FEBRUARY 2013 ISSUE - SHOULDER TO SHOULDER FROM Q.C. VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA - CHAPTER 299

7/29/2019 FEBRUARY 2013 ISSUE - SHOULDER TO SHOULDER FROM Q.C. VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA - CHAPTER 299

1/12

VETS IN CRISIS HOTLIN1.800.273.82

John Katherma309.799.79

[email protected] President-Terry Lyn

[email protected] Roma

[email protected] Kram

[email protected]

Membership - Larry Tschapp309.788.27

[email protected] Srv Ofrs (VS

Al Btch Hber-VS309.721.14

Steve Lowther-VS309.737.29

VVA Naonal Of800.882.13

VA Otpatient Clinic Bettendo563.332.85

VA Med Cent IA C319.338.0581 & 800.346.184

IL Dept of Veterans AffaVSO Dan Bebb

309.793.14RI Cty Vet Ast & VS

Todd Harlo309.558.354

VET Cent - Fred Wyemo309.762.69

IL Vet Employ ReKen Lilly & John To

309.764.87IA Vet Affairs & VSDavid Woo

563.326.87Honor Gard Co-Captai

Dennis Laird - Fnera309.278.34

Andy Anderson - ParadC: 563.940.59

C. Norris & J. KeIA Workforce Vet Rep

563.445.320

CHAPTER 29

ATTENTION CHAPTER MEMBERS!!!

Your attendance is requestedat our next scheduled Chaptermeeting on Tuesday, 19February, 1900 hours at the RIArsenal Cafeteria. Although thisis a regularly scheduled meeting,it is essential that we get amembership quorum (15%) toattend. Our membership standsat 375 and 15% puts the numberneeded at 56.

The reason that we need aquorum is there is an importantChapter motion that will bebrought to the floor and theamount of money needed to

fund it will exceed the normalspending cap. A quorumis needed to approve (ordisapprove) the allocation offunds.

Chapter member and master hogroaster builder Dan Carothershas spent numerous hours inresearching and locating a trailerto haul all the accoutrementsneeded in putting on a Chapter

hog roast. Further, Dan hasdesigned a highly efficientinterior system to organize andcodify the tools of the trade.As you are no doubt aware, thehog roast program has turnedinto quite a cash cow for theChapter and with our interestin supporting the WoundedWarrior Project and the QCA

Honor Flight program, we needto be completely organized andbe ready to roast a hog at amoments notice!

The 15% quorum needed toexceed our Chapters two tieredspending cap ($400 Boardapproval/$800 non-quorummembership approval) wasput into place to protect ourChapters assets. Any Chapterspecial event, expenditure orproject that needs fundingbeyond the cap must bepresented to a membershipquorum for approval.

We need the hog roasterprogram up and running by earlyspring. To restate, the trailer isneeded for efficiency and willsimplify, organize and protectitems needed for our roasts.

Please give us an houron the 19th.

Bill Albracht

INSIDE: MiNuteS ANd MOtiONS; PAge 2 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE; PAGE 8 ARMY HeRO ANd NFL LegeNd; PAge 9 WWW.upcoming ch apter 299 events honor FLight Bears panthers game a message From Your presiDent

We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit

violence on those who would harm us.George Orwell

QuAD CITIES CHAPTER 299 WWW.QCVVA299.ORG FeBRuARY 20


2/12

Volume 27 Issue 2 shoulder to shoulde2

Minutes VVA299 Board

of Directors Meeng-

15Jan2013

Call to order by Vice

President Terry Lynch with

he Pledge of Allegiance

nd a moment of silence

emembering our fallen

nd missing Brothers and

isters.

Present were: Terry Lynch,

Terry Kramer, Ray Hamilton,

im Loveless, Paul Frenchy

aves, Bob Brooks, Dennis

aird, Bob McSparin, Ron

Roman

Commiee Reports

Membership Dennis

aird reported for Larry

hat we currently have

375 members (206 Life

nd 169 Regular) and 42

AVVA members. Proposed

waiver of membership

dues for one member in

need. Moon was made,econded and approved.

our members transferred.

