N O W H E A R T H I S! S P O K A N E C H A P T E R M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R S A S S O C I A T I O N O F A M E R I C A

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1 N O W H E A R T H I S! S P O K A N E C H A P T E R M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R S A S S O C I A T I O N O F A M E R I C A President Dave Melges, LCDR, USN (Ret.) (509) mail@melges.net 1st Vice President & Travel POC Richard H. Oates, LtCol, USMC (Ret.) rhoates@roadrunner.com 2nd Vice President, Mbrship. Chair & Newsletter Coordinator Clif Collier, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) clifcoll@msn.com Secretary Dave Melges, LCDR, USN (Ret.) (509) mail@melges.net Treasurer Alan Davis, LCDR, USN (Ret.) rota_al@yahoo.com Auxiliary Liaison, Widows & Wives Beth Ann Daigre bethanndaigre@comcast.net IPP & Social Chair Rufus Hoefer, LTC, U.S. Army (Ret.) rands@comcast.net Director, Chief Recruiter, Newsletter Editor Marilyn Hunt, CDR, USN (Ret.) cinc@frontier.com Director & Veterans Home Chair Cindy Kelley, AUX missuscindy@aol.com Director, ROTC, Support the Troops Robert Imle, LtCol, USAF (Ret.) robertmargaretimle@gmail.com Director, Chaplain & Social Comm. Betty Krafft, LCDR, USN (Ret.) bkrafft@spocom.com Director & Social Committee Barbara Thornbrugh, AUX bjthornbrugh@comcast.net Director & Website Coordinator Greg Sassman, LTC, USA (Ret.) (509) gsassman@centurylink.net Personal Affairs Chairman Kay White kaywhite4@comcast.net Volume XXV Number 4 5 Star Chapter President s Message By Dave Melges Sep 2015 THE SEPTEMBER SOCIAL HAS BEEN CHANGED TO Sunday 27 SEPTEMBER. It will still be held at the Highlands Golf Course Grill & Tap in Post Falls. Dress will be casual. Please fill out the reservation coupon on page 5. The speaker will be Barbara Nelson from Inland Northwest Honor Flight. See article about her on page 3. Bring Something to the 27 SEP Social for SUPPORT THE TROOPS 2015 Chapter Social Dates 22 Mar Northern Quest Casino 26 Apr Mirabeau Park Hotel 14 Jun Eagles & Pappy Boyington Museum Hayden ID 27 Sep Highlands Golf Course Grill & Tap, Post Falls 25 Oct Coeur d Alene Resort 6 Dec Mukogawa Ft. Wright Military Service Earnings for Active Duty Since 1957, if you had military service earnings for active duty (including active duty for training), you paid Social Security taxes on those earnings. Since 1988, inactive duty service in the Armed Forces reserves (such as weekend drills) has also been covered by Social Security. Under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for your military service from 1957 through 2001 can be credited to your record for Social Security purposes. These extra earnings credits may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit. Special extra earnings credits are granted for periods of active duty or active duty for training. Special extra earnings credits are not granted for inactive duty training. If your active military service occurred: From 1957 through 1967, the Social Security Administration will add the extra credits to your record when you apply for Social Security benefits. From 1968 through 2001, you do not need to do anything to receive these extra credits. The credits were automatically added to your record. After 2001, there are no special extra earnings credits for military service. : (Continued on page 3) 2015 Widows & Wives Club Meeting Dates 6 Jan Darcy s 3 Feb Thai Bamboo 3 Mar Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar 7 Apr Beverly s CDA Resort 5 May Anthony s Restaurant 2 Jun Ripples on the River Red Lion 7 Jul Red Lion Templin s Post Falls 4 Aug Rusty Moose 1 Sep Corbin Park picnic 6 Oct Bistro on Spruce 3 Nov Max Restaurant Mirabeau Park 1 Dec Peacock Room, Davenport Hotel

