Give a little, Give a lot - Fleet Reserve Association

W A LT E R R E E D F I A S C O
21
APRIL 2007
Give a little, Give a lot
18
National President’s Travel Report: Japan
10
ail to the Chiefs
H
Happy Birthday CPOs
14
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Communications
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
The spirit of shipmates helping
each other resonates throughout
this issue of FRA Today. Of course,
our feature story on volunteerism
focuses on how programs such as
Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service
(VAVS) are designed to make an
impact – but it takes the individual
such as Shipmate Tom Elliot Jr. of
Pinetree Branch 156 in Brunswick,
Maine to make the program work.
NP Sweeney gives a personal account (page 10) of how the branch
Eileen Murphy
in Yokosuka, Japan offered hospiDirector of Marketing and
Communications
tality during his visit and opportunities for him to provide legislative
briefs to CPOs, tour the USS Kitty Hawk and meet many people during
his seven day stay. OnWatch (page 14) is two pages this issue to celebrate the establishment of the CPO grade. In that article we look at
why it was so important to recognize Chiefs and even how FRA helped
establish the position of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. NES
Joe Barnes focuses his Perspective column (page 21) on the uproar
over conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the care for
wounded patients recovering there.
With so many things happening throughout the Association and on
Capitol Hill, it was no surprise that during this past month, we had a
sharp increase in requests for additional copies of FRA Today. Shipmates
are using them as a way to provide service to prospective members by
increasing awareness of the Association and its work on Capitol Hill.
One example is Shipmate Charlie Baldwin from Branch 99 in
Virginia Beach, Va. Shipmate Baldwin had been receiving an extra 50
copies each month for his branch to pass out at the Navy Exchange and
the Coast Guard station in Little Creek, Recruiting Station in Green
Briar, Navy Federal Credit Union, etc. They had wonderful results and
needed an extra 50 to meet the demand. This is paying off in new members! Shipmate Baldwin recently wrote suggesting we ask, “What do you
do with yours?” He asserts that if after each member read the magazine
and then gave that copy to a prospective member, we would double the
exposure of FRA’s work without any additional cost. This is certainly a
great way of providing a service to both the recipient and FRA! “Drop it
off on a store magazine rack, barber shop, doctors office etc.,” Baldwin
suggested. “Let prospective members learn about what the Association
is doing and why it is important they join!”
In the coming months, we will report on some of the great ways shipmates are recruiting new members. Please e-mail me at Eileen@fra.org to
share your successes and what you say to entice members to join.
Membership in FRA is open to all current and former Navy, Marine Corps
or Coast Guard enlisted personnel. Think about who you know who
served — then give them a copy of FRA Today and ask them to join!
Eileen Murphy serves as the Managing Editor of FRA Today. Please contact her at eileen@fra.org.
National Officers/Board Of Directors
Nat’l President
Nat’l Vice President
Nat’l Executive Sec.
Finance Officer
Junior PNP
Jerry L. Sweeney, Navy Dept. Branch 181
Lawrence J. Boudreaux, Hangtown Branch 275
Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Dept. Branch 181
Paul Rigby
Edgar M. Zerr, Poway Valley Branch 70
Regional Presidents
New EnglandPaul F. Loveless, Jr., Pine Tree Branch 156
Northeast Francis D. Tyson, Anthracite Branch 288
East Coast Delbert L. Herrmann, Wilmington Branch 299
Southeast Tony Cassata, The Delbert D. Black Branch 117
North Central Leon J. Zalewski, Milwaukee Branch 14
South Central Leo V. Vance, Space City Branch 159
SouthwestCharles F. Smedley, Poway Valley Branch 70
West CoastCharles R. McIntyre, San Jose Branch 140
Northwest John Ippert, Pearl Harbor-Honolulu Branch 46
Nat’l. ParliamentarianPNP J.C. Jim Eblen, San Diego Branch 9
Nat’l Chaplain Vincent W. Patton, III, Navy Dept. Branch 181
Active Duty Advisory Council
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John Estrada
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles Bowen
Reserve Advisory Council
Force Master Chief of the Naval Reserve David Pennington
USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Jimmy D. Cummings
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force
Jeffrey Smith
FRA TODAY Magazine
Publisher FRA
Managing Editor Eileen Murphy
Contributing Editor Lauren Armstrong
Design and Art Direction
FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com
Design Director Scott Rodgerson
Production Manager Sandy Jones
fra today (ISSN 0028-1409) is published monthly by FRA, 125 N. West St.,
Alexandria, Va 22314-2754. A member’s subscription is covered by the member’s
annual dues. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, VA and additional
offices. Publication of non-sponsored advertising in fra today does not
constitute an endorsement by the FRA or its representatives. Postmaster:
Send address changes to: Member Services, FRA, 125 N. West St., Alexandria,
VA 22314-2754. fra today is published in the interests of all current and
former enlisted personnel of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
Eligible non-members are not entitled to subscription rates. Established
1 November 1923. Title registered with U.S. Patent Office.
FRA Administrative Headquarters: 125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2754
Phone: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • Fax: 703-549-6610 • E-Mail: fraTODAY@fra.org
www . fra . o r g
APRIL
Number 4
18
APRIL 2007
1 8 Give a Little, Give a Lot
FRA Today highlights Shipmate Elliot who has
been nominated by FRA for the Veterans Affairs
Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee
Volunteer of the Year as an example of how volunteering one’s time can mean so very much.
Departments
6On & Off Capitol Hill
1 0NP Travel Report
National President Jerry L. Sweeney reports on his
recent trip to the Pacific. In the first installment
of a three-part column, he focuses on his stay in
Yokosuka, Japan.
13 m embership matters
RVPNC Marty Posekany writes on the importance
of recruiting and retaining.
10
14ONWATCH
Happy birthday CPOs! A look at the history and the
current importance of the Chiefs.
21 NES perspective
Walter Reed Fiasco
25 NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES
28 Reunions
30 Looking for…
32 Taps
36 LA FRA News
FRA is a congressionally chartered, non-profit organization
advocating for current and former enlisted members of the
U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard on Capitol Hill. For
more information on the benefits of membership, please visit
www.fra.org or call 800-FRA-1924.
FRA Today
Featured
Volume 86
2007
14
On the cover
CPO selectees show their volunteer spirit at the 276acre Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH)
Washington, D.C. campus. Once home to Abraham
Lincoln, currently it is the home of many FRA
shipmates from the AFRH in Gulfport, Miss. which
was closed after Hurricane Katrina. FRA advocates for
adequate funding of the AFRH’s two facilities and
strongly supports the rebuilding of Gulfport, Miss.,
campus. More information on the rebuilding will be in
the May issue of FRA Today.
We were there when you landed on the northern coast of France.
We were there when you returned to the Philippine shore.
We were there when you fought in Korea and Vietnam.
We were there when you rolled across the deserts of Iraq.
We were there then.
We will always be there.
Proudly serving those who serve.
1-800-MILITARY
(1-800-645-4827)
Shipmate forum
I’ve heard that the U.S. Naval uniform has changed. To what
extent, I’m not sure.
Would FRA Today consider an article on this with pictures?
Lee Ryan, Branch 57
From FRA: Please read NES Perspective on page 21.
Looking For Column Helped
Thank you for the Looking For column and efforts in helping
me find Shipmate Frank Smykowski, Jr.
I was contacted by Chief Petty Officer
Norman Barron and unfortunately,
Frank died 18 July 1945 and was buried
in Hawaii. He was a CPhM. We met in
a Buffalo NY recruiting office and were
sworn in the Navy at the same time
7 November 1939. We went through
training at Newport R.I., and then to hospital Corps
school in 1940 right out of boot camp. He volunteered for
Parachute Medical for US Marine Corps after corps school
in 1940. We last saw each other in New Zealand, June 1942.
We were both on liberty.
My family always felt close to him and they were interested in his whereabouts too.
Again, thank you for your help, and for Norman Barron’s
work. God Bless.
Anthony Pergolizzi, Branch 285
From FRA: Shipmate Pergolizzi, you are the ultimate example of loyalty. We are sorry your search ended with sadness,
but so very much appreciate — and honor — your commitment to your shipmate that made you continue the search all
these years. We salute you.
From FRA: The 13 November 2006
issue of Navy Times has an article
detailing the transition which is to
begin a year from now and take 24
months to complete. The new Navy
Working Uniform will be for E-1 to
O-10 and E-1 to E-6 will have a new
khaki and black Service Uniform
which will replace the summer and
winter combinations. We will cover
this when the transition occurs.
Medicare Part D Question
I received a letter today from Express Scripts, P.O. Box 52150
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2150, stating that they are unable to fill
my prescription order because my health care plan Secure
Horizons enrolled me in Medicare Part D without my
knowledge or permission.
In order to disenroll I have to drop my health care plan
which means my doctor of many years. Surely this must
have happened to many other retirees as well.
My pharmaceutical drug benefit with Express Scripts
has been a wonderful cost savings for me and my wife.
Please make the powers-that-be aware of this problem,
and help me get back to normal.
Irad J. Parkhurst, Branch 85
From FRA: Some TRICARE beneficiaries who have tried to
use their TRICARE prescription plan have been surprised to
learn that they automatically enrolled in the Medicare Part D
prescription drug plan. Now, the Department of Defense has
established a place for beneficiaries in this position to get their
questions answered. If a TRICARE beneficiary is denied prescription coverage due to Medicare Part D enrollment, and believes that he or she is not enrolled in Medicare Part D, or have
disenrolled from Medicare Part D, the beneficiary should contact Express Scripts at 1-866-363-8779. The Express Scripts
customer service representative will ask for the beneficiary’s
permission to access Medicare Part D coverage information
from CMS and determine whether the beneficiary is currently
in a Part D plan.
Submissions Send Shipmate Forum letters to: Editor, FRA Today, 125 N. West St. Alexandria, VA 22314. E-mail submissions may be sent to fratoday@fra.org. Please
include “Shipmate Forum” in the subject line. FRA reserves the right to select and edit letters for publication. Letters published in Shipmate Forum reflect the opinions and
views of FRA members. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of FRA as a whole. FRA is not responsible for the accuracy of letter content.
APRIL 2007
New Navy Uniforms
I was shocked to learn in recent days of the conditions at the
Walter Reed Army Medical Center outpatient quarters and
the treatment of the wounded.
The wounded veterans certainly deserve better from our
country. I am hoping you will use your influence to help
these wounded combat veterans.
According to news reports, the treatment for those with
brain injuries is much more effective when started soon after the injury. News reports indicate many of the wounded
are compelled to wait for their treatment.
Please help them.
Russell R. Willard
FRA Today
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
On & off capitol hill
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
Fight over DoD and VA Healthcare Costs Takes Center Stage
elected officials on this issue through the Action Center
to shift rising healthcare costs to beneficiaries in an effort on the website at www.fra.org.
In related developments, Rep. Vic Snyder (Ark.),
to balance its strained FY 2008 budget.
Chairman of the House Personnel
FRA opposes these plans and our legisSubcommittee, challenged Dr. William
lative team is working to shift the focus
Winkenwerder, Assistant Secretary of
of the debate to other options to make
Defense for Health Affairs (ASD), about
TRICARE more cost-efficient as alterpressure on the Task Force on the Future
natives to shifting costs for TRICARE
of Military Health Care to endorse
benefits to retiree beneficiaries under
DoD’s planned health care fee hike.
age 65.
During a Subcommittee hearing, Snyder
NES Joe Barnes participated at a
said “retiree advocates are understandpress conference hosted by Senators
ably angry and even task force leaders
Frank Lautenberg (N.J.) and Chuck
are very concerned.” Winkenwerder exHagel (Neb.) to announce introducpressed confidence that the Task Force’s
tion of “The Military Health Care
recommendations will be endorsed by
Protection Act” (S. 604) that would
DoD and urged they be given serious
John
Davis
limit TRICARE fee increases to the
FRA’s Director of
consideration by Congress.
Consumer Price Index (CPI), to no
Legislative Programs
The 14-member Task Force on the
more than annual retired pay increases
Future
of Military Healthcare was cre(see story page 21). This FRA supported
ated
by
the
FY
2007
National
Defense Authorization Act
legislation is similar to House legislation (H.R. 579)
(NDAA)
to
evaluate
and
recommend
alternatives to ensponsored by Reps. Chet Edwards (Texas) and Walter
sure
the
availability
and
affordability
of military mediJones (N.C.) that prohibits TRICARE fee increases
cine
over
the
long
term.
The
Task
Force
will make an
without Congressional approval. Both proposals are an
interim
report
in
May
2007
and
the
final
report is due
effort to counter enormous TRICARE fee increases asin
December
2007.
