Veteran's Choice Act Extended by Congress

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The Minnesota American Legion and Auxiliary

LegionnaireVolume 99, Number 5 For God and Country May 2017

Veteran’sBy Al Zdon ChoiceAmerican Act Legion opposes. extended Healthby Net. Congress The controversial Veterans Choice Act, which was due to However, the Legion has supported Choice as a tempo- “The veterans who are used to it have gotten to where expire on August 1, was extended until January by rary solution to the problems, including long waiting lists, they can navigate Veterans Choice quite well. Those who Congress and the measure was signed by President Trump the VA faces. are not used to it, there’s still problems.” in April. The act also has been controversial because it hasn’t In Minnesota, several providers have dropped out of the The act, which was passed three years ago, was meant as worked as planned. The program was implemented quickly program altogether including the Mayo Clinic which serves a fix for the problems the VA was facing in 2014 when a by Congress, and huge problems immediately arose with many veterans, particularly in southern Minnesota. scandal rocked the agency and resulted in the resignation of the contractors who were hired to make the program work. Providers have opted out because of the paperwork difficul- then Director Eric Shinseki. “In the three years the program has been in effect, it’s ty and the slow payment of medical bills. The act allows veterans who live more than 40 miles gotten better, but there still are problems,” Patrick Kelly, “Without the Mayo Clinic, we are really limited,” Kelly from a VA facility, or who have been waiting for an appoint- director of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, said in an said. “They are not the only one, but their decision has ment more than 30 days, to seek care from private providers interview. caused us the most pain.” and then bill the VA. Kelly said two major problems are in getting appoint- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., was the sponsor on the Senate The extension had no official reaction from the national ments for veterans in places where they live, and in getting side of the extension, and he told National Public Radio that American Legion. The measure in the past has been seen by enough providers. Congress still must deal with bigger reforms. Tester said some as part of a continued effort to create a voucher sys- The program is administered by a third party. In that the VA has seven or eight ways of purchasing care from tem or to privatize the VA medical system, which The Minnesota, that contractor is the national corporation, Continued on Page 6 Maybe it’s time to check out that box of veteran’s stuff In many homes in been tending bar in he increased his effort. “It Minnesota and in America, Michigan before he enlisted became my mission to find there’s a box that has been in the Army in February of out the fate of those men tucked away for years in a 1942, just after Pearl who were on that plane.” closet, a basement, or an Harbor. The nine men in the attic. The box contained the crew on that day were fly- That box might contain letters from the govern- ing “Jerk’s Natural,” a sto- documents, uniforms, pic- ment, first saying that he ried B-24 bomber during tures and other memorabilia was missing in action, and the war. The plane later was about a veteran who died, then confirming that he had sold as a plastic model by often in action, during a been killed. It contained the Revell for many years. It war. It’s likely nobody has final letters to White from was named after a pilot, looked in that box for years. the young man’s father, Jack Jerstad, and because Author Greg Jones and returned undelivered to the the tail fin number was others at the April World family. Continued on Page 13 War II Round Table encour- As Jones learned more, aged people to dig into that box and dig into the life of the departed veteran. It will be a worthwhile experience. It all began for Jones STRIKE UP THE BAND -- When delegates arrived in Minneapolis for the first Legion convention in 1919 they were greeted by a rousing band concert. with a picture that his mother kept on her dresser of her brother L.H. White who had been killed in action when Centennial donations on the rise his B-24 bomber crashed in Fundraising for the 2018 National beginning to get excited, advertisers and Austria in 1944. “It was a Convention in Minneapolis is picking poetential sponsors are getting more inter- sacred item for her.” up steam. ested in supporting the 100th Convention The box in the closet Posts have contributed a total of of The American Legion.” contained information $15,110 to Fund 99, the 100th There are two ways to contribute to the about White, and Jones Anniversary fund, recently, and Davy Centennial celebration. committed himself to find- and Associates have reported a $10,000 Posts or individuals can contribute to ing out more. He learned donor to the Convention Corporation. Fund 99, part of the Minnesota American that before the war, White TRACK DOWN THOSE STORIES -- Author Greg “We are about 16 months from the Legion Foundation. Gambling funds are had been an exercise trainer Jones told the World War II Round Table in April about convention,” Convention Corporation accepted. The money will be used for edu- for horses at tracks around how he did research on his uncle, starting with a box Chairman Jeff Olson said. “People are Continued on Page 2 the country, and that he had of memorabilia found in a closet.

Twins Day May 19 Convention Spooks in Tickets are still avail- slated for able for the 17th annual American Legion Family Mahnomen China with Day at the Twins which Northwestern Minnesota will be Friday night, May will once again be the desti- 19, at 7:10 p.m. in a game nation for this year’s Bob Maynard with the Kansas City Legion and Auxilary state Royals. Commmander convention-goers. Page 8 Denise Milton will throw The 2017 Department of out the first pitch. Minnesota Convention will Tickets are $23 for Home Plate View seats, a be held at the Shooting Star $2 savings. Call 1-800-33-TWINS and hit “O” to Casino Events Center in speak to an attendant. At the start of your call, Mahnomen on July 13-15. reference the special Legion promotion. The official hotel for the Credit cards are accepted, and there will be a Legion and Auxiliary is the $5 service charge on each order. Tickets will be Shooting Star Casino and mailed. Call Nick Corcoran at 612-659-4083 for Continued on Page 2 information or to order for a large group. MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 2

Page 2 Minnesota Legionnaire May 2017

DonationsContinued from Page 1 to 2018 nationaland during the conventionconvention. in Minneapolisblock has recently done extensive picking upgrades and Iup believe cational expenses having to do with the 2018 convention, or — Display cases showing off some of Minnesota’s his- Minneapolis will have one of the finest room blocks ever.” for Legion programs into the next century. tory for the 10,000 delegates expected to attend the conven- Corporations, posts, individuals and others can con- tion. tribute to the Convention Corporation where money can be — Partnerships with Minnesota corporations to provide spent on promoting and programming for the convention. state-made gifts for convention-goers. Gambling money cannot be used for this purpose. The three largest post donations came from North St. In both cases, the donation can be considered tax Paul ($5,000), Osseo ($5,000) and St. Louis Park ($2,000). deductible. The first project from the donations will be the posters that The Convention Corporation, chaired by Jeff Olson, has can be displayed at every post and at other locations. discussed a number of potential plans and activities for the The flag ribbons will be distributed through the depart- convention, which will be the 100th national convention of ment vice commanders. They will cost $20 each. More The American Legion. The convention, in August 2018, information will be available soon. will kick off a year of celebration by the national organiza- Olson noted that the 2018 convention will follow the tion culminating in the 2019 cenvention in Indianapolis Super Bowl in Minneapolis by about seven months. “It is marking the 100th birthday of the veterans organization. great following the Super Bowl. Every hotel we have in our Some of those Minnesota activities include: — Paying for the shuttle bus system that transports our attendees from their hotels to the convention center and back. — Posters with a World War I theme that will be distributed to all posts in Minnesota in the coming months. — Ribbons for flag staffs marking the 100th national convention. — Souvenir metal badges for everyone attending the convention. — World War I re-enactors that will be present before

ConventionContinued from Page 1 plans Hotel. Those attending the convention must make their own reservations by calling 1-800-453-7827 and referenc- ing Block 1738. The room rate is $85 a night. The facility also has an RV park. Those interested should call the same number. Registration is $15 in advance, and a registration form is on Page 2 of this Legionnaire. The convention will be preceded by an Department Executive Committee meeting on July 12. Bill Eck, convention chairman for host Mahnomen Post 31, said there will a lunch at the post on Thursday and Friday, and that Ronnie Cash will perform on Thursday.

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th OFFICIAL CONVENTION PRE-REGISTRATION “FOR THE AMERICANMinneapolis LEGION, is hosting the 100 nationalI WILL.” conventionst in 2018. Our great state was the site of the 1 A registration fee of $15 for each person attending, whether a delegate, alter- convention and will now host this historic event. nate or a guest, must accompany this form. Make this check payable to CON- The National Convention Corporation of Minnesota VENTION CORPORATION. No credit cards will be accepted. is inviting all Legionnaires and posts to say “For The American Legion, I Will” and contribute towards Registration at the door will be $18. our Beginning the Second Century of Service Campaign. Gifts can be directed towards Minnesota’s Mail to: hosting responsibilities for the convention or The Ron Hendrickson, Box 31, Waubun, MN 56589. American Legion Minnesota Foundation to support programming throughout our state. For more Legion Post # ______SAL Sqdn.______Auxiliary Unit______information, thplease visit www.mnlegion.org and click on 100 National Convention Information. District______Phone______

Name______DO YOU KNOW OF A COMPANYTH THAT MAY FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE 100 CONVENTION THROUGH Address______SPONSORSHIP, ADVERTISING OR GIVING? There are sponsorship, advertisement and giving opportunities forth businesses. City, If you know of a company that may want to take part in the 100 convention, State______Zip______please contact Michael Davy at (612) 247-9960 or [email protected].

May 2017 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 3 Director of Selective Service

paysIt has at times visit been the most to hated Minnesota gov- riots in New York, Detroit and other north- ernment agency in America, and it has also ern cities. The First Minnesota Regiment been one of the most necessary. spent some if its final days of duty in New The Selective Service System, also York City to police the draft riots. known as the draft board, has provided the Since then, Copp said, the government nation with military personnel from the has endeavored to make the process fair for Civil War to World War I, World War II, the all. The draft that was developed in World Korean War and the Vietnam War. War I with a lottery process has been a The leader of that organization was in model for all other wars, he said. The Minnesota recently to help deliver a large Selective Service System as we know it bowl to the Minnesota History Center. was created in May 1917. Adam Copp, the interim director of the The agency has 124 full-time employ- U.S. Selective Service System, brought the ees, he said. About half take care of run- bowl that was actually used for the draft ning the office, and the other half manage lottery during World War I. The bowl will the data. be part of the new World War I Exhibit The system for the most part relies on which opened at the history center in April. 11,000 local draft boards across the coun- GREETINGS -- Interim Selective Service System Director Adam Copp was in “The Selective Service came back from try. These boards are responsible for regis- Minnesota recently delivering a historical artifact to the Minnesota History Center. cold storage in 1980,” Copp said in an tering young men, and also make decisions He is flanked by Department Commander Denise Milton and Minnesota Selective interview. “It had been ended during the on such things as conscientious objector Service Director Bill Barbknecht. “The Selective Service System has always had a Vietnam War in 1973.” status. close relationship with The American Legion,” Copp said. “They have also been Every male citizen of the United States “If someone has a moral objection to very supportive.” from age 18-25 is required to register with serving, they must be treated fairly. All cit- his local draft board. It is a legal require- izens have their rights,” Copp said. ment. The system registers about 91 percent of While there has not been a draft since those eligible. “Some people just fall off We are Veterans the Vietnam War, the government is still the map. They don’t get a driver’s license MEET interested in staying ready if the nation or they don’t live in the country.” We are Comrades needs manpower. In Minnesota, any man over 18 who Paul M. Sailer The penalty in federal law for deliber- tries to get a driver’s license will have to Read I Had a Comrade, ately not registering is a $250,000 fine sign a consent form that will automatically Authora new of book “I HAD by AMinnesota COMRADE” and/or five years in jail. In actuality, the register him with the SSS. Author, Paul Sailer names of those who don’t register are “We like to look at it as it’s your duty as AT Williams turned over to the Justice Department, but a citizen to step up and register,” he said. Order at no action is taken. The government, Copp said, is present- www.lodenCompany books.com Store The real penalty could be that a person ly looking at other issues regarding the and who did not register may be turned away draft process, including the question of receiveOttertail, free shippingMN later from certain federal benefits. whether women should also be required to through Father’s Day or Copp outlined the history of the agency, register. Saturday,purchase a copyMay at13 the from its start in the Civil War. “It was not a Copp, a retired Marine officer, said the Minnesota History Center fair or equitable process in the Civil War, agency has data on 17 million young men 11:00Museum a.m. Store, to 2:00 St. p.m.Paul but both the North and South had drafts.” between 18 and 36, and on 80 million men It was possible in those days to buy your in total. That information is not shared out- www. .com way out of the draft or find a substitute. side the agency. lodenbooks During the war, there were terrible draft

TH J E OI B N E . M ST E D M E B A ER L S IN G H E FANTASTIC IS T

TOR WAYS TO Y. EXPERIENCE

POWWOW WITH COMMUNITY Come to the Memorial Day Powwow, an event to honor veterans, on Mon., May 29. Mille Lacs FUND THE FORT Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia. Ask your state legislators to support funding EXPLORE WW1 AMERICA for Historic Fort See rare artifacts and encounter the Snelling and extraordinary people and nation- thank Gov. shaking movements that shaped Dayton for his our nation at WW1 America, support at mnhs. now on view. Minnesota History org/HFS2020. Center, St. Paul.

GET A DONUT! VISIT FOR FREE Pick up your free donut from 7-10 am on On Memorial Day, May 29, active June 2 (while supplies last), with admission military and veterans receive FREE to WW1 America. Enjoy the exhibit and admission to Historic Fort Snelling, storytelling about WW1, reenactors, and music. which will feature a “living timeline” National Donut Day, Fri., June 2, Minnesota of America’s military past. History Center, St. Paul.

