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President’s Corner ….…….……..………. 1Digger’s Desk …………….…….….….…… 2Odds & Ends ………….….……….…….…. 3Chaplain’s Corner …..…………….……… 4Salvation Army Bell Ringing …………. 5Calendar …………..……………….…>….… 6Committees …………………………..…….. 7Ads …………………………..…..…………….. 8Membership Form …….…..……..…….. 10
Tom Brown - Editor & PublisherDon Dignan - Editor & ColumnistJerry Thomason - President & ColumnistBob Lamoureux - Membership & ColumnistRich Whipple - Chaplain & Columnist Tom Trestler - Photographer Nancy Dignan - CalendarJim Hodgson - ChiefRon King Dale Luebke
Chapter 528 Homefront
Index Homefront Staff
“Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another”
December 2019
Welcome Home!
President’s Corner
Jerry ThomasonNMCB 133RVN 1969-70
Distribution Staff
President Jerry Thomason taking part in Plymouth’s Veterans Day Ceremony. Photo courtesy of Tom Trestler
Greetings Members, With the Holiday season right around the corner VVA 528 will once again be assisting many of those less fortunate than us. Our yearly contributions to the neighborhood Veteran’s centers, Kohl’s clothing shopping and distribution, Salvation Army bell ringing, will all begin in December. There will be many opportunities to help out so please consider setting aside some time to do so. 120 Christmas Trees were delivered to the post this past Thursday 21st with only 15 VVA and or VFW bodies showing up to unload and set up. That is truly pathetic considering how many members we have between the two organizations and the number of helpers that have shown up in the past. Help will be needed selling trees throughout the remaining days until Christmas. Please, coordinate with Bill Browning to volunteer. Men, I shouldn’t have to beg you to help out on these projects. Believe me it’s not fun at all. But what do we do? Throw in the towel? Golf and play cards 24hrs a day? That’s not what 528 is about. At this age we all have physical limitations you just have to know yours and help accordingly.Hope to see you at the meeting,
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Digger’s Desk
Don Dignan D/2/16 “Rangers”
1st Inf. Div.1967-1968
LOUNGE & AREA EVENTS Don’t forget Karaoke on the 1st and 3rd Fridays at 8:00PM, Euchre at 7:00PM every Wednesday and Pinochle on Friday at 2:00PM. Also, don’t forget the birthday book.
VETERANS DAY The ceremony in downtown Plymouth at Veterans Memorial Park went very well, considering the weather. Pictures are on Facebook. A snack of chili was served afterward in the lounge. Participating restaurants made us feel at home on our day.
THANKSGIVING This is a carryover from last month since Thanksgiving is the latest it can be this year. Always a great holiday spent with family. I remember Thanksgiving 1967 spent at an NDP called Normandy II. I sat on the sandbags of my sleeping position behind our foxhole with a paper plate in hand that contained Waldorf salad, mashed potatoes, rolled turkey….all the goodies that were flown out to us to try and make it feel like Thanksgiving. I was wearing my dirty stinking fatigues and the harder they tried, the more we missed home in the USA. Happy Thanksgiving.
CHRISTMAS TREE ARRIVAL The trees arrived a bit earlier than normal this year but the Chapter was up to the task on a cool and rainy afternoon. Thanks to the crew: Tom McMullen, Greg Kremkow, Jerry Thomason, Jessica Linna, Pat Doherty, Ron King, Bill Browning, Tom Fedewa, Steve Retherford, Terry Wasalaski, Mark Tomasaitis, Mikey Smith, Bill Petrere, Jim Tillman, Dale Luebke, Jim Kimball, Paul Jagenow and me.
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH What do you do ?
I’ll see you at the December meeting. It’s a great time to be a Veteran and member of Chapter 528.
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Odds & Ends
Bob LamoureuxCo. C, 3/47, 9th Inf.
Membership There was 1 application for membership this past month. Kurt Johnston, Air Force, has joined our chapter. Welcome Kurt to chapter 528. Our current membership stands at 314 individual and 84 associate members. Of these we have 314 life VVA and 57 life AVVA members. Lapsed Members: As of November 25, 2019 the following individuals have not renewed their membership: VVA: Dale Wofford AVVA: not available Dropped from Roster: Charlie Kotcher December VVA Renewals: n/a December AVVA Renewals: Patty Brothers, Troy Fisher, Nicholas Johns and Collin McCammon.If you have already renewed thank you. If you have not, please do so before the end of the month to keep your membership current.
AVVA Membership I have not received an AVVA membership report for 3 months so I can’t report on current membership totals, delinquent members or those dropped from the roster. The only thing I can report are upcoming renewals. I’m trying to resolve the problem but it seems to pop up every year or so. Hopefully it will be corrected by next month.
Veterans Day It was a cold snowy day but many still came out for the ceremony in Plymouth. Someone was impressed because we made the front page in the Plymouth Observer and Detroit Free Press newspapers. It’s sad the same couldn’t be said for the ceremony in Canton where only 6 people showed up. I know the snow had a lot to do with attendance but let’s remember we are the Plymouth-Canton chapter.
