Table of Contents Celebrating Month of the Military Child News
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Thursday, April 27, 2017 Volume 10, Issue 16 Published for members of the SHAPE/Chièvres, Brussels and Schinnen communities Benelux news briefs Army Emergency Relief Donations are essential to the continuing success of AER. Although the campaign runs through May 15, donations are welcome throughout the year. Job Opening Andrews Federal Credit Union has a job opening at the Brussels location. Please apply online at www.andrewsfcu.org. STEP Program The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to alert U.S. citizens and nation- als abroad of conditions and situations and provide useful information. U.S. European Com- mand (EUCOM) has directed all Department of Defense person- nel in Europe to register their assigned location and travel des- tinations. Enroll before travelling for the long holiday weekend at https://step.state.gov. American Festival The city of Chièvres and USAG Benelux are co-organizing the American Festival, June 17-18. We are looking for a bilingual MC for the pie auction on Sunday, June 18 from 2 to 3 p.m. Mostly in English with a bit of French. If interested, contact the Public Af- fairs Office at DSN 361-5694 or civilian 068-275694. Eric Daniel Table of Contents Celebrating Month of the Military Child News.............................1-6 Families were given a special black light to enter the House of Germs. Without exception, parents, made a bee-line Inside the gate.................7-8 for the hand sanitizer on exiting the darkened tent, while older, unaccompanied kids simply giggled and went on their Outside the gate...............9 way. (Photo by Gia Braithwaite) More on page 2 April 27, 2017 IN MEMORIAM World War II veteran dies at the age of 97 in France Special to the Gazette World War II veteran, retired Col. John returned to California. south west from Ruddock Davis passed away in Paris, He was recalled to serve as a Reserve Reims, France. He France, April 20. Officer in the Transportation Corps when was well known Davis was born in Oakland, Calif., on the Korean War began. He was reas- and consulted on Nov. 18, 1919 and joined the Army in signed to France where there was a large veterans affairs by Dec. 1941 after attending the University U.S. Army presence. This is when he the authorities at of California in Berkeley, Calif., where he met his wife Jeannette, from Granville, the 16th District earned his Bachelor of Science degree. France. Jeannette died in March 2009. (Arrondissement) Davis received his commission from He built a career in the moving busi- of Paris. the Officer Candidate School in 1943 ness, specializing in transporting the and became a member of the 106th household goods of the U.S. military Infantry Division. This is the very unit personnel to and from France. Davis that was overrun at the beginning of the was a resourceful businessman. When Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, Christmas the American Forces left France in the 1944. Davis used to share the stories late 1960’s he found other employ- of the Christmas 1944 battles from ment in France related to his specialty, the men that he knew in the division. shipping. After the war, Davis left the Army and He did exemplary work supporting American Pa- triotic activi- ties in France. He was Com- mander of the Veterans of Foreign War post, an impor- tant member and supporter of the Reserve (Top) Retired Col. John Ruddock Davis salutes Officers Associ- during a ceremony. (Above) Davis when he was a 1st Lt. in 1944. (Courtesy Photos). ation. For many years, he also The American colony in Paris, and the chaired the United States, have lost a great patriot. Memorial Day Davis was buried with Military Honors ceremonies at April 25, 2017 at the Père Lachaise USAG Benelux Soldiers fold the fl ag to be presented during the funeral service in Belleau Wood cemetery in Paris, France. He is survived Paris, Tuesday, April 25, 2017 to Laura Davis, retired Col. John Ruddock Davis' daugh- American Bat- by his daughter Laura, son, Philippe, ter. (Courtesy Photo). tle Monument, and three grand-daughters. To submit or subscribe, email [email protected] The Gazette is an unofficial publication published under the provisions of AR 360-1 for members of the Commander..................... Col. Kurt Connell Department of Defense. Contents of The Gazette are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army or the USAG Benelux. The Gazette is a free weekly publication Public Affairs Officer...... Marie-Lise Baneton distributed via email every Thursday, except when that day is an American, Belgian or Dutch Holiday, then The Gazette is published on Wednesday. The editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided, Editor.............................. Kristin Ellis approved and published by the USAG Benelux Public Affairs Office, Unit 21419, APO AE 09708. Telephone (0032) 068-275419/DSN 361-5419. Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, Staff Writers.................... Cis Spook use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, Rita Hoefnagels political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this Christophe Morel equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher will refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army. Submit content or story ideas to [email protected] by Monday at 3 p.m. [2] April 27, 2017 Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month Sexual assault: breaking the silence By Christophe Morel USAG Benelux Public Affairs “Sexual assault. Sexual Harassment. Not in our Army.” You may have heard this slogan these past days and you will hear it again. Every year, in April, civilian and military communities observe Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) across the country. U.S. Army Garrison Benelux organized a Denim Day on April 26. By wearing denim, people were invited to protest against sexual violence. The event is over, but the fight is not. The program of PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder),” we tell the garrison commander we have is a top priority for the Army, “in order to Hendrix explained. a case, the person is safe and is getting maintain the highest levels of unit and According to the Army, one assault is help. And if victims want an unrestricted organizational readiness.” one too many. Sexual assault prevalence report, the name will be known and the The Army believes everyone has the has declined since 2010 although some commander will know,” added Hendrix. power to eradicate sexual assault and cases still appear. “Most of the victims are The DoD safe helpline is another pos- other crimes. Not just in April, but every very young”, mentioned Hendrix. “Most sibility for everybody to get help any- month. of the perpetrators are older and mostly where (in Germany, the Netherlands and “They’ve finally seen the second and make career. In almost every case we Belgium). It’s confidential, anonymous, third order effects of military members have involved alcohol and most of the secure, and available worldwide, 24/7. being sexually assaulted. We are losing victims know their assailant,” she added. You can call 877-995-5247 or you can people that we paid a lot of money to On MyDuty.mil, you will find a lot of text. You may also contact a consultant train and we aren’t keeping good people explanations about reporting and inter- through Military OneSource (800-342- because they want to leave. Now we talk vention options. For example, “go to a 9647). about it, we train about it, we have more safe location away from the perpetra- “What did I do wrong?” resources. In the US, colleges and uni- tor” after a sexual assault, “preserve Sexual assault is not gender specific, versities have a problem with the same all evidence of the assault, don’t bathe, a man can also become a victim. Men’s things and they are looking to the mili- wash your hands or brush your teeth. If experience can be very different women’s. tary - how we build this program - like an you are still where the crime occurred, “It’s harder for men to come forward, they example,” said Cheryl Hendrix, Sexual don’t clean or straighten up anything to lost their masculinity. For a lot of people, Assault Response Coordinator for the preserve evidence.” sexual assault is a female issue, and USAG Benelux SHARP (Sexual Harass- Without fear it’s harder for that”, mentioned Hendrix. ment/Assault Response and Prevention) If you have been a victim of sexual The Army wants victims to be protected program. assault, harassment retaliation and all and treated with dignity and respect. Sexual assault is a very serious topic, sorts of unappropriated behaviors, the Commanders have to make sure that but the way to talk about it can be less Army recommends you speak about it. Soldiers are not treated differently after serious. With that in mind, the SHARP “The quickest way to do it is to call hotline sexual assault. and ASAP offices decided to mark SAAPM numbers, 0476-76-2264 for Chièvres And the Army asked those who have month with a special version of the Game and Brussels and 0031-65-191-91-19 not been a victim to listen, “to be there”, Jeopardy on April 27 at 7p.m.