28 FRA Mourns Passing of PNP George W. Brown 30 Shipmate

FATE OF FY 2016 NDAA STILL UNCERTAIN 8 OCTOBER 2015

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Volume 94 Number 10 1 Featured FRA TODAY 18 NAVY WAVES Without a doubt, women are charting new OCTOBER 2015 courses in today’s military — serving in billets previously restricted to males. Navy WAVES were among the first females to serve during World War II and, although their original purpose was to free men for overseas combat duty, they changed the way the Navy and the country viewed women. And they also changed how they viewed themselves. Departments 18 2 COMMUNICATIONS 4 FROM THE FANTAIL Recruit or Retain? 6 SHIPMATE FORUM 8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL 16 Fate of FY 2016 NDAA Still Uncertain 16 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS 30 Profiles in Outreach 26 USPS STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP 28 FRA MOURNS THE PASSING OF PNP GEORGE W. BROWN 29 TAPS 30 SHIPMATE PROFILE Shipmate Fred Winter, 100, Sets Records at National Senior Games 32 LOOKING FOR… / REUNIONS 34 NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES FRA wishes the U.S. Navy a Happy 240th Birthday! 36 NEWS FROM THE AUXILIARY OF THE FRA Message from West Coast Regional President- Elect Mary Ann Frank

LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE ON THE COVER FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION When the U.S. Navy established the Women ADVOCATING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR program in WWII, it opened the doors for women to MORE INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT directly join the war effort. Their contributions also WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924. paved the way for future female servicemembers. COMMUNICATIONS

2 NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS National President John D. Ippert, Honolulu Branch 46 National Vice President Virgil P. Courneya, High Sierra Branch 274 National Executive Dir. Thomas J. Snee, Navy Department Branch 181

OCTOBER 2015 Finance Officer Stephen R. Cox Wrinkles Lauren Armstrong Junior PNP Mark Kilgore, Pensacola Branch 22 National Parliamentarian PNP J. C. “Jim” Eblen, Imperial Beach AS MANY OF YOU have hopefully noticed, the FRA website looks differ- Branch 289 FRA TODAY ent! It has a cleaner look and more user-friendly interface, and is also National Chaplain William H. Hall, GEM State Branch 382 more compatible with mobile devices (phones and tablets). Some of the REGIONAL PRESIDENTS changes to the site are merely cosmetic, but there are portions of the site that may not be where you’re used to looking for them. I encourage Northeast / New England Floyd G. Hunt, Iroquois Branch 214 all shipmates to “poke around” and get familiar with the new site, but if East Coast John J. Willis, Ocean View Branch 60 Southeast Larry L. Cox, Low Country Branch 269 you still can’t find what you’re looking for, call National Headquarters North Central Curry Sanders, Mo Kan Branch 161 and we’ll do our best to help. South Central Michael D. Oliver, Old Naval Home And, as is often the case with such upgrades, we’ve had a few hic- Branch 307 cups. We appreciate the shipmates who’ve called or e-mailed to let us Southwest Agustive A. Hermes, Jr., Chula Vista Branch 61 know when some critical bit of information was lost in the transition. West Coast Larry S. Briggs, Jr., Silver Dollar Branch 192 We understand how frustrating such glitches are and appreciate our Northwest Michael H. Archer, Cheyenne Branch 59 members’ patience as our IT staff works diligently to resolve snafus as they come to light. ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL Such a broad update isn’t as simple as it may seem. In addition to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Michael Stevens upgrading our website, we’ve also updated our network servers and our Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green database management system — upgrades that were long overdue. All Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell of these functions are interrelated, and it’s critical to ensure that each RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL component works seamlessly with the others. There innumerable steps Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Clarence “CJ” Mitchell and processes impacted by these upgrades and a single glitch with one USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Anthony Spadaro process can create a domino effect on the others. For example, when Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force you renew your FRA membership online, there are multiple actions that Eric Johnson must take place. First, you have to have access to your account through the website and be able to provide the necessary information and make a FRA TODAY MAGAZINE payment. This data must be stored in our membership database, the pay- The monthly membership publication of the Fleet Reserve Association ment must be processed through our banking system and then the com- Publisher Fleet Reserve Association pleted transaction must be accurately annotated in your personal record. National Executive Director Thomas J. Snee This, in turn, determines when you’ll receive your next renewal notice. Communications Director Lauren Armstrong If any one step in this automated process is amiss, the whole transac- Managing Editor William Kohudic tion gets derailed. Multiply these interrelated steps times every online re- Contributing Photographer Paul Gunther union posting, new membership application, interaction with our online Design and Art Direction Action Center, address change, NewsBytes subscription request, etc., and FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com Design Director Scott Rodgerson you can see how complicated such an upgrade can become. Production Manager Sandy Jones We appreciate your patience through this process and we’re opti-

mistic that the wrinkles will be ironed out by the time you read this FRA TODAY (ISSN 1935-7192) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., issue of FRA Today. ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. A MEMBER’S SUBSCRIPTION IS COVERED BY THE MEMBER’S ANNUAL DUES. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ALEXANDRIA, VA AND ADDITIONAL OFFICES. PUBLICATION OF NON-SPONSORED ADVERTISING IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES. POSTMASTER: Congratulations, Shipmates! SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, Thanks to loyal shipmates around the world, the FRA Membership Album Project VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. (coordinated through Harris Connect) has been a huge success! More than ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION RATES. ESTABLISHED 28,800 shipmates responded to the announcement about the album program 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. PATENT OFFICE. online or by phone. Our members purchased nearly 11,000 books or CDs and FRA ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, the campaign brought 545 previous members back into the Association. The VA 22314-2754 • PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • FAX: 703-549-6610 • E-MAIL: [email protected] • WWW.FRA.ORG books or CDs will be shipped by regular mail on October 30, 2015. When you receive the product, please send an email with your comments to [email protected]. VOLUME 94 NUMBER 10

Lauren Armstrong is FRA’s Director of Communications and serves as the Managing Editor of FRA Today. Please contact her at [email protected]. 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ 5 1 1 3 3 5 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 4 4 4 4 ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ 1 1 3 3 8 8 8 8 7 7

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4 OCTOBER 2015 Recruit or Retain? Tom Snee MEMBERSHIP IS KEY TO any organi- To manage the FRA force, should military folks taking charge, because FRA TODAY zation, whether civilian or military. we recruit more, or try to retain what we had the planning skills, the know- Military and civilian career counsel- we have? The simple answer is that we how and the will to accept challenges, ors/advisors and human resource pro- must do both. We must recruit new and somehow turn a grim situation fessionals work to maintain a delicate members who can serve as branch, around to make it a huge success. balance between bringing in new per- regional and national leaders in the Shipmates, that describes us; we sonnel and retaining the manpower future. We must also do everything can make it happen in our commu- they have. Organizations’ member- we can to retain our current members. nities. It starts with conversation ship needs vary and their “force We cannot control “involuntary ter- (“Where did you serve?”) and telling management” strategies are different. minations” (deaths) of our members, people what we do. The work of get- Comparing ourselves to other associa- ting things done here in Washington tions’ or organizations’ membership can be difficult and trying, but if action numbers is like comparing apples to Comparing ourselves is taken at the local level with the same oranges; we are who we are and need willpower and strength of purpose to build our membership to our own to other associations’ that infuses our work on the Hill, our experience and “brand.” Recruitment efforts in each area will work to our builds for the future, while retention or organizations’ benefit. Our goal must be to seek bal- focuses on experienced members who ance and turn this draw-down around. are already involved. membership numbers is Given our military backgrounds and Manning in our military depends our “grassroots” drive, we can and will on the leadership and experience of like comparing apples make it happen. the upper echelons, and FRA operates to oranges; we are who This is October; leaves are falling on a similar principle. Draw-downs and temperatures are dropping. Invite on any given platform affect overall we are and need to shipmates back into our meeting halls. manning, especially when there are Remember why you joined FRA. cuts in “goods and services” that affect build our membership Work to create meaningful events that the family stability. Local jurisdictions people will remember. Sponsor com- always brace for the future when Base to our own experience munity activities; Halloween parties Realignment and Closure (BRAC) are always great for kids and adults, lists are released. The economic im- and “brand.” and Thanksgiving offers countless pact of reduction in numbers is a ways for your branch to make a dif- major concern in any community, ference in peoples’ lives. Get that list especially with regard to jobs, taxes, but we can have an impact on ship- of shipmates whose memberships are and of course school enrollments. mates who elect to discontinue their about to end from your branch sec- Membership in FRA, on a smaller FRA affiliation. When more members retary and call those who have fallen scale, also has an impact, especially leave an organization (because of non- away. Yes, call them! when much good has been done by payment of dues) than it is recruiting, Let’s jump on the circuit to bring a local branch or by the organiza- the balance of “goods and services” is back our lost members, find new mem- tion as a whole, i.e., our Americanism swayed. bers, and collectively “show them” Essay Contests, Education Foundation I remember how, back in my days what FRA is all about. Membership scholarships, community events and in Recruiting Command in Memphis, equals “retention PLUS recruitment”; gatherings, etc. city leaders always appreciated nothing else. DO IT. And PRESS ON!