PLAN YOUR VISIT OR PURCHASE ONLINE • MNHS.ORG • 1-844-MNSTORY MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 4

Page 4 Minnesota Legionnaire May 2017 new ideas and can’t wait to get back to my home post to share with my post members. Throughout my travels this past year visiting posts, I find that I learn something new Chaplain’s and different almost every time. Each post has their own COMMANDER’S distinct traditions that make them unique yet we have a Corner COLUMN common bond-we are all veterans still serving. I know, I know- I talk about Consolidated Post Reports (CPR) almost every month but there is a reason-this is one By of the most important reports you will complete and turn in. Bill Brockberg By Denise Milton The American Legion uses it to show our progress as an organization. It’s not only used by the National organization Drive on with Spiritual Experience to report to Congress on what we do but it can serve as an On my way home from a Training Conference in excellent recruiting tool when talking to prospective mem- Mankato I stopped to buy gas and a soft drink before I bers. You can also place in your local newspaper to let the resumed my drive home. As I traveled through this small community know what you do. town, I saw a flashing neon reader-board sign in front of a I attended my very first Department Oratorical contest hardware store. The messages were as follows: Thursday, Greetings Fellow Legionnaires. and what an experience. What a great group of contestants- April 6, 2017, 2:30 pm; 52 degrees F, Sunny, no chance of Our last formal rally is over, but we still need to continue well prepared and well versed on the Constitution and rain; Snow Blowers, 50 percent off! working membership. I want to take this opportunity to Amendments. I was amazed how they all stayed within the I didn’t notice any customers in front of that store, beat- thank everyone for working so hard to obtain the 95% target time restrictions required. They were all good and I found it ing down the doors to snatch up a discounted snow blower. goal. We were so close-94.46%. We can still do it. Now we difficult to decide who should win. Glad it wasn’t me judg- I didn’t stop either. I was focused on getting home, unpack- need to roll up our sleeves and make that extra effort to ing. They are all winners in my eyes. We will soon know ing and making plans for the weekend. With the warm air reach 100%. Just ask. Get those renewals and a few new who wins at the National competitions, can’t wait. and bright sunshine, snow drifts were the furthest thing members wouldn’t hurt either. Remember that Department A big thank you to all the posts for the great hospitality from my mind. At my office that Monday and after the Membership Director Mark is offering every post a $3 shown my husband and I over the past two months as we weather had taken a sharp turn to cold and freezing rainy bonus for every new member that is signed up by the 10th celebrated the Legion’s Birthday. I can’t tell you how enjoy- weather, a fellow employee remarked to me that it was of May. able it has been. However the weight I’ve managed to put fours years ago today that Worthington got that crazy ice A big shout out to the 6th District Commander Veronica on over the past several months isn’t what I had in mind. storm that knocked the power out for three days; in some and Membership Director Judy as well as 3rd District The food is too good. Thank you again. places for six days and caused lots of damage. Commander Mike and Membership Director Eugene for Please remember our servicemembers and their families. I remembered that ice storm and my first summer living attaining the 95% goal by the deadline. Congratulations on If you know someone personally reach out and assist them in Worthington three months after that storm. One hot, a job well done. if needed or to just let them know you are there if needed. humid summer day and snow blowers were on sale at a The District conventions have all been scheduled for the A special prayer for those that continue to suffer the inner hardware store. I didn’t stop that time either and my first coming weeks, please take the time to attend yours this demons of PTSD or contemplating that life is too difficult- full winter in Worthington made me pay. year. It is an excellent opportunity to meet members of oth- let them know they aren’t alone in their fight! This then made me wonder how many times we are ers posts in your district. Don’t forget to bring someone For God and Country. quick to disregard the good news that God holds in front of along that has never been to one. I always come away with us day after day, because we are focused on our present cir- cumstances. There isn’t a day of your life that God isn’t offering these things: forgiveness of all your sins, healing for all the wounds in your soul, deliverance from all your bondages and addictions, a minute-by-minute experience of his love and compassion in an impersonal world, a life of EditorialChance for lawmakers not know that. All we or any other citizen can do is look complete satisfaction and finally, renewed strength to help Back at the Veterans Day on the Hill gathering at the them up on the Bill Tracker website. you take another step through hard times. Capitol, a series of legislators urged veterans to stay The other bill would provide $222,000 for improve- See Psalm 103 below. involved in the process. ments at Legionville, particularly in updating the dining One day soon, I may well be pulling the cord to crank up Well, there’s still time for the Minnesota Legislature to hall -- a remodeling that is crucially needed to better serve my expensive snow blower I waited to buy in February of get it right on a couple of bills. And it’s time to speak up and the children who learn school safety patrol at the camp. 2014. I wished I had been a little more thoughtful about the be in the heart of that process. The other half of the bill would provide $278,000 for a snow blower the summer before and I was reminded of my Both bills are concerned with safety -- one for our youth new building at the Veterans Rest Camp at Big Marine Lake carelessness a handful of times when I was bent over my and one for our veterans. -- also a worthwhile and needed project. The Legion and the shovel in a three-foot snow drift in my double-wide drive- In Minneapolis, the Minnesota Veterans Home has just Rest Camp were encouraged to submit the requests together way. Don’t let that be your spiritual experience. Jesus died one access road leading in and out. Yes, we know that in one bill and to speak with one voice. and rose again because he wants you to have a brand new sounds too farfetched to be true. A facility that serves hun- The House and Senate versions both were approved and beginning. It may well be that you’ve been driving by dreds of veterans has just one road for ambulances, fire sent to the Legacy Committee where they would be funded. God’s offer because you’re too busy or too preoccupied. trucks, or evacuation. If that road is blocked? It’s a disaster But a funny thing happened in the House version, the That isn’t smart. God longs for you to have joy and peace, waiting to happen. Legionville funding was cut while the Rest Camp moved on freedom and hope at this minute and for eternity…and they There used to be two roads leading into the veterans to the conference committee. As of this writing, the won’t cost you a penny. Those gifts are never out of season, home, but because of safety reasons, a bridge over Legionville project is still in the Senate version. and you won’t find them any other place but in God’s pres- Minnehaha Creek has been closed. It will take upwards of So there is hope, both for the bridge at the veterans home ence. God knows the road you are on and He knows exactly $700,000 to fix the bridge and open up the second access to and for the Legionville project. But we are fast approaching what you need for the rest of the journey. Be honest with the facility, but it’s an expense that must be borne. the time when the lawmakers enter into that shadowland of God. Tell him everything that is in your heart. Jesus is wait- Somehow, though, the bridge project has had trouble passing legislation, where democracy takes a back seat to ing to lead you the rest of the way. Don’t drive by. getting traction in the Minnesota Legislature. In the House, bargaining skills. “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, the bill has been referred to the Veterans Affairs Division in We urge all veterans to support these two bills. The bless his holy name. Forget not all his benefits. Who for- February, and there it sits. In the Senate, the bill has been bridge bills are SF 1602 and HF 1092. The Legionville bills gives all thine inequities; who heals all thy diseases; who referred to the Capital Investment Committee on March 1 are HF 232 and SF 135. redeemed thine life from destruction; who crowned thee and nothing has happened since. Let your legislator know how you feel about these and with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfied thy If there’s been other movement with these bills, we do other bills important to veterans. mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executed righteousness and judgment Mail Call Hard work by veteran for all that are oppressed.” Psalm 103, verses 1 – 6. You’re worth it To the Editor: pays off in Maryland The Minnesota How many times in the past few years have strangers Over the course of four years, Legionnaire William “Sarge” Garlitz made what he thinks is around 15 trips back Official PublicationLeg of iando Ownednn Exclusivelyair bye come up to a veteran saying, “Thank you for your service.” The American Legion, Department of Minnesota The vet is probably wearing a ball cap or t-shirt with their and forth from his home in Ocean City, Md., to Annapolis - military branch printed. They both just smile and carry on. - roughly 116 miles each way. The reason: to urge the Al Zdon, Editor Try this: “You’re worth it.” The stranger will smile, be Maryland General Assembly to pass legislation that would First published in 1920 as the Hennepin County Legionnaire, pleased as Punch and be amazed. Try it, it works everytime fly the POW-MIA flag above the Maryland State House and the Minnesota Legionnaire is now in its 98th year of publica- with everyone, young, vets and the elderly. all other state buildings, with a few minor exceptions, that tion. It is published monthly by The American Legion, And it’s good PR for the vets as well. fly the U.S. flag. Department of Minnesota, Room 300A, 20 West 12th Street, Wes Moreland Recently, Garlitz saw his efforts pay off. Maryland Gov. St. Paul, MN 55155-2000. Periodicals postage is paid at St. Pine Island Larry Hogan signed into law legislation that will do just Paul, MN, and at additional mailing offices. The Legionnaire what the Synepuxent Post 166 Legionnaire has been seek- is a member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association and ing for so many years. the National American Legion Press Association. Honor the flag SUBSCRIPTION: $10 for non-members. Members receive To the Editor: “(The POW-MIA flag) flies over the White House six the Legionnaire as part of their dues. I think it is very important that our flag and national times a year, and it’s the only flag that’s ever flown over the PHONE: 651-291-1800, 866-259-9163, FAX: 651-291-1057 anthem are presented at all events. I know all color guards White House other than the American flag,” said Garlitz, a POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The American don’t perform like practicing drill teams. I belong to the former post commander and 51-year Legionnaire. “I just Legion, 20 W. 12th Street, St. Paul, MN, 55155-2000. (USPS VFW and The American Legion drill teams and we try to thought that this flag should be flown here so that Maryland No. 013-679.) (ISSN No. 1644270) get procedures right. Fans, especially youngsters, attending wants to send a message that we’re not going to forget the ADVERTISING RATES: Contact Al Zdon, 651-291-1800 these events see where the flags are when presented. unaccounted (servicemembers).” E-MAIL: [email protected] In the March issue of the Legionnaire, you have a picture For years the proposed state legislation remained stuck WEBSITE: www.mnlegion.org President Denise of the American flag being presented at a Timberwolves in committee. “Once I get my teeth into something, I don’t BOARD OF PUBLICATION MEMBERS: give up,” Garlitz said. Milton, Bagley; Vice President Don Amundson, Blue Earth; game. All three flags are in the wrong position to be pre- Secretary Randy Tesdahl, Elk River; Treasurer, Richard sented. I think we should at least have the flags in the right Finding out the legislation passed unanimously in both Horn, Melrose. Board Members include: Bob Locker, Fridley; place when people see, like I said especially youngsters, the chambers was special for Garlitz. Clinton Burt, Slayton; Joe Bayer, Minneapolis; Pat Logan, colors presented. “It was your mind being at ease and saying ‘mission Bloomington; Donna Arends, Raymond; Jean Walker, Gene Kauppila accomplished.’” Warren. Thief River Falls MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 5