Following
review
by
the
Secretary, the
sumed in the DoD FY 2008 budget, which was sent to
report
will
go
to
the
House
and
Senate
Armed
Services
Capitol Hill with a $1.8 billion shortage based on asCommittees.
sumed approval of the drastic fee hikes. DoD will be able
The Department of Defense (DoD) is again proposing
to increase some fees by regulation effective 1 October
unless there are legislative changes. Please contact your
John Davis is a member of Navy Department Branch 181.
FRA Slams TRICARE Fee Increase Proposal Again
FRA presented its views on the Department of Defense’s
(DoD’s) drastic health care fee increases before the Task
Force on the Future of Military Health Care on 7 March. The
panel was co-chaired by Dr. Gail Wilensky, Senior Fellow
at Project HOPE and elected member of The Institute of
Medicine of the National Academies.
Speaking on behalf of FRA, NES Joe Barnes, who also
serves as co-chair of The Military Coalition (TMC), stated,
“The drastic fee increase plan is a major issue in the retiree
communities – and also a morale issue in the senior enlisted
ranks. Active duty personnel view the plan as an erosion of
their promised benefits.” Barnes led off presentations by
a team of five TMC organization witnesses. He asked the
panel to keep in perspective that “the promise of access to
health care benefits is an integral and long recognized part
of the government’s commitment to those who’ve served
our country in the past – and also those now serving our
Nation in time of war.”
FRA opposes increased TRICARE fees and co-payments
for retirees under age 65 until other cost saving options are
implemented in order to “sustain the military health benefit.” Barnes referenced results from FRA’s 2006 web survey in which over 90 percent of respondents opposed the
Administration’s TRICARE fee increases. More than 75 percent of the survey respondents said that health care benefits
influenced their decision to remain in the military.
FRA’s Jr. Past National President Edgar Zerr, voiced strong
opposition to DoD increasing healthcare fees this time last year,
when he testified before the Senate Armed Services’ Personnel
Subcommittee, as the only enlisted organization representative on a panel of four beneficiary group representatives.
FRA believes that adequately funding health care and
other programs for all beneficiaries is part of the cost of
defending our Nation, and ensuring our freedoms. For additional information on the hearing, see Tom Philpott’s
8 March 2007 Military Update on www.fra.org.
On & off capitol hill
ACTION ALERT
FRA and six other organizations testified before the House Personnel
Subcommittee on a broad range of
active, Reserve, retired and survivor
benefits.
Rep. Vic Snyder (Ark.) chairs the
subcommittee and Rep. John McHugh
is a ranking member of the panel
which has broad oversight responsibility for pay, health care, benefits, end
strengths, retiree and survivor benefits,
the Defense Commissary Agency and
MWR and other programs important
to FRA’s Legislative Agenda.
Due to floor action and a series of
votes scheduled for the full House of
Representatives, there was only time
for summary statements by NES Joe
Barnes, who spoke on behalf of FRA
and The Military Coalition, and the
other six witnesses before Snyder
adjourned the hearing with the understanding that the session will be
reconvened for further discussion and
questions at a later time.
In opening remarks Snyder said,
“The Subcommittee appreciates the
broad scope and detail of the written
testimony, and the range of issues that
impact military personnel and retirees.” The complete Military Coalition
statement is posted on online at
www.themilitarycoalition.com.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Dr. William Winkenwerder, will soon be
leaving the Pentagon to work in the private sector. He has served in the position since
October 2001.
Winkenwerder, responsible for overall supervision of the DoD’s health and medical
affairs, is the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for all health policies and
resources plus various programs and activities. He has been the primary advocate for
increasing TRICARE enrollment fees and co-pays for retired beneficiaries, and it is unclear
how his departure will impact this initiative.
Dr. S. Ward Casscells, a professor of medicine and public health at the University of
Texas Health Science Center and a former medical advisor in Baghdad, has been nominated to replace Winkenwerder. The Senate must approve the nomination before Dr. Casscells
takes office.
Adequate Care for Injured Service Members
FRA has long advocated adequate funding for DoD and VA healthcare resourcesharing in delivering seamless, cost effective, quality services to personnel wounded while participating in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation
Iraqi Freedom, (OIF) other veterans, service members, reservists, military retirees
and their families. FRA is alarmed that some (OEF/OIF) combat-injured service
members are being discharged or medically retired and transferred to VA without
adequate consideration of family needs for adjustment counseling and seamless
follow-up services.
VA Secretary R. James Nicholson announced plans to create a special Advisory
OIF/OEF Veterans and Families. The panel will include veterans, spouses and parents
of the latest generation of combat veterans, and will report directly to the VA Secretary.
The committee will focus on the concerns of active military service in OEF/OIF, and
will pay particular attention to severely disabled veterans and their families.
The lack of adequate care for injured service members was also discussed by
the senior enlisted personnel at the first hearing of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, chaired by Rep. Chet
Edwards (Texas). The session focused on military quality of life issues with testimony from the four Armed Services senior enlisted leaders. MCPON Joe Campa,
SGTMAJ John Estrada and their Army and Air Force counterparts discussed a
number of top concerns with members of the panel. The Navy’s top requirements
are the need for more childcare facilities, additional homeport/ashore barracks,
and improved health care access via more providers in certain fleet concentration
areas. For the Marine Corps the list includes barracks improvements, enhanced
workplace facilities, and more health care providers and counselors.
Speaking with the Speaker
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently hosted a meeting with FRA staff and representatives from
various military and veteran’s organizations to learn about their legislative priorities. House
majority leadership expressed its legislative priorities that included:
•Opposition to the Administration’s request for TRICARE fee increases;
• Adequate funding for VA healthcare programs; and
• Improvements and reform of MGIB benefits for both active duty and Reservists.
A number of Democratic representatives attended the meeting, including Chairmen of the House
Veterans Affairs (Rep. Bob Filner), House Budget (Rep. John Spratt), House Appropriations (Rep.
David Obey), and House Armed Services (Rep. Ike Skelton) Committees. FRA’s Director of Legislative
Programs (DLP) John Davis spoke about the importance of adequate funding for DoD and VA healthcare and other benefit enhancements for active and Reserve personnel including MGIB reform.
FRA staff also met with HASC and SASC staff to share FRA’s legislative agenda.
APRIL 2007
FRA Testifies at House
Armed Services Committee
Hearing
DoD Assistant Secretary for Health Resigns
FRA Today
It is critical that you contact
elected officials to ask for their
support for both S. 604 and
H.R. 579 to make sure DoD
cannot increase various co-pays
and enrollment fees! Visit the
Action Center at www.fra.org.
On & off capitol hill
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
Budget Battles Continue
President Bush has signed into law H. J. Res. 20, a Continuing Resolution (CR)
that includes the remainder of the FY 2007 (current) budget that will remain in
effect until 1 October 2007 — the beginning of the next fiscal year.
The new majority had previously indicated they would use the FY 2006
spending level as a baseline, a move that would have significantly reduced the
Defense Health Program and the VA healthcare funding in FY 2007. FRA and
other groups lobbied successfully to boost VA healthcare funding by $3.6 billion
and increase the Defense Health Program by $1.2 billion, restoring these programs to their FY 2007 levels.
The CR also increases funding for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) by
$500 million and BRAC (Base Realignments And Closures) by $1 billion over FY
2006, but $3.1 billion less than the Administration requested. The House leadership has indicated that the BRAC money will be included in the supplemental
war appropriations bill that will be debated in the coming weeks.
Congress has also begun deliberations on the nearly $100 billion emergency
war supplemental appropriations bill, which includes funding for the troop
surge in Iraq. Rep. John Murhta (Penn.), Chairman of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Defense wants to attach a provision that would define readiness standards for troops deployed to Iraq. Republicans have portrayed the plan
as a “slow bleed” strategy that would impact American forces in Iraq, and it’s
unclear how the legislation will address the war policy.
Shifting to the FY 2008 budget request, the Navy is slated to cut end strength
by 23,000 over seven years, and there are reports that Navy end strength will be
reduced by 19,300 through FY 2009. FRA welcomed the Administration’s call for
adding 27,000 Marines and 65,000 Army personnel in respective end strengths
over five years, but is worried about the Navy’s continuing and ambitious draw
down, which is driven in part by pressure to reduce costs to free up resources to
pay for more ships and new weapons systems.
Total Force MGIB Bills Introduced
Legislation to make Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits adequate and equitable for the
Reserve component of the Armed Forces has been introduced in both chambers of Congress.
The measures are sponsored by HASC Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Rep.
Vic Snyder (H.R. 1102) and by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (S. 644), both from Arkansas and advocate a “Total Force GI Bill.” Both are endorsed by the Partnership for Veterans Education, a
coalition of more than 50 education and military/veterans groups, including FRA. The group’s
goal is modernizing the MGIB to make it a more valuable benefit of military service. In 1985
the two separate programs (Reserve and active duty) were enacted into law, and at that time
the Reserve benefit was 47 percent of the active duty MGIB benefit. Today Reservists only
receive 29 percent of the active duty benefit. The Total Force G.I. Bill will do the following:
1)Consolidate the active duty and Reserve MGIB programs under one authority by transferring jurisdiction to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees and the VA.
2)Ensure that Reserve MGIB benefits would increase in proportion to increases in the
active duty MGIB. This would help address the growing inequity of benefits between
the two programs.
3)Allow Reservists to draw their benefits up to 10 years after service just like active duty can
do now.
4)Provide an accruable, month-per-month active duty rate for mobilized members of the
Reserve component.
Members are encouraged to contact their elected officials through the Action Center on
www.fra.org.
VA Enrollment Fees
For the fifth year in a row, the VA is seeking
authorization for an enrollment fee and higher
medication co-payments for veterans who
have no service-connected disability and earn
higher incomes (Priority groups 7 and 8), many
of whom are military retirees. FRA adamantly
opposed the VA’s FY 2008 budget request for
an increase in pharmacy co-pays from $8 to
$15 for these beneficiaries and a new tiered
annual enrollment fee based on annual family
income above $50,000. According to the proposal, vets with annual family income between
$50,000-74,999 would pay a $250 enrollment
fee; those earning $75,000 to $99,999 would
pay a $500 annual enrollment fee; and a $750
annual enrollment fee would be applied to
veterans who earn $100,000 or more.
Concurrent Receipt Bill
Introduced in Senate
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(Nev.) has introduced “The Retired Pay
Restoration Act of 2007” (S. 439) that
would permit disabled military retirees
to receive their service-connected disability from VA and their full military
retired pay or Combat-Related Special
Compensation (CRSC). The bill would
eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt under the current law. The
bill is identical to H.R. 303, sponsored by
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fla.). Members are encouraged to use the FRA Action Center at
www.fra.org to contact their representative on H.R. 303, and their Senators on
S. 439 to ask for their support.
SBP Reform to be Introduced
Senator Bill Nelson (Fla.) is expected to
soon introduce legislation that changes the paid-up effective date for SBP
participants from 1 October 2008 to 1
October 2007 and eliminates the DIC
offset. The paid-up provision would
apply to participants who reach age 70
and have paid SBP premiums for 30
years. FRA strongly supports an acceleration of the implementation date for
paid-up SBP coverage. Further details
on the legislation will be reported after
the bill is introduced.
On & off capitol hill
VDBC Debates Concurrent Receipt Reform
FRA’s DLP John Davis met with staff from the American Bankers Association to
discuss their concerns with the FRA-supported predatory loan protections that
take effect 1 October 2007.
In related news, more than 40 House Democrats sent a letter to Rep. Barney
Frank (Mass.), Chairman House Financial Services Committee, stating that it is
not appropriate for federal regulation of the payday lending industry and that
a cap of 36% on consumer loans will eliminate consumer access to short-term
small loans. Also Sen. Tim Johnson (S.D.) has requested that the GAO review the
DoD study for erroneous data and faulty analysis.
FRA wrote to DoD requesting that the department promulgate a regulation
pertaining to the predatory lending protections in the Defense Authorization Act
that does not exclude any type of lending institution from the law.
Some trade groups representing various financial institutions have criticized
the provision and have recommended that legislation be introduced to repeal
the predatory lending protections before they take effect. Shipmates can express
their support for the predatory lending protections on the FRA Action Center
located at www.fra.org.
FRA lead the fight to enact predatory lending protections last year and has
for many years advocated that unregulated predatory lenders represent a serious
danger to national security. This is a major concern in the sea services senior enlisted communities because a service member experiencing debt-related stresses
may be less focused on the mission and compromise not only his or her safety,
but also that of the entire unit.