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6 Scholarship Hearts and Darts claims, two of which have advertisements in this issue of FRA I would like to write, first of all, to Today. (See the inside and outside of the back cover.) thank you for your continued support For more information visit www.publichealth.va.gov/ and contributions toward the futures of exposures/asbestos/index.asp or contact Chris Slawinski,

OCTOBER 2015 American high school graduates. I am FRA’s national veterans service director at [email protected] or both grateful and honored to have been 1-800-FRA-1924, ext. 115 chosen as a recipient of your $5,000

FRA TODAY scholarship award. I cannot even begin to explain the positive impact this has Blue Water Veterans Bill Needs Cosponsors on my family and me. You have made a What [Shipmate Bury says about “Blue difference in my life and, for that, I am incredibly thankful. Water” veterans, August FRA Today] Blake Smith has everything to do with a congressional mandate that forced the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, at the My husband, Irl “Spider” Meade, caught the typo [on the time, to fund a pet entitlement project cover of the September issue of FRA Today] that referenced on our backs. Ironically, these funds the scholarship recipients of 2105 instead of 2015. You had sit mostly idle in a [Department of a similar typo from last year. Just thought you’d like to know Veterans Affairs] account today, be- it was incorrect. cause the designated beneficiaries are mostly unable to Nadine Meade qualify for the subject entitlement. Each and every member of my state’s congressional del- FRA Response: As much as we try to avoid errors, particular- egation has signed up as cosponsors of the subject bills. ly repeated ones, we obviously fall short sometimes. We’d also Please check the congressional record to determine how like to apologize for the incorrect amount of the Treadwell many members of your state’s congressional delegation have scholarship amount, referenced on page 28. It should be followed the example set by mine; then, ask your branch $5,000, not $53,000! president to send a message urging those who are not yet on board to get with the program NOW. Your branch president can then, with great pride, urge his in-state counter- Asbestosis part branch presidents to endorse his message to each of A lot of sailors and Marines die from asbestos-related ill- their non-conforming congressional delegates. This is the ness each year, and I have never seen you guys go to bat for essence of grassroots patriotism. them. The VA and the government will not pay. I’ve had Dennis Egge asbestosis since 2010 from combat in Korea in 1950 aboard the USS Manchester (CL 83). The VA has turned me down FRA Response: Thank you, Shipmate Egge. You’re spot-on. five times! How sad. Grassroots advocacy is what FRA is all about, and we encour- James O. Wilson age all FRA members to get involved, not just branch presidents. You can contact your elected officials easily by visiting FRA Response: The likelihood of developing asbestosis, me- FRA’s online Action Center at action.fra.org/action-center. sothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases is known to be Shipmates without Internet access can request a free copy of higher for veterans who served in certain military ratings and “How to Communicate with your Elected Officials” by call- MOSs. For veterans who develop these diseases there are two ing 1-800-FRA-1924, ext. 108 or sending a written request channels through which they can seek compensation. You’ve to FRA National Headquarters, 125 N. West St., Alexandria, obviously pursued one option — applying to the Department VA 22314. This useful guide explains how to send letters to of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disability compensation. The VA Capitol Hill. decides these claims on a case-by-case basis and it’s possible that an appeal is in order. Many veteran’s service organizations, like FRA, can help veterans and their surviving spouses Submissions Send Shipmate Forum letters to Editor, FRA Today, 125 N. West St. navigate the claims and appeal processes. The other option Alexandria, VA 22314. E-mail submissions may be sent to [email protected]. Please is to pursue a claim through legal channels by seeking com- include “Shipmate Forum” in the subject line. FRA reserves the right to select and edit pensation from the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing letters for publication. Letters published in Shipmate Forum reflect the opinions and products that you may have encountered during your military views of FRA members. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of FRA as service. There are law firms that specialize in asbestos-related a whole. FRA is not responsible for the accuracy of letter content. PEG406-08_7.75x10_Layout 1 9/1/15 3:58 PM Page 1

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8 OCTOBER 2015 Fate of FY 2016 NDAA Still Uncertain John Davis AS FRA TODAY GOES to press, it appears that House and versions sidestep sequestration spending limits (auto- FRA TODAY Senate conferees are still deadlocked over various key dif- matic budget cuts) on the Defense budget by shifting an ferences between the House and Senate versions of the extra $38 billion into the emergency war fund, which is FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA – S. not included as part the general DoD budget. These extra 1376/H.R. 1735). Legislative staff indicates that pharmacy Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds, howev- co-pay increases (see story below), cuts to stateside com- er, will be used for regular Defense operations. President missary benefits, the size of the annual active-duty pay Obama issued a veto threat unless additional funding is increase, and whether or not to cut Basic Allowance for made available for non-defense programs limited by se- Housing (BAH) benefits are still among the unresolved is- questration. FRA supports exempting the Defense budget sues. The FRA Legislative Team has closely tracked these from sequestration spending caps. developments and FRA continues to provide multiple op- All of the NDAA issues mentioned above are listed on portunities for members to weigh in on a variety of issues the Action Center and shipmates can share their views on impacting pay and earned benefits by using FRA’s online these subjects until the legislation has passed. Members Action Center at action.fra.org/action-center are strongly urged to check the Action Center (action.fra. Even if the House and Senate agree on specific provi- org/action-center) regularly for pending legislative issues sions, the fate of the NDAA still remains unclear. Both that impact their pay and benefits.

Communicate with Your Elected Officials In order to help shipmates communicate with elected officials in support of FRA-led initiatives, the Association publishes a guidebook, Communicate with your Elected Officials, which contains information for contacting your lawmakers by phone, mail, fax or e-mail. It also includes guide- lines and suggestions for composing, addressing and sending correspondence. Printed with the generous support of GEICO, the handbook is an adjunct to the FRA Action Center (action.fra.org/action-center) and is part of FRA’s ongoing campaign to encourage citi- zens to be active participants in the legislative process. To receive your free copy of Communicate with your Elected Officials, contact FRA at 1-800- FRA-1924 (ext. 108) or e-mail your request (and mailing address) to Victoria Duran at VictoriaD@ fra.org. Written requests may be sent to Fleet Reserve Association, Attn: Communicate, 125 N West Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2754.

Reconstructing Lost Military Records The blaze that ripped through the National Personnel archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/na-13055-in- Records Center in a St. Louis suburb shortly after midnight fo-2-reconstruct-medical-data.pdf) that authorizes the on July 12, 1973, consumed 16 to 18 million official mili- National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to search for tary personnel files in the days before computers kept such other types of documents that would assist the veteran with records safe. Few could have predicted the harm it would their VA healthcare access or compensation claim, or for visit on the veterans who were denied VA benefits—some to valuable research their family member’s service history. this day—because they could not reconstruct their military For more information, visit the Department of Veterans service files. Affairs website for veterans whose records were destroyed: Veterans whose records have been lost can fill out a spe- www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/NPRC1973Fire.asp. cific form at the National Archives website (http://www. or call 1-800-827-1000. ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL

9 RETIREE ISSUES FRA TODAY NDAA Showdown on Pharmacy Co-pay Increases TRICARE Enrollees Must Refill Certain Drugs Through Mail or Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) recently met with his at MTFs OCTOBER 2015

House counterpart Rep. Mac Thornberry (Texas) in a final face-to-face effort to find common Photo by Sandy Jones ground on the FY 2016 Defense Authorization (NDAA) bill. As FRA Today goes to press, the two chambers have been unable to resolve differences in the competing versions of the bill (H.R. 1735/ S. 1376) and one of the main sticking points is the Senate’s proposal to increase pharmacy co-payments. Thornberry provided his committee members with a memo saying the House would accept 30 percent of the Senate’s proposed increases, saying, “The House is willing to consider modest TRICARE co-pay adjustments, but only enough to prevent a point of order on the Senate floor related to the retirement system. They would be roughly 30 percent of the Senate proposal. The House is unwilling to accept 100 percent of proposed increases.” FRA opposes any additional pharmacy co-pay increases and this issue will be listed on the FRA Beginning October 1, 2015, TRICARE benefi- Action Center (action.fra.org/action-center) until a final vote on the legislation occurs. ciaries will be required to obtain refills for certain drug prescriptions through the mail or at Social Security Pay Bump for Active Duty Time military treatment facilities (MTFs), according Since 1957, if you had military service earnings for active duty service (including active duty for to a provisional rule set by the Department of Defense (DoD). The new policy will only af- training), you paid Social Security taxes on those earnings. Since 1988, inactive duty service in fect refills of non-generic prescription drugs the Armed Forces Reserves (such as weekend drills) has also been covered by Social Security. that people take on a regular daily basis for Under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for your military service from 1957 through chronic conditions, such as high blood pres- 2001 can also be credited to your record for Social Security purposes. These extra-earning sure and cholesterol control; it does not per- credits may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security tain to medications for unexpected infections benefit. It’s important to understand that special extra earnings credits were granted for peri- or illnesses. This new provision, which has ods of active duty or active duty for training, but not for inactive duty training. been set forth by the 2015 National Defense Here’s how the special extra earnings are credited on your record: Authorization Act (NDAA), seeks to save money for the DoD and for TRICARE enroll- Service in 1957 Through 1977 ees by avoiding the higher co-payments as- You are credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which you sociated with many prescription medications received active duty basic pay. in retail pharmacies. DoD estimates that this Service in 1978 through 2001 new change will save the federal government $88 million per year, while saving TRICARE For every $300 in active duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up beneficiaries about $16.5 million per year to a maximum of $1,200 a year. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, and didn’t complete due to lower co-payments. at least 24 months of active duty or your full tour, you may not be able to receive the additional By obtaining pharmaceutical drugs through earnings. Check with Social Security for details; 1-800-772-1213 (for the deaf or hard of hear- the mail, TRICARE beneficiaries will be able ing, call the TTY number, 1-800-325-0778). to save an average of $44 on a 90-day sup- If your active military service occurred: ply of brand-name drugs; a 90-day supply of non-generic drugs through the mail is $16 • From 1957 through 1967, the Social Security Administration will add the extra credits to versus a 30-day supply in retail pharmacies your record when you apply for Social Security benefits. for $20. Moreover, there are no co-payments • From 1968 through 2001, you do not need to do anything to receive these extra credits. for drugs that are attained at military treat- The credits were automatically added to your record. ment facilities. On average, the government • After 2001, there are no special extra earnings credits for military service. (In January pays 32 percent less for brand-name mainte- 2002, Public Law 107-117 discontinued the special extra earnings that had been credited nance medication prescriptions filled through the mail order program and through military to military service personnel. Military service in calendar year 2002 and subsequent years treatment facility pharmacies compared to no longer qualifies for these special extra earnings credits.) those filled through the retail program. ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL

