Newsletter. Published quarterly January, April, July, October. By and for. Grand Voiture de la Louisianne. November December - January.

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1 Newsletter Published quarterly January, April, July, October By and for Grand Voiture de la Louisianne November December - January January 2013 La Societé des Quarante Hommes et Huit Cheveaux L Editeur Roy Kellum roykellum@charter.net On the Web at The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 1

2 Johnny B. Keel The Cajun Link Grand Chef de Gare Grande Voiture de la Louisianne The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 2

3 The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 3

4 Steven Tucker Grand Chef de Train Ph. # (337) prowler1313@hotmail.com Grand Chef de Train Steven Tucker Thank you, as we go into the New Year 2013 we take time to reflect on the Voitures that have gone before us and those here to come. As always membership is a priority, become a Mentor to sustain leadership throughout the years. Teach, learn, listen and everyone will prosper. The Cajun Wreck is almost here, it will be a great time to meet our new Forty and Eighter's. The Grande Voiture de Louisianne Annual Charity Fundraiser and all programs supporting LaSocieté are asking all Locale's to help make this a success. Proud to Serve La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grand Chef de Train Dennis Engdahl Nurses Training Program Nurses Training Pins are still available for a donation of $3.00. Some are still out on consignment, so if you would bring the payment to the Cajun Wreck I will appreciate it. We must get a payment to the Nationale Directeur soon. We will have pins at the Wreck if you need to get more. Cliff Kershaw, Grand Directeur Nurses Train 29 th Annual CAJUN WRECK Holiday Inn - Central Holidome 2032 NE Evangeline Thruway Lafayette, Louisiana February 21-24, 2013 Registration is $35.00 (Voyageur or Dame) See attached Registration Form The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 4

5 The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 5

6 Grande Membership MEMBERSHIP STATUS FOR LOUISIANA TO 31 JANUARY 2013 (National Web Posting) The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 6

7 TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2013: With all the problems the World is facing, it can be unsettling to the mind. Today, I share with you ten predictions that are true! * 1. The Bible will still have all the answers. 2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth. 3. The Holy Spirit will still move. 4. God will still honor the praises of His people. 5. There will still be Biblical preaching. 6. There will still be singing of praise to God. 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people. 8. There will still be room at the Cross. 9. Jesus will still love you. 10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him. Isn't it great To Remember Who Is Really In Control, and that; "the Word of the Lord endures forever." (1 Peter 1:25) I hope you found this encouraging!!!! Sometimes we need the reminder of just "WHO" is really in control. 'Til the nets are full, keep on fishing., Grand Aumonier James Lacassagne, Grand Youth Sports Directeur Home Phone (985) Cell (985) jlacassagne@charter.net Youth Sports Program The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 7

8 Americanism - Milton Harrison - Grand Directeur Now is the time to start putting your Voiture Locale s activities for the year down on paper for your annual reports. If you have done anything for the Forty and Eight, American Legion, VFW or any other veterans organization, then please report those activities to your correspondant for inclusion in the end of year reports. Americanism is the activity of any locale or voyageur in service to the public, while participating in your communities activities. You are not only accumulating hours, miles and dollars for the Americanism Program; you are promoting the Forty and Eight Americanism Program and its ideals by setting an example of a veteran s love for his community, state and nation. The 4 and 8 s Flags for First Graders Program is the Veterans chance to show the very young what Americanism really means. Remember. You do not have to stop with the first grade, some school systems ask that the FFFG s presentation be made before an assembly of elementary classes. Just insure that you are reporting your FFFG s activities to your Grande Voiture. Please use the Americanism Consolidated Report form found in your Petite Communique from Nationale when reporting to the Grand Correspondant. Go to the Forty and Eight website and download your form from the Petite Communique. Notice the change for 2013 reporting, FFFG s is not a separate report; it has been added to the Americanism Consolidated Report. Locales report under the Flags For First Graders Program, include number of schools where flags were distributed and total number of flags; be sure to attach any photos from you re your FFFG s presentation. Grandes Only: Report the Outstanding Locale and attach their report to Americanism Consolidated Report. May God Bless America, Milt Past Chef de Gare Club The Cajun Wreck gives us the opportunity to have our semi-annual meeting. TBD Saturday, 23 February We will be collecting dues, signing up new members and taking care of such business that may come before it. Hope to see you there. If you are unable to attend, you can still pay your dues by sending them to me, or to the Grande Commissaire Intendant Clifford Kershaw. Archie The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 8

