30Jun66: Battle of Srok Dong. B and C Troops involved. C Trooper, SGT Donald R. Long earns the Medal of Honor.
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Troop C, First Squadron, Fourth Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division
Place and Date< Republic of Vietnam, 30 June 1966
Entered Service at Ashland, Kentucky Born 27 August 1939, Blackford, Ohio
Yep!...It's time to start planning. You know you can sleep up to 4 men to a room.
I will cost a little extra for the bed or cot. 4 troopers can pay for one room and cut the cost to a
1/4th. Or, get a room with 2 kingsized beds. Also sleeps 4 plus you could probably get a cot or two
put in the room also. Call the hotel and negotiate with them. I feel like I need to point out the
cost of parking. It will be 10 dollars a day so if you plan on driving be sure and cosider this
additional expense. There are many less expensive motels sorrounding the Hotel with rooms for $40.00
a night and up. Same thing here. Get two beds which will sleep four.Nows the time to make reservations.
The longer you wait, the less chance you have to get accomodation.s BB
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Below are the names of the troopers who have already signed up. I will update this
list weekly and post it on the Weekly Newsletter. BB
Davidson, Ronald
Wilemon, Jimmy
A Troop, 1/4th Cav
Friday, Jerry
Humphrey, Richard
Miller, Paul
B Troop, 1/4th cav
Keech, James
C Troop, 1/4th Cav
Baker, Daniel
Benoit, Alan
Brigance, Charles
Seibert, Wilmer
D Troop (Air)
Other 4th Cavalry Troopers
unknown Troop
Riley, William
name:
The following Photos are shared by Lloyd Howard, HHT-S3 Drafstman, 67-68. BB.
McChrystal Resigns; Petraeus to Take Over
U.S. President Barack Obama accepted the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal during a brief meeting at the White House today after a magazine article attributed incendiary comments to him and his staff about the conduct of the war in Afghanistan and some of the civilian leaders who manage it.
The president announced in a brief statement from the Rose Garden that he had nominated Central Command's top officer, Gen. David Petraeus, to succeed McChrystal.
During recent congressional testimony senators characterized Petraeus as one of the greatest heroes because of how he commanded ground forces and oversaw "the surge" against al Qaida operatives and Sunni insurgents in Iraq. The decision is unorthodox in that it is, in essence, a demotion of sorts for Petraeus to move from commanding CENTCOM to taking over ISAF.
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Get Your 2010 GI Bill Guide
1. Find Military Friendly Schools that offer college credit – you may be closer than you think to a degree *************************************************************************
VA Claim Form:
Tom Staudter, spokesman for Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y., said Hall had talked with several veterans who said they couldn’t fill out the lengthy form, and therefore never received any disability compensation. Hall is chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on disability affairs and memorial assistance. When Hall met with veterans again last week and told them about the new six-page form, “they were absolutely pleased to hear it’s on the horizon,” Staudter said. Sullivan said that, by reducing the form from 26 pages to 6 pages, VA could kill about 20 million pages of paperwork, per the 1 million claims expected this year. “Filing a 26-page disability claim is undoubtedly a daunting process for veterans, particularly those who have traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Amy Fairweather, policy director for Swords to Plowshares, an organization that provides counseling, case management, and job training to veterans in San Francisco, and which has argued for a shorter form. “The change to a simpler six-page application will certainly break down barriers not only for veterans, but also for advocates and VA staff.”
Several other veterans service groups, such as Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion, have also argued for the shorter forms during congressional hearings. Sullivan said the 26-page form creates a barrier for the veterans that, in turn, creates an adversarial atmosphere. For example, the old form asks a veteran to detail his or her military service, which seems like finding a lot of details that are already readily available to VA. “The guys say, ‘Doesn’t the government know when I served?’” Sullivan said. VA officials had not yet indicated any form details or when it will be implemented. *************************************************************************
Space "A" Travel Policy Update *************************************************************************
Trooper Danny Horn sent this one in to us. BB
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has upheld a U.S. law that bars "material support" to foreign terrorist organizations, rejecting a free speech challenge from humanitarian aid groups.
The court ruled 6-3 Monday that the government may prohibit all forms of aid to designated terrorist groups, even if the support consists of training and advice about entirely peaceful and legal activities.
Material support intended even for benign purposes can help a terrorist group in other ways, Chief Justice John Roberts said in his majority opinion.
For more information, visit washingtonpost.com: *************************************************************************
Thanks to Rob Ferguson for sharing this memory with us. BB
Found the blurb you posted, int his weeks newsletter, about the veteran from WWII, that helped in the capture of the U-505. Kind of a personal connection for me as I was born in Chicago and not long after the boat went on display at the Science and Industry Museum, my Dad took me down to tour it, even at that young age (couldn't have been much more than 7 - 9 years old at that point), I was awed by it and even remember feeling how cramped it was inside, as my son was in our submarine service, a few years back, I toured his boat the USS Annapolis several times, which is fascinating, much larger and still way cramped, but positively spacious by comparison, to much so for this dude, cavalry was a much better fit for me ;-)
My hats off to WWII vets, regardless of service, as I've studied that war's history, especially with the perspective of some what we called large battles, it still boggles my mine to think of the armor/artillery battles on the Russian front, with millions of troops, thousands of tanks etc all involved at the same time, not to mention Kasserine Pass, Normandy, the Bulge, Okinawa etc.
rob f.
