stored, and relocated to another city park. Peggy and I wish you very Happy Holidays!
A GENTLE RESPONSE What a powerful scene Luke has presented to us! In the gentleness of her soul, Mary offers the beautiful testimony quoted
above. She gives all of the glory to God.
"We were exposed to the Spanish fire, but there was very little
because just before we started, why, the Gatling guns opened up at the
bottom of the hill, and everybody yelled, The Gatlings! The Gatlings!
and away we went. The Gatlings just enfiladed the top of those trenches.
Wed never have been able to take Kettle Hill if it hadnt been for
Parkers Gatling guns."[ Under continuous fire, the advance began to slow as troops dropped from
heat exhaustion. Officers from the rest of Wood's brigade along with
Carrol's brigade began to bunch up under fire. When the regulars punched
toward the top of the hill, the units became intermingled. The regulars
involved were part of the all-black 10th Cavalry "Buffalo
Soldiers". One of the 10th's officers who took part in the attack,
Lt. John J.
"...the entire command moved forward as coolly as though the
buzzing of bullets was the humming of bees. White regiments, black
regiments, regulars and Rough Riders, representing the young manhood of
the North and the South, fought shoulder to shoulder, unmindful of race or
color, unmindful of whether commanded by ex-Confederate or not, and
mindful of only their common duty as Americans." When the American formations (10th, 3rd & 1st Vol.) reached the
summit of Kettle Hill, they fought briefly hand to hand within the Spanish
defensive works. After a brief skirmish the Spanish retreated. The first
American soldier to reach the crest of Kettle Hill is documented as Sgt.
George Berry of the "Negro" 10th Cavalry. Sergeant Berry took
his unit colors and that of the 3rd Cavalry to the top of Kettle Hill
before the Rough Riders' flag arrived. This is supported in the writings
of "Black Jack" Pershing who fought with the 10th on Kettle Hill
and who was present when Col. Roosevelt reached the top of Kettle Hill.
It appears that politics and racial discrimination led to many myths about
the fighting in Cuba where the African-Americans were involved. General Linares's troops on San Juan heights began to fire on the
American newly-won position on the crest of Kettle Hill. The Americans in
turn began to fire on entrenched Spanish troops on the hills in front of
them. Seeing the 'spontaneous advance' of the 1st Infantry Brigade led by the
10th Cavalry, General Wheeler (having returned to the front) gave the
order for Col. Kent to advance with his whole division while he returned
to order the 3rd Brigade into the attack. General Kent sent forward the
3rd Infantry Brigade now effectively commanded by Lt. Col. Ezra P.
Ewers to join the advance of the 1st Infantry Brigade and part of
the 10th Cavalry Regiment, who had successfully reached the heights. Witnessing the assault on San Juan Hill, Col. Roosevelt decided to
cross the steep ravine from Kettle Hill to San Juan Hill to support the
fighting still going on there. Calling for his men to follow him, he ran
forward, only to find just five of the Rough Riders following him (most
had not heard his command). Roosevelt returned and gathered together a
larger group of his men, leading them down the western slope of Kettle
Hill, past a small lagoon, and up the northern extension of San Juan Hill,
but the fighting was over for the top of the heights. General Summer
intercepted Roosevelt and ordered him back to Kettle Hill immediately to
prepare for the expected counterattack. When he returned his men were
exhausted and his horse was again spent from the heat. A counterattack
directed at Kettle Hill by some 600 Spanish infantry was stopped primarily
by the fire of a single ten-barreled .30 Gatling Gun manned by Sergeant
Green of the Gatling Gun Detachment, which (according to Spanish officers
captured after the attack) killed or wounded all but 40 of the Spanish
attackers.
The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin- December 2011
It seems that it was only a few months ago that I wrote "Happy
Holidays!" for last year's Companion Bulletin. It is said that time
passes fast when you are having fun and we have had a blessed year with
outstanding presenters and programs. Our year's final guest speaker, an encore appearance, was no exception.
Once again Colonel Jeanne Arnold made a very interesting and
educational presentation on Afghanistan. With her was Red Team Operations
Officer LTC Eric Johnson who accompanied Colonel Arnold on special
assignments and missions. The two provided a great deal of insight into
their recent assignment to the area, in addition to answering questions.
We were honored also to have in attendance several other members of
Colonel Arnold's Red Team and their spouses. We salute Companion
Bullard--father of Colonel Arnold--for arranging the program and for hosting nine guests!
We were also happy to welcome back to our meeting Companions Ray
Sanchez and Anne Buhls of the CAPT Robert Dilworth, USN Chapter, Georgetown.
Congratulations to Companion J. R. Howard on being awarded the Silver
Patrick Henry award for his outstanding patriotic achievement, services
and generous commitment to AMOWW!
As reported at the last meeting, the city is closing Waterloo Park for
four years to allow a major public works project to transform Waller
Creek. The three MOWW Monuments dedicated to the memory of fallen Austin
and Travis County service members of the Korean War; Viet Nam Conflict;
the Beirut, Lebanon Peacekeeping; and Persian Gulf, Desert Storm will be removed,
The Austin Parks and
Recreation Department will continue to update us on the status of these
monuments during the progress of the project.
As it was last year, we will not have a December meeting. We will not
receive a call from our Adjutant. Instead, we are invited to join the
Austin Military Officers Association of America (AMMOA) at its
dinner-dance on December 14, 2011, at 1830 hours at Camp Mabry in the
Headquarters Dining Hall (Bldg. 8). Corky Robinson and his band will
provide music and dinner will be catered by Gumbo's. Non-AMOAA members
should make reservations by sending a check payable to AMOAA in the amount
of $25.00 per person to Treasurer AMOAA, P.O. Box 1071, Austin, Texas,
78767-1071 (to ARRIVE not later than Friday, December 9, 2011). The dress
for the evening is coat & tie or military dress uniform.
