If you do not yet have your 2013 Membership

Transcription

1 Yolo Post 77 Woodland, California March - April 2013 (530) Do you have a 2013 Membership Card? Past Commander Albert Castillo, Adjutant Gary Leach and Chaplain Ted Hillyer represented Yolo Post 77 at the 2013 Four Chaplains Day Inter-Faith Service at Saint Mary s Cathedral in San Francisco on February 2, The Four Chaplains event commemorates the heroic sacrifice of four US army chaplains: a Jewish Rabbi, a Catholic Priest, and two Protestant Pastors. They are recognized because they served on the US Troop Transport Dorchester that was steaming through the icy seas of Greenland with 900 troops aboard. The troops were asleep in their bunks when a torpedo smashed into the ship. In the moments of panic, the most composed were the four chaplains. They led the men to boxes of life jackets and they assisted in handing them out. When the boxes were empty, they slipped their own jackets off and passed them off to four young GI s. The Dorchester went down 25 minutes later. Some 600 men were lost, but the heroic Chaplains helped to save over 200. The last to see the Chaplains, they were standing on the slanting deck with their arms linked in prayer to the one God they all served. For more information please go to: 1 If you do not yet have your 2013 Membership Card, please send in your dues ASAP! According to the membership rules, you are no longer a member in good standing if you have not renewed by January 31st. Please send in your $33.00 dues payment soon and keep your membership benefits. So, just what are the benefits of being a member of The American Legion? There are many things this fine organization does for the community in general, and for its members in particular. For the community, there s American Legion Baseball. Roughly 90,000 young athletes annually take part in this sports program which has served as a stepping stone for many major league players. Do you know what Neil Armstrong, Tom Brokaw, Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee have in common? They are all alumni of The American Legion Boys State program. Our High School Oratorical Contest encourages young people to study the Constitution to compete for scholarship money. The Department of California winner receives $1,200, and the National winner receives $18,000. The American Legion sponsors over 2,700 Boy Scout Troops nationwide, serving over 70,000 scouts. We ll be honoring Law Enforcement at a special meeting in March, and Firefighters at a special meeting in April. Did you know The American Legion is a supporter of the Children s Miracle Network, Ronald MacDonald House Charities, Youth Suicide Prevention, Halloween Safety, the Family Support Network, and Operation Military Kids. How about benefits to its members? Of course, you re already aware that it was pressure from The American Legion which led to the creation of the Veterans Bureau, which evolved into the Veterans Administration. And the original draft of the G.I. Bill was hand written on stationary from the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. by American Legion Past National Commander Harry Colmery. Legionnaires are eligible for discounts on car rentals from several companies. We also save 20 percent off the Best Available Rate at participating hotels. The benefits of membership are too numerous for one newsletter article. For additional information on membership benefits, visit And when you receive your membership renewal notice, please renew promptly!