2 Member Recruiters Welcome New Members Mary Lou Dion, AUX Miriam Finnegan, AUX Fr. Daniel Nolan, Capt, USMC Taps Nancy-Lou Arnold, AUX (5/31/15) LtCol Joseph Dion, USAF (Ret.) (8/24/15) Arlie V. Guillotte, AUX (7/16/15) Our Hat Is Off To: Chapter 2015 MOAA 2015 Spokane Chapter, MOAA 2014 Newsletter Second Runner Up! SPOKANE CHAPTER IS NOW ON FACEBOOK! LIKE US AT MOAA SIGN UP TODAY!.Widows & Wives Club Upcoming Events Beth Ann Diagre 1 Marilyn Hunt 2 2 Bob Imle 3 Dave Melges 3 Pat Tolley 1 TOTALS 4 8 CHAPTER SCOREBOARD 2015 JROTC Scholarship Funds on hand as of 5/5/15: $1446 Legislative Letters, Postcards & s as of 8/28/15: Raffle Donations: MAR: $185 COL Spady Koyama JROTC Scholarships; APR: $160 Widows & Wives (for Wreaths Across America); JUN : $145 Newby-ginnings; SEP MOAA Scholarship Fund; OCT: Spokane Veterans Home; DEC: ROTC/JROTC Unit Support. Total to date: $490 Widows & Wives Wreaths Across America $190 (19 wreaths). Second Harvest $ Homeless Veterans $346 & 1,458 items. Spokane Veterans Home $77 & 465 items. including deodorant, gloves, kitchen gadgets, knit caps, men s pants, mouth wash, razors, shampoo, shaving cream, soap bars, socks toothpaste/brushes/floss etc. DATE LOCATION CALL 6 OCT Bistro on Spruce, 1710 N. 4 th Ave., Coeur d Alene ID NOV Max Restaurant in the Mirabeau Park Hotel 11 N. Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley DEC Peacock Room at the Davenport Hotel 10 S. Post St., Spokane Pat Connell Beth Ann Daigre Pat Tolley See our list of donations thus far in 2015 in Chapter Scoreboard to left. FAFB Retiree Appreciation Day Friday, 2 October 2015 Chapter member MAJ Jason Mayne did us a big favor and took the initiative to reserve a table for MOAA Spokane at the upcoming FAFB Retiree Appreciation Day on Friday, 2 Oct at the Red Morgan Event Center (formerly the Fairchild Club). Registration begins at It will provide retirees with the opportunity to speak with us, as well as folks from the VA, Medical Group, Tricare, VFW, Legion and others about any concerns they have. Who knows? We might get some new chapter members.! Page 2/Sep 2015

3 Barbara Nelson Inland Northwest Honor Flight Speaker - 27 September Social Highlands Golf Course Grill & Tap, Post Falls, Idaho While anticipating retirement from working for monetary reward, Barb Nelson happened upon a book entitled The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. After reading only part of it, the lights went on, and she knew what she wanted to do. She would be purpose driven, and the rewards would be abundant. At that time, Barb lived in Denver and was a member of a local chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution. Through DAR, she became active in Honor Flight, welcoming veterans home from their trips to Washington, D.C., and became very involved with Homes for Our Troops, raising money and helping to build homes for severely maimed soldiers. After moving to north Idaho and transferring to the local DAR chapter, she immediately volunteered to help with their veterans activities. That brought her once again to Honor Flight. She is a volunteer on a committee that raises money for the veterans in the Inland Northwest Honor Flight hub (eastern Washington and north Idaho) to take their trips to D.C. free of charge. She is actively spreading the word about INW Honor Flight, as well as the national Honor Flight program, and is hopeful more and more Idahoans will help sponsor our veterans. Barb also serves on the Kootenai County Veterans Council as liaison to DAR and is an active member in the local Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA) Ft. Sherman Unit 9. President s Piece (continued from page 1) Note: In January 2002, the Defense Appropriations Act (Public Law ), stopped the special extra earnings that had been credited to military service personnel. Military service in calendar year 2002 and following years no longer qualifies for these special extra earnings credits How You Get Credit For Special Extra Earnings: The information that follows applies only to active duty military service earnings from 1957 through Here s how the special extra earnings are credited on your record: Service in 1957 Through 1977: You are credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which you received active duty basic pay. Service in 1978 through 2001: For every $300 in active duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up to a maximum of $1,200 a year. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, and didn t complete at least 24 months of active duty or your full tour, you may not be able to receive the additional earnings. Check with Social Security for details. Repetition Makes Memory Secretary Wanted Spouses May Apply By Marilyn Hunt The Communists used to say that repetition makes truth. I say that repetition makes memory. So I m repeating the message. We need a Secretary and spouses may apply because we amended the chapter bylaws last April to say that members, and spouses of members may now serve as Secretary, Treasurer, and Elective Directors. If you can take notes, type them into a computer, and send them by , you could really help. The Board meets on the first Saturday of the month at 9:00 AM at Valley Hospital (except we don t meet in August). Meetings are usually less than two hours and we have a good time You could do this? Then please contact Dave Melges at or mail@melges.net. NOW HEAR THIS! Is published at least 6 times per year by the Spokane Chapter, Military Officers Association of America, P O Box 466, Veradale WA Editor: Marilyn Hunt cinc@frontier.com Advertising limited to members/spouses only. No subject matter that would preclude non-profit mailing. Page 3/Sep 2015

4 Remember Our Fallen One Wreath at a Time By Beth Ann Daigre As we all know, military men and women sacrifice their time and safety every single day of the year to preserve our freedoms. At many homes there is an empty seat for one who has passed on or made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We honor our veterans every day, but we think there is no better time to show our thanks than during the holiday season. The Widows and Wives Club of the Spokane Chapter, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) has taken up the challenge to help make sure each head stone at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery (WSVC) in Medical Lake has a wreath. Please say Thank You to all veterans for their service by purchasing one or more wreaths. Deadline to order wreaths: November 30, Wreath laying ceremony at WSVC Medical Lake: Saturday, December 12, 2015.at 12:00 p.m. Donations of any amount by check made out to Wreaths Across America (a 501c3 nonprofit) will be accumulated by the Widows and Wives Club and sent to the wreath company or you can order a wreath yourself by doing one of the following things: Two ways to order wreaths 1. Go to chapter website ( Click on Wreaths Across America in the Links box Print off the form, fill it in, attach a check and mail If you use this form and buy two wreaths for $15 each, they will send a third one for free. : 2. Go to Click on Sponsor Locally Go to Find a Location and scroll down to Washington, then scroll down to WAWSC (near bottom of list) Type WA0016 in Find a Fundraising Group (this is our code so our chapter will get credit for wreaths ordered) Click the Donate Now button Provide requested info and submit Questions? Call Beth Ann Daigre, bethanndaigre@comcast.net Legislative Contacts President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington DC Washington Senator Patty Murray 10 North Post St, Suite 600 Spokane WA Fax Senator Maria Cantwell 920 W. Riverside, Suite 697 Spokane WA Fax Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers United States House of Representatives 10 N. Post St, 6th floor Spokane WA Fax Idaho Senator Mike Crapo 610 W. Hubbard Suite 209 Coeur d Alene ID Fax Senator Jim Risch 610 W. Hubbard, Suite 213 Coeur d Alene ID Fax Representative Raul Labrador, United States House of Representatives 1250 Ironwood Dr. Suite 243 Coeur d Alene ID Fax Page 4/Sep 2015

5 Spokane Chapter, MOAA Sunday, 27 September 2015 P.O. Box 466 Highlands Golf Course Grill & Tap House Veradale WA E. Mullan Ave., Post Falls, Idaho 12:30 Social time, 1:00 Meeting, 1:15 p.m. buffet begins Guest Speaker: Barbara Nelson Inland Northwest Honor Flights Mail reservation so we receive it by Saturday, 19 September. No late reservations or walk-ins. MENU: Italian buffet with spicy meatballs, chicken mushroom & broccoli fettuccine, fresh Caesar salad, garlic bread, and chef s choice of dessert. All non-alcoholic beverages are included in the cost. No-host bar. My check in the amount of $ is enclosed ($18.50 X no. of reservations). Make check to Spokane Chapter MOAA and