THE
VETERAN’S VOICE
Volume
25 Issue 1
www.post639.com
January
2005
We would like to wish
every member of Post 639 a very happy and prosperous New Year.
In continuing with our
honoring of Military leaders of the past, this month we would like to profile
one of the Air Force’s most famous flyers, General Curtis LeMay.
Article
by: Tim Kelly
Born in Ohio in 1906, Curtis
LeMay saw his first airplane in flight at the age of four or five and became so
excited that he tried to run after it. After graduating from Ohio State
University, he entered the service as a flying cadet, earned his wings at Kelly
Field, Texas, and received his commission as a second lieutenant in October
1929. Through 1937 he served in various pursuit/fighter assignments,
transferring that year to bomber aircraft. In 1938 he led the first mass B-17
flight to South America, an aerial feat that won the Mackay Trophy for the 2d
Bomb Group. Prior to 7 December 1941, he pioneered air routes over the North
Atlantic to England and over the South Atlantic to Africa.
LeMay began World War II as
a group commander in the Eighth Air Force, rising in rank within 18 months from
lieutenant colonel to major general and becoming commander of an air division.
B-17 units used his formation/ bombing techniques and tactics, and B-29 units
adapted them as standards. He commanded the raid on Regensburg, Germany, a B17
raid that started in England, struck deep in the heart of Germany and ended on
the African continent. In July of 1944 he was transferred to the Pacific to
command 20th Bomber Command in the China-Burma-India theater. By war’s end, he
was the chief of staff of Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific.
LeMay abandoned the tactics
he had helped to develop in the European theater of operation and began night
raids on Japan. After the war LeMay returned to the United States at the
controls of a B29, setting a non-stop flight record from Japan to Chicago.
Upon his return to the
United States, he served briefly at Headquarters Air Materiel Command and then
as first deputy chief of air staff for research and development at the Pentagon.
By October of 1947, he was on the move again, commanding US Air Forces in Europe
and directing the Berlin airlift.
In
1949 General LeMay replaced General George Kenney as commander of the recently
formed Strategic Air Command (SAC) and established its headquarters at Offutt
AFB, Nebraska, thus beginning one of the longest and perhaps most difficult
chapters of his career. He inherited a command of poorly trained, understaffed,
and relatively unorganized World War II B-29 groups, but by applying hard work
and an uncompromising standard of excellence, General LeMay built SAC into a
modern, all-jet force run by dedicated professionals. He rigorously trained and
exercised his men but also campaigned for better pay and housing. Commanding SAC
for over 10 years--the longest tenure of any individual--he oversaw the
development of midair refueling, the establishment of new bases and units, the
implementation of strict command-and-control systems as well as tough
operational inspections, and the creation of plans for integrating
intercontinental ballistic missiles with strategic airpower.
In 1957 General LeMay left
SAC, becoming vice chief of staff of the Air Force that year and chief of staff
in 1961 and stayed there till his retirement in 1965.
Not everyone loved or even
liked LeMay. He was portrayed in the satirical movie Dr. Strangelove as the
demented and trigger happy General Jack D. Ripper. He also recommended to
President Kennedy that SAC be given the mission to “fry” Cuba during the
Cuban missile crisis. When the crisis was over LeMay was quoted as saying it was
“the greatest defeat in our history”.
After retiring from the Air
Force, LeMay joined up with Gov George Wallace in his unsuccessful run for the
presidency.
General LeMay died on 3 October 1990 and is buried in the
United States Air Force Academy Cemetery at Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Editorial Brief:
One of Post 639’s members
teaches 4th grade in one of our area schools.
He assigned his 4th graders a project to write letters to our country’s
veterans for Veterans Day. The
responses are “enlightening” and the phrase “from the mouths of babes”
comes to mind. Selected letters are
on the back of the Post Calendar.
Page
2
The Veteran’s Voice
From
the Commander
Here
we are 2005 already, a new year with a great big smile.
We paid off the Loan on the Post for our Christmas present.
We (meaning our founding fathers) took a loan out with then Boatman’s
Bank June 1992 (now Bank of
America) for $4000,000.00 with the intention of paying it off in 15 years, well
12 years have past and it is paid in full.
