Austin, Texas Chapter
J. Robert Howard Obituary: It is with a sad heart that I am informing you that Charles P.
Szendrey, our friend and neighbor of 17 years, passed away peacefully on
Sunday, 11/23/2008. Charles became a victim of the cancer that first
inflicted him in 2003. He fought valiantly, but in the end he was just not
able to overcome this terrible disease. He is survived by his wife Joan,
his daughter Drew Ann Liston, his son-in-law Darrell Liston, and his
grandson Alex Liston. Charles was cremated and interred in Arlington Cemetery, Washington
D.C. It was Charles’ wish to not have a funeral service. His wife, Joan,
and daughter, Drew Ann Liston, have requested that donations to the
American Cancer Society be made in lieu of flowers. We will all miss Chuck. His neighbors and friends,
18. But the Lord says, "Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on
what happened long ago. 19. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is
happening already-you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness
and give you streams of water there. God is One who cherishes tradition and history, but One, also, who looks to
the future with hopeful anticipation. In Isaiah 43, there is great drama as God
promises to rescue God's people. God says, "Do not be afraid-I will save
you. I have called you by name…you are mine." (v.1) Then Isaiah looks at
the plight of the people, captive in Babylon (v.14). But, God expects a loyal
witness from believers so that the troubles of the past do not become a burden
and lead to loss of hope. Those folk, and we of this day, are asked to hear of
new possibilities, new life, and a living hope. In verse 19, Isaiah makes
reference to "streams of water," water always being a sign of vibrant
life. Any time, every time, but particularly in unsettling times, it is wise to
hold firm to our faith in the One who created us, and continues to create us in
new ways. Isaiah, speaking for God, has given us a word of hope, a word on which
to build our faith. Let's join together in mind, body, and soul to "watch
for the new thing" God is planning for our lives. Let us remember, also,
God expects us to help ourselves. We are not to sit back and just wait for God
to do some big "new thing." We join in and work along side God, a holy
relationship! This is our most solid hope for a good New Year!
• Post-9/11 GI Bill: As of August 1, 2009, the new GI Bill will cover the
full tuition at any state/public college or university, plus a stipend for books
and housing. Additionally, eligible members willing to extend their current
service for four or more years will be able to transfer the new benefits to a
spouse and/or child(ren).
The Association for all Military Officers
Companion
Bulletin-January 2009
Once again Stan Bullard
provided our chapter with a wonderful Christmas program He not only scheduled
the program, but he really provided The
Wondering Minstrels. The
Minstrels sang some music from the Opera, and, of course, some traditional
Christmas songs. After finding it was becoming difficult to meet our needs at
the Austin Club, Col McVeigh negotiated a new Christmas party location. The
Holiday Inn provided us with double the space, a better price, and were very attentive
to our needs. They really supported us with outstanding food and
service for the price we pay. Many thanks to Stan, Andrew, and the
Holiday Inn.
Harry Elliott gave the chapter $150 which is going toward our
Junior and Senior Reserve Officer Training Program Awards Program. Thank you
Harry
Our speaker for this month was Lt.
Gen. Charles G. Rodriguez, the Adjutant General for the State of Texas.
Unfortunately, the second Thursday in January is the 8th, and the BCS scheduled
a competitive football game on that night. In fairness to our speaker,
we decided to reschedule his visit which has slipped to a later month. I
hope you will watch the title match on the 8th, and root for the Big Twelve
Representative.
See you in February,
Chapter Commander
Our next meeting will be February
12th
Holiday Inn Northwest (Mopac & Hwy 183)
Cal & Emily Lake
Inspiration Selection
MOWW: Scripture and Commentary January 2009
Isaiah 43: 18-19, "Watch for the New Thing!"
Chaplain Ernie Dean
LEGISLATIVE : Congress approved many other
initiatives sought by The Military Coalition:
• Medicare/Tricare Physician Payments: Reversed a 10.6% cut in payments to
doctors that would have threatened military beneficiaries' access to quality
care, and substituted a 1.1% increase.
• Military Pay Raise: Won a 3.9% military pay raise for active duty, Guard,
and Reserve troops (one-half percentage point higher than the defense budget
request).
• Tricare Fees: Barred a Pentagon proposal to impose large health fee
increases for retirees under 65 and retail pharmacy copays for all Tricare
beneficiaries.
• Reserve Tricare Premiums. Won a major reduction in Tricare Reserve Select
premiums for currently serving Guard/Reserve members and families, effective in
JAN 09.
• Preventive Care Services: Authorized the Pentagon to waive copays and
deductibles for certain preventive health services to encourage military
beneficiaries to pursue healthy lifestyles.
• Tax Issues: Authorized disabled military retirees to file up to five years
of amended income tax returns in the event of delays in award of a VA disability
rating. Authorized survivors to deposit the $100,000 military death gratuity
into an IRA.
• Paternity Leave: Authorized 10 days of leave, in addition to regular leave,
to allow military fathers to bond with a newborn child.
• In-state tuition: All states must now provide continuity of in-state tuition
when military parents move (14 states did not at the beginning of 2008)....RAO
I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap.
-- Bob Hope
TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS UPDATE 03: Despite an economic crisis that has
organizations from small-town mom-and-pop shops to local and national
governments tightening their belts, the Department of the Army still refuses to
accept a donation from a Glenwood Springs CO man that could save it millions of
dollars. The donation in question is a 118,000-pound slab" of marble,
valued at just over $31,000, from "the Yule Quarry in Marble, Colo."
Retired Glenwood car dealer John Haines has been trying to donate the marble
since 2003. It "would replace the cracked Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington
National Cemetery, but procedure dictates that all government jobs must go
through a pricey bidding process, thereby disqualifying Haines' donation.