May 2017 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 5

What’sWomen’s Conference HappeninRed Tail Exhibit g Town Hall for Veterans The 2017 MDVA Women Veterans Conference will be The Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron will The Minnesota VA will hold a Town Hall meeting on held Thursday, May 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Ramada present the “Rise Above” traveling exhibit at the Waseca Wednesday, June 21, at the Whipple Federal Building from Plymouth Hotel and Conference Center. All ages, branches County Free Fair on July 12-16. The mobile exhibit 5-7 p.m. in the Lower Level Auditorium. and transitioning military women are welcome. includes a 15-minute movie on the Tuskegee Airmen on a Leaders from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Breakfast will be included. There will be speakers, 160 degree panoramic screen. The exhibit will be open the St. Paul Regional Benefits Office and the Fort Snelling workshops, displays and benefits assistance. For more noon to 9 p.m. each day. National Cemetery will be on hand. information go to www.minnesotaveteran.org/womenveter- Attendees should arrive early and expect a security ans. check. For more information, call Ralph Heussner at 612- Spam Post reaching out 467-3012. Spam Post 570 in Austin is reaching out for new mem- Apple Valley party bers. The post, which was founded just after World War II Apple Valley Post 1776 will host its annual Kentucky in Austin with women veterans, became one of Camp Ripley Run Derby party on May 6 beginning at 11 a.m. It will feature Minnesota’s most noted posts for many years, with the A charity motorcycle run to help fund the Disabled horse races, meat raffles, hat contests, themed drinks, door Spam women placing high in the national drum and bugle Veteran Deer and Turkey hunts will be held July 1. It will prizes and more. For more information, call 612-308-3311. competition. go from Jenkins VFW to Camp Ripley. The post now has only two members, but is seeking Registration with coffee and rolls is a 9 a.m., and kick- more. For more information, contact Eileen at stands up at 11:30 to noon. Donation is $15 for riders and Victory in Europe [email protected]. $10 for passengers. An event honoring Allied veterans will be held Saturday, There will be a tour of the Minnesota Military Museum May 6 at the Minnesota Capitol. The group will assemble at Camp Ripley. For more information, contact Jim on the south Capitol steps at 10:30, march to the World War Drop-In Legal Clinics Hesselgrave at 612-599-9149 or email: [email protected]. II Memorial at 11, have a ceremony at 11:15 with closing at A series of Drop-In Legal Clinicc are slated. The clin- 11:45. The event is sponsored by the World War II History ics offer veterans counseling on housing, employment, Round Table and World War II Russian Veterans benefits, debt collection, expungement, and family law. Support Troops Golf Association. For more information, contact Minnesota Assistance The 11th annual Support the Troops Golf Tournament Council for Veterans, at the numbers listed below. The ses- will be held on Saturday, June 17, at the Ponds Golf Course sions include: in St. Francis. It is sponsored by the Support the Troops Round Tables -- Friday, May 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Alexandria Charity. The St. Croix Valley Civil War Round Table will meet on Armory in Alexandria. 218-722-8763. It is a scramble format, $100 per golfer, which includes May 22 for “The Writer: An Artist in Residence at -- Tuesday, June 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nobles County the round, a cart, dinner and a gift bag. There is a $10,000 Gettysburg,” with Leigh Rydberg. It is a dinner meeting at Government Center, Worthington. 507-345-8258. hole in one contest. To register, send your team members’ the Lowell Inn in Stillwater. For more information, call -- Tuesday, May 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Serviceman’s names, phone number and email along with the payment to Steve Anderson, 715-386-1268. Club, Virginia. 218-722-8763. Rick Hedberg, 6950 Hilledale Rd. NW, Elk River, 55330. The World War II History Round Table will meet -- Tuesday, May 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Minneapolis VA Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at the Fort Snelling History Medical Center, Flag Atrium Balcony. 651-200-4750. Center for “The Final Major Battle in Western Europe” with Wednesday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., West Duluth St. Cloud VA Recovery Night Hal Winton. Battle of the Bulge veterans will be present. American Legion Post 71. 218-722-8763. Recovery Night is scheduled for May 9, from 6 to 7:30 Cost is $5. Thursday, May 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., VFW Post 612, p.m. at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, Building 8. The Fergus Falls. 218-722-8763. night features veterans sharing their stories of hope, success, resiliance and recovery. Veterans and family members are invited to attend. It’s a peer-led effort to share success and inspire hope in others. Taps Norgaard, Thomas T., 68, Past Ninth War II, died March 29, 2017. He was a member of died April 6, 2017. He was a member of Monticello Post District Commander, died April 6, 2017. He was a veteran Zimmerman Post 560. 260. of the Vietnam War, and he joined the Army in 1968 and re- Nolan, Denis Darron, 71, Marine Corps veteran of the Smude, Peter, 69, Army veteran of the Vietnam War, enlisted in 1974. He served as Ninth District Membership Vietnam War, died March 25, 2017. He was a sergeant who died March 20, 2017. He was a member of Brainerd Post Director and twice was elected District Commander, 2013- served with the 1st Division Headquarters near Da Nang. 255. 14 and 2014-15. He was a member of Fosston Post 114. He was a member of Coon Rapids Post 334. Howe, Neil L., 86, Air Force veteran of the Korean War, Danielson, Harold, 99, Army veteran of World War II, Waldorf, Walter, 88, Army veteran of the Korean War, died April, 2017. He was a member of St. Paul Park Post 98. died April 12, 2017. He was the last charter member of New died March 28, 2017. He was a member of Park Rapids Post Meyer, Glen, 88, Army veteran of the Korean War, died London Post 573. 212. April 21, 2017. He was a member of Tyler Post 185. Bremer, Worrell E., 90, Navy veteran of World War II, Kroc, Maurice R., “Bud,” 95, Army veteran of World McCarthy, Joseph P., 90, Navy veteran of World War died April 1, 2017. He was a past commander of Round War II, died March 5, 2017. He was a member of Austin II, died April 7, 2017. He was a member of Caledonia Post Lake Post 461. Post 91. 191. Langseth, Lynn K., 71, Air Force veteran of the Nierengarten, Michael J., 92, Army veteran of World Doering, Stanley C., 76, Army veteran of the Vietnam Vietnam War, died April 5, 2017. He was a member of War II, died March 23, 2017. He was a member of St. War, died April 15, 2017. He was a member of Caledonia Round Lake Post 461. Joseph Post 328. Post 191. House, Francis W., “Red,” 87, Air Force veteran of the Bloom, Donald E., 79, Navy veteran of the Korean War, Ryks, Gordon H., 87, Army veteran of the Korean War, Korean War, died April 13, 2017. He served stateside. He died March 24, 2017. He was a member of Austin Post 91. died March 16, 2017. He was a member of Willmar Post was a member of Austin Post 91. Schoening, Allan M., 99, Navy veteran of World War II, 167. Haus, Charles P., 96, Navy veteran of World War II, died March 24, 2017. He served as a Seabee in Trinidad. He Hamann, Milton M., 89, Army veteran of the Korean died April 11, 2017. He was a member of Arlington Post was a member of Alexandria Post 87. War, died March 20, 2017. He was a member of Willmar 250. Sonsteby, Ward C., 88, Marine Corps veteran of the Post 167. Ball, Lloyd E., 91, Navy veteran of World War II, died Korean War, died March 30, 2017. He was a corporal and Hoogeveen, Alvin H., 92, Army veteran of World War March 26, 2017. He was a member of Albert Lea Post 56. spent 13 months in Korea. He was a member of Alexandria II, died March 30, 2017. He was a member of Willmar Post Fedor, Lloyd F., 82, Army veteran of the Korean War, Post 87. 167. died March 8, 2017. He was a member of the honor guard Neese, Kara J., 40, Navy veteran of the Persian Gulf Larson, Conrad E., Dr., 87, Army veteran of the at Holdingford Post 211. wars, died March 20, 2017. She served 20 years. She was Korean War, died March 31, 2017. He was a member of Barkeim, Duane O., 76, Navy veteran of the Vietnam a member of Long Prairie Post 12. Willmar Post 167. War, died March 25, 2017. He was an engineman third Barsness, Dale Rodger, 78, Navy veteran of the Somerville, William R., 91, Army veteran of World War class. He was a member of Granite Falls Post 69. Vietnam War, died April 4, 2017. He was a member of II, died April 1, 2017. He was a past commander of Willmar Roeder, Jerry, 84, Navy veteran of the Korean War, Paynesville Post 271. Post 167. died March 28, 2017. He was a member of New London Niles, Leland E., 85, Navy veteran of the Korean War, Zylstra, Gerald, 95, Navy veteran of World War II, died Post 537. died April 11, 2017. He was a member of Brainerd Post April 6, 2017. He was a member of Willmar Post 167. Kuehl, Charles L., “Hans,” 90, Navy veteran of World 255. Wallin, Virgil W., 90, Navy veteran of World War II and War II, died April 1, 2017. He served in the South Pacific. Zitur, Donald C., Sr., 92, Army veteran of World War Army veteran of the Korean War, died April 9, 2017. He He was a member of Waconia Post 150. II, died April 12, 2017. He was a member of Brainerd Post was a member of Willmar Post 167. Grandboise, John M., 88, Army veteran of the Korean 255. Westhoff, Harold E., 97, Navy veteran of World War II, War, died April 3, 2017. He was a member of East Grand Handeland, John H., 86, Army National Guard and died April 9, 2017. He was a member of Willmar Post 167. Forks Post 157. Reserves veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, died Sundberg, Omer L. “Ole,” 87, Army veteran of the Sanken, Harold H., 98, Army Air Corps veteran of March 24, 2017. He served 37 years, and the administration Korean War, died April 18, 2017. He was stationed in World War II, died March 29, 2017. He served in the Fifth office at Camp Ripley is named for him. He was a member Alaska. He was a member of East Grand Forks Post 157. Air Force in the Philippines and Australia. He was a mem- of Brainerd Post 255. Kalinoski, Victor, 97, Army veteran of World War II, ber of Brownton Post 143. Stang, Michael G., 65, Army Reserves veteran of the died April 12, 2017. He served in New Zealand, Australia, Becker, Wilfred, 90, Army veteran of World War II, Vietnam War, died March 28, 2017. He was a member of India and Iran. He was a member of Thief River Falls Post died March 19, 2017. He was a member of Eden Valley Post New Prague Post 45. 117. 381. Mazer, Leo Theodor, 92, Army veteran of World War II Gullickson, Larry G., 72, Marine Corps veteran of the and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, died April 8, 2017. He Vietnam War, died April 4, 2017. He was a member of earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was a member of Austin Post 91. Monticello Post 260. Kraeger, Clifford Arthur, 97, Army veteran of World Forbes, Richard V., 92, Navy veteran of World War II, MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 6

Page 6 Minnesota Legionnaire May 2017 Legion training Veterans Affairs American Legion session is designed and Rehabilitation Riders By Ron Quade, Director By Chuck Stone for all Legionnaires American Legion/ MDVA Department Director By Jeff Gay Claims Division Minnesota American Legion Training is your training. Greetings American Legion Family, It is scheduled for June and everyone, to include post officers and membership, is encouraged to attend. The training Judge Crowley Riding season is officially upon us. The Department Your American Legion Claims Divisions are at the cut- is geared towards helping post’s become better at what they Legacy Ride committee is in their final stage of completing ting edge of advocacy at a local, state, federal and national do and to improve overall understanding of The American this year’s run. Hopefully after their next meeting, all of the level. In previous segments you learned about MDVA and Legion and conducting effective meetings and membership details will be finalized for both weekends. American Legion Claims Division efforts to professionally activities. I would like to take this opportunity to anounce the advocate for our claimants in the Board of Veteran Appeals The event begins the evening of Friday June 23rd with Department of Minnesota ALR traveling trophy. It is a very (BVA) Pre-Hearing Conference pilot (PHC). registration and turn-in of District iPads and flag kits. It nice wooden plaque in the shape of Minnesota with a cou- This month you will enjoy knowing we have National will also include time for a social gathering and networking ple of Honda pistons on it. The rules are simple: Whoever Federal Partners willing to invest and prove their dedication as well as an overview of what to expect at the training on has the trophy must display it prominently in the post bar. to serving our Minnesota veterans and their needs. Saturday. 2. Must have three ALR members to steal it. 3. May be In October 2015, I was contacted about a potential pilot Training begins Saturday morning the 24th at The stolen between March 1st and October 31st. 4. May not be project in which local Regional Office Power of Attorney American Legion Post in Brainerd. Noon lunch will be pre- stolen on days where the post is having an event or ride. 5. (POA) Offices would cooperate with BVA judges to deter- pared and served at the post and following the training there If more then one chapter shows up to steal at the same time, mine cases most easily granted or remanded. This process, will be a dinner and social at Legionville. the chapter with most riders takes it. In the event of a tie the first of its kind, would allow the Claims Division staff, A short recap and discussion of the training is planned high card wins. 6. Notify when taken: Joe Smillie (641)590- who are most familiar with the claims, to communicate to a for Sunday morning the 25th. There will be a couple speak- 3522 or Roe Naylor (507)438-5804. 7. Once stolen the tro- BVA judge directly. With PHC cases could be considered ers and all District Membership Packets will be distributed phy is safe at your post for 5 days. 8. Trophy can only be for resolution without a year’s long along with the iPads for the new District Commanders. It claimed when the post is open for business. 9. Each time the wait for a formal hearing. The Pre-Hearing Conference is important that District Commanders be in attendance in trophy is stolen, the chapter stealing it will pay $10.00. At Pilot was born and our office has had huge success in win- order to receive their packets and training for the iPads. the end of the year the money will be given to the chapter ning BVA cases by working directly with Judge Crowley The instruction will cover a myriad of topics all geared who stole it the most, to be donated to the charity of their and now our new 2017 Judge. to help you host and conduct the best business meetings you choice. You will be notified at the end of the year how Your MDVA and American Legion office invited Judge can as well as to promote your post. This training will much you owe for stealing the trophy and where to send Crowley to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs include, but not be limited to, conducting a proper meeting, your fines. 10. Those stealing the trophy must have on their and Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service importance of the annual timeline, preparing news articles, Riders vests and be on bikes, sorry no cages. If you need to Officers Spring Conference for 2017 and to our surprise the fund raising, recruiting, retention and much more. If you locate the whereabouts of the traveling trophy you can call Judge accepted. have something specific you would like discussed please let Roe Naylor or Joe Smillie or look on facebook - ALR trav- Judge Crowley traveled to Minnesota, toured your us know. eling trophy. This program is intended to get Riders out to American Legion Claims Division, meeting staff he had Seating is limited and getting numbers in advance helps visit other posts within Minnesota. worked with in the PHC Pilot hearings and traveled to us plan for meals and layout. Please go to the Minnesota It’s hard to believe the Legion year is almost over. I have Mankato for the Conference. Legion website, mnlegion.org, and click on “Minnesota been to a few testimonial dinners and only have a couple During the Spring Conference the Judge mingled with American Legion Training in the News section. left on the calendar. A question for Commander Denise and County Service Officers and offered them personal time to Contact information: her husband Dennis, what is the biggest guy you have had talk about claims and appeals for several hours in two days. Training questions: Jeffrey L. Gay, 145 3rd Ave., in your little Toyota? I hope everyone is enjoying the wet The Judge’s presentation and information was well received Jackson, MN, 56143; Phone: (507) 933-4576 or email jly- spring weather. Keep the chrome side up and the rubber by CVSO’s and MDVA received much positive feedback [email protected]. Legionville housing questions and side down. asking for more similar training and if at all possible a reservations: Roy Kruger, 9544 Legionville Road, return of the Judge for future events. Brainerd, MN 56401; Phone: (218) 829-3094. We thank Judge Crowley for taking the time to travel, discuss and present to our group. The judge made the event unique, informative and extraordinary. The program known as Pre-Hearing Conference Pilot start knocking on the doors and get their renewal. As a sug- program has been hugely successful. To date, The Sons of The gestion, ask the help of your Legion Family Members American Legion Claims Division held four hearings, set- (Legion, Auxiliary and ALR) for their assistance. They tled almost 17% of our current issues on behalf of our American Legion may have an “in” with some of these members to help you. claimants and we have a 100% success rate in grants or Here is another point to remember, if they are an ALR remands of claims. Some claims even paying out decades By member and only an SAL member, they must renew to be of retroactive payments to claimants. Gene Olswold able to stay in the ALR. The last National cut-off date is All of these actions taken years before they would have May 10th to be at 100%. I know the Detachment of been decided under the normal BVA process. We are proud Minnesota can and will be at 100+% by this date. National to announce this program has gained attention and support sent out 3rd reminders the end of April so those members of U.S. Congress and the VA leadership. The month of May is now here and the start of a very know who they are so go get them. busy month for the American Legion Family. Many of our The program is now in its initial year at eleven Regional This month is also the month we celebrate and remem- Offices including St. Paul with all indication it will become districts will be holding their District Conventions and ber our family members who have passed away and all our electing their new leaders for the 2017-2018 year. I will be a permanent VA program nationally. comrades that fought for our freedom and gave their lives Please contact your local County Veteran Service Office traveling to most of your conventions if at all possible. This for the cause. Let’s all pause on May 29th and give tribute is also the time when delegates are elected for the National or contact the AL Claims Division directly at 612 970 5662. to those who sacrificed so much for our freedoms we still I look forward to bringing you more information about the Convention. My hope is each district has a successful and have today. They may be gone but never forgotten. fruitful convention. Claims Divisions who are on the ground working hard for During Memorial Day weekend, if you must travel, be you every day. Our membership year is fast coming to an end and there safe out there and may you all have “Fair winds and follow- are many unrenewed memberships out there yet to contact ing seas.” and get renewed. This is also the hard time for these May God Bless all our Troops, Veterans and God Bless renewals to get; but they are just as important to get as it America. was in the fall of 2016. It’s time to don your SAL cap and

