Tag Archive: jim traner

Traner’s Corner

The comer across from the front entrance began to be enhanced when the banner maps were hung, illustrating the locations of hostile actions that created the veteran status of so many of our members, up through and including the middle east actions of the past 30 years.

Traner's Corner

Last spring, Jim Traner, came up with the idea of creating a seating area in that comer, where members might sit comfortably and enjoy swapping yarns and sharing beverages. Charlie Gaul, who, with his wife is involved in furnishing professional spaces, arranged for the purchase of the couches and chairs we now have in place.

After Jim Traner passed away in July, VFW Post 8870 and AL Post 66 decided to designate that area as ” Traner’ s Comer” , to honor Jim’s many contributions to both posts over the years. The final piece we need to complete this project was found and donated by Jeff McKinney, in the form of the curio cabinet, which now displays some of Jim’s memorabilia. In these photos, Bob Little, Mike Reagan and Richard Balogna are enjoying the space at the Christmas party alongside the new cabinet.

Veteran’s Day Ceremony to Dedicate Bench

Veteran's Day Ceremony to Dedicate Bench Saturday, November 11, 1 :00 PM

The Edmonds Veterans Plaza has been with us for a few years now, having been dedicated on Memorial Day in 2017. What many don’t realize is just how integral a part VFW members Jim Traner and Ron
Clyborne had in its creation. Without their vision and energy, in the initial concept and in putting together a team to bring their dream to fruition, it never would have happened.

Following Traner’ s passing this past summer, the Post decided to dedicate one of the benches in the circular setting area on the east side of the Plaza to our two comrades who had such a large part in bringing this jewel to Edmonds veterans. The photo above, shows the bench with it’s engraving complete. A dedication ceremony will be held on Veterans Day, November 11, 2023 at 1 :00 PM. Above right is a photo help us locate the bench within the plaza.

Veteran's Day Ceremony to Dedicate Bench

A Farewell Honor Flight for Jim Traner

In the Spring, our Comrade Jim Traner was supposed to depart on his Honor Flight from SeaTac Airport. In his true selfless form, Jim wanted someone else “more deserving,” (or something to that effect) to go in his place. Someone else went in Jim’s place, but none were more deserving than Jim. Jim was rescheduled to go on the more recent Honor Flight to our Nation’s Capitol. Unfortunately, Jim passed this summer before he could go on his Honor Flight. With permission from his wife, Jim’s burial flag went on the trip in his honor.

Jim’s friend and Comrade from VFW Post 1040 returned his flag for us. (At right with Dept. Commander Craig Daugherty.)

While we would much rather have had Jim on that flight, thank you to all who helped honor Jim’s memory, and thank you very much Walt Tanimoto for sharing these images with us.

VFW Post 8870 Mourns the Passing of our Dear Friend and Comrade Jim Traner

Jim Traner, Vietnam combat veteran, Past Edmonds VFW Post 8870 and VFW District1 Commander and an extremely valued member of our Post, as well as the entire VFW Department of Washington, died of a sudden heart attack Saturday, morning while out fishing.

Jim will be greatly missed by our Post and all of us who depended on him for his friendship and to keep us on course financially and organizationally.

There will be two memorial services for Jim.

August 20, 2023  12:00 pm
Edmonds Waterfront Center
220 Railroad Avenue
Edmonds, WA

August 29, 2023 1:00 pm
Tahoma National Cemetery
18600 SE 240th St
Kent, WA 98042

Obituary from Beck’s Tribute Center: https://becksfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/321517/James-Traner/obituary.html#tribute-start

In Memoriam: James M. Traner, Past Post & District Commander Vietnam Veteran

In Memoriam 
James M. Traner 
Past Post & District Commander Vietnam Veteran
In Memoriam
James M. Traner
Past Post & District Commander
Vietnam Veteran

We lost our long time comrade and friend on July 22. Jim died of a sudden heart attack while, of all things, attempting to boat a large salmon. Jim was a 50 year VFW member and a key member of our leadership staff for many years. His organizational and accounting skills will be sorely missed.

From our resident cartoonist, Post Commander Duane Bowman, a tribute to Jim Traner

From the 11th Armored Cavalry Veterans: (Addressed to Terry Traner & family)

From our resident cartoonist, Post Commander Duane Bowman, a tribute to Jim Traner

Please accept the condolences of the Troopers of the 11th Armored Cavalry’s veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia. Jim was a dedicated and courageous warrior, and in a crucial time, became one of us, one of our own. He served honorably and faithfully with the Legendary Blackhorse Regiment in the Howitzer Battery of the 1st Squadron from August 1967 thru March 1969. Exhibiting daring and courageous acumen, he was in the fore front, as the regiment completed its mission throughout large areas of Vietnam. James Michael Traner’s name will be published in our newsletter, Thunder Run, acknowledged solemnly during the Memorial Service at our annual reunion, and be enrolled on the scroll with our honored dead. As grateful Americans, we pause and salute a brave man, a recipient of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; he proudly honored our regiment. He wore the uniform, was willing to sacrifice, and even put his life on the line for his country, his family and his fellow man. Chaplain Bill Karabinos (11th ACVVC).

For a full Obituary of Jim‘s post service life visit www.beckstributecenter.com. (under Obituaries)

SGT James Traner Reporting as Ordered
From our resident cartoonist, Post Commander Duane Bowman, a tribute to Jim Traner

Reflections

Reflections

(From the newsletter of Jim Traner’s Vietnam unit) 

When I travel to my local VA hospital for treatment, I see mostly aging Vietnam Veterans in the hallways, but increasingly, I see more recent veterans (male and female) that look almost out of place among the the overwhelming number of veterans of our war. 

