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USAF MSC Association
NEWSLETTER
_______________________________________________ APRIL 2013
FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Are you making plans to “Meet Me in St. Louis?” I hope that you
are! Randy and his committee promise me that the 2013 Reunion
19 – 22 September will be one you don’t want to miss. It will be
packed with tours, information, good food, and lots of fellowship.
It’s a great time to renew friendships and make new ones. Make
your room reservations to stay at the Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel
today. You will find Reunion details and registration forms in this
Newsletter and on our website.
Jim Moreland, past Chairman, continues to serve the Association as
our webmaster and our historian. Volume 1 of our history, The
Anthology, was completed by Jimmy Sanders in 2005. Jim
Moreland is in the process of compiling the next volumes which will
be a chronological history of the Corps and a collection of stories
submitted by individual MSCs, both old and new. Please help Jim
by submitting your stories to him.
Volunteers are needed to serve on the Board. You will find serving
to be very rewarding and worthwhile. Charlie Brown, Bob Hauser,
Al Obuchowski, and I complete our six-year terms this September.
Please check out the article in this issue to volunteer your service.
Wherever you live, I trust that you and your family are enjoying the
spring weather. In south Texas we are enjoying the bluebonnets and are planting gardens.
Today is a good time to make plans for the upcoming Reunion. Please make your
reservations to……“Meet Me in St. Louis.”
Joe Vocks, Chairman of the Air Force MSC Association Board of Directors
Officers and Key Contacts
Col Joe Vocks
Chairperson
Col Debra Cavanaugh
President
Col Randy Borg
Vice President
Col Kevin O’Shea
Director &
Member Svc Coord
Col Al Obuchowski
Treasurer
Lt Col Sam Bowker
Director
Col Charlie Brown III
Director
Col Bob Hauser
Director
Col Denise Lew
Director
Col Tim Morgan
Director
Col Jim Pearce
Director
Lt Col Dan Mayer
Secretary
Maj Wayne G. Terry
Newsletter Editor
Capt Wm. M. Copeland
General Counsel
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PRESIDENT’ MESSAGE
This was written by Regina Brett, 90 years young, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio. It was sent to
me several years ago and in usual fashion, I did a quick read and filed it away. I came across it again
as I was cleaning out my office to go into full retirement next month. These words of wisdom are more
meaningful as we age, but you’re never too young to heed these lessons:
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your loved ones, friends and parents will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to be angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let you children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candle, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special
occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these works ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
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37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
God bless you all and I look forward to seeing you in St Louis in the fall.
Debra Cavanaugh, President of the Air Force MSC Association Board of Directors
________________________________________________________________________________
NEW ASSOCIATION SECRETARY
This past year, the board of directors concluded the number of responsibilities
assigned to the Association Secretary was just too much fun for one individual. It
decided to divide those duties between two roles: member services coordinator
and association secretary. Col Kevin O’Shea, the prior secretary, is taking on the
member services role and the board welcomes Lt Col Dan Mayer, of San Antonio,
Texas, who has graciously stepped forward to assume the new association
secretary position. Welcome, Dan! The association greatly appreciates you taking
on this significant leadership role.
______________________________________________________________________________
THE PARROT AND THE LADY
A lady was walking down the street on her way to work when she saw a parrot on a perch in front of a
pet store. The parrot said to her, “Hey lady, you are really ugly.” Well, the lady is furious! She
stormed past the store to her workplace. On the way home from work that same day, she saw the
same parrot and it said to her. “Hey lady, you are really ugly.” She was now incredibly ticked.
The next day the same parrot again said to her, “Hey Lady, you are really ugly.” The lady was now
so ticked that she went into the store and said that she would sue the store and kill the bird. The store
manager apologized profusely and promised he would make sure the parrot didn’t say it again.
When the lady walk past the store the following day on her way to work, the parrot called to her, and
said, “Hey lady.” She paused and said, “Yes?” The bird said “You know.”
_______________________________________________________________________________
Success is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.
~ Winston Churchill ~
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BOARD CANDIDATES BEING SOUGHT
At the general membership meeting at our upcoming
biennial reunion in St. Louis, Missouri, the Association
will elect four new members to its board of directors.
