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News and problems of Veterans of armed forces.Links to veteran service organizations, VFW,American Legion,AMVETS,VA, Those weekend holidays how they started, memorial day, ritual unit poem, Honor guard,50 cent beers,links to German units of wwwII,outside da tent Greeting and Holiday Salutes to AL Posts 600, (Clearing Chicago IL) Post 277 Necedah WI, and 164 Cline- Pautsch- Kott, Boyton Beach FL
SURVEY THEIR NEEDS The word will get around your a good outfit to join | |||||||||
Many posts and chapters of armed service non for profit organizations are suffering from dwindeling memberships and static organizations. As a member and ex officer of local posts in both the American Legion, and the VFW (life member) I receive their national publications. What gets me is there is little direction offered by both in developing local organizations in those publications.   Local membership has dropped so severely that its has gotten to the point where too many congressional members of a major political party have been issuing public statements about those in active service loaded with unsubtantiated charges of attrocities that have been eagerly picked up and repeated by enemys of this country. When I see respective department publications catering to these politicians with flattering revelations and pictues of these individuals I freaken wince. If they feel they must print something do it New York times style. 3 sentences max section 6B. Get it through your heads. These people are not friends of the military or of veterans
If you have a post home blow that picture up and put it in a prominent spot for all to see (behind the bar) not on your bulletin board board where no one except a member may glance at.
About Your Bulletin...its the most important piece of communication and getting your story out. Most printers today will copy pictures as well as print. If your post doesn't have a printer GET ONE.
DON'T THINK YOUR SAVING MONEY BY NOT ISSUING BULLETINS
Here is an example of what happpens if you do. I belong to a very famous VFW post in the Chicaoland region. Unfortunately I moved out of state primarily to take care of a stroke ridden brother who has since passed away.
During that time beside close comrades passing away someone had the bright idea (because of rising postal costs) not to send out bulletins and for a year none were sent. Because of this meeting and participation in post activities were severly damaged. Attendance dropped and when a new regime took over they managed to send out a bulletin. Guess what was in that bulletin ? Complaints that there were few participants in the ritual unit and they may have to disband it.
There is nothing to prevent you from getting ads to help defray the mailing and printing expences. Depending upon the size of your membership you may even consider getting a bulk mailing permit from USPS.
Securing a bulk permit though if your membership is below 500, and many posts are in that situation, not practical. The US Mat will be offering posts in the Midway region of Chicago through its Midway Beacon Page, and posts in the Adams-Juneau counties area and Central Wisconsin Lakeshore Beacon Pages free bulletin reproduction and mailing once an ad program is established. In the meantime if you wish to defray your mailing costs through securing ads this is one way of doing it.
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Please support those who support us
POST SURVEY
Comrade: Please print your name, membership #, most recent address, phone number including area code. Do you live .. With wife ?(_____) With family (____) Alone (______) Would you like have a member (encircle which) either/ STOP BY /CALL/ or BOTH/ and see how your doing ? Am OK _____ Do you need help around the house ? Y____ N____ Your age____ & birthdate ___ ___ ___ Are you physically limited ?Y____ N____ Can you cut your toe nails ?____Y ____N (pedicurist) Are you going to the VA?___Y ___N Would you be willing to share a ride and bring a member to a post function (including trips to visit VA hospitals) ? If so how far out of your way (miles ____ )would you consider going? Or would you like to be pickled up____ WE NEED MEMBERS FOR OUR WAKE CALLS LIST ARE YOU ON OUR LIST _________________NAME & phone #_______ac________________
Please respond to this post survey and after filling it out save the post money by stuffing it into an envelope mailing it to us. Feel free in the space provided offer any suggestion of improvements you would like see us take. Your post (chapter) is working to serve you better and where possible add to your benefit being a member of this organization. Unfortunately we have had many cases where a member has passed on or became incapacitated and the post not notified by relatives or family members .Don't forget, one of our duties is to visit the sick and console the bereaved please let them know to notify us. We would also like to know if we can assist you in your needs. Or if you would be interested in participating in any activity.