Our war puts us in a unique position. What we have been and continue going through, puts us in a position to better understand what our recent brothers and sisters (and sons and daughters, ed.) in arms have given and lost in the war on terrorism. We know what they face in trying to gain recognition and compensation for what what they have given. We are all part of an unbroken chain of service to our country that extends back more than 250 years. The challenges of recent veterans are essentially the same challenges we faced. 

So, the next time you encounter a more recent veteran, take the time to thank them for their service. (That’s more than we got!). Let them know they are our brothers and sisters and engage them in conversation. Let them know that we understand better than most what they have been through and what they face now that they have come “back to the world”. Tell them and show them that there is life and love after war. 

K.H. Elliott. (11 ACR, 541st MI-) 

The Lost Battalion

Lost Battalion

More reflections by Jim Traner 

The movie The Lost Battalion has been around for some years (Rick Schroder plays the Major), and I got interested in looking up some facts on it. Most are pointed out in the movie – 554 soldiers attack the Germans in the Meuse-Argonne offensive and 107 are killed, 63 missing, and 190 wounded in the 5 days before they were rescued. Their Commander, Major Whittlesey along with two others received the MOH. Here’s where it gets a bit odd – Whittlesey acted as a pallbearer at the burial of the Unknown Soldier along with Sgt. York on November 1921. A few days later he booked passage on United Fruit Company ship going to Havana. The first night out of New York, he disappeared and was never seen again. He is presumed to have committed suicide by jumping overboard. A number of letters were found in his state room addressed to relatives and family and instructions to the Captain of the ship on dealing with the disposition of his baggage left in his stateroom. A sad story but losing all those men through no fault of his own was probably a heck of burden to carry. Also, I wonder if participating in the Unknown Soldier ceremony triggered something. We will never know. 

Traner Bros Vietnam Christmas

Traner Bros Vietnam Christmas

Reflecting on Christmas Day 1968. Dave’s unit was somewhat newly arrived in Vietnam while I had spent 16 months in country with most of that time in the field. I was what you’d call a seasoned trooper while I knew my brother was in for a steep learning curve as he was in a reserve unit. Today those reserve units are as good as any regular Army units but not so much in 1968. His unit was on the DMZ in I Corp while I was stationed in III Corp with the 11th Armored Cav in the lower 1/3 of Vietnam. I decided to see him for Christmas and got the necessary orders cut. Getting there was a challenge. A Huey ride to somewhere, buying a beer to some aircrew heading North and two days later I arrived after some interesting stops on the way. I got there Christmas morning in time for some of the best chow I’d had in Nam. Christmas dinner there was even better. That unit may have been green but they had the best cooks in Nam. I damn near kidnapped one for our unit. My brother and I headed off to the beach after breakfast. Of course, the temp was probably approaching 100 by 10am, and his unit was stationed near the South China Sea with white sands and warm water. After swimming for a while, I was floating around (literally) when I heard my brother yelling for help. I looked around and saw him several hundred meters offshore with a GI who had ventured too far out and was in the process of drowning. I swam out and took over the life saving duties while he went in for help. He returned with another guy and an air mattress and the 4 of us made it to shore. It was a close call and looking back, we were both minutes from drowning. 

Thank goodness we had grown up swimming in rivers and were both strong swimmers. So what do you do for an encore? Well, you find some beer, get a case of M79 grenades, go back to the beach, drink the beer, toss the empties into the surf, and blow them up with the thumper. I think we paced our drinking with our grenades so it came out pretty close. Back to the chow line for a Christmas meal and packing my gear for a 5am departure back to Blackhorse Basecamp. I doubt many can match that Christmas day in 1968 which remains a vivid memory after all these years. 

Jim Traner

Christmas in Vietnam by Jim Traner

Christmas in Vietnam“In 1967 our unit, 1st Squadron of the 11th Armored Cavalry, was dug in for the Christmas truce. We were in a FSB close to the Cambodian border. I won’t give you my thoughts on truces in a war as I would be banned on FB. One of our guys got a very small artificial tree from his family. I’ve been searching my memory as to the trooper but I’m drawing a blank after 50 years. We had no decorations but we did have some Jiffy Pop, carefully hoarded in our track from a stop in Base Camp a few months earlier. After tearing off a chunk of a brick of C-4 (plastic explosive for you civilians), we lit it and popped the Jiffy Pop. Someone had their sewing kit stashed in their gear and we threaded the popcorn and strung it around the tree. Every Christmas I look at our beautiful tree and remember that pathetic little tree that brought Christmas joy to a bunch of GI’s dug into a mountain top far from home.”

Jim posted this piece describing that little “Charlie Brown” Christmas Tree on Facebook recently and it was also published in the Edmonds Beacon. The photo, of different tree in Vietnam, was posted on Facebook around the same time as Jim’s post by another Vietnam vet. 

A Report On the 2018 VFW National Convention

A Report On the 2018 VFW National Convention Past Post 8870 and District 1 Commander (Now Dept. of WA Trustee) Jim Traner traveled to the 2018 VFW National Convention in Kansas City a few weeks ago and took the role of speaker for the July Post meeting to report on convention activities. Traner updated the Post on some changes coming to VFW bylaws and reported on the social events of the convention.

Every year, thousands of VFW and Auxiliary delegates gather to represent the organization’s total membership of nearly 1.6 million at the weeklong convention. While there, our mission is to approve new national priorities to guide our organization as we lobby Congress on issues important to the nation’s veterans, service members and their families. Convention delegates also elect new leadership, as well as recognize prominent individuals and organizations for their support of veterans and military personnel.