VeteransContinued from Page Choice1 ingAct a veteran-centered extended health care system Membership Chart outside sources, and “it’s confusing to vet- that preserves VA’s core mission while uti- erans.” lizing the private sector where it makes Kelly agreed. “We absolutely agree with common sense is an absolute must.” As of April 19, 2017 Sen. Tester. The VA has asked Congress to Walz said the current system has “clear District 2017 Total Total Percent Same work on this. We need to have one pro- and systemic flaws” and he said that a vet- Goal 2016 2017 of Goal Date ’16 gram, if it’s called “Care in the erans care should be a conversation 1 9,380 9,322 8,736 93.13 Community” or “Choice” or whatever. between the veteran and his doctor, and not In such a united program, the VA could something based on “arbitrary rules.” 2 7,572 7,488 7,130 94.16 handle the interface with the veterans, The VA has issued a request for propos- 3 11,977 11,912 11,418 95.33 including scheduling appointments, and the als on how to streamline how it buys care 4 2,592 2,572 2,326 89.74 third party contractor could handle claims from non-VA providers. Those proposals and billing, he said. are expected this summer. 5 2,679 2,657 2,386 89.06 Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., who is the Tester said he hopes to have draft legis- 6 12,109 12,038 11,556 95.43 ranking member of the House Committee lation on reforming the way the VA does 6,695 6,619 6,227 93.01 on Veterans Affairs, said in a press release business with outside parties by this fall. 7 that there is much room for improvement in Tester said he supports a strong VA that 8 4,417 4,377 4,134 93.59 Veterans Choice. can take care of veterans’ needs. “I think 9 7,015 6,950 6,578 93.77 Walz touched on that thorny issue of the VA is best suited to take care of these how much the VA should be privatized. folks. So that the VA needs to be there, and 10 10,611 10,557 9,831 92.65 “Our focus should always be on improving we need to have a private sector that fills At-large 1,953 2,710 2,321 118.84 the veteran experience, especially when it the gaps around the VA,” he told public Totals 77,000 77,202 72,643 94.34 comes to healthcare. That is why develop- radio. MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 7

May 2017 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 7

GregoryEyewitness Burt was aboard a ship in Pearlto Harbor history when the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, 1941 n December 7, 1941, just over 75 years ago, Coxswain Gregory S. Burt had a bird’s eye view of one of the most catastrophic days in U.S. history.O He was stationed aboard the USS Castor (AKS-1), a supply ship anchored in Pearl Harbor, just across the bay from Battleship Row. The sailors aboard the ship were getting ready for a ball game when the Japanese planes roared into the harbor.

Charlie Burt is a Marine Corps veteran who served a tour in Vietnam. He is a member of Waverly Post 305. He grew up in Northeast Minneapolis, and is a graduate of Edison High School. He is the son of Gregory Burt. Charlie provided the Legionnaire with a letter his father wrote from his perch on the mast of the USS Castor the same day Pearl Harbor was attacked. Gregory Burt continued to add to the letter for the next few days as the sailors scanned the skies for another attack. The USS Castor is shown at sea. Gregory Burt’s battle station would have been in the main mast, just forward Here is a transcription of that letter: of the stack. The large upright structures are the king’s posts. Editor’s note: The complete letter is transcribed, and only minor grammatical changes were made. The items inside brackets […] have been added by the editor. The items inside parentheses (…) are Gregory Burt’s notes.

Dec. 7, 1941 It was Sun. morning and we were sitting in the crews compartment talking about the ball game we were to play at nine o’clock – just then someone yelled General Quarters – and we figured it was just another drill, as we have them quite often. I grabbed my helmet and went up on deck. The first thing I saw was a plane afire and it crashed into the harbor – and someone said that the Japs were here. I made a dash for the mast as my G.Q. station is in the crow’s nest. When I reached the top, I could see Jap planes all over the sky. There was a big fire across the harbor where their bombs had fallen. Fires were starting everywhere, even up in the cane USS Castor fields. Next a torpedo plane dove in close by our ship and our A Navy map shows the location of all ships at 7:55 machine guns opened up on him, but he was moving too a.m. in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Battleship Row fast. But he banked and turned by the stern of two of our is just off Ford Island. The USS Castor is at bottom destroyers and the Jap felt the full force of 4 50 cal. M.G.s right indicated by the arrow. [machine guns]. First he caught fire and then his torpedo exploded. He was only 50 or 60 feet high and when he hit the water he sank immediately. All this time every ship in the harbor had at some high flying bombers and we drove them off before their guns in action and the air was black with anti-aircraft they could unload their bombs on us. gun bursts. At this time I spotted another Jap plane. He was up pretty Dec. 8, 1941 high and the plane was flying like the pilot was drunk. He There wasn’t much going on today, but we are all still in dove into the ground about a half mile ahead of our ship – the M.G. towers and waiting for them. The battleship over A newspaper story in the Minneapolis Argus shows into the woods. His plane exploded as it hit. to port [Arizona] is still burning. The after A.A. gun on our Burt’s photo and tells of his adventures at Pearl I looked back towards the stern again and saw two tor- ship got official credit for one torpedo plane. No one knows Harbor and in North Africa. pedo planes swoop down along the main channel and yet how many lives were lost, but there were plenty. launch their torpedos at our battle ships. One of the planes kept right on going and he crashed into the side of the near- Dec. 9, 1941 1941. The story indicated that the USS Castor had delivered est battle wagon and blew up as he hit. I looked over towards the battleships where one of them the last load of ammunition and Marines to Wake Island Where the two torpedoes hit, I couldn’t tell because I had is laying on its side [USS Oklahoma] (the other is still burn- before the Japanese invasion there. The ship had returned to report another plane that was diving on our ship from the ing) and there is a priest standing on the hull saying mass from the mission just three days before the attack on Pearl starboard side. He came in low and banked giving everyone for all the dead that they haven’t recovered yet. Harbor. a good shot at his belly, but no one hit him. As he went over G.Q. sounded this afternoon and we cleared our guns, He told the newspaper, “The morning of December 7th the cruisers on our stern, black smoke started to pour out but no planes were sighted by our patrol planes, so we at Pearl Harbor was beautiful. It was calm, quiet and there from his plane and that’s the last I saw of him. secured our guns but we slept alongside them. were rainbows all around… there are always rainbows out Over on the port side, the magazines in one of our battle Dec. 10, 1941 there. We were just starting a ball game on our boat, the sec- wagons [the USS Arizona] let go and shot red flames for Sent a cablegram home announcing all’s well. The word ond game in a series of three, when the Japs came.” over 300 feet into the air. The water was covered with oil, came over that only 35 men got off the battle wagon that The story noted that Burt’s battle station was the king and it burned leaving a cloud of black smoke all over the burned – there were 1,500 men on her. post, or the main mast of the supply ship. The story said a sky. So we are still sitting up here waiting for them to come bomb fragment missed Burt by inches and fell at his feet. Then the dive bombers started to our stern. There must back – we’re ready for them this time and they will get a Burt told the story of seeing eight men on a launch that have been 30 of them and one by one they came tearing hell of a hot reception. was strafed by a Japanese plane and all were killed. Five of down on the shops and drydocks – dropping their bombs. the men were on their way to church. Two gunner’s mates came up on the mast by me and Burt spent another year in the Pacific area before being mounted two machine guns up here. Then Mitchell (another That was the end of Burt’s letter home. The after-action transferred to sea duty off North Africa. fellow from Minneapolis) came up and we each had a report filed by Castor’s commanding officer praised the The news story noted that Burt had brought several sou- machine gun and plenty of ammunition. There was a lull in work of the crew. “The majority of the crew and all officers venirs home and that they were on display in the newspa- the battle for about fifteen minutes and then we saw a Jap except the commanding officer and the executive officer are per’s window. They included a pom pom shell that Burt had plane coming at us from the port side. As he swung over our reservists. Their steadiness and fortitude in their first action, picked up on the beach at Pearl Harbor, the bomb fragment bow, we let him have it. We emptied both guns at him (100 their fine discipline and battle spirit were superb.” that just missed him, and various items from Casablanca. shots) and I watched him keep going straight on over the Captain H.J. Wright particularly praised the work of two docks. As he got about five miles away his tail went up and enlisted men who saw that a small craft containing 450 Burt stayed in the Navy and retired as a Chief he crashed and exploded. But I don’t know for sure if we depth charges was tied up alongside the Castor. The men Boatswain’s Mate while stationed at the Naval Training got him or somebody else did. removed the “powder flag” that noted it was loaded with Center at Great Lakes in Illinois. He took a job as an insur- That’s just about all for Sunday until 2 a.m. Monday ammunition, which would have been an inviting target for ance adjuster and later moved back to Minneapolis, his morning we heard G.Q. sounded and we dashed for the a Japanese plane, and then moved the vessel to the other hometown. mast. As we were going up the ladder, some Marines over side of the harbor. He was planning to attend the 25-year anniversary of the in our ball park, just ahead of the ship, started firing and Burt was featured sometime later in the Minneapolis attack on Pearl Harbor, but he died of a heart attack in 1965. because it was all so dark, they didn’t see our ship and they Argus, a newspaper serving the Northeast neighborhood. were firing right between our king posts. Mitchell and I Burt had come home on leave from his current assignment yelled like hell and they raised their fire before we were hit. which was in Casablanca, North Africa. Then the air became alive with tracer bullets and A.A. shells The story noted that the sailor had joined up in April of MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 8

Page 8 Minnesota Legionnaire May 2017

Spooks Bob Maynard was a lieutenant in the OSS, America’s spy agency during World War II. For a brief, glorious time, he became the aide to one of America’s greatest in characters during the war, “Wild Bill” Donovan, the head of the OSS. Maynard can now tell some of those China stories.