The term of office will be for six years, 2013 – 2019.
The board is required to assemble a slate of candidates
no later than 1 August 2013. Any member wishing to
become a candidate who has submitted an application
will be voted on by the general membership. Members
attending the reunion will vote for the new directors at
the general membership meeting. Our August 2013
Newsletter will include an absentee ballot for those members who cannot attend the reunion.
Candidates need access to a computer and email capability as much of the board’s activities are
conducted by teleconference meetings where documents need to be downloaded. Further, the board
conducts much of its business via the Internet.
Applications must be received by 1 July 2013 and can be emailed to the [email protected]
or mailed to:
USAF MSC Association, Inc.
4008 Plantation House Road
Summerville, SC 29485-6239
Applications must include your name, grade, education, professional experience (military and
civilian), experience on boards or committees similar to the association, and a brief statement stating
why you want to serve on the board. If you’re currently serving on any of the association committees,
please note that experience as well. Please keep all information to no more than two pages.
Service on the board is a very important aspect of membership in the association. It allows those who
step forward to become directors to bring new views and leadership to the association. We hope
you’ll seek service on the board or one of its committees.
_______________________________________________________________________________
VETERAN’S RECORDS
Do you need a copy of your military records? How about a DD Form 214? Well, all is not lost. You
can request what you need from the site shown below.
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/index.html
Please share this link with your family, friends or someone you know who needs some form of
military record.
Provided by Dave Fox, Lt Col, USAF, MSC (Ret), & MSC Association member.
________________________________________________________________________________
The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time. ~ Abraham Lincoln ~
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BG DON WAGNER TEAMBUILDER AWARD FOR CLASS 13-B
AWARDED TO 1ST
LT JASON G. NAPULI, OUR LATEST LIFETIME MEMBER
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st Lt Jason Napuli, our latest awardee of the
recently created Brigadier General Don Wagner
Teambuilder Award in HSA Class 13-B, was
presented to him by Brigadier General Chuck
Potter at the graduation exercise on 1 February
2013. The Association congratulates Lt Napuli on
receiving this prestigious award. Lt Napuli has
served since 2011 to the present as the OIC of the
Command Support Staff, 911 AES, Air Force
Reserve Command, Pittsburg IAP, Pennsylvania.
Concurrently he has also served on the medical
staff of the VA Medical Center in Bath, NY, and as
an Associate Professor at the New York
Chiropractic College. He and his wife, Kristina Petrocco-Napuli, have two children, Alexandra and
Nicolas Napuli. Lt Napuli has a BA from Brooklyn College, CUNY; an MBA from Birmingham
University, CUNY; and a DC from the New York Chiropractic College. His future plans include a
career as an Air Force reservist; advancement to Fellowship in the ACHE; and exploring
opportunities within the Veterans Administration healthcare system. And, finally, in conjunction
with the Teambuilder Award, Lt Napuli has also been given life-time membership in the Association.
Well done!
Pictured above l-r is BG Chuck Potter, Air Force MSC Corps Chief; Lt Jason Napuli Teambuilder
Awardee; and Col Robert Sousa, Air Force Reserve Command Deputy Surgeon.
______________________________________________________________________________
THE HOSPITAL BILL
A Scotsman suffered a serious heart attack while shopping in a store. The store clerk called 999 when
they saw him collapse to the floor. The Paramedics rushed the man to the nearest hospital where he
had emergency open heart bypass surgery.
He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at the Catholic hospital. A nun was
seated next to his bed holding a clipboard with several forms and a pen. She was there to ask him
how he was going to pay for his treatment.
Do you have health insurance?” she asked. He replied in a raspy voice, “No health insurance.” The
nun then asked “Do you have money in the bank?” “No money in the bank.” The nun now becoming
irritated asked “Do you have a relative who could help you with the payment?” He said, “I only have
a spinster sister, and she is a nun.”
The nun now became agitated and announced loudly, “Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to
God.
The patient replied, “Perfect! Send the bill to my brother in law.”
LOVE IT!
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INACTIVE MUTUAL FUND ACCOUNTS
MAY BE CONSIDERED ABANDONED PROPERTY
I recently received a notice from one of my mutual fund companies that I wanted to share with you.
