VFW’S HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF TET 50 YEARS LATER OFFENSIVE An artist emerges from the trenches of WWI COMEDYAS THERAPY Leading the way in supporting those who lead the way. USAA is proud to join forces with the Veterans of Foreign Wars in helping support veterans and their families. USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. The VFW receives financial support for this sponsorship. © 2017 USAA. 237701-0317 VFW’S HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF TET 50 YEARS LATER OFFENSIVE An artist emerges from the trenches of WWI COMEDYAS THERAPY JANUARY 2018 Vol. 105 No. 4 COVER PHOTO: An M-60 machine gunner with 2nd Bn., 5th Marines, readies himself for another assault during the COMEDY HEALS Battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive in 20 A VFW member in New York started a nonprofit that offers veterans February 1968. Strapped to his helmet is a a creative artistic outlet. One component is a stand-up comedy work- wrench for his gun, a first-aid kit and what appears to be a vial of gun oil. If any VFW shop hosted by a Post on Long Island. BY KARI WILLIAMS magazine readers know the identity of this Marine, please contact us with details at [email protected]. Photo by Don ‘A LOT OF DEVASTATION’ McCullin/Contact Press Images. After hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria 26 ON THE COVER roared through Texas, Florida and Puer- 14 to Rico last fall, VFW Posts from around Tet Offensive the nation rallied to aid those affected. 20 Comedy Heals Meanwhile, VFW National Headquar- 26 Hurricane Disaster Relief ters had raised nearly $250,000 in finan- 32 An Artist Emerges cial support through the end of October. BY KARI WILLIAMS IN EVERY ISSUE WAR ‘BROUGHT OUT’ 2 Command Post THE ART IN DOUGHBOY 32 4 Mail Call Horace Pippin, an infantryman with the 6 Now Hear This “Harlem Hellfighters” was wounded in 8 Issues Up Front France during World War I. After coming 10 Washington Wire home, Pippin used his experience in the 36 trenches as fodder for his unique style Better Health of oil painting that made him nationally 38 Member Corner renowned. BY BARRY HUDOCK 46 Reunions A ‘CAPABLE AND CARING’ MAN 48 Vets in Focus Korean War veteran Bob Currieo, who 34 served as VFW’s Commander-in-Chief in 1982-83, died Oct. 17. Currieo, who also served as VFW’s Political Action Committee director and Washington Office executive director, had a long history of helping veterans, both nationally and in his home state of Arizona. CHECK OUT OUR DIGITAL VERSION AT WWW.VFWMAGAZINE.ORG NEED HELP? VETERANS CRISIS LINE: 1-800-273-8255 JANUARY 2018 • WWW.VFW.ORG • 1 COMMAND POST FROM THE CHIEF VFW Supports a National Official publication of the VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS World War I Memorial OF THE UNITED STATES STAFF hat an honor it was in tise on behalf of DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, November to represent PUBLICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS our members. Joe Davis VFW in Washington, The commis- SENIOR EDITOR D.C., at the groundbreak- sion selected Tim Dyhouse W ASSOCIATE EDITOR ing ceremony for the national World the memorial’s War I memorial. As the nation’s premier design in 2016. Janie Dyhouse SENIOR WRITER group of combat veterans, VFW is com- It is called Kari Williams mitted to seeing this structure become a “The Weight EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE reality. of Sacrifice” by Dave Spiva Amazingly, WWI is the only major Chicago-based ART DIRECTOR Lauren Goldman 20th century U.S. conflict that does not architect Joseph COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF Keith E. Harman ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE have a national memorial in Washington, Weishaar and GLM Communications, Inc. D.C., to honor its veterans. VFW is New York-based sculptor Sabin Howard. Jackie Tobin, Vice President, Digital/Print Media on record — through the passage of Renderings of the design can be viewed 500 1st Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 (212) 929-1300 FAX 212-929-9574 Resolution 301 at our most recent nation- at the commission’s website www.world Email: [email protected] al convention — supporting a WWI war1centennial.org. memorial. Another of the commission’s tasks is EDITORIAL OFFICE Address all communications for publication to: The groundbreaking ceremony was commemorating the Great War during The Editor, VFW Magazine held at the memorial’s future site in the 100th anniversary of U.S. involve- 406 W. 34th St., Suite 523, Kansas City, MO 64111 (816) 756-3390 Pershing Park. Dedicated in 1981 to ment. The premier