By Al Zdon The idea went over like a lead balloon with his superior officer. “He said, ‘How dumb can you get, lieutenant? ob Maynard is almost 96 years old. Don’t you know that they’re the enemy?’ I thought it would be good for morale, but it became a black mark on my rep- utation.” BHe can take a business card in his right hand, make it dis- Maynard’s training included flying in small spotter air- appear before your very eyes, and then make it reappear. It’s craft and calling back coordinates for the artillery. “It took magic. a lot of math, and while I could do the math on paper, it was He didn’t need to use that legerdemain when he was a much harder up in a plane where you had to do it in your young Office of Strategic Services officer in China during head. World War II, but he had plenty of other tricks up his sleeve. “I was apprehensive about calling in artillery on our own Helping coordinate America’s spies in China, and doing guys.” other clandestine work, he was a worker at the center of a At a social event back in New Jersey, Maynard ran into busy world war outpost. a major who was assigned to the OSS, America’s spy and And for a brief time, he was the aide to perhaps the war’s clandestine mission group during the war. most colorful character, Gen. “Wild Bill” Donovan, the “He asked if I knew languages, and if I had college, and chief of the OSS. if I’d be willing to go to jump school. I said yes. He asked Among other achievements, Maynard managed to keep if I wanted to be in an outfit that would go out on four or Donovan’s throat from being slashed. five-day missions where success or failure depended on intelligence, determination and skills. I said yes. Then he obert Wynfield Maynard was born in 1922 in asked if I had any dependents. I said no.” guys. The OSS used the place as a rest home for agents North Haledon, New Jersey, which he describes The major told Maynard to sit tight and wait. returning from an assignment.” as a “hick town.” He was the youngest of four Not long afterward, he got orders to a residence just out- One of the officers in charge was Wes Fesler, who later children.R side Washington D.C. From there he was sent to a group of became the head football coach at the University of It helped, though, that his dad, who owned a silk mill, buildings in Georgetown. He was put to the test. Minnesota. was a prominent business person in town. “We weren’t rich. “There were six of us in our group, and all we wore were Part of the training was in Toronto, Canada. “We could My dad always made the payroll first and then got his salary fatigues. No markings. The guy next to me could have been learn things there that were illegal in the United States.” afterwards.” a private or an admiral. We all had to concoct a phony name On the last day, Fesler told the men to take it easy, and When it came time to go to high school, Maynard fol- and background. I said my father was a professor from he organized a basketball game. “But there wasn’t any lowed his brother in enrolling at nearby Lawrenceville Kansas. We never used our real names.” water, and we were getting thirstier and thirstier. Finally School, one of the oldest prep schools in America dating The training was both mental and physical, and part of it Fesler ordered somebody to get us something to drink. back to 1810. was at the former Congressional Country Club that had “They came back with a big tub filled with grape juice. Maynard played baseball and soccer at the school, and been taken over by the OSS. “There were guys there with We were drinking it by the glassful. It was mighty good. We rose up to be vice president of his class. When Europe went daggers in their boots and they had beards. They were tough didn’t know that it had been laced with gin or vodka.” to war in 1939, Lawrenceville began a special National Guard training regimen on field artillery. When Maynard enrolled at Princeton University, he took that basic army knowledge and signed up for the Reserve Officer Training Corps. “A lot of my friends signed for the Navy officer program, which was called the V-12 program, and they stayed in college until they graduated. The Army changed its mind, though.” Maynard and about 60 of his classmates wound up at Fort Bragg in North Carolina as buck privates. “We all signed up for officer candidate school, and most of us got in. I ended up being a lieutenant.” After training at Fort Sill, his first assignment was to help train a group of African-American soldiers. “It was a good experience for me. It matured me a great deal.” Not that it always went smoothly. “They told me that I should mix some humor in, and I had some jokes that were real whizbangs. So I told them to these guys, and there was just silence in the room. And then when I was talking about something else, they’d start laughing. “The sergeants who were under me made fun of me too. It probably didn’t help that I was 21 and I looked like I was 15 years old.” Next stop was a replacement depot in Maryland. “We’d go over the hill and there was a Nazi prisoner camp there. We would watch them play soccer. They’d all do the Hitler salute and the band would play a German song, and they were very good soccer players. “I decided that I’d try to get an American soccer team BOB MAYNARD BOB MAYNARD together and take them on.” At home in MInneapolis As a young officer in World War II MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 9

May 2017 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 9 Maynard had never had an alcoholic drink. As the men gulped down the juice, Maynard was approached by one of his fellow trainees who he considered a good friend. “He said we should really keep in touch afterwards, and so I gave him my real name and address, and he gave me his.” Three days later, Maynard was called before an Army board. One of the men sitting on the board was the officer Maynard had exchanged information with. All along, he had been a spy for the OSS, secretly evaluating the trainees. “They said, ‘Lieutenant, did you exchange your real information with this man?’ I said, ‘Geez, I guess so, but I thought he was my friend.’ They said, ‘Lieutenant, you’re going to face a lot worse in the OSS, and it could mean somebody’s life.’” Maynard thought his spy career was over before it started. “But the officer said, ‘We’re going to keep you in the OSS, but we want you to remember: ‘You talk too much and you can’t hold your liquor.’ ” At graduation, Gen. “Wild Bill” Donovan himself talked to the men. He was known in the OSS as “109” which was the number of his office at the agency’s headquarters. “He asked me if I knew why I was here. I said no. He said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll find something worthwhile for you to do.’ ”

t first, Maynard thought he might be heading for the Philippines, but Gen. MacArthur quashed that idea. “He said he didn’t want any loose cannons,A and that any spies would have to be under his com- For a time, Maynard served as aide to General William “Wild Bill” Donovan, the head of the OSS. This photo mand. Donovan politely told him, ‘Screw you.’ ” was taken in Kunming, China, with Maynard at the left, then Donovan. One of the other officers is likely Col. Maynard said the OSS was recruiting all kinds of people Richard Heppner, Maynard’s boss in the China department “202.” who had specialties that might be needed for strategic services. “We had guys from Sing Sing or Alcatraz that were world-class safe crackers or forgers. We had academicians. We had map guys. We had natives of those countries we would be operating in. They would teach us how to cut our hair, how to tie our shoe laces, and how to use a fork and knife like the people do in those countries.” The OSS even had a special section to intercept new immigrants to America from certain countries so they could get their clothing to make sure the spies wore authentic threads. “There were things that needed to be done that were essential to the war effort. There were things that went against what you learned in school and church, things that you had been told not to do your whole life. But you did them because it was for the national interest.” Maynard was first put in a pool of OSS men who were Some of Maynard’s workmates in China were Julia Maynard worked part of his time as a courier at waiting for orders. “I got to be a regular at the junior offi- McWilliams and Paul Child, both operatives in the Kunming. Sometimes he had to memorize the mes- cers club on 8th Street in Washington, just three blocks OSS department. They later married, and Julia sages because they were so top secret. from the White House. I liked to play the one-armed ban- became perhaps the most famous chef in the world. dits.” One day, they were having a ribbon cutting for a remodeling effort and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was invited to do the cutting. “She just walked over from the White House all by her- self. I was asked if I would escort her home. Well, she was about a foot taller than me, but I walked her home, and we had a nice conversation.” Maynard took a train to California to Camp Anza, and later got aboard the SS Callin headed for Australia. The ship zig zagged through enemy waters to avoid torpedo attacks. “It was strange to see the sun on the right, and then a little while later the sun on the left. It was a long trip.” The ship eventually docked in Calcutta and Maynard got transportation to Chabua in Burma. China was completely surrounded by the Japanese empire at that time, and the only way to get supplies and men to the interior was “over the hump,” flying from Burma, over the Himalayas, to On his way to China, Maynard spend time in Calcutta bases in China. Maynard in uniform. India before flying over the hump.

n April, 1944, Maynard arrived in Kunming, a central air force hub in south, central China. It was the headquarters for OSS activities. I“My main job was to get up at four in the morning and read the de-coded messages from our agents all over China. Then I had to cut the red tape and do what needed to be done.” “I had three guys working for me, and we did what had to be done on an urgent basis. There was tight security, so we had to figure out who needed to know what.” Maynard gave an example of getting a message from a group of agents that had been dropped into a remote area of China that was occupied by the Japanese. On this mission, they had been forced to land on the opposite side of the river because the Japanese army was not where it was thought it would be. Their officer had sprained a leg on the jump, a radio antenna was broken, and they had lost their food supply. “I’d have to find the officer’s record to see what size brace he needed, get the brace, get a new antenna, and get a food bundle ready. We’d also have to move the red thumb tack that showed where the Japanese troops were from one side of the river to the other. That night a plane would drop them what they needed. If all that had to go through chan- nels, it would have taken days or weeks.” The station had about 1,200 people, and Maynard said the OSS contingent included some amazing characters. Included among them were Paul Child and Julia McWilliams. “Julia was about 11 years older than me and General Donovan hands out medals to OSS soldiers in China. Maynard is at his immediate right. Donovan refused to wear his full uniform, saying that it was better he wear his jumpsuit and look like one of the troops. MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 10

Page 10 Minnesota Legionnaire May 2017 about a foot taller.” Paul and Julia soon became an “item,” and later married. The rest of the story was that Julia Child became probably the world’s best-known chef, the author of cookbooks and the subject of movies. Once Maynard’s morning duties were over, for the rest of the day he became an aide “or you might say a ‘go-fer.’” Kunming was humming with activity and spies, with the Americans, British, Russians, Japanese, and several vari- eties of Chinese politicos vying for information. “We knew that the little Chinese man that brought us our tea every day was a spy. So we would make up tall tales when he was around.” Often the messages that Maynard had to deliver were so secret that he had to memorize them and deliver them oral- ly. Part of the OSS responsibility was propaganda, and mil- lions of leaflets were created to drop on enemy positions. “On one of them, we took Hirohito’s actual message which was ‘Japan will never surrender’ and added the words ‘unless there is no hope.’” Other OSS teams, in uniform or not, would do things like blowing bridges and cutting communications. Maynard played baseball at his Lawrenceville prep school. He is at lower left. ife in the office was more mundane. “Every month we would be given two bottles of beer, which I didn’t drink, a little bottle of chocolate drink, and a packL of cigarettes, and I didn’t smoke. This all became trading material, and I would always end up with about dozen bottles of the chocolate drink.” Maynard became popular with his workmates because his mother would send him Kool Aid regularly. “The only water we had was out of the Lister bags, and it was terrible. It really helped if it had a cherry or a rootbeer taste to it.” As the war neared an end, a major concern for the OSS was the fact that 30,000 Allied prisoners were in camps in and around China. No one knew if the Japanese would kill the prisoners or abandon them at war’s end. Nine teams were formed that would be dropped at the camps to encourage a peaceful and non-violent transfer of the prisoners. At about this time, in August 1945, the great leader himself, Gen. Donovan, came to China to help implement these A piece of jade given Maynard by Gen. Donovan. rescue teams and to prepare for the end of the war. “Donovan had an aide who was a Navy captain, but he didn’t come with. Col. Heppner asked me to fill in as Donovan’s aide during his visit.” Col. Richard Heppner, a aynard came out of his experience of being fellow Princeton student like Maynard, was in charge of the Donovan’s aide with three souvenirs. One was OSS in China. a wool banner with two stars on it. “But the “I had to take the cannons (field artillery) off my collar A portrait of Maynard when he was a law student at mothsM got to it, and I finally had to throw it away.” and put on this device that had two stars,” Maynard said. Harvard, done by his brother. The second was a small pistol that had been issued to “My prestige went up enormously.” him to protect Donovan if need be. “I thought I was going Donovan got off the plane in a bush suit with baggy to get home with that pistol, but when I mustered out, they trousers. “He made a point of always being close to his it?’ I just said, ‘Yes, sir.’” said, ‘Where’s the general’s pistol?’ and I had to turn it over men. He wanted to look like the men.” Maynard resolved to do better. to them.” As the general got ready to distribute some medals at an The next morning when Donovan got up, he tried to exit The third was a very finely carved square of jade, that official ceremony, the dutiful Maynard put away his bush his room, but the door was blocked. He later told Col. Donovan had bought for a relative, but instead gave to outfit and laid out his formal uniform. “He came out and Heppner, “I tried to open the door, but I couldn’t. I looked Maynard. said, ‘Where the hell’s my bush uniform?’ I told him that through the window and here was this kid sleeping on the “He had been very, very nice to me throughout. And then Col. Heppner had suggested he wear a formal uniform for cot, which was up against the door, with his .45 pistol on the he gave me the piece of jade. He said it was for saving his the ceremony. pillow.” life by drinking those toasts at that dinner.” Maynard still “Donovan looked at me and said, ‘Col. Heppner’s wear- Maynard’s explanation was simple. “I told them that if has the jade as a prized possession. ing an eagle, and I’m wearing two stars. Who do you think someone wanted to get to Gen. Donovan, they’d have to go On Oct. 1, 1945, after the war had ended, President is going to determine what I wear?’” over my dead body.” Truman abolished the OSS. “We all just packed up and Maynard said Donovan did change into his full uniform A major rainstorm hit the area toward the end of went home.” later in the day for a meeting with Chinese leaders, which Donovan’s visit, and the OSS compound was completely Maynard went down to Shanghai, and was working on turned into another adventure for Maynard. flooded and the kitchen was under water. A place outside helping get the agency’s former agents readjusted to the “There was a lot of toasting with some very strong alco- the compound would have to found for lunch. post-war world. hol at these dinners. General Donovan didn’t want to drink, “Donovan traveled with this briefcase, and he wouldn’t One day he got a telegram from the Red Cross. “It said but part of the etiquette was that the general could skip let anybody else carry it for him. We found out later that it that my father had had a fatal heart attack, and that I should drinking the toast and have a representative do it for him. contained the plans for the atomic bombing of Japan, which return home at once.” That was me.” only a few people in the world knew about. The briefcase Maynard used all his clandestine skills to arrange trans- And so whenever there was a toast that night, and there also had plans for the OSS after the war, information about portation back to the states, which meant a lot of island- were many, the tee-totaling Maynard would step forward the rescue missions, and many other top secret documents. hopping in a smaller plane. When he got back to the West and dutifully knock it back. “I was Donovan’s garbage dis- “We had to walk over this series of boards to get to high- Coast, he immediately called his home. posal.” er ground. We got into this olive drab sedan, the only sedan “A voice answered, and it was a male voice. I realized it Maynard managed to stagger through the night, but on the base, and drove to a very nice Chinese restaurant. was my father. I told him that I’d been notified that he had woke up the next morning with the mother of all hangovers. They had cleared out all the locals. It was just Col. Heppner, died. He said no, he’d had a heart attack, but he was fine. After a couple of days, Donovan asked Maynard if there the driver who was a sergeant, me and the general.” He said, ‘You’d better get right back to China.’” was a barber on the base. Donovan had arthritis which made The American contingent departed, but a ways down the That was easier said than done, and Maynard ended up it difficult for him to shave at times. road Donovan suddenly said, “Col. Heppner, do you have at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey. He chose to leave the Army “We actually had two barbers. One was a corporal who my briefcase?” Heppner said he did not. Donovan turned to but stay in the reserves. would cut the guys’ hair, but he wasn’t very good. His real Maynard, “Lieutenant, do you have my briefcase?” In the coming years, he graduated from Princeton and job was to take care of the Doberman pinschers that we Maynard did not. then completed law school at Harvard. Maynard was called used as guard dogs. The other barber was a Chinese local The car did a quick u-turn and went back to restaurant. back into the service for the Korean War as an intelligence who was a very good barber, and most of us used him. “By this time,” Maynard said, “the locals had come back officer, but spent a year in the Russian Zone in Vienna, “I decided on the Chinese guy. When it came time for the into the place for their lunch. Donovan sent me in to see if Austria. “It was kind of hairy, but I spend the year doing shave and a haircut, they brought in the barber who was a the briefcase was there. I walked in and a bunch of Chinese nothing worthwhile.” tall, skinny guy in a blue smock and a scraggly beard. He were seated around the table, and there were a lot of ‘Ding He worked as legal counsel for United Shoe Machinery started to get his razors and shears out of his pigskin bag. hows’ (the Chinese equivalent of ‘thumbs up’) when they Co., a major global business, and in 1976, took a position “Donovan looked the barber over and said to me, saw me. with Honeywell in Minneapolis as general counsel and vice ‘Lieutenant, has this man been cleared by security?’ I said, “I looked under the table and there was the brief case, president. He retired when he was 65. ‘I don’t think so, sir.’ Donovan glared at me. ‘Lieutenant, leaning against one of the legs of the table. I grabbed it, and He never married, and has lived for decades in a beauti- are you going to let this man around my neck with all those the Chinese all just laughed and smiled. ful apartment on the seventh floor overlooking Lake razors and knives?’ I said, ‘I don’t think so, sir.’” “I handed it to General Donovan, and you could see he Calhoun. He is preparing to move to a new apartment in The Chinese barber was quickly sent away and replaced was relieved. There was just silence in the car. Finally, he Edina. by the dog trainer corporal. said, ‘Now, lieutenant, I won’t tell anybody about this if you What’s his philosophy on life? “I have a conviction that “I probably could have anticipated that having a Chinese don’t.’” there must be a divine power. I have accepted Jesus Christ local cut Gen. Donovan’s hair was not the best choice. After Maynard said it was an example of what others noted as my lord and savior. There are no atheists in foxholes. As the beard and hair was cut, Donovan said to me, about Donovan. “He was very strict about others’ security, you get older, your spiritual life becomes ever more impor- ‘Lieutenant, now the corporal was the better choice, wasn’t but not his own.” tant.” MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 11