States are looking at inactive mutual fund accounts as possible abandoned property. If you have not
accessed your account for a while, it is at risk of being forfeited to your state government.
Different states have different rules, but generally a mutual fund account may be subject to
"escheatment" if the account owner has not conducted any transactions or contacted the fund
company holding the account for three to five years.
Please be aware that automatic transactions (such as dividend reinvestments and systematic
investment and withdrawal plans) do not qualify under these rules.
I strongly urge you to contact your mutual fund companies and/or brokers at least once a year to
review your account information. It is also important to notify them of any name or address changes.
One way to contact your fund account is by logging into your account online. Simply visiting the fund
company's or broker's public website will not satisfy the escheatment rules.
By the way, this also applies to savings and checking accounts.
Furnished by Frank Nelson, Financial Advisor, Col, USAF, MSC (Ret), and MSCA Member.
___________________________________________________________________________
HSA GRADUATION DINING-IN CEREMONY RE OUR MISSING POW-MIAs
The following is an awesome script and a very moving event that takes place at every HSA
Graduation Dining-In. We believe that it is worth sharing in this MSC Association Newsletter. For
most of us that are retired, we probably do not have the opportunity to attend Dining-Ins as we once
did on active duty. As such, please remember!
_______________________
Ladies and gentlemen of the mess, as you entered the dining room this evening, you may have noticed
a small table, in a place of honor, near our head table.
The military caste is filled with symbolism. This table is our way of symbolizing the fact that
members of our professions of arms are missing from our midst.
They are commonly called prisoners of war or missing in action. We call them brothers and sisters.
They are unable to be with us this evening and so we remember them because of their incarceration.
REMEMBER!
This table – set for one – is small. It symbolizes the frailty of one prisoner alone against his or her
oppressors. REMEMBER!
The tablecloth is white – symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call of duty.
REMEMBER!
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The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and the loved
ones and friends of those Americans who keep the faith, awaiting answers. REMEMBER!
The vase is tied with a yellow ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our
missing. REMEMBER!
A slice of lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a
foreign land. REMEMBER!
A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers.
REMEMBER!
The glass is inverted – they cannot toast with us tonight. REMEMBER!
The chair is empty – they are missing. REMEMBER!
We honor America’s POW/MIAs and all who served with them and called them comrades. Who
depended upon their might and aid and relied upon them for surely, they have not forsaken you.
REMEMBER!
Provided by Joe Vocks, Colonel, USAF, MSC (Retired), Chairman of the Board, MSCA
_____________________________________________________________________________
ANSWERING MACHINE MESSAGE
“I am not available right now, but thank you for caring enough to call. I am
currently making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the beep.
If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.”
______________________________________________________________________
REUNION HOTEL CHANGE “HOLD THE PRESSES”
We still want you to “Meet Me in St. Louis,” as mentioned in our most recent Newsletters. However,
due to factors beyond our control, we had to change the location of the reunion site in St. Louis to the
Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark. The Millennium Hotel, which was our previously planned location,
just advised us that they will be taking most of their rooms out of use for renovation during the time
of our reunion and therefore would be unable to meet our needs. That, in turn, caused us to hold up
the publication of the April MSCA Newsletter while we searched for an alternative reunion site and
lined things up with the Hilton Hotel. Thank you for your patience!
If you have already made reservations with the Millennium Hotel using our group room rates, your
reservations will be cancelled. If you choose, you may contact them directly by calling (800) 325-7353.
Please refer to the information within this Newsletter to make your hotel reservations at the Hilton
and to register for the reunion. We look forward to seeing you there soon!
