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THE VETERAN’S VOICE

Volume 25 Issue 11                            www.post639.com                                 November 2005 2005

Legion Condemns Court Ruling on Abu Ghraib Photos, Pledges Fight

In a strongly worded letter, the leader of the nation’s largest military veterans organization today urged the U.S. Attorney General to appeal a district court decision that would put the lives of Americans in jeopardy. The national commander of The American Legion, Thomas L. Bock wrote Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales that he must lead the way in overturning the “extremely dangerous” decision of U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein yesterday to release 74 photos and three videotapes from the Abu Ghraib prison. Hellerstein said that terrorists "do not need pretexts for their barbarism" and that suppressing the pictures would amount to submitting to blackmail.  “This ruling is deplorable,” Bock said. “It will only serve to rally the insurgents into a frenzied crescendo of violence against our servicemen and women, indeed against all Americans living and working overseas. “This decision will put teachers, lawyers, ministers, and workers of charitable organizations who are helping the Iraqis and the Afghans rebuild their societies into the crosshairs of terrorist killers,” Bock added. “Four U.S. missionaries died in a drive-by shooting in the northern city of Mosul a few months back; two were women. These killers have demonstrated time and time again they can and will target innocent foreigners in a heartbeat. Given the expected widespread publication of these photos, no American would be safe. “In light of the recent violence sparked by the false report of a Koran being “flushed down the toilet” that resulted in the deaths of more than 15 individuals and
injury to many more, it is beyond comprehension how one judge can err so blatantly.” The American Legion filed a “friend of the court” brief supporting the Pentagon position that there is no reasonable purpose behind officially releasing the images and that lives would be endangered needlessly. The Abu Ghraib incidents were thoroughly investigated and more than 25 officers and enlisted personnel were held accountable for criminal acts and other failures. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit in 2003. “Once again our troops are under siege by the ACLU and once again, the ACLU’s rationale is as ludicrous as its other moves against the military,” Bock said. “This is one ruling the American people need to stand united against. I and the 2.7 million members of The American Legion strongly urge the Attorney General to spearhead the appeal to overturn this black mark on judicial history. Rest assured, The American Legion will make the journey with him to the Supreme Court if necessary to ensure the safety of our troops and our fellow citizens in harms way.” Bock noted that under the Freedom of Information Act, exemption 7 clearly precludes the release of anything that “could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual.” The American Legion has filed “amicus briefs” in support of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Boy Scouts of America in recent Supreme Court cases.

Fisher House Distributes Airline Tickets

By Rudi Williams
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2005 – The Fisher House organization uses more than a million frequent flyer miles per week in distributing free round-trip airline tickets to families of war-wounded service members being treated in military and Veterans Affairs medical facilities across the country. To date, the program has distributed more than 4,000 tickets, using more than 150 million frequent flyer miles, Jim Weiskopf, vice president of communications for the nonprofit Fisher House Foundation, said. He said the foundation's general fundraising, including money received from the Combined Federal Campaign, to pay airport security fees, taxes and administrative fees on the tickets so there is no charge to the families. Fisher House gets the millions of frequent flyer miles through "Operation Hero Miles," a program that took off in 2004 after U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland convinced U.S. airlines to provide free round-trip airline tickets for service members arriving daily from Iraq and Afghanistan for rest-and-recuperation leave. Ruppersberger challenged the airlines to start the program because he was concerned about placing a financial burden on service members. The program has been expanded to wounded servicemen and women being treated at major military and Veterans Affairs medical centers across the country. Those who have approved convalescent leave may be given a free round-trip airline ticket to visit loved ones if they're not eligible for government-funded airfare. Family members are also eligible for the free tickets. The unused frequent flyer miles come from private and corporate donations.
The tickets are distributed through the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization

 From the Commander

Membership, Membership....  J C and Tennessee are pushing real hard.  With some help from others to get the membership over 100 % by December, if you have not paid, (you'll get a phone call to renew).  There are 200 of you who have not paid 2006, let’s get "ER" done.  Send in or come by the Post.  I would like to welcome aboard the new members, and thank you for selecting our Post.

