From @TAPSorg: “Captain Douglas L. Hickok is the first United States National Guardsman to lose the battle with COVID-19. After attending training, he fell ill and passed away in a Pennsylvania hospital on March 28....

2/ “... Because of his Guard status, Hickok's family is currently ineligible for the full government benefits that would normally accompany Active Duty military status.

“TAPS has now taken up arms to advocate for legislative change...

3/“... to ensure that National Guard troops who pass away while serving during the COVID-19 crisis received the same death benefits as any other Active Duty Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman or Coast Guardsman....

4/“... There are currently over 41,600 Army National Guard troops deployed in the fight against COVID-19 with 713 testing positive for the virus as of April 22.”

5/ Here’s a letter on this from the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chair @JerryMoran and ranking Democrat @SenatorTester

https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/1/

Are you a Guardsman or Guardswoman adversely impacted by this and you need help? Let me know.