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I received the following from Richard Celsi. I've heard some talk about this but haven't really paid much attention to it. Does anyone out there have a thought or any other information about this subject? BB
Now that I am finally engaged, I followed up on that. At the time of the 2000 census the survival rate for Viet Nam Veterans was down to 36.7%.
Thus, in 2000, since 2, 800,000 served in Viet Nam, a survival rate of .367 meant that at the 2000 census only 1,027,000 million VN vets were still alive. Geez.
2009: As of 2009 the survival rate estimate is .304, or only 851,200 surviving VN veterans. Less than a million VN veterans…
Based on this and some other statistics, I calculated the following: The consensus appears to be that for Marines the ratio of support to combat soldiers was 9 to 1. For the Army it was 10 to 1. So using a quick average of 9.5 to 1 (I realize there were more soldiers than marines, but close enough) approximately 10.5% of Viet Nam Veterans were in combat roles.
That indicates that as of 2009 only about 89,000 Viet Nam combat veterans like ourselves in the Quartercav are still alive. And, of course, that figure is way conservative, b/c line soldiers were more likely to have wounds that may shorten their lives, were more exposed to toxins (especially the Cav) , perhaps more prone to disorders both physical and psychological (just guessing here), more likely to be murdered by our wives (just joking here) and so on. Thus, it wouldn’t surprise me if the number of surviving combat veterans was closer to 75,000, but that’s an extrapolation. Either way it is sobering.
In the past, when I have tried to locate people and it seemed like they had just fallen off the earth, I just figured that maybe they didn’t want to be found, because there is that. But now I am not so sure and wonder that maybe some, if not many, have returned to earth, as we all will. If so, it is too bad I waited so long to look.
Richard
Note: In 1987 the CDC reported the results of a study that compared the mortality rates of approximately 9,324 Viet Nam Veterans who served during the years 1965 and 1971 to 8,989 non Viet Nam Veterans of the same age who served in Korea, Germany, Japan, or the United States for examples during the same time period. The study compared the mortality rates of these two groups up until 1984. The mortality rate for VN Veterans was 17% higher. Vehicle “accidents,” drugs, self-harm were all higher among VN veterans. NOW, I’m just speculating here, but I’d bet if we ran that data by MOS, combat VN veterans probably had a higher rate than non-combat VN Veterans.
Note2: For what it is worth, as of September 2009, there are reported 2, 272,000 WWII Veterans still alive (16, 112, 556 served), so VN Veterans are well in the minority and our collective voice is much less than I might have expected, especially when you add in post gulf War Veterans.
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There is something vaguely familuar about the following thoughts sent in by Gary Chenett. bb
When a Veteran leaves the 'job' and retires to a
1. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of
camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing
for those past times.
2. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which
lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the
closet.
3. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him
with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also
know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was
and in his heart still is.
These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at
people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or
choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the
Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown
in a lifetime of knowing.
Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life.
You are only escaping the 'job' and merely being
allowed to leave 'active' duty.
So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into
retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment
that you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the
world has ever known.
Wayne Paddack has found many of the solutions we men have been looking for.BB
THESE REALLY WORK!!
AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:
1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.
2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.
3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.
4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.
5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.
6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.
7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
DAILY THOUGHT:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
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This one from Danny Horn will make you stop and think! BB
Mexican Lion
This is a true story of a Garage Owner in the Southwest. ( New Mexico )
He was sick and tired of thugs breaking into his garage shop to steal tools etc. So he came up with this idea. He put the word out that he had a new Mexican Lion that would attack anyone that would break in or climb his fence. Would be thieves saw the "Lion" from a distance and fled the scene.
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Fred Currier sent us this Blond joke. BB
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Jeff Kramer seems to be talking from experiance!! BB.
I thought you would want to know about this e-mail virus.
Even the most advanced programs from Norton or McAfee cannot take care of this one.
It appears to affect those who were born prior to 1960.(What!! Those are young'ns)
Symptoms:
1. Causes you to send the same e-mail twice. done that!
2. Causes you to send a blank e-mail !that too!
3. Causes you to send e-mail to the wrong person. yep!
4. Causes you to send it back to the person who sent it to you. Aha!
5. Causes you to forget to attach the attachment. well darn!
6. Causes you to hit "SEND" before you've finished. Oh, no - not again!
7. Causes you to hit "DELETE" instead of "SEND." and I just hate that!
8. Causes you to hit "SEND" when you should "DELETE." Oh No!
IT IS CALLED THE "C-NILE VIRUS."
Hmmm....Have I already sent this to you?
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Heres one from Rob Ferguson. BB
A 6 year old and a 4 year old are upstairs in their bedroom.
The 6 year old asks, "You know what? I think it's about time we started cussing."
The 4 year old nods his head in approval.
The 6 year old continues, "When we go downstairs for breakfast, I'm gonna say something with
hell and you say something with ass."
The 4 year old agrees with enthusiasm. When the mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6
year old what he wants for breakfast, he replies, "Aw, hell, Mom, I guess I'll have some Cheerios.
WHACK! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor, gets up, and runs upstairs
crying his eyes out, with his mother in hot pursuit, slapping his rear with every step..
His mom locks him in his room and shouts, "You can stay there until I let you out!"
She then comes back downstairs, looks at the 4 year old and asks with a stern voice, "And what
do YOU want for breakfast, young man?" "I don't know," he blubbers, "but you can bet your fat
ass it won't be Cheerios!"
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Here's a quickie from Tony Moscicki. BB
Sources tell me that B.P. dropped a huge wedding ring over the gushing undersea well and it stopped putting out immediately.