Please remember your contributions to sponsor or to assist in the
sponsorship of students for the 2012 Youth Leadership Conference and the
ROTC programs! You may contact Companion McVeigh at 261-6272.
Our 12 January 2012 program will feature Dr. Nancy Oelklaus, a
volunteer on the district judging team of H.E. B's Excellence in Education
awards program. Additional information will be provided in the next issue
of the Companion Bulletin.
---COL Leon Holland, USA (Ret.)
Next Meeting. December 14 at Camp Mabry
MOWW Scripture and Commentary
December 2011
(Chaplain Ernie Dean)
And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliest
of his servants.
Surely, from now on all generations will
call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
Luke 1:46-49
Earlier in Chapter l, Mary has been told by the Angel Gabriel that she is to
have a child-not just any child-but the Son of God. (vs. 32). She does not
understand all that is taking place, yet in her total trust and faithfulness,
she speaks from her heart:
"I am the Lord's servant," said Mary; may
it happen to me as your have said."
Powerful, but gentle! Poignant! Moving! We are attracted to Mary's response
because it is in such contrast to the hectic world that bombards us with
self-serving, arrogant, and materialistic attitudes so lacking in civility.
God chose Mary for a special role in bringing hope to the world. What is our
role? What is it you and I can offer that makes the world a better place to be,
a world with hope, peace, promise and love? The blessing of Christmas is not in
how many new and trendy goodies we have, but in how new and strong is our faith.
Ponder. What does God want for Christmas? For the world God created? For us? God
is about holy relationships, an abiding and ever emerging sense of community,
mutual support, and covenant. God wants all we are and all we can be, no split
allegiances, but all we are and have directed to God.
Let this holy season be the time we truly surrender self to our merciful,
grace-filled, healing, all-wise God. When we do we will achieve a whole new and
enlarged definition and understanding of what it means to be blessed (v. 48)
I hope and pray all of us can be comfortable with this response, for it is
gentle, but it is also so very powerful!
Holiday scams
Fake charities
Fake cashiers checks
Fake vacation rentals
Nondelivery of stuff bought online
Phishing scams
Items - off-of-a-truck scam
Limited quantities
Bait and switch
Posing as a person from the VA etc.
Charging veterans for normally free service
Fraudulent investment schemes
Health
Fraud Scams
Have you ever heard of Evacuation Day? Do you know where 11,500 Continentals died?
Health care benefits for military members, retirees, and their families
are, and have always been, as provided by law, and the law has never promised
free health care for life." The law provides free medical care for service
members on active duty and their families, said Peter Graves, a spokesman for
the assistant defense secretary for health affairs
Operation Firing for Effect (OFFE) is a veterans advocacy group whose
mission among other things, is to draw public awareness and media attention to
serious problems facing our former military personnel and their families. One of
these is how our veterans are treated in divorce courts. They site many
examples where the veteran was abused by divorce lawyers. www.offe.org
Many of these items from RAO Bulletin
You can get a few flu shot at Austin's VA clinic if you are enrolled in their
program. Their number is 389-1010
Chapter Officers
Commander Col Leon Holland 335-1224
Vice Commander
Treasurer Col Andrew McVeigh 261-6272
Adjutant Mrs.
Patricia Egan 750-1399
Chaplin LtCol
Ernest S. Dean 477-5390
Youth Leadership
ConferenceLtCol
Thomas W. Anderson 445-4480
ROTC Awards Col
Leon Holland 335-1224
Newsletter & Web Site LtCol
J. Robert Howard 848-0285 Schedule:
1830-1900 - Social
1900-1905 - Invocation & Salutes
1905-1945 - Dinner
1945-2000 - Break
2000-2045 - Program
2045-2100 - Adjourn.
The House & Senate have overwhelmingly passed legislation offering a host
of new job training programs for veterans and offering employers up to $9,600
for hiring them. But it could take months before veterans see any benefits
VA researchers have a prosthetic arm that patients can control just by thinking
about it. It's called brain-computer interface, according to Dr. Joel Kupersmith,
VA's chief research and development officer. \We have a woman who . just by
her thoughts . can grab a ball swinging on a string and move it around. The
thoughts are recorded with electrodes on the skull, and [patients] can drive
prosthetic arms or wheelchairs..
" Things are only impossible until they're not. "
-- Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment
that allows the surviving spouses of all disabled veterans to continue claiming
an exemption from state property tax after the veteran dies.
Blood Pressure. According to the Society of Vascular Surgery, petting a
dog reduces both blood pressure and heart rate. People who own dogs also tend to
get more exercise, a key factor in keeping blood pressure at healthy levels.
"There is nothing impossible to him who will try."
- Alexander The Great
Kettle Hill
Charge of the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill by Frederic Remington. In
reality, they assaulted San Juan Heights and the portion later called
"Kettle Hill" by the Americans. The 1st Volunteers (Rough
Riders), along with the 3rd Cavalry regiment, began a near simultaneous
assault with the regulars of the 10th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) up Kettle
Hill, supported by the fire of three Gatling guns commanded by Lt. John H.
Parker. Trooper Jesse D. Langdon of the 1st Volunteer Infantry, who
accompanied Col. Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in their assault
on Kettle Hill, reported:
"Black Jack" Pershing, would later reach the highest
rank ever held in the United States Army by a living officerGeneral of
the Armies. Pershing later recalled that:
Charge
of the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill by Frederic Remington. In reality,
they assaulted San Juan Heights and the portion later called "Kettle
Hill" by the Americans. ... Wikipedia