“You can get a Veteran designation on your driver licenses or ID card. It’s free if you’re only changing your Veterans status.
Bring your DD Form 214 that shows “honorable” or “general under honorable conditions” status to a driver licensing office. If you don’t have your DD Form 214 you can request your military service records online, by mail, or by fax (archives.gov).”
Our own Voice of Democracy champion, with the help and support of fellow student Roger Kitchen and VFW and Plaza Committee members Mike Reagan and Ron Clyborne, produced and presented a musical event at Edmonds Veterans Plaza, with a group of Edmonds Woodway High School musicians on Saturday, September 2.
The goal of these young people, under Olivia’s leadership, was to honor the Plaza and the Veterans it represents. The concert was free to attend, but a donation box accepted contributions to go toward the ongoing support of the Plaza, and collected over $ 800.
These wonderful high school musicians performed three sets of music, which were received with enthusiastic applause and standing ovations.
First up was a string quartet featuring a mostly classical selection which, to your editor’s ear, they performed flawlessly.
Following the quartet was a duet of violin and cello with a blend of classical and Scots/Irish folk tunes.
Last, but certainly not least, we were treated to an excellent performance by a jazz quartet.
This group of young men and women displayed a superb level of musical skill, reflecting, no doubt, a high level of talent and much hard work from early childhood. Of course we can’t neglect to congratulate the wonderful music educators of Edmonds Woodway H.S. who help develop these young musicians.
A big Thank You to Olivia and her musician friends!
At the August Post meeting we recognized members years of service in the Post with the award of the appropriate lapel pin. Recognition pins are issued in five year increments only. Shown below are those members for whom photos were available from file. Congratulations to all of you!
Five Years
Amos Chapman
James Cox
Ron Fischer
Jon Koenig
Robert Little
William Rogers
Charles Saint
Michael Santapolo
John Westfall
Daniel White
Ten Years
John Lapham
Earl Prebazac
Fifteen Years
Barry Long
Twenty Years
William Bishop
Twenty-Five Years
Jeffrey Catalini
John Shelton
Thirty Years
Jim Tyree
Thirty Five Years
Arthur Petty
Benton Webb joined VFW in 1945 and is currently the longest serving member in our post at 72 years. Comrade Webb was overlooked in ordering service pins, but we now have a 70 year pin on order. Congratulations Benton!
Capt. Reid Tanaka, USN (Retired)
The Future of Nuclear Energy After Fukushima
Captain Tanaka shares his experience as a nuclear advisor to the U.S. Military commander in Fukushima during the crisis following the tsunami six years ago. After working in the area for over a year, he still concludes that Nuclear Power is the best way to provide carbon-free energy.
Captain Tanaka served in a variety of submarines and shore assignments including department and command positions aboard USS Nevada (SSBN 733) USS Kamehameha (SSN 642) and as Commanding Officer of USS Charlotte (SSN 766).
A look at the role of the “Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club”
(Also known as the U.S. Seventh Fleet)
USS Forrestal on fire, the worst US carrier fire since WWII; USS Rupertus (DD-851) maneuvers to within 20 ft (6 m) to use fire hoses.
Fifty years ago this summer, a rocket was accidentally launched from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal, which was stationed with its battle group off the coast of North Vietnam. The rocket hit a fuel tank, scattering flaming fuel and setting off bombs and other explosions. Within minutes, flames had engulfed a large swath of the flight deck. By the time the fire was under control, 134 sailors were dead and 161 injured, including John McCain, who was hit by shrapnel as he
The Forrestal fire is a reminder of the significant, but often overlooked, role that the Navy played in the Vietnam War. More than 1.8 million sailors served; of which, 1,631 were killed and 4,178 wounded. The Navy was there at the war’s beginning and at its very end in 1975, when American ships received helicopters carrying embassy staff and refugees fleeing the fall of Saigon. While the aircraft carriers operated far offshore, thousands of sailors plied South Vietnam’s rivers, carrying supplies, interrupting smugglers and inserting Army and Special Forces units into combat zones. Well armed but poorly armored River Patrol Boat crews incurred annual casualty rates of up to 75 percent.
Though they didn’t know it at the time, those sailors — in both the brown-water and blue-water navies — were also being exposed to Agent Orange. As a result, thousands of men who never set foot in Vietnam have nevertheless suffered the effects of that herbicide. (ed. Note: “Brown Water Navy” casualties were reduced dramatically, following the increased use of “Agent Orange” to clear the river banks of dense vegetation, with of course, subsequent disastrous side effects.)
These men have been fighting for years for the government to recognize their claims. In 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs ruled that to receive benefits for Agent Orange exposure, claimants had to have served on dry land or inland rivers — a remarkably narrow interpretation of “service in the Republic of Vietnam.” (This year a bipartisan group in Congress introduced the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017 to extend benefits to sailors who served in harbors and coastal waterways.)
But even when sailors qualify, there is often a bias against them — an assumption that because they served on a ship or a boat, they couldn’t possibly have suffered the physical or mental consequences of serving in a war. Evaluators assume that being on the water makes you invincible. Tell that to the men who served on the Forrestal.
by Clay Risen (from an article in a New York Times series on the war)
by Pete Farmer
Following the invasion of Sicily in July of 1943 and the subsequent surrender of Italy to the allies, the German Army fell back to a prepared defensive position, the Gustav Line, running from Italy’s west coast and across mountains to The Adriatic coast.