10 ACTIVE DUTY/RESERVE ISSUES

Avoid Urgent Care in Medical President Cuts Annual Active Duty Pay Increase Emergencies President Obama recently sent a letter to House and Senate leaders notifying them that he will

OCTOBER 2015 If you are a TRICARE beneficiary and you cap military pay raises at 1.3 percent next year as a way to reduce Defense spending. In the have an emergency, make sure you go to an letter, he called the reduction “unfortunate, but necessary.” The president noted that adminis- emergency room in order to ensure insur- tration officials do not believe the smaller pay increase (1.3 percent vs. 2.3 percent) will hinder ance will cover the cost. Use of urgent care recruitment and retention. FRA TODAY coverage depends on your plan and, unlike If it stands, the 1.3 percent raise will be the third consecutive year that pay increases have emergency care, requires an official referral in fallen fall short of estimated private-sector wage growth, and will widen the gap between order to be covered. Read more about urgent military and civilian salaries. For an E-4 with three years of service, the difference between the care coverage here: http://www.tricare.mil/ two potential pay raises would total about $268 a year. A 1.3-percent raise would follow in CoveredServices/IsItCovered/UrgentCare.aspx. the wake of 1-percent raises in both 2014 and 2015; the lowest annual military pay increases For advice, you can also call the TRICARE in the all-volunteer era that began in 1973. Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-874-2273, op- As FRA Today goes to press, the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act tion 1. When calling the Nurse Advice Line, (NDAA-H.R. 1735) provides a 2.3 percent pay raise for troops—equal to a private-sector pay you will talk with a registered nurse who can increase—but the Senate version (S. 1376) accepted the Administration’s request for a lower give you healthcare advice, help you find a 1.3-percent hike. FRA is urging legislators reconciling differences between the two bills to ac- doctor or schedule a next-day appointment cept the House increase and to suspend the President’s authority to change the pay increase at a military hospital or clinic. by regulation for one year. There are even pediatric nurses who can As it has for the past 15 years, FRA continues to fight hard to get Congress to reduce the gap assist you and will call you back to check between private sector and military pay, and keep military pay raises at least in line with civilian on your child. For more information, visit pay growth. To give shipmates an opportunity to urge their legislators to support an adequate the TRICARE Emergency Care website: pay increase for our military, this issue will be listed on the FRA Action Center (action.fra.org/ http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/ action-center) until the NDAA passes. IsItCovered/EmergencyCare.aspx.

VETERANS ISSUES

VA Achieves Major Milestone in President Signs Veterans’ Employment Bill as Unemployment Backlog Reduction Increases Among Younger Vets

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Provisions of the “Hire More Heroes Act” U.S. Navy photo by MC2 John Hetherington announced in late August that its disability (HR 22) were recently signed into law. On the first day of the new session of the claims backlog has fallen below 100,000 for 114th Congress, the House unanimously the first time after reaching a historic high passed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Rodney two years ago. Allison Hickey, the VA under- Davis (Ill.). The Senate Finance Committee secretary for benefits, said the current back- later approved the measure without amend- log of 98,535 claims (older than 125 days) is ment and the measure became part of the the lowest since the agency started measur- Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act (H.R. 3236). ing the claims backlog in 2007. The decrease Dave White speaks to Aviation Electronics The employment provisions incentivize small Technician 1st Class Thomas Miranda, during has not come at the expense of quality, businesses to hire veterans while at the a job fair at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Hickey said. Accuracy of disability decisions same time providing them relief from the has improved from about 83 percent in 2011 Affordable Care Act (ACA). The bill exempts to 91 percent today, she added. The gains employees with health coverage under TRICARE or the Department of Veterans Affairs from were achieved in part through use of manda- determining if the employer is regulated by the ACA (30 or more employees who work 30 or more hours a week). tory overtime for employees in the benefits division, a practice Hickey says officials hope The overall unemployment rate for all Americans dropped to 5.3 percent in July 2015. The employment rate for Post-9/11/01 veterans, however, increased in July by more than one percent to stop in September. to seven percent. The overall unemployment rate for veterans remained at 4.3 percent. PREPARE NOW ADVERTISEMENT Naval Services Veterans and Active Personnel Set to Get Free Survival Food. Farmers vow to keep up with the rush to supply all service members who call toll free and beat the deadline to claim up to four free 72-hour survival food kits.

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Bates pointed out that the foods in these kits are all packed in durable, re-sealable Mylar pouches that guarantee they’ll stay fresh and delicious for at least 25 years. If you wish to claim up to four free 72-hour survival food Because the last thing you need is food that’s gone stale or is ﬁlled with bugs. kits, you must do so immediately. Simply call the toll- In an emergency, a 72-hour kit could actually save your life. In fact, many folks like to free hotline and give the agent the approval code shown keep a kit in the trunk of their car – just in case. below. Provide your delivery instructions and agree to pay “We’re trying to ensure none of these brave folks gets left out, but they have to hurry the $9.95 shipping and handling fee for each kit claimed. as we only have a limited supply of 72-hour kits we can give away,” Bates warned. It really is that easy. “And the program will be ended no matter what at midnight, November 30, 2015.” Approval Code: 72FREE Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-599-6304 Deadline: 11/30/2015 Please note: Food4Patriots says they will continue to give away these 72-hour kits for as long as their supplies last. Unfortunately, due to media exposure, their phone lines may be busy when you call. e company advises that if this happens, you should just keep calling and you will Do you qualify? If you are an active or retired service member of one of the branches shown get through. above, then you qualify for up to four free 72-hour survival kits under the terms of this program. ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL

12 VETERANS ISSUES

VA May Compensate Rep. Walz Pushes to Extend Benefits for Agent Orange for Illnesses Linked to Since the passing of the Agent Orange Act in 1991, scientists and medical professionals have Contaminated Water at Lejeune

OCTOBER 2015 come to better understand the toxic wounds of war and how many diseases are connected The Department of Veterans Affairs an- with exposure to the Agent Orange herbicide. The Agent Orange Act is set to expire at the end nounced in early August that it will start a of September 2015 and, if it does, the VA would no longer be required to review the National program that may permit some veterans Academy of Sciences’ (NAS) final report, which is due for release in March of 2016. If the law FRA TODAY to receive disability compensation if they expires, thousands of veterans may be denied their right to compensation. fell ill from drinking contaminated water at Congressman Tim Walz (Minn.) recently introduced the “Agent Orange Extension Act,” (H.R. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. The 3423), which will extend benefits from the Agent Orange Act for two years, giving the NAS VA already provides health care benefits enough time to finish its report and for the VA to review its findings. for veterans and their family members who Walz stated that it is imperative to make sure that Vietnam veterans who were exposed to suffer from 15 illnesses related to exposure Agent Orange receive the compensation and care they deserve. “I think sometimes we forget, to contaminated drinking water, but it has especially folks who are a little younger, how big that deal was in 1991 when we finally added not given broad “presumptive status” that Agent Orange as a cause of these diseases, and I just don’t want to let this slip away before would render them eligible for disability we make sure we’ve covered it all.” compensation. (Currently, only veterans who served at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and FRA is committed to seeing to that this extension legislation is enacted. 1987 and suffer from one of three illnesses may receive disability compensation: kidney Shipmates Have Spoken on Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act cancer, angiosarcoma of the liver and acute Funding myleogenous leukemia. FRA hosted an online survey to determine whether our shipmates would support a proposal The drinking water, which is presumed to to fund the “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act” (H.R. 969, S. 681). Congressional leaders affect more than 750,000 people on the are looking for a monetary offset to pay for the expanded coverage the bill would provide, and Marine Corps base, was suspected to contain one suggestion would allow the VA to round down veterans’ disability compensation payments volatile organic compounds such as benzene to the nearest dollar. For example, if you currently receive a check for $100.15, your payment and vinyl chloride. The Marine Corps first ac- would be rounded to $100, and the remaining $0.15 would be placed in a fund to pay for knowledged the problem in 1985 when they benefits for Blue Water Vietnam veterans affected by exposure to Agent Orange. (This “round found traces of toxins in their water, which is down” was in place for several years, but full payment was restored at the end of FY 2013.) believed to be the result of illegal dumping More than 73 percent of survey respondents indicated they would be willing to round down by an off-base dry cleaner. their compensation checks to help blue water Vietnam veterans get the care they desperately Further discussions between the VA and the need. The results of this survey will be shared with members of Congress and leaders at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease VA, as well. Registry regarding the establishment of “presumptive status” for those affected began in VA Patient Access Progress Update mid-August. The VA will consider all public In keeping with the commitment to improve transparency in the Department of Veterans statements when determining the final scope Affairs’ (VA) processes, the VA recently released current patient access data and is highlighting of any presumptions. Veterans who believe notable access improvements, including: they may have health problems related to contaminated water exposure at Camp 1. The VA completed more than 61.5 million appointments between July 1, 2014 and July Lejeune may file a claim for disability com- 31, 2015. This represents an increase of 2.36 million more appointments than were compensation online at http://ebenefits.va.gov or pleted during the same time period in 2013–2014. by contacting their local VA office. 2. VA created over 2.7 million authorizations for veterans to receive care in the private sector between August 16, 2014 and August 15, 2015. This represents a 21-percent increase in authorizations compared to the period of August 2013 to August 2014. 3. VA completed 97 percent of appointments in July 2015 within 30 days of the clinically The FRA Legislative Team is National Executive indicated or veteran’s preferred date; 92 percent within 14 days; 87 percent within 7 Director Tom Snee, Director of Legislative Programs days; and 22 percent actually completed on the same day. John Davis, Assistant Director of Legislative Programs 4. Between June 1, 2014, and August 15, 2015, the electronic wait list went from 56,000 Stephen Tassin, Assistant Director of Veterans’ appointments to 40,067, a 28-percent reduction. Programs Ben Young and National Veterans Service Director Chris Slawinski. 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Who needs money for college?

