Post #7 Oshkosh, Wisconsin

The Bugler
Angie Hill
208 W. Melvin Ave.
Oshkosh, WI 54901
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Post #7
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
The Bugler
The Official Newsletter of AMVETS Post #7 Oshkosh, WI
Post 7
Oshkosh, WI
Angie Hill, Editor (920)203-0170 Edition 1, Volume 14
August 2016
Commander’s Message
I would like to thank everyone that helped at Sawdust Days. This year, we had a great
turnout of volunteers which helped the event run smoothly.
The next thing is on our calendar is the Butte Des Morts Carp Fest on August 14th from
12:00 pm to 8:00 pm. I would like to see a great number of volunteers to come out on
Jeff Bedward
and help with this event as well. Show up and work as many hours that you feel comfortable with. For serving, the Lion’s Club will give a portion of the profits to our post. If you are not able to work just come and show up to the event and enjoy yourselves.
Congratulation to Angie Hill for all the work on our newsletter that won 2nd place in the state at convention
Finally would like to thank everyone that was there for the final salute, for Doc who he lost this month
he will be missed.
Membership
We have 146 members in our post. There are 99 life members and 46 annual members. Of the 46
annual members, we have 11 members behind on their dues. We have prospects of another 5 members
that had raised an interest in becoming a member. A couple of them came to the post picnic and stated
that they will be at our next meeting. Two new members were added to our roster in July.
Commander Jeff Bedward ~ 920-232-0750 ~ jbedward@att.net
Membership Angie Hill ~ 920-203-0170 ~ angie.hill.208@gmail.com
Programs Hunter Blank~ 920-216-8354 ~
Finance Officer Steve Chesna ~ 920-235-2617 ~ stevechesna@yahoo.com
Adjutant Ron Griffin ~ 920-232-8257 ~ rgriffin@new.rr.com
The Bugler Editor Angie Hill ~ 920-203-0170 ~ angie.hill.208@gmail.com
Judge Advocate Jim Tratz ~ 920-233-3870 ~ jtratz@att.net
3rd Year Trustee ~ Chris Martell ~ 920-216-8354 ~ chrismartell@rocketmail.com
2nd Year Trustee ~ George Egner ~ 920-231-1729 ~ geoegn@new.rr.com
1st Year Trustee ~ John Huth ~ (920) 237-9922
Post Chaplain ~ Will be appointed
Secretary News
Ron Griffin
At the June Business meeting, the last one held, the majority of the meeting was devoted to planning for the June Department Convention and planning for this year’s Sawdust Days. As usual our Post was well represented at the convention and played an important role in making the event a success. Preliminary reports on Sawdust Days indicates that
our planning efforts helped lead to a significant increase in sales from the year before. Good news for our Post’s service
programs. Our thanks go out to all those that participated at convention as well as volunteering at Sawdust Days. As
always, we are blessed with having a higher than average proportion of our membership taking the time to be involved.
Other actions included the approval of a Post donation towards the Honor Flight and planning for the July 12th Post
picnic as well as the 4th District picnic to be held here in Oshkosh on July 24th. Steve also presented a report on the
results of the May Clover Drive.
The August meeting agenda will include preliminary reports on the results of Sawdust Days and a report on Convention. The Convention report includes the fact that our own Ralph Beck’s appointment as the Department Executive
Director.
I would like to close by offering my personal condolences to the family of “Doc” Sonnleitner. Doc played such an
important role in the veteran’s community in Oshkosh for so many years it will be difficult to fill the large hole that was
created by his passing. You may not always agree with his methods but you could never disagree with his commitment
to veterans and the community.
Obituary
Dr. Eugene T. Sonnleitner, age 86, of Oshkosh, passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2016. He was
born on October 23, 1929 in Oshkosh.
Doc enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950, and upon completion of dental school he served as a
Lieutenant in the U.S Navy Dental Corps, attached to the U.S.S. Delta. Following his tour of
duty, he returned to Oshkosh and began his dental practice in 1956.
Doc was civically minded throughout his entire life, working hard to better the lives of those
around him. He was on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Special Olympics and was
past President of both the Wisconsin and Winnebago Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC).
In 1979 he was awarded International Volunteer of the Year by the Kennedy Foundation for his extensive work with the
Special Olympics.