Operation Shingle was conceived to land allied troops behind the Gustav line. The fishing and resort villages of Anzio and Nettuno, about 35 miles south of Rome, were selected for the landing sites. General Mark Clark chose the VI Corps under General John Lucas for the amphibious assault. Neither general had confidence in their leaders or the operational plan, viewing dedicated forces as understrength.
Though surprised, the Germans reacted quickly advancing reserve units to Anzio and establishing defensive positions in hills to the east. Additional divisions were diverted to Italy and by the end of January, 71,500 German troops were present.
VI Corps made two unsuccessful major attempts to breakout. An attack on Cisterna by the 3rd Infantry Division went terribly wrong when the 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions stumbled into six German divisions preparing for their own attack. Of 761 Rangers, only 6 returned with 300 killed and the rest captured.
Both sides at Anzio fell into a defensive posture of trench warfare that lasted through the winter and into spring. The beachhead was always within German artillery range. War correspondent Ernie Pyle observed “men typically in safe roles in the rear were just as vulnerable as the fighting man”. VI Corps headquarters went underground and civilians were evacuated by sea.
With the arrival of Spring and the landing of additional units, a breakout attack began on May 23, called Operation Diadem, in coordination with attacks on the Gustav Line. The 1st day was intense with the 1st Armored Division losing 100 tanks and the 3rd ID suffering 955 casualties, the highest single day figure for any US division in WWII. The breakout was successful, but Mark Clark chose to head directly for Rome rather than block the retreat of German units from the Gustav Line, an original objective of Diadem.
Anzio and Nettuno were rebuilt after the war and today are again lovely fishing villages and beach resorts. They are just an hour away by train from Rome. There are no signs of the battles that raged there other than wall plaques, an obelisk and some statues and markers. There are two small museums. In Nettuno, there is one of two American cemeteries in Italy. The Sicily-Rome American Cemetery contains 7,860 headstones of servicemen and women to include 25 sets of brothers. The names of 3,095 missing are inscribed on chapel walls. A memorial statue, Brothers in Arms, symbolizes the fraternity between the Army (including Air Corps) and Navy that was essential to the success of the three amphibious assaults in Italy.
District 1 Commander Don Wischman visited our July meeting to present the post with award certificates for accomplishments during the 2016-17year.
The Post earned awards at both District and National levels for:
100% Reporting of Community Service
100% Hospital Reporting
Youth Essay Post Participation
Participation in the Scouting Program of VFW Outstanding support of USO, Veterans & Military Support Programs
Sponsorship and Promotion of local community activities.
The Citizen Education Teacher of the year Program
Patriots Pen
Voice of Democracy.
Paul is a Marine veteran of Gulf 1, where he served as an Avionic Technician on Marine Corps F-18s
In his civilian life he continues to put his Avionics Technician skills to work for Delta Airlines but says his passion is in Culinary Arts.
Recruiting new members is every member’s responsibility and to that end Post Chaplain Dan Doyle and Commander Mike Denton spent s very productive Saturday at the Edmonds Farmers Market, spreading the word about VFW to unaffilliated veterans and the community at large.
Our newest member, Paul Strenkert found us there and was subsequently sworn in at the July Post meeting.
There are three other applications pending from that outing, plus a Life Member, recently arrived in Edmonds, who also stopped by our table, and plans to affiliate with Post 8870.
We are making plans for additional such events and will be looking for volunteers to help with that effort.
We were recently reminded that the ritual of installation of officers does not allow for proper recognition of the members who fill some of our key offices. Post 8870 has been extremely fortunate to have our appointive offices filled by an extremely dedicated group of veterans, who we thank for their long service.
Al Boyett, Surgeon for the past eleven years has just this past meeting bowed out in favor of Charlie Gaul.
Al Boyett, Past Surgeon
Charlie Gaul, Surgeon
Jim Collins, Officer of the Day provides essential grease to the commander to keep the wheels moving at meetings. (Jim will be on the sick list for the August and September meetings, while he gets his heart repaired. We all wish Jim a quick and complete recovery. Jim Traner has volunteered to act as OOD in Jim’s absence)
Jim Collins, Officer of the Day
John Shelton, Guard (John prefers “Master at Arms” but, sorry John the Manual says “Guard”) keeps outsiders away and keeps track of member and guest attendance, among his other chores. John is also a key member of our color guard
John Shelton, Guard
Dick Simmons, Adjutant provides us with excelent & detailed minutes of all of our meeting, as well as leading our color guard. Jim Collins had been heading up our color guard for Memorial Day and the Parade, but has passed that role along to Dick in recent months.
Dick Simmons, Adjutant
Many thanks to all of you who provide such great service to our Post.
The Post veterans relief and community programs are funded entirely from donations received in conjunction with our semi annual distribution of “ Buddy Poppies” around the Veterans Day and Memorial Day observances.
Our Post Chaplain, Dan Doyle and the Relief Committee he chairs, which includes Jim Blossey, Carl Kurfuss, and Rose Gilliland, have prepared the following proposed budget for the current fiscal year, to be voted on at this month’s meeting.