FRA’s Education Foundation awards over $100,000 in scholarship funds each year to recipients based on financial need, academic standing, character and leadership qualities. Our scholarship program is open to anyone who has an affiliation with the USN, USMC or USCG, through their own service or that of a spouse, parent or grandparent.

To learn more about the FRA Education Foundation and our scholarships, visit www.fra.org/foundation where you will find descriptions of each scholarship program, lists of past winners and, starting in September of each year, applications for the current year’s programs. We encourage all eligible recipients to apply for our scholarships and to share information about them with others.

Questions? E-mail us at [email protected] or call 703-683-1400.

125 N. West Street Educating our service members, Alexandria, VA 22314

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16 OCTOBER 2015 Profiles in Outreach Penny Collins THE LIFEBLOOD OF MEMBERSHIP is par- discussions to the rest of Class 122, FY- Fleet Reserve Association Branch 290 FRA TODAY ticipation in community outreach 16 CPO Selectees, explaining the his- are all active duty servicemembers and programs. How many times have you tory and mission of FRA. It is always a this subset of the branch is strengthen- heard the words, “What is the FRA?” good thing to interact with active duty ing the branch and Association’s fu- Participating in events and forums members as a way to recruit the next ture by engaging and training future within your local community is a great generation of FRA shipmates. FRA leaders. Involvement with the way to “show and tell” what FRA is Shipmate John Quesnel from Shellback Riders also helps the sailors all about. Some of our branches are Branch 289 (Imperial Beach, Calif.) become more well-rounded individu- already making headway in this en- was interviewed on a local radio show als while boosting their community deavor; here are their stories: called “Military Mondays!” Shipmate service and understanding of the past, JrPNP Mark Kilgore and shipmates John taped the segment at the KCBQ present, and future of military associa- from Branch 22 (Pensacola, Fla.) re- studio on August 31st and was well tions. Branch 290 shipmates, including cently partnered with the local Chief prepared for the question-and-an- the Shellback Riders, also assist with Petty Officers Association (CPOA) swer format as a result of his advance blood drives and hosting USO dinners. chapter to include eight of their Chief- preparation. (The station allowed him Branch 137 (Minden, Nev.) en- selectees in a branch improvement to submit the questions he’d be asked, gages in several community projects project. The future CPOs from various allowing Shipmate John to steer the that truly pay off with gains in mem- area tenant commands on board Naval interview toward promoting FRA and bership. Their membership rose from Air Station Pensacola, accompanied by Branch 289’s work in the local area. 57 to 74 during the last membership five CPOs, volunteered their Saturday John also secured assistance from year and their goal is to keep growing. to build a memorial brick walk in front the staff at National Headquarters to Branch President Rick Athenour and of Branch 22’s new home. The walk is be sure he had the latest information his shipmates take every opportunity a beautification project and fundraiser about current legislative initiatives.) to place themselves in the public eye at with bricks engraved for a small dona- Bravo Zulu, Shipmate Q! carnivals, parades, car shows, and civ- tion. The shipmates served lunch and Other branches have also taken ic events of all kinds. The branch has presented the selectees with an infor- the plunge to participate in radio dis- hosted an Easter egg hunt in base hous- mal presentation on FRA’s history, ac- cussions about the FRA, including ing areas and barbecues for the Single complishments, and current legislative shipmates from Branch 99 (Virginia Marine Program. FRA Auxiliary Unit agenda, as well as individual one-on- Beach, Va.) and Branch 13 (Atlantic 137 gets involved with outreach, too, one discussions between the selectees City, N.J.) who’ve taken to the air- sponsoring a program they’ve dubbed and retired chiefs from the branch. The waves to increase awareness of FRA. “Taste of Home.” Auxiliary members event garnered local TV coverage that Branch 290 (Mayport, Fla.) created fill the refrigerator at the barracks with included an interview with Branch 22 a group amongst its members based home-baked goods once a month. President Jim Richmond. The selectees on a common interest— riding mo- Talk about raising awareness about the will present the training session and torcycles. The Shellback Riders of the FRA! Everyone loves food, and home- made goodies are always a special treat for single military personnel. If your branch has a story to tell about your outreach efforts, please send me an email at [email protected] and give me the details. I’d love to share your efforts with our shipmates and readers who are interested in replicating your positive representation of the FRA.

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Recent headlines are heralding new military career paths that, until now, had been open only to male servicemenbers. For example, two females graduated from the Army’s rigorous Ranger course in mid-August and the first four enlisted women selected to serve aboard Navy submarines started their training a few days later. But there was a time when women’s military service was extremely limited.

Women in Naval Service auxiliary to the Army, the WAVES were an official part of the Navy. The objective was to place women in these administra- Women served as Navy nurses during the Civil War and the tive posts so that male sailors could be stationed overseas ways in which females can serve in this branch of service and serve in combat roles. WAVES held the same ranks and have been broadening ever since. During World War I, the many of the same ratings as their male counterparts, earned Navy’s need for clerical and administrative support led to the the same pay and were subject to the same code of military Naval Reserve Act of 1916, which authorized the enlistment discipline. of yeomen. Since the legislation didn’t specifically exclude women, the Navy enlisted Loretta Perfectus Walsh into the By mid-1943, 27,000 women were part of the WAVES Naval Reserve in 1917 as its first female sailor. Other women program and their service was limited to non-combat billets. followed, serving primarily as yeomen, but also as radio They couldn’t serve aboard ships or aircraft and, initially, their operators, photographers, telegraph operators, camouflage service was limited to the continental United States, though designers, and in a variety of other capacities. They were by war’s end some were serving in Hawaii and in some U.S. released from active duty when the war was over. possessions. The majority was assigned to secretarial and clerical duties, but these women had much broader respon- The beginning of World War II renewed the Navy’s need sibilities than their WWI predecessors. Thousands served for clerical and administrative skills, but this time the Navy in the medical, aviation and intelligence communities. Still recruited women into a special segment of the service. The others served as photographers, storekeepers or in commu- Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service program, nications stations. By the end of the war, more than 84,000 or WAVES, was established on July 30, 1942. Unlike the women had contributed to the war effort as WAVES. Women’s Army Air Corps (WAAC), which was a women’s 19 EstablishedEstablished FRA TODAY

JulyJuly 3030 OCTOBER 2015

A Man’s World According to C. Peter Chen, a contributor to the World War II database (http://ww2db.com), the use of the word “emergency” in the WAVES’ moniker (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), “signified that, when the effort to resurrect female service was in the planning stages, U.S. Navy brass thought female service would cease when the emergency, or the war, came to an end. The reason for that was due to political resistance from many who did not believe women had a place in the U.S. Navy, and for the program to take place, creative intrigue had to be used. Despite the resistance from conservative officers, however, the demand was clearly there; for example, as early as Jan 1942, the Office of Naval Intelligence was recruiting female college students. Even as President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Navy Top: WAVES recruitment poster encouraging woman to join Women’s Reserve Act into law, little did people know that the Navy for administrative work so that the men could be on the frontline. Middle: WAVES Petty Officers wearing their female service in the U.S. Navy would become something new rating badges after completion of specialized training, that would last far beyond the ‘emergency’.” circa 1943. Obtained from www.womenofwwii.com. Bottom: Lt.(jg.) Harriet Ida Pickens and Ens. Frances Wills, the first African-American WAVES to be commissioned. Their service was expected to be temporary and recruiting December 21, 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in posters emphasized a sense of equality. Women were encour- the collections of the National Archives. aged to be “on the same team” as male sailors and touted that WAVES could earn the same ratings and pay as their male counterparts. They were expected to adhere to the same strict military standards regarding uniform and decorum. But they weren’t always considered equal.

It was the culture of the day to perceive females as the weaker sex. The WAVES primary purpose was to free men to serve 20

“To Look Their Best” was the original title for this photo when it appeared in the LA Times in August of 1950. “Fireman Apprentice OCTOBER 2015 Adolt, 19, sees something new on destroyer: Marion Koopman, left and Margaret Williams, prettying up on board USS Uhlmann.” FRA TODAY She and a colleague began joking about joining the Navy with hopes of being stationed near their boyfriends, but it was the threat of farm duty that spurred her to action. “Now that my brothers had been called into service, Father announced that my sister and I would have to milk the cows. on the battlefield and those who remained stateside were That did it! I said, ‘No way!’” and joined up!” often resentful of women in their workplace. Females had little authority over male subordinates and, in some instances, Olsen and her friend left for recruit training in March of they were portrayed in the media more as cover girls than 1943, becoming the first WAVE recruits from the area. Olsen service members. went to boot camp at Hunter College in New York City, where she discovered that “the three months of discipline and Pregnancy was automatic grounds for separation and training far outweighed anything I had experienced in my 20 regulations on marriage were very specific. According to years. Now it was time to grow up.” the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation website (www.womensmemorial.org/H&C/ Women could join the military at the age of 20, if they had Collections/marriagepolicy.html), the policy concerning a parent’s or guardian’s consent. Or they could join on their marriage evolved over the course of the war. own at 21 without parental consent. Shipmate Florence McCann (Branch 186, Hernando, Fla.) was only 19 in the “Initially, WAVES could not marry men in the U.S. military summer of ’43 and she wasn’t willing to wait. and could not marry at all during indoctrination or training periods. The Navy soon saw the impracticality of this policy – “I’d been an orphan at the age of eleven and had been living such restrictions could mean the loss of well-qualified women on my own since I’d graduated from high school. I learned or that women might hesitate to sign up. In 1942, the Navy to do general office work and then went to a vocational/ changed its policy allowing WAVES to marry men of any technical school, where I learned to be a beautician. I passed service except the Navy, but a year later the policy changed the state board exams, got a job, rented a room of my own again to allow women to marry naval men after completing and was quite comfortably independent, but I wanted out of initial and specialist training. Later in 1943, the regulations the Pittsburgh area,” recalls McCann. “One day on my way were again modified to allow WAVES to marry with permis- to work, I saw a poster that said, ‘Join the WAVES’ and that sion during specialist training.” sounded like a pretty good ticket.”

