Volume VIII Number 3 AROUND THE PACIFIC 20 November 2012 I V Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Department of Pacific Areas Commander Darin Combs II III IV VI VII The Around the Pacific newsletter showcases local activities throughout the VFW Department of Pacific Areas through articles, photos, etc. The Department Editor may provide articles on the various programs that both support. District I Okinawa VFW Post 9723 POW-MIA Day
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MARINE CORP BIRTHDAY 1775-2012 237 YEARS OF SERVICE Department of Pacific Areas Page 6
VFW Post 9723 Membership Oath Senior Vice Commander Kimball Wilson giving the oath to two new members of Post 9723 VFW Post 9723 Veterans Day Ceremony Post 9723 members and Veterans participating in a Veterans Day Ceremony at the Kadena Middle School Okinawa, Japan on 7,Nov 2012 Department of Pacific Areas Page 7
Volume VIII Number 3 AROUND THE PACIFIC 20 November 2012
Volume VIII Number 3 AROUND THE PACIFIC 20 November 2012 VFW Post 9723 and the American Legion participating in a VETERANS DAY Ceremony on the 12th of Nov 2012
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Thank You Veterans U. S. Military Men and Women and their Families Department of Pacific Areas Page 11
District II Japan District II Meeting at Yokosuka, Japan Photos by Jon Way, VFW Post 1054 Members of District II Mainland Japan pose with DPA Senior Vice Commander Shawn Watson during his recent visit to Japan District II Commander & DPA Senior Vice DPA Senior Vice Commander Watson DPA Senior Vice DPA Senior Vice Commander Watson addresses members of District II Mainland Japan Department of Pacific Areas Page 12
Hodogaya Veterans Remembrance Day 11 November, 2012 Photos by Jon Way, VFW Post 1054 District II Mainland Japan Commander Homer Kemper and BSA Scout Randy Riffle of Troop 35 salute after laying a Wreath at the Hodogaya Memorial Cemetery Comrades from District II salute as a wreath is being placed to honor our deceased Veterans District II Mainland Japan VFW members and Scouts Hodogaya Remembrance Day November 11, 2012 Department of Pacific Areas Page 13
VFW Post 1054 Veterans Day at Yokohama Foreigners Cemetery Photos by Jon Way, Post 1054 Comrades from Post 1054 and Yokosuka Ikego Scout Troops 13 & 35, Venture Crew 13, and Pack 33 participate at a Veterans Day event L/R: Nathan Hammondtree, Mike Castro, District II Commander Kemper leads Scouts District II Commander Kemper & Mike Castro Jon Way, and Homer Kemper in prayer for our departed Comrades at the grave of the 1 st Scout Master in Japan District II Commander Kemper & Kim McCann & Scout prepare to place a flag BSA Scout honoring a deceased Veteran Joseph Conde of Post 1054 on the grave of the 1 st Scout Master in Japan Department of Pacific Areas Page 14
VFW Post 1054 & Kinnick High School POW/MIA Recognition Day Photos by Jon Way, Post 1054 Kinnick High School JROTC Comrades Homer Kemper, Al Sanders, Mike Lutman and David Robinson Kinnick High School JROTC POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony Kinnick High School JROTC with Post 1054 members Department of Pacific Areas Page 15
Post Commander Rick Farris, Adjutant Mike Lutman and Junior Vice Commander Mike Castro pose with the Senior Leaders of the Kinnick High School Navy Junior ROTC unit after attending their Veterans Day tribute to Veterans. CDR Farris provided remarks and Quartermaster Frank Hunter played solemn bagpipes in honor of all Veterans,past and present. Thank you to the staff, students and fellow Veteran teachers at Kinnick High School for their support and for hosting this event each year. Well done! Department of Pacific Areas Page 16
VFW Post 1054 Scouting Events Photos by Jon Way, Post 1054 Comrades Jon way and Joseph Jay Conde present Troop 13 & Venture Crew 13 Charters to Post Commander Rick Farris Post 1054 Comrades Robert Mack, Joseph Jay Conde, and Jon Way at the VFW/BSA Halloween hotdog giveaway Comrades Kemper, Sanders, Way, and Robinson provide lunch during BSA Cub Rally 2012 at Ikego Department of Pacific Areas Page 17