From 1968 through 1972, Doc served on the Common Council for the City of Oshkosh and was Vice-Mayor. He was
a member of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge, Toastmasters, Kiwanis, the American and Wisconsin
Dental Societies, and Vice-President of the Lion’s Club. He was a Boy Scout for over 40 years (Order of the Arrow), and
served as Den Leader, Cub Master, Finance Committee Chair, District Commissioner, and was a Camp Fire Girls Leader.
He chaired the Oshkosh 4th of July Parade for 20 years and was active with the EAA and the Oshkosh Sawdust Days
Committee. He was past President of the Oshkosh North Booster Club.
Doc was always proud of his Naval service, and was a member of the American Legion, VFW Post 1908, Catholic War
Veterans, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Oshkosh Patriotic Council, Winnebago County Veteran Affairs Committee, U.S. Navy Memorial Association, U.S. Navy Reserve Officers Association, Pearl Harbor Memorial Association,
and was President of the U.S.S. Delta Shipmates Association for which he also edited the Deep Six for many years. He
was President of the Military Veterans Museum in Oshkosh.
Ladies Auxiliary News
Dear AMVETS, Auxiliary Members and Friends,
I hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying the summer! The summer is flying by so fast! I want to thank everyone for
your help at Sawdust days. We just had our 4th district meeting this past weekend. October 26 at 4:30 pm at King there
will be a Halloween walking taco dinner. Dressing up for this is encouraged! There will also be a beef stew dinner at
King on November 16. Our next 4th district meeting will be in late October or early November. More information to
follow. I am very excited to be attending the AMVETS National Convention August 7-14 in Sparks, NV.
King weekend is September 9-10. Friday, September 9th is the hospital tour and set up for the casino day. Help is
needed for setting up. September 10th is miniature golf. Help is needed to escort members around the course and keep
score. In the afternoon there is Casino day. Dress attire for Casino day is white shirts and black pants. The members at
King look forward to seeing us there every year. We are looking for items to give at casino day. Puzzles, books, scarfs,
hats, mittens or anything in good condition that can be given as a gift. Many of the members use their “winnings” to
buy holiday gifts for their family members. On Sunday, September 11 there is a church service in the morning and then
we will be going in the halls and handing out bananas and singing Carrols to the members. If you have a chance please
come out. The members really enjoy us being there!
Make your calendar, our next meeting is September 13th. 6 pm is the dinner ($2 donation), joint meeting is at 7 pm
with the Auxiliary meeting to follow. I would really like to have a great turn out in September! Hope to see you there!
God Bless our Veterans, God Bless America,
Submitted Respectfully,
Judy Berna President of Auxiliary 7
2160 W 9th Ave Apt 11 Oshkosh, WI 54904
Phone: (920) 376-4274
Email: bernajudy@gmail.com
Odd Ends – Lest We Forget
In May of 1919 at Dusseldorf, Germany, the Allied Forces obtained a copy of the
Communist Rules for Revolution
* Corrupt the young, get them away from religion, get them interested in sex. Make them superficial, destroy their
ruggedness.
* Get Control of all means of publicity thereby:
1. Get the peoples minds off their government by focusing their attention on athletics, sexy books and plays and other trivialities.
2. Divide the people into hostile groups by constantly harping on controversial matters of no importance.
3. Destroy the people’s faith in natural leaders by holding the latter up to contempt, ridicule and disgrace.
4. Always preach true democracy, but seize power as far and as ruthlessly as possible.
5. By encouraging government extravagance, destroy its credit, produce fear of inflation with rising prices and general discontent.
6. Provoke unnecessary strikes in vital industries, encourage civil disorders and foster lenient and soft attitude on the part of government toward such disorders.
7. By erroneous argument, cause the breakdown of the old moral virtues, honesty, sobriety, confidence, faith in the pledged word and ruggedness.
* Cause the registration of all firearms on some pretext, with a view toward confiscating them and leaving the
population helpless.
Unknown Author
AMVETS King Days
September 9-11
Friday, Sept. 9 11:30 am Lunch; 12:30 pm Meet at Marden Memorial Center Movie Theater to tour the facility.
5:00 PM
Meet at Harbor Bar for dinner – Dutch treat.