USFSPA Reform
The Defense Department has unexpectedly sent recommendations to staff of the House
and Senate Armed Services Committee to be considered as amendments to the Uniform
Services Former Spouse Protection Act including:
• Base former spouse award amount on member’s grade/years of service at the time of
divorce (and not retirement),
• Prohibit award of imputed income while still on active duty
• Permit designation of multiple SBP beneficiaries
FRA hosted a strategy meeting of the Military Coalition’s Retired Affairs Committee on
the recommendations at National Headquarters today, and continues to work toward the
introduction of legislation to address the inequities in the onerous law.
Flag Amendments Introduced
Congressman John Murtha (Penn.) has
re-introduced H. J. Res. 12, proposing an
amendment to the Constitution that would
prohibit desecration of the flag of the
United States. In addition Congresswoman
Jo Ann Emerson (Mo.) has introduced H. J.
Res. 9, proposing a similar constitutional
amendment that would prohibit flag desecration and set criminal penalties for
that act.
Many brave men and women who serve
and have served in the Armed Services
feel deeply about the honor and dignity of
“Old Glory.” FRA supports these proposed
amendments and members are urged to
contact their elected officials on this issue through the Action Center located on
the FRA website www.fra.org.
continued on page 21
APRIL 2007
Predatory Lending Update
FRA understands that Rep. Tim Walz
(Minn.) plans to introduce legislation
to provide full veteran status for members of the Reserve components with
20 years or more service, but who do
not otherwise qualify under current
law as veterans. All members of the
Selected Reserve volunteer for service
to the nation and are liable for activation in its defense. A Reservist that
has not been called to federal active
duty for at least 90 days during a 20year-or-more service career does not
qualify the member for full status as
a veteran under the law. These “Gray
Area” Reservist-retirees are presently
entitled to TRICARE at age 60, but are
not eligible to apply for enrollment in
the VA healthcare system. Twenty or
more years of service in the Reserves
and eligibility for Reserve retired pay
should be sufficient qualifying service
for full veteran status under the law.
This issue is a matter of honor to those
who, through no fault of their own,
were never activated, but served their
nation faithfully for 20 years or more.
FRA Today
The Veterans Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) discussed concurrent receipt at its
February meeting. Commissioners planned to make a recommendation on changes to concurrent receipt, but after lengthy debate deferred the decision until its March meeting. FRA has
testified and submitted a written statement on this issue and is also represented in a statement presented on behalf of The Military Coalition (TMC). FRA strongly supports full concurrent receipt for all disabled military retirees and also supports expanding CRSC to members
who were medically compelled to retire short of 20 years of service solely because of their
combat-incurred disabilities. Shipmates are welcome to contact the Commission to express
their concerns on this issue at veterans@vetscommission.com.
The Commission is scheduled to make its final report to Congress by 1 October 2007. In addition, several legislative proposals addressing concurrent receipt have been introduced (H.R. 89, H.R.
303, H.R. 333, and S. 439 — all listed on the FRA Action Center) to reform concurrent receipt.
In addition, the Commission is reviewing the SBP/DIC offset issue and plans to make a
recommendation for reform. TMC testimony on this issue was submitted to the Commission
at the February hearing.
Veterans Status for
Reservists with 20 Years
National President’s Travel Report
Japan
10
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
What a journey. When I was elected as National Vice President,
I pledged to visit as many branches as possible during my time in
office. Sandy and I sold our home, bought an RV and set out to
meet the shipmates, listen to their concerns and suggestions and let
them know how important each and every one is to the success of
FRA. Since that time, I have visited 121 branches and by the end of
May, that number will be over 165.
It continues to be an inspiring experience — and I have learned
a lot. My commitment was not only to visit branches to which I
can drive, however. FRA has 389 members in Japan, 588 in the
Philippines, and 65 in Guam and they are each very important to
the Association. To get a thorough picture of the state of FRA, it
was extremely important that I visit the Pacific branches and learn
about their unique challenges. Some of the branches have never
been visited by a National President or National Vice President —
and most of the members will never get to a Regional or National
Convention. It is imperative that we keep a close bond through the
Association, so over the next three months, I will use this article to
share the trip with you. I am sure you will appreciate the impressive FRA spirit in the Pacific.
My hope is future National Presidents will also commit to visiting branches in the States and abroad. Our success as an organization depends on strong communication.
5 – 12 February, 2007
Yokosuka, Japan
We arrived in Japan on Monday, 5 February, 2007 and were met at the Narita (Tokyo) Airport by
Branch 103 (Yokosuka, Japan) President Frank Misiura. I am pleased to say that Branch 103 is very active within FRA. Shipmate President Frank Misiura has shown great leadership and has rectified some
problems the branch had experienced, including declining membership, and has had a two year increase
of membership of nearly fifty percent. The branch, and most especially Shipmate Misiura, should be
commended for their “can do spirit.” Shipmate Misiura is a retired Master Chief Petty Officer and
plans to live in the Yokosuka area for several more years, so I am sure the branch will be in good hands.
For our entire seven day stay, we were billeted at the Yokosuka Naval Base Distinguished Visitors
Quarters (DVQ). The Quarters were excellent accommodations, consisting of a living room, dining
room, kitchen (with washer and dryer), bedroom, bathroom and a patio. We certainly appreciated
Branch 103 supplying our quarters with food and beverages. The branch home and club is located right
outside the gates of the Naval Base. Although it is open to the public, the club is mostly used by branch
members. It is certainly in a perfect location for events to attract sailors and is an asset for recruiting.
Our trip included opportunities to tour the Yokosuka Naval Base and several parts of the cities
of Yokosuka, Yokohama and a brief trip to see Mt. Fuji. I was consistently amazed at how clean the
streets of Japan are. The base is also impeccable — it was very impressive. Throughout our stay, we
were treated like royalty and are very grateful for the hospitality shown by everyone we met. We enjoyed eating at the Officers’ Club and the Chief Petty Officers Club, where we were joined for dinner
one evening by Branch 103 Vice President Bill and Mrs. Beckwith.
This trip provided a tremendous opportunity for increasing awareness of FRA. On Wednesday, 7
February, for example, I gave an overview of FRA and a legislative brief to eighteen senior enlisted
personnel and two Branch 103 members at a Senior Enlisted Luncheon at the CPO club. This was
very well received and the personnel were grateful to FRA for all the work we are doing.
Japan
National President’s Travel Report
11
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
U. S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class David A. Levy
Yokosuka, Japan — The aircraft carrier
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).
y L. Sweeney
National President Jerr
Branch 103
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Later that day I attended the Branch 103 General Assembly
Meeting, and heard about the great work at the branch. The branch is
not only dedicated to its own growth and prosperity, it also very dedicated to the community. Half of the proceeds from the club are donated to outside activities and organizations within the Yokosuka Naval Base and the City of Yokosuka. In the past year, more than $20,000 was
donated to support programs ranging from the Yokosuka Sailor of the Year Luncheon, Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts and activities to assist underprivileged children. It is inspiring to see their service to those in need.
Later in the week, I presented two active duty briefs on FRA initiatives. Unfortunately, attendance
was very small, but the information was very well received. The active duty shipmates were not familiar
with FRA; a reminder of how important prominent and positive visibility is with the active duty community. The shipmates in attendance had been sent by their commands to “see what it was all about” and
report back. One CPO commented after the brief that she was going to go back and join FRA online.
After the second brief I was interviewed by the Armed Forces Pacific Network and talked about
what FRA does, our legislative agenda and the benefits of membership.
Certainly one of the highlights of the trip was my tour of the USS Kitty
Hawk (CV-63) and meeting with the Command Master Chief.
The Kitty Hawk will soon be coming back to the States to be
decommissioned and replaced in Yokosuka by the USS George
Washington, a nuclear powered carrier. While on the Kitty Hawk,
I was interviewed by the Public Affairs Chief Petty Officer on what
the FRA was and why I was visiting Japan. Later that day, I had
a Courtesy Call with Rear Admiral James D. Kelly, Commander
U.S. Naval Forces Japan. We discussed quality of life issues and
military readiness. Admiral Kelly is keenly aware of the FRA and
promised his command support of FRA at both the local and national levels. His support is greatly appreciated and is needed!
Branch 103 has a very bright future and I pledge
FRA’s continued support to the active duty personnel stationed in Yokosuka. It is
my hope that my trip helped bring
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Letter from RVPNC Marty Posekany
Membership matters
13
Regional Vice President North Central Marty Posekany is working with branches in his region
PRPNC Ken Smith, Secretary of Branch 136, is incredibly dedicated and driven to have the perfect roster.
With more than 650 members in his branch, making
sure each record is spotless is a tall order. Smith knows
that the members of his branch will be best served if
their information in their records is in perfect order.
Recently, Smith called Headquarters to make a suggestion on improving the functionality of the Area for
Branch and Regional Officers on www.fra.org. During
the conversation, he mentioned that he had taken the
opportunity 16 inches of snow gave him to sit at his
computer and update records. As of that point, he had
made over 300 entries on the site — comparing his
branch roster with what the Post Office (www.usps.
com) has for the zip+4 and then making corrections
in the members’ records. Having the correct zip+4
ensures the delivery of bulk mail, including FRA
Today and Shipmate Smith knows nobody would want
to miss that!
Thank you Shipmate Smith for your loyalty, dedication and service to your branch, to your region and
to FRA as a whole. Certainly, the HQ staff members
appreciate your assistance and your suggestions. It is
always a pleasure to hear from you.
FRA NHQ Staff
PROFILE: Jimmy Short
Photo by: Vince Cuthie
Spotlight on
many new members and is a big reason that our region’s numbers have Marty Posekany
improved in the past quarter. Branch
Regional Vice
President
242 (Davenport, Iowa) also deserves
North Central
recognition for increasing its membership by 15 percent so far this year. Other branches in
our region that have positive recruiting numbers are: 138
(Calumet, Mich.); 160 (Muskogee, Okla.); 348 (Fort Wayne,
Ind.); 241 (Haysville, Kan.); 284 (Lexington, Ky.); 221
(Peoria, Ill.) and 130 (Indianapolis, Ind.). Your hard work is
sincerely appreciated.
Please go to your next branch meeting and discuss the
topic of recruiting. After the discussion, I encourage the
branch officers to ask the shipmates to open their wallet or
purse, and show an FRA and LAFRA membership application. If they don’t have one, give them three! Call National
Headquarters for more or download them from www.fra.org.
Please make sure the applications you print with your newsletters are the most current applications available.
Jimmy Short is the FRA National
Headquarters Mail Clerk, and celebrates 35 years with the Association
this July. He obviously enjoys his job,
which includes fulfilling orders for
items branches order, taking care of
all outgoing mail — including monthly
branch and unit reports, opening and
sorting all incoming mail (donations,
dues notices, letters, branch newsletters, letters….) and
taking FRA employees to Capitol Hill in the FRA van. His
favorite aspect of the job is interacting with his co-workers.
Jimmy served in the Army in the late 1960s, and was
stationed in Panama.
When he is not at work, Jimmy spends his time watching his favorite western and military movies. Jimmy also
spends time on jigsaw puzzles, his most recent one containing 3,000 pieces. The big focus of his week, however, is bowling in a Monday night league — his team
is currently in 2nd place! The league has quite the FRA
rivalry — Jimmy enjoys playing against FRA’s Director of
Membership, Bob Washington’s team. Tuesday lunch conversation frequently focuses on who bowled better!
Jimmy and his wife Elisa have been married 17 years.
They have one “child”…a very hyper Chihuahua-terrier
mix named Toto.
APRIL 2007
Let me start by thanking all shipmates for their recruiting efforts. We are slowing the loss and that is a step in the
right direction. What can we do to maintain and advance
this momentum? Continue to recruit and continue to retain! I feel that with continued hard work, we can have another positive gain in the coming months.
In analyzing membership numbers for our region, we
found some interesting trends. On average, 16 shipmates pass
away each month; 16 shipmates are recruited each month;
and more than 16 members are lost for non-payment of
dues. Many of the members who choose not to renew their
membership have been members for fewer than five years.
The bottom line: We sign up enough new members to offset
the loss of those who report to the Supreme Commander, but
we need to concentrate on retaining the members we have.
I would like to recognize several branches that are doing great recruiting work. A big thank you goes to shipmates of our new Northern Kentucky Branch 283 (Elsmere,
Ky.). Spearheaded by Jim Hammond, the branch signed up
FRA Today
to strengthen FRA’s membership. He is also the secretary for Wolverine Branch 298 (Grand Rapids,
Mich.). His observations and insights about the North Central Region offer some points for all shipmates to consider. As it is volunteer month, we thank Shipmate Posekany for offering his time to be
our guest Membership Matters columnist for April.