program is the 100 www.vfw.org; [email protected] Army Gen. John Pershing — the man Cities/100 Memorials project, which VFW magazine is protected through trademark reg is tra- who led U.S. forces in WWI — the 1.75- is tailor-made for our Post members. tion in the United States and in the foreign countries where VFW magazine circulates. VFW magazine (ISSN 0161-8598) acre site is directly southeast of the They have taken up the program’s objec- is published 10 times a year by Veterans of Foreign Wars, 406 White House on Pennsylvania Avenue tive — refurbishing WWI monuments West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. Non-profit standard class postage paid at Oklahoma City, Okla., and additional between 14th and 15th streets. and memorials in their communities mailing offices. It will honor all 4.7 million Americans — with gusto. Two VFW Posts — 968 Publications Agreement No. 1476947 who served in uniform during the Great in Raymond, Wash., and 3104 in South Available on recording for the blind and those with physical War. Of those veterans, nearly 2.2 mil- Hadley, Mass. — and their efforts were handicaps that preclude reading material. Contact: [email protected]. lion served in Europe between June 26, featured in the November/December 1917 — when the first U.S. ground troops 2017 issue of VFW magazine. SUBMISSIONS arrived in France — and Nov. 11, 1918, The World War One Centennial Unsolicited manu scripts and pho to graphs must be ac com pa- nied by return postage and no re spon si bil i ty is assumed for safe when the war officially ended. Commission originally hoped to have the han dling. Poetry submissions not accepted. VFW mag a zine is available in microfilm from NA Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 998, A total of 116,708 Doughboys died national memorial completed in time for Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998. Payment of membership dues during the war. This includes 53,513 a dedication on Nov. 11, 2018 — the 100th includes $1.98 for a year’s subscription to VFW magazine. who died from hostile action. Another anniversary of the end of the Great War. CHANGE OF ADDRESS/DECEASED MEMBER 204,002 were wounded. We support But that dedication could be delayed. [email protected] 1-800-963-3180 this memorial as a lasting tribute to their As of mid-October 2017, the U.S. Forward address changes to: Data Entry, VFW, bravery, courage, commitment, service Commission of Fine Arts and the National 406 W. 34th St., Kansas City, MO 64111. Be sure to furnish your old ad dress, also your Post number, and sacrifice. Capital Planning Commission had yet to when requesting change to new address. To ensure To back up our official resolution give their final approval of the design. We accuracy, please clip and enclose your present address as printed on a recent copy of VFW magazine. supporting the memorial, we’ve com- also were waiting for the National Park mitted $300,000 to help build it. As of Service to issue a construction permit for NON-MEMBER SUBSCRIPTIONS early October 2017, according to the U.S. the site in Pershing Park. U.S. and its possessions, $15 per year, $1.50 per copy. For subscription in other countries, $20 per year. World War One Centennial Commission, I believe these are minor details that Make checks payable to VFW Magazine and send to: about $14 million had been privately will be worked out. A representative Quartermaster’s Office, 406 W. 34th St., KC, MO 64111. raised for the construction fund. It is from the centennial commission told me VFW OBJECTIVES To ensure national security expected to cost $40 million to finish it. in October that “it is our intention to not through maximum military strength. We’re extensively involved with the let another year go by during the WWI To speed the rehabilitation of the nation’s disabled and needy veterans. centennial commission, which is in Centennial without building the WWI To assist the widows and orphans charge of assuring the memorial’s com- and the de pen dents of disabled and needy veterans. memorial to permanently remember our To promote Americanism through education in pa tri o tism pletion. VFW Quartermaster General Doughboys.” and constructive service to the communities in which we live. Debra Anderson is a member of the com- I and all VFW members wish them the Copyright 2017 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States mission and provides advice and exper- best of luck. We will be paying attention. MEMBER ALLIANCE FOR AUDITED MEDIA 2 • VFW • JANUARY 2018 n o d e ru s VERY LIMITED SUPPLY ONLY ea U.S. ARMED FORCES UP TO 10 COINS Same Low Price! 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