Saturday, Sept. 10 8:30 am Mini Golf for King members;
12:15 pm Set up Ainsworth Dining Room for Casino; 1 – 3 pm Casino Fun
Sunday, Sept. 11 10:30 am Church service at Ainsworth Hall.
12:00 pm Lunch in the Marden Memorial Center MPR; Cost us $6 per person.
(Need to make reservation by August 30)
Call Ken Wendt at 920.493.2770
Lynda Taylor 920.566.2740
Armin Condradt 920.538.4112 or Sandy Conradt 920.538.4114
1:00 pm Disperse to the halls. Sing and distribute bananas to residents.
Hotel and Campground Information (Ask for AMVETS rates) - MUST REGISTER BY August 5th
Rustic Woods Campground 9715.258.2442 $25 per night, including water, electric, and dump station.
Ramada 110 Grand Seasons Dr. Waupaca WI 715.258.9212 $99 per night. 10 rooms are reserved.
Comfort Suites Foxfire 199 Fixfure Dr. Waupaca 715.942.0500 $89 per night for AMVETS rate. 5 rooms are reserved. They only have rooms available Friday night.
The Village Inn 1060 W Fulton St Waupaca WI 715.258.8526 Outside area $69.96 and inside area $88. 10 rooms available.
State AMVETS Day with the Timbler Rattlers
August 21, 2016
Pregame Tailgate starts at 10:30 am and first pitch at 1:05 pm.
Post-Game Player Autographs on the 3rd Base Concourse.
Order tickets from Bob Dessort at rdessort@charter
or call 920-982-2773 by Friday, August 5th.
Mail your checks to
Post 45, PO Box 548 New London WI 54961
Wisconsin State Fair
Sunday, August 14
Miller High Life Veterans & Military Recognition Day Veterans
Military personnel and their family members will receive FREE admission to the WI State Fair on Sunday, August 14 until 4pm.
Simply present your Military ID (DD214, VA ID, Military Common Access Card, or Dependent ID) at any admission entrance and
receive FREE admission for you and up to three (3) family members courtesy of Miller High Life.
The final night of the fair will be Beach Boys on the main stage starting at 6:00 pm.
Photo Gallery
During the last month, our post was very busy with
Sawdust Daze. It was good to see the many veterans
that came out to help. There was enough people to
cover all the jobs so that the bulk of the work was done
as a group and no great burden for anyone. It was a
great time to get to know more of the members.
Dave Wolf was always a fixture at Sawdust Daze. In
honor of his memory there was a glass of beer placed
where he usually sat and the stool he usually sat on.
He was missed.
Annual Post Picnic
Angie Hill received the
Post Commander Award
Volunteer of the Year.
Many people attended the
post picnic.
Ladies Auxiliary
Kathy received an award of
Appreciation from Scott Walker
for all the work that she has
done at the WI State
Convention.
The WI State Ladies Auxiliary President - swearing in the
auxiliary officers.
GILMAN H. “GIL” STORDOCK
Gil Stordock was Commandant of WVH-King from 1949-1960. In 1970, a building was constructed and named in
honor of his accomplishments and dedication to veterans’ affairs. The building is Stordock Hall.
The first floor of Stordock Hall currently house the administrative offices including offices for the commandant, deputy
commandant, adjutant, nursing administrator, finance, payroll, admissions, and personnel. The members’ credit union
is also located in the lobby area.
The other four floors of Stordock Hall consist of 200 beds with 50 members on each floor. There is a designated all
male unit on the second floor and more independent living on the fourth and fifth floors,
Gil wads a native of Avon and Beloit. He enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard in 1914. During the Mexican Border War, Gil served with the 1st Infantry Regiment. After federalization in 1917, he served overseas for 12 months with
the 127th Infantry in the 32 Division and rose to the rank of Battalion Sergeant Major. His Battalion was involved in the
defensive and offensive engagements against the Germans in Alsace Sector, Chateau-Thierry, Juvigny, Soissons Forest,
and Argonne Forest. Additionally, during WWII, he served as a lieutenant colonel in the State Guard after the Wisconsin National Guard was federalized.
Gil was a lifelong campaigner for veterans’ benefits and served in various veterans’ organizations on local, state and
National levels. In 1969, Gil was appointed to the Board of Veterans Affairs. On February 27, 1971, he passed away
due to a heart attack and is buried in the WVH-King cemetery.