mail to chapter mailbox above. If you need to cancel a reservation, contact Barbara Thornbrugh (509) NLT Saturday, 19 September for a refund. Name: member/guest Name: member/guest Name: member/guest Name: member/guest Directions: Sunday 27 SEP :30 p.m. Highlands Golf Course Grill & Tap House, 5600 E. Mullan, Post Falls, Idaho. From I-90 in Idaho, take exit 7 (Hwy. 41 N. to Rathdrum). If westbound, after exit get in left lane, turn left at light onto Hwy. 41, then get in the right lane and go.3 mile to light at Mullan. If eastbound, get in left lane after exiting I-90, turn left at light (onto Seltice Way) and get in second lane from left. Turn left at light (onto Hwy 41), go under I-90. Stay in right lane and go straight through light (where left turn goes back onto I-90), go.4 mile to light at Mullan. FOR ALL: Turn right on Mullan (gas station on right), go.2 mile and turn right on Sterling at concrete Highlands sign, go uphill & take first left onto Inverness. Follow Inverness for one mile through housing area until there is a large parking lot on your right. The Grill is at the back of the parking lot. We plan on being outside, but will be inside if there is inclement weather. Paved walkways, plenty of parking, convenient restrooms, wheel chair friendly. Questions? Call Barb Thornbrugh (509) Please bring: 3 postage stamps and 6 address labels per person for legislative letters Something for the raffle and Support the Troops or Homeless Veterans (cash helps pay postage) Membership Chair/Committee REQUEST, CHANGE OF ADDRESS or PHONE, or Spokane Chapter, MOAA TEMPORARILY AWAY: P.O. Box 466 Clip and complete this form and send it to the Veradale WA address on the left so we can update our database. Thank you. NOTE: We do not send junk or spam. Also, we do not give away, sell or trade your address. Member name: (Please print clearly) [ ] I would like to be added to the chapter list. I specifically request to (check all that apply): [ ] Receive the chapter newsletter by [ ] Receive important information in a timely manner. [ ] My address is (Please print clearly) [ ] My mailing address, address, and/or phone number has changed to: [ ] I will be temporarily away starting and returning. I do / do not (circle one) wish to receive the newsletter while I m away. If do please send it to: Signed: Page 5/Sep 2015

6 WE RE ON THE WEB! Spokane Chapter Military Officers Association of America P.O. BOX 466 Veradale WA Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No Spokane WA WASHINGTON Need a Ride to a Chapter Social? Call Anyone Listed Below IDAHO Clif Collier Ralph Shrigley Floyd Geiger Inquiring Minds Have Always Wanted to Know: NPRC Fire Facts By Marilyn Hunt Bob and I made our annual summer trek to the Veterans Service Officer School in Boise sponsored by the Idaho Department of Veterans Services. We learned something that we d always wanted to know, but no one had ever told us: the actual date of the infamous fire at the National Personnel Records Center and exactly which records were burned. The fire occurred on 12 July 1973 and it destroyed million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF). It affected these personnel discharged between: Army: 1 NOV JAN 1960 Air Force: 25 SEP JAN 1964 (with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.) Short story: by using McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation vacuum-drying facilities, NPRC was able to recover 6.5 million records. They established a "B" registry file (or Burned File) to index them, then in April 1974, the NPRC established the "R" registry file (or Reconstructed File). Therefore, some parts of some records can now be accessed. You can learn much more about this at this website: Casualty Assistance Officer: Karen Van Pelt is the casualty assistance officer for Fairchild AFB and surrounding area. She is in Bldg. 240 at 7 W. Arnold St., If you leave a message, she will call you back. Page 6/Sep 2015 FAFB Retiree Activities Office (RAO) Bldg. 240, 7 W. Arnold St., Ste. 109, Hours: They need volunteers. Serving at the RAO is a perfect excuse to travel out to the base and visit the exchange/commissary at the same time. Call them!