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2013 USAF MSC ASSOCIATION REUNION/BIENNIAL MEETING
Meet me in Saint Louis! Celebration of the 22nd
Anniversary of the USAF MSC Association will be
in Saint Louis, Missouri, and registration is now open! The reunion will be at the Hilton at the
Ballpark Hotel from 19-22 September 2013. Join us for a wonderful adventure in the nation’s
heartland and enjoy the beautiful (low 60s to low 80s) Midwestern fall weather of Missouri. In
addition to the meetings, meals, banquet and the traditional memorial service, a number of
popular tours have been arranged. As always, the hospitality suite will be open to provide a great
venue for getting reacquainted with old friends and making new ones. The hospitality suite will be
in a suite/parlor room within the hotel. A block of 70 rooms has been set aside for the reunion at a special daily rate of $114, plus 18%
tax. Hotel reservations must be made no later than 19 August 2013 by calling the Hilton Hotel
directly at (877) 845-7354. Please be sure to mention that you are staying there to attend the
“USAF Medical Service Corps Association Reunion” in order to get the special rate.
Registration for the reunion itself may be done by completing a nd ma i l i ng t he enclosed
registration form or online at mscassociation.org. Registration must be received no later than 15
August 2013. Besides our membership and general meetings, there will be a casual buffet dinner Thursday
evening. Saturday evening we’ll enjoy our banquet and celebrate with dancing. A memorial service
will be co nducted Sunday morning to remember those members who passed away since our last
meeting. Following the memorial service, we will gather for a buffet breakfast.
For any questions, please send an email to [email protected].
Randy Borg and Deb Cavanaugh, Reunion Coordinators
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USAF MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS ASSOCIATION
2013 BIENNIAL MEETING & REUNION
19-22 SEPTEMBER 2013
SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI
Registration must be received by 15 August 2013
(Or register online by 15 Aug at www.mscassociation.org) PLEASE PRINT all information
Rank First Name Last Name
Name to be shown on Badge
Guest‘s Rank/First Name Last Name Name on Badge
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: Day: ______________ Evening: Staying at the Hilton Ball Park Hotel? YES NO
If no, please provide a local St. Louis area or cell phone number:
Registration fee of $150.00 Includes: meeting materials, name tags, programs, a continental breakfast, refreshments at
breaks, 2 cocktail hours, a dinner on Thursday, a banquet dinner on Saturday, the memorial service, music for
dancing at the banquet, as well as complete access to the hospitality suite where you‘re invited to enjoy beverages (beer,
wine, soda, water, and more) as well as assorted snacks and friendship unsurpassed! There is no partial registration fee;
attendance at any part of the reunion requires full registration and associated $150 fee. Meeting and Reunion Number attending _____ x $150 = $ ___________
OPTIONAL TOURS (COST NOT INCLUDED IN $150 REGISTRATION FEE)
(See following pages for details)
THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2013
Buffet Dinner Number attending _____ (included)
FRIDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2013
St. Louis Highlights Tour Number attending _____ x $49 = $___________
Gateway Arch Tour Number attending _____ x $58 = $___________
SATURDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2013
Beer and Baseball Tour Number attending _____ x $58 = $___________
Missouri Botanical Garden Tour Number attending _____ x $58 = $___________
2013 Reunion Banquet Number attending _____ (included)
SUNDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2013
Memorial Service Number attending _____ (included)
Kitchen Conservatory Cooking Class Number attending _____ x $162 = $___________
Golf at Forest Park Number attending _____ x $45 = $___________
CHECK ENCLOSED for total amount of $__________
Make checks payable to the USAF MSC Association, Inc.
Mail payment to: USAF MSC Association, Inc., 4008 Plantation House Road, Summerville, SC 29485-6239 Or
Register on line and pay by credit card at www.mscassociation.org
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Make your room reservations as soon as possible directly with
The Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel!
Phone (877)845-7354
Please mention the booking name, USAF Medical Service Corps Association, to get our special rate of $114 plus tax. They have 70
rooms blocked. Cutoff for hotel reservations at the group rate is 19 August.