Thank You Comander
name)________________________(mbr#_________ (street address)______________tel ____/ _______zip_________
TOO MANY JOHNS AND NOT ENOUGH GEORGES
"On Chicago's Streets N All over Town From Hillock to Harlem
From the
Quarrys of Bridgeport to the Ridges of Garfield
and all
the little towns between That make the urban scene
On Our Block and on our
Street
Poem excerpted from Sept 39,1st Book of Moses ©2003 L.J.Keslin all rights reserved.Dedicated to Bill and Glenda Gore of Hattisburg MS, and Central MO fireworks, who's knowledge of class C fireworks have given pleasure to thousands.
| The. HONORS.TEAM | VETERANS PAGES Passing The Baton |
THE US MAT |
They proudly
stood on guard aside the casket
Who once called upon was the one who
gave
One may have been a hero
Or one who simply served
Giving of what
one could to country
of youth and vigor be it not betrayed.
Who now stands
to show this valor
doing duty without shame ?
Who visits those alone sick
and old
or cares or shops for one ?
Who reminds those of the giving
the comrade gave?
Who consoles the grieving of those
one
left behind ?
Its but a few who may have known the one,
and the
many that did not.
But they have come to show us all
They have not
forgot.
They are the Honor Guard
or if you please The Ritual Team
A
veteran's group you see.
Making sure arms and standard are presented.
That colors are proudly shown,that Taps are played
Veterans
speaking with their actions Their presence thus exclaims
Their baton passing
on to others who here remain
This was due in large part to the wife of President Lyndon Johnson, Lady Bird
(Claudia Taylor) Johnson,and The Mondays Holidays act of 1968, which went into
effect in 1971 during Nixons tenure.
She vigorously
campaigned for everything including the 3 day holidays. Also the highway
beautification program that prohibited signage on fed funded roads,100+ ft
building set backs on fed funded roads, state hwys etc (who pays for driveways
and snowplowing?) ,to fences around junk yards.
Good
intentions with lots of unintended results including cops named "Chief" getting
on the squawker telling residents to get rid of their " junk cars ", as they
rolled passed their target in their shinny squad car at 90 mph.The result makes
her one of the most influential woman in the last half of the 20th century which
most affected the American life style and perhaps longer
When the 1967 national Monday Holiday act came into force Washingtons Birthday
was renamed by Nixon in 1971 as Presidents Day, Some have suggested Columbus Day
be renamed Discoverers Day.
WHEN THESE DATES COME AROUND
NOT ONE MAJOR MEDIA NEWSPAPER,TV STATION, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST, WILL BRING THOSE
COMEMORATIONS UP ...WHEN WAS THE LAST YOU HEARD OR SAW THEM DO IT ???
HERE'S A QUESTION FOR THOSE ENROLLED IN VA HEALTH SERVICE
ON THESE
HOLIDAYS DOES THE VA HOSPITAL THAT YOU GO TO HAVE A REGISTERED PHARMACIST ON
DUTY ??.If not email vets@theususmat.com telling stating which VA hospital
doesn't.
VFW post
6863 ritual unit
IN MEMORIAM
The poem The Honor Guard
was inspired by this group (VFW post 6863) and the thousands throughout the US
sponsored by a veterans orgainization.
Photo by VFW IL Dept
state photog Vern Humphries
Vern was a nmember of
DesPlaines Valley Memorial VFW post 6863 and passed away May 2006
National and departments are now driving posts and chapters
nuts with their 100% drives If you want membership first take care of your
comrades.
ABOVE ALL MAKE SURE THAT FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW THAT YOU ARE THERE
FOR THEM
..
....Outside da Tent.
Standing Outside Da Tent is dedicated to uncovering those abuses which can occur in veteran service organizations various posts and chapters by members or officers (cliques) toward a member or group of members which too often go undiciplined by the national organization.
Many conservative commentators like Sean Hannity began dumping on "major
media" for the biased reporting on the Donald Rumsfeld response to a question
about vehicle armor while in Bagdad . Did Hannity file the seer on his M1 and
squeeze the trigger causing it to fire too quickly ?(An old WWII trick)
Update Dec 26 2004 ...WWII, Dec 44. The "battle of the
bulge" the Sherman M3 tank with its low velocity 75mm gun which was wanted by
Gen George Patton because of its "maneuverabilty" and lightness. Later became
known as "death traps" as they were combatting the heavily armored German panzer
units whose high velocity 88mm shells would penetrate the Shermans armor bounce
around inside killing its crew.
