SVC CJ Trillo welcomes new members Bob Dillon, Jesse Keller and Frederick Nantker The Quarterly Newsletter of Alamo Chapter 1836 Military Order of the Purple Heart Pass the Word December 2014 ALAMO CHAPTER 1836 MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 2014-2015 Chapter Officers ELECTED OFFICERS Commander, Harry Preston (210) 343-0209 hpreston@satx.rr.com Sr. Vice Commander, Candido "CJ" Trillo (210) 267-9334 cjtrillo@hotmail.com Jr. Vice Commander, Thomas "Jerry" Terry (210) 862-1424 tterry173@att.net Finance Officer, Dale Prescott (361) 550-7460 dt-prescott@hotmail.com Judge Advocate, Wayne Lund (210) 545-1921 wlund_ranger@hotmail.com Sergeant-at-Arms, Joe Hernandez (510) 757-7715 joehernandezsat@yahoo.com Trustee 3 Year Manuel Soto (210) 381-8192 mcsoto62@gmail.com Trustee 2 Year, Salvatore F. Pesta (210) 622-8161 sfpesta@icloud.com Trustee 1 Year, Rene R. Ramirez (210) 844-8979 ram_2806r@yahoo.com APPOINTED OFFICERS Adjutant Lorenzo Rodriguez (210) 380-8497 el1rod67@yahoo.com Depart. Ex. Com. Carlos Quijano (210) 710-8853 quijanosa@aol.com Service Officer Henry Flores (210) 680-3412 sfoa2@yahoo.com Welfare Officer Peter Rosie (210) 724-8544 rosie.peter@yahoo.com Chaplain Conrad Walker (210) 492-6868 cwalker@satx.rr.com Americanism Officer Raymond Casas (210) 218-9730 raymondoc1@yahoo.com VAVS Peter Rosie (210) 724-8544 rosie.peter@yahoo.com
Editor/Historian Bill Crumlett (210) 326-2231 bcrumlett@satx.rr.com JROTC Officer Mark Costello (210) 542-8446 mcostello686@yahoo.com Quartermaster Robert A. Nelson (210) 602-9774 team354@att.net Surgeon Dr. Bruce H. Warren (210) 684-4644 The Alamo Chapter 1836 meets the 1 st Saturday of each month at VFW Post 8541 at 2222 Austin Hwy, San Antonio, Texas 78218, at 9:30 am. The Executive Committee meets the Tuesday prior to the monthly Chapter meeting at 9:00 am at Mama s Café at 2442 Nacogdoches Rd. All members can attend both scheduled meetings. Web Sites Chapter 1836 - www.purpleheartsa.us Department of Texas - www.mophtx.org National PH - www.purpleheart.org Articles New Officer Needed We find ourselves again without a key elected officer, a Junior Vice Commander, in the middle of the year who can advance on to SVC although Jerry Terry volunteered to serve as interim JVC. In voting, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior and once a patriot is sworn in his word is his bond. We have wonderful patriots in Chapter 1836 - how can we get reliable members to step forward and make a commitment to serve in leadership roles for the Chapter? Past Commander Bill Crumlett Texas A&M University- San Antonio Texas A&M University-San Antonio is now one of only four Texas universities, and the first in San Antonio, to be designated a Purple Heart University. The Military Order of the Purple Heart, which seeks to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, searches for universities that go above and beyond to provide a welcoming environment and excellent service for the military community. By becoming a Purple Heart University, Texas A&M-San Antonio honors the sacrifices made by Purple Heart Medal recipients and shows gratitude to all veterans for their contributions to defending the freedom of the United States. Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier signed a proclamation on Thursday, November 13, to confirm the designation of Texas A&M-San Antonio as a Purple Heart University in the Ceremony Room of the Patriots' Casa. Department Adjutant for the Department of Texas Military Order of the Purple Heart Bill Crumlett attended along with members of the Alamo Chapter 1836. The ceremony aired on Time Warner Cable News and was featured in the San Antonio Business Journal. Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier signs the proclamation confirming A&M-SA's designation as a Purple Heart University as Bill Crumlett, Adjutant for the Department of Texas Military Order of the Purple Heart, looks on. The audience, including members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Alamo Chapter 1836, sing along to the anthems of the five branches of the U.S. military: the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. SVC CJ Trillo was instrumental in organizing the event. Department Mid-Year Executive Committee Conference The Department of Texas held its mid-year conference in Killeen on October 17-18. Commander Gil Brown presided. Representative from 14 Chapters attended the meeting including Commander Preston, Adjutant Rodriguez and Welfare Officer Rosie from 1836. The 2015 Annual 2