Christmas Trees The trees arrived on November 21 and are now on sale. Thanks to all who came out in the rain to help unload them. We have fewer trees than last year but help is always needed in selling, loading and delivering them. If you can spare a few hours it would be appreciated. It your looking for a fresh cut tree reasonably priced check them out but don’t wait too long as they always go pretty quickly.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
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Chaplain’s Corner No Longer Afraid
From Our Daily Bread, by Winn Collier
Rich WhippleChaplain (Certified)
(A sinner saved by God’s Grace)Cell: 734-751-2992
[email protected]/2/503rd Infantry173rd Airborne Brigade
1968 - 1969
When the Ethiopian police found her a week after her abduction, three black-maned lions surrounded her, guarding her as though she were their own. Seven men had kidnapped the twelve-year-old girl, carried her into the woods and had beaten her. Miraculously, however, a small pride of lions heard the girl’s cries, came running and chased off the attackers. “The lions stood guard until we found her and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest,” police Sergeant Wondimu told one reporter.
There are days when violence and evil, like that inflicted on this young girl, overpower us, leaving us without hope and terrified. In ancient times, the people of Judah experienced this. They were overrun by ferocious armies and unable to imagine any possibility of escape. Fear consumed them. However, God always renewed His unrelenting presence with His people: “The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm” (Zephaniah 3:15). Even when our catastrophes result from our own rebellion, God still comes to our rescue. “The Lord your God is with you”,’ we hear, “the Mighty Warrior who saves” (v.17).
Whatever troubles overtake us, whatever evils, Jesus-the Lion of Judah-is with us (Revelation 5:5). No matter what fears ravage us, our God assures us that He is by our side.
Chaplain’s Corner: Al Kerbyson is back at American House after leaving the VA where they determined his 22 stitches have healed enough for him to be on his own..(Welcome Home, Al)! Bill Browning is still taking chemo treatments, Gary (Ouch) Boucher has third stage pancreatic cancer and is being treated with chemo pills, Don Shannon still recovering from his nasal operation, John Heraghty’s wife Lisa, recovering from brain surgery to remove a large mass (an awesome praise!), Pat Gibbons in his battle with skin cancer, Bob Bryant and his fight with Waldenstrom Lymphoma (breathing difficulties), Bob “Santa Claus” Anderson with his fight with cancer.
Once again, I apologize for leaving someone out, as this list continues to grow!
As your chaplain and friend, I wish Christmas blessings on all you members and your families. The baby Jesus was brought to earth to conquer sin and because of His death on the cross, He completed what God the Father brought him to Earth for, to defeat Satan. We are God’s children, however only through Jesus and a relationship with Him, can we avoid eternal damnation. That’s how I enjoy this beautiful holiday. We all have an opportunity to avoid Hell. Amen!!
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Time Bell Ringer Bell Ringer
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10:00am to 11:00am Name Ron King Tom Trestler
Jerry Thomason Don Dignan-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:00am to 12:00pm Name Jim Hodgson Rick Popa
Pat Doherty Mike Steffes-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:00pm to 1:00pm Name Rich Whipple Terry Wells
Doug Fox _____________________-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:00pm to 2:00pm Name Bob Dew Steve Retherford
Al Dorey Bob Garrett-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2:00pm to 3:00pm Name Bob Lamoureux Mike Panich
Al Dorey _____________________-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3:00pm to 4:00pm Name Bryan Bentley Dale Luebke
Roger Riddell _____________________-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign up or if there are any questions, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 734-604-0227,
and thank you for helping!!!!
John Fleming
SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGINGSAM'S CLUB
39800 FORD ROAD, CANTONSATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
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Calendar by Nancy Dignan
December Birthdays Dennis Berent, Bryan Bentley, Stephen Boucher, Ruth Bryan, Mike Crittenden, Gerald Dodson, John Erickson, Thomas Fedewa, Dale Fisher, Doug Fox, Mark Gallo, Lonnie Hampton, Steve Kozmor, John Ligner, Robert Marsico, Dan Michael, Michael Panich, James Perkins, Clyde Rains, Pete Reckinger, Dale Roeseler, Roger Shanks, Dave Stenrose, James Tillman, Ray Vincent, Michael Williams, Robert Williams and Richard Wurtzel.