Dr. Edmund Hayes weekly Medical Newsletter.
Study Warns Of Potential Adverse Drug Interactions From Using New Blood Thinners
But the promising drugs also could be subject to dangerous interactions when taken alongside widely used prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin and even herbal supplements such as St. John's Wort, according to a Loyola University Health System study.
"Many unknowns remain as to how the new anticoagulants will behave in the real world patient population," researchers conclude in a review article in the June issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice.
While the new drugs offer "significant potential advantages," their lack of extensive clinical experience "should not be underestimated," researchers wrote.
Lead author is blood clot specialist Jeanine Walenga, PhD, a professor in the Cardiovascular Institute and departments of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Pathology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Co-author is Cafer Adiguzel, MD, who completed a fellowship at Loyola.
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Bone Drug Suppresses Wandering Tumor Cells In Breast Cancer Patients And May Reduce Metastatic Disease
The bone-strengthening drug zoledronic acid (Zometa) can help fight metastatic breast cancer when given before surgery, suggests research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
When the drug was given along with chemotherapy for three months before breast cancer surgery, it reduced the number of women who had tumor cells in their bone marrow at the time of surgery.
The study was published in the May issue of The Lancet Oncology.
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Vitamin D: Not Just For Bones
The researcher, Daniel Bikle, MD, PhD, who also is a professor of medicine and dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, points to a number of recent epidemiologic studies in which higher blood levels of vitamin D were associated with lower levels of cancer.
The data on fighting infection are less clear-cut, he says, "but there is clear evidence from epidemiologic studies that tuberculosis infection in humans is associated with very low levels of vitamin D."
Peaches, Plums Induce Deliciously Promising Death Of Breast Cancer Cells
AgriLife Research scientists say two phenolic compounds are responsible for the cancer cell deaths in the study, which was published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. The phenols are organic compounds that occur in fruits. They are slightly acidic and may be associated with traits such as aroma, taste or color.
"It was a differential effect which is what you're looking for because in current cancer treatment with chemotherapy, the substance kills all cells, so it is really tough on the body," said Dr. David Byrne, AgriLife Research plant breeder who studies stone fruit. "Here, there is a five-fold difference in the toxic intensity. You can put it at a level where it will kill the cancer cells - the very aggressive ones - and not the normal ones."
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Methylphenidate for Cancer-Related Fatigue Indicate That It Is Certainly Not a Panacea but May Be Effective for Some Groups of Patients
The study included 148 adult patients with cancer-related fatigue. Of these, 74 were randomized to receive long-acting methylphenidate and 74 were randomized to receive a placebo over a four-week period. Patients taking methylphenidate were titrated from 1 to 3 tablets in order to reach the target dose of 54 mg per day. To be part of the study, patients had to report fatigue that was defined as a score of greater than or equal to 4 on an 11-point Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) scale.
Methylphenidate is one of a group of psychostimulants that "wake up" or stimulate the central nervous system in the brain, producing chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which cause a person to be alert. In this study, a long-acting dose was selected to deliver a constant level of medication in the bloodstream throughout the day.
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Supplement May Prevent Alcohol-Related Brain, Skull Defects
Alcohol consumption in early pregnancy increases levels of a little-known lipid called ceramide, significantly increasing suicide among cells critical to skull and brain formation, Dr. Erhard Bieberich, biochemist in the MCG Schools of Graduate Studies and Medicine, reports in Cell Death and Disease.
Resulting neural crest damage includes the brain's "skin" - the multi-layered meninges that provides protection and nourishment - producing less TGF-ß1, a growth factor critical for brain and bone development. That finding may help explain the cranial bone and cognitive defects that can result in fetal alcohol syndrome.
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Gamma Interferon Prompts Stem Cell Response To Fight Infection
However, invading bacteria can be a call-to-arms, awaking the sleeping stem cells and prompting them to produce immune system cells that fight the foreign organisms. The "bugler" that awakes the stem cells in this battle is gamma interferon, a front-line protein defender against bacterial infection, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Nature.
"We are looking at the normal function of stem cells," said Dr. Margaret Goodell, professor of molecular and human genetics at BCM and director of the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (STaR) Center. She is the report's senior author. "One of those is to respond to an infection."
Goodell and her colleagues knew that cells farther along in the differentiation process responded to infection, increasing the production of immune cells.
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Believe it or not
Some 440 medical pot shops ordered to close in L.A
An estimated 135 dispensaries may remain legally open as of Monday as a new city law formally takes effect. City leaders hope to eventually whittle that number down to 70 and confine them to mostly industrial areas, away from schools, parks, libraries and churches.
"We're trying to achieve some order out of what has essentially been a very chaotic situation," Assistant City Attorney Asha Greenberg told Reuters in an interview.
"We will have a limited number of medical marijuana establishments that are not close to sensitive sites and are not neighbourhood nuisances," she said Greenberg said that 439 shops had been ordered to close. Any remaining open after Monday face law enforcement actions.
"As of today they should have their boxes packed and their closed sign up," she said.
California became the first U.S. state to decriminalize cannabis for medical use in 1996 and a 2003 ballot measure permitted pot to be cultivated and distributed to patients holding prescriptions from a doctor. Since those developments, Los Angeles had seen roughly 1,000 of the shops spring up across the city.
Responding to residents who complained that many of the shops were catering more to recreational pot smokers than patients, the Los Angeles City Council voted in January to limit the number that could operate to between 70 and 187.