ONWATCH
Hail to the Chiefs!
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
14
Hail to the Chiefs!
Naval Roots
The title of “Chief” has resonated aboard ships since the
1700s, but wasn’t formally established by the U.S. Navy
until 1893. The first documented use of the title occurred
during the Revolutionary War, when a Cook’s Mate aboard
the Continental Navy’s warship Alfred was promoted to
“Chief Cook” to indicate his status as the cook with the
most authority. The ratings of “Chief Boatswain’s Mates,
Chief Gunner’s Mates and Chief Quartermasters” also
appeared in pay charts in the mid-1800s, but the Navy’s
Regulations Circular No. 1 (dated 13 March 1893) was the
first official delineation of the Chief Petty Officer grade.
The official establishment of the CPO grade brought
promotion and a pay raise to nearly all first class petty
officers of the time. In total, nine ratings were included in
the new rank, and only Schoolmasters, Ship’s Writers, and
Carpenter’s Mates were excluded.
The rates of E-8 and E-9, Senior Chief and Master Chief,
were created in June of 1958. When the rates were first
established, a CPO had to have a total of 10 years in service and a minimum of four years as a Chief to be considered for promotion to Senior Chief. To be considered for
advancement from Chief (E-7) to Master Chief (E-9), the
Chief had to have a minimum of six years in grade and 13
years of Naval service. The Navy conducted service-wide
exams for its top-performing Chiefs in August 1958, with
promotions beginning in November of that year.
The office of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
(MCPON) was established in 1967. The previous year, Sailors
in the Navy’s two largest fleet concentration areas (Norfolk,
Va., and San Diego, Calif.) were invited to share their concerns and recommendations with senior Navy leadership.
The overwhelming response revealed that the top officers
of the Navy were not attuned to the sentiments of deckplate Sailors. Steps were taken to create a “Senior Enlisted
Advisor of the Navy,” who would represent the enlisted
force’s interests. GMCM Delbert Black, a Life Member of
FRA Virginia Beach Branch 166, was selected as the first to
serve in that capacity. With assistance from FRA’s National
Executive Secretary, Bob Nolan, the job title was changed to
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy in April of that year
to align the Navy’s top enlisted position with its counterparts in the Army and Marine Corps.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl
Chiefs in Charge
If you look up the word “chief” in the dictionary, you’ll
find a lot of superlatives associated with the word: “The
person of the highest authority, of maximum importance,
of the first order of significance, exceeds others, capacity
for influencing others.1” It seems only fitting that the Navy
and Coast Guard choose to elevate their most capable
petty officers to the rank of “Chief.” 1 April 2007, marks
the 114th anniversary of the Chief Petty Officer grade, and
FRA proudly salutes all Navy and Coast Guard Chiefs for
their leadership and professionalism.
Advancement to Chief is considered by many to be the
most significant promotion within the enlisted ranks. In
order to advance, candidates must meet minimal requirements for time in service, have outstanding performance
evaluations, and score well on specialty exams. And in
the Navy, advancement to Chief also requires appearance
before a selection board — a form of peer review not
employed in the lower ranks.
Chief Petty Officers are expected to accept an expanded
leadership role as they progress through the CPO ranks.
Chiefs are considered technical experts in their specialty
fields and resident experts on a variety of military subjects, including the history and heritage of their service.
Among the many duties Chiefs assume, one of the most
important is training and educating their fellow shipmates. In addition to mentoring and developing Sailors,
Chiefs also train junior officers, helping both communities
understand their respective role in mission accomplishment. Chiefs are an important link between the enlisted
and officer ranks.
Chief Master-at-Arms, Karla Thompson, stands along side of her
new fellow chief petty officers during a pinning ceremony on
board Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
Hail to the Chiefs!
onwatch
Chiefs and chief selectees from the San Diego area stand
in formation for Chief Petty Officers (CPO) Day aboard the
San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum, Ex-USS Midway.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class
David Didier
To that end, MCPON Campa broadened attendance at
the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy, opening the doors
to E-7s in late February. (The course had previously only
been available to Senior and Master Chiefs.) According to
Campa, there will be a limited number of seats available
to Chiefs at first, but the numbers will increase over time.
“Senior Enlisted Academy content is as relevant for Chiefs
Changes in Store for Navy Chiefs
as it is for Senior Chiefs,” said Campa. “We should provide
Chiefs have long been referred to as “the backbone of the
the professional development to ensure their success as
Navy,” and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)
naval leaders as early as possible in a Chief’s career.”
Joe Campa wants to strengthen that role for today’s CPOs.
He also envisions the MV-GP as a
In his recent Mission, Vision and Guiding
guide for junior Sailors to advance
Principles (MV-GP) statement, Campa
their Navy careers and their own prohas outlined his goal for Chiefs to
fessional development. By the end of
“provide leadership to the enlisted force
FY2007, evaluations and Sailor of the
and advice to Navy leaderships to create
Year nominations will be tailored to recombat-ready Naval Forces.” He expects
flect how well senior petty officers are
today’s Chiefs to demonstrate deckplate
performing within the MV-GP model.
leadership, institutional and technical
MCPON Campa has also issued
expertise, professionalism, character,
guidance on the CPO transition
loyalty, active communication skills and season, a document he expects
a sense of heritage.
every Chief to read and apply to
“This is not a philosophy,” says Camthe activities his or her Mess sponpa. “It’s a course of action. The success
sors to indoctrinate new Chiefs. (See
of our Navy hinges on the effectiveness
Master Chief Petty Officer of the
http://goatlocker.org/guide2006.pdf
of the Chief on the deckplate. We’ve
Navy (MCPON) Joe R. Campa Jr.,
for the full document.) A new CPO
congratulates a Petty Officer Crum
developed a strategy to incorporate the
indoctrination course, the Prospective
on
being
selected
to
become
a
chief
mission, vision and guiding principles
Chief Petty Officer Leadership Course,
petty officer (CPO).
into everything we do.”
is now available and commands are
Campa envisions the Navy’s senior
strongly encouraged to use it. The course provides “a full
enlisted force, “first and foremost, as deckplate leaders.”
immersion into the roles and responsibilities of a Chief
Developing Sailors, enforcing standards and maintainPetty Officer.” The guidance lists five distance learning
ing the credibility of the Chiefs’ Mess are integral parts
courses that are required for all prospective Chiefs, and
of the initiative. The Navy’s leadership training programs
also directs enlisted command leadership to conduct briefwill incorporate the MV-GP into their curriculums so that
ings and other training for new CPO spouses.
they reinforce the Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage
“We have a responsibility to properly shape the percepand Commitment; the service’s history and heritage; the
tions and expectations of our new Chief Petty Officers,”
Sailor’s Creed and the CPO Creed.
said Campa.
Please visit the “Communities” page
on www.fra.org to join in a discussion
on the impact Chiefs have had over the
years and share your stories!
1
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin
Company. All rights reserved.
APRIL 2007
Coast Guard Heritage
Turf rights and perhaps a clash of egos created the grade of
CPO in the U. S. Coast Guard. When the Revenue Cutter Service (RCS) and the U.S. Life Saving Service (LSS) merged to
form the modern day Coast Guard in 1915, RCS “Petty Officers” and LSS “Surfmen” clashed over who was in charge.
As a result, the Coast Guard established a position of higher
authority, the grade of Chief Petty Officer. The grade was
officially sanctioned by Congress on 8 May 1920.
The first USCG Chiefs were the former Station Keepers
of the Life Saving Stations. They were given the title “Chief
Boatswain’s Mate” (CBM) with an L for “Lifesaving” attached to the rate to distinguish them from their seagoing
counterparts.
The office of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast
Guard (MCPOCG) was established in 1969, when Master
Chief Charles Calhoun became the service’s first senior
enlisted advisor. The position was established to provide
the Commandant of the Coast Guard with an enlisted
perspective on matters that affect active duty and reserve
members of the service, and their families.
FRA Today
U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Michael C. Barton
15
early!
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at
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The FRA National Convention
Committee invites you to attend
FRA’s 80th / LA FRA’s 75th National Conventions
in Corpus Christi, Texas
31 October – 3 November, 2007
Omni Bayfront Tower
The May issue of FRA Today will highlight Corpus Christi
and the great things to see and do while you are in town.
Workshop topics include:
Health Care
Financial Planning
Active, Reserve, Retiree Benefits
Veterans Affairs
Survivor Benefits
Professional Development
Utilizing Technology
Yes! I would like to be recognized in the Convention Journal as supporting current and former Navy, Marine Corps and
Coast Guard enlisted personnel.
A contribution of $__________ to support the 2007 Convention is included. Please list the following names as supporters
in the Convention Journal Booster Roll.
Last name
First name
Middle initial
Branch/Unit or Member at Large
Last name
First name
Middle initial
Branch/Unit or Member at Large
Last name
First name
Middle initial
Branch/Unit or Member at Large
Last name
First name
Middle initial
Branch/Unit or Member at Large
Enclosed is my business card and $15. Please include this in the Convention Journal in lieu of the Booster Roll.
Please make checks payable to FRA and mail with the above form to: FRA National Headquarters, 125 N. West Street, Alexandria VA 22314
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FRA Today
APRIL 2007
18
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Give a little, Give a lot
FRA was founded on the core values of loyalty, protection and
service. Service to members and their families is central to FRA’s
daily operation, but it goes so much further than that. For example, FRA is one of the 350 organizations that support the Veterans
Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) program. Established in 1946, it is
now the largest centralized volunteer program in the federal government, with volunteers contributing more than 13 million hours
annually. Since the program’s inception, volunteers have provided
over 676 million hours of service, augmenting staff and resources in VA hospitals, clinics and veteran outreach centers. Recently
VAVS outreach has also been included in work sponsored by the
National Cemetery Administration. FRA and Ladies Auxiliary FRA
(LA FRA) are members of the VAVS National Advisory Committee,
which oversees the work performed by our shipmates and ladies
who volunteer in the VAVS program.
19
APRIL 2007
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Tyler Jones
FRA Today
Norfolk, Va. (10 Feb., 2007) - Senior Chief
Gas Turbine System Technician Mike
Wroten, assigned to guided missile destroyer
USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), helps his son
bowl at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South
Hampton Roads, “For Kids’ Sake, Bowl”
event at the AMF Military Lanes in Norfolk.
FRA volunteers contributed 20,827
hours of service to the VAVS program in
2005 alone. Some shipmates volunteer individually, while others participate as part of a
branch (and/or unit) project. Either way, their
efforts touch many lives and make a powerful impact on the veterans they serve.
One example of outstanding volunteer
effort is Shipmate Tom Elliot Jr. of Pinetree
Branch 156 in Brunswick, Maine. Shipmate
Elliot has been nominated by FRA for the
VAVS National Advisory Committee Volunteer
of the Year. In addition to his FRA involvement, he is also active in several other organizations, including the Disabled American
Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW), Purple Heart Association, the
American Legion, Knights of Columbus and
the Elks. He works on behalf of all of these
organizations to assist veterans.
A VAVS representative for more than 20
years, Elliot is involved with veterans eight
to ten hours per day, five days per week.
Until recently, he drove a van five days a
week, transporting veterans to medical
appointments at the VA Medical Center in
Togus, Maine. A new volunteer is now driving on Wednesdays.
“I get such satisfaction from helping
these vets,” says Shipmate Elliot. “I have
some very sick people on my transportation
route and I know they can’t get to the VA
without my help. It gives me pleasure to be
their friend.”
And Elliot is indeed their friend.
“There have been times when I find my
vets down – they don’t answer the door or
their phone, and I have to call the police to
break in and help them. I’ve buried several of
them in the past few months, and it’s hard.”
In addition to his transportation duties,
Elliot directly touches hundreds of veterans
each year. With the help of other volunteers
and the many organizations he works with,
Elliot is able to sponsor a variety of social
events for veterans, including an ice cream
social or pizza party once a week. He works
at the information desk and pushes wheelchairs. He launched a computer training program, and offers computers for veterans to
take home if they wish. He also brings flowers to inpatient veterans on Valentine’s Day
and Daffodil Day. He’s currently in the process of organizing a class to teach sign language to the visually impaired, a project that
requires special teaching aids and materials.
“We’ve been sponsoring a golf tournament for the visually impaired for a long time
now,” recalls Shipmate Elliot. “One of our
Yokosuka, Japan (1 Dec., 2006) - Sailors, Marines
and family members start running the Yokosuka
Morale, Recreation and Welfare 5k Toys for Tots Run
outside the Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka new
gymnasium.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Barry
R. Hirayama
patients was riding in the golf cart and she
said, ‘Boy, I’d sure love to drive this thing.’