9 Voiture Activities From Correspondent Dennis Bell, Voiture At last promenade Paul Strange was accepted and sworn in by Don Schubert of Voiture 137. We also held two wrecks with a total of eight new voyagers having been wrecked. Three were from Grand Chef de Gare Johnny Keel's Voiture and five from Voiture Voyageurs also helped with Christmas baskets being put together and delivered. Chef de Gare Sam Watkins presents a twenty-five year certificate of continuous membership to Voyageur John D. Dunn (left) at the monthly Promenade of Voiture 137, Jan. 3, P.G. s Steven D. Becker (front) and Robert G. Goode were obligated with the first degree at the monthly Promenade of Voiture 137, Jan. 3, Cheminot Nationale Donald K. Schreiber performed the obligation while Chef de Train #1 John Powell and Grand Drapeau Don Vallery (right) assisted with the initiatory work. Legionnaires and Voyageurs of Voiture 137 visiting the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home in Bossier City, Dec. 17, Left to right: John Powell, Don Vallery, Robert Diaz-Hernandez, Steve Becker, Jim Howard, Ed Peters (seated), Carroll Michaud, Bob Williams and Shawn Bohannon. The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 9

10 Veterans Day Honor Parade in Shreveport Voiture 137 was honored to host nine combat Marines of World War II as guests aboard their locomotive for the Veterans Day Honor Parade at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport, November 11, Known as The Ten by the local chapter of the Marine Corps League, these brave veterans served throughout the Pacific Theater of Operations, seeing action from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Fellow Marine and World War II veteran Jesse E. Boatright was unable to attend the parade due to illness. Judge Hamilton and Buddy Hudsmith are proud Voyageurs of Voiture 137. Members of The Ten, from left to right, pose with the locomotive of Voiture 137, decked out in Marine Corps regalia, at the start of the parade. Judge Gayle K. Hamilton joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1943 and, after boot training and radio school at MCRD San Diego, CA, was assigned to Camp Pendleton for further training. In early 1944, he went to Hawaii and, later Guadalcanal with the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Battalion for about one year. Assigned to the 3rd 155mm Howitzer Battalion attached to the 1st Marine Division, Hamilton landed on Okinawa on April 1, 1945, and remained there until the end of the war. In November 1945, he was sent to Peking (Beijing), China with the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, assigned to guard the U.S. Legation. Discharged as a Corporal in February 1946, Hamilton later served as a First Judicial District Judge in Caddo Parish. Harold Rick Richter joined the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II and served as a Plane Captain in Marine Aviation. Responsible for maintenance of a Douglas SBD dive bomber, he often flew with pilots in the South Pacific, seeing action at Guadalcanal, Peleliu and the Philippines. Discharged in the rank of Staff Sergeant after the war, he remained in the Marine Corps Reserve and was recalled to duty in the Korean War.