VFW Post 1054 held its first Annual Charity Golf Tournament in Support of the Wounded Warrior Project on 15 October 2012 at Camp Zama Golf Course near Yokohama Japan. 12 Teams of 4 were fielded with over $1500.00 of door prizes and awards were handed out donated from generous donors and sponsor listed below with a total cash amount donated directly to the Wounded warrior Project online of $3726.00. Hole Sponsorship 1. Maersk Lines Limited 2. Fleet Reserve Association Branch 103 Yokosuka Japan 3. VFW DPA Commander Darin Combs 4. VFW DPA Senior Vice Commander Shawn Watson 5. VFW DPA Chief Of Staff Richard Keeley 6. VFW District II Commander Homer Kemper 7. VFW Post Adjutant Mike Lutman 8. VFW Post 1054 Life Member Mitch Dittebrand 9. Rising Sun Bar 10. Dr. and Mrs. Scott Young 11. Aflot Training Group First Class Petty Officers Association Closest to the Pin Sponsorship Volvo Military Car sales Yokosuka Port Engineers Longest Drive Sponsorship Volvo Military Car Sales Door Prize Donors Mr. Mike Lutman Mr. Al Sanders USO Japan Department of Pacific Areas Page 18
VFW Post 9612 Camp Zama JAPANESE AMERICAN TOMODACHI ASSOCIATION (JATA) ACTIVITIES ON BOARD NAF ATSUGI Comrade Joe Mortimer VFW Post 9612 (left) with members of JATA during a evening meeting. Comrade Joe Mortimer VFW Post 9612 with members of JATA during weekly meetings discussing American topics. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Pacific Areas Page 19
VETERANS DAY OBSERVANCE Naval Air Facility ATSUGI Past Department Commander Richard A. Keeley rendered a Veterans Day Speech. Joe Mortimer (above and left), Chaplain of Department of Pacific Areas, Veterans of Foreign Wars, folds the U.S. Flag ceremoniously with Naval Aircrewman Mechanical Petty Officer 3rd Class Sabrina Thomas while the meaning of each fold is explained. John McBroom (bottom right photo), Post Junior Vice Commander, VFW Post 9612 Camp Zama, Japan and also active duty Navy Legalman Petty Officer 1st Class reads the poem "Old Glory" during the Veteran s Day Remembrance Ceremony held at Cinema 77 on Naval Air Facility Atsugi. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Pacific Areas Page 20
District III Korea Post 8180 CDR Lon Garwood, standing right behind Hillary Clinton, in Haiti as part of a Delegation, with former President Bill Clinton, Sec of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Labor Sec Hilda Solis to showcase the centerpiece of the US effort to help the country recover from the 2010 earthquake. Department of Pacific Areas Page 21
POW/MIA ACTIVITIES AT OSAN AIR BASE VFW Post 10216 of Songtan, partnered with the 51 st Fighter Wing and Air Force Sergeants Association for a weeklong series of POW/MIA remembrance events. The National POW/MIA Recognition Day is annually observed in the United States on the third Friday of September. The base held observances throughout the week to remember the more than 83,000 Americans who are missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War. Remembrance activities began on 19 September with a Candlelight vigil at the Osan Air Base Chapel. TSgt. Autum Curran and Tech. Sgt. Crystal Lundell, members of the 51st Logistics Readiness Squadron, provide comfort to Post 10216 Commander Ernie Lee. The 51 st Fighter Wing also hosted a formal POW/MIA Retreat Ceremony at their Wing Headquarters and VFW members participated. Activities continued with Post 10216 Commander Ernie Lee supporting AAFES with a POW/MIA informational booth outside the Osan BX. Our goal was to educate military members on the purpose and facts related to our POW s and MIA s. The VFW also participated in a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action 24-hour run on September 21 st. Department of Pacific Areas Page 22
Yes, that s our Post Chaplain 79-year old Billy Quintero leading the VFW formation. Unfortunately, Doc Higgins didn t make it and had to be carried away on a stretcher. The formal POW/MIA Remembrance ceremony was held on 21 September. Post 10216 is a traditional partner in this event and purchased the wreath and refreshments. The Key-Note Speaker was the 9 th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, CMSgt Binnicker. Commander Ernie Lee is on first name with the 51 st Fighter Wing Commander Colonel McKenzie. Department of Pacific Areas Page 23