So I told her move on over and she’d have
her chance. We had such fun! I kept yelling
‘Turn right! Turn left! Look out for that cliff!’
and things like that and she just laughed and
laughed. She had a ball and so did I!”
Elliot also helps veterans by raising funds
that directly benefit thousands of vets each
year. He’s a phenomenal fundraiser — selling raffle tickets, writing letters, asking
veterans organizations for donations, all to
raise money to support his vision for assisting veterans.
He’s quick to point out the assistance
of other volunteers and volunteer organizations, but Elliot is understandably proud of
the projects he’s helped bring to fruition.
“I was involved in raising $77,777 to
replace every piece of gym equipment at
Togus. We raised $80,000 for a new bus.
We recently raised $7,500 for a Hospice
Room at the VA Center.”
Elliot’s own stay in a hospital inspired a
golf cart shuttle that takes veterans to and
from their parked cars to the front door of
the Togus VA Medical Center.
“I’d had a heart attack and was having a
great deal of trouble getting from the parking lot to the hospital,” said Elliot. “I knew
if I was having this problem, there had to be
other veterans who were in a similar, if not
worse, situation. I figured there had to be a
better way.”
Not even a heart attack slowed Elliot
down. He raised $10,000 to purchase the
shuttle vehicle, and is currently gathering
funds to purchase a second shuttle.
GiV
Volunteer
e
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
20
“When I see vets riding that little shuttle
and hear their stories, I know I did a good
thing,” says Elliot. “I know I did a good job.”
Chris Slawinski, FRA’s National Service
Officer, encourages branches and units to
make volunteering part of their overall community involvement. “We need to remember that part of the FRA credo is ‘Service.’
What better way to demonstrate this than
by helping our fellow veterans?”
Without this program and those who volunteer, VA will be forced to provide funding
in order to cover the costs of hiring additional employees. This, in return, would likely reduce funding for other programs needed to
support our veterans. According to the VAVS
website, “[Our] volunteers are a priceless
asset to America’s veterans and the VA.”
Additional opportunities exist to serve
active duty personnel, veterans and their
families.
USO
When most people think of the USO, they
think of Bob Hope’s annual tours to entertain
the troops, but the USO is so much more.
As a private, nonprofit organization, the
USO’s mission is to provide morale, welfare
and recreational services to our men and
women in uniform. The USO currently operates more than 130 centers worldwide,
including ten mobile canteens located in
the continental United States and overseas.
Service members and their families visit
USO centers more than 5.6 million times
each year. And of course, the USO still
sponsors entertainment tours throughout
the world to entertain the troops, bringing
home to those abroad.
Chicago, Ill., (8 Sept, 2003) – Chief Hospital Corpsman (Select)
Jonnalynn Cummings visits with veteran Leon Gilbert at Chicago’s
Westside VA Hospital during Chicago CPO Pride Day. The 130 selectees
from all commands at Naval Station Great Lakes joined with 85 chief
petty officers to show their pride by delivering USO Ty Bears to veterans.
U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Rhonda Burke
Volunteers are vital to the success of
USO’s mission, whether helping a soldier
with a connecting flight, distributing a Care
Package, serving snacks with a smile, providing local information, or “welcoming
home” troops from deployment. While the
duties of a USO volunteer may vary, the goal
is always the same — and closely aligned
with FRA’s purpose — to improve the quality of life of service members, to boost their
morale and to serve as the link between service members and the American people.
LA FRA National President Sandy
Robbins has chosen the USO as her National
President’s Project for this Association year.
“I chose the USO for my National
President’s Project,” says Robbins, “because I wanted our members to feel like
they were doing something for our military.
This is one way we can show our appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our military men and women.”
Funds raised toward the National
President’s Project will go to support three
specific USO activities. The first is Operation
Phone Home, a campaign designed to provide prepaid international calling cards to servicemen and women overseas. Every penny
donated is used to purchase and distribute
the 100-, 300- and 500-minute global calling
cards. The second is the USO’s Operation
Care Package, a program for service members who are enroute to an overseas assignment or are currently deployed. These
packages boost morale and provide a safe
and secure way for the public to show their
support for our troops. The third program,
Gifts from the Homefront, provides gift certificates service members can use at base
exchanges and commissaries.
To make a donation to the LA FRA
National President’s Project for 20062007, send a check (payable to LA FRA,
with “National President’s Project” in the
memo line) to the LA FRA National Financial
Secretary Eileen M. Magnan, P.O. Box
530326, San Diego, CA 92153-0326.
Lauren Armstrong Contributing Editor and LA FRA
Member at Large is a USO Volunteer at Reagan National
Airport USO Lounge. We thank Lauren for her service.
National Veterans Service
Officer Shipmate Chris
Slawinski ( Branch 181)
will host FRA’s Your Voice
teleconference at noon
(EDST) on Wednesday, April
11, 2007, to discuss the
VAVS program and how
shipmates and branches can
get involved. To participate
in the teleconference, please
dial 877-746-9514 at noon
EDST. When asked for a code
number, enter 1924. To listen
only, enter code 1400.
Slawinski can be directly
reached at 1-800-FRA-1924,
ext. 115 or via e-mail at
vafra@fra.org.
April 15 – 21
is National
Volunteer Week
Give a little, and you will
give a lot.
USO
703-908-6400
www.uso.org
Navy-Marine Corps
Relief Society
703-696-4904
www.nmcrs.org
Armed Forces
Blood Program
www.militaryblood.dod.mil
Call for location nearest
you: 202-782-4156
In Japan:
011-81-611-743-7737
Veterans Affairs
Voluntary Service
Call your local
VA Hospital
www.va.gov/volunteer
American Red Cross
www.redcross.org
800-733-2767
To find a volunteer
opportunity in your area:
www.volunteermatch.org
Walter Reed Fiasco
NES Perspective
21
continued from 9
FRA Endorses Senate Military Health Care Protection Act
Senators Frank Lautenberg (N.J.) and Chuck Hagel (Neb.) have introduced
“The Military Health Care Protection Act” (S. 604). NES Joe Barnes thanked the
Senators for their leadership on this important issue at a press conference announcing the introduction.
This legislation ensures Congressional oversight of Department of Defense
(DoD) TRICARE fee increases and limits increases to no more than the annual
Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is significantly less than the annual Federal
Civilian Health Care Premium level in DoD’s plan. FRA believes DoD has not
sufficiently investigated other options to make TRICARE more cost-efficient as
alternatives to shifting costs to retiree beneficiaries under age 65. Barnes noted
“The promise of access to health care benefits is an integral and long recognized
part of the government’s commitment to those who’ve served in the past – and
also to those now serving our Nation in uniform in time of war. DoD’s plan to
drastically increase enrollment fees and pharmacy co-pays is not only viewed
as another indicator of the government’s failure to honor past commitments to
those who served full military careers – but also by today’s career enlisted force
which views this as an erosion of earned benefits before they retire.”
A similar bipartisan bill was recently reintroduced in the House by
Representatives Chet Edwards (Texas) and Walter Jones (N.C.). The “Military
Retirees Health Care Protection Act” (H.R. 579), would prohibit the Department
of Defense (DoD) from increasing TRICARE fees without approval from
Congress. Identical legislation (H.R. 4949) last year garnered 164 co-sponsors.
Senator Frank Lautenberg (N.J.) with
NES Joe Barnes at the press conference
announcing the introduction of “The
Military Health Care Protection Act.”
On & Off Capitol Hill is written by Joe Barnes,
National Executive Secretary and John Davis,
Director of Legislative Programs with input from
Bob Washington, Health Care Advisor and Director
of Membership Development, Chris Slawinski,
National Veterans Service Officer and Ed Dockery,
Assistant Director of Legislative Programs.
APRIL 2007
On & Off Capitol Hill
FRA Today
once all the reports have been completed and shelved —
The uproar in the media and on Capitol Hill over what’s
been going on at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in and the politicians have railed about this for maximum
Washington, D.C. continues. It has gotten even more bizarre media coverage and political advantage — not much will
with the firing of Army MajGen George W. Weightman, who likely change. That’s because of huge bureaucracies and
served as commander of the facility since only last August, resistance to change despite some so-called partnering
initiatives mandated by legislation datfollowed by the firing of Army Secretary
ing back to the early 1980s. FRA, our
Francis J. Harvey by Secretary of Defense
sister veterans service organizations
Robert Gates, while Army LtGen Kevin C.
and congressional oversight commitKiley, who commanded Walter Reed betees have addressed for years the chronfore Weightman, is apparently remaining
ic problems with care for our wounded
as Surgeon General of the Army. His tesservice members and their continuing
timony before a number of hastily schedchallenges associated with transitioning
uled oversight hearings in both the House
from DoD to the VA — which is termed
and Senate included profound apologies
“seamless transition.” These personnel
for the lack of oversight which contribdeserve better and it remains to be seen
uted to the filthy quarters and adminiswhat the impact of this firestorm of attrative hassles encountered by wounded
tention will be.
soldiers awaiting processing to care in the
Despite references to the National
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Joe
Barnes
Naval
Medical Center (NNMC) in meIn addition to the hearings, a number
FRA’s National Executive Secretary
dia
coverage,
we understand that care
of panels, commissions and study groups
for
wounded
personnel
at NNMC is exhave been quickly announced — the most
cellent,
and
that
they
are
housed
in
a
recently
renovated
prominent being the bi-partisan Presidential Commission
“Wounded
Warrior
Barracks.”
to evaluate treatment of wounded personnel headed by former Senate Majority Leader and World War II veteran Bob
Joe Barnes is FRA’s National Executive Secretary and Chairman of the National
Dole, and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Committee on Legislative Service. A member of Navy Department Branch 181, he is
Donna Shalala.
also an advisor to the National Committees on Budget and Finance and
The truly frustrating aspect of this spectacle is that Membership and Retention.
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News from the branches
25
FRA Today
Shipmate Susan
Hammond, JOC, USNR,
prepares for transit from
Kuwait to Afghanistan.
As Susan is 2006-2007
Branch Secretary, the
Branches past secretary
will cover the post.
BRANCH 124
Lakehurst, N.J.
President Bill Anthony presents 40 Years Continuous
Service Awards to Shipmates
Casele and Case. Pictured
(left to right) are President
Bill Anthony, Lawrence
Casele, Chaplain John Case,
and Secretary George Kollarik.
APRIL 2007
BRANCH 268
Oklahoma City, Okla.
BRANCH 182
Bethesda, Md.
The branch recently
held a very successful recruiting drive
bringing in four new
members and two
transfers. Pictured is
Shipmate Ron Kunz,
who is an active duty
Command Master
Chief and his new
recruit, Shipmate
Dan Severson.
BRANCH 254 Myrtle Beach, S.C.
BRANCH 260 Kingman, Ariz.
Presenting 91-year old Shipmate
William Jacobs with his 50-year
continuous service pin and
certificate is Mohave County
Branch 260 President Mike Reed.
To submit a photo for News From the Branches, please e-mail a photo as an
attachment in jpeg format to FRAToday@fra.org or mail a high-quality photograph
to FRA Today, 125 N. West Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Please include a brief
description of the photograph and include the names of those pictured. Laser
prints and scanned copies of photographs cannot be accepted.
Branch 254 was honored by the presence of
PNP George Kaye and PRPSE Don Mucheck
at a regular meeting 25 January 2007.
BRANCH 71
Riverhead, N.Y.
Vice President Branch
71, Arlene Alotkin
recently presented
Chaplain Donald T.
Decker his 40-year
pin and certificate.
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Reunions
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
28
29th Seabee Construction Battalion
USS Bexar (APA/LPA-237)
2–5 August 2007, Alton, IL. Contact
Art Grotto, 11308 Moraine Dr., Unit E,
Palos Hill, IL 60465, 708-974-3961 or
agrotto@sbcglobal.net.
20–23 September 2007, Tucson, AZ.
Contact Steve Malloy, 1542 10th St.,
Bremerton, WA 98337, 360-373-1093
or ussbexar@comcast.net.
All Navy Net Tender/Layer Reunion
USS Biloxi (CL-80)
2–4 October 2007, Buffalo, NY. Contact
Eddie Pinson, 5290 So. Valley St.,
Boise, ID 83709, 208-362-2659 or
epinson@spro.net.
18–20 May 2007, Pine Mountain, GA.
Contact Dave Smoot at 229-435-6400
or davesmoot@mchsi.com.
American Amphibious Force Association
(AAFA)
25–30 September 2007, Evansville, IN.
Contact Dave Miller at
capdave@centuryel.net or Henry Ruiz
at vbresort@cox.net.
