The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin- March 2011

Words from the Commander: By now, I trust that you have thawed, pipes have been repaired and plans to replace those unlucky plants are in place. Thanks are in order to all members who helped to collaborate on the decision to cancel our meeting last month due to the impending cold front. .Also, I thank all of you who volunteered to get the cancellation message out to those who had made reservations. Thankfully, our scheduled speaker for February agreed to rearrange his schedule to be with us this month. Thank you, Conrad for your efforts and coordination to make that happen. It is March and time to gear up for the ROTC awards this spring and the Summer Youth Leadership Conference. Contributions are always welcomed to support these very worthy initiatives. Those of you who are not perpetual members, do not forget to pay your annual dues so that our chapter can remain in good standing with National. As stated last month, our guest speaker is 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 March 10, 2011. I am waiting to hear from some of you to step forward to consider serving in a leadership position for our chapter next session. Also, keep looking for potential new members.

Last month, I highlighted the work Tom Anderson does for our chapter and his musical contributions to the community via the. University of Texas at Austin's Carillon. So do not forget to acknowledge his contributions and personally thank Tom the next time you see him. We are looking forward to seeing you on March 10th. And an early HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL! ---COL Leon Holland, USA (Ret.) Next Meeting. March 10  at the Holiday Inn Northwest (Mopac & Hwy 183).  Please join us. Frank Woodruff Buckles doesn't get out as much as he used to, and he doesn't have particularly big plans for his birthday tomorrow. But then, he is turning 110. He's the last known American veteran from World War I, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and one of only three survivors worldwide recognized for direct service during the war. The others, as British subjects... RAO "Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision." -- Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) "I am a soldier. I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight." - General George Patton "Gentlemen, when the enemy is committed to a mistake we must not interrupt him too soon." -British Admiral Horatio Nelson

MOWW Scripture and Commentary March 2011                  (Chaplain Ernie Dean) Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. (John 1:1-5)      Darkness is a challenge to us. Scary things come to mind for most folks when darkness is the issue. We want to "light up" our lives so we feel more secure, hopeful and positive. This is what God wants for us, too. It is not incidental that God created light in the very beginning of the creation process. This life-giving act of God was intentional, totally so. All manner of good followed the creation of light. Quite significantly, we ourselves are created with a spark of the light of God within us. (See Gen. 1)     When you and I focus on light we are demonstrating our desire to both live in the light and to expose that which is detrimental to life and face these negatives head on. There is a happy, upbeat song sung for years by young children in religious experiences: This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Our present time of major differences of philosophy and practice throughout the world calls powerfully for a turn to openness, civility, respect, truth and light. Darkness symbolizes fear, anger, hurt, threat. Light symbolizes a present and a future guided by mutual caring, respect, and nurture of the light of God within each and every one of God's children. That which is destructive, harmful, or causes stagnation of lives cannot stand "the light of day." It cannot prosper in the face of God's on-going decision to provide opportunities for light. But God calls us to watch for, listen for, and really see, hear, and obey the call to brightness over darkness.

The Psalmist provides us a most important word on this as he speaks of God's intention for life: Your word, O lord, is a lamp to guide me and light for my path. (Psalm 119,105) Eye Health Foods: New research published this month shows that fewer older Americans are developing macular degeneration --a major cause of vision loss and even blindness in older men and women. And the study suggests that a healthier diet --including leafy green vegetables and fish --could be one of the factors responsible for the decrease. Good stuff: Spinach, Salmon, Walnuts, Berries, Orange bell peppers, broccoli, tea, soy, eggs and avocados. ROA "They feed the crocodile in the hope that he will eat them last." - Winston Churchill's observation about appeasers. "There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but boys, it is all hell" - Major General William Tecumseh Sherman Nocturia: A new study finds that one in five U.S. men have to get up at least twice a night to empty their bladders -- which for some could signal an underlying medical problem or even contribute to poorer health. Known as nocturia, those frequent overnight trips to the bathroom can be a sign of a health condition, ranging from a urinary tract infection to diabetes to chronic heart failure. In men, a benign enlargement of the prostate can also be a cause. For some people, the constant sleep disruptions can themselves cause problems -- contributing to depression symptoms or, particularly in older adults, falls. On the other hand, getting up during the night to urinate can also be normal. If you drink a lot of fluids close to bedtime, for example, don't be surprised if your bladder wakes you up at night. Nocturia also becomes more common with age....ROA There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'