Charies Bob Brooks

proposed a $200 donaon

o Arrowhead Ranch. Bob

Brooks moved and Ray

Hamilton seconded we

pprove the expenditure.

Discussion followed, the

moon was approved. Bob

Brooks proposed a $200

donaon for a student

towards her $5000 needed

for a Student Ambassador

trip to Australia. Bob gave

a detailed report of the

students background and

accomplishments. Ray

Hamilton moved and BobBrooks seconded. The

moon was passed aer

brief discussion.

Honor Guard Dennis Laird

reported the upcoming

trip to New Glarus, WI this

weekend.

Vet2Vet Frenchy Eaves

reported upcoming visit

to St. Anthonys Care

Center on 12/12/2013 at

1400 hours. Aendees

are requested to arrive 10

minutes early.

Treasurers Report Terry

Kramer reported nancialresults. He has included the

recommendaons from the

December Board meeng.

The report was accepted as

presented.

Old Business

Holiday Baskets Bob

Brooks reported delivering

a total of 144 baskets

for Thanksgiving and

Christmas. Chrisan Care

sent us a Thank You for

our donaon of turkeys and

hams.

The February membership

meeng will have a

presentaon on the history

of 1st Army at the RockIsland Arsenal.

New Business

Board Meengs schedule

for 2013 Discussion

regarding pros and cons

of remaining meengs

with current Board. It was

agreed to have the Board

again meet next month

before the Membership

meeng at 6:00 p.m.

Rock Island Property

Discussions are connuing

with the property owner.

Scholarship Commiee

Commiee will be meeng

in January.

Respecully submied,

Ron Roman, Secretary

Minutes Of VVA299

Membership Meeng-

Meeng Called to Order

by Vice President Terry

Lynch. The Pledge of

Allegiance was recited

followed by a moment o

silence remembering ou

fallen and missing Broth

and Sisters. Twenty-one

Members were present.

Dennis Laird introduced

Stephanie Smith who

presented a brief overvi

of an upcoming Welcom

Home trip for VietnamVeterans, sponsored by

Burlington Trailways. Th

trip will run from April

14th through April 19th;

desnaons include

Louisville, Dollywood an

Cincinna. During the

there, several special ev

are planned to honor

Vietnam Veterans. For

more informaon, conta

Burlington Trailways or Q

Times Plus 60 Club.

Terry requested that

the Minutes from the

Membership Meeng of

20 November 2012 be

approved. Bill Albracht

moved, Ray Hamiltonseconded and the Minut

were approved.

Commiee Reports

Membership Dennis

Laird reported for Larry,

that we currently have 3

members (206 Life and

VVA299 BoArd of dIrectors meetIng - 15 JAn 2013

VVA299 memBershIp meetIng - 08 JAn 2013

minutes cont. on page


3/12

Volume 27 Issue 2 shoulder to shoulder

169 Regular) and 42 AVVA

members.

Charity Bob Brooks

moved to donate $200

o Arrowhead Ranch,

Andy Anderson seconded,

moon passed. Bob Brooks

moved to donate $200

or a student to go on

n internaonal trip to

Australia, sponsored by

People to People. Andy

Anderson seconded,

moon passed. Andy

eported that the CharityCommiee to date has

donated $6295.

Honor Guard Andy

Andersen reported their

rip to New Glarus, WI is

oming up, the 17th me

hey have been invited to

Present the Colors. The

group will also again be

marching in the St. PatricksDay parade, between Rock

sland and Davenport, on

Saturday March 16th.

Vet2Vet Frenchy Eaves

eported the next visit is to

St. Anthonys Care Center

on 12/12/2013 at 1400

hrs. Aendees are asked to

arrive 10 minutes early.

Treasurers Report

Terry Kramer reportedthe monthly income and

expenses. The report was

accepted as presented.