Aviation Logistics Marines
3–6 May 2007, Havelock, NC. Contact
Don Davis ALM, P.O. Box 293,
Havelock, NC 28532, 252-444-1777,
Greyegl@ec.rr.com.
Destroyer Leader Association
4–7 October 2007, Charleston, S.C.
Contact Walter Alexander, 2311 Idavere
Rd., S.W., Roanoke, VA 24015-3903,
540-345-5826 or
destroyerleader1@cox.net.
Marine Corps Lima Co. 3/1 Vietnam
12–14 July 2007, New York City, NY.
Contact Ed Mclaughlin at 973-492-5706.
NAS Twin Cities
25 August 2007, Minneapolis, MN.
Contact Jack Iverson at 952-322-1249
or thetarjei@charter.net.
USS Agawam (AOG-6)
22–24 October 2007, New Orleans, LA.
Contact Dick Cypher, 2200 Berryhill Ct.,
Edmond, OK 73034, 405-359-1513 or
DCY47@aol.com.
USS Angler (SS-240)
30–3 October 2007, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Contact Orem (Soupy) Campbell, 2107
Greenlaw Ct. Leesburg, FL 34788,
352- 343-0806 or
bdkremer@comcast.net.
USS Bearss (DD-654)
30–4 October 2007, Rapid City, SD.
Contact Jerry Walkins, 2348 Saddle Dr.,
Allison Park, PA 15101, 412-487-6073.
USS Belknap (DLG/CG26)
18–20 October 2007, Norfolk, Va.
Contact Chuck Taylor, 7207 La Granada
Houston, TX 77083, 281-988-7036 or
ctaylor77083@yahoo.com.
USS Boxer (CV-21/CVA-21/CVS-21/LPH4/LHD-4)
3–6 October 2007, San Diego, CA.
Contact Tom Lawrence at 717-428-9404.
USS Brazos (AO-4)
11–13 September 2007, Portland, OR.
Contact Jimmy Walters, 14595 SW 91st
Ave., Tigard, OR 97224, 503-639-5609.
USS Brownson (DD-518/DD-868)
20–24 May 2007, So. Portland, ME.
Contact Guy Linscott at 207-899-2816
or glinscot@maine.rr.com.
USS Canberra (CA-70/CAG-2)
10–14 October 2007, Nashville, Tenn.
Contact Ken Minick, P.O. Box 130,
Belpre, OH 45714, 740-423-8976 or
crewservices@usscanberra.com.
USS Charles Lawrence (DE-53/APD-37)
5–8 September 2007, Philadelphia,
PA. Contact Henry Cranford, 2463 Bear
Den Road, Frederick, MD 21701, 301620-4045 or dbf-doc@adelphia.net.
USS Chickasaw (ATF-83)
30–30 September 2007, San Antonio,
TX. Contact Richard Gibson at 704243-2303 or rdgibson@prodigy.net.
USS Gainard (DD-706)
16–20 September 2007, Norfolk, VA.
Contact Clarence Kirby, 270-586-6619,
3266ftcm@apex.net.
USS Grant County (LST-1174)
4–7 October 2007, Charleston, SC.
Contact William Richardson, 252-5273523 or wrichardson4@suddenlink.net.
USS Hanson (DD/DDR-832)
4–7 October 2007, Jacksonville, Fla.
Contact Roy Ridderbusch, 3910 Maple
Road, Lynnwood, WA 98037,
425-742-6591 or roynav@webtv.net.
USS Helena (CL-50, CA-75, SSN-725)
27–30 August 2007, Las Vegas, NV.
Contact Bob Kern, 582 W. Clark St.,
Upland, CA 91784, 909-949-6559.
USS Iwo Jima Association, Inc.
10–14 October 2007, Chicago, IL.
Contact Robert G. McAnally, 152
Frissell St., Hampton, VA 23663, 866237-3137, yujack@megalink.net.
USS John Land (AP-167) WWII
6–9 September 2007, Englewood, OH.
Contact Charles and Shirley Scott, 51
Terrace Park Blvd., Brookville, OH
45309, cdscott4@earthlink.net.
14–16 September 2007, Cleveland,
OH. Contact Neal J. Huelsman, 5980
Marine Parkway, Apt. A109, Mentor-onthe-Lake, OH 44060-2885, 440-2574809 or KDJEN@aol.com.
USS Constant (MSO-427)
USS Klondike (AD/AR-22)
5–7 October 2007, Albany, GA. Contact
Charles T. Eaton, 760 N. Tegner St.,
Lot #21, Wickenburg, AZ 85390,
513-404-9635 or cceatonky@aol.com.
21–24 September 2007, St. Louis, MO.
Contact John Cretal at 208-888-5418
or jcretal@cwo.com.
USS Laffey Association (DD-724, 459)
USS Corregidor (TCVV-58)
7–11 October 2007, Virginia Beach, VA.
Contact Sonny Walker, 2951 Colchester
Ct., Abingdon, MD 21009, 410-5153223, soncher724@comcast.net.
USS Coconino County (LST-603)
2–5 September 2007, Chicago,
IL. Contact Joseph Bennett, 2464
Sandrock Rd., Eden, NY 14057, 710474-1674 or jjben64@hotmail.com.
USS Dayton (CL-105)
11–15 September 2007, Louisville, KY.
Contact Bob Mac Donald, 69 Ferndale
Lane, Palm Coast, FL 32137,
386-246-3224, dunsailn1@aol.com.
USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675)
6–9 September 2007, Dayton, OH.
Contact Patsy Iapalucci, 323 W. Third
St., Greensburg, PA 15601,
724-834-0370 or iapal@verizon.net.
Reunions
29
USS Leyte (CV-32)
FRA Today
4–7 October 2007, Cleveland, Ohio.
Contact Le Grande W. Van Wagenen,
43 Frederick Place, Parlin, NJ 088591811, 732-727-5993 or
leyte1956@aol.com.
APRIL 2007
USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729)
31–2 September 2007, Washington,
DC. Contact Don Thompson, 301-2926717 or Vice-President@DD729.com.
USS Montague (AKA-98)
27–30 September 2007, Savannah, GA.
Contact F. C. “Fred” Machado, 5445 S.
Blythe Ave., Fresno, CA 93706,
559-266-2978.
USS Ogden (LPD-5)
27–30 September 2007, Duluth, MN.
Contact Jim Hunter, 757 NE Rogahn
Street, Hillsboro, OR 97124, 503-6408000 or hunter@hevanet.com.
USS Perkins (DD-26, DD-377, DDR877) Association
15–18 October 2007, Newport, RI.
Contact Edward J. Kaufmann, Jr., 615
Glen Ave., Scotia, NY 12302-1109,
518-372-4967 or
AmyKeenan83@msn.com.
USS Robert L. Wilson (DD/DDE-847)
20–22 September 2007, Las Vegas,
NV. Contact Frank Esposito 95270 Waikalani Dr., Apt. C-370,
Mililani, HI 96789, 808-625-9497 or
FESPO71585@AOL.COM.
USS Sterett Association
17–20 May 2007, Bath, ME. Contact
John King, 919 Dominion Reserve Dr.,
McLean, VA 22102, 571-274-0121 or
gnik@aol.com. Visit www.Sterett.net.
USS Surfbird Association
25–27 September 2007, Nashville, TN.
Contact Larry or Dee McMaster,
418 Wilpen Rd., Ligonier, PA 15658,
724-238-3649 or
reunion07@surfbird383.org.
USS Trumpetfish (SS-425)
30–4 November 2007, Kingsland, GA.
Contact Terry Trump, 404 Pinehurst,
Ave., Summerville, SC 29483,
843-873-9563 or
TERMINOLE@hotmail.com.
USS Walton (DE-361)
27–29 September 2007, San Francisco,
CA. Contact Jerry Hudson, 4750
Cord.480, Tebbetts, MO 65080, 573291-1922 or marjer67@earthlink.net.
continued on page 36
New Video Release!
• USS Essex (CV-9), 1940s-1960s, 60 min.
Aircraft Carrier Action:
• USS Roosevelt (CVB-42) 1940s-50s, 45 min.
• USS Roosevelt (CVB-42) 1960s, 90 min
• USS Philippine Sea, (CV-47) 1940s-50s, 50 min.
• USS Wasp (CVA-18) 1944-1972, 60 min.
• USS Hancock (CV-19) 1940-50s, 60 min.
• USS Ranger (CVA-61) 1956-1983, 70 min.
• USS Randolph (CV-15) 1945-1967, 45 min.
• USS Valley Forge (CV-45) 1949-1966, 60 min.
• USS Shangri-La (CV-38) 1944-1968, 45 min.
• USS America (CVA-66) 1965-1968, 60 min.
• USS Midway (CVA-41) 1945-1970, 60 min.
• USS Constellation (CVA-64) 1964-1970, 45 min.
• USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) 1960-1970, 90 min.
• USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) 1965-1970, 50 min.
• USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) 1961-1979, 75 min.
• USS Boxer (CV-21) 1950s, 70 min.
• USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) in Vietnam, 30 min.
• USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) 1950s-60s, 45 min.
• USS Franklin (CV-13) in WWII, 90 min.
• USS Oriskany (CV-34) in Vietnam, 40 min.
• USS Hornet (CV-8, CV-12) WWII, 60 min.
• USS JF Kennedy (CVA-67) 1970s-’80s, 70 min.
• USS Independence (CVA-62) in Vietnam, 60 min.
• USS Forrestal (CV-59) 1950s-60s, 90 min.
• Carrier History: Langley To Enterprise and Hook Down,
Wheels Down, 90 min.
• Carrier Pilot Training Pensacola 1970s, 60 min.
• Essex Class Carriers WWII (“Fighting Lady”), 60 min.
• Carrier Action Off The Coast Of Korea, 75 min.
• Escort Carrier CVEs 1940s & 1950s, 75 min.
• Light Carriers: Heavy Hitters 1940s & 1950s, 70 min.
•Carrier Crashes & Landings 1940s-60s, 60 min.
Navy Aircraft:
•Navy Trainers: T-28, T-34 & T-2J 55 min.
•A-4 Skyhawk: Attack Bomber, 55 min.
•A-6 Intruder/Prowler & A-7 & A-7E Corsair, 75 min
•F6F Hellcat Goes To War, 60 min.
•F8U Crusader, Recognition & How To Fly, 60 min.
•F9F Panther/Cougar & F4D Skyray, 65 min
•PBY Goes To War, 60 min.
Amphibious Craft:
• LCS(L)(3) & LSMR, 50 min.
• LSD, LCI(L), 45 min.
• Landing Vehicle Track (LVT), 30 min.
• LST Training In World War II, 80 min.
• LSTs In The Pacific: WWII, 65 min.
• LSTs In World War II: European Theater, 72 min.
Ships Of The Fleet:
• Iowa Class Battleships, BB-61-64, 1940-50s, 120 min.
• Heavy Cruisers: 1930s-1960s, 90 min.
• Light Cruisers Go To War: 1930s-1950s, 70 min.
• Naval Gun On Iwo Jima & Okinawa, 40 min.
• Underway Replenishment Ships 1940s-1960s, 100 min.
• Destroyer Escorts of the 1940s and 1950s, 50 min.
• Destroyers & Their Sailors, WWI-Vietnam, 100 min.
• Shipboard Living 1940s-50s: Destroyers, 65 min.
• Minesweepers WWII, Korea & Vietnam, 100 min.
• Suicide Attack In The Pacific In WWII, 93 min.
• Navy Gun 1950s, Firing the Big Guns, 90 min.
• Damage Control 1960s & Abandon Ship WWII, 90 min.
• Fleet Ocean Tugboats 1960s, 40 min.
• Hospital Ship: USS Repose & Corpsmen, 50 min.
• Operation Highjump 1946 (Antarctic Journey), 70 min.
Historic Boot Camp:
•Naval Training Center Great Lakes: 1940s, 45 min.
•Naval Training Center San Diego: 1940s, 50 min.
•Naval Training Center San Diego: 1950s, 75 min.
•N.T.C. San Diego: 1960s & Advanced Training, 60 min.
•N.T.C. San Diego: 1970s & Advanced Training, 50 min.
Silent Service & ASW Ops:
• Tench Class Submarines, 75 min.
• Submarine Warfare In WWII, 110 min.
• Submarine Service in the 1940s & 1950s, 104 min.
• Submarine Training 1960s & Pride Runs Deep, 60 min.
• FBM Submarines & Their Sailors, 85 min.
• Polaris To Poseiden & Countdown to Trident, 60 min.
• ASW Operations In the 1960s & 1970s, 85 min.
• ASW Operations In The 1950s, 50 min.
