Austin, Texas Chapter

The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin- May 2010

 Words from the Commander:
 Words from the Commander;
Here it is May and the last meeting until Sept 2nd. Remember that the Sept meeting will be on the first Thursday instead of the usual 2nd Thursday. Same place, same time but just a dollar more. A bargain in anyone's book.
It has been a good year with good fellowship and a few new members. Not as many as I had hoped for, but quality all the way. The effort needs to be continued, so everyone, keep your eyes open for potential new members.
The search for officers willing to carry on the positions of responsibility in the Austin MOWW has not gone as well as desired. While most positions are filled, we still need a VP-1. This is a vital position and a nice challenge for any officer. If you have the time and can help us in this category please let us know.
I have enjoyed my year as Commander of the Chapter, and I especially thank Col McVeigh, Col Holland and LtCol Howard for their help and guidance.
Have a good safe summer, and we will see you the 2nd of September.
R. B. Rudy                              

Meeting.
Our next meeting will be May  13th  at the Holiday Inn Northwest (Mopac & Hwy 183)

Join us for an evening of socializing, dining, and an melodious presentation.

May PROGRAM  
 Women of Heart Song
Edie Elkjer  who is one of the  Music Together® instructors, is the fabulous director who not only gets women singing divinely together but also knows how to create a supportive, affirming, and nurturing community of women. Members will sing many styles of music, concentrating on three and four-part harmony and centering on the theme of mothers and womanhood

Our final program of the year is graciously being brought to you by the generosity of our own Stanley Bullard. We have heard this lovely group before and you will not want to miss them this month. Since this month ends my term as First Vice Commander ( Programs), I sincerely thank Stanley for sponsoring two programs this season, and I thank each of you who made suggestions for programs, who directed me to speakers, and to the McVeigh's who actually began our program this season. It has been an honor and a personal pleasure to bring a variety of topics and entertainment to our dinner meetings. As of this writing, we do not have anyone to fulfill this position for next year. However, the show will go on. As in the past, if anyone has suggestions or leads for an interesting program next year, do not keep it to yourself. Share the information. Again, thank you for your support and positive feedback on the programs we presented this year. Have an enjoyable summer and we will see you in September. Leon Holland



MOWW Scripture and Commentary
May 2010
(Chaplain Ernie Dean)

Happy are those who reject the advice of evil men, who do not follow the
example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they
find joy in observing the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night.
(Psalm 1:1-2)

"Go on, one more won't hurt you." "Don't worry, everybody does it." "It's my life, I'll do what I ____ well please."
Sound familiar? No doubt each one of us has heard such flimsy statements, or has uttered them ourselves. These are "empty" words because they do not lead us to growth or mature living. Therefore, such thoughts and statements carry a degree of evil as we are led away from right behavior to wrong behavior.
There is no sense in wallowing in our misery, for we have a marvelous alternative. God is the answer! The Word of God is our help. As we ponder the scripture quoted above, we see the wisdom of obedience to God's ways over our ways. No commandment is needed.
God's word is available at all times. To turn to this word for guidance is the best thing we can do. The word will never fail us, so we can bask in the joy and happiness God intends for us-always!
Yes, it is your life, it is my life, but we do not have license to live ignorantly or faithlessly. There is no happiness in such a life.

 PRESCRIPTION TRANSFERS: With all of the details involved in moving, transferring prescription medication may not be on the top of the list for many beneficiaries. In fact, it may not even be on the list. But for Tricare beneficiaries who regularly take prescription medications, some planning ahead will allow them to quickly transfer their prescriptions to their new military treatment facility (MTF) pharmacy or other Tricare pharmacy option. First off, before they move, beneficiaries should get the longest medication supply possible - generally up to 90 days for most prescriptions at an MTF or through Tricare Home Delivery or up to 30 days from the retail network pharmacy. Not all medications are stocked at every MTF. Beneficiaries may also want to check the availability of their medication at their new MTF before they move. In many cases, the pharmacy and physician can work out a new treatment plan for the patient. When the move is complete, if beneficiaries are going to use an MTF pharmacy, they should go there as soon as possible to transfer their prescriptions and remaining refills. If a medication is not stocked at the new MTF, or an MTF is not nearby, beneficiaries have two more choices: Tricare Home Delivery or retail network pharmacies. Neither option has a cost-share for active duty service members.

 
Chapter Officers

Commander Major Rylen Rudy452-9923
1st Vice
Commander		Col Leon Holland335-1224
Treasurer Col Andrew McVeigh261-6272
AdjutantMrs. Patricia Egan750-1399
ChaplinLtCol Ernest S. Dean477-5390
Youth Leadership
Conference		LtCol Thomas W. Anderson445-4480
ROTC AwardsCol Leon Holland335-1224
Newsletter & Web SiteLtCol J. Robert Howard848-0285

Schedule:

1830-1900 - Social
1900-1905 - Invocation & Salutes
1905-1945 - Dinner
1945-2000 - Break
2000-2045 - Program
2045-2100 - Adjourn.

Staff Meeting
The next staff meeting will be at the call of the Commander.