Legal challenges failed to stop the law taking effect.
Since the city council passed its law, a statewide voter initiative that would legalize the possession and sale of marijuana has qualified for the November ballot in what supporters have called a "watershed moment" for their cause.
It was unclear how that measure would affect Los Angeles' ability to regulate medical marijuana, should it pass.
Under the ballot initiative, simple possession of an ounce (28.5 grams) or less of marijuana, currently a misdemeanour punishable by a $100 (69 pound) fine, would be legal for anyone aged 21 or older. It also would be lawful to grow limited amounts in one's own home for personal use.
While sales would not be legalized outright, cities and counties could pass laws permitting commercial distribution subject to local regulations and taxes. Retail sales would still be limited to an ounce for adults 21 and older.
Is Your PC Connecting To Websites Without You Knowing?
If your computer is running slow or your internet speed isn't as
fast as it should be, there's a small chance that some malicious
software (malware, spyware, adware) is using your internet
connection in the background without your knowledge. So how do you
find out if that's the case? Easy! We're going to use a simple DOS
command. This works with Windows XP, Vista and 7. If you're using
XP, make sure you've updated Windows to at least Service Pack 2.
If you try this and receive the error message "The requested operation
requires elevation", go to All Programs, Accessories, right click
"Command Prompt" and click "Run as administrator" and then start
with step #2.
The activity.txt file will list everything that has made an
Internet connection in the past two minutes. It will also show
which process connected to which website in this time: your
browser, IM clients, email programs or any software that requires a
net connection, etc. Look through the activity.txt file for any
process names or website addresses that you are not aware of. If you
find one, I suggest going to Google and typing a search "what is
(name of strange process)" and see what it is. Most will probably be
some system function or from one of your programs, but if you come
across something bad, you now know what it is and can search Google
again to find out how to get rid of it.
VA Presumptive VN Vet Diseases Update
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki met with Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, last month to ask that he cancel a hearing on the secretary's controversial decision to add three diseases to the list of Vietnam veteran illnesses presumed caused by exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used in that war. Akaka and Webb are pressing Shinseki outside of the hearing process to explain last October's decision to add heart disease, Parkinson's disease and B-cell leukemia to the list of illnesses presumed caused by Agent Orange. It is not clear if this will slow down (or even stop) these new claims. **************************************************************
Climate Change:
A large number of scientists agree that melting glaciers and ice caps combined with ocean warming will cause a rise in sea levels 10 times greater than was seen in the 20th century. This is affecting, and will continue to affect, naval installations and infrastructure. “Even an increase of four feet would be a huge issue to any port,” Titley said. When storm surge and waves are added, the Navy could have piers underwater for weeks at a time. Titley would not point to any one port as his greatest con¬cern, but he said adaptation strategies would differ from port to port because of unique factors such as bedrock and surround¬ing geography. A rise in sea level could have an impact on more than infrastructure. It would greatly affect near-shore areas, home to the majority of the world’s population. Some islands, particularly in the South China Sea, could virtually disappear, bringing sovereignty claims into question. Rainfall patterns also would change. In areas already laden with hunger and poverty, alter¬ations to water resources could cause greater instability and lead to a change in the type, scope and location of Navy missions, the report said.
Titley also focused on the effects of ocean acidification, what he called the “silent partner” of cli¬mate change.
Half of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the oceans, which results in measur¬able acidity. Those levels have changed more in the past 150 years than in the previous 500,000 years, he said, and the change is having a measurable effect on the ecosystem. He pointed to oys¬ter farming off the coast of Ore¬gon, which has seen a 29% decrease directly related to the rise in ocean acidity. Because 1 bil¬lion people get their primary pro¬tein from the ocean, such changes could become a “huge accelerant to potential instabilities, and that’s something that we in the Navy would want to understand. These are questions and scenar¬ios we want to think through. You don’t want your senior decision-makers surprised. You want to have a game plan on the shelf so you have a starting point for when the world is changing.” To do this, the task force is tak¬ing a three-phased approach:
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Florida Vet Legislation Update **************************************************************
National Park Passports Update
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Nighttime Prayer
My God, I love You with all my heart.
I thank You for having kept me safe this day.
Pardon me the evil I have done, and accept the good I have done.
Take care of me while I sleep and deliver me from all danger.
May Your grace be always with me and with all my loved ones.
Amen.
Thats all the news for this week. Check back next Saturday. Thanks, Ole' Bill
LONG, DONALD RUSSELL
Rank and Organization
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty. Troops B and C, while conducting
a Reconnaissance mission along a road were suddenly attacked by a Viet
Cong regiment, supported by mortars, recoilless rifles and machine guns,
from concealed positions astride the road. Sgt. Long abandoned the
relative safety of his armored personnel carrier and braved a withering
hail of enemy fire to carry wounded men to evacuation helicopters.
As the platoon fought its way forward to resupply advanced elements, Sgt.
Long repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire at point blank range to provide
the needed supplies. While assaulting the Viet Cong position, Sgt.
Long inspired his comrades by fearlessly standing unprotected to repel
the enemy with rifle fire and grenades as they attempted to mount his carrier.
When the enemy threatened to overrun a disabled carrier nearby, Sgt. Long
again disregarded his own safety to help the severely wounded crew to safety.
As he was handing arms to the less seriously wounded and reorganizing them
to press the attack, an enemy grenade was hurled onto the carrier deck.