• USS Robert E. Lee & USS Lewis & Clark 1960s, 50 min.
For A Complete List Go To
www.MILITARYVIDEO.com
More Navy Titles:
• Armed Guard & Merchant Marine
WWII, 80 min.
• Seabee & Marine Corps Ops Pacific
WWII, 70 min.
• Rigid Airship History & How To Fly A
Blimp, 90 min.
• King Neptune Ceremony 1930s-70s,
60 min.
• Small Boat Warfare Vietnam, 90 min.
• USS Hannibal Victory in WWII, 60 min.
• Coast Guard In WWII, 45 min.
• MSTS Arctic Operations 1950s, 90 min.
$34.95
$29.95
FRA
Looking for…
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
30
Shipmates from Recruit Company 487,
San Diego, December 1957–February
1958
Contact Jerry Rhodes, ENC, USN (Ret.)
at rhodes38@charter.net or
256-878-4959.
Shipmates who served at Gama dodo,
Milne Bay, New Guinea 1944-46
Please contact esanphy@san.rr.com.
Shipmates from the VR Line NARTU at
N.A.S. Alameda (1966-1971)
Commander Robert Glenn (XO VR55
from 1976-1978)
Henry Steel AD1
Contact Franklin Vansant (The Moose)
VRsailor@hotmail.com or 360-299-4313
or cell 425-330-3222.
Looking for WO Donald F. Hough
Last served with him at NRTC in
Chicago, 1969. Contact Jim Thomasson
(Tommy) at 573-348 2836 or
jctmit@dam.net.
DPC Tony L. Wright USN (Ret.)
Last know duty station FICEURLANT,
Norfolk, VA (1980). Please contact
Chris Magee, DPC, USN, (Ret.) at
1813 Southbay Drive, Pensacola, FL
32506 or 850-453-4388 or
dpcusnavyret@cox.net
USS Coconino County LST-603 in Little
Creek, VA Recommissioning Crew from
June 1966
Contact cdscott4@earthlink.net or 937833-4486. If no answer, please leave
us a message and name with phone
number or e-mail address. Mailing address is Charles Scott, 51 Terrace Park
Boulevard, Brookville, OH 45309
Looking for anyone who served
in the signal gang aboard the
USS Ranger CVA-61, 1968-1970
Please contact Gino/Lou Pariseau at
sm1flags@comcast.net or 603-669-1124
ATC Donald E. Dahl
Went LDO (Mustang). Last contact, 1969,
he was LTJG, stationed at DC “A” School
His wife is Rhonda. Last known
duty station NAS Norfolk Va. 1953.
Please contact James A. Murray, 786
Southview Drive, Burlington, WA 98233
or jamesamurray@verizon.net
T. I. Calif.
WO Skip Wertz
Charles (Chuck) Allen or Allan DC1 USS
Everett F. Larson DD-830, 1964-65
Contact: Max E. Schwald HTC (Ret.)
155 Emerald Street, Sutherlin, OR,
97479 or 541-459-2470.
MR2 Kathleen (Katie) Hoffman (her
maiden name)
From New Hampshire, last known duty
station was at Pearl Harbor in 1987,
may be married now. Please contact
YN1 Michele Steinmetz at msteinmetz@legion.org, or P.O. Box 1055,
Indianapolis, IN 46206.
SK Mike Sczewczyk
Last known duty station was Sima Pearl
Harbor. Contact SKCM (Ret.) Ollie M.
Tucker 808-845-0240.
LCT Veterans from WWII, All Theaters of
Operation
All veterans who served on LCTs during
World War II, in all theaters of operation, and their family members please
contact Jane Siebenmorgen, 6094
Larios Court, San Jose, CA 951233929, 408-225-5355;
jane.siebenmorgen@WW2LCT.org or
WW2LCT_JaneS@yahoo.com or
www.WW2LCT.org
Last know address was USS Howard W
Gilmore, La Maddalena, Italy. Please
contact Ira Kennedy at 704-455-9570
or swimtou@aol.com
Kenneth R. Simpson
Last known address was Oceana
Norfolk VA. VR 24 Contact Bill
Matthews 904-472-8199 or 4204
Herschel Street PMB 110, Jacksonville,
FL 32210
Charlie Thomas, AB2
His wife is Jo. United States Navy,
Fasron 200 (Special) Royal Air Force
Flying Station, West Malling, Kent
England, 1961-1963. Contact
jgormican@aol.com.
George A. Noggle Jr.
Last known duty station was executive officer on the USS Manitowoc LST
1180. Contact Bill Caldwell, 4051
Harrington Court, Fort Collins, CO
80525 or 970-226-3479 for possible
reunion of the pre-comm and commissioning crew.
Dr. Reichardt who served on the Daniel
Joy 585
Call 718-449-7985
Ronald Fredrickson served on USS Fox
CG-33 1987
The Best Book About the Navy You’ll Ever Read
Last known command USS Pyro
Bremmington WA. Contact Michael
Erickson USN (Ret.) 58190 Valley Vista
Lane, Anza, CA 92539 or 951-763-2026
or meranchanzaca@hughes.net
A Memoir By T.R. Rhoads
Carol Ann Ross
Joined the Navy after graduation from
Wildwood High School in 1957. Contact
James S. Milles DPC (Ret.) millsjames@
bellsouth.net or 352-473-9545
ADR-1 or ADJ-1 (Possibly made Chief)
Richard (Rick) Reichardt
Last known duty station was Quonset
Pt R.I.in HS-9 in the 1960’s. Key West,
FL, 1959-63, Quanset Pt R.I. 1963-66.
Wife named Yvonne would like him to
contact Grayden E. Carter, AE-1 USN
(Ret.) 716 Larry Lane,Winder, GA
20680 or 678-425-1230
Sinner, Sailor
Available through all Bookstores
ISBN: 1-4184-6155-5(SC)
Not Recommended for Children, Chaplains or Spouses
PUBLISH YOUR BOOK
80-year tradition of quality. Subsidy book
publisher offers publishing services for books
of all types. For free Author’s Guide, write:
Dorrance - NA
701 Smithfield St., Third Floor, Pgh, PA 15222
Or Call 1-800-695-6599
Scholarship Program
fra membership benefits
31
Time is running out to apply for an FRA Scholarship for the 2007-2008 academic
Six awards of $5,000 each.
The Schuyler S. Pyle
Scholarship
One award of $5,000.
The Robert W. Nolan
Scholarship
The Glenn F. Glezen
Scholarship
The Joseph R. Baranski
Scholarship
Three separate awards of $5,000 each.
Preference given to applicants enrolled
post-graduate studies.
Colonel Hazel Elizabeth Benn
U.S.M.C. Scholarship
$2,000 awards for unmarried dependent children of persons who have
served or are now serving in the Navy
as enlisted medical personnel assigned
to and serving with the Marine Corps.
The Stanley A. Doran Memorial
Scholarship
One award, amount varies. For a child
of an FRA member in good standing.
Corporate Sponsored
Scholarships
Announced annually.
Other scholarship programs related to
FRA membership include:
The LA FRA Scholarships
Applications for LA FRA scholarships
can be downloaded from www.fra.
org/scholarship.
The Walter E. Beall Scholarship
For aeronautical engineering or aviation-oriented degrees. Applications
are available by writing to: Walter E.
Beall Scholarship, 4911 Fennell Court,
Suffolk, VA 23435, Attn: W. R. Holcombe
or e-mail prp.inc2@verizon.net.
APRIL 2007
The FRA Scholarship
FRA Today
year. Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2007. Call 1-800-FRA-1924 or
visit www.fra.org/scholarship for information and applications.
FRA members in good standing, their children, grandchildren and spouses are
eligible to apply. Selection is competitive, based on financial need, academic
standing, character, and leadership qualities. The program has grown significantly
over the past few years with nearly $100,000 awarded annually. The scholarship
program is just one of the benefits of FRA membership!
TAPS
In Memoriam
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
32
NAMEBRANCH
NAMEBRANCH
Adams, Alwin N., ADRC
Adams, Jimmie D., UTCS
Allen, James R., ETCM
Amodeo, Vincent J., HMC
Anders, John J., LT USNR
Anderson, Richard L., HTC
Appel, George W., SGTMAJ
Arch, Francis J., CSC
Armstrong, John, CPO USN
Ayers, Wesley I., Jr., CS1
Dobbins, Herbert L., ABH1
Dodson, J. D., DSCM
Duhon, Ruster J., HT1
Duke, John R., OS1
022
MAL
159
141
Earl, Leslie D., CS1
Eaton, Albert L., ADJ1
Eichler, Albert L., HMC
Everding, George A., LCDR USN
043
MAL
175
267
Farmer, Hilda H., SSGT
Federe, Ceferino, SD1
Felarca, Wilson M., SD1
Fillyaw, James H., PO1 USN
Fisher, Wayne, RMC
Floyd, George H., RET USNR
Foley, John H., LT USN
Force, Eldon R., GMGC
Frigerio, Martin C., Jr., PNC
Frye, Glenn E., ENC
MAL
084
084
070
093
MAL
014
MAL
178
MAL
Gale, Roy, ADJC
Gammon, John D., LT USN
Garrison, Richard E., GYSGT
Gartner, Walter, ENC
Gill, James J., LCDR USN
Goodman, Jay W., CSC
Gordon, Duane T., ADR1
Gores, Frank Christopher, Jr., CTR1
Gravat, Walter D., ENC
Gray, Jack, ADJC
Gray, Robert C., PH1
Green, William D., PH1
Griess, Armen W., CSCS
Grilley, John L., EMC
Grimes, William C., HMCS
Guidry, Barney W., YNC
009
047
162
043
008
MAL
216
136
MAL
363
300
072
175
230
264
MAL
Haines, William A., AMS1
Hallock, Lawrence H., BT1
Handley, Grover L., HTC
Hannigan, James E., HTCM
Hanson, Donald J., RMC
Hardin, Millard, CWO3 USN
Harr, Frederick E., SKCS
Hart, Harold Joseph, Jr., CAPT USN
Healey, William H., Jr., MUC
Heiland, John H., Jr., QMCS
Hellen, David W., E-3 USN
Hendrickson, Algene R., EMCS
Hester, Clifford F., ATC
Hewitt, Ronald, MM1
Higgins, Elmer, AQC
Hilberry, John R., MSGT
Hoffman, George E., SH2
Hoffman, Ralph A., RMC
Holmes, Richard G., POC USN
Hopper, Gary J., POCS USN
Hornung, Clifford A., AQCS
Hostetler, Charles R., MS1(SS)
MAL
061
009
MAL
MAL
126
024
141
024
050
102
180
018
096
113
MAL
038
MAL
069
MAL
097
228
333
096
261
237
MAL
296
MAL
290
069
MAL
Baker, James D., SKC
136
Baran, John, GYSGT
208
Barby, Peter, CWO USN
147
Barkhuff, Edwin D., BT1
298
Barnes, Barry G., HM2
374
Beaver, Donald Y., MSGT
317
Beutler, Frank A., MSGT
175
Bird, Charles E., CWO2 USN
180
Blume, Frederick A., YNC
MAL
Boisclair, Arthur L., RM1
072
Boldyga, Robert C., FCC
MAL
Bowen, Thomas H., BUC
120
Bower, William R., CWO2 USN
019
Bransford, C. L., HMC
182
Brendle, Clyde E., HTC
MAL
Broadhead, Robert P., MSGT
208
Broedel, Francis L., CWO4 USN
109
Bruce, Alvin D., CTC
022
PRPNC Bryan, H. Gene, DCCS324
Burke, John J., CTCS
033
Burklund, Bernard B., EMC
MAL
Burks, William J., CPO USN
032
Campano, Marcelo M., DM1
Carolino, Jesus P., CPO USN
Caruso, Roseanne, PHCS
Cassell, Elbert L., SGTMAJ
Cavanaugh, John P., LCDR USN
Chaney, David F., AFCM
Cisowski, Chester, ATC
Clark, William H., CS2
Clarke, Ronald P., AK1
Claugherty, John K., AMHC
Collier, Stanley W., CS1
Comfort, David, AGC
Cordoni, Earl C., SGT
Cormier, Armand V., CS1
Cruser, Harold E., BTC
Cygirt, Joseph P., MMC
101
048
006
203
024
MAL
MAL
147
093
093
166
267
147
MAL
MAL
MAL
Darling, Lee, EN2
Davis, Alvin R., AT1
Davis, Russell A., LTJG USN
Deane, Roland M., TN
Degroff, David L., MSGT
Dewitt, Jasper O., PO1 USMCR
Di Cerbo, John, CPO USN
Dinnan, Raymond W., Jr., MGYSGT
Dixon, Forrest J., BMCS
050
051
018
219
MAL
MAL
MAL
175
MAL
NAMEBRANCH
Hughes, Irving E., AMH1
Hull, Leondus, EO1
Hurt, Oscar M., PO2 USN
005
MAL
043
Ingle, John, E-9 RET
Ireland, Ellis E., HTCS
Iverson, Olaf R., ADJC
MAL
141