Thanks to all the Bingo Workers for the past 23 years.
Your efforts and countless hours have made our dream come true. Thanks!!!
Mark Reed and his Bingo Crew, are still keeping the tradition of a great game on Friday Nights. Thanks Mark and thanks to your workers.
We hosted the Toys for Tots Motorcycle run on the 5th of December despite the bad weather, The Lucky Boys entertained us at the Post and a great time was had by all.
December 8th the submarine sail (The USS LaPon) was delivered to Post property, come by and see it, but please stay off of it. There are a lot of rough edges and we do not want any one hurt. (Lookee, but no tuchee). Plans are to have it mounted in place before the 2nd annual Remembrance Day on May the 21st.
The children’s Christmas Party was a lot of fun; there were gifts for all and even Ole Santa showed up for them.
The key card for the door will be changed New Years Eve. Turn in your old card and you'll get the new one. Speaking of New Years Eve, come to the Party and celebrate. Out with the old and in with the new. We'll have a Band, The Rockin' L's, Champaign and breakfast for all.
I received a surprise donation from Mr. A-non-a-mus for $1,000.00 for improvements in the building and several donations to the building and grounds chairman, which helped replace the chairs and bar stools. I can only say thanks. With out you we would not change...
PARTICIPATE. Help Your Post continue to move FORWARD.
I
hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a safe Happy New Year celebration. I
pray we will all have Peace for the coming year. I also hope you took a moment
to remember our young men and women who continue the struggle for Freedom and
Democracy in far away places and at home.
Last month I said we would take a closer look at committees. In doing this (remember last month) Legion said it does not see any list of committees that are mandatory or complete for all Posts.
In a review of our By-Laws we say...
Vietnam War Memorial Post 639 By-Laws
Article VI - Appointments
Section 1. The post commander, immediately upon taking office each year, shall appoint the following standing committees: Americanism, Ceremonials, Children and Youth, Economic, Finance, Foreign Relations, Graves Registration and Memorial, House and Entertainment, Legislative, Membership, Public Relations, Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Sons and Daughters of the American Legion, and Visiting. Such standing committees shall consist of such members and the chairman thereof, as shall be designated by the post commander.
Section 2. For description of the duties and responsibilities pertaining to such standing committees, see Post Officers Guide Book. In the Officers Guide Book the Commander is given suggestions concerning Committee Assignments. It states "Elected officers will be responsible for some of the activities and projects. Your appointed chairs will be in charge of others. Decide at the very beginning what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, and who is going to make it happen. Most of the assignments will be to carry on already established programs or activities." It continues to advise, "Each committee chair needs to know how the work of the committee fits into the overall program of the Post and he needs to know what is expected, and when. Commander Richardson, upon taking command, stated his objectives and has given the committee chairmen their assignments. The success of some is quite obvious such as the improvement in the bar area. Others, such as updating bookkeeping and accounting procedures may not be so obvious, but, never the less, as important and successful. Commander Richardson, I feel, should be commended for the leadership which has allowed such positive changes. The Post Officers Guide, under the section "Standing Committees" lists as standard committees: Americanism, Children and Youth, Veterans
Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Membership and Post Activities, Public Relations, Legislative, Finance, Economic, House, Service, and as needed...Graves Registration and Memorial Committee, Sons of The American Legion, Uniformed Groups, Visiting or VAVS. In an effort to address the scope and intent of the American Legion the post committees relating are, AMERICANISM: Purpose...To inspire patriotism and good citizenship through patriotic observances, patriotic and civic instruction in schools, Americanization of aliens, information on anti-American Propaganda, and youth activities.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH: Purpose...To insure that any child of a veteran in need of care and protection shall receive proper and timely service and aid; to strengthen the family unit; extend support to sound organizations and facilities that provide services for children and youth; and to maintain a well-rounded program that meets the needs of the young people in their respective community. Post 639 has these committees. The Chairman of both is Connel Cobb. These two committees speak well for the American Legion nationally and Connel speaks well for our Post. For such an awesome assignment he should have a dozen members helping him, yet he is a committee of one. I'm sure only he can imagine what might be accomplished with a few hands on deck. Thank you Connel for your service to the Post, the Children, and America. You deserve a "Job Well Done Sailor."