The battle of the bulge
was a most trying time for the Americans. As the battle ensued anti biotics were
extracted from urine, food and supplies were in desperate short supply. Meals
were cut to once every two days.
The "Red Ball Express"
transportation units staffed mainly by blacks were chewed up as they rushed to
bring in supplies to the front in their unarmored "duce in a halfs". 2 plus ton
trucks used at that time to ferry troops and supplies. These were destroyed by
French Vichy partisains and German regulars working behind the lines using
improvised mines. Thousands of brave black soldiers unsung heros were were
killed. And armored units scrambled to beef up those "death trap Shermans" with
hastily aquired "scrap armor"..Needless to say despite those trials and
tribulations America won. Had there been the sniping by the media at that time
would we have won ?
Hannity initially accused "the media"
of distorting what seems to be the "you go to war with what you have" Rumsfeld
seemingly flippant response. NBC nightly news for example showed the entire
Rumsfeld response which was a detailed explaination of what was being done to
correct the situation. That "what you have" statement came in what could be best
explained as a brief fit of frustration at the end of his his explanation
attemtping to reassure the troops .ABC also ran the entire statement. I didn't
watch CBS so I don't know what they did and until Rather is gone and out the
door I won't watch CBS news.
Where Hannity is correct is
what happened when the affilates rebroadcast the news in their late night
newscasts which picked up the Rumsfeld out of context comment portraying it as
his response and where most of the disapproval polls on Rumsfeld stem from.
..
Once upon a time a long long time ago when
our fledgling nation had no medal for valor President Washington instituted The
Order Of The Purple Heart.At one time its ranking was equal to that of the later
instituted CMH (Congressional Medal of Honor).Which its why its official title
is "The Military Order Of" and I believe its the only US medal with that
distinction..Besides lying several times about being in Cambodia in 1968 during
President Nixon's tenure (he wasn't in office) TMOPH value has become so
politicized (Thank you Senator Kerry) that our armed forces should set stricter
standards for conditions of award even perhaps assigning the unit historian
making recomendations before its awarded as is done for the CMH.
Of the "Swities" complaining against Kerry one should remember that within
this group there are 2 type of complainents. Initially when they met in
Washington and held their Press Conference (which was ignored by the media)
their complaint and charge he was unfit to serve as CNC (commander in chief)
because of his public charges and subsequent book against members of his unit
and statements which subsequently were proven falacious.
Now we are learning that Viet Nam POW's report Kerry's statements were used
to coerce phoney confessions from them by their captors. Apparently he was
giving aid and comfort to the enemy for his own political expediency.And that is
the basis of their charge
Then a group from the main group of "Swifties" who served directly with
Kerry, during his time and after, (despite what he and media sycophants say)
decided to question the awarding of his medals.As has been revealed particularly
on the 3 Purple Hearts HIS CAMPAIGN ISSUE. Kerry apparently wrote him self up
for those commendations. Thus casting aspersions on every Military Order of the
Purple Heart recipient.
As far as his book is concerned one wounders what Saigon (Ho Chi Min city)
bar he was sitting at while on R and R picking up war storys being fed him by
grunts which saw an opportunity to spin a few tales to an unsuspecting swabie
?I'll bet that bar has a Kerry picture on their wall, but for sure one sits in
their war museum and as Senator from MA he has blocked certain awards for Viet
Namese emigrees.As far as this writer is concerned its been a tragedy and a
travesty that this man has reached this far.And the blame can be laid on
mainstream medias doorstep. Swiftboats link, to donate click to GameWardens Link
on their site please remember to go to back button swiftboats
;UPDATE...The US MAT has been campaigning to get the Illinois Secretary of
State to do a better job in their non profit division to shut down posts which
are not active One post in question was Sullivan-Woodlawn American Legion Post
757 has been disbanded There will more about this post later after certain facts
are checked. The VFW does a far better job than the American Legion in
disciplining errant posts. VA, has no teeth! Strange facts about WWII that you don't
hear in the current one book research ,revisions of history. Like
: WATCH FOR THIS UP COMMING ARTICLE
COMBINED POST HOMES DO THEY WORK ? HOW ARE THEY SET UP ?