May 2017 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 11

District CommandersTime is winding down and we only have a couple of months The 7th District is currently in 7th place in the state for FIRST to prove to the Department we can get to 100 percent for the membership at 93.01%. It looks like we still have some third year in a row. We just need to contact our unpaid work to do. DISTRICT members and get them to send in their dues. Also, ask Please check your rosters and your expired lists. You can Sylvan Fix everyone you meet if they are a member. If not, ask them get updated lists on mylegion.org. If you don't have access Commander to join. Let’s go Fabulous Fourth. I know we can do this to them please call me and I will try to get them for you. Legion Family, together. We have a few things coming up for a vote at the next What a great testimonial. Thank you to La Crescent Post May will be a busy month with testimonials, Mother’s District Convention in June, a dues increase and the District 595 for hosting this event. Good food, good friends, good Day, District Conventions, the fishing opener, and bylaws. We will be voting on those things at that time. times as well as the generosity of nice gifts and funding for Memorial Day. Let’s not forget to take the time and thank Don't forget that the Post Consolidated Reports are due. my project. I was honored to have my kids, grandkids, a all those who have served and those still serving. Also, My testimonial will be at the Spicer Legion Post 545 on brother, PNC Ludwig, Commander Milton as well as many please remember those that have gone to Post Everlasting. May 19th. I will be sending out invites to all of the Posts. other Dept. and District officers. Their service to God and Country shall never be forgotten. School will soon be out. This is a good time to try and The 4th District Convention will be held on May 20, EIGHTH get our youth more involved in the Legion. They don’t 2017. Doors open at 8:00 a.m.; program will start at 9:00 have studies or all the school activities to deal with. With a.m. This is Armed Forces Service Day, and what a better DISTRICT so many Americanism and Children and Youth programs to time to gather with all your veteran friends. Kenneth Oliver Jr. choose from one should be able to find something to Upcoming District events: May 10th – Joint RCCC, No. Commander involve the youth in our Legion family as well as the com- St.Paul Post #39. E board @ 6:30 p.m., General meeting @7:00 p.m. May 21st - VA Hospital visitation @ 12:30 Greetings 8th District Legion Family. Spring has finally munity. There are many times that the youth are looking for arrived. On April 22nd at West Duluth Post 71 the district something but don’t know where to look and worst of all, p.m. Thank you all for this opportunity to serve the Fabulous held its annual convention. Our incoming District they don’t even know the Legion Family exists and just Commander for 2017-2018 is Donovan Goblirsch from how many programs we have. Granted, most Posts can’t do Fourth District. Thank you all for your service to God and Country. Virginia Post 239. A list of the rest of our 2017-2018 offi- all the programs but you can concentrate on ones that the cers will be forthcoming in our next district newsletter. youth in your Community are more likely to partake in. As Now let’s turn our attention to membership. As of our last we all know, they are our future. God Bless. FIFTH bulletin from Department HQ the district is at 93.59%. That DISTRICT puts us 6.61% away from our goal. So here is what I’m ask- SECOND ing post adjutants to do get your membership sheets out and Ray Eiden give anyone who has not renewed a call and urge them to DISTRICT Commander do so. Everyone else get out there and ask a veteran you Mark Coney Greetings from the Fighting Fifth. know who qualifies to join us in insuring that current and Commander Our Testimonial Dinner was held April 15th at future veterans have the support they need. Minneapolis Post 1. After a delicious beef pot roast dinner The next big event for The American Legion is the Greetings to the Solid Second. Department Convention did you know that your post get It has been quite a busy month and now with the weather we had a wonderful program honoring our leaders. We could not have accomplished the things we did without the delegates? That’s right, every post gets a certain amount of getting warmer, the Posts are preparing for Memorial Day delegates to represent them at the convention. Your dele- activities; you wonder where the time goes. support of our officers and membership. I wish to express my gratitude to all of them. I am happy to announce that we gate allotment is based on the number of paid members in The Second District slipped to third place in membership your post. Every post gets at least two delegates. Delegate behind the Sixth and Third respectively. But the difference have reached our goal of $2000 for the purchase of a clavi- nova for the Minneapolis Veteran's Home. Our three allotment increases from there based on your membership between First and Third is only 1.27%, so please do not total. It’s important that every post sends representatives at give up. This is the time when memberships trickle in, fundraisers and post donations made this possible. I thank all those who contributed to this effort. the convention. See you all soon. Past District Commander please call those post members who have not renewed as of Jennifer Havlick yet and get their renewals. We have 35 Posts that are at or We need to do better with our membership. I ask all above goal. Thank you for all of your hard work. Posts to step up their efforts to reach their unpaid members. The District newsletter is back and we are trying to Call them or mail out notices. Do whatever it takes. There NINTH is a proposal to increase our district dues from $3 to $4. Our switch transmission electronically. You can have it deliv- DISTRICT ered to your computer free of charge on the day it is bylaws will need to be amended and a vote will be taken at Eric Wilkens released. Details will be in the May issue of the newsletter. our District Convention. Our District Convention will be The annual spring fishing outing for the Vet’s home in held June 2-3 at the Holiday Inn in Bloomington. A conven- Commander Luverne will take place on June 7, beginning at 9 a.m. The tion call letter has gone out to all Posts. Get your registra- Greetings from the Roaring Ninth. April was a busy location is at Becker’s Resort in Lake Benton and they love tions in as soon as you can. We need good participation for month with the drive for more membership continuing and getting out of the home and having a fun day. If you would our convention to be successful. planning for the next Legion year. Past Commander Tom like to attend, that would be great. Food will be served. The Department Convention will be held in Mahnomen Norgaard Sr. passed away on April 6th and his service was Finally, as we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day, please on July 13-15. If you plan on attending reserve you room held in Bagley on April 28th. Tom will be missed and the take a moment to thank all of those who have paid the ulti- right now. They tend to fill up fast. work he did for this organization is to be remembered. We mate sacrifice, but also take time to thank those who have Our next Hospital Visitation is May 7th at 2:00 p.m. will hold our District Convention on June 10th in Moorhead served and to the service members who bear the battle scars and prepare for the new year. All Posts should be complet- from their service. This quiet moment of interaction can SIXTH ing the Consolidated Post Report (CPR) as this information really raise someone’s spirits and help heal the pain. in needed at all levels of our organization and an overall DISTRICT part of our membership drive this year. As the threats to our national security and way of life are ever present, please THIRD Vernonica Fernlund Commander keep our service members in your thoughts. Thank you to DISTRICT all for the many things you do for this great organization. Mike Maxa The 6th District has been leading the state in member- Commander ship. Amazing job everyone. We are close to reaching our TENTH goal and we need all to chip in to get us to the 100 percent. Greetings "Thundering Third." Another busy time of the My testimonial dinner went very well. Thank you to all DISTRICT year is upon us, conventions, reports to write, post elec- who attended and for more toasting than roasting. I was tions, installation of new officers and wrapping up the Bonnie Hanson honored with all the donations for our project to raise funds Commander membership year before we start to focus on 2018. Time to for purchasing a golf cart for the St. Cloud VA Health Care sharpen the pencil and prepare the reports required by the System. The Zimmerman American Legion Riders donated Hello from the 10th District. Somebody once said to me conventions for all our chairman. Please provide them the $2,000.00, Zimmerman American Legion donated that you know when your term is up as you have only one information they will request from our district posts. $1,000.00, Waite Park Unit 428 donated $250.00 and Jim more article for the Legionnaire newspaper. Just want to Remember they have a deadline to meet providing their Tuorila and his wife donated $100.00 which ensures the cart start by saying this has been a busy month getting things reports to Adjutant Linda. If you haven't registered for our will be purchased. Thank You – Thank You. The 6th together for my testimonial and then going to other ones. district convention please do so sooner than later. District American Legion Family Convention is scheduled We have ones that we can’t go to as they are somehow in Convention is 19-21 May, Post 45 New Prague. They have for Friday June 2 and Saturday June 3, at Park Rapids Post conflict with other ones so you have to pick which doesn’t been planning for a great convention and there will be some 212. I hope to see a representative from all our 6th District mean that I for one didn’t want to miss any of them. Wish fun to be had. This is a great time for all our posts to come Posts. Remember – Memorial Day Ceremonies scheduled that I could go and honor all the District Commander that I together and share what we all do best for The American Sunday, May 28, 2017 at the Little Falls Cemetery and have gotten to know. And then we have the Convention that Legion and make some new friends. The Consolidated Monday, May 29, 2017 at the St. Cloud VA Health Care we want to go perfect as that will be the last one for me as Reports need to be in the hands of National on 1 July 2017. System. a District Commander and I want to let anyone that has You will need to mail or complete online at mylegion.org apprehension about being a District Commander that it is by 15 June 2017 to ensure National has your report in hand fun and really not a hard job. We had our revitalization and by 1 July. The "Thundering Third" was 100% CPR turn in SEVENTH we picked about 40 new members and transfers but we did- last year and I expect 100% again this year. Thank you for DISTRICT n’t get the almost 700 that we needed for Goal. So I am all you do for our American Legion. For God and Country, sorry, Commander Denise. still serving. Garylee Davenport Commander Also, I want to mention my project for Helping Paws and the donations that it received. I know at the beginning of FOURTH Greetings, Mighty 7th. the term you say to yourself that you want to do so many DISTRICT Well it’s hard to believe that it is already May. Where did things and now it’s feeling bad that that you didn’t get those all the time go? I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter things done. I have to remind people when I am meeting Randy Bastyr with family and friends. them in the strangest places that we are The American Commander Congratulations to the 13 posts in the 7th District that Legion, that was started with the 4 Pillars and tell them we Greetings to all members of the Fabulous Fourth. We made it to their 100% goal. That only leaves 63 more posts are there for our fellow veterans and the family. That is are still in 9th place in the Department membership race. to make goal. what is important to us. MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 12

Page 12 Minnesota Legionnaire May 2017 Listening Post News from around the State

BACKUS EASTER PARTY-- Over 80 children plus their parents attended the annual Backus Auxiliary Kids Easter Party. K.C. Moore, left, 6, and Spencer QUILT DONATION -- Ruby Johnson of Frost made NISSWA OLD TIMERS -- Receiving their 50-year Moore, 7, Pine River, are shown in their Easter hats. and donated 26 quilts to the Minnesota Veterans membership certificates at Nisswa Post 627 were Ray Each child received a goody bag. Home at Luverne for residents. Ed Archer tries out his DeZurik, Dick Frieler and Gene Katz. new quilt delivered by Past Department Vice Commander Don Amundson.