DECEMBER 2019
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Chapter 528 Homefront December 2019Chapter 528 Website: www.vva528.orgChapter 528 Travel Site www.travelvva528.comAdvertising Rates: 1 year $60; 6 mos. $45; 1 issue $15
Tom Brown, Editor/Publisher2nd Missile Battalion
44th Artillery Pershing 1st yr HHD III Corps 2nd yr
Ft. Sill, OK
Chapter Officers President Jerry Thomason 734-895-52571st Vice President John Heraghty 734-464-31332nd Vice President Gary Bush 734-718-2301 Secretary Ron King 734-679-6424Treasurer John Fleming 734-421-0149 Board of DirectorsDarrel Bazman 734-207-3197 (1) Don Dignan - 734-525-0157 (1)Rich Whipple - 734-751-2992 (1)Gene Spurgess 248-887-6212 (1) Bruce Beny0 - 734-326-0867 (2)Don Petrere 734-595-1422 (2) Al Sneath - 734-377-5337 (2)
Committees A.O./Health Care Bob Dew 734-421-1805Agent Orange Events Bob Dew 734-421-1805AVVA Representative Bryan Bentley 734-604-6066By-Laws Jim Hodgson 734-416-5159 Chaplain Rich Whipple 734-751-2992Chapter Historian Gary Pritchard 734-522-2033 Fundraising Bob Dew 734-421-1805Homeless Veterans John Fleming 734-421-0149Membership Bob Lamoureux 734-397-8389Homefront Newsletter Editor & Publisher Tom Brown 313-336-0192 Editor Don Dignan 734-525-0157 Distribution Chief Jim Hodgson 734-416-5159 Assistant Ron King 734-679-6424 Assistant Dale Luebke 248-403-4244Product Sales Rick Demeester 248-486-9981POW/MIA Al Kerbyson 734-612-9757 Public Affairs Don Dignan 734-525-0157Sergeant-at-Arms John Fleming 734-52504560Service Representative Aggie Little 734-722-9535Sportsmen’s Raffle Bob Dew 734968-3267State Delegate Dennis Bielskis 248-486-0001State A.Delegate Gary Estermyer 313-283-6943State VVA Product Sales John Riling 734-776-2239VAVS Deputy Ron King 734-454-4522Vietnam War 50th Com. Ron King 734-4544522 Website Bob Dew 734-968-3267
Bryan Bentley 734-604-6066John Spencer 734-716-0619Dennis Bielskis 248-767-1654Tom Brown 313-336-0192
Chapter 528 VVA Service Officers (VSO) Dennis Bielskis - 734-459-6700Gary Estermyer - 313-961-9568Veterans Crisis CentersVeterans Center 313-381-1370Dearborn Crisis Center 313-584-7800VA Medical Center Detroit 313-576-1000VA Ann Arbor Health Care System 734-769-7100Editor’s Note and Disclaimer Articles, flyers, calendar, event dates and photos must be submitted by the 25th of the month in order to be considered for publication. Send the article, flyer or photo to Tom Brown 17730 Snow Ave Dearborn, MI 48124 or email Tom at [email protected]. Except as otherwise noted, all published articles become the property of VVA Chapter 528 and may not be reprinted without the Chapter’s permission. Chapter 528 reserves the right to edit for space. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Chapter, the editor, or the National VVA. Mayflower Lt. Gamble VFW Post 6695 (734-459-6700).
Our Service PhotosVVA Chapter 528 has 151 VVA members’ service photos displayed and 3 AVVA members’ service photos on our website www.vva528.org/members528.html and in our display case. I’m sure most members have a photo of themselves laying around somewhere. When you find your photo you can either mail it to Tom Brown @ 17730 Snow Ave. Dearborn, MI 48124, scan it and send it to: [email protected] as a jpg or jpeg, bring it to our general membership meetings and give it to Tom or bring it to the VFW. Be sure to include your name, branch of service and the year the photo was taken. Don Petrere will place the copied service photo in our display case.
Mark Mittleman Army 1970
Mike Panich Army1968
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No. 213208 eV)
TROPHIES & ENGRAVING Ed Duprey
Owner
32635 Ford Road Garden City, MI 48135
(Between Venoy & Merriman Roads) Hours: 9 - 6 Weekdays 19 - Noon Sat.
Phone: (734) 266 - 1815 Fax: (734) 266 -1817
www.greatlakestrophies.com E-mail: [email protected]
Be sure to designate VVA Chapter 528 when turning in your vehicle.
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Vietnam Veterans of America VVA membership is open to U.S. armed forces veterans who served on active duty (for other than training purposes) in the Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961 and May 22, 1975, or in any duty location between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975 Name________________________________________ email _______________________________________ Phone___________________________________ Present Address_____________________________________________ City_________________________________ State__________________ Zip Code ____________________ Branch of Service___________________________________ Date of Birth_______________________________________ Today’s Date ________________________
$50.00 Lifetime Membership Enclosed ______ _____ I am a Vietnam Era Veteran and would like to be a member. Enclosed is a copy of my DD 214 Form. One must have served a minimum of 180 days of active service. _____ I am not a Vietnam Era Veteran, but would like to be an Associate Member
One may become an Associate Member (AVVA). _____ 1 year ($20), _____ 3 year ($50), _____ Life membership ages 59 and under ($175), _____ 60 and above ($100). When purchasing a life membership proof of age must also be submitted. The easiest form of proof is a copy of your driver’s license. There is one new AVVA option available. Current VVA members can support the AVVA by purchasing a life membership in AVVA for only $50.
Return this form to: Vietnam Veterans of America Plymouth/Canton Chapter 528 P.O. Box 6319 Plymouth, MI 48170-0473
December 2019Chapter 528 Homefront
was lively and productive at these hearings. On Wednesday evening I attended the almost three hour Region 5 caucus (moderated by John Riling) where we heard from almost all of the candidates.