To meet the age require- Motivation ment, she doctored the birthdate on her baptis- Women from all walks of life and from all parts of the mal certificate and took country volunteered to join the WAVES. Whether to seek it to her court-appointed adventure or escape their current circumstances, each wanted guardian, whom she’d to contribute and be an active part of the war effort. never met before, and asked him to sign her Barbara (Garringer) Olsen’s* family moved several times paperwork to join the during her childhood and finally settled on a farm outside Navy. He did and she Colville, Wash., where she spent the last three years of high was on her way to “a school. “After graduation, I was shy, but ambitious and good life.” was [working] at the Office of Agricultural Adjustment Agency in downtown Colville. World War II had started Shipmate Florence McCann and many young men were drafted or enlisting to serve,” (Branch 186, Hernando, Fla.) she remembers. Photo by Matthew Beck.

* Profile information for these WAVES were obtained from Women of the WAVES at www.womenofthewaves.com/profiles/index.shtml 21 FRA TODAY OCTOBER 2015 U.S. Navy WAVE Recruiting Poster from World War War World Recruiting Poster from U.S. Navy WAVE in uniform holding up a chart of pay II show a WAVE Seaman, Navy ranks: Apprentice scales for different First Class, Petty Seaman Second Class, Seaman fringe WAVE U.S. Navy Officers and includes enlisted John Falter. benefits. Art by Navy artist Contributing to the War Effort Contributing to the War specific received WAVES the new boot camp, Following schools to learn the to follow-on assignments and went made based on aptitude or Assignments were skills required. with the experience, but not always in accordance previous of course,Navy came first, The needs of the desires. women’s own unique way. and each contributed to the war effort in her we got [there]. When we arrived at Grand Central Station, Central Station, at Grand arrived When we got [there]. we so many military to meet us, along were there officials there of what to do of other girls, that the decision with hundreds We Hunter College. was out of our hands. They took us to played were Taps When regiments there. one of the first were were a lot of tears because some were that first night, there homesick already.” duty on to active was called Harrison* (Gilbert) Mary Ellen for Iowa to Cedar Falls, 25, 1943, and reported February water as a person could as far from was] about training. “[It State billeted in dormitories at Iowa were she noted. “We be,” spent in calisthenics and days were College and our Teachers I lost inches on this regime, marching! marching, marching, - march but very few pounds. I was a member of a ‘crack in parades all platoon, which was called upon to march ing’ Cedar Falls.” around women was serious business, of course, but these young It the remembers Harrison lose their sense of humor. didn’t [the captain] got any dirt “If on inspections well. Friday His a pass for liberty. not given were we his white gloves had stuffed pet thing was to check our suitcases to see if we decided to teach We to get them out of sight. things in there lined our suitcases with we him a lesson and, on one Friday, when he saw them, but said a word never [sanitary] pads. He again inspected the luggage – at least not in our bil- he never it was before class was the last boot camp held there let. Our school.” converted to a yeoman Leland recalls how difficult it was to leave her family, “but her family, difficult it was to leave how Leland recalls I met a girl from it turned out to be quite an adventure. to traveled We who, too, was sworn in in Seattle. Montana should do when together and discussed what we York New Following six weeks of boot camp, Maillette was sent to Maillette of boot camp, six weeks Following - to hone her secre A & M College in Stillwater Oklahoma of doing things. Our way’ tarial skills and “learn the ‘Navy Canada on the way to Stillwater through train traveled troop for that trip.” pay’ ‘overseas later received and we Dolores (Demo) Maillette* left Bay City, Mich., in March in March Mich., City, left Bay Maillette* (Demo) Dolores College in [the of 1944, bound for boot camp at Hunter in two other enlistees joined other recruits and She Bronx]. cars train continued to add more troop and “our Detroit We States. United the over all from WAVES filled with future got our first taste of militarywe took turns standing life as watch during the night.” As these ladies began their military their emotions careers, their male counterparts. unlike those experienced by weren’t and the train trip to their training programs recalled Many the early days of boot camp quite vividly. Learning Way” the “Navy “When Pearl Harbor was bombed, my two oldest brothers my two oldest brothers was bombed, Harbor “When Pearl Leland when I decided I should go, too,” That’s left for war. of us served in the military “Seven remembers. and proudly and one sister served brothers home. All five all returned we sister stayed youngest My but I chose the Navy. in the Army, home to help on the farm.” Helen “Corky” (Halseth) Leland* grew up on a farm near up on a Leland* grew (Halseth) “Corky” Helen hard food was plentiful, but life was where Idaho, Kendrick, school through to a one-room went She for a large family. to attend high into town the eighth grade and then moved graduated in the spring of 1941. school. She 22

The flag is raised at the Hunter College campus, Bronx, New York, as it is placed in commission as the basic training center for Navy OCTOBER 2015 and Coast Guard women, 8 February 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. FRA TODAY

many a cow and learned to use a saw and hammer. I could saw a board and pound a nail better than most boys. On the enlistment exam I scored high on tools and their use and the officer wanted me to go to airplane mechanic school. I re- sisted and finally convinced him when I said I wouldn’t go up in a plane I had serviced, let alone expect anyone else to. He finally agreed that yeoman [school] would be best for me.”

“WAVES existed to allow the men go to the fight and I Leland, on the other hand, did become a part of the aviation know my contributions weren’t like those men who did the community. “From [boot camp at] Hunter, I was sent to fighting,” says McCann, who spent most of her Navy career Memphis, Tenn., where I was informed I would be serving working in the Navy Department’s Bureau of Ships, Research in the Aviation Department. Six months later I was sent to and Development division in Washington, D.C. “They did Norman, Okla., [where] was our job to learn the names of all something really great … not me. Sometimes I felt like what I the airplanes and all about the engine and what each [part] was doing was inconsequential, but I always felt like it was nec- was for. Our instructor and some of the fellows would take essary. I was happy to do what I could for country and flag.” the engine apart and we had to diagnose the trouble and reassemble it. When I graduated from the school at Norman, Connie (Campbell) Conaway* grew up in Youngstown, I was sent to Terminal Island at San Pedro, Calif. I spent the Ohio, and, after graduating from high school, chose to rest of my Navy life at that base.” pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse. But after a few months of training, she decided that nursing really wasn’t Many WAVES served as yeomen during their careers, providing for her. Her father had been in the Navy during World War needed clerical and administrative support to the Navy. And I, so it was a natural choice for her to follow in his footsteps while some saw their work as mundane, each recognized its and her parents granted her permission to join the WAVES. importance and is proud of the unique contributions she made. Despite her belief that nursing wouldn’t be her chosen career path, the Navy had other ideas. Following boot camp she was Mary Ellen Harrison remembers her first assignment at the assigned to Camp Moffett, Great Lakes Ill., which was a hos- Bureau of Personnel as “not very inspiring. However, when pital corps training school. The training there was relatively the Navy lost three ships during a typhoon in Leyte Gulf, I easy for her as it was a virtual repeat of her previous hospital was transferred to the Senior Surviving Officer Unit. After training, but there was still much to learn. losing a ship, the senior officer would come into the Bureau to write letters to families of injured or lost [crewmembers]. “I was assigned to Long Beach Naval Hospital and worked in Because the loss of a ship was not made public until all this the operating room of the dependents’ unit. I was assigned to was done, I had to be cleared to handle Top Secret material,” the operating room and nearly didn’t make it. My first opera- she recalls solemnly. “To be handed a wristwatch or billfold tion was nearly a disaster,” Conaway chuckles. “I kept getting and told to see that it was sent to a wife or parents was very [dizzy] and had to leave the operating room and put my head stressful.” down to keep from fainting. I was determined though, and spent the next few months as a scrub nurse there. I saw many In another incident Harrison referred to herself as “a lowly caesarian births, tonsillectomies, gall bladder operations and yeoman being introduced to a room full of admirals. The so forth.” captain of an aircraft carrier forgot to take plans with him when he went to the Bureau of Ships, so he called me to Mary Ellen Harrison’s aptitude for mechanics made her a bring them to him. I was not cleared to take secret material natural choice to be an airplane mechanic. As the third of out of the Bureau so I had to go to Admiral Denfeld (head of seven children and older than her brothers, she became her the Bureau) for permission, which he gave, but assigned two father’s “’boy,’ helping him in the dairy and farming. I milked Marines to escort me. [When I got there], the room was filled FMR-01_7.75x10_Layout 1 2:29 PM Page 1