Immediately recognizing the imminent danger, he instinctively shouted a
warning to the crew and pushed to safety 1 man who had not heard his warning
over the roar of battle. Realizing that these actions would not fully
protect the exposed crewmen from the deadly explosion, he threw himself
over the grenade to absorb the blast and thereby saved the lives of 8 of
his comrades at the expense of his life. Throughout the battle, Sgt.
Long's extraordinary heroism, courage and supreme devotion to his men were
in the finest tradition of the military service, and reflect great credit
upon himself and the U.S. Army.
Donald R. Long's actions took place during the summer campaigns of 1966.
This was some of the heaviest fighting Quarterhorse was to see in Vietnam.
In addition, one of the gymnasiums on Fort Riley, Kansas, was dedicated to
Sergeant Long.
We have arranged a variety of optional tours to enhance your visit to Texas. Don’t forget your cameras.
We hope we have found something for everyone. We have tried to integrate the tours into the program so
they won’t conflict with other reunion activities. These are optional events and require
pre-registration.
All buses for tours will load outside the main entrance. All tours have limited seating, so it is best
to sign up for the tours you want when you register rather than wait till you arrive at the reunion.
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Celebrating San Antonio - 4 hrs, $32 per person
We will begin our tour with the famous Alamo, established in 1718. Guests will see remains of original
structures, including the chapel, which is now a shrine to the fallen Alamo heroes.
Within the beautifully landscaped grounds is the Long Barracks Museum, once the mission’s “convento”,
which chronicles the colorful history of the Cradle of Texas Liberty and San Antonio.
Next, we will visit what is considered by many to be the most beautiful neighborhood in all of Texas,
the King William Historic District. With its tree-lined avenues you will recall a more gracious era.
Prosperous German merchants made their fortunes in San Antonio in the late 1800's and built the grand
homes in this area.
Just at the end of King William Street is the Guenther House. Built by the German immigrant who
operated the first flourmill on the San Antonio River, the house is still part of the Pioneer Flour Mill
and continues to be run by the Guenther family. It contains glimpses of San Antonio's past and wonderful
memorabilia from the Pioneer Mill.
San Fernando Cathedral has always been at the center of San Antonio. From its founding on March 9, 1731
by a group of 15 families who came from the Canary Islands at the invitation of King Phillip V of Spain,
this church was planned to be at the center of the life of this city.
Our last stop will be the border-style El Mercado or Mexican Market. Serving as a hub of Commerce years
ago, it has retained much of its charm of the past, with its quaint shops offering local crafts, art,
clothing and food. There are also two indoor markets filled to the brim with vendors.
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A Taste of San Antonio City Tour - 4 hrs, $30 per person
The itinerary for this tour is the same tour as the above (Celebrating San Antonio) without the trip to
San Fernando Cathedral and with additional time added at the El Mercado or Mexican Market for you to have
lunch on your own.
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Caverns and Curios – 4 1/2 hrs, $60 per person
This tour showcases the Texas Hill Country history, both the history of the land and the history of the
people. We begin with the Natural Bridge Caverns, named for the 60 foot natural limestone arch that spans
the entrance. This cave is by far one of the most spectacular in the area. Trails through the Caverns cover
more than a mile and the temperature is 70 degrees year round. On the tour you will be amazed by the
natural formations. The sound of constantly dripping water is a reminder the cave is still alive and growing.
Our next stop is Gruene, Texas, a turn-of-the-century cotton farming community, located on the banks of the
Guadalupe River. This quaint little town is an assortment of restaurants, antique stores, specialty shops
and even their own wine tasting venue. And don’t forget to visit the proclaimed oldest dance hall in Texas,
Gruene Hall. Guests will have time to investigate the many and varied treasures which can be found.
This tour is not recommended for the claustrophobic or anyone who is unsteady on their feet.
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Texas Wine Country - 7 hrs, $62 per person
We depart downtown San Antonio for a scenic tour of Texas Hill Country Wineries. Many immigrants to this
part of Texas came from Germany, bringing with them their winemaking skills. There are wonderful pockets
throughout the hill country where these traditions continue.
Texas Hills Vineyard, our first stop, is located in the gentle hills of the picturesque Pedernales River
Valley in the Texas Hill Country near Johnson City. A perfect location for growing grapes, the intense
Texas sun by day and the cooler hill country nights gives their grapes an intense flavor. This modern
winery specializes in Italian Style wines. They are the only producer of Pinot Grigio in Texas. Their
spacious cellar is built above ground and made with two feet thick walls of sandstone.
We will spend a little time in the quaint town of Fredericksburg, with a time for lunch and shopping on
your own. Fredericksburg is a community settled by a small group of German settlers in 1846. Many of the
structures in this charming town retain traditional German styles in its native limestone buildings and
century old gingerbread houses. Shopping begins in a wonderful collection of 100 charming specialty stores,
including antique shops and gift boutiques where shoppers can find handcrafted items by Hill Country
artisans. Many of these stores date back to the mid 19th Century. Without a doubt, shopping in
Fredericksburg is truly a delightful adventure!
Our second stop is Grape Creek Vineyards. Located on spring fed South Grape Creek, the gently rolling
hills are planted with 16 acres of Vinifera grapes and an orchard that contains peaches and other fruits.
Specializing in handcrafted wines made from French, Italian and German grapes, many of the wines are
fermented and/or aged in French and American Oak barrels in their underground cellar.