The week culminated with a special dinner at the Post Home for CMSgt Binnicker. As part of our Youth Activities, the local Civil Air Patrol cadets catered the dinner. Post 10216 is a proud member of the Osan Community and strongly supports their POW/MIA activities. VFW MOTORCYCLE RALLY VFW Post 10216 had its 1 st Annual Korean-American Motorcycle Rally on 8 September. It was a great success with over 50 bikes were entered, including Commander Ernie Lee and his Hog. PDC Larry Lyons was the town cryer for the event, as Dept SVC Shawn Watson admires his Harley. Doc Higgins entered his own bike 8 and came in third place in the contest! Department of Pacific Areas Page 24
The goal of the Rally was to raise donations for local orphanages. The Rally was a great success and $2,180.00 was raised. Rally coordinator and VFW member Warren Maxson and Commander Lee present a check to the Osan AB Chaplain. VFW PARTICIPATES IN SONGTAN S ANNUAL KOREA-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP CULTURAL FESTIVAL VFW Post 10216 had an opportunity to share in a culturally enriching experience at the Korean American Friendship Festival on Sept. 15 and 16. This is one of the major community events of the year for the VFW. Post members, spouses and military members helped out in the event. Department of Pacific Areas Page 25
VFW Post Master Chef Ron Davis Master Chef Ron Davis was a key to our success as he cooked his famous Southern Style BBQ Ribs. Doc Higgins supervises Billy Q in preparation, as Doc Higgins is relegated to the cotton candy machine! Department of Pacific Areas Page 26
Osan Community Olympics VFW Post 10216 partnered with AAFES and Coca-Cola to sponsor the Osan Community Olympics at the Osan Mall. Post members served as judges for this fun community event. Billy Quintero gets down and dirty as a judge with the kids! Kids and adults alike had fun at the Olympics and Post Commander Ernie Lee presents the medals to the winners! Department of Pacific Areas Page 27
VFW GOES TO THE DMZ WITH THEIR ADOPTED UNIT 303 RD INTELLIGENCE SQUADRON Post 10216 sponsored a trip to Korea s Demilitarized Zone or DMZ on 25 September, with their adopted unit the 303 rd Intelligence Squadron or Skivvy-Nine. The 303 rd is officially the adopted unit under the VFW s MAP Program and the Post supports them with social events, quarterly awards and community activities. Post Commander Ernie Lee and Mr. Kim put a scare in the North Koreans! Mr. Kim is a Korean lawyer who assists VFW members on legal issues and he is also the Honorary Commander for the 303 rd IS. Skivvy-Niners are literally standing in north Korea in the DMZ. The VFW instructs our local soldiers and airmen on military history under our Professional Military Education Program. Department of Pacific Areas Page 28
The DMZ remains one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world and a flash-point for conflict in the Pacific. Post 10216 Commander Ernie Lee and Mr. Kim escorted the military on their DMZ tour. Ernie is shown here on Freedom Bridge at the DMZ. Panmunjom is the location of the infamous tree-cutting incident where US Army Captain Arthur Bonifas and 1Lt Mark Barrett were killed by North Korean guards on 18 August, 1976. Department of Pacific Areas Page 29
VFW SCOUTING In District 3 VFW Post 10216 is the chartering organization for Boy Scout Troop 86 and is active in Scouting as part of our Youth Activities Program. Recently Post Commander Ernie Lee was a member of the Eagle Scout Selection Board for Patrick Simmons. Patrick Simmons received his Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony held at Osan City s Korean War Memorial Task Force Smith. Commander Lee presents Patrick with an award from the VFW. Department of Pacific Areas Page 30
Scout Master Lt Col Andrea Wasserman presents Patrick Simmons with his Eagle Scout Certificate. Colonel Wasserman is an active member of Post 10216 and a leader in our Youth Activities Program. Colonel Wasserman presents Post 10216 Commander Ernie Lee with a Certificate of Appreciation for our support to the recent 13 th Korea National Scouting Jamboree. The Post donated funds to purchase a bus for transportation of the Scouts to the event. VFW Post 10216 recently sponsored the chartering of the new Venture Scout Crew 86. The Post Boy Scout Council Representative Tim Kinmon presents Post Commander Lee with the Charter. Post 10216 now sponsors Boy Scout Troop 86, Cub Scout Pack 86 and Venture Scout Crew 86. Department of Pacific Areas Page 31