OPTIONAL TOURS (BOOK AND PAY WHEN YOU REGISTER)
Friday, 20 September 2013
St. Louis Highlights Tour
Cost per person: $49 (Minimum 10 people)
You’ll begin your tour with a drive through Laclede's Landing where cobblestone streets and cast-iron street lamps surround century old warehouses that now house small shops, museums, and unusual restaurants. Continue your tour along the historic riverfront, passing showboats and stern-wheelers, with a picture-taking stop at the Gateway Arch. Historic City Hall, the Federal Court Building, and the new Busch Stadium are just a few of the sites to be seen as you travel down Market Street. Check your watch against the time on the old clock tower at Union Station. We continue the tour with a drive through Lafayette Square, one of the country's leading restoration areas of Victorian homes. Next, it’s on to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, known to locals as the New Cathedral. Known for its Byzantine interior, this awe-inspiring landmark contains the largest collection of mosaics in the Western Hemisphere. Finally, you will be treated to a leisurely drive through Forest Park, site of the 1904 World’s Fair. Bus departs at 9:00 AM. Includes round trip
transportation, Basilica donation, tour guide, and
all gratuities.
Gateway Arch Tour Cost per person: $58 (Minimum 10 people)
Visit the famous Gateway Arch, the Nation’s tallest monument, which commemorates the gateway to the west for thousands of 19
th century
pioneers. Here, take a tram ride to the top for a unique view of the city or watch a documentary on how this magnificent steel structure was created. East of the Arch, pass the excursion riverboats that call the Mississippi River home. Bus departs at 3PM. Includes guide, transporta-
tion, and either a tram ride to the top of the Arch
or a documentary film, and driver gratuities.
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Saturday, 21 September 2013
Beer and Baseball Tour
Cost per person: $58 (Minimum 10 people)
Begin your tour with a drive to Soulard, St. Louis’ oldest neighborhood. Here you will stop at Anheuser-Busch Brewery, the world's largest brewer of beer. The brewery is situated in a 100-acre complex of over 71 red brick structures, several of which are National Historic Landmarks. Enjoy a one-and-a-half hour tour that includes the beech wood aging cellars, the historic Brew House, and the Bevo packaging plant. Next, enjoy the home of the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. On April 10, 2006, the Cardinals opened their new 46,000 seat retro-style downtown ballpark with a 6-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cardinals also became the first team in almost 100 years to win a World Series Championship in the inaugural season of a new ballpark. Bus departs at 2:00 PM. Includes transportation, stadium admission, tour guide, and gratuities.
Missouri Botanical Garden Tour
Cost per person: $58 (Minimum 10 people)
Stroll through this beautiful 79-acre National Historic Landmark where you will see the country’s largest Japanese garden, the Chinese garden and the rose garden displaying 200 varieties. Walk through the Temperate House containing plants of that region and the Climatron, which contains a rain forest. You will also visit the Garden to tour Tower Grove House, country home of Henry Shaw, the founder of Missouri Botanical Garden. This lovely Victorian country mansion contains the original furnishings. Following your time in the Garden, you’ll enjoy a driving tour through Tower Grove Park, which represents the preservation of the Victorian urban park. The historical forest in Tower Grove contains over 7,500 trees and shrubs of over 325 varieties. Bus departs at 2:00 PM. Includes round trip
transportation, tour guide, and all gratuities.
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Sunday, 22 September 2013
Kitchen Conservatory Cooking Class
Cost per person: $162 (minimum 10 people)
Kitchen Conservatory has been the premier kitchen store in St. Louis for 28 years; Kitchen Conservatory has offered the finest tools for the kitchen and cooking classes at their Clayton location. Locally-owned and very independent, they offer all the tools and knowledge for the ultimate kitchen experience. At Kitchen Conservatory, you can plan the menu with one of their talented chefs and choose any recipe you desire. Your menu is exactly what you want to eat. Tailor a program and menu that's perfect for you or you can go with a St. Louis style meal like The Taste of the Hill. Here, you will divide into cooking teams, and the winning team will be awarded a special gift. Your class will include your chef instruction, an embroidered cotton apron, chef's hat, and a copy of all of the recipes to take home. You can even bring your own wine with no corkage fee! All participants will also receive a 10% off coupon good on any merchandise purchased on the day of the cooking class. Bus departs at 11:30 AM. Includes round trip transportation, conservatory fee, escort, and driver gratuity.
