Help Post 8870 to Take Credit for All You Do

Author: Editor September 12, 2016

Our Post needs your assistance in reporting all of the community service activities in which you have been involved each month.

If you attend the meeting, record these activities on the sheet provided at the Guard’s desk.

If you cannot attend, list activities in which you were involved and send this information via email to Post Surgeon Al boyett. This information is submitted to the VFW Department of Washington and is needed to justify the non-profit status we have been granted.

Be sure to include the number of hours in which you were engaged in the activity, mileage incurred, and any out-of-pocket expenses.

Examples of community service activities that qualify include:

Involvement in organizing a blood drive and/or donating blood
Involvement in a recycling program
Picking up trash along streets
Volunteer work with organizations (schools, hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, museums, and/or other charitable service organizations)
Delivering donations to organizations
Volunteer time to assist in planning and conducting Veterans programs/parades/events
Transporting veterans for doctor’s appointments/VA hospital
Visiting disabled or housebound veterans to provide companionship
Involvement in fund raising efforts for local organizations
Donation of toys, funds, and assistance to those in need
Any donation of time and/or funds to churches and schools
Any activities that promote Americanism (flag flying, donations of flags, participating in parades, public ceremonies, flag raising ceremonies, placing flags on Veterans’ graves, guest speaking engagements, and so forth)
Involvement in community safety programs
Involvement in youth activities (youth sports, Boy/Girl Scouting, Special Olympics, etc.)
Mileage you incurred while involved in community service activities

If you have any questions, call Al at 425-481-9208.

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Americanism, blood drive, communitiy service, community safety programs, donation, Fund Raising, non-profit status, recycling program, veterans program, VFW Department of Washington, volunteer work, youth activities

From the Book Shelf

Author: Editor September 12, 2016

The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend By Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

While Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo are better-remembered Native Americans who fought the white man’s expansion into the old American West, Red Cloud was a great Sioux war chief and military genius who accomplished far more that his more well-known contemporaries. The title of the book comes from the name of the Sioux’s sacred homeland in the Badlands, Paha Sapa, or “The Heart of Everything That Is”.

Red Cloud was an orphan who took his first scalp at the age of 16. He accompanied his tribe’s war parties on raids of other Indian nations and proved the living embodiment of the maxim that “war is the best teacher of war”. He learned his lessons well and became the Chief of a band of Sioux called the Bad Faces.

The book chronicles the treatment of the plains Indians by the United States government. The inevitability of war between the Indians and whites was sealed when gold was discovered in what is now Montana, and the Bozeman Trail was opened to provide a shorter route to the gold fields. The 535 mile trail cut through the Powder River basin,which had previously been given to the Sioux by treaty.

The authors used contemporary journals and diaries, newspaper articles, eyewitness accounts, and meticulous firsthand sourcing to write a compelling account of life in the old American West, and the treatment of Native Americans in our nation’s pursuit of what was called our Manifest Destiny.

“From the Bookshelf” will be a recurring series of book reviews that will appear in the VFW Post #8870 newsletter from time to time. This review was written by Fred Apgar.

Book Review, News, Newsletter Articles

Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, book review, Fred Apgar, The Heart of Everything That Is

Post Members Tour USS Shoup (DDG 86)

Author: Editor September 12, 2016

Thanks to a fortuitous contact by Phil Sacks with Commander Jason Rogers, the Captain of USS Shoup, we were able to arrange a tour of the ship when she returned to her home port at Naval Station Everett early in September, following participation in “RIMPAC” a multinational naval exercise conducted out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

We arrived at the Naval Station and after some initial confusion with base security personnel, the ship’s Public Affairs Officer, LTJG Zach Bessette delivered us to the dock through three layers of security in a Navy vehicle, where we were warmly welcomed by Captain Rogers and his command staff.

The tour included a close up look at Shoup’s main battery of one 5-inch gun and her main missile battery, the bridge, engineering spaces and even passed by the chow line as the crew was beginning lunch, (the Navy seems to eat pretty well) finishing up in the ward room, the dining space for the ship’s officers.

On the following page are several photographs taken during the tour, with more detail.

Visiting veterans are welcomed by the Captain of the Shoup, Commander Jason Rogers, USN and his command staff on the ship’s quarterdeck.

Joining the tour were nine veterans pictured including Dan White, Jeff Blossey, Rene Blemenfeld, Carl Kerfuss, Dennis Peterson, Mike Denton, Ron Clyborne, Phil Sacks and Jim Blossey. Karen Peterson and Dorothy Sacks were also present.

Looking over the ship’s 5” gun mount on the foredeck. Behind the gun mount, but not shown is the forward missile battery which provides much of Shoup’s punch.

Featured in the Shoup’s wardroom is the coffee cup rack shown below, at the top left of which is the steel cup used by General David Shoup, the ship’s namesake during WWII. Shoup was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in the Pacific and was Commandant of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. (Note the 4 stars of the General’s rank above the cup)

Included in the group shot above are our very gracious hosts and guides, LTJG Bessette and LTJG Miller.

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Commander Jason Rogers, DDG 86, LTJG Zach Bessette, USS Shoup

Edmonds Veterans Lead the Way!

Author: Editor August 3, 2016

Members of VFW Post 8870 and American Legion Post 66 once again led the way as Edmonds celebrated it’s annual “Edmonds Kind of 4th”. Veteran members acted as color guard to begin the parade and a large contingent followed the color guard, on foot (including our senior member Col. Buck Weaver) or in vehicles. Veterans participating were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic welcome and support expressed by the crowd. Edmonds, it seems, is very appreciative of its Veterans.