PINE CITY BUS -- Craig and Cathy Saari of Rock Creek donated this bus for the FRANKLIN FLAG RAISING -- Members of Franklin Post 308 were on hand to help Pine City Post 51 Honor Guard. It was wrapped and detailed with local donations. with the raising of the flag for the first time at the new day care/community center. It will be used for funerals, parades and Legion and veteran events. The post purchased the flag pole for the new building.

SARTELL HONORS -- Sartell Post 277 recently had two of its long-time members honored with certificates and ELYSIAN VET -- Earle Taylor received his 70-year front page stories in the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader. At left is Rollie Weis, 70 years, with Post Commander certificate of membership in Elysian Post 311 recently. Skip Mastey (right). At right is 50-year member Duke Knafla with his wood carvings at his home.

WILKIN COUNTY -- When the Wilken County Memorial was created, Henry Hunkins name was omitted from the list of war dead. His name was added recently NINTH DISTRICT -- Past Ninth District commanders gathered for the annual district in a ceremony that included Gary Fox, Ron Verhaagen, Janet Czchotzki and Russ Godfather’s Rally held at Mahnomen Post 31. Kastell. Czchotzki is a descendant of Hunkins. MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 13

May 2017 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 13 Listening Post News from around the State

NEW ULM SAL -- The New Ulm Sons of the American Legion Squadron 132 pre- FLAG ETIQUETTE -- Jim Bartels, member of New Ulm Squadron 132, gives a flag sented a flag to St. Anthony Elementary School. From left are State Commander etiquette demonstration to a Cub Scout pack. Gene Olswold, Linda Wiesner from the school, and Jim Bartels, squad member.

HOSPITAL VISIT -- Legion dignitaries visited the Brain Sciences Center at the Minneapolis VA. From left, sitting: Commander Milton, Center Director DUNDEE DONATION -- Cindy Brunk donated note- Apostolos Georgopolous, Dr. Brian Engdahl, National books on behalf of Dundee Post 386 to Eva Burket, DISTRICT 10 SNOWMOBILE RALLY -- Department Marketing, Media and Commmunications Director Jeff Second District Honorary Junior President for her proj- Commander Denise Milton entertains the youngest Stoffer, and, standing, National Vice Commander ect, making comfort bags for VA Hospital patients. SAL member at a snowmobile rally. Douglas Boldt.

ADRIAN HOSTS NVC -- National Vice Commander Douglas Boldt, center of photo TRACY FLAG -- Chauncey Muedeking presented a flag to the Tracy Post 173 that second row just behind and to the right of Department Commander Denise Milton, had flown over the Pentagon on Veterans Day. Muedeking’s daughter, Julia, is a visited Adrian Post 32 for a regular meeting. The post is over 100 percent. major in the Air Force stationed at Andrews Air Force Base.

DoingContinued from research Page 1 on deceasedfighters. The plane crashedveterans in a fiery ball in an Austrian 23711. Rolling a seven or 11 is called a “natural” in the meadow. game of craps. The report on the crash “fell between the cracks,” Jones Jones wrote letters to all the communities where the said, and was only issued six months later, and then it was crew members had come from, and soon had a network of full of errors. families corresponding with him. He also wrote to the town Jones’ persistent research led him to Austria where he in Austria where the plane had crashed. He did many hours met with townspeople who remembered the crash, some of of research at the National Archives and the Air Force whom still had artifacts from the wreckage. Museum at Maxwell Air Force Base. He actually was able to pull the plane out of its spin, but Slowly he began to put together a larger picture of what then when trying to make a landing on a hilly meadow, the the men were like, how they trained, their disagreements big bomber clipped a tree and blew up as it hit the ground. and what led up to the fatal crash. One crew member was In 1996, a memorial was placed at the site of the crash. removed when he called the pilot a coward for turning back “To me, it is a sacred place,” Jones said. on so many missions. Jones said it was more likely that the Three others told their stories about finding the “box” in age of the battered plane had more to do with the turn backs. the closet and tracking down the story of the veteran it rep- Another crew member was removed after he spent a hor- resented. Barbara Wilschke, Ruth Hovland and Jim Guddal rifying raid over Ploesti curled up in a fetal position in the told of how they unraveled the stories of their relatives by back of the plane. determined effort and one clue leading to another. They all Jones was able to find the one crew member who sur- said the experience had been personally worthwhile and vived the crash and finally get an eye-witness account. had resulted in a trove of information or a project – a book, The bomber took off from Tunis in Africa on October 1, a video, a scrapbook – that is now a family treasure. TYLER 70 YEARS -- George Dubbeldee recently 1943, to bomb a German fighter factory in Austria. They “These stories are never lost,” Hovland said. “If the sto- received his 70-year continuous membership certifi- lost one engine to flak, and then were attacked by Gerrman ries come to you, give them away.” cate from Tyler Post 185 Commander Duane Blake. MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:48 PM Page 14

Page 14 Minnesota Legionnaire May 2017 The Auxiliary Bulletin No. 17-9 May 2017 President Carol Kottom Secretary Sandie Deutsch Department Headquarters, Veterans Service Building, St. Paul, MN 55155 651-224-7634

The Nat’l President Mary Davis President’s toNational visit President Mary MinnesotaUnit 260, District in 10 June Column Davis, from the Department Honorary Treasurer: Cassandra Betterman, Owatonna of Washington will be visit- Unit 77, District 1 ing Minnesota from June 11 Honorary Chaplain: Regan Swanson, Argyle Unit 353, By – June 14, 2017. Following District 9 is a schedule of our stops Honorary Sergeant-At-Arms: Ashley Koehn, Monticello Carol Kottom which will include Unit 260, District 10 Department President Carol The appointed officers are: Kottom, NEC Shirley Honorary Secretary: Megan Bruzek, Delano Unit 377, Frederick, Department District 10 Membership Chairman Honorary Historian: Eva Burket, Belview Unit 309, Zandra Kessler and District 2 Wow. That’s all I can say. My testimonial was a fantas- Department Executive Congratulations to these new Honorary Junior Officers, tic night – one that I will never forget thanks to all of you Secretary Sandie Deutsch as I know they will have a great year under the leadership of and, of course, my son. Thank you Randy for the music. the chauffeur. Please make Courtney. You were awesome. Thank you to everyone that attended, sure and reserve a spot at A big highlight of many is the poppy contests and the the gifts and the donations to my project, the kind words – one of The American Legion beautiful use of our poppy by our Juniors. The following it was fabulous. And now we move a little closer to the end Posts to make this a success- are the winning entries for the poppy contests and scrap- of a wonderful year. ful tour. President Mary is a MARY DAVIS book contest: The Strategic Planning Committee, under the direction wonderful lady and does a great job representing our organ- Poppy Corsage/Boutonniere Contest of Sandy Fredrickson, is doing great promoting our organi- ization. Class I First Place: Kaylee Bauer, Westport 638 zation. They now have bracelets available for sale and they Please see the complete public schedule at the bottom of Class I Second Place: Lauren Lampman, Northup 522 are going fast. If you are interested, please contact one of this page. Class II First Place: Elizabeth Spoden, Kimball 261 the gals on the committee or the department office. Class II Second Place: Gracyn Swanson, Warren 27 Nothing would be better than selling them all so we had to Class III First Place: Rylie Mortimer, Warren 27 order more. Pictures were in last month’s Legionnaire. I HOSPITAL HOME REP NEEDED Class III Second Place: Sophie Maruska, Warren 27 hope everyone sent in at least one recipe for the book the The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Poppy Centerpiece Contest committee is putting together. Minnesota is in need of a Hospital Home Representative for Class I First Place: Carly Loch, Kimball 261 Units turned in their annual reports in April and I know the St. Cloud VAHCS. If you are interested, please contact Class I Second Place: Elizabeth Jarshaw, Argyle 353 we had 100% reporting – right? That’s the only way Sandie Deutsch at the Department Office, 651-224-7634 or Class II First Place: Raelyn Borntrager, Trimont 373 Congress will ever know what we do and how much effort email at [email protected] or Carol Kottom at ckakot- Class II Second Place: Hailey Dunaway, Forest Lake we put into our programs. Election of officers is coming [email protected], phone 763-682-3465. This is a very 225 right up. Get your thinking caps on so you can start plan- rewarding and important position within the Department, as Class III First Place: Johanna Welter, Stewartville 164 ning your programs for next year. But, let’s finish up the it is dealing directly with our Veterans. Class III Second Place: Sarenity Patterson, Hopkins 320 most important program of all – membership. Yes, we still Poppy Memorial Day Wreath have some time to reach our goal. Membership Chairman JUNIOR CONFERENCE Class I First Place: Kaylee Rauer, Westport 638 Zandy set the goals so they are absolutely reachable for The 54th Annual Department Junior Conference was Class I Second Place: Carly Loch, Kimball 261 every unit. Let’s prove her right. Our Post Commander has held on Saturday April 8, 2017 hosted by the Third District Class II First Place: Claire Kubes, Montgomery 79 been signing up members to all facets of our American at Forest Lake American Legion Post 225. Honorary Class II Second Place: Raelynn Borntrager, Trimont 373 Legion Family. Unit is at goal, SAL is over goal and I know Department Junior President Kiana Coleman-Woods lead Class III First Place: Johanna Welter, Stewartville 164 he will get the Post at goal before he finishes the year, the conference with lots of pride. New officers for 2017- Class III Second Place: Kinzie Guillickson, Warren 27 because that’s the way he is. Good job, Bob. 2018 were elected and installed by Carol Kottom, Poppy Junior Membership Recruitment Board Honorary Junior President Kiana Coleman-Woods had a Department of Minnesota President. The newly elected Class II First Place: Kimberly Johnson, Westport 638 great conference. Kiana has done an awesome job all year Honorary Department Junior Officers are: Class II Second Place: Emily Suess, Monticello 260 and that continued through the conference. So proud of Honorary President: Courtney Rogat, Bloomington Unit Class III First Place: Johanna Welter, Stewartville 164 you. New officers were elected and Courtney Rogat from 550, District 10 Class III Second Place: Ashley Stai, New London 537 Bloomington will be taking over the helm next year. Honorary 1st Vice President: Harley Donnelly, Northrup Junior Scrapbook Congratulations to all. I was honored to install the new Unit 522, District 2 First Place: Warren Unit 27 officers and retire Kiana, although I was in tears for both as Honorary 2nd Vice President: Emily Suess, Monticello Congratulations to all those who entered – it was very they are children or grandchildren of very good friends and hard to judge these as there were so many beautiful entries. both such fantastic young ladies. Thanks for letting me be a part of your conference. We also had the graduation ceremony for two of the Juniors who now joined the rank of Seniors. National president’s tour schedule, contacts Poppy days are soon here. Does your unit send out letters? Do you distribute in front of your local businesses? It’s a very important distribution for the Auxiliary. In accordance with The American Legion Poppy Program and Poppy Fund Rules, as revised in 2013 and 2014 by The American Legion National Executive Committee, Poppy Funds may only be used for: The rehabilitation of veterans honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces after April 6, 1917; The welfare of the families of veterans of the above named period; The rehabilitation of hospitalized military service $8.00 personnel returning home and awaiting discharge who require treatment in service hospitals; The welfare of veterans, active military personnel, and the families of veterans and active military personnel of the above named period where financial and medical need is evident; For the purpose of poppy kits and supplies used to make symbolic pop- Make checks payable to ALA Unit 85 pies and poppy items that will be distributed for donations to the Poppy Fund. Girls State is coming right up. Has your Unit selected their Staters yet? Memorial Day is coming up. Remember your veterans on that day especially. Set aside a time to say “Thanks for your Service” and offer a prayer. Participate in a memorial service whether in your neighborhood or across the state. So until we meet again, remember to always “Thank a 304 10th Ave. S., Buffalo, MN 55313 Veteran”. MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:49 PM Page 15

