A SUMMARY OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION

In case you haven’t been paying attention these past few decades after you returned from Vietnam, the clock has been ticking…… The following are some statistics that are at once depressing yet in a larger sense should give you a huge sense of pride.

“Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, Less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran’s age approximated to be 54 years old.” How does it feel to be among the last third of all the Vietnam Veterans who served in Vietnam to be alive? I don’t know about you guys, but it kind of gives me the chills.

Considering the kind of information available about the death rate of WWII and Korean War Veterans, publicized information indicates that in the last 14 years Vietnam veterans are dying at the rate of 390 deaths each day. At this rate there will be only a few of us alive in 2015.

These statistics were taken from a variety of sources to include: The VFW Magazine, the Public Information Office, and the HQ CP Forward Observer - 1st Recon April 12, 1997. continue reading

No Comments »

SAFE HARBOR FOR RUN-AWAY YOUTH

On August 5, 1999 Maj Gen Bob Butcher, USMC-Ret, presented a plaque to Myldred E. Jones, Lcdr, USN-Ret, founder of Casa Youth Shelter, on the occasion of her 90th birthday as “Personifying a living legacy of dedication and unselfish service throughout her lifetime.” General Butcher represented Lt. Gen. Michael Nelson, USAF-Ret, President, The Retired Officers Association, TROA, now known as The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

Among the many other very special recognitions presented to Myldred on her 90th birthday were those received from the President George H.W. Bush, all four former living presidents and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Also extending their special wishes and recognitions of an exemplary lifetime of service were those of numerous national and state political and social figures and included as well those from the military as represented by: Secretaries of Defense and the Navy, Generals Powell and Schwarzkopf and the presidents of both National and California TROA organizations (now MOAA, the Military Officers Association of America).

Among the many good people at the shelter are a number of individuals who are either retired or former military officers. In addition to bringing a shared military leadership background to their duties, they bring a deep commitment to helping troubled youth and their families regain stability in their lives. continue reading

1 Comment »

INTRODUCTION TO THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

Note: In this excerpt from a written description of WWII experiences, LTC Fred Weed, AUS (RET), was serving as an enlisted soldier in France.

December, 1944. Every army unit has an OD, an officer of the day, and, in the off hours, a CQ, a charge of quarters. At Depot E-508-A it was decided that the CQ would also take charge of our switchboard (SWB), which seems quite sensible. The only difficulty was that there was just about no good OJT34 for this. The CQ was given a cot in the small switchboard room, and a quick introduction to how the SWB worked. It was a handsome piece of furniture, lots of cherry or mahogany wood, and hand operated plugs and jacks, and pretty lights.

On the evening when I was CQ, I made up my cot and prepared for some reading, and went to bed around eleven or so.   The SWB rang and lit up very soon afterwards; someone wanted the OD.  I reached him, and may have pushed the switch the wrong way once or twice; this would cause the ring to go off in the man’s ear instead of in his phone, or would make the caller get the wrong signal.  I know that eventually I got the connection through, and went back to bed.  Right away there was another call, and then several more.  Something was going on somewhere, and I did not know what or where. <a href="http://www.cal-moaa.org/blog/2008/11/22/war-and-remembrance/#more-1785">continue reading</a>

No Comments »

AUXILIARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED February 2005

Editor’s note: In July 2004, MOAA’s board of directors established an Auxiliary Advisory Committee and asked it to consider how MOAA might better serve auxiliary members. The committee also must advise the chairman and the board about current and future MOAA programs, plans, and policies as they pertain to the recruitment, retention, and representation of the surviving spouses of uniformed services officers. Carolyn Epling was selected chairperson for the committee. This was her first article printed in The Affiliate.

At a stop during her 2004 campaign, Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) addressed a large audience, many of whom were from the military community in Albuquerque, N.M. She thanked the auxiliary members of the Military Officers Association of Albuquerque for educatiing her about the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) “widows tax.” She also told us that members of Congress are faced with thousands of bills and it is impossible to understand all of them. continue reading

No Comments »

The above title is the Cover Story in the Sept 24,2007 issue of U.S. News & WORLD REPORT. In it is an outline of filmmaker Ken Burns’s new WW II series, The War, a 14-hour PBS documentary. On September 23, PBS will begin airing it. Unlike the legions of other WWII documentaries, The War, is a kind of bottom-up look, i.e. told not from/by celebrity generals or politicians, or an interest in strategy or the distraction of weaponry but from so-called ordinary people. There are no armchair experts in the film. If you weren’t in the war or waiting anxiously for someone to come back, you’re not in it. From the article quote Burns’s design is to tell the story of the conflict through four American towns (Mobile, Ala.; Waterbury, Conn.; Luverne, Minn.; and Sacramento, Calif.), the people who lived there, how they experienced the war, and how the world changed as a result. It relies heavily on the voices of ordinary soldiers and civilians. Unquote.

Following is a message received far too late to participate in the event.

Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 12:01 PM Subject: The California Museum - Conversation with Ken Burns

To all:

• We just received information about an event tomorrow, Thursday, September 13, 2007, in Sacramento, at the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts, from 10:45 am to Noon.
• Please read the message below and the attached Media Advisory for more information.
• Veterans need to RSVP by 5 pm today, by calling 916.653.1752, and identify themselves as a Veteran.
• Seating is limited.
• Please contact other Veterans in the Sacramento area and let them know about this event. • Sorry for the short notice.

A CONVERSATION WITH KEN BURNS Ken Burns talks with World War II vets, students and community members about his new documentary series, The War, moderated by KFBK radio host Kitty O’Neal at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts

No Comments »

NEEDED TO SPEED NATIONAL TO CHAPTER COMMUNICATIONS

The Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee is looking for an auxiliary member in every chapter, someone to serve as a liaison between the national committee and your chapter. We have been looking for an efficient, cost-effective way to relay messages from our committee to auxiliary membership nationwide, and this plan seems to fit the bill. But we can’t make this operational without volunteer help from our valued military widows. continue reading

No Comments »

MEETING THE NEEDS OF AUXILIARY MEMBERS

The Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee was formed by MOAA’s board of directors in March 2004 to help meet the needs of auxiliary members and encourage them to be more active in the association. The committee members–Carolyn Epling, chairperson, Albuquerque, N.M.; Margery LeTourneau, Alexandria, VA; Paula Muth, Belleville, NE; Anne Patton, Encinitas, CA, and Violet Smith, Clearwater, FL–all are auxiliaries and military widows.

Our efforts include examining MOAA’s programs, plans, and policies as they relate to the three Rs (recruitment, retention, and representation) of MOAA’s auxiliary members. Keeping in mind those three Rs, we focused on developing programs that would recruit, retain, and represent auxiliary members of MOAA. We identified the need to create a survivor outreach program. Over the past year (2004), the program has tracked down the names of military officers who have been killed since Sept 11, when the war on terrorism commenced, and enlisted council and chapter members to contact the surviving spouses to offer support. continue reading

No Comments »

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT’S D-DAY PRAYER June 6, 1944

My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong.

He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. continue reading

No Comments »