Old Business

Hog Roaster Ray

Hamilton reported he

currently is working with a

list of about 27 members/helpers. He could use more

people for the upcoming

season. Please contact Ray

if you can spare some me.

President John is sll

looking for programs for

meengs.

Honor Express/Honor Flight

Bill Albracht reportedon results of meengs

with the Honor Flight

organizaon. Our member

Mike Haney is on their

Board of Directors. The

local Honor Flight plans

to connue to oer their

service to the Korean Vets

and later to the Vietnam

Vets, if their sponsors

connue to support the

organizaon. Bill also

reported that any VietnamVet who has signicant

health problems could

apply to go to the front of

the line. With our inial

concerns for our era vets

resolved, and the many

logiscal problems that

developed with our plans

for train service, the

commiee recommended

to the Board to merge

the funds for The Honor

Express into the Honor

Flight fund. The Board

approved. Bill moved that

the membership approve

merging these funds,

Bob Brooks seconded the

moon. Aer discussion,the moon was approved.

New Business

Hog Roaster Trailer Dan

Carothers reported on

the Special Events request

for the Trailer expense,

which was approved by

the Board in December.

Extensive discussion

followed, including the

need for a quorum of 15

of the total membershipto vote on this as it is a

major expenditure. The

by-laws were discussed,

Terry suggested we tabl

this item unl February

so that we can aempt

to get a quorum of 15%

membership in aenda

Again, discussion follow

with the nal agreemen

to aempt passage at th

February Membership

meeng if enough

members are present.

Good of the Order

Mike Haney won the $2

drawing and donated

it back to the HonorFlight. There was no Life

Membership drawing th

month.

Respecully submied,

Ron Roman, Secretary

chapter 299 thanK You LinDa petersonAVVA Member Linda Peterson became involved with

QCVVA Chapter 299 through her brothers Membership

nd decorated combat service in Vietnam as a U.S.

Marine. Since his death, Linda has moved to Kentucky

but she connues her involvement in Chapter 299.

Responding to the Sick Bay Sick Call secon in the

anuary 2013 issue of Shoulder To Shoulder, Linda took

he me to get the contact informaon of our under

the weather Chapter 299 Members to give them a

telephone call with her personal, eusive style of Ge

Well Soon.

Linda, we thank you for your kindness and considera

for Members who are ill. Its impossible not to feel be

when Linda engages you in conversaon a Chapter

Salute to Linda Peterson.


4/12


vva chapter 299 event pLanning guiDe

Descripon of Event:

Primary objecve is to acquire an enclosed cargo trailer

o assist the BBQ Cooking Team in fundraising. The

econdary objecve of this project is to reduce the

amount of physical labor from our volunteers and to

epresent Chapter members in a professional manner to

he public.

Date and Time of Event:

This applicaon is oered on 12/11/2012 to the Board

of Directors. The me of acquision and modicaon

upgrades will begin upon acceptance by the Board and

ater by full Membership in January 2013.

Planned Locaon:

Quad Cies area through volunteers and merchants.

Event funding amount

Not to exceed budget of $11,000. See aached itemized

amounts. We also qualify the line item budget esmate

o allow commiee to increase or decrease line items at

our discreon. This request is made so in the event we

ome in under budget that we will have the commieereedom to add features at our discreon.

Our commiee will be solicing sponsors, for

various commitments, to assist the Chapter funding

equirements. All donaons will be submied into

Chapter treasury, with disbursements for purchase and

mprovements to be made through Treasurer, or such

nstrument as Board may approve.

