'A GENTLEMAN's GENTLEMAN' Mander - Had a Blunt Message to Congress: PNC Carey Passes Away at 82
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NATIONAL SECURITY Conatser: Early troop withdrawal would be a mistake On the heels of a recent visit to Iraq, Legionnaire Martin Conatser - the national com¬ mander’s representative to the National Legislative Commis¬ sion - said a premature troop withdrawal would be disastrous for the Iraqis and the United States. MEMORIAM After a three-day visit to Iraq, Conatser - leading candidate for national com¬ 'A GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN' mander - had a blunt message to Congress: PNC Carey passes away at 82. “The troops are doing their jobs, now do your jobs and By Steve Brooks support them. I met with Gen. Whenever Past National (David) Petraeus. All the troops Commander Thomas P. I talked to respect and believe in Cadmus needed advice, Jack him. The Senate confirmed Gen. Carey was there for him. But the Petraeus, and now Congress greatest piece of advice Carey must allow him to complete his gave him, Cadmus recalled, was mission - to build a safer, stable probably the simplest. Iraq that will not threaten its “He told me that you never neighbors or the United States. know when the Legion is going “Everytime we lose a soldier to take you,” said Cadmus, who, there, it is tragic. But the media like Carey, hailed from the dwell on the negative and report Department of Michigan. “He very little on the considerable told me just to take it one job at a successes. Everything I saw time and do each one to the best points to the fact that the surge of my ability. I did that, and I is working.” became national commander.” Religious differences are a John M. “Jack” Carey, who major problem in Iraq, but served as The American Legion’s Conatser pointed out that it if) national commander from 1978 took centuries for the United to 1979, passed away Aug. 4 at States to overcome many of its age 82. A 58-year Legionnaire, religious and racial tensions. Then-National Commander John W. "Jack" Carey discusses veterans preference and the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 with Alan K. Camp¬ Carey was a member of Post 413 “I met an impressive Iraqi bell, chairman of the Civil Service Commission. A staunch supporter of veterans preference, Carey passed away Aug. 4 at age 82 • American Legion Library in Grand Blanc, Mich., where he general who was Shia and served as adjutant for 27 years. truly a gentleman’s gentleman. I Internal Affairs Commission different problem come up when commanding many Sunnis,” He later moved to Florida but miss him already.” before being elected as national they’re national commander, and Conatser said. “It didn’t seem to continued as a guiding force for Past National Commander commander at the 60th National that was the one that came up for be much of an issue to them, but other leaders in the organization. John “Jake” Comer, who often Convention in New Orleans. Jack,” Past National Commander it just demonstrates how the “As I went from county, visited Carey in Florida, also had During his tenure as national John H. Geiger said. “You never terrorists are able to stir things district, zone and state com¬ fond memories. commander, Carey strongly know in advance what that up among the masses. The Iraqi mander, he was always at our “When Jack went to Plant lobbied for pensions for World problem is going to be. Jack people can succeed, but we must department conventions and City (Fla.), he and Millie lived in War I veterans and was a staunch handled that well.” help them stamp out the always would have time to talk to an over-55 community,” Comer advocate of veterans-preference Geiger spoke highly of Carey terrorists.” me,” Cadmus said. “Later, when I said. “Jack made sure all of the hiring laws. The constitutionality on a personal level. “He repre¬ Conatser, a retired sergeant was campaigning for national houses always had U.S. Flags in of the practice came into sented Michigan very well, and major in the Illinois National commander, he and (Carey’s front of them. If someone didn’t question during Carey’s tenure, he was always a very strong part Guard, said that even though he wife) Millie went out of their way have a flag, Jack would order it and when the U.S. Supreme of our Midwest Caucus,” he said. always had great respect for the to help me campaign. He came for them.” Court ruled 7-2 that veterans “He was always able to do what U.S. military, he was still up from Florida, where he was He served as Michigan’s preference was constitutional, needed to be done, and he was surprised at how high morale is living at the time, just to help me. department commander from Carey hailed the decision as “a able to do it well. He was