2 FORE! RESERVE MARCH 25 FOR POST 77 GOLF. A fun tradition at Post 77 is the annual Art Casas Memorial Legion Golf Tournament. This year it is on Monday, March 25. Proceeds from the tournament will go towards paying for Post 77 baseball and assisting veterans. The $90 greens fee includes a dinner afterwards at the Post 77 hall. A golf hat will be provided to all golfers again this year by our good friend Maria Lopez and Hairloom Salon and Day Spa. Awards to golfers will be presented at the dinner. Those who wish to only partake in the dinner, the cost is $10. Attending the dinner after the golf tournament allows you to participate in the annual ritual of seeing tournament chair Jeff Youngmark again not win an award for his golfing. The dinner is supplied for the third year in a row by Mike Garcia and Thai-Mex Caterers, who make every meal a culinary delight. Helping Mike Garcia with their cooking skills will be Jim Webber and Frank Lucchesi. Reservations are needed prior to golf day March 25. Tee off time is 11 a.m. See you at the Flyers Club. Event Calendars Reminder: REGULAR MEETING NIGHT HAS CHANGED! March 2013 SAT MAR 9 LEGION RIDERS 10:00 AM WED MAR 13 SPECIAL MEETING- LAW ENFORCEMENT NIGHT 7:00 PM SAT MAR 16 CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DINNER 6:00 PM WED MAR 20 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING 7:00 PM WED MAR 27 REGULAR MEETING (NOMINATIONS -1st ROUND) 7:00 PM april 2013 SAT APR 13 LEGION RIDERS 10:00 AM WED APR 10 SPECIAL MEETING- FIREFIGHTERS NIGHT 7:00 PM WED APR 17 EXECUTIVE MEETING (HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE) 7:00 PM WED APR 24 REGULAR MEETING (NOMINATIONS- 2nd ROUND) 7:00 PM May 2013 SAT MAY 11 LEGION RIDERS 10:00 AM WED MAY 15 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING 7:00 PM SUN MAY 26 SMALL FLAGS AT CEMETERY MON MAY 27 MEMORIAL DAY FLAGS ON MAIN STREET & AVENUE OF FLAGS MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AT CEMETERY 11:00 AM LUNCHEON 12:00 PM WED MAY 29 REGULAR MEETING (ELECTION OF OFFICERS) 7:00 PM Please Check our website for updates to our Calendar Delbert Giese, Commander Ted Mar, 1st Vice Commander Richard West, 2nd Vice Commander Gary Leach, Adjutant Albert Castillo, Immediate Past Commander Kevin Phelps, Finance Officer & Assistant Adjutant Steve Waldeck, Treasurer Vince Olvera, Sergeant-at-Arms Ted Hillyer, Chaplain Billy Wagster, Service Officer Frank Eakle, Athletic Committee Chair Larry Schapiro, Historian William Allardice, Legislative Advocate Jim Webber, Executive Committee Frank Lucchesi, Executive Committee 2 Sons of the American Legion April 5 6:30 p.m. Beef Stroganoff dinner $12. April 10 7:00 p.m. Sons Membership meeting May 8 7:00 p.m. Sons Membership meeting June 12 7:00 p.m. Sons Membership meeting Carl Prutch, Commander, tel ; Robert Roe, Adjutant SAL meetings are held at Post 77 on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Auxiliary Officers: Maria Lopez President Arlene Sandoval Secretary Donna Graham Treasurer Mary Cogburn Chaplain Maria Hernandez Sergeant at Arms Connie Zenger - Historian March 29 6:30 p.m. Good Friday Tilapia dinner $10. April 19 6:30 p.m. All-You-Can-Eat Chicken & Dumplings dinner $10. Membership Meeting 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Executive Committee Meeting 3rd Tuesday of each month 6:00 p.m. For Information on the American Legion Auxiliary contact Maria Lopez at (530) or Christine Rogers at (530) We can also be found on the web at:

3 POST 77 MEMBER JOE CASILLAS TO BECOME TV STAR On March 19th at 10 a.m., the Military Channel is presenting a special on the taking of Okinawa in World War II, as part of its Ultimate Warfare series. One of those veterans of Okinawa speaking of the events and carnage on the Military Channel show is our own Joe Casillas. Joe will bring to life remembrances of his company s fight to take and keep Ishimmi Ridge. The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle of World War II and the largest sea-land-air battle in history. It took months of nightmarish fighting to capture the island. The unit citation received by Joe Casillas Company E of the 307th Army Infantry conveys, as one sentence can, what Joe and his fellow soldiers went through on Okinawa: At the filming of the Military Channel s show Okinawa: Island Fortress, Post member Joe Casillas (left) met the last member of the Army company that came to the rescue of Joe s Company E, 307th Infantry Regiment, on Okinawa, Jimmy Kottas of Crete, Nebraska. Their joy in meeting was obvious and overwhelming. The two leaned towards each other as they spoke, knowing that only the other knew what they had both suffered: the sights and sounds Okinawa, war at its most intense level. The show will run on March 19. For capturing the key Ishimmi Ridge near Shuri, Okinawa in a night attack on 17 May 1945, holding it for three days against savage and continuous counterattacks even though completely isolated from friendly units and virtually without food and ammunition and contributing very greatly to the destruction of the great Shuri Defense Line. As heavy weapons friendly fire rained down on Company E, Joe was ordered to run out in a field in front of hundreds of enemy combatants and throw a smoke granade that would siginal U.S. artillery to stop firing on Company E soldiers. There was not much chance of his making it back alive in that Japanese Army guns on the ridge were all firing at Joe as he ran through bodies and the landscape of greasy mud. After beating the odds and getting back to his line, the company commander conveyed the bad news to Joe. The commander explained that he had given Joe the wrong color smoke granade and Joe would have to make a repeat run through enemy fire to throw the correct colored granade. As Joe Casillas went out for the second time, he was sure that I would be breathing my last breath. While no one in the company could understand how Joe made it back alive, he did not receive so much as a scratch. By the third day of battle, the company was out of water and the radios were dead. Still they followed their orders to stay at all costs. Of the 204 original personnel, there were 156 casualties. A platoon leader wrote of the first day that they were receiving murderous fire. Foxholes were only partly completed and to raise one s head meant death on that fire-swept plateau. Mortar shells very often dropped directly in the fox hole, usually taking at least one man s life or badly wounding several. By 0700 both of our light machine guns had been knocked out. By 1000 the first day, enemy action had knocked out all but one of the mortars and killed or wounded nearly all the crewmen. Each [Japanese Army] position had two mortars which were fired simultaneously, doing great damage to the earthworks of our line as well as producing heavy casualties in our ranks. Riflemen were blown to bits by these mortars and many were struck in the head by machine-gun fire. The blood from the wounded was everywhere. The dead lay where they fell, in pools of their own blood. Meanwhile the 3rd Platoon had repulsed three fixed bayonet attacks by the enemy. Dead men were pushed hurriedly from the all too small holes. In some cases the firing was so heavy as to even prevent this and the living and bloody mangled dead were as one in their foxholes. The second day s fighting continued more furiously than the first. So many members of Post 77 fought bravely for America. We are proud of you all. 3

4 commander s comments Thank You to all that helped with or attended the Crab Feed to support our Legion Baseball Team. Come to our special meeting on March 13th for Law Enforcement Night to honor our local officers. March16th is the American Legions 94th birthday and our Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner at 6PM. Come to our special meeting on Apr.10th for Firefighters Night to honor our local firefighters. Election of Post Officers is a few months away, and I encourage members to take an active role in our Post Our Post hosted an Area 1 meeting, Jim Webber and crew cooked dinner, and we hosted a District 6 meeting and our Auxiliary cooked lunch. Thanks also to Gary Leach, Frank Lucchesi, and Vince Olvera who helped with these meetings. Del Giese, Commander Each February, the Post holds its past-commanders dinner, where the wives of deceased past commanders are guests of honor. At this year s dinner, Pat Kauderer points out on the wall in the Post meeting room the photograph of husband Dave Kauderer to fellow guest of honor Nada Shellhammer. Nada s husband, Irv, was Commander of Post 77 forty-five years ago in Dave Kauderer held the Commander position during The Post Auxiliary has done it again, cooking up one great prime rib dinner for Valentines Day. Doing their part eating are Post 77 members Dave Kocsis (left) and Bud Emmerson. Post Auxiliary President Maria Lopez also enjoys the dinner. Presidents Day is a work day at Post 77. Members hit the streets at 6:30 a.m. to place United States flags up and down both sides of Main Street, Woodland. On all patriotic holidays, local residents come to expect the beautiful sight of America s symbol being up for all to enjoy. Helping with the chore on Main Street are Post 77 members Arnold Bishop (left) and Ted Hillyer. 4 WANT YOUR MONTHLY POST 77 NEWSLETTER IN COLOR? Each issue of the Post 77 newsletter can be ed to you rather than mailed through the U. S. Postal Service. The ed version comes in color. The mailed newsletter is in black and white. If you would like your Post 77 newsletter by rather than through the mail, send us your name and address at optout@yolopost77.com

