The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin- February 2011

Words from the Commander: NOTICE: This month we meet on the first Thursday, February 3, 2011 It is February and we are off to a roaring year. Our first speaker of 2011 was most interesting and made a little talked about, but serious topic, informative and entertaining while lacing it with wit and wisdom. Andrew Patterson, brother of Companion John Patterson, shared his personal heart transplant story--the events leading to the surgery--up until the present time, some 17 years later. He dispelled and demystified several myths and led a candid discussion regarding organ- and tissue-donor and recipient programs and processes. One of the important facts I recall is: When one decides to be a donor, it is important to inform one"s spouse and next-of-kin. The reason is even if you have indicated it on your driver's license or other documents, the final decision will be made by the appropriate next-of-kin or guardian. Once again, we thank John and Rosa for sponsoring Andrew and Wes Lokken for the gentle nudge. This month our speaker is sponsored by Companion Conrad Dredeyn. We are pleased to have Major Miguel Torres, Executive Officer, Texas Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Camp Mabry. MAJ Torres was born in Ciudad Delicias, Chichuahua, Mexico in 1966. He completed US Army Basic training in 1986 and has served on active and inactive duty for over eighteen years. He will provide an overview of his experiences and, also interesting insight into current initiatives of his battalion. It will be an informative and interesting discussion, so don't miss out! Mark your calendar for February 3rd.

This month I highlight the dedicated work of one of our staff, Companion Tom Anderson with our Youth Leadership Program. For the past several years, Tom has been faithfully committed to ensuring that the students that we sponsor in the leadership camps are informed and transported to the designated camps. So next time you see Tom, tell him how much you appreciate him. As an aside, a few of you may not know that our own Tom is a living legend. When you have the opportunity, just "Google" "Tom Anderson at UT Austin" and you will note accolades given to him for his many years of talented and dedicated "concerts" which he renders three times a week on the UT Carillon. See the article "Ring Those Bells" and you will learn interesting details about his three-times-a- week procedure for sending the beautiful sounds from the Tower across campus and to adjacent neighborhoods at 1250 hours. Tom has been the faithful carillonneur off-and- on since 1952. Actually, there have been many more "on" years than "off" years. Keep those bells ringing, Tom! In closing, remember succession planning is vital for the sustainment of an organization…hint, hint, hint. Finally, we are tentatively covered for programs through May, but continue to welcome suggestions and recommendations for future months. We are looking forward to seeing you on February 3rd. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL!---COL Leon Holland, USA (Ret.) Next Meeting. February 3  at the Holiday Inn Northwest (Mopac & Hwy 183).  Please join us.

MOWW Scripture and Commentary February 2011             (Chaplain Ernie Dean)      In Chapter 65, Isaiah speaks of God's new kingdom. This is a powerful word of hope and promise built on the solid foundation of God's loving purposes. The Lord says, "I am making a new earth and new heavens. The events of the Past will be completely forgotten. Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. The New Jerusalem I make will be full of joy and her people will be happy." (Vv. 17-19)      Wolves and lambs will eat together; lions will eat straw, as cattle do, and snakes will no longer be dangerous. On Zion, my sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil." (v.25) (See also Isaiah 11)      This sounds like the Kingdom of God to me! How about you? I have no doubts whatsoever that God's final plan is to put back together the perfect creation described in Genesis 1 and 2. We humans have a covenant with God to take care of things; dominion, authority (Gen. 1:26) carry with them responsibility! We have not lived up to the charge that is ours. Yet, in spite of our weaknesses, God remains faithful in love, full of grace. We in MOWW live comfortably and safely in a well cared for environment; that is far from truth for much of the world. Yet, the promise in Isaiah remains true for today, for all God's children. And what we have described by Isaiah is life marked by justice and peace. It is mind-boggling to reflect on the tremendous possibilities for all of life would we subscribe to God's will rather than our own.      Hear these words from a prayer out of the civil rights movement of the 1960's. It is a prayer seeking the power of the living God. O God, send us the power of your Holy Spirit. You know the battle is hard and the journey is long. We can't make it without you. (Christian Century, 11/02/10,p.21)      Now is the moment to commit ourselves to God's holy vision of wholeness, togetherness, relationship. Now is the time to find one significant action we can take to live out that commitment. Thanks be to God. Amen! "Nothing is as strong as the heart of a volunteer."         - -Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle, WWII

Aid & Attendance   The veterans of our country are entitled to health benefit programs from our federal government; however few take advantage of the Non-Service Connected Improved Pension benefit, commonly referred to as the Aid and Attendance benefit. The programmes purpose is to assist veterans, as well as spouses, widows or widowers of veterans, with paying up to $1,949 per month in assistance for their out-of-pocket medical costs. Benefits continue for as long as the Veteran or their spouse is living. This program offers veterans "This little known veterans' benefit could potentially become a significant source of financial aid for long-term care services provided either at home or in a facility. Though nearly 1/3 of veteran seniors qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefit, government statistics show that only 5% are actually receiving it. To qualify, the veteran must be at least 65 years of age or have a medical qualification of disability, meaning he or she requires the regular assistance of another person to perform daily tasks. The veteran must have served 90 days or more of active duty for any branch of the armed services with just one day served during an official war time period, as designated by Congress. Veterans who were dishonorably discharged do not qualify. Widows or widowers of veterans are eligible to participate in these benefits, if they qualify medically and/or financially. Applicants may only receive the Aid and Attendance benefit if they are no longer actively serving "It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every citizen who enjoys the protection of a free government, owes not only a portion of his property, but even of his personal service to the defense of it." -George Washington This is beginning of the end, or as Churchill put it:" The end of the beginning."  (From Buzzle.com)