always among the troops he visited. He did that throughout my 1958 to 1959 and as a member of statement of allegiance to the a good friend and counselor. We “Naturally most would rather campaign. the National Executive Commit¬ veteran population by a grateful will miss him.” be home, and tour extensions “He was a great guy and tee from 1965 to 1967. He later nation.” always willing to listen. He was was chairman of the National “Everyone seems to have a See Carey on page 3 See Conatser on Page 2 Jj||THE American Legion NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION P.0. BOX 1055 • INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46206 U.S. POSTAGE PAID COMMANDER’S FREEDOM TEAM SALUTE PERMIT NO. 719 MESSAGE INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46206 Very proud, very honored Membership: PAGE 5 Your job, and mine PAGE 2 NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP TROOP SUPPORT ADJUTANT’S COLUMN Start spreading PX, commissary Helping take the the news opens at Fort Ben pain away PAGES 6-7 PAGE 12 PAGE 3 + + 2 IDispatch! AUGUST 17,2007 COMMANDER’S MESSAGE PLANNER AUGUST Membership: Your job, and mine 24-30 The American Hundreds of Legionnaires came to India¬ reserve units in your area. Share your vision programs define us. The work we do Legion National napolis this month for the annual National for bringing into The American Legion through our four pillars - Veterans Affairs Membership Workshop. Some were depart¬ thousands of servicemembers returning & Rehabilitation, National Security, Convention, Reno ment commanders and adjutants. Others home every day from Iraq and Afghanistan. Americanism, and Children & Youth - 24-30 American were district commanders. The primary Success stories can become even bigger if we benefit a wide spectrum of Americans. Legion Auxiliary goal for all attendees was to share member¬ take the time to share them with our fellow Through service, we build our membership. Convention, Reno ship success stories Legionnaires. It’s a symbiotic relationship we must and learn from them. Membership is everyone’s business. It nurture if we are to continue to flourish. 24-26 SAL National We had great discus¬ doesn’t matter what color of cap you wear, We are growing, up nearly 10,000 Convention, Reno sions about multiply¬ your branch of service or when you served. members from a year ago. So what we’re ing the work that It doesn’t matter if you joined the Legion 30 doing is working. 24-28 81st American members of The years ago or three months ago. We all have a This month, you will elect a new national Legion Baseball American Legion are duty to future generations of veterans to commander. I have had an amazing year as World Series, doing within our build a healthy, growing membership. your leader. I will remember and treasure it Bartlesville, Okla. communities and at Numbers alone strengthen our influence on for the rest of my life. But when I lay aside the state and national Capitol Hill when we lobby for mandatory my red cap and reach for my blue one, I SEPTEMBER levels. funding for VA health care, better pay for won’t be giving up my duty to help build our It’s critical that we U.S. servicemembers or concurrent receipt membership. I’m going to sell the qualities, 11 Patriot Day spread the word for disabled military retirees. When the benefits and value of The American Legion 14 POW/MIA within our organization national commander stands before Con¬ because I believe in who we are and what we Recognition Day about what we, as Legionnaires, are doing to gress and says, “I represent the nearly 3 do. Please keep doing the same. We’ve bring in new members while at the same million men and women of The American grown this year. We must continue to grow 15 Deadline for History time increasing renewals. If your post, Legion,” his words carry a lot more water because this isn’t just about us. It’s about all Book Contest district or department has developed a than veterans, families, communities, patriotism entries at National successful method for bringing back those “I represent the 2-million member Ameri¬ and a strong America. Headquarters members who once joined our ranks but can Legion.” Our power to lobby is greatly have since left the organization, tell other increased by the numbers we stand for when 16- 22 Employ the Older posts in your area. Bring it up at your we appear before Congress. Worker Week district meetings. Ask to make a presenta¬ Healthy membership numbers also make tion at your department executive commit¬ a financial impact. A growing membership 17 Citizenship Day tee meeting. Do the same if you’ve found a means more member dues, which means 21-23 National Children & successful way to target National Guard and more money going into our programs.