The American Legion is still
handing out 100% pins and honors for maintaining their numerical strength which
means running around contacting drop outs,(2900s) instead of providing an
incentive to posts which lower their post membership median age,keep a wake
list, and visit vets homes or hospitals, Thats where the 100% effort should
go.
In the later stages of life a veteran may join and
devote his or her later years to the service of that organization only to be
smeared .Outside the tent is dedicated to reporting those
episodes.
(more on this later)
Comming Soon The
Shameful Period
Have Times have changed ? Will Posts and
Chapter members repeat WWII "No war but my war" attitude and be kicking and
screaming at the altar at their bringing in new members.
GI's Gulf Warriors on
active duty
SAVE All YOUR MEDICAL,
DENTAL, and SHOT RECORDS
Here is why Call
Ups.(re-treads)...
Medical is
restricted to 2 years after you leave.Then you must prove a service connection .
All the service connected organizations are
fighting VA Health service cutbacks JOIN A POST OR CHAPTER when you return Ruptured Ducks support a resolution by your post or chapter with
some teeth in it. Serious pun intended Dentists
Your Voice Is Needed On This Issue
Like too many medical plans the VA health plan is
no different. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE DENTAL SERVICE . You can get a hip
replacement, a pair of glasses but when it comes to teeth unless your teeth were
worked on during your tour of duty your out of luck. There is a crisis in one
area of medical care and that is not just nurses it is also in dentistry.Leading
colleges and universities which offered a comprehensive education in dentistry
are drawing back or no longer do so, and they are the institutions which the
poor relied on to get basic care for they offered their students the opportunity
to learn their craft and expertise while charging a modest fee to their
patients. One of the places vets on limited income should be able to go is to
the VA. Yet the VA's policies on dental discourage this while it has tie in's
with medical colleges throughout its system and vets benefit from it.Time to
include dental services as well
BR>...(NOTE the term " Ruptured Duck" came from a lapel pin given to
all discharged WWII and Korean warriors which showed a profile view of the US
symbol the bald eagle with one wing seeming to droop in flight.For more on this
and a slightly different version of the origin of the term (not a link) punch up
ruptured duck in msn or google search engines
In 1939 which other
country invaded Poland ?
(ans
Russia)
Which army liberated
Prague from the Nazi's and the SS?
(the American)(the Russian)(the
German)
ans German, A Russian unit sponsored by the
German army headed by Gen Vlasov (earlier theusmat editions misspelled the name
as Vassilov). For more on this check out Russian volunteers in the German Army
during WWIIhttp://www.feldgrau.com/
When Hitler took over the "Sudetenland" Which
other country invaded Czechoslovakia ?( ans Poland)
When Hitler first came to power which country stopped
him from invading Austria ?
(ans Italy)
Where is Gen George Patton buried ?
History Channel had it wrong the narrator actually said
Germany (Luxemburg)
WWII
Factoids.Charles Lindberg (Lucky Lindy also of peacenik America First fame )
flew "test runs" of the USN Corsair fighter plane in the Pacific and reportedly
had downed 2 Misubishi aircraft in the process of "testing".
The US Mat takes
a look at Couglin-Sanford American Legion Post 277 and Wayne Chitwood VFW post
10231 of Necedah Wisconsin who recently "burned their mortgage" to see how its
going
Post officers imput wanted
Besides your regular meetings do you
have too many meetings to go to?
Your imput wanted.
Which meetings
would you like to see less of ??? PLEASE USE BRAVENET EREPLY PAGE 14 OR LEAVE
MESSAGE IN GUESTBOOK PAGE 48
.VFW POST
6863 DESPLAINES VALLEY MEMORIAL CLUB ROOM,SUMMIT IL,(SW side Midway Airport area
Chicago), WERTELKAS(.50cent 10oz drafts (now closed ), PATRICK'S TAVERN, MARIANAS
PLACE,SOLOFRAS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL,ZIGGYS'S,WI Castle Rock-Petenwell lakes
area; VETERAN'S HALL NECEDAH WI a combined post operation American Legion & VFW 50 cent drafts every Tuesday,THE ROADHOUSE NECEDAH WI,SPOT IN THE WOODS ADAMS
WI,Check OUT "
Workin on da tent http:www.wizworksmat.us