Submited by Cathy Tratz
Come Walk With Me
By Marguerite M. Pinckney
I walked through a VA hospital today.
I could not hurry, I had to stay.
I searched the faces of the young and old,
to see if the truth I could be told.
Then I saw for myself, these men so brave -whose hearts, spirits and bodies they gave.
Men wrapped in plaster, eyes covered with gauze,
fought a battle with courage, and they fought for a cause.
They fought for freedom and for land to remain free,
through mud, filth, and hunger they had to cope.
Through the heat of the day, and the noise of the bombs at night,
they struggled and they fought with all their might.
They return daily, these men so brave,
whose hearts, spirits and bodies they gave.
No what do they do, they surely ask,
they did their best to do the task?
Are we to forget and let them be,
some never to walk, talk or see?
Or do we try to do our part,
to show them we care and that they can make a new start?
We cannot leave them alone, and from loneliness to die,
these men who survived war, that fought for you and I.
We must give our time and dollars too,
their new beginning can come from me and you.
If this message you cannot conceive,
please come and walk through a VA hospital with me.
Post & Auxiliary Calendar
August 9
Post Dinner starts at 6:00 pm Meeting starts at 7:00 PM
August 14
Carp Fest in downtown Butte des Morts – Help the Lions Club run their event. Show up at the Butte des Morts to work at the Lions Club. Events begin at 12:00pm to 8:00 pm. Ask where to sign in. Work as many hours as you want.
August 21
2016 State AMVETS Day with the Timbler Rattlers
September 9-11King Weekend - N2665 County Road QQ King, WI 54946
September 17 Stand Down 2016 Milwaukee Veterans at the Richard’s St. Armory, 4108 N Richardson St, Milwaukee
September 22-24 AMVET State Campout Quietwoods South Camping Resort 9245 Lovers Ln Brussels 920.825.7065
October 1
SEC meeting at Beaver Dam Veteran’s Center Officer Meeting at 9:00 am prior to Hospital and Service Foundation meeting - all Dept. Officers and District Commanders are required to attend. Hotels are Americ Inn 325 Seipple Blvd, (920) 356-9000 $85 per night. Cutoff date 8/31/2016
Super 8 – 711 Park Ave, (920) 887-8880 1Bde $62.10 per night. Cutoff date 9/9/2016
Quality Inn & Suites 815 Park Ave; (920) 887-7171; 2 Beds $89.89 per night. Cutoff date 8/31/2016
November 5
AMVETS Ladies Department Fundraiser at Westward Ho. More info to follow next month.
December 9&10 Fall Dance and SEC meeting - Hotels in Waupaca
Ramada Grand Seasons 715.258.9212 20 rooms reserved 1 night $90 or 2 nights $82. Make reservations by Dec. 9.
Comfort Suites 715.942-0500 20 rooms reserved $80/night. Make reservations by Nov. 15.
Village Inn 800-626-6391 10 rooms reserved, 5 inside $65 and 5 rooms outside $55.
August
Phil Hill
Joseph Casper
Jesse Robinson
Ralph Beck
Charlotte Griffin
James Verwiel
Jimmy Lakin
Chris Lahey
Mike Buehring
Rick Wing
Jeffrey Bedward
Robert Horton
George Breiwa
Announcements
8/2
8/3
8/9
8/14
8/16
8/16
8/19
8/21
8/22
8/22
8/25
8/27
8/30
Oshkosh WI
Radcliffe KY
Janesville WI
Omro WI
Oshkosh WI
Oshkosh WI
Wagoner OK
DePere WI
Oshkosh WI
Oshkosh WI
Oshkosh WI
Oshkosh WI
Cobb WI
To advertise here contact
Angie Hill at 920-203-0170 or
email angie.hill.208@gmail.com
Order AMVETS shirts with our logo, your name and
post number. Contact Duane Canon at
dcbeagle@yahoo.com or call (920)231-1324
August 4th - U.S. Coast Guard Day
We honor the military branch that
protects our waters and shorelines.
To advertise here contact
Angie Hill at 920-203-0170 or
email angie.hill.208@gmail.com
PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS WHO SUPPORT THE MAILING
OF THIS NEWSLETTER TO YOUR HOME