5 THE NATIONAL AMERICAN LEGION AND post 77 ARE 94 YEARS OLD IN MARCH The American Legion was born 94 years ago this month,march 15 to 17, 1919, in Paris, France in an historic caucus consisting of World War I servicemen who were still in uniform. The idea of an American Legion leaped across the United States as hundreds of thousands of servicemen returned home after fighting a war to end all wars. By the end of 1920, 843,013 veterans had flocked to swell the ranks of our then giant-infant organization. Today, over two million belong to the American Legion, the largest veterans organization in the world. At home, Yolo Post 77 held its first meeting on September 26, 1919, at the Board of Trade rooms in the Yolo County Courthouse. The Post received its initial charter on October 11, 1919, less than five months after the first Legion Post in the United States received its charter on May 19, Post 77 members met soon after receiving that charter, on October 28, to elect their first officers. Total membership was already at 367. A month later, on November, 1919, Post 77 purchased the Armory Hall on Bush Street for $15,000. On August 2, 1921, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors leased the American Legion Hall for five years at a yearly rental of $1,500 and a cash payment of $2,800, which was of great assistance in paying for the cost of the Armory that housed the Post until the 1960 s. On October 25, 1921, Post 77 received its permanent charter. And the rest, as they say, is history our history, with plenty of good things to come. One of Post 77 s best meals of the year is coming up on March 16 In celebration of the American Legion s 94th birthday in March, Post 77 will hold its annual Happy Birthday, American Legion Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner on Saturday, March 16, :00 p.m. If you are one of those people who likes good food, don t miss the Post s annual corned beef and cabbage dinner! Get your tickets at $12. for this highly popular corned beef and cabbage dinner by stopping at the Post clubroom or calling (530) Happy Birthday American Legion born march 15-17, Sons of the Legion Commander Carl Prutch serves dinner to Japanese exchange student Otani Yasuka, who is attending University of California, Davis. Helping with the dinner is Loretta Clark. Money made from the dinner will go towards the Sons of the Legion s Christmas party for children whose parent is serving in the Armed Forces. 5 The Art Casas Memorial Legion Golf Tournament committee has been working hard planning all the details for the March 25 tournament. Committee members standing up for the American flag are (l to r) Mark Grimsrud, Jeff Youngmark, Sean Miller, Connie Zenger and Carl Prutch. Other members are Phil Tapia, Les Murillo, Sonny Irby and Glenn Woods.

6 Chaplain s Corner As your Chaplain, I am sorry to have to report that our comrade Frank Schwarzgruber has been transferred to Post Everlasting as of 9 Feb., I would like to ask all of you to please contact me when you hear of one of our comrades who is ill or has passed away. I will make every effort to contact them or their family and offer our support. Thank you in advance for your efforts to keep our Post strong. Ted Hillyer, Chaplain tedhillyer@gmail.com IN MEMORIAM Patricia Dinwiddie Frank Schwarzgruber Farewell, My Comrades. WISE WorDS FROM abraham LINCOLN To care for him who shall have borne the battle,and for his widow, and his orphan. Post 77 Hall Rental Information Did you know that the post hall is available to rent for private functions? The rental rates for the hall were recently revised and there are now significant discounts for Post 77 members. The following is the breakdown of the cost for renting the hall. Large Meeting room: $250 for non-members $125 for Post 77 members Small Meeting room with access to the bar: $250 for non Members $125 for Post 77 Members Use of Kitchen and Stove: $ for non members free to Post 77 Members Use of Kitchen to serve only: $30 for non members free to Post 77 Members The Bartender cost is now $15 an hour with a four hour minimum Security is $15 an hour with a minimum of four hours. No security required for Post Members As you can see the prices are competitive and we are constantly striving to improve the building. More reason to be a member of the American Legion! Go to our website to download the Hall Rental Agreement: CALLING ALL VETERANS WHO SERVED IN A WAR ZONE Woodland High School has again asked the Post if Armed Forces veterans who served in a war zone would stop by the high school on March 27, 9:00 a.m. to be interviewed by three students as to what your service was like. This event will serve as both a reminder of what veterans have done for America and a learning experience for the high school students. Veterans who attended last year reported that they very much enjoyed themselves. Please consider participating. Let us know soon by calling Larry Schapiro at Yolo Post 77 was the 1966 Softball area champions. Team members were, front, left to right Len William, Chuck Muller, Dale Weishahn, Jerry Drew and Palmer Traynham. Back, left to right, Gary Traynham, Jack Anderson, Marv VanCuren, Dave Podesta, Don Murdoch and Manager John Canevari. (Photo courtesy Daily Democrat)