Above is our own Ron Clyborne and family, in his role as this year’s parade Grand Marshall. Congratulations Ron!

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Edmonds 4th of July Parade, Edmonds 4th of July Parade Grand Marshall

Legion/ VFW Joint Picnic/Barbecue

Author: Editor August 3, 2016

Our Independence Day celebrations didn’t stop at the end of the parade route. Immediately following the parade, VFW & Legion members and their families gathered at the Legion hall for our annual joint picnic/barbecue, where some great food, beverages and camaraderie were enjoyed by all.

Many thanks to our valiant cooks and other volunteers for providing us all with a great afternoon. Jim Traner, along with Carl Kurfess and Carl’s brother manned the barbecue. Terry Traner, Jay Abel, Karen Peterson and Beckie Murdoch were our set up and cleaning crew. Jo Boyett and Valerie Ehlers took care of decorations. Great job folks!

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4th of July, American Legion, VFW Post 8870 joint picnic BBQ

Fred’s Flag Wavers

Author: Editor August 3, 2016

At left are Post Chaplain Fred Apgar and six of his seven grandchildren, suitably attired in matching patriotic T-shirts The kids came all the way from Long Island and Nashville to march in the Parade with Grandpa.

Also, many thanks to Fred for his ongoing support as the stalwart head photographer for our little publication.

News, Newsletter Articles

4th of July Parade, Edmonds 4th of July Parade, Post 8870 Chaplain Fred Apgar

Meet Terry Crabtree, our new Post Commander

Author: Editor August 3, 2016

Terry Joined the Post in Feb 2014. Originally from St Louis, MO, he was in the Army 1964-67 and served in Vietnam 1965-66. as part of the 864th Engineer Battalion, Military Assistance Command. Crabtree was an Engineer equipment operator/mechanic and Demolition Specialist/Port Construction at Cam Ranh Bay, Phan Rang, Tui Hoa and An Khe. Stateside included Ft Leonard Wood, MO, Ft Hood and Ft Wolters, TX. Terry completed the Executive Management Program at University of Washington. He was a Construction Manager for Bechtel Inc and has worked and lived on every continent except Antartica. Terry met his wife Josephine in Kuwait where they were married. They reside in Mukilteo and have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. Ask him about his experience in charge of cleanup at ground zero in New York, after 9/11. It’s quite a story.

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864th Engineer Battalion, An Khe, Cam Ranh Bay, Ft Hood, Ft Leonard Wood, Ft Wolters, Phan Rang, Tui Hoa, Vetenam Veteran, VFW Post 8870 Commander

District 1 Awards for 8870

Author: Editor August 3, 2016

District 1 Commander Don Wischman was in attendance at the July Post meeting to present Post 8870 with a number of awards recognizing our accomplishments during the 2015-16 VFW year. In these photos, Immediate Past Commander Jim Blossey is shown at top left, accepting awards from Wischman for, among other things, meeting membership goals.

Also shown is (right bottom) is Chaplain and Past Commander Fred Apgar, accepting certificates of recognition of his tireless efforts in coordinating so many of our Post projects, including our Relief Fund, Teacher of the Year, Freedom Scholarship and Youth Essay. In addition to his leadership of our Post, Fred performs many of those same functions at the district level.

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Don Wischman, Fred Apgar, Freedom Scholarship, Jim Blossey, membership goal, Relief Fund, Teache of the Year, VFW WA District 1 Award, youth essay

July Post Meeting Speaker

Author: Editor August 3, 2016

Chris Szarek, Director of Veterans Affairs at Edmonds Community College, gave the post an update on the status of veterans programs at the College. At left, he is shown presenting Jim Blossey with a certificate recognizing the participation of the Post in the College’s Memorial Day event and Blossey for his outstanding performance as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

A more detailed report and photos of the event were published in the June issue of this newsletter.

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Chris Szarek, Director of Veterans Affairs, Edmonds Community College

Post Honors Bob Otto

Author: Editor August 3, 2016

Mike Reagan presented his portrait of Bob Otto to Bob’s daughter Robyn Nordsven at the July Post Meeting

In the July issue of this newsletter, we published the obituary of Post member Dr. Robert Otto, who passed away in December of 2015. At the July meeting, Otto’s family and friends were present to receive the Portrait drawn by Mike Reagan in his honor.

Otto was tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator that went down near the village of Pollau, Austria, en route to bomb an oil refinery near Vienna in June 1944. Six of the crew were captured, two were killed and one was missing. Survivors were taken to a hospital in Graz for treatment. Otto and the other enlisted men were then sent to Stalag Luft IV near the Baltic Sea.

“We were loaded on boxcars,” Otto said. “Inside was a miserable, stinking mess.” In February 1945, they were marched out of the prison camp to keep them safe from the approaching Russian army. Emaciated POWs marched 500 miles over 70 days, sleeping in barns and open fields. Food was mostly occasional boiled potatoes, and the weather bitter cold. Many died of exposure, pneumonia, dysentery and starvation.

“Faith in the Lord and a desire to get home kept me plugging along,” Bob said, until the men were rescued by British soldiers. Otto’s story is included in the book “The Last Escape,” an account of Allied POWs in Nazi Germany, by John Nichol and Tony Rennell.

During his 2008 trip to Austria, Otto met people who were children at the time of his capture and who remember seeing Otto float down under a parachute, one of whom was Herr Adolf Heschl, who was 7 years old at the time. “He recalled the burns on Dad’s face, which triggered Dad’s memory of looking into mud puddles, trying to see his burns,” his daughter said. Details of Bob’s ’08 trip were reported in the July issue of the Post newsletter.