  Dates to remember.   November 5th Veterans from Mount Vernon, and the Veterans Day Parade.  November 24th Thanksgiving with the Sons of the Legion.   December 4th,  Toys for Tots, (chili cook off) enter your favorite pot.   10th, Children’s Christmas Party, New Years Eve Party, with Champagne and Breakfast.  Eggs to order (SCRAMBLED).  Mark you calendars.

Again, participation is the key to the success.  We hosted Sam & Katie’s retirement party on the 15th of October with a wild game feed.  The party was great, the food stole the show.  Deer season is upon us, I would like the members to get together and come up with another wild game feed.

 If you have not been coming out, try to do so.  This helps support the Post.

Phil Richardson

Adjutant’s Report

Guess What !!  Our membership cards are in for 2006. We hope you renew your membership to the American Legion Post 639. The dues are only $20.00 a year so please mail them in or come by the post to pay.  It’s only 37¢ to mail it or $37.00 to drive here. Your Choice! But  it’s more fun to be here. It would  be great for the post to have 100% paid membership for 2006.  Please help us to reach this goal. Ask any bartender or E-Board member and they will be happy to assist you. We already have 332 members paid for 2006.  I hope you’re one of them.

J.C. Ponder

Ladies Auxiliary

Well, to start off, we want to thank the children from Sherwood School, for being at our Post 639. We enjoyed them very much and the great job they did. What well mannered children they are too! From what I was told, the party for Sam, Katie and Richard went very well. All had a good time. October went fine, a good month. Remember, on Nov. 5th, our Vets will be in-house from 8am-4pm. I really hope some of the guys will take a moment to come in and visit with them. I would like to ask our Commander, Phil  Richardson, to come and talk to the guys for awhile. They ask about you each time they are in the house. So guys please give it some thought and talk to them for awhile. Let's keep it in mind about Patsy and Tony's anniversary party on the 26th, 40 years! Oh yes, the roses on the table for the 15th were so nice...Sam has the touch! I would like to thank Dea for doing some of the side work for me. The auction went ok, but we wanted it to be bigger, for it was for a good cause. Everyone did a good job...working together is good! And the chili was just yummy, thank you girls! I need to thank Bill Seelye for all the stuffed toys going to the hospital each year. Even without his medicine, he is a great guy. Thanks! A new worker at bingo, Jay, is so much fun. His one liners keep us on our toes. 46 and 38 are good numbers, if you know what I mean.  Let's get the Post back on the right track. We all hope that when this newsletter reaches you in November that Lance and Dea are doing much better...feel better soon, guys! A lot of you, who have not been to the post in awhile, please come out and see us! We're doing a lot of things for the better! Well, as always, say something nice today

Beverly Miller-President

Chaplain’s Report

November brings us Thanksgiving - a time to stop and think of the things we have to be thankful for and there are so many. One thing that comes to my mind is our post and the 540 members we have, also the 5% that take their time to make it work, the Ladies Auxiliary and the 2% that help keep the post running. If it were not for these workers our post would not be what it is today. I received an email the other day which gave me the following to think about and be thankful: 1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.  2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way. 3. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you. 4. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep. 5. You mean the world to someone. 6. If not for you, someone may not be living. 7. You are special and unique.   8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won’t get it, but if you trust God to do what’s best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better. 9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.       10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world. 11. Someone that you don’t even know exists loves you. 12. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks. 13. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you’ll both be happy. 14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great. Remember our military men and women and our POW’s and MIA’s this Thanksgiving. They all need our prayers!

Bob Carroll        

 Editors Report

Just a short note this month folks so I won’t be boring you with my past or future. Only the present. Please take to heart what J.C. said about the membership dues.  It would be just fantabulous to get 100% paid before Jan. 1st. By the time this newsletter reaches you, the Halloween parties will have come and gone and I thank all who came out in costume. It just won’t be the same without the big gorilla (Roy) and the French maid (Connie) of last year so we’ll have to look forward to new and exciting costumes this year. This is going to be an event filled month so keep your calendar handy. Don’t forget Veterans Day on the 11th and have a wonderful Thanksgiving on the 24th. We have a lot to be thankful for.