Golf at The Courses of Forest Park Cost per person: $45
Arrangements have been made to make golfing available for individuals to play while in St. Louis on September 22. Tee times are being made at The Courses of Forest Park, a 27-hole public facility owned by the City of Saint Louis, and built on the site of the 1904 World’s Fair. Noted Scottish architect Robert Foulis was the original architect; the first nine holes opened in 1912, the second in 1913, and the third in 1915. Between 2001 and 2003, The Courses at Forest Park were completely redesigned and rebuilt, along with a new clubhouse. Group departs following breakfast. Includes green fees and cart. Transportation is on your own; cab fare is approximately $20 each way, with $1 for each additional passenger.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The 2013 reunion is just a few months away and we expect this to be one to remember. We hope you‘ll join us!
What can you expect in Saint Louis besides the scheduled activities?
September weather in Saint Louis averages around 81 for a high, and 61 for a low, but as in most parts of the
country, fall weather can vary significantly from the averages, so be sure to pack accordingly. Please dress
casually for the reunion. Aside from our memorial service and banquet, if you‘re in anything but casual, you‘re
overdressed!
Depending on how you travel to Saint Louis, here is some advice:
Flying: Most major airlines serve Saint Louis:
Southwest Airlines American Airlines
United US Airways
Delta AirTran
Frontier Airlines Alaska Airlines Taxi/Shuttle:
Taxi fares range from $37 to $41 for the 15 mile trip from the airport to the hotel. For taxis from the airport
to the hotel, service is available from:
County Cab 314-993-8294 ABC/Checker Cab 314-732-0147
Black and White Cab 314-652-3456 An airport Go Best Express shuttle service is also available for transportation to the hotel, for a round trip
fare of $37. For more information, call 314-222-5300. Driving: The address for the Hilton at the Ball Park is: 1 South Broadway, Saint Louis, Missouri
63102. Parking will be available at our hotel for $12 for self-parking or $18 valet parking per day. Send any questions to: [email protected].
Meet us in Saint Louis! We can’t wait to see you there!
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SOUNDING TAPS
*Lt Col Paul M. Cook 19 Oct 2011
Colonel Eugene L. Elliott 07 Apr 2013
Lt Col James T. Harrison 11 Dec 2012
*Lt Col Leon G. Keller, Sr. 10 Nov 2012
*Colonel Charles A. McAfee 11 Jan 2013
Lt Col Lambert W. McChesney 29 Sep 2000
*Colonel Fred W. Ortmann III 08 Feb 2013
Lt Col Matthias Pisut III 01 Aug 2012
Major George E. Ude, Jr. 27 Sep 2012
*Denotes Life Member Status
IN MEMORIAM
The wife of Lt Col Bill Mays, Kathy Mays, passed away on 18 December 2012 at their home in Clemson, South
Carolina. She battled metastatic melanoma for 9 months. Kathy was cremated and will be buried with Bill,
when he passes, in the new State Veterans Cemetery near Anderson, South Carolina. Lt Col Bill Mays went on to
say that “…She was a great wife, mother and grandmother.” And, that “She [also] was a great ambassador for
the Air Force.”
The wife of Col David Burke, Laura Burke, peacefully passed away on 29 December 2012 at their family home in
Burke, Virginia, following a long illness. Dave expressed his appreciation for the many that expressed their
concerns and prayers following Laura’s passing and that these concerns and prayers were comforting to the
family. Laura was buried at the St. Mary’s Historic Catholic Cemetery at Fairfax Station, Virginia, on 4 January
2013.
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Colonel Richard Dyer’s wife, Roberta (Bobby) Dyer, on New Year’s
Eve, 31 December 2012, at their home in Frederick, Maryland, after an extended illness. Bobby was the high
school sweetheart and endearing wife of Richard for more than 51 years. Funeral services were conducted on 5
January 2013 in Frederick, Maryland. Internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
The wife of Lt Col Raymond Flavion, Fern Flavion, passed away on 11 June 2012 in Marlton, New Jersey. Fern’s
condition took a sharp decline in March 2012 with the onset of Alzheimer’s and a worsening heart condition. She
succumbed at home at her husband’s side. Fern was buried on 19 June 2012 – on their 66th
wedding anniversary
at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown, New Jersey, with Military
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Honors. Fern served on active duty for 26 months in the WAVES as an RM3 in the Navy Communications
Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
____________________________________________________________________________
NEW CO-PAYS FOR TRICARE PHARMACY CUSTOMERS
Release No. 01-04-13 │ Jan. 24, 2013
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFRNS) – New co-payments for prescription drugs covered by TRICARE will go into
effect soon. The Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act requires TRICARE to increase co-pays on
brand name and non-formulary medications that are not filled at military clinics or hospitals.