Convention will be held in Dallas on 13-15 June. A major topic was fund raising for the Purple Heart Monument approved at the Annual Convention - we will need to raise $200,000. One chapter dedicated its life member rebate to the Monument Fund. Children's Christmas Bicycle Program Roperto Cruz "Cruzer" led the fund-raising BBQ sale this year. $4,751 was raised to purchase 40 girls and 40 boys 20" bikes for distribution to needy children before Christmas. The bikes were delivered to SA area elementary and middle schools on December 18. Volunteers:Lorenzo Rodriguez, Narciso Pulido, Henry Flores, Rene Ramirez, Juan Castillo, Luis Reyna, Juan Gomez, Jorge Hinojosa, Robert Nelson, Joe Hernandez, Joe Alvarez, Tony Roman and Javier Lugo. Thanksgiving Dinner Chapter 1836 members and Auxiliary served Thanksgiving dinner at the Warrior Family Support Center on Thanksgiving Day to 175 wounded servicemen and women and their families. The food is purchased from Grady's BBQ on Whetmore. They make a special effort to come in on their normal day off to prepare the food-please patronize their place of business. Fort Sam Houston's Salute to Veterans Bill Crumlett, Manuel Soto and Lorenzo Rodriguez represented the Chapter at Ft. Sam's celebration of veterans on November 14. This is the first event of its kind at the Fort and 3
despite cold weather was well attended. The Chapter Jeep was the only vehicle on display in front of the crowd. Chapter 1836 member, LTG Perry Wiggins, was the host. Twenty-two veterans received the French Legion of Honor medal for service in France during WWII from French Consul General Sujiro Seam. The Legion of Honor is the highest French decoration. U.S.Army All-American Bowl Members of Alamo Chapter 1836 have been honored guests of the U.S. Army at the All-American Bowl for several years. The Chapter received 50 free tickets to the game on January 3 at the Alamo Dome. The teams consist of the best HS senior football players from across the Nation-many of whom have gone on to starting roles at major university and some on to professional football. Christmas Party Chapter 1836 members, wives and Auxiliary celebrated Christmas on December 11 at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Fine food and drink, music, door prizes and excellent companionship were the order of the day. In Rememberance Our Chapter has lost one of our most devoted members this Fall. Albert "Nick" Nickels was a WWII pilot shot down over what was then Yugoslavia. Surviving serious injury he was hidden and treated by local farmers and partisans and eventually made it back to allied territory. He was a long time Finance Officer of the Chapter. 4
Schedule of Events 2014-2015 27 November - Thanksgiving Dinner WFSC 3 January 2015 - Chapter Meeting 2 December - EC Meeting 3 February - EC Meeting 6 December - Regular Chapter Meeting 16 February - Bingo Night at CLC, 6:00 pm 15 December - Bingo Night at CLC, 6:00 pm 20 February - Founder's Day Dinner, Ft. Sam Golf Course Club House 11 December - Commander's Christmas Party 24 February - EC Meeting 30 December - EC Meeting 28 February - Chapter Meeting New Members in the last Quarter of 2014 include: Kenneth Mathews 10/16/14 Afghanistan US Army Kevin Bowens 10/17/14 Iraq US Army Robert Apostolos 10/31/14 Vietnam US Army Pete Martinez 11/17/14 Vietnam USMC Kevin Pagnani 11/7/14 Vietnam US Army Eduardo Ybarra 12/1/14 Iraq US Army Please join us in welcoming these new members to Chapter 1836. Advertisements 1/8 page - $25, 3" X 2" 1/4 page - $50, 3" X 4" 1/2 page - $100, 6" X 4" 1 page - $200, 6" X 9" Advertisement will run for one issue and must be sent by US mail or electronically to the editor, Bill Crumlett, as camera ready copy. A check for the correct amount must be received prior to publishing. The editor reserves the right to reject any ad which is not of appropriate content. Past Commanders Harry Smart 1999-2000 Jerry Terry 2009-2010 Bill Bacon 2000-2001 Manuel Soto 2011-2012 Howard Ray 2001-2002 Ray Venezie 2012-2013 Bill Crumlett 2002-2003, 2005-2006 Dan Thornhill 2013-2014 Pete Bishop 2003-2004 Raul Campbell 2004-2005 Tony Roman 2006-2007, 2010-2011 Conrad Myers 2007-2008 Walter Chadwick 2008-2009 5
Commanders and Patriots, At our mid-year conference Senior Vice Felix Garcia pledged to donate his Chapter's life member rebates (Chapter 723-Katy) to the proposed state monument. We are close to finalizing a place to erect the monument and will be actively fundraising soon. I mentioned to everyone that we were expecting around a $6.00 per member rebate for 2014 with ½ going to the Chapters and ½ to the Department. We all were pleasantly surprised to get over $10.00 per member. Please consider donating, at least, the $2.00 difference to the Memorial. That will get us "up and running" for the new year! Gil Brown Commander, Department of Texas Military Order of The Purple Heart 214-605-7044 6
The principles underlying the Military Order of the Purple Heart are patriotic allegiance to the United States of America, fidelity to its Constitution and laws, the security of civil liberty, and the permanence of free institutions. All persons of good moral character who have received the Purple Heart for wounds received during military combat against an armed enemy of the United States shall be eligible for membership. 7