053
Jenkins, Marion W., ADRC
Jennings, Jerome F., BMC
Jensen, Jerry J., TMCS
Johnson, Archie R., CS1
Johnson, Horace A., CWO4 USN
Johnson, James R., ADC
335
197
MAL
042
126
MAL
Kidder, Frederic H., CSCM(SS)
Kittel, Rudolph H., CPO USN
Kluttz, Farrell L., FTC
Knoepfler, Howard J., STSC(SS)
Kyle, Walter E., HMC
MAL
361
MAL
046
339
Laidlaw, Walter A., GMCS
Larsen, Calvin L., LCDR USN
Lashmit, William H., AMH1
Lazorchak, Stephen, BUC
Lee, Nellie D., HM1
Lewis, Alvin D., CS1
Lewis, Robert, Jr., PO3 USN
Locke, Robert, PO1 USN
Lomis, Norman, Jr., AT1
Lott, Raymond E., ADJC
Lowey, Michael E., LCDR USN
Luczak, Stanislaus A., AE1
MAL
174
MAL
124
092
022
024
MAL
MAL
MAL
022
261
Mahanke, Francis C., CPO USN
Marshuetz, Adolph E., ENC(SS)
Marth, Foster A., GMCM
Martin, Charles E., SSGT
Masur, Louis C., ACC
Matson, Daniel J., RMC
Mayfield, Carl J., ADJ1
Maynard, Ernest N., ADRC(AC)
McCall, Earl, HTC(SW)
McCullough, Robert E., GMGC
McDonald, John E., Jr., PO1 USN
McDonald, Robert D., YN1
147
MAL
023
096
MAL
MAL
110
047
MAL
MAL
MAL
MAL
In Memoriam
TAPS
33
NAMEBRANCH
McIlveen, William H., BM1
McKee, Carl Ernest, AEC
McMullen, John, Jr., QM1
McMullen, John P., AD1
Meadows, William E., SGTMAJ
Melby, Elmer G., CPO USN
Mesler, Rodger J., QMCS(SS)
Messer, James C., AKCS
Mette, Donald J., EMCM
Miller, Norman F., EM1
Milleson, Boyd E., GMG2
Mills, Everett L., AMSC
Mood, Charles G., CAPT USMC
Moore, Elvious E., CSC
Moore, Walter B., ADCS
Moore, William S., DCCS
Morris, Richard, PO1 USN
Munro, Wayne A., CPO USN
289
022
MAL
147
219
374
MAL
158
041
095
315
163
051
101
147
219
MAL
238
Rodriguez, John A., SGTMAJ
Roberts, Jim T., III, CSC
Rogers, Floyd P., ENCS
Rogers, Gordon E., HT1
Rogers, Jackie, UTC
Rose, Claude E., AOC
Rott, Paul F., NC1(SS)
Rowe, John W., GYSGT
Rowe, Roy E., DTC
Rozul, Pablo P., CS2
Ruble, Estern H., HMC
Rumbaugh, Frank W., TMC(SS)
Ryan, Orrin P., BMC
208
047
043
MAL
042
MAL
162
MAL
106
MAL
MAL
163
053
Wilbanks, John L., EMCS
Wilde, John H., CWO2 USMC
Williams, George W., BM1 USN
Willoughby, Archie, AMS1
Wilson, Joseph T., YNCS
Wilson, Kenneth R., RMC
Winslow, Robert R., ETCS
Wood, Thomas G., SH1
MAL
147
009
022
052
101
MAL
099
Young, Ronald A., YNC
046
Nash, Michael P., CEC
Nelson, Terry D., PCC
Nichols, Donald L., MAJ USMC
Nichols, James L., YNC
Niedentohl, Merle E., MMCM
Norton, Melvin D., BMC
024
MAL
024
268
219
317
O’Hara, Dennis F., MMCS
Oley, Stanley T., CWO2 USN
210
MAL
Page, Bennie C., HMCS
Paglierni, Aldo W., CM1
Panyon, Peter P., Sr., LT USN
Parrish, Johnny, RMCM(SS)
Paxton, Mack, SH2
Payne, Calvin A., Jr., ETC
Pemberton, Buford E., POC USN
Perillo, Michael L., BMC
Peters, Paul L., BMC
Phillips, Charles D., AO2
Piercy, Frank, SD1
Pracht, Walter H., AFCM
Price, Earl S., EN1
Price, Jaroam, E-6 USN
Proctor, Charles F., SKC
009
050
024
MAL
023
248
300
MAL
071
061
040
042
106
004
070
Salter, Mondell T., DCC
Sandefur, Windel L., BM1
Santos, Wilfredo G., PO1 USN
Schaller, Leo V., AFCM
Scott, Ronald R., GYSGT
Selberg, Leroy P., LT USN
Semmel, Clarence H., MSC
Shaw, Howard S., ADRC
Sheppard, Richard L., ADR1
Skilling, William W., HMC
Skov, Harold J., HMC
Smart, John W., AM1
Smith, George W., PO2 USN
Snavley, Ralph R., TMC
Spencer, Paul R., FTM1
Stevens, Richard W., YNC
Sugrue, Robert J., SH1
Sullivan, Robert W., RMC
003
MAL
070
MAL
246
038
267
282
159
198
008
MAL
320
327
004
MAL
MAL
181
Taylor, Robert R., SCPO USN
Tessaro, Jerry D., CSC
Thennis, Robert L., SN USN
Thomas, Claud A., BTCS
Thompson, Felix P., BMC
Thrasher, Mack I., PO1 USN
Tomlin, Leonard V., MGYSGT
Tuazon, Julian L., YN1
250
113
MAL
043
022
106
009
101
Ughetto, Richard A., SHC
Urban, E. J., SGTMAJ
099
117
Race, Alden A., AOC
Ramsey, Wiley A., GMG1
Rasmussen, Richard C., HMC
Rawls, Thadeous, BT1
Razinha, Francis A., EMC(SS)
Rearden, Jesse O., YNCS
Reed, Robert E., PO2 USN
Reid, Allen D., EOC
Reihing, Edward J., AMSC
Rennebu, John L., MSGT 175
Repp, Robert W., LCDR USN
Richards, Floyd G., CS1
Richardson, Claudie L., E-7 USN
Riek, Anthony C., AWCM
Rios, Leocadio A., GMG1
MAL
MAL
MAL
MAL
MAL
234
MAL
MAL
124
VanHise, Charles A., RM1
Vedder, William F., EM1
009
029
Walters, Daniel L., ENC
Walton, Fred A., MMC
Ward, Thomas E., SCPO USN
Wasson, Harold L., PHCS
Watt, Dan R., SKC
Weirick, Thomas G., SK2
West, Paul Harden, AEC
Westover, Marvin R., RDC
Wheeler, Melvin M., SO1
White, Lester L., BM2
White, Norvell C., BM1
Whitfield, Tommy B., PCC
MAL
043
182
099
MAL
288
126
055
267
377
267
MAL
147
327
110
091
MAL
Names in blue indicate 50 year continuous members.
Names in bold indicate a Past National Officer.
The toll of the ship’s bell
reminds us of the reverence
we owe to our departed Shipmates
and to those who guard the honor
of our country
upon the sea,
under the sea,
in the air
and upon foreign soil.
Let it be a reminder
of the faith they
confide in us.
Let us who gather here
not forget our obligations
and in silence
breathe a prayer
for our absent Shipmates.
APRIL 2007
NAMEBRANCH
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LA FRA news
A Message from National President Sandra Robbins
As we see and hear on a daily basis, our Military personnel are serving in harm’s
way. Even with all the obstacles they face they continue to make all Americans
proud as they fight to ensure our freedom as well as for those who have not
had freedom such as ours. This is one of the reasons I am so committed to the
National President’s Project “USO”. The USO has diversified and changed over
the past 65 years but its mission remains unchanged: to bring a touch of home
to our men and women in uniform, until every one comes home. The USO has
consistently delivered its special brand of comfort, morale and recreational services to the military. For over 65 years, the USO has been there for our military.
Please help us as an organization to show our support for the efforts put forth
by the USO. Please donate by sending your check to LA FRA National Financial
Secretary, 38 Shannonmarie Way, N. Easton, MA. 02356. Make the check payable
to Ladies Auxiliary FRA denoting in the memo section “Nat. President’s Proj.”.
Your donation is greatly appreciated, as it will be used for the following USO
project areas: “Operation Phone Home”, “Care Packages from Home” and “Gifts
from the Homeland”.
It is hard to believe that it is already April 2007, which means it is once again
time to get ready for the Annual Pilgrimage to Arlington National Cemetery.
This year the Pilgrimage hotel headquarters will be the Sheraton National Hotel
which is located at 900 Orme Street, Arlington, Virginia. Reservations may be
made by calling 1-703-521-1900. Room rates are $125.00 plus tax per night. Bus
transportation will be provided and will leave the Sheraton National at 0900
hours on Sunday, May 20th. The ceremony at the Mast of the USS Maine is slated
for 1000 hours with a procession over to the Tomb of the Unknown. Visualize everyone lined up, dressed in white with their hats and gloves filing down the steps
from the Mast of the Maine over to the Tomb of the Unknown for placement of
a wreath by the National President. It is a truly awesome sight and one for which
others who happen to be in the vicinity that day, stop and take note of. This is a
great opportunity for us to be seen.
Hopefully many of you will be attending the 80th FRA and 75th LA FRA
National Convention being held in Corpus Christi, TX. October 30–November 4,
2007. Reservations can be made by calling the Omni Bayfront Tower, 900 North
Shoreline Blvd., Central Reservations at 1-800-843-6664. Be sure to mention
you are with the Fleet Reserve Association and Ladies Auxiliary, Incorporated,
National Conventions. FRA National President Jerry Sweeney and I were privileged to meet with the Convention Chairpersons, NES Joe Barnes and the Hotel
staff in January and we all feel that accommodations, amenities and eating facilities were favorable and look forward to Convention.
We are proud to “Welcome Aboard” four (4) new Units: Unit 11 Fort Worth,
Texas, Unit 5 Norfolk, Va., Unit 15 Walhalla, S.C., and Unit 183 Interlachen, Fla.
What continues to amaze me is diversity of our organization. There are so many
talented members. The variety and amount of activities done by our members
at the Unit level and as Members-At-Large is so awe inspiring. Thank you for
practicing the three cardinal principles of the LA FRA: LOYALTY, PROTECTION
and SERVICE.
Fran Hoadley is the editor of LA FRA News and the FRA Today Liaison.
Photo by: Vince Cuthie
FRA Today
APRIL 2007
36
Sandra robbins
National President LA FRA
Reunions
continued from 29
USS Warrington (DD-843)/U.S. Navy
2–6 May 2007, Washington, DC.
Contact Stan Prager at 916-791-6700
or Stashuman843@msn.com.
USS White Plains (AFS-4)
10–17 June 2007, Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii. Contact Stephen Edmison, PO
Box 233, Roy, UT, 84067, 801-9853665.
USS Westchester County (LST-1167)
14–17 June 2007, Branson, MO.
Contact Al Wittich at 253-922-9357 or
lst-enc@comcast.net.
VJ/VU/VC-3
3–5 October 2007, San Antonio, Texas.
Contact Art Smoak, 7360 Abbeyville Dr.,
Las Vegas, NV 89123, 702-897-4433 or
osoumo@juno.com.
VP-4/All Hands
12–14 October 2007, San Diego, CA.
Contact Bill Broadwell at 619-713-2321.
VR-21/U.S. Navy
25–29 July 2007, Carson City, NV.
Contact Noel Groff at 775-883-7345.
VR-52 Det.Detroit/VR-62 Detroit
(NAF Detroit)
13–15 July 2007, Port Clinton, OH.
Contact Bill Borrusc, 8903 York Dr.,
Hudson, FL 34667, 727-862-6343 or
adcsbill@juno.com.
Members can post reunions online at www.fra.org,
submit to reunions@fra.org or mail to: FRA Reunions,
125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
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164099_6-11(16_x_6-1(8.qxp
11/16/06
3:56 PM
Page 1
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MESOTHELIOMA
After Working Around
ASBESTOS?
Mesothelioma results only from exposure to
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CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-940-3365
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
Member services
FRA
125 N. West Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2754
PERIODICAL