret) Life Member

Morgantown, W.Va.

Housepainting and Basis As a 13-year Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) preparer, I have to correct one “caveat” [Col. William A. Burston, USA (Ret)] mentioned in the April 2015 Military Officer Your Views when he commented on [“4 Tax Law Misperceptions,” February 2015]. Indeed, a home’s basis begins with the cost (when not inherited or gifted) and includes improvements — but not the repainting of the house, inside or outside. Repainting a house

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is considered a repair, done to main- tain the home, and does not add to the basis. This may be a fine point, but we see this misunderstanding frequently with our VITA clients. I also agree with alerting our military homeowners to keep very good re- cords. Too often it is not done. — Lt. Col. Ralph D. Barclay, USAF (Ret) Life Member Tucson, Ariz.

Coast Guard Hero In your April edition of Military Of- ficer, page 26, you reviewed a book, The Medal of Honor: A History of Service Above and Beyond. … The re- viewer states, “nearly 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to sol- diers, sailors, Marines, and airmen.” A Medal of Honor was posthu-

mously awarded to Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Munro for actions taken Sept. 27, 1942, during the battle of Guadalcanal, when his Hig- gins boat unit evacuated and saved the lives of 500 Marines, commanded by then-Lt. Col. Chesty Puller, who were trapped by overwhelming Japanese forces on the beach of Point Cruz. Lieutenant Colonel Puller initiated the award recommendation. — Cmdr. Henry C. Rayburn, USCGR (Ret) Life Member via email

Corrections: “Military Made, Busi- ness Approved,” May 2015, misidenti- fied the service status of former Army Maj. James R. Schenck. “Funding Dreams,” April 2015, featured an in- complete list of donors belonging in the Chairman’s Club. The additional members are listed on page 91 of this issue. We regret these errors.

For submission information, see page 6.