Gene Beattie-Editor

BINGO-BINGO-BINGO

I would like to thank each and every one of our bingo workers for giving up their free time to come out and make our Friday night bingo run smoothly. We seem to have a lot of people on the volunteer list but only a few show up to help us out. We now have a new bingo machine and it works just great. Come out and check it out. For our bingo to do better in the weeks to come, we could use your support in either working or playing bingo with us. When you play, it’s possible to win from $150 to $500 on a pack of 16 games. We also have an early bird game that’s worth $400 and 2 progressive games. The 1st progressive is TIC-TAC-DOUGH and the 2nd is a BLACKOUT. They both start at $1000 and the amount changes weekly. To those of you who think that bingo is too expensive...looky here! A 6 on packet costs $8.00  There are 16 games per pack or—$8.00 ÷ 16 games = 50¢ per game sheet.  50¢ ÷ 6 faces = .083333¢ per sheet!  WOW,  That’s not bad! To play the early bird and the two progressives games, you can buy 2 of each for $5.00 and they have 3 faces per sheet.

$5.00 ÷ 6 sheets = .83333 ¢ per sheet.

.83333 ÷ 3 = .27777 ¢ per face. Somehow the word expensive doesn’t seem right. $13.00 for one night of playing bingo is not bad especially if you win the $400 early bird or the $500 blackout. You might even be the one to win BIG on the TIC-TAC-DOUGH or BLACKOUT progressives. What a night for fun. Try us out ( you might like it) and bring a friend. Anyone 16 years and older can play bingo. You never know, You might just have fun and win. Again...THANK YOU to all the people who help sell pull tabs, packets, and extra sheets during the games. Also the folks who verify numbers, call bingo and anyone else not mentioned. We need others just like you!!!

BILL SEELYE-Bingo Chairman

 NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

1st…. .Jentsy Butler & Don Wallis

2nd... .Dan

7th…. Katie McGowan

10th... Merle Belt

11th…Crystal Veregge

12th…Conita Shields

13th... Joyce Height

17th…Leona Scott

23rd…Gwen Oatman

26th... Christa Lafoon

28th... Katrina Van Matre

We hope you all have the greatest birthday ever. I’m sure someone will be left out but that is only because

no one told me!  Gene B.

Agent Orange Overview

Over 2 million American service members served in Vietnam during the Vietnam era. Agent Orange was the most common herbicide used in Southeast Asia by the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War from 1962-1971. Its use was controversial at the time, and anti-war protestors heavily criticized the military for defoliating large swaths of Vietnam with Agent Orange. However, the military commanders who ordered its use, even today, claim that it saved many more American lives than it cost. Agent Orange was contaminated by the carcinogen dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin [TCDD]), although that fact was unknown to the military at the time of its initial use. Scientific studies have linked human exposure to dioxin and certain diseases, particularly cancers. Congress, in the Agent Orange Act of 1991, therefore presumed that all Vietnam veterans were exposed to dioxin for the purposes of filing for VA disability compensation.
For help with claims, contact an American Legion Department Service Officer

The Department of Defense has a new campaign "America Supports You" which spotlights what Americans are doing all across the land, encourages others to join the team and allows all to tell their stories by giving voice and visibility to their efforts.

 www.americasupportsyou.mil

PS.

Thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary for the Halloween decorations and everything that they do. As always...Great job.

Missing Person

HAS ANYONE SEEN HIM?

Bill Roark is still doing the Website at :

www.post639.com

The Veterans Voice Calendar Back

Continued from page 3

Golfing- The Weed Whackers!!!

Okay, we’re all getting tired of J.C. bragging how ‘his’ team has won both months.  Yes, J.C., now EVERYBODY knows! This month, the Weed Whackers are meeting, as usual, on the 3^rd Sunday of the month, November 20^th, 8:00am at Horton Smith. And just like the last 2 months, there will be food at the post afterwards. Anyone at the post that afternoon watching football is welcome to partake of the vittles we have prepared as well! It’s okay to just show up; however, try and sign-up at the bar so we have enough tee times reserved.  Also, bring a friend. Golf tip of the month: Try and pair up with the Blonde Headed B&*%H, since he’s obviously on a lucky streak!