 
HOSPICE CARE  There is a common misconception that hospice services are only for those who are actively dying or in their last month of life. Not true! Hospice services can be initiated any time an individual meets the specific criteria based on his or her medical condition and functional status. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed eligibility criteria for nine specific conditions -cancer, dementia, failure to thrive, heart disease, liver disease, lung disease, kidney disease, stroke, and functional decline. Having a nursing assistant provide bath and personal care can be tremendous relief for a family. The nurse eases relative's anxiety and the burden of handling all the small details that go along with maintaining comfort in someone's final hours. Medicare and Medicaid pay for hospice care and provide it in an individual's home, nursing home, assisted-living facility, and specially designated hospice units. An entire team of professionals that includes a registered nurse, a home-health aide, a social worker, and a chaplain is available to assist you and your relative. TRICARE HELP: Have a question on how Tricare applies to your personal situation? Write to Tricare Help, Times News Service, 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159; or tricarehelp@militarytimes.com.
New Mexico is the only state that explicitly allows people with PTSD to smoke pot under its medical marijuana law 

VA HOMELESS VETS  No one who has ever served the United States in uniform should ever end up living on the street, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki insists. So he's committed to ending homelessness among America's veterans within the next five years, and reports he's already seeing signs of progress through a plan that provides not just beds, but also services to address the root causes

" The color khaki was first was used for uniforms in the Afghan War in 1880. The color was considered good camouflage.
This section from the RAO Bulletin

 

 

The Battle of Manila Bay

US Asiatic Squadron
Commodore George Dewey
4 cruisers, 2 gunboats, 1 revenue cutter 		Spanish Pacific Squadron
Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón
7 cruisers and gunboats

Battle of Manila Bay Summary:
    In 1896, as tensions with Spain began rising due to Cuba, the US Navy began planning for an attack on the Philippines in the event of war. First conceived at the US Naval War College, the attack was not intended to conquer the Spanish colony, but rather to draw enemy ships and resources away from Cuba. On February 25, 1898, ten days after the sinking of USS Maine in Havana harbor, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt telegraphed Commodore George Dewey with orders to assemble the US Asiatic Squadron at Hong Kong. Anticipating the coming war, Roosevelt wanted Dewey in place to strike a quick blow.

 

 
    Consisting of the protected cruisers USS Olympia, Boston, and Raleigh, as well as the gunboats USS Petrel and Concord, the US Asiatic Squadron was a largely modern force of steel ships. In mid-April, Dewey was further reinforced by the protected cruiser USS Baltimore and the revenue cutter McCulloch. In Manila, the Spanish leadership was aware that Dewey was concentrating his forces. The commander of the Spanish Pacific Squadron, Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasaron, feared meeting Dewey as his ships were generally old and obsolete.
    Consisting of seven unarmored ships, Montojo's squadron was centered on his flagship, the cruiser Reina Cristina. With the situation looking bleak, Montojo recommended fortifying the entrance to Subic Bay, northwest of Manila, and fighting his ships with the aid of shore batteries. This plan was approved and work commenced at Subic Bay. On April 21, Secretary of the Navy John D. Long telegraphed Dewey to inform him that a blockade of Cuba had been put in place and that war was imminent. Three days later, the British authorities informed Dewey that the war had started and that he had 24 hours to leave Hong Kong.
    Before departing, Dewey received instructions from Washington ordering him to move against the Philippines. As Dewey wished to obtain the latest intelligence from the US Consul to Manila, Oscar Williams, who was en route to Hong Kong, he shifted the squadron to Mirs Bay on the Chinese coast. After preparing and drilling for two days, Dewey began steaming towards Manila immediately after Williams' arrival on April 27. With war declared, Montojo shifted his ships from Manila to Subic Bay. Arriving, he was stunned to find that batteries were not complete.
    After being informed that it would take another six weeks to complete the work, Montojo returned to Manila and took up a position in shallow water off Cavite. Pessimistic about his chances in battle, Montojo felt that the shallow water offered his men the ability to swim to shore if they needed to escape their ships. At the mouth of the bay, the Spanish placed several mines, however the channels were too wide to effectively prevent the entrance of the American ships. Arriving off Subic Bay on April 30, Dewey sent two cruisers to search for Montojo's ships.
    Not finding them, Dewey pushed onto Manila Bay. At 5:30 that evening, he summoned his captains and developed his plan of attack for the next day. Running dark, the US Asiatic Squadron entered the bay that night, with the goal of striking the Spanish at dawn. Detaching McCulloch to guard his two supply ships, Dewey formed his other ships into line of battle with Olympia in the lead. After briefly taking fire from batteries near the city of Manila, Dewey's squadron approached Montojo's position. At 5:15 AM, Montojo's men opened fire.
    Waiting 20 minutes to close the distance, Dewey gave the famous order "You may fire when ready, Gridley," to Olympia's captain at 5:35. Steaming in an oval pattern, the US Asiatic Squadron opened first with their starboard guns and then their port guns as they circled back. For the next hour and a half, Dewey pounded the Spanish, defeating several torpedo boat attacks and a ramming attempt by Reina Cristina in the process. At 7:30, Dewey was informed that his ships were low on ammunition. Withdrawing into the bay, he quickly found that this report was an error. Returning to action around 11:15, the American ships saw that only one Spanish ship was offering resistance. Closing in, Dewey's ships finished the battle, reducing Montojo's squadron to burning wrecks.

Aftermath
Dewey's stunning victory at Manila Bay cost him a mere 1 killed and 9 wounded. The one fatality was not combat-related and occurred when an engineer aboard McCulloch had a heart attack. For Montojo, the battle cost him his entire squadron as well as 161 dead and 210 wounded. With the fighting concluded, Dewey found himself in control of the waters around the Philippines. Landing US Marines the next day, Dewey occupied the arsenal and navy yard at Cavite. Lacking troops to take Manila, Dewey contacted Filipino insurgent Emilio Aguinaldo and asked for assistance in distracting the Spanish troops. In the wake of Dewey's triumph, President William McKinley authorized sending troops to the Philippines. These arrived later that summer and Manila was captured on August 13, 1898.
From: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/navalbattles1800s/p/manilabay.htm