There is no increase to co-pays for generic medications. Co-pay increases brand name medications became
effective in February.
TRICARE Pharmacy co-pays vary based on the class of drug and where beneficiaries choose to fill their
prescriptions. The co-pay for generic medications stays at $5 when a prescription is filled at a network pharmacy.
There is no co-pay when generic prescriptions are filled through TRICARE Home Delivery. The new co-pay for a
30-day supply of a brand name medication purchased at a retail network pharmacy will be $17, up from the
current $12. Beneficiaries using TRICARE Home Delivery will pay $13 for brand name drugs, up from $9;
however, the Home Delivery price is for a 90-day supply.
The greatest change in co-pays applies to non-formulary medications. The $25 co-pay for these drugs increases to
$44 at retail pharmacies and $43 through Home Delivery. The TRICARE Uniform Formulary is a list of all the
medications TRICARE covers.
For fiscal 2014 and beyond, the new law directs that co-pays increase annually by the same percentage as retiree
cost-of-living adjustments. In years when a COLA increase would total less than a dollar, it will be delayed a year
and combined with the next adjustment so increases will always be $1 or more.
Pharmacies at military hospitals and clinics will continue to provide medications with no co-pays. Visit
http://www.tricare.mil/Costs/PrescriptionCosts.aspx for more details. (Courtesy of TRICARE Communications)
For more retiree news and information, please visit www.retirees.af.mil.
SOURCE: Armed Forces Retiree News Service, Release No. 01/04/2013.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experiences of trial and suffering
Can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared,
Ambition inspired and success achieved.
~ Helen Keller ~
16
VA WARNING: "VETERANS AFFAIRS SERVICES" (VAS)
ORGANIZATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH VA, GETTING VET ID
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: http://www.vaservices.org/us/index.html ].
"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, Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel 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
Furnished by Fred Graves, Col, USAF, MSC (Ret) & MSC Association member.
_______________________________________________________________________________
CHUCKLE TIME!!
A Baptist pastor was presenting a children’s sermon. During the sermon,
he asked the children if they knew what the resurrection was. Now, asking
questions during children’s sermons is crucial, but at the same time,
asking children questions in front of a congregation can also be very
dangerous.
Having asked the children if they knew the meaning of the resurrection, a
little boy raised his hand.
The pastor called on him and the little boy said, “I know that if you have a
resurrection that lasts more than four hours you are supposed to call the
doctor.”
It took over ten minutes for the congregation to settle down enough for the
service to continue.
_______________________________________________________________________
“Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible.
And, suddenly, you are doing the impossible.” ~ Saint Francis of Assisi ~
17
NEW MEMBERS
The association continues to grow! As of the date we went to press, below are
our new members who’ve joined since our previous newsletter.
Highlighted entries are our new life members.