________________________________________
Spanish Mission Trails - 4 hrs, $32 per person
One of the country's few National Parks within an urban setting, the missions tell the early story of San
Antonio and European expansion in the New World. We will begin with the most famous of the Missions,
Mission San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo. Established in 1718, the Alamo played a pivotal
role in history. The shrine displays exhibits from the battle and guests will enjoy the beautifully
landscape grounds. Next we will explore the largest and most restored of the Missions, Mission San Jose.
Known as the "Queen of the Missions", Mission San Jose was established in 1720. It is the showpiece of the
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. We will tour the Indians' quarters that were located within
the walls as well as the Spanish soldiers' quarters. We will see the granary that was the storage area and
the remains of an old mill. San Jose's church is one of the most beautiful in the country with its
elaborate carvings on the chapel facade. Guests will also have the opportunity to view the film ‘Gente de
Razón’ which tells the story of the native people of 18th-century south Texas, their role in colonizing New
Spain and the results of entering the Spanish missions.
At our last stop, we will tour Mission Concepcion, the oldest un-restored mission church in Texas,
established in 1731. Twin towers and a beautiful cupola helped make it a construction project of twenty-
plus years. Rare original frescoes decorate the church's side rooms. Our tour guide will tell the stories
of the two remaining missions. Originally christened San Jose de Los Nazonia while in East Texas, the
reestablished Mission San Juan Capistrano made its permanent home along the banks of the San Antonio River
in 1731. By mid-century, San Juan, with its rich farm and pasturelands, was a regional supplier of
agricultural produce. With its surplus, San Juan established a trade network stretching east to Louisiana
and south to Mexico. This thriving economy helped the mission to survive epidemics and Indian attacks in
its final year.
Finally we will see Mission Espada, which was established in 1731 but was never completed. The outline of
an intended church is still visible. Time seems to stand still at Espada, which seems as remotely located
today as the day it was built. Espada's water system is as interesting as the mission itself.
________________________________________
LBJ Ranch and Fredericksburg - 8 hrs, $55 per person
To begin the day, we will tour the Lyndon Baines Johnson Ranch. The tour includes a drive by the one-room
Junction School first attended by Johnson in 1912, a tour of his reconstructed birthplace and the nearby
Johnson Family Cemetery where our 36th president is buried. Guests will enjoy a look at the LBJ Ranch
itself with its cattle and ranching operations. Guests will also be able to view a short video on the
ranch and the famous occupants who once lived there.
Taking a trip to Fredericksburg is like stepping into Old World Germany. Its wide historic Main Street
is lined with more than 100 specialty shops offering everything from fine antiques and apparel to unique
gifts and home interiors. A walking map will be provided to help you navigate the array of interesting
shops and fine restaurants for lunch on your own.
For the non-shoppers, there are two important museums to visit on your own. The Pioneer Museum Complex,
built in 1849, tells of the history of the settlement of Fredericksburg. The Admiral Chester Nimitz
Museum of the Pacific War also makes this a fascinating visit. Admiral Nimitz, the last of the U.S. five
star admirals, was a native son of Fredericksburg. There are many audio-visual exhibits as well as
hands-on-displays that tell the amazing story.
________________________________________
Crusin' and Explorin' San Antonio - 4 hrs, $34 per person
The San Antonio River is the site of San Antonio’s beginnings and the reason for its’ founding. It was
named by a Franciscan missionary who passed through the area in 1691. The river played an important part
in San Antonio's history, and continues to do so for diverse reasons. The River Walk is the most visited
site not only in San Antonio, but all of Texas. Many special events take place on the river each year.
Restaurants and shops draw visitors to our lush and relaxing banks. To begin the tour, guests will be
escorted to the shops of La Villita. Located in the rustic, limestone plaza, these historically
significant buildings have been moved to re-create a small village, La Villita. These buildings are home
to a variety of specialty shops, galleries, jewelers and a candle maker. Our tour guide will share the
significance of the buildings in telling our rich story and guests will have time to shop. Next we will
have the opportunity to experience the river on a privately chartered river Cruiser. Our barge captain
will provide historical and entertaining commentary as we pass through the pages of San Antonio history.
We will enjoy a stop at San Fernando Cathedral, which has always been at the center of San Antonio. It
is a special place that occupies a unique position in this city and for the many visitors who come by
the thousands every year. From its founding on March 9, 1731 by a group of 15 families who came from
the Canary Islands at the invitation of King Phillip V of Spain, the church has grown to over 5,000
weekly participants at Mass. A wonderful blending of the old and new in San Antonio is evident as we
travel by the Ursuline Academy/Southwest School of Art and Craft. One of the only remaining evidences
of our French heritage can be seen in the French gothic style of the Ursuline Academy established in
1851 by French Ursuline nuns on the banks of the San Antonio River. It has now become a center for art
and craft and is truly a gem in our city. We will disembark at the Paseo del Alamo, an architecturally
interesting walkway which connects the river, known as the lifeblood of the city to the Alamo, its true
heart. Our tour guide will point out the Alamo Cenataph, a marvelous sculpture by Pompeo Copini as a
reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by the Alamo heroes, the Alamo and take you through the lobby
of the historic Menger Hotel as we wrap up the tour.
________________________________________
Center for the Intrepid and Brooke Army Hospital - $10 per person
This is a four-story 65,000 square foot facility which includes clinical and research space, a gait lab,
a computer-assisted rehabilitation environment, a pool and and indoor running track. It also contains a
two-story climbing wall and a prosthetic fabrication lab. This is a privately-supported facility aimed
at providing opportunities for patients to maximize their ability to live and work productively. The
visit will include a look at two Fisher houses and a visit to the Intrepid Family Support Center, along
with visiting some BRO patients. Youcan lunch on your own at the BAMC cafeteria.