May 2017 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 15 Red poppy symbol AuxiliaryContinued from Preceding Bulletin Page dates back to 1920 JUNIOR PRESIDENT’S PROJECT By Karla Otterness Department Honorary Junior President Kiana’s special I’m sure that the project this year was raise funds for socks and undergar- American Legion family ments for Veterans and the homeless. Kianna has done an knows that May is Poppy extraordinary job raising $3,268.00 not to mention all of the Month, but do you know socks and underwear that was donated as well. how it all started? Thank you to all the Units and members of The Moina Michael’s was American Legion Family that provided funds in support of born in 1868 in New Hope, Kiana’s Department Honorary Junior President’s Project. Georgia. Her parents owned a cotton plantation. By the SECRETARY SANDIE’S CORNER age of 15 she was teaching I have a couple things to say this month, imagine that. I school. Later in life she went get calls from Units that are having problems with members NEW HONORARY PRESIDENT -- American Legion on to be a professor at the not attending meetings or problems with bickering and all Auxiliary Department of Minnesota 2016-17 Honorary University of Georgia. It that but I must say that I have the best Unit in Montgomery. Junior President Kiana Coleman-Woods pinned her was while she was a profes- We have great attendance in meetings, everybody helps out sucessor, 2017-18 Honorary Junior President sor the United States entered when asked and all that. There are two of my Auxiliary sis- Courtney Rogat, Bloomington, at the junior confer- WWI. she took a leave of ters from Montgomery, Marilyn Prchal and Mary Jane ence held at Forest Lake. Department President absence from the University, Grundhoffer that go way over and above for our Unit, but Carol Kottom, right, conducted the installation cere- to work with the overseas for me, they continue to come to the Department Office as mony. Y.M.C.A. During their KARLA OTTERNESS volunteers to help with projects that come up. I just can’t Twenty-Fifth Conference of thank them enough – love you two to death. Also, not the Overseas Y.M.C.A. War Secretaries, a young soldier enough “positive” things are said about membership. In the (enrollment card, information sheet, pledge and Capitol placed a November issue of the Ladies Home Journal on her years I have been here I haven’t seen Units working this Day t-shirt order form) are due into the Department Office desk. In that magazine, Monia read a poem by Col. John hard at achieving goal as this year. We currently have 47 by May 1st. As of this writing 350 young women will have McCrae M.D., “We Shall Not Sleep.” Later the poem was Units at 100% or above. We have 6 Units with All Time the experience of learning about Minnesota government by renamed “In Flanders Field.” After reading the poem she Highs this year. I would like to thank the members of the “doing”. We are very excited to be going back to Bethel quickly penned “We shall keep the Faith” which was her two Units, Truman Unit 115 from the 2nd District is cur- University this year and we are looking forward to many pledge not to forget our military men who gave their life. It rently at 117.39%. This is a Unit that a few years ago new, exciting events! was at this conference that three men gave her a check for thought about turning in their Charter. The other is About the middle of May each ALA Minnesota Girls ten dollars for their appreciation of her efforts to make their Minneapolis Giantvalley Unit 234 who is at 116.67%. State citizen will receive her packet of information from the Hostess House feel like home. Moina used the money to Congratulations to those that are working so hard at mem- Department. If your citizen has not received her packet by buy poppy flowers, one large silk poppy flower for her desk bership. Well, I need to stop typing as I am off to Texas to May 22nd, contact the Department Office immediately. and 25 small silk flowers to be handed out to the men at the see my kids. Just a whirlwind weekend for our new Do keep in touch with your ALA Minnesota Girls State cit- conference to wear on their lapel. Grandbaby’s shower. She isn’t here yet but I get to see izen to answer any questions she may have prior to her The American Legion, Department of Georgia, was first everyone else. Too excited for words. Sorry for being bor- coming to Bethel on June 11. All ALA Minnesota Girls to adopt the red poppy flower on August 20, 1920, as a ing this month, along with my trip to Texas, I get to have a State citizens are to be at the Bethel University prior to the remembrance and welfare of war veterans. Later that year root canal next month, so next month, watch out. opening session at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 11. National American Legion adopted the Red Poppy. There are many items in the Shirt Shack this year that Now the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program has POPPIES girls may purchase. Some items are hooded sweatshirts, grown. Each year 25 million red crepe paper poppies are Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed May as Poppy both pull-over and zip up, jogging pants, tee shirts and handed out in the United States in exchange for a contribu- Month. Have you organized your Poppy distribution? We more. These are quality items which the girls will have for- tion to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans. In hope all Units are planning to place special emphasis on our ever. Minnesota, we handed out 178,659 poppies and raised over Poppy program during May, educating the public on the $331,568.13. meaning and purpose of the Poppy, and to actively partici- The American Legion Auxiliary states that 100% of NATIONAL CONVENTION Poppy Funds may only be used for: pate in Poppy Days, May 19 & 20. Do remember that pop- Reno, Nevada is the site for our 2017 National pies can be distributed all year long. The rehabilitation of veterans honorably discharged Convention. Delegates and alternates will be elected at your from the United States Armed Forces after April 6, 1917. We will have shipped out 647 dozen large poppies and District Convention. Each District’s representation is based over 251,000 small poppies to our Units and Posts in The welfare of the families of veterans of the above- on the District’s 2017 membership as of July 18th. named period. Minnesota this year. I would like to thank all our Veterans In order to ensure Minnesota its full delegate strength at who put the poppies together for us. Ken Goettl from The rehabilitation of hospitalized military service per- the Convention, we ask that if you are nominated as a dele- sonnel returning home and awaiting discharge who require Montgomery takes care of all of our large poppies. We have gate or alternate and are not planning to attend, you with- a contingency from the Hastings Veterans Home who sends treatment in service hospitals. draw your name from consideration. Information will be The welfare of veterans, active military personnel, and poppies weekly to the office. We also have Rollie Schmit, sent to each delegate and alternate as soon as it becomes Geneva Feld and Al Deaver making poppies all year long. the families of veterans and active military personnel of the available. Our National Convention will be held August 18 above-named period where financial and medical need is Without them, we couldn’t have such a successful program. – 24. Thank you all for participating in this very important evident. program of the American Legion Auxiliary. For the purpose of poppy kits and supplies used to RESOLUTIONS TO BE PRESENTED make symbolic poppies and poppy items that will be dis- As the Department Office receives resolutions to be pre- tributed for donations to the Poppy Fund. DEPARTMENT CONVENTION sented to the Department Convention in Mahnomen this Units that have poppy funds prior to 2013/2014 year The annual Department Convention will be held at the summer, they will be posted on our website www.mnala.org cannot use this fund for active- duty military and families. Shooting Star Casino/Hotel in Mahnomen. The Convention under the ABOUT US tab - RESOLUTIONS. We are doing In conclusion I ask all Legion Family members, Are you is being hosted by the Mahnomen American Legion Family this in order to allow our Units to read the Resolutions and doing your best to support one of our oldest programs in the 31. discuss them within your Units so you can have questions American Legion/Auxiliary? A pre-registration is available in this issue of the answered before they come up for a vote. We want all Minnesota Legionnaire. District caucuses will be held at members to understand the reasoning behind the April 5, 2017, Auxiliary Membership 8:00 a.m. on Thursday. A complete program will be printed Resolutions, so if there are any questions prior to the in the Minnesota Legionnaire prior to convention time. Convention, please contact one of the Department Officers, There will be two Poppy Contest this year - they are as Karen Thygeson, Department Constitution and Standing follows: Rules Chairman or the Department Office. Award Criteria: Table Center Piece. Award Guidelines: You may use any flowers/ theme you want but, must have the American Legion Auxiliary ADULT DAY CARE CENTER Poppy Flower included. The label “In Memoriam” from President Carol Kottom received the following message poppy flowers must be removed. from Ann Rostratter, who is the Director of the Adult Day Award Criteria: tri - fold educational board. Care Center at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Award Guidelines: Ladies have fun with this project. Minneapolis. Include history about our poppy flower, educate our mem- Dear Auxiliary Members, bers, use pictures, use any past memorabilia, * must have a I am the director of the Minnesota Veterans Home Adult poppy flower with “In Memoriam” Label removed. Day Center located in south Minneapolis. I would be hon- These will be judged on appeal, neatness and education- ored to meet with local chapters and provide information al value. about our program that enables Veterans to remain in their Both contests will be open to all Auxiliary members. All homes longer. We are one, of only two State Veterans Home entries must include a card in an envelope containing your Adult Day Centers in the country. We are open to care for name, Unit number, District number and location. Small or our Veterans five days per week and charge no more than large poppies may be used with the white tags removed. $20.00 per day. We need to get the word out about this won- Auctions WANTED derful award winning program to help Veterans and their Voting for People’s Choice will be by donation, with the Buyer’s Premium in Effect funds going to the Department President’s Projects. caregivers. Please contact me and I will arrange to attend one of your meetings. I also invite all of you to tour our 30-Day Closing Please be sure and bring all of your creations. They are We Buy Properties always so beautiful. facility at your convenience. Ann Rostratter RN Homes, Farms, Businesses, [email protected] Estates and Lands MINNESOTA GIRLS STATE 612-548-5900 Larry Hennig Realty and Auctions The 2017 session of ALA Minnesota Girls State will be 320-656-5399 [email protected] held June 11-17, 2017 This year’s session be at Bethel LarryThe Axe” Hennig Auctioneer # 71-05-001 University in St. Paul. All Girls State registration materials Wrestling Hall of Fame MayLEgionnnaire17_Layout 1 4/25/2017 4:49 PM Page 16

Page 16 Minnesota Legionnaire May 2017 San Francisco Smoky Mountains City by the Bay October 23 30, 2017 October 19 24,7 201 Tour Includes: • 4-Seasons Tour Manager, Cindy- Meany $2,099.00 • 7 nights accommodations Tour Includes: Per Person Double • • Deluxe motor coach transportation 4 Seasons Tour Director, Sue Barber- Occupancy 1 800 328 4298 or 507 373 4705 • 5 nights stay at the Holiday Inn • 11 Meals: 7 breakfasts, 4 dinners - - - - - Express and Suites, Fisherman’s Wharf • Dollywood Theme Park www.4-seasonsvacations.com • Breakfast daily • Nashville Highlights tour • San Francisco City Tour and Muir Woods • Guided tour of Smoky Mountains National Park SINCE 1967 CELEBRATING • Visit to Alcatraz Island • Grand Ole Opry, Hatfield and McCoy • 130 West Clark Street 50 YEARS Sonoma and Napa Valley Wine Country Tour dinner show and Music Mansion $1,289.00 • Boudin San Francisco Sourdough Museum Tour • General Jackson Showboat tour Per Person Double Albert Lea, MN IN BUSINESS ! Occupancy • Luggage handling for one suitcase per person • Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery tour

Heart of Alaska Great American History Mexican Riviera Cruise July 14 21, 2017 Tour September 19 26, 2017 November 4 12, 2017 Tour Includes: Tour Includes: • 4 Seasons Tour Director, Sue Barber - Tour Includes: • 4 Seasons Tour Manager, Larry Alvey • Round trip Delta flights Minneapolis to Ancho rage • - 4 Seasons Tour Manager, Cindy Meany- • Roundtrip Delta flights from Minneapolis to Los Angeles • 7 nights accommodations • 7 nights accommodations • 1 night pre cruise at the Los Angeles Marriott • 13 Meals (including an Alaskan Salmon Bake) • Deluxe motor coach transportation - • 7 night cruise on the Emerald Princess • Denali Park Natural History Tour • 10 Meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners • All meals and entertainment while aboard the Emerald • Alaska Railroad between Talkeetna & Denali Park • Admission to all museums, battlefields, & National Parks Princess • Riverboat Discovery Cruise • 4 Guided Tours • All transfers to and from the airport Starting at • Gold Dredge #8 • Historic Train Ride $3,299.00 per and pier $1,999.00 • Prince William Sound Cruise • $1,425.00 person double Chicago Gangster Tour • Per Person Double • Per Person Double Cruise Gratuities Meares Glacier occupancy • Luggage handling for one suitcase Occupancy Occupancy • Luggage handling on the ship • Luggage handling for one suitcase

New York City & New England/ New York City Tour Mediterranean Cruise August 31 September 10, 2017 Canada Cruise September 15 24, 2017 November 8 127 , 201 Tour Includes: Tour Includes: Tour Includes: • • 4 Seasons Tour Manager, Larry Alvey 4 Seasons Tour Director, Sue Barber - • 4 Seasons Tour Director, Sue Barber $2,499.00 - - Per Person Doub le • Roundtrip Delta flights to Athens & return from Barcelona • Roundtrip Delta flights from Minneapolis to New York City • 4 nights at The Millennium Broadway Occupancy • 1 night pre-icru se in Athens with a 4 hour tour of Athens • All transfers from airport, hotel and pier Hotel in Times Square • 1 night post-icru se in Barcelona with a 4 hour tour of Barcelona • 2 nights stay at the Millennium Hotel in Times Square • Broadway Musical • A 7 night cruise on the ROYAL PRINCESS • Circle Line Cruise of Manhattan with lunch • Radio City Music Hall: “The Rockettes Christmas • Cruise onboard gratuities • A Broadway performance Spectacular” • All meals and entertainment onboard the ROYAL PRINCESS • 9/11 Memorial Museum • Manhattan Island City tour • All transfers to and from the airport, pier Starting at • 7 night cruise on the Crown Princess Starting at • 9/11 Memorial and Museum and hotels • Cruise Gratuities $3,199.00 • • Luggage handling on the ship for one $4,499.00 Harbor cruise with lunch Per Person Double • Luggage handling at hotel and on Per Person Double • Lunch at Carmine’s suitcase per person Occupancy Occupancy cruise • Luggage handling for one su itcase per person

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