The
Veterans Voice
Page
3
...To be continued next month...
It was a great Thanksgiving Day. So much good food and friends, Tennessee & Elva June, you guys did a great job. We all sat around and talked and enjoyed the day. Hope everyone went home with full tummies and a happy heart, family and friends together. Thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary for the good desserts. We sure did miss Luanne being there. There was pumpkin pie and lemon cake, but I couldn’t make myself eat a piece of pumpkin pie. I have not forgotten!
Just a brief word from the Ladies Auxiliary about the toy run, all of the fine people that were in the run, you all did a great job. Cold and rainy, but you were there for the children and we thank you.
The Christmas dinner went very well, we had a really great time. The food was good, the service was good and our waitress did a great job. The ornament exchange was nice and it gave us all something to remember our night out. Hope everyone had a great and happy Christmas. The Christmas party was a lot of fun because Santa Claus was here and the kids had a great time. We had lots of gifts, hot dogs and some good sweets. Ms. Katie and Ms. Connie helped the children with crafts and beanie snowmen. We all had a very good time. The children were great; we had 25 in all including their folks. Thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary and a big thanks to Greg, we all love ya.
If you are in the Ladies Auxiliary and have moved and have a new address, please get in touch with me, so the roster will be up to date. Call me at 417-863-6837.
If
you have paid 2005 dues, thank you very much, if you have not paid your 2005
dues, please do it ASAP. If you
know someone that is eligible to be a member of the American Legion, please
invite them down to Post 639 and let them decide if they would like to be a
member of our great post.
2004
is history; Post 639 had some very good things happen.
Some good times with no one hurt or any bad accidents, but we have lost
several good members that have gone to the Post Everlasting.
Let’s not forget these members and their families.
Bill Evans is feeling much better and about back to his old self, Lord help us now! Josephine is still going to physical therapy but feeling better.
Remember our military men and women that are in harms way and don’t forget our POW’s and MIA’s. Keep them in your prayers.
And let’s not forget last New Year’s resolutions – Quit Smoking, Quit Drinking, Lose Weight and Pray every day – glad to see we were all successful!!
It’s
hard to believe that another year has passed and our fledgling web site is now
over a year old. I’m sure
everyone has at least looked at the site in the past year, but I would ask you
to “explore” the site a little more, you may find some things that will make
you proud of our Post or maybe one of the poems will put a tear in your eye.
Are you aware that The Veterans Voice is usually on the web before you
get it in the mail? And all the
issues for 2004 are there for you to review (please don’t throw rocks at me
again). The new bar expansion program (the pool table is scheduled to
be re-covered) has allowed us to move the Web TV to a better place to view it,
and an instructional card is located near the TV, so try it out.
I need to save some space for the next important message, so “from the
web, keep clicking”.
Over the past 23 years that our proud organization has been in existence we have been blessed with great participation by our membership. Unfortunately by the time every member’s annual dues are divided and a portion sent to national and to state organizations, there is only a few dollars left to send out our newsletter, and when all is said and done there is none of it left for post activities.
We have had many years when our Bingo game has provided most of our member’s needs and funded community and post activities. Because of increased competition and a decrease in the number of bingo players, we have experienced a reduction in the revenues normally created by our weekly games. This may be temporary or it may be more permanent, only time will tell, but it puts Post 639 in a financial position, which affects our short and long term goals for the post and for our outreach activities. Post 639 has also supported The Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, other Veterans causes, American Legion baseball, educational programs to promote patriotism in our schools and many other charitable endeavors in Southwest Missouri. Our current economical situation may put some of these worthy activities in jeopardy.
To continue with some of our goals and objectives it has become necessary to seek additional funds from sources other than our Bingo games. We would like to offer to our members and auxiliary members the opportunity to participate directly in our benevolent endeavors. If anyone would like to assist us with a tax-deductible contribution, your post would be most appreciative and the good works that your post does will continue to be a force in our community. Please make checks payable to Post 639 – Special Projects and send them to Tom Mabrey’s attention at the post; we will send you confirmation of your donation for tax purposes.