11 Wiley J. Saucier joined the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1943 and, after boot training at MCRD San Diego, CA, was assigned to Amphibious Reconnaissance Short training at Pearl Harbor. He saw heavy combat at Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was discharged as a PFC in October Sheriff Harold M. Terry joined the U.S. Marine Corps in August 1942 and, after boot training at MCRD San Diego, CA, and further training with the Browning Automatic Rifle, was assigned to the 2nd Raider Battalion. He saw heavy combat on New Caledonia, Guam and Okinawa. Discharged as a PFC in 1946, Terry later served as Sheriff of Caddo Parish from John Godwin joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1944 and, after boot training and radio school and high speed training at MCRD San Diego, CA, was assigned to 1st Battery, 23rd Marine Regiment at Hawaii. After action at Guam with the 1st MP Battalion, he returned to the United States where he reenlisted in He served with 2nd and 3rd Marine Divisions and the 1st and 3rd Marine Air Wings, the former in Korea. He later joined the 1st Radio Company of the Fleet Marine Force in Vietnam. After duty with the 1st and 2nd Radio Battalions at Camp Lejeune, NC, Godwin moved to Norfolk Navy Base where he retired from the Marine Corps in the rank of Master Sergeant in April George Buddy Hudsmith, III, joined the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1943 and, after boot training at MCRD Parris Island, SC, was assigned to Camp Lejeune, NC, for further infantry training. Transferred to the 4th Marine Division, he saw combat in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He was discharged after the war in the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Ray Urban joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1942 and, after boot training at MCRD San Diego, CA, joined the Para marines, training at North Island. After suffering a physical ailment that precluded completion of his training, he was assigned to Aviation Machinist Mates School at Norman, OK. He was assigned to a Marine fighter squadron and served in Hawaii, Midway Island, Espiritu Santo and the Russell Islands, seeing heavy action on Bougainville, then Green Island. After serving as Operations NCO, Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield, Kingston, NC, he was discharged in the rank of Master Sergeant in Denny R. Leach joined the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1944 and, after boot training and telephone and telephone repair school at MCRD San Diego, CA, was assigned to the 4th Marine Division, 1st Joint Assault Signal Company (JASCO), at Hawaii. After seeing heavy combat during the assault landing and securing of Iwo Jima, he went to Tsingtao, China with the 15th Marine Regiment. He later returned to San Diego where he was discharged in the rank of Staff Sergeant. Dr. Robert A. Tucker joined the U.S. Navy in September 1943 and, after boot camp and Naval Corpsman School in San Diego, CA, was selected for the Fleet Marine Force. Assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Guam just as its recapture was ending, he took part in the capture of Iwo Jima in He was discharged after the war in the rank of Pharmacist s Mate 2nd Class. Dr. Tucker practiced as a physician in Shreveport for more than 50 years.

12 Left: Governor Jindal Addresses the Attendees On October 29, 2012 Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA) proudly announced that it had received official notification of a grant funding award from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the amount of $8,383,591 for the establishment of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery at Slidell, LA. The Grant will fund 100% of the initial costs to develop the cemetery which will be located on property donated by Louisiana National Guard at Camp Villere in Slidell. With offical notification of the VA grant award, LDVA also announced thet the construction bid for this project has been awarded to Select Building Systems Construction. Meyer Engineering, LTD was previously awarded the contract for architectural and engineering services. Construction on the site began October, 2012 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2013, weather permitting. This newest cemetery location is planned to provide for the needs of the approximately 100,000 Veterans and their families who reside in and around Southeast Louisiana. Located approximately seven miles northwest Slidell on S. Perimeter Road, the site is visible from Interstate 12 with the cemetery entrance located just outside of gates of Camp Villere. Louisiana National Guard donated seventy-five total acres for this cemetery project with twenty-one acres planned for use in the initial development. The VA grant will fund construction of a main entrance, a combined administration and public information center, a maintenance facility, roads, an assembly area, a committal shelter, full casketed gravesites, preplaced crypts, cremains gravesites, memorial and scatter burial areas, columbaria, landscaping, a memorial walkway, and supporting infrastructure. Construction will include 2,579 preplaced crypt; 273 cremains gravesites; and 480 columbaria niches. LDVA currently operates two other Veterans cemeteries, Northwest LA Veterans Cemetery Located in Keithville just south of Shreveport and Central LA Veterans Cemetery located just outside Fort Polk in Leesville. Plans are underway to secure additional cemetery locations to serve the needs of Veterans and their families who reside in and around Northeast and Southwest Louisiana. The Cajun Link January 2013 Page 11

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