Austin, Texas Chapter

The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin -December 2005

Commander's Comments At our November meeting, we heard Chief Master Sgt. Moncada give us a presentation about the Soldiers and Airmen deployed to Iraq and Afgahanistan and their families' sacrifices. She also gave a perspective of the National Guard involvement in Home Security in respect to Katrina and Rita. Chief Moncada's excellent presentation, laced with some levity, received much kudos at the close of the meeting. Again this year the pricing of the meal selections for our December meeting at the Austin Club is very reasonable. Companion Tom Anderson has arranged for live music entertainment for this gala event on Thursday, 8 December. I hope to see all of you at this very special meeting. ROTC Awards Please contribute to purchase of medals ($10.00 per) at December meeting or mail to Mary Kelso, 7502 Valleydale Drive, Austin, TX 78731 Meeting. 8 December 2005 The Austin Club (110 East Ninth Street). Please fill out the enclosed menu form and return it to Mary Kelso, 7502 Valleydale Drive, Austin, TX 78731 to arrive not later than 1 December.

Schedule: 1830-1930-Social 1930-1935 - Invocation & Salutes 1935-2045-Dinner 2045-2100-Break 2100-2115- Awards & Festivities 2115-2130-Adjourn Chaplain's Selection "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." - John 10: 10-11 Chapter Officers Commander - COL Szendrey  1st Vice Cmdr. - Vacant  2nd Vice Cmdr. - COL McVeigh  3rd Vice Cmdr. - COL Holland  Adjutant - COL Szendrey  Treasurer - LTC Kelso  Chaplain - CDR Cochran  Surgeon - MG Bernstein  Judge Advocate - COL Philips  Public Information - Ervalyn McVeigh

Legislation * The Senate voted to approve its budget reconciliation package (S. 1932) - a combination of spending cuts and benefits improvements. One key provision in the package would reverse a scheduled 4.4% reduction in Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors now scheduled for January. Instead, the Senate bill would substitute a 1% payment increase. Thousands of military beneficiaries already have difficulty finding doctors who will accept TRICARE patients. Medicare and TRICARE already are among the lowest-paying insurance programs in the country, and any further cuts would only prompt more providers to turn away military and elderly patients. Doctor participation is an even greater problem for TRICARE than for Medicare, because low payment rates are compounded by TRICARE- unique administrative requirements and lower patient volume. * By a vote of 93-5, the Senate approved an NMFA-backed amendment that would end the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset to the Survivor Benefit Plan.

Items of Interest * Recent news stories have raised concerns about the coming of Avian (Bird Flu), In an effort to educate service members and families about the virus, DoD has posted information on its Deployment  website  * The U.S. Department of Labor announced this week the annual (Sep 04-Sep 05) private sector Employment Cost Index (ECI) is 2.2%. That means, unless Congress legislates otherwise, the 2007 military pay raise will be 2.2%. .

 

The First Ironclad Warships . When we think of the dawn of ironclad warships, our thoughts generally turn to the famed Civil War battle between the USS Monitor and the Confederate ironclad Virginia (ex-USS Merrimack) at Hampton Roads, Virginia on March 9, 1862. This engagement officially heralded the dawn of a new era in naval warfare and the demise of the age of wood and sail. However, did you know that over two hundred and fifty years prior to this battle, ironclad warships thwarted the Japanese invasion of Korea? The ships in question were designed, built, and implemented by one of Korea's most beloved historical figures - Admiral Yi Sun Shin (1545-1598). Utilizing vessels known as Kobukson or "turtle ships". Admiral Yi defeated the Japanese naval forces from 1592-1598 during the Hideyoshi invasions. These Kobukson were low-decked ironclad galleys that possessed iron overhead coverings with large spikes and blades to discourage any boarding attempt. They also were equipped with heavy iron rams and multiple cannons that fired from gun ports along the sides and stem. The ship's bow was fitted with a dragon head through which a cannon could be fired or embers could be burned to create a smoke screen. Finally, the "turtle ships" employed a number of archers who fired incendiary arrows at the sails and rigging of the enemy. The efficacy to which Admiral Yi utilized his Kobukson is amazing. In July of 1592, he destroyed approximately 70 enemy ships in Hansando.

On September 16, 1597, he led 12 turtle ships against 133 Japanese ships in the Myongnyang Straits and sank 31 enemy ships while forcing the rest to retreat. In fact, Admiral Yi apparently did not lose a single battle against the Japanese until the last battle of the Hideyoshi invasions when a stray bullet struck him. With the death of Admiral Yi Sun Shin, the concept of heavily armed, ironclad warships was lost. However, his achievements were preserved through his many victories at sea which altered the course of history. Thought for the Day When the Crusades began, it wasn't just the clash of swords that could be heard in battle, it was the clash of cultures. East vs West, Crescent vs Cross, Faith against Faith. Yet neither King, nor Sultan, nor Pope could have predicted that well over 900 years later, we would still be dealing with the consequences. The Crusades. It started with a belief. No one could know where it would end. - Smithsonian