Budget for BBQ Team Trailer VVA Chapter #299

Project Name: CHINOOK ONE

Item Descripon Cost

2013 Haulmark 14 Cargo trailer $5,000

Electrical 110v hookups $250

Air compressor and accessories $125

Seville 12 drawer stainless roll around $800

Seville 5 drawer stainless roll around $400

Steel, caster, powder coat for roll arounds $1100

Steel, wood, aluminum for shelving $1100

Graphics and leering $850

License $100Insurance $200

Utensils, openers, containers $125

Canopy tent cover-replacement $150

Brake controller for tow vehicle $150

Overrun conngency $650

Budget Request $11,000

Requested by: Dan Carothers, Chairman, Support trail

Commiee

Commiee Members: Ray Hamilton, Bob Jackson, BobMcSparin, Mike Healea, Frenchy Eaves,

Dan Carothers

Chairman____________________________ 12/11/12

Board Approved Date:

Chapter Membership Approved Date:

avva meeting FeBruarY

AVVA chapter meengs are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at

6:30pm at the Rock Island Arsenal cafeteria. We would like for you to

oin us with your ideas and thoughts. Come join us in parades, helping

with hog roasts and other charity events along with the members of the

VVA chapter.

We look forward to seeing you!


5/12


SHOuLdeR tO SHOuLdeR iS BROugHt tO YOu eAcH MONtH BY:

BILL ALBRACHT & JIM LOVELESS NEWSLETTER CO-EDITORS

SeAN MuRPHY - cHAPteR WeBMASteR & NeWSLetteR cOORdiNAtOR

JIM HIxSON; MANAGING EDITOR [ 309 ] 792-0068 E-MAIL = [email protected]

the cut oFF Date to orDer Your chapter 299 varsitY JacKet WiLL enD JanuarY

21st. the orDer WiLL Be suBmitteD JanuarY 22nD, 2013.iF You Want a chapter

JacKet at these prices: orDer noW ! prices are going up !

apriL 2013 eLection notiFication

Quad Cies Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 299

lecon Board announces that Elecon Night will be held

Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at the Moline American Legion at

6 P.M.Any Member may advance the candidacy of another

Member or himself for Chapter Ocers, Board Members

nd Delegates.

1. Please advise any Member of the Elecon

Commiee proposals for Elected Oces. Contact Tom

Marxen [ 309-523-2727 ], Joe Ramos [ 309-755-1471 or

Mike Ellis [ 309-792-8569] who will prepare the slate of

Candidates.

2. A short, simple biography may or may not be

ubmied by the Candidate. This is the decision of the

andidate.

ALL CANDIDATE NAMES MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER

THAN FEBRUARY 25, 2013 TO APPEAR IN THE MARCH

SSUE OF SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

VVA Chapter 299 currently has 374 members. Our newest annual member is Billy Montgomery.

AVVA Chapter 299 has 42 members. Their newest annual member is Tom Stout.

Welcome aboard to you both !!!

Regreully, I must report the passing of long me VVA member Barrie Gibson. He was a 19 year Navy veteran. An

he was a member of our Chapters Honor Guard for many years. His good nature and winning smile will be missed

ll of us good ol boys. Our condolences go out to his family and many friends for their loss.


6/12


honor eXpress out honor FLight in

Over two years ago, our

Chapter set about to

gure out a way to send

rea Vietnam Veteransour Naons Capital

o see the Vietnam

Memorial as well as other

naonal monuments and

memorials. It seemed to

be the right thing to do,

ive those who had served

n-country a chance to

ee The Wall. A chance

o reect, remember and

heal. The Honor Flight

Program (HFP) for WWII

ets was having such

tremendous posive

eect on all that went, we

decided to put on our own

ersion.

The only problem withhe HFP was that the

WWII vets were dying o

before they could make

he trip. Realizing that we

s a group are not geng

ny younger, our Chapter

undertook a bold iniave -

our goal: transport QCA VN

ets to the VN Memorial.

Not wanng to diminish

he support for the HFP

or confuse the public,

he decision was made to

empt to make the trip

by rail. A commiee was

ormed, fund raising was

niated (over $3000 to

date), and research

begun. The commiees

diligent research revealed

that although it could be

done, the logiscs andnancial consideraons

to accomplish the mission

were monumental. It

became a bridge too

far in that the obstacles

presented were stang to

overshadow the reward.