________________________________________
Golf Outing, Fort Sam Houston Golf Club - $65 per person
In addition to the Texas Open Championships in the 1950’s & 60’s, The Fort Sam Golf Course has been the
site for several All-Army Championships. Today’s course presents an excellent challenge for all golfers.
We meet in the hotel lobby at 7:15 AM for a fun round of golf followed by a Texas Barbeque lunch.
Transportation will be provided by volunteer drivers. All players must sign in at the Reunion
Registration Desk when you receive your Packet. This sign in allows you to choose specific “Play With”
assignments. Men, Women & juniors – all are welcome.
email:jon1stad@yahoo.com
City: COB Speicher
Country: Iraq
comments: Great site! Thanks for passing on the lineage.
Lloyd Howard, MSG, Retired US Army - Now
LT Two and Lloyd Howard. LT Two was attached to HHT, 1/4th from the ARVN's.
An M48 Tank, probably one of ours.
Lloyd Howard, 1970 in Germany
CH47 bringing out the Beer!!
Captain from HHT, Can't remember his name.
Jimmy Duke going home to Corpus Christi, TX.
Area of Operations in the Field
CH 47 leaving the AO.
Hot wiring the bus to go to town!
June 23, 2010
Military.com|by Bryant Jordan
Your GI Bill rate is over $49,000. Here are 2 main steps you need to take to start using and understanding your benefits.
2. Get the GI Bill Guide to learn how to use your benefits
....Start on your path to a better future.
....Find Military Friendly Schools Now
Click here for free GI Bill Download
After years of complaints from veterans about having to fill out a 26-page-long benefits claims form for the Veterans Affairs Department, the Office of Management and Budget has approved VA’s new six-page form. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have progressed, the 26-page application became particularly troublesome for veterans dealing with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder, both of which can cause short-term memory loss and other cognitive issues. “It’s a good thing and we’re pleased,” said Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense. “In our view, the current form is burdensome. It’s too long.” VA spokesman Steve Westerfeld confirmed in a voicemail that VA had shortened VA Form 21-526, as well as creating a new “express claim” form, or 21-526EZ, which is six pages long and requires that the veteran provide his own medical and military records, rather than waiting for VA to gather them. The EZ form comes as a result of a pilot program mandated by the Veterans’ Benefit Improvement Act of 2008. That pilot program will now be expanded to include everyone, according to VA’s May Compensation & Pension Service Bulletin. Sullivan, along with other veterans’ service groups and several members of congress, have pushed for the shorter form.
[Source: NavyTimes Kelly Kennedy article 10 Jun 2010 ++]
A bill introduced by Rep. Don Young (R-AK) on 26 MAY would make space-available travel on military flights easier for retired reserve component members and their family members. H.R.5404 would make travel available to those people on the same basis as it is now for retired members of the active component. Currently, restrictions are greater for reserve component retirees and their families. In a press release, Young said, “Currently, if a Guardsman or Reservist retires before the age of 60, their dependents cannot fly space available on military aircraft. With a large number of Guardsmen and Reservists serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, this is a good way to show our support and appreciation for the men and women of our armed forces and the families that support them and support this country with all they have.” The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
[Source: NGAUS Washington report 8 Jun 2010 ++]
10:48 AM EDT Monday, June 21, 2010
--------------------
http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/DME6KX/SF89Z/74II6J/4YREVR/DJA0P/E4/t
better life, many are jealous, some are pleased, and others,
who may have already retired, wonder if he/she knows what he/she is
leaving behind, because we already know.
Three new oral blood-thinning drugs nearing approval by the Food and Drug Administration are more convenient than the standard drug Coumadin® because they do not require monthly visits to adjust doses.
Breast cancer cells taken from a patient's bone marrow. The cancer cells are stained to make them easy to spot among the normal cells of the bone marrow.
It is well-known that vitamin D is essential for strong and healthy bones. However, in an article in the online "In Press" section of "Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism," a San Francisco VA Medical Center physician reviews recent scientific literature suggesting that the vitamin may also play a role in preventing cancer, fighting infection, and controlling or preventing auto-immune disease.
Breast cancer cells - even the most aggressive type - died after treatments with peach and plum extracts in lab tests at Texas AgriLife Research recently, and scientists say the results are deliciously promising. Not only did the cancerous cells keel over, but the normal cells were not harmed in the process.
"Cancer-related fatigue can impact a patient's ability to tolerate therapy and their overall quality of life," says Debra Barton, R.N., Ph.D., associate professor of oncology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and an investigator for the study. "While our study did not demonstrate improvement in fatigue for a broad patient population, our results do not rule out some benefit for patients with advanced cancer and point to the need for further research."
The dietary supplement CDP-choline, sold as a brain-boosting agent and under study for stroke and traumatic brain injury, may block skull and brain damage that can result from alcohol consumption early in pregnancy, Medical College of Georgia researchers report.
Most of the time, the body's blood-forming (hematopoietic) stem cells remain dormant, with just a few producing blood cells and maintaining a balance among the different types.
Around 440 self-described medical marijuana dispensaries across Los Angeles were under orders to close on Monday, nearly five months after city officials voted to shut most of them down.
1. Click Start or the Windows button in the taskbar and type "cmd"
in the Run box and hit Enter.