7 American Legion Riders Corner California recently released official guidelines for lane splitting, this marks the first time any written guidance has been released. Please follow these guidelines so we can continue to ride together in good health and safety. Lane splitting in a safe and prudent manner is not illegal in the state of California. The term lane splitting, sometimes known as lane sharing, filtering or white-lining, refers to the process of a motorcyclist riding between lanes of stopped or slower moving traffic or moving between lanes to the front of traffic stopped at a traffic light. Motorcyclists who are competent enough riders to lane split, should follow these general guidelines if choosing to lane split: 1) Travel at a speed that is no more than 10 MPH faster than other traffic danger increases at higher speed differentials. 2) It is not advisable to lane split when traffic flow is at 30 mph or faster danger increases as overall speed increases. 3) Typically, it is more desirable to split between the #1 and #2 lanes than between other lanes. 4) Consider the total environment in which you are splitting, including the width of the lanes, size of surrounding vehicles, as well as roadway, weather, and lighting conditions. 5) Be alert and anticipate possible movements by other road users. The Four R s or Be-Attitudes of Lane Splitting: Be Reasonable, be Responsible, be Respectful, be aware of all Roadway and traffic conditions. Note: These general guidelines are not guaranteed to keep you safe. Lane splitting should not be performed by inexperienced riders. These guidelines assume a high level of riding competency and experience. Every rider has ultimate responsibility for his or her own decision making and safety. Riders must be conscious of reducing crash risk at all times. Messages for Other Vehicle Drivers Lane splitting by motorcycles is not illegal in California when done in a safe and prudent manner. Motorists should not take it upon themselves to discourage motorcyclists from lane splitting. - Intentionally blocking or impeding a motorcyclist in a way that could cause harm to the rider is illegal (CVC 22400). - Opening a vehicle door to impede a motorcycle is illegal (CVC 22517). VA Warning: Veterans Affairs Services Organization Not Affiliated, Getting Vet IDs. The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has requested dissemination of the following : An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans. This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way. [The organization described itself at its web page at: ] VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services. In addition, GC requests that if you have any examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please pass any additional information to Mr. Daugherty at the address below. Michael G. Daugherty, Staff Attorney, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel CRAB FEED Thank you! On behalf of the Yolo Post 77 Athletic Committee I want to thank all of the people that made this year s Crab Feed fund raiser a success. From those that bought tickets to those that helped. The Yolo Post 77 Baseball program will be able to compete for another year. Thanks to all! Frank Eakle Post 77 Athletic Committee Chairman 7

8 American Legion Yolo Post Bush Street Woodland, CA Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit #55 Woodland, CA Return Service Requested Marines affected by tainted water at Camp Lejeune should file VA claim The 2012 Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act includes recognition of a water contamination problem that occurred at Camp Lejeune, N.C. between 1957 and During that time, Marines and their families living at the base apparently bathed in and ingested tap water contaminated with harmful chemicals. An undetermined number of former base residents later developed cancer or other ailments, which many blame on the contaminated drinking water. More than 70 chemicals have been identified as contaminants at Camp Lejeune. Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis as they are not presumptive at this time. If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune anytime from 1957 through 1987 and you have cancer or any unexplained illness, you should contact your local County Veterans Services office and file a claim with the VA. If you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune prior to 1987, you may register at: to receive notifications from the Marine Corps regarding Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water. While all the facts are not in on this issue, it is recommended that all veterans who have served at this Marine base during the aforementioned time frame with illnesses that could be tied to this exposure should file a VA claim for serviceconnected disability. The families of these veterans who lived on this base during that time should register on the above website and get further information. By Ted Puntillo, Post 77 member and Director of Veteran Services for Solano County. 8