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When World War II the Nimitz Parade, [honoringtheCommanderinChiefof casket beingcarrieddown theCapitolsteps. Imarched in there. When President Roosevelt died,Iwasthere toseehis also anhonortoseeallthehistoricthingsthathappened House day. andotherbuildingsmonumentsevery It was leged tolive andwork in Washington andpassby the White Monument. anawe-inspiring place! Ifeltsoprivi- “What just atthefootofhillthatsurrounds the Washington Florence McCann worked inD.C.andherofficewas asithappened. in—history and oftenparticipated wouldn’t have hadifnotfortheir WAVES duty. Theysaw— women hadotheruniqueandmemorableexperiencesthey adventuresand thenew theirassignmentsoffered, these In additiontotheirprideincontributingthewareffort New andUniqueExperiences boys were inthe17-to-21agerange.Iwas29!” my littleboy? He wassuchagoodboy athome.’ Many ofthe ‘Whathasthedifficult toanswer thequestion: to Navydone whom were parents ofsailors[whowere] incarcerated. It was duties, Imadecontactwiththevisitorstofacility, manyof the Atlantic Theaterof Operations. In additiontosecretarial jailed formediumoffensesinthe Pacific Theater,for andsome vised anofficeof yeomandoing record-keeping forsailors the commanderofRetraining Commandthere. Isuper- assignments. “My lastandmostinteresting wasasyeoman to Training CenterinFarragut, Idaho, where sheheldavariety of Judith (Mack) Johnson* asayeoman attheNaval served each ofthem.” with goldbraid.Thecaptainproceeded tointroduce meto Archive photo. a Washington, D.C.,paradeinhishonoronOctober5,1945.National Nimitz satinthebackofalimousineand drove byavastcrowd during Florence McCannwasamongthethrong whenFleetAdmiralChester they were notthesamewomenwho’d a joinedtheservice discharged from theNavy andreturned tocivilianlife.But As WWII drew toaclose,most WAVES were honorably After theWar cutting upasusual. We hadafunevening!” Lucyus by was singingandplayingtheguitardrums. their beautifulhomefordinneroneevening. Desi entertained Lucille Ball andDesi Lucille Arnez. andDesi hadusoutto were stationedatthehospital,theybecamefriendswith Force sergeantand“while husband mysisterandhernew big-name bandsplayed. Her sistereventually marriedanAir Angeles anddancingthenightawayatPalladium asmany enjoyed theirdaysofftogetherridingthetrolley toLos Because theylived relatively closetooneanother, they stationed atBirmingham General Hospital inCalifornia. Leland’s sisterwasalieutenantintheArmy, asanurse serving wife Bess anddaughterMargaret ataUSOfunction. was alsohonored tomeet Vice-President Harry Truman, his loved inthelandingsonbeaches.” onestakingpart She of theNormandy invasion. Several for shipmateswere crying pre-dawn hoursonJune 6,1944,tolistenradiobroadcasts her traininginStillwater, whenshewas“awakened inthe Dolores Maillette’s mostmemorableexperiencewasduring condition.”packed incottonperfect President andMrs.Roosevelt. Ipressed mineandstillhave it them. We eachtookared rose from thewreath sentby Franklin] Knox. “We received theflowers andcatalogued ficial dutyforthefuneralof ofthe [WilliamSecretary Navy For example,shewasoneofseven enlisted WAVES onof- a result, specialduties. Harrison wasselectedforsomevery the Navy laterbecamethePersonnel Officerat BuPers. As The WAVE officerwhosworeMary Ellen Harrisoninto to celebrate.” just across from ArlingtonNational —intoD.C. Cemetery ended, we walkedfrom ourbarracksatArlingtonFarms — 25 FRA TODAY few years earlier. They’d experienced independence and the I’ve had a wonderful life, filled with so much more than I had satisfaction of knowing their daily work made a difference before I joined the Navy. Joining the Navy was a real dividing OCTOBER 2015 to the country they loved. Many, like Helen Leland and and defining point in my life. I’d do it all over again. Connie Conaway, married their hometown sweethearts or, like Florence McCann, married servicemen they’d met during “The Navy also led me to one of the best parts of my life their service. Others, like Conaway and Barbara Olsen, used now — the FRA,” continues McCann, who is a Life Member their GI Bill benefits to seek college degrees. and regularly attends Branch 186 (Hernando, Fla.) meetings. “The shipmates of our local branch are so very special to me In June of 1948, well after the end of WWII, Congress and treat me wonderfully. I’m a member of other veterans’ passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act (Public organizations, but I often felt ignored. I felt like they let me Law 625), which allowed women to gain permanent status in because they had to, but that’s not the case with FRA. I in all branches of military service. Dolores Maillette took feel very welcomed and have a special bond with many of the advantage of the new policy, continuing her military service shipmates and their wives.” and also using her new skills for civilian employment.

“After [I was discharged] in April 1946, I returned to Bay Priceless City and resumed secretarial work,” she recounts. “I joined the Navy Reserve unit with weekly drills and two-to-four The women who served as WAVES not only changed the weeks of active duty at Great Lakes, Ill. I was honorably Navy, they changed the way the world viewed females in discharged in 1953 as YN1 [Yeoman First Class], waiting military service and in society. It also changed the way they for an opening as YNC [Chief Yeoman]. At that time I was viewed themselves. pregnant with the first of my six children, and thus, unable to complete time for retirement. After 12 years as a house- “I met great people, saw a lot of my country, and had some wife and mother, I returned to work for the Bay City Public exciting experiences,” recalls Leland. “I am proud to think I Schools, and retired in 1987 as secretary to a high school served in the Navy.” principal.” “Having joined the Navy WAVES at age 20 opened a whole new world that became one of the most rewarding and excit- Lifelong Friendships ing experience of my early life,” says Olsen. The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act made the She doesn’t really like to be called a trailblazer, but McCann WAVES program obsolete, though female members of the concedes she might have helped the Navy women who came Navy were referred to as “WAVES” well into the 1970s. after her. “I guess I did help pave the way for other women Despite the end of the program, the women who’d served as and advance the opportunities available to females today,” she WAVES forged deep and lasting bonds with their sisters in admitted. service – bonds that would last for decades. Mary Ellen Harrison summed up her WAVES experience “I will always treasure my time in the Navy,” says Conaway this way: “On December 21, 1945, I was discharged, having wistfully. “This was one of the [most] fun times of my years served two years, 11 months and seven days. I wouldn’t take and, as I mentioned, I still keep in touch with a least one a million dollars for those two years, 11 months and seven person [from my days as a WAVE]. I named my second child days!” for her.”

“We became friends for life,” explains McCann. “I was separated from my immediate family when I was very young. I wanted to have a family and the Navy became my family. It warms my heart to think of all the people who touched my life, people with whom I had more in common than before the Navy. If I hadn’t married, I would have tried to stay in Lauren Armstrong is the Contributing Editor and Member after the war. There were no down-sides and I have no regrets. of the FRA Auxiliary. She can be reached at [email protected]. USPS STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP

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OCTOBER 2015 Jr., U.S. Navy, Retired September 27, 1924 – FRA TODAY August 9, 2015

FRA National President 1984 – 1985

FRA PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENT (PNP) George W. Brown, the system contract was federalized in 1967, Brown entered Jr. joined the staff of the Supreme Commander on August Civil Service as a GS-9 Equipment Specialist and eventually 9, 2015. A continuous member of FRA since 1957, Brown became a Supervisor Equipment Specialist in the Control spent more than 50 years in service to the Association at the Division of the Naval Support Center in Atlanta. He retired local, regional and national levels. from that post in 1980, with more than 36 years of federal Shipmate Brown joined the FRA in 1957 as a member service to his credit. of Branch 168 (Bainbridge, Md.), serving as a member of Shipmate George will be remembered for his progres- the branch’s board of directors. His return to sea duty kept sive thinking and his positive, motivational leadership style. him from active FRA involvement until he transferred to During his tenure as FRA National President, he would Branch 60 (Norfolk, Va.), where he remained a member spend weeks in each region, making extensive visits to until his passing. During his long tenure as an FRA ship- branches in the area. He also led FRA to be instrumental in mate, Brown served on Branch 60’s board of directors legislative gains during his term, including significant im- (14 years), as editor of the Branch LOG (seven years) and provements to the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and thwart- Branch Secretary (two years). His shipmates elected him as ing threats to military retirement benefits. His commitment Branch Vice President in 1967. He subsequently served as to others was evident in his leadership and involvement Branch First Vice President in 1968 and 1970, and then as with the Knights of Columbus (Past Grand Knight), the Branch President in 1971. He served on multiple conven- American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Naval Enlisted tion and standing committees, was elected as East Coast Reserve Association, Patrol Craft Sailors Association, Regional Vice President in 1975 and served as Regional Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, Tin Can Sailors President during the 1976-1977 Association Year. He was Association, National Chief Petty Officers Association, and elected as the Association’s National Vice President in 1983 Christ the King Catholic Church. and served as FRA’s National President the following year. Shipmate Brown is survived by his wife of 70 years, Brown, a veteran of World War II and Korea, enlisted Anna O. Brown; two daughters, Ann O. (Reese) Graves in the Navy in November of 1942, shortly after graduat- of Cleveland, Tenn., and Mary A. Schleif of Ft. Mills, S.C.; ing from high school. During his 21+ years of naval ser- two sons, George W. (Caroline) Brown III of Bay Minette vice, he held numerous sea- and shore-duty billets and and Robert M. (Deborah) Brown of Daphne; eight grand- transferred to the Fleet Reserve in May of 1964 as a Senior children; two step-grandchildren; and eleven great-grand- Chief Engineman, fully retiring from military service in children. Interment was at the Alabama State Veterans 1972. Following his military duty, Brown was employed as Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Ala. a postal delivery messenger and then as a planned mainte- FRA offers its sincere sympathies to Shipmate Past nance system developer for Stanwick Corporation. When National President Brown’s family and friends. In Memoriam TAPS

29 NAME BRANCH NAME BRANCH FRA TODAY

Henderson, Kenneth R, MGYSGT, Veniskey, Richard, CMDCM, USN 146 USMC MAL

Horton, Glenn D, ENC, USN MAL Zigovits, Joseph J, YNC, USN MAL OCTOBER 2015 Hunter, Andrew B, MGYSGT, USMC 307

Jackson, David S, NCC, USN MAL Names in red indicate 50 year continuous members. Names in bold indicate past national officers. Kessler, Robert R, QMC, USN 307

