Author Archive: Editor

In Memoriam: Dr. Robert W. Otto 1922 – 2015

WWII Veteran, POW, combat wounded

 

Dr. Robert W. Otto

Bob Otto in younger days

Post 8870 lost one of our more senior comrades late last year when Robert Otto, long time VFW member, passed away on December 7, 2015. Born October 1, 1922, at home in Jerome, Idaho, bob graduated from Jerome High School, attended Utah State Univ. and The College of Idaho; then worked in the California naval shipyards before entering the Army in 1943. Sgt Otto participated in 12 missions as a tailgunner before being shot down aboard the B-24 ‘Texarkana Hussy’ over Pollau, Austria in June 1944. Severely burned, he was taken POW to Stalag Luft IV in Poland. A German Death March survivor, he was liberated at Fallingbostel, Germany in May 1945 and awarded two Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Bob Otto with Austrian artist Josef Schutzenhofer, with his painting dedicated to Americans shot down over Austria during World War II

Bob Otto (left) with Austrian artist Josef Schutzenhofer, with his painting dedicated to Americans shot down over Austria during World War II.

Bob married Mary Ann Plastino on March 24, 1946, in Jerome. They farmed west of town for several years, during which he served as County Auditor and rode with the Jerome Posse. The family moved to Ft. Collins, Colo. in 1952 where Robert finished his undergrad work at Colorado A&M. In 1954, they moved to Pullman, Wash. where he graduated in 1957 from Washington State College with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Two more children were born during the college years, Randy and Robyn. After teaching veterinary medicine at Kansas State University, the family settled in Edmonds, where he built a veterinary practice. Later he was the Area Director for the Northwest Animal Hospital Assn. and honored as Washington State Veterinarian of the Year. He retired from his practice in 1992.

Bob was a founding member of the Edmonds Senior Center and was very active in the Exchange Club. Following his retirement, he served with Christian Veterinary Missions as Short-Term Shuttle Coordinator and Chaplain, then in the mission field on the Navajo Indian Reservation, in Haiti, Bolivia, Malawi and Kenya. He obtained his minister’s license and served at Family Life Center and Sonrise Chapel as an assistant pastor before leading a small church called The Gathering at Garden Court until 2012.

In 2001, Bob was honored by the Polish government at a ceremony dedicating a statue commemorating those who were interred at Luft Stalag IV, accompanied by his son, Randy. He was also accompanied by John Nichols, who wrote The Last Escape, including Robert’s story of his interment and liberation. In 2008, he was a guest of the Austrian government and took his three children with him to attend the unveiling of a memorial by famed artist Josef Schutzenhofer (above left) commemorating those who helped liberate Austria. The following year, Bob wrote his autobiography, A Walk with God. This led to many speaking opportunities with the VFW, schools and libraries. In 2011, he traveled with Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington DC. Look for a more detailed description of Bob’s wartime experience in a future issue of this newsletter.

New Members Inducted at June Post Meeting

Welcome Josh, Dan and Chris!

 

VFW Post 8870 new member Joshua CrabtreeJoshua Crabtree

Josh served with the Army 2000-04 and was trained as a combat engineer. He served in Kosovo and Kuwait. Josh was with the 70th Engineer Battalion 1st  Armored Division in the Iraq War 2003‐4. Awards include the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal (2). Josh graduated from the UW. He is a foreign service specialist with the State Department. Josh and Natalia reside in Mukilteo and have a daughter.    

VFW Post 8870 new member Daniel DoyleDaniel Doyle

Dan served in the Navy 1966‐69. He was trained as a corpsman and served in that role in Vietnam in 1968. He was with Bravo 3rd Recon 3rd Marines and was delivered to Khe Sanh the 1st day of the siege via a Caribou aircraft. He recalls running out the back ramp as it was still moving. He later went to Quang Tri, also in I Corps. Awards include a Presidential Unit Citation and the Fleet Marine Combat Operations Insignia. Dan is a retired professor at Seattle University. He and Cathy reside in Edmonds. They have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

VFW Post 8870 new member Christopher MazerolleChristopher Mazerolle

Chris is an Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan with 10 years of service. Trained as an Army diver, Chris often served in combat engineer units when deployed. He was in Iraq 2005-6 in 1-66 Armor 1st BN 4th Infantry Division. Chris was wounded after a roadside bomb attack. He served in Afghanistan 2010-11 in 1st Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division. Awards include a Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal (3). Chris was raised in Edmonds and now resides in Lynnwood. He is employed as a commercial diver.

Post Membership Goals Reached

Immediate Past Commander Jim Blossey reports he received a phone call recently from Fred Green, Past Adjutant of the Department of Washington, congratulating Post 8870 on surpassing our 100% membership growth and retention target during the VFW year just ended.

Greene said we will be recognized in 6 to 8 weeks (likely at our August Post meeting) in a visit to our post by Past Department Commander Glenn Albert, at which time he will present us with a white hat which Jim will accept proudly on our behalf.

A big Well Done to you all. Membership is the key to service and is every member’s responsibility. Following is a comparative membership summary for District 1.

comparative membership summary for VFW WA District 1

What Ever Happened To?

Katarina NguyenKatarina Nguyen is a talented young lady who was a three-time winner of the Patriot Pen contest while in Middle School, and won first-place honors in the Voice of Democracy for all four years of high school. She read her winning essays at Post meetings as well as the Memorial Day Ceremony. During her senior year, Katarina was awarded a Freedom Scholarship. She recently wrote to the Post to express her appreciation for what her involvement in VFW sponsored programs has meant to her.  