1LT MOTAZ B. ABUTARBOOSH SAN ANTONIO TX [email protected]
MAJ ROBERT D. BARRIENTOS CIBOLO TX [email protected]
CAPT MICHAEL A. BIGELOW ROCHESTER NY [email protected]
MAJ DONALD J. BROWN SCHERTZ TX [email protected]
LT COL BRIAN J. CRAMER CEDARBURG WI [email protected]
COL TIM J. ELDER HANOVER PA [email protected]
1LT CHARLES W. ELLERBE CHARLOTTE NC [email protected]
2LT LYNDSEY T. FLEMING RAYMOND NH [email protected]
CAPT BETH J. GRAEFE PARKER CO [email protected]
COL SCOTT J. HILMES EDGEWOOD NM [email protected]
LT COL JOE C. KENNEDY SAN ANTONIO TX [email protected]
1LT KIM R. KUNKEL SCARBOROUGH ME [email protected]
LT COL JOHN A. LAMPTON PLANO TX [email protected]
1LT DANIEL R. LANE HERMON ME [email protected]
1LT CHRIS A. LARKIN EUFAULA OK [email protected]
1LT DANIEL O. LINKROUM EASTOVER SC [email protected]
MAJ DAVID J. LUSK KNOXVILLE TN [email protected]
COL NANCY L. MCDANIEL CHIMACUM WA [email protected]
LT COL ROBYN L. MIDDLETON APO AE [email protected]
1LT JASON G. NAPULI CANANDAIGUA NY [email protected]
2LT MATTHEW R. O'DONNELL ARLINGTON VA [email protected]
COL BOB H. OWENS MANASSAS VA [email protected]
1LT DIANE
PRECIL WEST HEMPSTEAD NY [email protected]
1LT JON H. REID FARMINGTON UT [email protected]
MAJ DANIEL L. ROSERA DALZELL SC [email protected]
MAJ TRACIE G. TATE CROFTON MD [email protected]
LT COL MELINDA K. WEIS SAN ANTONIO TX [email protected]
A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks, or becomes. ~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. ~ Nelson Mandela ~
18
HOW LONG DO YOU WORRY ABOUT YOUR KIDS??
Is there an imaginary cutoff period when offspring’s become accountable for their own actions?
Is there some wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators in the lives of their children and
shrug, ’It’s their life,' and feel nothing?
When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches in my son's
head and I asked, ’When do you stop worrying?' The nurse said, 'When they get out of the accident stage.'
My Parents just smiled faintly and said nothing.
When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked
incessantly, disrupted the class, and was headed for a career making license plates. As if to read my mind, a
teacher said, ’Don’t worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them.' My
Parents just smiled faintly and said nothing.
When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the front door
to open. A friend said, 'They're trying to find themselves. 'Don't worry! In a few years, they'll be adults.
'They'll be off on their own they'll be out of your hair.' My Parents just smiled faintly and said nothing.
By the time I was 50, I was sick and tired of being vulnerable. I was still worrying over my children, but there
was a new wrinkle. Even though they were on their own I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented
by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments, and there was nothing I could do about it. My
Parents just smiled faintly and said nothing.
My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life. I wanted to believe
that, but I was haunted by my parent's warm smiles and their occasional, 'You look pale. Are you all right’?
'Call me the minute you get home'. Are you depressed about something?'
My friends said that when I became a grandparent that I would get to enjoy the happy little voices yelling
Grandma! Papa! But now I find that I still worry just as much about the little kids as the big ones. How can
anyone cope with all this Worry?
Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another handed down like a torch
to blaze the trail of human frailties and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates
us to the highest form of earthly creation?
Recently, one of my own children became quite irritable, saying to me, ‘Where were you? I've been calling for 3
days, and no one answered. I was worried.' I smiled a warm smile. The torch has been passed.
PASS IT ON TO OTHER WONDERFUL PARENTS (And also to your children – That’s the fun part).
______________________________________________________________________________
Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow,
but live for today,
As the years pass by ever so quickly.
19
A MESSAGE TO ALL MY SENIOR CITIZEN FRIENDS
I can hit the golf ball any way I can and laugh if it goes in the lake. Them's the breaks. I'm just happy I can still
hit that golf ball.
As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes
with aging.
Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance
with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I
will.
I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with
abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. For they, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I eventually
remember the important things.
Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or
when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But, broken hearts are what give us
strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know
the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever
etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could
turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself
anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going
to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about
what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day if I feel like it.
May our friendship never come apart, especially when it’s straight from the heart!
Furnished by Bill Copeland, Capt, USAF, MSC (Ret), and Association General Counsel
_________________________________________________________________________________
To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is
Figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing,
Unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him
Unprepared or unqualified for that which would be his finest hour?
~ Sir Winston Churchill ~
20
GREAT PHILOSOPHY
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or even
the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.
And, in closing, please know that “we care.”
__________________________________________________________________________
Well Folks, that’s another wrap. Lots of good info; lots of humor sprinkled about; and lots of information
requiring your attention regarding the upcoming 19-22 September 2013 MSCA Reunion in St. Louis. [Editor]
“Meet Me in St. Louis” WGT