FATHER BRINGS HIS SON INTO VFW Post 10216 Adjutant Keith Michael had the honor and privilege of bringing his son Kyle Michael into the VFW in a ceremony conducted at a Post Meeting on 10 September. Kyle is a SSgt in the U.S. Air Force and a veteran with service in Kuwait, Turkey and Korea. SSgt Michael is currently an Imagery Analyst at the 6 th Intelligence Squadron at Osan Air Base. Coincidentally, Kyle s Father, Lt Col Keith Michael (USAF, Ret), was a member of the same unit (6 th Tactical Intelligence Group) 25 years earlier! A proud father pins on the VFW Cross of Malta on his son SSgt Kyle Michael. Kyle is a 3 rd generation USAF veteran; his grandfather SMSgt Arthur E. Michael was a Vietnam Veteran. Department of Pacific Areas Page 32
District V Thailand & Cambodia Pattaya Sports Club Charity Golf Tournament District V and VFW Post 9876 sponsored one hole each in the annual Pattaya Sports Club Charity Golf Tournament on 16 Mar 2012 John Clark and one other VFW Post 9876 member 'DJ" James played in this event. The pictures attached are at the clubhouse before start and at each on the holes #1 and # 2. Department of Pacific Areas Page 33
VFW Post 12074 & American Ambassador Veteran s Day Chiang Mai, Thailand On Oct 31 st U.S. Ambassador, Kristie Kenney, visited Chiang Mai. During her visit to Chiang Mai, she laid a wreath at the monument of the American Volunteer Group, AVG, Flying Tigers, in the Foreign Cemetery in remembrance of Veterans Day. Ambassador Kenny, Consulate General of Chiang Mai, Kenneth Foster was greeted by acting Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Bill Horner and members of the VFW Post 12074. After a wreath laying ceremony assisted by the VFW, Ambassador Kenney was introduced by Commander Horner. Ambassador Kenney gave a speech on the value of the American Veterans and how they had played a part in her life. Afterwards Ambassador Kenney had a brief photo session with VFW members, their wives and guests. She was then given a tour of the cemetery by the group overseeing care of the Cemetery. The Ambassador and guests departed the cemetery shortly after the tour. Department of Pacific Areas Page 34
Volume VIII Number 3 AROUND THE PACIFIC 20 November 2012
Volume VIII Number 3 AROUND THE PACIFIC 20 November 2012 District VI Guam & Saipan-CNMI Hafa Adai VFW Post 1509 Presents the Department of Pacific Areas Elementary School Teacher of the Year VFW Post 1509 Senior Vice Commander Bryan Srickner presents Andersen AFB Elementary Teacher, Wendy Tougher, with a VFW National Award as 2012 Elementary Teacher of the Year. Wendy won the competition at the Post, District & Department level. This is an annual competition sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
District VII Philippines CLARK VETERANS CEMETERY OCTOBER 2012 UPDATE VFW POST 2485 John Gilbert, Chairman CLARK VETERANS CEMETERY VISITORS In addition to scheduled VIP tours, each month we provide briefings and tours of Clark Veterans Cemetery for other interested persons visiting the Angeles City area. Many are VFW members from other areas, or belong to other Veterans and Fraternal organizations. We consider this educational effort to be an important part of our mission. Slim Ketchum, with John Gilbert, during his recent visit to the Clark Veterans Cemetery. Slim is very involved in Veterans activities in his home community, Avon, Indiana and is lending his support to the Clark Veterans Cemetery. and Clark Veterans Cemetery Those wishing to join our Grave Digger support organization, or make donations to the Cemetery Maintenance Fund are now able to make payment through PAYPAL. Links Post for this 124 easy means Computer of payment are Donation on those web pages of the Post website, www.vfwpost24855.com Department of Pacific Areas Page 37
Computer Donation to Hope for Parents with Children with Disabilities (HOPE) VFW Post 124 VFW Post 124 donating a computer set to the Hope for Parents with Children with Disabilities (HOPE). Past Post Commander Larry Senato presenting the donation to Secretary Helen Grace and Treasurer Arlene Giague. See you in the next edition, November 2012! Department of Pacific Areas Page 38