 

NL0716_Freedom-Scholarships_2

 

Dear VFW 8870, My name is Katarina Nguyen, a graduate from Edmonds Woodway High School in 2012. Throughout high school, I was highly involved with the VFW because I felt it was important for the younger generation to honor the Veterans that have made our freedoms possible. I would like to reach out and thank each and every one of you for your sacrifices to preserve our country’s freedom and thank you for encouraging me and allowing me to share your stories. It’s been a few years but I would like to reach out and thank you for helping shape my experiences during high school. It was an honor to speak at Memorial Day ceremonies each year as well as read my essays at your meetings. Because of you, our generation is able to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities we share and as a proud American, I sincerely thank you for all you have done.

Since graduating high school, I graduated college from Johns Hopkins University in 3 years and am currently Miss Washington Earth United States. I will compete for the national title of Miss Earth United States this summer and will attend medical school this fall. I was inspired to give back to the community by all of your sacrifices; although I cannot even begin to fathom the adversities you have endured for us, you have inspired me and motivated me to give back. You are selfless, brave heroes and to this day, when anyone asks me who my heroes are, I never hesitate to say that it is those that serve our country. Thank you.

Best regards,

Katarina Nguyen

Events on the Horizon:

Staff Meetings: 9:00 AM, First Tues., American Legion Hall, 117 6th Ave. S., Edmonds
Post Meetings: Second Tues., American Legion Hall; Dinner at 5:00 PM ($5) Meeting at 6:00 PM


NL0616_flagJune Post meeting takes place on June 14 – Flag Day!
July 4 – Independence Day Parade – form up at 6th & Bell by 11:30 AM
Joint VFW/ Legion BBQ/Picnic following the parade 1:00 PM Legion Hall.
(A suggested donation of $5.00 per person would help to defray food cost)

Edmonds Community College Memorial Day Observance

Fallen Heroes, World War II Veterans Honored

Edmonds Community College Memorial Day Observance Fallen Heroes, World War II Veterans Honored

On May 25, Edmonds Community College hosted its Memorial Day Ceremony, at the Black Box Theater on the College campus. The event was planned by a distinguished committee headed by Chris Szarek, USN Retired, Veterans Resource Center Director at the college.

Our own Post Commander Jim Blossey acted as Master of Ceremonies for the event, which featured “A Time to Remember” slide show featuring images and stories of fallen members of the families of College students, faculty and staff. Music was provided by the EdCC voice class, under the leadership of Linda Kappus and by Kyle Gaul (son of Post 8870 member Charlie Gaul on bagpipe.

Gold Star Mother Monica McNeal was on hand to introduce the keynote speaker, RaeLynn Ricarte, author of “Living the Oath: Warriors Take It, Families Endure it”. The book explores the wartime experiences and the post war aftermath of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. Her topic explored the origins of the book through her experience as the mother of a combat Marine, centered around the idea “Be an American Worth Dying for”.

Following the ceremonies at the Black Box, all present processed to the campus “Boots to Books” monument, where colors were presented, followed by presentation of the “Soldier’s Cross” and the laying of a wreath. The ceremonies concluded with the playing of “Amazing Grace” by Kyle Gaul on bagpipe and “Taps” by Post 1040 bugler Glenn Ledbetter.

Post Receives National VFW Recognition

Post Receives National VFW Recognition

At the May 21st District 1 meeting, VFW Post #8870 was recognized for the large number of members who participated in area school Veterans’ Day assembly as speakers. Former Department Commander, Fred Green, presented Commander Jim Blossey with certificates of appreciation for those Post members who volunteered to be members of our speaker’s bureau. For the past two years, Commander Blossey has coordinated our speaker’s program, assigning Post members to the Edmonds and Mukilteo School District schools requesting such assistance. In recent years, we have gratefully noted an increase in the number of such requests, which provide our members with the opportunity to share some of their life experiences with our nation’s youth. It is a gratifying and most positive experience, and members who have not done so in the past, are urged to volunteer for the Post’s speaker’s bureau.

Veterans Honored at Holy Rosary School Spring Concert

Veterans Honored at Holy Rosary School Spring Concert

A group of veterans including members of VFW Post 8870, MOPH Chapter 12 and serveral other veteran Parishioners were honored at the Holy Rosary School Spring Concert, in Edmonds, held on Thursday, May 26.

Student musicians, including a string orchestra, directed by noted local volinist and string instrument teacher, Fred Chu; the school band directed by Alex Dugdale and vocal groups from grades K-8 performed a set of songs focused on a patriotic theme, including a sung version of the Pledge of Allegiance, Yankee Doodle, You’re a Grand Old Flag and others. The students also performed several dance routines to musical accompanyment.

The veterans present were invited into a semi-circle front and center, whereupon, the student singers serenaded them with a piece entitled “Proud of Our Veterans”, under the baton of Susan Olmos, Holy Rosary Parish Music Director and teacher, who also produced and directed the entire program, along with an able staff of parents and teachers.

One of our group was heard to say that this was the “best reception he has had as a veteran since returning from Vietnam 50 years ago”. It was indeed a moving experience. Many thanks to Ms. Olmos and her students for including us.

Home Depot Partners With VFW

Home Depot Partners With VFWThe Home Depot chain of home improvement stores has a long history of supporting our nation’s veterans. A 10% discount is provided to veterans, and members of VFW need only show their membership card. Home Depot also provides, free of charge, all building materials and manpower needed to accomplish small home renovations, repairs, and improvements for veterans. For example, projects such as the installation of a ramp at a veteran’s home are completed on a regular basis. Members of Post # 8870 who have a need for such a home improvement project are urged to contact our Post Chaplain, Fred Apgar (206-940-7502) who will connect them to a Home Depot representative.