[Source: AP article 8 Dec 08 +]
Military Times has received more than 100 letters from troops saying they were
sickened by fumes from the burn pits, which burned plastics, petroleum products,
rubber, dining-facility waste and batteries at Joint Base Balad in Iraq.
KBR and Halliburton are being sued for not treating water and improperly
operating the burn pits. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), chairman of the Senate
Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has asked that the co-chairs of the Defense
Department and Veterans Affairs Oversight Committee begin a review of
environmental toxins — including those coming from burn pits — at bases in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Staff Meeting
The next staff meeting will be at the call of the Commander.
The total number currently on active
duty in support of the partial mobilization of the Army National Guard
and Army Reserve is 97,824; Navy Reserve, 5,885; Air National Guard and
Air Force Reserve, 11,080; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,536; and the Coast
Guard Reserve, 858.
The U.S. Naval Observatory's Master Clock Facility in Washington will
add a "leap second" Dec. 31, 2008 in coordination with the
world's atomic clocks
New York now joins eleven other cities, including Boston, Miami
and Seattle, in re-directing cardiac arrest cases to hospitals offering
cooling therapy – a technique that has been shown to reduce brain
damage and deaths.
The New York office of Veterans Affairs is among the slowest in
the nation to process new disability claims, with local veterans
languishing six months or longer in one of three cases. "It is much
higher than we would like," said Michael Walcoff, the VA's deputy
undersecretary of benefits. "It is something we have been concerned
about." Only the Detroit regional office, where 33.3% of claims
take at least six months, processed claims slower than New York as of
Nov. 15, according to VA data.
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and
to have the two as close together as possible. -- George Burns
A study by
the National Institute of Health shows that most Americans only gain 2 pounds at
the most during the six-week period between Thanksgiving and New Years
CANTIGNY, FIRST BATTLE OF THE AEF May 28 - 30, 1918
As the third spring offensive of the German Army was getting underway along
the Aisne River, the first American attack of the war took place to the west
at Cantigny, a village near Montdidier in the Somme region. It had fallen to
the enemy Eighteenth Army during the first spring offensive in March. The 1st
Division was moved to the sector in late April. The Germans spent most of the
month of May enthusiastically pounding the Yanks with artillery and gas. It
was only learned afterwards that Ludendorff had ordered any new American
formations singled out for 'special treatment'.
After bearing up well under its nightly initiation rite, the Division was
ordered to take highly fortified Cantigny to test its offensive capabilities.
The town was captured on the first day of the assault (28 May) with the
Division's 28th Infantry Regiment in the lead. After taking over 200
prisoners, the Americans withstood a series of strong counterattacks which
died out during next two days.
The victors suffered 1,603 casualties including 199 killed. Although
Cantigny was a local operation, it boosted Allied morale to see the AEF
finally on the offensive. With the deployment of the 2nd and 3rd divisions to
the defense of Chateau-Thierry quickly following this small victory, the
German high command were shown that the long-feared American infusion of
manpower was becoming a reality.
Source: "Cantigny" in: AN ILLUSTRATED COMPANION TO THE FIRST
WORLD WAR, Anthony Bruce
THE ATTACK
The 28th Infantry attacked CANTIGNY at 6:45 am, May, 28, 1918, after violent
artillery preparation of one hour. The regiment advanced in three lines. The first line closed in to within
forty to fifty yards of the barrage, which progressed at the rate of 100
meters in two minutes. The second line rapidly closed on the first line in
order that all elements would be 200 yards from the old front line at H plus
10 minutes. This was done to lessen casualties should an enemy's barrage be
put down. The third line conformed to the advance. The objective was reached
as per schedule at 7:20 am. Patrols were immediately pushed forward, and
automatic rifle posts were established in shell holes on the line of
surveillance to cover the consolidation. The second line, which advanced,
consolidated with a line of trenches and wired the line of resistance. The
third line, on its arrival, began the consolidation of three strong points,
one about 200 meters east of the chateau in CANTIGNY, the second in the woods
at the northeastern exit of CANTIGNY, and the third at the cemetery just north
of CANTIGNY. "D" company of the 1st Engineers supervised the
consolidation of these strong points and the lines of surveillance and
resistance. Throughout, the attack progressed with slight resistance and with
practically no reaction on the part of the enemy artillery. The section of
French flame throwers proved invaluable in cleaning up the town of CANTIGNY
and driving the enemy out of dugouts. During the cleaning up of CANTIGNY, our
troops were engaged in minor fights, but for the most part, the objective was
gained with rapidity and with considerable ease.
Not before noon did the enemy artillery and machine gun fire become heavy.
From this time on and during the 72 hours following, the positions about
CANTIGNY were heavily shelled both by large and by small caliber guns. Enemy
machine gun fire was also heavy. At 7:30 am, a small enemy infantry
counter-attack was reported to have been delivered without success against the
BOIS FONTAINE. At 5:10 pm, the enemy launched from the western tip of the BOIS
FRAMICOURT another counter-attack. This was broken up by our artillery. The
attack was followed at 6:45 pm, after a heavy preparation and barrage fire, by
enemy infantry advancing in several waves from the southern and western edges
of the BOIS FRAMICOURT. The first wave succeeded in getting through before our
barrage was put down. It was driven back by infantry fire, and the following
waves were smothered by artillery fire. During the night of May 28-29, the two
companies of the 18th Infantry in reserve were ordered into the operation by
the C.G., 2nd Brigade to support the 28th Infantry.
Later, they were able to send the signal, "Woods now
entirely -US Marine Corps." from About.com: Military History