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. "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

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. USN Flyover. The U.S. Navy has been criticized for spending $450,000 dollars of taxpayers' money on a flyover at the Super Bowl  --while the stadium roof was closed....RAO  "Always take care of the poor horses." - General Robert E. Lee The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers. Your friends love you anyway. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

 

First Sumatran Expedition The island of Sumatra is renowned as an excellent source of pepper, and throughout history ships have come to the island to trade for it. In 1831 the American merchantman Friendship under Captain Charles Endicott had arrived off the chiefdom of Kuala Batee in order to secure a cargo of pepper. Various small trading boats darted back and forth along the coast trading pepper with the merchant ships waiting offshore. On February 7, 1831 Endicott and a few of his men went ashore to purchase some pepper from the natives when three proas attacked his ship, murdered the Friendship's first officer and two other of her crew, and plundered its cargo. Endicott and the other surviving members of his crew managed to escape to another port with the assistance of a friendly native chief named Po Adam. There they enlisted the help of three other merchant captains who agreed to help him recover his vessel. With their help, Endicott managed to retake his ship and eventually sailed back to Salem, Massachusetts. Upon reaching Salem there was a general public outcry against the massacre and in response President Andrew Jackson dispatched the frigate USS Potomac under Commodore John Downes to punish the natives for their treachery. Battle The Potomac reached Kuala Batee on February 5, 1832. Here Downes met Po Adam who advised them that the local Rajas would in no way be partial towards paying compensation for the attack on the Friendship. Commodore Downes then decided to disguise his ship as a Danish merchantman in order to keep the element of surprise in his favor. The disguise worked so well that when a party of Malays boarded the Potomac attempting to sell a cargo of pepper they were, much to their surprise, detained so as not to alert Kuala Batee of the real identity of the Potomac. Downes then sent a reconnaissance party to scout out the defenses of the port, but this was repulsed by the Malays. In addition to the three proas in the harbor,  five forts were found to be guarding the town with the majority of them near the coastline. Downes ordered a detachment of 282 marines and sailors into the ship's boats, some of which were equipped with a few of the Potomac's lighter cannon. It was from these boats that the sailors and marines of the Potomac burnt the Malay vessels in Kuala Batee's harbor and assaulted the town's forts while support from the guns of the Potomac herself were used to suppress the fire coming from the Malay forts. The modern rifles the Americans used were far superior to the outdated matchlock weapons of the Malays, but the natives fought fiercely and the fighting devolved into hand to hand combat in which one of the Rajas commanding the forts was killed along with about 150 other warriors. Only two Americans died during the attack and another eleven sailors and marines suffering injuries. After the coastal forts fell the remaining Malays fled towards the rear of the town where another fort lay, but instead of engaging the last remaining fort the Americans attacked the town itself. Large scale looting and pillaging occurred with a range of plunder being looted from the town as well as many civilians slain. Downes later ordered his men to return to the ship and bombarded the fifth fort as well as the town until its surviving leaders agreed to surrender, killing another 300 natives in the process. Aftermath The remaining Rajas begged for mercy and Downes informed them that if any American ships were attacked again, the same treatment would be given to the perpetrators. Other rajas from nearby states also sent delegations to the ship pleading that Downes spare them from the same fate as Kuala Batee. Downes left the area to continue his journey eventually circumnavigating the globe, stopping at Hawaii and entertaining that nation's king and queen aboard his vessel. Although some criticism arose from the fact that Downes did not attempt to negotiate a settlement by peaceable means, the general public was satisfied with his response and no action was taken against him. The troubles with Kuala Batee were not over though and in 1838 another ship was massacred and true to Downes' word another expedition under George C. Read bombarded Kuala Batee and attacked the village of Muckie..... Wikipedia