MICK DUNN

This is MARINE MONTH so sit back and laugh at their expense. Next month we pick on the Navy!

The Marines were backing-up LAPD on a call that someone had broke into a store. At the scene, the cop told the Marines to "cover" him as he approached the store (to police, "cover" means to point your weapons in the direction of the threat, to Marines it means lay down a base of fire!). The Marines promptly laid down a base of fire. The Marines fired 178 rounds before they stopped shooting. The thief, probably a little scared at this point, called 911 and reported, "They're shooting at me!".

Two Marines were off on their annual trip to the Canadian wilderness to bag a moose. As the seaplane landed on a lake in a remote area, the pilot said, "I'll be back in one week to pick you up. But only one moose, please." When he returned to the lake, he found the Marines proudly standing beside two moose. "I told you Marines only one moose!" the furious flier screamed. "There's NO WAY the plane can take off with that much weight!" "You're just a chicken pilot," one Marine said. "We killed two moose last year and that pilot wasn't afraid to take off." Stung by the suggestion of cowardice, he reconsidered. "All right, if you did it last year, I guess we can try it."
They loaded up and the pilot taxied to the far end of the lake to begin his takeoff. The plane bounced across the water as it strained to get airborne, but the overloaded aircraft finally ran out of space and crashed into the trees. Some time later, the Marines regained consciousness. "Where are we?" one asked. His friend looked around at the scattered debris, then back at the edge of the lake and replied, "Oh, I guess about a hundred yards farther than last year."

Q: "What has an IQ of 42?"
A: "40 Marines plus their lieutenant"

Q. "What do smart Marines and UFOs have in common?"
A. "You always hear about them but you never see them"

Q. "Why do the commodes in Marine barracks have the cut-out type seats?"
A. "So that if the seat falls while they're drinking, it won't smack them in the back of the head"

U.S. MARINE CORPS OATH OF ENLISTMENT

I, ________________ (state name here), swear...uhhhh...high-and-tight...shoot first….. grunt... cammies... ugh... Air Force women.... HOORAH!
So help me Corps.
Thumb Print_________________ Date:______________

"The young army doctor was stationed at a remote dispensary in the South Pacific.
One day he was puzzled about treatment for one of his patients.
He radioed a base hospital:
'Have case of beriberi. What shall I do?' A prankster got hold of the message. This was the reply:
'Give it to the Marines. They'll drink anything.'

One day a 2nd Lt. arrives at the base hospital with terrible burns on both sides of his head. When the doctor asks how he got the burns the Lt. replies that he was ironing his shirts when the phone rang. Without thinking he lifted the iron to his ear as if it was the phone's receiver, thus the burn on the right side of his head. The doctor rolls his eyes in disbelief, then asks how the Lt. got the burn on the left side of his head. The Lt. replies, "I had to call an ambulance didn't I"?

*****LAST BUT NOT LEAST*****

So what I really like about Marines is that 'first to fight' isn't just a motto, it's a way of life. From the day they were formed at Tun Tavern 221 years ago, Marines have distinguished themselves on battlefields around the world. From the fighting tops of the Bonhomme Richard, to the sands of the Barbary coast, from the swamps of New Orleans to the halls of Montezuma, from Belleau Wood, to the Argonne Forest, to Guadalcanal, and Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and Inchon, and Chosin Reservoir and Hue City and Quang Tri and Dong Ha, and Beirut, and Grenada, and Panama, and Somalia and Bosnia and a thousand unnamed battlefields in godforsaken corners of the globe, Marines have distinguished themselves by their bravery, and stubbornness and aggressive spirit, and sacrifice, and love of country, and loyalty to one another. They've done it for you and me, and this Country we all love so dearly. And they asked for nothing more than the honor of just being a United States Marine.

6:00 PM Dinner

7:00 PM Meeting

8:00 am to 4:00pm

7 pm to 12

6:00 PM

                                        American Legion Post 639