In the inial stages of the

commiees research, a

meeng was held with

the QCA Honor Flight

commiee. Our commiee

wanted to learn what

works and what does

not. In conversaon it

was learned that it was

the intenon of the HFP

to start sending the QCAKorean War vets when

the WWII vets were

done. Further, there were

seriously contemplang

reaching down to the

Vietnam vets aer the

Korean vets were taken

care of. This has since been

recently rearmed. The

posion of the HFP Board

is as long as the funding

connues and the interest

remains, the VN Vets are

next up.

When you look at what

the HFP has accomplished

in their relavely short

existence, it is almost

beyond belief. The naonal

recognion, the funding

and their organizaonal

structure speaks volumes

to the devoon and self-

sacrice of all those who

have dedicated their me

and resources to this

incredibly worthwhile

project.

This year, there will beeight Honor Flights. The

majority will be Korean

vets. Keeping in mind that

many Korean War Vets

were also WWII vets, the

list should move along

quickly. But to be very

realisc, VN vets would

not be making the trip for

at least two years. There

is one caveat, if a VN vet

is suering from a life

threatening illness, they go

now.

Chapter member Mike

Haney is on the HFP Board.

Mike has volunteered to

be our Chapters liaison to

the HFP as well as head

Chapters commiee in

support of the HFP. Mik

will provide updates wit

reference to the progres

and meline of the Kore

vets transport.

At the Chapter meeng

in January, an oral

report was given on the

aforemenoned facts. Amoon was made and

the membership voted t

dissolve the Honor Expr

project and back the Ho

Flight Program. Remem

there are no guarantees

that the HFP will conn

aer the Korean War ve

are nished, but then

again what in this life is

guaranteed?

Bill Albracht


7/12


the mYth anD the truth oF trang Bang inciDent

By chance, you might

ead a report or a story

n American mainstream

media that asserted that Kimhuc, the lile nine-year-

ld Vietnamese girl running

aked from the napalm

trike near Trang Bang on 8

une 1972, was burned by

Americans bombing Trang

Bang.

Unfortunately the public

ever realized that no

American had involvement

n this incident near Trang

Bang that burned Phan Thi

Kim Phuc. The planes doing

he bombing near the village

were VNAF ( South Vietnam

Air Force) and were being

own by Vietnamese pilots

in support of ARVN troops on

the ground.

The Vietnamese pilot who

dropped the napalm in

error is currently living in

the United States. Even the

AP photographer, Nick Ut,

who took the picture, was

Vietnamese. The incident in

the photo took place on the

second day of a three-day

bale between the North

Vietnamese Army (NVA) who

occupied the village of Trang

Bang and the ARVN (Army of

the Republic of Vietnam) who

were trying to force the NVA

out of the village.

The reports in the news

media that an American

commander ordered the air

strike that burned Kim Phucare incorrect. There were no

Americans involved in any

capacity. We (Americans)

had nothing to do with

controlling VNAF, according

to Lieutenant General (Ret)

James F. Hollingsworth, the

Commanding General of TRAC

at that me. Also, it has been

incorrectly reported that two

of Kim Phucs brothers were

killed in this incident. They

were Kims cousins not her

brothers. A dierent detail

report is presented as follow.

This is also a Tribute to Re

Major Ron Timberlake. He

was a great warrior, and

defender of the truth. In hunwaining search for the

truth, he has contributed t

dispelling the MYTH about

the Bombing of Trang Ban

His unmely death has be

a real loss not only for his

family but also the Vietna

Veteran community. He ha

led the way in dispelling th

myths of the war. One suc

myth is listed below.

In Honor of Ron Timberlak

may the truth be our light

*submied by Dan Johnso


8/12


a DaY i WiLL never Forget!

On October 28, 2012, four members

of the Chapter Honor Guard (Andy

Andersen, Dennis Laird, Bob Brooks,

and myself) were privileged topresent the Colors at the Chicago

Bears/Carolina Panthers football

game. Man, what a day that was!