2. A black DOS window should pop up. In that Window, type
"netstat -b 5 > activity.txt" and hit Enter (I suggest that
you copy/paste everything between the quotes to avoid typos).
3. Wait about 2 minutes and then press Ctrl+C.
4. Now type "activity.txt" and press Enter to open the results in
your text editor (usually it will be Notepad).
Before leaving for the Memorial Day break Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) had language included in the 2010 War Supplemental Bill (H.R.4899). This bill, passed by the Senate last week, includes language to freeze the payments of funds for the new illnesses that the VA decided (last October) would be added to the list of presumptive illnesses from exposure to Agent Orange. They are B cell leukemia, Parkinson’s disease and certain heart diseases. The VA has been hiring new people and gearing up for the expected 200,000+ new claims that they are expecting because of this change. However Senator Webb says that he thinks the VA may be moving too quickly and is basing his amendment on the Congressional Review Act (PL 104-121) which allows Congress to put a 60 day hold on spending appropriated money for major new agency initiatives to allow Congress time to review them. During that period, Congress can pass a joint resolution to block the initiatives. This would hold the $13.4 billion that has been appropriated for this program until Congress’ 60 day review is complete. The Senator (a Vietnam vet, a former Navy Secretary and a present member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee) said: “I take a back seat to no one in my concern for our veterans. But I do think we need to have practical, proper procedures here.” He said that the VA needs “an accountable standard” for deciding which health claims should be causally linked to exposure to Agent Orange.
[Source: TREA Washington Update and tom Philpott articles 4 & 10 Jun 2010 ++]
Sea levels could rise as much as six feet this century, and the oceans’ acidity is growing at an unprecedented rate, according to the Navy’s Climate Change Roadmap. These are but two climate issues now driving research into the last¬ing geographic, political, environ¬mental and strategic issues that will result.
Approved 21 MAY by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, the guidance was designed to “observe, predict and adapt to climate change,” said Rear Adm. David Titley, oceanog¬rapher of the Navy. Titley also heads Task Force Climate Change, a gathering of 450 experts representing 120 organi¬zations. “Climate change is not coming. It’s here,” he told reporters May 27. “This is one of the long-term strategic challenges of the 21st century.” Titley acknowledged that cli¬mate change is “a story that does¬n’t break, but it seeps out.” But he was quick to add that “if we ignore climate change, we ignore it at our peril.” He said his office is “pacing the threat” to ensure what is urgent today doesn’t become a crisis tomorrow.
• Phase 1, already underway, officials are seeking funding in fis¬cal 2012 that will allow in-depth scientific analysis of climate change, determine impacts on national security and help develop environmental prediction capabil¬ities. Titley would not say how much money is being sought, call¬ing the amount predecisional.
• In Phase 2 (fiscal 2011-12), findings will be incorporated into strategic guidance and addressed in fleet training and planning.
• In Phase 3 (fiscal 2013-14), Navy leadership will have the nec¬essary data to “make no-kidding decisions about what kind of no¬-kidding money we need to invest,” Titley said. This money will then be used to prepare infrastructure and address force structure issues relating to or resulting from the climate change.
[Source: NavyTimes Lance M. Bacon article 7 Jun 2010 ++]
Three bills recognizing service by U.S. military veterans are now law with signatures from Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist signed the bills Monday at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2185 in Panama City after a round-table meeting with members of the Florida National Guard. One bill (HB 5) memorializes military veterans on highways, bridges and roads throughout the state. The second (HB 1145) provides discounts on annual passes for veterans at state parks. The third (HB 1455) makes it a felony to misrepresent military or veteran status while fundraising. During the round-table meeting, Crist praised the Florida National Guard's cooperation with state agencies in preparing to deal with potential effects from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
[Source: AP article 1 Jun 2010 ++]
In addition to the senior pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 62 years old for a one-time processing fee of $10, the following can be obtained:
• Access Pass: A Free Pass for People with Disabilities. It is a special permit for people of any age who are medically determined to be blind or have other permanent disabilities. It offers the same benefits as the Senior Pass, but it is completely without charge. No processing fee is charged for the Access Pass. Like the Senior Pass to national parks, the Access Pass cannot be purchased by mail or online. It must be obtained in person at a federal area where an entrance fee is charged. To qualify for the free Access Pass to national parks, you will need to provide one of the following: a statement from a licensed physician, a document issued by a Federal agency such as the Veteran's Administration, proof of Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income, or a document issued by a state agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency.
• A One-Year National Parks Pass for People Under Age 62. If you are under age 62 and do not qualify for a Senior Pass to national parks, you can still save money by purchasing an Annual Pass, which costs $80 and is good for one year from the date of purchase. At national parks, monuments and recreation areas that charge a per-vehicle fee, the Annual Pass to national parks admits you and your passengers without charge. Where a per-person fee is charged, the pass admits you plus three other adults (children under 16 are not subject to charges). There are three ways to purchase an Annual Pass to U.S. National Parks. In person at a national park that charges an entrance fee, online from the National Park Service Annual Pass site http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html , or by calling 1-888-ASK-USGS, Ext. 1
• Volunteer Pass. If you enjoy the national parks and want to help out by becoming a volunteer you can get an complementary annual pass for your efforts. You'll receive the same discounts and national park benefits as the Annual Pass described above, but the Volunteer Pass is available to volunteers who provide 500 hours of cumulative service. For more information about the Volunteer Pass to our national parks, call 1-888-ASK-USGS.
[Source: About.com Senior Living Sharon O'Brien article 17 May 2010 ++]
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