Lalk, Clarence L, Chief, USN 091 Lawhead, Wilbur, STC, USN 289 NAME BRANCH Lawhead, John R, PRC, USN MAL The toll of the ship’s bell Abshire, Charles, PO1, USN MAL Leonard, John B, GMC, USN 020 Adams, Lyman, MS1, USN MAL Long, William D, SF1, USN 307 reminds us of the reverence Alvey, Harry E, TMCSS, USN 136 Macfarlane, Raymond, SKC, USN 042 Baney, Ramon D, CSC(SS), USN MAL Manning, Joe B, MSGT, USMC 159 we owe to our departed Shipmates Barker, William H, MSCM, USN 293 Martin, William F, HMC, USN 011 Barszcz, Martha A, SK1, USN MAL Middleton, William E, GMCG, USN MAL Beckner, William M, CDR, USN 024 Miller, William, AME1, USN MAL and to those who guard the honor Behm, Richard A., SN, USN 113 Miller, David C, SK1, USN MAL Bracknell, James W, EMC, USN 020 PRPSW, Miranda, Victor, AOC, of our country Brandow, William H, ADRC, USN 101 USN 070 Breazeale, Kenneth E, MMCS(SS), Moschella, Joseph M, CMCS, USN 226 USN 269 upon the sea, Neighbors, Jack C, ENC, USN 020 PNP, Brown, George W, ENCS, USN 060 Buckholz Sr., Richard A., SKC(SW) MAL Offret, Leland G, ETC, USN MAL under the sea, Burns, Edward J, AT1, USN 110 Olson, Raymond C, AMSC, USN 053

Collins, Stephen A, DR, USMC 275 Pascarella, Nicholas A., SSGT, in the air Crowe, George B, YNC (TAR), USNR 089 USMC 229 Payne, Emery E, HMCS, USN MAL Devera, Servillano S, MR, USN 154 and upon foreign soil. Phelan, Patrick M, BMCS, USN 166 Dillard, Kenneth E, SHC, USN 244 Pike, Melvin L, AN, USN 014 Dorr, Leslie E., FICM, USCG, MAL Pratt, Joseph J, TM1, USN MAL Let it be a reminder Doyal, James C, PRCM, USN 159 PRPWC, Dracon, Julian R, LICM, USN 049 Richmond, Philip E, ADRC, USN 022 Dvorak, James W, ADC, USNR 101 PRPSW, Roberts, William J, BM1, of the faith they USN 061 Emerson, John R, CAPT, USN MAL Rumaldo, Rios, AOCS, USN MAL confide in us. Finlay, Joseph G, DK1, USN MAL Russell, Cecil H, AOC, USN 038 Fiore, Elmer C, AOC, USN 126 Saffell, Gene L, ADJC, USN 070 Let us who gather here Foy, Edward B, ETCM, USCG, 099 Shiver, Vynile B, MMC, USN 022 Gannon, John W, EQCM, USN MAL Sizemore, David P, EN1, USN 105 not forget our obligations Gindling, Larry B, ACC, USN 315 Smith, Lawrence W, MMCS, USN 070 Gualandi, Micheal, USN 020 Stair, Ben, ET1, USN 046 and in silence Guess, Manuel O, YNC, USN 162 Steinborn, Bert A, GM2, USN 024 Stutes, Clifton J, BMC, USN 159 Gurecki, Thaddeus J, CWO3, USN MAL breathe a prayer Haas, Eugene D, DKC, USN 022 Thomas, Chester E, ABHC, USN 042 Hammack, Gordon D, AE1, USN 013 Tibbitts, Dean G, EMCS, USN MAL Hanley, Francis J, GMGC, USN 101 for our absent Shipmates. Valdez, Salvador S, EMCM, USN 154 SHIPMATE PROFILE

Shipmate Fred Winter, 100, Sets Records at National Senior Games OCTOBER 2015 By Kenneth DeGraaf and Lauren Armstrong

MEET FRA SHIPMATE FRED Winter, a salt water from the ocean. Among FRA TODAY 100-year old World War II U.S. Navy his many years enlisted service, Fred veteran. He recently competed in this served aboard the USS Mississippi, year’s Meijer State Games of Michigan USS Enterprise, and as part of the track and field event and took gold in Amphibious Command, which was the 90+ age group in the 50-meter dash the second line of defense behind the (24.02 seconds) and shot put (16 feet, Marines. 10 inches). He also won the hammer When his time in the Navy was up, throw (11 feet, 2 inches) in the 80+ Fred studied pre-med at York College age division. His efforts not only won in York, Nebr. It was there that he met him gold medals and a trip to the 2015 his eventual wife of 65 years; their National Senior Games in July, he also marriage is still going strong to this gained some well-deserved notoriety, day. Following graduation from York, being featured in People magazine fol- Fred had trouble getting accepted into lowing the event. (To read the People medical school, so he turned his stud- article about Fred, visit www.people. ies to Accounting. After receiving his com/article/fred-winter-100-years-old- master’s at Creighton University in meijer-state-games There’s also a video Omaha, Nebr., Fred became a college a job offer as a high school account- of an interview conducted at the State professor in the subject. In a state that ing teacher in Holland, Michigan, that Games of Michigan event at http://stat- runs its economy off crops, however, offered $3,000 more per year. Fred egamesofmichigan.com/fredwinter#. the teaching salary in Nebraska was jumped at the opportunity and has VfLVrVJRFPA) not cutting it. At the age of 65, Fred got lived there ever since. Shipmate Fred grew up in Scranton, Penn., a coal mining town where na- tives were destined for a life of black lung disease due to inhaling coal dust. “These coal miners would only live till about 50 because of the diseases they got,” Fred explained. “They knew it was just a matter of time for the Grim Reaper to call their name.” Determined to have a better quality of life, Fred enlisted in the U.S. Navy as his only way out. Fred served a total of 25 years, which included a term during World War II in the Battle of Okinawa. He started as a deck scrubber, and eventually worked his way up to a Chief Petty Officer. Fred recalled fresh water being so scarce in the Pacific that each crew member was handed a bucket of water to start the day. This was all they got to wash their clothes and bathe. All showers onboard operated with SHIPMATE PROFILE

31 FRA TODAY OCTOBER 2015

When Fred turned 70 years old, expectations. His 8.11 meter (26 feet, life (plus a little extra; he’s currently at he decided he wanted to start com- 7.29 inches) javelin throw garnered a 110 per day), and runs outside. If the peting in track and field through the gold medal. As did his shot put (4.23 weather is poor, Fred avoids excuses Senior Olympics, having not compet- meters/13 feet, 10.54 inches) and dis- and simply runs alongside the walls of ed in track and field events since high cus throw (9.42 meters/30 feet, 10.87 his house. school. inches), both of which set records. Shipmate Fred is a member of “I wanted to compare myself, phys- He also won the 50-meter dash with Branch 298 (Grand Rapids, Mich.) ically, mentally, morally, with people a time of 18.19 seconds. All pretty and has been a member since 1985. my own age,” Fred said about his de- amazing stuff, but his 100-meter run When asked what the key to a long sire to enter the sport, “and the one made history. He’s the first man over lifespan is, Fred answered, “Have faith way to do that is to go into track and the age of 100 to complete this race in God, faith in your fellow man, and field.” At first, Fred struggled to qual- in the National Senior Games, run- faith in yourself.” Fred also encourages ify for most events, but through hard ning a record time of 42.38 seconds. staying active no matter how young or work, he slowly started earning bronze (You can read more about Fred’s re- old you are. medals, then silver medals, all the way cord-setting run and watch a video at At 100 years old, Fred’s nowhere up to the point where gold medals be- http://www.runnersworld.com/gener- close to slowing down. He enjoys gar- came expected. al-interest/100-year-old-races-100-me- dening and is working on a book about During the 2015 National Senior ters-at-national-senior-games) nutrition. It will be his second book; Games, Fred met and exceeded all You might think that Fred has a the first was about teaching the Bible collection of all the gold medals he to high school students – a course he has won, but you would be wrong. taught in Holland public high schools During combat in the Navy, Fred until his retirement. found himself about 10 feet under the Fred is humble about his athletic Pacific Ocean surface and was certain victories and looks forward to com- he was going to die. Thankfully, a fel- peting and trying to win a few more low member of the Navy rescued Fred medals to hand out to those who have and brought him back to the surface. saved lives. His wisdom, generosity, Beyond grateful for having his own determination, and no-quit attitude is life saved, Fred decides to give his something we can all learn from. gold medals away to anyone he can find that has saved a life. According to Fred, “They deserve it more.” To be successful in track and field, Fred relies heavily on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He does aerobics each day at 6:00 in the morning, doing one push-up for each year of his

Special thanks to Kenneth DeGraaf and the Meijer State Games of Michigan for allowing us to reprint the article (and update after Fred’s national wins) and photos related to Shipmate Winter’s awesome achievements in FRA Today. The Meijer State Games of Michigan is a multi-sport, Olympic-style event(s) that welcome athletes regardless of age or ability level. The Games embody the values of participation, sportsmanship and healthy living. www.StateGamesofMichigan.com/ 1-800-MILITARY (1-800-645-4827) AUTO + HOME + RENTERS + MOTORCYCLE + BOAT

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33 Capt. Walter (Bud) Kraus (SC) USN RMC Robert “Bob” Russell He was my old boss and shipmate, We were stationed together in Barbados FRA TODAY ComCruDesLant Supply Officer, 1959– (1963-1964) and Keflavik, Iceland 1961 (approx.); a true sailor. Please (1967-1969. His wife’s name was help me connect with him before I Myke. He later worked for Dunhill Corp. cash in! Contact Ray Souza, 33 Eleanor (a corporate head-hunter) and then OCTOBER 2015 St., N Dartmouth, MA 02747-1924 or operated two airlines in Barbados, Carib 508-996-6394. West and Calypso. The last time I saw him was in Barbados in 1971, but I lost PRCM Bill Horn track after that. Please contact OTCM We were stationed together at NAS Werner Miller (Ret.) at 757-705-7403 Whidbey Para-loft, 1980 to 1983. or [email protected] Please contact AMCS Larry Mahoney, USN (Ret.) at 840 Quail Ln., Oak Harbor WA 9827, lkmahoney@ frontier.com or 360-675-4668. NAS Norfolk, VA softball team, 1961 All Looking For … notices must be submitted in to1962 or writing. Members can submit requests via e-mail to NAF Naples Italy softball team, 1963 [email protected] or in writing to FRA Looking For, 125 to 1967 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Questions Please contact Roy Fore at royfore@ regarding Looking For… submissions should be live.com or call 423-921-7410. directed to 1-800-FRA-1924, ext. 126.