First of all, the Manager of Events and

Entertainment, Lee Sicinski met us at

gate 14. He in turn introduced us to

he young lady (probably around 21

years old or so) who was to be our

escort and leader throughout our

tay, Paulie Bassin.

She was as an absolute joy to work

with. These two people as well as

any other members of the Bears

organizaon with which we came in

ontact treated us with the utmost

kindness and respect. It was a great

experience for us to be able to honor

all veterans, the NFL, and

the Chicago

Bears. As for me, beinga Bears fan all of my life,

I thought I had died and

gone to heaven!

The Chicago Bears fans

were incredible! When

we came o the eld

and were headed to

the tunnel to await the

kicko, the fans along the railing

of the rst few rows of seats made

us feel like celebries. They were

shaking our hands, thanking us for

our service to our country, taking

pictures of us and with us.

As Vietnam veterans, we are not

used to this kind of reacon. This

scenario connued as we made our

way up the upper levels of the sta

to our seats. Again, the fans made

a point to shake our hands, thank

for our service, take pictures of us

and with us, and even oered to b

us beer and something to eat. Wh

an incredible day it was!

Jim Loveless

veterans get Designation on ioWa Drivers Licenses

A new Iowa law will allow veterans to have a designaon

on their drivers license or idencaon card.

The state Department of Transportaon says the law was

mplemented several months ahead of schedule. The

aw, signed by Gov. Terry Branstad last year, is a voluntary

niave designed to help veterans get discounts

throughout the state without carrying ocial military

documents. Iowa law only allows the designaon whe

a drivers license or idencaon card is rst issued or

renewed.

If you would like an applicaon, please contact either J

Loveless or Steve Lowther.


9/12


10/12

10 Volume 27 Issue 2 shoulder to shoulde

a message From Your presiDent

Here in the middle of a good old

Midwest winter it is a treat to be able

o look forward to the days geng

onger and thoughts of Spring onlywo months away. With that, we can

lso think of our Annual Meeng and

lecons.

Our Chapter is loaded with quality

members, have really stepped

p, this last year in parcular, and

been involved in our many chapter

cvies. We have a good number

of experienced and relavely new

members who have shown leadership

ability in many ways. This year, as

in other years, there are 4 ocers,6 Board of Director, and 2 State

Delegate posions up for elecon.

If you are interested, contact Tom

Marxen, 309-236-5652.

We also have some important

business to discuss and vote on at

our February meeng, and we Really

need as many members as possible

to be in aendance. We will have

guest speaker, George Eaton, who

is the Historian for the First Army.

Should be very interesng, and thwill be NO test aerwards!

I hope to see as many of you as

possible at the February meeng.

John Katherman

President, VVA #299

WiLLiam r.i. easY smith

asy Smith served with A Company, 1st Baalion,

7th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division { The

Wolounds } in Vietnam in 1967. William was awarded

wo Purple Heart Medals and the Bronze Star Medal with

V device for saving a couple of troopers, also wounded,

rom a canal.

asy is a Lifeme Member and Past President of the 27th

nfantry Regiment Historical Society. He serves on the

oard of VVA Chapter 500 and is acve in the Veterans

ommunity.

asy travels a great deal vising Veterans, their Families,

ncluding trips to Schoeld Barracks, Hawaii to support

Wolounds and other units of the 25th Infantry Division

when they deploy and re-deploy.

he Wolounds have 14 Medal of Honor recipients

which include Master Sgt. John F. Baker, deceased

Member of 299 and personal friend of Easy ] and more

than 29 Bale Streamers with over 12 Citaons on its

Colors.

Easy and the Wolounds have supported the Holy Fam

Home [ orphanage ] in Osaka, Japan for over 60 years.


11/12

Volume 27 Issue 2 sponsor pAge 1


12/12

61204-6076

61204 6076

$10.00meberhipspecial!

only

Documents

FEBRUARY 2013 ISSUE - SHOULDER TO SHOULDER FROM Q.C. VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA - CHAPTER 299