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 Conference LtCol 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. There are too many people, and too few human beings. --- Robert Zend [Philosopher]

 

About the Speaker Major Miguel (Mike) A. Torres has over 24 years of service including five years of enlisted service. He received his ROTC commission in 1990. He is the current Executive Officer for the Texas Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion. The role of the National Guard is to provide troop support for the US Armed Forces both domestically and abroad. In addition to performing traditional Executive Officer duties, MAJ Torres supervises the Recruiting and Retention Battalion's personnel, marketing, and budget operations. In previous assignments, MAJ Torres has served, while on active duty, as Joint Area Support Group Installations Director, Battalion Officer-in-charge, Executive Officer, Region IV Commander, Battalion Rear Detachment Commander, and Commander of the Region IV Airport Security in El Paso, TX. He has also served an assortment of critical positions while not on active duty with HHB 3-133 FA, Texas Army National Guard. MAJ Torres earned his BS (Criminal Justice) degree from the University of Texas-El Paso and his MA (Business Management) degree from Webster University. He graduated from Ysleta High School in 1984. Among his military training includes the completion of Recruiting and Retention Force Leadership Course, Phases I - III Intermediate Level Education, US Field Artillery Officer Advance Course, US Field Artillery Officer Advance Course, US Infantry Officer Basic Course, US Army Airborne School, Advanced Individual Training/Combat Medic School, and Army Basic Training. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal. Army Commendation Medal 2nd Award, Army Achievement Medal 3rd Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal 5th Award, National Defense Service Medal 2nd Award, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal,  and the Parachutist Badge. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974... That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important. "Oh Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I in my haste forget Thee; do not Thou in Thy grace forget me." -- Sergeant Major General Sir Jacob Astley before the Battle of Edgehill, 23 Oct 1642 "

 

First Barbary War Declaration of war and naval blockade.  On Jefferson's inauguration as president in 1801, Yusuf Karamanli, the Pasha (or Bashaw) of Tripoli, demanded $225,000 from the new administration. (In 1800, Federal revenues totaled a little over $10 million.) Putting his long-held beliefs into practice, Jefferson refused the demand. Consequently, in May 1801, the Pasha declared war on the United States, not through any formal written documents but in the customary Barbary manner of cutting down the flagstaff in front of the U.S. Consulate. Algiers and Tunis did not follow their ally in Tripoli.     In response, Jefferson sent a group of frigates to defend American interests in the Mediterranean, and informed Congress. Although Congress never voted on a formal declaration of war, they did authorize the President to instruct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States to seize all vessels and goods of the Pasha of Tripoli "and also to cause to be done all such other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war will justify."     The schooner USS Enterprise defeated the 14-gun Tripolitan corsair Tripoli after a fierce but one-sided battle on August 1, 1801.     In 1802, in response to Jefferson's request for authority to deal with the pirates, Congress passed "An act for the Protection of Commerce and seamen of the United States against the Tripolitan cruisers", authorizing the President to "... employ such of the armed vessels of the United States as may be judged requisite ... for protecting effectually the commerce and seamen thereof on the Atlantic ocean, the Mediterranean and adjoining seas."     The American navy went unchallenged on the sea, but still the question remained undecided. Jefferson pressed the issue the following year, with an increase in military force and deployment of many of the navy's best ships to the region throughout 1802. USS Argus, USS Chesapeake, USS Constellation, USS Constitution, USS Enterprise, USS Intrepid, USS Philadelphia and USS Syren all saw service during the war under the overall command of Commodore Edward Preble. Throughout 1803, Preble set up and maintained a blockade of the Barbary ports and executed a campaign of raids and attacks against the cities' fleets. Battles Battle of Tripoli Harbor and Battle of Derne     In October 1803, Tripoli's fleet was able to capture USS Philadelphia intact after the frigate ran aground while patrolling Tripoli harbor. Efforts by the Americans to float the ship while under fire from shore batteries and Tripolitan naval units failed. The ship, its captain, William Bainbridge, and all officers and crew were taken ashore and held as hostages. The Philadelphia was turned against the Americans and anchored in the harbor as a gun battery.     On the night of February 16, 1804, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a small contingent of the U.S.'s first Marines in the captured Tripolitan ketch rechristened USS Intrepid, to deceive the guards on board the Philadelphia and float close enough to board the captured ship. Decatur's men stormed the vessel and overpowered the Tripolitan sailors standing guard. With support from American ships, the Marines set fire to the Philadelphia, denying her use to the enemy. The bravery in action of Lieutenant Stephen Decatur made him one of the first American military heroes since the Revolutionary War. The British Admiral Horatio Nelson, himself known as a man of action and bravery, is said to have called this "the most bold and daring act of the age."     Preble attacked Tripoli outright on July 14, 1804, in a series of inconclusive battles, including a courageous but unsuccessful attack by the fire ship USS Intrepid under Captain Richard Somers. Intrepid, packed with explosives, was to enter Tripoli harbor and destroy itself and the enemy fleet; it was destroyed, perhaps by enemy guns, before achieving that goal, killing Somers and his crew.     The turning point in the war came with the Battle of Derna (April–May 1805). Ex-consul William Eaton, who went by the rank of general, and US Marine First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led a mixed force of eight United States Marines and 500 Greek, Arab, and Berber mercenaries on a march across the desert from Alexandria, Egypt to assault and to capture the Tripolitan city of Derna. This is the first time in history that the United States flag was raised in victory on foreign soil. This action was memorialized in a line from the Marines' Hymn—"the shores of Tripoli."  ... Wikipedia