REUNIONS

USS Leary (DD-879) USS Saufley (DD-465) September 15 –20, 2015, Omaha, NE. October 11–15, 2015, Columbus, GA. Contact Al Redden, 1910 East 2nd Contact Homer Hirt, Sneads, FL, Street, North Platte, NE 69101, 308- 850-272-0643, [email protected] 530-1284, [email protected] USS Steinaker (DD/DDR-863) USS Mullinnix (DD-944) April 28–May 1, 2016, Baltimore, MD. April 6–10, 2016, Cocoa Beach, FL. Contact Russ Noble, 4608 Buckhorn Contact Bob Houghton, Charleston, Dr., Traverse City, MI, 231-944-2148, SC 29492, 302-650-3042, muxassn@ [email protected] hotmail.com Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day The Naval Weather Service Association April 30, 2016, Jacksonville, AR. May 5–6, 2016, The Villages, FL. Contact Kay Duggar, 501-241-1943, Contact Gerald Struck, 3440 Dixon [email protected] Bradford High School 40-year Class Ln., The Villages, FL, 352-408-0283, USS Woodrow Wilson (SSBN/SSN-624) Reunion [email protected] October 15 –17, 2015. Contact Tim May 2–5, 2016, North Charleston, SC. Blankenship, 904-375-1265, USS Robert E. Peary (DE-1073, Contact Wayne Gray, 350 Whitehead [email protected] FF-1073) Rd. Mills, PA 16937, 814-334-5276, June 17–20, 2016, St. Louis, MO. [email protected] USS Donner (LSD-20) Contact Don Winfield, 520-271-8684, April 25–27, 2016, Harrisburg, PA. [email protected] Contact Dennis Heimbach, 610-775- 7539, [email protected] USCG Port Security Unit PSU-303(b)- Desert Shield/Desert Storm USS Ingersoll (DD-652/990) May 13–15, 2015, New York, NY. All reunion notices must be submitted in writing. October 1-11, 2015, Tucson, AZ. Contact Martin Maher, 917-337-4723, Members can post reunions online at www.fra.org, Contact Neal Overman at 575-574- [email protected] submitted via e-mail to [email protected] or in 7921 or [email protected]. writing to FRA Reunions, 125 N. West St., Alexandria, Visit www.uss-ingersoll-vets.com for USS Power (DD-839) VA 22314. Please include your FRA member number more information. June 9–13, 2016, Washington, DC. and a daytime phone number. Questions regarding Contact John Pinto, 352-527-2352, reunion submissions should be directed to [email protected] 1-800-FRA-1924, ext. 108. NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES

BRANCH 207 DALE CITY, VA. Branch members were onhand to honor Shipmate BMC Don

OCTOBER 2015 Grey (right) as he retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after a 20-year career. Shown here with his wife, CWO2 Kat Grey (who is also FRA’s PNChap), Shipmates Abe Zino, PNP Jeff Gilmartin and Branch President Bill Whitt also attended the ceremony. FRA TODAY Shipmate Don’s parting words: “After 20 years in the U. S. Coast Guard, I am westbound and down!”

BRANCH 99 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. FRA shipmates honored Portsmouth Naval Hospital (Portsmouth, Va.) Sailor of the Quarter during a recent ceremony. Shown (l to r, front BRANCH 126 JACKSONVILLE, FLA. row) are: LS1 Kimberly Castro, HM2 Rainer Mission, HM3 Jamycia Click and HN Morgan Branch President James J. Thomas presents Critchfield, (back row) Branch President Daniel a Letter of Commendation and lapel pin to Cheche, Branch Vice President Arthur Bailey Shipmate Frederick Moge in recognition of and Branch Master-At-Arms David Moser. his 60 years of continuous FRA membership.

BRANCH 162 NEW ORLEANS, LA. BRANCH 124 LAKEHURST, N.J. JROTC Marine Cadet Sgt. Jared Headrick, Shipmate CM1 William J. Cook receives a a student at Jesuit High School in New certificate of appreciation upon his retire- Orleans, received a JROTC medal and a ment from the U.S. Navy. Pictured (l to r) $25 gift card from NOLA Branch are FRA Auxiliary member Bonnie McAuliffe, 162. Presenting the awards are Shipmates PRPNE David Munday III, Shipmate Cook, Bob Kinghorn (l) and Jerry DuPre (r). and Branch Vice President Charles Seidel. NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES

35 FRA TODAY BRANCH 251 MOUNTAIN HOME, ARK. Past Branch President Don Owens (l) and

Branch President Curtis Grant (r) present OCTOBER 2015 the National First Place 11th Grade essay contest award to Lydia Macfarlan (center).

BRANCH 42 QUONSET POINT, R.I. Branch members help Shipmate William Grimshaw celebrate his 102nd birthday in early May. Shipmate Bill was a Seabee during WWII, and participated in the invasion of Saipan in June of 1944.

BRANCH 346 PANAMA CITY, FLA. Members of the Arnold High School JROTC detachment and Boy Scout Troop 317 aided in a flag retirement ceremony conducted by Past Branch President Tommy Grant and Branch Secretary/Treasurer George Ivanhoff, with Branch President Bruce Blackford also in atten- dance. Pictured are scouts from Troop 317 and Scout Leader Jeff Neitzie.

BRANCH 178 MONTEREY, CALIF. Branch President Michael Ryan receives the charter for Cub Scout Pack 84, which the branch sponsors, from Harry Robbins of the local Scout Council.

BRANCH 171 SOUTHERN LUZON, P.I. In April 2015, the branch conducted a ceremony honoring the remaining 11 FRA members who formed the branch in 1985. Branch President Chon A. Quevado awarded each of them a 30-year continuous membership pin and recognized their many years of dedicated service to the FRA. Pictured (l to r) are Shipmates Arturo M. Mendoza, Romeo L Manalo, Benjamin B. Ignacio, Ricardo N. Ferrer, Mrs. Nenita T. To submit a photo for News From the Branches, please e-mail a photo Cruz, Viviano M. Cruz, Branch President Quevado, as an attachment in jpeg format to [email protected] or mail a Ricardo N. Ferrer, Mrs. Illuminada Ferrer, Antonio H. high-quality photograph to FRA Today, 125 N. West Street, Alexandria, VA Ercia, Mrs. Fely Ercia, Isaias A. Moya, Apolinaro V. 22314. Please include a brief description of the photograph and include Martinez, and Mrs. Imelda Martinez. the names of those pictured. Laser prints and scanned copies of photographs cannot be accepted. NEWS FROM THE AUXILIARY OF THE FRA

36 Message from RPWC-Elect Mary Ann Frank

SMOKE FROM THE WILDFIRES hung over Donner Pass as those from the West head- ed to Carson City, Nev., for the 59th FRA and LA FRA West Coast Regional

OCTOBER 2015 Conventions hosted by Branch 192 (Fallon, Nev.) & Unit 137 (Minden, Nev.). Each person was anxiously anticipating seeing old friends and making new ones. The hospitality room and registration were open for those arriving on Thursday.

FRA TODAY Friday morning there was a free video tournament in the main casino area and each person had to be registered to participate. Prizes were awarded to the winners. Friday evening brought the familiar Carson City Regional Convention MARY ANN FRANK bowling tournament that generated many laughs and much camaraderie. West Coast Regional Our keynote speaker for the afternoon Opening Ceremonies was Congressman President-Elect Mark E. Amodei, who was entertaining as well as informative. The West Coast Units are very busy, participating in parades and recruiting booths; serving BBQ & cookies for Pickel Meadows Marine Mountain Warfare Training Center; providing bathroom and kitchen baskets for homeless Veterans being placed in apartments; giving to the Teddy Bear program for needy children; contributing to Fisher House, making baby layettes, visiting VA Clinics with coffee and goodies, participating in flower-laying ceremonies on veterans’ graves, helping out at bingo night at the VA, donating to Angel Tree at Fallon and donations to many other worthwhile programs. One Unit adopted a grandmoth- er, with various needs, and took on the responsibility of caring for her grandchildren when both their parents had been called to active duty. Congratulations to the regional officers elected for the 2015–2016 and I’m honored to be the again serve as Regional President. Our Regional Vice President is Kelly Pena and Sheryl Olave will be our Regional Treasurer. The 2015–2016 West Coast Regional Convention will be held at Carson City, Nev., hosted by Branch and Unit 137 (Minden, Nev). Goodbyes were said with hopes to see many at the National Convention in Spokane, Wash., later this month!

Past and present West Coast regional officers posed after being Regional officers posed after the opening ceremonies at the West sworn in. Shown (l to r) are: RChapWC Jan Solberg, PNChap Coast Regional Convention. Shown (standing, l to r) are PRPWC Lorraine Maese, PRTreasWC Trilja Laird, RTreasWC Sheryl Olave, Kathy Goheen, JrPRPWC Polly Stonich, NTreas Karen Snee, PNP and RegParlWC Dorothy Maurath, RVPWC Kelly Pena, PNChap Lorraine Maese, (seated, l to r) RPWC-Elect Mary Ann RSecWC Wilma Archer, RPWC-Elect Mary Ann Frank, JrPRPWC Frank, PRTreasWC Trilja Laird, RSecWC Wilma Archer and PRPWC Polly Stonich, PRPWC Kathy Goheen, and PRPWC Joan Ellis. Joan Ellis. $77(17,21 861$9<9(7(5$16 0(627+(/,20$ &203(16$7,21&/$,06 ),/,1*'($'/,1(

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MEMBER SERVICES FRA 125 N. WEST STREET ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754